A system for vibration control of a cryocooler that cools an imager. The system includes a vibration sensor that is physically affixed to the cryocooler. The vibration sensor senses a physical vibration of the cryocooler and to generates a vibration signal therefrom. The system also includes cryocooler drive electronics operatively coupled to the vibration sensor and the cryocooler. The cryocooler drive electronics output a drive waveform that drives the cryocooler so as to reduce the vibration impact of the cryocooler. The harmonic content of the cryocooler drive waveform is controlled by the cryocooler drive electronics based on the vibration signal.

The present disclosure discloses a system and a method for controlling a system with mixed-state matter including a solid-state matter with parts forming a container including a volume of fluid. The method includes collecting a feedback signal indicative of a state of the system and determining a control command to an actuator of the system at a current control step by solving an optimal control problem changing the state of the system according to a control objective subject to a heterogenous model of dynamics of the system, including a model of dynamics of the solid-state matter mutually coupled with a model of dynamics of the volume of fluid in the container. The method further includes submitting the control command to the actuator of the system to change the state of the system.

The present disclosure discloses a system and a method for controlling a system with mixed-state matter including a solid-state matter with parts forming a container including a volume of fluid. The method includes collecting a feedback signal indicative of a state of the system and determining a control command to an actuator of the system at a current control step by solving an optimal control problem changing the state of the system according to a control objective subject to a heterogenous model of dynamics of the system, including a model of dynamics of the solid-state matter mutually coupled with a model of dynamics of the volume of fluid in the container. The method further includes submitting the control command to the actuator of the system to change the state of the system.

Methods and systems for passively slowing the spin rate of an uncontrolled object in space are presented. A damper mechanism is provided that includes a magnet that is free to rotate in any direction about a central point with respect to a carrier or outer housing. The magnet can be carried within an inner element or sphere, that is in turn mounted within an outer sphere. The inner and outer spheres can be separated by a viscous fluid or other mechanism in which damping can be introduced. The damper mechanism can be associated with an attachment mechanism, that secures the resulting damper or despin system to a target object. A method of neutralizing the magnetic field is also included to enable the system to be launched in a passive state.

Methods and systems for passively slowing the spin rate of an uncontrolled object in space are presented. A damper mechanism is provided that includes a magnet that is free to rotate in any direction about a central point with respect to a carrier or outer housing. The magnet can be carried within an inner element or sphere, that is in turn mounted within an outer sphere. The inner and outer spheres can be separated by a viscous fluid or other mechanism in which damping can be introduced. The damper mechanism can be associated with an attachment mechanism, that secures the resulting damper or despin system to a target object. A method of neutralizing the magnetic field is also included to enable the system to be launched in a passive state.

A system may include an object having a rotational axis. The system may also include a first mass movably mounted to the object and configured to adjust a moment of inertia of the object by translating relative to the object along an inertial path having a first component that is perpendicular to the rotational axis. The system may additionally include a second mass movably mounted to the object and configured to: apply to the object a first torque in a first direction along the rotational axis while the moment of inertia is adjusted above a threshold value and apply to the object a second torque in a second direction along the rotational axis while the moment of inertia is adjusted below the threshold value, by translating relative to the object along a torque path having a second component that is perpendicular to the rotational axis and the first component.