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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 253 records · Page 14
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1981

Optical Fiber Illumination System for visual flight simulation

An electronically controlled lighting system simulating runway, aircraft carrier, and landing aid lights for flight simulations is described. The various colored lights that would be visible to a pilot by day, at dusk, or at night are duplicated at the distances the lights would normally become visible. Plastic optical fiber illuminators using tungsten halogen lights are distributed behind the model. The tips of the fibers of illuminators simulating runway lights are bevelled in order that they may be seen from long distances and at low angles. Fibers representing taxiway lights are pointed and polished for omni-directional visibility. The electronic intensity controls, which can be operated either manually or remotely, regulate the intensity of the lights to simulate changes in distance. A dichronic mirror, infrared filter system is used to maintain color integrity.

Hollow, R. H.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Remote sensing techniques used in hydrocarbon exploration - A state-of-the-art review

Lintz (1972) has defined remote sensing for petroleum exploration as the detection from a distance of variations of the earth's surface or properties. Possibilities foreseen by Lintz could be realized with the Lander satellite. When used in 'phase-one' exploration programs, Landsat data have been effective in 'zeroing-in' on potential hydrocarbon traps, and later, when supplemented by more conventional exploration procedures, have led to the discovery of these resources. The present investigation is concerned with an overview of the methods utilized in 'phase-one' hydrocarbon exploration programs. The considered methods are to serve as an initial tool to aid the more conventional exploration procedures. Attention is given to visual interpretations, digital image processing, lineament analysis, surface anomalies, and geomorphology and topography.

Gonzales, R. W.↗
NASA NTRS1986

The influence of free-stream turbulence on separation of turbulent boundary layers in incompressible, two-dimensional flow

Experiments were conducted to determine if free-stream turbulence scale affects separation of turbulent boundary layers. In consideration of possible interrelation between scale and intensity of turbulence, the latter characteristic also was varied and its role was evaluated. Flow over a 2-dimensional airfoil in a subsonic wind tunnel was studied with the aid of hot-wire anemometry, liquid-film flow visualization, a Preston tube, and static pressure measurements. Profiles of velocity, relative turbulence intensity, and integral scale in the boundary layer were measured. Detachment boundary was determined for various angles of attack and free-stream turbulence. The free-stream turbulence intensity and scale were found to spread into the entire turbulent boundary layer, but the effect decreased as the airfoil surface was approached. When the changes in stream turbulence were such that the boundary layer velocity profiles were unchanged, detachment location was not significantly affected by the variations of intensity and scale. Pressure distribution remained the key factor in determining detachment location.

Potter, J. Leith↗
NASA NTRS1997

Measurement of Vortex Strength and Core Diameter in the Wake of a Hovering Rotor

Detailed hot wire measurements have been acquired in the tip vortex of a three-bladed model tilt rotor in hover. Testing was conducted at a rotor tip speed of 752 ft/sec, a Reynolds number (based on blade tip chord) of 1.77 x 10(exp 6), for thrust coefficients up to 0.0160. A figure shows the hot wire mounted above the inverted rotor at the Outside Aerodynamic Rotor Facility (OARF) at NASA Ames Research Center. Strobed shadowgraph flow visualization was used to define the vortex trajectory as an aid in hot wire positioning. Considerable variations in tip vortex structure with time were observed, even from the same blade, under essentially uniform test conditions. The only velocity signatures analyzed were those corresponding to passage of the probe directly through the center of the vortex. These time histories were ensemble averaged after compensating for jitter in the vortex arrival time at the probe, thereby retaining the core structure with minimal smearing. An example of a mean velocity signature, after ensemble averaging, is shown. The mean velocity signature was analyzed under the assumption of constant (unknown) translation speed of the vortex filament past the fixed probe. The translation speed of the vortex is deduced and the vortex strength and core diameter inferred. The results were highly unexpected. The indicated vortex strength is seen to decrease rapidly after first blade passage. In addition, the core radius is seen to decrease with increasing wake age, not increase as might be expected from simple diffusion.

