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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 181 records · Page 10
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1997

Knowledge-Based Aircraft Automation: Managers Guide on the use of Artificial Intelligence for Aircraft Automation and Verification and Validation Approach for a Neural-Based Flight Controller

The ultimate goal of this report was to integrate the powerful tools of artificial intelligence into the traditional process of software development. To maintain the US aerospace competitive advantage, traditional aerospace and software engineers need to more easily incorporate the technology of artificial intelligence into the advanced aerospace systems being designed today. The future goal was to transition artificial intelligence from an emerging technology to a standard technology that is considered early in the life cycle process to develop state-of-the-art aircraft automation systems. This report addressed the future goal in two ways. First, it provided a matrix that identified typical aircraft automation applications conducive to various artificial intelligence methods. The purpose of this matrix was to provide top-level guidance to managers contemplating the possible use of artificial intelligence in the development of aircraft automation. Second, the report provided a methodology to formally evaluate neural networks as part of the traditional process of software development. The matrix was developed by organizing the discipline of artificial intelligence into the following six methods: logical, object representation-based, distributed, uncertainty management, temporal and neurocomputing. Next, a study of existing aircraft automation applications that have been conducive to artificial intelligence implementation resulted in the following five categories: pilot-vehicle interface, system status and diagnosis, situation assessment, automatic flight planning, and aircraft flight control. The resulting matrix provided management guidance to understand artificial intelligence as it applied to aircraft automation. The approach taken to develop a methodology to formally evaluate neural networks as part of the software engineering life cycle was to start with the existing software quality assurance standards and to change these standards to include neural network development. The changes were to include evaluation tools that can be applied to neural networks at each phase of the software engineering life cycle. The result was a formal evaluation approach to increase the product quality of systems that use neural networks for their implementation.

Broderick, Ron↗
NASA NTRS2020

Planning In-Flight Calibration for XRISM

The XRISM X-ray observatory will fly two advanced instruments, the Resolve high-resolution spectrometer and the Xtend wide-field imager. These instruments, particularly Resolve, pose calibration challenges due to the unprecedented combination of spectral resolution, spectral coverage, and effective area, combined with a need to characterize the imaging fidelity of the full instrument system to realize the mission’s ambitious science goals. We present the status of the XRISM in-flight calibration plan, building on lessons from Hitomi and other X-ray missions. We present a discussion of targets and observing strategies to address the needed calibration measurements, with a focus on developing methodologies to plan a thorough and flexible calibration campaign and provide insight on calibration systematic error. We also discuss observations that exploit Resolve’s spectral resolution to calibrate atomic codes, and cross-calibration between the XRISM instruments and with other observatories.

Eric D Miller↗
NASA NTRS1990

Real-time piloted simulation of fully automatic guidance and control for rotorcraft nap-of-the-earth (NOE) flight following planned profiles

Developing a single-pilot all-weather NOE capability requires fully automatic NOE navigation and flight control. Innovative guidance and control concepts are being investigated to (1) organize the onboard computer-based storage and real-time updating of NOE terrain profiles and obstacles; (2) define a class of automatic anticipative pursuit guidance algorithms to follow the vertical, lateral, and longitudinal guidance commands; (3) automate a decision-making process for unexpected obstacle avoidance; and (4) provide several rapid response maneuvers. Acquired knowledge from the sensed environment is correlated with the recorded environment which is then used to determine an appropriate evasive maneuver if a nonconformity is observed. This research effort has been evaluated in both fixed-base and moving-base real-time piloted simulations thereby evaluating pilot acceptance of the automated concepts, supervisory override, manual operation, and reengagement of the automatic system.

Clement, Warren F.↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Ground Risk Informed Operational Planning for Small Unmanned Aerial Systems

Increasing quantities of small Unmanned Aerial Systems (sUAS) operations present many challenges in terms of safe adoption and integration into existing airspace. The ability to study and quantify the risk to third parties on the ground prior to flight is an important step toward enabling Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) operations. The Ground Risk Assessment Service Provider (GRASP) software is a capability developed by NASA to assist with third-party risk quantification and risk-informed flight planning. In this paper, two nominal flight paths intended to represent an infrastructure inspection mission are evaluated using the software to demonstrate its utility. A method is also introduced for adding other NASA-developed capabilities into a single architecture to assess a broader set of operational risks associated with BVLOS operations. These capabilities include a navigation system performance prediction tool, a high fidelity vehicle dynamics model, high resolution wind field data, and other information pertinent to operators. Data produced by these capabilities are combined to enable use of the Performance Based Navigation (PBN) concept borrowed from conventional aviation, providing quantified flight path uncertainty for where the sUAS is likely to be relative to its nominal flight plan. Ground risk is assessed within this region of uncertainty, giving a higher level of confidence in the solution compared to an analysis of only the nominal flight path.

