{"project":{"acronym":"","projectId":14512,"title":"Peak-Seeking Control for Trim Optimization","primaryTaxonomyNodes":[{"taxonomyNodeId":10952,"taxonomyRootId":8816,"parentNodeId":10946,"level":3,"code":"TX15.1.6","title":"Advanced Atmospheric Flight Vehicles","definition":"This area covers unconventional vehicle concept designs enabled by advancements in understanding of flow and fluid phenomena.","exampleTechnologies":"Concept flow-related technologies supporting development of subsonic transports, supersonic transports, hybrid electric concepts, advanced spacecraft, launch vehicle and abort vehicles, planetary EDL and ascent vehicles, and urban air vehicles","hasChildren":false,"hasInteriorContent":true}],"startTrl":2,"currentTrl":6,"endTrl":6,"benefits":"
N/A
","description":"Innovators have developed a peak-seeking algorithm that can reduce drag and improve performance and fuel efficiency by optimizing aircraft trim in real time. The algorithm determines a unique trim position for an aircraft by employing a time-varying Kalman filter to estimate the gradient of a performance function using in-flight measurements. Existing trim control systems pre-program position data into an aircraft’s computer, based on knowledge gained from test flights and wind tunnel experiments. In contrast, this innovation determines in real time the most fuel-efficient trim surface position by taking into account actual flight conditions and an aircraft’s physical condition. This customized approach results in maximum fuel efficiency for each particular aircraft.
Work to date: The Dryden team has validated the algorithm with a series of F-18 experiments.
Looking ahead: Future flight research efforts will work to further mature the technology and transition it to other aircrafts. For example, the team is current working with the U.S. Navy to study the potential benefits and costs of implementing the technology on the Super Hornet military aircraft. The group is also talking with the Navy and Lockheed Martin about testing the technology on the F-35 fighter jet.
Benefits
Applications
The Armstrong Flight Research Center is NASA’s primary center for atmospheric flight research and operations, with a vision “to fly what others only imagine.” We believe that flight validation and research is one of the crucial phases within the advancement of any NASA technology, and it is often the barrier to technology utilization by the private sector. We also believe that aerospace technology can be enhanced through flight early in the Technology Readiness Level (TRL) lifecycle. In fact, some research can be done only in flight. The CIF projects are examples of aerospace technologies that are theoretically advantageous but have had little TRL advancement or are at too early of a technology level for support through a NASA mission.
The focus for the program is on validating, developing, and testing new and innovative technologies.
The current technology areas for the projects included:
AFRC is currently looking into following Technical Capability areas (not in any priority order and not all inclusive):
1. Small launch Space Systems
Develop small launch space systems such as horizontal rockets that could launch to orbit small free-flying space platforms (e.g., cuestas, nanosats, picosats).
2. Altitude Compensating Rocket Systems
Design, build, and test altitude compensating rocket systems or sub-systems designed to operate the rocket efficiently across a wide range of altitudes. Subsystems such as Altitude Compensating Nozzles are being considered.
3. Aero Gravity Assist Systems
Design, build, and test an Aerogravity assist system which uses a close approach to the planet, dipping into the atmosphere, so the spacecraft can also use aerodynamic lift to further curve the trajectory.
4. Launch Vehicle and Spacecraft Adaptive Controls
Develop and test adaptive controls architectures specifically tailored for application to launch vehicles. Adaptive Controls for launch vehicles would include unique features of the aerospace vehicle, such as control-structure interaction, propellant slosh, sensor performance, and actuator dynamics. In addition, the analysis, verification, and flight certification framework for the control system must be addressed.
5. Autonomous Systems
AFRC is exploring concepts for advanced autonomous systems and collaborative autonomous operations that could be applied across aerospace vehicles to enhance effectiveness, survivability, and affordability.
6. Autonomy in a Safety Critical Framework
Armstrong Flight Research Center is interested in the flight demonstration of high level autonomy in a safety critical framework with applicability to man-rated air and space vehicles. This high level of autonomy is enabled through the use of multiple sensor platforms and algorithms with high computational demands. Increased computational capability through embedded high performance computing and implementation of resource efficient algorithms is needed to support this integration. Research into embedded high performance computing using multi-core processors, FPGA, GPU, DSP and associated development of toolchains and algorithms targeted to these platforms is needed in order to reduce the Size, Weight, and Power (SWaP) of the flight vehicles..
7. Space Weather Systems
Design, develop, and test measurement systems to provide the capability for on-demand, validated, and archived radiation measurements related to human tissue and avionics silicon upset concerns.
8. Electromagnetically Boosted Rockets
One possible solution is to use an electromagnetic linear motor boost system to supplement the use of first stage booster rockets and rocket clusters. China Lake is currently advocating to NAVAIR to initiate a study of long term capital costs and recurring system operational costs of the use of an electromagnetic linear motor booster system for their rocket sled tracks as compared to the long term operational system costs of moving to a newer line of booster rocket production.
","parentProgram":{"acronym":"CIF","active":true,"description":"
Through the Center Innovation Fund, the Space Technology Mission Directorate allocates a small portion of the NASA workforce and procurement budget to internal research and development to feed early stage innovation in technology and exploration. Activities with in the Center Innovation Fund are proposed and led by NASA scientists and engineers. These activities and creative initiatives pursue emerging technologies that leverage talent and capabilities at the NASA Centers.
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