Development of control laws for a flight test maneuver autopilot
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This paper examines the detectability and distinguishability of control element failures on the B-737 aircraft. The results of Weiss (1985) are used to define decentralized residuals from analytic redundancy relationships, and the results of Weiss et al. (1984) are used to define the probabilistic distance measures which provide bounds on the minimum achievable probabilities or error. The residual signals are then generated using data which were recorded during a landing approach of the NASA-Langley Advanced Transport Operations (ATOPS) transportation systems research vehicle (TSRV). The distance measures are computed using estimates of the statistics of these residual signals.
The total rotor isolation system (TRIS) is a six-degree-of-freedom helicopter rotor vibration isolation system that has been installed on a 206LM helicopter in order to demonstrate a better-than-90-percent isolation of the fuselage from main rotor forces and moments. The results thus far obtained indicate a 95-percent suppression of vibration levels from the rotor hub to the pilot's seat, with considerable weight savings over traditional antiresonant isolation concepts.
Experiments were conducted to explore the use of flow energizers (i.e., horizontally mounted vortex generators), using a special instrumentation subsystem installed on a light twin aircraft. The data, collected for energizer configurations with convergence ratios of 1.2, 1.5, and 1.7, included measurements of pressure on the wing surface, velocity components in the wake of the energizer, and forces on the flow energizer itself. Surface pressure data showed that flow energizer effects are highly localized. The energizer with the smallest convergence ratio tested produced an energizer lift/drag ratio about 75 percent lower that that of the other two configurations. For highly swept planforms, cambered energizers with overlaps of the order of 12-15 percent of the local chord provide the best results.
Wind shear is a serious safety hazard to commercial aviation. Low level wind shear (downburst) was the cause of the takeoff accident in New Orleans, July 9, 1982, and the landing accident in Dallas, Aug. 2, 1985. Shear layer instability is a common cause of clear air turbulence (CAT) at cruising altitudes. A number of encounters with severe CAT, in which passengers were injured, have recently occurred (Hannibal, MO, April 1981; Morton, WY, July 1982; etc.). Improved accident investigation techniques can lead to a better understanding of the nature of the wind environment associated with downbursts and CAT and to better detection and avoidance procedures. For the past several years, NASA-Ames has worked closely with the National Transportation Safety Board in the investigation of wind related accidents.
Enhancements to the real-time processing and display systems of the NASA Western Aeronautical Test Range are described. Display processing has been moved out of the telemetry and radar acquisition processing systems super-minicomputers into user/client interactive graphic workstations. Real-time data is provided to the workstations by way of Ethernet. Future enhancement plans include use of fiber optic cable to replace the Ethernet.
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The paper discusses an identification problem in which a basic feedback control structure, or pilot control strategy, is hypothesized. Identification algorithms are employed to determine the particular form of pilot equalization in each feedback loop. It was found that both frequency- and time-domain identification techniques provide useful information.
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Autopilot replaces pilot during automatic maneuvers. Pilot, based on ground, flies aircraft to required altitude, then turns control over to autopilot. Increases quality of maneuvers significantly beyond that attainable through remote manual control by pilot on ground. Also increases quality of maneuvers because it performs maneuvers faster than pilot could and because it does not have to repeat poorly executed maneuvers.
The topics covered include the following: (1) telemetry processing independent of source; (2) generic system/software; (3) time homogeneity; (4) low latency networks; (5) distributed processing; (6) all data available to all workstations; and (7) recall of data in real time.
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An analytic and experimental study of the changes in the modal parameters of space structural test articles from one- to zero-gravity is presented. Deployable, erectable, and rotary modules was assembled to form three one- and two-dimensional structures, in which variations in bracing wire and rotary joint preload could be introduced. The structures were modeled as if hanging from a suspension system in one gravity, and unconstrained, as if free floating in zero-gravity. The analysis is compared with ground experimental measurements, made on a spring/wire suspension system with a nominal plunge frequency of one Hertz, and with measurements made on the Shuttle middeck. The degree of change in linear modal parameters as well as the change in nonlinear nature of the response is examined. Trends in modal parameters are presented as a function of force amplitude, joint preload, and ambient gravity level.