Electromechanical Control System Research Articles

A Low Cost Dedicated Microprocessor Forms the Heart of an Electronic Control System for Appliance Applications

This paper outlines the design concepts and principles of operation of a microprocessor LSI circuit which combines the advantages of electronic control with flexibility allowing a solid state electronic control system to directly compete with the present electromechanical control systems for appliance applications. For this particular study the paper limits itself to discussions around the bulk domestic appliance market i.e. that part made up of clothes washers and dishwashers only, although the same principles are applicable to a wide range of appliance and other applications.

Synthesis of an Electromechanical Control System for a Compound Hingeless Rotor Helicopter

Synthesis of an Electromechanical Control System for a Compound Hingeless Rotor Helicopter

負荷変動をうける電気機械式位置御制系の適応制御

負荷変動をうける電気機械式位置御制系の適応制御

Controlled recovery of payloads at large glide distances, using the para-foil.

Recent progress of Sandia Laboratory in the development of a small guidance and control system and by the University of Notre Dame on the Para-Foil has indicated that the design of a system capable of recovering a 150-Ib payload from altitudes greater than 300,000 ft and ranges of from three to five times the deployment height (60,000 ft) is quite feasible. The Para-Foil is a completely nonrigid, self-inflating flying wing, capable of being packed and deployed like a conventional parachute and able to glide large distances. The guidance package is an electromechanical control system employing a direction-finding antenna to control the direction of the Para-Foil's glide path with respect to a ground or shipboard transmitter. The recovery system design program includes such parameters as size and weight of the recovery unit, size of the payload (W/S wing loading), glide ratio and wind structure, and flare-out capabilities in the recovery area. The full-scale recovery program includes numerous packing, deployment, and glide tests. These tests demonstrated successful deployment, excellent gliding performance (JL/D = 3.88) and dynamic flight stability, and very low impact velocities during the final recovery phases. Recent guidance and control tests also demonstrated excellent response in maneuverability of the Para-Foil. This paper summarizes the design program and the results of full-scale deployment and guided recovery flight tests and demonstrates the potential of the Para-Foil for use in many space-age recovery programs.

Accelerator Alignment a Problem in Feedback-Control Systems

Obtaining and keeping a satisfactory closed beam orbit is a major problem in the design of large accelerators. The system determining this orbit has many variables, these variables are distributed around the accelerator structure, and the existence of the beam is periodic. The designer may attempt to ensure satisfactory values for these variables by brute-force techniques such as ultra-precision construction, or he may apply the more subtle techniques of system control theory. In any case, he is dealing with a multivariable, interacting, sampled-data control problem. For the accelerators of the future, it may not be obvious that a solution exists. In fact, however, there are techniques whereby an equilibrium orbit may first be obtained and thereafter maintained in the presence of all expected disturbances, by means of an electro-mechanical control system employing beam-position monitors. These techniques further permit a wide variety of operator experiments, such as trying various orbits, or restricting the spatial harmonic content of magnet re-positioning. The purpose of this paper is to illustrate certain of these techniques. For clarity we will restrict our discussion to an elementary magnet-position control system for maintaining a closed orbit in the presence of magnet support settling. We assume the beam to be continously present, rather than to be discrete with time. This and other errors, such as magnet imperfections, and other control variables, such as backleg windings, would be handled in the same general way in a realistic design.

Integrated semiconductor networks in electromechanical control systems : C. Abbott, J. Bohan, L. Housey and L. Regis, Semiconductor Products, p. 15 (Oct. 1963)

Integrated semiconductor networks in electromechanical control systems : C. Abbott, J. Bohan, L. Housey and L. Regis, Semiconductor Products, p. 15 (Oct. 1963)

Applications of Transfluxors to an Electromechanical Control System

A control system using multiaperture magnetic cores of the transfluxor type provides a reliable method of commanding paper advance and auxiliary functions in a photographic printer. The transfluxors are operated in a mode which permits larger variations in drive control pulses and which is less sensitive to extraneous signals. Coupling to the mechanical system is done via thyratrons to clutches and relays. Advantages over a purely relay or flip-flop logic for this control purpose are discussed briefly.

Response of a particular nonlinear control system to random signals

The response of an electromechanical control system, which incorporates by design a hard-spring amplitude characteristic, is evaluated for inputs having a Gaussian amplitude-probability distribution and no constant components. These inputs are considered not as noise, but as true signals. The analysis is limited to a system with a second-order characteristic equation and is based on a general extension of the describing function technique. The control system considered is simulated on an analogue computer and experimental verification of the analysis is obtained.

Announcements

MR. S. S. CARLISLE, a graduate of Queen's University, Belfast, has been appointed head of the Instrument Section of the British Iron and Steel Research Association, in succession to Mr. W. C. Fahie, who is taking up an appointment in the Ministry of Defence. Mr. Carlisle joined the Association in October 1946, following four years' service in the Experimental Department, H.M.S. Excellent, Portsmouth, on the staff of the Director of Scientific Research, Admiralty, where he was largely responsible for the design and development of certain special recording instruments and electro-mechanical control systems associated with modern gunnery and radar techniques.