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At least 307 records · Page 17

Nonlinear transformat

A technique for designing automatic flight controllers for aircraft which utilizes the transformation theory of nonlinear systems to linear systems is presently being developed at NASA Ames Research Center. A method is considered in which a given nonlinear is transformed to a controllable linear system in Brunovsky canonical form. A linear approximation is introduced to the nonlinear system called the modified tangent model. This model is easily computed. Constructing the transformation for this model enables the designer to find an approximate transformation for the nonlinear system.

Ford, H.↗

Comparative kinetics and reciprocal inhibition of nitrate and nitrite uptake in roots of uninduced and induced barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) seedlings

Nitrate and NO2- transport by roots of 8-day-old uninduced and induced intact barley (Hordeum vulgare L. var CM 72) seedlings were compared to kinetic patterns, reciprocal inhibition of the transport systems, and the effect of the inhibitor, p-hydroxymercuribenzoate. Net uptake of NO3- and NO2- was measured by following the depletion of the ions from the uptake solutions. The roots of uninduced seedlings possessed a low concentration, saturable, low Km, possibly a constitutive uptake system, and a linear system for both NO3- and NO2-. The low Km system followed Michaelis-Menten kinetics and approached saturation between 40 and 100 micromolar, whereas the linear system was detected between 100 and 500 micromolar. In roots of induced seedlings, rates for both NO3- and NO2- uptake followed Michaelis-Menten kinetics and approached saturation at about 200 micromolar. In induced roots, two kinetically identifiable transport systems were resolved for each anion. At the lower substrate concentrations, less than 10 micromolar, the apparent low Kms of NO3- and NO2- uptake were 7 and 9 micromolar, respectively, and were similar to those of the low Km system in uninduced roots. At substrate concentrations between 10 and 200 micromolar, the apparent high Km values of NO3- uptake ranged from 34 to 36 micromolar and of NO2- uptake ranged from 41 to 49 micromolar. A linear system was also found in induced seedlings at concentrations above 500 micromolar. Double reciprocal plots indicated that NO3- and NO2- inhibited the uptake of each other competitively in both uninduced and induced seedlings; however, Ki values showed that NO3- was a more effective inhibitor than NO2-. Nitrate and NO2- transport by both the low and high Km systems were greatly inhibited by p-hydroxymercuribenzoate, whereas the linear system was only slightly inhibited.

NASA Program CELSS↗

Modal interaction in linear dynamic systems near degenerate modes

In various problems in structural dynamics, the eigenvalues of a linear system depend on a characteristic parameter of the system. Under certain conditions, two eigenvalues of the system approach each other as the characteristic parameter is varied, leading to modal interaction. In a system with conservative coupling, the two eigenvalues eventually repel each other, leading to the curve veering effect. In a system with nonconservative coupling, the eigenvalues continue to attract each other, eventually colliding, leading to eigenvalue degeneracy. Modal interaction is studied in linear systems with conservative and nonconservative coupling using singularity theory, sometimes known as catastrophe theory. The main result is this: eigenvalue degeneracy is a cause of instability; in systems with conservative coupling, it induces only geometric instability, whereas in systems with nonconservative coupling, eigenvalue degeneracy induces both geometric and elastic instability. Illustrative examples of mechanical systems are given.

Afolabi, D.↗

A Signal Transmission Technique for Stability Analysis of Multivariable Non-Linear Control Systems

Among the difficulties associated with multivariable, non-linear control systems is the problem of assessing closed-loop stability. Of particular interest is the class of non-linear systems controlled with on/off actuators, such as spacecraft thrusters or electrical relays. With such systems, standard describing function techniques are typically too conservative, and time-domain simulation analysis is prohibitively extensive, This paper presents an open-loop analysis technique for this class of non-linear systems. The technique is centered around an innovative use of multivariable signal transmission theory to quantify the plant response to worst case control commands. The technique has been applied to assess stability of thruster controlled flexible space structures. Examples are provided for Space Shuttle attitude control with attached flexible payloads.

