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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.

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At least 199 records · Page 11
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1968

A second-generation /high-speed/ maximum power tracker for space applications.

During the past few years, considerable effort has been exerted by both industry and government to improve the performance of space power systems. One of the significant advances has been the development of practical Maximum Power-Point Tracking (MPPT) systems. This paper presents the background and evolution of a second-generation (high-speed) MPPT system capable of operation with solar arrays with rapidly fluctuating parameters due to mission operation (e.g., spin-stabilized spacecraft). An experimental model of the high-speed MPPT system has been constructed and tested. Results from these tests are presented herein. The second-generation MPPT system provides a means of efficient power conditioning that can result in significant increases over conventional systems in space-power system capability. Of additional importance is the applicability of the basic technology to all types of spacecraft, and the wide variety of power-system configurations with which the high-speed MPPT system concept may be used.

Clement A. Berard, Jr.↗
NASA NTRS1970

Star-tracker systems

Determining sources for celestial references used by orbiting astronomical observatories

Seifert, L. I.↗
NASA NTRS1971

Thermal heliotrope - A passive sun-tracker

Continuous sun tracking device consists of helical bimetallic coil and control mechanism. Coil produces torque and angular displacement with temperature change, and acts as device's driving element. Control mechanism, concentric shading mechanism containing bimetallic sensor coil, controls tracking rate and provides for reset cycle.

Byxbee, R. C.↗
NASA NTRS1972

Input noise approximation in tracker modeling

The validity of approximating random Gaussian distributed inputs used in human response modeling by sums of discrete sine waves is studied. An ideal rectangular power density spectrum is simulated using both filtered Gaussian white noise and sums-of-discrete sine waves with three different input cutoff frequencies in the same compensatory tracking task. Resulting normalized tracking error and quality operator observations are used to investigate apparent discrepancies in human operator characteristics. Results show that discrete and continuous input tracking data compare favorable when the power in the crossover region is taken into account.

Torrey, P. F.↗
NASA NTRS1975

Refracting lens system for low-scatter star-tracker: A Concept

''Low Scatter Lens Design/Development'' discusses studies of low-scatter lens system. Two sections cover optical design and scattering analysis for model of lens system which rejects radiation. Result of computations are shown on computer printouts attached to report.

Source record↗
NASA NTRS1975

Automatic solar tracker

Mechanism uses differential pressure of condensable fluid against fixed piston to equalize radiant energy on pair of blackbody elements.

Conroy, B. L.↗
NASA NTRS1975

A computer-aided telescope pointing system utilizing a video star tracker

The Video Inertial Pointing (VIP) System developed to satisfy the acquisition and pointing requirements of astronomical telescopes is described. A unique feature of the system is the use of a single sensor to provide information for the generation of three axis pointing error signals and for a cathode ray tube (CRT) display of the star field. The pointing error signals are used to update the telescope's gyro stabilization and the CRT display is used by an operator to facilitate target acquisition and to aid in manual positioning of the telescope optical axis. A model of the system using a low light level vidicon built and flown on a balloon-borne infrared telescope is briefly described from a state of the art charge coupled device (CCD) sensor. The advanced system hardware is described and an analysis of the multi-star tracking and three axis error signal generation, along with an analysis and design of the gyro update filter, are presented. Results of a hybrid simulation are described in which the advanced VIP system hardware is driven by a digital simulation of the star field/CCD sensor and an analog simulation of the telescope and gyro stabilization dynamics.

Murphy, J. P.↗
NASA NTRS1975

Radar range data signal enhancement tracker

The design, fabrication, and performance characteristics are described of two digital data signal enhancement filters which are capable of being inserted between the Space Shuttle Navigation Sensor outputs and the guidance computer. Commonality of interfaces has been stressed so that the filters may be evaluated through operation with simulated sensors or with actual prototype sensor hardware. The filters will provide both a smoothed range and range rate output. Different conceptual approaches are utilized for each filter. The first filter is based on a combination low pass nonrecursive filter and a cascaded simple average smoother for range and range rate, respectively. Filter number two is a tracking filter which is capable of following transient data of the type encountered during burn periods. A test simulator was also designed which generates typical shuttle navigation sensor data.

Source record↗