Automated Model-Free Commutation for Coarse Pointing Actuators in Free-Space Optical Communication
Max Van Meer (Eindhoven University of Technology)
Kjell Van Schie (Eindhoven University of Technology)
Gert Witvoet (TNO, Eindhoven University of Technology)
T. Oomen (TU Delft - Team Jan-Willem van Wingerden, Eindhoven University of Technology)
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Abstract
Switched Reluctance Motors (SRMs) are widely used for their simplicity and cost-effectiveness, for example, in coarse laser pointing for free-space optical (FSO) communication, with torque ripple being a challenge in their implementation. This paper introduces an automated, modelfree approach to minimize torque ripple in SRMs despite manufacturing variations. Using an extremum-seeking approach, the commutation parameters are adapted online to mitigate the position-dependent velocity ripple through gradient descent. Simulations show that the method's effectiveness is consistent across different SRMs, rendering it applicable to mass production, and experimental results verify that torque ripple is almost entirely eliminated in several hours. The developed approach enables accurate SRM control with minimal expert knowledge, functioning as a crucial step toward their deployment in constellation projects for FSO communication.