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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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At least 649 records · Page 36
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS2018

Traction Control Design and Integration Onboard the Mars Science Laboratory Curiosity Rover

The Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) Curiosity rover experienced increasing wheel damage beginning in October 2013. While the wheels were designed to operate with considerable damage, the rate at which damage was occurring was unexpected and raised concerns regarding wheel lifetime. The Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) has now developed and deployed new software on Curiosity that reduces the forces acting on the wheels. Our new Traction Control algorithm adapts each wheel’s speed to fit the terrain it drives over. It does not rely on any a priori knowledge of the terrain, and instead leverages the rover’s measured attitude rates and suspension angles, together with a rigid-body kinematics model, to estimate the real-time wheel-terrain contact angles and ideal, no-slip wheel angular rates. In addition, free-floating “wheelies” are detected and autonomously corrected. In this paper, we describe the algorithm, its ground testing campaign and associated challenges, and finally its validation and performance in flight. Ground test data demonstrates reductions in the forces acting on the wheels and validates the wheelie-damping capability. Secondary benefits in some terrains include a reduction in heading deviations while climbing rocks, with a reduction in slip in certain sandy terrains. Preliminary validation from flight data confirms these findings.

Maimone, Mark↗
NASA NTRS1974

Description and simulation of an integrated power and attitude control system concept for space-vehicle application

An Integrated Power and Attitude Control System (IPACS) concept with potential application to a broad class of space missions is discussed. A description is given of the basic concept of combining the onboard energy storage and attitude control functions by storing energy in spinning flywheels which are used to provide control torques. A shuttle-launched Research and Applications Module (RAM) A303B solar-observatory mission having stringent pointing requirements (1.0 arc second) is selected to investigate possible interactions between energy storage and attitude control. A simulation of this spacecraft involving actual laboratory-model control-system hardware is presented. Simulation results are discussed which indicate that the IPACS concept, even in a failure-mode configuration, can readily meet the RAM A303B pointing requirements.

Will, R. W.↗
NASA NTRS2009

Orion Integrated Guidance, Navigation, and Control [GN and C]

This slide presentation reviews the integrated Guidance, Navigation and Control (iGN&C) system in the design for the Orion spacecraft. Included in the review are the plans for the design and development of the external interfaces, the functional architecture, the iGN&C software, the development and validation process, and the key challenges that are involved in the development of the iGN&C system

Chevray, Kay↗
NASA NTRS1990

Potential for integrated optical circuits in advanced aircraft with fiber optic control and monitoring systems

Fiber optic technology is expected to be used in future advanced weapons platforms as well as commercial aerospace applications. Fiber optic waveguides will be used to transmit noise free, high speed data between a multitude of computers as well as audio and video information to the flight crew. Passive optical sensors connected to control computers with optical fiber interconnects will serve both control and monitoring functions. Implementation of fiber optic technology has already begun. Both the military and NASA have several programs in place. A cooperative program, called FOCSI (Fiber Optic Control System Integration), between NASA Lewis and the NAVY to build, environmentally test and flight demonstrate sensor systems for propulsion and flight control systems is currently underway. Integrated Optical Circuits (IOC's) are also being given serious consideration for use in advanced aircraft systems. IOC's will result in miniaturization and localization of components to generate, detect optical signals and process them for use by the control computers. In some complex systems IOC's may be required to perform calculations optically if the technology is ready, replacing some of the electronic systems used today. IOC's are attractive because they will result in rugged components capable of withstanding severe environments in advanced aerospace vehicles. Manufacturing technology developed for microelectronic integrated circuits applied to IOC's will result in cost effective manufacturing. This paper reviews the current FOCSI program and describes the potential role of IOC's in FOCSI applications.

Robert Baumbick↗
DOE OSTI2020

Control of SiC Based Integrated DC-DC Powertrain Charger for Electric Vehicles

In this paper, an automated controller for an integrated, reconfigurable dc-dc converter for plugin electric vehicles (EVs) is presented. The integrated converter combines both an interleaved boost converter and dual active bridge (DAB) converter, sharing magnetics and switching devices. The converter switches between operating modes using the existing battery management system (BMS) contactors. The integrated converter operates in isolated DAB mode during battery charging operation. During traction operation, the integrated converter is operated in interleaved boost mode for heavy load and DAB mode during light load, high voltage operation. An online transition algorithm is used to transition from interleaved boost mode to DAB mode with minimal bus distortion. The automated controller selects the operating mode and inverter bus voltage at different torque-speed conditions to get maximum overall traction drive efficiency. An experimental prototype of the integrated converter demonstrates the automated controller functionality.

