Ultra-reliable real-time control systems-future trends

Today's aircraft use ultra-reliable real-time controls for demanding functions such as Fly-By-Wire (FBW) flight control. Future aircraft, spacecraft and other vehicles will require greater use of these types of controls for functions that currently are allowed to fail, fail to degraded operation, or require human intervention in response to failure. Fully automated and autonomous functions will require ultra-reliable control. But ultra-reliable systems are very expensive to design and require large amounts of on-board equipment. This paper will discuss how the use of low-cost sensors with digital outputs, digitally commanded fault-tolerant actuation devices and interconnecting networks of low-cost data buses offer the promise of more affordable ultra-reliable systems. Specific technologies and concepts to be discussed include low-cost automotive and industrial data buses, “smart” actuation devices with integral fault masking capabilities, management of redundant sensors, and the fault detection and diagnosis of the data network. The advantages of integrating the control and distribution of electrical power with the control system will be illustrated. The design, installation, and upgrade flexibility benefits provided by an all-digital and shared network approach will be presented. The economic benefits of systems that can operate following failure and without immediate repair will be reviewed. The inherent ability of these redundant systems to provide effective built-in test and self-diagnostics capabilities will be described. The challenges associated with developing ultra-reliable software for these systems and the difficulties associated with exhaustive verification testing will be presented as will additional development hurdles that must be overcome     

Electrical power distribution on space based radar satellites

The radar payload on a space-based radar (SBR) satellite could require tens of kilowatts of power distributed to many small loads over a large area. This poses special problems for the power distribution and control system (PDCS). A study that examined the power requirements of an SBR spacecraft is reported. A baseline prime power system, generating about 30 kW, was derived. The proposed distribution network would transmit 240 V at 20 kHz. The voltage would be downconverted in one converter for about 100 transmit/receive modules. The design considerations are discussed, and the baseline PDCS is described     

Next-Generation Thin-Film Photovoltaics

Future spacecraft and high-altitude airship (HAA) solar array technologies will require high array specific power (W/kg), which can be met using thin-film photovoltaics (PV) on lightweight and flexible substrates [1]. Thin-film array technology, with thin-film specific array support structure, begin to exceed the specific power of crystalline multi-junction arrays with thin-film device efficiencies as low as 8.5% [2]. Thin-film PV devices have other advantages in that they are more easily integrated into HAAs, and are projected to be much less costly than their crystalline PV counterparts. Furthermore, it is likely that only thin-film array technology will be able to meet device specific power requirements exceeding 1 kW/kg (photovoltaic and integrated substrate/blanket mass only).     

Remote photovoltaic, standalone systems

The initiation of electrification of small farm villages in the Southern States of Mexico is described by examining a one-year history of one village's experience. The system is based on distributed power sources, as the individual residences are a collection of farms rather than contiguous houses. Distributed power systems, with very small loads, require a small modular generator and energy storage system that are reliable, inexpensive, readily available, and easily understood by the populace. The component selection, system design, integral training, installation, and maintenance programs were created to produce a system that would be independent of outside suppliers     

A variably trimmed mean CFAR radar detector

A variably trimmed mean (VTM) constant false alarm rate (CFAR) detector in which the threshold is determined by processing a linear combination of a group of ordered samples in each window is introduced. Unlike the trimmed mean detector, the number of ordered samples that require further processing is allowed to vary according to a data-dependent rule. It is demonstrated that the VTM detector exhibits performance characteristics that are independent of the total (stationary) noise power. Simulated performance results are presented for regions of clutter power transitions and for multiple target environments to illustrate the possible improvement over the order-statistic detector that can be obtained by using a VTM detector     

Development of a driver board power supply for high power IGBTsused in three-phase inverters

High power IGBTs have been widely used for medium power inverters up to 200 kVA. Their driver circuits often require multiple-output, isolated power supplies. This paper presents a simple flyback power supply especially designed for the driver boards of three-phase IGBT inverters. The detailed circuit diagrams and typical waveforms are reported. Certain performance data are given. The power supplies have been used in 100 kVA inverters for an electric vehicle drive and for a wind turbine inverter     

Accelerating hypersonic airplanes with ground-power

The possible benefits of using ground power to accelerate the airplane on a launch ramp are quantified. A passenger-carrying hypersonic airplane leaving its loading ramp carries fuel for acceleration, cruise and landing. For example, a 230-passenger plane starting a Mach 5 trans-Pacific flight will be loaded with 80 metric tons of liquid hydrogen, up to 40% of which is burned in generating kinetic energy. Catapulting this airplane to cruise speed with ground power would reduce weight and liquid-hydrogen volume. However, there are limits. A ramp for launching a 150-metric-ton vehicle to Mach 5 with 4 g acceleration would be 38 km long and require up to 10 GW of power. In the final second, 2.8 MWh of energy is consumed along 1720 m of ramp. Possible scenarios and acceleration mechanisms are evaluated     

