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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 325 records · Page 18

Electronic Design Automation: Integrating the Design and Manufacturing Functions

As the complexity of electronic systems grows, the traditional design practice, a sequential process, is replaced by concurrent design methodologies. A major advantage of concurrent design is that the feedback from software and manufacturing engineers can be easily incorporated into the design. The implementation of concurrent engineering methodologies is greatly facilitated by employing the latest Electronic Design Automation (EDA) tools. These tools offer integrated simulation of the electrical, mechanical, and manufacturing functions and support virtual prototyping, rapid prototyping, and hardware-software co-design. This report presents recommendations for enhancing the electronic design and manufacturing capabilities and procedures at JSC based on a concurrent design methodology that employs EDA tools.

Bachnak, Rafic↗

Development of a Deployable Nonmetallic Boom for Reconfigurable Systems of Small Spacecraft

In 2005, NASA commenced Phase 1 of the Modular Reconfigurable High Energy Technology Demonstrator (MRHE) program to investigate reconfigurable systems of small spacecraft. During that year, Lockheed Martin's Advanced Technology Center (ATC) led an accelerated effort to develop a 1-g MRHE concept demonstration featuring robotic spacecraft simulators equipped with docking mechanisms and deployable booms. The deployable boom built for MRHE was the result of a joint effort in which ATK was primarily responsible for developing and fabricating the Collapsible Rollable Tube (CRT patent pending) boom while Lockheed Martin designed and built the motorized Boom Deployment Mechanism (BDM) under a concurrent but separate IR&D program. Tight coordination was necessary to meet testbed integration and functionality requirements. This paper provides an overview of the CRT boom and BDM designs and presents preliminary results of integration and testing to support the MRHE demonstration.

Rehnmark, Fredrik↗

Efficient and assured reinforcement learning-based building HVAC control with heterogeneous expert-guided training

Abstract Building heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems account for nearly half of building energy consumption and $$20\%$$ of total energy consumption in the US. Their operation is also crucial for ensuring the physical and mental health of building occupants. Compared with traditional model-based HVAC control methods, the recent model-free deep reinforcement learning (DRL) based methods have shown good performance while do not require the development of detailed and costly physical models. However, these model-free DRL approaches often suffer from long training time to reach a good performance, which is a major obstacle for their practical deployment. In this work, we present a systematic approach to accelerate online reinforcement learning for HVAC control by taking full advantage of the knowledge from domain experts in various forms . Specifically, the algorithm stages include learning expert functions from existing abstract physical models and from historical data via offline reinforcement learning, integrating the expert functions with rule-based guidelines, conducting training guided by the integrated expert function and performing policy initialization from distilled expert function. Moreover, to ensure that the learned DRL-based HVAC controller can effectively keep room temperature within the comfortable range for occupants, we design a runtime shielding framework to reduce the temperature violation rate and incorporate the learned controller into it. Experimental results demonstrate up to 8.8 X speedup in DRL training from our approach over previous methods, with low temperature violation rate.

Xu, Shichao↗

Discovery, characterization, and application of chromosomal integration sites for stable heterologous gene expression in Rhodotorula toruloides

Rhodotorula toruloides is a non-model, oleaginous yeast uniquely suited to produce acetyl-CoA-derived chemicals. However, the lack of well-characterized genomic integration sites has impeded the metabolic engineering of this organism. Here we report a set of computationally predicted and experimentally validated chromosomal integration sites in R. toruloides. We first implemented an in silico platform by integrating essential gene information and transcriptomic data to identify candidate sites that meet stringent criteria. We then conducted a full experimental characterization of these sites, assessing integration efficiency, gene expression levels, impact on cell growth, and long-term expression stability. Among the identified sites, 12 exhibited integration efficiencies of 50% or higher, making them sufficient for most metabolic engineering applications. Using selected high-efficiency sites, we achieved simultaneous double and triple integrations and efficiently integrated long functional pathways (up to 14.7 kb). Additionally, we developed a new inducible marker recycling system that allows multiple rounds of integration at our characterized sites. Here, we validated this system by performing five sequential rounds of GFP integration and three sequential rounds of MaFAR integration for fatty alcohol production, demonstrating, for the first time, precise gene copy number tuning in R. toruloides. These characterized integration sites should significantly advance metabolic engineering efforts and future genetic tool development in R. toruloides.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

Data for Discovery, Characterization, and Application of Chromosomal Integration Sites for Stable Heterologous Gene Expression in Rhodotorula toruloides

