Engineering Papers⌕ Search

SEARCH · Engineering Papers

Results for “controller development”

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 1,369 records · Page 76
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS2018

Building a QC Database of Meteorological Data from NASA KSC and the United States Air Force's Eastern Range

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA) Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) Natural Environments Branch (EV44) provides atmospheric databases and analysis in support of space vehicle design and day-of-launch operations for NASA and commercial launch vehicle programs launching from the NASA Kennedy Space Center (KSC), co-located on the United States Air Force's Eastern Range (ER) at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. The ER complex is one of the most heavily instrumented sites in the United States with over 31 towers measuring various atmospheric parameters on a continuous basis. An inherent challenge with large datasets consists of ensuring erroneous data are removed from databases, and thus excluded from launch vehicle design analyses. EV44 has put forth great effort in developing quality control (QC) procedures for individual meteorological instruments, however no standard QC procedures for all databases currently exists resulting in QC databases that have inconsistencies in variables, development methodologies, and periods of record. The goal of this activity is to use the previous efforts to develop a standardized set of QC procedures from which to build meteorological databases from KSC and the ER, while maintaining open communication with end users from the launch community to develop ways to improve, adapt and grow the QC database. Details of the QC procedures will be described. As the rate of launches increases with additional launch vehicle programs, It is becoming more important that weather databases are continually updated and checked for data quality before use in launch vehicle design and certification analyses.

Brenton, J. C.↗
DOE OSTI2022

Data-Driven Distribution System Coordinated PV Inverter Control Using Deep Reinforcement Learning

The deployment of distributed solar photovoltaic (PV) systems has increased consistently over the past decades. High penetrations of PVs could cause a series of adverse grid impacts, such as voltage violations. The recent development of smart inverter technologies rises the incentives of developing PV control solutions that regulate the inverter output power and seeking the optimization on system operational objectives. This paper proposes a data-driven control solution based on deep reinforcement learning (DRL) to optimize PV inverters for voltage regulation. The proposed solution can minimize PV real power curtailment while maintaining network voltage at an acceptable range. Comparison results between the proposed DRL control algorithms with deep deterministic policy gradient (DDPG) and volt-var control on a real feeder in west Colorado highlight the advantage of the proposed framework in controlling the system voltage while minimizing the PV real power curtailment.

deep reinforcement learning↗
NASA NTRS2009

Modeling Guidelines for Code Generation in the Railway Signaling Context

Modeling guidelines constitute one of the fundamental cornerstones for Model Based Development. Their relevance is essential when dealing with code generation in the safety-critical domain. This article presents the experience of a railway signaling systems manufacturer on this issue. Introduction of Model-Based Development (MBD) and code generation in the industrial safety-critical sector created a crucial paradigm shift in the development process of dependable systems. While traditional software development focuses on the code, with MBD practices the focus shifts to model abstractions. The change has fundamental implications for safety-critical systems, which still need to guarantee a high degree of confidence also at code level. Usage of the Simulink/Stateflow platform for modeling, which is a de facto standard in control software development, does not ensure by itself production of high-quality dependable code. This issue has been addressed by companies through the definition of modeling rules imposing restrictions on the usage of design tools components, in order to enable production of qualified code. The MAAB Control Algorithm Modeling Guidelines (MathWorks Automotive Advisory Board)[3] is a well established set of publicly available rules for modeling with Simulink/Stateflow. This set of recommendations has been developed by a group of OEMs and suppliers of the automotive sector with the objective of enforcing and easing the usage of the MathWorks tools within the automotive industry. The guidelines have been published in 2001 and afterwords revisited in 2007 in order to integrate some additional rules developed by the Japanese division of MAAB [5]. The scope of the current edition of the guidelines ranges from model maintainability and readability to code generation issues. The rules are conceived as a reference baseline and therefore they need to be tailored to comply with the characteristics of each industrial context. Customization of these recommendations has been performed for the automotive control systems domain in order to enforce code generation [7]. The MAAB guidelines have been found profitable also in the aerospace/avionics sector [1] and they have been adopted by the MathWorks Aerospace Leadership Council (MALC). General Electric Transportation Systems (GETS) is a well known railway signaling systems manufacturer leading in Automatic Train Protection (ATP) systems technology. Inside an effort of adopting formal methods within its own development process, GETS decided to introduce system modeling by means of the MathWorks tools [2], and in 2008 chose to move to code generation. This article reports the experience performed by GETS in developing its own modeling standard through customizing the MAAB rules for the railway signaling domain and shows the result of this experience with a successful product development story.

Ferrari, Alessio↗
NASA NTRS1980

AD-1 oblique wing aircraft program

The oblique wing concept for super- and subsonic transport was assessed by analysis and wind tunnel radio control model and remotely piloted vehicle testing. A one-sixth scale wind tunnel model and a low speed manned oblique wing research airplane (AD-1) were developed. Model wind tunnel test data on dynamic structural response characteristics were used in a simulator to develop the control system. The airplane is of simple design with fiber glass skin, weight of approximately 2100 lbs and speeds of up to 175 knots at altitudes up to 15,000 ft. Flight testing will investigate handling and flying qualities, oblique wing flight control characteristics, aeroelastic wing design and will compare actual with predicted aerodynamic characteristics. Nineteen flights were made at 12,000 to 13,000 feet with speeds of 100-160 knots. Flutter clearance as a function of wing sweep angle is now under investigation.

