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At least 37 records · Page 2

Failure detection with uncertain models

In this paper the author considers the issue of robust failure detection. In one way or another all failure detection methods generate signals which tend to highlight the presence of particular failures if they have actually occurred. However, if any model uncertainties have effects on the observables which are at all like those of one or more of the failure modes, these will also be accentuated. Consequently the problem of robust failure detection is concerned with generating signals which are maximally sensitive to some effects (failures) and minimally sensitive to other (model errors). Previously announced in STAR as N83-32417

Lou, X.-C.↗

Failure detection and isolation of redundant inertial systems for Space Shuttle

A failure detection and isolation technique is presented for application to 'off-the-shelf' type four-gimbaled inertial measurement units (IMUs) such as the KT-70 or Carousel IV. This study concentrates initially upon actual four-gimbaled IMU performance requirements for current Space Shuttle booster and orbiter mission phases. When this information is obtained for a simplex system, the remaining area of study necessary to attain redundant IMU capabilities is the establishment of mission-dependent performance failure detection thresholds. These thresholds, then, permit a careful evaluation of the capabilities of various 'off-the-shelf' four gimbaled IMUs to satisfy the Shuttle mission performance requirements with various failure detection and isolation methods.

Brown, H. E.↗

A model for a space shuttle safing and failure-detection expert

The safing and failure-detection expert (SAFE) is a prototype for a malfunction detection, diagnosis, and safing system for the atmospheric revitalization subsystem (ARS) in the Space Shuttle orbiter. SAFE, whose knowledge was extracted from expert-provided heuristics and documented procedures, automatically manages all phases of failure handling: detection, diagnosis, testing procedures, and recovery instructions. The SAFE architecture allows it to handle correctly sensor failures and multiple malfunctions. Since SAFE is highly interactive, it was used as a test bed for the evaluation of various advanced human-computer interface (HCI) techniques. The use of such expert systems in the next generation of space vehicles would increase their reliability and autonomy to levels not achievable before.

Zeilingold, Daphna↗

Flight test results of a vector-based failure detection and isolation algorithm for a redundant strapdown inertial measurement unit

Flight test results of a vector-based fault-tolerant algorithm for a redundant strapdown inertial measurement unit are presented. Because the inertial sensors provide flight-critical information for flight control and navigation, failure detection and isolation is developed in terms of a multi-level structure. Threshold compensation techniques for gyros and accelerometers, developed to enhance the sensitivity of the failure detection process to low-level failures, are presented. Four flight tests, conducted in a commercial transport type environment, were used to determine the ability of the failure detection and isolation algorithm to detect failure signals, such a hard-over, null, or bias shifts. The algorithm provided timely detection and correct isolation of flight control- and low-level failures. The flight tests of the vector-based algorithm demonstrated its capability to provide false alarm free dual fail-operational performance for the skewed array of inertial sensors.

Morrell, F. R.↗

Sensor failure detection for jet engines

Revisions to the advanced sensor failure detection, isolation, and accommodation (DIA) algorithm, developed under the sensor failure detection system program were studied to eliminate the steady state errors due to estimation filter biases. Three algorithm revisions were formulated and one revision for detailed evaluation was chosen. The selected version modifies the DIA algorithm to feedback the actual sensor outputs to the integral portion of the control for the nofailure case. In case of a failure, the estimates of the failed sensor output is fed back to the integral portion. The estimator outputs are fed back to the linear regulator portion of the control all the time. The revised algorithm is evaluated and compared to the baseline algorithm developed previously.

