Multifunctional structures for attitude control

1 . A structure for changing an attitude of an object, comprising:

a panel coupled to the object, the panel comprising:

a first panel section coupled to the object by way of a first joint; and

a second panel section coupled to the first panel by way of a second joint, wherein the first panel section extends between the first joint and the second joint, wherein the first panel section and the second panel section are each controllably moveable in relation to the other to change the attitude of the object, wherein the first panel section and the second panel section are each controllably moveable to generate a torque for changing the attitude of the object through a cycle, and wherein the cycle comprises a plurality of phases including extension of at least one of the first and second panels, transverse oscillation resulting from bending of at least one of the first and second joints, and contraction of at least one of the first and second panels, which together produce a desired attitude change.

2 . The structure of claim 1 , wherein the first joint and second joint each have two controllably adjustable degrees of freedom.

3 . The structure of claim 1 , wherein the first joint has three controllably adjustable degrees of freedom.

4 . The structure of claim 3 , wherein the first joint is a root actuator, wherein the root actuator is configured to produce rotations about two orthogonal axes.

5 . The structure of claim 1 , wherein the first panel section and second panel section each comprise respective actuators configured to produce forces to extend and contract the respective panel sections.

6 . The structure of claim 5 , wherein the actuator of the first panel section is disposed with respect to the actuator of the second panel section such that the force produced by the actuator of the first panel section counteracts at least one component of the force produced by the actuator of the second panel section.

7 . The structure of claim 6 comprising a third panel section coupled to the second panel section by way of a third joint, wherein the actuator of the second panel section is disposed with respect to the actuator of the third panel section such that the force produced by the actuator of the second panel section counteracts at least one component of the force produced by the actuator of the third panel section.

8 . The structure of claim 1 , wherein the first panel section and second panel section are configured to bend about a rest position relative to the object so as to provide a torque on the object.

9 . The structure of claim 8 , wherein an actuator of the first panel section is disposed with respect to an actuator of the second panel section such that torque produced by bending the first panel section counteracts at least one component of torque produced by bending the second panel section.

10 . The structure of claim 9 , comprising a third panel section coupled to the second panel section by way of a third joint, wherein the actuator of the second panel section is disposed with respect to an actuator of the third panel section such that the torque produced by bending the second panel section counteracts at least one component of the torque produced by bending the third panel section.

11 . The structure of claim 1 , wherein the first joint comprises a spring and a damper configured to filter out the variation in torques applied to the object.

12 . The structure of claim 1 , wherein the panel comprises at least one actuator, and wherein the at least one actuator comprises at least one of: a piezoelectric actuator, an electromagnetic actuator, a hydraulic actuator, a pneumatic actuator, a thermal actuator, a magnetic actuator, or a mechanical actuator.

13 . The structure of claim 12 , wherein the at least one actuator comprises a piezoelectric element embedded within the panel, the piezoelectric element comprising:

a piezo chip actuator embedded between two rigid bodies; and

a joint coupled to the two rigid bodies.

14 . The structure of claim 1 , wherein the panel comprises a solar panel, a radio panel, a panel antenna, a thermal radiator, or a solar sail.

15 . The structure of claim 1 , wherein the panel is a deployable panel.

16 . The structure of claim 1 , wherein the panel is a cilia-Multifunctional Structures for Attitude Control (MSAC) panel.

17 . An attitude control system for an object, comprising:

a body; and

a panel coupled to the body, the panel comprising:

a first panel section coupled to the object by way of a first joint; and

a second panel section coupled to the first panel by way of a second joint, wherein the first panel section extends between the first joint and the second joint, and wherein the first panel section and the second panel section are each controllably moveable in relation to the other to change the attitude of the object, wherein the first panel section and the second panel section are each controllably moveable to generate a torque for changing the attitude of the object through a cycle, and wherein the cycle comprises a plurality of phases including extension of at least one of the first and second panels, transverse oscillation resulting from bending of at least one of the first and second joints, and contraction of at least one of the first and second panels, which together produce a desired attitude change.

18 . The system of claim 17 , wherein the first joint and second joint each have two controllably adjustable degrees of freedom.

19 . The system of claim 17 , wherein the first panel section and second panel section each comprise respective actuators configured to produce forces to extend and contract the respective panel sections, wherein the actuator of the first panel section is disposed with respect to the actuator of the second panel section such that the force produced by the actuator of the first panel section counteracts at least one component of the force produced by the actuator of the second panel section.