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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 109 records · Page 6

NASA's ATM Technology Demonstration-1: Integrated Concept of Arrival Operations

This paper describes operations and procedures envisioned for NASA s Air Traffic Management (ATM) Technology Demonstration #1 (ATD-1). The ATD-1 Concept of Operations (ConOps) demonstration will integrate three NASA technologies to achieve high throughput, fuel-efficient arrival operations into busy terminal airspace. They are Traffic Management Advisor with Terminal Metering (TMA-TM) for precise time-based schedules to the runway and points within the terminal area, Controller-Managed Spacing (CMS) decision support tools for terminal controllers to better manage aircraft delay using speed control, and Flight deck Interval Management (FIM) avionics and flight crew procedures to conduct airborne spacing operations. The ATD-1 concept provides de-conflicted and efficient operations of multiple arrival streams of aircraft, passing through multiple merge points, from top-of-descent (TOD) to touchdown. It also enables aircraft to conduct Optimized Profile Descents (OPDs) from en route altitude to the runway, using primarily speed control to maintain separation and schedule. The ATD-1 project is currently addressing the challenges of integrating the three technologies, and implantation into an operational environment. Goals of the ATD-1 demonstration include increasing the throughput of high-density airports, reducing controller workload, increasing efficiency of arrival operations and the frequency of trajectory-based operations, and promoting aircraft ADS-B equipage.

Baxley, Brian T.↗

Air Traffic Management Technology Demonstration-1 Concept of Operations (ATD-1 ConOps), Version 2.0

This document is an update to the operations and procedures envisioned for NASA s Air Traffic Management (ATM) Technology Demonstration #1 (ATD-1). The ATD-1 Concept of Operations (ConOps) integrates three NASA technologies to achieve high throughput, fuel-efficient arrival operations into busy terminal airspace. They are Traffic Management Advisor with Terminal Metering (TMA-TM) for precise time-based schedules to the runway and points within the terminal area, Controller-Managed Spacing (CMS) decision support tools for terminal controllers to better manage aircraft delay using speed control, and Flight deck Interval Management (FIM) avionics and flight crew procedures to conduct airborne spacing operations. The ATD-1 concept provides de-conflicted and efficient operations of multiple arrival streams of aircraft, passing through multiple merge points, from top-of-descent (TOD) to the Final Approach Fix. These arrival streams are Optimized Profile Descents (OPDs) from en route altitude to the runway, using primarily speed control to maintain separation and schedule. The ATD-1 project is currently addressing the challenges of integrating the three technologies, and their implantation into an operational environment. The ATD-1 goals include increasing the throughput of high-density airports, reducing controller workload, increasing efficiency of arrival operations and the frequency of trajectory-based operations, and promoting aircraft ADS-B equipage.

Baxley, Brian T.↗

Central Processor Acts as High-Speed DMA Controller

Computer-system architecture enables system host central processor (CP) to make high-speed, direct-memory-access (DMA) data transfers without cost and complexity of adding dedicated DMA controller. New system, CCP used as DMA controller, obviating need for dedicated DMA controller; yet maximum transfer rates equivalent to those obtained with dedicated DMA controller. Useful wherever dedicated DMA controller desired because of required data-transfer rates.

Blaha, Matthew S.↗

Conceptual servo technique for controlling tape drivers

Electronic speed control design maintains magnetic tape in close synchronism at the airborne and ground stationed devices. Use of the servo system during the record and reproduce modes results in the minimum amount of frequency distortion and flutter.

Bentley, R.↗

Control architecture for predictive and optimal vehicle operations in a single vehicle environment

There is disclosed a cloud computing control system for vehicle speed control and also for control of a vehicle in a platoon. The cloud computing control system determines a speed trajectory and neutral coasting command for a first vehicle of the platoon and a vehicle controller determines a reference speed for the first vehicle in response to the speed trajectory and the neutral coasting command, and is response to one or more vehicle specific factors associated with the first vehicle.

Borhan, Hoseinali↗

Effect of Aspect Ratio on the Low-Speed Lateral Control Characteristics of Untapered Low-Aspect-Ratio Wings Equipped with Flap and with Retractable Ailerons

A low-speed wind-tunnel investigation was made to determine the lateral control characteristics of a series of untapered low-aspect-ratio wings. Sealed flap ailerons of various spans and spanwise locations were investigated on unswept wings of aspect ratios 1.13, 1.13, 4.13, and 6.13; and various projections of 0.60-semispan retractable ailerons were investigated on the unsweptback wings of aspect ratios 1.13, 2.13, and 4.13 and on a 45 degree sweptback wing. The retractable ailerons investigated on the unswept wings spanned the outboard stations of each wing; whereas the plain and stepped retractable ailerons investigated on the sweptback wing were located at various spanwise stations. Design charts based on experimental results are presented for estimating the flap aileron effectiveness for low-aspect-ratio, untapered, unswept.

