ADAPTION FOR SPACE VEHICLES THROUGH ON-BOARD DIGITAL COMPUTER CONTROL.
Abstract
Space mission effectiveness can be increased by providing vehicles with the ability to adapt to equipment failures and to unexpected events. The characteristic of adaptiveness can be incorporated into a vehicle through proper organization of data/command flow combined with preplanning of responses to abnormal situations. The study has verified that these functions can be implemented in an on-board digital computer-controller. Concepts and terminology, system organization, methodology and measures of effectiveness were developed and applied to two model missions. Evaluation of a well defined rendezvous spacecraft clearly indicates that substantial increases in mission success may be obtained through computer controlled adaptation. A second analysis applies the same system organization to a complex manned vehicle of the 1970's in order to define a useful upper limit to control computer requirements. The major conclusion of the study is that the implementation of adaptation is feasible, effective and practical. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 01, 1964
- Accession Number
- AD0602608
Entities
People
- A. S. Buchman
- C. F. Matthews
- K. J. Klarman