Design and Validation of a Modular Motion Control System for a Spectral Characterization Bench

This thesis, conducted in collaboration with Sodern–ArianeGroup, addresses the modernization of a spectral characterization bench dedicated to the qualification of space-grade optical filters—a key instrument ensuring spectral accuracy and stability in aerospace applications. The legacy motion control subsystem, based on proprietary hardware and undocumented software, had become a critical bottleneck in terms of maintainability, precision, and scalability. To overcome these limitations, a modular industrial motion control architecture was designed and validated, centered on a Zaber X-MCC controller. The work followed a complete engineering workflow, including system analysis, design and wiring of a two-axis prototype, hardware–software co-integration, and the development of modular control interfaces using LabWindows/CVI. The proposed framework enables precise stepper motor actuation, incremental encoder feedback, and digital triggering of electromechanical devices, all within cleanroom-compatible constraints. Experimental validation on Sodern’s optical metrology infrastructure confirmed both compliance with industrial requirements (electrical, mechanical, and environmental) and a significant improvement in operational performance: a representative spectral scan was completed in thirty minutes instead of five hours. Beyond its functional validation, this work contributes a scalable and reproducible methodology for industrial motion control applied to optical metrology benches, providing a foundation for future multi-axis implementations and broader test system standardization across space instrumentation platforms.