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Mckern, R. A.

Publications and source records attributed to Mckern, R. A..

Redundancy management of inertial systems.

The paper reviews developments in failure detection and isolation techniques applicable to gimballed and strapdown systems. It examines basic redundancy management goals of improved reliability, performance and logistic costs, and explores mechanizations available for both input and output data handling. The meaning of redundant system reliability in terms of available coverage, system MTBF, and mission time is presented and the practical hardware performance limitations of failure detection and isolation techniques are explored. Simulation results are presented illustrating implementation coverages attainable considering IMU performance models and mission detection threshold requirements. The implications of a complete GN&C redundancy management method on inertial techniques are also explored.

Mckern, R. A.

Failure detection and isolation of redundant inertial systems for Space Shuttle

A failure detection and isolation technique is presented for application to 'off-the-shelf' type four-gimbaled inertial measurement units (IMUs) such as the KT-70 or Carousel IV. This study concentrates initially upon actual four-gimbaled IMU performance requirements for current Space Shuttle booster and orbiter mission phases. When this information is obtained for a simplex system, the remaining area of study necessary to attain redundant IMU capabilities is the establishment of mission-dependent performance failure detection thresholds. These thresholds, then, permit a careful evaluation of the capabilities of various 'off-the-shelf' four gimbaled IMUs to satisfy the Shuttle mission performance requirements with various failure detection and isolation methods.

Brown, H. E.

Failure management of multiple gimbal inertial systems for space shuttle

A failure detection and isolation technique for use with four gimbaled inertial measurement units (IMU) is presented. By using simulated boost and entry shuttle trajectories with specific gimbaled IMU models, failure detection thresholds are developed based on red-line life dependent requirements and warning thresholds within the red-line thresholds based on expected worst case IMU performance. Using these trajectories, established trajectory threshold, and multiple IMU models, various failure detection and isolation techniques are evaluated for application in both powered and unpowered flight phases. The adequacy of the systems for both attitude and velocity detection methods is evaluated and recommendations for space shuttle applications are made.

Dove, D. W.

Redundancy management of multiple inertial systems for Space Shuttle.

Failure detection and isolation techniques are developed for application to off-the-shelf type four-gimbaled inertial measurement units such as the KT-70 or Carousel IV. By using simulated boost and entry shuttle trajectories with specific gimbaled IMU models, failure detection thresholds are developed based upon red-line life dependent requirements and warning thresholds are given within the red-line thresholds based upon expected worst case IMU performance. Using these trajectories, established trajectory thresholds, and multiple IMU models, various failure detection and isolation techniques are evaluated for application in both powered and unpowered flight phases. The adequacy of off-the-shelf systems for both attitude and velocity detection methods is evaluated and recommendations for shuttle application are made.

Dove, D. W.

Space Shuttle Avionics: a Redundant IMU On-Board Checkout and Redundancy Management System

A failure detection and isolation philosophy applicable to multiple off-the-shelf gimbaled IMUs are discussed. The equations developed are implemented and evaluated with actual shuttle trajectory simulations. The results of these simulations are presented for both powered and unpowered flight phases and at operational levels of four, three, and two IMUs. A multiple system checkout philosophy is developed and simulation results presented. The final task develops a laboratory test plan and defines the hardware and software requirements to implement an actual multiple system and evaluate the interim study results for space shuttle application.

Mckern, R. A.