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At least 1,225 records · Page 68

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NASA NTRS1977

Airborne navigation system performance during RNAV/MLS transition

Aircraft position error sensitivity to sensor errors and flight path geometry is analyzed during RNAV/MLS transition using a digital computer simulation. The avionics sensitivity data provides information necessary to establish requirements for additional guidance law design and to establish airspace requirements for maneuvering to null out any residual RNAV errors upon MLS transition. The data base is also beneficial as planning information for subsequent flight testing. The parameters varied during the generation of the data base include flight profile, error source content and magnitude, ground facility location, runway/flight path orientation and navigation mode. The avionics, autopilots and aircraft dynamics correspond to the existing NASA Terminal Configured Vehicle. Significant transients were observed during MLS transition, primarily in the vertical channel. These transients have a significant impact on airspace requirements and operational procedures in the RNAV/MLS environment.

Heine, W.↗

NASA NTRS1976

Stereo mapping with the Viking Lander camera imagery

Stereomapping techniques applicable to the processing of imagery from facsimile cameras on board the Viking Mars landing vehicles are discussed. Two methods of stereomapping are considered: use of a gnomonic projection to transform the digital imagery to an equivalent of a perspective projection by computerized rectification through image processing; and interfacing a high-speed digital computer to an analytical plotter so that rectification and corrections proceed in real time. Contour maps produced during tests of the Viking Lander cameras, as well as maps of the area surrounding the Viking Lander on the Martian surface, are presented.

Wu, S. S. C.↗

NASA NTRS1977

A comparison of digitally simulated holographic images with actual holographic images

In making digitally generated holograms the digital computer and its associated plotting equipment degrade the quality of the hologram. It is necessary then to study the computer generated hologram in terms of these degradations. A computer simulated optical processor allows the results to be observed via computer simulated images. This research reports a method for optimizing the computer image reconstruction and compares these images with optically produced holographic images. The versatility of the simulated optical processor is illustrated by several spatial filtering and hologram reconstructions.

Calhoun, M. D.↗

NASA NTRS1978

A state-trajectory control law for dc-to-dc converters

Mathematical representations of a state-plane switching boundary employed in a state-trajectory control law for dc-to-dc converters are derived. Several levels of approximation to the switching boundary equations are presented, together with an evaluation of the effects of nonideal operating characteristics of converter power stage components on the shape and location of the boundary and the behavior of a system controlled by it. Digital computer simulations of dc-to-dc converters operating in conjunction with each of these levels of control are presented and evaluated with respect to changes in transient and steady-state performance.

Burns, W. W., III↗

NASA NTRS1978

Flight simulation - A vital and expanding technology in aircraft development

Flight simulation, both ground and in-flight, is experiencing major technological improvement and growth. The increased capabilities are providing new opportunities for support of the aircraft development process. The development of faster digital computers, improved visual displays, better motion systems and increased interest in simulation fidelity has improved the ground simulator to the point where it accomplishes a major portion of the aircraft development before work on the flight article begins. The efficiency of the ground simulator as a forecaster for the flight testing phase is becoming well established. In-flight simulation is properly being used to bridge the gap between the ground simulator and the flight test article. Simulation provides the vital link between analysis, aerodynamic tests, and subsystem tests and the flight test article. This paper describes the latest advances in flight simulation and its increasing role in the aircraft development process.

Reynolds, P. A.↗

NASA NTRS1978

Conversion loss and noise of microwave and millimeter-wave mixers. I - Theory. II - Experiment

The conversion loss and noise of microwave and millimeter-wave mixers are analyzed. Nonlinear capacitance, arbitrary embedding impedances, as well as shot, thermal and scattering noise arising in the diode, figure in the analysis. The anomalous mixer noise noted in millimeter-wave mixers by Kerr (1975) is shown to be explainable in terms of the correlation of down-converted components of the time-varying shot noise. A digital computer analysis of the conversion loss, noise, and output impedance of an 80-120-GHz mixer is also conducted.

Held, D. N.↗

NASA NTRS1977

Simulation replay - Implementation and flight simulation applications

Throughout the aircraft development process flight simulators are used to evaluate design concepts, 'handling' qualities, and operational procedures. A modern flight research simulator comprises a cockpit equipped with flight instruments and controls, subsystems to provide visual, motion, and other flight cues, and a digital computer. REPLAY is a computer program which enables a user to reproduce the multidimensional flight cues for an entire simulation 'run'. Attention is given to simulation fidelity improvement, simulation data recovery, simulation quality assurance, and aircraft systems research. It is pointed out that each of the applications discussed supports aircraft systems research by improving the realism, efficiency, or reliability of the simulation facility.

Crane, D. F.↗

NASA NTRS1978

On a numerical solution of the plastic buckling problem of structures

An automated digital computer procedure is presented for the accurate and efficient solution of the plastic buckling problem of structures. This is achieved by a Sturm sequence method employing a bisection strategy, which eliminates the need for having to solve the buckling eigenvalue problem at each incremental (decremental) loading stage that is associated with the usual solution techniques. The plastic buckling mode shape is determined by a simple inverse iteration process, once the buckling load has been established. Numerical results are presented for plate problems with various edge conditions. The resulting computer program written in FORTRAN V for the JPL UNIVAC 1108 machine proves to be most economical in comparison with other existing methods of such analysis.

