Novel TVC Mini DAC System

Dynamic Structures and Materials, LLC (DSM) proposes the development of a compact, proportional piezoelectric motor actuation technology with miniature electronics, optimized actuator hardware and integrated position feedback capability. The new actuation system will be optimized and characterized in an integration test bed representative of system loads (physical, thermal, vibration) relevant to an articulated axial Thrust Vector Control (TVC) technology under development at Aerojet General Corporation’s Redmond, WA facility (Aerojet). The Phase II effort will culminate in a hot fire demonstration of the optimized prototype actuation system. The achievement of smaller, faster, and more efficient actuation technology for precise proportional and on-off control of thruster applications (Axial TVC, Divert and ACS) is the ultimate benefit that the proposed actuation technology provides to MDA. DSM believes that mini-interceptor platforms such as the Agile Kill Vehicle (AKV) and MKV will benefit from the piezomotor actuator technology as compared with system solutions incorporating traditional electromagnetic actuators. The resulting actuation technology will be scaleable to a wide range of BMDS and commercial applications.