Beattie, E. C.↗

A vector-based failure detection and isolation algorithm for a dual fail-operational redundant strapdown inertial measurement unit

A vector-based failure detection and isolation technique for a skewed array of two degree-of-freedom inertial sensors is developed. Failure detection is based on comparison of parity equations with a threshold, and isolation is based on comparison of logic variables which are keyed to pass/fail results of the parity test. A multi-level approach to failure detection is used to ensure adequate coverage for the flight control, display, and navigation avionics functions. Sensor error models are introduced to expose the susceptibility of the parity equations to sensor errors and physical separation effects. The algorithm is evaluated in a simulation of a commercial transport operating in a range of light to severe turbulence environments. A bias-jump failure level of 0.2 deg/hr was detected and isolated properly in the light and moderate turbulence environments, but not detected in the extreme turbulence environment. An accelerometer bias-jump failure level of 1.5 milli-g was detected over all turbulence environments. For both types of inertial sensor, hard-over, and null type failures were detected in all environments without incident. The algorithm functioned without false alarm or isolation over all turbulence environments for the runs tested.

Morrell, Frederick R.↗

A design methodology for robust failure detection and isolation

A decentralized failure detection and isolation (FDI) methodology, which is robust with respect to model uncertainties and noise, is presented Redundancy metrics are developed, and optimization problems are posed for the choices of robust parity relations. Closed-form solutions for some special failure cases are given. Connections are drawn with other disciplines, and the use of the metrics to evaluate alternative FDI schemes is discussed.

Pattipati, K. R.↗

Failure detection and identification for a reconfigurable flight control system

Failure detection and identification logic for a fault-tolerant longitudinal control system were investigated. Aircraft dynamics were based upon the cruise condition for a hypothetical transonic business jet transport configuration. The fault-tolerant control system consists of conventional control and estimation plus a new outer loop containing failure detection, identification, and reconfiguration (FDIR) logic. It is assumed that the additional logic has access to all measurements, as well as to the outputs of the control and estimation logic. The pilot may also command the FDIR logic to perform special tests.

Dallery, Francois↗

Instrument failure detection and isolation in a system with variable plant parameters

This paper considers the problem of detecting instrument failures in a system in which there are plant parameter variations. The method described is based on the use of Kalman filters to provide a detection comparison in a manner similar to Clark's dedicated observer method. To improve the sensitivity to sensor variation and reduce the sensitivity to plant parameter variation the Kalman filters are designed to be sub-optimal. A procedure is described to design the sub-optimal filters so as to improve a measure of the ratio of sensor to plant sensitivity.

Alexandro, F. J., Jr.↗

Rocket engine failure detection using system identification techiques

The theoretical foundation and application of two univariate failure detection algorithms to Space Shuttle Main Engine (SSME) test firing data is presented. Both algorithms were applied to data collected during steady state operation of the engine. One algorithm, the time series algorithm, is based on time series techniques and involves the computation of autoregressive models. Times series techniques have been previously applied to SSME data. The second algorithm is based on standard signal processing techniques. It consists of tracking the variations in the average signal power with time. The average signal power algorithm is a newly proposed SSME failure detection algorithm. Seven nominal test firings were used to develop failure indication thresholds for each algorithm. These thresholds were tested using four anomalous firings and one additional nominal firing. Both algorithms provided significantly earlier failure indication times than did the current redline limit system. Neither algorithm gave false failure indications for the nominal firing. The strengths and weaknesses of the two algorithms are discussed and compared. The average signal algorithm was found to have several advantages over the time series algorithm.

Meyer, Claudia M.↗

Rocket engine failure detection using system identification techniques

The theoretical foundation and application of two univariate failure detection algorithms to Space Shuttle Main Engine (SSME) test firing data is presented. Both algorithms were applied to data collected during steady state operation of the engine. One algorithm, the time series algorithm, is based on time series techniques and involves the computation of autoregressive models. Time series techniques have been previously applied to SSME data. The second algorithm is based on standard signal processing techniques. It consists of tracking the variations in the average signal power with time. The average signal power algorithm is a newly proposed SSME failure detection algorithm. Seven nominal test firings were used to develop failure indication thresholds for each algorithm. These thresholds were tested using four anomalous firings and one additional nominal firing. Both algorithms provided significantly earlier failure indication times than did the current redline limit system. Neither algorithm gave false failure indications for the nominal firing. The strengths and weaknesses of the two algorithms are discussed and compared. The average signal algorithm was found to have several advantages over the time series algorithm.

