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At least 361 records · Page 20

Integrated Flight and Propulsion Controls for Advanced Aircraft Configurations

The research vision of the NASA Lewis Research Center in the area of integrated flight and propulsion controls technologies is described. In particular the Integrated Method for Propulsion and Airframe Controls developed at the Lewis Research Center is described including its application to an advanced aircraft configuration. Additionally, future research directions in integrated controls are described.

Merrill, Walter↗

Integrated Flight and Propulsion Controls for Advanced Aircraft Configurations

The research vision of the NASA Lewis Research Center in the area of integrated flight and propulsion controls technologies is described. In particular, the integrated method for propulsion and airframe controls developed at the Lewis Research Center is described including its application to an advanced aircraft configuration. Additionally, future research directions in integrated controls are described.

Merrill, Walter↗

Longitudinal Stability and Control Characteristics at Mach Numbers from 0.70 to 2.22 of a Triangular Wing Configuration Equipped with a Canard Control, a Trailing-Edge-Flap Control or a Cambered Forebody

Results of an investigation to determine the static longitudinal stability and control characteristics of an aspect-ratio-2 triangular wing and body configuration equipped with either a canard control, a trailing-edge-flap control, or a cambered forebody are presented without analysis for Mach numbers from 0.70 to 2.22. The canard surface had a triangular plan form and a ratio of exposed area to total wing area of 7.8 percent. The hinge line of the canard was in the extended wing chord plane, 0.83 wing mean aerodynamic chord ahead of the reference center of moments. The trailing-edge controls were constant-chord full-span flaps with exposed area equal to 10.7 percent of the total wing area. The cambered body was a modified Sears-Haack body with camber only ahead of the wing apex. Data are presented for various canard and flap deflections at angles of attack ranging from -6 deg to +18 deg.

Boyd, John W.↗

Accuracy analysis of pointing control system of solar power station

The first-phase effort concentrated on defining the minimum basic functions that the retrodirective array must perform, identifying circuits that are capable of satisfying the basic functions, and looking at some of the error sources in the system and how they affect accuracy. The initial effort also examined three methods for generating torques for mechanical antenna control, performed a rough analysis of the flexible body characteristics of the solar collector, and defined a control system configuration for mechanical pointing control of the array.

Hung, J. C.↗

Flight test results of the F-16 aircraft modified with the axisymmetric vectoring exhaust nozzle

The results of the envelope expansion phase of the F-16 Multi-Axis Thrust Vectoring (MATV) program are presented in viewgraph format. The objectives and test approach are presented followed by results of testing with the initial control law configuration. The revised flight control laws are discussed followed by test results with the revised control laws. Additional testing added to the program, nose chines, parameter identification maneuvers, and the extended range angle of attack cones are briefly discussed.

Anna, Paul D.↗

Application of boundary layer control to HSCT low speed configuration

The feasibility of using boundary layer control (BLC) on a high speed civil transport (HSCT) high lift configuration for low speed performance improvement is studied. The possibility of using a part of the suction system previously designed for cruise laminar flow control (LFC) for low speed BLC mode was explored. A suction scheme for BLC was devised for the HSCT high lift configuration. The extent of the suction regions and levels were determined via panel method based inviscid flow analysis coupled with three-dimensional boundary layer analyses. The compatibility of the BLC suction requirements was assessed, and the modifications necessary to operate the system in both modes of operation, were determined. An assessment of the potential aerodynamic performance improvement resulting from an implementation of the BLC concept compared to an optimized simple flap configuration without BLC was made by an Euler code analysis of the simple flap configuration.

Parikh, P. G.↗

Configurable technology development for reusable control and monitor ground systems

The control monitor unit (CMU) uses configurable software technology for real-time mission command and control, telemetry processing, simulation, data acquisition, data archiving, and ground operations automation. The base technology is currently planned for the following control and monitor systems: portable Space Station checkout systems; ecological life support systems; Space Station logistics carrier system; and the ground system of the Delta Clipper (SX-2) in the Single-Stage Rocket Technology program. The CMU makes extensive use of commercial technology to increase capability and reduce development and life-cycle costs. The concepts and technology are being developed by McDonnell Douglas Space and Defense Systems for the Real-Time Systems Laboratory at NASA's Kennedy Space Center under the Payload Ground Operations Contract. A second function of the Real-Time Systems Laboratory is development and utilization of advanced software development practices.