Rhodotorula toruloides is a non-model, oleaginous yeast uniquely suited to produce acetyl-CoA-derived chemicals. However, the lack of well-characterized genomic integration sites has impeded the metabolic engineering of this organism. Here we report a set of computationally predicted and experimentally validated chromosomal integration sites in R. toruloides . We first implemented an in silico platform by integrating essential gene information and transcriptomic data to identify candidate sites that meet stringent criteria. We then conducted a full experimental characterization of these sites, assessing integration efficiency, gene expression levels, impact on cell growth, and long-term expression stability. Among the identified sites, 12 exhibited integration efficiencies of 50% or higher, making them sufficient for most metabolic engineering applications. Using selected high-efficiency sites, we achieved simultaneous double and triple integrations and efficiently integrated long functional pathways (up to 14.7 kb). Additionally, we developed a new inducible marker recycling system that allows multiple rounds of integration at our characterized sites. We validated this system by performing five sequential rounds of GFP integration and three sequential rounds of MaFAR integration for fatty alcohol production, demonstrating, for the first time, precise gene copy number tuning in R. toruloides . These characterized integration sites should significantly advance metabolic engineering efforts and future genetic tool development in R. toruloides .

Conversion↗

An analytic solution for the J2 perturbed equatorial orbit

An analytic solution for the J2 perturbed equatorial orbit is obtained in terms of elliptic functions and integrals. The necessary equations for computing the position and elocity vectors, and the time are given in terms of known functions. The perturbed periapsis and apoapsis distances are determined from the roots of a characteristic cubic.

Jezewski, D. J.↗

Analysis of microstrip patch antennas with nonzero surface resistance

The scattering properties of a microstrip patch antenna with nonzero surface impedance are examined. The electric field integral equation for a current element on a grounded dielectric slab is developed for a rectangular geometry by using Galerkin's technique with subdomain piecewise linear basis functions. The integral equation includes a resistive boundary condition on the surface of the patch. The incident field on the patch is expressed as a function of incidence angle. The resulting system of equations is then solved for the unknown current modes on the patch, and the radar cross section is calculated for a given scattering angle. Theoretical results in the form of radar cross section as a function of frequency are compared with results measured at the NASA Langley Research Center.

Shively, David G.↗

Flight Testing ALHAT Precision Landing Technologies Integrated Onboard the Morpheus Rocket Vehicle

A suite of prototype sensors, software, and avionics developed within the NASA Autonomous precision Landing and Hazard Avoidance Technology (ALHAT) project were terrestrially demonstrated onboard the NASA Morpheus rocket-propelled Vertical Testbed (VTB) in 2014. The sensors included a LIDAR-based Hazard Detection System (HDS), a Navigation Doppler LIDAR (NDL) velocimeter, and a long-range Laser Altimeter (LAlt) that enable autonomous and safe precision landing of robotic or human vehicles on solid solar system bodies under varying terrain lighting conditions. The flight test campaign with the Morpheus vehicle involved a detailed integration and functional verification process, followed by tether testing and six successful free flights, including one night flight. The ALHAT sensor measurements were integrated into a common navigation solution through a specialized ALHAT Navigation filter that was employed in closed-loop flight testing within the Morpheus Guidance, Navigation and Control (GN&C) subsystem. Flight testing on Morpheus utilized ALHAT for safe landing site identification and ranking, followed by precise surface-relative navigation to the selected landing site. The successful autonomous, closed-loop flight demonstrations of the prototype ALHAT system have laid the foundation for the infusion of safe, precision landing capabilities into future planetary exploration missions.

Carson, John M. III↗

Research into software executives for space operations support

Research concepts pertaining to a software (workstation) executive which will support a distributed processing command and control system characterized by high-performance graphics workstations used as computing nodes are presented. Although a workstation-based distributed processing environment offers many advantages, it also introduces a number of new concerns. In order to solve these problems, allow the environment to function as an integrated system, and present a functional development environment to application programmers, it is necessary to develop an additional layer of software. This 'executive' software integrates the system, provides real-time capabilities, and provides the tools necessary to support the application requirements.

