Engineering topics

Groom, N. J.

Publications and source records attributed to Groom, N. J..

At least 19 records

NASA NTRS1994

Implementation of a decoupled controller for a magnetic suspension system using electromagnets mounted in a planar array

An implementation of a decoupled, single-input/single-output control approach for a large angle magnetic suspension test fixture is described. Numerical and experimental results are presented. The experimental system is a laboratory model large gap magnetic suspension system which provides five degree-of-freedom control of a cylindrical suspended element. The suspended element contains a core composed of permanent magnet material and is levitated above five electromagnets mounted in a planar array.

Cox, D. E.↗

NASA NTRS1985

An overview of integrated flywheel technology for aerospace application

Space missions ranging from small scientific satellites to large manned spacecraft have, for many years, utilized systems of spinning flywheels to maintain vehicle attitude. These systems have included momentum and reaction wheels as well as control moment gyros. Extension of that technology to satisfy the additional tasks associated with energy storage has also been pursued. The combining of control and energy storage features into one system has been examined by NASA for space applications and demonstrated in the laboratory. The impact of technology advances in such areas as composite material rotors, magnetic suspensions, motor/generators, and electronics have prompted a re-evaluation of the viability of the flywheel storage system concept for aerospace applications. This paper summarizes the results of this re-examination and identifies shortfalls in the various technology areas.

Keckler, C. R.↗

NASA NTRS1984

An Assessment of Integrated Flywheel System Technology

The current state of the technology in flywheel storage systems and ancillary components, the technology in light of future requirements, and technology development needs to rectify these shortfalls were identified. Technology efforts conducted in Europe and in the United States were reviewed. Results of developments in composite material rotors, magnetic suspension systems, motor/generators and electronics, and system dynamics and control were presented. The technology issues for the various disciplines and technology enhancement scenarios are discussed. A summary of the workshop, and conclusions and recommendations are presented.

Keckler, C. R.↗

NASA NTRS1984

Description of a laboratory model Annular Momentum Control Device (AMCD)

The basic concept of the Annular Momentum Control Device (AMCD) is that of a rotating annular rim suspended by noncontacting magnetic bearings and driven by a noncontacting electromagnetic spin motor. The purpose of this paper is to highlight some of the design requirements for AMCD's in general and describe how these requirements were met in the implementation of laboratory test model AMCD. An AMCD background summary is presented.

Groom, N. J.↗

NASA NTRS1984

Overview of magnetic bearing control and linearization approaches for annular magnetically suspended devices

An overview of magnetic bearing control and linearization approaches which have been considered for annular magnetically suspended devices is presented. These devices include the Annular Momentum Control Device and the Annular Suspension and Pointing System. Two approaches were investigated for controlling the magnetic actuator. One approach involves controlling the upper and lower electromagnets differentially about a bias flux. The bias flux can either be supplied by permanent magnets in the magnetic circuit or by bias currents. In the other approach, either the upper electromagnet or the lower electromagnet is controlled depending on the direction of force required. One advantage of the bias flux is that for small gap perturbations about a fixed operating point, the force-current characteristic is linear. Linearization approaches investigated for individual element control include an analog solution of the nonlinear electromagnet force equation and a microprocessor-based table lookup method.

Groom, N. J.↗

NASA NTRS1983

Integrated Flywheel Technology, 1983

Topics of discussion included: technology assessment of the integrated flywheel systems, potential of system concepts, identification of critical areas needing development and, to scope and define an appropriate program for coordinated activity.

Keckler, C. R.↗

NASA NTRS1983

Annular Momentum Control Device (AMCD)

The Annular Momentum Control Device (AMCD) concept, applications, and advantages as a momentum storage device are discussed. A laboratory test model AMCD was designed and built. The laboratory model AMCD is described and the results of the laboratory model test phase are presented. The efforts required to complete the AMCD laboratory model test phase are outlined.

Groom, N. J.↗

NASA NTRS1983

Advanced Control and Power System (ACAPS) Technology Program

The advanced control and power system (ACAPS) program is to establish the technology necessary to satisfy space station and related large space structures requirements for efficient, reliable, and cost effective energy storage and attitude control. Technology advances in the area of integrated flywheel systems capable of performing the dual functions of energy storage and attitude control are outlined.

Keckler, C. R.↗

NASA NTRS1982

Electric Flight Systems

Materials illustrating presentations on the development of electric flight systems for the all-electric aircraft and for spacecraft are presented.

