Maximum power point tracker Patent
Power point tracker for maintaining optimal output voltage of power source
Cherdak, A. S.↗
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Results for “tracker”
Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.
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Potential star tracker interference from radiation produced by mercury bombardment thrusters
Potential star tracker interference from radiation produced by mercury bombardment thrustors using electric propulsion systems
Milder, N. L.↗
Digital canopus tracker digital electronics
Circuitry has been developed for digital control of the Canopus tracker. A feasibility and demonstration breadboard has been constructed using microelectronic integrated circuits. The breadboard contains the digital circuits necessary for closed-digital logic necessary for star acquisition, particle rejection, programmable gate selection, cone angle selection, and routing of the digital roll error signal.
Crawford, W. E.↗
An investigation and conceptual design of a holographic starfield and landmark tracker
The analysis, experiments, and design effort of this study have supported the feasibility of the basic holographic tracker concept. Image intensifiers and photoplastic recording materials were examined, along with a Polaroid rapid process silver halide material. Two reference beam, coherent optical matched filter technique was used for multiplexing spatial frequency filters for starfields. A 1 watt HeNe laser and an electro-optical readout are also considered.
Welch, J. D.↗
Optical filtering for star trackers
The optimization of optical filtering was investigated for tracking faint stars, down to the fifth magnitude. The effective wavelength and bandwidth for tracking pre-selected guide stars are discussed along with the results of an all-electronic tracker with a star tracking photomultiplier, which was tested with a simulated second magnitude star. Tables which give the sum of zodiacal light and galactic background light over the entire sky for intervals of five degrees in declination, and twenty minutes in right ascension are included.
Wilson, R. E.↗
A high-accuracy digital star tracker for advanced planetary missions.
The digital star tracker represents a novel departure from previous analog designs in terms of circuit implementation and operational capabilities. As an element of an all-digital spacecraft control system, it combines proven low-level analog signal processing with digital error control and command functions. Additional capabilities that are obtainable with the digital circuitry include programmable intensity threshold gates, commanded electronic pointing control, and an acquisition/control algorithm which minimizes the effects of straylight disturbances. The capabilities inherent in the implementation have been successfully demonstrated in a laboratory model of the instrument.
Salomon, P. M.↗
Apollo Telescope Mount (ATM) gimballed star tracker
Design and development of six gimballed star trackers for Skylab's Apollo Telescope Mount, which performed successfully on all three manned Skylab missions and accumulated a total usage time of approximately 3,500 hours, is described in terms of configurations, materials and construction, qualification testing, performance, and reliability characteristics. A brief program history and design changes incorporated during the life of the program are also discussed. Extensive drawings, block diagrams, and photographs are provided.
Lana, J. D.↗
A high-accuracy digital star tracker for advanced planetary missions
The digital star tracker represents a novel departure from previous analog designs in terms of circuit implementation and operational capabilities. As an element of an all-digital spacecraft control system, it combines proven low-level analog signal processing with digital error control and command functions. Additional capabilities that are obtainable with the digital circuitry include programmable intensity threshold gates, commanded electronic pointing control, and an acquisition/control algorithm which minimizes the effects of straylight disturbances. The capabilities inherent in the implementation have been successfully demonstrated in a laboratory model of the instrument.
Salomon, P. M.↗
Analysis for Mar Vel Black and acetylene soot low reflectivity surfaces for star tracker sunshade applications
Mar Vel Black is a revolutionary new extremely low reflectivity anodized coating developed by Martin Marietta of Denver. It is of great interest in optics in general, and in star trackers specifically because it can reduce extraneous light reflections. A sample of Mar Vel Black was evaluated. Mar Vel Black looks much like a super black surface with many small peaks and very steep sides so that any light incident upon the surface will tend to reflect many times before exiting that surface. Even a high reflectivity surface would thus appear to have a very low reflectivity under such conditions. Conversely, acetylene soot does not have the magnified surface appearance of a super black surface. Its performance is, however, predictable from the surface structure, considering the known configuration of virtually pure carbon.
Yung, E.↗
Star tracker constraint violations digital capability description and analysis results. Mission planning, mission analysis, and software formulation
Results of star tracker constraint violation analyses performed with the digital computer program Shuttle Attitude and Pointing Time Line Processor (SAPT) are presented. Results are typical of those utilized to provide the information required to update Baseline Reference Mission Attitude and Pointing Time Lines. Descriptions of SAPT modifications implemented to perform these analyses are also presented.
