Journal of Aerospace Technology and Management

Unification of Training Programs for Aviation Professionals as a Flight Safety Criterion

Tue, 09 Jan 2024 00:00:00 -0300

The research relevance is predefined by the air travel number growth. Accordingly, the relevance of this issue is increasing, especially concerning air travel safety. Also, due to the increasing demand for international flights, it becomes essential to harmonize the standards and methodology of training aviation personnel. The research aims to consider the parameters of flight safety and the impact of the unification of training programs for aviation personnel. The conclusion that unification can significantly affect safety was made with the help of scientific and special methods, including analysis, synthesis, concretization, and generalization. An analysis of existing unification methods was conducted. The multi-crew pilot training program proved to be one of the most advanced compared to standard flight crew training programs. The method was determined to be a specialized training program tailored to the needs of the aviation industry and focused on training pilots for multi-crew and jet operations. The program is more challenging, intensive and dynamic, and includes a significant amount of simulator training. Traditional flight training programs, such as Private Pilot Licenses (PPL), Commercial Pilot Licenses (CPL), instrument qualification, and multi-engine rating, have a broader scope and provide pilots with more career opportunities. Simulator training has been identified as a critical component of many flight training programs and plays a vital role in flight safety. The study may be of interest to a range of readers concerned with the issue of standardizing aviation training and improving safety in aviation, including researchers, faculty, and students of higher education institutions in the aviation field.

On Structure and Secondary Linkages in Polymers Based on Glycidyl Azide Polymer and Diisocyanate

Mon, 19 Feb 2024 00:00:00 -0300

Polymers based on glycidyl azide polymer (GAP) and isocyanate present molecular structures dependent on NCO/OH molar ratio and diisocyanate reactivity. In this study, GAP polymers are obtained from a reaction with aromatic (toluene diisocyanate, TDI) or aliphatic (isophoranediisocyanate, IPDI) diisocyanates, varying the NCO/OH molar ratio from equimolar to 2.5. The increment in NCO/OH molar ratio increases the gel fraction in GAP/TDI polymers up to 90 wt%, along with a progressive growth in their glass transition temperature (Tg), which rises 10 °C from NCO/OH equimolar to 2.5. In opposition, in the GAP/IPDI polymers, the maximum gel fraction is 20 wt%, and the Tg value practically does not change in NCO excess. Infrared spectroscopy shows the predominant presence of urethane groups in polymers containing up to 2.0 NCO/OH molar ratio; however, at 2.5, urethane and allophanate characteristic bands are present in both polymers. That reactivity is controlled by chemical kinetics since the activation barrier of the reaction between the GAP and TDI is 10 kcal.mol^‑1 lower than in the corresponding reaction with the IPDI. This difference results from the sum of the higher hyperconjugative interactions, approximately 65%, and the lower steric hindrance, about 35%, in the activated complex containing the TDI.

Orbit-injection Strategy to a Multistage Launch Vehicle Based on Six-Degree of Freedom and Coupled Axes Attitude Control System

Mon, 18 Mar 2024 00:00:00 -0300

Understanding of various aerodynamic factors involved in flight trajectories is fundamental to design launch vehicles. First and foremost, computer simulation is an efficient way of predicting its behavior in the movement across the atmosphere. Considering that the available Brazilian version of Analysis, Simulation and Trajectory Optimization Software for Space Applications (Astos) does not simulate a controlled vehicle in six degrees of freedom (DoF), the aim of this article is to complement the Astos outcomes, particularly evaluating the trajectory of a controlled launch vehicle from liftoff to orbit injection, considering the model of rigid body dynamics with a six DoF. This approach carried out with an in-house developed simulator called Scott that simulated a multistage launcher with three flight configurations. In the Scott computer program, a launcher was modeled with differential equations in six DoF, coupled axes attitude control system, and aerodynamic coefficients that changed as a function of Mach number. These features improved the results generated by Astos software for the same configurations and the same initial conditions. Additionally, the results provided by Scott were close to actual vehicle in terms of attitude change and Mach number reached.

