@misc{PischingerEschDuesmann2006, author = {Pischinger, Martin and Esch, Thomas and Duesmann, Klaus}, title = {Elektromagnetischer Aktuator mit gelenkig abgest{\"u}tzter R{\"u}ckstellfeder}, year = {2006}, abstract = {Die Erfindung betrifft einen elektromagnetischen Aktuator zur Bet{\"a}tigung eines Stellgliedes (7) mit wenigstens einem gesteuert bestrombaren Elektromagneten (1, 2) und einem mit dem Stellglied (7) in Wirkverbindung stehenden Anker (5), der bei Bestromung des Elektromagneten (1, 2) gegen die Kraft wenigstens einer an einem Geh{\"a}use (12) abgest{\"u}tzten R{\"u}ckstellfeder (10) an der Polfl{\"a}che (3, 4) des Elektromagneten (1, 2) zur Anlage kommt, und daß zumindest der Anker (5) {\"u}ber eine sph{\"a}rische Gelenkanordnung (11) auf der R{\"u}ckstellfeder (10) abgest{\"u}tzt ist.}, language = {de} } @misc{EickmannEschFunkeetal.2014, author = {Eickmann, Matthias and Esch, Thomas and Funke, Harald and Abanteriba, Sylvester and Roosen, Petra}, title = {Biofuels in Aviation - Safety Implications of Bio-Ethanol Usage in General Aviation Aircraft}, year = {2014}, abstract = {Up in the clouds and above fuels and construction materials must be very carefully selected to ensure a smooth flight and touchdown. Out of around 38,000 single and dual-engined propeller aeroplanes, roughly a third are affected by a new trend in the fuel sector that may lead to operating troubles or even emergency landings: The admixture of bio-ethanol to conventional gasoline. Experiences with these fuels may be projected to alternative mixtures containing new components.}, language = {en} } @article{FunkeEschRoosen2022, author = {Funke, Harald and Esch, Thomas and Roosen, Petra}, title = {Powertrain Adaptions for LPG Usage in General Aviation}, series = {MTZ worldwide}, volume = {2022}, journal = {MTZ worldwide}, number = {83}, publisher = {Springer Nature}, address = {Basel}, doi = {10.1007/s38313-021-0756-6}, pages = {58 -- 62}, year = {2022}, abstract = {In general aviation, too, it is desirable to be able to operate existing internal combustion engines with fuels that produce less CO₂ than Avgas 100LL being widely used today It can be assumed that, in comparison, the fuels CNG, LPG or LNG, which are gaseous under normal conditions, produce significantly lower emissions. Necessary propulsion system adaptations were investigated as part of a research project at Aachen University of Applied Sciences.}, language = {en} } @article{FunkeEschRoosen2022, author = {Funke, Harald and Esch, Thomas and Roosen, Petra}, title = {Antriebssystemanpassungen zur Verwendung von LPG als Flugkraftstoff}, series = {Motortechnische Zeitschrift (MTZ)}, volume = {2022}, journal = {Motortechnische Zeitschrift (MTZ)}, number = {83}, publisher = {Springer Nature}, address = {Basel}, doi = {10.1007/s35146-021-0778-2}, pages = {58 -- 62}, year = {2022}, abstract = {Auch in der allgemeinen Luftfahrt w{\"a}re es w{\"u}nschenswert, die bereits vorhandenen Verbrennungsmotoren mit weniger CO₂-tr{\"a}chtigen Kraftstoffen als dem heute weit verbreiteten Avgas 100LL betreiben zu k{\"o}nnen. Es ist anzunehmen, dass im Vergleich die unter Normalbedingungen gasf{\"o}rmigen Kraftstoffe CNG, LPG oder LNG deutlich weniger Emissionen produzieren. Erforderliche Antriebssystemanpassungen wurden im Rahmen eines Forschungsprojekts an der FH Aachen untersucht.}, language = {de} } @article{FayyaziSardarThomasetal.2023, author = {Fayyazi, Mojgan and Sardar, Paramjotsingh and Thomas, Sumit Infent and Daghigh, Roonak and Jamali, Ali and Esch, Thomas and Kemper, Hans and Langari, Reza and Khayyam, Hamid}, title = {Artificial intelligence/machine learning in energy management systems, control, and optimization of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles}, volume = {15}, number = {6}, publisher = {MDPI}, address = {Basel}, doi = {10.3390/su15065249}, pages = {38}, year = {2023}, abstract = {Environmental emissions, global warming, and energy-related concerns have accelerated the advancements in conventional vehicles that primarily use internal combustion engines. Among the existing technologies, hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles and fuel cell hybrid electric vehicles may have minimal contributions to greenhouse gas emissions and thus are the prime choices for environmental concerns. However, energy management in fuel cell electric vehicles and fuel cell hybrid electric vehicles is a major