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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 397 records · Page 22
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1994

Software interface verifier

A Telos study of 40 recent subsystem deliveries into the DSN at JPL found software interface testing to be the single most expensive and error-prone activity, and the study team suggested creating an automated software interface test tool. The resulting Software Interface Verifier (SIV), which was funded by NASA/JPL and created by Telos, employed 92 percent software reuse to quickly create an initial version which incorporated early user feedback. SIV is now successfully used by developers for interface prototyping and unit testing, by test engineers for formal testing, and by end users for non-intrusive data flow tests in the operational environment. Metrics, including cost, are included. Lessons learned include the need for early user training. SIV is ported to many platforms and can be successfully used or tailored by other NASA groups.

Soderstrom, Tomas J.↗
NASA NTRS1975

Apollo experience report: Guidance and control systems: Automated control system for unmanned mission AS-201

The Apollo command module heat shield and Apollo command and service module/Saturn launch vehicle structural integrity were evaluated in an unmanned test flight. An automated control system was developed to provide the mission event sequencing, the real-time ground control interface, and the backup attitude reference system for the unmanned flight. The required mission events, the design logic, the redundancy concept, and the ground-support-equipment concept are described and some development problem areas are discussed. The mission event time line and the real-time ground command list are included to provide an outline of the control system capabilities and requirements. The mission was accomplished with the automated control system, which functioned without flight anomalies.

Holloway, G. F.↗
NASA NTRS1998

Refurbishment and Automation of Thermal Vacuum Facilities at NASA/GSFC

The thermal vacuum facilities located at the Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) have supported both manned and unmanned space flight since the 1960s. Of the eleven facilities, currently ten of the systems are scheduled for refurbishment or replacement as part of a five-year implementation. Expected return on investment includes the reduction in test schedules, improvements in safety of facility operations, and reduction in the personnel support required for a test. Additionally, GSFC will become a global resource renowned for expertise in thermal engineering, mechanical engineering, and for the automation of thermal vacuum facilities and tests. Automation of the thermal vacuum facilities includes the utilization of Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs), the use of Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems, and the development of a centralized Test Data Management System. These components allow the computer control and automation of mechanical components such as valves and pumps. The project of refurbishment and automation began in 1996 and has resulted in complete computer control of one facility (Facility 281), and the integration of electronically controlled devices and PLCs in multiple others.

Dunn, Jamie↗
NASA NTRS1999

Refurbishment and Automation of Thermal Vacuum Facilities at NASA/GSFC

The thermal vacuum facilities located at the Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) have supported both manned and unmanned space flight since the 1960s. Of the eleven facilities, currently ten of the systems are scheduled for refurbishment or replacement as part of a five-year implementation. Expected return on investment includes the reduction in test schedules, improvements in safety of facility operations, and reduction in the personnel support required for a test. Additionally, GSFC will become a global resource renowned for expertise in thermal engineering, mechanical engineering, and for the automation of thermal vacuum facilities and tests. Automation of the thermal vacuum facilities includes the utilization of Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs), the use of Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems, and the development of a centralized Test Data Management System. These components allow the computer control and automation of mechanical components such as valves and pumps. The project of refurbishment and automation began in 1996 and has resulted in complete computer control of one facility (Facility 281), and the integration of electronically controlled devices and PLCs in multiple others.

Dunn, Jamie↗
NASA NTRS2016

Automating Microbial Directed Evolution For Bioengineering Applications

From a micro-biology perspective, directed evolution is a technique that uses controlled environmental pressures to select for a desired phenotype. Directed evolution has the distinct advantage over rational design of not needing extensive knowledge of the genome or pathways associated with a microorganism to induce phenotypes. However, there are currently limitations to the applicability of this technique including being time-consuming, error-prone, and dependent on existing assays that may lack selectivity for the given phenotype. The AADEC (Autonomous Adaptive Directed Evolution Chamber) system is a proof-of-concept instrument to automate and improve the technique such that directed evolution can be used more effectively as a general bioengineering tool. A series of tests using the automated system and comparable by-hand survival assay measurements have been carried out using UV-C radiation and Escherichia coli cultures in order to demonstrate the advantages of the AADEC versus traditional implementations of directed evolution such as random mutagenesis. AADEC uses UV-C exposure as both a source of environmental stress and mutagenesis, so in order to evaluate the UV-C tolerance obtained from the cultures, a manual UV-C exposure survival assay was developed alongside the device to compare the survival fractions at a fixed dosage. This survival assay involves exposing E. coli to UV-C radiation using a custom-designed exposure hood to control the flux and dose. Surviving cells are counted then transferred to the next iteration and so on for several iterations to calculate the survival fractions for each exposure iteration.This survival assay primarily serves as a baseline for the AADEC device, allowing quantification of the differences between the AADEC system over the manual approach. The primary data of comparison is survival fractions; this is obtained by optical density and plate counts in the manual assay and by optical density growth curve fits pre- and post-exposure in the automated case. This data can then be compiled to calculate trends over the iterations to characterize increasing UV-C resistance of the E.coli strains. The observed trends are statistically indistinguishable through several iterations from both sources.

