Search NASA⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search NASA

Results for “PROGRAMMER”

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.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 325 records · Page 18
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2025

Project Presentation: Hardware-Based Demonstration of Temperature Control Functions for Reactor Systems

Autonomous thermal regulation in nuclear reactors remains crucial for maintaining stable operation and ensuring the integrity of fuel. To alleviate public skepticism of the safety of nuclear reactors, demonstrating control over this key factor is pivotal. Utilizing electric heat pads to simulate the heat released in a reactor core, thermocouples for temperature monitoring, and an Arduino micro programmable logic controller (PLC) with an embedded proportional-integral-derivative (PID) algorithm for control, a hardware-based demonstration of a reactor heating system will validate the efficacy of reactor control over this key parameter. This report covers internship project presentation as well as relevant experience with nuclear and proposal for project upgrade.

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS↗
DOE OSTI2025

Two-Dimensional Silk Crystal Films as Matrix Layer for High-Performance Microelectronics

This study explores a bio-inspired approach for memristive devices by combining Keggin-type polyoxometalates (POMs)-[SiW 12 O 40 ] 4 (POM-T) and [PW 12 O 40 ] 3 (POM-P), with silk fibroin (SF) to create 2D SF–POM layers on highly ordered pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) as resistive switching layers for memristors. We propose that the ordered SF layer template 0D POMs facilitate the formation of conductive filaments, thereby enhancing the variability of the manufactured memristors. AFM analysis revealed that both SF and SF–POM layers shared similar morphologies, while SF–POM–T formed larger aggregates, likely due to the stronger acidity of POM-T, which probably caused SF to aggregate and alter its secondary structure. Scanning Kelvin probe microscopy (SKPM) revealed that POMs reduced the contact potential difference of HOPG, resulting in lower work functions. Compared to an SF device, the SF–POM–P device showed improved memristive behavior, with a larger current gap and good repeatability over multiple sweeps; whereas the SF–POM–T device did not exhibit memristor activity, likely due to acidity-induced disruption of the SF template’s order and CF formation. More importantly, SF–POM–P devices also demonstrated programmable memristive states. Finally, combining simulation-driven memristor modeling, we showcase a co-design workflow for advancing bioinspired memristors through new materials design, synthesis, and device modeling and development.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2025

DOE Challenges and Opportunities Associated with Accountable Nuclear Material Needs for Development and Commercialization of Fusion Nuclear Energy

Fusion energy represents a transformative opportunity to deliver a safe, plentiful, and carbon-free source of reliable primary power. In recent years, fusion research and development have accelerated significantly, particularly within the US, driven by decades of foundational public investment. Notably, in 2024 the US Department of Energy (DOE) established a comprehensive Fusion Energy Strategy aimed at collaborating with industry partners to enable the deployment of fusion power plants and grid integration by the 2030s. This strategy is chiefly implemented through the DOE Office of Science (SC) Fusion Energy Sciences program. This project was initiated to identify potential approaches for the Office of Environment, Safety, and Health (NA-ESH-12) within DOE’s National Nuclear Security Administration to begin engagement with the fusion community on future accountable material needs. The goal of the project is to inform and influence the supply of and demand for accountable nuclear materials as fusion energy is developed and commercialized. NA-ESH-12 must proactively engage with the fusion community regarding the production and management of accountable nuclear materials. Given the complexity and scale of materials required for research, pilot projects, and eventual commercial reactors, early coordination is vital. The project’s objective is to provide insights that will shape the supply and demand landscape for critical nuclear materials, ensuring that DOE is prepared to effectively support fusion energy development and commercialization. In FY 2025, an initial limited review was conducted to identify the status of the fusion energy community’s progress toward full-scale energy production and the need for accountable nuclear material. This included communications with SC, NA-ESH-12, Savannah River National Laboratory, and Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and attending the Rutgers University–sponsored Supply Chain Workshop: Scaling the Fusion Industry and the International Atomic Energy Agency’s Ninth DEMO Programme Workshop. The review to date indicates that the amounts of tritium, lithium-6, and deuterium required by the fusion industry will be dependent on fuel type, breeding technology, blankets, and R&D improvements. One concern is that the commercial sector does not have a sufficient supply chain to meet the demand for development and commercialization for fusion energy production. The supply and demand estimates for these materials should be routinely reviewed as fusion technologies mature.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2025

