A MATLAB program to study gust loading on a simple aircraft model

The present report is part of a "Manual" on aircraft loads, that is being prepared by NLR. It contains a computer program, to be used in combination with "MATLAB4 for Windows" (Student Edition) software, to study aircraft loading due to turbulence. It includes a simple aircraft response model with two rigid and three flexible symmetric degrees...

Linear recursive formulation of flexible multi-body space system dynamics

Numerical simulation of the dynamics of multi-body systems constitutes a central part in the design and analysis of modern space-based systems. The report focuses on the development of a recursive formulation of the dynamics of flexible spacecraft-robotmanipulator systems, suitable for efficient numerical simulation. The rather well-established...

Predesign of a simulator for inverse robot kinematics

An inverse robot kinematics method is being developed that is to be applicable to any sequential rigid robot. In this report, first requirements are identified and a survey of existing methods is given. An. evaluation of these methods with respect to the requirements then shows that a method based on optimization is the best candidate. It...

Numerical solution of dynamical systems with equality state-space constraints

Numerical simulation of constrained dynamical systems is known to exhibit stability problems even when the unconstrained system can be simulated in a stable manner. We show that not the constraints themselves, but the transformation of a continuous set of equations to a discrete set of equations is the true source of the stability problem....

Study on efficient numerical time-integration methods for simulation of multi-body systems

This report describes the results of an evaluation of numerical integration schemes to be used for the digital simulation of second order ordinary differential equations (ODE's) which are characteristic for multibody systems such as space manipulators. The study focuses on dedicated schemes for this type of systems. Main attention is paid to the...

Quasi-recursive dynamics equations for spacecraft-based flexible robotic manipulators

The report contains the development of the dynamics equations of a spacecraftmanipulator system with chain topology. The spacecraft may be flexible. The attached manipulator consists of an arbitrary number of links, connected by single degree-of-freedom rotational joints. None, any, or all of the links may be flexible. A rigid or flexible...

Equivalent flexibility modelling for the recursive simulation of robot manipulator dymamics

The report focuses on the mathematical modelling of the dynamics of spacecraft based manipulators displaying structural flexibility in their links. The equations of motion must be cast in a form suitable for efficient numerical simulation. Equations of motion found in literature are usually written in the form of an augmented system of...

A positioning system based on NAVSAT

A worldwide navigation system called NAVSAT is discussed. This positioning system is based on satellites which broadcast information which can be used by receivers of this Information to estimate their position. The motion of the users is modelled by splines. The estimation procedure is based on the extended Kalman filter approach.

A perspective of mathematical simulation and optimization techniques in computer aided design

The central issue discussed in this paper is how a designer may profit from the use of mathematical simulation and optimization techniques. These techniques can be useful tools to support the designer in solving his design problem. The place and the potential of these techniques in the design process, as well as their use by the designer, are...

In-orbit experiment with an attitude control algorithm for ANS based on modern control principles

The existing fine attitude system of the Astronomical Netherlands Satellite was designed on the basis of conventional digital control techniques. The possibility of a more advanced approach is presented in this report. As an example, an alternative control algorithm for the scan mode has been developed with the use of state estimation and state...