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NASA NTRSDate not supplied

xEMU Suit Integrated Audio Communications System: Ambient and EVA Pressure Testing System Performance

Testing across several airlock and EVA thermal and pressure scenarios has demonstrated that the Integrated Audio System of NASA’s Exploration Extravehicular Mobility Unit (xEMU) spacesuits transmits and receives intelligible audio communications without the use of a commcap or similar worn device. The xEMU audio system consists of internal loudspeakers and digital microphones (Integrated Communications System –ICS) combined with an adaptive Acoustic Echo Canceller (AEC), outbound voice operated transmission (VOX), and automatic gain control (AGC). Transducers are mounted in an “exploded commcap” configuration with helmet-attached speakers near the ears and three microphones positioned at the collar. The AGC removes inbound audio signals (e.g.,suit, Mission Control, Lander, C&W tones) from the outbound comms stream, reducing echo and feedback (squeal) in low-noise suit environments. The reduction of worn communication equipment increases crewmember comfort, range of movement, and situational awareness. However, test results also highlight the need for proper fan, duct, pump, and gas flow integration with suit acoustics and audio. Ductwork may serve as waveguides for various component and structure-borne noise. Sharply angled ducts can generate turbulent-flow noise. Gas flow from inlets above the crewmember’s head can generate noise when cascading over the faceplate and collar (or commcap) microphones. Sufficient acoustic noise levels (1) require increased gain to boost inbound audio, and (2) may distort signals resulting in AEC disruption or artifacts. Suit-noise levels decline with reduced pressure (density), but then elevated speech and audio effort/power become necessary. Whether the Integrated Audio System, commcap, or other device is used, suit acoustic noise can mask speech in outbound comms. This reduces intelligibility and requires other AECs/devices to suppress comms noise. Yet, adjusting a few components may yield significant improvement. We discuss xEMU audio functionality, demonstrate how acoustical treatment combined with inbound signal conditioning improved clarity during tests, and discuss future modifications.

xEMU↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Development of Weigh-Out Process and Evaluations for Underwater Partial Gravity Simulations

For the upcoming Artemis lunar missions, astronauts will need to train in a spacesuit where partial gravity can be simulated such as the NASA Neutral Buoyancy Lab (NBL). At the NBL, dive weights and foam can be added around the spacesuit to attain a satisfactory center of buoyancy (CB) and center of gravity (CG) location to simulate the lunar gravity (1/6thG) effects. If CG and CB are not co-located properly, incorrect righting moments can be introduced, and both simulation quality and EVA task performance can be impaired. Based on the findings from the initial testing using xEMU spacesuits, it was observed that the weigh-out method (i.e., determination of the weights and foam quantities and position) needed further development to improve the simulation quality, especially for the subjects who experienced excessive instability. This paper aims to present the on-going effort to improve the weigh-out process for enabling NBL lunar EVA simulations. For this effort, a human-suit model was created to use suit CAD and 3D human body scans to estimate both CB and CG location for each suited subject. NBL weigh-out testing was performed to characterize the effects of CG and CB positioning, in which the 3D human-suit model was used to determine optimal weigh-out combinations of weights and foam. Postural, balance, and subjective feedback were gathered for each weigh-out configuration. The results indicated that, as the CB was shifted higher and the CB and CG located closer to each other, the subject tended to be more stable and their EVA performance improved. A high CB location was then prioritized across 4 additional subjects in both small and large size spacesuits. When compared to the initial xEMU test series, improved performance was observed across all subjects as the CB moved higher and aligned closer to the system CG.

