Vibrationally excited satellite attitude actuator: A feasibility study

A new attitude control actuator, the vibrating mass gyroscope is considered. The actuator transforms the vibratory motion of a single gimbal gyroscope to a positive or negative, fluctuating control torque. The equations of motion for such an actuator are presented. The feasibility of construction of such an actuator is investigated. Possible means of realizing the vibratory motion is proposed.