Wadcock, Alan J.↗
NASA NTRS1997

Locomotor head-trunk coordination strategies following space flight

During locomotion, angular head movements act in a compensatory fashion to oppose the vertical trunk translation that occurs during each step in the gait cycle. This coordinated strategy between head and trunk motion serves to aid gaze stabilization and perhaps simplifies the sensory coordinate transformation between the head and trunk, allowing efficient descending motor control during locomotion. Following space flight, astronauts often experience oscillopsia during locomotion in addition to postural and gait instabilities, suggesting a possible breakdown in head-trunk coordination. The goal of the present investigation was to determine if exposure to the microgravity environment of space flight induces alteration in head-trunk coordination during locomotion. Astronaut subjects were asked to walk (6.4 km/h, 20 s trials) on a motorized treadmill while visually fixating on a centrally located earthfixed target positioned either 2 m (FAR) or 30 cm (NEAR) from the eyes. In addition, some trials were also performed during periodic visual occlusion. Head and trunk kinematics during locomotion were determined with the aid of a video-based motion analyzing system. We report data collected preflight (10 days prior to launch) and postflight (2 to 4 hours after landing). The coherence between pitch head and vertical trunk movements during gaze fixation of both FAR and NEAR targets was significantly reduced following space flight indicating decreased coordination between the head and trunk during postflight locomotion. Astronauts flying on their first mission showed greater alterations in the frequency spectra of pitch head movements as compared to their more experienced counterparts. These modifications in the efficacy of head movement control may account for the reported disruption in gaze performance during locomotion and may contribute to postflight postural and gait dysfunction.

NASA Discipline Neuroscience↗
NASA NTRS1989

Application of Artificial Intelligence (AI) Programming Techniques to Tactical Guidance for Fighter Aircraft

A research program investigating the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) techniques to aid in the development of a Tactical Decision Generator (TDG) for Within-Visual-Range (WVR) air combat engagements is discussed. The application of AI methods for development and implementation of the TDG is presented. The history of the Adaptive Maneuvering Logic (AML) program is traced and current versions of the AML program are compared and contrasted with the TDG system. The Knowledge-Based Systems (KBS) used by the TDG to aid in the decision-making process are outlined in detail and example rules are presented. The results of tests to evaluate the performance of the TDG versus a version of AML and versus human pilots in the Langley Differential Maneuvering Simulator (DMS) are presented. To date, these results have shown significant performance gains in one-versus-one air combat engagements, and the AI-based TDG software has proven to be much easier to modify than the updated FORTRAN AML programs.

McManus, John W.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Procedures for precap visual inspection

Screening procedures for the final precap visual inspection of microcircuits used in electronic system components are described as an aid in training personnel unfamiliar with microcircuits. Processing techniques used in industry for the manufacture of monolithic and hybrid components are presented and imperfections that may be encountered during this inspection are discussed. Problem areas such as scratches, voids, adhesions, and wire bonding are illustrated by photomicrographs. This guide can serve as an effective tool in training personnel to perform precap visual inspections efficiently and reliably.

Source record↗
NASA NTRS1976

Digital preprocessing and classification of multispectral earth observation data

The development of airborne and satellite multispectral image scanning sensors has generated wide-spread interest in application of these sensors to earth resource mapping. These point scanning sensors permit scenes to be imaged in a large number of electromagnetic energy bands between .3 and 15 micrometers. The energy sensed in each band can be used as a feature in a computer based multi-dimensional pattern recognition process to aid in interpreting the nature of elements in the scene. Images from each band can also be interpreted visually. Visual interpretation of five or ten multispectral images simultaneously becomes impractical especially as area studied increases; hence, great emphasis has been placed on machine (computer) techniques for aiding in the interpretation process. This paper describes a computer software system concept called LARSYS for analysis of multivariate image data and presents some examples of its application.

