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At least 379 records · Page 21

Extremum-Seeking-Based Ultra-local Model Predictive Control and Its Application to Electric Motor Speed Regulation

Electric vehicle (EV) market is rapidly expanding. As a critical component of EV, an electric motor needs to accurately follow a reference speed signal while respecting the electrical current constraint for safety. Those requirements are usually formulated as a model predictive control (MPC) problem. However, the performance of traditional model-based MPC depends on the accuracy of the system model, which may not always be guaranteed in reality. Therefore, we utilize a data-driven, model-free predictive control strategy, called ultra-local MPC (ULMPC), to control the speed of an electric motor. To further enhance the control performance of ULMPC, we employ the extremum-seeking control (ESC) to tune the control gain of the ULMPC online. Simulation and hardware experiments demonstrate the enhancement of the extremum-seeking-based ULMPC over a constant-gain ULMPC.

Zhou, Yujing↗

On the reality of the Venus winds

The article presents a rebuttal of Young's (1975) view that the 140 m/sec horizontal wind at 45 km reported by Venera 8 is anomalous or spurious. Some errors are discussed and the largest contribution is attributed to descent probe measurements designed to find the true probe descent rate. Young's suggestion of error in in situ measurement of winds due to selection of a reference speed and to unrecognized oscillator drift is scrutinized. Evidence is seen for a wide band of variable high-grade retrograde horizontal winds girdling Venus at the equator. Mariner 10 evidence (UV photographs) is taken into account. The band of winds at 45 km is seen to extend well beyond the top of the visible cloud, and an upper turbulent region is attributed to vertical convection currents carried along by high-speed horizontal winds.

Ainsworth, J. E.↗

Theoretical Study of Response of InGaAs Metal-Semiconductor-Metal Photodetectors

We present a theoretical investigation of the response of metal-semiconductor-metal (MSM) photodetectors made of InGaAs lattice-matched to InP using a two-dimensional drift-diffusion model with a thermionic-field emission boundary condition for the heterojunctions. The effect of including a top InAlAs layer to increase the effective barrier height of the metal fingers on the InGaAs active layer is thoroughly examined and found to limit the collection of the photocurrent signal due to the electron and hole barriers that it forms with InGaAs. Due to the thickness and height of the InAlAs barrier layer in existing designs, the tunneling current obtained from the model is found to be negligibly small to significantly affect the output signal current. In an attempt to obtain a better response, different design structures including one where a quasi-Schottky contact is utilized are studied and their speed of response, breakdown voltage, and dark current are compared to that of the usual InGaAs device.

Salem, Ali F.↗

NASA/GE Highly-Loaded Turbine Research Program

An overview of the NASA/GE Highly-Loaded Turbine Research Program at the NASA Glenn Research Center is presented. The program is sponsored by the Subsonic Fixed Wing Project of the Fundamental Aeronautics Program. The goals of the turbine research program are presented along with their relationship to the higher-level program goals. Two turbine research programs are described; the highly-loaded, single-stage high pressure turbine (HPT) and the highly loaded low pressure turbine (LPT). The HPT program is centered on an extremely high pressure ratio single-stage turbine with an engine stage pressure ratio of 5.5. It was designed with a 33% increase in stage loading. It has shown performance levels 2 points better than current engines operating at the higher work level. Some advantages of the turbine include reduced weight and parts count. Optimization of the blade shape to reduce shock losses is described. The LPT program utilizes a four-stage low pressure turbine with an integral first stage vane/transition duct strut; counterrotation; low-solidity blading; fully optimized flowpath including vanes, blades, and endwalls; and a fluidically controlled turbine vane frame/exit guide vane. The implementation of the LPT into GE s and NASA s test facilities is described. A description of NASA s Single Spool Turbine Facility that is currently under renovation is given. The new, upgraded facility is compared to its predecessor. Renovation design requirements are outlined. Facility limits on pressures, temperatures, flow rates, rotational speeds, and power absorption are described. The current renovation status is given.

