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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 199 records · Page 11
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1988

A methodology for automation and robotics evaluation applied to the space station telerobotic servicer

The efforts of a recent study aimed at identifying key issues and trade-offs associated with using a Flight Telerobotic Servicer (FTS) to aid in Space Station assembly-phase tasks is described. The use of automation and robotic (A and R) technologies for large space systems would involve a substitution of automation capabilities for human extravehicular or intravehicular activities (EVA, IVA). A methodology is presented that incorporates assessment of candidate assembly-phase tasks, telerobotic performance capabilities, development costs, and effect of operational constraints (space transportation system (STS), attached payload, and proximity operations). Changes in the region of cost-effectiveness are examined under a variety of systems design assumptions. A discussion of issues is presented with focus on three roles the FTS might serve: (1) as a research-oriented testbed to learn more about space usage of telerobotics; (2) as a research based testbed having an experimental demonstration orientation with limited assembly and servicing applications; or (3) as an operational system to augment EVA and to aid the construction of the Space Station and to reduce the programmatic (schedule) risk by increasing the flexibility of mission operations.

Smith, Jeffrey H.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Design requirements for SRB production control system. Volume 1: Study background and overview

The solid rocket boosters assembly environment is described in terms of the contraints it places upon an automated production control system. The business system generated for the SRB assembly and the computer system which meets the business system requirements are described. The selection software process and modifications required to the recommended software are addressed as well as the hardware and configuration requirements necessary to support the system.

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NASA NTRS1972

SUMC-DV hardware manual

The assembly, the physical and electrical characteristics, and the basic electrical tests of the Space Ultrareliable Modular Computer Demonstration Vehicle (SUMC-DV), are described. The descriptions include: (1) the packaging concepts, physical assembly, design and fabrication using design automation techniques of 10 different types of custom CMOS LSI arrays; (2) the fabrication and testing of the various components including the LSI arrays; (3) the hierarchy of the memory complement and the clock generation and distribution system; (4) system testing techniques; and (5) the procedure employed in the electrical checkout of the system.

Feller, A.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Preparing for the future

Technologies and programs related to the development, construction, and operation of the Space Station are examined. A phase approach has been chosen for the construction of the Space Station, which is to have a revised baseline configuration. Consideration is given to the use of automation on the Space Station; the assembly and servicing of the Station; user requirements; and Space Station operations. The benefits the Space Station will provide to space exploration are discussed.

Stofan, Andrew J.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Automation and robotics

The Autonomous Systems focus on the automation of control systems for the Space Station and mission operations. Telerobotics focuses on automation for in-space servicing, assembly, and repair. The Autonomous Systems and Telerobotics each have a planned sequence of integrated demonstrations showing the evolutionary advance of the state-of-the-art. Progress is briefly described for each area of concern.

Montemerlo, Melvin↗
NASA NTRS2012

Mass Analyzers Facilitate Research on Addiction

The famous go/no go command for Space Shuttle launches comes from a place called the Firing Room. Located at Kennedy Space Center in the Launch Control Center (LCC), there are actually four Firing Rooms that take up most of the third floor of the LCC. These rooms comprise the nerve center for Space Shuttle launch and processing. Test engineers in the Firing Rooms operate the Launch Processing System (LPS), which is a highly automated, computer-controlled system for assembly, checkout, and launch of the Space Shuttle. LPS monitors thousands of measurements on the Space Shuttle and its ground support equipment, compares them to predefined tolerance levels, and then displays values that are out of tolerance. Firing Room operators view the data and send commands about everything from propellant levels inside the external tank to temperatures inside the crew compartment. In many cases, LPS will automatically react to abnormal conditions and perform related functions without test engineer intervention; however, firing room engineers continue to look at each and every happening to ensure a safe launch. Some of the systems monitored during launch operations include electrical, cooling, communications, and computers. One of the thousands of measurements derived from these systems is the amount of hydrogen and oxygen inside the shuttle during launch.

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NASA NTRS1994

Cell Libraries

A NASA contract led to the development of faster and more energy efficient semiconductor materials for digital integrated circuits. Gallium arsenide (GaAs) conducts electrons 4-6 times faster than silicon and uses less power at frequencies above 100-150 megahertz. However, the material is expensive, brittle, fragile and has lacked computer automated engineering tools to solve this problem. Systems & Processes Engineering Corporation (SPEC) developed a series of GaAs cell libraries for cell layout, design rule checking, logic synthesis, placement and routing, simulation and chip assembly. The system is marketed by Compare Design Automation.

