@article{ThomaGardiFisheretal.2024, author = {Thoma, Andreas and Gardi, Alessandro and Fisher, Alex and Braun, Carsten}, title = {Improving local path planning for UAV flight in challenging environments by refining cost function weights}, series = {CEAS Aeronautical Journal}, journal = {CEAS Aeronautical Journal}, publisher = {Springer}, address = {Wien}, issn = {1869-5590 (eISSN)}, doi = {10.1007/s13272-024-00741-x}, pages = {12 Seiten}, year = {2024}, abstract = {Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) constantly gain in versatility. However, more reliable path planning algorithms are required until full autonomous UAV operation is possible. This work investigates the algorithm 3DVFH* and analyses its dependency on its cost function weights in 2400 environments. The analysis shows that the 3DVFH* can find a suitable path in every environment. However, a particular type of environment requires a specific choice of cost function weights. For minimal failure, probability interdependencies between the weights of the cost function have to be considered. This dependency reduces the number of control parameters and simplifies the usage of the 3DVFH*. Weights for costs associated with vertical evasion (pitch cost) and vicinity to obstacles (obstacle cost) have the highest influence on the failure probability of the local path planner. Environments with mainly very tall buildings (like large American city centres) require a preference for horizontal avoidance manoeuvres (achieved with high pitch cost weights). In contrast, environments with medium-to-low buildings (like European city centres) benefit from vertical avoidance manoeuvres (achieved with low pitch cost weights). The cost of the vicinity to obstacles also plays an essential role and must be chosen adequately for the environment. Choosing these two weights ideal is sufficient to reduce the failure probability below 10\%.}, language = {en} } @techreport{BarnatArntzBerneckeretal.2024, type = {Working Paper}, author = {Barnat, Miriam and Arntz, Kristian and Bernecker, Andreas and Fissabre, Anke and Franken, Norbert and Goldbach, Daniel and H{\"u}ning, Felix and J{\"o}rissen, J{\"o}rg and Kirsch, Ansgar and Pettrak, J{\"u}rgen and Rexforth, Matthias and Josef, Rosenkranz and Terstegge, Andreas}, title = {Strategische Gestaltung von Studieng{\"a}ngen f{\"u}r die Zukunft: Ein kollaborativ entwickeltes Self-Assessment}, series = {Hochschulforum Digitalisierung - Diskussionspapier}, journal = {Hochschulforum Digitalisierung - Diskussionspapier}, publisher = {Stifterverband f{\"u}r die Deutsche Wissenschaft}, address = {Berlin}, issn = {2365-7081}, pages = {16 Seiten}, year = {2024}, abstract = {Das Diskussionspapier beschreibt einen Prozess an der FH Aachen zur Entwicklung und Implementierung eines Self-Assessment-Tools f{\"u}r Studieng{\"a}nge. Dieser Prozess zielte darauf ab, die Relevanz der Themen Digitalisierung, Internationalisierung und Nachhaltigkeit in Studieng{\"a}ngen zu st{\"a}rken. Durch Workshops und kollaborative Entwicklung mit Studiendekan:innen entstand ein Fragebogen, der zur Reflexion und strategischen Weiterentwicklung der Studieng{\"a}nge dient.}, language = {de} } @inproceedings{MulsowHuelsenGuetzlaffetal.2023, author = {Mulsow, Niklas A. and H{\"u}lsen, Benjamin and G{\"u}tzlaff, Joel and Spies, Leon and Bresser, Andreas and Dabrowski, Adam and Czupalla, Markus and Kirchner, Frank}, title = {Concept and design of an autonomous micro rover for long term lunar exploration}, series = {Proceedings of the 74th International Astronautical Congress}, booktitle = {Proceedings of the 74th International Astronautical Congress}, publisher = {dfki}, address = {Saarbr{\"u}cken}, pages = {13 Seiten}, year = {2023}, abstract = {Research on robotic lunar exploration has seen a broad revival, especially since the Google Lunar X-Prize increasingly brought private endeavors into play. This development is supported by national agencies with the aim of enabling long-term lunar infrastructure for in-situ operations and the establishment of a moon village. One challenge for effective exploration missions is developing a compact and lightweight robotic rover to reduce launch costs and open the possibility for secondary payload options. Existing micro rovers for exploration missions are clearly limited by their design for one day of sunlight and their low level of autonomy. For expanding the potential mission applications and range of use, an extension of lifetime could be reached by surviving the lunar night and providing a higher level of autonomy. To address this objective, the paper presents a system design concept for a lightweight micro rover with long-term mission duration capabilities, derived from a multi-day lunar mission scenario at equatorial regions. Technical solution approaches are described, analyzed, and evaluated, with emphasis put on the harmonization of hardware selection due to a strictly limited budget in dimensions and power.