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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 145 records · Page 8

A Learn-To-Fly Approach for Adaptively Tuning Flight Control Systems

A method is presented for adaptively tuning feedback control gains in a ight control sys- tem to achieve desired closed-loop performance. The method combines efficient parameter estimation for identifying closed-loop dynamics models, with online nonlinear optimization for sequentially perturbing and updating control gains to improve performance. Prior in- formation on stability and control derivatives is not needed, nor is any knowledge about the control system architecture. Following convergence, the optimized control gains (with uncertainties), the open-loop dynamics model, and the closed-loop dynamics model are available. The method is demonstrated for tuning a longitudinal stability augmentation system using a realistic nonlinear ight dynamics simulation of the NASA FASER airplane. Convergence was attained using five piloted maneuvers that spanned approximately one minute of ight test time. Although demonstrated for a relatively simple case, the method is general and can be applied to other aircraft, axes, performance metrics, and control systems.

Grauer, Jared A.↗

The NASA F-15 Intelligent Flight Control Systems: Generation II

The Second Generation (Gen II) control system for the F-15 Intelligent Flight Control System (IFCS) program implements direct adaptive neural networks to demonstrate robust tolerance to faults and failures. The direct adaptive tracking controller integrates learning neural networks (NNs) with a dynamic inversion control law. The term direct adaptive is used because the error between the reference model and the aircraft response is being compensated or directly adapted to minimize error without regard to knowing the cause of the error. No parameter estimation is needed for this direct adaptive control system. In the Gen II design, the feedback errors are regulated with a proportional-plus-integral (PI) compensator. This basic compensator is augmented with an online NN that changes the system gains via an error-based adaptation law to improve aircraft performance at all times, including normal flight, system failures, mispredicted behavior, or changes in behavior resulting from damage.

Buschbacher, Mark↗

Adaptive control of linearizable systems

Initial results are reported regarding the adaptive control of minimum-phase nonlinear systems which are exactly input-output linearizable by state feedback. Parameter adaptation is used as a technique to make robust the exact cancellation of nonlinear terms, which is called for in the linearization technique. The application of the adaptive technique to control of robot manipulators is discussed. Only the continuous-time case is considered; extensions to the discrete-time and sampled-data cases are not obvious.

Sastry, S. Shankar↗

Variable Neural Adaptive Robust Control: A Switched System Approach

Variable neural adaptive robust control strategies are proposed for the output tracking control of a class of multi-input multi-output uncertain systems. The controllers incorporate a variable-structure radial basis function (RBF) network as the self-organizing approximator for unknown system dynamics. The variable-structure RBF network solves the problem of structure determination associated with fixed-structure RBF networks. It can determine the network structure on-line dynamically by adding or removing radial basis functions according to the tracking performance. The structure variation is taken into account in the stability analysis of the closed-loop system using a switched system approach with the aid of the piecewise quadratic Lyapunov function. The performance of the proposed variable neural adaptive robust controllers is illustrated with simulations.

adaptive↗

Control Systems with Normalized and Covariance Adaptation by Optimal Control Modification

Disclosed is a novel adaptive control method and system called optimal control modification with normalization and covariance adjustment. The invention addresses specifically to current challenges with adaptive control in these areas: 1) persistent excitation, 2) complex nonlinear input-output mapping, 3) large inputs and persistent learning, and 4) the lack of stability analysis tools for certification. The invention has been subject to many simulations and flight testing. The results substantiate the effectiveness of the invention and demonstrate the technical feasibility for use in modern aircraft flight control systems.

Nguyen, Nhan T.↗

Suppression of Nonlinear Rotary Slosh Dynamics Using the SLS Adaptive Augmenting Control System Demonstration on a Quadcopter Testbed

Liquid propellant makes up a significant portion of the total weight for large launch vehicles such as Saturn V, Space Shuttle, and the Space Launch System. Careful attention must be given to the influence of fuel slosh motion on the stability of the vehicle in the design of the Flight Control System (FCS). Historically, there have been instances where a poorly designed FCS in addition to a lack of passive damping have caused the slosh mass to drive the launch vehicle unstable. The dynamics behind controlling a quadcopter/hanging mass configuration is analogous to that of controlling the attitude of a rocket with a single propellant tank. The quadcopter/hanging mass configuration offers a reasonably accurate platform for assessing the real-time effectiveness of the SLS Adaptive Augmenting Controller in suppressing slosh instability. Flight test experiments were carried out at the NASA Langley Research Center's Autonomy Incubator. During both simulation and flight test, the hanging mass was intentionally made unstable and the adaptive algorithm successfully suppressed the instability as expected.

Pei, Jing↗

An adaptive learning control system for large flexible structures

The objective of the research has been to study the design of adaptive/learning control systems for the control of large flexible structures. In the first activity an adaptive/learning control methodology for flexible space structures was investigated. The approach was based on using a modal model of the flexible structure dynamics and an output-error identification scheme to identify modal parameters. In the second activity, a least-squares identification scheme was proposed for estimating both modal parameters and modal-to-actuator and modal-to-sensor shape functions. The technique was applied to experimental data obtained from the NASA Langley beam experiment. In the third activity, a separable nonlinear least-squares approach was developed for estimating the number of excited modes, shape functions, modal parameters, and modal amplitude and velocity time functions for a flexible structure. In the final research activity, a dual-adaptive control strategy was developed for regulating the modal dynamics and identifying modal parameters of a flexible structure. A min-max approach was used for finding an input to provide modal parameter identification while not exceeding reasonable bounds on modal displacement.

