Systems Engineering and Multidisciplinary Design Optimization Commons^™

Development Of Autonomous Optimal Cooperative Control In Relay Rover Configured Small Unmanned Aerial Systems, Timothy J. Shuck

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis documents the research effort to develop, integrate and implement the system hardware and the software necessary to validate the Air Force Institute of Technology's theoretical advances in small unmanned aerial systems (SUAS) cooperative control. The end state objective of the research effort was to flight test an autonomous control algorithm on a communication relay unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) that was actively relaying data to and from a rover UAV. The relay UAV is one part of a SUAS designed to utilize cooperative control to extend the effective line-of-sight operating range for a rover UAV. An algorithm is integrated …

Effects Of Stereoscopic 3d Digital Radar Displays On Air Traffic Controller Performance, Jason G. Russi

Theses and Dissertations

Air traffic controllers are responsible for directing air traffic based upon decisions made from traffic activity depicted on 2Dimensional (2D) radar displays. Controllers must identify aircraft and detect potential conflicts while simultaneously developing and executing plans of action to ensure safe separation is maintained. With a nearly 100% increase in traffic expected within the next decade (FAA, 2012a), controllers' abilities to rapidly interpret spacing and maintain awareness for longer durations with increased workload will become increasingly imperative to safety. The current display design spatially depicts an aircraft's position relative to the controller's airspace as well as speed, altitude, and direction …

Smore Revision: Ignition And User Interface, Arash Mehrparvar

Aerospace Engineering

The Static Methanol Oxygen Rocket Engine (SMORE) has undergone several revisions since its inception. This latest revision aimed to increase startup reliability and user safety in the operation of the rocket. The implementation of maintenance procedures, safeguards in the ignition system, as well as construction of a new control box and redesign of the igniter itself have accomplished these goals while keeping costs down and without modifying the current rocket setup. Startup reliability has increased drastically, so long as all other rocket setup procedures are followed properly. 250 subsequent firings of the rocket have proven an igniter reliability of more …

Trajectory Generation For Stair Ascent Walking Using Rayleigh Oscillator, T. Afzal, Andrew B. Wright, Kamran Iqbal

Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science

This paper describes a trajectory generation technique for stair-ascent walking. The knee, hip and ankle joint trajectory during stair ascent are generated using mutually coupled, nonlinear oscillators. The parameters of the oscillators are tuned using the harmonic balance method, which converts the nonlinear differential equations to a set of algebraic equations. Fourier analysis of data generated by stair-ascent walking is performed to extract the amplitude and the phase of the dominant frequency components for each joint trajectory. The solution for the oscillator is assumed to be a sinusoidal wave and then by harmonic balance method the parameters of the oscillator …

Numerical Modeling And Characterization Of Vertically Aligned Carbon Nanotube Arrays, Johnson Joseph

Theses and Dissertations--Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Since their discoveries, carbon nanotubes have been widely studied, but mostly in the forms of 1D individual carbon nanotube (CNT). From practical application point of view, it is highly desirable to produce carbon nanotubes in large scales. This has resulted in a new class of carbon nanotube material, called the vertically aligned carbon nanotube arrays (VA-CNTs). To date, our ability to design and model this complex material is still limited. The classical molecular mechanics methods used to model individual CNTs are not applicable to the modeling of VA-CNT structures due to the significant computational efforts required. This research is to …

Space Vehicle Testing, Charlotte Ann Belsick

Master's Theses

Requirement verification and validation is a critical component of building and delivering space vehicles with testing as the preferred method. This Master’s Project presents the space vehicle test process from planning through test design and execution. It starts with an overview of the requirements, validation, and verification. The four different verification methods are explained including examples as to what can go wrong if the verification is done incorrectly. Since the focus of this project is on test, test verification is emphasized. The philosophy behind testing, including the “why” and the methods, is presented. The different levels of testing, the test …

Microgravity Stowage System–A Random Access System For Deep Space Habitat Implementation, Clint Deerman, Drew Deerman

Von Braun Symposium Student Posters

No abstract provided.

Configuration Studies Of Electrostatic And Magnetostatic Active Space Radiation Shielding, Trac K. Nguyen

Electrical & Computer Engineering Theses & Dissertations

Developing successful and optimal solutions for mitigating the hazards of radiation in deep space is critical for the success of deep-space long duration explorations, including mission to the Moon, Mars and beyond. A recent report (Tripathi et al., 2008) had explored the feasibility of using electrostatic shielding in conjunction with state-of-the-art materials shielding technologies.