}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{HuelsenMulsowDabrowskietal.2023, author = {H{\"u}lsen, Benjamin and Mulsow, Niklas A. and Dabrowski, Adam and Brinkmann, Wiebke and G{\"u}tzlaff, Joel and Spies, Leon and Czupalla, Markus and Kirchner, Frank}, title = {Towards an autonomous micro rover with night survivability for lunar exploration}, series = {Proceedings of the 74th International Astronautical Congress}, booktitle = {Proceedings of the 74th International Astronautical Congress}, publisher = {dfki}, pages = {12 Seiten}, year = {2023}, abstract = {In Europe, efforts are underway to develop key technologies that can be used to explore the Moon and to exploit the resources available. This includes technologies for in-situ resource utilization (ISRU), facilitating the possibility of a future Moon Village. The Moon is the next step for humans and robots to exploit the use of available resources for longer term missions, but also for further exploration of the solar system. A challenge for effective exploration missions is to achieve a compact and lightweight robot to reduce launch costs and open up the possibility of secondary payload options. Current micro rover concepts are primarily designed to last for one day of solar illumination and show a low level of autonomy. Extending the lifetime of the system by enabling survival of the lunar night and implementing a high level of autonomy will significantly increase potential mission applications and the operational range. As a reference mission, the deployment of a micro rover in the equatorial region of the Moon is being considered. An overview of mission parameters and a detailed example mission sequence is given in this paper. The mission parameters are based on an in-depth study of current space agency roadmaps, scientific goals, and upcoming flight opportunities. Furthermore, concepts of the ongoing international micro rover developments are analyzed along with technology solutions identified for survival of lunar nights and a high system autonomy. The results provide a basis of a concise requirements set-up to allow dedicated system developments and qualification measures in the future.}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{WildCzupallaFoerstner2021, author = {Wild, Dominik and Czupalla, Markus and F{\"o}rstner, Roger}, title = {Modeling, prediction and test of additive manufactured integral structures with embedded lattice and phase change material applying Infused Thermal Solutions (ITS)}, series = {ICES104: Advances in Thermal Control Technology}, booktitle = {ICES104: Advances in Thermal Control Technology}, publisher = {Texas Tech University}, address = {Lubbock, Tex.}, pages = {12 Seiten}, year = {2021}, abstract = {Infused Thermal Solutions (ITS) introduces a method for passive thermal control to stabilize structural components thermally without active heating and cooling systems, but with phase change material (PCM) for thermal energy storage (TES), in combination with lattice - both embedded in additive manufactured functional structures. In this ITS follow-on paper a thermal model approach and associated predictions are presented, related on the ITS functional breadboards developed at FH Aachen. Predictive TES by PCM is provided by a specially developed ITS PCM subroutine, which is applicable in ESATAN. The subroutine is based on the latent heat storage (LHS) method to numerically embed thermo-physical PCM behavior. Furthermore, a modeling approach is introduced to numerically consider the virtual PCM/lattice nodes within the macro-encapsulated PCM voids of the double wall ITS design. Related on these virtual nodes, in-plane and out-of-plane conductive links are defined. The recent additive manufactured ITS breadboard series are thermally cycled in the thermal vacuum chamber, both with and without embedded PCM. Related on breadboard hardware tests, measurement results are compared with predictions and are subsequently correlated. The results of specific simulations and measurements are presented. Recent predictive results of star tracker analyses are also presented in ICES-2021-106, based on this ITS PCM subroutine.