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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 NTRS1981

Solar heating and hot water system installed at James Hurst Elementary School, Portsmouth, Virginia

Solar heating and a hot water system installed in an elementary school in Portsmouth, Virginia are examined. The building is zoned into four heating/cooling areas. Each area is equipped with an air handling unit that is monitored and controlled by central control and monitoring system. The solar system for the building uses a collector area of 3,630 sq. ft. of flat plate liquid collectors, and a 6,000 gallon storage tank. System descriptions, maintenance reports, detailed component specifications, and design drawings to evaluate this solar system are reported.

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NASA NTRS1990

U.S.-Japan Workshop on Smart/Intelligent Materials and Systems, Honolulu, HI, Mar. 19-23, 1990, Proceedings

Topics presented include the concept of intelligent materials, the molecular engineering of channel proteins, the prospects, limitations, and requirements of intelligent micro motion systems, the modeling of a shape memory integrated actuator for vibration control of large space structures, and intelligent materials for future electronics. Also presented are the slewing of an active structure, the health monitoring of control system components, the numerical modeling of the microstructure of crystals with symmetry-related variants, and the intelligent material system concept.

Ahmad, Iqbal↗
NASA NTRS1979

Advanced transport operation effects on pilot scan patterns

Long straight-in and close-in, curved, descending instrument approaches were made in NASA's fixed-base Terminal Configured Vehicle simulator. The pilot either manually controlled the simulator or monitored the automatic system control of the simulated aircraft during the approach. Tests were performed with or without the display of traffic. The results indicate that the pilots' use of the Electronic Horizontal Situation Indicator (EHSI) increased appreciably for the close-in, curved, descending approach compared to the conventional straight-in approach. When operating as a monitor of the autopilot system, the pilot scanned around more with less attention devoted to the Electronic Attitude Direction Indicator (EADI). The pilots preferred the manual mode because it kept them in the control loop. The addition of displayed traffic to the EHSI increased the pilots' use of the EHSI with a corresponding reduction in his use of the EADI. Also, the pilot's pupil diameter increased during the landing flare indicating a higher stress level even though the tests were conducted in a fixed-base simulator.

Harris, R. L., Sr.↗
NASA NTRS1991

A ground test program to support condition monitoring of a spacecraft attitude control propulsion system

The Comet Rendezvous Asteroid Flyby (CRAF) mission involves seven years of flight from 0.6 to 4.57 Astronomical Units (AU), followed by about 915 days of maneuvering around a comet. Ground testing will characterize the very critical attitude control system thrusters' fuel consumption and performance for all anticipated fuel temperatures over thruster life. The ground test program characterization will support flight condition monitoring. A commercial software application hosted on a commercial microcomputer will control ground test operations and data acquisition using a newly designed thrust stand. The data acquisition and control system uses a graphics-based language and features a visual interface to integrate data acquisition and control.

Clark, Douglas J.↗
NASA NTRS2014

Supporting Multiple Programs and Projects at NASA's Kennedy Space Center

With the conclusion of the shuttle program in 2011, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) had found itself at a crossroads for finding transportation of United States astronauts and experiments to space. The agency would eventually hand off the taxiing of American astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS) that orbits in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) about 210 miles above the earth under the requirements of the Commercial Crew Program (CCP). By privatizing the round trip journey from Earth to the ISS, the space agency has been given the additional time to focus funding and resources to projects that operate beyond LEO; however, adding even more stress to the agency, the premature cancellation of the program that would succeed the Shuttle Program - The Constellation Program (CxP) -it would inevitably delay the goal to travel beyond LEO for a number of years. Enter the Space Launch System (SLS) and the Orion Multipurpose Crew Vehicle (MPCV). Currently, the SLS is under development at NASA's Marshall Spaceflight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, while the Orion Capsule, built by government contractor Lockheed Martin Corporation, has been assembled and is currently under testing at the Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in Florida. In its current vision, SLS will take Orion and its crew to an asteroid that had been captured in an earlier mission in lunar orbit. Additionally, this vehicle and its configuration is NASA's transportation to Mars. Engineers at the Kennedy Space Center are currently working to test the ground systems that will facilitate the launch of Orion and the SLS within its Ground Services Development and Operations (GSDO) Program. Firing Room 1 in the Launch Control Center (LCC) has been refurbished and outfitted to support the SLS Program. In addition, the Spaceport Command and Control System (SCCS) is the underlying control system for monitoring and launching manned launch vehicles. As NASA finds itself at a junction, so does all of its associated centers across the US. KSC has found itself at the blunt end of change as the entire center has transitioned from an operations mindset to a development mentality. The author of this paper has had the fortunate privilege and opportunity to be part of a transforming NASA during the fall months of 2014. The following is a high level account of projects that he had the chance to work on including the Spaceport Command and Control System, the Advanced Ground System and Maintenance Program Project, Customer Avionics Development & Analysis (CAIDA) Lab and Swamp Works.

