Wind-tunnel Tests of a Cyclogiro Rotor

During an extensive study of all types of rotating wings, the NACA examined the cyclogiro rotor and made an aerodynamic analysis of that system (reference 1). The examination disclosed that such a machine had sufficient promise to justify an experimental investigation; a model with a diameter and span of 8 feet was therefore constructed and tested in the 20-foot wind tunnel during 1934. The experimental work included tests of the effect of the motion upon the rotor forces during the static-lift and forward-flight conditions at several rotor speeds and the determination of the relations between the forces generated by the rotor and the power required by it

United States v. Pho: Defining the Limits of Discretionary Sentencing

In the consolidated case of United States v. Pho, the government appealed two district court rulings that imposed criminal sentences outside of the range provided in the Federal Sentencing Guidelines Manual (Guidelines). At separate trials, both defendants pied guilty to the crime of possession with intent to distribute five grams or more of cocaine base (commonly known as crack). Rejecting the Guidelines\u27 disparate treatment of crack and powder cocaine, the district court imposed sentences that were below the Guidelines\u27 range, but above the statutory mandatory minimum. The Court of Appeals for the First Circuit vacated both sentences and remanded the case for reconsideration, holding that a federal judge does not have the authority to go outside the Guidelines\u27 range based solely on a categorical, policy-based rejection of the disparate treatment of crack cocaine in relation to powder cocaine. The central issue in Pho was the status of the Federal Sentencing Guidelines after the Supreme Court decided the landmark case of United States v. Booker, in which the Court held that the Guidelines are merely advisory. Despite the Guidelines\u27 lack of a mandatory provision, the First Circuit concluded that courts must still abide by policy choices reflected therein, although there may be individualized circumstances that warrant imposing a sentence outside of the Guidelines\u27 range. In so doing, the court curbed the newfound judicial discretion that Booker provided. Given the court\u27s decision in Pho, the question arises whether the Guidelines once again impose a mandatory sentencing range, even in limited circumstances, and even though the Supreme Court excised the statutory provision that had made the Guidelines mandatory. In resolving this issue, to what extent should the courts look to the intent of Congress? More importantly, how should courts approach sentencing in the wake of United States v. Pho? Although the once mandatory Guidelines are now merely advisory in all cases, this Note concludes that judges must nevertheless restrict their sentencing discretion within the limited confines of the federal statutes when reaching their ultimate sentencing decisions

Requirements for implementing real-time control functional modules on a hierarchical parallel pipelined system

Analysis of a robot control system leads to a broad range of processing requirements. One fundamental requirement of a robot control system is the necessity of a microcomputer system in order to provide sufficient processing capability.The use of multiple processors in a parallel architecture is beneficial for a number of reasons, including better cost performance, modular growth, increased reliability through replication, and flexibility for testing alternate control strategies via different partitioning. A survey of the progression from low level control synchronizing primitives to higher level communication tools is presented. The system communication and control mechanisms of existing robot control systems are compared to the hierarchical control model. The impact of this design methodology on the current robot control systems is explored

Blade Motion and Bouncing Tests of KD-1 Autogiro

There are forwarded herewith the results of blade motion and bouncing tests on the Kellett KD-1 three-bladed autogiro. Motion picture records and two-component accelerometer records were taken in flight during glides at air speeds from 30 miles per hour to 100 miles per hour indicator readings. Calibration curves of correct indicated air speed and rotor speed as functions of air speed meter reading were established with a trailing pitot-static head and a rotoscope, at 2,000 ft. altitude and an air density of 0.00231 slug/ cu. ft., all tests being made at approximately that density

Torsion in box wings

Logical analysis of a box wing necessitates the allowance for the contribution of the drag spars to the torsional strength of the structure. A rigorous analysis is available in the use of the Method of Least Work. The best logical method of analysis is that applying Prandtl's Membrane Analogy. The results so obtained vary by a negligible amount from those obtained by the rigorous method

Lift and Drag Characteristics and Gliding Performance of an Autogiro as Determined in Flight

This report presents the results of flight test of the Pitcairn "PCA-2" autogiro. Lift and drag coefficients with the propeller stopped have been determined over approximately a 90 degree range of angles of attack. Based on the sum of fixed-wing and swept-disk areas, the maximum lift coefficient is 0.895, the minimum drag coefficient with propeller stopped is 0.015, and the maximum l/d with propeller stopped is 4.8. Lift coefficients were found also with the propeller delivering positive thrust and did not differ consistently from those found with propeller stopped. Curves of gliding performance included in this report show a minimum vertical velocity of 15 feet per second at an air speed of 36 miles per hour and a flight-path angle of -17 degrees. In vertical descent the vertical velocity is 35 feet per second

The Influence of Wing Setting on the Wing Load and Rotor Speed of a PCA-2 Autogiro as Determined in Flight

Flight tests were made on PCA-2 autogiro with wing settings of 2.2 degrees, 0.9 degrees, and -0.5 degrees. The wing load and rotor speed were measured in steady glides. The results obtained show that a wide variation in rotor speed as a function of air speed can be obtained by a suitable adjustment of the wing setting; that by decreasing the wing setting the upper safe flying speed, determined by the decrease is rotor speed, is greatly increased; and that the interference of the wing on the rotor thrust and lift coefficients is negligible

A study of autogiro rotor-blade oscillations in the plane of the rotor disk

An analysis of the factors governing the oscillation of an autogiro rotor blade in the plane of the rotor disk showed that the contribution of the air forces to the resultant motion was small and that the oscillation is essentially a direct effect of the rotor-blade flapping motion. A comparison of calculated oscillations with those measured in flight on three different rotors disclosed that the calculations gave satisfactory agreement with experiment. The calculated air forces on the rotor blade appear to be larger than the experimental ones, but this discrepancy can be attributed to the deficiencies in the strip analysis

Simplified aerodynamic analysis of the cyclogiro rotating wing system

A simplified aerodynamic theory of the cyclogiro rotating wing is presented herein. In addition, examples have been calculated showing the effect on the rotor characteristics of varying the design parameters of the rotor. A performance prediction, on the basis of the theory here developed, is appended, showing the performance to be expected of a machine employing this system of sustentation. The aerodynamic principles of the cyclogiro are sound; hovering flight, vertical climb, and a reasonable forward speed may be obtained with a normal expenditure of power. Auto rotation in a gliding descent is available in the event of a power-plant failure