challenge. Appropriate control strategies should be used for effective energy management in these vehicles. On the other hand, there has been significant progress in artificial intelligence, machine learning, and designing data-driven intelligent controllers. These techniques have found much attention within the community, and state-of-the-art energy management technologies have been developed based on them. This manuscript reviews the application of machine learning and intelligent controllers for prediction, control, energy management, and vehicle to everything (V2X) in hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. The effectiveness of data-driven control and optimization systems are investigated to evolve, classify, and compare, and future trends and directions for sustainability are discussed.}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{ThomaStiemerBraunetal.2023, author = {Thoma, Andreas and Stiemer, Luc and Braun, Carsten and Fisher, Alex and Gardi, Alessandro G.}, title = {Potential of hybrid neural network local path planner for small UAV in urban environments}, series = {AIAA SCITECH 2023 Forum}, booktitle = {AIAA SCITECH 2023 Forum}, publisher = {AIAA}, doi = {10.2514/6.2023-2359}, pages = {13 Seiten}, year = {2023}, abstract = {This work proposes a hybrid algorithm combining an Artificial Neural Network (ANN) with a conventional local path planner to navigate UAVs efficiently in various unknown urban environments. The proposed method of a Hybrid Artificial Neural Network Avoidance System is called HANNAS. The ANN analyses a video stream and classifies the current environment. This information about the current Environment is used to set several control parameters of a conventional local path planner, the 3DVFH*. The local path planner then plans the path toward a specific goal point based on distance data from a depth camera. We trained and tested a state-of-the-art image segmentation algorithm, PP-LiteSeg. The proposed HANNAS method reaches a failure probability of 17\%, which is less than half the failure probability of the baseline and around half the failure probability of an improved, bio-inspired version of the 3DVFH*. The proposed HANNAS method does not show any disadvantages regarding flight time or flight distance.}, language = {en} } @article{DickhoffHorikawaFunke2021, author = {Dickhoff, Jens and Horikawa, Atsushi and Funke, Harald}, title = {Hydrogen Combustion - new DLE Combustor Addresses NOx Emissions and Flashback}, series = {Turbomachinery international : the global journal of energy equipment}, volume = {62}, journal = {Turbomachinery international : the global journal of energy equipment}, number = {4}, publisher = {MJH Life Sciences}, address = {Cranbury}, issn = {2767-2328}, pages = {26 -- 27}, year = {2021}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{HorikawaAshikagaYamaguchietal.2022, author = {Horikawa, Atsushi and Ashikaga, Mitsugu and Yamaguchi, Masato and Ogino, Tomoyuki and Aoki, Shigeki and Wirsum, Manfred and Funke, Harald and Kusterer, Karsten}, title = {Combined heat and power supply demonstration of Micro-Mix Hydrogen Combustion Applied to M1A-17 Gas Turbine}, series = {Proceedings of ASME Turbo Expo 2022: Turbomachinery Technical Conference and Exposition (GT2022) (Volume 3A)}, booktitle = {Proceedings of ASME Turbo Expo 2022: Turbomachinery Technical Conference and Exposition (GT2022) (Volume 3A)}, publisher = {American Society of Mechanical Engineers}, address = {Fairfield}, isbn = {978-0-7918-8599-4}, doi = {10.1115/GT2022-81620}, pages = {7 Seiten}, year = {2022}, abstract = {Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd. (KHI), Aachen University of Applied Sciences, and B\&B-AGEMA GmbH have investigated the potential of low NOx micro-mix (MMX) hydrogen combustion and its application to an industrial gas turbine combustor. Engine demonstration tests of a MMX combustor for the M1A-17 gas turbine with a co-generation system were conducted in the hydrogen-fueled power generation plant in Kobe City, Japan. This paper presents the results of the commissioning test and the combined heat and power (CHP) supply demonstration. In the commissioning test, grid interconnection, loading tests and load cut-off tests were successfully conducted. All measurement results satisfied the Japanese environmental regulation values. Dust and soot as well as SOx were not detected. The NOx emissions were below 