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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 253 records · Page 14
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1982

Lateral control system design for VTOL landing on a DD963 in high sea states

The problem of designing lateral control systems for the safe landing of VTOL aircraft on small ships is addressed. A ship model is derived. The issues of estimation and prediction of ship motions are discussed, using optimal linear linear estimation techniques. The roll motion is the most important of the lateral motions, and it is found that it can be predicted for up to 10 seconds in perfect conditions. The automatic landing of the VTOL aircraft is considered, and a lateral controller, defined as a ship motion tracker, is designed, using optimal control techniqes. The tradeoffs between the tracking errors and the control authority are obtained. The important couplings between the lateral motions and controls are demonstrated, and it is shown that the adverse couplings between the sway and the roll motion at the landing pad are significant constraints in the tracking of the lateral ship motions. The robustness of the control system, including the optimal estimator, is studied, using the singular values analysis. Through a robustification procedure, a robust control system is obtained, and the usefulness of the singular values to define stability margins that take into account general types of unstructured modelling errors is demonstrated. The minimal destabilizing perturbations indicated by the singular values analysis are interpreted and related to the multivariable Nyquist diagrams.

Bodson, M.↗
NASA NTRS2013

Analytic Perturbation Method for Estimating Ground Flash Fraction from Satellite Lightning Observations

An analytic perturbation method is introduced for estimating the lightning ground flash fraction in a set of N lightning flashes observed by a satellite lightning mapper. The value of N is large, typically in the thousands, and the observations consist of the maximum optical group area produced by each flash. The method is tested using simulated observations that are based on Optical Transient Detector (OTD) and Lightning Imaging Sensor (LIS) data. National Lightning Detection NetworkTM (NLDN) data is used to determine the flash‐type (ground or cloud) of the satellite-observed flashes, and provides the ground flash fraction truth for the simulation runs. It is found that the mean ground flash fraction retrieval errors are below 0.04 across the full range 0‐1 under certain simulation conditions. In general, it is demonstrated that the retrieval errors depend on many factors (i.e., the number, N, of satellite observations, the magnitude of random and systematic measurement errors, and the number of samples used to form certain climate distributions employed in the model).

Koshak, William↗
NASA NTRS1985

Simplified Convolution Codes

Simple recursive algorithm efficiently calculates minimum-weight error vectors using Diophantine equations. Recursive algorithm uses general solution of polynomial linear Diophantine equation to determine minimum-weight error polynomial vector in equation in polynomial space.

Truong, T. K.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Effects of model error on control of large flexible space antenna with comparisons of decoupled and linear quadratic regulator control procedures

An analysis was performed to determine the effects of model error on the control of a large flexible space antenna. Control was achieved by employing two three-axis control-moment gyros (CMG's) located on the antenna column. State variables were estimated by including an observer in the control loop that used attitude and attitude-rate sensors on the column. Errors were assumed to exist in the individual model parameters: modal frequency, modal damping, mode slope (control-influence coefficients), and moment of inertia. Their effects on control-system performance were analyzed either for (1) nulling initial disturbances in the rigid-body modes, or (2) nulling initial disturbances in the first three flexible modes. The study includes the effects on stability, time to null, and control requirements (defined as maximum torque and total momentum), as well as on the accuracy of obtaining initial estimates of the disturbances. The effects on the transients of the undisturbed modes are also included. The results, which are compared for decoupled and linear quadratic regulator (LQR) control procedures, are shown in tabular form, parametric plots, and as sample time histories of modal-amplitude and control responses. Results of the analysis showed that the effects of model errors on the control-system performance were generally comparable for both control procedures. The effect of mode-slope error was the most serious of all model errors.

Hamer, H. A.↗
NASA NTRS2010

Accuracy Analysis for Finite-Volume Discretization Schemes on Irregular Grids

A new computational analysis tool, downscaling test, is introduced and applied for studying the convergence rates of truncation and discretization errors of nite-volume discretization schemes on general irregular (e.g., unstructured) grids. The study shows that the design-order convergence of discretization errors can be achieved even when truncation errors exhibit a lower-order convergence or, in some cases, do not converge at all. The downscaling test is a general, efficient, accurate, and practical tool, enabling straightforward extension of verification and validation to general unstructured grid formulations. It also allows separate analysis of the interior, boundaries, and singularities that could be useful even in structured-grid settings. There are several new findings arising from the use of the downscaling test analysis. It is shown that the discretization accuracy of a common node-centered nite-volume scheme, known to be second-order accurate for inviscid equations on triangular grids, degenerates to first order for mixed grids. Alternative node-centered schemes are presented and demonstrated to provide second and third order accuracies on general mixed grids. The local accuracy deterioration at intersections of tangency and in flow/outflow boundaries is demonstrated using the DS tests tailored to examining the local behavior of the boundary conditions. The discretization-error order reduction within inviscid stagnation regions is demonstrated. The accuracy deterioration is local, affecting mainly the velocity components, but applies to any order scheme.

