Automated reflector tuning systems and methdos

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016276750-A1
Application number	US-201514664382-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 20, 2015
Priority date	Mar 20, 2015
Publication date	Sep 22, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Methods, apparatus, and systems for automated reflector tuning include combining high precision automated photogrammetric measurement with high precision servo actuator positioning control of a reflector surface using custom optimizing control software to produce a novel, fully automated satellite reflector alignment tuning system. Precise adjustment to the shape of the reflecting surface of an antenna reflector (reflector tuning) can be essential for a satellite reflector antenna to meet electrical performance requirements, usually requiring a shape accurate to within 0.004 inches RMS. The automated reflector tuning may include determining a set of characterization coefficients by precisely measuring the response of the reflector shape to actuator movements, and using the characterization coefficients in a mathematical analysis to determine optimal actuator movements to achieve a required shape of the reflector surface.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A system for tuning a reflector, comprising:
a plurality of actuators mechanically connected to attachment points of the reflector and supporting the reflector such that movement of the actuators adjusts a shape of a reflecting surface of the reflector; a photogrammetry system disposed to measure the shape of the reflecting surface; a processor, in communication with the actuators and the photogrammetry system, that, when executing a reflector tuning process: controls a movement of at least one of the actuators that adjusts the shape of the reflecting surface; receives a measurement of the shape of the reflecting surface from the photogrammetry system; and repeats the movement and measuring that adjusts the shape of the reflecting surface unless the measurement is within a specified accuracy of a nominal shape of the reflecting surface.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the processor, when executing the reflector tuning process further causes an iterative process of moving the actuators and re-measuring the shape of the reflecting surface with the photogrammetry system; and
the iterative process continues unless the measurement of the shape of the reflecting surface differs from a specified shape of the reflecting surface by less than an RMS (root-mean-square) value of less than 0.004 inches.

3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein:
the shape of the reflecting surface is specified by a plurality of data points provided in a computer readable data file.

4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein:
the specified accuracy is an RMS (root-mean-square) value specified for comparison to a nominal surface; and the specified accuracy requires the RMS (root-mean-square) value to be less than 0.001 inches over more than 4,000 data points.

5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the processor, when executing the reflector tuning process further causes an iterative process of incremental movements and measurements of the shape of the reflecting surface, each iteration of the iterative process comprising moving one of the actuators by a specified amount and measuring a corresponding shape response, each comprising a measurement of the shape of the reflecting surface with the photogrammetry system in response to the incremental movement; and
upon completion of the iterative process, further causes a data analysis of the incremental movements and corresponding shape responses to determine shape characterization coefficients for optimizing the shape of the reflecting surface.

6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the processor, when executing the reflector tuning process further causes an iterative process of specified movements and corresponding measurements of the shape of the reflecting surface, each iteration of the iterative process comprising:
moving one or more of the actuators by an amount specified for each actuator and measuring a corresponding shape of the reflecting surface; and determining whether the corresponding shape of the reflecting surface is within the specified accuracy for determining the shape of the reflecting surface.

7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the processor, when executing the reflector tuning process further causes an iterative process of specified movements and corresponding measurements of the shape of the reflecting surface, each iteration of the iterative process comprising:
calculating, based on the measurement of the shape of the reflecting surface from the photogrammetry system and a set of shape characterization coefficients, a specified amount of movement for each actuator for optimizing the shape of the reflecting surface; moving one or more of the actuators by the amount specified for each actuator and measuring a corresponding shape of the reflecting surface; and determining whether the corresponding shape of the reflecting surface is within the specified accuracy for determining the shape of the reflecting surface.

8 . A method for automated reflector tuning, comprising:
mechanically connecting a plurality of actuators to a plurality of attachment points of a reflector; electronically connecting the plurality of actuators to a computer processor; supporting the reflector by the mechanical connections to the actuators so as to change a shape of a reflecting surface of the reflector according to a movement of one or more of the plurality of actuators; optically measuring the shape of the reflecting surface; communicating data from the optical measurement of the shape of the reflecting surface to the computer processor; controlling, by the computer processor, movements of the plurality of actuators that adjusts the shape of the reflecting surface; receiving, by the computer processor, a measurement of the shape of the reflecting surface corresponding to the movements of the plurality of actuators; and indicating, by the computer processor, whether the corresponding measurement is within a specified accuracy of a required shape of the reflecting surface.

9 . The method of claim 8 , further comprising:
repeating the controlling, by the computer processor, further movements of the plurality of actuators and the receiving, by the computer processor, the corresponding measurement of the shape of the reflecting surface unless the corresponding measurement is within the specified accuracy.

10 . The method of claim 8 , wherein:
the optically measuring the shape of the reflecting surface comprises using at least three cameras; and data from the at least three cameras is analyzed to make a photogrammetric measurement.

11 . The method of claim 8 , further comprising:
iterating a process of specific movements of the actuators and corresponding measurements of the shape of the reflecting surface, each iteration comprising moving one of the actuators by a specified amount and measuring a corresponding shape response, each corresponding shape response comprising a measurement of the shape of the reflecting surface; and upon completion of the iterations, performing a data analysis of the movements and corresponding shape responses to determine a set of shape characterization coefficients for optimizing the shape of the reflecting surface.

12 . The method of claim 8 , further comprising:
iterating a process of specified movements of the actuators and corresponding measurements of the shape of the reflecting surface, each iteration comprising:
moving one or more of the actuators, wherein each actuator that is moved is moved by an amount specified for that actuator; and
measuring a corresponding shape of the reflecting surface; and
determining whether the corresponding shape of the reflecting surface is within the specified accuracy for determining the shape of the reflecting surface.

13 . The method of claim 8 , further comprising:
iterating a process of specified movements of the actuators and corresponding measurements of the shape of the reflecting surface, each iteration comprising:
calculating, based on the corresponding measurement of the shape of the reflecting surface and a set of shape characterization coefficients for the reflector, a specified amount of movement for each actuator for optimizing the shape of the reflecting surface;
moving one or more of the actuators, wherein each actuator that is moved is moved by an amount specified for that actuator; and
measuring a corresponding shape of the reflecting surface; and
determining whether the corresponding shape of the reflecting surface is within the specified accuracy for determining the shape of the reflecting surface.

14 . The method of claim 8 , further comprising:

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Glick Gary L
• Mendoza Joel
• Macfarlane Jerry D
• Bingman Richard A
• Ross David W
• Mahakian David R
• Griswold Adam L

Classifications

• H01Q15/147 Primary

  provided with means for controlling or monitoring the shape of the reflecting surface (for scanning H01Q3/01; aerials or aerial systems providing multiple beamwidths H01Q25/002) · CPC title

• G01C11/00

  Photogrammetry or videogrammetry, e.g. stereogrammetry; Photographic surveying · CPC title

• H01Q15/16

  curved in two dimensions [2D], e.g. paraboloidal · CPC title

• G01C11/02

  Picture taking arrangements specially adapted for photogrammetry or photographic surveying, e.g. controlling overlapping of pictures · CPC title