Construction And Testing Of A Quadcopter,
2013
California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
Construction And Testing Of A Quadcopter, David Roberts
Aerospace Engineering
No abstract provided.
Integrated Collision Avoidance System Sensor Evaluation Final Design Project,
2013
California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo
Integrated Collision Avoidance System Sensor Evaluation Final Design Project, Alex F. Graebe, Bridgette S. Kimball, Drew T. Lavoise
Mechanical Engineering
Following the development of Aircraft Collision Avoidance Technology (ACAT) by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), a need arose to transition the life-saving technology to aid the general aviation community. Considering the realistic cost of implementation, it was decided that the technology should be adapted to function on any smartphone, using that device as an end-to-end solution to sense, process, and alert the pilot to imminent threats. In September of 2012, the SAS (Sense and Survive) Senior Project Team at California Polytechnic University (Cal Poly), San Luis Obispo was assigned the task of using smartphone technology to accurately sense …
Improvement Of Electromagnetic Railgun Barrel Performance And Lifetime By Method Of Interfaces And Augmented Projectiles,
2013
California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
Improvement Of Electromagnetic Railgun Barrel Performance And Lifetime By Method Of Interfaces And Augmented Projectiles, Aleksey D. Pavlov
Master's Theses
Several methods of increasing railgun barrel performance and lifetime are investigated. These include two different barrel-projectile interface coatings: a solid graphite coating and a liquid eutectic indium-gallium alloy coating. These coatings are characterized and their usability in a railgun application is evaluated. A new type of projectile, in which the electrical conductivity varies as a function of position in order to condition current flow, is proposed and simulated with FEA software. The graphite coating was found to measurably reduce the forces of friction inside the bore but was so thin that it did not improve contact. The added contact resistance …
A Generic Decision Making Framework For Autonomous Systems,
2013
California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
A Generic Decision Making Framework For Autonomous Systems, Connor Lange
Master's Theses
With the rising popularity of small satellites, such as CubeSats, many smaller institutions previously incapable of developing and deploying a spacecraft have starting to do so. Institutions with a history of space flight, such as NASA JPL, have begun to put projects on CubeSats that would normally fly on much larger satellites. As a result, the institutions with space flight heritage have begun to port spacecraft software that was previously designed for much larger and more complex satellites to the CubeSat platform. Unfortunately for universities, who are the majority of all institutions devel- oping CubeSats, these ported systems are too …
Characterization Of The Effects Of A Sun-Synchronous Orbit Slot Architecture On The Earth's Orbital Debris Environment,
2013
California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
Characterization Of The Effects Of A Sun-Synchronous Orbit Slot Architecture On The Earth's Orbital Debris Environment, Connor David Noyes
Master's Theses
Low Earth orbit represents a valuable limited natural resource. Of particular interest are sun-synchronous orbits; it is estimated that approximately 44% of low Earth satellites are sun-synchronous. A previously developed sun-synchronous orbit slot architecture is considered. An in-depth analysis of the relative motion between satellites and their corresponding slots is performed. The long-term evolution of Earth's orbital environment is modeled by a set of coupled ordinary differential equations. A metric for quantifying the benefit, if any, of implementing a sun-synchronous architecture is developed. The results indicate that the proposed slot architecture would reduce the frequency of collisions between satellites in …
Feasibility Of Microsatellite Active Debris Removal Systems,
2013
California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
Feasibility Of Microsatellite Active Debris Removal Systems, Karsten J. James
Master's Theses
Space debris has become an increasingly hazardous obstacle to continued spaceflight operations. In an effort to mitigate this problem an investigation of the feasibility of a microsatellite active debris removal system was conducted. Through proposing a novel concept of operation, utilizing a grapple-and-tug system architecture, and by analyzing each resultant mission phase in the frame of a representative example, it was found that microsatellite scale systems are capable of fulfilling the active debris removal mission. Analysis of rendezvous, docking, control and deorbit mission requirements determined that the design of a grapple-and-tug system will be driven by sizing of the propellant …
Micrometeoroid Fluence Variation In Critical Orbits Due To Asteroid Disruption,
2013
California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
Micrometeoroid Fluence Variation In Critical Orbits Due To Asteroid Disruption, Eliot Dan Aretskin-Hariton
Master's Theses
Micrometeoroids and orbital debris (MMOD) is a growing issue with international importance. Micrometeoroids are naturally occurring fragments of rock and dusk that exist throughout the solar system. Orbital debris is human made material like rocket bodies, paint flakes, and the effluent of spacecraft collisions. Even small MMOD particles on the order of 1 cm in diameter have the potential to destroy critical spacecraft systems. Because of this, MMOD is a threat to all spacecraft in orbit. Even governments that most sternly oppose US international policy have a stake when it comes to minimizing MMOD flux. Space-based assets are essential to …
Design, Fabrication, And Testing Of An Emr Based Orbital Debris Impact Testing Platform,
2013
California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
Design, Fabrication, And Testing Of An Emr Based Orbital Debris Impact Testing Platform, Jeffrey J. Maniglia Jr.