Collier, Mark D.↗

Experimental and theoretical study of Rayleigh-Lamb waves in a plate containing a surface-breaking crack

Scattering of Rayleigh-Lamb waves by a normal surface-breaking crack in a plate has been studied both theoretically and experimentally. The two-dimensionality of the far field, generated by a ball impact source, is exploited to characterize the source function using a direct integration technique. The scattering of waves generated by this impact source by the crack is subsequently solved by employing a Green's function integral expression for the scattered field coupled with a finite element representation of the near field. It is shown that theoretical results of plate response, both in frequency and time, are similar to those obtained experimentally. Additionally, implication for practical applications are discussed.

Paffenholz, Joseph↗

The TMI regenerable solid oxide fuel cell

Energy storage and production in space requires rugged, reliable hardware which minimizes weight, volume, and maintenance while maximizing power output and usable energy storage. These systems generally consist of photovoltaic solar arrays which operate during sunlight cycles to provide system power and regenerate fuel (hydrogen) via water electrolysis; during dark cycles, hydrogen is converted by the fuel cell into system. The currently preferred configuration uses two separate systems (fuel cell and electrolyzer) in conjunction with photovoltaic cells. Fuel cell/electrolyzer system simplicity, reliability, and power-to-weight and power-to-volume ratios could be greatly improved if both power production (fuel cell) and power storage (electrolysis) functions can be integrated into a single unit. The Technology Management, Inc. (TMI), solid oxide fuel cell-based system offers the opportunity to both integrate fuel cell and electrolyzer functions into one unit and potentially simplify system requirements. Based an the TMI solid oxide fuel cell (SOPC) technology, the TMI integrated fuel cell/electrolyzer utilizes innovative gas storage and operational concepts and operates like a rechargeable 'hydrogen-oxygen battery'. Preliminary research has been completed on improved H2/H2O electrode (SOFC anode/electrolyzer cathode) materials for solid oxide, regenerative fuel cells. Improved H2/H2O electrode materials showed improved cell performance in both fuel cell and electrolysis modes in reversible cell tests. ln reversible fuel cell/electrolyzer mode, regenerative fuel cell efficiencies (ratio of power out (fuel cell mode) to power in (electrolyzer model)) improved from 50 percent (using conventional electrode materials) to over 80 percent. The new materials will allow the TMI SOFC system to operate as both the electrolyzer and fuel cell in a single unit. Preliminary system designs have also been developed which indicate the technical feasibility of using the TMI SOFC technology for space applications with high energy storage efficiencies and high specific energy. Development of small space systems would also have potential dual-use, terrestrial applications.

Cable, Thomas L.↗

Designs for scalable construction of hybrid quantum photonic cavities

Nanophotonic resonators are central to numerous applications, from efficient spin–photon interfaces to laser oscillators and precision sensing. A leading approach consists of photonic crystal (PhC) cavities, which have been realized in a wide range of dielectric materials. However, translating proof-of-concept devices into a functional system entails a number of additional challenges, inspiring new approaches that combine resonators with wavelength-scale confinement and high quality factors; scalable integration with integrated circuits and photonic circuits; electrical or mechanical cavity tuning; and, in many cases, a need for heterogeneous integration with functional materials such as III–V semiconductors or diamond color centers for spin–photon interfaces. Here we introduce a concept that generates a finely tunable PhC cavity at a selected wavelength between two heterogeneous optical materials whose properties satisfy the above requirements. The cavity is formed by stamping a hard-to-process material with simple waveguide geometries on top of an easy-to-process material consisting of dielectric grating mirrors and active tuning capability. We simulate our concept for the particularly challenging design problem of multiplexed quantum repeaters based on arrays of cavity-coupled diamond color centers, achieving theoretically calculated unloaded quality factors of 106, mode volumes as small as 1.2(λ/neff)3, and maintaining >60% total on-chip collection efficiency of fluorescent photons. We further introduce a method of low-power piezoelectric tuning of these hybrid diamond cavities, simulating optical resonance shifts up to ∼760 GHz and color center fluorescence tuning of 5 GHz independent of cavity tuning. These results will motivate integrated photonic cavities toward larger scale systems-compatible designs.

Greenspon, Andrew S. (ORCID:0000000296317568)↗

Optimizing time integration for accurate recovery of shockwave interface location in radiography

We present simulations and experiments of time integrated radiographic imaging of a moving 1D shock wave front and a quantitative method for determining the statistical error in locating the shock front as a function of integration time and noise in the radiograph. We discuss the trade-off between increasing motion blur, which leads to decreased shock front location certainty, and increasing signal-to-noise, which leads to improved image quality with increasing integration time. We find an optimum integration time between a short integration time, where noise limits the error, and a long integration time, where motion blurring limits the error. This methodology can be used to tune experimental configurations to obtain the highest quality radiograph for a given experimental configuration.