Fischel, Jack↗

Modifications to the JET Shattered Pellet Injector to Optimize Disruption Mitigation Experiments for Supporting ITER’s DMS Design

Shattered pellet injection (SPI) experiments on Joint European Torus (JET) are an important element in determining the physics basis for mitigating disruptions in ITER. Here, the initial design of the JET SPI system included three barrels to produce pellets with diameters of 4.5, 8.1, and 12.5 mm. The variability of the pellet speed by operating with and without a mechanical punch was limited and led to poor pellet integrity, so the mechanical punch was removed. Fragment size distribution is a function of pellet speed and the desire to change the resulting fragment size distribution was not originally a requirement. After the first set of SPI experiments on JET, different pellet sizes were considered to enable dual injection experiments with identical pellet diameters. It was also determined that speed control is necessary to improve experimental repeatability and to determine how the fragment size distribution impacts mitigation performance. Two barrels were fabricated to form pellets of 10 mm diameter and a third to form an 8.1 mm diameter pellet. New propellant valves were also fabricated and characterized to improve repeatability and overall performance. To have fine control of pellet speed, inserts to reduce the breech volume were fabricated and installed. Laboratory testing was conducted to ensure pellet release and provide a comparison of propellant gas delivered versus pellet speeds for a range of pellet types and mixtures. This article will also discuss how lessons learned from the JET SPI modifications can be applied to other SPI systems, such as the ITER SPI system, as controlling pellet release with the least amount of propellant gas is essential for optimal SPI effectiveness.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

DC-9 Flight Demonstration Program with Refanned JT8D Engines: Performance and Analysis - Volume 3

The JT8D-109 engine has a sea level static, standard day bare engine takeoff thrust of 73,840 N. At sea level standard day conditions the additional thrust of the JT8D-109 results in 2,040 kg additional takeoff gross weight capability for a given field length. Range loss of the DC-9 Refan airplane for long range cruise was determined. The Refan airplane demonstrated stall, static longitudinal stability, longitudinal control, longitudinal trim, minimum control speeds, and directional control characteristics similar to the DC-9-30 production airplane and complied with airworthiness requirements. Cruise, climb, and thrust reverser performance were evaluated. Structural and dynamic ground test, flight test and analytical results substantiate Refan Program requirements that the nacelle, thrust reverser hardware, and the airplane structural modifications are flightworthy and certifiable and that the airplane meets flutter speed margins. Estimated unit cost of a DC-9 Refan retrofit program is 1.338 million in mid-1975 dollars with about an equal split in cost between airframe and engine.

Source record↗

System and method for vehicle coast control

A method for controlling vehicle propulsion includes identifying at least one route characteristic of a portion of a route being traversed by a vehicle. The method further includes determining a profile for a target vehicle speed based on the at least one route characteristic and a vehicle energy consumption profile. The method further includes selectively adjusting a vehicle speed control input based on the target vehicle speed profile. The method further includes communicating the vehicle speed control input to a vehicle propulsion controller to achieve the target vehicle speed profile.

Aggoune, Karim↗

Control system development for a 1 MW/e/ solar thermal power plant

The point-focusing distributed receiver power plant considered consists of a number of power modules delivering power to a central collection point. Each power module contains a parabolic dish concentrator with a closed-cycle receiver/turbine/alternator assembly. Currently, a single-module prototype plant is under construction. The major control system tasks required are related to concentrator pointing control, receiver temperature control, and turbine speed control. Attention is given to operational control details, control hardware and software, and aspects of CRT output display.

Daubert, E. R.↗

Wheel speed management control system for spacecraft

A spacecraft attitude control system uses at least four reaction wheels. In order to minimize reaction wheel speed and therefore power, a wheel speed management system is provided. The management system monitors the wheel speeds and generates a wheel speed error vector. The error vector is integrated, and the error vector and its integral are combined to form a correction vector. The correction vector is summed with the attitude control torque command signals for driving the reaction wheels.

Goodzeit, Neil E.↗

Real-time control of connected vehicles in signalized corridors using pseudospectral convex optimization

Recent advances in Connected and Automated Vehicle (CAV) technologies have opened up new opportunities to enable safe, efficient, and sustainable transportation systems. However, developing reliable and rapid speed control algorithms in highly dynamic environments with complex inter-vehicle interactions and nonlinear vehicle dynamics is still a daunting task. In this paper, we develop a novel speed control method for CAVs to produce optimal speed profiles that minimize the fuel consumption and avoid idling at signalized intersections. To this end, an optimal control problem is formulated using the information of the upcoming traffic signal to adapt vehicles' speeds to avoid frequent stop-and-go driving patterns. Here, by applying the pseudospectral discretization method and the sequential convex programming method, the computational efficiency is greatly improved, enabling potential real-time on-vehicle applications. In addition, the algorithm is implemented under a model predictive control framework to ensure online control with instant response for collision avoidance and robust vehicle coordination. The proposed algorithm is verified through numerical simulations of three different traffic scenarios. The convergence and accuracy of the proposed approach are demonstrated by comparing with a popular nonlinear solver. Furthermore, the benefit of the proposed method in both traffic mobility and fuel efficiency is validated using the speed profile determined from a traffic following model in a simulation software as the baseline.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Final-Approach Spacing Aids (FASA) evaluation for terminal-area, time-based air traffic control

