Improving automatic landing system performance using modern control theory and inertial measurements
Improved automatic landing systems for aircraft by applying control theory and inertial navigation data
Mac Kinnon, D.↗
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Results for “Control theory”
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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Studies of human dynamic space orientation using techniques of control theory Status report, Jul. 1968 - Jun. 1969
Human dynamic space orientation using control theory techniques
Li, Y. T.↗
Application of optimal linear estimation and control theory to the design of optical tracking systems
Optimal linear estimation and control theory application to high precision optical spacecraft tracking systems design
Dressler, R. M.↗
Controller design approaches for large space structures using LQG control theory
The paper presents several approaches for the design of reduced order controllers for large space structures. These approaches are shown to be based on LQG control theory and include truncation, modified truncation regulators and estimators, use of higher order estimators, selective modal suppression, and use of polynomial estimators. Further, the use of direct sensor feedback, as opposed to a state estimator, is investigated for some of these approaches. Finally, numerical results are given for a long free beam.
Joshi, S. M.↗
Steering of Frequency Standards by the Use of Linear Quadratic Gaussian Control Theory
Linear quadratic Gaussian control is a technique that uses Kalman filtering to estimate a state vector used for input into a control calculation. A control correction is calculated by minimizing a quadratic cost function that is dependent on both the state vector and the control amount. Different penalties, chosen by the designer, are assessed by the controller as the state vector and control amount vary from given optimal values. With this feature controllers can be designed to force the phase and frequency differences between two standards to zero either more or less aggressively depending on the application. Data will be used to show how using different parameters in the cost function analysis affects the steering and the stability of the frequency standards.
Koppang, Paul↗
Studies of human dynamic space orientation using techniques of control theory Status report, Jun. 1967 - Jun. 1968
Human dynamic space orientation using techniques of control theory
Li, Y. T.↗
Studies of human dynamic space orientation using techniques of control theory Status report, Jul. 1969 - Jun. 1970
Human dynamic space orientation using techniques of control theory
Li, Y. T.↗
Studies of human dynamic space orientation using techniques of control theory Semiannual status report, Jul. 1 - Dec. 31, 1966
Human dynamic space orientation models using control theory techniques
DYNAMIC MODEL↗
Optimal control theory for non-scalar-valued performance criteria
The theory of optimal control for nonscalar-valued performance criteria is discussed. In the space, where the performance criterion attains its value, the relations better than, worse than, not better than, and not worse than are defined by a partial order relation. The notion of optimality splits up into superiority and non-inferiority, because worse than is not the complement of better than, in general. A superior solution is better than every other solution. A noninferior solution is not worse than any other solution. Noninferior solutions have been investigated particularly for vector-valued performance criteria. Superior solutions for non-scalar-valued performance criteria attaining their values in abstract partially ordered spaces are emphasized. The main result is the infimum principle which constitutes necessary conditions for a control to be a superior solution to an optimal control problem.
Gerring, H. P.↗
How to fly an aircraft with control theory and splines
When trying to fly an aircraft as smoothly as possible it is a good idea to use the derivatives of the pilot command instead of using the actual control. This idea was implemented with splines and control theory, in a system that tries to model an aircraft. Computer calculations in Matlab show that it is impossible to receive enough smooth control signals by this way. This is due to the fact that the splines not only try to approximate the test function, but also its derivatives. A perfect traction is received but we have to pay in very peaky control signals and accelerations.
Karlsson, Anders↗
Aerodynamic design via control theory
The question of how to modify aerodynamic design in order to improve performance is addressed. Representative examples are given to demonstrate the computational feasibility of using control theory for such a purpose. An introduction and historical survey of the subject is included.
Jameson, Antony↗
Control theory and splines, applied to signature storage
In this report the problem we are going to study is the interpolation of a set of points in the plane with the use of control theory. We will discover how different systems generate different kinds of splines, cubic and exponential, and investigate the effect that the different systems have on the tracking problems. Actually we will see that the important parameters will be the two eigenvalues of the control matrix.