Meyer, Claudia M.↗

The application of the detection filter to aircraft control surface and actuator failure detection and isolation

The performance of the detection filter in detecting and isolating aircraft control surface and actuator failures is evaluated. The basic detection filter theory assumption of no direct input-output coupling is violated in this application due to the use of acceleration measurements for detecting and isolating failures. With this coupling, residuals produced by control surface failures may only be constrained to a known plane rather than to a single direction. A detection filter design with such planar failure signatures is presented, with the design issues briefly addressed. In addition, a modification to constrain the residual to a single known direction even with direct input-output coupling is also presented. Both the detection filter and the modification are tested using a nonlinear aircraft simulation. While no thresholds were selected, both filters demonstrated an ability to detect control surface and actuator failures. Failure isolation may be a problem if there are several control surfaces which produce similar effects on the aircraft. In addition, the detection filter was sensitive to wind turbulence and modeling errors.

Bonnice, W. F.↗

Filter failure detection for systems with large space structure dynamics

A failure detection filter is applied to the detection of actuator and sensor failures on a free-free beam. Computer simulation tests are used to verify the filter design and study the effect of unmodeled modes on filter performance. In actuator tests, the failure signal to spillover noise ratio was found to be greatest when the filter bandwidth was 5 rad/sec beyond the input frequency. Observation spillover, however, was found to vary widely in tests run under similar conditions (same input frequency and filter poles) but with different detector gains. In sensor tests, the maximum signal-to-noise ratio for varying filter bandwidth depended upon the initial conditions placed on the unmodeled modes; the performance was good even for initial amplitudes on the first unmodeled mode 7.5% of that on the last modeled mode.

Carignan, C. R.↗

Design of robust failure detection filters

An essential aspect of the design of control systems for large, flexible spacecraft is fault tolerance. Because it is anticipated that a large number of sensors and actuators will be required to realize good control over these assemblies, the detection and isolation of component failures cannot be based on direct comparisons among replicated components. Instead, the notion of 'analytic redundancy' must be employed for the FDI function. Unfortunately this makes the FDI function sensitive to modeling errors which are certain to exist in the large space structure problem due to model truncation and parameter uncertainty. This paper addresses the robustness to model error of one method of FDI residual generation - the failure detection filter. Initial designs were found to be extremely sensitive to modeling error. The sources of this sensitivity are analyzed and modifications to the design are suggested. The improved filter is shown to have much better visibility of the failure signatures relative to the background due to modeling error.

San Martin, A. M.↗

A real-time implementation of an advanced sensor failure detection, isolation, and accommodation algorithm

A sensor failure detection, isolation, and accommodation algorithm was developed which incorporates analytic sensor redundancy through software. This algorithm was implemented in a high level language on a microprocessor based controls computer. Parallel processing and state-of-the-art 16-bit microprocessors are used along with efficient programming practices to achieve real-time operation.

Delaat, J. C.↗

A real-time implementation of an advanced sensor failure detection, isolation, and accommodation algorithm

A sensor failure detection, isolation, and accommodation algorithm was developed which incorporates analytic sensor redundancy through software. This algorithm was implemented in a high level language on a microprocessor based controls computer. Parallel processing and state-of-the-art 16-bit microprocessors are used along with efficient programming practices to achieve real-time operation. Previously announced in STAR as N84-13140

Delaat, J. C.↗

Failure detection and isolation experiments with the Langley Mini-Mast

A report is presented on experiments to demonstrate failure detection and isolation (FDI) using the flexible truss facility Mini-Mast at the NASA Langley Research Center. Two techniques are selected for study because they are applicable both to sensor and actuator failures and because they do not depend on hypotheses about the forms of possible failures. These two are the method of generalized parity relations and the failure detection filter. These methods utilize the concept of analytical redundancy and therefore their performance depends on the fidelity of the model of the dynamics of the system being monitored. Results are given for sensor FDI using generalized parity relations and input-output data collected during operation of the Mini-Mast. component failures are simulated in the data. The dependence of the performance of the methods on choices of the parameters in their implementation is explored.

Vander Velde, Wallace E.↗