Charging the new batteries-IC controllers track new technologies

Demands for portability have fueled significant developments in new battery technology. These developments have resulted in many more options in selecting the battery type for use in a particular project, but since most applications today are opting for rechargeable battery systems, the availability of battery charging solutions can become an equally important criteria in the selection process. Complicating this process are the demands for fast-but safe-charging with charge algorithms easily implemented with low-cost hardware. With the higher levels of complexity attendant with these more demanding algorithms, solutions have come primarily from the integrated circuit industry and the purpose of this paper is to provide a few examples of the latest efforts in this arena, specifically as addressed to lead-acid, nickel metal-hydride, and lithium-ion technologies     

Design and testing of spacecraft power systems using VTB

A study is presented on the design and testing of spacecraft power systems using the virtual test bed (VTB). The interdisciplinary components such as solar array and battery systems were first modeled in native VTB format and validated by experiment data. The shunt regulator and battery charge controller were designed in Simulink according to the system requirements and imported to VTB. Two spacecraft power systems were then designed and tested together with the control systems.     

Real-time expert systems for advanced power control (a statusupdate) [aerospace power system testbed]

The most recent developments in the Boeing Aerospace Autonomous Power System (APS) testbed are presented. The APS testbed is a 28-VDC system with 3-kW capability, assembled for use in developing improved control, techniques for aerospace electrical power systems. The main emphasis is on the development of a sophisticated programming environment to control concurrent execution of multiple autonomous algorithms coupled with a continuous input/output data flow. The integration of high-level control algorithms used for battery charge control into a real-time execution environment is discussed. This includes methods that allow several functions to respond to real-time input, affect/maintain expert system (shared) memory, and control the electrical power system configuration. Sophisticated schemes for scheduling these expert system control functions are required to allow real-time multitasking     

Direct Energy Transfer for High Efficiency Photovoltaic Energy Systems Part I: Concepts and Hypothesis

This two-part paper presents a comprehensive comparative study on parallel power processing (PPP) and standard schemes in dc/dc converters for photovoltaic (PV) energy systems. It is demonstrated how PPP can improve direct energy transfer (DET), which results in PV systems operating at higher voltage and efficiency. Discussions of the concepts, hypotheses and computer simulations are presented in Part I. Part II provides the experimental results, which confirm the validity of the analysis and simulations.     

Direct Energy Transfer for High Efficiency Photovoltaic Energy Systems Part II: Experimental Evaluations

This two-part paper presents a comprehensive comparative study on parallel power processing (PPP) and standard schemes in dc/dc converters for photovoltaic (PV) energy systems. It is demonstrated how PPP can improve direct energy transfer (DET), which results in PV systems operating at higher voltage and efficiency. Discussions of the concepts, hypotheses, and computer simulations are presented in Part I. Part II provides the experimental results, which confirm the validity of the analysis and simulations.     

Fast intelligent battery charging: neural-fuzzy approach

This paper focuses on the design of a super fast battery charger based on National's proprietary neural network based NeuFuz technology. In this application, we have used a NiCd battery pack as the test vehicle. However, this technology can be extended to other chemistries such as Ni-MH, Li-ion, etc. This technology allows the designer to accurately model the charge controller using a neural network, based on battery charge characteristics provided by the manufacturer. This approach continuously monitors the battery status, and modifies the charge current accordingly. It also eliminates the need for standard charge termination methods used in today's conventional chargers. The result is super fast charging in 20 to 30 minutes, and increased battery life. A low cost embedded controller (COP8) performs all the fuel-gauging and charge control functions by processing data obtained from the battery circuitry     

燃料电池无人机动力系统方案设计与试验

针对燃料电池为主能源的无人机（UAV）动力系统,设计了纯燃料电池动力系统、燃料电池/蓄电池（简称燃蓄）被/主动混合动力系统3种拓扑结构方案。以空冷质子交换膜燃料电池为例,搭建了燃料电池动力系统方案一体化试验平台。考虑阶梯型和阶跃型2种加载形式,试验研究了燃料电池自身的动态特性和启动特性。以阶梯型功率剖面的加载形式,试验研究了纯燃料电池动力系统放电特性;以无人机典型任务剖面作为加载形式,开展燃蓄被/主动混合动力系统对比试验研究。试验结果表明：纯燃料电池动力方案适用于低机动小型无人机,燃蓄被动混合方案可满足小型无人机大机动飞行,燃蓄主动混合方案系统可适应中大型无人机更长航时飞行。     

Linear time-varying eigenstructure assignment with flight control application

This work is concerned with the assignment of a desired PD-eigenstructure for linear time-varying systems. Despite its well-known limitations, gain scheduling control appeared to be a focus of the research efforts. Scheduling of frozen-time, frozen-state controllers for fast time-varying dynamics is known to be mathematically fallacious, and practically hazardous. Therefore, recent research efforts are being directed towards applying time-varying controllers. In this paper we: 1) introduce a differential algebraic eigenvalue theory for linear time-varying systems; and 2) propose a PD-eigenstructure assignment scheme via a differential Sylvester equation and a command generator tracker (CGT) for linear time-varying systems. The PD-eigenstructure assignment is utilized as a regulator. A feedforward gain for tracking control is computed by using the command generator tracker. The whole design procedures of the proposed PD-eigenstructure assignment scheme are systematic in nature. The scheme could be used to determine the stability of linear time-varying systems easily as well as to provide a new horizon of designing controllers for the linear time-varying systems. A missile flight control application is presented to validate the proposed schemes.     

