The Infona portal uses cookies, i.e. strings of text saved by a browser on the user's device. The portal can access those files and use them to remember the user's data, such as their chosen settings (screen view, interface language, etc.), or their login data. By using the Infona portal the user accepts automatic saving and using this information for portal operation purposes. More information on the subject can be found in the Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. By closing this window the user confirms that they have read the information on cookie usage, and they accept the privacy policy and the way cookies are used by the portal. You can change the cookie settings in your browser.
The successful operation of unmanned air vehicles requires software with a high degree of autonomy. Only if high level functions can be carried out without human control and intervention can complex missions, in a changing and potentially unknown environment, be carried out successfully. Autonomy software is highly mission and safety critical: failures, caused by flaws in the software cannot only...
Matrix structures are common in highly technical organizations. The matrix structure is most defined by this characteristic: that most people in the enterprise have two bosses. One resides in the programmatic organizations that make direct contact with the enterprise's customers, and organize and manage work to meet customer expectations. The other boss lives in the line organizations, functional...
Due to the complexity of the International Space Station (ISS), interactions between seemingly isolated systems occur which require interdisciplinary investigations to determine the cause and effect relationship of what would otherwise seem to be random events. An example of these complex relationships is apparent when studying the ISS guidance, navigation and control (GN&C) system and the activities...
This paper describes the investigation, analyses, and tests carried out to determine the source of an unknown "phantom" disturbance torque that was saturating the control moment gyroscopes, causing loss of attitude control of the International Space Station during Russian extravehicular activities. Exhaustive flight data analyses, analytic simulations for flight data reconstruction, and...
SCOS-2000 is ESA's standard kernel for spacecraft command and control systems, hiflyreg is a suite of products based on SCOS-2000 commercialized in the US by GMV. NASA's GMSEC defines a standard middleware architecture that can be used by the ground segment of different space missions. The purpose of GMSEC is to easily integrate new flight operations components into Mission Control Centers. This paper...
The Goodrich Integrated Mechanical Diagnostics Health and Usage System (IMD-HUMS) mechanical diagnostics functionality is the integration of disparate subsystems. When the aircraft is in the appropriate capture window, the primary processing unit (PPU), commands the vibration processing unit (VPU) to capture vibration data and a tachometer reference. This time domain data is processed by standard...
The reliable and effective performance of a braking system is fundamental to the operation of most vehicles. Any failure in the braking system that impacts the ability to retard a vehicles motion have an immediate and frequently catastrophic effect on a vehicles safety. There are very few diagnostic systems that monitor the health of multiple individual components in a braking system and even fewer...
We propose a tuning method for micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) gyroscopes based on evolutionary computation that has the capacity to efficiently increase the sensitivity of MEMS gyroscopes through tuning and, furthermore, to find the optimally tuned configuration for this state of increased sensitivity. We present the results of an experiment to determine the speed and efficiency of an evolutionary...
The Jet Propulsion Laboratory's Deep Impact (DI) Project was a smashing success with its successful Impact and Flyby Encounter on July 4, 2005 (UTC). Deep Impact launched the flight system, consisting of two spacecraft, on January 12, 2005 for an Encounter with comet Tempel 1 just 6 months later. The two spacecraft, known as the Flyby and the Impactor, were separated 24 hours prior to Encounter, whereby...
A growing field such as diagnostics involves moving technology from cutting-edge to commonplace. In an aircraft environment, the issues of cost, weight, and safety put severe constraints on implementation while demanding increased value. Prognostics and health management (PHM) sensors that monitor systemic rather than localized conditions often show the most value by covering a greater number of components...
A research group at Boeing has developed a prototype for an integrated diagnostic system to optimize maintenance on military transport aircraft by decreasing maintenance costs and increasing aircraft availability. The integrated diagnostic system comprises an on-board recorder, and a ground-based reasoner that analyzes the recorded data, to optimize maintenance. The functions of the ground-based reasoner...
Long-range laser communications links offer many potential advantages to satellite communications systems including high bandwidth, security, and a small physical footprint. However, the establishment of a laser communications link can be very difficult and time consuming due to the extremely small beam divergences and stringent platform stability requirements inherent to lasercom systems. Most of...
We have developed and continue to enhance our automated intelligent software, which performs the tasks and decision making currently handled by the personnel manning the watch stations in the Combat Direction Center (CDC), the Task Force Combat Center (TFCC), on-board aircraft carriers, and other Navy ships. Integration of information from a variety of sources in a combat station is a complex task;...
Over the past six years, Smiths and BAE Systems have launched collaborative work to evolve a certifiable practical SPHM system. The collaborative work has built on BAE Systems' vast advanced technology experience and on Smiths' unique experience that has produced intelligent Fleet and Usage Management Software (FUMStrade) including fusion, prognostic and decision support algorithms combining model-based...
The potential loss of state stability in various parts of the world is a source of threat to U.S. national security. Every case is unique, but there are common processes. Accordingly, we develop a system dynamics model of state stability by representing the nature and dynamics of `loads' generated by insurgency activities, on the one hand, and by articulating the core features of state resilience...
In the proposed paper, the modular and autonomous architecture concepts are deeply analyzed and applied to the design of an innovative Li-ion modular battery as test case. The single module integrates 6 terrestrial Li-ion cells, the charge/discharge electronics and PIC microcontroller that supervises battery health and provides monitoring to an on-board computer. A controller area network (CAN) bus...
Problems in accuracy and effectiveness in system diagnosis and prognosis arise from constructing models from design data that do not match implementation, failing to account for inherent uncertainty in test data, and failing to account for characteristics unique to specific units due to variations in usage, environment, or other factors. Large sums of money have been expended by owners of these systems,...
A prior case study reported in "Programmatic Risk Balancing" (Tralli, 2003) established the suitability of adopting a lifecycle risk management decision-support tool to the planning of application projects across NASA's Earth Science Enterprise. Here we report on a pilot study to gauge the suitability of this same approach for large-scale planning of a progression of research and development...
Systems required to exhibit high operational reliability often rely on some form of fault protection to recognize and respond to faults, preventing faults' escalation to catastrophic failures. Integrated system health management (ISHM) extends the functionality of fault protection to both scale to more complex systems (and systems of systems), and to maintain capability rather than just avert catastrophe...
Smiths has worked closely with the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD) to evolve a fleet and usage management system (FUMStrade). The system has been developed to enable proactive life management and continuous diagnostic and prognostic improvements through a single fusion and decision support platform for helicopters, aeroplanes and engines. The system allows the user to build a wide range of intelligent...
Set the date range to filter the displayed results. You can set a starting date, ending date or both. You can enter the dates manually or choose them from the calendar.