Engineering Papers⌕ Search

Engineering topics

Montgomery, R. C.

Publications and source records attributed to Montgomery, R. C..

72 records · Page 4
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1977

Information distribution in distributed microprocessor based flight control systems

This paper presents an optimal control theory that accounts for variable time intervals in the information distribution to control effectors in a distributed microprocessor based flight control system. The theory is developed using a linear process model for the aircraft dynamics and the information distribution process is modeled as a variable time increment process where, at the time that information is supplied to the control effectors, the control effectors know the time of the next information update only in a stochastic sense. An optimal control problem is formulated and solved that provides the control law that minimizes the expected value of a quadratic cost function. An example is presented where the theory is applied to the control of the longitudinal motions of the F8-DFBW aircraft. Theoretical and simulation results indicate that, for the example problem, the optimal cost obtained using a variable time increment Markov information update process where the control effectors know only the past information update intervals and the Markov transition mechanism is almost identical to that obtained using a known uniform information update interval.

Montgomery, R. C.↗
NASA NTRS1976

A moving-window parameter adaptive control system for the F8-DFBW aircraft

This paper describes the moving-window parameter adaptive control system developed for the NASA F8-DFBW aircraft. The control system employs a parameter identification process that, iteratively, adjusts parameters of a model of the aircraft motions in a batch processing manner so that responses generated from the model fit the outputs of sensors stored in a finite record referred to as the moving window. Tests are made on the validity of the parameter estimates before using the parameters in an on-line design process. The on-line design process is an algebraic mapping of the parameters of the model into primary control system feedback and feedforward gains. The mapping was selected to satisfy specific flying quality characteristics over the range of parameter variations expected. Results are presented from simulation studies on the identification algorithm, tests for parameter validity, and the on-line design process.

Montgomery, R. C.↗
NASA NTRS1975

Failure detection and control-system reconfiguration: Past, present, and future

The history of failure detection and redundancy management in aircraft applications is reviewed. To date, techniques related to that subject have been based mainly on hardware duplication of like components with failure monitoring and switchover or averaging for redundancy management. Specific examples of these techniques are discussed as they have been applied to the NASA F-8 Digital Fly-by-Wire aircraft and are to be applied to the space shuttle vehicle in the near future.

Montgomery, R. C.↗
NASA NTRS1974

Management of analytical redundancy in digital flight control systems for aircraft

This paper presents a design method for optimal redundancy management for nonlinear systems with application to highly maneuvering aircraft. The approach taken is based on selecting the failure states to be covered by the system design and constructing a cost function that represents the cost of making an incorrect decision. The decision logic which minimizes the cost requires a bank of extended Kalman filters running in parallel. This produces a severe computational requirement. To reduce this requirement, a suboptimal logic is developed based on using a nonlinear single-stage prediction algorithm in the filters with filter gains and decision logic selected using steady-state results obtained from a linearization of the vehicle and sensor dynamics. The design process is then applied to designing a redundancy management system for the F8-C aircraft. Results indicate that the system is superior in failure detection to a system using the same structure but using a linear single-stage prediction algorithm in the filters.

Montgomery, R. C.↗
NASA NTRS1974

A self-reorganizing digital flight control system for aircraft

This paper presents a design method for digital self-reorganizing control systems which is optimally tolerant of failures in aircraft sensors. The functions of this system are accomplished with software instead of the popular and costly technique of hardware duplication. The theoretical development, based on M-ary hypothesis testing, results in a bank of M Kalman filters operating in parallel in the failure detection logic. A moving window of the innovations of each Kalman filter drives the detection logic to decide the failure state of the system. The detection logic also selects the optimal state estimate (for control logic) from the bank of Kalman filters. The design process is applied to the design of a self-reorganizing control system for a current configuration of the space shuttle orbiter at Mach 5 and 120,000 feet. The failure detection capabilities of the system are demonstrated using a real-time simulation of the system with noisy sensors.

Montgomery, R. C.↗
NASA NTRS1973

Evaluation of glide paths for landing a VTOL airplane using linear regulator theory.

A method of evaluating certain characteristics of approach paths for VTOL airplanes is presented which is based on the solution of the matrix Riccati equation to obtain an optimal state variable feedback controller. The longitudinal equations of motion of the airplane are linearized about a preselected path and the resulting system of equations is treated as a linear, time-varying regulator. The controller which minimizes a quadratic cost function is applied to the linearized system to determine the airplane's ability to return to the prescribed path given a specified initial error in altitude. The procedure is applied to the XC-142A, tilt-wing, V/STOL airplane, under decelerating approach conditions with a glide path consisting of two segments, the first having a smaller angle of descent than the second.

Reid, G. F.↗
NASA NTRS1972

The use of minimum order state observers in digital flight-control systems.

This paper deals with the problem of selecting the 'arbitrary' design parameters of digital state observers when they are being used as a part of a digital flight-control system. A cost index is developed which indicates the output noise caused by input quantization due to analog-to-digital conversion. The cost index assumes that the input quantization error is uniformly distributed over the least-significant-bit of the conversion. Formulas relating the cost index to the observer design parameters are presented. The cost index is minimized with respect to the design parameters using a conjugate gradient algorithm. An example of the theory is presented in which a digital observer is designed so that a satisfactory digital flight-control system is obtained starting from an unacceptable one.

Montgomery, R. C.↗
NASA NTRS1972

Design of a digital adaptive control system for reentry vehicles.

The flying qualities of atmospheric reentry vehicles experience considerable variations due to the wide changes in flight conditions characteristic of reentry trajectories. A digital adaptive control system has been designed to modify the vehicle's dynamic characteristics and to provide desired flying qualities for all flight conditions. This adaptive control system consists of a finite-memory identifier which determines the vehicle's unknown parameters, and a gain computer which calculates feedback gains to satisfy flying quality requirements.

Picon-Jimenez, J. L.↗
NASA NTRS1971

Development and application of a gradient method for solving differential games

A technique for solving n-dimensional games is developed and applied to two pursuit-evasion games. The first is a two-dimensional game similar to the homicidal chauffeur but modified to resemble an airplane-helicopter engagement. The second is a five-dimensional game of two airplanes at constant altitude and with thrust and turning controls. The performance function to be optimized by the pursuer and evader was the distance between the evader and a given target point in front of the pursuer. The analytic solution to the first game reveals that both unique and nonunique solutions exist. A comparison between the gradient results and the analytic solution shows a dependence on the nominal controls in regions where nonunique solutions exist. In the unique solution region, the results from the two methods agree closely. The results for the five-dimensional two-airplane game are also shown to be dependent on the nominal controls selected and indicate that initial conditions are in a region of nonunique solutions.

Roberts, D. A.↗