}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{KohlbergerWildKasperetal.2021, author = {Kohlberger, David-Sharif and Wild, Dominik and Kasper, Stefan and Czupalla, Markus}, title = {Modeling and analyses of a thermal passively stabilized LEO/GEO star tracker with embedded phase change material applying the Infused Thermal Solutions (ITS) method}, series = {ICES202: Satellite, Payload, and Instrument Thermal Control}, booktitle = {ICES202: Satellite, Payload, and Instrument Thermal Control}, publisher = {Texas Tech University}, address = {Lubbock, Tex.}, pages = {12 Seiten}, year = {2021}, abstract = {Phase change materials offer a way of storing excess heat and releasing it when it is needed. They can be utilized as a method to control thermal behavior without the need for additional energy. This work focuses on exploring the potential of using phase change materials to passively control the thermal behavior of a star tracker by infusing it with a fitting phase change material. Based on the numerical model of the star trackers thermal behavior using ESATAN-TMS without implemented phase change material, a fitting phase change material for selected orbits is chosen and implemented in the thermal model. The altered thermal behavior of the numerical model after the implementation is analyzed for different amounts of the chosen phase change materials using an ESATAN-based subroutine developed by the FH Aachen. The PCM-modelling-subroutine is explained in the paper ICES-2021-110. The results show that an increasing amount of phase change material increasingly damps temperature oscillations. Using an integral part structure some of the mass increase can be compensated.}, language = {en} } @unpublished{SchmuellingGuetzlaffCzupalla2024, author = {Schm{\"u}lling, Max and G{\"u}tzlaff, Joel and Czupalla, Markus}, title = {A thermal simulation environment for moving objects on the lunar surface}, doi = {10.21203/rs.3.rs-3902363/v1}, pages = {12 Seiten}, year = {2024}, abstract = {This paper presents a thermal simulation environment for moving objects on the lunar surface. The goal of the thermal simulation environment is to enable the reliable prediction of the temperature development of a given object on the lunar surface by providing the respective heat fluxes for a mission on a given travel path. The user can import any object geometry and freely define the path that the object should travel. Using the path of the object, the relevant lunar surface geometry is imported from a digital elevation model. The relevant parts of the lunar surface are determined based on distance to the defined path. A thermal model of these surface sections is generated, consisting of a porous layer on top and a denser layer below. The object is moved across the lunar surface, and its inclination is adapted depending on the slope of the terrain below it. Finally, a transient thermal analysis of the object and its environment is performed at several positions on its path and the results are visualized. The paper introduces details on the thermal modeling of the lunar surface, as well as its verification. Furthermore, the structure of the created software is presented. The robustness of the environment is verified with the help of sensitivity studies and possible improvements are presented.}, language = {en} } @article{WildSchrezenmeierCzupallaetal.2020, author = {Wild, Dominik and Schrezenmeier, Johannes and Czupalla, Markus and F{\"o}rstner, Roger}, title = {Thermal Characterization of additive manufactured Integral Structures for Phase Change Applications}, series = {2020 International Conference on Environmental Systems}, journal = {2020 International Conference on Environmental Systems}, publisher = {Texas Tech University}, year = {2020}, abstract = {"Infused Thermal Solutions" (ITS) introduces a method for passive thermal control to stabilize structural components thermally without active heating and cooling systems, by using phase change material (PCM) in combination with lattice - both embedded into an additive manufactured integral structure. The technology is currently under development. This paper presents the results of the thermal property measurements performed on additive manufactured ITS breadboards. Within the breadboard campaigns key characteristics of the additive manufactured specimens were derived: Mechanical parameters: specimen impermeability, minimum wall thickness, lattice structure, subsequent heat treatment. Thermal properties: thermo-optical surface properties of the additive manufactured raw material, thermal conductivity and specific heat capacity measurements. As a conclusion the paper introduces an overview of potential ITS hardware applications, expected to increase the thermal performance.