84 ppmv at 15 \% O2. The noise level at the site boundary was below 60 dB. The vibration at the site boundary was below 45 dB. During the combined heat and power supply demonstration, heat and power were supplied to neighboring public facilities with the MMX combustion technology and 100 \% hydrogen fuel. The electric power output reached 1800 kW at which the NOx emissions were 72 ppmv at 15 \% O2, and 60 \%RH. Combustion instabilities were not observed. The gas turbine efficiency was improved by about 1 \% compared to a non-premixed type combustor with water injection as NOx reduction method. During a total equivalent operation time of 1040 hours, all combustor parts, the M1A-17 gas turbine as such, and the co-generation system were without any issues.}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{MoehrenBergmannJanseretal.2023, author = {M{\"o}hren, Felix and Bergmann, Ole and Janser, Frank and Braun, Carsten}, title = {On the determination of harmonic propeller loads}, series = {AIAA SCITECH 2023 Forum}, booktitle = {AIAA SCITECH 2023 Forum}, publisher = {AIAA}, doi = {10.2514/6.2023-2404}, pages = {12 Seiten}, year = {2023}, abstract = {Dynamic loads significantly impact the structural design of propeller blades due to fatigue and static strength. Since propellers are elastic structures, deformations and aerodynamic loads are coupled. In the past, propeller manufacturers established procedures to determine unsteady aerodynamic loads and the structural response with analytical steady-state calculations. According to the approach, aeroelastic coupling primarily consists of torsional deformations. They neglect bending deformations, deformation velocities, and inertia terms. This paper validates the assumptions above for a General Aviation propeller and a lift propeller for urban air mobility or large cargo drones. Fully coupled reduced-order simulations determine the dynamic loads in the time domain. A quasi-steady blade element momentum approach transfers loads to one-dimensional finite beam elements. The simulation results are in relatively good agreement with the analytical method for the General Aviation propeller but show increasing errors for the slender lift propeller. The analytical approach is modified to consider the induced velocities. Still, inertia and velocity proportional terms play a significant role for the lift propeller due to increased elasticity. The assumption that only torsional deformations significantly impact the dynamic loads of propellers is not valid. Adequate determination of dynamic loads of such designs requires coupled aeroelastic simulations or advanced analytical procedures.}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{HilleStumpfMayntzetal.2023, author = {Hille, Sebastian and Stumpf, Eike and Mayntz, Joscha and Dahmann, Peter}, title = {Prediction of sound exposure caused by a landing motor glider with recuperating propellers}, series = {AIAA SCITECH 2023 Forum}, booktitle = {AIAA SCITECH 2023 Forum}, publisher = {AIAA}, doi = {10.2514/6.2023-0211}, year = {2023}, abstract = {This paper presents an approach to predicting the sound exposure on the ground caused by a landing aircraft with recuperating propellers. The noise source along the trajectory of a flight specified for a steeper approach is simulated based on measurements of sound power levels and additional parameters of a single propeller placed in a wind tunnel. To validate the measured data/measurement results, these simulations are also supported by overflight measurements of a test aircraft. It is shown that the simple source models of propellers do not provide fully satisfactory results since the sound levels are estimated too low. Nevertheless, with a further reference comparison, margins for an acceptable increase in the sound power level of the aircraft on its now steeper approach path could be estimated. Thus, in this case, a +7 dB increase in SWL would not increase the SEL compared to the conventional approach within only 2 km ahead of the airfield.