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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 73 records · Page 4
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1992

Robust control algorithms for Mars aerobraking

Four atmospheric guidance concepts have been adapted to control an interplanetary vehicle aerobraking in the Martian atmosphere. The first two offer improvements to the Analytic Predictor Corrector (APC) to increase its robustness to density variations. The second two are variations of a new Liapunov tracking exit phase algorithm, developed to guide the vehicle along a reference trajectory. These four new controllers are tested using a six degree of freedom computer simulation to evaluate their robustness. MARSGRAM is used to develop realistic atmospheres for the study. When square wave density pulses perturb the atmosphere all four controllers are successful. The algorithms are tested against atmospheres where the inbound and outbound density functions are different. Square wave density pulses are again used, but only for the outbound leg of the trajectory. Additionally, sine waves are used to perturb the density function. The new algorithms are found to be more robust than any previously tested and a Liapunov controller is selected as the most robust control algorithm overall examined.

Shipley, Buford W., Jr.↗
NASA NTRS1972

Multiple soliton production and the Korteweg-de Vries equation.

Compressive square-wave pulses are launched in a double-plasma device. Their evolution is interpreted according to the Korteweg-de Vries description of Washimi and Taniuti. Square-wave pulses are an excitation for which an explicit solution of the Schrodinger equation permits an analytical prediction of the number and amplitude of emergent solitons. Bursts of energetic particles (pseudowaves) appear above excitation voltages greater than an electron thermal energy, and may be mistaken for solitons.

Hershkowitz, N.↗
NASA NTRS2001

Phase modulation for reduced vibration sensitivity in laser-cooled clocks in space

The standard interrogation technique in atomic beam clocks is square-wave frequency modulation (SWFM), which suffers a first order sensitivity to vibrations as changes in the transit time of the atoms translates to perceived frequency errors. Square-wave phase modulation (SWPM) interrogation eliminates sensitivity to this noise.

frequency standard frequency modulation phase modu↗
NASA NTRS1992

Steady state risetimes of shock waves in the atmosphere

A square wave shape is used in the Pestorius algorithm to calculate the risetime of a step shock in the atmosphere. These results agree closely with steady shock calculations. The healing distance of perturbed shocks due to finite wave effects is then investigated for quasi-steady shocks. Perturbed 100 Pa shocks require on the order of 1.0 km travel distance to return to within 10 percent of their steady shock risetime. For 30 Pa shocks, the minimum recovery distance increases to 3.0 km. It is unlikely that finite wave effects can remove the longer risetimes and irregular features introduced into the sonic boom by turbulent scattering in the planetary boundary layer.

Raspet, Richard↗
NASA NTRS2017

Controlling Tensegrity Robots through Evolution using Friction based Actuation

Traditional robotic structures have limitations in planetary exploration as their rigid structural joints are prone to damage in new and rough terrains. In contrast, robots based on tensegrity structures, composed of rods and tensile cables, offer a highly robust, lightweight, and energy efficient solution over traditional robots. In addition tensegrity robots can be highly configurable by rearranging their topology of rods, cables and motors. However, these highly configurable tensegrity robots pose a significant challenge for locomotion due to their complexity. This study investigates a control pattern for successful locomotion in tensegrity robots through an evolutionary algorithm. A twelve-rod hardware model is rapidly prototyped to utilize a new actuation method based on friction. A web-based physics simulation is created to model the twelve-rod tensegrity ball structure. Square-waves are used as control policies for the actuators of the tensegrity structure. Monte Carlo trials are run to find the most successful number of amplitudes for the square-wave control policy. From the results, an evolutionary algorithm is implemented to find the most optimized solution for locomotion of the twelve-rod tensegrity structure. The software pattern coupled with the new friction based actuation method can serve as the basis for highly efficient tensegrity robots in space exploration.

Tensegrit↗
NASA NTRS1974

A second-order all-digital phase-locked loop

A simple second-order digital phase-locked loop has been designed to synchronize itself to a square-wave subcarrier. Analysis and experimental performance are given for both acquisition behavior and steady-state phase error performance. In addition, the damping factor and the noise bandwidth are derived analytically. Although all the data are given for the square-wave subcarrier case, the results are applicable to arbitrary subcarriers that are odd symmetric about their transition region.

Holmes, J. K.↗
NASA NTRS1995

Degradation in finite-harmonic subcarrier demodulation

Previous estimates on the degradations due to a subcarrier loop assume a square-wave subcarrier. This article provides a closed-form expression for the degradations due to the subcarrier loop when a finite number of harmonics are used to demodulate the subcarrier, as in the case of the buffered telemetry demodulator. We compared the degradations using a square wave and using finite harmonics in the subcarrier demodulation and found that, for a low loop signal-to-noise ratio, using finite harmonics leads to a lower degradation. The analysis is under the assumption that the phase noise in the subcarrier (SC) loop has a Tikhonov distribution. This assumption is valid for first-order loops.

