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At least 973 records · Page 54
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS2010

Adaptive Data-based Predictive Control for Short Take-off and Landing (STOL) Aircraft

Data-based Predictive Control is an emerging control method that stems from Model Predictive Control (MPC). MPC computes current control action based on a prediction of the system output a number of time steps into the future and is generally derived from a known model of the system. Data-based predictive control has the advantage of deriving predictive models and controller gains from input-output data. Thus, a controller can be designed from the outputs of complex simulation code or a physical system where no explicit model exists. If the output data happens to be corrupted by periodic disturbances, the designed controller will also have the built-in ability to reject these disturbances without the need to know them. When data-based predictive control is implemented online, it becomes a version of adaptive control. The characteristics of adaptive data-based predictive control are particularly appropriate for the control of nonlinear and time-varying systems, such as Short Take-off and Landing (STOL) aircraft. STOL is a capability of interest to NASA because conceptual Cruise Efficient Short Take-off and Landing (CESTOL) transport aircraft offer the ability to reduce congestion in the terminal area by utilizing existing shorter runways at airports, as well as to lower community noise by flying steep approach and climb-out patterns that reduce the noise footprint of the aircraft. In this study, adaptive data-based predictive control is implemented as an integrated flight-propulsion controller for the outer-loop control of a CESTOL-type aircraft. Results show that the controller successfully tracks velocity while attempting to maintain a constant flight path angle, using longitudinal command, thrust and flap setting as the control inputs.

Barlow, Jonathan Spencer↗
NASA NTRS1991

Controlled growth of 3C-SiC and 6H-SiC films on low-tilt-angle vicinal (0001) 6H-SiC wafers

It has been found that, with proper pregrowth surface treatment, 6H-SiC single-crystal films can be grown by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) at 1450 C on vicinal (0001) 6H-SiC with tilt angles as small as 0.1 deg. Previously, tilt angles of greater than 1.5 deg were required to achieve 6H on 6H at this growth temperature. In addition, 3C-SiC could be induced to grow within selected regions on the 6H substrate. the 3C regions contained few (or zero) double-positioning boundaries and a low density of stacking faults. A new growth model is proposed to explain the control of SiC polytype in this epitaxial film growth process.

Powell, J. A.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Lithological and textural controls on radar and diurnal thermal signatures of weathered volcanic deposits, Lunar Crater region, Nevada

Radar backscatter intensity as measured by calibrated synthetic aperture radar (SAR) systems is primarily controlled by three factors: local incidence angle, wavelength-scale roughness, and dielectric permittivity of surface materials. Radar observations may be of limited use for geological investigations of surface composition, unless the relationships between lithology and the above characteristics can be adequately understood. In arid terrains, such as the Southwest U.S., weathering signatures (e.g. soil development, fracturing, debris grain size and shape, and hill slope characteristics) are controlled to some extent by lithologic characteristics of the parent bedrock. These textural features of outcrops and their associated debris will affect radar backscatter to varying degrees, and the multiple-wavelength capability of the JPL Airborne SAR (AIRSAR) system allows sampling of textures at three distinct scales. Diurnal temperature excursions of geologic surfaces are controlled primarily by the thermal inertia of surface materials, which is a measure of the resistance of a material to a change in temperature. Other influences include albedo, surface slopes affecting insolation, local meteorological conditions and surface emissivity at the relevant thermal wavelengths. To first order, thermal inertia variations on arid terrain surfaces result from grain size distribution and porosity differences, at scales ranging from micrometers to tens of meters. Diurnal thermal emission observations, such as those made by the JPL Thermal Infrared Multispectral Scanner (TIMS) airborne instrument, are thus influenced by geometric surface characteristics at scales comparable to those controlling radar backscatter. A preliminary report on a project involving a combination of field, laboratory and remote sensing observations of weathered felsic-to basaltic volcanic rock units exposed in the southern part of the Lunar Crater Volcanic Field, in the Pancake Range of central Nevada is presented. Focus is on the relationship of radar backscatter cross sections at multiple wavelengths, apparent diurnal temperature excursions identified in multi-temporal TIMS images, surface geometries related to weathering style, and parent bedrock lithology.