CIE Analysis Process for Engineered Systems

"CIE Analysis Process for Engineered Systems" outlines a comprehensive methodology for integrating Cyber-Informed Engineering (CIE) principles into both new and existing engineered systems. Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Cybersecurity, Energy Security, and Emergency Response (DOE CESER), the process aims to achieve cyber-informed decisions by producing functional security requirements for new systems and retrofitting existing systems to mitigate digital risks. The document details a step-by-step approach, including mission and function definition, digital asset awareness, consequence analysis, and mitigation analysis. It emphasizes the importance of documenting mechanical, electrical, programmable, and network components to protect system functions and provides examples and considerations for each step. The ultimate goal is to ensure that engineered systems remain resilient against cyber threats, maintaining safety, performance, and reliability.

42 - ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2025

Real-Time Artificial Intelligence for Particle Reconstruction and Higgs Physics

With the discovery of the Higgs boson at the CERN LHC, the world's highest-energy particle accelerator complex, scientists have acquired an important tool to study the fundamental building blocks of the universe. Precision measurements of Higgs bosons produced with large momentum allow for unique insights into the structure of the interactions of the Higgs boson with other particles that may shed light on physics beyond the standard model. While experimentally challenging, exploring such interactions with novel artificial intelligence (AI) methods can advance our understanding of the Higgs sector, including the Higgs boson's self-interaction. Moreover, the LHC is undergoing a major upgrade to further increase its particle collision rate and thereby operate for an additional decade. The experimental detectors at the upgraded facility must process at least a factor of ten more data at rates of hundreds of terabytes per second all under challenging conditions. New AI techniques are required to reconstruct and select, or trigger on, the most physics-sensitive events in real-time to handle the resulting avalanche of data. The proposed research will achieve the goals of the LHC program at the CMS experiment by developing a sub-microsecond event reconstruction system using real-time AI algorithms that employ field-programmable gate array technologies. By harnessing sophisticated AI techniques, this research focuses on measuring the production of Higgs bosons at large momentum while enhancing particle reconstruction methods in the trigger and beyond. Overall, the proposed research has broader implications for the use of AI in resource-constrained, low-latency embedded applications across all fields of science.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2025

Enhanced Lighting Signals for Safety and Efficiency - Experiments With Addressable LEDs

For enhanced roadway safety, clear and immediate visual cues are essential for preventing accidents between drivers and pedestrians. At intersections, however, the line of sight to other roadway users may be obstructed by vehicles and infrastructure. Additionally, adverse conditions, including low visibility, poor weather, or inadequate lighting can increase the potential for collisions. Distracted drivers and pedestrians can further exacerbate the risk of accidents, particularly when using a smartphone, rather than focusing on roadway surroundings. These issues demonstrate the need for infrastructure upgrades that enhance visibility and awareness at crosswalks. A potential solution is through enhanced lighting signals integrated into the roadway infrastructure. One such example is the use of addressable LEDs, individually controllable lights that can change color and brightness instantaneously through programmable microcontrollers. They can be installed and integrated into crosswalks to maintain visibility in conditions where pedestrians may be difficult to see, while also offering peripheral cues to pedestrians who may be distracted by their phones or other objects rather than the road. Such a system (as one example) that is integrated into a traffic intersection digital twin that tracks all roadway users accurately, has the potential to enhance visibility of vulnerable road users, and thus enhance safety. This paper examines the potential implementation and feasibility of this technology, as well as the safety benefits it could provide. Laboratory experiments with addressable LEDs reveal the capabilities and challenges of this technology for roadway infrastructure safety. These findings could pave the way for more integrated lighting in infrastructure for vehicles and pedestrians at intersections, merge and diverge locations, and other areas where complex interactions present safety hazards. Such lighting solutions, enabled by modern computation and communications, could enhance safety and efficiency in our transportation system and improve overall mobility.