Bioengineering↗
NASA NTRS1992

Metabolic response of environmentally isolated microorganisms to industrial effluents: Use of a newly described cell culture assay

An environmental application using a microtiter culture assay to measure the metabolic sensitivity of microorganisms to petrochemical effluents will be tested. The Biomedical Operations and Research Branch at NASA JSC has recently developed a rapid and nondestructive method to measure cell growth and metabolism. Using a colorimetric procedure the uniquely modified assay allows the metabolic kinetics of prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells to be measured. Use of such an assay if adapted for the routine monitoring of waste products, process effluents, and environmentally hazardous substances may prove to be invaluable to the industrial community. The microtiter method as described will be tested using microorganisms isolated from the Galveston Bay aquatic habitat. The microbial isolates will be identified prior to testing using the automated systems available at JSC. Sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), cadmium, and lead will provide control toxic chemicals. The toxicity of industrial effluent from two industrial sites will be tested. An effort will be made to test the efficacy of this assay for measuring toxicity in a mixed culture community.

Ferebee, Robert N.↗
NASA NTRS1998

Refurbishment and Automation of the Thermal/Vacuum Facilities at the Goddard Space Flight Center

The thermal/vacuum facilities located at the Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) have supported both manned and unmanned space flight since the 1960s. Of the 11 facilities, currently 10 of the systems are scheduled for refurbishment and/or replacement as part of a 5-year implementation. Expected return on investment includes the reduction in test schedules, improvements in the safety of facility operations, reduction in the complexity of a test and the reduction in personnel support required for a test. Additionally, GSFC will become a global resource renowned for expertise in thermal engineering, mechanical engineering and for the automation of thermal/vacuum facilities and thermal/vacuum tests. Automation of the thermal/vacuum facilities includes the utilization of Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs) and the use of Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems. These components allow the computer control and automation of mechanical components such as valves and pumps. In some cases, the chamber and chamber shroud require complete replacement while others require only mechanical component retrofit or replacement. The project of refurbishment and automation began in 1996 and has resulted in the computer control of one Facility (Facility #225) and the integration of electronically controlled devices and PLCs within several other facilities. Facility 225 has been successfully controlled by PLC and SCADA for over one year. Insignificant anomalies have occurred and were resolved with minimal impact to testing and operations. The amount of work remaining to be performed will occur over the next four to five years. Fiscal year 1998 includes the complete refurbishment of one facility, computer control of the thermal systems in two facilities, implementation of SCADA and PLC systems to support multiple facilities and the implementation of a Database server to allow efficient test management and data analysis.

