Abstract: A system for adaptive and reconfigurable control of aircraft and other complex objects and processes, herein referred to collectively as controlled “plants.” A modified form of sequential least-squares estimation is used to obtain near-real-time estimates of the values of plant parameters. The parameter estimates are used in a novel piecewise-linear optimal receding-horizon sampled-data controller in which internal controller parameters, known in the art as Riccati gains, are propagated from their current values using the most recent plant parameter estimates. This method of updating Riccati gains is a major departure from the prior art in receding-horizon control, where the Riccati gains (or equivalent) are re-initialized at each control update using terminal boundary conditions. The present invention provides improved robustness of control, lessened need for re-tuning control-effort penalties when operating conditions change, and significantly reduced computational burden.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a self-organizing control of advanced turbine engines wherein thrust is controlled and thrust specific fuel consumption (TSFC) is minimized by control of the fuel flow rate as well as optimization of system geometric parameters. The controller computes the net thrust error by comparing commanded thrust with an inferred or calculated thrust measurement.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a system for nondestructive evaluation (NDE) of material flaw characteristics. The NDE system, after being trained on previously-acquired experimental data, is given an assigned NDE task by the inspector and/or remote observer. This task is requested via a small keyboard on the system control unit or remotely. The system then issues detailed commands to stepping motors in its transducer-positioning mechanism (scanner) and to logic circuits in the ultrasonic (UT) pulser/receiver to establish the sequence of transducer (probe) translation and orientation changes and the frequency, pulse-width, and pulse repetition interval used to energize the probe. Shaft-position encoders in the scanning mechanism are used to insure faithful following of the commanded position/orientation sequence.