Master's Theses
This paper describes the changes made from Cal Poly’s initial railgun system, the Mk. 1 railgun, to the Mk. 1.1 system, as well as the design, fabrication, and testing of a newer and larger Mk. 2 railgun system. The Mk. 1.1 system is developed as a more efficient alteration of the original Mk. 1 system, but is found to be defective due to hardware deficiencies and failure, as well as unforeseen efficiency losses. A Mk. 2 system is developed and built around donated hardware from the Naval Postgraduate School. The Mk. 2 system strove to implement an efficient, augmented, electromagnetic …
Linear Model Estimation Of Nonlinear Systems Using Least-Squares Algorithm5,
2013
Daytona State College
Linear Model Estimation Of Nonlinear Systems Using Least-Squares Algorithm5, Alireza Rahrooh, Walter W. Buchanan, Remzi Seker
Publications
This paper presents utilizes Least-Squares Algorithm to obtain more accurate linear models of nonlinear systems using parameter estimation. This approach generates an optimal linear model which is valid over a wide range of trajectories and converges to the desired steady-state value with no errors unlike the existing techniques. The proposed technique is very efficient and does not require storing the data. Therefore, it can easily be used and implemented with limited resources for undergraduate curriculum especially in underdeveloped countries. Most available techniques for linearization of nonlinear system are only valid about the operating point; furthermore, the knowledge of the operating …
Rocket Fuel Pressurization,
2013
California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo
Rocket Fuel Pressurization, Sean Green, Joe Marcinkowski, Andrew Nahab
Mechanical Engineering
No abstract provided.
Design And Analysis Of Reusable Nozzles For Cal Poly’S Hybrid Rocket Lab,
2013
California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
Design And Analysis Of Reusable Nozzles For Cal Poly’S Hybrid Rocket Lab, Cheyne Austin, Jose Vargas
Aerospace Engineering
Two nozzles were designed and constructed for testing in the Cal Poly propulsion laboratory to explore which nozzle was the most capable in producing the most thrust. A 15 degree and 30 degree converging-diverging nozzles were machined and tested. Theory suggest that a bell nozzle would be the most efficient since all of the gasses generated in the combustion chamber are directed and accelerated by the throat leave the nozzle traveling along the thrust axis. All of the momentum of the gasses are directed axially thus resulting in maximum thrust. Thrust should also be produced by the converging-diverging nozzle and …
Low-Cost Imu Implementation Via Sensor Fusion Algorithms In The Arduino Environment,
2013
California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
Low-Cost Imu Implementation Via Sensor Fusion Algorithms In The Arduino Environment, Brandon Mccarron
Aerospace Engineering
A multi-phase experiment was conducted at Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo, CA, to design a low-cost inertial measurement unit composed of a 3-axis accelerometer and 3-axis gyroscope. Utilizing the growing microprocessor software environment, a 3-axis accelerometer and 3-axis gyroscope simulated 6 degrees of freedom orientation sensing through sensor fusion. By analyzing a simple complimentary filter and a more complex Kalman filter, the outputs of each sensor were combined and took advantage of the benefits of both sensors to improved results. Gyroscopic drift was removed in the pitch and roll axes using the Kalman filter for both static and dynamic …
Uav Formation Flight Utilizing A Low Cost, Open Source Configuration,
2013
California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
Uav Formation Flight Utilizing A Low Cost, Open Source Configuration, Christian W. Lopez
Master's Theses
The control of multiple unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in a swarm or cooperative team scenario has been a topic of great interest for well over a decade, growing steadily with the advancements in UAV technologies. In the academic community, a majority of the studies conducted rely on simulation to test developed control strategies, with only a few institutions known to have nurtured the infrastructure required to propel multiple UAV control studies beyond simulation and into experimental testing. With the Cal Poly UAV FLOC Project, such an infrastructure was created, paving the way for future experimentation with multiple UAV control systems. …
Assessment For Completion Of Cp7 Integration With Revision 6 Avionics,
2013
California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo
Assessment For Completion Of Cp7 Integration With Revision 6 Avionics, Daniel Jennings
Electrical Engineering
he purpose of this project is the continuation of the CP7 CubeSat project, analysis for integration with new Avionics Systems, and to leave behind instruction for future work for completion of the satellite. CP7 is a satellite in development to support a mechanical and electrical system to experiment on particle damping in micro-gravity. The completion of this satellite needs to be prioritized more than it has been by the PolySat team to honor our work with Northrop Grumman, who have been supportive and helpful throughout the process. This work seeks to aid in the completion of this satellite, so that …