Plaut, Jeffrey J.↗
NASA NTRS1989

Optimal aeroassisted guidance using Loh's term approximations

This paper presents three guidance algorithms for aerocapture and/or aeroassisted orbital transfer with plane change. All three algorithms are based on the approximate solution of an optimal control problem at each guidance update. The chief assumption is that Loh's term may be modeled as a function of the independent variable only. The first two algorithms maximize exit speed for fixed exit altitude, flight path angle and heading angle. The third minimizes, in one sense, the control effort for fixed exit altitude, flight path angle, heading angle and speed. Results are presented which indicate the near optimality of the solutions generated by the first two algorithms. Results are also presented which indicate the performance of the third algorithm in a simulation with unmodeled atmospheric density disturbances.

Mceneaney, W. M.↗
NASA NTRS2010

Piezo activated mode tracking system for widely tunable mode-hop-free external cavity mid-IR semiconductor lasers

A widely tunable, mode-hop-free semiconductor laser operating in the mid-IR comprises a QCL laser chip having an effective QCL cavity length, a diffraction grating defining a grating angle and an external cavity length with respect to said chip, and means for controlling the QCL cavity length, the external cavity length, and the grating angle. The laser of claim 1 wherein said chip may be tuned over a range of frequencies even in the absence of an anti-reflective coating. The diffraction grating is controllably pivotable and translatable relative to said chip and the effective QCL cavity length can be adjusted by varying the injection current to the chip. The laser can be used for high resolution spectroscopic applications and multi species trace-gas detection. Mode-hopping is avoided by controlling the effective QCL cavity length, the external cavity length, and the grating angle so as to replicate a virtual pivot point.

Wysocki, Gerard↗
NASA NTRS1973

Effect of fin planform on the aerodynamic characteristics of a wingless missile with AFT cruciform controls at Mach 1.60, 2.36, and 2.86

An investigation was made in the Langley Unitary Plan wind tunnel to determine the effects of fin planform on the static longitudinal aerodynamic characteristics of a wingless maneuvering missile configuration having cruciform, all-movable, aft control surfaces. The tests were made at Mach numbers of 1.60, 2.36, and 2.86 through an angle of attack range from about -4 to 22 deg, at an angle of sideslip of 0 deg, and at a Reynolds number of 8.2 million based on model length. The pitch-control data were obtained at model roll angles of 0 and 45 deg. Control-surface forces and moments were also measured. Four alternate fin planforms were investigated.

Trescot, C. D., Jr.↗
NASA NTRS1970

Temperature-controlled fluidic device A concept

Symmetrical fluidic device directly converts electrical signals to mechanical signals in the form of a fluid-flow parameter. This device eliminates or reduces effects of all undesirable parameters on the departure angle, leaving it a function of the controlled wall and jet temperatures.

Rehsteiner, F. H.↗
NASA NTRS2011

Numerical Investigation of Rotorcraft Fuselage Drag Reduction Using Active Flow Control

The effectiveness of unsteady zero-net-mass-flux jets for fuselage drag reduction was evaluated numerically on a generic rotorcraft fuselage in forward flight with a rotor. Previous efforts have shown significant fuselage drag reduction using flow control for an isolated fuselage by experiment and numerical simulation. This work will evaluate a flow control strategy, that was originally developed on an isolated fuselage, in a more relevant environment that includes the effects of a rotor. Evaluation of different slot heights and jet velocity ratios were performed. Direct comparisons between an isolated fuselage and rotor/fuselage simulations were made showing similar flow control performance at a -3deg fuselage angle-of-attack condition. However, this was not the case for a -5deg angle-of-attack condition where the performance between the isolated fuselage and rotor/fuselage were different. The fuselage flow control resulted in a 17% drag reduction for a peak C(sub mu) of 0.0069 in a forward flight simulation where mu = 0:35 and CT/sigma = 0:08. The CFD flow control results also predicted a favorable 22% reduction of the fuselage download at this same condition, which can have beneficial compounding effects on the overall performance of the vehicle. This numerical investigation was performed in order to provide guidance for a future 1/3 scale wind tunnel experiment to be performed at the NASA 14-by 22-Foot Subsonic Tunnel.

