DIGITAL AND HYBRID SIMULATION OF AN ORBITAL AND REENTRY VEHICLE.

Abstract

The report documents research on techniques and components that may be used to efficiently simulate an orbital and reentry vehicle with a digital or a hybrid computer system. A mathematical model based on a Gemini-type spacecraft is defined. The spacecraft model was simulated with three separate programs: (1) A digital program running at a single iteration rate for all parts of the simulation. (2) A digital program that operates with four concurrent iteration rates. Each iteration rate is associated with a grouping of the functions of the spacecraft model having similar frequencies. The higher frequency groups operate with the faster iteration rates. (3) A hybrid program that simulated the spacecraft with digital and analog equipment. Four photoresitive 8 common product multipliers were constructed to increase the computation capabilities of analog equipment. A study of techniques of function generation and program debugging is presented. The question of floating point versus fixed point programming for simulation is discussed. (Author)

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
May 01, 1968
Accession Number
AD0673517

Entities

People

  • John W. Kiowski
  • William M. Ruhsam

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Computational Science
  • Computer Programming
  • Computer Simulations
  • Computers
  • Frequency
  • Hybrid Computers
  • Hybrid Simulations
  • Iterations
  • Mathematical Models
  • Models
  • Reentry Vehicles
  • Simulations
  • Simulators
  • Spacecraft
  • Vehicles

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Computer Engineering
  • Finite Element Method (FEM) for solving Partial Differential Equations (PDEs)
  • Software Engineering

Technology Areas

  • Space
  • Space - Spacecraft Maneuvers