Pouyan Sabahi↗

NASA NTRS1998

A Method for Integrating Thrust-Vectoring and Actuated Forebody Strakes with Conventional Aerodynamic Controls on a High-Performance Fighter Airplane

A method, called pseudo controls, of integrating several airplane controls to achieve cooperative operation is presented. The method eliminates conflicting control motions, minimizes the number of feedback control gains, and reduces the complication of feedback gain schedules. The method is applied to the lateral/directional controls of a modified high-performance airplane. The airplane has a conventional set of aerodynamic controls, an experimental set of thrust-vectoring controls, and an experimental set of actuated forebody strakes. The experimental controls give the airplane additional control power for enhanced stability and maneuvering capabilities while flying over an expanded envelope, especially at high angles of attack. The flight controls are scheduled to generate independent body-axis control moments. These control moments are coordinated to produce stability-axis angular accelerations. Inertial coupling moments are compensated. Thrust-vectoring controls are engaged according to their effectiveness relative to that of the aerodynamic controls. Vane-relief logic removes steady and slowly varying commands from the thrust-vectoring controls to alleviate heating of the thrust turning devices. The actuated forebody strakes are engaged at high angles of attack. This report presents the forward-loop elements of a flight control system that positions the flight controls according to the desired stability-axis accelerations. This report does not include the generation of the required angular acceleration commands by means of pilot controls or the feedback of sensed airplane motions.

Lallman, Frederick J.↗

NASA NTRS1981

Speed control for synchronous motors

Feedback circuit controls fluctuations in speed of synchronous ac motor. Voltage proportional to phase angle is developed by phase detector, rectified, amplified, compared to threshold, and reapplied positively or negatively to motor excitation circuit. Speed control reduces wow and flutter of audio turntables and tape recorders, and enhances hunting in gyroscope motors.

Packard, H.↗

NASA NTRS2014

Design and Lessons Learned on the Development of a Cryogenic Pupil Select Mechanism (PSM)

Calibration and testing of the instruments on the Integrated Science Instrument Module (ISIM) of the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) is being performed by the use of a cryogenic, full-field, optical simulator that was constructed for this purpose. The Pupil Select Mechanism (PSM) assembly is one of several mechanisms and optical elements that compose the Optical Telescope Element SIMulator, or OSIM. The PSM allows for several optical elements to be inserted into the optical plane of OSIM, introducing a variety of aberrations, distortions, obscurations, and other calibration states into the pupil plane. The following discussion focuses on the details of the design evolution, analysis, build, and test of this mechanism along with the challenges associated with creating a sub arc-minute positioning mechanism operating in an extreme cryogenic environment. In addition, difficult challenges in the control system design will be discussed including the incorporation of closed-loop feedback control into a system that was designed to operate in an open-loop fashion.

PSM Design↗

NASA NTRS2012

The Influence of Ozone Precursor Emissions from Four World Regions on Tropospheric Composition and Radiative Climate Forcing