Enqvist, Per↗
Development of a two-dimensional skin friction balance nulling circuit using multivariable control theory
Measurement of planar skin friction forces in aerodynamic testing currently requires installation of two perpendicularly mounted, single-axis balances; consequently, force components must be sensed at two distinct locations. A two-axis instrument developed at the Langley Research Center to overcome this disadvantage allows measurement of a two-dimensional force at one location. This paper describes a feedback-controlled nulling circuit developed for the NASA two-axis balance which, without external compensation, is inherently unstable because of its low friction mechanical design. Linear multivariable control theory is applied to an experimentally validated mathematical model of the balance to synthesize a state-variable feedback control law. Pole placement techniques and computer simulation studies are employed to select eigenvalues which provide ideal transient response with decoupled sensing dynamics.
Tripp, John S.↗
On a system of equations in automatic control theory.
Asymptotic stability of automatic control equations for nonsingular and singular cases, establishing existence conditions for Liapunov function
AUTOMATIC CONTROL↗
SimSup's Loop: A Control Theory Approach to Spacecraft Operator Training
Immersive simulation is a staple of training for many complex system operators, including astronauts and ground operators of spacecraft. However, while much has been written about simulators, simulation facilities, and operator certification programs, the topic of how one develops simulation scenarios to train a spacecraft operator is relatively understated in the literature. In this paper, an approach is presented for using control theory as the basis for developing the immersive simulation scenarios for a spacecraft operator training program. The operator is effectively modeled as a high level controller of lower level hardware and software control loops that affect a select set of system state variables. Simulation scenarios are derived from a STAMP-based hazard analysis of the operator's high and low level control loops. The immersive simulation aspect of the overall training program is characterized by selecting a set of scenarios that expose the operator to the various inadequate control actions that stem from control flaws and inadequate control executions in the different sections of the typical control loop. Results from the application of this approach to the Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer (LADEE) mission are provided through an analysis of the simulation scenarios used for operator training and the actual anomalies that occurred during the mission. The simulation scenarios and inflight anomalies are mapped to specific control flaws and inadequate control executions in the different sections of the typical control loop to illustrate the characteristics of anomalies arising from the different sections of the typical control loop (and why it is important for operators to have exposure to these characteristics). Additionally, similarities between the simulation scenarios and inflight anomalies are highlighted to make the case that the simulation scenarios prepared the operators for the mission.
LADEE↗
Optimal control theory determination of feasible return-to-launch-site aborts for the HL-20 Personnel Launch System vehicle
The personnel launch system (PLS) being studied by NASA is a system to complement the space shuttle and provide alternative access to space. The PLS consists of a manned spacecraft launched by an expendable launch vehicle (ELV). A candidate for the manned spacecraft is the HL-20 lifting body. In the event of an ELV malfunction during the initial portion of the ascent trajectory, the HL-20 will separate from the rocket and perform an unpowered return to launch site (RTLS) abort. This work details an investigation, using optimal control theory, of the RTLS abort scenario. The objective of the optimization was to maximize final altitude. With final altitude as the cost function, the feasibility of an RTLS abort at different times during the ascent was determined. The method of differential inclusions was used to determine the optimal state trajectories, and the optimal controls were then calculated from the optimal states and state rates.
Dutton, Kevin E.↗
Aerospace plane guidance using geometric control theory
A reduced-order method employing decomposition, based on time-scale separation, of the 4-D state space in a 2-D slow manifold and a family of 2-D fast manifolds is shown to provide an excellent approximation to the full-order minimum-fuel ascent trajectory. Near-optimal guidance is obtained by tracking the reduced-order trajectory. The tracking problem is solved as regulation problems on the family of fast manifolds, using the exact linearization methodology from nonlinear geometric control theory. The validity of the overall guidance approach is indicated by simulation.
Van Buren, Mark A.↗
Chebyshev minimax control theory
General, closed-form, analytical solutions are determined for certain classes of C-minimax control problems, several alternative mathematical theories are derived, and a controller design theory is developed to give optimal control in the presence of unmeasureable external disturbances.
Johnson, C. D.↗