AFTI/F-16 digital flight control system experience

The Advanced Flighter Technology Integration (AFTI) F-16 program is investigating the integration of emerging technologies into an advanced fighter aircraft. The three major technologies involved are the triplex digital flight control system; decoupled aircraft flight control; and integration of avionics, pilot displays, and flight control. In addition to investigating improvements in fighter performance, the AFTI/F-16 program provides a look at generic problems facing highly integrated, flight-crucial digital controls. An overview of the AFTI/F-16 systems is followed by a summary of flight test experience and recommendations

Qualification needs for advanced integrated aircraft

In an effort to achieve maximum aircraft performance, designers are integrating aircraft systems. The characteristics of aerodynamics, vehicle structure, and propulsion systems are being integrated and controlled through embedded, often flight critical, electronic systems. The qualification needs for such highly integrated aircraft systems are addressed. Based on flight experience with research aircraft, a set of test capabilities is described which allows for complete and efficient qualification of advanced integrated aircraft

Development experience with a simple expert system demonstrator for pilot emergency procedures

Expert system techniques, a major application area of artificial intelligence (AI), are examined in the development of pilot associate to handle aircraft emergency procedures. The term pilot associate is used to describe research involving expert systems that can assist the pilot in the cockpit. The development of expert systems for the electrical system and flight control system emergency procedures are discussed. A simple, high-level expert system provides the means to choose which knowledge domain is needed. The expert systems were developed on a low-cost, FORTH-based package, using a personal computer

System overview of the NASA Dryden Integrated Test Facility

The Integrated Test Facility, built at the NASA Dryden Flight Research Facility, provides new real-time test capabilities for emerging research aircraft. An overview of the test facility and the real-time systems developed to operate this unique facility is presented. The facility will reduce flight test risk by minimizing the difference between the flight and ground test environments. This ground test environment is provided by combining real-time flight simulation with the actual aircraft. A brief introduction to the facility is followed by a discussion of the generic capabilities of its real-time systems. The simulation system with flight hardware and the remotely augmented vehicle system is described. An overview of many hardware systems developed for the facility follows. The benefits of applying simulation to hardware-in-the-loop testing on the X-31 Flight Research Program are presented

A knowledge-based system design/information tool for aircraft flight control systems

Research aircraft have become increasingly dependent on advanced control systems to accomplish program goals. These aircraft are integrating multiple disciplines to improve performance and satisfy research objectives. This integration is being accomplished through electronic control systems. Because of the number of systems involved and the variety of engineering disciplines, systems design methods and information management have become essential to program success. The primary objective of the system design/information tool for aircraft flight control system is to help transfer flight control system design knowledge to the flight test community. By providing all of the design information and covering multiple disciplines in a structured, graphical manner, flight control systems can more easily be understood by the test engineers. This will provide the engineers with the information needed to thoroughly ground test the system and thereby reduce the likelihood of serious design errors surfacing in flight. The secondary objective is to apply structured design techniques to all of the design domains. By using the techniques in the top level system design down through the detailed hardware and software designs, it is hoped that fewer design anomalies will result. The flight test experiences of three highly complex, integrated aircraft programs are reviewed: the X-29 forward-swept wing, the advanced fighter technology integration (AFTI) F-16, and the highly maneuverable aircraft technology (HiMAT) program. Significant operating anomalies and the design errors which cause them, are examined to help identify what functions a system design/information tool should provide to assist designers in avoiding errors

Pro-representability of KMK^M-cohomology in weight 3 generalizing a result of Bloch

We generalize a result, on the pro-representability of Milnor $K$-cohomology groups at the identity, that's due to Bloch. In particular, we prove, for $X$ a smooth, proper, and geometrically connected variety defined over an algebraic field extension $k/\mathbb{Q}$, that the functor $$\mathscr{T}_{X}^{i,3}(A)=\ker\left(H^i(X_A,\mathcal{K}_{3,X_A}^M)\rightarrow H^i(X,\mathcal{K}_{3,X}^M)\right),$$ defined on Artin local $k$-algebras $(A,\mathfrak{m}_A)$ with $A/\mathfrak{m}_A\cong k$, is pro-representable provided that certain Hodge numbers of $X$ vanish.Comment: 13 pages; To appear in Annals of K-theor

Benjamin F. Mackall Family Papers, 1953-1955

Correspondence; interviews with Mackall's son and daughter-in-law, Henry C. and Margaret (Robertson) Mackall, of Minneapolis, Minn., relating to Mackall, the family business, B.F. Mackall Inc., and John L. Grandin, owner of Grandin Farms and family friend, of Warren, Pa., area (original home of Mrs. Mackall); scrapbook compiled by Marjorie Cruikshank, containing information concerning the estate of Jay Cooke, dredging on the Red River, and Red River Valley history; and newspaper clippings