Systems Engineering and Multidisciplinary Design Optimization Commons^™

Multidisciplinary Design Optimization Of Transonic Airfoil Sections Using Multiobjective Optimization And Computational Intelligence Tools, Amit A. Kulkarni

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Theses & Dissertations

The design of transonic airfoils for civil aviation applications has been a major engineering challenge in the last fifty years. This design problem arises due to the need to limit shock wave drag at a given transonic speed. In recent years, the requirement to reduce the levels of aircraft noise has started to affect the airfoil design process. The multidisciplinary aerodynamic shape optimization problem is treated in this thesis using a multi-objective approach. The objectives correspond to the design of transonic airfoil sections with low drag during cruise and low trailing edge noise levels during the approach condition. The optimization …

Architecture Based Workload Analysis Of Uas Multi-Aircraft Control: Implications Of Implementation On Mq-1b Predator, Jason D. Mcgrogan, Michael F. Schneider

Theses and Dissertations

An increased demand for use of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UASs) without commensurate increases in pilot manpower has prompted proposals for simultaneous control of multiple aircraft by a single pilot or Multi-Aircraft Control (MAC). To understand the potential effects of MAC, an IMPRINT Pro, Multi-Resource Theory, pilot workload model was developed from pedigreed system architecture. Feedback from active UAS pilots was used to validate the model and establish a workload saturation threshold value of 60, above which pilots may experience performance degradation over extended periods of time. The model predicts that pilots experience low workload when operating one or two UASs …

Flight Control Design For A Tailless Aircraft Using Eigenstructure Assignment, Clara Nieto-Wire, Kenneth Sobel

Publications and Research

We apply eigenstructure assignment to the design of a flight control system for a wind tunnel model of a tailless aircraft. The aircraft, known as the innovative control effectors (ICEs) aircraft, has unconventional control surfaces plus pitch and yaw thrust vectoring. We linearize the aircraft in straight and level flight at an altitude of 15,000 feet and Mach number 0.4. Then, we separately design flight control systems for the longitudinal and lateral dynamics. We use a control allocation scheme with weights so that the lateral pseudoinputs are yaw and roll moment, and the longitudinal pseudoinput is pitching moment. In contrast …

Aether, Thomas Cameron, Kristine Colton, Daren Childers

Electrical Engineering

Aether is a RC-style autonomous air vehicle that utilizes GPS positioning along with a wireless communication system to achieve a computer-controlled flight.

This report will incorporate the acquisition, design, integration, implementation and testing phases of the UAV development. Furthermore a discussion of troubleshooting as well as improvements for future projects will be included.

Enhancement Technique For Aerial Images, Sertan Erkanli, Ahmet Gungor Pakfiliz, Jiang Li

Electrical & Computer Engineering Faculty Publications

Recently, we proposed an enhancement technique for uniformly and non-uniformly illuminated dark images that provides high color accuracy and better balance between the luminance and the contrast in images to improve the visual representations of digital images. In this paper we define an improved version of the proposed algorithm to enhance aerial images in order to reduce the gap between direct observation of a scene and its recorded image.

Development Of Cubesat Vibration Testing Capabilities For The Naval Postgraduate School And Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, Marissa Brummitt

Master's Theses

The Naval Postgraduate School is currently developing their first CubeSat, the Solar Cell Array Tester CubeSat, or NPS-SCAT. Launching a CubeSat, such as NPS-SCAT, requires environmental testing to ensure not only the success of the mission, but also the safety of other CubeSats housed in the same deployer. This thesis will address the development of CubeSat vibration testing methodology at NPS, including subsystem testing, engineering unit qualification, and flight unit testing. In addition, the new Cal Poly CubeSat Test POD Mk III will be introduced and evaluated based upon comparison with the Poly Picosatellite Orbital Deployer (P-POD). Using examples from …

Nasa X-Toolss Design Optimization, David Keeton, Cheryl Rose, Daniel Cervantes, Kelly Green, Justin Chism

Von Braun Symposium Student Posters

No abstract provided.

Defining An Abrasion Index For Lunar Surface Systems As A Function Of Dust Interaction Modes And Variable Concentration Zones, Ryan L. Kobrick, David M. Klaus, Kenneth W. Street Jr.