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗
DOE OSTI2026

Arctic Observing Experiment (AOX) Field Campaign Report

Our ability to understand and predict weather and climate requires an accurate observing network. One of the pillars of this network is the observation of the fundamental meteorological parameters: temperature, air pressure, and wind. We plan to assess our ability to measure these parameters for the polar regions during the Arctic Observing Experiment (AOX, Figure 1) to support the International Arctic Buoy Programme (IABP), the Arctic Observing Network (AON), the International Program for Antarctic Buoys (IPAB), and the Southern Ocean Observing System (SOOS). Accurate temperature measurements are also necessary to validate and improve satellite measurements of surface temperature across the Arctic.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2026

Creating and Interfacing Designer Chemical Qubits (Final Technical Report)

The Final Technical Report describes a multi‑institution effort to develop programmable molecular qubits as precision quantum sensors for probing quantum materials. The team created chemically tunable qubits with optical addressability and practical coherence, integrated them into thin films and frameworks while preserving functionality, and established new magnetic and electric sensing methods suited to two‑dimensional magnets, ferroelectrics, and multiferroics. They also built computational models and spectroscopic tools that connect molecular design to material behavior, enabling access to quantum phenomena that previously could not be measured. The project produced more than 40 publications and trained a large cohort of graduate students and postdocs, strengthening the workforce and infrastructure needed for DOE's quantum information science mission.

2D Quantum Materials↗
DOE OSTI2026

The Art of Automation: Translating Electron Microscopy Workflows Into Automated Processes

Acquiring data using a scanning transmission electron microscope (STEM) is a complex, multi-step process. The intricacy of the process depends on the type of sample, composition of the material, desired results of the experiment, resolution requirement and other experimental factors. Each experiment presents unique complications, such as sample drift and contamination, that the microscopist must consider when acquiring data. All these challenges are handled fluidly and expertly by experienced microscopists, but to reach new levels of innovation in material development, including greater reproducibility, throughput, and precision, the automation of these workflows is essential. The initial phase of this work involved translating intuition-based workflows into discrete, programmable steps. Some common key stages in STEM workflows are the initial tuning, scanning the sample for areas of interest, and then acquiring the data. Each stage can be broken further into specific parameter adjustments, such as aberration correction and dwell time optimization, depending on the experiment. When deconstructing various experiments each step was assessed for automation feasibility based on the amount of real time operator decisions. There are steps that lend themselves to automation more readily than others, such as course focusing and sample screening, but there is potential for full automation of all stages with time. As an initial step, an automated montage routine was developed, allowing for the efficient acquisition of large portions of the sample without requiring continuous intervention from the operator. The automation of this small process of the procedure demonstrates the value of this capability. A major challenge in automation arises from discrepancies between commanded, reported and actual stage movements. Using systematic tests, stage movement was quantified. This error can be corrected algorithmically for more accurate workflows in the future. Expanding automation capabilities would result in larger, more efficient data acquisition which allows for more robust statistical analysis. Additionally, this work lays the groundwork for a closed loop system where machine learning algorithms would intake automatically acquired data and make real time decisions. By progressively automating this instrument, this work establishes the foundation for fully automated experimentation in transmission electron microscopy.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗
DOE OSTI2025

Remote Instrumentation and Data Acquisition

This poster outlines the development and implementation of a remote data acquisition system for waveform analysis using a Rohde & Schwarz oscilloscope. The project involved capturing waveform data, and transferring it to a local machine for visualization and analysis. The core logic was developed in C++ with a focus on object oriented programming and the use of polymorphism so the main application can interact with any instrument without knowing its exact type, simplifying the overall logic and making it easier to add or swap out components without changing the rest of the codebase.. The system issues Standard Commands for Programmable Instruments (SCPI) via a socket connection and parses the oscilloscope s ASCII waveform data. The C++ application was containerized using Docker for ease of portability, and reproducibility. Emphasis was placed on secure networking practices, error handling, and effective data capture. The report describes the technical steps taken, challenges encountered, and future work, providing insight into the practical integration of hardware interfacing with remote computational environments.

