Engineering Papers⌕ Search

SEARCH · Engineering Papers

Results for “Kalman filtering”

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.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 919 records · Page 51

Frequency-multiplexed and pipelined iterative optical systolic array processors

Optical matrix processors using acoustooptic transducers are described, with emphasis on new systolic array architectures using frequency multiplexing in addition to space and time multiplexing. A Kalman filtering application is considered in a case study from which the operations required on such a system can be defined. This also serves as a new and powerful application for iterative optical processors. The importance of pipelining the data flow and the ordering of the operations performed in a specific application of such a system are also noted. Several examples of how to effectively achieve this are included. A new technique for handling bipolar data on such architectures is also described.

Casasent, D.↗

Identification of helicopter rotor dynamic models

A recursive, extended Kalman-filter approach is applied to the identifiction of rotor damping levels of representative helicopter dynamic systems. The general formulation of the approach is presented in the context of a typically posed stochastic estimation problem, and the method is analytically applied to determining the damping levels of a coupled rotor-body system. The identified damping covergence characteristics are studied for sensitivity to both constant-coefficient and periodic-coefficient measurement models, process-noise covariance levels, and specified initial estimates of the rotor-system damping. A second application of the method to identifying the plant model for a highly damped, isolated flapping blade with a constant-coefficient state model (hover) and a periodic-coefficient state model (forward flight) is also investigated. The parameter-identification capability is evaluated for the effect of periodicity on the plant model coefficients and the influence of different measurement noise levels.

Molusis, J. A.↗

Autonomous satellite navigation by stellar refraction

This paper describes an error analysis of an autonomous navigator using refraction measurements of starlight passing through the upper atmosphere. The analysis is based on a discrete linear Kalman filter. The filter generated steady-state values of navigator performance for a variety of test cases. Results of these simulations show that in low-earth orbit position-error standard deviations of less than 0.100 km may be obtained using only 40 star sightings per orbit.

Gounley, R.↗

Application of an adaptive blade control algorithm to a gust alleviation system

The feasibility of an adaptive control system designed to alleviate helicopter gust induced vibration was analytically investigated for an articulated rotor system. This control system is based on discrete optimal control theory, and is composed of a set of measurements (oscillatory hub forces and moments), an identification system using a Kalman filter, a control system based on the minimization of the quadratic performance function, and a simulation system of the helicopter rotor. The gust models are step and sinusoidal vertical gusts. Control inputs are selected at the gust frequency, subharmonic frequency, and superharmonic frequency, and are superimposed on the basic collective and cyclic control inputs. The response to be reduced is selected to be that at the gust frequency because this is the dominant response compared with sub- and superharmonics. Numerical calculations show that the adaptive blade pitch control algorithm satisfactorily alleviates the hub gust response. Almost 100% reduction of the perturbation thrust response to a step gust and more than 50% reduction to a sinusoidal gust are achieved in the numerical simulations.

Saito, S.↗

Trends in shuttle entry heating from the correction of flight test maneuvers

A new technique was developed to systematically expand the aerothermodynamic envelope of the Space Shuttle Protection System (TPS). The technique required transient flight test maneuvers which were performed on the second, fourth, and fifth Shuttle reentries. Kalman filtering and parameter estimation were used for the reduction of embedded thermocouple data to obtain best estimates of aerothermal parameters. Difficulties in reducing the data were overcome or minimized. Thermal parameters were estimated to minimize uncertainties, and heating rate parameters were estimated to correlate with angle of attack, sideslip, deflection angle, and Reynolds number changes. Heating trends from the maneuvers allow for rapid and safe envelope expansion needed for future missions, except for some local areas.

Hodge, J. K.↗

Space Shuttle propulsion parameter estimation using optimal estimation techniques, volume 1

The mathematical developments and their computer program implementation for the Space Shuttle propulsion parameter estimation project are summarized. The estimation approach chosen is the extended Kalman filtering with a modified Bryson-Frazier smoother. Its use here is motivated by the objective of obtaining better estimates than those available from filtering and to eliminate the lag associated with filtering. The estimation technique uses as the dynamical process the six degree equations-of-motion resulting in twelve state vector elements. In addition to these are mass and solid propellant burn depth as the ""system'' state elements. The ""parameter'' state elements can include aerodynamic coefficient, inertia, center-of-gravity, atmospheric wind, etc. deviations from referenced values. Propulsion parameter state elements have been included not as options just discussed but as the main parameter states to be estimated. The mathematical developments were completed for all these parameters. Since the systems dynamics and measurement processes are non-linear functions of the states, the mathematical developments are taken up almost entirely by the linearization of these equations as required by the estimation algorithms.

