Engineering Commons^™

High Altitude Balloon Flight Predictions, Sara Stafford

2017 Academic High Altitude Conference

The ability to make accurate predictions of a high altitude balloon’s flight trajectory is critical for safety, protection of sensitive payloads, and ease of payload recovery. Several free software programs and websites are available which make predictions straightforward and yield acceptable results. Additional resources are presented which help evaluate the stability of the projected flight track. The various methods of prediction will be described and results compared with actual flight data.

Placing A High-Altitude Balloon In The Path Of Totality, Nicholas Jordan, Christopher Helmerich

2017 Academic High Altitude Conference

The UAH Space Hardware Club had conducted 70 flights prior to the Eclipse. In this time, we have gained valuable skills and experience which we have put into practice and passed on through the years. We put these skills into practice for the Eclipse. Our first challenge was finding where to launch. We started out by looking for suitable locations inside totality. We also examined a map of totality at 80,000 ft. We then ran predictions based on past weather during that time of year. By compiling multiple past predictions, we eliminated possible launch sites. We had multiple payloads, some …

Autonomous Solid-State Radiation Detector For Safety Of Aerospace Systems, Levi Davies, Biswajit Ray

Von Braun Symposium Student Posters

No abstract provided.

Experimentation Of Warm Gas Generator Emerging Technologies, Amit Patel

Von Braun Symposium Student Posters

No abstract provided.

Upgrade Of Prc Spray Facility For Evaluation Of Liquid Injector Technology, Ronak Aj Pereira, Julian Schröder

Von Braun Symposium Student Posters

No abstract provided.

Development Of A Multistage High-Power Rocket, James Biaglow, Mckynzie Perry, Aaron Hunt

Von Braun Symposium Student Posters

No abstract provided.

Uah Propulsion Research Center Rocket Test Capability Upgrade, Daniel A. Jones

Von Braun Symposium Student Posters

No abstract provided.

Marshall Enriched Storable Oxidizer, R Dalton Hicks

Von Braun Symposium Student Posters

No abstract provided.

How Spaceflight Affects The Detachment Of Zinc Whiskers, Kayla Capitan

Von Braun Symposium Student Posters

No abstract provided.

Cylindrical Hall Effect Thruster With 3d Printed Components For Small Satellite Propulsion, Ryota Nakano, Gabriel Xu

Von Braun Symposium Student Posters

No abstract provided.

Design And Construction Of A Bi-Propellant Liquid Rocket, Kaitlin Russell, Mckynzie Perry, Erik Korzon, Rilee Kaliher, Grant Elliott, Claire Daly

Von Braun Symposium Student Posters

No abstract provided.

Miniaturizing Ion Thruster Using Split Ring Resonator (Srr), Toyofumi Yamauchi, Gabriel Xu

Von Braun Symposium Student Posters

No abstract provided.

Overview Of The Saber Mission And Launch Vehicle Design, Benjamin Thompson, Jared Fuchs, Oakley Copeland, Aaron Hunt, Matthew Haskell, William Hankins, Logan Anderson

Von Braun Symposium Student Posters

No abstract provided.

Prediction-Based Adaptive Robust Control For A Class Of Uncertain Time-Delay Systems, Jayaprakash Suraj Nandiganahalli, Cheolhyeon Kwon, Inseok Hwang

School of Aeronautics and Astronautics Faculty Publications

This paper presents an integrated control design approach for a class of dynamical systems that satisfy a certain matching condition subject to known input time-delay, unknown parameters, and time-varying disturbances, simultaneously. A novel nonlinear predictor adaptive robust control (PARC) is proposed to track a desired state trajectory. The controller uses predictor-based model compensation to attenuate the effect of input time-delay, gradient type projection with prediction-based learning mechanisms to reduce the parameter uncertainties, and prediction-based nonlinear robust feedback to attenuate the effect of model approximation errors and disturbances, simultaneously. The controller guarantees a prescribed transient performance (with global exponential convergence) and …

Develop Pucp Microlab For Thinsat, Robert J. Twiggs

Robert "Bob" Twiggs STEM Education Collection

A PowerPoint Presentation created by Professor Bob Twiggs titled "Develop PUCP microlab for ThinSat" from October 17, 2017.