Diskin, Boris↗
NASA NTRS1983

Analysis and classification of human error

The literature on human error is reviewed with emphasis on theories of error and classification schemes. A methodology for analysis and classification of human error is then proposed which includes a general approach to classification. Identification of possible causes and factors that contribute to the occurrence of errors is also considered. An application of the methodology to the use of checklists in the aviation domain is presented for illustrative purposes.

Rouse, W. B.↗
NASA NTRS2007

Adaptive Responses in Eye-Head-Hand Coordination Following Exposures to a Virtual Environment as a Possible Space Flight Analog

Virtual environments (VE) offer unique training opportunities, particularly for training astronauts and preadapting them to the novel sensory conditions of microgravity. Sensorimotor aftereffects of VEs are often quite similar to adaptive sensorimotor responses observed in astronauts during and/or following space flight. The purpose of this research was to compare disturbances in sensorimotor coordination produced by dome virtual environment display and to examine the effects of exposure duration, and repeated exposures to VR systems. The current study examined disturbances in eye-head-hand (EHH) and eye-head coordination. Preliminary results will be presented. Eleven subjects have participated in the study to date. One training session was completed in order to achieve stable performance on the EHH coordination and VE tasks. Three experimental sessions were performed each separated by one day. Subjects performed a navigation and pick and place task in a dome immersive display VE for 30 or 60 min. The subjects were asked to move objects from one set of 15 pedestals to the other set across a virtual square room through a random pathway as quickly and accurately as possible. EHH coordination was measured before, immediately after, and at 1 hr, 2 hr, 4 hr and 6 hr following exposure to VR. EHH coordination was measured as position errors and reaction time in a pointing task that included multiple horizontal and vertical LED targets. Repeated measures ANOVAs were used to analyze the data. In general, we observed significant increases in position errors for both horizontal and vertical targets. The largest decrements were observed immediately following exposure to VR and showed a fairly rapid recovery across test sessions, but not across days. Subjects generally showed faster RTs across days. Individuals recovered from the detrimental effects of exposure to the VE on position errors within 1-2 hours. The fact that subjects did not significantly improve across days suggests that in order to achieve dual adaptation of EHH coordination may require more than three training sessions. These findings provide some direction for developing training schedules for VE users that facilitate adaptation, support the idea that preflight training of astronauts may serve as useful countermeasure for the sensorimotor effects of space flight, and support the idea that VEs may serve as an analog for sensorimotor effects of spaceflight.

Harm, Deborah L.↗
NASA NTRS1994

Microwave radiative transfer through horizontally inhomogeneous precipitating clouds

Recent advances in cloud microphysical models have led to realistic three-dimensional distributions of cloud constituents. Radiative transfer schemes can make use of this detailed knowledge in order to study the effects of horizontal as well as vertical inhomogeneities within clouds. This study looks specifically at the differences between three-dimensional radiative transfer results and those obtained by plane parallel, independent pixel approximations in the microwave spectrum. A three-dimensional discrete ordinates method as well as a backward Monte Carlo method are used to calculate realistic radiances emerging from the cloud. Analyses between these models and independent pixel approximations reveal that plane parallel approximations introduce two distinct types of errors. The first error is physical in nature and is related to the fact that plane parallel approximations do not allow energy to leak out of dense areas into surrouding areas. In general, it was found that these errors are quite small for emission-dominated frequencies (37 GHz and lower) and that physical errors are highly pronounced only at scattering frequencies (85 GHz) where large deviations and biases up to 8 K averaged over the entire cloud were found. The second error is more geometric in nature and is related to the fact that plane parallel approximations cannot accommodate physical boundaries in the horizontal dimension for off-nadir viewing angles. The geometric errors were comparable in magnitude for all frequencies. Their magnitude, however, depends on a number of factors including the scheme used to deal with the edge, the nature of the surface, and the viewing angle.

Roberti, Laura↗
NASA NTRS1972

Pattern recognition of native plant communities: Manitou Colorado test site

Optimum channel selection among 12 channels of multispectral scanner imagery identified six as providing the best information about 11 vegetation classes and two nonvegetation classes at the Manitou Experimental Forest. Intensive preprocessing of the scanner signals was required to eliminate a serious scan angle effect. Final processing of the normalized data provided acceptable recognition results of generalized plant community types. Serious errors occurred with attempts to classify specific community types within upland grassland areas. The consideration of the convex mixtures concept (effects of amounts of live plant cover, exposed soil, and plant litter cover on apparent scene radiances) significantly improved the classification of some of the grassland classes.

Driscoll, R. S.↗
NASA NTRS1972

The Backup-Gilbert method and its application to the electrical conductivity problem

The theory of Backus and Gilbert gives a technique for solving the general linear inverse problem. Observational error and lack of data are shown to reduce the reliability of the solution in different ways: the former introduces statistical uncertainties in the model, while the latter smooths out the detail. Precision can be improved by sacrificing resolving power, and vice versa, so that some compromise may be made between the two in choosing the best model. Nonlinear inverse problems can be brought into the domain of the theory by linearizing about a typical solution. The inverse problem of electrical conductivity in the mantle is used to illustrate the Backus-Gilbert technique; an example of the tradeoff diagram is given.

