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Adaptive Control of Synthetic Jet Arrays with Unknown Nonlinearities

Award Information
Agency: Department of Defense
Branch: Air Force
Contract: FA9550-05-C-0186
Agency Tracking Number: F045-027-0182
Amount: $746,468.00
Phase: Phase II
Program: STTR
Solicitation Topic Code: AF04-T027
Solicitation Number: N/A
Timeline
Solicitation Year: 2004
Award Year: 2006
Award Start Date (Proposal Award Date): 2005-09-29
Award End Date (Contract End Date): 2007-09-29
Small Business Information
1410 Sachem Place Suite 202
Charlottesville, VA 22901
United States
DUNS: 120839477
HUBZone Owned: No
Woman Owned: No
Socially and Economically Disadvantaged: No
Principal Investigator
 Jason Burkholder
 Sr. Research Scientist
 (434) 973-1215
 burkholder@bainet.com
Business Contact
 David Ward
Title: President
Phone: (434) 973-1215
Email: barron@bainet.com
Research Institution
 UNIV. OF WYOMING
 Roger Wilmot
 
Research Office 1000 E. University, Dept. 3355
Laramie, WY 82071
United States

 (307) 766-5320
 Nonprofit College or University
Abstract

Active flow control using synthetic jet actuators has been the subject of significant research in recent years. Modulated input signals to achieve flow control objectives have been shown to be highly nonlinear and complex. Developing a comprehensive, wind tunnel-validated model of synthetic jet actuators in a single application is technically challenging and expensive. Given the varied and growing list of synthetic jet applications, it is essential that adaptive control techniques be developed that achieve performance objectives without requiring comprehensive models. In Phase I, Barron Associates and its research partners at the University of Virginia and the University of Wyoming developed adaptive control algorithms for arrays of synthetic jet actuators based on a proven adaptive inverse control technique. We successfully demonstrated these algorithms in simulation and designed a Phase II wind tunnel experiment. In Phase II, we will: (1) expand and formalize the control theory; (2) implement the control algorithms in real-time hardware; (3) fabricate an innovative wind tunnel model with integrated synthetic jet actuators, and; (4) conduct wind tunnel experiments to demonstrate adaptive control to meet both flow separation mitigation and virtual shaping objectives. The wind tunnel experiments will be conducted at the U.S. Air Force Academy.

* Information listed above is at the time of submission. *

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