Power beaming providing a space power infrastructure

A study based on two levels of technology maturity, which applies to the power beaming concept to four planned satellite constellations, is described. The analysis shows that with currently available technology, power beaming can provide mass savings to constellations to orbits ranging from low-Earth orbit to geosynchronous orbit. Two constellations, a space surveillance and tracking system and space-based radar, can be supported with current technology. The other two constellations, a space-based laser array and a boost surveillance and tracking system, will require power and transmission system improvements before their break-even specific mass is achieved. A doubling of SP-100 conversion efficiency from 10 to 20% would meet or exceed break-even for these constellations     

Landmark Navigation Rule, a New Navigation Device

Two new methods of landmark navigation were recently presented. The landmarks are assumed to be within sight of the navigator but with unknown positions. Both methods require computations which are time consuming when a computer is not available. This correspondence presents the concept of a new navigation device called ?landmark navigation rule? which eliminates all the computation effort required in both new methods. The device is simple in construction, lightweight, and consumes no power.     

Bipolar nickel-metal hydride batteries for aerospace applications

Electro Energy Inc. (EEI) is developing high power, long life, bipolar nickel-metal hydride batteries for aerospace applications. Bipolar nickel-metal hydride designs allow for high energy and high power designs with a 25 percent reduction in both weight and volume as compared to prismatic and/or cylindrical Ni-MH designs. Utilizing a sealed wafer cell design EEI has demonstrated a 1.2 kW/kg power capability. Prototype designs have achieved 70 Wh/kg. Designs studies show 80 Wh/kg are achievable with EEI's state-of-the-art technology. The sealed wafer cell is the building block for EEI's high power and high voltage bipolar batteries making the assembly easy and significantly lower in cost. Satellite and aircraft batteries are being developed which provide high power and long life. Sealed cells now show excellent rate capability and life. Cells tested in a low earth orbit (LEO) cycle have reached 9000 cycles and continue on test. High power, bipolar battery designs are ideal in applications where using conventional aerospace battery technology would require excessive capacity; weight and volume, thereby reducing usable payload on the vehicle     

Simple adaptive control of large flexible space structures

Simple adaptive control procedures that do not require explicit parameter identification have been shown to be fit for control of large systems such as flexible structures. It is of interest, however, to test their robustness when fast adaptation is needed or when the resulting adaptive control system must confront finite sensor and actuator dynamics or parasitic disturbances. Flexible structures case studies using parallel feedforward and simplified adaptive controllers are used to present a robust adaptive control solution to these problems. The detailed proof of robust stability of the adaptive control system is also presented. Simulations illustrate the simplicity of implementation and the power of the proposed algorithm in difficult realistic situations     

Energy Control for Microwave Amplifier Arrays

In large systems using microwave amplifier arrays, the size, weight, and cost of individual energy sources require consideration of the use of a common power supply and energy storage bank. Complex energy control techniques may be necessary to protect the RF amplifier and to provide isolation of the faulted amplifier from the common energy source. Four approaches are discussed. Three of these are dependent on either the development of reliable arc-free microwave amplifiers or special isolator tubes, gas or vacuum types. A practical circuit using available components is suggested. Its advantages and limitations are discussed. Calculations are presented showing this approach can result in increased system efficiency, improved regulation, and large decreases in the size of the secondary capacitance bank for each microwave amplifier.     

Experiences in Managing the Prometheus Project

Congress authorized NASA's Prometheus Project in February 2003, with the first Prometheus mission slated to explore the icy moons of Jupiter. The project had two major objectives: 1) to develop a nuclear reactor that would provide unprecedented levels of power and show that it could be processed safely and operated reliably in space for long-duration, deep-space exploration; and 2) to explore the three icy moons of Jupiter - Callisto, Ganymede, and Europa - and return science data that would meet the scientific goals as set forth in the Decadal Survey Report of the National Academy of Sciences. Early in project planning, it was determined that the development of the Prometheus nuclear-powered spaceship would be complex and require the intellectual knowledge residing at numerous organizations across the country. In addition, because of the complex nature of the project and the multiple partners, approaches beyond those successfully used to manage a typical JPL project would be needed. This describes the key experiences in managing Prometheus, which should prove useful for future projects of similar scope and magnitude.     