Parker, R. L.↗
NASA NTRS1973

Numerical solution of equations governing longitudinal suspension line wave motion during the parachute unfurling process

Equations are presented which govern the dynamics of the lines-first parachute unfurling process, including wave motion in the parachute suspension lines. Techniques are developed for obtaining numerical solutions to the governing equations. Histories of tension at test data, and generally good agreement is observed. Errors in computed results are attributed to several areas of uncertainty, the most significant being a poorly defined boundary condition on the wave motion at the vehicle-suspension line boundary.

Poole, L. R.↗
NASA NTRS1973

Frequency response of short pressure probes.

Exterior and inlet probe geometries are governed by details of particular applications, such as flow angles, pressure gradients, and probe blockage. Frequency responses of all probes considered were computed on the basis of a rigorous analysis. Measured amplitude ratios and phase angles generally fell within the experimental error of the computer values. A sinusoidal pressure generator for the frequency range from 300 to 5000 Hz was used to obtain frequency responses experimentally.

Nyland, T. W.↗
NASA NTRS1975

Performance of coded MFSK in a Rician fading channel

The performance of convolutional codes in conjunction with noncoherent multiple frequency shift-keyed (MFSK) modulation and Viterbi maximum likelihood decoding on a Rician fading channel is examined in detail. While the primary motivation underlying this work has been concerned with system performance on the planetary entry channel, it is expected that the results are of considerably wider interest. Particular attention is given to modeling the channel in terms of a few meaningful parameters which can be correlated closely with the results of theoretical propagation studies. Fairly general upper bounds on bit error probability performance in the presence of fading are derived and compared with simulation results using both unquantized and quantized receiver outputs. The effects of receiver quantization and channel memory are investigated and it is concluded that the coded noncoherent MFSK system offers an attractive alternative to coherent BPSK in providing reliable low data rate communications in fading channels typical of planetary entry missions.

Modestino, J. W.↗
NASA NTRS1979

State and model error estimation for distributed parameter systems

In-flight estimation of large structure model errors in order to detect inevitable deficiencies in large structure controller/estimator models is discussed. Such an estimation process is particularly applicable in the area of shape control system design required to maintain a prescribed static structural shape and, in addition, suppress dynamic disturbances due to the vehicle vibrational modes. The paper outlines a solution to the problem of static shape estimation where the vehicle shape must be reconstructed from a set of measurements discretely located throughout the structure. The estimation process is based on the principle of least-squares that inherently contains the definition and explicit computation of model error estimates that are optimal in some sense. Consequently, a solution is provided for the problem of estimation of static model errors (e.g., external loads). A generalized formulation applicable to distributed parameters systems is first worked out and then applied to a one-dimensional beam-like structural configuration.

Rodriguez, G.↗
NASA NTRS1980

Analysis of flight test measurements in ground effect

Three sources of errors, introduced into the air-data measurements of altitude and airspeed as a result of ground proximity, are evaluated. It is shown that the primary error results from ground constraint of the wing lifting pattern. Smaller errors result from constraint of the flow over the fuselage and of the engine exhaust. Equations are derived to provide corrections for the three error contributions. The equations are general and can be applied to airplanes of different geometries operating in different conditions. Applications illustrating different types of flight operations (takeoff and landing) are presented using CV-990 data. Applications illustrating the effect of different static orifice locations (fuselage and nose-boom) are presented with YC-15 data. Finally, an application to trajectory reconstruction is illustrated using DC-10 data.

Parks, E. K.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Single pilot IFR accident data analysis

The aircraft accident data recorded by the National Transportation and Safety Board (NTSR) for 1964-1979 were analyzed to determine what problems exist in the general aviation (GA) single pilot instrument flight rule (SPIFR) environment. A previous study conducted in 1978 for the years 1964-1975 provided a basis for comparison. This effort was generally limited to SPIFR pilot error landing phase accidents but includes some SPIFR takeoff and enroute accident analysis as well as some dual pilot IFR accident analysis for comparison. Analysis was performed for 554 accidents of which 39% (216) occurred during the years 1976-1979.

Harris, D. F.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Report on holographic tests at S-band and K-band on the DSS-63 64 metre antenna

High resolution holographic tests were carried out on DSS-63 at S-band and K-band during May l985. These tests followed a mechanical retrofit which involved the addition of structural bracing to the backing structure. Geosynchronous satellite beacons were used as sources for the tests. At a resolution of 0.4m the S-band and K-band tests revealed rms deviations of the surface to be 2.73mm and 1.53mm, respectively. The difference between these two results is thought to be due mainly to contamination of the S-band surface error map by expected and generally predictable subreflector diffraction effects. The S-band map is also known to be contaminated by diffraction from the subreflector support struts and has a higher noise level than the K-band map. A list of corrections to be applied to the reflector panels is derived from the K-band map. These corrections are predicted to reduce the rms deviation from 1.53mm to 0.86mm at 0.4m resolution. Comparison with results obtained before the mechanical retrofit suggests the major effect of the added structural bracing to be reduction of a third order deformation of the reflector about its axis.

Godwin, M. P.↗