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ATLID BSA Beam steering assembly piezo tip tilt
19 June 2023
ATLID (ATmospheric LIDar) is one of the four instruments of EarthCARE satellite, it shall determine vertical profiles of cloud and aerosol physical parameters such as altitude, optical depth, backscatter ratio and depolarisation ratio. The BSA (Beam Steering Assembly), included in emission path, aims at deviating a pulsed high energy UV laser beam to compensate the pointing misalignment between the emission and reception paths of ATLID [1]. It requires a very high stability and high resolution.
Beam steering mechanism for earthcare atmospherice Lidar Instrument: an improved piezo tip-tilt mechanism
19 June 2023
In the context of the ATLID instrument [1] embedded in the EarthCARE mission (Earth Cloud, Aerosol and Radiation Explorer), a Beam Steering Assembly is deviating a pulsed high energy UV laser beam to compensate the pointing misalignment between the emission and reception paths of ATLID with a very high stability and high resolution. Within the EarthCARE mission, led by ESA, Astrium is responsible for the ATLID instrument. The BSA development, manufacture and tests were assigned by Astrium to Sodern, an EADS filial.
Beam steering mirrors: from space applications to optronic applications
19 June 2023
Fast growing Laser and new optic applications drive more and more needs for beam steering mirrors (BSM) and Fast Steering Mirror (FSM). For space optic instruments, CEDRAT TECHNOLOGIES has developed for 20 years several piezoelectric tip-tilt mechanisms. Presented recent examples include the ATLID BSA small tit tilt for quasi static nano pointing and MEFISTO, a large tit tilt for fast micro positioning. These space mechanisms perform high precision functions while being compact, lightweight and resistant to external vibrations and shocks. As shown in the paper, these advantages allow these technologies addressing several needs for other optronic applications than space, such as active stabilisation, micro scanning, disturbance compensation in IR imagers or telescopes.
Active flap device for helicopters based on Cedrat Amplified Piezoelectric Actuators
19 June 2023
A project called RPA (Rotor à Pales Actives) was launched three years ago to study the possible benefits of implementing active trailing edge flaps on a helicopter main rotor. The main objectives of this project are to decrease BVI noise in descent flight and improve the dynamic behavior of the rotor throughout the largest possible flight domain. After a first phase dedicated to the design of the best flap configuration at scale 1, the second phase of the project deals with the design of a wind-tunnel scale model of a rotor equipped with active flaps. An off-the-shelf piezo-electric actuator is used together with a specific patented flap-driving mechanism. Such an active device was tested under centrifugal loads as well as under aerodynamic loads in order to prepare future wind-tunnel tests. The results obtained under centrifugal loads allowed to clear the active device but the aerodynamic testing showed that some improvements were needed. Corresponding modifications are under way to fully clear the active device to be used on a complete rotor model.
ACTUATOR2008 MRF actuators Abstract
19 June 2023
Short Abstract
The MRF actuators are new electromechanical components using Magneto Rheological Fluids (MRF). When submitted to a high enough magnetic field, MRFs switch from a liquid to an almost solid body. The purpose of the new developed MRF actuators is to reach three aims: to offer a blocking force at rest, which can be strongly reduced by applying a current, to provide an electrically- controllable resistive force over a stroke of 30 mm, to perform the control of the force in a very short time, typically in a few milliseconds.
ACTUATOR2008 Stepping piezoelectric actuators Abstract
19 June 2023
Stepping Piezoelectric Actuators (SPA) are new long-stroke linear piezoelectric motors for micro/nano positioning applications benefiting of the advantages and the heritage of the APA. SPA are formed of only 4 parts: the well-established Amplified Piezoelectric Actuators (APA), a front mass, a clamp and a rod.
