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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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The criteria, methodology, and sequence aspects of the site selection process are presented. This report organized the logical thought process that should be applied to the site selection process, but final decisions are highly selective.
An investigation of all payloads in the IBM disciplines and the selection of driver payloads within each discipline are described. The driver payloads were selected on the basis of their data processing requirements. These requirements are measured by a weighting scheme. The total requirements for each discipline are estimated by use of the technology payload model. The driver selection process which was both a payload by payload comparison and a comparison of expected groupings of payloads was examined.
The orbit selection process is simplified for most earth-oriented satellite missions by a restriction to circular orbits, which reduces the primary orbit characteristics to be determined to only two: altitude and inclination. A number of important mission performance characteristics depend on these choices, however, so a major part of the orbit selection task is concerned with developing the correlating relationships in clear and convenient forms to provide a basis for rational orbit selection procedures. The present approach to that task is organized around two major areas of mission performance, orbit plane precession and coverage pattern development, whose dependence on altitude and inclination is delineated graphically in design chart form. These charts provide a visual grasp of the relationships between the quantities cited above, as well as other important mission performance parameters including viewing time of day (solar), sensor swath width (and fields of view), swath sequencing, and pattern repeat condition and repeat periods.
The paper describes the use of a rapid estimation scheme for path selection by a roving vehicle. Essentially, the evaluation procedure simulates movement of the rover over each of several corridors lying radially outward from the scanning position. Two levels of corridors are used, and the path selection scheme selects the optimal primary corridor according to a dynamic programming algorithm. In the present version, the length of the corridors is variable. The rapid estimation scheme provides information to define corridor dimensions. This corridor structure, which varies as a function of the terrain, eliminates the need for backtracking, except in certain extreme cases. Computer results are promising in that obstacles were avoided while corridor lengths were kept to a maximum where safety permitted.
There is no difficulty in identifying the criteria involved in the computer selection process; complexity arises in objectively evaluating various candidate configurations against the criteria, based on the user's specific needs. A model for formalizing the selection process consists of two major steps: verifying that the candidate configuration is adequate to the user's programming requirements, and determining an overall system evaluation rating based on cost, usability, adaptability, and availability. A 36 step instruction for computer sizing evaluation is included in the appendix along with a sample application of the configuration adequacy model. Selection criteria and the weighting process are also discussed.
An important effort is the Satellite Power System (SPS) comparative Assessment is the selection and characterization of alternative technologies to be compared with the SPS concept. The ground rules, criteria, and screening procedure applied in the selection of those alternative technologies are summarized. The final set of central station alternatives selected for comparison with the SPS concept includes: (1) light water reactor with improved fuel utilization, (2) conventional coal combustion with improved environmental controls, (3) open cycle gas turbine with integral low Btu gasifier, (4) terrestrial photovoltaic, (5) liquid metal fast breeder reactor, and (6) magnetic confinement fusion.
This paper investigates a wavelength selection mechanism under ideal and nonideal flow conditions. The conditions of the total streamwise growth of Gortler vortices generated under ideal and nonideal flow conditions and its effect on the laminar-turbulent transition process is also examined. The stabilizing effects of suction on the total growth of these vortices are analyzed. It is demonstrated that the wavelength selection mechanism and the total growth of the vortices are affected by the departures from ideal flow conditions. It is shown that under ideal flow conditions, a wavelength selection mechanism can be based on the maximum amplification rate of the disturbances. However, this mechanism is easily affected by the departures from ideal flow. The case of streamwise vorticity in the basic flow is analyzed and is shown to affect disturbances through a subharmonic resonance.
A new approach to the problem of selecting a computer system design has been developed. The purpose of this methodology is to identify a system design that is capable of fulfilling system objectives in the most economical way. The methodology characterizes each system design by the cost of the system life cycle and by the system's effectiveness in reaching objectives. Cost is measured by a 'system cost index' derived from an analysis of all expenditures and possible revenues over the system life cycle. Effectiveness is measured by a 'system utility index' obtained by combining the impact that each selection factor has on the system objectives and it is assessed through a 'utility curve'. A preestablished algorithm combines cost and utility and provides a ranking of the alternative system designs from which the 'best' design is selected.
A summary of NACA-NASA icing research from 1940 to 1962 is presented. It includes: the main results of the NACA icing program from 1940 to 1950; a selected bibliography of 132 NACA-NASA aircraft icing publications; a technical summary of each document cited in the selected bibliography; and a microfiche copy of each document cited in the selected bibliography.
The procedures used by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory to select and recommend frequencies to be used for deep space telecommunications are explained. The frequency selection process described deals only with the potential for radio frequency interference between deep space telecommunication links. Channel plans based on bandwidth, hardware implementation, and frequency ratio considered are used. The channel selection process is based on calculations and analysis of interference-to-signal power ratios as a function of time for each possible pair of missions. The modes of interference and the interference protection ratio are explained, and the interference analysis procedure described. Equations used in calculating the downlink and uplink interference analyses are presented.
