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Development of magnetic fast steering mirror prototype for optical pointing applications
7 June 2018
Fast Steering Mirrors are core products continuously developed by Cedrat Technologies (CTEC) for optical pointing applications, for Space, and Optronic domains. During the last decade, main development efforts where focused on piezoelectric mechanisms technology, in order to achieve ultra-high frequency bandwidth control performance over small angle strokes. New applications under maturation in Europe, such as laser optical communication, require much higher angle strokes compared to the existing state of the art, which cannot be easily achieved by piezoelectric technology. Therefore CTEC is focusing on the development of a new Fast Steering Mirror family based on high angle stroke magnetic actuators. This paper presents this new steering mechanism concept, and the prototype performance results expected.
The design and qualification of the piezo actuated
19 June 2023
As part of the Lisa Technology Package (LTP) on board the LISA-PATHFINDER spacecraft, the LISAPATHFINDER interferometer is of the heterodyne Mach-Zehnder type. It requires as input two light beams derived from the same source but with a small frequency difference (a few kHz). These two optical beams are produced in the Laser Assembly (LA) via the “Laser Modulation Unit” (LMU). The LMU includes an optical bench, two Acousto-Optic Modulators and two Optical Delay Lines [1].
High performance synthetic jet actuator for aerodynamic flow improvement over airplane wings
7 June 2018
In the framework of a French National Program, the project ASPIC aims at using synthetic jet actuators to improve aerodynamic performance of aircrafts. The partnership between Cedrat Technologies (CTEC) and the French Aerospace Lab (ONERA) in this project has led to design, manufacture and test a high efficiency innovative synthetic jet actuator. This device relying in part on an ONERA patent is actuated by a CTEC amplified piezoactuator (APA). Its aim is to provide a high speed synthetic jet compatible with flow control application on aircrafts or any other vehicle. Latest available test results and experimental performances of the ASPIC synthetic actuator are presented in this document: in particular, a peak exit velocity of 135m.s-1 during suction, and of 150m.s-1 during blowing, with an optimal actuation frequency bandwidth between 200 and 300Hz.
DTT35XS new compact piezo tilt mechanism
9 January 2002
The DTT35XS is a new piezo mechanism coming from CEDRAT TECHNOLOGIES lab in February 2002. It comes from a development for space needs defi ned with the CNES (the French space agency), and for which a first application was found in the frame of “PHARAO”. This mechanism is based on two pairs of APA35XS, Amplifi ed Piezo Actuators displaying 35 µm of stroke each, arranged in cross configuration. The mechanism allows both a defl ection of +/- 2 mrad around the X and Y axis and a vertical displacement of 35 µm in the Z direction.
High power synthetic jet actuator
19 June 2023
High Power Synthetic Jet Actuator (SJA) based on compact piezoelectric actuators, have been developed and tested by
CEDRAT TECHNOLOGIES (CTEC) and ONERA, under French National funding RAPID from DGA. This publication
presents the modelling approach with early breadboarding results, the final design chosen for integration onto an aircraft
airfoil mock-up, the performance test results on the SJA device prior integration, and the final aerodynamic performance
test demonstration achieved at ONERA wind tunnel test facility.
Highly dynamic & high precision self balanced optical mechanism
19 June 2023
Ongoing developments of instruments reveal the need for fast and precise mechanisms [1]. These requirements are all the more significant when large payloads of hundreds grams, such as mirrors, optical plates, corner cubes or antennas are involved in the motion. Indeed, highly dynamic kinematics coupled with large inertia lead to parasitic reaction forces that interfere on the accurate measurement.