Andrews, W. H.↗
NASA NTRS1996

Modeling and Dynamic Analysis of Paralleled dc/dc Converters With Master-Slave Current Sharing Control

A simple, application-oriented, transfer function model of paralleled converters employing Master-Slave Current-sharing (MSC) control is developed. Dynamically, the Master converter retains its original design characteristics; all the Slave converters are forced to depart significantly from their original design characteristics into current-controlled current sources. Five distinct loop gains to assess system stability and performance are identified and their physical significance is described. A design methodology for the current share compensator is presented. The effect of this current sharing scheme on 'system output impedance' is analyzed.

Rajagopalan, J.↗
NASA NTRS1996

Modeling and Dynamic Analysis of Paralleled of dc/dc Converters with Master-Slave Current Sharing Control

A simple, application-oriented, transfer function model of paralleled converters employing Master-Slave Current-sharing (MSC) control is developed. Dynamically, the Master converter retains its original design characteristics; all the Slave converters are forced to depart significantly from their original design characteristics into current-controlled current sources. Five distinct loop gains to assess system stability and performance are identified and their physical significance is described. A design methodology for the current share compensator is presented. The effect of this current sharing scheme on 'system output impedance' is analyzed.

Rajagopalan, J.↗
NASA NTRS2006

The Hubble Space Telescope (HST) Contamination Control Program

Over the past two decades, the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) Contamination Control Program has evolved from a ground-based integration program to a space-based science-sustaining program. On-orbit, the telescope s primary contamination requirement was maintaining a low contamination flux in the telescope s optical path. In addition, to maintain the scientific capability of the telescope, the contamination requirements and specific contamination controls from the second- and third-generation Scientific Instruments and Orbital Replacement Units were captured within the HST Contamination Control Program. Contamination controls were developed for on-orbit operations and four Servicing Missions (Orbiter, Astronauts, and mission). Long-term on-orbit scientific data has shown that these contamination controls successfully protected the HST from contamination.

Hansen, Patricia A.↗
NASA NTRS2009

Stability and Performance Metrics for Adaptive Flight Control

This paper addresses the problem of verifying adaptive control techniques for enabling safe flight in the presence of adverse conditions. Since the adaptive systems are non-linear by design, the existing control verification metrics are not applicable to adaptive controllers. Moreover, these systems are in general highly uncertain. Hence, the system's characteristics cannot be evaluated by relying on the available dynamical models. This necessitates the development of control verification metrics based on the system's input-output information. For this point of view, a set of metrics is introduced that compares the uncertain aircraft's input-output behavior under the action of an adaptive controller to that of a closed-loop linear reference model to be followed by the aircraft. This reference model is constructed for each specific maneuver using the exact aerodynamic and mass properties of the aircraft to meet the stability and performance requirements commonly accepted in flight control. The proposed metrics are unified in the sense that they are model independent and not restricted to any specific adaptive control methods. As an example, we present simulation results for a wing damaged generic transport aircraft with several existing adaptive controllers.

Stepanyan, Vahram↗
NASA NTRS2001

Integration of Libration Point Orbit Dynamics into a Universal 3-D Autonomous Formation Flying Algorithm

The autonomous formation flying control algorithm developed by the Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) for the New Millennium Program (NMP) Earth Observing-1 (EO-1) mission is investigated for applicability to libration point orbit formations. In the EO-1 formation-flying algorithm, control is accomplished via linearization about a reference transfer orbit with a state transition matrix (STM) computed from state inputs. The effect of libration point orbit dynamics on this algorithm architecture is explored via computation of STMs using the flight proven code, a monodromy matrix developed from a N-body model of a libration orbit, and a standard STM developed from the gravitational and coriolis effects as measured at the libration point. A comparison of formation flying Delta-Vs calculated from these methods is made to a standard linear quadratic regulator (LQR) method. The universal 3-D approach is optimal in the sense that it can be accommodated as an open-loop or closed-loop control using only state information.

Folta, David↗
NASA NTRS1976

The unified data system - A distributed processing network for control and data handling on a spacecraft

This paper presents the results obtained in a continuing investigation of real-time distributed processing systems which is being conducted at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. A distributed processor architecture has been developed for control and data handling on a planetary spacecraft. This system, designated the Unified Data System, has been implemented in a feasibility breadboard. The following aspects of the Unified Data System are described: (1) standardized building block elements and their configuration into microprocessor modules, (2) a highly redundant bus structure which connects the various modules and facilitates intercommunications with minimal software support, (3) the structure of software within the individual modules and its coordination between modules, and (4) the mechanisms by which fault-tolerance can be implemented within the network. Through the attributes of multilevel standardization, simplicity, and flexibility, this system is expected to result in significant cost savings to future spacecraft missions.