In this thesis research, we study the active electrostatic shielding strategy and examine a hybrid configuration that utilizes both electrostatic and magnetostatic fields. The main advantages of this system are shown to be: (i) much lower magnetic fields that could be below the thresholds set for …

The New Bicycle Model: Introducing Software Considerations Early Into The Systems Engineering Design And Integration Process, Nathaniel Dinglasan Angat

Master's Theses

Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company, Sunnyvale, California is in the business of designing and engineering satellites for commercial and government customers. This task is by no means a trivial endeavor but Lockheed MartinSunnyvale has many decades of experience in Systems Engineering. Training in systems engineering is a long process whose training tools must be kept up-to-date and appropriate as new advances in technology evolve along-side with the processes that develop these ever-evolving solutions. For many years new systems engineers have been introduced to the Bicycle Model as a paradigm for designing and developing complex systems that are composed of diverse …

Two-Stage, High-Altitude Rocket With Internal Skeleton Design Entered In Advance Category Of 7th Esra Irec, Samuel S. Bowman, Kevin J. Byrne, Allen Capatina, Aliki S. Loper-Leddy, Joshua A. Van Schoyck

Aerospace Engineering

A high-altitude, two-stage rocket was designed, built, and entered in the advanced category of the 7^th Annual Experimental Sounding Rocket Association (ESRA) Intercollegiate Rocketry Engineering Competition (IREC). The rocket, called AJAKS, featured an internal skeleton made of carbon fiber rods, and a combination of plywood, carbon, and aluminum bulkheads. Loads were driven through the internal structure, with an outer skin tube providing an aerodynamic surface. A unique separation device was developed to ensure proper stage separation. The competition required the rocket to carry a 10-lb payload, which was chosen by the team to consist of an IMU and data …

Response Surface Optimization Of Electron Beam Freeform Fabrication Depositions Using Design Of Experiments, Patricia A. Quigley

Engineering Management & Systems Engineering Theses & Dissertations

The Electron Beam Freeform Fabrication (EBF³ ) System is a material depositing, layer additive technique that produces three dimensional (3D) parts out of a wide range of metals in high vacuum, using an electron beam and wire feedstock. Screening deposition trials on a titanium alloy, Ti-6Al-4V, at the National Aeronautics Space Administration (NASA) revealed selective vaporization of the aluminum content of linear prototypes when subjected to chemical analysis. In this study, the aluminum content, bead height and bead width output responses were analyzed from a systematic study of the effects that the interactions of the EBF³ processing parameters …

A Multi-Objective Differential Evolution Algorithm For Engineering Design Optimization, Shantanu S. Muluk

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Theses & Dissertations

The current research investigation focuses on the development of a multi-objective global optimizer based on the differential evolution algorithm. A rotationally invariant version of the original differential evolution algorithm is adopted as the core component of the optimization procedure. The optimizer is applied to a number of multi-objective problems: constrained problems, problems of high dimensionality, and problems with non-convex Pareto fronts.

The effectiveness of the proposed optimization framework in real engineering design problems is demonstrated by carrying out an aerodynamic shape optimization of wind turbine airfoils. The investigation focuses on both thin and thick airfoils. The produced Pareto-optimal airfoil shapes …

Day/Night Band Imager For A Cubesat, Eric Stanton

Electrical Engineering

Day/Night Band (DNB) earth sensing and meteorological systems like the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) Operational Linescan System (OLS) provide visible wavelength imagery 24 hours a day that is used primarily for cloud imaging in support of weather forecasting. This paper describes a compact push-broom imager that meets low light imaging requirements for DMSP OLS and the NOAA/NASA Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS) as documented in the Integrated Operational Requirements Document [1] (IORD) including the imager design, system level concepts of operation for data collection, radiometric and spatial calibration, and data transmission to Earth. This small, lightweight imager complies with …

Cubesat Mission Planning Toolbox, Brian Castello

Master's Theses

We are in an era of massive spending cuts in educational institutions, aerospace companies and governmental entities. Educational institutions are pursuing more training for less money, aerospace companies are reducing the cost of gaining ight heritage and the government is cutting budgets and their response times. Organizations are accomplishing this improved efficiency by moving away from large-scale satellite projects and developing pico and nanosatellites following the CubeSat specifications. One of the major challenges of developing satellites to the standard CubeSat mission requirements is meeting the exceedingly tight power, data and communication constraints.

A MATLAB toolbox was created to assist the …

Activity Node Based Flight Software As A Benefit To Systems Engineering, Eugene Daniel Lewis

Master's Theses

This report discusses one application of a flight software design for a spacecraft in which the software executes from a database that can be managed by systems engineering. This report gives an overview of how such a software design can be developed and implemented. It also discusses why this approach is beneficial to the systems engineering program.