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NASA NTRS1990

Advanced automation for in-space vehicle processing

The primary objective of this 3-year planned study is to assure that the fully evolved Space Station Freedom (SSF) can support automated processing of exploratory mission vehicles. Current study assessments show that required extravehicular activity (EVA) and to some extent intravehicular activity (IVA) manpower requirements for required processing tasks far exceeds the available manpower. Furthermore, many processing tasks are either hazardous operations or they exceed EVA capability. Thus, automation is essential for SSF transportation node functionality. Here, advanced automation represents the replacement of human performed tasks beyond the planned baseline automated tasks. Both physical tasks such as manipulation, assembly and actuation, and cognitive tasks such as visual inspection, monitoring and diagnosis, and task planning are considered. During this first year of activity both the Phobos/Gateway Mars Expedition and Lunar Evolution missions proposed by the Office of Exploration have been evaluated. A methodology for choosing optimal tasks to be automated has been developed. Processing tasks for both missions have been ranked on the basis of automation potential. The underlying concept in evaluating and describing processing tasks has been the use of a common set of 'Primitive' task descriptions. Primitive or standard tasks have been developed both for manual or crew processing and automated machine processing.

Sklar, Michael↗
NASA NTRS1978

Extensive cost reduction studies: Composite empennage component - L-1011 commercial airliner

A series of cover skin laminate studies was conducted. The baseline laminate design is composed of 34 plies with doublers interwoven. This is costly to produce, since the broad goods tape dispersing machine must stop frequently while the doubler plies are inserted by hand during the layup sequence. The use of graphite cloth was investigated for the cover skin. Attention is also given to low resin content prepreg, the selection of optimum tape width, an increase in gap/overlap tolerances, the use of large reusable vacuum bags with mechanical edge seals for production, an integrated laminating center machine, automated hat stiffener processing, a secondary bond assembly process, and a single-stage cure process.

Van Hamersveld, J.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Automated installation of large platform utilities

The capabilities of the assembler in installing nonstructural platform systems were assessed. These systems include electrical power distribution, heat transport, command and data signal transmission, and payload data transmission. The effects of including installation of utilities on the assembly process and on the design, operation, and performance of the assembler were evaluated. In addition, any special requirements on the assembler and/or the platform due to the installation of utilities were identified. The procedure followed was to define a set of candidate utility characteristics and installation requirements, define and design installation concepts, and perform an assessment of impacts on the assembler and its operation.

Vernon, R. M.↗
NASA NTRS1989

Conference on Real-Time Computer Applications in Nuclear, Particle and Plasma Physics, 6th, Williamsburg, VA, May 15-19, 1989, Proceedings

Papers on real-time computer applications in nuclear, particle, and plasma physics are presented, covering topics such as expert systems tactics in testing FASTBUS segment interconnect modules, trigger control in a high energy physcis experiment, the FASTBUS read-out system for the Aleph time projection chamber, a multiprocessor data acquisition systems, DAQ software architecture for Aleph, a VME multiprocessor system for plasma control at the JT-60 upgrade, and a multiasking, multisinked, multiprocessor data acquisition front end. Other topics include real-time data reduction using a microVAX processor, a transputer based coprocessor for VEDAS, simulation of a macropipelined multi-CPU event processor for use in FASTBUS, a distributed VME control system for the LISA superconducting Linac, a distributed system for laboratory process automation, and a distributed system for laboratory process automation. Additional topics include a structure macro assembler for the event handler, a data acquisition and control system for Thomson scattering on ATF, remote procedure execution software for distributed systems, and a PC-based graphic display real-time particle beam uniformity.

Pordes, Ruth↗
NASA NTRS1991

Computer-Aided Design Of Sheet-Material Parts

Computer-aided-design system partly automates tedious process of designing and guiding assembly of small pieces of flat sheet material into large surfaces that approximate smoothly curved surfaces having complicated three-dimensional shapes. Capability provides for flexibility enabling designer to assess quickly and easily effects of changes in design in making engineering compromises among various sizes and shapes. Saves time and money in both design and fabrication. Used in rocket-engine application and other applications requiring design of sheet-material parts.

Gilbert, Jeffrey L.↗
NASA NTRS1990

Assessing the feasibility, cost, and utility of developing models of human performance in aviation

The purpose of the effort outlined in this briefing was to determine whether models exist or can be developed that can be used to address aviation automation issues. A multidisciplinary team has been assembled to undertake this effort, including experts in human performance, team/crew, and aviation system modeling, and aviation data used as input to such models. The project consists of two phases, a requirements assessment phase that is designed to determine the feasibility and utility of alternative modeling efforts, and a model development and evaluation phase that will seek to implement the plan (if a feasible cost effective development effort is found) that results from the first phase. Viewgraphs are given.