Parikh, Jaymil [Illinois U., Urbana]↗
DOE OSTI2025

Akiachak Energy Efficiency Retrofit Project (Final Technical Report)

The Akiachak Native Community (ANC), a federally recognized Yup'ik Tribe, undertook this energy efficiency initiative to enhance energy performance in key community buildings, including the Tribal IRA Office, Laundry, Police Station, Clinic, and Daycare. Through energy audits and upgrades, the project focused on high-impact improvements like air sealing, LED lighting, and programmable thermostats, primarily in the Tribal Office due to funding constraints. The initiative aims to reduce energy waste, lower heating and electricity costs, and improve facility comfort and longevity. The project aims to generate long-term savings for further improvements by decreasing reliance on imported fuel oil. This initiative aligns with the Tribe's vision for responsible energy use, addressing the challenges of high fuel prices in a remote community, and serves as a model for similar efforts in Akiachak and other Alaska Native villages pursuing energy self-reliance.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗
DOE OSTI2026

Plant Design for a Developing Bioeconomy Workshop Report: Frontier Science for the Bioeconomy Workshop Series

Recent advances in fundamental plant biology research, synthetic biology, and artificial intelligence (AI) are unlocking powerful new capabilities in plant biodesign, offering unprecedented potential to reimagine plants as programmable platforms for resource-efficient production of bioenergy, biomaterials, chemicals, and more. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) convened the Plant Design for a Developing Bioeconomy virtual workshop on March 12 through 14, 2025, to bring together leaders across plant science, engineering, and computation to assess the current landscape and define a bold vision for future research. Discussions during the workshop built upon findings included in DOE’s Biological and Environmental Research (BER) workshop report Overcoming Barriers in Plant Transformation: A Focus on Bioenergy Crops (U.S. DOE 2024; genomicscience. energy.gov/plant-transformation). Participants identified critical knowledge gaps, technical barriers, and emerging opportunities in the design and engineering of plant systems to support a robust, resilient domestic bioeconomy aligned with DOE’s mission.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗
DOE OSTI2026

Ultra Wide Bandgap Laser Addressable Photoconductors

Wide Band Gap (WBG) and Ultra Wide Band Gap (UWBG) photoconductors have the potential to meet several critical mission needs for LLNL and the broader USG due to their exceptional characteristics related to large critical electric field. In particular, high energy laser systems such as the National Ignition Facility would benefit from the development of new materials for active optical devices such as the Optically Addressable Light Valve (OALV) used in the Programmable Spatial Shaper System. Missions in Global Security would benefit from higher performance Photoconductive Semiconductor Switches for pulsed power and radiofrequency amplifiers. This project examined the suitability of both commercially available and custom synthesized semi insulating WBG and UWBG materials for several of these applications. We developed high laser damage threshold OALVs for optical systems based on several of these materials as well as new RF, pulsed power, and power electronics devices based on the same. These devices show superior power handling in terms of laser damage threshold, electric field, and power output. A number of the technologies developed have been transitioned to both internal and external customers.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2026

Cybersecurity Center for Offshore Wind Energy (Final Project Report)

