Design of Reduced Order H∞ Controller for Smart Structures

In this paper the design of a low order controller for a high-order, smart structural system is presented. The application considered here is a model of a solar panel dynamically similar to those used on satellites. Smart structure refers here to the use of integrated piezoceramic materials as sensors and actuators in the structural system in order to implement the control. The theoretical contribution is made be extending well known robust control theory by relating the high frequency robustness condition to the residual uncertainty, removing a trial and error step in the normal robust control design. The procedure is applied experimentally to a one-meter long frame that is coupled in bending and torsion. Both numerical and experimental results are given.