Global Skin Friction Diagnostics: The Glof Technique And Measurements Of Complex Separated Flows,
2013
Western Michigan University
Global Skin Friction Diagnostics: The Glof Technique And Measurements Of Complex Separated Flows, Sudesh A. Woodiga
Dissertations
This work describes the application of the global luminescent oil film skin friction meter to quantitative global skin friction diagnostics of complex separated flows. The development of this technique is based on the relationship between the oil film thickness and luminescent intensity of a luminescent oil film. The projected thin oil film equation is given to relate the normalized luminescent intensity with skin friction. The variational formulation with a smoothness constraint on skin friction is proposed to obtain a snap shot solution from two consecutive images for a relative skin friction field. A complete skin friction field is reconstructed through …
Fatigue Testing And Data Analysis Of Welded Steel Cruciform Joints,
2013
LSU New Orleans
Fatigue Testing And Data Analysis Of Welded Steel Cruciform Joints, Alina Shrestha
LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations
In this study, ABS Publication 115, “Guidance on Fatigue Assessment of Offshore Structures” is briefly reviewed. Emphasis is on the S-N curves based fatigue assessment approach of non-tubular joints, and both size and environment effects are also considered. Further, fatigue tests are performed to study the fatigue strength of load-carrying and non-load-carrying steel cruciform joints that represent typical joint types in marine structures. The experimental results are then compared against ABS fatigue assessment methods, based on nominal stress approach, which demonstrates a need for better fatigue evaluation parameter. A good fatigue parameter by definition should be consistent and should correlate …
Smaller Spacecraft For Education And Space Research,
2013
Morehead State University
Smaller Spacecraft For Education And Space Research, Robert J. Twiggs
Robert "Bob" Twiggs STEM Education Collection
A PowerPoint presentation created by Professor Bob Twiggs titled "Smaller spacecraft for education and space research" from May 14, 2013.
Middle Atmosphere Temperature Results From A New, High-Powered, Large-Aperture Rayleigh Lidar,
2013
Utah State University
Middle Atmosphere Temperature Results From A New, High-Powered, Large-Aperture Rayleigh Lidar, Leda Sox, Vincent B. Wickwar, Joshua P. Herron
Utah Space Grant Consortium
In June–July 2012, observations were carried out using the recently upgraded, large-aperture, Rayleigh-scatter lidar system located at the Atmospheric Lidar Observatory (ALO) on the campus of Utah State University, in Logan, UT (41.7 N, 111.8 W). This time period was significant because it enabled us to observe the annual temperature minimum in the upper mesosphere-lower thermosphere region. The data collected during the campaign were analyzed for temperatures between ~70–109 km. The results above ~95 km are the first obtained with a Rayleigh-scatter lidar, extending the technique well into the lower thermosphere. A great deal of variability from night-to-night is evident …
Monte Carlo Uncertainty Analysis For Photothermal Radiometry Measurements Using A Curve Fit Process,
2013
Utah State University - Faculty Advisor
Monte Carlo Uncertainty Analysis For Photothermal Radiometry Measurements Using A Curve Fit Process, Kyle Horne, Austin Fleming, Heng Ban
Utah Space Grant Consortium
Photothermal Radiometry (PTR) has become a popular method to measure thermal properties of layered materials. Much research has been done to determine the capabilities of PTR, but with little uncertainty analysis. This study performs a Monte Carlo uncertainty analysis to quantify uncertainty of film diffusivity and effusivity measurements, presents a sensitivity study for each input parameter, compares linear and logarithmic spacing of data points on frequency scans, and investigates the validity of a 1-D heat transfer assumption.
Establishing Mission Requirements Based On Consideration Of Aircraft Operations,
2013
California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
Establishing Mission Requirements Based On Consideration Of Aircraft Operations, Robert A. Mcdonald
Aerospace Engineering
The design requirements for a next-generation commercial aircraft can do much to secure its fate as a success or failure. New aircraft are often designed to meet or surpass the capabilities of an existing aircraft they are intended to replace. However, in the case of unconventional aircraft, this could lead to significant overdesign resulting in nonviable concepts. Instead, a method of analyzing observed aircraft use is presented with the intent of establishing a set of requirements based on replacing aircraft utility instead of capability. Two aircraft in the commercial fleet are used as example cases, and launch customers for each …
