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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 271 records · Page 15
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NASA NTRS1984

Integrated Tactile Sensor for Robots

Proposed large-scale integrated (LSI) circuit gives robots, partshandling machines, and remote-control devices sense of touch. LSI circuits, placed on contact surfaces of manipulators combine functions of transduction, computing and communicating. Beneath layer of pressure sensitive rubber, resistivity of which changes with pressure, electrodes furnish pressuredependent signal to computation elements. Electrodes and computation elements contained in silicon integrated-circuit wafer.

Raibert, M. H.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Ice as an Abrading Agent

Grit-blasting method makes unnecessary to disassemble equipment for cleaning. Stream of small, frozen pellets directed at assembly to be cleaned. Pellets consist of deionized-water ice, carbon dioxide ice, or another substance that does not react chemically with parts to be cleaned and leaves no residue. Method suited to cleaning titanium and parts that touch liquid oxygen.

Blow, R. K.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Mass analysis of neutral particles and ions released during electrical breakdowns on spacecraft surfaces

A specialized spectrometer was designed and developed to measure the mass and velocity distributions of neutral particles (molecules and molecular clusters) released from metal-backed Teflon and Kapton films. Promising results were obtained with an insulation breakdown initiation system based on a moveable contact touching the insulated surfaces. A variable energy, high voltage pulse is applied to the contact. The resulting surface damage sites can be made similar in size and shape to those produced by a high voltage electron beam system operating at similar discharge energies. The point discharge apparatus was used for final development of several high speed recording systems and for measurements of the composition of the materials given off by the discharge. Results with this apparatus show evolution of large amounts of fluorocarbon fragments from discharge through Teflon FEP, while discharges through Kapton produce mainly very light hydrocarbon fragments at masses below about 80 a.m.u.

Kendall, B. R. F.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Method of tracing contour patterns for use in making gradual contour resin matrix composites

The invention relates to methods for making alminate patterns for a resin matrix composite structural component. A sheet of paper is temporarily adhered to a model of the structrual component. A pen is positioned on the paper with a spindle touching the model surface opposite the pen. The pen and spindle are moved along the path that maintains the aforementioned contacts. The resulting line traced on paper is a model constant-thickness locus and provides a pattern for a single lamination of resin-impregnated fabric. The steps are repeated to make other patterns and each time the steps are repeated the distance between the tracer and the spindle is changed to correspond to the thickness of a lamination.

Fontes, M. J.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Perceived orientation in free-fall dependson visual, postural, and architectural factors

In orbital flight and in the free-fall phase of parabolic flight, feelings of inversion of self and spacecraft, or aircraft, are often experienced. It is shown here that perceived orientation in free-fall is dependent on the position of one's body in relation to the aircraft, the architectural features of the aircraft, and one's visual appreciation of the relative configurations of his body and the aircraft. Compelling changes in the apparent orientation of one's body and of the aircraft can be reliably and systematically induced by manipulating this relationship. Moreover, while free-floating in the absence of visual, touch, and pressure stimulation, all sense of orientation to the surroundings may be lost with only an awareness of the relative configuration of the body preserved. The absences of falling sensations during weightlessness points to the importance of visual and cognitive factors in eliciting such sensations.

Lackner, J. R.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Heavy rain influence on airplane accidents

The aerodynamic effects of heavy rain on two windshear accidents have been evaluated according to the theoretical results of Haines and Luers (1983). A number of other accidents in which the presence of low-level windshear was a distinct possibility are also discussed. The results indicate that there are two major types of rain-related accidents. In one, the aircraft touches down prior to the runway because increased drag and momentum loss make the aircraft descend below glide slope. In the other, the aircraft loses airspeed while attempting a go-around in the heavy rain environment.

Luers, J.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Case study of the March 24, 1976 Elton, Louisiana tornado using satellite infrared imagery, Doppler sounder, rawinsonde, and radar observations

The Elton, Louisiana tornado on March 24, 1976 has been studied using GOES digital infrared data for the growth and collapse of the cloud top, the temperature-height relationship and air mass instability from rawinsonde data, gravity waves from Doppler sounder records, and radar summaries from storm activity during the three-hour time period immediately preceding the touchdown of the tornado. In this case, the overshooting turret collapsed 30 minutes before the tornado touchdown as the eastward moving cloud reached Elton, Louisiana. Results show that the gravity waves were excited by the enhanced convection of the storm penetrating through the tropopause in the 2.5 hour time period before the tornado touched down.