Aerospace lithium solid polymer batteries

Lockheed Martin Missiles and Space and Ultralife Batteries, Inc. are developing batteries for spacecraft and launchers based on Li-ion solid-polymer-electrolyte cell technology. These cells utilize a carbon anode, a manganese dioxide cathode and a solid polymer electrolyte. Electrode and electrolyte layers are thin and flexible. The electrode assembly is easily fabricated into thin, flat prismatic shapes using ordinary lamination techniques and is hermetically sealed in thin foil packaging. Cells ranging in capacity from 4 Ah to 50 Ah have been designed and are in development testing. The packaged cells have specific energies in excess of 100 Wh/kg. Prototype 30 volt batteries have also been designed and are being assembled and tested along with the critical battery cell charge management controllers needed to recharge all cells to full capacity while preventing overvoltage damage. The major results of this development effort are reviewed and the key issues for advancing this technology to flight qualification demonstrations are discussed     

Positive identification of aircraft on airport movementarea-results of FAA trials

Current operational airport surface surveillance systems do not positively identify aircraft as unique targets. Air traffic controllers are instead presented with a primary radar picture showing all traffic on the airport movement area. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is evaluating different types of systems that will add the aircraft's call-sign or flight number to the radar image thereby allowing controllers to positively identify individual aircraft at all times. This paper describes the development, implementation, and testing of the airport surface target identification system (ATIDS), and presents results of initial trials conducted at Atlanta Hartsfield International Airport     

Electric-vehicle batteries

Electric vehicles that can't reach trolley wires need batteries. In the early 1900's electric cars disappeared when owners found that replacing the car's worn-out lead-acid battery costs more than a new gasoline-powered car. Most of today's electric cars are still propelled by lead-acid batteries. General Motors in their prototype Impact, for example, used starting-lighting-ignition batteries, which deliver lots of power for demonstrations, but have a life of less than 100 deep discharges. Now promising alternative technology has challenged the world-wide lead miners, refiners, and battery makers into forming a consortium that sponsors research into making better lead-acid batteries. Horizon's new bipolar battery delivered 50 watt-hours per kg (Wh/kg), compared with 20 for ordinary transport-vehicle batteries. The alternatives are delivering from 80 Wh/kg (nickel-metal hydride) up to 200 Wh/kg (zinc-bromine). A Fiat Panda traveled 260 km on a single charge of its zinc-bromine battery. A German 3.5-ton postal truck traveled 300 km with a single charge in its 650-kg (146 Wh/kg) zinc-air battery. Its top speed was 110 km per hour     

Solar power system options for the Radiation and TechnologyDemonstration spacecraft

The Radiation and Technology Demonstration (RTD) Mission has the primary objective of demonstrating high-power (10 kilowatts) electric thruster technologies in Earth orbit. This paper discusses the conceptual design of the RTD spacecraft photovoltaic (PV) power system and mission performance analyses. These power system studies assessed multiple options for PV arrays, battery technologies and bus voltage levels. To quantify performance attributes of these power system options, a dedicated Fortran code was developed to predict power system performance and estimate system mass. The low-thrust mission trajectory was analyzed and important Earth orbital environments were modeled. Baseline power system design options are recommended on the basis of performance, mass and risk/complexity. Important findings from parametric studies are discussed and the resulting impacts to the spacecraft design and cost     

不确定线性系统的鲁棒容错控制设计

 研究含结构参数扰动的不确定线性系统的鲁棒容错控制问题，即设计反馈控制器，使闭环系统对可允的参数扰动具有鲁棒性，同时对执行器或传感器失效具有完整性。基于修正的代数矩阵方程，给出了期望的鲁棒容错控制器的存在条件及其显式表示，并以设计实例说明文中设计方法的直接性与简单性     

Robust sliding-mode control for the uncertain MIMO aircraft model F-18

Robust flight control laws based on variable structure control (VSC) theory and Lyapunov V-function method are designed for a simplified aircraft model F-18. A min-max control (MMC) and VSC laws are derived, for multi-input multi-output (MIMO) systems with plant uncertainties and input disturbance. Two types of robust feedback controllers MMC and VSC for uncertain MIMO systems are considered. For both cases the existence conditions of a stable sliding mode and the robust asymptotic stability in uncertain MIMO systems by MMC and VSC are investigated. For the design of an MMC and VSC, measurable states and sliding surface are chosen so that the zero dynamics of the system are stable. An application of tracking and positioning of VSC of longitudinal dynamics is presented. Finally, simulation results are presented to show the effectiveness of the design methods.     

