Optimal control/structure integrated design of a flexible space platform with articulated appendages

A complete set of closed form symbolic equations are developed for a 2-D model of a system comprised of a flexible platform with articulated appendages. The system considered has a flexible two link manipulator, with joint compliance, at one end of the flexible platform and an articulated antenna on the other end. The model is formulated using a Lagrangian approach which incorporates homogeneous transformation matrices, similar to those typically seen in the robotics literature, for the kinematic representation. The integrated control/structure design strategy considered emphasizes rapid system response and minimal structural weight. Constraints are included to keep antenna pointing error to a minimum, and at the same time achieve accurate end point positioning of the manipulator with minimal oscillations.