Canadian Space Agency

This installation describes the development of a control system used for the active shape control of inflatable space structures.  Automation Manager is the vision system used for the measurement of the structure shape. Shape memory alloy wire actuators are used to exert the obtained optimal tensions. The developed control system is then tested on a 200mm × 300mm rectangular Kapton membrane structure. The membrane is pulled by three tensions along each edge. Different combinations of the tensions produce various wrinkles on the membrane. Test results indicate that the developed control system works very well in improving the structure shape precision.

Two articles have been written about this project.    Use these links to view.
article 1
article 2
Read these articles to see how the Canadian Space agency has made use of Automation Manager.