Advanced Ground System Maintenance↗
NASA NTRS2000

Preserving Fresh Fruit

Geo-Centers, Inc. has developed an Ethlyene Monitoring and Control System through an SBIR contract with Kennedy Space Center. As plants grow, they produce by products of ethylene and ammonia which are harmful to plant development. The system provides optimal exposure of fruit to ethylene since the proper balance in ethylene is necessary to prevent fruit loss. It can be used to monitor the de-greening process of citrus fruits, in particular.

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NASA NTRS2019

Ultrastable environment control for the NEID spectrometer: design and performance demonstration

Two key areas of emphasis in contemporary experimental exoplanet science are the detailed characterization of transiting terrestrial planets and the search for Earth analog planets to be targeted by future imaging missions. Both of these pursuits are dependent on an order-of-magnitude improvement in the measurement of stellar radial velocities (RV), setting a requirement on single-measurement instrumental uncertainty of order 10 cm∕s. Achieving such extraordinary precision on a high-resolution spectrometer requires thermomechanically stabilizing the instrument to unprecedented levels. We describe the environment control system (ECS) of the NEID spectrometer, which will be commissioned on the 3.5-m WIYN Telescope at Kitt Peak National Observatory in 2019, and has a performance specification of on-sky RV precision <50 cm/s. Because NEID’s optical table and mounts are made from aluminum, which has a high coefficient of thermal expansion, sub-milliKelvin temperature control is especially critical. NEID inherits its ECS from that of the Habitable-Zone Planet Finder (HPF), but with modifications for improved performance and operation near room temperature. Our full-system stability test shows the NEID system exceeds the already impressive performance of HPF, maintaining vacuum pressures below 10(exp −6) Torr and a root mean square (RMS) temperature stability better than 0.4 mK over 30 days. Our ECS design is fully open-source; the design of our temperature-controlled vacuum chamber has already been made public, and here we release the electrical schematics for our custom temperature monitoring and control system.

Paul Robertson↗
NASA NTRS2002

Telescience Resource Kit

The Telescience Resource Kit (TReK) is a PC based ground control system. It can be used by a single individual or in a group environment to monitor and control spacecraft systems and payloads. Capabilities include data receipt, data processing, data storage, data management, and data transmission. Commercial-Off-The-Shelf (COTS) hardware and software have been employed to reduce development costs, operations and maintenance costs, and to effectively take advantage of new commercial products as they become available. The TReK system is currently being used to monitor and control payloads aboard the International Space Station. It is located at sites around the world.

Schneider, Michelle↗
NASA NTRS1993

Evaluation of advanced displays for engine monitoring and control

The relative effectiveness of two advanced display concepts for monitoring engine performance for commercial transport aircraft was studied. The concepts were the Engine Monitoring and Control System (EMACS) display developed by NASA Langley and a display by exception design. Both of these concepts were based on the philosophy of providing information that is directly related to the pilot's task. Both concepts used a normalized thrust display. In addition, EMACS used column deviation indicators; i.e., the difference between the actual parameter value and the value predicted by an engine model, for engine health monitoring; while the Display by Exception displayed the engine parameters if the automated system detected a difference between the actual and the predicted values. The results showed that the advanced display concepts had shorter detection and response times. There were no differences in any of the results between manual and auto throttles. There were no effects upon perceived workload or performance on the primary flight task. The majority of pilots preferred the advanced displays and thought they were operationally acceptable. Certification of these concepts depends on the validation of the engine model. Recommendations are made to improve both the EMACS and the display by exception display formats.

Summers, L. G.↗
NASA NTRS1990

Automated Power-Distribution System

Automated power-distribution system monitors and controls electrical power to modules in network. Handles both 208-V, 20-kHz single-phase alternating current and 120- to 150-V direct current. Power distributed to load modules from power-distribution control units (PDCU's) via subsystem distributors. Ring busses carry power to PDCU's from power source. Needs minimal attention. Detects faults and also protects against them. Potential applications include autonomous land vehicles and automated industrial process systems.

Thomason, Cindy↗
NASA NTRS1997

Infrared Camera

A sensitive infrared camera that observes the blazing plumes from the Space Shuttle or expendable rocket lift-offs is capable of scanning for fires, monitoring the environment and providing medical imaging. The hand-held camera uses highly sensitive arrays in infrared photodetectors known as quantum well infrared photo detectors (QWIPS). QWIPS were developed by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory's Center for Space Microelectronics Technology in partnership with Amber, a Raytheon company. In October 1996, QWIP detectors pointed out hot spots of the destructive fires speeding through Malibu, California. Night vision, early warning systems, navigation, flight control systems, weather monitoring, security and surveillance are among the duties for which the camera is suited. Medical applications are also expected.