Publications

Unexpected issues were encountered during the Apollo era of lunar exploration due to detrimental abrasion of materials upon exposure to the fine-grained, irregular shaped dust on the surface of the Moon. For critical design features involving contact with the lunar surface and for astronaut safety concerns, operational concepts and dust tolerance must be considered in the early phases of mission planning. To systematically define material selection criteria, dust interaction can be characterized by two-body or three-body abrasion testing, and sub-categorically by physical interactions of compression, rolling, sliding and bending representing specific applications within the system. Two-body abrasion occurs when a …

Satellite Capabilities Mapping - Utilizing Small Satellites, David A. Grigsby

Theses and Dissertations

The cost and schedule advantages small satellites have over larger legacy systems have been studied, but there has been very little experimentation performed to determine whether small satellites can actually deliver the capabilities of larger spacecraft. To date, a desired operational capability has not been fully realized by a scalable satellite design. Advances in sensor technology have led to significant reductions in size, weight, and power (SWaP) presenting an opportunity to exploit the evolution of space operations by using small satellites to perform specific missions. This paper describes a methodology that maps a specific set of large space vehicle capabilities …

Stochastic Optimal Control In Nonlinear Systems, Celestin Nkundineza

Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Stochastic control is an important area of research in engineering systems that undergo disturbances. Controlling individual states in such systems is critical. The present investigation is concerned with the application of the stochastic optimal control strategy developed by To (2010) and its implementation as well as providing computed results of linear and nonlinear systems under stationary and nonstationary random excitations. In the strategy the feedback matrix is designed based on the achievement of the objectives for individual states in the system through the application of the Lyapunov equation for the system. Each diagonal element in the gain or associated gain …

Picasso Interface For Horizon Simulation Framework, Brian E. Kirkpatrick

Master's Theses

The Horizon Simulation Framework, or HSF, is a modeling and simulation framework compiled from C/C++ source code into a command line program. Picasso is an interface designed to control the input files to Horizon by providing visual tools to create and manipulate the XML files used to define an HSF system of assets, their environment, and other simulation parameters. Picasso also supports the visualization of Horizon output in several different forms, and import mechanics from online space object catalogues.

Kalman Filtering With State Constraints: A Survey Of Linear And Nonlinear Algorithms, Daniel J. Simon

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Publications

The Kalman filter is the minimum-variance state estimator for linear dynamic systems with Gaussian noise. Even if the noise is non-Gaussian, the Kalman filter is the best linear estimator. For nonlinear systems it is not possible, in general, to derive the optimal state estimator in closed form, but various modifications of the Kalman filter can be used to estimate the state. These modifications include the extended Kalman filter, the unscented Kalman filter, and the particle filter. Although the Kalman filter and its modifications are powerful tools for state estimation, we might have information about a system that the Kalman filter …

Scan Loss Pattern Synthesis For Adaptive Array Ground Stations, William C. Barott, Mary Ann Ingram, Paul G. Steffes

Publications

We present several techniques for maximizing the contact time between low Earth orbiting satellites (LEOs) and a ground station (GS). The GS comprises an adaptive array of electronically steered space-fed lenses (SFLs). Each SFL is manufactured as a low-cost printed circuit with the result that it exhibits scanning loss. By differently orienting the boresights of the SFLs in the adaptive array, the SFL's scanning losses can be made to optimally complement the path loss of the LEO, thereby reducing the cost of the GS while maximizing the download capacity of the satellite link. The optimization, implemented with a genetic algorithm …

Hybrid Rocket Motor, Zach Arena, Alexander Athougies, Alden Rodulfo

Aerospace Engineering

This project involves the re-design, manufacturing, and testing of the Cal Poly Space System’s 4th iteration of an M-class 98mm hybrid rocket motor. This motor utilizes hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene as fuel with liquid nitrous oxide as the oxidizer. Modeling and analysis was conducted on a 12 port self-impinging swirl injector and fuel manufacturing to improve performance. Several hot and cold flow tests were conducted to validate the analysis and predict performance values. Test results included two test fires resulting in an average of 212 lbf of thrust for 6 seconds with an Isp of 160 seconds and an average thrust of …

Aircraft Data Collection System, Amy Kronsteiner, Danny Marx, Collin Heller, Nathaniel Garcia, Nicholas Riccobono, Scott Parks, Albert Liu

Biomedical Engineering

This report outlines the design and building process for an interchangeable testing device that collects aircraft performance data. Included is the project objectives, system requirements, management plan, design concept development, design details, manufacturing procedures, and project verification test plans. The device is a wing-mounted Pitot-static system integrated with an Electronic Flight Instrument System (EFIS).