}, language = {en} } @article{UlmerBraunChengetal.2023, author = {Ulmer, Jessica and Braun, Carsten and Cheng, Chi-Tsun and Dowey, Steve and Wollert, J{\"o}rg}, title = {A human factors-aware assistance system in manufacturing based on gamification and hardware modularisation}, series = {International Journal of Production Research}, journal = {International Journal of Production Research}, publisher = {Taylor \& Francis}, issn = {0020-7543 (Print)}, doi = {10.1080/00207543.2023.2166140}, year = {2023}, abstract = {Assistance systems have been widely adopted in the manufacturing sector to facilitate various processes and tasks in production environments. However, existing systems are mostly equipped with rigid functional logic and do not provide individual user experiences or adapt to their capabilities. This work integrates human factors in assistance systems by adjusting the hardware and instruction presented to the workers' cognitive and physical demands. A modular system architecture is designed accordingly, which allows a flexible component exchange according to the user and the work task. Gamification, the use of game elements in non-gaming contexts, has been further adopted in this work to provide level-based instructions and personalised feedback. The developed framework is validated by applying it to a manual workstation for industrial assembly routines.}, language = {en} } @article{BergmannMoehrenBraunetal.2023, author = {Bergmann, Ole and M{\"o}hren, Felix and Braun, Carsten and Janser, Frank}, title = {On the influence of elasticity on swept propeller noise}, series = {AIAA SCITECH 2023 Forum}, journal = {AIAA SCITECH 2023 Forum}, publisher = {AIAA}, doi = {10.2514/6.2023-0210}, year = {2023}, abstract = {High aerodynamic efficiency requires propellers with high aspect ratios, while propeller sweep potentially reduces noise. Propeller sweep and high aspect ratios increase elasticity and coupling of structural mechanics and aerodynamics, affecting the propeller performance and noise. Therefore, this paper analyzes the influence of elasticity on forward-swept, backward-swept, and unswept propellers in hover conditions. A reduced-order blade element momentum approach is coupled with a one-dimensional Timoshenko beam theory and Farassat's formulation 1A. The results of the aeroelastic simulation are used as input for the aeroacoustic calculation. The analysis shows that elasticity influences noise radiation because thickness and loading noise respond differently to deformations. In the case of the backward-swept propeller, the location of the maximum sound pressure level shifts forward by 0.5 °, while in the case of the forward-swept propeller, it shifts backward by 0.5 °. Therefore, aeroacoustic optimization requires the consideration of propeller deformation.}, language = {en} } @article{BoehnischBraunMuscarelloetal.2023, author = {B{\"o}hnisch, Nils and Braun, Carsten and Muscarello, Vincenzo and Marzocca, Pier}, title = {A sensitivity study on aeroelastic instabilities of slender wings with a large propeller}, series = {AIAA SCITECH 2023 Forum}, journal = {AIAA SCITECH 2023 Forum}, publisher = {AIAA}, doi = {10.2514/6.2023-1893}, pages = {1 -- 14}, year = {2023}, abstract = {Next-generation aircraft designs often incorporate multiple large propellers attached along the wingspan. These highly flexible dynamic systems can exhibit uncommon aeroelastic instabilities, which should be carefully investigated to ensure safe operation. The interaction between the propeller and the wing is of particular importance. It is known that whirl flutter is stabilized by wing motion and wing aerodynamics. This paper investigates the effect of a propeller onto wing flutter as a function of span position and mounting stiffness between the propeller and wing. The analysis of a comparison between a tractor and pusher configuration has shown that the coupled system is more stable than the standalone wing for propeller positions near the wing tip for both configurations. The wing fluttermechanism is mostly affected by the mass of the propeller and the resulting change in eigenfrequencies of the wing. For very weak mounting stiffnesses, whirl flutter occurs, which was shown to be stabilized compared to a standalone propeller due to wing motion. On the other hand, the pusher configuration is, as to be expected, the more critical configuration due to the attached mass behind the elastic axis.