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Results for “Feedback Generation”

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 19 records
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS2007

LMI-Based Generation of Feedback Laws for a Robust Model Predictive Control Algorithm

This technical note provides a mathematical proof of Corollary 1 from the paper 'A Nonlinear Model Predictive Control Algorithm with Proven Robustness and Resolvability' that appeared in the 2006 Proceedings of the American Control Conference. The proof was omitted for brevity in the publication. The paper was based on algorithms developed for the FY2005 R&TD (Research and Technology Development) project for Small-body Guidance, Navigation, and Control [2].The framework established by the Corollary is for a robustly stabilizing MPC (model predictive control) algorithm for uncertain nonlinear systems that guarantees the resolvability of the associated nite-horizon optimal control problem in a receding-horizon implementation. Additional details of the framework are available in the publication.

algorithms↗
NASA NTRS2001

Automatic Overset Grid Generation with Heuristic Feedback Control

An advancing front grid generation system for structured Overset grids is presented which automatically modifies Overset structured surface grids and control lines until user-specified grid qualities are achieved. The system is demonstrated on two examples: the first refines a space shuttle fuselage control line until global truncation error is achieved; the second advances, from control lines, the space shuttle orbiter fuselage top and fuselage side surface grids until proper overlap is achieved. Surface grids are generated in minutes for complex geometries. The system is implemented as a heuristic feedback control (HFC) expert system which iteratively modifies the input specifications for Overset control line and surface grids. It is developed as an extension of modern control theory, production rules systems and subsumption architectures. The methodology provides benefits over the full knowledge lifecycle of an expert system for knowledge acquisition, knowledge representation, and knowledge execution. The vector/matrix framework of modern control theory systematically acquires and represents expert system knowledge. Missing matrix elements imply missing expert knowledge. The execution of the expert system knowledge is performed through symbolic execution of the matrix algebra equations of modern control theory. The dot product operation of matrix algebra is generalized for heuristic symbolic terms. Constant time execution is guaranteed.

Robinson, Peter I.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Contact control for advanced applications of light weight arms

Many applications of robotic and teleoperated manipulator arms require operation in contact and non-contact regimes. This paper deals with both regimes and the transition between them with special attention given to problems of flexibility in the links and drives. This is referred to as contact control. Inverse dynamics is used to plan the tip motion of the flexible link so that the free motion can stop very near the contact surface without collision due to overshoot. Contact must occur at a very low speed since the high frequency impact forces are too sudden to be affected by any feedback generated torques applied to a joint at the other end of the link. The effect of approach velocity and surface properties are discussed. Force tracking is implemented by commands to the deflection states of the link and the contact force. This enables a natural transition between tip position and tip force control that is not possible when the arm is treated as rigid. The effect of feedback gain, force trajectory, and desired final force are of particular interest and are studied. Experimental results are presented on a one link arm and the system performance in the overall contact task is analyzed. Extension to multi-link cases with potential applications are discussed.

Book, Wayne J.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Characterization of gigahertz (GHz) bandwidth photomultipliers

The average impulse response, root-mean-square times jitter as a function of signal level, single photoelectron distribution, and multiphotoelectron dark-count distribution have been measured for two static crossed-field and five electrostatic photomultipliers. The optical signal source for the first three of these tests was a 30 picosecond mode-locked laser pulse at 0.53 micron. The static crossed-field detectors had 2-photoelectron resolution, less than 200 ps rise times, and rms time jitters of 30 ps at the single photoelectron level. The electrostatic photomultipliers had rise times from 1 to 2.5 nanoseconds, and rms time jitters from 160 to 650 ps at the same signal level. The two static crossed-field photomultipliers had ion-feedback-generated dark pulses to the 50-photoelectron level, whereas one electrostatic photomultiplier had dark pulses to the 30-photoelectron level.

Abshire, J. B.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Silicon Sheet Quality is Improved By Meniscus Control

Better quality silicon crystals for solar cells are possible with instrument that monitors position of meniscus as sheet of solid silicon is drawn from melt. Using information on meniscus height, instrument generates feedback signal to control melt temperature. Automatic control ensures more uniform silicon sheets.

Yates, D. A.↗
NASA NTRS2013

Dusty Feedback from Massive Black Holes in Two Elliptical Galaxies

Far-infrared dust emission from elliptical galaxies informs us about galaxy mergers, feedback energy outbursts from supermassive black holes and the age of galactic stars. We report on the role of AGN feedback observationally by looking for its signatures in elliptical galaxies at recent epochs in the nearby universe. We present Herschel observations of two elliptical galaxies with strong and spatially extended FIR emission from colder grains 5-10 kpc distant from the galaxy cores. Extended excess cold dust emission is interpreted as evidence of recent feedback-generated AGN energy outbursts in these galaxies, visible only in the FIR, from buoyant gaseous outflows from the galaxy cores.

