• Journal of Ocean Engineering and Technology
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• v.35 no.6
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• pp.434-445
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• 2021

This paper proposes an optimal design method for an unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV) platform to overcome strong current. First, to minimize the hydrodynamic drag components in water, the vehicle is designed to have a streamlined disc shape, which help maintaining horizontal motion (zero roll and pitch angles posture) while overcoming external current. To this end, four vertical thrusters are symmetrically mounted outside of the platform to stabilize the vehicle's horizontal motion. In the horizontal plane, four horizontal thrusters are symmetrically mounted outside of the disc, and each of them has the same forward and reverse thrust performances. With these four thrusters, a specific thrust vector control (TVC) method is proposed, and for external current in any direction, four horizontal thrusters are controlled to generate a vectored thrust force to encounter the current while minimizing the vehicle's rotation and maintaining its heading. However, for the numerical simulations, the vehicle's hydrodynamic coefficients related to the horizontal plane are derived based on both theoretical and empirically derived formulas. In addition to the simulation, experimental studies in both the water tank and circulating water channel are performed to verify the vehicle's various final performances, including its ability to overcome strong current.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Propulsion Engineers
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.36-52
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• 2021

As the application of nano-satellites constellation increases worldwide in the wake of New Space era, there is growing demand for the development of thrusters for precise attitude and orbit control of small satellites. Field Emission Electric Propulsion(FEEP) thruster uses a liquid metal as a propellant and accelerates the ionized liquid metal through a strong electric field at the tip of the metal surface. FEEP thruster technology is suitable for nano-satellites which require various missions for attitude and orbit control, because it provides thrust ranging from 1 µN to 1 mN with high specific impulse up to about 10,000 s and can be miniaturized due to its simple structure. In this paper, the basics of FEEP thrusters are introduced, then the current status of research and development of FEEP thrusters are presented.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Propulsion Engineers
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.19-26
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• 2009

The response characteristics of $H_2O_2$ monopropellant thrusters at a pulse mode were presented in this paper. A catalyst bed was fixed to $MnO_2$/$Al_2O_3$ to investigate the thruster design effect to response time. Three different thrusters (50 N class) having different injectors, ullage volumes, catalyst grain sizes, and reactor volumes were prepared to investigate the response characteristics. As a result, the ignition delay, pressure rising and tail-off time of case 2-2 thruster with 16-20 mesh catalyst size were 14, 108, 94 ms respectively, which were comparable to requirement of response time at commercial hydrazine thrusters.

• Journal of Ocean Engineering and Technology
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.27-31
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• 2011

The previously developed method of estimating the propulsion performance of a UUV was applied to the high speed UUV, which is propelled by commercial thrusters. The thrusters were selected with an overdesign mentality; in other words, their capacities were excessive. At that point, the designer's concern was focused on a question regarding at what rpm the UUV could reach the design speed. Because the developed method required thrust coefficient curve data, the researchers asked for the POW data of the thrusters from the manufacturer. From the data, the researchers extracted the thrust coefficient and estimated the rpm value of design speed for the UUV. Finally, the researchers compared the estimated value and the result from a self-propulsion test using a VPMM (Vertical planar motion mechanism) test at a towing tank in MOERI.

• Journal of Ocean Engineering and Technology
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.221-226
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• 2016

An attitude controller for a 6-DOF hovering autonomous underwater vehicle (HAUV) is implemented. We add a vertical thruster, an underwater camera, a wireless communication device, and a DVL to the HAUV that was developed a year ago. The HAUV is composed of 5 thrusters, 2 servo-motors, and 4 apparatus parts. Two rotating thrusters control the surge, heave, and roll of the vehicle. The vertical thruster controls the pitch, and two horizontal thrusters control the sway and yaw of the vehicle. The HAUV’s movement in each direction is controlled by 6 PID controllers. Each PID controller controls the propulsive force and angle of a thruster. In a horizontal and vertical movement experiment, we showed the feasibility of the proposed controller by maintaining a given depth and heading angle of the HAUV.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Aviation and Aeronautics
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.37-43
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• 2011

Lunar exploration program has been prepared with the aim of launch in the 2020's. As part of it, a lunar lander demonstrator has been developed which is the model for verifying all the system, such as structure, propulsion and control system before launch to deep space. After verifying all the system, the demonstrator will be evaluated by flight test. This paper deals with path tracking controller based on thrusters for the demonstrator. For this, first we derive equations of motion according to the allocation of thrusters and design the path tracking controller. The signal generated from the controller is continuous so PWPF(Pulse-Width Pulse-Frequency) modulator is adopted for generating on/off signal. Finally MATLAB simulation is performed for evaluating the path tracking ability and the final landing velocity.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Aviation and Aeronautics
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.49-55
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• 2015

This paper deals with dynamic modeling and controller design of a future Korean lunar module planned to be launched 2020's in Korea. For dynamic modeling of the lunar module, we first assume the lunar module as a rigid body. And we derive equations of motion for the lunar module by considering allocation of main thrusters and reaction thrusters. With the equation of motion, we design the controller based on the quaternion. A Pulse Width Pulse Frequency modulator(PWPFM) is selected for generating on/off signal. Finally, we construct a 2-phase descent mode including initial guidance mode, terminal guidance mode. The MATLAB simulation is performed for evaluating the descent ability and final landing velocity. The dynamic modeling and descent simulation of the lunar module in this paper could be applied for developing the future work of the Korean lunar exploration program.

• Journal of Ocean Engineering and Technology
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.68-75
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• 2018

This study deals with the heading angle and depth keeping control technique for an ROV with multiple horizontal and vertical thrusters by thrust allocation. The light work class ROV URI-L, which is under development at KRISO, is a redundant actuating system with multiple thrusters that are larger than the ROV's degree of freedom. In the redundant actuating system, there are several solutions for a specific ROV motion to be performed. Therefore, a thrust allocation algorithm that considers the entire propulsion system should be regarded as important. First, this paper describes the propulsion system of the ROV and introduces the thrust allocation method of each motion controller. In addition, the performance of the controller is examined using a heading angle and depth keeping control test in a stationary state.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Propulsion Engineers
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.67-73
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• 1997

This paper shows the development status of attitude control thruster for KOMPSAT(Korea Multi-Purpose Satellite). Hanwha Corp. has manufactured and delivered 1.0 lbf monopropellant thrusters under the technology transfer of TRW Co. in U.S.A regarding design, analysis and manufacturing of MRE-1 thruster These thrusters will be installed to KOMPSAT which is scheduled to be launched in July 1999. Monopropellant thrusters can provide reliable and cost-effective means of propulsive control for middle class satellite and maneuvering control systems. Some information concerning with system specification, performance analysis/simulations and manufacturing process has been introduced in this paper.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Propulsion Engineers
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.84-90
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• 2004

A performance evaluation is made in terms of thrust, impulse bit. and specific impulses for a set of mono-propellant hydrazine thrusters producing 0.95 lbf of nominal thrust at an inlet pressure of 350 psia. With a brief description on the hot-firing test configuration and procedures. a typical data obtained from steady-state firing mode is given directly showing the variational behavior of propellant supply pressure, mass flow rate, vacuum condition, and thrust. The performance features are successfully compared to the reference criteria of 1-lbf standard mono-propellant rocket engine. Additionally. a statistical inter-thruster treatment is concisely depicted for the justification of selected thrusters as a grouped member of flight model for spacecraft propulsion system.