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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 379 records · Page 21
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1995

A comparison of model-based VQ compression with other VQ approaches

In our previous work on Model-Based Vector Quantization (MVQ), we presented some performance comparisons (both rate distortion and decompression time) with VQ and JPEG/DCT. In this paper, we compare the MVQ's rate distortion performance with Mean Removed Vector Quantization (MRVQ) and include our previous comparison with VQ. MVQ is similar to MRVQ in many ways. Both of these techniques extract means of the vectors (raster-scanned image blocks) and reduce them to mean removed residuals by subtracting block means from the elements of the vectors. In the case of MRVQ, a codebook of residual vectors is generated using a training set. For every vector from the input image, the block mean and address of the codevector from the codebook that matches the input vector closest are transmitted to the decoder. The codebook is generated using generalized Lloyd algorithm on training set of residual vectors. For MVQ the pairs consist of vector means and address of the closest matching vector from codebook generated by models based on statistical properties of the residuals and Human Visual System (HVS). In our experiments, we found that MVQ performance in rate distortion sense is almost always better than VQ and is comparable to MRVQ. Further, MVQ is much easier to use than either VQ or MRVQ, since the training and managing of explicit codebooks is not required.

Manohar, Mareboyana↗
NASA NTRS1995

A comparison of model-based VQ compression with other VQ approaches

In our previous work on Model-Based Vector Quantization (MVQ), we presented some performance comparisons (both rate distortion and decompression time) with VQ and JPED/DCT. In this paper, we compare the MVQ's rate distortion performance with Mean Removed Vector Quantization (MRVQ) and include our previous comparison with VQ. Both MVQ and MRVQ compute the mean of each vector (raster-scanned image block) and produce mean removed residual vectors by subtracting the block mean from the elements of each vector. In the case of MRVQ, a codebook of residual vectors is generated using a training set. For MVQ, an internal codebook is generated based on the statistical properties of the residual vectors, and upon correlations derived from a Human Visual System (HVS) model. In both MVQ and MRVQ, the block mean and address of the codevector from the codebook that most closely matches each input vector are transmitted to the decoder. MVQ, a single additional statistical parameter is transmitted to the decoder. For MRVQ, we assume that the codebook of residual vectors is available to the decoder. In our experiments, we found that the rate of distortion performance of MVQ is almost always better than VQ, and is comparable to MRVQ. Further, MVQ is much easier to use than either VQ or MRVQ, since the training and management of codebooks is not required.

Manohar, Mareboyana↗
NASA NTRS1995

Visualization software for a global three-dimensional upper atmosphere model

A software environment has been developed to assist in analysis and visualization of numerical outputs from NCAR's thermospheric general circulation models. The codes produce vector graphics, raster imagery, and time dependent animation of model results, with provision for comparison with empirical models and relevant data from satellite and ground based instruments. Separate programs are executed on the NCAR CRAY YMP8/864 and HAO divisional Sun workstations, providing both large volume highspeed batch and custom interactive computing environments. The visualization system assembles a suite of existing software packages including NCAR Graphics, IDL, netCDF, and the Xt intrinsics library with the Athena widget set.

Foster, Benjamin T.↗
NASA NTRS1995

Evaluation of Visualization Software

Visualization software is widely used in scientific and engineering research. But computed visualizations can be very misleading, and the errors are easy to miss. We feel that the software producing the visualizations must be thoroughly evaluated and the evaluation process as well as the results must be made available. Testing and evaluation of visualization software is not a trivial problem. Several methods used in testing other software are helpful, but these methods are (apparently) often not used. When they are used, the description and results are generally not available to the end user. Additional evaluation methods specific to visualization must also be developed. We present several useful approaches to evaluation, ranging from numerical analysis of mathematical portions of algorithms to measurement of human performance while using visualization systems. Along with this brief survey, we present arguments for the importance of evaluations and discussions of appropriate use of some methods.