Ground Risk↗
NASA NTRS1991

Propulsion modeling techniques and applications for the NASA Dryden X-30 real-time simulator

An overview is given of the flight planning activities to date in the current National Aero-Space Plane (NASP) program. The government flight-envelope expansion concept and other design flight operational assessments are discussed. The NASA Dryden NASP real-time simulator configuration is examined and hypersonic flight planning simulation propulsion modeling requirements are described. The major propulsion modeling techniques developed by the Edwards flight test team are outlined, and the application value of techniques for developmental hypersonic vehicles are discussed.

Hicks, John W.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Expert system verification concerns in an operations environment

The Space Shuttle community is currently developing a number of knowledge-based tools, primarily expert systems, to support Space Shuttle operations. It is proposed that anticipating and responding to the requirements of the operations environment will contribute to a rapid and smooth transition of expert systems from development to operations, and that the requirements for verification are critical to this transition. The paper identifies the requirements of expert systems to be used for flight planning and support and compares them to those of existing procedural software used for flight planning and support. It then explores software engineering concepts and methodology that can be used to satisfy these requirements, to aid the transition from development to operations and to support the operations environment during the lifetime of expert systems. Many of these are similar to those used for procedural hardware.

Goodwin, Mary Ann↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

A Flight Replanning Tool for Terminal Area Urban Air Mobility Operations

In this presentation we describe and evaluate a flight replanning tool, called the trial planner, for terminal area air transport applications. The trial planner employs predefined airspace structures to generate rerouting options between vertiports. In a simplified definition, vertiports are facilities that provide services for managing the take-off and landing of autonomous or manned electric vertical take-off or landing (eVTOL) aircraft. The airspace structures involved in our test cases are arrival routes that consist of predefined entry points to which a transitional path is computed dynamically from the current position of the aircraft. Rerouting options include the transitional path and approach segment along the arrival route; these rerouting options are not vetted for potential conflicts with other operations until a human operator commits to a choice and forwards the flight plan modification for approval from an automated airspace management service. A selected rerouting option is executed by loading a flight plan file to the aircraft ground control station. We conducted a qualitative evaluation of the trial planner using ratings provided by flight crews and air transportation human factors experts with relevant experience from air traffic control. Evaluation criteria included trust in the route recommendations and adequate explanation for the route options. We detail the logic and implementation of the trial planner, as well as report the results of the evaluation of the implementation herein.

Trial planning↗
NASA NTRS1989

Fully automatic guidance for rotorcraft nap-of-the-earth (NOE) flight following planned profiles

Developing a single-pilot, all-weather nap-of-the-earth (NOE) capability requires fully automatic NOE navigation and flight control. Innovative guidance and control concepts are being investigated in a fourfold research effort that will culminate in the real-time piloted simulation of promising alternatives for automatic guidance and control of rotorcraft in NOE operations, thereby providing a practical demonstration for evaluating pilot acceptance of the automated concepts.

Gorder, Peter J.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Time-based air traffic management using expert systems

A prototype expert system was developed for the time scheduling of aircraft into the terminal area. The three functions of the air traffic control schedule advisor are as follows: first, for each new arrival, it develops an admissible flight plan for that aircraft. Second, as the aircraft progresses through the terminal area, it monitors deviations from the flight plan and provides advisories to return the aircraft to its assigned schedule. Third, if major disruptions such as missed approaches occur, it develops a revised plan. The advisor is operational on a Symbolics 3600, and is programed in MRS (a logic programming language), Lisp, and FORTRAN.