Donohue, John T.↗
NASA NTRS2003

Automated Monitoring with a BCP Fault-Decision Test

The Bayesian conditional probability (BCP) technique is a statistical fault-decision technique that is suitable as the mathematical basis of the fault-manager module in the automated-monitoring system and method described in the immediately preceding article. Within the automated-monitoring system, the fault-manager module operates in conjunction with the fault-detector module, which can be based on any one of several fault-detection techniques; examples include a threshold-limit-comparison technique or the BSP or SPRT technique mentioned in the preceding article. The present BCP technique is used to evaluate a series of one or more fault-detection events for the purpose of filtering out occasional false alarms produced by many types of statistical fault-detection procedures. The BCP technique increases the probability that an automated monitoring system produces a correct decision regarding the presence or absence of a fault. Because occasional false alarms are an inevitable consequence of the SPRT, BSP, or any other statistically based fault-detection test, there is a need for a logical procedure to distinguish between true and false alarms. Heretofore, it has been common practice to make a fault decision on an ad hoc basis for example by following a multiple-observation voting strategy in which a signal is declared to be indicative of a fault if m of the last n observations produced a fault-detection alarm. The BCP technique was developed to obtain results more reliable than those afforded by a voting strategy. The BCP technique involves a test in which one applies Bayesian inference techniques to a series of one or more single-observation alarms produced by a fault-detection test. One considers the last n decisions generated by a fault-detection test in order to evaluate the conditional probability that a failure is indicated (see figure). Each new decision reached by a fault-detection test is treated as a new piece of evidence about the state of the monitored asset, and the conditional probability of failure for the system is updated on the basis of this new evidence. The conditional probability of failure is compared with a predefined limit. For a probability below the limit, the asset is declared to be healthy. For a probability above the limit, the asset is declared to be faulty.

Bickford, Randall L.↗
NASA NTRS1976

Investigation of aeroelastic stability phenomena of a helicopter by in-flight shake test

The analytical capability of the helicopter stability program is discussed. The parameters which are found to be critical to the air resonance characteristics of the soft in-plane hingeless rotor systems are detailed. A summary of two model test programs, a 1/13.8 Froude-scaled BO-105 model and a 1.67 meter (5.5 foot) diameter Froude-scaled YUH-61A model, are presented with emphasis on the selection of the final parameters which were incorporated in the full scale YUH-61A helicopter. Model test data for this configuration are shown. The actual test results of the YUH-61A air resonance in-flight shake test stability are presented. Included are a concise description of the test setup, which employs the Grumman Automated Telemetry System (ATS), the test technique for recording in-flight stability, and the test procedure used to demonstrate favorable stability characteristics with no in-plane damping augmentation (lag damper removed). The data illustrating the stability trend of air resonance with forward speed and the stability trend of ground resonance for percent airborne are presented.

Miao, W. L.↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Human-system Interaction Issues and Proposed Solutions To Promote Successful Maturation of the UTM System

Over five years, NASA, together with partnering organizations, has been developing and successfully demonstrating the maturing capabilities of the Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Traffic Management (UTM) system and its ability to support communication and coordination among small UAS operations through a series of flight tests. During these flight tests, human-system interaction (HSI) elements were also explored in order to identify the barriers to implementation as human operators transitionally fulfill roles that will be ultimately tasked to future automation. Throughout the tests, similar issues were regularly documented and are expected to persist if not formally addressed by consistent procedures or regulation. Documented here, along with suggested mitigations, are the most frequently noted HSI items, which include operator training, data standardization, and information quantity.

UTM↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Human-system interaction issues and proposed solutions to promote successful maturation of the UTM system

Over five years, NASA, together with partnering organizations, has been developing and successfully demonstrating the maturing capabilities of the Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Traffic Management (UTM) system and its ability to support communication and coordination among small UAS operations through a series of flight tests. During these flight tests, human-system interaction (HSI) elements were also explored in order to identify the barriers to implementation as human operators transitionally fulfill roles that will be ultimately tasked to future automation. Throughout the tests, similar issues were regularly documented and are expected to persist if not formally addressed by consistent procedures or regulation. Documented here, along with suggested mitigations, are the most frequently noted HSI items, which include operator training, data standardization, and information quantity.

UTM↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Studying Human-System Interaction within the UTM System

Over five years, NASA, together with partnering organizations, has been developing and successfully demonstrating the maturing capabilities of the Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Traffic Management (UTM) system and its ability to support communication and coordination among small UAS operations through a series of flight tests. During these flight tests, human-system interaction (HSI) elements were also explored in order to identify the barriers to implementation as human operators transitionally fulfill roles that will be ultimately tasked to future automation. Throughout the tests, similar issues were regularly documented and are expected to persist if not formally addressed by consistent procedures or regulation. Documented here, along with suggested mitigations, are the most frequently noted HSI items, which include operator training, data standardization, and information quantity. .