Globus, Al↗
NASA NTRS1998

Integrated Data Visualization and Virtual Reality Tool

The Integrated Data Visualization and Virtual Reality Tool (IDVVRT) Phase II effort was for the design and development of an innovative Data Visualization Environment Tool (DVET) for NASA engineers and scientists, enabling them to visualize complex multidimensional and multivariate data in a virtual environment. The objectives of the project were to: (1) demonstrate the transfer and manipulation of standard engineering data in a virtual world; (2) demonstrate the effects of design and changes using finite element analysis tools; and (3) determine the training and engineering design and analysis effectiveness of the visualization system.

Dryer, David A.↗
NASA NTRS1993

IMAGE: A Design Integration Framework Applied to the High Speed Civil Transport

Effective design of the High Speed Civil Transport requires the systematic application of design resources throughout a product's life-cycle. Information obtained from the use of these resources is used for the decision-making processes of Concurrent Engineering. Integrated computing environments facilitate the acquisition, organization, and use of required information. State-of-the-art computing technologies provide the basis for the Intelligent Multi-disciplinary Aircraft Generation Environment (IMAGE) described in this paper. IMAGE builds upon existing agent technologies by adding a new component called a model. With the addition of a model, the agent can provide accountable resource utilization in the presence of increasing design fidelity. The development of a zeroth-order agent is used to illustrate agent fundamentals. Using a CATIA(TM)-based agent from previous work, a High Speed Civil Transport visualization system linking CATIA, FLOPS, and ASTROS will be shown. These examples illustrate the important role of the agent technologies used to implement IMAGE, and together they demonstrate that IMAGE can provide an integrated computing environment for the design of the High Speed Civil Transport.

Hale, Mark A.↗
NASA NTRS2000

Vision Aspects of Space Flight

Vision, being one of our most important senses, is critically important in the unique working environment of space flight. Critical evaluation of the astronauts visual system begins with pre-selection examinations resulting in an average of 65% of all medical disqualification's caused by ocular findings. With an average age of 42, approximately 60% of the astronaut corps requires vision correction. Further demands of the unique training and working environment of microgravity, variable lighting from very poor to extreme brightness of sunlight and exposure to extremes of electromagnetic energy results in unique eyewear and contact lens applications. This presentation will describe some of those unique eyewear and contact lens applications used in space flight and training environments. Additionally, ocular findings from 26 shuttle and 5 MIR mission post-flight examinations will be presented.

Manuel, Keith↗
NASA NTRS1999

Visualizing Mars Using Virtual Reality: A State of the Art Mapping Technique Used on Mars Pathfinder

We describe an interactive terrain visualization system which rapidly generates and interactively displays photorealistic three-dimensional (3-D) models produced from stereo images. This product, first demonstrated in Mars Pathfinder, is interactive, 3-D, and can be viewed in an immersive display which qualifies it for the name Virtual Reality (VR). The use of this technology on Mars Pathfinder was the first use of VR for geologic analysis. A primary benefit of using VR to display geologic information is that it provides an improved perception of depth and spatial layout of the remote site. The VR aspect of the display allows an operator to move freely in the environment, unconstrained by the physical limitations of the perspective from which the data were acquired. Virtual Reality offers a way to archive and retrieve information in a way that is intuitively obvious. Combining VR models with stereo display systems can give the user a sense of presence at the remote location. The capability, to interactively perform measurements from within the VR model offers unprecedented ease in performing operations that are normally time consuming and difficult using other techniques. Thus, Virtual Reality can be a powerful a cartographic tool. Additional information is contained in the original extended abstract.

Stoker, C.↗
NASA NTRS1994

Visibility of DCT Basis Functions: Effects of Contrast Masking

Current strategies for compressing images neglect to accommodate certain aspects of the human visual system. One such neglected aspect is contrast masking. Here we provide measurements of contrast masking within the framework of the discrete cosine transform (DCT). We describe how to optimize DCT-based compression with respect to contrast masking.