Hung, R. J.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Flight test experience with pilot-induced-oscillation suppressor filters

Digital flight control systems are popular for their flexibility, reliability, and power; however, their use sometimes results in deficient handling qualities, including pilot-induced oscillation (PIO), which can require extensive redesign of the control system. When redesign is not immediately possible, temporary solutions, such as the PIO suppression (PIOS) filter developed for the Space Shuttle, have been proposed. To determine the effectiveness of such PIOS filters on more conventional, high-performance aircraft, three experiments were performed using the NASA F-8 digital fly-by-wire and USAF/Calspan NT-33 variable-stability aircraft. Two types of PIOS filters were evaluated, using high-gain, precision tasks (close formation, probe-and-drogue refueling, and precision touch-and-go landing) with a time delay or a first-order lag added to make the aircraft prone to PIO. Various configurations of the PIOS filter were evaluated in the flight programs, and most of the PIOS filter configurations reduced the occurrence of PIOs and improved the handling qualities of the PIO-prone aircraft. These experiments also confirmed the influence of high-gain tasks and excessive control system time delay in evoking pilot-induced oscillations.

Shafer, M. F.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Properties of a constricted-tube air-flow levitator

The properties of a constricted-tube gas flow levitator first developed by Berge et al. (1981) have been investigated experimentally in order to predict its behavior in a gravity-free environment and at elevated temperatures. The levitator consists of a constricted (quartz) tube fed at one end by a source of heated air or gas. A spherical sample is positioned by the air stream on the downstream side of the constriction, where it can be melted and resolidified without touching the tube. It is shown experimentally that the kinematic viscosity is the important fluid parameter for operation in thermal equilibrium at high temperatures. If air is heated from room temperature to 1200 C, the kinematic viscosity increases by a factor of 14. To maintain a given value of the Reynolds number, the flow rate would have to be increased by the same factor for a specific geometry of tube and sample. Thus, to maintain stable equilibrium, the flow rate should be increased as the air or other gas is heated. The other stability problem discussed is associated with changes in the shape of a cylindrical sample as it melts.

Rush, J. E.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Flight test experience with pilot-induced-oscillation suppression filters

Digital flight control systems are popular for their flexibility, reliability, and power; however, their use sometimes results in deficient handling qualities, including pilot-induced oscillation (PIO), which can require extensive redesign of the control system. When redesign is not immediately possible, temporary solutions, such as the PIO suppression (PIOS) filter developed for the Space Shuttle, have been proposed. To determine the effectiveness of such PIOS filters on more conventional, high-performance aircraft, three experiments were performed using the NASA F-8 digital fly-by-wire and USAF/Calspan NT-33 variable-stability aircraft. Two types of PIOS filters were evaluated, using high-gain, precision tasks (close formation, probe-and-drogue refueling, and precision touch-and-go landing) with a time delay or a first-order lag added to make the aircraft prone to PIO. Various configurations of the PIOS filter were evaluated in the flight programs, and most of the PIOS filter configurations reduced the occurrence of PIOs and improved the handling qualities of the PIO-prone aircraft. These experiments also confirmed the influence of high-gain tasks and excessive control system time delay in evoking pilot-induced oscillations.

Shafer, M. F.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Stress intensity factors in a reinforced thick-walled cylinder

An elastic thick-walled cylinder containing a radial crack is considered. It is assumed that the cylinder is reinforced by an elastic membrane on its inner surface. The model is intended to simulate pressure vessels with cladding. The formulation of the problem is reduced to a singular integral equation. Various special cases including that of a crack terminating at the cylinder-reinforcement interface are investigated and numerical examples are given. Results indicate that in the case of the crack touching the interface the crack surface displacement derivative is finite and consequently the stress state around the corresponding crack tip is bounded; and generally, for realistic values of the stiffness parameter, the effect of the reinforcement is not very significant.

Tang, R.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Polymer thick-film conductors and dielectrics for membrane switches and flexible circuitry

The fabrication and operation of membrane switches are discussed. The membrane switch functions as a normally open, momentary contact, low-voltage pressure-sensitive device. Its design is a three-layer sandwich usually constructed of polyester film. Conductive patterns are deposited onto the inner side of top and bottom sheets by silk screening. The center spacer is then placed between the two circuit layers to form a sandwich, generally held together by an adhesive. When pressure is applied to the top layer, it flexes through the punched openings of the spacer to establish electrical contact between conductive pads of the upper and lower sheets, momentarily closing the circuit. Upon release of force the top sheet springs back to its normal open position. The membrane touch switch is being used in a rapidly expanding range of applications, including instrumentation, appliances, electronic games and keyboards. Its board acceptance results from its low cost, durability, ease of manufacture, cosmetic appeal and design flexibility. The principal electronic components in the membrane switch are the conductor and dielectric.

