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Results for “CONTROL, AUTOMATIC”

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 289 records · Page 16
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1973

An analytical study of the response of a constant-attitude aircraft to atmospheric turbulence

A light airplane equipped with an automatic control system which drives large wing flaps and the stabilator so as to produce a constant pitch attitude in all flight modes was analyzed for its response to a specific gust. The aircraft was also equipped with a bank-angle steering, zero sideslip automatic control system which was studied for its effectiveness in suppressing a specific lateral gust. The gusts were assumed to be comprised of 200 lateral and 400 vertical sinusoids. Each was used to excite the controlled aircraft and the time response to the sum of all sinusoids was plotted. The assumption was that the gust may be treated as stationary in space but variable in time rather than the reverse. Results indicate that such a control system can suppress vertical gusts up to the limit of control authority. Either the lateral accelerations or the yawing velocity response to lateral gusts can be suppressed with this system but not both simultaneously.

Smetana, F. O.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Design description of the Schuchuli Village photovoltaic power system

A stand alone photovoltaic (PV) power system for the village of Schuchuli (Gunsight), Arizona, on the Papago Indian Reservation is a limited energy, all 120 V (d.c.) system to which loads cannot be arbitrarily added and consists of a 3.5 kW (peak) PV array, 2380 ampere-hours of battery storage, an electrical equipment building, a 120 V (d.c.) electrical distribution network, and equipment and automatic controls to provide control power for pumping water into an existing water system; operating 15 refrigerators, a clothes washing machine, a sewing machine, and lights for each of the homes and communal buildings. A solar hot water heater supplies hot water for the washing machine and communal laundry. Automatic control systems provide voltage control by limiting the number of PV strings supplying power during system operation and battery charging, and load management for operating high priority at the expense of low priority loads as the main battery becomes depleted.

Ratajczak, A. F.↗
NASA NTRS1970

The STAR computer - A self-testing-and- repairing computer for spacecraft guidance, control, and automatic maintenance

Successful planetary exploration missions have been completed by unmanned Mariner spacecraft, which were designed at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Mariner II completed a 109-day flyby mission to Venus on December 14, 1962. This mission was followed by the flyby of Mars and return of 21 historic photographs of its surface by Mariner IV in July 1965. Further successful missions followed: Mariner V to Venus in 1967, Mariners VI and VII to Mars in 1969. In all of these missions, a Central Computer and Sequencer onboard the spacecraft was used to provide on-board control functions, although complete ground backup was also available.

Algirdas Avizienist↗
NASA NTRS1986

Initial design and evaluation of automatic restructurable flight control system concepts

Results of efforts to develop automatic control design procedures for restructurable aircraft control systems is presented. The restructurable aircraft control problem involves designing a fault tolerance control system which can accommodate a wide variety of unanticipated aircraft failure. Under NASA sponsorship, many of the technologies which make such a system possible were developed and tested. Future work will focus on developing a methodology for integrating these technologies and demonstration of a complete system.

Weiss, J. L.↗
NASA NTRS1929

Mechanical control of airplanes

Before undertaking a detailed description of an automatic-control mechanism, I will state briefly the fundamental conditions for such devices. These are: 1) it must be sensitive at one or more reference values; 2) it must stop the angular motions of the airplane not produced by the pilot; and 3) it must be possible to switch it off and on by a simple hand lever.

AUTOMATIC PILOTS - BOYKOW↗
NASA NTRS1969

Automatic frequency control of voltage-controlled oscillators

Optical-capacitive coupling is used for isolation of control voltages, such as the high-voltage level of a klystron control electrode that is not referenced to ground, to serve as error voltages referenced to system ground so that the magnitude and sense of correction may be transferred.

Kolbly, R. B.↗
NASA NTRS1973

Automatic quadrature control and measuring system

Quadrature is separated from amplified signal by use of phase detector, with phase shifter providing appropriate reference. Output of phase detector is further amplified and filtered by dc amplifier. Output of dc amplifier provides signal to neutralize quadrature component of transducer signal.

Hamlet, J. F.↗
NASA NTRS1973

Separate surfaces for automatic flight controls.