Simulation And Application Of Gpops For Trajectory Optimization And Mission Planning Tool, Danielle E. Yaple

Theses and Dissertations

Rapid trajectory generation is crucial to prompt global warfare. To meet the USAF’s objective of Persistent and Responsive Precision Engagement, a rapid mission planning tool is required. This research creates the framework for the mission planning tool and provides a sample optimal trajectory which is solved using the GPOPS software package. GPOPS employs a Gaussian pseudospectral method to solve the non-linear equations of motion with both end conditions and path constraints. By simultaneously solving the entire trajectory based on an initial guess and small number of nodes, this method is ideal for generating rapid solutions. The sample case is a …

Quantifying Seismic Risk For Portable Ground Support Equipment At Vandenberg Air Force Base, Joshua Brian Lowe

Master's Theses

This project develops a quantitative method to evaluate the seismic risk for portable GSE at Vandenberg Air Force Base. Using the latest probability data available from the USGS, risk thresholds are defined for portable GSE having the potential to cause a catastrophic event. Additionally, an example tool for design engineers was developed from the seismic codes showing the tipping hazard case can be simplified into strict geometrical terms. The misinterpretation and confusion regarding the Range Safety 24 Hour Rule exemption can be avoided by assessing seismic risk for portable GSE. By using the methods herein to quantify and understand seismic …

System Integration And Attitude Control Of A Low-Cost Spacecraft Attitude Dynamics Simulator, Ryan L. Kinnett

Master's Theses

The CalPoly Spacecraft Attitude Dynamics Simulator mimics the rotational dynamics of a spacecraft in orbit and acts as a testbed for spacecraft attitude control system development and demonstration. Prior to this thesis, the simulator platform and several subsystems had been designed and manufactured, but the total simulator system was not yet capable of closed-loop attitude control. Previous attempts to make the system controllable were primarily mired by data transport performance. Rather than exporting data to an external command computer, the strategy implemented in this thesis relies on a compact computer onboard the simulator platform to handle both attitude control processing …

Grating Lobe Reduction In Aperiodic Linear Arrays Of Physically Large Antennas, William C. Barott, Paul G. Steffes

Publications

We present performance bounds obtained from the optimization of the sidelobe levels of aperiodic linear arrays. The antennas comprising these arrays are large compared to the distance between neighboring antennas, a case not addressed in previously published work. This optimization is performed in pattern-space and is applicable over a wide range of scan angles. We show that grating lobes can be suppressed even when the elemental antennas are several wavelengths in size, provided that the ratio of the antenna size to the average spacing between the antenna center-points does not exceed 80%.

Multidisciplinary Design Optimization Of An Extreme Aspect Ratio Hale Uav, Bryan J. Morrisey

Master's Theses

ABSTRACT

Multidisciplinary Design Optimization of an Extreme Aspect Ratio HALE UAV

Bryan J. Morrisey

Development of High Altitude Long Endurance (HALE) aircraft systems is part of a vision for a low cost communications/surveillance capability. Applications of a multi payload aircraft operating for extended periods at stratospheric altitudes span military and civil genres and support battlefield operations, communications, atmospheric or agricultural monitoring, surveillance, and other disciplines that may currently require satellite-based infrastructure. Presently, several development efforts are underway in this field, including a project sponsored by DARPA that aims at producing an aircraft that can sustain flight for multiple years and …

Development Of An Integrated Gaussian Process Metamodeling Application For Engineering Design, Collin R. Baukol

Master's Theses

As engineering technologies continue to grow and improve, the complexities in the engineering models which utilize these technologies also increase. This seemingly endless cycle of increased computational power and demand has sparked the need to create representative models, or metamodels, which accurately reflect these complex design spaces in a computationally efficient manner. As research into metamodeling and using advanced metamodeling techniques continues, it is important to remember design engineers who need to use these advancements. Even experienced engineers may not be well versed in the material and mathematical background that is currently required to generate and fully comprehend advanced complex …

Comparison And Design Of Simplified General Perturbation Models (Sgp4) And Code For Nasa Johnson Space Center, Orbital Debris Program Office, Nicholas Z. Miura

Master's Theses

This graduate project compares legacy simplified general perturbation model (SGP4) code developed by NASA Johnson Space Center, Orbital Debris Program Office, to a recent public release of SGP4 code by David Vallado. The legacy code is a subroutine in a larger program named PREDICT, which is used to predict the location of orbital debris in GEO. Direct comparison of the codes showed that the new code yields better results for GEO objects, which are more accurate by orders of magnitude (error in meters rather than kilometers). The public release of SGP4 also provides effective results for LEO and MEO objects …

A Technology Survey Of Emergency Recovery And Flight Termination Systems For Uas, Richard Stansbury, Wesley Tanis, Timothy Wilson

Publications

For safe flight in the National Airspace System (NAS), either under the current interim rules or under anticipated longer-term regulatory guidelines facilitating unmanned aircraft system (UAS) access to the NAS, the UAS must incorporate technologies and flight procedures to ensure that neither people nor property in the air, on the ground, or on or in the water are endangered by the failure of an onboard component, by inappropriate unmanned aircraft (UA) response to pilot commands, or by inadvertent entry by the UA into prohibited airspace. The aircraft must be equipped with emergency recovery (ER) procedures and technologies that ensure that …

Shielding Effectiveness Of Superalloy, Aluminum, And Mumetal Shielding Tapes, Cindy Suit Cheung