Quantization and Saturation Noise Due to Analog-to-Digital Conversion of Radar Returns from Targets with Log-Normal Radar Cross-Section Distributions

An analysis of the saturation and quantization noise generated by analog-to-digital (A/D) conversion of radar returns from targets with log-normal radar cross sections is presented. The results of the analysis show that the high-cross-section tails of the log-normal distribution require higher saturation levels to be set in the A/D converter. The setting of the higher saturation level in the converter results in an increase in quantization noise. Thus the minimum achievable distortion in the output of the A/D converter signal is considerably higher than that for radar targets if their radar cross section had an exponential power distribution.     

A novel integrated self-powered brake system for more electric aircraft

Traditional hydraulic brake systems require a complex system of pipelines between an aircraft engine driven pump (EDP) and brake actuators, which increases the weight of the aircraft and may even cause serious vibration and leakage problems. In order to improve the reliability and safety of more electric aircraft (MEA), this paper proposes a new integrated self-powered brake system (ISBS) for MEA. It uses a hydraulic pump geared to the main wheel to recover a small part of the kinetic energy of a landing aircraft. The recovered energy then serves as the hydraulic power supply for brake actuators. It does not require additional hydraulic source, thus removing the pipelines between an EDP and brake actuators. In addition, its self-powered characteristic makes it possible to brake as usual even in an emergency situation when the airborne power is lost. This paper introduces the working principle of the ISBS and presents a prototype. The mathematical models of a taxiing aircraft and the ISBS are established. A feedback linearization control algorithm is designed to fulfill the anti-skid control. Simulations are carried out to verify the feasibility of the ISBS, and experiments are conducted on a ground inertia brake test bench. The ISBS presents a good performance and provides a new potential solution in the field of brake systems for MEA.     

Issues in microwave power systems engineering

The key issues in microwave power system engineering are beam safety, frequency allocation, and affordability. These major issues are presented, discussed, and suggestions for resolving them are offered. The issue of beam safety can be captured in the phrase “Fear of Frying.” Can a properly engineered beamed power safety system allay the public perception of microwave radiation dangers? Openness, visibility, and education may be keys to resolving this issue satisfactorily. “Not in my Spectrum” is a phrase that is frequently encountered in connection with the issue of where can the microwave power beam frequency be located. International cooperation may provide a part of the solution to this issue. “Wow, that much!” is a phrase encountered when dealing with the issue of economic affordability of large beamed power systems. A phased engineering approach for multiple uses even during construction is presented to aid in garnering revenue during the system build phase. Also, dual mode DC-RF converters are encouraged for bi-directional power flow utility and economies of scale in production     

The Power-Inversion Adaptive Array: Concept and Performance

The use of a power-inversion adaptive array to improve the signal-to-interference ratio in a communication system is described. "Power inversion" refers to the ability of an adaptive array to invert the power ratio of two received signals. The power-inversion ion technique is useful because it does not require detailed ledgeknow about desired-signal structure or arrival angle. The perform ance attainable with a power-inversion array is described and typical al design curves are presented.     

Sparse frequency transmit-and-receive waveform design

A computationally efficient algorithm derives complex digital transmit and receive ultra-wideband radar and communication waveforms with excellent arbitrary frequency band suppression and range sidelobe minimization. The transmit waveform minimizes a scalar function penalizing weighted spectral energy in arbitrary frequency bands. Near constant power results from another penalty function for deviations from constant power, or constant power is enforced by a phase-only formulation. Next, a least squares solution for the receive waveform minimizes a weighted sum of suppressed band spectral energy and range sidelobes (for pulse and continuous wave operation), with a mainlobe response constraint. Both waveforms are calculated by iterative algorithms whose updates require only linear order in memory and computation, permitting quick calculation of long pulses with thousands of samples.     

电动燃油泵驱动电机浸油冷却性能数值模拟

为了研究电动燃油泵驱动电机浸油冷却性能,基于冷却流体及电机各部件3维模型,充分考虑各部件发热功率以及材 料属性等物理量的影响,采用有限体积法对电机流-热耦合场进行模拟仿真,分析不同边界条件对电机流场和温度场的影响。结 果表明：在最大冷却燃油流量以及电机最高功率下,流道的压力损失和电机的最高温度均能满足电动燃油泵的运行要求;随着冷 却流量增加或燃油粘度的增大,流道的压力损失增大,且在最大冷却流量下,燃油粘度每增大1 mm 2 /s,压力损失增大约2 kPa;电 机功率和入口温度对电机各部件温度的影响较大,各部件温升与燃油进口温度近似呈线性关系,而环境温度对电机温度场影响较 小。研究结果为电动燃油泵电机浸油冷却流道的设计与优化提供了理论依据。