NRA NNH07ZEA001N-IVHM1 FOR TOPIC NUMBER: IVHM-1.5, PROPOSAL 07-IVHM1-07-0019 WITH RIDGETOP GROUP INC. ENTIT…

Public award description

NRA NNH07ZEA001N-IVHM1 FOR TOPIC NUMBER: IVHM-1.5, PROPOSAL 07-IVHM1-07-0019 WITH RIDGETOP GROUP INC. ENTITLED, DEVELOP AND VALIDATE FAULT DETECTION AND DIAGNOSTIC METHODS FOR SWITCH MODE POWER SUPPLIES USED IN AVIONIC CONTROL SYSTEMS EMPLOYING ELECTRO-MECHANICAL ACTUATORS. THE OBJECTIVE OF THIS NRA TOPIC IS TO DEVELOP AND VALIDATE OF DIAGNOSTIC AND PROGNOSTIC ALGORITHMS FOR ELECTROMECHANICAL SYSTEMS; TO ESTIMATE STATE OF HEALTH AND TIME TO FAILURE DURING NOMINAL AND DEGRADED OPERATIONS USING MODEL-BASED APPROACHES; TO DEVELOP DAMAGE PROPAGATION MODELS FOR ESTIMATION OF REMAINING COMPONENT LIFE GIVEN ANTICIPATED USAGE AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS; TO INVESTIGATE UNCERTAINTY SOURCES AND MECHANISMS FOR UNCERTAINTY PROPAGATION AS WELL AS UNCERTAINTY; TO CONDUCT EXPERIMENTAL VALIDATION OF DIAGNOSTIC AND PROGNOSTIC ALGORITHMS. THE GOAL OF THE IVHM PROJECT IS TO IMPROVE THE SAFETY OF BOTH THE NEAR-FUTURE AND NEXT-GENERATION AIR TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS BY REDUCING SYSTEM AND COMPONENT FAILURES AS CAUSAL AND CONTRIBUTING FACTORS IN AIRCRAFT ACCIDENTS AND INCIDENTS. THE PROJECT SHOULD DEVELOP TECHNOLOGIES TO DETERMINE SYSTEM/COMPONENT DEGRADATION AND DAMAGE EARLY ENOUGH TO PREVENT OR GRACEFULLY RECOVER FROM IN-FLIGHT FAILURES. THESE TECHNOLOGIES WILL ENABLE NEARLY CONTINUOUS ON-BOARD SITUATIONAL AWARENESS OF THE VEHICLE HEALTH STATE FOR USE BY THE FLIGHT CREW, GROUND CREW, AND MAINTENANCE DEPOT. A MAIN EMPHASIS OF THE IVHM PROJECT IS TO DEVELOP AUTOMATIC METHODS FOR DETECTION, DIAGNOSIS, AND PROGNOSIS OF THE VEHICLE AT A SYSTEM AND SUBSYSTEM LEVEL. THIS IS ACCOMPLISHED THROUGH ANALYSIS OF ELECTRO-, THERMO-, AND MECHANICAL FAILURE, THE ANALYSIS OF THE INTERACTION OF ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS ON VEHICLE SYSTEMS AND SUBSYSTEMS, AND THE STUDY OF DAMAGE AND DEGRADATION MECHANISMS TO MORE ACCURATELY ASSESS THE VEHICLES HEALTH STATE.