Rennels, D. A.↗
DOE OSTI2024

Developing an Energy-Conscious Traffic Signal Control System for Optimized Fuel Consumption in Connected Vehicle Environments

The project titled “Developing an Energy-Conscious Traffic Signal Control System for Optimized Fuel Consumption in Connected Vehicle Environments” addresses energy-related challenges associated with adaptive traffic control systems by integrating connected vehicles (CV) and connected infrastructure (CI). The system developed in this project, a CV-based adaptive traffic control system, aims to improve fuel consumption in mixed traffic environments by capitalizing on emerging CV and CI communication technologies, as well as leveraging recent advances in Artificial Intelligence (AI), optimization, and edge computing. The system was tested at the MLK Smart Corridor, an urban testbed managed by the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC) and the City of Chattanooga. The system was validated through extensive simulations, both Software-in-the-Loop (SILS) and Hardware-in-the-Loop (HILS), and was further implemented and tested in real-world conditions at several intersections along the corridor. The Fuel Consumption Performance Index (FC-PI) and the Ecological Performance Index (Eco-PI) were developed as the key components for evaluating the system’s impact on fuel consumption and emissions. These metrics provided a comprehensive means of understanding the impact of traffic signal control optimization in mixed traffic environments. The report presents an in-depth analysis of the Eco-PI, FC-PI, adaptive traffic control system integration, and the testing and field implementation of the system. The results demonstrate significant reductions in fuel consumption and emissions, showcasing the system’s capability to contribute to more sustainable urban traffic management. The report also documents the challenges encountered and recommendations for scaling and further improving the system.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗
DOE OSTI2024

Inverter Intensive Hybrid Power Plant Modeling with Small-Signal Stability Augmentation through Flexible Operation Mode Transition

Hybrid power plants (HPPs) prompt the penetration of inverter-based renewable energy sources (RES) in transmission systems; however, given their low-inertia nature, HPPs are dominated by power electronic inverters, so there are inevitable challenges in system stability when increasing numbers of HPPs are integrated into the modern power grids. To boost the penetration level of HPPs without jeopardizing system stability, it is desirable to equip them with operational characteristics (i.e., grid-forming capabilities) that are comparable to those of conventional power plants dominated by synchronous generators (SGs). In this paper, a holistic model of inverter intensive HPP is derived and a bi-level hierarchical control is developed to allow HPPs to flexibly switch among the designed operation modes (i.e., P-Q, P-V, and isochronous modes). Compared to SGs, which have limited controllability, the operation mode of each HPP could vary as requested. Such flexible mode transitions could be integrated into the secondary plant-level control and be leveraged as an additional control degree to further augment system stability. Further, the system small-signal stability margin is quantified with varying HPP operation modes. More importantly, modal analysis is thereby conducted to quantify the impacts of mode transition on the system oscillatory modes. The effectiveness of the proposed HPP bi-level hierarchical control is verified using extensive case studies based on the simplified real-world island power grid, and the results validate that the system small-signal stability margin can be enhanced with the additional degree of control flexibility enabled by HPP operation mode transition. The real-time hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) results are also provided to verify the proposed method.

grid-forming control↗
NASA NTRS1976

Development of weight and cost estimates for lifting surfaces with active controls

Equations and methodology were developed for estimating the weight and cost incrementals due to active controls added to the wing and horizontal tail of a subsonic transport airplane. The methods are sufficiently generalized to be suitable for preliminary design. Supporting methodology and input specifications for the weight and cost equations are provided. The weight and cost equations are structured to be flexible in terms of the active control technology (ACT) flight control system specification. In order to present a self-contained package, methodology is also presented for generating ACT flight control system characteristics for the weight and cost equations. Use of the methodology is illustrated.

Anderson, R. D.↗
NASA NTRS1983

The integrated manual and automatic control of complex flight systems

Development of a unified control synthesis methodology for complex and/or non-conventional flight vehicles, and prediction techniques for the handling characteristics of such vehicles are reported. Identification of pilot dynamics and objectives, using time domain and frequency domain methods is proposed.

Schmidt, D. K.↗
NASA NTRS1989

Design of an active helicopter control experiment at the Princeton Rotorcraft Dynamics Laboratory

In an effort to develop an active control technique for reducing helicopter vibrations stemming from the main rotor system, a helicopter model was designed and tested at the Princeton Rotorcraft Dynamics Laboratory (PRDL). A description of this facility, including its latest data acquisition upgrade, are given. The design procedures for the test model and its Froude scaled rotor system are also discussed. The approach for performing active control is based on the idea that rotor states can be identified by instrumenting the rotor blades. Using this knowledge, Individual Blade Control (IBC) or Higher Harmonic Control (HHC) pitch input commands may be used to impact on rotor dynamics in such a way as to reduce rotor vibrations. Discussed here is an instrumentation configuration utilizing miniature accelerometers to measure and estimate first and second out-of-plane bending mode positions and velocities. To verify this technique, the model was tested, and resulting data were used to estimate rotor states as well as flap and bending coefficients, procedures for which are discussed. Overall results show that a cost- and time-effective method for building a useful test model for future active control experiments was developed. With some fine-tuning or slight adjustments in sensor configuration, prospects for obtaining good state estimates look promising.

Marraffa, Andrew M.↗