Gupta, K. K.↗

NASA NTRS1978

Flying-hot-wire study of two-dimensional mean flow past an NACA 4412 airfoil at maximum lift

Hot-wire measurements have been made in the boundary layer, the separated region, and the near wake for flow past an NACA 4412 airfoil at maximum lift. The Reynolds number based on chord was about 1,500,000. The main instrumentation was a hot-wire probe mounted on the end of a rotating arm. A digital computer was used to control synchronized sampling of hot-wire data at closely spaced points along the probe arc. Ensembles of data were obtained at several thousand locations in the flow field. The data include intermittency, two components of mean velocity, and twelve mean values for double, triple, and quadruple products of two velocity fluctuations. The data are available on punched cards in raw form and also after use of smoothing and interpolation routines to obtain values on a fine rectangular grid aligned with the airfoil chord. The data are displayed in the paper as contour plots.

Coles, D.↗

NASA NTRS1977

Digital simulation of a 30-cm diameter ion thruster control system

A hybrid model of a 30-cm diameter ion thruster and transistorized power processor was formulated and implemented on a digital computer. The control loops as presented are stable for normal values of loop gain when propellant line delay times are zero. Small oscillations are present in the loops when representative thruster delay times are included in the model. Discharge supply characteristics can affect the control loop oscillations. Recovery from runaway can be aggravated by delay time and, to a greater extent, by discharge supply characteristics.

Kudo, I.↗

NASA NTRS1978

Implementation of an optimum profile guidance system on STOLAND

The implementation on the STOLAND airborne digital computer of an optimum profile guidance system for the augmentor wing jet STOL research aircraft is described. Major tasks were to implement the guidance and control logic to airborne computer software and to integrate the module with the existing STOLAND navigation, display, and autopilot routines. The optimum profile guidance system comprises an algorithm for synthesizing mimimum fuel trajectories for a wide range of starting positions in the terminal area and a control law for flying the aircraft automatically along the trajectory. The avionics software developed is described along with a FORTRAN program that was constructed to reflect the modular nature and algorthms implemented in the avionics software.

Flanagan, P. F.↗

NASA NTRS1979

Development and validation of a piloted simulation of a helicopter and external sling load

A generalized, real time, piloted, visual simulation of a single rotor helicopter, suspension system, and external load is described and validated for the full flight envelope of the U.S. Army CH-54 helicopter and cargo container as an example. The mathematical model described uses modified nonlinear classical rotor theory for both the main rotor and tail rotor, nonlinear fuselage aerodynamics, an elastic suspension system, nonlinear load aerodynamics, and a loadground contact model. The implementation of the mathematical model on a large digital computing system is described, and validation of the simulation is discussed. The mathematical model is validated by comparing measured flight data with simulated data, by comparing linearized system matrices, eigenvalues, and eigenvectors with manufacturers' data, and by the subjective comparison of handling characteristics by experienced pilots. A visual landing display system for use in simulation which generates the pilot's forward looking real world display was examined and a special head up, down looking load/landing zone display is described.

Shaughnessy, J. D.↗

NASA NTRS1977

Turbulence simulation mechanization for Space Shuttle Orbiter dynamics and control studies

The current version of the NASA turbulent simulation model in the form of a digital computer program, TBMOD, is described. The logic of the program is discussed and all inputs and outputs are defined. An alternate method of shear simulation suitable for incorporation into the model is presented. The simulation is based on a von Karman spectrum and the assumption of isotropy. The resulting spectral density functions for the shear model are included.

Tatom, F. B.↗

NASA NTRS1979

Wind tunnel real-time data acquisition system

The hardware configuration is described for the data acquisition system (DAS) which consists of an analog front end that can process up to 260 channels of data, a multichannel analog-to-digital subsystem that can process up to 50,000 samples of data per second, and a digital computer with standard and nonstandard devices, including graphics capability. Also described are the software configuration of the DAS and complex hardware/software interfaces providing, for example, automatic amplifier gain and offset adjustment for each data channel. Specific DAS applications are summarized, including the real time processing of dynamic deflection data, unsteady pressure measurements, and flutter and buffet data.

Cole, P.↗

NASA NTRS1973

User's instructions for the high speed version of the cardiovascular exercise model

A mathematical model and digital computer simulation of the human cardiovascular system and its controls were developed to simulate transient responses to bicycle ergometer exercise. The purpose of the model was to provide a method to analyze cardiovascular control hypotheses which cannot be easily tested in an animal or human or in a spaceflight environment.

Croston, R. C.↗

NASA NTRS1979

Nonlinear ordinary difference equations

Future space vehicles will be relatively large and flexible, and active control will be necessary to maintain geometrical configuration. While the stresses and strains in these space vehicles are not expected to be excessively large, their cumulative effects will cause significant geometrical nonlinearities to appear in the equations of motion, in addition to the nonlinearities caused by material properties. Since the only effective tool for the analysis of such large complex structures is the digital computer, it will be necessary to gain a better understanding of the nonlinear ordinary difference equations which result from the time discretization of the semidiscrete equations of motion for such structures.

Caughey, T. K.↗

NASA NTRS1979

Equation modifying program, L219 (EQMOD). Volume 2: Supplemental system design and maintenance document

A digital computer program, L219 (EQMOD), available for execution on the CDC 6600 is described. The program modifies matrices according to card input instructions and prepares magnetic files of matrices suitable for use in the linear systems analysis program (QR) and the random harmonic analysis program L221 (TEV156). The particular field of application of the program is the modification of the theoretical equations of motion and load equations generated in DYLOFLEX by the equation of motion program (L217) and the load equation program (L218), respectively.

Hirayama, M. Y.↗

NASA NTRS1979

Testing and analysis of dual-mode adaptive landing gear, taxi mode test system for YF-12A

The effectiveness of a dual mode adaptive landing gear system in reducing the dynamic response of an airplane during ground taxiing was studied. The dynamic taxi tests of the YF-12A research airplane are presented. A digital computer program which simulated the test conditions is discussed. The dual mode system as tested provides dynamic taxi response reductions of 25 percent at the cg and 30 to 45 percent at the cockpit.

Gamon, M. A.↗