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Thompson, Peter M.

Publications and source records attributed to Thompson, Peter M..

4 records
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS2011

Control System Modeling for the Thirty Meter Telescope Primary Mirror

The Thirty Meter Telescope primary mirror is composed of 492 segments that are controlled to high precision in the presence of wind and vibration disturbances, despite the interaction with structural dynamics. The higher bandwidth and larger number of segments compared with the Keck telescopes requires greater attention to modeling to ensure success. We focus here on the development and validation of a suite of quasi-static and dynamic modeling tools required to support the design process, including robustness verification, performance estimation, and requirements flowdown. Models are used to predict the dynamic response due to wind and vibration disturbances, estimate achievable bandwidth in the presence of control-structure-interaction (CSI) and uncertainty in the interaction matrix, and simulate and analyze control algorithms and strategies, e.g. for control of focus-mode, and sensor calibration. Representative results illustrate TMT performance scaling with parameters, but the emphasis is on the modeling framework itself.

uncetainty↗
NASA NTRS2005

On-Line Loss of Control Detection Using Wavelets

Wavelet transforms are used for on-line detection of aircraft loss of control. Wavelet transforms are compared with Fourier transform methods and shown to more rapidly detect changes in the vehicle dynamics. This faster response is due to a time window that decreases in length as the frequency increases. New wavelets are defined that further decrease the detection time by skewing the shape of the envelope. The wavelets are used for power spectrum and transfer function estimation. Smoothing is used to tradeoff the variance of the estimate with detection time. Wavelets are also used as front-end to the eigensystem reconstruction algorithm. Stability metrics are estimated from the frequency response and models, and it is these metrics that are used for loss of control detection. A Matlab toolbox was developed for post-processing simulation and flight data using the wavelet analysis methods. A subset of these methods was implemented in real time and named the Loss of Control Analysis Tool Set or LOCATS. A manual control experiment was conducted using a hardware-in-the-loop simulator for a large transport aircraft, in which the real time performance of LOCATS was demonstrated. The next step is to use these wavelet analysis tools for flight test support.

Brenner, Martin J.↗
NASA NTRS2000

The Effect of Sliding Speed on Film Thickness and Pressure Supporting Ability of a Point Contact Under Zero Entrainment Velocity Conditions

A unique tribometer is used to study film forming and pressure supporting abilities of point contacts at zero entrainment velocity (ZEV). Film thickness is determined using a capacitance technique, verified through comparisons of experimental results and theoretical elastohydrodynamic lubrication (EHL) predictions for rolling contacts. Experiments are conducted using through hardened AISI 52 100 steel balls, Polyalphaolefin (PAO) 182 and Pentaerythritol Tetraheptanoate (PT) lubricants, and sliding speeds between 2.0 to 12.0 m/s. PAO 182 and PT are found to support pressures up to 1. 1 GPa and 0.67 GPa respectively. Protective lubricant films ranging in thickness between 90 to 2 10 nm for PAO 182 and 220 to 340 nm for PT are formed. Lubricants experience shear stresses between 14 to 22 MPa for PAO 182 and 7 to 16 MPa for PT at shear rates of 10(exp 7)/sec. The lubricant's pressure supporting ability most likely results from the combination of immobile films and its transition to a glassy solid at high pressures.

Thompson, Peter M.↗