The Lab was set up based on the research demand of LAMOST and pre-study of Chinese 30~100m extra-large telescope. The main task of this Lab is to carry out the study on untra-low velocity and high tracking precision drive system and its corresponding technology, such as friction drive system, direct drive technology, synchrodrive technology of mutli-motors, mechanical tribology, non-linear control theory, and so on.

Study focus on:

1：Study on friction drive with ultra-low velocity and high accuracy

The operating velocity of astronomical telescope is very low, and the tracking accuracy is very high. Normally, the tracking velocity is about 0.1~1″/s. In this case, the backlash, stick-slip, grease hysteresis, manufacturing default, motor torque fluctuation, temperature variation and wind disturbance are the important factors to affect the driving accuracy and should be considered seriously. Finding ways to settle the slippage and creepage phenomena occuring in the friction drive is an effective way to ensure that the friction drive can be used in the large astronomical telescope and can meet the requirement of astronomical telescope high tracking accuracy.　

2: Study on drive system with high-velocity (acceleration) and high accuracy

With the developing of space technology, the tracking of man-made objects is one of the interesting research fields of astronomy. The main characteristics of tracking apparatus for man-made objects, different from stellar objects, are high motion velocity, high motion acceleration, also need high tracking accuracy. Research on this field is one of the Lab’s task.

3: Study on the new technology and measures of drive system

With the trend towards bigger and bigger aperture of astronomical telescope, it is inevitable for us to do some study on the new technology and new measure in the telescope driving system, such as multi-motor synchronization, twist-roller drive and traction drive. These new technologies of drive system, studied in the Lab, will be the alternative proposal for the future extra-large telescope project.