Search Results

In this paper the results obtained under a NASA Dryden Phase II Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) project are described. At Scientific Systems Company, Inc. (SSCI) we developed an efficient Integrated Failure Detection, Identification and Reconfiguration (FDIR) system referred to as the FLARE (Fast on-Line Actuator REconfiguration) system. The FLARE system achieves very fast detection and identification of failures in Electro-Mechanical Actuators (EMA), and effective control reconfiguration in the presence of single or multiple failures and recoveries even while rejecting external disturbances. The FLARE system combines different FDIR algorithms with a disturbance rejection mechanism within a retrofit control architecture. In collaboration with Boeing Phantom Works, the performance of the FLARE system has been extensively evaluated using high-fidelity and piloted simulators.

Two high voltage, Series Connected Boost Regulators (SCBR) were developed to demonstrate the benefits of the SCBR topology for low Earth orbit communication satellites. The resulting breadboards had a power density of 1,200 W/kg and a measured efficiency of 95-99%. Several peak power tracking methods and algorithms were implemented to demonstrate the ability of the SCBR to peak power track a solar array. The peak power tracker derived maximum power at all times and reduced the number of sunlight battery discharges necessary. The breadboards also demonstrated several modularity techniques, which will allow a common SCBR module to be used in several applications. The breadboards were tested in an end-to-end high voltage test facility using high fidelity solar array simulators, an actual NiH2 battery, and simulated constant power loads. Design details and test results are presented.