Strategy and Evaluation of Bilateral Agreement on Telemetry, Tracking, and Control Activities in Indonesia

Intan Perwitasari, Firmansyah Firmansyah — Mon, 19 Feb 2024 00:00:00 -0300

India and Indonesia propose a bilateral cooperation to develop and operate telemetry, tracking, and control (TCC) ground stations to support satellite missions on geostationary orbits with the use of Geostationary Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) since 1997, in order to master and commercialize space technology. This cooperation needs to be assessed in order to identify how it will affect Indonesia and India and to establish an improvement strategy for improved business and ways to integrate. !e objectives of this paper are to (i) evaluate the benefits and cost of this cooperation, (ii) map the business model of the telemetry, tracking and command ground station in Biak, and (iii) design a new strategy to get competitiveness. Descriptive analysis with canvas mapping and transaction cost perspective is the approach utilized. The article’s results highlight that (i) Indonesia and India have mutual benefits from tangible and intangible side, (ii) Indonesia has a competitive advantage due to its geographic location and commercialization of Biak Ground Station, so its potential to Telemetry, Tracking, and Command (TT&C) commercial businesses in the future, not only to domestic, but also international market, and (iii) Indonesia needs collaborate with commercial entities and making optimum diplomation with G2B schema to get beneficially among parties to maximize TT&C infrastructure in Biak Island.

Robust Finite-Time Control for Guidance Law with Uncertainties in Missile Dynamics

Fazhan Tao, Jingtian Shi, Jie Zhang, Zhumu Fu, Song Gao — Mon, 19 Feb 2024 00:00:00 -0300

In this paper, the robust !nite-time control for impact angle guidance of missile dynamic system with uncertainties is investigated by combining linear extended state observer (LESO) and adaptive non-singular fast terminal sliding mode method. Specially for dealing with existing uncertainties including time-varying parametric perturbation and nonparametric disturbances in high order line-of-sight rates and target acceleration, a robust LESO strategy is proposed for designing sliding mode-based impact angle guidance, which can guarantee that estimation error converges to the neighborhood of the origin in finite-time. Based on the proposed LESO framework, an adaptive non-singular fast terminal sliding mode guidance law is considered for realizing interception of maneuvering targets, which can guarantee asymptotically stability of the system. Simulation results are shown for confirming effectiveness of the proposed guidance strategy of this paper. Compared with former methods, accuracy of estimation is increased by nearly two times, and miss distance is reduced by nearly two times.

Modified Gaussian Mixture Probability Hypothesis Density Filtering using Clutter Density Estimation for Multiple Target Tracking

Lifan Sun, Wenhui Xue, Dan Gao — Mon, 15 Apr 2024 00:00:00 -0300

Gaussian mixture probability hypothesis density (GM-PHD) filtering often assumes a uniform distribution of clutter in the observation area. However, in practice, clutter is often unknown and non-uniform, necessitating accurate estimation of its spatial distribution, non-uniformity, and temporal variations. To address this problem, we proposed a modified GM-PHD filtering method with clutter density estimation for multiple target tracking. In the proposed method, first, potential target measurements within the tracking gate are eliminated to obtain the clutter measurement set. Next, the clutter density around each target is estimated. Finally, the estimated clutter density is incorporated into GM-PHD filtering, to estimate the target state and clutter density in complex clutter environments. Simulation results demonstrated that the proposed filtering method improves the performance of the GM-PHD filter in multi-target tracking scenarios with unknown clutter density.