Tobias, L.↗
NASA NTRS2011

ISS Operations Cost Reductions Through Automation of Real-Time Planning Tasks

In 2007 the Johnson Space Center s Mission Operations Directorate (MOD) management team challenged their organizations to find ways to reduce the cost of operations for supporting the International Space Station (ISS) in the Mission Control Center (MCC). Each MOD organization was asked to define and execute projects that would help them attain cost reductions by 2012. The MOD Operations Division Flight Planning Branch responded to this challenge by launching several software automation projects that would allow them to greatly improve console operations and reduce ISS console staffing and intern reduce operating costs. These tasks ranged from improving the management and integration mission plan changes, to automating the uploading and downloading of information to and from the ISS and the associated ground complex tasks that required multiple decision points. The software solutions leveraged several different technologies including customized web applications and implementation of industry standard web services architecture; as well as engaging a previously TRL 4-5 technology developed by Ames Research Center (ARC) that utilized an intelligent agent-based system to manage and automate file traffic flow, archive data, and generate console logs. These projects to date have allowed the MOD Operations organization to remove one full time (7 x 24 x 365) ISS console position in 2010; with the goal of eliminating a second full time ISS console support position by 2012. The team will also reduce one long range planning console position by 2014. When complete, these Flight Planning Branch projects will account for the elimination of 3 console positions and a reduction in staffing of 11 engineering personnel (EP) for ISS.

Hall, Timothy A.↗
NASA NTRS2011

Verification and Validation Plan for Flight Performance Requirements on the CEV Parachute Assembly System

The Crew Exploration Vehicle Parachute Assembly System (CPAS) is engaged in a multi-year design and test campaign aimed at qualifying a parachute recovery system for human use on the Orion Spacecraft. Orion has parachute flight performance requirements that will ultimately be verified through the use of Monte Carlo multi-degree of freedom flight simulations. These simulations will be anchored by real world flight test data and iteratively improved to provide a closer approximation to the real physics observed in the inherently chaotic inflation and steady state flight of the CPAS parachutes. This paper will examine the processes necessary to verify the flight performance requirements of the human rated spacecraft. The focus will be on the requirements verification and model validation planned on CPAS.

Morris, Aaron L.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Time-based air traffic management using expert systems

A prototype expert system has been developed for the time scheduling of aircraft into the terminal area. The three functions of the air-traffic-control schedule advisor are as follows: (1) for each new arrival, it develops an admisible flight plan for that aircraft; (2) as the aircraft progresses through the terminal area, it monitors deviations from the aircraft's flight plan and provides advisories to return the aircraft to its assigned schedule; and (3) if major disruptions such as missed approaches occur, it develops a revised plan. The advisor is operational on a Symbolics 3600, and is programmed in MRS (a logic programming language), Lisp, and Fortran.

Tobias, L.↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

High-Intensity Radiated Field (HIRF) Map - An Avoidance Approach for UAM, AAM, and UAS Vehicles

Advanced Air Mobility (AAM), Urban Air Mobility (UAM), and Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) vehicles will fly in similar airspace to Transport Category Rotorcraft, thereby requiring them to meet the most severe requirements for HighIntensity Radiated Fields (HIRF) certification. The environment is severe for rotorcraft, much more so than for fixed-wing aircraft, due to lower altitude operations, potentially exposing the vehicles to close and direct view of high-power transmitters on the ground. High-level HIRF exposure potentially leads to avionic system upsets, interference, and undesirable effects. Shielding and circuit protection against HIRF will be a significant barrier to size, weight, and cost, especially for emerging electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) and electric short take-off and landing (eSTOL) vehicles. This paper proposes a novel approach to HIRF protection, which reduces costs by testing and certifying vehicles to a “vehicle tolerance level” that is lower than required for Transport Category Rotorcraft. The remaining protection is achieved by maintaining a safe distance from known HIRF sources, calculated based on the vehicle's tolerance level and transmitter characteristics such as transmit power, antenna beamwidth, and direction. Tailored maps are developed, identifying transmitters and avoidance zones within an operating area or along a flight path, allowing for restricted vehicle operations. The HIRF avoidance zones could be smaller for vehicles with higher tolerance levels, enabling them to operate closer to transmitters. Transmitter data can be extracted from regulatory databases like the FCC and NOAA. A map tool is developed in Matlab to calculate and plot HIRF avoidance zones from transmitters in FCC and NOAA databases as proof of concept. Illustrations are presented for AM/FM/TV transmitters, communication satellite dishes, and weather radars. Also illustrated are HIRF zones for smaller transmitters, including land-mobile radios, pagers, microwave links, and cellular towers. An example of flight planning around the transmitters is presented. This method is a substantial deviation from the standard approach and involves slightly higher flight-planning complexity, but the potential cost savings are significant. Future AAM/UAM/UAS aeronautical charts could include these new HIRF avoidance zones.

