Abstract When modeling dynamic structures, the quasi-static modal analysis (QSMA) approach seeks to very accurately resolve force-displacement behavior of each individual mode but neglects coupling, while many other reduced order (ROM) methods take an opposite view, capturing static and coupling using polynomials that limit fidelity with which can be captured. This work contrasts these two appr...

Solar sailing is a proposed means of space propulsion in which a reflective surface collects momentum from solar photons to accelerate a vehicle. The current trend within the solar sailing community is to increase sail size as solar sailing technologies advance, allowing for larger payloads and higher accelerations. However, with the miniaturization of modern payloads, sail sizes can be dramati...

This paper investigates a class of Lagrangian control systems with n degrees-offreedom (DOF) and n − 1 actuators, assuming that n − 1 virtual holonomic constraints have been enforced via feedback, and a basic regularity condition holds. The reduced dynamics of such systems are described by a second-order unforced differential equation. We present necessary and sufficient conditions under which ...

There are methods to increase fertilizer nitrogen use efficiency through optical sensor-based nitrogen application; however, the sensors are expensive and cost prohibitive to farmers in the developing world. This study evaluated a novel, reduced cost, prototype, and optical sensor to determine if it could be used with the same level of accuracy as a commercial sensor. The stability of the proto...