Drag-Free Control Based on A Novel Semi-Physical Simulation Platform

Space gravitational wave detection drag-free control has many degrees of freedom, complex control mode, high accuracy requirements, and ground-based simulation of all degrees of freedom and controller verification experiments are challenging due to complexity. To simulate selected degrees of freedom on the ground, a drag-free control semi-physical simulation platform is designed, which emulates space satellite motion and two test masses arranged at a 60° angle. According to the physical model of the system, a disturbance resistant drag-free controller is designed based on H_∞. The drag-free control validation experiments are carried out on the built semi-physical simulation experimental platform, and the results verify the characteristics of the controller. Thus, the effectiveness of the proposed drag-free control algorithm is verified, and the H_∞ controller demonstrates superior control performance compared to the PID controller.