Dr. Jack B. Aldrich Profile

Dr. Jack B. Aldrich

at Jet Propulsion Lab

SPIE Involvement:

Author

Publications (16)

Proceedings Article | 26 September 2013 Paper

The Debris Disk Explorer: a balloon-borne coronagraph for observing debris disks

Lewis Roberts, Geoffrey Bryden, Wesley Traub, Stephen Unwin, John Trauger, John Krist, Jack Aldrich, Paul Brugarolas, Karl Stapelfeldt, Mark Wyatt, David Stuchlik, James Lanzi

Proceedings Volume 8864, 88640A (2013) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2025282

KEYWORDS: Stars, Coronagraphy, Telescopes, Planets, Mirrors, Wavefront sensors, Planetary systems, Solar system, Space telescopes, Light scattering

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Proceedings Article | 19 April 2013 Paper

Percussive augmenter of rotary drills (PARoD)

Mircea Badescu, Jennifer Hasenoehrl, Yoseph Bar-Cohen, Stewart Sherrit, Xiaoqi Bao, Zensheu Chang, Patrick Ostlund, Jack Aldrich

Proceedings Volume 8692, 86921Q (2013) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2010316

KEYWORDS: Actuators, Ferroelectric materials, Ultrasonics, Teeth, Transducers, 3D modeling, Statistical analysis, Planets, Prototyping, Baryon acoustic oscillations

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Proceedings Article | 6 April 2012 Paper

Percussive augmenter of rotary drills (PARoD)

Mircea Badescu, Yoseph Bar-Cohen, Stewart Sherrit, Xiaoqi Bao, Zensheu Chang, Chris Donnelly, Jack Aldrich

Proceedings Volume 8345, 83450J (2012) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.914422

KEYWORDS: Actuators, Ultrasonics, Prototyping, Ferroelectric materials, Statistical analysis, Planets, Neodymium, Aluminum, Baryon acoustic oscillations, Solar system

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Proceedings Article | 2 April 2008 Paper

Extended life PZT stack test fixture

M. Badescu, S. Sherrit, X. Bao, J. Aldrich, Y. Bar-Cohen, C. Jones

Proceedings Volume 6929, 692903 (2008) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.776483

KEYWORDS: Ferroelectric materials, Actuators, Computer aided design, Capacitance, Dielectrics, Interferometers, Space operations, Environmental sensing, Mirrors, Manufacturing

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Proceedings Article | 2 April 2008 Paper

Multilayer piezoelectric stack actuator characterization

Stewart Sherrit, Christopher Jones, Jack Aldrich, Chad Blodget, Xioaqi Bao, Mircea Badescu, Yoseph Bar-Cohen

Proceedings Volume 6929, 692909 (2008) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.776396

KEYWORDS: Actuators, Capacitance, Manufacturing, Dielectrics, Temperature metrology, Ferroelectric materials, Multilayers, LabVIEW, Dielectric breakdown, Computer aided design

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Proceedings Article | 19 March 2008 Paper

High-power piezoelectric acoustic-electric power feedthru for metal walls

Xiaoqi Bao, Will Biederman, Stewart Sherrit, Mircea Badescu, Yoseph Bar-Cohen, Christopher Jones, Jack Aldrich, Zensheu Chang

Proceedings Volume 6930, 69300Z (2008) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.776473

KEYWORDS: Wave plates, Transducers, Metals, Titanium, Finite element methods, Amplifiers, Prototyping, Ceramics, Reflectors, Transmitters

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Proceedings Article | 19 April 2007 Paper

Wireless piezoelectric acoustic-electric power feedthru

Xiaoqi Bao, Benjamin Doty, Stewart Sherrit, Mircea Badescu, Yoseph Bar-Cohen, Jack Aldrich, Zensheu Chang

Proceedings Volume 6529, 652940 (2007) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.716429

KEYWORDS: Prototyping, Data communications, Acoustics, Aluminum, Amplifiers, Ceramics, Wave plates, Communication engineering, Space operations, Circuit switching

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Proceedings Article | 19 April 2007 Paper

Ultrasonic/sonic driller/corer as a hammer-rotary drill

M. Badescu, S. Kassab, S. Sherrit, J. Aldrich, X. Bao, Y. Bar-Cohen, Z. Chang

Proceedings Volume 6529, 65290S (2007) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.716493

KEYWORDS: Actuators, Transducers, Ultrasonics, Modal analysis, Baryon acoustic oscillations, Mars, Acoustics, Spectrometers, Neck, 3D modeling

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Proceedings Article | 19 April 2007 Paper

