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At least 289 records · Page 16
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1974

Survey of aircraft subcritical flight flutter testing methods

The results of a survey of U. S., British and French subcritical aircraft flight flutter testing methods are presented and evaluation of the applicability of these methods to the testing of the space shuttle are discussed. Ten U. S. aircraft programs covering the large civil transport aircraft and a variety of military aircraft are reviewed. In addition, three major French and British programs are covered by the survey. The significant differences between the U. S., French and British practices in the areas of methods of excitation, data acquisition, transmission and analysis are reviewed. The effect of integrating the digital computer into the flight flutter test program is discussed. Significant saving in analysis and flight test time are shown to result from the use of special digital computer routines and digital filters.

Rosenbaum, R.↗
NASA NTRS1978

Information extraction from digital images of the earth and the planets

An overview is presented of recent developments at the JPL Image Processing Laboratory which emphasize the utilization of a digital computer to automate the process of information extraction from digital imagery. Consideration is given to: (1) the analysis of Viking Orbiter stereo imagery to determine elevation profiles of the Mars surface, (2) the use of Viking Lander stereo imagery to determine nonhazardous surface sample acquisition strategies, (3) the correlation of Landsat imagery with geographically referenced cultural data to determine land use trends, and (4) the generation of mosaics using digital computer techniques.

Green, W. B.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Helicopter terminal approach using differential GPS with vertical-axis enhancement

The NAVSTAR Global Positioning System (GPS) in differential mode (DGPS) has been shown to be least accurate in the vertical axis. The vertical axis also has the most stringent accuracy requirements for aircraft precision approach and landing. A series of flight tests were conducted to evaluate a concept for improving the DGPS vertical axis navigation performance. These tests incorporated augmentation sensors to aid the DGPS navigation solution during terminal approach operations. A GPS receiver was installed on board a NASA helicopter and interfaced with a real-time digital computer system. A reconfigurable navigation filter programmed in the digital computer provided an augmented DGPS solution, with selectable inputs from a low-cost vertical accelerometer, a barometric altimeter, and the aircraft attitude gyros. The reference aircraft position was determined by a laser tracker. Extensive post-test analysis was done to optimize the filter performance during the terminal approach operation. Test results show that baro-altimeter aiding can significantly improve vertical axis performance. Follow-on tests are planned for the optimized configurations.

Edwards, F. G.↗
NASA NTRS1976

Airborne Advanced Reconfigurable Computer System (ARCS)

A digital computer subsystem fault-tolerant concept was defined, and the potential benefits and costs of such a subsystem were assessed when used as the central element of a new transport's flight control system. The derived advanced reconfigurable computer system (ARCS) is a triple-redundant computer subsystem that automatically reconfigures, under multiple fault conditions, from triplex to duplex to simplex operation, with redundancy recovery if the fault condition is transient. The study included criteria development covering factors at the aircraft's operation level that would influence the design of a fault-tolerant system for commercial airline use. A new reliability analysis tool was developed for evaluating redundant, fault-tolerant system availability and survivability; and a stringent digital system software design methodology was used to achieve design/implementation visibility.

Bjurman, B. E.↗
NASA NTRS1972

Prediction of unsteady aerodynamic loadings caused by trailing edge control surface motions in subsonic compressible flow: Computer program description

A digital computer program has been developed to calculate unsteady loadings caused by motions of lifting surfaces with trailing edge control based on the subsonic kernal function approach. The pressure singularities at hinge line and side edges have been extracted analytically as a preliminary step to solving the integral by collocation. The program calculates generalized aerodynamic forces for user supplied deflection modes. Optional intermediate output includes pressure at an array of points, and sectional generalized forces. From one to four controls on the half span can be accommodated.

Redman, M. C.↗
NASA NTRS1975

Prediction of unsteady aerodynamic loadings caused by leading edge and trailing edge control surface motions in subsonic compressible flow: Computer program description

A digital computer program has been developed to calculate unsteady loadings caused by motions of lifting surfaces with leading edge or trailing edge controls based on the subsonic kernel function approach. The pressure singularities at hinge line and side edges have been extracted analytically as a preliminary step to solving the integral equation by collocation. The program calculates generalized aerodynamic forces for user supplied deflection modes. Optional intermediate output includes pressure at an array of points, and sectional generalized forces. From one to six controls on the half span can be accommodated.

Redman, M. C.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Reduction of computer usage costs in predicting unsteady aerodynamic loadings caused by control surface motions: Computer program description

A digital computer program was developed to calculate unsteady loadings caused by motions of lifting surfaces with leading edge and trailing edge controls based on the subsonic kernel function approach. The pressure singularities at hinge line and side edges were extracted analytically as a preliminary step to solving the integral equation of collocation. The program calculates generalized aerodynamic forces for user supplied deflection modes. Optional intermediate output includes pressure at an array of points, and sectional generalized forces. From one to six controls on the half span can be accomodated.

Petrarca, J. R.↗
NASA NTRS1964

Digital cardiometer computes and displays heartbeat rate

To compute the heartbeat rate from the waveform output of an electrocardiogram, a digital cardiometer with solid state circuit elements has been developed. This computes the beat every 15 seconds and visually presents the data on numerical display tubes.

Mitchell, V. M.↗
NASA NTRS1966

Integrated telemetry-computer system

Feasibility analysis for integration of digital computer with pulse frequency modulation signal reduction and conversion system

DIGITAL COMPUTER↗
NASA NTRS1980

Space shuttle main engine digital controller

The controller provides responsive control of engine thrust and mixture ratio through the digital computer in the controller, updating the instructions to the engine control elements 50 times per second (every 20 milliseconds). Additionally, precise engine performance is achieved through closed loop control, utilizing 16 bit computation, 10 bit input/output resolution, and self calibrating analog-to-digital conversion. Engine reliability is enhanced by a dual redundant control system that allows normal operation after the first failure and a fail-safe shutdown after a second failure. The digital computer is programmable, allowing modification of engine control equations and constants by change of the stored program (software). The controller is packaged in a sealed, pressurized chassis with cooling provided by convection heat transfer through pin fins as part of the main chassis. The electronics are distributed on functional modules having special provisions for thermal and vibrational protection.

Mitchell, W. T.↗