Anuta, P. E.↗
DOE OSTI2025

A bi-channel aided stitching of atomic force microscopy images

Microscopy is an essential tool in scientific research, enabling the visualization of structures at micro- and nanoscale resolutions. However, the field of microscopy often encounters limitations in field-of-view (FOV), restricting the amount of sample that can be imaged in a single capture. To overcome this limitation, image stitching techniques have been developed to seamlessly merge multiple overlapping images into a single, high-resolution composite. The images collected from microscope need to be optimally stitched before accurate physical information can be extracted from post analysis. However, the existing stitching tools either struggle to stitch images together when the microscopy images are feature sparse or cannot address all the transformations of images when performing image stitching. To address these issues, we propose a bi-channel aided feature-based image stitching method and demonstrate its use on Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) generated Pantoea sp. YR343 biofilm and PTO thin film sample images as experimental data. The topographical channel image of AFM data captures the morphological details of the sample, and a stitched topographical image is desired for researchers. We utilize the amplitude and phase channels of AFM data to maximize the matching features and to estimate the position of the original topographical images and show that the proposed bi-channel aided stitching method outperforms the traditional direct stitching approach in AFM topographical image stitching task. Here, we demonstrated the application on AFM, but similar approaches could be employed of optical microscopy with brightfield and fluorescence channels. We believe this proposed workflow can serve as a valuable augmentation strategy for microscopy image stitching tasks and will benefit the experimentalist to avoid erroneous analysis and discovery due to incorrect stitching.

Atomic force microscopy↗
NASA NTRS1989

Application of Artificial Intelligence (AI) programming techniques to tactical guidance for fighter aircraft

A research program investigating the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) programming techniques to aid in the development of a Tactical Decision Generator (TDG) for Within-Visual-Range (WVR) air combat engagements is discussed. The application of AI methods for development and implementation of the TDG is presented. The history of the Adaptive Maneuvering Logic (AML) program is traced and current versions of the (AML) program is traced and current versions of the AML program are compared and contrasted with the TDG system. The Knowledge-Based Systems (KBS) used by the TDG to aid in the decision-making process are outlined and example rules are presented. The results of tests to evaluate the performance of the TDG against a version of AML and against human pilots in the Langley Differential Maneuvering Simulator (DMS) are presented. To date, these results have shown significant performance gains in one-versus-one air combat engagements.

Mcmanus, John W.↗
DOE OSTI2024

Use of Legacy Maritime Protocols Increases Exploitability of Virtual Aids to Navigation

With increased reliance on Virtual Aid(s) to Navigation (VAtoN) - also known as electronic Aid(s) to Navigation (eAtoN), or virtual buoys - a cyber event is likely to cause disruption to international maritime shipping. VAtoN has no physical hardware for visual reference and displays only on a vessel’s Electronic Chart Display Information System (ECDIS) and Automatic Radar Plotting Aid (ARPA); therefore, mariners must rely on the accuracy of the information provided. As VAtoN uses the National Maritime Electronics Association (NMEA) 0183 protocol for both Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) and Automatic Identification System (AIS), an insecure protocol that has been proven susceptible to spoofing, denial, and manipulation, the likelihood of a cyber-related event increases substantially.

45 MILITARY TECHNOLOGY, WEAPONRY, AND NATIONAL DEF↗
NASA NTRS1992

HUD Guidance for the ASKA Experimental STOL Aircraft using Radar Position Information

The paper describes a high performance HUD guidance system installed on the experimental powered-lift STOL aircraft Aska. Since the maiden flight in October 1985, the HUD system has been used in all the flight tests. The HUD has an accurate flight path symbol generated by inertial velocity from the IRS which is updated by up-linked precision radar position data. The flight path symbol is very useful for precise approach and flare control for Aska which has large ground effects. A synthetic runway is also presented, which is conformal with the real runway, using the position data from the ground tracking radar system. Under instrument meteorological conditions, the pilot can approach and land using the HUD synthetic runway as well as in visual meteorological conditions. The HUD system proved to be a valuable aid to the pilot for all the Aska flight tests. A NASA Ames Research Center test pilot demonstrated touch down accuracy of less than 8 meters (peak to peak) for a series of three landings.