Thau, F. E.↗

An adaptive learning control system for aircraft

A learning control system and its utilization as a flight control system for F-8 Digital Fly-By-Wire (DFBW) research aircraft is studied. The system has the ability to adjust a gain schedule to account for changing plant characteristics and to improve its performance and the plant's performance in the course of its own operation. Three subsystems are detailed: (1) the information acquisition subsystem which identifies the plant's parameters at a given operating condition; (2) the learning algorithm subsystem which relates the identified parameters to predetermined analytical expressions describing the behavior of the parameters over a range of operating conditions; and (3) the memory and control process subsystem which consists of the collection of updated coefficients (memory) and the derived control laws. Simulation experiments indicate that the learning control system is effective in compensating for parameter variations caused by changes in flight conditions.

Mekel, R.↗

Considerations of open-loop, closed-loop, and adaptive multicyclic control systems

Four different types of self-tuning regulators were studied for multicyclic control of helicopter vibration. A numerical simulation of the helicopter is made, using a multivariable frequency-domain model, in terms of transfer function with six input control harmonics and six output harmonics. The model characteristics vary with flight speed. An off-line identification of model characteristics is made, using the least-squared-error method and using a succession of input and output measurements. The on-line identification of model characteristics is made using the Kalman filter solution. The optimal controls are calculated from the minimization of quadratic performance function based on response and multicyclic inputs. The performance of various regulators or controllers is judged from the stability, transient response, convergence time, and amplitude of the steady state.

Chopra, I.↗

Adaptive Attitude Control System For Space Station

Report presents theoretical foundation for attitude control system for proposed Space Station Freedom in orbit around Earth. Intended to maintain space station in torque equilibrium with designated axes of its structure aligned with local vertical, local along-trajectory horizontal, and local across-trajectory horizontal axes, respectively. System required to provide desired combination of control performance and stability in presence of disturbances (e.g., variations in masses of payloads, movements of astronauts and equipment, atmospheric drag, gravitational anomalies, and interactions with docking spacecraft).

Boussalis, Dhemetrios↗

ADAPTIVE CLEARANCE CONTROL SYSTEMS FOR TURBINE ENGINES

The Controls and Dynamics Technology Branch at NASA Glenn Research Center primarily deals in developing controls, dynamic models, and health management technologies for air and space propulsion systems. During the summer of 2004 I was granted the privilege of working alongside professionals who were developing an active clearance control system for commercial jet engines. Clearance, the gap between the turbine blade tip and the encompassing shroud, increases as a result of wear mechanisms and rubbing of the turbine blades on shroud. Increases in clearance cause larger specific fuel consumption (SFC) and loss of efficient air flow. This occurs because, as clearances increase, the engine must run hotter and bum more fuel to achieve the same thrust. In order to maintain efficiency, reduce fuel bum, and reduce exhaust gas temperature (EGT), the clearance must be accurately controlled to gap sizes no greater than a few hundredths of an inch. To address this problem, NASA Glenn researchers have developed a basic control system with actuators and sensors on each section of the shroud. Instead of having a large uniform metal casing, there would be sections of the shroud with individual sensors attached internally that would move slightly to reform and maintain clearance. The proposed method would ultimately save the airline industry millions of dollars.

Blackwell, Keith M.↗

Trends in modern system theory

The topics considered are related to linear control system design, adaptive control, failure detection, control under failure, system reliability, and large-scale systems and decentralized control. It is pointed out that the design of a linear feedback control system which regulates a process about a desirable set point or steady-state condition in the presence of disturbances is a very important problem. The linearized dynamics of the process are used for design purposes. The typical linear-quadratic design involving the solution of the optimal control problem of a linear time-invariant system with respect to a quadratic performance criterion is considered along with gain reduction theorems and the multivariable phase margin theorem. The stumbling block in many adaptive design methodologies is associated with the amount of real time computation which is necessary. Attention is also given to the desperate need to develop good theories for large-scale systems, the beginning of a microprocessor revolution, the translation of the Wiener-Hopf theory into the time domain, and advances made in dynamic team theory, dynamic stochastic games, and finite memory stochastic control.

Athans, M.↗

Intelligent Welding Controller

Control system adapts to changing design requirements and operating conditions. Proposed control system for gas/tungsten arc welding requires only that operator specifies such direct parameters of welds as widths and depths of penetration. In control system for robotic welder, components and functions intimately connected with welding process assigned to controller domain. More general functions assigned to supervisor domain. Initial estimate of indirect parameters of welding process applied to system only at beginning of weld (t=0); after start of welding, outputs from multivariable controller takes place of estimate.

Cook, George E.↗

Necessary and sufficient conditions for parameter convergence in adaptive control

Consideration is given to the concept of a reference signal which is sufficient to cause the parameter error in an adaptive control system to converge to zero. Simple and necessary conditions for the convergence of the parameter error are established for a model reference adaptive control (MRAC) system having a relative degree of one. The exponential stability of the MRAC under persistent excitation (PE) is also considered. Full proofs of the theoretical arguments are given in a companion paper.

Boyd, S.↗