Space Technology Special Report - Version B. July 2023 - 32

TECH BRIEFS
referenced existing ones, gradually
reducing the data until we had a
usable file to send to the machine. "
Using the new fabrication method,
the researchers developed a singlelens
telescope and captured clear
images of the lunar surface - achieving
greater resolution of objects and much
farther imaging distance than previous
metalenses. Before the technology can
be applied to modern cameras, however,
researchers must address the issue of
chromatic aberration, which causes
image distortion and blurriness when
different colors of light, which bend
in different directions, enter a lens.
" We are currently exploring smaller
and more sophisticated designs in the
visible range, and will compensate for
various optical aberrations, including
chromatic aberration, " Ni said.
For more information, contact College
of Engineering Media Relations at
communications@engr.psu.edu.
Aerospace Vehicle Entry Flightpath Control
A control system that can be feasibly integrated with a Deployable Entry Vehicle (DEV).
Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA
F
uture high mass missions to Mars,
advancements in hypersonic
aerospace vehicle design, and evolving
science goals are stretching the
performance capabilities of traditional
entry systems. NASA's Pterodactyl
team at Ames Research Center has
developed a novel yaw-to-bank control
system for a non-traditional vehicle
configurations, such as a Deployable
Entry Vehicle (DEV), that can be folded
and stowed. The approach provides
vehicle stabilization, steering, and precise
targeted landing. This control architecture
is agnostic to control actuators and can
be used with any aerospace vehicle
with a strong dihedral effect and/or
different guidance control variables.
This novel flightpath control system
exploits the dihedral effect to control
the bank angle of the vehicle by
modulating sideslip. Exploiting the
dihedral effect, in combination with
significant aerodynamic forces, enables
faster bank accelerations than could
be practically achieved through typical
control strategies, enhancing vehicle
maneuverability. This approach enables
vehicle designs with fewer control
actuators since roll-specific actuators
are not required to regulate bank angle.
The proposed control method has been
studied with three actuator systems, Flaps
Control System (FCS); Mass Movement
Control System (MMCS); and Reaction
Control System (RCS). FCS consists of
a flap configuration with longitudinal
flaps for independent pitch control, and
lateral flaps generating yaw moments.
32 JULY 2023
Flaps
Mass Movement
RCS
Multiple, independent control system configurations. (Image: NASA)
The flaps are mounted to the shoulder
of the vehicles deployable rib structure.
Additionally, the flaps are commanded
and controlled to rotate into or out of
the flow. This creates changes in the
vehicles aerodynamics to maneuver
the vehicle without the use of thrusters.
MMCS consists of moveable masses
that are mounted to several ribs of the
DEV heat shield, steering the vehicle
by shifting the vehicles Center of Mass
(CoM). Shifting the vehicles CoM adjusts
the moment arms of the forces on
the vehicle and changes the pitch and
yaw moments to control the vehicles
flightpath. RCS thrusters are mounted
to four ribs of the open-back DEV heat
shield structure to provide efficient
bank angle control of the vehicle by
changing the vehicles roll. Combining
rib-mounted RCS thrusters with a
DEV is expected to provide greater
downmass capability than a rigid
capsule sized for the same launch.
The technology has several potential
applications including aerodynamic
bodies that require deployable control
surfaces on articulating bodies; guidance
and control of DEVs with high-precision
landing of small payloads sent from
planetary bodies back to Earth (e.g.,
biological samples landed near scientific
facilities), and increasing down-mass
capabilities to planetary bodies such as
Mars reentry vehicles and precision space
launch or ballistic munitions industry.
NASA is actively seeking licensees
to commercialize this technology.
Please contact Licensing Concierge
at Agency-Patent-Licensing@mail.
nasa.gov or call at 202-358-7432 to
initiate licensing discussions. For more
information, visit https://technology.
nasa.gov/patent/TOP2-303.
SPACE TECHNOLOGY SPECIAL REPORT
https://technology.com/nasa.gov/patent/TOP2-303 https://technology.com/nasa.gov/patent/TOP2-303
Space Technology Special Report - Version B. July 2023

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