Ozone (O3) precursor emissions influence regional and global climate and air quality through changes in tropospheric O3 and oxidants, which also influence methane (CH4) and sulfate aerosols (SO4 (sup 2-)). We examine changes in the tropospheric composition of O3, CH4, SO4 (sup 2-) and global net radiative forcing (RF) for 20% reductions in global CH4 burden and in anthropogenic O3 precursor emissions (NOx, NMVOC, and CO) from four regions (East Asia, Europe and Northern Africa, North America, and South Asia) using the Task Force on Hemispheric Transport of Air Pollution Source-Receptor global chemical transport model (CTM) simulations, assessing uncertainty (mean plus or minus 1 standard deviation) across multiple CTMs. We evaluate steady state O3 responses, including long-term feedbacks via CH4. With a radiative transfer model that includes greenhouse gases and the aerosol direct effect, we find that regional NOx reductions produce global, annually averaged positive net RFs (0.2 plus or minus 0.6 to 1.7 2 mWm(sup -2)/Tg N yr(sup -1), with some variation among models. Negative net RFs result from reductions in global CH4 (-162.6 plus or minus 2 mWm(sup -2) for a change from 1760 to 1408 ppbv CH4) and regional NMVOC (-0.4 plus or minus 0.2 to 0.7 plus or minus 0.2 mWm(sup -2)/Tg C yr(sup -1) and CO emissions (-0.13 plus or minus 0.02 to -0.15 plus or minus 0.02 mWm(sup-2)/Tg CO yr(sup-1). Including the effect of O3 on CO2 uptake by vegetation likely makes these net RFs more negative by -1.9 to- 5.2 mWm(sup -2)/Tg N yr(sup -1), -0.2 to -0.7 mWm(sup -2)/Tg C yr(sup -1), and -0.02 to -0.05 mWm(sup -2)/ Tg CO yr(sup -1). Net RF impacts reflect the distribution of concentration changes, where RF is affected locally by changes in SO4 (sup -2), regionally to hemispherically by O3, and globally by CH4. Global annual average SO4 2 responses to oxidant changes range from 0.4 plus or minus 2.6 to -1.9 plus or minus 1.3 Gg for NOx reductions, 0.1 plus or minus 1.2 to -0.9 plus or minus 0.8 Gg for NMVOC reductions, and -0.09 plus or minus 0.5 to -0.9 plus or minus 0.8 Gg for CO reductions, suggesting additional research is needed. The 100-year global warming potentials (GWP(sub 100)) are calculated for the global CH4 reduction (20.9 plus or minus 3.7 without stratospheric O3 or water vapor, 24.2 plus or minus 4.2 including those components), and for the regional NOx, NMVOC, and CO reductions (18.7 plus or minus 25.9 to 1.9 plus or minus 8.7 for NOx, 4.8 plus or minus 1.7 to 8.3 plus or minus 1.9 for NMVOC, and 1.5 plus or minus 0.4 to 1.7 plus or minus 0.5 for CO). Variation in GWP(sub 100) for NOx, NMVOC, and CO suggests that regionally specific GWPs may be necessary and could support the inclusion of O3 precursors in future policies that address air quality and climate change simultaneously. Both global net RF and GWP100 are more sensitive to NOx and NMVOC reductions from South Asia than the other three regions.

ozone↗

NASA NTRS2014

Design and Lessons Learned on the Development of a Cryogenic Pupil Select Mechanism Used in the Testing and Calibration of the Integrated Science Instrument Module (ISIM) on the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST)

Testing↗

NASA NTRS2014

Design and Lessons Learned on the Development of a Cryogenic Pupil Select Mechanism used in the Testing and Calibration of the Integrated Science Instrument Module (ISIM) on the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST)

Mitchell, Alissa↗

NASA NTRS1984

Development of the sonic pump levitation

A prototype levitating/positioning device termed the Sonic Pump Levitator was designed, built and successfully tested in full gravity and in the reduced gravity of the parabolic flight regime of the KC-135. Positioning is achieved by timely and appropriate application of gas momentum from one or more of six sonic pumps. The sonic pumps, which are arranged orthogonally in opposed pairs about the levitation region, are activated by an electro-optical, computer controlled, feedback system. The sonic pump is a transducer which is capable of converting sound energy into a directed flow of gas. It consists of a loudspeaker whose face is sealed by a closure perforated by one or more orifices. The diaphragm of the loudspeaker is the only moving part of the sonic pump, no valves being needed. This very low inertia electromechanical device was developed to provide the short response time necessary to keep pace with the demands of computerized position keeping.

Dunn, S. A.↗

NASA NTRS1989

Counterrotator And Correlator For GPS Receivers

Accurate, all-digital, high-speed processor comprising correlator and down-converter developed for receivers in Global Positioning System (GPS). Processor reduces roundoff and commensurability errors to extremely small values. Use of digital chip and phase advancers provides outstanding control and accuracy in phase and feedback. Great flexibility imparted by provision for arbitrary starting time and integration length. Minimum-bit design requires minimum number of logical elements, thereby reducing size, power, and cost.

Thomas, J. Brooks↗

NASA NTRS1991

Nonlinear feedbacks between stratocumulus and synoptic-scale systems

The research progress for FY-91 is presented. Wintertime and springtime stratocumulus observations for a number of 5-day periods were collected. Close correlations between the mean 850 and 500 mb trough positions and cloud cover over marine areas were found. A linear study of the radiatively-driven interaction between stratocumulus and synoptic-scale waves was completed. Shallow surface-bound traveling waves are created that are strongly dependent on the phase relation between cloud and low-level flow. A nonlinear model is now under development that will permit a more detailed investigation of these interactions. Finally, a nonlinear study of the modifications of the background flow by boundary layer roll vortices was revised for submission for publication. The research plans for FY-92 are included.

