Aerospace Vehicle Motion Emulation Using Omni-Directional Mobile Platform Conference Paper uri icon

abstract

  • Testing and validation of flight hardware in ground-based facilities can result in significant cost savings and risk reduction. We designed a relative motion emulator for aerospace vehicles using omni-directional mobile bases which provide large 3 degree-of-freedom motion, while Stewart platforms mounted atop these bases allow superposition of limited 6 degree-of-freedom motion. This paper addresses the design and implementation of the omni-directional mobile base. Each omni-directional base uses a trio of active split offset castor drive modules to provide smooth, holonomic, precise control of its motion. Three encoders on each castor, three optical mice sensors, and a 3-axis inertial measurement unit provide full feedback information to a kinematics based control law. We built a one-third scale prototype to demonstrate design feasibility and for use in testing and development of data fusion techniques, control laws, and a dynamics model of the full-scale platform. Results presented in the paper validate the feasibility of the design and the approach.

name of conference

  • AIAA Guidance, Navigation and Control Conference and Exhibit

published proceedings

  • AIAA Guidance, Navigation and Control Conference and Exhibit

author list (cited authors)

  • Davis, J., Doebbler, J., Daugherty, K., Junkins, J., & Valasek, J.

citation count

  • 11

complete list of authors

  • Davis, Jeremy||Doebbler, James||Daugherty, Kevin||Junkins, John||Valasek, John

publication date

  • August 2007