Uhrlaub, David R.↗

A deployable structure and solar array controls experiment for STEP

A candidate configuration for a controls experiment on the Space Technology Experiments Platform (STEP) is described. The elements of the experiment are the mast, the solar array, and an articulation module between the two. The characteristic dimensions are very compatible for integration on a pallet such a STEP's proposed configuration. The controls' objective would be the measurement of orbiter interaction as well as the system identification of the appendages. The flight experiment configuration would also provide a test bed for various active vibration controls concepts. The instrumentation being considered would measure accelerations, strains, displacements, and temperatures. The deployable mast has eight elements defining a structural bay. Uniaxial measurements would be required to define loads at a cross section of the structure. Displacements due to thermal distortion of the mast and the local state of the solar concentrator may be measured by an optical ranging technique from the orbiter aft flight deck.

Nishimoto, T. S.↗

Investigation of space shuttle orbiter subsonic stability and control characteristics and determination of control surface hinge moments in the Rockwell International low speed wind tunnel (OA37)

Experimental aerodynamic investigations were conducted on a string-mounted 0.030 scale representation of the 140A/B space shuttle orbiter in the 7.75- by 11-foot low speed wind tunnel. The primary test objectives were to establish basic longitudinal and lateral directional stability and control characteristics for the basic configuration plus control surface hinge moments. Aerodynamic force and moment data were measured in the body axis system by an internally mounted, six-component strain gage balance. Additional configurations investigated were sealed rudder hingeline gaps, sealed elevon gaps and compartmentized speedbrakes.

Hughes, T.↗

Router Agent Technology for Policy-Based Network Management

This innovation can be run as a standalone network application on any computer in a networked environment. This design can be configured to control one or more routers (one instance per router), and can also be configured to listen to a policy server over the network to receive new policies based on the policy- based network management technology. The Router Agent Technology transforms the received policies into suitable Access Control List syntax for the routers it is configured to control. It commits the newly generated access control lists to the routers and provides feedback regarding any errors that were faced. The innovation also automatically generates a time-stamped log file regarding all updates to the router it is configured to control. This technology, once installed on a local network computer and started, is autonomous because it has the capability to keep listening to new policies from the policy server, transforming those policies to router-compliant access lists, and committing those access lists to a specified interface on the specified router on the network with any error feedback regarding commitment process. The stand-alone application is named RouterAgent and is currently realized as a fully functional (version 1) implementation for the Windows operating system and for CISCO routers.

Chow, Edward T.↗

Flight tests of a radio-controlled airplane mode with a free-wing, free-canard configuration

Flight characteristics, controllability, and potential operating problems were investigated in a radio-controlled airplane model in which the wing is so attached to the fuselage that it is free to pivot about a spanwise axis forward of its aerodynamic center and is subject only to aerodynamic pitching moments imposed by lift and drag forces and a control surface. A simple technique of flying the test vehicle in formation with a pickup truck was used to obtain trim data. The test vehicle was flown through a series of maneuvers designed to permit evaluation of certain characteristics by observation. The free-wing free-canard concept was determined to be workable. Stall/spin characteristics were considered to be excellent, and no effect on longitudinal stability was observed when center of gravity changes were made. Several problems were encountered during the early stages of flight testing, such as aerodynamic lockup of the free canard and excessive control sensitivity. Lack of onboard instrumentation precluded any conclusions about gust alleviation or ride qualities.

Gee, S. W.↗

Wind-tunnel investigation at Mach numbers from 1.90 to 2.86 of a canard-controlled missile with ram-air-jet spoiler roll control

The efficacy of using a ram-air-jet spoiler roll control device on a typical canard-controlled missile configuration was investigated. For roll control comparisons, conventional aileron controls on the tail fins were also tested. The results indicate that the roll control of the ram-air-jet spoiler tail fins at the highest free-stream Mach number compared favorably with that of the conventional 11-70 area-ratio tail fin ailerons, each deflected 10 deg. The roll control of the tail fin ailerons decreased while that of the ram-air-jet spoiler increased with free-stream Mach number. The addition of the ram-air-jet spoiler tail fins or flow-through tip chord nacelles on the tail fins resulted in only small changes in basic missile longitudinal stability. The axial force coefficient of the operating ram-air-jet spoiler is significantly larger than that of conventional ailerons and results primarily from the total pressure behind a normal shock in front of the nacelle inlets.

