Reproducing Capture Control in a Novel Hardware-in-the-Loop Simulation System

In space gravitational wave detection, the verification of the mass release capture phase determines subsequent mission advancement. Existing control algorithms are primarily validated through simulation, though ground-based experimental verification remains indispensable. This paper develops a two-stage torsion pendulumbased ground hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) simulation system to simulate and verify the position and attitude degrees of freedom of the test mass. An Expansive State Observer and State Feedback Control (ESO-SFC) disturbance rejection and capture controller based on an ESO and SFC was designed and compared with a PID controller. Numerical simulation results demonstrate that the ESOSFC controller outperforms the PID controller. Experimental validation was conducted on a HIL simulation system. Results confirmed the system's capability to achieve capture functionality while validating the effectiveness of both the ESO-SFC and PID control algorithms. The ESO-SFC demonstrated superior control performance to PID, with experimental outcomes consistent with simulation results. This provides a reference for test mass release capture control algorithms.