Giel, Paul W.↗

High-Speed On-Board Data Processing for Science Instruments

A new development of on-board data processing platform has been in progress at NASA Langley Research Center since April, 2012, and the overall review of such work is presented in this paper. The project is called High-Speed On-Board Data Processing for Science Instruments (HOPS) and focuses on a high-speed scalable data processing platform for three particular National Research Council's Decadal Survey missions such as Active Sensing of CO2 Emissions over Nights, Days, and Seasons (ASCENDS), Aerosol-Cloud-Ecosystems (ACE), and Doppler Aerosol Wind Lidar (DAWN) 3-D Winds. HOPS utilizes advanced general purpose computing with Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) based algorithm implementation techniques. The significance of HOPS is to enable high speed on-board data processing for current and future science missions with its reconfigurable and scalable data processing platform. A single HOPS processing board is expected to provide approximately 66 times faster data processing speed for ASCENDS, more than 70% reduction in both power and weight, and about two orders of cost reduction compared to the state-of-the-art (SOA) on-board data processing system. Such benchmark predictions are based on the data when HOPS was originally proposed in August, 2011. The details of these improvement measures are also presented. The two facets of HOPS development are identifying the most computationally intensive algorithm segments of each mission and implementing them in a FPGA-based data processing board. A general introduction of such facets is also the purpose of this paper.

Beyon, Jeffrey Y.↗

Simulation of Non-Linear Transonic Aeroelastic Behavior on the B-2

At high subsonic flight speeds, large flexible aircraft begin to encounter unsteady airloads which are not predicted by most currently available aerodynamic analysis and design methods. With increasing speed and the development of transonic flow and shocks, viscous effects quickly become very important, and flow separation can occur. The Northrop Grumman USAF B-2 Bomber encountered a nonlinear aeroelastic Residual Pitch Oscillation (RPO) under these conditions. Simulation studies were performed with the Computational Aeroelasticity Program-Transonic Small Disturbance, Viscous (CAPTSDv) computer program to evaluate its ability to predict these nonlinear aeroelastic responses. Open and closed loop simulations were performed to assess the participation of the flight control system. Control, system actuator hysteresis characteristics were modeled and found to be a significant participant in the RPO phenomenon. Simulations were also performed for varying Mach numbers and altitudes to establish the stability boundaries and compare with flight test data. These CAPTSDv simulations compared well with flight data and revealed many potential further modeling enhancements.

Residual pitch oscillation↗

High speed photographic study of hot wire dynamic behavior

Investigation of hot wire dynamic behavior under high-current heating aimed at a better understanding of the ignition process, using high-speed photographic techniques for visual observation of the bridgewire itself during high current heating. Tests were conducted with Tophet A bridgewires in an air environment, as well as in a cell of distilled water at room temperature, and with a boron-potassium perchlorate-Viton pyrotechnic against the bridgewire behind a Plexiglas window.

Sernas, V.↗

Whitecap coverage from aerial photography

A program for determining the feasibility of deriving sea surface wind speeds by remotely sensing ocean surface radiances in the nonglitter regions is discussed. With a knowledge of the duration and geographical extent of the wind field, information about the conventional sea state may be derived. The use of optical techniques for determining sea state has obvious limitations. For example, such means can be used only in daylight and only when a clear path of sight is available between the sensor and the surface. However, sensors and vehicles capable of providing the data needed for such techniques are planned for the near future; therefore, a secondary or backup capability can be provided with little added effort. The information currently being sought regarding white water coverage is also of direct interest to those working with passive microwave systems, the study of energy transfer between winds and ocean currents, the aerial estimation of wind speeds, and many others.

Austin, R. W.↗

The NASA Altitude Wind Tunnel (AWT): Its role in advanced icing research and development

Currently experimental aircraft icing research is severely hampered by limitations of ground icing simulation facilities. Existing icing facilities do not have the size, speed, altitude, and icing environment simulation capabilities to allow accurate studies to be made of icing problems occurring for high speed fixed wing aircraft and rotorcraft. Use of the currently dormant NASA Lewis Altitude Wind Tunnel (AWT), as a proposed high speed propulsion and adverse weather facility, would allow many such problems to be studied. The characteristics of the AWT related to adverse weather simulation and in particular to icing simulation are discussed, and potential icing research programs using the AWT are also included.

Blaha, B. J.↗

The NASA altitude wind tunnel - Its role in advanced icing research and development

Currently experimental aircraft icing research is severly hampered by limitations of ground icing simulation facilities. Existing icing facilities do not have the size, speed, altitude, and icing environment simulation capabilities to allow accurate studies to be made of icing problems occurring for high speed fixed wing aircraft and rotorcraft. Use of the currently dormant NASA Lewis Altitude Wind Tunnel (AWT), as a proposed high speed propulsion and adverse weather facility, would allow many such problems to be studied. The characteristics of the AWT related to adverse weather simulation and in particular to icing simulation are discussed, and potential icing research programs using the AWT are also included.