Bremsstrahlung↗

Very low luminosity active galaxies and the X-ray background

The properties of very low luminosity active galactic nuclei are not well studied, and, in particular, their possible contribution to the diffuse X-ray background is not known. In the present investigation, an X-ray luminosity function for the range from 10 to the 39th to 10 to the 42.5th ergs/s is constructed. The obtained X-ray luminosity function is integrated to estimate the contribution of these very low luminosity active galaxies to the diffuse X-ray background. The construction of the X-ray luminosity function is based on data obtained by Keel (1983) and some simple assumptions about optical and X-ray properties.

Elvis, M.↗

High redshift QSOs and the x ray background

ROSAT pointed observations were made of 9 QSO's from the Large Bright Quasar Survey (LBQS). The LBQS is based on machine measurement of objective prism plates taken with the UK Schmidt Telescope. Software has been used to select QSO's by both color and by the presence of spectral features and continuum breaks. The probability of detection can be calculated as a function of magnitude, redshift and spectral features, and the completeness of the survey can be accurately estimated. Nine out of 1040 QSO's in the LBQS have z greater than 3. The observations will provide an important data point in the X-ray luminosity function of QSO's at high redshift. The QSO's with z greater than 3 span less than a magnitude in M(sub B), so can be combined as a homogeneous sample. This analysis is only possible with a sample drawn from a large and complete catalog such as the LBQS. Four of the 9 QSO's that were observed with the ROSAT PSPC for this proposal were detected, including one of the most luminous X-ray sources ever observed. The April 1992 version of the PROS DETECT package was used to reduce the data. The results have been used to search for evolution of the X-ray properties of QSO's in redshift. The 9 QSO's lie in the range -28.7 less than M(sub B) less than -27.8. When combined with data for 16 QSO's in a similar luminosity range at lower redshift correlations with luminosity and redshift can be separated out. The LBQS sample also yields a new constraint on the contribution of high redshift QSO's to the X-ray background. An initial requirement is knowledge of the X-ray properties (alpha(sub OX)) as a function of redshift. Integration over the evolving luminosity function of the LBQS then gives the QSO contribution to the source counts.

Impey, Chris↗

Deconvolution of SNPP VIIRS Solar Diffuser Bidirectional Reflectance Distribution Function On-orbit Change Factor

The Earth-observing Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) on the Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership satellite regularly calibrates its reflective solar bands (RSBs), primarily through observing an onboard sunlit solar diffuser (SD). The on-orbit change of the value of the SD bidirectional reflectance distribution function (BRDF) is quantified by a numerical factor, called the H-factor, and is determined by the onboard SD stability monitor (SDSM). Because the spectral response function of an SDSM detector spreads in wavelength, the directly measured H-factor is the true H-factor convolved with the spectral response function. To find the true H-factor, we use the traditional direct method and an innovative iterative approach to separately deconvolve the measured H-factor. Our iterative approach relies on two properties of the SDSM detector spectral response function: the central peak width is narrow enough so that the H-factor does not change much over the peak width, and the dominance of the spectral response function’s integral with respect to the wavelength over the width. The iterative approach is more accurate, of a smaller noise impact, much more flexible in terms of interpolation and extrapolation of function values, and faster. We have used deconvolved H-factors to calibrate the NASA SNPP VIIRS RSB Collections 1 and 2 Level-1B products.

SNPP VIIRS↗

Integration time required to extract accurate static and dynamic data from transonic wind-tunnel tests

Because the forces and pressures on wind-tunnel models tested at transonic speeds are not steady, even for 'static' aerodynamic tests, integration time is required to obtain data of acceptable accuracy. The integration time required for both static and dynamic tests is evaluated analytically and confirmed by experimental measurements. It is shown that, for static and dynamic tests, the accuracy obtained is a function of integration time, frequency content of the signal, and the ratio of the dynamic amplitude to the full signal of interest. In addition, for the dynamic case, the frequency band width used in analysis is important. Results of this study indicate that, for typical data accuracy desired from models in a large transonic wind tunnel (11- by 11-ft), up to the following integration times are required: static force and moment tests, 0.5 sec; static pressure tests, 0.1 sec; flutter tests, 30 to 60 sec; and random-dynamic tests, 10 sec.

Muhlstein, L., Jr.↗