}, language = {en} } @article{SchopenNarayanBeckmannetal.2024, author = {Schopen, Oliver and Narayan, Sriram and Beckmann, Marvin and Najmi, Aezid-Ul-Hassan and Esch, Thomas and Shabani, Bahman}, title = {An EIS approach to quantify the effects of inlet air relative humidity on the performance of proton exchange membrane fuel cells: a pathway to developing a novel fault diagnostic method}, series = {International Journal of Hydrogen Energy}, volume = {58}, journal = {International Journal of Hydrogen Energy}, number = {8}, publisher = {Elsevier}, address = {Amsterdam}, isbn = {0360-3199 (print)}, issn = {1879-3487 (online)}, doi = {10.1016/j.ijhydene.2024.01.218}, pages = {1302 -- 1315}, year = {2024}, abstract = {In this work, the effect of low air relative humidity on the operation of a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell is investigated. An innovative method through performing in situ electrochemical impedance spectroscopy is utilised to quantify the effect of inlet air relative humidity at the cathode side on internal ionic resistances and output voltage of the fuel cell. In addition, algorithms are developed to analyse the electrochemical characteristics of the fuel cell. For the specific fuel cell stack used in this study, the membrane resistance drops by over 39 \% and the cathode side charge transfer resistance decreases by 23 \% after increasing the humidity from 30 \% to 85 \%, while the results of static operation also show an increase of ∼2.2 \% in the voltage output after increasing the relative humidity from 30 \% to 85 \%. In dynamic operation, visible drying effects occur at < 50 \% relative humidity, whereby the increase of the air side stoichiometry increases the drying effects. Furthermore, other parameters, such as hydrogen humidification, internal stack structure, and operating parameters like stoichiometry, pressure, and temperature affect the overall water balance. Therefore, the optimal humidification range must be determined by considering all these parameters to maximise the fuel cell performance and durability. The results of this study are used to develop a health management system to ensure sufficient humidification by continuously monitoring the fuel cell polarisation data and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy indicators.}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{VeettilRakshitSchopenetal.2022, author = {Veettil, Yadu Krishna Morassery and Rakshit, Shantam and Schopen, Oliver and Kemper, Hans and Esch, Thomas and Shabani, Bahman}, title = {Automated Control System Strategies to Ensure Safety of PEM Fuel Cells Using Kalman Filters}, series = {Proceedings of the 7th International Conference and Exhibition on Sustainable Energy and Advanced Materials (ICE-SEAM 2021), Melaka, Malaysia}, booktitle = {Proceedings of the 7th International Conference and Exhibition on Sustainable Energy and Advanced Materials (ICE-SEAM 2021), Melaka, Malaysia}, editor = {Bin Abdollah, Mohd Fadzli and Amiruddin, Hilmi and Singh, Amrik Singh Phuman and Munir, Fudhail Abdul and Ibrahim, Asriana}, publisher = {Springer Nature}, address = {Singapore}, isbn = {978-981-19-3178-9}, issn = {2195-4356}, doi = {10.1007/978-981-19-3179-6_55}, pages = {296 -- 299}, year = {2022}, abstract = {Having well-defined control strategies for fuel cells, that can efficiently detect errors and take corrective action is critically important for safety in all applications, and especially so in aviation. The algorithms not only ensure operator safety by monitoring the fuel cell and connected components, but also contribute to extending the health of the fuel cell, its durability and safe operation over its lifetime. While sensors are used to provide peripheral data surrounding the fuel cell, the internal states of the fuel cell cannot be directly measured. To overcome this restriction, Kalman Filter has been implemented as an internal state observer. Other safety conditions are evaluated using real-time data from every connected sensor and corrective actions automatically take place to ensure safety. The algorithms discussed in this paper have been validated thorough Model-in-the-Loop (MiL) tests as well as practical validation at a dedicated test bench.}, language = {en} }