Blaha, B. J.↗

Aerodynamic design data for a cruise-matched high performance single-engine airplane

Design data are presented for a class of high-performance single-engine business airplanes. The design objectives include a cruise speed of 300 knots, a cruise altitude of 10,700 m (35,000 ft), a cruise payload of six passengers (including crew and baggage), and a no-reserves cruise range of 1300 n.mi. Two unconventional aerodynamic technologies were evaluated: the individual and combined effects of cruise-matched wing loading and of a natural laminar flow airfoil were analyzed. The trade-off data presented illustrate the ranges of wing geometries, propulsion requirements, airplane weights, and aerodynamic characteristics which are necessary to meet the design objectives. Very large design and performance improvements resulted from use of the aerodynamic technologies evaluated. It is shown that the potential exists for achieving more than 200-percent greater fuel efficiency than is achieved by current airplanes capable of similar cruise speeds, payloads, and ranges.

Holmes, B. J.↗

OTVE turbopump condition monitoring, task E.5

Recent work has been carried out on development of isotope wear analysis and optical and eddy current technologies to provide bearing wear measurements and real time monitoring of shaft speed, shaft axial displacement and shaft orbit of the Orbit Transfer Vehicle hydrostatic bearing tester. Results show shaft axial displacement can be optically measured (at the same time as shaft orbital motion and speed) to within 0.3 mils by two fiberoptic deflectometers. Evaluation of eddy current probes showed that, in addition to measuring shaft orbital motion, they can be used to measure shaft speed without having to machine grooves on the shaft surface as is the usual practice for turbomachinery. The interim results of this condition monitoring effort are presented.

Coleman, Paul T.↗

Information Carried by Electromagnetic Radiation Launched from Accelerated Polarization Currents

We show experimentally that a continuous, linear, dielectric antenna in which a superluminal polarization-current distribution accelerates can be used to transmit a broadband signal that is reproduced in a comprehensible form at a chosen target distance and angle. The requirement for this exact correspondence between broadcast and received signals is that each moving point in the polarization-current distribution approaches the target at the speed of light at all times during its transit along the antenna. This results in a one-to-one correspondence between the time at which each point on the moving polarization current enters the antenna and the time at which all of the radiation emitted by this particular point during its transit through the antenna arrives simultaneously at the target. This has the effect of reproducing the desired time dependence of the original broadcast signal. For other observer-detector positions, the time dependence of the signal is scrambled, due to the nontrivial relationship between emission (retarded) time and reception time. This technique represents a contrast to conventional radio transmission methods; in most examples of the latter, signals are broadcast with little or no directivity, selectivity of reception being achieved through the use of narrow frequency bands. In place of this, the current paper uses a spread of frequencies to transmit information to a particular location; the signal is weaker and has a scrambled time dependence elsewhere. Here, we point out the possible relevance of this mechanism to 5G neighborhood networks and pulsar astronomy.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Simulation of Flywheel Energy Storage System Controls

This paper presents the progress made in the controller design and operation of a flywheel energy storage system. The switching logic for the converter bridge circuit has been redefined to reduce line current harmonics, even at the highest operating speed of the permanent magnet motor-generator. An electromechanical machine model is utilized to simulate charge and discharge operation of the inertial energy in the flywheel. Controlling the magnitude of phase currents regulates the rate of charge and discharge. The resulting improvements are demonstrated by simulation.

Truong, Long V.↗

Design and Optimization of an Open Rotor Stage

Open rotor propulsors enable greatly increased effective bypass ratios over current aircraft engines, resulting in significantly improved efficiencies. One of the most promising of these geometries is the “open fan”, which consists of a single rotor followed by a single stator. This configuration will be referred to as an “open rotor stage” for design work at NASA. In this work we consider the multidisciplinary design and optimization of an open rotor stage using a variety of 2D and 3D techniques. The 2D aerodynamic techniques used for design include a 2D Trefftz plane method, axisymmetric throughflow, and quasi-3D blade-to-blade CFD. Aerodynamic performance is prioritized, while structural requirements are met and some acoustic considerations are included. Between the rotor, stator, and hub profiles, a total of 101 design variables are used. Differences in the process of designing an open rotor stage vs. designing other high-speed propellers are also discussed. The current design, the NASA Optimized Propulsor for Efficiency and Noise (N-OPEN-1), achieves 84.7% net efficiency as predicted by 3D CFD, with further improvements expected to be possible. This design makes effective use of a slower rotor and a less tip-loaded work distribution than typical single-rotation propellers, allowing the stator to produce 14.8% of the thrust. Laminar flow on the blades was responsible for a 1.7% efficiency benefit and warrants further study.