Power loss consideration in wireless piezoelectric acoustic-electric power feedthru

Zensheu Chang, Xiaoqi Bao, Benjamin Doty, Stewart Sherrit, Yoseph Bar-Cohen, Mircea Badescu, Jack Aldrich

Proceedings Volume 6529, 652942 (2007) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.716433

KEYWORDS: Transducers, Wave plates, Acoustics, Ferroelectric materials, Wave propagation, Finite element methods, Receivers, Chemical elements, Space operations, Circuit switching

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Proceedings Article | 18 April 2007 Paper

Lyapunov stability of periodically modulated cosine drivers for resonance tuning of harmonic oscillators

J. Aldrich, S. Sherrit, X. Bao, M. Badescu, Y. Bar-Cohen, Z. Chang

Proceedings Volume 6523, 65230B (2007) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.716403

KEYWORDS: Oscillators, Telecommunications, Linear filtering, Control systems, Complex systems, Inspection, Systems modeling, Sensors, Feedback control, Real-time computing

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Proceedings Article | 10 April 2007 Paper

Subsurface sampler and sensors platform using the ultrasonic/sonic driller/corer (USDC)

Yoseph Bar-Cohen, Stewart Sherrit, Xiaoqi Bao, Mircea Badescu, Jack Aldrich, Zensheu Chang

Proceedings Volume 6529, 65290E (2007) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.715048

KEYWORDS: Sensors, Actuators, Ultrasonics, Statistical analysis, Biological research, Baryon acoustic oscillations, Fiber optics, Temperature metrology, Teeth, Astrobiology

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The search for existing or past life in the Universe is one of the most important objectives of NASA's mission. For this purpose, effective instruments that can sample and conduct in-situ astrobiology analysis are being developed. In support of this objective, a series of novel mechanisms that are driven by an Ultrasonic/Sonic actuator have been developed to probe and sample rocks, ice and soil. This mechanism is driven by an ultrasonic piezoelectric actuator that impacts a bit at sonic frequencies through the use of an intermediate free-mass. Ultrasonic/Sonic Driller/Corer (USDC) devices were made that can produce both core and powdered cuttings, operate as a sounder to emit elastic waves and serve as a platform for sensors. For planetary exploration, this mechanism has the important advantage of requiring low axial force, virtually no torque, and can be duty cycled for operation at low average power. The advantage of requiring low axial load allows overcoming a major limitation of planetary sampling in low gravity environments or when operating from lightweight robots and rovers. The ability to operate at duty cycling with low average power produces a minimum sample temperature rise allowing for control of the sample integrity and preventing damage to potential biological markers in the acquired sample. The development of the USDC is being pursued on various fronts ranging from analytical modeling to mechanisms improvements while considering a wide range of potential applications. While developing the analytical capability to predict and optimize its performance, efforts are made to enhance its capability to drill at higher power and high speed. Taking advantage of the fact that the bit does not require rotation, sensors (e.g., thermocouple and fiberoptics) were integrated into the bit to examine the borehole during drilling. The sounding effect of the drill was used to emit elastic waves in order to evaluate the surface characteristics of rocks. Since the USDC is driven by piezoelectric actuation mechanism it can designed to operate at extreme temperature environments from very cold as on Titan and Europa to very hot as on Venus. In this paper, a review of the latest development and applications of the USDC will be given.

Proceedings Article | 30 March 2006 Paper

Studies of acoustic-electric feed-throughs for power transmission through structures

Stewart Sherrit, Benjamin Doty, Mircea Badescu, Xiaoqi Bao, Yoseph Bar-Cohen, Jack Aldrich, Zensheu Chang

Proceedings Volume 6171, 617102 (2006) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.657736

KEYWORDS: Epoxies, Transducers, Acoustics, Chemical elements, Prototyping, Mechanical efficiency, Solid modeling, Data communications, Dielectrics, Mars