A directed principal component (PC) analysis and its transformation was applied to 7-channel thematic mapper simulator (TMS) data and 4-channel LANDSAT multispectral scanner system (MSS) data collected over the city of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, to create improved imagery for geometric control point selection for image to image registration. Nineteen temporally stable geometric control points, such as road interactions and bridges, were selected for a 236 sq km area. The control points were visible on both the TMS and MSS imagery. On the first attempt the corresponding image control points were selected on both data sets without using the principal components transformation. Many of the road intersection locations were visible but the actual road crossings could not be distinguished. As a result, mensuration errors using raw data exceeded the equivalent of two (79 x 79 m) pixels. The application of a guided principal components transformation yielded TMS and MSS single band images showing improved detail in the scene's urban and residential infrastructure. The PC transformed data sets were then utilized for the reselection of geometric control points. By shown greater detail, control points on both the TMS and MSS imagery could be located with greater precision using the PC transformed data.
A problem arises in making color composite images because there are 210 different possible color presentations of TM three-band images. A method is given for reducing that 210 to a single choice, decided by the statistics of a scene or subscene, and taking into full account any correlations that exist between different bands. Instead of using total variance as the measure for information content of the band triplets, the ellipsoid of maximum volume is selected which discourages selection of bands with high correlation. The band triplet is obtained by computing and ranking in order the determinants of each 3 x 3 principal submatrix of the original matrix M. After selection of the best triplet, the assignment of colors is made by using the actual variances (the diagonal elements of M): green (maximum variance), red (second largest variance), blue (smallest variance).
A review is presented of experiments concerning the physiological consequences of chronic acceleration and of studies of selection for acceleration tolerance over many generations. It is shown that acceleration selection is effective in improving chronic acceleration tolerance. However, it is determined that the variable selection procedure employed in developing this acceleration-tolerant line limits the confidence in the quantitative evaluation of the procedure.
Resin selection criteria are derived using a structured methodology consisting of an upward integrated mechanistic theory and its inverse (top-down structured theory). These criteria are expressed in a 'criteria selection space' which can be used to identify resin bulk properties for improved composite 'toughness'. The resin selection criteria correlate with a variety of experimental data including laminate strength, elevated temperature effects and impact resistance.
Resin selection criteria are derived using a structured methodology consisting of an upward integrated mechanistic theory and its inverse (top-down structured theory). These criteria are expressed in a "criteria selection space" which are used to identify resin bulk properties for improved composite "toughness". The resin selection criteria correlate with a variety of experimental data including laminate strength, elevated temperature effects and impact resistance.
Three fiber composites (graphite-fiber epoxy, graphite-fiber aluminum, and graphite-fiber magnesium) are evaluated for their possible use in space applications. Using the composite mechanics theories for thermomechanical behavior embodied in the ICAN (Integrated Composites Analyzer) computer code, select composite thermal and mechanical properties are predicted and also their response to cryogenic temperatures, resembling those which occur in space applications. The predicted results are presented in graphical form as a function of the composite's laminate configuration, fiber volume ratio and the selected use temperature. These results are suitable for preliminary design purposes only and should serve as an aid in selecting controlled experiments for obtaining corresponding measured data.
A study area near Ribeirao Preto in Sao Paulo state was selected, with predominance in sugar cane. Eight features were extracted from the 4 original bands of LANDSAT image, using low-pass and high-pass filtering to obtain spatial features. There were 5 training sites in order to acquire the necessary parameters. Two groups of four channels were selected from 12 channels using JM-distance and entropy criterions. The number of selected channels was defined by physical restrictions of the image analyzer and computacional costs. The evaluation was performed by extracting the confusion matrix for training and tests areas, with a maximum likelihood classifier, and by defining performance indexes based on those matrixes for each group of channels. Results show that in spatial features and supervised classification, the entropy criterion is better in the sense that allows a more accurate and generalized definition of class signature. On the other hand, JM-distance criterion strongly reduces the misclassification within training areas.
One approach for estimating crop acreage on the basis of Landsat data involves the sampling of portions of Landsat imagery which represent 5 x 6-n mi areas on the ground, taking into account acreage estimates for each of these areas. Difficulties concerning the estimating procedures are related to labeling. These difficulties arise in particular in connection with mixed pixels. The present investigation is concerned with the employment of a suitable automated technique for overcoming these difficulties. A description of the selected technique is presented, and the test conducted for the evaluation of the technique is discussed. It is found that the employed automated pixel screening and selection procedure provides representative samples of the scene. The amount of time spent on pure pixel selection is significantly reduced by using the automated method.