Poston, P. L.↗
Star tracker axis-to-sunlit earth horizon angle constraint evaluations for rendezvous operations
The results are presented of a study initiated to evaluate the star tracker axis-to-sunlit earth horizon angle constraint with respect to limitations imposed on the passive target rendezvous capability. The data presented include considerations for dispersions and sensor pointing capabilities and generalizations with respect to the uncertainties associated with the angle constraint available in practice.
Hutchison, W. L.↗
A precision star tracker utilizing advanced techniques and materials
An image dissector star tracker has been developed which operates in the photon counting mode making it possible to utilize all digital electronics. A unique pulse processing circuit allows bright stars to be tracked as well as dim stars. Thermal mechanical stability has been greatly enhanced by fabricating a housing with graphite/epoxy composite material with a linear coefficient of thermal expansion near zero. Test results indicate the +10 Mv stars can be acquired and tracked, while position variation with star intensity is less than 2 arc seconds from 2.5 Mv to +10 Mv. The noise equivalent angle for a +8 Mv star is 3 arc seconds. Polynominal correction for remaining cross-coupling and nonlinearity reduced error over total 1 x 1 deg field to 1.5 arc seconds.
Gates, R. F.↗
Modular high accuracy tracker for dual channel laser Doppler velocimeter
In the study described, a scanning dual-channel cross-beam laser Doppler velocimeter (developed for measuring simultaneously the two orthogonal components of flow velocity and turbulence intensity) was used to measure the instantaneous velocity characteristics of a model helicopter rotor and in a vortex wake survey experiment on a Boeing 747 aircraft model. Particular attention is given to a special purpose dual-loop frequency tracker developed to track and demodulate 10 microsecond wide pulse burst Doppler signals with a study cycle of 25% (or narrower signals at a higher duty cycle) generated by the laser Doppler velocimeter.
Fridman, J. D.↗
NASA laser tracker
Beginning in July of 1976, flight tests have been on the Microwave Scanning Beam Landing System (MSBLS) built for NASA. The MSBLS is designed to supply accurate guidance information to the Space Shuttle as it returns from orbit to an aircraft-type runway. Because of the broad coverage (30 by 30 degrees) and high accuracy (0.05 degree in angle, 100 feet in range) of the MSBLS, a flexible reference system with higher accuracy was required. The laser tracker has been fulfilling this requirement.
Perkins, H.↗
Four-cell solar tracker
Forty cm Sun tracker, consisting of optical telescope and four solar cells, stays pointed at Sun throughout day for maximum energy collection. Each solar cell generates voltage proportional to part of solar image it receives; voltages drive servomotors that keep image centered. Mirrored portion of cylinder extends acquisition angle of device by reflecting Sun image back onto solar cells.
Berdahl, C. M.↗
Study of a stereo electro-optical tracker system for the measurement of model deformations at the national transonic facility
An electro-optical method to measure the aeroelastic deformations of wind tunnel models is examined. The multitarget tracking performance of one of the two electronic cameras comprising the stereo pair is modeled and measured. The properties of the targets at the model, the camera optics, target illumination, number of targets, acquisition time, target velocities, and tracker performance are considered. The electronic camera system is shown to be capable of locating, measuring, and following the positions of 5 to 50 targets attached to the model at measuring rates up to 5000 targets per second.
Hertel, R. J.↗
In-flight calibration and performance evaluation of the fixed head star trackers for the solar maximum mission
The Solar Maximum Mission (SMM) spacecraft provides an excellent opportunity for evaluating attitude determination accuracies achievable with tracking instruments such as fixed head star trackers (FHSTs). As a part of its payload, SMM carries a highly accurate fine pointing Sun sensor (FPSS). The EPSS provides an independent check of the pitch and yaw parameters computed from observations of stars in the FHST field of view. A method to determine the alignment of the FHSTs relative to the FPSS using spacecraft data is applied. Two methods that were used to determine distortions in the 8 degree by 8 degree field of view of the FHSTs using spacecraft data are also presented. The attitude determination accuracy performance of the in flight calibrated FHSTs is evaluated.
Thompson, R. H.↗
Field support for solar tracker
The objectives, preparation and analysis prior to test, test results, and closed loop analysis of the solar telescope gimbal and tracker system are discussed.
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