Nazarenko, N.↗
NASA NTRS1984

The 3SPACE digitizer: A new input device for solid geometry modeling

The 3SPACE Digitizer is a derivation of SPASYN, which is a patented magnetic transducing system offering an accurate method of calculating the location of one object relative to another. SPASYN uses low-frequency magnetic fields to measure both the position and orientation of its sensor relative to its transmitter. The 3SPACE Digitizer unit consists of a system's electronics unit, a model table, a stylus, and a keypad. In operation, the 3SPACE Digitizer determines the X, Y, Z coordinates of any point located on a low-conductive, three-dimensional model. This data, along with the orientation of the Digitizer's stylus, is immediately available for transmission to a host computer or graphics terminal. Digitization is effected by touching the point to be measured with the tip of a handheld stylus. The 3SPACE Digitizer presents new opportunities for interacting with computers in a large number of engineering and scientific applications. Developed from proven military technology, the 3SPACE Digitizer significantly simplifies three-dimensional digitization and overcomes many of the problems that once plagued such procedures. Its ability to digitize solid objects makes it a valuable new tool for computer-aided design and manufacturing.

Scully, J.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Some contributions to knowledge of the magnetospheric plasma by ISEE investigators

The ISEE project has made substantial contributions to the knowledge of the magnetosphere during the period of the IMS, especially in the discipline of Space Plasma Physics. Results obtained during approximately the first two years of the operation of ISEE-1 and -2, and touches on relevant results of ISEE-3 are reviewed. The ability to control the separation between ISEE-1 and -2, which are in nearly identical orbits, has permitted study of the motion and structure of the bow shock and magnetopause, the boundary layers, and the plasma sheet. Much evidence was obtained favoring the existence of reconnection and its relevance to the transfer of magnetic flux from the frontside to the rear of the magnetosphere, although not everyone agrees that it is the only important process. The presence of both reflected and accelerated particles was shown to lead to the development of a foreshock region between the bow shock and the interplanetary magnetic field line tangential to it.

Ogilvie, K. W.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Research on computer aided testing of pilot response to critical in-flight events

Experiments on pilot decision making are described. The development of models of pilot decision making in critical in flight events (CIFE) are emphasized. The following tests are reported on the development of: (1) a frame system representation describing how pilots use their knowledge in a fault diagnosis task; (2) assessment of script norms, distance measures, and Markov models developed from computer aided testing (CAT) data; and (3) performance ranking of subject data. It is demonstrated that interactive computer aided testing either by touch CRT's or personal computers is a useful research and training device for measuring pilot information management in diagnosing system failures in simulated flight situations. Performance is dictated by knowledge of aircraft sybsystems, initial pilot structuring of the failure symptoms and efficient testing of plausible causal hypotheses.

Giffin, W. C.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Safe havens: Selecting landing sites for Viking

The involved process by which a landing site on the Martian surface was selected for the Viking lander spacecraft is reviewed. Spacecraft survivability had to be weighed against having the lander touch down in an area of little scientific value. The mission of Mariner 9 is discussed and imagery of Mars generated by this space probe is presented.

Source record↗
NASA NTRS1986

Keyboard With Voice Output

Voice synthesizer tells what key is about to be depressed. Verbal feedback useful for blind operators or where dim light prevents sighted operator from seeing keyboard. Also used where operator is busy observing other things while keying data into control system. Used as training aid for touch typing, and to train blind operators to use both standard and braille keyboards. Concept adapted to such equipment as typewriters, computers, calculators, telephones, cash registers, and on/off controls.

Huber, W. C.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Human factors in cockpit automation

The rapid advance in microprocessor technology has made it possible to automate many functions that were previously performed manually. Several research areas have been identified which are basic to the question of the implementation of automation in the cockpit. One of the identified areas deserving further research is warning and alerting systems. Modern transport aircraft have had one after another warning and alerting systems added, and computer-based cockpit systems make it possible to add even more. Three major areas of concern are: input methods (including voice, keyboard, touch panel, etc.), output methods and displays (from traditional instruments to CRTs, to exotic displays including the human voice), and training for automation. Training for operating highly automatic systems requires considerably more attention than it has been given in the past. Training methods have not kept pace with the advent of flight-deck automation.

Wiener, E. L.↗