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There are numerous engineering design problems where the use of wires to transfer power and communicate data thru the walls of a structure is prohibitive or significantly difficult that it may require a complex design. Using physical feedthroughs in such systems may make them susceptible to leakage of chemicals or gasses, loss of pressure or vacuum, as well as difficulties in providing adequate thermal or electrical insulation. Moreover, feeding wires thru a wall of a structure reduces the strength of the structure and makes the structure prone to cracking due to fatigue that can result from cyclic loading and stress concentrations. One area that has already been identified to require a wireless alternative to electrical feedthroughs would be the container of any Mars Sample Return Mission, which would need wireless sensors to sense a pressure leak and to avoid potential contamination. The idea of using elastic or acoustic waves to transfer power was suggested recently by [Y. Hu, et al., July 2003]. This system allows for the avoidance of cabling or wiring. The technology is applicable to the transfer of power for actuation, sensing and other tasks inside any sealed container or vacuum/pressure vessel. An alternative approach to the modeling presented previously [Sherrit et al., 2005] used network analysis to solve the same problem in a clear and expandable manner. Experimental tests on three different designs of these devices were performed. The three designs used different methods of coupling the piezoelectric element to the wall. In the first test the piezoelectric material was bolted using a backing structure. In the second test the piezoelectric was clamped after the application of grease. Finally the piezoelectric element was attached using a conductive epoxy. The mechanical clamp with grease produced the highest measured efficiency of 53% however this design was the least practical from a fabrication viewpoint. The power transfer efficiency of conductive epoxy joint was 40% and the stress bolts (12%). The experimental results on a variety of designs will be presented and the thermal and non-linear issues will be discussed.

Proceedings Article | 30 March 2006 Paper

Ultrasonic/sonic gopher for subsurface ice and brine sampling: analysis and fabrication challenges and testing results

M. Badescu, S. Sherrit, A. Olorunsola, J. Aldrich, X. Bao, Y. Bar-Cohen, Z. Chang, P. Doran, C. Fritsen, F. Kenig, C. McKay, A. Murray, S. Du, T. Peterson, T. Song

Proceedings Volume 6171, 617107 (2006) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.657487

KEYWORDS: Transducers, Actuators, Neck, Ultrasonics, Mars, Head, Computer aided design, Planets, Astrobiology, Modal analysis

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Proceedings Article | 27 March 2006 Paper

Extremum-seeking control for an ultrasonic/sonic driller/corer (USDC) driven at high power

Jack Aldrich, Stewart Sherrit, Xiaoqi Bao, Yoseph Bar-Cohen, Mircea Badescu, Zensheu Chang

Proceedings Volume 6166, 616618 (2006) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.658872

KEYWORDS: Actuators, Ultrasonics, Transducers, Detection and tracking algorithms, Resonators, Curium, Control systems, Signal to noise ratio, Baryon acoustic oscillations, LabVIEW

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Future NASA exploration missions will increasingly require sampling, in-situ analysis and possibly the return of material to Earth for further tests. One of the challenges to addressing this need is the ability to drill using minimal reaction force and torque while operating from light weight platforms (e.g., lander, rover, etc.) as well as operate at planets with low gravity. For this purpose, the authors developed the Ultrasonic/Sonic Driller/Corer (USDC) jointly with Cybersonics Inc. Studies of the operation of the USDC at high power have shown there is a critical need to self-tune to maintain the operation of the piezoelectric actuator at resonance. Performing such tuning is encountered with difficulties and to address them an extremum-seeking control algorithm is being investigated. This algorithm is designed to tune the driving frequency of a time-varying resonating actuator subjected to both random and high-power impulsive noise disturbances. Using this algorithm, the performance of the actuator is monitored on a time-scale that is compatible with its slowly time-varying physical characteristics. The algorithm includes a parameter estimator, which estimates the coefficients of a function that characterizes the quality factor of the USDC. Since the parameter estimator converges sufficiently faster than the time-varying drift of the USDC's actuator physical parameters, this extremum-seeking estimation and control algorithm potentially allows for use in closed-loop monitoring of the operation of the USDC. Specifically, this system may be programmed to automatically adjust the duty-cycle of the sinusoidal driver signal to monitor the quality factor of the USDC not to fall below a user-defined set-point. Such fault-tolerant functionality is especially important in automated drilling applications where it is essential not to inadvertently drive the piezoelectric ceramic elements of the USDC beyond their operation capability. The details of the algorithm and experimental results are described and discussed in this paper.

Proceedings Article | 1 August 2003 Paper

Control/structure optimization approach for minimum-time reconfiguration of tensegrity systems

Jack Aldrich, Robert Skelton

Proceedings Volume 5049, (2003) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.484030

KEYWORDS: Actuators, Sensors, Robotics, Control systems, Matrices, Robotic systems, Systems modeling, Linear algebra, Feedback control, Switching

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Proceedings Article | 8 September 1993 Paper

Design of passive piezoelectric damping for space structures

Jack Aldrich, Nesbitt Hagood, Andreas von Flotow, David Vos

Proceedings Volume 1917, (1993) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.152815

KEYWORDS: Intelligence systems, Smart structures, Systems modeling, Control systems, Actuators, Electromechanical design, Finite element methods, Amplifiers, Solids, Resistors

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Showing 5 of 16 publications

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