In the operation of CMGs there exists a concept called “back drive,” which represents a case where the coupling effects of the angular velocity of the body and the angular momentum of the CMG overwhelm the input torque and result in a lack of control. This effect is known but not well documented or studied in the literature. Starting from first principles, this thesis derives the full nonlinear dynamical equations for CMGs. These equations contain significantly more terms than are found in the literature. As a means to understand the implications of these terms, a reduced order model is derived. The full and reduced models are then validated by means of extensive simulations. Finally, experimental verification of the models confirms the finding that the reduced order model provides a reasonably high fidelity for dynamics.

abstract: Riding a bicycle requires accurately performing several tasks, such as balancing and navigation, which may be difficult or even impossible for persons with disabilities. These difficulties may be partly alleviated by providing active balance and steering assistance to the rider. In order to provide this assistance while maintaining free maneuverability, it is necessary to measure the position of the rider on the bicycle and to understand the rider's intent. Applying autonomy to bicycles also has the potential to address some of the challenges posed by traditional automobiles, including CO2 emissions, land use for roads and parking, pedestrian safety, high ownership cost, and difficulty traversing narrow or partially obstructed paths. The Smart Bike research platform provides a set of sensors and actuators designed to aid in understanding human-bicycle interaction and to provide active balance control to the bicycle. The platform consists of two specially outfitted bicycles, one with force and inertial measurement sensors and the other with robotic steering and a control moment gyroscope, along with the associated software for collecting useful data and running controlled experiments. Each bicycle operates as a self-contained embedded system, which can be used for untethered field testing or can be linked to a remote user interface for real-time monitoring and configuration. Testing with both systems reveals promising capability for applications in human-bicycle interaction and robotics research. / Dissertation/Thesis / Masters Thesis Software Engineering 2020

Approved for public release; distribution in unlimited. / This thesis develops and implements a Control Moment Gyroscope (CMG) steering law, controller and active balancing system for a three-axis satellite simulator (TASS). The CMGs are configured in a typical pyramid configuration (the fourth CMG position being null). The development was done primarily with simulation and experiments utilizing Real Time Workshop and XPC Target of MATLAB and SIMULINK. The TASS is a double circular platform mounted on a spherical air bearing with the center of rotation (CR) about the approximate physical geometric center of the simulator. The TASS utilizes three moveable masses in the three body axes for balancing which actively eliminate any center of gravity (CG) offset and return the CG to the CR. The TASS supports an optics payload designed to acquire, track and point a received laser beam onto an off-satellite target. The target may be stationary or moving. Actively balancing the TASS reduces the torque output requirement for the CMGs while maintaining either a stabilized level platform or a particular commanded attitude. Reduction or elimination of torque output from the CMGs results in a more stabilized platform, less structural induced vibration, less jitter in payload optics and less power required in spacecraft applications. / Lieutenant Commander, United States Navy

In this thesis, recently developed Blended Inverse (B-inverse) steering law is applied to two different redundant actuator systems. First, repeatability of Binverse is demonstrated on a redundant robotic manipulator. Its singularity avoidance and singularity transition performance is also demonstrated on the same actuator system. It is shown that B-inverse steering law provides singularity avoidance, singularity transition and repeatability. Second, its effectiveness is demonstrated for an Integrated Power and Attitude Control - Control Moment Gyroscope (IPAC-CMG) cluster, which can perform energy management and attitude control functions simultaneously. For this purpose, an IPAC-CMG flywheel is conceptually designed. A control policy is developed for the energy management.