Control of flexible structures: A systematic overview of the problem

A way of designing a control system using a finite model that accounts for the distributed nature of the control problem in a systematic way is described. This is accomplished by using a mode description of the system and from that description determining the number of modes that must be retained based on the performance and the disturbance descriptions. The design then uses a full order model that includes all of the dynamics: sensor, actuator, disturbance and flexible motion. The designs that result are simple, robust, perform well and have the added distinction of being easy to implement.