Feria, Y.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Controlling Electron-Beam-Weld Focus

Control loop measures weld-spot temperature to regulate focus current. Square-wave generator modulates current in electron-beam focus coil so that focal point is varied between points slightly above and below surface of weld. Sensor detects intensity of light emitted by weld, proportional to fourth power of temperature at hottest part of weld spot. Sensor signal is detected by chopper demodulator synchronized by square-wave generator, to determine whether average position of focal point is higher than, coincident with, or lower than optimum point; and focus coil current is adjusted accordingly.

Coate, F. M.↗
NASA NTRS1972

A method for calculating transient thrust and flow-rate levels for Mariner type attitude control nitrogen gas jets

The purpose of this report is to define and program the transient pneumatic flow equations necessary to determine, for a given set of conditions (geometry, pressures, temperatures, valve on time, etc.), the total nitrogen impulse and mass flow per pulse for the single pulsing of a Mariner type reaction control assembly valve. The rates of opening and closing of the valves are modeled, and electrical pulse durations from 20 to 100 ms are investigated. In developing the transient flow analysis, maximum use was made of the steady-state analysis. The impulse results are also compared to an equivalent square-wave impulse for both the Mariner Mars 1971 (MM'71) and Mariner Mars 1964 (MM'64) systems. It is demonstrated that, whereas in the MM'64 system, the actual impulse was as much as 56 percent higher than an assumed impulse (which is the product of the steady-state thrust and value on time i.e., the square wave), in the MM'71 system, these two values were in error in the same direction by only approximately 4 percent because of the larger nozzle areas and shorter valve stroke used.

Ferrera, J. D.↗
NASA NTRS2005

High-Efficiency Microwave Power Amplifier

A high-efficiency power amplifier that operates in the S band (frequencies of the order of a few gigahertz) utilizes transistors operating under class-D bias and excitation conditions. Class-D operation has been utilized at lower frequencies, but, until now, has not been exploited in the S band. Nominally, in class D operation, a transistor is switched rapidly between "on" and "off" states so that at any given instant, it sustains either high current or high voltage, but not both at the same time. In the ideal case of zero "on" resistance, infinite "off" resistance, zero inductance and capacitance, and perfect switching, the output signal would be a perfect square wave. Relative to the traditional classes A, B, and C of amplifier operation, class D offers the potential to achieve greater power efficiency. In addition, relative to class-A amplifiers, class-D amplifiers are less likely to go into oscillation. In order to design this amplifier, it was necessary to derive mathematical models of microwave power transistors for incorporation into a larger mathematical model for computational simulation of the operation of a class-D microwave amplifier. The design incorporates state-of-the-art switching techniques applicable only in the microwave frequency range. Another major novel feature is a transmission-line power splitter/combiner designed with the help of phasing techniques to enable an approximation of a square-wave signal (which is inherently a wideband signal) to propagate through what would, if designed in a more traditional manner, behave as a more severely band-limited device (see figure). The amplifier includes an input, a driver, and a final stage. Each stage contains a pair of GaAs-based field-effect transistors biased in class D. The input signal can range from -10 to +10 dBm into a 50-ohm load. The table summarizes the performances of the three stages

Sims, Williams H.↗
NASA NTRS1980

An investigation of the modulation of capillary and short gravity waves in the open ocean

A preliminary investigation of the modulation of capillary and gravity waves by long ocean waves is described. A pressure transducer is used to obtain water surface displacements, and a high-response laser-optical system is used to detect short-wave slopes. Analytical techniques are developed to account for the orbital motion of long waves. The local mean squared wave slope is found to be maximum leeward of the long-wave crests. For the long waves studied here and for short waves from 1 cm to 1 m, the longer a short-wave component is, the more leeward its maximum tends to occur. Also, the shortest waves tend to modulate least. The modulation of short waves is found to be strong enough to be an important component of the synthetic aperture radar image formation mechanism for long ocean waves.

Evans, D. D.↗
NASA NTRS1973

Analysis and modeling of a family of two-transistor parallel inverters

A family of five static dc-to-square-wave inverters, each employing a square-loop magnetic core in conjunction with two switching transistors, is analyzed using piecewise-linear models for the nonlinear characteristics of the transistors, diodes, and saturable-core devices. Four of the inverters are analyzed in detail for the first time. These analyses show that, by proper choice of a frame of reference, each of the five quite differently appearing inverter circuits can be described by a common equivalent circuit. This equivalent circuit consists of a five-segment nonlinear resistor, a nonlinear saturable reactor, and a linear capacitor. Thus, by proper interpretation and identification of the parameters in the different circuits, the results of a detailed solution for one of the inverter circuits provide similar information and insight into the local and global behavior of each inverter in the family.