Clark, John H. E.↗

NASA NTRS1991

Performance evaluation of a six-axis generalized force-reflecting teleoperator

Work in real-time distributed computation and control has culminated in a prototype force-reflecting telemanipulation system having a dissimilar master (cable-driven force-reflecting hand controller) and a slave (PUMA 560 robot with custom controller), an extremely high sampling rate (1000 Hz), and a low loop computation delay (5 msec). In a series of experiments with this system and five trained test operators covering more than 100 hours of teleoperation, performance was measured in a series of generic and application-driven tasks with and without force feedback, and with control shared between teleoperation and local sensor referenced control. All performance measures improved as capability was added along a spectrum of capabilities ranging from pure position control through force-reflecting teleoperation and shared control. Performance was optimal for the bare-handed operator.

Hannaford, Blake↗

NASA NTRS2014

Application of Suomi-NPP Green Vegetation Fraction and NUCAPS for Improving Regional Numerical Weather Prediction

The NASA SPoRT Center is working to incorporate Suomi‐NPP products into its research and transition activities to improve regional numerical weather prediction (NWP). Specifically, SPoRT seeks to utilize two data products from NOAA/NESDIS: (1) daily global VIIRS green vegetation fraction (GVF), and (2) NOAA Unique CrIS and ATMS Processing System (NUCAPS) temperature and moisture retrieved profiles. The goal of (1) is to improve the representation of vegetation in the Noah land surface model (LSM) over existing climatological GVF datasets in order to improve the land‐atmosphere energy exchanges in NWP models and produce better temperature, moisture, and precipitation forecasts. The goal of (2) is to assimilate NUCAPS retrieved profiles into the Gridpoint Statistical Interpolation (GSI) data assimilation system to assess the impact on a summer pre‐frontal convection case. Most regional NWP applications make use of a monthly GVF climatology for use in the Noah LSM within the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model. The GVF partitions incoming energy into direct surface heating/evaporation over bare soil versus evapotranspiration processes over vegetated surfaces. Misrepresentations of the fractional coverage of vegetation during anomalous weather/climate regimes (e.g., early/late bloom or freeze; drought) can lead to poor NWP model results when land‐atmosphere feedback is important. SPoRT has been producing a daily MODIS GVF product based on the University of Wisconsin Direct Broadcast swaths of Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI). While positive impacts have been demonstrated in the WRF model for some cases, the reflectances composing these NDVI do not correct for atmospheric aerosols nor satellite view angle, resulting in temporal noisiness at certain locations (especially heavy vegetation). The method behind the NESDIS VIIRS GVF is expected to alleviate the issues seen in the MODIS GVF real‐time product, thereby offering a higher‐quality dataset for modeling applications. SPoRT is evaluating the VIIRS GVF data against the MODIS real‐time and climatology GVF in both WRF and the NASA Land Information System. SPoRT has a history of assimilating hyperspectral infrared retrieved profiles

Numerical Weather Prediction↗

NASA NTRS2014

Effect of Control System Augmentation on Handling Qualities and Task Performance in Good and Degraded Visual Environments