Master's Theses

Using MIL-HDBK-419A, MATLAB and Nomographs, Shielding Effectiveness for the Magnetic Field, Electric Field, and Plane Wave were calculated over a frequency range from 10 Hz to 1 GHz. The three shielding tapes used included superalloy, aluminum, and mumetal. Calculations for Shielding Effectiveness involve the computation of Absorption Loss, Reflection Loss, and Re-Reflection Correction Factor. From the outcome of the calculations, it was suitable to conclude that all three metals fulfill the 40 dB Shielding Effectiveness requirements for SGEMP fields for frequencies greater or equal to 1 MHz. Accordingly, all three shielding tapes provide at least 40 dB of shielding to …

Cooperative Unmanned Aerial Surveillance Control System Architecture, Theodore T. Diamond, Adam L. Rutherford, Jonathan B. Taylor

Theses and Dissertations

Intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) is a high-demand Department of Defense mission performed by unmanned aircraft systems (UASs) at the tactical and theater levels. Coordinating UASs through cooperative control offers the advantages of persistence, distributed and adaptable sensor coverage, and reduced revisit time on points of interest. The purpose of this thesis is to apply systems engineering principles to the problem of developing a flexible, common control system for cooperative UAS surveillance at the tactical level. The AFIT team developed a concept of operations (CONOPS) encompassing various users and surveillance tasks. The team then used the scenarios in the CONOPS …

Architecting Human Operator Trust In Automation To Improve System Effectiveness In Multiple Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (Uav), Eric A. Cring, Adam G. Lenfestey

Theses and Dissertations

Current Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) designs require multiple operators for each vehicle, partly due to imperfect automation matched with the complex operational environment. This study examines the effectiveness of future UAS automation by explicitly addressing the human/machine trust relationship during system architecting. A pedigreed engineering model of trust between human and machine was developed and applied to a laboratory-developed micro-UAS for Special Operations. This unprecedented investigation answered three primary questions. Can previous research be used to create a useful trust model for systems engineering? How can trust be considered explicitly within the DoD Architecture Framework? Can the utility of architecting …

Tools For The Conceptual Design And Engineering Analysis Of Micro Air Vehicles, Mustafa Turan

Theses and Dissertations

Micro Air Vehicles (MAV) are a subset of Unmanned Aircraft (UAS) that are up to two orders of magnitude smaller than manned systems. Near-Earth environments, such as forests, caves, tunnels and urban structures make reconnaissance, surveillance and search-and-rescue missions difficult and dangerous to accomplish. Therefore, MAVs are considered ideal for these types of missions. However, the data using full size aircraft is inadequate to characterize miniature aircraft parameters due to the lower Reynolds numbers and low aspect ratio (LAR) wings and impact of wing-propeller interactions. The main objectives of this research were to: collect and synthesize the available data/tools; create …

Biogeography-Based Optimization, Daniel J. Simon

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Publications

Biogeography is the study of the geographical distribution of biological organisms. Mathematical equations that govern the distribution of organisms were first discovered and developed during the 1960s. The mindset of the engineer is that we can learn from nature. This motivates the application of biogeography to optimization problems. Just as the mathematics of biological genetics inspired the development of genetic algorithms (GAs), and the mathematics of biological neurons inspired the development of artificial neural networks, this paper considers the mathematics of biogeography as the basis for the development of a new field: biogeography-based optimization (BBO). We discuss natural biogeography and …

Development Of Automatic Cfd Grid Generation For The Design Of The Preliminary Wing Sweep Schedule For The Gulfstream Quiet Supersonic Jet, Ali Kazeneh

Master's Theses - Daytona Beach

The wing sweep schedule for the Gulfstream Quiet Supersonic Jet (wing and body) was investigated using CFD analysis methods. The use of automating the gridding procedure allowed for numerous cases to be investigated. The examination of the drag polar for different Mach cases indicated the optimum corresponding wing sweep position. The study results revealed that for the Mach 0.85 case, the wings should remain at the forward most pivoted position (Ʌ=25°). The Mach 1.1 case indicted that the wings should be in the fully swept back position (Ʌ=60°). The majority of the wing sweep transition occurs from Mach 0.85 to …

Optimal Guidance Of A Relay Mav For Isr Support Beyond Line-Of-Sight, John H. Hansen

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis developed guidance laws to optimally position a relay Micro-UAV (MAV) to provide an operator with real-time Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) by relaying communication and video signals when there is no line-of-sight between the operator at the base and the rover MAV performing the ISR mission. The ISR system consists of two MAVs, the Relay and the Rover, and a Base. The Relay strives to position itself to minimize the radio frequency (RF) power required for maintaining communications between the Rover and the Base, while the Rover performs the ISR mission, which may maximize the required RF power. …