Trends and Prospects in the Use of Energetic Materials: A Comprehensive Analysis of Cyclotrimethylenetrinitramine, Cyclotetramethylene-tetranitramine, and Hexanitrohexaazaisowurtzitane

Thiago Augusto Barbieri de Oliveira, Gilson da Silva, Elizabeth da Costa Mattos — Mon, 29 Apr 2024 00:00:00 -0300

This article provides a detailed look at how cyclotrimethylenetrinitramine (RDX), cyclotetramethylene-tetranitramine (HMX), and hexanitrohexaazaisowurtzitane (HNIW or CL-20) are currently being used for energy purposes in both civilian and military environments around the world. It highlights the significance of monitoring and prospecting for new technologies to promote innovation in developed and developing countries. This research was carried out by systematically analyzing nonpatent documents and patents from reputable databases such as Scopus, Derwent, and Espacenet. The report recognizes patent documentation as a valuable source of technical information and explores how analyzing patents can provide insights into using and developing high-performance compounds. Moreover, the article discusses the versatile applications of RDX, HMX, and CL-20, which are highly explosive substances that have found uses in multiple sectors. It delves into these materials’ chemical composition, structure, and importance in military and industrial contexts. The research methodology involved thoroughly searching and filtering documents from databases, focusing on titles, abstracts, and keywords. The results show the annual growth of publications related to the three explosive compounds and highlight the main research fields associated with each fabric. Overall, this article provides valuable insights into using and developing powerful compounds. It emphasizes the importance of technological monitoring and patent analysis in shaping strategic decision- making and fostering innovation. It is a foundation for further research and exploration of energetic materials and their applications.

Aeroacoustics Effects Generated by the Interaction Rotor-Airframe in a sUAS

Gino Rodrigo Lavagnino Sanchez, Odenir de Almeida, Fernando Martini Catalano — Mon, 20 May 2024 00:00:00 -0300

Small multirotor unmanned aerial systems (sUAS) have become more accessible and efficient recently, spurring their development for various personal and commercial uses. However, this rapid evolution raises concerns about security, control, and public health due to the proliferation of noisy drones. This study focuses on investigating a major noise source in drones called rotor-airframe interaction, which generates tonal noise through pressure fluctuations and wake interactions. To address this issue, we designed and tested three airframes with varying arm configurations. High-definition microphones and data acquisition systems were employed to measure pressure levels, and MATLAB code helped analyze the data as A-weighted signals to identify noise reduction possibilities. The key finding was that motor noise was a significant contributor, producing multiple pure tones at mid and high frequencies. Additionally, the noise signature was heavily influenced by the arm’s geometric shape and angles, underscoring the complex nature of rotor-airframe flow and acoustic interactions.

Multi-Objective Mission Planning for Multi-Payload Satellite Constellation via Non-Dominated Sorting Carnivorous Plant Algorithm

Yongkang Zhang, Qinxian Jia, Yunhua Wu, He Liao — Mon, 10 Jun 2024 00:00:00 -0300

This study investigates the issue of multi-objective mission planning for multi-payload satellite constellations via the nondominated sorting carnivorous plant algorithm (NSCPA). Observation time windows are generated, and a constraint satisfaction model is established based on multiple regional targets, satellite orbits, and characteristics of the synthetic aperture radar (SAR) payload and optical payload. A task conflict detection and resolution method is proposed to handle the task assignment among multiple satellites. Based on the existing single objective-based CPAs, a modified multi-objective NSCPA is first developed for multi-objective planning optimization using the non-dominated sorting algorithm. The effectiveness and superiority of the NSCPA are verified by a series of simulation experiments and comparisons with the traditional non-dominated sorting genetic algorithms-II (NSGA-II) and particle swarm optimization (PSO).

Quality Management Systems’ Strategic Structure Oriented to Organizational Needs Management

Joel Carlos Vieira Reinhardt, Mariana de Freitas Dewes, Odair Lelis Gonçalez — Mon, 20 May 2024 00:00:00 -0300

This article proposes a new approach to implement a quality management system’s strategic structure that incorporates prospective scenarios analysis in the determination of strategic elements, such as quality policy, mission, vision, needs, and objectives. The qualitative analysis of managers’ statements about how the results were perceived revealed a significant change in strategic structure of a study case organization within the Department of Science and Aerospace Technology. This main result of this approach lies in the reorientation of managerial focus, prioritizing organizational needs management. This realignment culminates in superior results, obtained through effective actions aimed at fully satisfying these needs, thus marking a break with historical management practices.