Stillwell, William↗
NASA NTRS1991

Thermal Control System Automation Project (TCSAP)

Information is given in viewgraph form on the Space Station Freedom (SSF) Thermal Control System Automation Project (TCSAP). Topics covered include the assembly of the External Thermal Control System (ETCS); the ETCS functional schematic; the baseline Fault Detection, Isolation, and Recovery (FDIR), including the development of a knowledge based system (KBS) for application of rule based reasoning to the SSF ETCS; TCSAP software architecture; the High Fidelity Simulator architecture; the TCSAP Runtime Object Database (RODB) data flow; KBS functional architecture and logic flow; TCSAP growth and evolution; and TCSAP relationships.

Boyer, Roger L.↗
NASA NTRS2005

Hydrogen Sensors Boost Hybrids; Today's Models Losing Gas?

Advanced chemical sensors are used in aeronautic and space applications to provide safety monitoring, emission monitoring, and fire detection. In order to fully do their jobs, these sensors must be able to operate in a range of environments. NASA has developed sensor technologies addressing these needs with the intent of improving safety, optimizing combustion efficiencies, and controlling emissions. On the ground, the chemical sensors were developed by NASA engineers to detect potential hydrogen leaks during Space Shuttle launch operations. The Space Shuttle uses a combination of hydrogen and oxygen as fuel for its main engines. Liquid hydrogen is pumped to the external tank from a storage tank located several hundred feet away. Any hydrogen leak could potentially result in a hydrogen fire, which is invisible to the naked eye. It is important to detect the presence of a hydrogen fire in order to prevent a major accident. In the air, the same hydrogen-leak dangers are present. Stress and temperature changes can cause tiny cracks or holes to form in the tubes that line the Space Shuttle s main engine nozzle. Such defects could allow the hydrogen that is pumped through the nozzle during firing to escape. Responding to the challenges associated with pinpointing hydrogen leaks, NASA endeavored to improve propellant leak-detection capabilities during assembly, pre-launch operations, and flight. The objective was to reduce the operational cost of assembling and maintaining hydrogen delivery systems with automated detection systems. In particular, efforts have been focused on developing an automated hydrogen leak-detection system using multiple, networked hydrogen sensors that are operable in harsh conditions.

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NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Detection and Localization of a Fold, Twist, and Overlaps within Tow-Steered Composite Panels During Autoclave Cure

Because of the anisotropic properties of carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CRFP) composites, novel layup architectures, such as tow-steering, can be used to tailor mechanical properties of the composite structure to the loading condition during use. In this work, a tow-steered composite panel was de-signed, laid up using the Integrated Structural Assembly of Advanced Com-posites (ISAAC) automated fiber placement (AFP) machine located at the NASA Langley Research Center (LaRC), and cured while simultaneously be-ing inspected using an ultrasonic inspection system operating inside the auto-clave. The composite panel contained overlaps that are intrinsic to the tow-steered design and had intentionally introduced layup defects including folds, wrinkles, splices, tow twists, foreign object debris (FOD), gaps, and additional overlaps. The inspections during the cure cycle focused on the ar-ea within the laminate containing a fold, a twist, and intrinsic overlaps. The ultrasonic inspections performed during the cure cycle were analyzed and compared to post-cure ultrasonic inspections of the entire laminate.

Composites↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Detection and Localization of a Fold, Twist, and Overlaps within Tow-Steered Composite Panels During Autoclave Cure

Because of the anisotropic properties of carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CRFP) composites, novel layup architectures, such as tow-steering, can be used to tailor mechanical properties of the composite structure to the loading condition during use. In this work, a tow-steered composite panel was de-signed, laid up using the Integrated Structural Assembly of Advanced Com-posites (ISAAC) automated fiber placement (AFP) machine located at the NASA Langley Research Center (LaRC), and cured while simultaneously be-ing inspected using an ultrasonic inspection system operating inside the auto-clave. The composite panel contained overlaps that are intrinsic to the tow-steered design and had intentionally introduced layup defects including folds, wrinkles, splices, tow twists, foreign object debris (FOD), gaps, and additional overlaps. The inspections during the cure cycle focused on the ar-ea within the laminate containing a fold, a twist, and intrinsic overlaps. The ultrasonic inspections performed during the cure cycle were analyzed and compared to post-cure ultrasonic inspections of the entire laminate.

Composites↗