A new modeling scheme for powered parafoil unmanned aerial vehicle platforms: Theory and experiments

A novel framework is established for accurate modeling of Powered Parafoil Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (PPUAV). The model is developed in the following three steps: obtaining a linear dynamic model, simplifying the model structure, and estimating the model mismatch due to model variance and external disturbance factors. First, a six degree-of-freedom linear model, or the structured model, is obtained through dynamic establishment and linearization. Second, the data correlation analysis is adopted to determine the criterion for proper model complexity and to simplify the structured model. Next, an active model is established, combining the simplified model with the model mismatch estimator. An adapted Kalman filter is utilized for the real-time estimation of states and model mismatch. We finally derive a linear system model while taking into account of model variance and external disturbance. Actual flight tests verify the effectiveness of our active model in different flight scenarios.     

Evaluation and improvement of coastal GNSS reflectometry sea level variations from existing GNSS stations in Taiwan

Global sea level rise due to an increasingly warmer climate has begun to induce hazards, adversely affecting the lives and properties of people residing in low-lying coastal regions and islands. Therefore, it is important to monitor and understand variations in coastal sea level covering offshore regions. Signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) data of Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) have been successfully used to robustly derive sea level heights (SLHs). In Taiwan, there are a number of continuously operating GNSS stations, not originally installed for sea level monitoring. They were established in harbors or near coastal regions for monitoring land motion. This study utilizes existing SNR data from three GNSS stations (Kaohsiung, Suao, and TaiCOAST) in Taiwan to compute SLHs with two methods, namely, Lomb–Scargle Periodogram (LSP)-only, and LSP aided with tidal harmonic analysis developed in this study. The results of both methods are compared with co-located or nearby tide gauge records. Due to the poor quality of SNR data, the worst accuracy of SLHs derived from traditional LSP-only method exceeds 1?m at the TaiCOAST station. With our procedure, the standard deviations (STDs) of difference between GNSS-derived SLHs and tide gauge records in Kaohsiung and Suao stations decreased to 10?cm and the results show excellent agreement with tide gauge derived relative sea level records, with STD of differences of 7?cm and correlation coefficient of 0.96. In addition, the absolute GNSS-R sea level trend in Kaohsiung during 2006–2011 agrees well with that derived from satellite altimetry. We conclude that the coastal GNSS stations in Taiwan have the potential of monitoring absolute coastal sea level change accurately when our proposed methodology is used.     

Application of a PCA-DBN-based surrogate model to robust aerodynamic design optimization

An efficient method employing a Principal Component Analysis (PCA)-Deep Belief Network (DBN)-based surrogate model is developed for robust aerodynamic design optimization in this study. In order to reduce the number of design variables for aerodynamic optimizations, the PCA technique is implemented to the geometric parameters obtained by parameterization method. For the purpose of predicting aerodynamic parameters, the DBN model is established with the reduced design variables as input and the aerodynamic parameters as output, and it is trained using the k-step contrastive divergence algorithm. The established PCA-DBN-based surrogate model is validated through predicting lift-to-drag ratios of a set of airfoils, and the results indicate that the PCA-DBN-based surrogate model is reliable and obtains more accurate predictions than three other surrogate models. Then the efficient optimization method is established by embedding the PCA-DBN-based surrogate model into an improved Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) framework, and applied to the robust aerodynamic design optimizations of Natural Laminar Flow (NLF) airfoil and transonic wing. The optimization results indicate that the PCA-DBN-based surrogate model works very well as a prediction model in the robust optimization processes of both NLF airfoil and transonic wing. By employing the PCA-DBN-based surrogate model, the developed efficient method improves the optimization efficiency obviously.     

基于代理模型全局优化的自适应参数化方法

对于翼型气动隐身设计问题，设计变量的配置对设计结果影响很大，而简单地增加设计变量不能保证得到理想的结果。提出一种适用于代理模型全局优化的自适应参数化方法：利用全局敏感性分析方法——基本效应法，得到设计空间关于目标函数的敏感区域信息，并以此为根据增加设计变量；利用节点插入算法将低维样本在高维空间内进行重构，避免了重新取样的工作量。相对于传统固定设计空间维度方法，自适应参数化方法在设计空间的敏感区域扩展维度，能够更加精准地描述外形并反映目标的变化趋势。通过飞翼布局翼型的气动隐身优化算例，证实自适应参数化方法可以大幅提高优化设计质量和效率。     

Topology optimization in lightweight design of a 3D-printed flapping-wing micro aerial vehicle