Soloman, Joshua A.↗
NASA NTRS2001

Using the Human Eye to Characterize Displays

Monitor characterization has taken on new importance for non-professional users, who are not usually equipped to make photometric measurements. We studied adjusting brightness to set the black level, banding effects due to digitization, and gamma estimation in the light and in the dark, and a color-matching task in the light, on a desktop CRT (Cathode-Ray Tube) and a laptop LCD (Liquid Crystal Display). Observers demonstrated the sensitivity of the visual system for comparative judgments in black-level adjustment, banding visibility, and gamma estimation. The results of the color-matching task were ambiguous. In the brightness adjustment task, the action of the adjustment was not as presumed; however, perceptual judgments were as expected under the actual conditions. When the gamma estimates of observers were compared to photometric measurements, problems with the definition of gamma were identified. Information about absolute light levels that would be important for characterizing a displays, given the shortcomings of gamma in measuring apparent contrast, are not measurable by eye alone. The LCD was not studied as extensively as the CRT because of viewing-angle problems, and its transfer function did not follow a power law, rendering gamma estimation meaningless.

Gille, Jennifer↗
NASA NTRS1995

Depth Cue Integration in an Active Control Paradigm

Numerous models of depth cue integration have been proposed. Of particular interest is how the visual system processes discrepent cues, as might arise when viewing synthetic displays. A powerful paradigm for examining this integration process can be adapted from manual control research. This methodology introduces independent disturbances in the candidate cues, then performs spectral analysis of subjects' resulting motoric responses (e.g., depth matching). We will describe this technique and present initial findings.

Kaiser, Mary K.↗
NASA NTRS1996

A Rorschach Test for Visual Classification Strategies

Contemporary models of pattern, detection and discrimination often employ template matching, but there have been few direct tests of this proposition. Adopting a method developed by Ahumada, we have analyzed how human observers discriminate between two letters of the alphabet ('c' and 'x'). The stimulus consisted of a one degree tall letter plus a four degree field of static white noise, both displayed for 16 frames at a 67 Hz frame rate. Our font and display dimensions approximated those of Solomon and Pelli. The observer identified the letter presented. A QUEST staircase varied letter contrast to maintain a 75% correct rate. For each trial, we preserved the information required to reconstruct the noise field. Possible trial categories based on (signal, response) pairs are: (c,c), (c,x), (x,c), (x,x). Noise fields were averaged separately for each category, and a final classification image was obtained by averaging the four mean images after inverting the sign of categories in which x was the response. If the observer employs a template, it should be revealed in the classification image. The lowpass-filtered classification image derived from 2048 responses of one observer is shown here, along with the corresponding ideal template. An approximation to the ideal template can be seen appropriately located within the classification image. We have also simulated and will discuss the classification images expected from various discrimination models in this experimental context. The construction of classification images appears to be a powerful tool for studying classification strategies used by human observers. Like a Rorschach test, it surreptitiously discovers the inner desires of the visual system.

Watson, Andrew B.↗
NASA NTRS1997

The Search for Optimal Visual Stimuli

In 1983, Watson, Barlow and Robson published a brief report in which they explored the relative visibility of targets that varied in size, shape, spatial frequency, speed, and duration (referred to subsequently here as WBR). A novel aspect of that paper was that visibility was quantified in terms of threshold contrast energy, rather than contrast. As they noted, this provides a more direct measure of the efficiency with which various patterns are detected, and may be more edifying as to the underlying detection machinery. For example, under certain simple assumptions, the waveform of the most efficiently detected signal is an estimate of the receptive field of the visual system's most efficient detector. Thus one goal of their experiment Basuto search for the stimulus that the 'eye sees best'. Parenthetically, the search for optimal stimuli may be seen as the most general and sophisticated variant of the traditional 'subthreshold summation' experiment, in which one measures the effect upon visibility of small probes combined with a base stimulus.