Galaxies↗
NASA NTRS2010

Observations on the State of NASA's GN&C Engineering Discipline: Results of an Independent Non-Advocate Study

The NASA Technical Fellows periodically conduct State-of-the-Discipline assessments. The GN&C Technical Fellow contracted Harlan Brown & Company in 2007 and 2009 to conduct independent, third party studies to gain unbiased insight and understanding into the attitudes and beliefs of NASA's GN&C Community of Practice (CoP). The paper first outlines the background, objectives and methodology of the studies. The paper then summarizes key study results of the 2007 baseline study, as well as the 2009 update. The update was then used to track and monitor perceptions, identify performance trends, identify areas where further improvement needs to be made in NASA's GN&C discipline. It also generated feedback on the recently developed GN&C CoP online knowledge capture and learning site.

Pawlikowski, Gerald J.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Control design for a wind turbine-generator using output feedback

The modeling and approach to control design for a large horizontal axis wind turbine (WT) generator are presented. The control design is based on a suboptimal output regulator which allows coordinated control of WT blade pitch angle and field voltage for the purposes of regulating electrical power and terminal voltage. Results of detailed non-linear simulation tests of this controller are shown.

Javid, S. H.↗
DOE OSTI2020

Residential electricity conservation in response to auto-generated, multi-featured, personalized eco-feedback designed for large scale applications with utilities

While past research has shown that providing residents with feedback about their electricity usage can reduce demand and its associated environmental burdens, some questions remain regarding what makes such feedback most effective. We followed the electricity usage of 36 residents who each received 14 feedback messages over 2 months. Using approaches borrowed from Natural-Language-Processing, feedbacks were generated automatically, using 10 features in random combinations. Unlike in previous studies, each resident received varying types of messages over time. In 504 observations, the average prompted reduction in electricity usage was 11 ± 3%, compared to a control group of 89 residents who received no messages. Feedback types prompting the largest reductions were self-comparisons with one’s own earlier usage (average reduction 14%) and messages of high variety from one feedback-cycle to the next (average reduction 16%). Comparisons with neighbors did not prompt higher reductions on average. Instead, they prompted reductions only when a resident’s recent usage happened to be higher than the average usage of neighbors, and increases when the reverse was true. Finally, this behavior was exhibited by all residents and is likely explained by a norm-conforming mean reversion of residents to their neighbors’ average usage, rather than an anti-conform “boomerang” behavior previously suggested in similar contexts.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2022

A positive feedback loop involving the Spa2 SHD domain contributes to focal polarization

Focal polarization is necessary for finely arranged cell-cell interactions. The yeast mating projection, with its punctate polarisome, is a good model system for this process. We explored the critical role of the polarisome scaffold protein Spa2 during yeast mating with a hypothesis motivated by mathematical modeling and tested by in vivo experiments. Our simulations predicted that two positive feedback loops generate focal polarization, including a novel feedback pathway involving the N-terminal domain of Spa2. We characterized the latter using loss-of-function and gain-of-function mutants. The N-terminal region contains a Spa2 Homology Domain (SHD) which is conserved from yeast to humans, and when mutated largely reproduced the spa2Δ phenotype. Our work together with published data show that the SHD domain recruits Msb3/4 that stimulates Sec4-mediated transport of Bud6 to the polarisome. There, Bud6 activates Bni1-catalyzed actin cable formation, recruiting more Spa2 and completing the positive feedback loop. We demonstrate that disrupting this loop at any point results in morphological defects. Gain-of-function perturbations partially restored focal polarization in a spa2 loss-of-function mutant without restoring localization of upstream components, thus supporting the pathway order. Thus, we have collected data consistent with a novel positive feedback loop that contributes to focal polarization during pheromone-induced polarization in yeast.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
NASA NTRS1987

Theory of Periodic-Binary-Sequence Generators

Algorithms yield feedback shift registers with maximum regularity. Report provides extensive mathematical treatment of new and previous results related to generation of pseudo-noise binary sequences by feedback shift registers. Generator architectures amenable to efficient implementation in very-large-scale integrated (VLSI) circuits. Report includes literature references to applications of such sequences in random-number generation, radar, VLSI testing, data encryption and decryption, algebraic error-detection and error-correction encoding and decoding, and feedback-shift-register synthesis of sequential machines.

