Neural network-based flight control systems: Present and future

As the first review in this field, this paper presents an in-depth mathematical view of Intelligent Flight Control Systems (IFCSs), particularly those based on artificial neural networks. The rapid evolution of IFCSs in the last two decades in both the methodological and technical aspects necessitates a comprehensive view of them to better demonstrate the current stage and the crucial remaining steps towards developing a truly intelligent flight management unit. To this end, in this paper, we will provide a detailed mathematical view of Neural Network (NN)-based flight control systems and the challenging problems that still remain. The paper will cover both the model-based and model-free IFCSs. The model-based methods consist of the basic feedback error learning scheme, the pseudocontrol strategy, and the neural backstepping method. Besides, different approaches to analyze the closed-loop stability in IFCSs, their requirements, and their limitations will be discussed in detail. Various supplementary features, which can be integrated with a basic IFCS such as the fault-tolerance capability, the consideration of system constraints, and the combination of NNs with other robust and adaptive elements like disturbance observers, would be covered, as well. On the other hand, concerning model-free flight controllers, both the indirect and direct adaptive control systems including indirect adaptive control using NN-based system identification, the approximate dynamic programming using NN, and the reinforcement learning-based adaptive optimal control will be carefully addressed. Finally, by demonstrating a well-organized view of the current stage in the development of IFCSs, the challenging issues, which are critical to be addressed in the future, are thoroughly identified. As a result, this paper can be considered as a comprehensive road map for all researchers interested in the design and development of intelligent control systems, particularly in the field of aerospace applications.     

Morphological study of thin films: Simulation and experimental insights using horizontal visibility graph

We studied the morphological nature of various thin films such as silicon carbide (SiC), diamond (C), germanium (Ge), and gallium nitride (GaN) on silicon substrate Si(100) using the pulsed laser deposition (PLD) method and Monte Carlo simulation. We, for the first time, systematically employed the visibility algorithm graph to meticulously study the morphological features of various PLD grown thin films. These thin-film morphologies are investigated using random distribution, Gaussian distribution, patterned heights, etc. The nature of the interfacial height of individual surfaces is examined by a horizontal visibility graph (HVG). It demonstrates that the continuous interfacial height of the silicon carbide, diamond, germanium, and gallium nitride films are attributed to random distribution and Gaussian distribution in thin films. However, discrete peaks are obtained in the brush and step-like morphology of germanium thin films. Further, we have experimentally verified the morphological nature of simulated silicon carbide, diamond, germanium, and gallium nitride thin films were grown on Si(100) substrate by pulsed laser deposition (PLD) at elevated temperature. Various characterization techniques have been used to study the morphological, and electrical properties which confirmed the different nature of the deposited films on the Silicon substrate. Decent hysteresis behavior has been confirmed by current-voltage (IV) measurement in all the four deposited films. The highest current has been measured for GaN at ～60 nA and the lowest current in SiC at ～30 nA level which is quite low comparing with the expected signal level (μA). The HVG technique is suitable to understand surface features of thin films which are substantially advantageous for the energy devices, detectors, optoelectronic devices operating at high temperatures.     

北斗三星无源定位技术

介绍了北斗双星定位系统的特点、功能、系统组成和工作原理,说明了北斗有源定位方式在应用方面的局限性。针对北斗有源定位方式不能无线电静默,和人们对具有无线电隐蔽性的卫星定位的需求,详细介绍一种北斗三星无源定位技术:包括工作原理、实现方法、定位精度分析和目前达到的定位精度。阐述了北斗三星无源定位技术的优点和应用形势。     

GaN and AlGaN high-voltage rectifiers grown by metal-organic chemical-vapor deposition

In this paper, we report the study of the electrical characteristics of GaN and AlGaN vertical p-i-n junctions and Schottky rectifiers grown on both sapphire and SiC substrates by metal-organic chemical-vapor deposition. For GaN p-i-n rectifiers grown on SiC with a relatively thin “i” region of 2 μm, a breakdown voltage over 400 V, and forward voltage as low as 4.5 V at 100 A/cm² are exhibited for a 60-μm-diameter device. A GaN Schottky diode with a 2-μm-thick undoped layer exhibits a blocking voltage in excess of ∼230 V at a reverse-leakage current density below 1 mA/cm², and a forward-voltage drop of 3.5 V at a current density of 100 A/cm². It has been found that with the same device structure and process approach, the leakage current of a device grown on a SiC substrate is much lower than a device grown on a sapphire substrate. The use of Mg ion implantation for p-guard rings as planar-edge terminations in mesageometry GaN Schottky rectifiers has also been studied.     

