TIME HISTORY AS AN INFORMATION SOURCE FOR OPERATOR CONTROL OF ORBITAL RENDEZVOUS.

Abstract

A study of operator performance in an orbital rendezvous task was conducted to evaluate a display of the orbit plane (X-Y Plane) for rendezvous and to determine the effects of presenting a time history of the rendezvous as an aid to the operator. The system dynamics were simulated on an analog computer and an X-Y plotter was used as the display system. Total velocity increment expended and frequency and magnitude of control movements were used as performance indices. Range and range-rate less than 10 ft (3.05 meters x) and .5 ft/sec (.15 meters/ sec) respectively were used as criteria of successful rendezvous. Subjects were instructed to use the twoimpulse orbital transfer technique. Subjects were able to rendezvous successfully both with and without the time history information, thus demonstrating that the orbit plane profile display was satisfactory. The addition of time history information resulted in significantly lower velocity increments than those obtained without the time history. In both cases, the velocity increments were below the theoretical minimum for a line-of-sight rendezvous. Analysis of the stick movement data indicated the operator's achieved more efficient control of orbital path with the time history present. (Author)

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jun 01, 1964
Accession Number
AD0603597

Entities

People

  • George G. Frost
  • William K. Mccoy Jr.

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Analog Computers
  • Computers
  • Computing Devices
  • Display Systems
  • Dynamics
  • Frequency
  • Line Of Sight
  • Rendezvous

Readers

  • Computer Science/Computer Engineering/Data Science/Digital Signal Processing.
  • Robotics and Automation.
  • Space Exploration and Orbital Mechanics.

Technology Areas

  • Space
  • Space - Orbital Debris
  • Space - Spacecraft Maneuvers