Topology optimization is an effective method to obtain a lightweight structure that meets the requirements of structural strength. Whether the optimization results meet the actual needs mainly depends on the accuracy of the material properties and the boundary conditions, especially for a tiny Flapping-wing Micro Aerial Vehicle (FMAV) transmission system manufactured by 3D printing. In this paper, experimental and numerical computation efforts were undertaken to gain a reliable topology optimization method for the bottom of the transmission system. First, the constitutive behavior of the ultraviolet (UV) curable resin used in fabrication was evaluated. Second, a numerical computation model describing further verified via experiments. Topology optimization modeling considering nonlinear factors, e.g. contact, friction and collision, was presented, and the optimization results were verified by both dynamic simulation and experiments. Finally, detailed discussions on different load cases and constraints were presented to clarify their effect on the optimization. Our methods and results presented in this paper may shed light on the lightweight design of a FMAV.     

数值模拟方法对NASA CRM模型阻力预测的影响

在复杂工程外形的数值模拟中，网格类型、规模和分布、湍流模型、数值格式等都会不同程度影响模拟结果。如何评估这些模拟方法对模拟结果的影响，并识别对模拟结果影响较显著的因素，对于CFD的发展方向有积极的借鉴指导意义。为了综合研究不同因素对商用运输机外形阻力预测的影响，以AIAA第六届阻力预测会议外形NASA CRM为研究对象，同时考虑了网格、湍流模型、无黏通量格式和体心梯度求解方法等因素对阻力预测的影响。分析中采用枚举法和正交试验设计两种方法，并使用了基于聚类分析的定性敏感性分析方法和基于Mckay主影响分析的定量方法，识别出对阻力预测影响较大的因素，这为数值模拟方法的发展指明了方向。     

基于Ansys Icepak 的负载器热设计与热分析

基于热设计的基础理论与负载器的工作原理，应用Ansys Icepak仿真软件对供配电负载器工作过程中内部散热情况进行仿真，找出负载器内部温度最高部位，指导实际测试，避免实际测试的盲目性。另外，通过优化负载器散热孔设计，降低负载器温升值。     

A holistic approach to SIM platform and its application to early-warning satellite system

This study proposes a new simulation platform named Simulation Integrated Management (SIM) for the analysis of parallel and distributed systems. The platform eases the process of designing and testing both applications and architectures. The main characteristics of SIM are flexibility, scalability, and expandability. To improve the efficiency of project development, new models of early-warning satellite system were designed based on the SIM platform. Finally, through a series of experiments, the correctness of SIM platform and the aforementioned early-warning satellite models was validated, and the systematical analyses for the orbital determination precision of the ballistic missile during its entire flight process were presented, as well as the deviation of the launch/landing point. Furthermore, the causes of deviation and prevention methods will be fully explained. The simulation platform and the models will lay the foundations for further validations of autonomy technology in space attack-defense architecture research.     

Non-stationarity and cross-correlation effects in the MHD solar activity

The analysis of turbulent processes in sunspots and pores which are self-organizing long-lived magnetic structures is a complicated and not yet solved problem. The present work focuses on studying such magneto-hydrodynamic (MHD) formations on the basis of flicker-noise spectroscopy using a new method of multi-parametric analysis. The non-stationarity and cross-correlation effects taking place in solar activity dynamics are considered. The calculated maximum values of non-stationarity factor may become precursors of significant restructuring in solar magnetic activity. The introduced cross-correlation functions enable us to judge synchronization effects between the signals of various solar activity indicators registered simultaneously.     

Accurate approximation of in-ecliptic trajectories for E-sail with constant pitch angle

Propellantless continuous-thrust propulsion systems, such as electric solar wind sails, may be successfully used for new space missions, especially those requiring high-energy orbit transfers. When the mass-to-thrust ratio is sufficiently large, the spacecraft trajectory is characterized by long flight times with a number of revolutions around the Sun. The corresponding mission analysis, especially when addressed within an optimal context, requires a significant amount of simulation effort. Analytical trajectories are therefore useful aids in a preliminary phase of mission design, even though exact solution are very difficult to obtain. The aim of this paper is to present an accurate, analytical, approximation of the spacecraft trajectory generated by an electric solar wind sail with a constant pitch angle, using the latest mathematical model of the thrust vector. Assuming a heliocentric circular parking orbit and a two-dimensional scenario, the simulation results show that the proposed equations are able to accurately describe the actual spacecraft trajectory for a long time interval when the propulsive acceleration magnitude is sufficiently small.