Yazawa, Kenji↗
NASA NTRS1992

Beyond the cockpit: The visual world as a flight instrument

The use of cockpit instruments to guide flight control is not always an option (e.g., low level rotorcraft flight). Under such circumstances the pilot must use out-the-window information for control and navigation. Thus it is important to determine the basis of visually guided flight for several reasons: (1) to guide the design and construction of the visual displays used in training simulators; (2) to allow modeling of visibility restrictions brought about by weather, cockpit constraints, or distortions introduced by sensor systems; and (3) to aid in the development of displays that augment the cockpit window scene and are compatible with the pilot's visual extraction of information from the visual scene. The authors are actively pursuing these questions. We have on-going studies using both low-cost, lower fidelity flight simulators, and state-of-the-art helicopter simulation research facilities. Research results will be presented on: (1) the important visual scene information used in altitude and speed control; (2) the utility of monocular, stereo, and hyperstereo cues for the control of flight; (3) perceptual effects due to the differences between normal unaided daylight vision, and that made available by various night vision devices (e.g., light intensifying goggles and infra-red sensor displays); and (4) the utility of advanced contact displays in which instrument information is made part of the visual scene, as on a 'scene linked' head-up display (e.g., displaying altimeter information on a virtual billboard located on the ground).

Johnson, W. W.↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Material Property Estimation in Thin Battery Components Using Guided Wave Measurement, Experimental Dispersion Curve Extraction and Finite Element Modeling

At NASA, we are investigating nondestructive evaluation (NDE) and structural health monitoring (SHM) techniques to detect precursors of thermal runaway failure in lithium metal based lithium ion batteries (LIB). The approach is centered on computational simulation models to guide inspection and aid in interpretation of results. Since lithium metal LIBs have combinations of solid and fluid-filled porous materials, obtaining accurate material properties is both challenging and critical for successful simulation of battery inspection. To this end, we investigated a multi-verification approach for material characterization of thin battery components. First, a laser Doppler vibrometer (LDV) was used to measure guided wave fields in thin (microns-thick) battery components subject to broadband excitation. The time-space wavefield data was converted to frequency-wave number data to extract guided wave dispersion curves. A data visualization and post processing graphics user interface (GUI) was developed at NASA to aid the data exploration and analysis. Due to the thinness of the samples, low frequency-thickness-product plate wave approximations allowed for the calculation of closed-form solutions for material elastic property estimation. These approximations were then verified by calculating the Lamb wave solutions using the previously obtained material properties. Finally, the estimated elastic material properties were implemented in a COMSOL simulation model, and dispersion curves were extracted from simulation results. The dispersion curves and derived material properties were then compared to the analysis results from the experimental data. These comparisons informed on the accuracy of the measured material properties and helped demonstrate the accuracy of the finite element analysis (FEA) computational models. This assessment will prove vital when we start simulating more complex multi-layer components and poroelastic media. This paper gives a brief background of the problem space, outlines the workflow for data analysis and verification, shows results from the workflow, and gives an overview of future plans for simulation of lithium metal LIB inspection.