Anwar, Saeed↗
NASA NTRS1982

Integrated Application of Active Controls (IAAC) technology to an advanced subsonic transport project. ACT/Control/Guidance System study, volume 1

The active control technology (ACT) control/guidance system task of the integrated application of active controls (IAAC) technology project within the NASA energy efficient transport program was documented. The air traffic environment of navigation and air traffic control systems and procedures were extrapolated. An approach to listing flight functions which will be performed by systems and crew of an ACT configured airplane of the 1990s, and a determination of function criticalities to safety of flight, are the basis of candidate integrated ACT/Control/Guidance System architecture. The system mechanizes five active control functions: pitch augmented stability, angle of attack limiting, lateral/directional augmented stability, gust load alleviation, and maneuver load control. The scope and requirements of a program for simulating the integrated ACT avionics and flight deck system, with pilot in the loop, are defined, system and crew interface elements are simulated, and mechanization is recommended. Relationships between system design and crew roles and procedures are evaluated.

Source record↗
NASA NTRS1993

Development and evaluation of a profile negotiation process for integrating aircraft and air traffic control automation

The development and evaluation of the profile negotiation process (PNP), an interactive process between an aircraft and air traffic control (ATC) that integrates airborne and ground-based automation capabilities to determine conflict-free trajectories that are as close to an aircraft's preference as possible, are described. The PNP was evaluated in a real-time simulation experiment conducted jointly by NASA's Ames and Langley Research Centers. The Ames Center/TRACON Automation System (CTAS) was used to support the ATC environment, and the Langley Transport Systems Research Vehicle (TSRV) piloted cab was used to simulate a 4D Flight Management System (FMS) capable aircraft. Both systems were connected in real time by way of voice and data lines; digital datalink communications capability was developed and evaluated as a means of supporting the air/ground exchange of trajectory data. The controllers were able to consistently and effectively negotiate nominally conflict-free vertical profiles with the 4D-equipped aircraft. The actual profiles flown were substantially closer to the aircraft's preference than would have been possible without the PNP. However, there was a strong consensus among the pilots and controllers that the level of automation of the PNP should be increased to make the process more transparent. The experiment demonstrated the importance of an aircraft's ability to accurately execute a negotiated profile as well as the need for digital datalink to support advanced air/ground data communications. The concept of trajectory space is proposed as a comprehensive approach for coupling the processes of trajectory planning and tracking to allow maximum pilot discretion in meeting ATC constraints.

Green, Steven M.↗
DOE OSTI2024

Integrating a Microgrid Controller with a Local OpenADR Server

When military microgrids isolate themselves from the main electrical grid, they must locally balance electricity supply and demand. Since local generation may be limited, the current strategy is to shed all but the most critical loads by tripping smart circuit breakers, which must then be reset manually (e.g., ESTCP project EW-201350). This strategy is typically applied at the building level, meaning that entire buildings housing mission critical activities must be excluded from any load management, while those considered non-critical may lose service entirely. The remotely controlled switchgear needed to manage load in this way is very expensive ($\$30,000$-$\$50,000$ per building). While effective at shedding load, this strategy disrupts installation operation and risks damaging equipment during both disconnection and re-energization. With the goals of lowering costs, protecting equipment, and enhancing the agility of DoD microgrids, this report demonstrates the use of cybersecure automated demand response (ADR) technology to manage microgrid loads during grid-independent (a.k.a. "islanded") operation. This automated approach achieves load shedding and shifting through communication signals sent to equipment controllers rather than by cutting off the flow of electricity within the microgrid itself. Because it operates only on the base network, with no connection to external entities, this strategy avoids the main cybersecurity concern raised by past applications of ADR on military bases.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗
NASA NTRS1980

Programable solar-energy controller

Report characterizes commerically developed solar-energy control IPECH (integrated programmable electronic controller and hydronic) subsystem, giving information used in evaluating its performance.

Source record↗
NASA NTRS1981

Definition, analysis and development of an optical data distribution network for integrated avionics and control systems

The potential and functional requirements of fiber optic bus designs for next generation aircraft are assessed. State-of-the-art component evaluations and projections were used in the system study. Complex networks were decomposed into dedicated structures, star buses, and serial buses for detailed analysis. Comparisons of dedicated links, star buses, and serial buses with and without full duplex operation and with considerations for terminal to terminal communication requirements were obtained. This baseline was then used to consider potential extensions of busing methods to include wavelength multiplexing and optical switches. Example buses were illustrated for various areas of the aircraft as potential starting points for more detail analysis as the platform becomes definitized.

Burns, R. R.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Microprocessor control system for 200-kilowatt Mod-OA wind turbines

The microprocessor system and program used to control the operation of the 200-kW Mod-OA wind turbines is described. The system is programmed to begin startup and shutdown sequences automatically and to control yaw motion. Rotor speed and power output are controlled with integral and proportional control of the blade pitch angle. Included in the report are a description of the hardware and a discussion of the software programming technique. A listing of the PL/M software program is given.

Nyland, T. W.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Integrated communication and control systems. II - Design considerations

The ICCS design issues for nonperiodic and stochastic delays are addressed and the framework for alternative design procedures is outlined. The impact of network-induced delays on system stability is investigated and their physical significance is demonstrated using a simulation. The negative effects of vacant sampling and message rejection at the controller are demonstrated.

Ray, Asok↗