HIRF↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

High-Intensity Radiated Field (HIRF) Map - An Avoidance Approach for UAM, AAM, and UAS Vehicles

Advanced Air Mobility (AAM), Urban Air Mobility (UAM), and Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) vehicles will fly in similar airspace to Transport Category Rotorcraft, thereby requiring them to meet the most severe requirements for High Intensity Radiated Fields (HIRF) certification. The environment is severe for rotorcraft, much more so than for fixed-wing aircraft, due to lower altitude operations, potentially exposing the vehicles to close and direct view of high-power transmitters on the ground. High-level HIRF exposure potentially leads to avionic system upsets, interference, and undesirable effects. Shielding and circuit protection against HIRF will be a significant barrier to size, weight, and cost, especially for emerging electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) and electric short take-off and landing (eSTOL) vehicles. This paper proposes a novel approach to HIRF protection, which reduces costs by testing and certifying vehicles to a “vehicle tolerance level” that is lower than required for Transport Category Rotorcraft. The remaining protection is achieved by maintaining a safe distance from known HIRF sources, calculated based on the vehicle's tolerance level and transmitter characteristics such as transmit power, antenna beamwidth, and direction. Tailored maps are developed, identifying transmitters and avoidance zones within an operating area or along a flight path, allowing for restricted vehicle operations. The HIRF avoidance zones could be smaller for vehicles with higher tolerance levels, enabling them to operate closer to transmitters. Transmitter data can be extracted from regulatory databases like the FCC and NOAA. A map tool is developed in Matlab to calculate and plot HIRF avoidance zones from transmitters in FCC and NOAA databases as proof of concept. Illustrations are presented for AM/FM/TV transmitters, communication satellite dishes, and weather radars. Also illustrated are HIRF zones for smaller transmitters, including land-mobile radios, pagers, microwave links, and cellular towers. An example of flight planning around the transmitters is presented. This method is a substantial deviation from the standard approach and involves slightly higher flight-planning complexity, but the potential cost savings are significant. Future AAM/UAM/UAS aeronautical charts could include these new HIRF avoidance zones.

HIRF↗
NASA NTRS1980

Report of convective phenomena team

A group meeting was assembled to focus on the planning of specific experiments, to establish some priorities, identify interested scientists who would like to participate, establish any special requirements, make recommendations on data processing, and to prepare flight plan outlines. Since the number of convective storms in the CCOPE (Cooperative Convective Precipitation Experiment) field experiment area are limited to only a few days during the operational time period the flight plans must be designed with a hierarchy of abort experiments so that the easily identified and lowest probability events should take priority until their quota is filled.

Orville, H.↗
NASA NTRS1977

A synopsis of the weather problems facing today's general aviation pilots

Concentration on weather to data has primarily been at the point of observation. There have been efforts to obtain and disseminate en route weather through pilot reports (PIREPS), but the efforts have been meager. What is needed is the cooperative efforts on the application of technology to the acquisition and dissemination of the en route weather data for those pilots in the air as well as those who are flight planning on the ground. A comprehensive three-dimensional computer storage system is proposed that receives weather information from all aircraft on IFR flight plans and stores this information by altitude and geographic coordinates. Also, a report on the Federal Aviation Administration's Research Engineering and Development Aviation Weather Program from the aspect of past, present and future is given.

Pope, J. C.↗
NASA NTRS1990

Inflight replanning for diversions

Current procedures for handling flight plan diversions can require too much of the crew's resources. This increases workload and may compromise safety and cause delays in modifying the flight plan. The goal of NASA Langley Research Center's Diverter research program is to develop guidelines for a prototype pilot decision aid for diversions that will reduce cognitive workload, improve safety, increase capacity and traffic flow, and increase aircraft efficiency. The Diverter program has been partitioned into five phases, the first three of which were performed under contract by Lockheed Aeronautical Systems Company, Marietta, GA. In the first two phases, which have been completed, the system requirements and desired functions were defined and a prototype decision-making aid was implemented and demonstrated on a workstation. In phase three, which is currently under way, the pilot/vehicle interface is being defined and the capability of the prototype is being improved. In the last two phases, which will be performed at NASA Langley Research Center, the interface will be implemented, tied into the prototype aiding software, and installed in an advanced simulation facility for testing. In addition, significant implementation issues may be addressed through flight testing on NASA research aircraft. Information is given in viewgraph form.

Palmer, Michael↗