Source record↗

Development of an autonomous video rendezvous and docking system, phase 3

Field-of-view limitations proved troublesome. Higher resolution was required. Side thrusters were too weak. The strategy logic was improved and the Kalman filter was augmented to estimate target attitude and tumble rate. Two separate filters were used. The new filter estimates target attitude and angular momentum. The Newton-Raphson iteration improves image interpretation.

Tietz, J. C.↗

Luneburg lens and optical matrix algebra research

Planar, as opposed to channelized, integrated optical circuits (IOCs) were stressed as the basis for computational devices. Both fully-parallel and systolic architectures are considered and the tradeoffs between the two device types are discussed. The Kalman filter approach is a most important computational method for many NASA problems. This approach to deriving a best-fit estimate for the state vector describing a large system leads to matrix sizes which are beyond the predicted capacities of planar IOCs. This problem is overcome by matrix partitioning, and several architectures for accomplishing this are described. The Luneburg lens work has involved development of lens design techniques, design of mask arrangements for producing lenses of desired shape, investigation of optical and chemical properties of arsenic trisulfide films, deposition of lenses both by thermal evaporation and by RF sputtering, optical testing of these lenses, modification of lens properties through ultraviolet irradiation, and comparison of measured lens properties with those expected from ray trace analyses.

Wood, V. E.↗

GP-B error modeling and analysis

The analysis and modeling for the Gravity Probe B (GP-B) experiment is reported. The finite-wordlength induced errors in Kalman filtering computation were refined. Errors in the crude result were corrected, improved derivation steps are taken, and better justifications are given. The errors associated with the suppression of the 1-noise were analyzed by rolling the spacecraft and then performing a derolling operation by computation.

Source record↗

Eigenspace design techniques for active flutter suppression

The application of eigenspace design techniques to an active flutter suppression system for the DAST ARW-2 research drone is examined. Eigenspace design techniques allow the control system designer to determine feedback gains which place controllable eigenvalues in specified configurations and which shape eigenvectors to achieve desired dynamic response. Eigenspace techniques were applied to the control of lateral and longitudinal dynamic response of aircraft. However, little was published on the application of eigenspace techniques to aeroelastic control problems. This discussion will focus primarily on methodology for design of full-state and limited-state (output) feedback controllers. Most of the states in aeroelastic control problems are not directly measurable, and some type of dynamic compensator is necessary to convert sensor outputs to control inputs. Compensator design are accomplished by use of a Kalman filter modified if necessary by the Doyle-Stein procedure for full-state loop transfer function recovery, by some other type of observer, or by transfer function matching.

Garrard, W. L.↗

Systolic triple-matrix product calculations

In order to handle arbitrary-sized matrices with fixed-sized optical matrix processors, it is necessary to expand or contract the problem to fit the processor. This preprocessing is examined. It is applied to the type of triple-matrix product calculation needed for Kalman filtering. Emphasis will be placed on systolic-type processors.

Caulfield, H. J.↗

A study of helicopter gust response alleviation by automatic control

Two control schemes designed to alleviate gust-induced vibration are analytically investigated for a helicopter with four articulated blades. One is an individual blade pitch control scheme. The other is an adaptive blade pitch control algorithm based on linear optimal control theory. In both controllers, control inputs to alleviate gust response are superimposed on the conventional control inputs required to maintain the trim condition. A sinusoidal vertical gust model and a step gust model are used. The individual blade pitch control, in this research, is composed of sensors and a pitch control actuator for each blade. Each sensor can detect flapwise (or lead-lag or torsionwise) deflection of the respective blade. The acturator controls the blade pitch angle for gust alleviation. Theoretical calculations to predict the performance of this feedback system have been conducted by means of the harmonic method. The adaptive blade pitch control system is composed of a set of measurements (oscillatory hub forces and moments), an identification system using a Kalman filter, and a control system based on the minimization of the quadratic performance function.