Groom, N. J.↗

NASA NTRS1981

Rim inertial measuring system

The invention includes an angular momentum control device (AMCD) having a rim and several magnetic bearing stations. The AMCD is in a strapped down position on a spacecraft. Each magnetic bearing station comprises means, including an axial position sensor, for controlling the position of the rim in the axial direction; and means, including a radial position sensor, for controlling the position of the rim in the radial direction. A first computer receives the signals from all the axial position sensors and computes the angular rates about first and second mutually perpendicular axes in the plane of the rim and computes the linear acceleration along a third axis perpendicular to the first and second axes. A second computer receives the signals from all the radial position sensors and computes the linear accelerations along the first and second axes.

Groom, N. J.↗

NASA NTRS1981

A microprocessor-based table lookup approach for magnetic bearing linearization

An approach for producing a linear transfer characteristic between force command and force output of a magnetic bearing actuator without flux biasing is presented. The approach is microprocessor based and uses a table lookup to generate drive signals for the magnetic bearing power driver. An experimental test setup used to demonstrate the feasibility of the approach is described, and test results are presented. The test setup contains bearing elements similar to those used in a laboratory model annular momentum control device.

Groom, N. J.↗

NASA NTRS1981

Analysis and simulation of a magnetic bearing suspension system for a laboratory model annular momentum control device

A linear analysis and the results of a nonlinear simulation of a magnetic bearing suspension system which uses permanent magnet flux biasing are presented. The magnetic bearing suspension is part of a 4068 N-m-s (3000 lb-ft-sec) laboratory model annular momentum control device (AMCD). The simulation includes rigid body rim dynamics, linear and nonlinear axial actuators, linear radial actuators, axial and radial rim warp, and power supply and power driver current limits.

Groom, N. J.↗

NASA NTRS1981

Description of a digital computer simulation of an Annular Momentum Control Device (AMCD) laboratory test model

A description of a digital computer simulation of an Annular Momentum Control Device (AMCD) laboratory model is presented. The AMCD is a momentum exchange device which is under development as an advanced control effector for spacecraft attitude control systems. The digital computer simulation of this device incorporates the following models: six degree of freedom rigid body dynamics; rim warp; controller dynamics; nonlinear distributed element axial bearings; as well as power driver and power supply current limits. An annotated FORTRAN IV source code listing of the computer program is included.

Woolley, C. T.↗

NASA NTRS1980

Modal damping enhancement in large space structures using AMCD's

The use of an annular momentum control device (AMCD) is proposed for enhancing the modal damping of large space structures (LSS's) during fine pointing missions. Theoretical and experimental studies proved that an AMCD cannot destabilize the LSS and that the system is asymptotically stable under certain conditions.

Joshi, S. M.↗

NASA NTRS1980

Finite element structural model of a large, thin, completely free, flat plate

A finite element structural model of a 30.48 m x 30.48 m x 2.54 mm completely free aluminum plate is described and modal frequencies and mode shape data for the first 44 modes are presented. An explanation of the procedure for using the data is also presented. The model should prove useful for the investigation of controller design approaches for large flexible space structures.

Joshi, S. M.↗

NASA NTRS1980

Optimal member damper controller design for large space structures

Consideration is given to the selection of velocity feedback gains for individual dampers for the members of a structurally controlled large flexible space structure. The problem is formulated as an optimal output feedback regulator problem, and necessary conditions are derived for minimizing a quadratic performance function. The diagonal nature of the gain matrix is taken into account, along with knowledge of noise covariances. It is pointed out that the method presented offers a systematic approach to the design of a class of controllers for enhancing structural damping, which have significant potential if used in conjunction with a reduced-order optimal controller for rigid-body modes and selected structural modes.

Joshi, S. M.↗

NASA NTRS1980

A two-level controller design approach for large space structures

A controller design approach is proposed for large space structures (LSS) using an Annular Momentum Control Device (AMCD). The controller consists of a primary attitude controller and a secondary or modal damping enhancement controller. It is proved that the LSS/AMCD system using the proposed damping enhancement controller is stable in the sense of Lyapunov regardless of the number of modes in the model and without the necessity of precise knowledge of the modal frequencies and mode shapes. Numerical results obtained for the secondary controller design for a large thin flat plate indicate that the proposed method can yield satisfactory damping enhancement with small weight penalty.

Joshi, S. M.↗

NASA NTRS1979

The Rim Inertial Measuring System (RIMS)

The rim inertial measuring system (RIMS) is introduced and an approach for extracting angular rate and linear acceleration information from a RIMS unit is presented and discussed. The RIMS consists of one or more small annular momentum control devices (AMCDs), mounted in a strapped down configuration, which are used to measure angular rates and linear accelerations of a moving vehicle. An AMCD consists of a spinning rim, a set of noncontacting magnetic bearings for supporting the rim, and a noncontacting electromagnetic spin motor. The approach for extracting angular rate and linear acceleration information is for a single spacecraft mounted RIMS unit.

Groom, N. J.↗