Analysis And Testing Of Heat Transfer Through Honeycomb Panels, Daniel D. Nguyen

Aerospace Engineering

This project attempts to simulate accurately the thermal conductivity of honeycomb panels in the normal direction. Due to the large empty space of the honeycomb core, the thermal radiation mode of heat transfer was modeled along with conduction. Using Newton’s Method to solve for a steady state model of heat moving through the honeycomb panel, the theoretical effective thermal conduction of the honeycomb panel was found, ranging from 1.03 to 1.07 Q/m/K for a heat input of 2.5 W to 11.8 W. An experimental model was designed to test the theoretical results, using a cold plate and a heat plate …

Sun-Synchronous Orbit Slot Architecture Analysis And Development, Eric Watson

Master's Theses

Space debris growth and an influx in space traffic will create a need for increased space traffic management. Due to orbital population density and likely future growth, the implementation of a slot architecture to Sun-synchronous orbit is considered in order to mitigate conjunctions among active satellites. This paper furthers work done in Sun-synchronous orbit slot architecture design and focuses on two main aspects. First, an in-depth relative motion analysis of satellites with respect to their assigned slots is presented. Then, a method for developing a slot architecture from a specific set of user defined inputs is derived.

Engineering Innovation And Design For Stem Teachers And The Stem Quality Framework, James Rowley, Sandi Preiss, Margaret Pinnell, Suzanne Franco

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Publications

The backbone of economic growth in the United States relies on engineering innovation. However, engineering innovation cannot occur without engineers and scientists. Unfortunately however, many K-12 students do not have a good understanding of the engineering design process or the vast field of engineering. As a result, many students lose interest in math and science and do not pursue Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) fields. This paper will describe a unique partnership among the Teacher Education Program and School of Engineering at the University of Dayton (UD) and the Dayton Regional STEM Center (DRSC). This partnership initiated with the …

Aircraft Course Optimization Tool Using Gpops Matlab Code, Ryan D. Gauntt

Theses and Dissertations

Aircraft course planning between two points in a clear, no threat environment is easy and straightforward. However, the addition of various threats can greatly increase the difficulty and complexity of course planning. Placing new waypoints along the edge of each threat, mostly skirting the dangerous environment, may not prove too difficult, but such courses are far from optimal. Given aircraft, environment, and time constraints it is likely a much more optimal path exists between any given start and end points. This research focuses on determining the feasibility of using the General Pseudospectral Optimization Software program files written for the MATLAB …

Electromagnetic Railgun Safety, Sven Ericson

Aerospace Engineering

The Cal Poly Electromagnetic Railgun is a system that with the proper precautions can be safely operated. Changes in plugs and boxes insure that the systems cannot be improperly wired, reducing the chances of accidental discharge. By covering exposed wires the system is safe to store as long as the voltage is checked before any maintenance is performed. Updates in procedures remove the possibility of injury to personnel and allow the railgun to be fired repeatedly under similar circumstances. Defined roles for the operators’ decreases confusion and allows people to concentrate on their area during testing. As hardware changes it …

Pico-Satellite Integrated System Level Test Program, Marcus A. Ruddy

Master's Theses

Testing is an integral part of a satellite’s development, requirements verification and risk mitigation efforts. A robust test program serves to verify construction, integration and assembly workmanship, ensures component, subsystem and system level functionality and reduces risk of mission or capability loss on orbit.

The objective of this thesis was to develop a detailed test program for pico-satellites with a focus on the Cal Poly CubeSat architecture. The test program established a testing baseline from which other programs or users could tailor to meet their needs. Inclusive of the test program was a detailed decomposition of discrete and derived test …

Dynamic Model Creation And Scripting Support In The Horizon Simulation Framework, Brian Jeffrey Butler

Master's Theses

Dynamic model creation and support for the Lua scripting language was added to the Horizon Simulation Framework used for the verification and validation of system-level requirements. The addition of scripting support allows for subsystem models and their algorithms to be defined using a simpler scripting language, rather than C++. The Luabind library by Rasterbind software is used to expose the C++ algorithms and classes to Lua that are already defined in the framework. Interoperability between Lua and C++ code allows for the ease of use of a scripting language while utilizing the utility classes and functions already created. The dynamic …

Link Performance Analysis For A Proposed Future Architecture Of The Air Force Satellite Control Network, Eric W. Nelson