Robust crossfeed design for hovering rotorcraft

Control law design for rotorcraft fly-by-wire systems normally attempts to decouple the angular responses using fixed-gain crossfeeds. This approach can lead to poor decoupling over the frequency range of pilot inputs and increase the load on the feedback loops. In order to improve the decoupling performance, dynamic crossfeeds should be adopted. Moreover, because of the large changes that occur in the aircraft dynamics due to small changes about the nominal design condition, especially for near-hovering flight, the crossfeed design must be ‘robust’. A new low-order matching method is presented here to design robust crossfeed compensators for multi-input, multi-output (MIMO) systems. The technique minimizes cross-coupling given an anticipated set of parameter variations for the range of flight conditions of concern. Results are presented in this paper of an analysis of the pitch/roll coupling of the UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter in near-hovering flight. A robust crossfeed is designed that shows significant improvement in decoupling perfomance and robustness over the fixed-gain or single point dynamic compensators. The design method and results are presented in an easily used graphical format that lends significant physical insight to the design procedure. This plant precompensation technique is an appropriate preliminary step to the design of robust feedback control laws for rotorcraft.     

Multi-input,multi-output flight control system design for the YF-16 using nonlinear QFT and pilot compensation

Nonlinear quantitative feedback theory (QFT) and pilot compensation techniques are used to design a 2 × 2 flight control system for the YF-16 aircraft over a large range of plant uncertainty. The design is based on numerical input-output time histories generated with a FORTRAN implemented nonlinear simulation of the YF-16. The first step of the design process is the generation of a set of equivalent linear time-invariant (LTI) plant models to represent the actual nonlinear plant. It has been proven that the solution to the equivalent plant problem is guaranteed to solve the original nonlinear problem. Standard QFT techniques are then used in the design synthesis based on the equivalent plant models. A detailed mathematical development of the method used to develop these equivalent LTI plant models is provided. After this inner-loop design, pilot compensation is developed to reduce the pilot's workload. This outer-loop design is also based on a set of equivalent LTI plant models. This is accomplished by modelling the pilot with parameters that result in good handling qualities ratings, and developing the necessary compensation to force the desired system responses.     

Electrical and growth characteristics of Au/Al0.15Ga0.85N:Si structures with various Si incorporations

We have investigated the growth characteristics of n-Al_0.15Ga_0.85N:Si/GaN and the electronic properties of Au/n-Al_0.15Ga_0.85N:Si diode structures grown by metal-organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) with various Si incorporations. The Al_0.15Ga_0.85N:Si layers were grown on undoped GaN/sapphire (0001) epitaxial layers in a horizontal MOCVD reactor at the reduced pressure of 300 torr. The mirrorlike surface, free of defects, such as cracks or hillocks, can be seen in the undoped Al_0.15Ga_0.85N epilayer, which was grown without any intentional flow of SiH₄. However, many cracks are observed in the n-Al_0.15Ga_0.85N:Si, which was grown with Si incorporation above 1.0 nmol/min. While Au/n-Al_0.15Ga_0.85N:Si diodes having low incorporation of Si showed retively good rectifying behavior, the samples having high Si incorporation exhibited leaky current-voltage (I-V) behavior. Particularly, the Au/n-Al_0.15Ga_0.85N:Si structure grown with Si incorporation above 1.0 nmol/min cannot be used for electrical rectification. Both added tunneling components and thermionic emission influence the current transport at the Au/n-Al_0.15Ga_0.85N:Si barrier when Si incorporation becomes higher.     

Exoatmospheric interception problem solved using output feedback law

Interception problems are often dealt with by separating guidance and autopilot design. Guidance law can be obtained using optimal control theory and autopilot design is performed on a linearized system. In this paper, we introduce a new approach that determines a global guidance and autopilot law, based on direct output feedback design. Application of this method to exoatmospheric interception problem results in good performances. Extension to endoatmospheric case is under investigation.     

板栅模具设计中的几个问题

通过对板栅模具设计中遇到的几个实际问题的分析提出处理意见 ,从而达到科学合理地设计板栅模具。     

New developments in CdTe and CdZnTe detectors for X and γ-ray applications

There has been considerable recent progress in II-VI semiconductor material and in methods for improving performance of the associated radiation detectors. New high resistivity CdZnTe material, new contact technologies, new detector structures, new electronic correction methods have opened the field of nuclear and x-ray imaging for industrial and medical applications. The purpose of this paper is to review new developments in several of these fields. In addition, we will present some recent results at LETI concerning first the CdTe 2-D imaging system (20 × 30 mm² with 400 × 600 pixels) for dental radiology and second the CdZnTe fast pulse correction method applied to a 5 × 5 × 5 mm³ CdZnTe detector (energy resolution = 5% for detection efficiency of 85% at 122 keV) for medical imaging.