基于无迹卡尔曼滤波法的串联型电池系统 荷电状态估计研究

以锂离子电池为载体的电源系统为航天器稳定可靠运行提供了一种有效的方式.多个电池单体经串联可扩大电池系统容量,即串联型电池系统.为准确估计串联型锂离子电池系统的荷电状态(State of Charge,SOC),针对扩展卡尔曼滤波(Extended Kalman Filter,EKF)计算复杂、精度不高等问题,结合串联型电池系统空间状态方程,提出基于无迹卡尔曼滤波法(Unscented Kalman Filter,UKF)的串联型电池系统荷电状态估计算法.在恒流和脉冲两种工况下,通过对比分析UKF与EKF算法的仿真结果与实验数据的匹配情况,证明了提出算法的准确性和高鲁棒性.     

基于5G的通导融合位置认证系统性能分析

随着无人化智能移动装备在工业、交通等安全敏感领域的普及应用,民用导航定位系统中的定位安全问题日益突出。位置认证是对终端的物理位置声明进行认证的过程,是导航定位安全技术的重要组成部分。基于第五代(5G)移动通信网络的通导融合位置认证系统具有覆盖范围广、认证精度高、用户容量大、建设运维成本低等多重优势。本文首先介绍了多基站位置认证系统的检测判决原理,提出了漏检平均距离的定义作为位置认证系统精度的量化评价指标。在此基础上,通过数值仿真分析了信号带宽、基站同步误差、信噪比对位置认证系统精度的影响,并利用5G信道模型评估了典型场景下的位置认证系统的性能。结果表明,在具备3个以上的视距基站时,基于5G的通导融合位置认证系统可以实现米级的位置认证精度。     

基于5G的通导融合位置认证系统性能分析

随着无人化智能移动装备在工业、交通等安全敏感领域的普及应用，民用导航定位系统中的定位安全问题日益突出。位置认证是对终端的物理位置声明进行认证的过程，是导航定位安全技术的重要组成部分。基于第五代(5G)移动通信网络的通导融合位置认证系统具有覆盖范围广、认证精度高、用户容量大、建设运维成本低等多重优势。本文首先介绍了多基站位置认证系统的检测判决原理，提出了漏检平均距离的定义作为位置认证系统精度的量化评价指标。在此基础上，通过数值仿真分析了信号带宽、基站同步误差、信噪比对位置认证系统精度的影响，并利用5G信道模型评估了典型场景下的位置认证系统的性能。结果表明，在具备3个以上的视距基站时，基于5G的通导融合位置认证系统可以实现米级的位置认证精度。     

Hubble performance on-orbit

A summary of the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) nickel-hydrogen (NiH/sub 2/) battery performance from launch to the present. Over the life of HST vehicle configuration, charge system degradation and failures, together with thermal design limitations, have had a significant effect on the capacity of HST batteries. Changes made to the charge system configuration to protect against power system failures and to maintain battery thermal stability resulted in undercharging of the batteries. This undercharging resulted in decreased usable battery capacity as well as battery cell voltage/capacity divergence. This cell divergence was made evident during on-orbit battery capacity measurements by a relatively shallow slope of the discharge curve following the discharge knee. Early efforts to improve battery performance have been successful. On-orbit capacity measurement data indicates increases in the usable battery capacity of all six batteries as well as improvements in the battery cell voltage/capacity divergence. Additional measures have been implemented to improve battery performance, however, failures within the HST Power Control Unit (PCU) have prevented verification of battery status.     

Year 2000 impact on automated testing

Both US military and industry rely on automatic testing to verify the quality of manufacture and repair. Many testers still rely on computers designed and manufactured in the early 1980's. This includes systems using embedded controllers. Year 2000 problems can surface in computer operating systems, compilers, test programs, and in embedded systems. Until the impact of the Y2K “bug” is addressed, the risk of test program failure is unknown in most legacy automatic test systems. Problems may include embedded controllers in proprietary designs, old operating systems, and unique test program code. This paper will address the potential problem areas in automatic testing, and suggest an approach for determining the best course of action. In order to evaluate the impact, a complete systems inventory must be done to identify all potential sources of problems. Little attention has been paid to the legacy automated test systems and the potential impact of the Y2K problem on such systems. Although newer systems are less likely to be affected, no one can be sure until a complete inventory and test has been accomplished     

Distributed event-triggered adaptive control for second-order nonlinear uncertain multi-agent systems

In this paper, the event-triggered consensus control problem for nonlinear uncertain multi-agent systems subject to unknown parameters and external disturbances is considered. The dynamics of subsystems are second-order with similar structures, and the nodes are connected by undirected graphs. The event-triggered mechanisms are not only utilized in the transmission of information from the controllers to the actuators, and from the sensors to the controllers within each agent, but also in the communication between agents. Based on the adaptive backstepping method, extra estimators are introduced to handle the unknown parameters, and the measurement errors that occur during the event-triggered communication are well handled by designing compensating terms for the control signals. The presented distributed event-triggered adaptive control laws can guarantee the boundness of the consensus tracking errors and the Zeno behavior is avoided. Meanwhile, the update frequency of the controllers and the load of communication burden are vastly reduced. The obtained control protocol is further applied to a multi-input multi-output second-order nonlinear multi-agent system, and the simulation results show the effectiveness and advantages of our proposed method.