Propulsion

About: Propulsion is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 24977 publications have been published within this topic receiving 200311 citations.

Underwater two phase ramjet engine

Abstract: An underwater two-phase ramjet propulsion unit includes an inlet (104) for receiving a flow of water, a compressed gas injector (132, 134) for injecting compressed gas into the flow of water, a mixing chamber (106) for mixing the compressed gas with the water to provide a two-phase flow of working fluid, and a nozzle (108) for accelerating the two-phase working fluid to generate a two-phase jet. The propulsion unit can be implemented with fixed geometry or variable geometry. The propulsion unit includes a supersonic gas injector (132) as well as a subsonic gas injector (134). The propulsion unit includes a control system (110) for controlling the compressor (122), supersonic gas injector (132), subsonic gas injector (134), the geometry of the unit, and the direction of the thrust vector.

Distributed train intelligence system and method

Abstract: A system and method which may include on each locomotive a propulsion system and a braking system; a transceiver for communication between the locomotives; and sensors for sensing operational conditions on the locomotive. A processor receives the sensed operation conditions, communicates information including the sensed operational conditions to the other locomotive, determines a propulsion or braking value or command based on the sensed operational conditions, pre-selected criteria and the information received from the other locomotive, and outputs the propulsion or braking value or command. The present system may include on each locomotive a location determining device and a storage of track topology; and the processor determines and communicates to the other locomotive as information an initial propulsion or braking value using the topology of the present and projected location of the locomotive and pre-selected criteria, determines a final propulsion or braking value or command based on the initial value and the information received from the other locomotive, and outputs the final propulsion or braking value.

Time Simulations of the Response of Maneuvering Flexible Aircraft

Abstract: This work is concerned with time simulations of the response of flying flexible aircraft to initial conditions and external excitations, such as gusts. The simulations are based on a unified formulation of the problem of dynamics and control of maneuvering flexible aircraft developed recently by the authors. The formulation represents a seamless integration of pertinent material from the areas of analytical dynamics, structural dynamics, aerodynamics, and controls. It incorporates both the aircraft rigid-body motions and elastic deformations and it includes the aerodynamic, propulsion, gravity, and control forces, all in a rigorous manner. The formulation lends itself to efficient computer processing of the aircraft response. The formulation contains improvements over the earlier formulation by the authors in the form of a reduced-order structural model and newly designed, easier-to-implement controller and state observer. The corresponding time simulations are entirely new, and no similar results have been obtained by other investigators. The developments should help with the design of the new generation of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and in particular with the design of autonomous UAVs controlled by autopilots.