UTM↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Studying Human-System Interaction with the UTM System

Over five years, NASA, together with partnering organizations, has been developing and successfully demonstrating the maturing capabilities of the Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Traffic Management (UTM) system and its ability to support communication and coordination among small UAS operations through a series of flight tests. During these flight tests, human-system interaction (HSI) elements were also explored in order to identify the barriers to implementation as human operators transitionally fulfill roles that will be ultimately tasked to future automation. Throughout the tests, similar issues were regularly documented and are expected to persist if not formally addressed by consistent procedures or regulation. Documented here, along with suggested mitigations, are the most frequently noted HSI items, which include operator training, data standardization, and information quantity.

UTM↗
NASA NTRS2007

Calibration Test Set for a Phase-Comparison Digital Tracker

An apparatus that generates four signals at a frequency of 7.1 GHz having precisely controlled relative phases and equal amplitudes has been designed and built. This apparatus is intended mainly for use in computer-controlled automated calibration and testing of a phase-comparison digital tracker (PCDT) that measures the relative phases of replicas of the same X-band signal received by four antenna elements in an array. (The relative direction of incidence of the signal on the array is then computed from the relative phases.) The present apparatus can also be used to generate precisely phased signals for steering a beam transmitted from a phased antenna array. The apparatus (see figure) includes a 7.1-GHz signal generator, the output of which is fed to a four-way splitter. Each of the four splitter outputs is attenuated by 10 dB and fed as input to a vector modulator, wherein DC bias voltages are used to control the in-phase (I) and quadrature (Q) signal components. The bias voltages are generated by digital-to-analog- converter circuits on a control board that receives its digital control input from a computer running a LabVIEW program. The outputs of the vector modulators are further attenuated by 10 dB, then presented at high-grade radio-frequency connectors. The attenuation reduces the effects of changing mismatch and reflections. The apparatus was calibrated in a process in which the bias voltages were first stepped through all possible IQ settings. Then in a reverse interpolation performed by use of MATLAB software, a lookup table containing 3,600 IQ settings, representing equal amplitude and phase increments of 0.1 , was created for each vector modulator. During operation of the apparatus, these lookup tables are used in calibrating the PCDT.

Boas, Amy↗
NASA NTRS2008

Design of Test Articles and Monitoring System for the Characterization of HIRF Effects on a Fault-Tolerant Computer Communication System

This report describes the design of the test articles and monitoring systems developed to characterize the response of a fault-tolerant computer communication system when stressed beyond the theoretical limits for guaranteed correct performance. A high-intensity radiated electromagnetic field (HIRF) environment was selected as the means of injecting faults, as such environments are known to have the potential to cause arbitrary and coincident common-mode fault manifestations that can overwhelm redundancy management mechanisms. The monitors generate stimuli for the systems-under-test (SUTs) and collect data in real-time on the internal state and the response at the external interfaces. A real-time health assessment capability was developed to support the automation of the test. A detailed description of the nature and structure of the collected data is included. The goal of the report is to provide insight into the design and operation of these systems, and to serve as a reference document for use in post-test analyses.

Torres-Pomales, Wilfredo↗
NASA NTRS1990

Performance of a blood chemistry analyzer during parabolic flight

The performance of the Vision System Blood Analyzer during parabolic flight on a KC-135 aircraft (NASA 930) has been tested. This fully automated instrument performed flawlessly in these trials, demonstrating its potential for efficient, reliable use in a microgravity environment. In addition to instrument capability, it is demonstrated that investigators could readily fill specially modified test packs with fluid during zero gravity, and that filled test packs could be easily loaded into VISION during an episode of microgravity.

Spooner, Brian S.↗
NASA NTRS2005

Integrated Structural Analysis and Test Program

An integrated structural-analysis and structure-testing computer program is being developed in order to: Automate repetitive processes in testing and analysis; Accelerate pre-test analysis; Accelerate reporting of tests; Facilitate planning of tests; Improve execution of tests; Create a vibration, acoustics, and shock test database; and Integrate analysis and test data. The software package includes modules pertaining to sinusoidal and random vibration, shock and time replication, acoustics, base-driven modal survey, and mass properties and static/dynamic balance. The program is commanded by use of ActiveX controls. There is minimal need to generate command lines. Analysis or test files are selected by opening a Windows Explorer display. After selecting the desired input file, the program goes to a so-called analysis data process or test data process, depending on the type of input data. The status of the process is given by a Windows status bar, and when processing is complete, the data are reported in graphical, tubular, and matrix form.

Kaufman, Daniel↗