}, language = {de} } @article{FunkeBeckmann2022, author = {Funke, Harald and Beckmann, Nils}, title = {Flexible fuel operation of a Dry-Low-NOx Micromix Combustor with Variable Hydrogen Methane Mixture}, series = {International Journal of Gas Turbine, Propulsion and Power Systems}, volume = {13}, journal = {International Journal of Gas Turbine, Propulsion and Power Systems}, number = {2}, issn = {1882-5079}, pages = {1 -- 7}, year = {2022}, abstract = {The role of hydrogen (H2) as a carbon-free energy carrier is discussed since decades for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. As bridge technology towards a hydrogen-based energy supply, fuel mixtures of natural gas or methane (CH4) and hydrogen are possible. The paper presents the first test results of a low-emission Micromix combustor designed for flexible-fuel operation with variable H2/CH4 mixtures. The numerical and experimental approach for considering variable fuel mixtures instead of recently investigated pure hydrogen is described. In the experimental studies, a first generation FuelFlex Micromix combustor geometry is tested at atmospheric pressure at gas turbine operating conditions corresponding to part- and full-load. The H2/CH4 fuel mixture composition is varied between 57 and 100 vol.\% hydrogen content. Despite the challenges flexible-fuel operation poses onto the design of a combustion system, the evaluated FuelFlex Micromix prototype shows a significant low NOx performance}, language = {en} } @article{Maurischat2022, author = {Maurischat, Andreas}, title = {Algebraic independence of the Carlitz period and its hyperderivatives}, series = {Journal of Number Theory}, volume = {240}, journal = {Journal of Number Theory}, publisher = {Elsevier}, address = {Orlando, Fla.}, issn = {0022-314X}, doi = {10.1016/j.jnt.2022.01.006}, pages = {145 -- 162}, year = {2022}, language = {en} } @incollection{BauschatBennerKlingeetal.2022, author = {Bauschat, J.-Michael and Benner, Miriam and Klinge, Henner and Ziegler, Simon}, title = {Urbane Mobilit{\"a}t entdeckt die 3. Dimension}, series = {Transforming Mobility - What Next?}, booktitle = {Transforming Mobility - What Next?}, publisher = {Springer Gabler}, address = {Wiesbaden}, isbn = {978-3-658-36429-8}, doi = {10.1007/978-3-658-36430-4_53}, pages = {895 -- 916}, year = {2022}, abstract = {Der Themenkomplex urbane Mobilit{\"a}t ist getrieben durch den Verkehrsinfarkt in Ballungszentren, durch Luftverschmutzung und L{\"a}rm, sowie den Trend zum Leben in der Stadt in den st{\"a}dteplanerischen Fokus ger{\"u}ckt. Emissionsneutrale Antriebskonzepte in der Luftfahrt f{\"u}hren zu Ans{\"a}tzen Flugger{\"a}te einzusetzen, die batteriegetrieben vertikal aufsteigen und landen k{\"o}nnen. Flugphysikalisch und energetisch ist diese Technik nur dann sinnvoll, wenn es zwingende Gr{\"u}nde gibt (z.B. Rettungseins{\"a}tze), daher wird der flugphysikalische Hintergrund prinzipiell erl{\"a}utert. Es werden einige aktuelle Lufttransportkonzepte f{\"u}r eine urbane Personenbef{\"o}rderung vorgestellt. Sollte es verst{\"a}rkt zu Lufttransport {\"u}ber St{\"a}dten kommen, m{\"u}ssen betroffene Luftr{\"a}ume geordnet und {\"u}berwacht werden. Wie kompatibel Lufttransportsysteme mit den heute bereits relevanten urbanen Bef{\"o}rderungsmitteln sein m{\"u}ssen, wird kritisch diskutiert. Abschließend werden die Aspekte Akzeptanz durch die Kunden und Wirtschaftlichkeit ebenso angerissen, wie die hochproblematische Rohstoffgewinnung, die Entsorgung und das Recycling von Batterien.}, language = {de} } @incollection{HebelHerrmannRitzetal.2022, author = {Hebel, Christoph and Herrmann, Ulf and Ritz, Thomas and R{\"o}th, Thilo and Anthrakidis, Anette and B{\"o}ker, J{\"o}rg and Franzke, Till and Grodzki, Thomas and Merkens, Torsten and Sch{\"o}ttler, Mirjam}, title = {FlexSHARE - Methodisches Framework zur innovativen Gestaltung der urbanen Mobilit{\"a}t durch Sharing- Angebote}, series = {Transforming Mobility - What Next?}, booktitle = {Transforming Mobility - What Next?}, publisher = {Springer Gabler}, address = {Wiesbaden}, isbn = {978-3-658-36429-8}, doi = {10.1007/978-3-658-36430-4_10}, pages = {153 -- 169}, year = {2022}, abstract = {Das Ziel des INTERREG-Projektes „SHAREuregio" (FKZ: 34.EFRE-0300134) ist es, grenz{\"u}berschreitende Mobilit{\"a}t in der Euregio Rhein-Maas-Nord zu erm{\"o}glichen und zu f{\"o}rdern. Dazu soll ein elektromobiles Car- und Bikesharing- System entwickelt und in der Stadt M{\"o}nchengladbach, im Kreis Viersen sowie in den Gemeinden Roermond und Venlo (beide NL) zusammen mit den Partnern Wirtschaftsf{\"o}rderung M{\"o}nchengladbach, Wirtschaftsf{\"o}rderung f{\"u}r den Kreis Viersen, NEW AG, Goodmoovs (NL), Greenflux (NL) und der FH Aachen implementiert werden. Zun{\"a}chst richtet sich das Angebot, bestehend aus 40 Elektroautos und 40 Elektrofahrr{\"a}dern, an Unternehmen und wird nach einer Erprobungsphase, mit einer gr{\"o}ßeren Anzahl an Fahrzeugen, auch f{\"u}r Privatpersonen verf{\"u}gbar gemacht werden. Die Fahrzeuge stehen bei den jeweiligen Anwendungspartnern in Deutschland und den Niederlanden. Im Rahmen dieses Projektes hat die FH Aachen „FlexSHARE" entwickelt - ein methodisches Framework zur innovativen Gestaltung urbaner Sharing- Angebote. Das Framework erm{\"o}glicht es, anhand von messbaren Kenngr{\"o}ßen, bedarfsgerechte und auf die Region abgestimmte Sharing-Systeme zu entwickeln.