Saito, S.↗

Air data position-error calibration using state reconstruction techniques

During the highly maneuverable aircraft technology (HiMAT) flight test program recently completed at NASA Ames Research Center's Dryden Flight Research Facility, numerous problems were experienced in airspeed calibration. This necessitated the use of state reconstruction techniques to arrive at a position-error calibration. For the HiMAT aircraft, most of the calibration effort was expended on flights in which the air data pressure transducers were not performing accurately. Following discovery of this problem, the air data transducers of both aircraft were wrapped in heater blankets to correct the problem. Additional calibration flights were performed, and from the resulting data a satisfactory position-error calibration was obtained. This calibration and data obtained before installation of the heater blankets were used to develop an alternate calibration method. The alternate approach took advantage of high-quality inertial data that was readily available. A linearized Kalman filter (LKF) was used to reconstruct the aircraft's wind-relative trajectory; the trajectory was then used to separate transducer measurement errors from the aircraft position error. This calibration method is accurate and inexpensive. The LKF technique has an inherent advantage of requiring that no flight maneuvers be specially designed for airspeed calibrations. It is of particular use when the measurements of the wind-relative quantities are suspected to have transducer-related errors.

Whitmore, S. A.↗

Earth Orientation Effects on Mobile VLBI Baselines

Improvements in data quality for the mobile VLBI systems have placed higher accuracy requirements on Earth orientation calibrations. Errors in these calibrations may give rise to systematic effects in the nonlength components of the baselines. Various sources of Earth orientation data were investigated for calibration of Mobile VLBI baselines. Significant differences in quality between the several available sources of UT1-UTC were found. It was shown that the JPL Kalman filtered space technology data were at least as good as any other and adequate to the needs of current Mobile VLBI systems and observing plans. For polar motion, the values from all service suffice. The effect of Earth orientation errors on the accuracy of differenced baselines was also investigated. It is shown that the effect is negligible for the current mobile systems and observing plan.

Allen, S. L.↗

A separated bias identification and state estimation algorithm for nonlinear systems

A computational algorithm for the identification of biases in discrete-time, nonlinear, stochastic systems is derived by extending the separate bias estimation results for linear systems to the extended Kalman filter formulation. The merits of the approach are illustrated by identifying instrument biases using a terminal configured vehicle simulation.

Caglayan, A. K.↗

Space Shuttle Orbiter entry through landing navigation

The Space Shuttle Orbiter navigation system must be capable of determining its position and velocity throughout a variety of operational regimes. The design and operation of the entry through landing navigation system is described as it operates during a nominal end of mission from the orbital coasting phase throughout atmospheric flight and landing. Design and operation of the Kalman filter is described. Stabilization of the altitude channel prior to acquisition of external measurement data is described. Utilization of the Tactical Air Navigation (TACAN), barometric altimeter, and Microwave Scan Beam Landing System external measurement data is described. A comparison is made between predicted performance and the navigation accuracy observed during flight.

Ewell, J. J., Jr.↗

Application of a recursive distortion estimator to the geodetic correction of thematic mapper imagery

It is pointed out that the higher resolution provided by the Thematic Mapper increases the demands on the accuracy needed by the ground processing in correcting for geodetic errors deriving from internal misalignments and uncertainties in the knowledge of spacecraft ephemeris and attitude. In addition, the Thematic Mapper will also process longer imagery intervals than previous missions. The recursive distortion estimator to be used is a Kalman filter. Here, a minimum variance spacecraft state error vector is estimated for known initial covariance of the elements of that vector and known image noise. Tests of the recursive distortion estimator with various spacecraft models carried out using a simulation of real world state vector dynamics are described. A determination is made of the density of control points needed to meet specified geometric correction requirements; it is expressed as a function of imagery interval length and control point measurement error.

Arnold, P.↗

A bias identification and state estimation methodology for nonlinear systems

A computational algorithm for the identification of input and output biases in discrete-time nonlinear stochastic systems is derived by extending the separate bias estimation results for linear systems to the extended Kalman filter formulation. The merits of the approach are illustrated by identifying instrument biases using a terminal configured vehicle simulation.

Caglayan, A. K.↗