Former X-33 Manager Speaks to IEEE Control System Society
Gene Austin, former manager of the NASA X-33 program, addressed the IEEE Control Systems Society at noon on October 24, 2003 at Papa Lovetti's. Fourteen attendees heard the talk.
Mr. Austin discussed the X-33 Program and its accomplishments in demonstrating the technologies necessary to reach a decision to commercially develop and operate a Single Stage to Orbit Reusable Launch Vehicle. He showed videos of vertical takeoff and landing tests and flight tests of the fully automated control system used on the X-33. He also discussed issues that arose during the test program and resolution approaches taken for these issues. He aroused interest among the control system designers in the audience by providing the key requirements for the control system for the X-33. He discussed the evolution of fully automated control in commercial and military aircraft, and showed how a fly-by-wire control had been used to stabilize the inherently unstable forward sweep wing configuration of the X-29. Mr. Austin's briefing was well received by the audience, and it was suggested that this would be an ideal lecture to give to the Student Section, to illustrate the practical application of control system analysis and design. Future meetings of the IEEE Control System Society are in planning and will be announced in the future. For more information on the Huntsville Chapter of IEEE CSS, please contact Charles M. Bishop, 256-461-3957, charles.m.bishop2@boeing.com.