Allan, Brian G.↗
NASA NTRS1982

A flight test maneuver autopilot for a highly manueverable aircraft

A flight test maneuver autopilot (FTMAP) is currently being flown to increase the quality and quantity of the data obtained in the flight testing of the highly maneuverable aircraft technology (HiMAT) remotely piloted research vehicle (RPRV). The FTMAP resides in a ground-based digital computer and was designed to perform certain prescribed maneuvers precisely, while maintaining critical flight parameters within close tolerances. The FTMAP operates as a non-flight-critical outer loop controller and augments the vehicle primary flight control system. The inputs to the FTMAP consist of telemetry-downlinked aircraft sensor data. During FTMAP operation, the FTMAP computer replaces normal pilot inputs to the aircraft stick and throttle positions. The FTMAP maneuvers include straight-and-level flight, level accelerations and decelerations, pushover pullups, and windup turns. The pushover pullups can be executed holding throttle or Mach number fixed. The windup turns can be commanded by either normal acceleration or angle of attack. The operational procedures, control mode configuration, and initial simulation results are discussed.

Roncoli, R. B.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Aerodynamic parameters of the X-31 drop model estimated from flight-data at high angles of attack

Lateral aerodynamic parameters of the X-31 drop model were estimated from flight data at angles of attack between 25 deg and 45 deg. Partitioned data from an ensemble of 12 maneuvers and data from 13 single maneuvers were analyzed by a stepwise regression technique to obtain an aerodynamic model structure and least squares parameter estimates. Because of data collinearity in several maneuvers, these maneuvers were reanalyzed by two biased estimation techniques, mixed estimation and fractional rank regression. The final parameter estimates in the form of stability and control derivatives were plotted against the angle of attack and compared with wind tunnel results and a limited number of estimates from full-scale aircraft data. There was no significant disagreement between parameters from the two sets of drop model data and the full-scale aircraft data. Some differences, however, existed between the dihedral, damping-in-roll, and aileron-effectiveness parameters from flight and wind tunnel data.

Klein, Vladislav↗
NASA NTRS1980

Optimal large angle maneuvers with simultaneous shape control/vibration arrest

A relaxation method is demonstrated which reliably solves the nonlinear two point boundary value problem which arises when optimal control theory is applied to determination of large angle maneuvers of flexible spacecraft. The basic ideas are summarized and several idealized maneuvers are determined. The emphasis is upon demonstrating the basic ideas and practical aspects of the methodology.

Turner, J. D.↗
NASA NTRS2003

Efficient Development of High Fidelity Structured Volume Grids for Hypersonic Flow Simulations

A new technique for the control of grid line spacing and intersection angles of a structured volume grid, using elliptic partial differential equations (PDEs) is presented. Existing structured grid generation algorithms make use of source term hybridization to provide control of grid lines, imposing orthogonality implicitly at the boundary and explicitly on the interior of the domain. A bridging function between the two types of grid line control is typically used to blend the different orthogonality formulations. It is shown that utilizing such a bridging function with source term hybridization can result in the excessive use of computational resources and diminishes robustness. A new approach, Anisotropic Lagrange Based Trans-Finite Interpolation (ALBTFI), is offered as a replacement to source term hybridization. The ALBTFI technique captures the essence of the desired grid controls while improving the convergence rate of the elliptic PDEs when compared with source term hybridization. Grid generation on a blunt cone and a Shuttle Orbiter is used to demonstrate and assess the ALBTFI technique, which is shown to be as much as 50% faster, more robust, and produces higher quality grids than source term hybridization.