Watson, Andrew B.↗
NASA NTRS1998

Trace-Driven Debugging of Message Passing Programs

In this paper we report on features added to a parallel debugger to simplify the debugging of parallel message passing programs. These features include replay, setting consistent breakpoints based on interprocess event causality, a parallel undo operation, and communication supervision. These features all use trace information collected during the execution of the program being debugged. We used a number of different instrumentation techniques to collect traces. We also implemented trace displays using two different trace visualization systems. The implementation was tested on an SGI Power Challenge cluster and a network of SGI workstations.

Frumkin, Michael↗
NASA NTRS2002

Better Pictures in a Snap

Retinex Imaging Processing, winner of NASA's 1999 Space Act Award, is commercially available through TruView Imaging Company. With this technology, amateur photographers use their personal computers to improve the brightness, scene contrast, detail, and overall sharpness of images with increased ease. The process was originally developed for remote sensing of the Earth by researchers at Langley Research Center and Science and Technology Corporation (STC). It automatically enhances a digital image in terms of dynamic range compression, color independence from the spectral distribution of the scene illuminant, and color/lightness rendition. As a result, the enhanced digital image is much closer to the scene perceived by the human visual system, under all kinds and levels of lighting variations. TruView believes there are other applications for the software in medical imaging, forensics, security, recognizance, mining, assembly, and other industrial areas.

Source record↗
NASA NTRS2002

Postbuckling and Growth of Delaminations in Composite Plates Subjected to Axial Compression

The postbuckling response and growth of circular delaminations in flat and curved plates are investigated as part of a study to identify the criticality of delamination locations through the laminate thickness. The experimental results from tests on delaminated plates are compared with finite element analysis results generated using shell models. The analytical prediction of delamination growth is obtained by assessing the strain energy release rate results from the finite element model and comparing them to a mixed-mode fracture toughness failure criterion. The analytical results for onset of delamination growth compare well with experimental results generated using a 3-dimensional displacement visualization system. The record of delamination progression measured in this study has resulted in a fully 3-dimensional test case with which progressive failure models can be validated.

Reeder, James R.↗
NASA NTRS2001

Using the Human Eye to Characterize Displays

Monitor characterization has taken on new importance for non-professional users, who are not usually equipped to make photometric measurements. Our purpose was to examine some of the visual judgments used in characterization schemes that have been proposed for web users. We studied adjusting brightness to set the black level, banding effects due to digitization, and gamma estimation in the light and in the dark, and a color-matching task in the light, on a desktop CRT and a laptop LCD. Observers demonstrated the sensitivity of the visual system for comparative judgments in black-level adjustment, banding visibility, and gamma estimation. The results of the color-matching task were ambiguous. In the brightness adjustment task, the action of the adjustment was not as presumed; however, perceptual judgments were as expected under the actual conditions. When the gamma estimates of observers were compared to photometric measurements, problems with the definition of gamma were identified. Information about absolute light levels that would be important for characterizing a display, given the shortcomings of gamma in measuring apparent contrast, are not measurable by eye alone. The LCD was not studied as extensively as the CRT because of viewing-angle problems, and its transfer function did not follow a power law, rendering gamma estimation meaningless.

Gille, Jennifer↗
NASA NTRS2004

Surface Generation and Cartesian Mesh Support

This document serves as the final report for the grant titled Surface Generation and Cartesian Mesh Support . This completed work was in algorithmic research into automatically generating surface triangulations from CAD geometries. NASA's OVERFLOW and Cart3D simulation packages use surface triangulations as an underlying geometry description and the ability to automatically generate these from CAD files (without translation) substantially reduces both the wall-clock time and expertise required to get geometry out of CAD and into mesh generation. This surface meshing was exercised greatly during the Shuttle investigation during the last year with success. The secondary efforts performed in this grant involve work on a visualization system cut-cell handling for Cartesian Meshes with embedded boundaries.

Haimes, Robert↗