The purpose of this paper is to describe an investigation of separate surface stability augmentation systems for general aviation aircraft. The program objective were twofold: first, a wind tunnel program to determine control effectiveness of separate surfaces in the presence of main surfaces, and hinge moment feedback from separate surfaces via the main surfaces to the pilot; second, a theoretical study to determine the minimum performance of actuators and sensors that can be tolerated, the best slaving gains to be used with separate surfaces, and control authority needed for proper operation under direct pilot control, under autopilot control, and in failure situations. On the basis of the results obtained, it has been concluded that separate surface systems are feasible and advantageous for use in general aviation aircraft.

Roskam, J.↗
NASA NTRS1974

Automatic quadrature control and measuring system

A quadrature component cancellation and measuring system comprising a detection system for detecting the quadrature component from a primary signal, including reference circuitry to define the phase of the quadrature component for detection is described. A Raysistor optical coupling control device connects an output from the detection system to a circuit driven by a signal based upon the primary signal. Combining circuitry connects the primary signal and the circuit controlled by the Raysistor device to subtract quadrature components. A known current through the optically sensitive element produces a signal defining the magnitude of the quadrature component.

Hamlet, J. F.↗
NASA NTRS1974

Low distortion automatic phase control circuit

A voltage controlled phase shifter is rendered substantially harmonic distortion free over a large dynamic input range by employing two oppositely poled, equally biased varactor diodes as the voltage controlled elements which adjust the phase shift. Control voltages which affect the bias of both diodes equally are used to adjust the phase shift without increasing distortion. A feedback stabilized phase shifter is rendered substantially frequency independent by employing a phase detector to control the phase shift of the voltage controlled phase shifter.

Hauge, G.↗
NASA NTRS1974

Space tug automatic docking control study. LOCDOK users manual

A users's manual for the computer programs involved in a study of the space tug docking simulation is presented. The following subjects are considered: (1) subroutine narratives, (2) program elements, (3) system subroutines, and (4) Univac 1108 cross reference listing. The functional and operational requirements for the computer programming are explained.

Source record↗
NASA NTRS1974

Automatic focus control for facsimile cameras

An electronic circuit for controlling the focus of facsimile cameras is described. The circuit consists of balanced a.c. amplifiers, two square law function generators, and a differential amplifier and power drive. The invention includes a method for maintaining the imaging sensor at the expected location of the focal plane as the facsimile camera scans a scene or terrain. A block diagram of the electronic circuitry is provided.

Sinclair, A. R.↗
NASA NTRS1974

Manual and automatic flight control during severe turbulence penetration

In this paper, updated pilot/display/aircraft analysis techniques are applied to the problem of turbulence upset. In the course of an investigation of standard operating procedures and current autopilot turbulence modes, it was found that an improved turbulence penetration system is needed. A simulation was conducted to evaluate the turbulence autopilot and flight director concepts. It was found that an energy management system comprising the integrated autopilot and thrust director provided the greatest decrease in pilot work load and improvement in performance.

Johnston, D. E.↗
NASA NTRS1976

Manual and automatic flight control during severe turbulence penetration

An analytical and experimental investigation of possible contributing factors in jet aircraft turbulence upsets was conducted. Major contributing factors identified included autopilot and display deficiencies, the large aircraft inertia and associated long response time, and excessive pilot workload. An integrated flight and thrust energy management director system was synthesized. The system was incorporated in a moving-base simulation and evaluated using highly experienced airline pilots. The evaluation included comparison of pilot workload and flight performance during severe turbulence penetration utilizing four control/display concepts: manual control with conventional full panel display, conventional autopilot (A/P-A) with conventional full panel display, improved autopilot (A/P-B) with conventional full panel display plus thrust director display, and longitudinal flight director with conventional full panel display plus thrust director display. Simulation results show improved performance, reduced pilot workload, and a pilot preference for the autopilot system controlling to the flight director command and manual control of thrust following the trim thrust director.

Johnston, D. E.↗
NASA NTRS1976

Quality assurance program guidelines for application to and use by manufacturers of rail/guideway vehicles, buses, automatic train control systems, and their major subsystems

Guidelines are presented for a quality assurance system to be implemented by the manufacturer in support of designing, developing, fabricating, assembling, inspecting, testing, handling, and delivery of equipment being procured for use in public urban mass transit systems. The guidelines apply to this equipment when being procured for: (1) use in revenue service; (2) demonstration of systems that will be revenue producing or used by the public; (3) use as a prototype for follow-on operational/revenue producing equipment procurements; and (4) qualification tests.

Witkin, S. A.↗