Blended Wing Body Propulsion System Design, Parth Kumar, Adeel Khalid

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

This research paper focuses on the optimization of the propulsion system of a blended wing body design. Two different aspects of the design, the engine placement and count, and the engine itself, are investigated. The preliminary wing of the BWB is created through aerodynamic analysis, and is kept as a constant over the different propulsion system configurations. The engine parameters are first investigated. Equations are derived to express takeoff distance and climb rate as a function of engine sea level thrust, cruise thrust, and the number of engines. Nearly 150 different engine models, in BWB configurations of 2, 3, 4, …

Payloads For Student Thinsat Satellites, Robert J. Twiggs

Robert "Bob" Twiggs STEM Education Collection

A PowerPoint Presentation created by Professor Bob Twiggs titled "Payloads for Student ThinSat Satellites" from October 2, 2017.

An Enhanced Operational Definition Of Dielectric Breakdown For Dc Voltage Step-Up Tests, Allen Andersen, Jr Dennison

Journal Articles

The imprecise definition of breakdown in the ASTM D3755-14 standard can misidentify breakdown. If the recommended test circuit current sensing element threshold is set too high, breakdown may occur undetected. Conversely, false positives may result from designating a low current threshold. An operational definition of breakdown much less sensitive to these pitfalls is outlined herein. This enhanced definition of breakdown is based on the average rate of change of the leakage current with increasing voltage, rather than a simple current threshold, avoiding ambiguous association with anomalies in current traces. For tests that continuously monitor leakage current, breakdown can be detected …

The Shaping Of Things That Are: How Airplane Windows Took Their Shape, Morgan Lopez

Student Works

Have you ever wondered why your airplane's windows are rounded? It is not for aesthetic appeal.

The first commercial jetliner windows' sole purpose was appearance; a squared window afforded an impressive view of the earth, but the view was not without consequence.

United States Drone Laws, Jacob Crittenden

Student Works

The purpose of this Directed Study was to investigate and compile the drone laws that exist within the United States, both on the federal level and for each individual state. The federal laws are directed by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) under laws that pertain to “Unmanned Aircraft Systems” (UAS) and are relatively new. Most states have further regulations on UAS that they have passed. Most of these laws are in place to protect public safety and privacy, but some also prohibit certain locations of flight and certain modifications that might be made to the platform. State laws that limit …

Holistic Methodology For Stochastic Space Mission Utility Analysis, Ja'mar Alexander Watson

Theses and Dissertations

Analysis and design mechanisms have a profound effect on space missions; yet, space mission engineering is a discipline without unanimous definition and implementation. Current philosophies are inadequate due to incomplete mission phasespaces, disaggregated design methods, exclusion of constitutive relations, curtailed tradespace exploration, and unsubstantiated mission concept solutions. This dissertation presents a new paradigm for simultaneously developing, exploring, and assessing statistically validated space mission concepts. Stochastic modeling and simulation, providing multivariate mission utility analysis with concurrently integrated tradespace exploration, risk assessment, and holistic design, facilitates the methodology. Backtesting of the Apollo II-17 crewed missions to the Moon and retrodiction of Martian …

The Capabilities Of The Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite-16 (Goes-16), Brandon M. Kane

Student Works

This report investigates the capability of the new Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite-16 (GOES-16) satellite to display 16 channels of the electromagnetic spectrum, to produce images at a higher resolution at increased intervals, and to detect and display lightning. This report also discusses the main instrumentation aboard the new geostationary satellite and how it aids in creating accurate data collection, which in turn, produces quicker weather forecasts and warnings. The 16 different channels produced by the Advanced Baseline Imager aboard the new satellite are analyzed in detail as to the functions and wavelengths on which the channels operate. The image resolution …

Development Of A Data Acquisition System For Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (Uav) System Identification, Donald Joseph Lear

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Theses & Dissertations

Aircraft system identification techniques are developed for fixed wing Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV). The use of a designed flight experiment with measured system inputs/outputs can be used to derive aircraft stability derivatives. This project set out to develop a methodology to support an experiment to model pitch damping in the longitudinal short-period mode of a UAV. A Central Composite Response Surface Design was formed using angle of attack and power levels as factors to test for the pitching moment coefficient response induced by a multistep pitching maneuver.