Perlman, M.↗
NASA NTRS2022

Feedback-Directed Random Sequence Generation for Verifying Spacecraft Flight Rule Violations

The Psyche: Journey to a Metal World mission will be launched in 2022 to study the largest metal asteroid in the main asteroid belt, (16) Psyche. The spacecraft will perform a Mars Flyby in 2023 and enter (16) Psyche’s orbit in 2026. Throughout the mission, safely operating the spacecraft will require abiding by a set of flight rules that can be defined at any point in the mission lifecycle. These flight rules ensure that the spacecraft is operating within allowed regimes and a discrete event simulation tool, SEQGEN, will be used to model all command sequences prior to uplink. One of SEQGEN’s responsibilities is to determine if a command sequence violates any flight rules. For each flight rule, the necessary logic to determine if a violation has occurred is implemented in the SEQGEN adaptation, which is maintained by the mission. This adaptation must be tested thoroughly to ensure that the flight rule logic was interpreted and implemented correctly. This work describes a tool, RandSEQ, that autogenerates a suite of flight rule violating test sequences for each flight rule implemented in SEQGEN, and can be used by any mission using SEQGEN. The Psyche SEQGEN adaptation is still being developed, but so far, RandSEQ has been used to generate 532 test cases, that can be reviewed by various stakeholders, for 40 flight rules. The ability to autogenerate these test cases has significantly reduced the amount of time required to implement and test each flight rule.

Su, Laura↗
DOE OSTI2022

Alternative stable states of the forest mycobiome are maintained through positive feedbacks

Most trees on Earth form a symbiosis with either arbuscular mycorrhizal or ectomycorrhizal fungi. By forming common mycorrhizal networks, actively modifying the soil environment and other ecological mechanisms, these contrasting symbioses may generate positive feedbacks that favour their own mycorrhizal strategy (that is, the con-mycorrhizal strategy) at the expense of the alternative strategy. Positive con-mycorrhizal feedbacks set the stage for alternative stable states of forests and their fungi, where the presence of different forest mycorrhizal strategies is determined not only by external environmental conditions but also mycorrhiza-mediated feedbacks embedded within the forest ecosystem. Here, in this work, we test this hypothesis using thousands of US forest inventory sites to show that arbuscular and ectomycorrhizal tree recruitment and survival exhibit positive con-mycorrhizal density dependence. Data-driven simulations show that these positive feedbacks are sufficient in magnitude to generate and maintain alternative stable states of the forest mycobiome. Given the links between forest mycorrhizal strategy and carbon sequestration potential, the presence of mycorrhizal-mediated alternative stable states affects how we forecast forest composition, carbon sequestration and terrestrial climate feedbacks.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
NASA NTRS2004

Spacecraft Formation Flying near Sun-Earth L2 Lagrange Point: Trajectory Generation and Adaptive Full-State Feedback Control

In this paper, we present a method for trajectory generation and adaptive full-state feedback control to facilitate spacecraft formation flying near the Sun-Earth L2 Lagrange point. Specifically, the dynamics of a spacecraft in the neighborhood of a Halo orbit reveals that there exist quasi-periodic orbits surrounding the Halo orbit. Thus, a spacecraft formation is created by placing a leader spacecraft on a desired Halo orbit and placing follower spacecraft on desired quasi-periodic orbits. To produce a formation maintenance controller, we first develop the nonlinear dynamics of a follower spacecraft relative to the leader spacecraft. We assume that the leader spacecraft is on a desired Halo orbit trajectory and the follower spacecraft is to track a desired quasi-periodic orbit surrounding the Halo orbit. Then, we design an adaptive, full-state feedback position tracking controller for the follower spacecraft providing an adaptive compensation for the unknown mass of the follower spacecraft. The proposed control law is simulated for the case of the leader and follower spacecraft pair and is shown to yield global, asymptotic convergence of the relative position tracking errors.

Wong, Hong↗
NASA NTRS1994

Engines-only flight control system

A backup flight control system for controlling the flightpath of a multi-engine airplane using the main drive engines is introduced. The backup flight control system comprises an input device for generating a control command indicative of a desired flightpath, a feedback sensor for generating a feedback signal indicative of at least one of pitch rate, pitch attitude, roll rate and roll attitude, and a control device for changing the output power of at least one of the main drive engines on each side of the airplane in response to the control command and the feedback signal.

Burcham, Frank W.↗
NASA NTRS1978

A user oriented microcomputer facility for designing linear quadratic Gaussian feedback compensators

A laboratory design facility for digital microprocessor implementation of linear-quadratic-Gaussian feedback compensators is described. Outputs from user interactive programs for solving infinite time horizon LQ regulator and Kalman filter problems were conditioned for implementation on the laboratory microcomputer system. The software consisted of two parts: an offline high-level program for solving the LQ Ricatti equations and generating associated feedback and filter gains and a cross compiler/macro assembler which generates object code for the target microprocessor system. A PDP 11/70 with a UNIX operating system was used for all high level program and data management, and the target microprocessor system is an Intel MDS (8080-based processor). Application to the control of a two dimensional inverted pendulum is presented and issues in expanding the design/prototyping system to other target machine architectures are discussed.

Houpt, P. K.↗