}, language = {de} } @inproceedings{GrundmannBieleDachwaldetal.2016, author = {Grundmann, Jan Thimo and Biele, Jens and Dachwald, Bernd and Grimm, Christian and Lange, Caroline and Ulamec, Stephan}, title = {Small spacecraft for small solar system body science, planetary defence and applications}, series = {IEEE Aerospace Conference 2016}, booktitle = {IEEE Aerospace Conference 2016}, pages = {1 -- 20}, year = {2016}, abstract = {Following the recent successful landings and occasional re-awakenings of PHILAE, the lander carried aboard ROSETTA to comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko, and the launch of the Mobile Asteroid Surface Scout, MASCOT, aboard the HAYABUSA2 space probe to asteroid (162173) Ryugu we present an overview of the characteristics and peculiarities of small spacecraft missions to small solar system bodies (SSSB). Their main purpose is planetary science which is transitioning from a 'pure' science of observation of the distant to one also supporting in-situ applications relevant for life on Earth. Here we focus on missions at the interface of SSSB science and planetary defence applications. We provide a brief overview of small spacecraft SSSB missions and on this background present recent missions, projects and related studies at the German Aerospace Center, DLR, that contribute to the worldwide planetary defence community. These range from Earth orbit technology demonstrators to active science missions in interplanetary space. We provide a summary of experience from recently flown missions with DLR participation as well as a number of studies. These include PHILAE, the lander of ESA's ROSETTA comet rendezvous mission now on the surface of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko, and the Mobile Asteroid Surface Scout, MASCOT, now in cruise to the ~1 km diameter C-type near-Earth asteroid (162173) Ryugu aboard the Japanese sample-return probe HAYABUSA2. We introduce the differences between the conventional methods employed in the design, integration and testing of large spacecraft and the new approaches developed by small spacecraft projects. We expect that the practical experience that can be gained from projects on extremely compressed timelines or with high-intensity operation phases on a newly explored small solar system body can contribute significantly to the study, preparation and realization of future planetary defence related missions. One is AIDA (Asteroid Impact \& Deflection Assessment), a joint effort of ESA, JHU/APL, NASA, OCA and DLR, combining JHU/APL's DART (Double Asteroid Redirection Test) and ESA's AIM (Asteroid Impact Monitor) spacecraft in a mission towards near-Earth binary asteroid system (65803) Didymos. DLR is currently applying MASCOT heritage and lessons learned to the design of MASCOT2, a lander for the AIM mission to support a bistatic low frequency radar experiment with PHILAE/ROSETTA CONSERT heritage to explore the inner structure of Didymoon which is the designated impact target for DART.}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{DachwaldXuFeldmannetal.2011, author = {Dachwald, Bernd and Xu, Changsheng and Feldmann, Marco and Plescher, Engelbert}, title = {IceMole : Development of a novel subsurface ice probe and testing of the first prototype on the Morteratsch Glacier}, series = {EGU General Assembly 2011 Vienna | Austria | 03 - 08 April 2011}, booktitle = {EGU General Assembly 2011 Vienna | Austria | 03 - 08 April 2011}, year = {2011}, abstract = {We present the novel concept of a combined drilling and melting probe for subsurface ice research. This probe, named "IceMole", is currently developed, built, and tested at the FH Aachen University of Applied Sciences' Astronautical Laboratory. Here, we describe its first prototype design and report the results of its field tests on the Swiss Morteratsch glacier. Although the IceMole design is currently adapted to terrestrial glaciers and ice shields, it may later be modified for the subsurface in-situ investigation of extraterrestrial ice, e.g., on Mars, Europa, and Enceladus. If life exists on those bodies, it may be present in the ice (as life can also be found in the deep ice of Earth).