Navigation, Guidance, Control and Dynamics Commons^™

Mission Architecture Analysis: Exploring Long-Period Comets From Multiple Staging Orbits, Gabriel Prescinotti Vivan

Masters Theses

Objects that have retained pieces of information about the early Solar System are key to our understanding of its formation and evolutionary history. However, the high delta-V required to reach these objects, such as long-period comets or interstellar objects, makes designing an intercept mission at the time of detection impractical. In this thesis, multiple heliocentric staging orbits are explored to serve as departure positions for future missions, prior to objects’ detections. By utilizing more than one staging orbit concurrently, the set of objects that are reachable is expanded, therefore increasing mission feasibility. Delta-V maps are generated and superimposed; two-impulse burn …

Trajectory Optimization For A Misson To The Trojan Asteroids, Shivaji Senapati Gadsing

Masters Theses

The problem of finding a minimum-fuel trajectory for a mission to the Jovian Trojan asteroids is considered. The problem is formulated as a modified traveling salesman problem. Two different types of algorithms such as an exhaustive search algorithm and a serial rendezvous search algorithm are developed. The General Mission Analysis Tool (GMAT) is employed for finding optimum trajectories with minimal fuel consumption. The selection of a minimum-fuel mission trajectory, and the associated target asteroids, will be a key factor in determining feasibility and scientific value of a Trojan tour and rendezvous mission.

The transfer trajectory followed by a spacecraft between …

Localization And System Identification Of A Quadcopter Uav, Kenneth Befus

Masters Theses

The research conducted explores the comparison of several trilateration algorithms as they apply to the localization of a quadcopter micro air vehicle (MAV). A localization system is developed employing a network of combined ultrasonic/radio frequency sensors used to wirelessly provide range (distance) measurements defining the location of the quadcopter in 3-dimensional space. A Monte Carlo simulation is conducted using the extrinsic parameters of the localization system to evaluate the adequacy of each trilateration method as it applies to this specific quadcopter application. The optimal position calculation method is determined.

Furthermore, flight testing is performed in which real range measurement data …

Systematic Methods For The Design Of A Class Of Fuzzy Logic Controllers, Saad Y. Yasin

Dissertations

Fuzzy logic control, a relatively new branch of control, can be used effectively whenever conventional control techniques become inapplicable or impractical. Various attempts have been made to create a generalized fuzzy control system and to formulate an analytically based fuzzy control law. In this study, two methods, the left and right parameterization method and the normalized spline-base membership function method, were utilized for formulating analytical fuzzy control laws in important practical control applications. The first model was used to design an idle speed controller, while the second was used to control an inverted control problem. The results of both showed …