Improved Beam Jitter Control Methods for High Energy Laser Systems

Abstract

The objective of this research was to develop beam jitter control methods for a High Energy Laser (HEL) testbed. The first step was to characterize the new HEL testbed at NPS. This included determination of natural frequencies and component models which were used to create a Matlab/Simulink model of the testbed. Adaptive filters using Filtered-X Least Mean Squares (FX-LMS) and Filtered-X Recursive Least Square (FXRLS) were then implemented. Disturbance sources included narrowband mechanical vibration of the optical bench as well as broadband atmospheric turbulence (simulation only). A feedback controller with adaptive filter (or feedbacktype adaptive filter) was applied to a multi-rate video tracking loop, which required precise plant identification to prevent instabilities. A strapdown type Inertial Reference Unit (IRU) system was investigated using a reference laser, Position Sensing Device (PSD), Fiber Optic Gyro (FOG), and Fast Steering Mirror (FSM). The controller of the strapdown type IRU system consisted of a feedforward gyro signal in parallel with a feedback PSD signal. A Video tracking control system was simulated and tested on the HEL testbed. The IRU strapdown controller was simulated and preliminary tests conducted. Simulation and experimental results demonstrated superior performance over classical control methods.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Dec 01, 2009
Accession Number
ADA514269

Entities

People

  • Duane C. Frist

Organizations

  • Naval Postgraduate School

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Space
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Adaptive Filters
  • Amplifiers
  • Bandwidth
  • Chemical Oxygen Iodine Lasers
  • Closed Loop Systems
  • Control Systems
  • Detectors
  • Frequency
  • High Energy
  • High Energy Lasers
  • Laser Beams
  • Lasers
  • Measurement
  • Resonant Frequency
  • Simulations
  • Tactical High-Energy Lasers
  • Theater Ballistic Missiles

Readers

  • Inertial Navigation Systems.
  • Optical Physics and Photonics.
  • Robotics and Automation.

Technology Areas

  • Directed Energy