Selecting a high-quality data acquisition platform was critical to the success of the …

Computational Methods For Nonlinear Systems Analysis With Applications In Mathematics And Engineering, Geoffrey Kenneth Rose

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Theses & Dissertations

An investigation into current methods and new approaches for solving systems of nonlinear equations was performed. Nontraditional methods for implementing arc-length type solvers were developed in search of a more robust capability for solving general systems of nonlinear algebraic equations. Processes for construction of parameterized curves representing the many possible solutions to systems of equations versus finding single or point solutions were established. A procedure based on these methods was then developed to identify static equilibrium states for solutions to multi-body-dynamic systems. This methodology provided for a pictorial of the overall solution to a given system, which demonstrated the possibility …

Design Of Dc-Link Vscf Ac Electrical Power System For The Embraer 190/195 Aircraft, Eduardo Francis Carvalho Freitas, Nihad E. Daidzic

Journal of Aviation Technology and Engineering

A proposed novel DC-Link VSCF AC-DC-AC electrical power system converter for Embraer 190/195 transport category airplane is presented. The proposed converter could replace the existing conventional system based on the CSCF IDGs. Several contemporary production airplanes already have VSCF as a major or backup source of electrical power. Problems existed with the older VSCF systems in the past; however, the switched power electronics and digital controllers have matured and can be now, in our opinion, safely integrated and replace existing constant-speed hydraulic transmissions powering CSCF AC generators. IGBT power transistors for medium-level power conversion and relatively fast efficient switching are …

Two Dimensional Grating Magneto-Optical Trap, Eric A. Imhof, Benjamin K. Stuhl, Brian Kasch, Bethany Kroese, Spencer E. Olson, Matthew B. Squires

Space Dynamics Laboratory Publications

We demonstrate a two-dimensional grating magneto optical trap (2D GMOT) with a single input beam and a planar diffraction grating in ⁸⁷Rb. This configuration allows for an increase in experimental access when compared with a traditional 2D MOT. As configured in the paper, the output flux is > 4 × 10⁸ rubidium atoms/s at a mean velocity of 18 m/s. The velocity distribution has a 3 m/s standard deviation. We use the atomic beam from the 2D GMOT to demonstrate loading of a three dimensional grating MOT (3D GMOT) with 2 × 10⁸ atoms. Methods to improve flux …

Shear Joy Of Watching Paint Dry, Randy Craig Hurd, Nathan B. Spiers, J. Belden, Zhao Pan, B. Lovett, W. G. Robinson, M. A. Zamora, Saberul I. Sharker, Mohammad M. Mansoor, A. Merritt, Tadd T. Truscott

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Publications

This paper is associated with a video winner of a 2016 APS/DFD Milton van Dyke Award for work presented at the DFD Gallery of Fluid Motion.

Students Reaching For The Stars Become The Next Generation Of International Leaders, Robert J. Twiggs

Robert "Bob" Twiggs STEM Education Collection

A PowerPoint Presentation created by Professor Bob Twiggs titled "Students reaching for the stars become the next generation of International Leaders" on September 22, 2017.

Students Reaching For The Stars Become The Next Generation Of International Leaders: Pucp 100 Year Anniversary - Part 1, Robert J. Twiggs

Robert "Bob" Twiggs STEM Education Collection

A PowerPoint Presentation created by Professor Bob Twiggs titled "Students reaching for the stars become the next generation of International Leaders: PUCP 100 Year Anniversary" from September 22, 2017.

Students Reaching For The Stars Become The Next Generation Of International Leaders: Pucp 100 Year Anniversary - Part 2, Robert J. Twiggs

Robert "Bob" Twiggs STEM Education Collection

A PowerPoint Presentation created by Professor Bob Twiggs titled "Students reaching for the stars become the next generation of International Leaders: PUCP 100 Year Anniversary" from Saptember 22, 2017.