Jackson, Mark↗

Time-delay control of a magnetic levitated linear positioning system

In this paper, a high accuracy linear positioning system with a linear force actuator and magnetic levitation is proposed. By locating a permanently magnetized rod inside a current-carrying solenoid, the axial force is achieved by the boundary effect of magnet poles and utilized to power the linear motion, while the force for levitation is governed by Ampere's Law supplied with the same solenoid. With the levitation in a radial direction, there is hardly any friction between the rod and the solenoid. The high speed motion can hence be achieved. Besides, the axial force acting on the rod is a smooth function of rod position, so the system can provide nanometer resolution linear positioning to the molecule size. Since the force-position relation is highly nonlinear, and the mathematical model is derived according to some assumptions, such as the equivalent solenoid of the permanently magnetized rod, so there exists unknown dynamics in practical application. Thus 'robustness' is an important issue in controller design. Meanwhile the load effect reacts directly on the servo system without transmission elements, so the capability of 'disturbance rejection; is also required. With the above consideration, a time-delay control scheme is chosen and applied. By comparing the input-output relation and the mathematical model, the time-delay controller calculates an estimation of unmodeled dynamics and disturbances and then composes the desired compensation into the system. Effectiveness of the linear positioning system and control scheme are illustrated with simulation results.

Tarn, J. H.↗

Feedback stabilization and control of linear neutral systems

The first problem treated here is the realization and stabilization of linear neutral systems with discrete delays. It is shown that any autonomous linear neutral system with discrete delays is zero-state equivalent to an abstract linear system over a local ring of operators. Using the abstract model, the basic existence question for neutral realization is then settled. For general infinite dimensional linear systems, there is no precise analog of the finite dimensional state space isomorphism theorem. Because of this, the notion of spectral minimality must be introduced. For the case of single input-single output systems, realizations are obtained that are both minimal and spectrally minimal. Using the Cruz-Hale theory of stable D-operators, conditions are given that ensure that any poles introduced into the realization are strictly contained in the left half plane and indeed are characterized as characteristic values of the D-operator. The problem of the feedback stabilization of neutral systems is then considered using the abstract model. It is shown that, for neutral systems with commensurable delays and a stable D-operator in the sense of Cruz and Hale, Morses theorem (1976) on pole assignment over a PID implies stabilizability in the reachable case.

Tarn, T. J.↗

Canonical forms for nonlinear systems

Necessary and sufficient conditions for transforming a nonlinear system to a controllable linear system have been established, and this theory has been applied to the automatic flight control of aircraft. These transformations show that the nonlinearities in a system are often not intrinsic, but are the result of unfortunate choices of coordinates in both state and control variables. Given a nonlinear system (that may not be transformable to a linear system), we construct a canonical form in which much of the nonlinearity is removed from the system. If a system is not transformable to a linear one, then the obstructions to the transformation are obvious in canonical form. If the system can be transformed (it is called a linear equivalent), then the canonical form is a usual one for a controllable linear system. Thus our theory of canonical forms generalizes the earlier transformation (to linear systems) results. Our canonical form is not unique, except up to solutions of certain partial differential equations we discuss. In fact, the important aspect of this paper is the constructive procedure we introduce to reach the canonical form. As is the case in many areas of mathematics, it is often easier to work with the canonical form than in arbitrary coordinate variables.

Su, R.↗

An identification algorithm for linear stochastic systems with time delays

Linear discrete stochastic control systems containing unknown multiple time delays, plant parameters and noise variances are considered. An algorithm is established which uses the maximum-likelihood technique to identify the unknown parameters. An estimated likelihood function is evaluated based on the previous parameter estimates, which in turn generates a new descent direction vector to update the unknown parameters. The delays and plant parameters are identified in their respective parameter spaces. An example of a second-order stochastic system has been implemented by digital simulation to demonstrate the applicability of the algorithm.

Leondes, C. T.↗