In June 2013, NASA and the U.S. Army jointly conducted a simulation experiment in the NASA-Ames Vertical Motion Simulator that examined and quantified the effects of limited-authority control system augmentation on handling qualities and task performance in both good and degraded visual environments (DVEs). The vehicle model used for the experiment was the OH-58D with similar size, weight and performance, and the same 4-blade rotor system as the Bell 407 civilian helicopter that is commonly used for medical evacuation and emergency medical services. The control systems investigated as part of this study included the baseline aircraft Rate Command system, a short-term Attitude Command/Attitude Hold system that uses lagged-rate feedback to provide a short-term attitude response, Modernized Control Laws that provide an Attitude Command/Attitude Hold control response type, and Modernized Control Laws with an additional Position Hold function. Evaluation tasks included the ADS-33 Hover, Sidestep, Acceleration/Deceleration, and Pirouette Mission Task Elements, as well as a new proposed Emergency Medical Services task that includes an approach and landing at a minimally prepared remote landing site. Degraded visual environments were simulated with night vision goggles and an unaided night scene. A total of nine experimental test pilots participated in the four-week simulation experiment. Data recorded during the evaluation included Cooper-Harper handling qualities ratings, Bedford Workload scale ratings, and task performance. The Usable Cue Environment (UCE) was measured for this simulation experiment, and found to be UCE equals 1 in good visual environments and UCE equals 2 in degraded visual environments with night vision goggles. Results showed that handling qualities ratings were improved with a control system providing short-term attitude response over a rate command system, although the improvements were not sufficient to produce Level 1 handling qualities in degraded visual environments. Results for an Attitude Command/Attitude Hold control system showed that borderline Level 1 handling qualities could be achieved in degraded visual environments, and the 10 percent authority stability augmentation system was adequate to obtain these handling qualities ratings.

Handling Qualities↗

NASA NTRS2010

Loop Shaping Control Design for a Supersonic Propulsion System Model Using Quantitative Feedback Theory (QFT) Specifications and Bounds

This paper covers the propulsion system component modeling and controls development of an integrated mixed compression inlet and turbojet engine that will be used for an overall vehicle Aero-Propulso-Servo-Elastic (APSE) model. Using previously created nonlinear component-level propulsion system models, a linear integrated propulsion system model and loop shaping control design have been developed. The design includes both inlet normal shock position control and jet engine rotor speed control for a potential supersonic commercial transport. A preliminary investigation of the impacts of the aero-elastic effects on the incoming flow field to the propulsion system are discussed, however, the focus here is on developing a methodology for the propulsion controls design that prevents unstart in the inlet and minimizes the thrust oscillation experienced by the vehicle. Quantitative Feedback Theory (QFT) specifications and bounds, and aspects of classical loop shaping are used in the control design process. Model uncertainty is incorporated in the design to address possible error in the system identification mapping of the nonlinear component models into the integrated linear model.

Connolly, Joseph W.↗

NASA NTRS1988

Robot trajectory tracking with self-tuning predicted control

A controller that combines self-tuning prediction and control is proposed for robot trajectory tracking. The controller has two feedback loops: one is used to minimize the prediction error, and the other is designed to make the system output track the set point input. Because the velocity and position along the desired trajectory are given and the future output of the system is predictable, a feedforward loop can be designed for robot trajectory tracking with self-tuning predicted control (STPC). Parameters are estimated online to account for the model uncertainty and the time-varying property of the system. The authors describe the principle of STPC, analyze the system performance, and discuss the simplification of the robot dynamic equations. To demonstrate its utility and power, the controller is simulated for a Stanford arm.

Cui, Xianzhong↗

NASA NTRS1989

Chip Advancer For GPS Receiver

Instrument errors made negligible. For each integration interval, both delay and rate of change of delay initialized to small fraction of chip - for example, to order of 10 to the negative 7th power - thereby making feedback control and extraction of delay highly accurate and flexible. With appropriate selection of sampling rate relative to chip rate, commensurability errors reduced to extremely small levels. In Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver, pseudorandom code sequence generated by simple digital logic incorporating effects of time, delay, and rate of change of delay. Flexibility in starting time and sum interval very useful in aligning correlation interval with beginnings and endings of data bits.

Meehan, Thomas K.↗

NASA NTRS1993

Techniques For Mass Production Of Tunneling Electrodes

Techniques for mass production of tunneling electrodes developed from silicon-micromachining, lithographic patterning, and related microfabrication processes. Tunneling electrodes named because electrons travel between them by quantum-mechanical tunneling; tunneling electrodes integral parts of tunneling transducer/sensors, which act in conjunction with feedback circuitry to stabilize tunneling currents by maintaining electrode separations of order of 10 Angstrom. Essential parts of scanning tunneling microscopes and related instruments, and used as force and position transducers in novel microscopic accelerometers and infrared detectors.

Kenny, Thomas W.↗