Modeling of tape tether vibration and vibration sensing using smart film sensors

• Equations of motion for tape tether vibration are derived using a discrete model.
• Torsional and bending vibrations were successfully simulated using the equations.
• Smart film sensors attached to a tape tether were used to distinguish waveforms.
• Parallel configuration of the sensors was suitable for sensing torsional motion.

Tape-tethered satellite systems use long and flexible tape tethers, the bending and torsional vibrations of which affect the positions and attitude of attached satellites and climbers. Owing to the distribution characteristics of a tape tether, ordinary point sensors and actuators cannot be used easily to control the vibrations. Other types of sensors and actuators are required for this purpose. The flexibility and deformability of smart materials make them particularly suitable for integration into a tape-tethered system. Thus, in this paper, we propose a method for modeling the bending and torsional vibrations of a tape tether, and report our investigation into the feasibility of using smart film sensors to distinguish between the two vibration types. We formulate equations of motion for the tape tether using multibody dynamics techniques, and perform numerical simulations to study the behavior of the bending and torsional vibrations. The results of our experiments show that the bending and torsional vibrations of a tape tether can be measured using smart film sensors attached to the tether.