A jointly funded (NASA/FAA) real-time simulation study was conducted at NASA Langley Research Center to gather comparative performance data among three candidate final-approach spacing aid (FASA) display formats. Several objective measures of controller performance and their display eye-scan behavior as well as subjective workload and rating questionnaires were used. For each of two representative pattern-speed procedures (a 170-knot procedure and a 210-knot procedure with speed control aiding), data were gathered, via twelve FAA controllers, using four final-controller display format conditions (manual/ARTS 3, graphic marker, DICE countdown, and centerline slot marker). Measured runway separations were more precise with both the graphic marker and DICE countdown formats than with the centerline slot marker and both (graphic and DICE) improved precision relative to the manual/ARTS 3 format. For three separate rating criteria, the subject controllers ranked the FASA formats in the same order: graphic marker, DICE countdown, and centerline slot marker. The increased precision measured with the 210-knot pattern-speed procedure may indicate the potential for the application of speed-control aiding where higher pattern speeds are practical after the base-to-final turn. Also presented are key FASA issues, a rationale for the formats selected for testing, and their description.

Credeur, Leonard↗

NASA’s Quiet Electric ENgines (QUEEN): Summary of the Acoustic Tests of the QUEEN V1

Noise produced by an electric ducted fan system was measured in tests at the NASA Glenn Research Center Acoustical Testing Laboratory. Main components of the system include a Commercial-Off- the-Shelf (COTS) fan and motor, an Electronic Speed Controller, a custom-designed inlet bellmouth, and several experimental inlet duct acoustic liners. Fan speed, thrust, and noise were measured in this static ground test of the propulsor. This propulsor prototype is one of NASA’s Quiet Electric ENgines (QUEENs) and is designated the ‘QUEEN V1.’ The Quiet Electric Engines are being developed for the 25% scale model of the Subsonic Aft Engine (SUSAN) Flight Research Vehicle and are intended to explore the potential of distributed electric propulsion for large regional single-aisle aircraft. Lessons learned will be used to guide development of future QUEEN prototypes. Results of a thermal test of the Electronic Speed Controller measured during this test are presented in a separate report.

L Danielle Koch↗

NASA’s Quiet Electric ENgines (QUEEN): Summary of the Acoustic Tests of the QUEEN V1

Noise produced by an electric ducted fan system was measured in tests at the NASA Glenn Research Center Acoustical Testing Laboratory. Main components of the system include a Commercial-Off-the-Shelf fan, shroud, motor, and Electronic Speed Controller, plus a custom-designed inlet bellmouth, and four experimental inlet duct acoustic liners. Fan speed and noise were measured in this static ground test of the propulsor. This propulsor prototype is one of NASA’s Quiet Electric ENgines (QUEENs) and is designated the ‘QUEEN V1.’ The Quiet Electric Engines are being developed for the 25% scale model of the Subsonic Aft Engine (SUSAN) Flight Research Vehicle and are intended to explore the potential of distributed electric propulsion for large single-aisle aircraft. Results indicated that inlet duct acoustic liners reduced tone and broadband noise as compared to a hardwall inlet duct. Predicted performance of the honeycomb liner compared well with measurements from an array of far field microphones. Inlet acoustic liners are just one method for mitigating noise for electric ducted fans for aircraft propulsion systems. Lessons learned will be used to guide development of future QUEEN prototypes. Results of a thermal test of the Electronic Speed Controller are presented in a separate report.

Aircraft propulsion and power↗

NASA’s Quiet Electric ENgines (QUEEN): Summary of the Acoustic Tests of the QUEEN V1

Noise produced by an electric ducted fan system was measured in tests at the NASA Glenn Research Center Acoustical Testing Laboratory. Main components of the system include a Commercial-Off-the-Shelf fan, shroud, motor, and Electronic Speed Controller, plus a custom-designed inlet bellmouth, and four experimental inlet duct acoustic liners. Fan speed and noise were measured in this static ground test of the propulsor. This propulsor prototype is one of NASA’s Quiet Electric ENgines (QUEENs) and is designated the ‘QUEEN V1.’ The Quiet Electric Engines are being developed for the 25% scale model of the Subsonic Aft Engine (SUSAN) Flight Research Vehicle and are intended to explore the potential of distributed electric propulsion for large single-aisle aircraft. Results indicated that inlet duct acoustic liners reduced tone and broadband noise as compared to a hardwall inlet duct. Predicted performance of the honeycomb liner compared well with measurements from an array of far field microphones. Inlet acoustic liners are just one method for mitigating noise for electric ducted fans for aircraft propulsion systems. Lessons learned will be used to guide development of future QUEEN prototypes. Results of a thermal test of the Electronic Speed Controller are presented in a separate report.

Aircraft propulsion and power↗