Ieuan Matthew Carney
Academic and research departments
About
My research project
Actuation Methods For Thin Flexible Composite Deployable Structures For Space ApplicationsTraditionally, motors on board satellites make use of permanent magnets and induced magnetic fields. This can cause issues with the sensitive magnetic field sensing and actuation equipment on board. Therefore, there is a need to either move the critical equipment far away from the motor, or use other, more expensive, methods to sense and control satellite attitude. Alternatively, a low magnitude magnetic field solution could be used. This project aims to research a method utilising piezoelectric actuators in the form of a walking type motor to actuate a bistable composite tape spring. This walking motor will be characterised for deploying various materials and geometries, as well as tested under different operating conditions such as gaits and shaped driving waveforms. This will give an insight into how the performance of the motor can be improved, and what specific variables affect this outcome ultimately helping understand the feasibility of this class of motor on board a spacecraft.
Supervisors
Traditionally, motors on board satellites make use of permanent magnets and induced magnetic fields. This can cause issues with the sensitive magnetic field sensing and actuation equipment on board. Therefore, there is a need to either move the critical equipment far away from the motor, or use other, more expensive, methods to sense and control satellite attitude. Alternatively, a low magnitude magnetic field solution could be used. This project aims to research a method utilising piezoelectric actuators in the form of a walking type motor to actuate a bistable composite tape spring. This walking motor will be characterised for deploying various materials and geometries, as well as tested under different operating conditions such as gaits and shaped driving waveforms. This will give an insight into how the performance of the motor can be improved, and what specific variables affect this outcome ultimately helping understand the feasibility of this class of motor on board a spacecraft.
My qualifications
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In the media
Publications
During deployment of a structure from a small spacecraft, often a traditional rotating motor with permanent magnets and rotating coils is used. This requires the generation of a magnetic field. This induced field can interfere with sensitive actuation or sensing equipment onboard the spacecraft and therefore disrupt the mission. This paper discusses the ongoing development of a piezoelectric based walking motor designed to 'walk' the deployable from a coiled state to a deployed state. The choice of using piezoelectric elements significantly reduces the magnetic field generated. The motor has been characterised by its actuation velocity, with actuation velocity measurements presented for varying operating modes.