Open rotors↗

Design and Optimization of an Open Rotor Stage

Open rotor propulsors enable greatly increased effective bypass ratios over current aircraft engines, resulting in significantly improved efficiencies. One of the most promising of these geometries is the “open fan”, which consists of a single rotor followed by a single stator. This configuration will be referred to as an “open rotor stage” for design work at NASA. In this work we consider the multidisciplinary design and optimization of an open rotor stage using a variety of 2D and 3D techniques. The 2D aerodynamic techniques used for design include a 2D Trefftz plane method, axisymmetric throughflow, and quasi-3D blade-to-blade CFD. Aerodynamic performance is prioritized, while structural requirements are met and some acoustic considerations are included. Between the rotor, stator, and hub profiles, a total of 101 design variables are used. Differences in the process of designing an open rotor stage vs. designing other high-speed propellers are also discussed. The current design, the NASA Optimized Propulsor for Efficiency and Noise (N-OPEN-1), achieves 84.7% net efficiency as predicted by 3D CFD, with further improvements expected to be possible. This design makes effective use of a slower rotor and a less tip-loaded work distribution than typical single-rotation propellers, allowing the stator to produce 14.8% of the thrust. Laminar flow on the blades was responsible for a 1.7% efficiency benefit and warrants further study.

turbomachinery↗

Emerging Space Nuclear Power Needs

Growing interest in new classes of military and civil space systems which demand substantial increases in power over current satellites is generating a renewed interest in space qualified nuclear power systems. Indeed, one can say that power is a limiting technology to the achievement of many future goals in space. The speed of nuclear power system development is currently limited by the lack of a clear distinct definition of system requirements. Emerging system requirements are discussed for the following fields: robust surveillance systems, survivable communication systems with anti-jam capabilities, electric propulsion systems, and weapons applications.

Redd, F. J.↗

SOI N-Channel Field Effect Transistors, CHT-NMOS80, for Extreme Temperatures

Extreme temperatures, both hot and cold, are anticipated in many of NASA space exploration missions as well as in terrestrial applications. One can seldom find electronics that are capable of operation under both regimes. Even for operation under one (hot or cold) temperature extreme, some thermal controls need to be introduced to provide appropriate ambient temperatures so that spacecraft on-board or field on-site electronic systems work properly. The inclusion of these controls, which comprise of heating elements and radiators along with their associated structures, adds to the complexity in the design of the system, increases cost and weight, and affects overall reliability. Thus, it would be highly desirable and very beneficial to eliminate these thermal measures in order to simplify system's design, improve efficiency, reduce development and launch costs, and improve reliability. These requirements can only be met through the development of electronic parts that are designed for proper and efficient operation under extreme temperature conditions. Silicon-on-insulator (SOI) based devices are finding more use in harsh environments due to the benefits that their inherent design offers in terms of reduced leakage currents, less power consumption, faster switching speeds, good radiation tolerance, and extreme temperature operability. Little is known, however, about their performance at cryogenic temperatures and under wide thermal swings. The objective of this work was to evaluate the performance of a new commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) SOI parts over an extended temperature range and to determine the effects of thermal cycling on their performance. The results will establish a baseline on the suitability of such devices for use in space exploration missions under extreme temperatures, and will aid mission planners and circuit designers in the proper selection of electronic parts and circuits. The electronic part investigated in this work comprised of a CHT-NMOS80 high temperature N-channel MOSFET (metal-oxide semiconductor field-effect transistor) device that was manufactured by CISSOID. This high voltage, medium-power transistor is fabricated using SOI processes and is designed for extreme wide temperature applications such as geothermal well logging, aerospace and avionics, and automotive industry. It has a high DC current capability and is specified for operation in the temperature range of -55 C to +225 C

Patterson, Richard L.↗