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US 12,214,910 B2Granted
Multifunctional structures for attitude control
AssigneeThe Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois
InventorsVedant, James T. Allison
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A structure for changing the attitude of a spacecraft is provided including an elongated member and a plurality of actuators coupled to the elongated member. The elongated member is coupled to the spacecraft. The elongated member has a length and an angular position relative to an axis. The plurality of actuators are configured to deflect the angular position of the elongated member relative to the axis and to alter the length of the elongated member.
Claims8
An attitude control system for a spacecraft, comprising:
- a body;
- and
- an elongated member coupled to the body, wherein the elongated member extends outwardly from the body, the elongated member comprising at least one actuator embedded within the elongated member,
- wherein the at least one actuator is configured to:
- deflect a position of the elongated member;
- alter the length of the elongated member according to a non-holonomic trajectory;
- and
- induce an oscillation of the elongated member, and
- wherein the at least one actuator comprises a piezoelectrically operated lever mechanism, wherein the piezoelectrically operated lever mechanism comprises a plurality of stacked struts and a plurality of piezoelectric elements, wherein each of the struts extend from a first side to a second side, each of the struts are coupled adjacent struts at a plurality of joints formed alternatingly on the first side and the second side, and each of the plurality of piezoelectric elements are positioned proximate to one of the plurality of joints.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.