Peter Juarez↗
NASA NTRS2014

Spinoff 2013

Topics covered include: Innovative Software Tools Measure Behavioral Alertness; Miniaturized, Portable Sensors Monitor Metabolic Health; Patient Simulators Train Emergency Caregivers; Solar Refrigerators Store Life-Saving Vaccines; Monitors Enable Medication Management in Patients' Homes; Handheld Diagnostic Device Delivers Quick Medical Readings; Experiments Result in Safer, Spin-Resistant Aircraft; Interfaces Visualize Data for Airline Safety, Efficiency; Data Mining Tools Make Flights Safer, More Efficient; NASA Standards Inform Comfortable Car Seats; Heat Shield Paves the Way for Commercial Space; Air Systems Provide Life Support to Miners; Coatings Preserve Metal, Stone, Tile, and Concrete; Robots Spur Software That Lends a Hand; Cloud-Based Data Sharing Connects Emergency Managers; Catalytic Converters Maintain Air Quality in Mines; NASA-Enhanced Water Bottles Filter Water on the Go; Brainwave Monitoring Software Improves Distracted Minds; Thermal Materials Protect Priceless, Personal Keepsakes; Home Air Purifiers Eradicate Harmful Pathogens; Thermal Materials Drive Professional Apparel Line; Radiant Barriers Save Energy in Buildings; Open Source Initiative Powers Real-Time Data Streams; Shuttle Engine Designs Revolutionize Solar Power; Procedure-Authoring Tool Improves Safety on Oil Rigs; Satellite Data Aid Monitoring of Nation's Forests; Mars Technologies Spawn Durable Wind Turbines; Programs Visualize Earth and Space for Interactive Education; Processor Units Reduce Satellite Construction Costs; Software Accelerates Computing Time for Complex Math; Simulation Tools Prevent Signal Interference on Spacecraft; Software Simplifies the Sharing of Numerical Models; Virtual Machine Language Controls Remote Devices; Micro-Accelerometers Monitor Equipment Health; Reactors Save Energy, Costs for Hydrogen Production; Cameras Monitor Spacecraft Integrity to Prevent Failures; Testing Devices Garner Data on Insulation Performance; Smart Sensors Gather Information for Machine Diagnostics; Oxygen Sensors Monitor Bioreactors and Ensure Health and Safety; Vision Algorithms Catch Defects in Screen Displays; and Deformable Mirrors Capture Exoplanet Data, Reflect Lasers.

Source record↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Visualization and 3D Mesh Generation for ASSEMBLERS Range of Motion

In an effort to create a base and foundation for ASSEMBLERS with an informed layout, data representing the range of motion of varying heights of Stewart platforms were analyzed. 3D shapes were generated first to be approximately representative of these data in the form of rotationally symmetric shells, making use of 2D alpha shapes to create a border that did not account for asymmetry inherent in the true range of motion. Further work was performed to generate mesh files more fully representative of reach, creating 3D alpha shapes based directly on point clouds generated from uniformly random platform positions. These shapes were initially not representative of the entire range of motion of a platform stack due to the low likelihood of the most extreme positions being added to a given point cloud but were more representative of the asymmetry inherent in the possible positions of a Stewart platform as they no longer relied on a single 2D contour. The same algorithm for generating 3D alpha shapes was then applied to point clouds designed to represent extreme positions, generating larger smooth shells with six clear planes of symmetry. All shells were converted to STLs to aid in further modeling of range of motion for base layouts and in visualizing reachable area for varying stack heights, successfully creating closed shells representative of typical and extreme positions for platform stacks of varying heights.

Jonah DeGuire Vanke↗
NASA NTRS1972

Apollo experience report: The application of a computerized visualization capability to lunar missions

The development of a computerized capability to depict views from the Apollo spacecraft during a lunar mission was undertaken before the Apollo 8 mission. Such views were considered valuable because of the difficulties in visualizing the complex geometry of the Earth, Moon, Sun, and spacecraft. Such visualization capability originally was desired for spacecraft attitude verification and contingency situations. Improvements were added for later Apollo flights, and results were adopted for several real time and preflight applications. Some specific applications have included crewmember and ground control personnel familiarization, nominal and contingency mission planning, definition of secondary attitude checks for all major thrust maneuvers, and preflight star selection for navigation and for platform alinement. The use of this computerized visualization capability should prove valuable for any future space program as an aid to understanding the geometrical relationships between the spacecraft and the celestial surroundings.

Hyle, C. T.↗