}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{Dachwald2007, author = {Dachwald, Bernd}, title = {Low-Thrust Mission Analysis and Global Trajectory Optimization Using Evolutionary Neurocontrol: New Results}, series = {European Workshop on Space Mission Analysis ESA/ESOC, Darmstadt, Germany 10 { 12 Dec 2007}, booktitle = {European Workshop on Space Mission Analysis ESA/ESOC, Darmstadt, Germany 10 { 12 Dec 2007}, year = {2007}, abstract = {Interplanetary trajectories for low-thrust spacecraft are often characterized by multiple revolutions around the sun. Unfortunately, the convergence of traditional trajectory optimizers that are based on numerical optimal control methods depends strongly on an adequate initial guess for the control function (if a direct method is used) or for the starting values of the adjoint vector (if an indirect method is used). Especially when many revolutions around the sun are re- quired, trajectory optimization becomes a very difficult and time-consuming task that involves a lot of experience and expert knowledge in astrodynamics and optimal control theory, because an adequate initial guess is extremely hard to find. Evolutionary neurocontrol (ENC) was proposed as a smart method for low-thrust trajectory optimization that fuses artificial neural networks and evolutionary algorithms to so-called evolutionary neurocontrollers (ENCs) [1]. Inspired by natural archetypes, ENC attacks the trajectoryoptimization problem from the perspective of artificial intelligence and machine learning, a perspective that is quite different from that of optimal control theory. Within the context of ENC, a trajectory is regarded as the result of a spacecraft steering strategy that maps permanently the actual spacecraft state and the actual target state onto the actual spacecraft control vector. This way, the problem of searching the optimal spacecraft trajectory is equivalent to the problem of searching (or "learning") the optimal spacecraft steering strategy. An artificial neural network is used to implement such a spacecraft steering strategy. It can be regarded as a parameterized function (the network function) that is defined by the internal network parameters. Therefore, each distinct set of network parameters defines a different network function and thus a different steering strategy. The problem of searching the optimal steering strategy is now equivalent to the problem of searching the optimal set of network parameters. Evolutionary algorithms that work on a population of (artificial) chromosomes are used to find the optimal network parameters, because the parameters can be easily mapped onto a chromosome. The trajectory optimization problem is solved when the optimal chromosome is found. A comparison of solar sail trajectories that have been published by others [2, 3, 4, 5] with ENC-trajectories has shown that ENCs can be successfully applied for near-globally optimal spacecraft control [1, 6] and that they are able to find trajectories that are closer to the (unknown) global optimum, because they explore the trajectory search space more exhaustively than a human expert can do. The obtained trajectories are fairly accurate with respect to the terminal constraint. If a more accurate trajectory is required, the ENC-solution can be used as an initial guess for a local trajectory optimization method. Using ENC, low-thrust trajectories can be optimized without an initial guess and without expert attendance. Here, new results for nuclear electric spacecraft and for solar sail spacecraft are presented and it will be shown that ENCs find very good trajectories even for very difficult problems. Trajectory optimization results are presented for 1. NASA's Solar Polar Imager Mission, a mission to attain a highly inclined close solar orbit with a solar sail [7] 2. a mission to de ect asteroid Apophis with a solar sail from a retrograde orbit with a very-high velocity impact [8, 9] 3. JPL's \2nd Global Trajectory Optimization Competition", a grand tour to visit four asteroids from different classes with a NEP spacecraft}, language = {en} }