Blair, A. B., Jr.↗

Distributed control for COFS 1

An overview is given of the work being done at NASA LaRC on developing the Control of Flexible Structures (COFS) 1 Flight Experiment Baseline Control Law. This control law currently evolving to a generic control system software package designed to supply many, but not all, guest investigators. A system simulator is also described. It is currently being developed for COFS-1 and will be used to develop the Baseline Control Law and to evaluate guest investigator control schemes. It will be available for use whether or not control schemes fall into the category of the Baseline Control Law. First, the hardware configuration for control experiments is described. This is followed by a description of the simulation software. Open-loop sinusoid excitation time histories are next presented both with and without a local controller for the Linear DC Motor (LDCM) actuators currently planned for the flight. The generic control law follows and algorithm processing requirements are cited for a nominal case of interest. Finally, a closed-loop simulation study is presented, and the state of the work is summarized in the concluding remarks.

Montgomery, R. C.↗

Cooperative control of two arms in the transport of an inertial load in zero gravity

In designing a robot control system for dual arm configurations, the control engineer is faced with two challenges: to derive the equations of motion for a given situation, and to meet certain desired control requirements (for instance, minimum energy). The former may involve closed kinematic chains, such as the case when the two arms are grasping a common object. The latter usually involves nonlinear optimization. These issues are considered in the context of transporting an inertial load using two planar three-link arms. A generalized 'reduction transformation' is applied to the dynamics to remove the singularity in the system equations. A suboptimal minimum energy method is presented to reduce a difficult 12-state, six-control nonlinear optimization to two independent, nonconflicting suboptimizations. A simulation example is provided to illustrate the degree of energy reduction possible using the optimal arm torque distribution that was developed.

Carignan, Craig R.↗

Prediction of unsteady aerodynamic loadings caused by trailing edge control surface motions in subsonic compressible flow: Analysis and results

A theoretical analysis and a computer program have been developed for the prediction of unsteady lifting surface loadings caused by motions of trailing edge control surfaces having sealed gaps. The final form of the downwash integral equation has been formulated by isolating the singularities from the non-singular terms and establishing a preferred solution process to remove and evaluate the downwash discontinuities in a systematic manner. Comparisons of theoretical and experimental pressure data are made for several control surface configurations. The comparisons indicate that reasonably accurate theoretical pressure distributions and generalized forces may be obtained for a wide variety of control surface configurations. Spanwise symmetry or antisymmetry of motion, and up to four control surfaces on each half span can be accommodated.

Rowe, W. S.↗

Prediction of unsteady aerodynamic loadings caused by leading edge and trailing edge control surface motions in subsonic compressible flow: Analysis and results

A theoretical analysis and computer program was developed for the prediction of unsteady lifting surface loadings caused by motions of leading edge and trailing edge control surfaces having sealed gaps. The final form of the downwash integral equation was formulated by isolating the singularities from the nonsingular terms and using a preferred solution process to remove and evaluate the downwash discontinuities in a systematic manner. Comparisons of theoretical and experimental pressure data are made for several control surface configurations. The comparisons indicate that reasonably accurate theoretical pressure distributions and generalized forces may be obtained for a wide variety of control surface configurations. Spanwise symmetry or antisymmetry of motion, and up to six control surfaces on each half span can be accommodated.

Rowe, W. S.↗

Payload/orbiter contamination control requirement study: Spacelab configuration contamination study

The assessment of the Spacelab carrier induced contaminant environment was continued, and the ability of Spacelab to meet established contamination control criteria for the space transportation system program was determined. The primary areas considered included: (1) updating, refining, and improving the Spacelab contamination computer model and contamination analysis methodology, (2) establishing the resulting adjusted induced environment predictions for comparison with the applicable criteria, (3) determining the Spacelab design and operational requirements necessary to meet the criteria, (4) conducting mission feasibility analyses of the combined Spacelab/Orbiter contaminant environment for specific proposed mission and payload mixes, and (5) establishing a preliminary Spacelab mission support plan as well as model interface requirements; A summary of those activities conducted to date with respect to the modelling, analysis, and predictions of the induced environment, including any modifications in approach or methodology utilized in the contamination assessment of the Spacelab carrier, was presented.

Bareiss, L. E.↗

Control Design for an Advanced Geared Turbofan Engine

This paper describes the design process for the control system of an advanced geared turbofan engine. This process is applied to a simulation that is representative of a 30,000 pound-force thrust class concept engine with two main spools, ultra-high bypass ratio, and a variable area fan nozzle. Control system requirements constrain the non-linear engine model as it operates throughout its flight envelope of sea level to 40,000 feet and from 0 to 0.8 Mach. The purpose of this paper is to review the engine control design process for an advanced turbofan engine configuration. The control architecture selected for this project was developed from literature and reflects a configuration that utilizes a proportional integral controller with sets of limiters that enable the engine to operate safely throughout its flight envelope. Simulation results show the overall system meets performance requirements without exceeding operational limits.

system modeling↗