Controls and Control Theory Commons^™

Failure Identification Using Multiple Model Adaptive Estimation For The Lambda Flight Vehicle, Peter D. Hanlon

Theses and Dissertations

This study develops and investigates the performance of a Multiple Model Adaptive Estimator (MMAE) to detect and identify control surface and sensor failures on the LAMBDA flight vehicle (a URV developed by Wright Laboratories). The MMAE uses a bank of Kalman filters that predict the aircraft response to a given input, with each filter model based on a different failure hypothesis, and then forms the residual difference between the prediction and sensor measurements for each filter. The MMAE uses these residuals to determine the probabilities of the failures that are modeled by the Kalman filters. Initially the MMAE identified all …

Optimal Control Of The Starfire Beam Director, Troy V. Lanier

Theses and Dissertations

The Starfire Beam Director (SBD) is located at the Starfire Optical Range at Kirtland Air Force Base in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The SBD capabilities include tracking celestial objects and active or passive tracking of artificial satellites to support the Phillips Laboratory Ground Based Laser Acquisition, Tracking, and Pointing (GBL ATP) program. The pointing and tracking accuracy needed to support such experiments is micron rad to sub-grad level. To accomplish this goal requires precise pointing of the massive 6 ton 1 -meter clear aperture coelostat. The purpose of this thesis is to use optimal control design techniques to develop a controller …

An Object-Oriented Computer Aided Design Program For Modern Control Systems Analysis, Frederick L. Trevino

Theses and Dissertations

This investigation is a continuation of the ICECAP-PC research project conducted under Prof. Gary B. Lamont at the Air Force Institute of Technology. It is an ongoing development of a public domain Computer Aided Design (CAD) package for Control Engineering students and faculty, with a special emphasis on education. This investigation focuses on three areas. First, an object-oriented environment is specified, designed and implemented. The functional structure of ICECAP-PC is then converted into an object-oriented structure because object-orientation provides an advanced logic and implementation structure and effectively addresses common software engineering issues. Additionally, a new interface featuring pull-down menus, mouse …

Automated Control Of Aircraft In Formation Flight, Louis E. Buzogany

Theses and Dissertations

In this study, an automated formation control system for an aircraft formation comprised of one lead and multiple wing aircraft is analyzed. Second- order models of the C-130 aircraft are developed in order to accurately model the flying qualities of large aircraft. This automated formation control system is capable of controlling the C-130 aircraft in maneuvering formation flight, thus reducing the wing's pilot workload. During formation flight, the wing aircraft continuously measures the lead aircraft's relative position with an ideal on-board position sensor. This information, in addition to Proportional Plus Integral feedback control, is used to maintain the aircraft in …

Strategies For Optimal Control Design Of Normal Acceleration Command Following On The F-16, James C. Baird

Theses and Dissertations

Weight shapes and locations are investigated for H₂, H_∞, and the general mixed H2/H infinity optimization methodologies. The design model is normal acceleration command following for the F-16 (SISO) at Mach 0.6 and Sea Level, which yields a nonminimum phase and unstable plant. H₂ design types include LQG, LQG/Sensitivity, and LQG/Tracking. Robustness and tracking are the objectives of the central H infinity process. Both H_∞ optimal and suboptimal controllers are examined, with the suboptimal controller shown as the practical choice for this plant. The mixed H₂/H_∞ setup allows the tradeoff between …

Design And Implementation Of Fuzzy Logic Controllers, Osama A. Abihana

Electrical & Computer Engineering Theses & Dissertations

The main objectives of our research are to present a self-contained overview of fuzzy sets and fuzzy logic, develop a methodology for control system design using fuzzy logic controllers, and to design and implement a fuzzy logic controller for a real system. In this thesis we first present the fundamental concepts of fuzzy sets and fuzzy logic. Fuzzy sets and basic fuzzy operations are defined. In addition, for control systems, it is important to understand the concepts of linguistic variables, linguistic values, term sets, fuzzy rule base, inference methods, and defuzzification methods. Second, we introduce a four-step fuzzy logic control …

Field Calibration Of A Transient Model For Broiler Misting, Richard S. Gates, Douglas G. Overhults, Robert W. Bottcher, Shu Hui Zhang

Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Faculty Publications

A transient model to predict temperature within a tunnel ventilated broiler house during misting is developed. The model is calibrated with field data to obtain steady-state constants; transient predictions are compared to measured temperatures during cyclic misting for two different size birds. Measured temperatures during cyclic misting are shown to swing between steady-state asymptotes predicted from the model. Transient response of the model was faster than measured temperature data, in part due to temperature sensor dynamic response. The model predicts the length-wise temperature profile within the building during misting, and can be used to investigate alternate misting strategies and designs. …

Mechanical Backup Systems For Electronic Environmental Controllers, Richard S. Gates, Douglas G. Overhults, Larry W. Turner

Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Faculty Publications

A series of mechanical backup systems for electronic environmental controllers is presented for a typical finishing swine barn and a typical tunnel ventilated broiler house. The systems consist of mechanical thermostats and timers used in parallel with the electronic controller, designed to ensure animal survival in the event of controller or related hardware failure. For swine housing, three distinct mechanical backup functions are identified; for broiler housing, four distinct mechanical backup functions are identified. Schematic diagrams of the mechanical backup functions are provided and their implementation is described.

Multiple Model Adaptive Estimation Applied To The Vista F-16 With Actuator And Sensor Failures, Timothy E. Menke

Theses and Dissertations

A Multiple Model Adaptive Estimation (MMAE) algorithm is applied to the Variable Stability In-flight Simulator Test Aircraft (VISTA) F-16 at a low dynamic pressure flight condition (0.4 Mach at 20000 ft). A complete F-16 flight control system is modeled containing the longitudinal and lateral-directional axes. Single and dual actuator and sensor failures are simulated including: complete actuator failures, partial actuator failures, complete sensor failures, increased sensor noise, sensor biases, dual complete actuator failures, dual complete sensor failures, and combinations of actuator and sensor failures. Failure scenarios are examined in both maneuvering and straight and level flight conditions. The system performance …

A Survey Of Electronic Environmental Controllers, Richard S. Gates, Douglas G. Overhults, Larry W. Turner

Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Faculty Publications

Sixteen commercially available electronic environmental controllers were evaluated. The units were classified according to enclosure type, analog versus microprocessor based control, power supply, sensors, alarms, control relays and triac output, interval timers, outside temperature feedback, and retail price. An assessment of these controllers indicated several critical limitations in the application of this technology.

The use of integrated controllers for animal production has the potential for substantial improvements in production efficiencies. If the limitations observed in the present controller technology, as represented by this sample, are addressed, industry acceptance of the technology can be accelerated. A uniform standard to address this …

Transient Overvoltage Testing Of Environmental Controllers, Richard S. Gates, Larry W. Turner, Douglas G. Overhults

Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Faculty Publications

The integrated electronic control system will provide a new method for the day-to-day management of environmental control of animal production systems. No standards are currently accepted for transient overvoltage protection of these controllers. To assess the adequacy of existing designs, a test circuit was designed and used for a transient open circuit over-voltage waveform (ANSI/IEEE C62.41-1980) of 16 environmental control units: a maximum spike of 770 V was applied to the power supplies, and a spike up to 100 V was applied to temperature sensor lines. For these relatively mild tests, no failures were noted due to power supply transients, …

Developing Cmmca Flight Profiles For Cruise Missile Tracking, Andrew C. Hachman

Theses and Dissertations

The Air Force has recently acquired two aircraft dedicated for cruise missile tracking. These aircraft, known as the Cruise Missile Mission Control Aircraft (CMMCA), are responsible for collecting data from the missile and United States. Due to tracking and positively controlling the missile during live fire testing over the western the limited tracking radar range and the flight characteristics of the CMMCA, tracking cruise missiles through complex maneuvers is not always possible. A FORTRAN optimization, based on flight simulation and optimal control theory, was written in a prior thesis effort in order to determine optimal CMMCA flight profiles for tracking …

A Demonstration Of Machine Control Using The Slc-150 Microprocessor Programmable Controller, Mike Courts, Richard Schmitz

Graduate Student Work

This project will use an Allen-Bradley SLC-150 microprocessor programmable controller to demonstrate an actual application being used in industry. The SLC-150 will be used to sequentially control a Pelco pan and tilt drive unit. This unit is mounted with a video camera that is used for security monitoring. The SLC-150 will also control the cameras zooming features.

Prior to microprocessors the electrical control of machines used input devices such as push buttons and limit switches connected to magnetically hard wired relay logic. Hard wiring meant that electrical wires were connected between all relay coils and contacts, making up what is …