Theses and Dissertations

The Air Force Satellite Control Network (AFSCN) is a worldwide network of ground stations that support a wide variety of users from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO). The network performs tracking, telemetry, and commanding (TT&C) for these varied users. Users, located at Satellite Operations Centers (SOC), must compete for time on the AFSCN. This thesis demonstrates how to predict satellite link performance, specifically by users of the AFSCN. It will also demonstrate how users might use this capability to save spacecraft power. A tool was created called the AFSCN Link Predictor (LP) …

Comet: Constrained Optimization Of Multiple-Dimensions For Efficient Trajectories, Michael Curt Conrad

Master's Theses

The paper describes the background and concepts behind a master’s thesis platform known as COMET (Constrained Optimization of Multiple-dimensions for Efficient Trajectories) created for mission designers to determine and evaluate suitable interplanetary trajectories. This includes an examination of the improvements to the global optimization algorithm, Differential Evolution, through a cascading search space pruning method and decomposition of optimization parameters. Results are compared to those produced by the European Space Agency’s Advanced Concept Team’s Multiple Gravity Assist Program. It was found that while discrepancies in the calculation of ΔV’s for flyby maneuvers exist between the two programs, COMET showed a noticeable …

File Sensor Optimization, Josiah Thomas

Von Braun Symposium Student Posters

No abstract provided.

An Automated Test Station Design Used To Verify Aircraft Communication Protocols, Joshua Berrian

Master's Theses

Requirements verification is typically the costliest part of the systems engineering design process. In the commercial aircraft industry, as the software and hardware design evolves, it must be verified to conform to requirements. In addition, when new design releases are made, regression analysis must be performed which usually requires repeat testing. To streamline verification, a suite of automated verification tools is described in this document which can reduce the test effort. This test suite can be qualified to be used to verify systems at any DO-178B design assurance level. Some of the software tools are briefly described below.

There are …

Comparison Of A High Purity Germanium Gamma Ray Spectrometer And A Multidimensional Nai(T1) Scintillation Gamma Ray Spectrometer, Greg Stratton

Aerospace Engineering

This report compares two different gamma ray spectrometers in terms of performance, operation, and apparatus and also investigates the design and integration challenges of using gamma ray spectrometers in space. The first spectrometer is a one-dimensional high purity germanium (HPGe) spectrometer and the second is a multidimensional NaI(Tl) scintillation spectrometer (MGRS). The key results show that the HPGe exhibits 15 to 27 times better energy resolution than the MGRS, but the MGRS is 52 times more sensitive and removes 177 % more of the background radiation.

Solar Warning Architecture For Manned Missions To Mars, James S. Bohren, John K. Howard

Theses and Dissertations

Solar radiation storms represent a dire threat to manned interplanetary space travel. Earth's current solar forecasting architecture is Earth-focused and insufficient to provide timely warnings to a manned mission to Mars, therefore a "best value" solar warning architecture must be identified. A total of 14 solar warning architectures were developed by varying 5 solar sensor locations, 2 processing locations, and 2 communications strategies. Using Satellite Tool Kit, performance of the candidate architectures in terms of Warning Time and Solar Coverage was quantified during a Mars mission scenario based on NASA's Design Reference Architecture 5.0. Cost of each candidate architecture was …

Design, Fabrication, And Testing Of An Electromagnetic Rail Gun For The Repeated Testing And Simulation Of Orbital Debris Impacts, Jeff Maniglia, Jordan Smiroldo, Alex Westfall, Guy Zohar

Aerospace Engineering

An Electromagnetic Railgun (EMRG) was designed, built, and tested, capable of firing a projectile a 1 gram projectile at 650 m/s muzzle velocity. The EMRG utilizes an injector, a high voltage power supply, a capacitor bank, inductors and rails. The injector fires 2300 psig Nitrogen gas into the system to provide an initial velocity. The high voltage power supply charges the capacitor bank. The capacitor bank discharges the electric potential built up through the projectile while inside the rails in order to create the EMRG’s force. The inductors are used to pulse form the capacitor bank in order to get …

Designing The Human-Powered Helicopter: A New Perspective, Gregory Hamilton Gradwell

Master's Theses

The concept of human-powered vertical flight was studied in great depth. Through the manipulation of preexisting theory and analytical methods, a collection of design tools was created to expediently conceptualize and then analyze virtually any rotor. The tools were then arranged as part of a complete helicopter rotor design process. The lessons learned as a result of studying this process—and the tools of which it consists—are presented in the following discussion. It is the belief of the author that by utilizing these tools, as well as the suggestions that accompany them, future engineers may someday build a human-powered helicopter capable …