This project establishes a Cybersecurity Center for Offshore Wind Energy with the objective of designing and operating a cyber-physical testbed for wind energy farms (WEFs) that enables comprehensive cybersecurity research. The testbed incorporates a Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system connected to turbine models via industrial-grade programmable logic controllers (PLCs) and remote terminal units (RTUs). It supports side-channel data acquisition, implementation and analysis of various cyberattack scenarios, and development of attack detection, mitigation, and best-practice guidance tailored to wind energy systems. During the project, the team expanded the number and fidelity of mathematical turbine models (MTMs), integrated these models with SCADA infrastructure, and deployed a scaled physical turbine and associated sensors. High-resolution operational and side-channel data streams were collected and used to refine machine-learning (ML)-based attack detection systems and to extend the WindCRAFT framework to multi-turbine threat scenarios. The project demonstrated a realistic, scalable environment for evaluating cyber threats, validated attack detection approaches using enriched datasets, and identified new multi-turbine and inter-turbine communication attack vectors. The resulting testbed, models, and security mechanisms provide a foundation for ongoing R&D and deployment of cyber-resilient offshore wind energy systems.

17 WIND ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2026

Mitigating Traffic Congestion Through Visual Cues: Advancing Transportation Safety and Efficiency

While humans have an innate ability to estimate speed and distance, this capability is inherently imprecise. This imprecision has significant implications for traffic systems, which are highly sensitive to fluctuations in movement. Even small variations in velocity and following distances between travelers can create congestion in high-traffic environments. The absence of an effective and widely adopted solution creates significant transportation inefficiency. However, emerging technologies offer promising ways to help mitigate this issue. This paper will analyze the effectiveness of visual cues in reducing traffic congestion. Specifically, this paper presents an experiment using addressable LEDs to evaluate their effectiveness in influencing pedestrian behavior. These programmable lights enable individual control over each LED in a strip, allowing for dynamic lighting effects that serve as useful visual cues. The goal of this paper is to demonstrate that visual cues, such as addressable LED guidance, can effectively influence traveler behavior and contribute to reducing traffic congestion.

33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS↗
DOE OSTI2026

Oneida Indian Nation Facility Energy Efficiency Project (Final Technical Report)

The Oneida Indian Nation (“Oneida”) implemented a comprehensive energy efficiency project across nearly 30 facilities over the course of the project period. Grounded in findings from a 2018 energy audit, the project installed LED lighting, high-efficiency HVAC systems, programmable thermostats, variable speed drives, and kitchen exhaust controls across 28 Nation facilities and the Turning Stone Resort and Casino (TSRC) campus.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗
DOE OSTI2026

Aniak Energy Efficiency Retrofit Project

The Native Village of Aniak (NVA), a federally recognized Yup'ik Tribe, undertook this energy efficiency initiative to enhance energy performance in key community buildings, including the Tribal Office, Community Center, Duplex, and Association of Village Council Presidents (AVCP) Office. Through energy audits and upgrades, the project focused on high-impact improvements like air sealing, LED lighting, and programmable thermostats, primarily in the Tribal Office due to funding constraints. The initiative aimed to reduce energy waste, lower heating and electricity costs, and improve facility comfort and longevity while achieving long-term savings for further improvements by decreasing reliance on imported fuel oil. Despite scope limitations exacerbated by budget constraints, this project achieved an approximately 52% reduction in EUI. Reducing operational costs emphasizes economic and environmental benefits, aligning closely with Aniak's broader energy sustainability objectives. This initiative aligned with the Tribe's vision for responsible energy use, addressing the challenges of high fuel prices in a remote community; it could serve as a model for similar efforts in Aniak and other Alaska Native villages pursuing energy self-reliance.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗
DOE OSTI2026

Waveform Simulation Framework: User Manual with Tutorials

This manuscript describes the Waveform Simulation Framework (WSF), a Python-based framework that provides a unified, programmable interface for generating synthetic seismograms for applications such as seismic array design, method development, and special event analysis. WSF standardizes how users define sources, receivers, and velocity models while abstracting simulator-specific configuration details, enabling workflows that are largely independent of the underlying numerical engine. The document provides installation guidance and tutorial-driven examples for three WSF simulator wrappers—WSF PyFK, WSF SW4, and WSF SPECFEM2D—illustrating end-to-end workflows from forward waveform simulation to common post-processing tasks (e.g., visualization and backprojection) using consistent data products (e.g., ObsPy Stream objects and SAC files).

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