Active robust shape control of flexible structures

In recent years, active control methods have been developed to improve the performance of flexible space structures, with most of them focused on the suppression of structural vibration. In this paper, an approach for active robust shape control of flexible structures is developed using piezoceramic actuators and strain sensors. Dynamic models for flexible structures with integrated actuators and sensors are derived and a controller is designed to cause the structure to maintain a specified shape and reject disturbances. The control system robustness of flexible structures with parameter perturbation uncertainty is discussed. This active robust shape control method is tested via experimental implementation. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.