Alter, Stephen J.↗
NASA NTRS2007

Multi-channel System for Beat to Beat QT Interval Variability and its Use in Screening for Coronary Artery Disease and Cardiomyopathy

We investigated the ability of beat-to-beat QT interval variability (QTV) and related parameters to differentiate healthy individuals from patients with obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD) and cardiomyopathy (CM). For this purpose we developed a PC-based ECG software program that in real time, acquires, analyzes and displays QTV in each of the eight independent channels that constitute the 12-lead conventional ECG. The system also analyzes and displays the QTV from QT interval signals that are derived from multiple channels and from singular value decomposition (SVD) to substantially reduce the effect of noise and other artifacts on the QTV results. It also provides other useful SVD-related parameters such as the normalized 3-dimensional volume of the T wave (nTV) = 100*(rho(sub 2)*rho(sub 3)rho(sub 1^2). Advanced high-fidelity 12-lead ECG tests (approx. 5-min supine) were first performed on a "training set" of 99 individuals: 33 with ischemic or dilated CM and low ejection fraction (EF less than 40%); 33 with catheterization-proven obstructive CAD but normal EF; and 33 age-/gender-matched healthy controls. All QTV parameters that were studied for their accuracy in detecting CM and CAD significantly differentiated both CM and CAD from controls (p less than 0.0001). Retrospective areas under the ROC curve (AUC) of SDNN-QTV, rmsSD-QTV, and QTV Index (QTVI) for CM vs. controls in the lead V5 were 0.85, 0.90, and 0.99, respectively, and those for CAD vs. controls in the lead II were 0.82, 0.82, and 0.89. Other advanced ECG parameters, such as HFQRS RAZ score, LF Lomb of RRV or QRS-T angle, differentiated both CM and CAD from controls less significantly, with the respective AUC values of 0.89, 0.88 and 0.98 for CM vs. controls, and 0.73, 0.71 and 0.80 for CAD vs. controls. QTV parameters (especially QTVI, which is QTV as indexed to RRV) were, diagnostically speaking, amongst the best performing of the advanced ECG techniques studied thus far.

Starc, V.↗
NASA NTRS1923

Tests on an airplane model, AEG D I of the Allgemeine Elektricitats Gesellschft, A-G, airplane construction section conducted at the Gottingen Model Testing Laboratory for Aerodynamics

Tests were carried out in the small wind tunnel of the Gottingen establishment on a complete model of the AEG D I airplane. The agreement between the model and the complete airplane applies particularly to the wings, which have ribs cut out of sheet metal and built up in exactly the same manner as in the actual airplane. Various series of tests were carried out with this model in which one or the other of the control surfaces were adjusted to various angles, while the others remained in their neutral positions. During the first three series of tests, the stabilizer was set at a positive angle of 3 degrees, 45' relative to the axis of the engine crankshaft, after which further tests at a 6 degree 30' we made. Finally, the model was tested with the tail group removed. With the elevators set in the prescribed positions, the lift, the drag, and the moments about an axis passing through the center of gravity and perpendicular to the plane of symmetry were measured. All three sets of readings are given as absolute coefficients. Where one of the other control surfaces was deflected from its normal position, the moment produced by that adjustment of the surface was also measured.

Munk, Max↗
NASA NTRS1966

Light as a controlling factor

Light intensity, spectral composition, and penetration angle influences on pigment photosynthesis in plankton microorganisms

MICROORGANISM↗
NASA NTRS1974

Swashplate feedback control for tilt-rotor aircraft

Changes in angle of attack in system were sensed indirectly by gages which responded to strains induced in wing structure. Output signals were amplified, filtered, and used to activate swashplate actuators. System provided significant reduction in blade loads and desirable changes in hub forces and moments.

Alexander, H. R.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Computational study of the aerodynamics and control by blowing of asymmetric vortical flows over delta wings

The complicated flowfield around a rounded leading-edge delta wing was calculated at angles of attack and yaw with and without tangential leading-edge blowing, using thin-layer Navier-Stokes equations. The effectiveness of blowing for providing roll control at high angle of attack was illustrated, and the saturation effect of increased blowing was captured well. The effect of sideslip was shown to be analogous to asymmetric blowing.

Craig, Ken↗
NASA NTRS2009

Blended-Wing-Body Low-Speed Flight Dynamics: Summary of Ground Tests and Sample Results

A series of low-speed wind tunnel tests of a Blended-Wing-Body tri-jet configuration to evaluate the low-speed static and dynamic stability and control characteristics over the full envelope of angle of attack and sideslip are summarized. These data were collected for use in simulation studies of the edge-of-the-envelope and potential out-of-control flight characteristics. Some selected results with lessons learned are presented.

Vicroy, Dan D.↗