A method for evaluating the thrust of a space propulsion device with wide range time variations using a disturbance observer

A new method for evaluating thrust with high-frequency variations beyond the resonant frequency using a disturbance observer is presented. Setpoint control is applied to a conventional pendulum-type thrust stand to keep the pendulum at the target position using a solenoid actuator. During control, pendulum acceleration and solenoid-actuator current are measured, and the disturbance observer determines thrust with a wide range of frequency variations. The method allows thrust to be evaluated not only with constant and low-frequency variations, but also with high-frequency variations outside the resonant frequency. A thrust measurement device is prototyped to investigate accuracy over a wide frequency range from 0 to 100 Hz and the effects of the proportional-derivative-integral (PID) controller design. Calibration yields thrust measurement errors of 20% below 90 Hz. PID controller design has a smaller influence on the accuracy of the proposed method than the conventional null-balance method, so the proposed method requires the same stability under PID control as that for the null-balance method.