Lee, F. C. Y.↗
NASA NTRS2005

Magnetic and Electrical Characteristics of Cobalt-Based Amorphous Materials and Comparison to a Permalloy Type Polycrystalline Material

Magnetic component designers are always looking for improved soft magnetic core materials to increase the efficiency, temperature rating and power density of transformers, motors, generators and alternators, and energy density of inductors. In this paper, we report on the experimental investigation of commercially available cobalt-based amorphous alloys which, in their processing, were subjected to two different types of magnetic field anneals: A longitudinal magnetic field anneal or a transverse magnetic field anneal. The longitudinal field annealed material investigated was Metglas 2714A. The electrical and magnetic characteristics of this material were investigated over the frequency range of 1 to 200 kHz and temperature range of 23 to 150 C for both sine and square wave voltage excitation. The specific core loss was lower for the square than the sine wave voltage excitation for the same maximum flux density, frequency and temperature. The transverse magnetic field annealed core materials include Metglas 2714AF and Vacuumschmelze 6025F. These two materials were experimentally characterized over the frequency range of 10 to 200 kHz for sine wave voltage excitation and 23 C only. A comparison of the 2174A to 2714AF found that 2714AF always had lower specific core loss than 2714A for any given magnetic flux density and frequency and the ratio of specific core loss of 2714A to 2714AF was dependent on both magnetic flux density and frequency. A comparison was also made of the 2714A, 2714AF, and 6025F materials to two different tape thicknesses of the polycrystalline Supermalloy material and the results show that 2714AF and 6025F have the lowest specific core loss at 100 kHz over the magnetic flux density range of 0.1 to 0.4 Tesla.

Wieserman, William R.↗
NASA NTRS1994

Full-wave and half-wave rectification in second-order motion perception

Microbalanced stimuli are dynamic displays which do not stimulate motion mechanisms that apply standard (Fourier-energy or autocorrelational) motion analysis directly to the visual signal. In order to extract motion information from microbalanced stimuli, Chubb and Sperling [(1988) Journal of the Optical Society of America, 5, 1986-2006] proposed that the human visual system performs a rectifying transformation on the visual signal prior to standard motion analysis. The current research employs two novel types of microbalanced stimuli: half-wave stimuli preserve motion information following half-wave rectification (with a threshold) but lose motion information following full-wave rectification; full-wave stimuli preserve motion information following full-wave rectification but lose motion information following half-wave rectification. Additionally, Fourier stimuli, ordinary square-wave gratings, were used to stimulate standard motion mechanisms. Psychometric functions (direction discrimination vs stimulus contrast) were obtained for each type of stimulus when presented alone, and when masked by each of the other stimuli (presented as moving masks and also as nonmoving, counterphase-flickering masks). RESULTS: given sufficient contrast, all three types of stimulus convey motion. However, only one-third of the population can perceive the motion of the half-wave stimulus. Observers are able to process the motion information contained in the Fourier stimulus slightly more efficiently than the information in the full-wave stimulus but are much less efficient in processing half-wave motion information. Moving masks are more effective than counterphase masks at hampering direction discrimination, indicating that some of the masking effect is interference between motion mechanisms, and some occurs at earlier stages. When either full-wave and Fourier or half-wave and Fourier gratings are presented simultaneously, there is a wide range of relative contrasts within which the motion directions of both gratings are easily determinable. Conversely, when half-wave and full-wave gratings are combined, the direction of only one of these gratings can be determined with high accuracy. CONCLUSIONS: the results indicate that three motion computations are carried out, any two in parallel: one standard ("first order") and two non-Fourier ("second-order") computations that employ full-wave and half-wave rectification.

Motion Perception/physiology↗
NASA NTRS1970

Equipment-tolerant range code demodulation method - A concept

Demodulation loop of automatic range-measuring system uses reference signal wave of locally generated pseudo-noise plus square wave of same period as the clock. Phase instabilities in IF amplifiers appear only as gain changes in the loop, and do not cause errors in range determination.

Welter, N.↗
NASA NTRS1973

Operational slope-limiting circuit

Circuit limits slope of arbitrary waveform to avoid exceeding rate limit of subsequent amplifier, or to form trapezoidal wave with adjustable rise and fall rates from square wave of arbitrary frequency. Integrator provides delay needed to develop output waveform. DC coupling is used to preserve original dc offset.

Engel, A.↗