Source record↗
NASA NTRS1985

Space platforms and autonomy

Potential applications for autonomous space platforms (SP) are discussed. The platforms are assumed to have long in-service lifetimes and therefore be flexible as to configuration modification and payload changeout. Higher degrees of autonomy, particularly from ground control, are made possible because of the rapid increase of microprocessor power and artificial intelligence advances. Functioning independently, the platforms are to rely only on periodic refurbishment visits by, e.g., the Orbiter. The Manned Space Station (MSS) will be the most complex structure, involving multifacted man-machine interfaces. The SP can be subsystems of the MSS (or other platforms), handling communications enunciation, data acquisition, analysis and telemetry, fault detection and isolation, systems monitoring and control, etc. The SP adopted will depend in all cases on costs vs benefits analyses to determine the worth of removing the function(s) from direct, regular human intervention.

Easter, R. W.↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

TeleLayering: Teleoperated Construction 3D Printing Using Multimodal Feedback for Extraterrestrial and Terrestrial Construction

In this paper, we propose a teleoperated construction 3D printing technology, called TeleLayering, for planetary and terrestrial applications. The TeleLayering technology is enabled by effective multimodal control and monitoring systems and enhanced construction 3D printing robots to build or repair a variety of structures in extreme environments without the need for human presence on the jobsite. This paper presents a general description, main technical requirements, implementation challenges, and applications of this technology.

TeleLayering↗
NASA NTRS1980

Flight-deck automation - Promises and problems

The paper analyzes the role of human factors in flight-deck automation, identifies problem areas, and suggests design guidelines. Flight-deck automation using microprocessor technology and display systems improves performance and safety while leading to a decrease in size, cost, and power consumption. On the other hand negative factors such as failure of automatic equipment, automation-induced error compounded by crew error, crew error in equipment set-up, failure to heed automatic alarms, and loss of proficiency must also be taken into account. Among the problem areas discussed are automation of control tasks, monitoring of complex systems, psychosocial aspects of automation, and alerting and warning systems. Guidelines are suggested for designing, utilising, and improving control and monitoring systems. Investigation into flight-deck automation systems is important as the knowledge gained can be applied to other systems such as air traffic control and nuclear power generation, but the many problems encountered with automated systems need to be analyzed and overcome in future research.

Wiener, E. L.↗
NASA NTRS1994

Aspects of model-based rocket engine condition monitoring and control

A rigorous propulsion system modelling method suitable for control and condition monitoring purposes is developed. Previously developed control oriented methods yielding nominal models for gaseous medium propulsion systems are extended to include both nominal and anomalous models for liquid mediums in the following two ways. First, thermodynamic and fluid dynamic properties for liquids such as liquid hydrogen are incorporated into the governing equations. Second, anomalous conditions are captured in ways compatible with existing system theoretic design tools so that anomalous models can be constructed. Control and condition monitoring based methods are seen as an improvement over some existing modelling methods because such methods typically do not rigorously lead to low order models nor do they provide a means for capturing anomalous conditions. Applications to the nominal SSME HPFP and degraded HPFP serve to illustrate the approach.

Karr, Gerald R.↗
NASA NTRS1974

Management and control of Skylab missions

The flight operations task, as developed in support of the Skylab Program, was evolutionary in nature and, to a great extent, was an orderly extension of the flight control concepts used in the Apollo Program, tempered by the nature of the Skylab Program. During the terminal portion of the Apollo Program, many of the operating concepts proposed for Skylab were tested and used for Apollo support to obtain a realistic evaluation of these new techniques. The principal concept developed in the Apollo Program and augmented in support of the Skylab Program was one wherein a professional operations team would provide support to the scientists in the areas of mission integration, experiment, and experiment support systems, monitoring and control, and data retrieval.

Roach, J. W.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Formulation of a strategy for monitoring control integrity in critical digital control systems

Advanced aircraft will require flight critical computer systems for stability augmentation as well as guidance and control that must perform reliably in adverse, as well as nominal, operating environments. Digital system upset is a functional error mode that can occur in electromagnetically harsh environments, involves no component damage, can occur simultaneously in all channels of a redundant control computer, and is software dependent. A strategy is presented for dynamic upset detection to be used in the evaluation of critical digital controllers during the design and/or validation phases of development. Critical controllers must be able to be used in adverse environments that result from disturbances caused by an electromagnetic source such as lightning, high intensity radiated field (HIRF), and nuclear electromagnetic pulses (NEMP). The upset detection strategy presented provides dynamic monitoring of a given control computer for degraded functional integrity that can result from redundancy management errors and control command calculation error that could occur in an electromagnetically harsh operating environment. The use is discussed of Kalman filtering, data fusion, and decision theory in monitoring a given digital controller for control calculation errors, redundancy management errors, and control effectiveness.

Belcastro, Celeste M.↗