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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

On Development of Three-Dimensional Visualization Capabilities in Glenn Research Center Communication Analysis Suite

With NASA’s upcoming mission to return to the Moon sustainably by 2024 and using that success as a means to step onto the barren world of Mars, it remains more important than ever to conduct research and planning as thoroughly and efficiently as possible. In a mission as complex as landing humans onto another celestial body, a network of orbiting satellites and ground stations must accurately and reliably communicate with each other, enabling crucial data communications throughout the mission. Visualizing this important data communication increases the understanding of the data and can accelerate analyses efforts. The purpose of this software development is to create an interactive visualization with data taken MATLAB® scripts in the GRC Communication Analysis Suite that is easy to understand, can show all necessary data, and display the data accurately. The main types of data to visualize are from the State Propagation, Line of Sight and Dynamic Link Margin scripts. These all show positions and orbits of satellites and ground stations, while the Line of Sight data shows when they have the ability to communicate with each other based on their respective antenna positions and fields of view. Additionally, the Dynamic Link Margin mode color-codes the communication link performance onto the Line of Sight access lines. Visualization requires a graphics language that is easily accessible, has the needed features, and able to easily read data produced by the GRC Communication Analysis Suite MATLAB® scripts. ThreeJS, a graphics library for Web Graphics Library, coded in JavaScript was selected for the visualization. The next part of the software development was to move the data from MATLAB® to the JavaScript. The best way to accomplish this was to implement a MATLAB® function converting the output data of the scripts to a JavaScript Object Notation file. A key part of the development was creating the visualization within JavaScript and ThreeJS to visualize any combination of planets, moons, orbits, satellites, ground stations, line of sight links, and handle future features without changing major parts of the code. The current visualization capability runs directly from MATLAB®, and can dynamically create any scene. This software development currently supports the lunar communications analysis underway by NASA, and can be easily expanded upon in the future to aid any analysis requirements to help plan current and future space missions.

Visualization↗

ISS Mini AERCam Radio Frequency (RF) Coverage Analysis Using iCAT Development Tool

The long-term goals of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA's) Human Exploration and Development of Space (HEDS) enterprise may require the development of autonomous free-flier (FF) robotic devices to operate within the vicinity of low-Earth orbiting spacecraft to supplement human extravehicular activities (EVAs) in space. Future missions could require external visual inspection of the spacecraft that would be difficult, or dangerous, for humans to perform. Under some circumstance, it may be necessary to employ an un-tethered communications link between the FF and the users. The interactive coverage analysis tool (ICAT) is a software tool that has been developed to perform critical analysis of the communications link performance for a FF operating in the vicinity of the International Space Station (ISS) external environment. The tool allows users to interactively change multiple parameters of the communications link parameters to efficiently perform systems engineering trades on network performance. These trades can be directly translated into design and requirements specifications. This tool significantly reduces the development time in determining a communications network topology by allowing multiple parameters to be changed, and the results of link coverage to be statistically characterized and plotted interactively.

Bolen, Steve↗

Automated Sequence Processor: Something Old, Something New

High productivity required for operations teams to meet schedules Risk must be minimized. Scripting used to automate processes. Scripts perform essential operations functions. Automated Sequence Processor (ASP) was a grass-roots task built to automate the command uplink process System engineering task for ASP revitalization organized. ASP is a set of approximately 200 scripts written in Perl, C Shell, AWK and other scripting languages.. ASP processes/checks/packages non-interactive commands automatically.. Non-interactive commands are guaranteed to be safe and have been checked by hardware or software simulators.. ASP checks that commands are non-interactive.. ASP processes the commands through a command. simulator and then packages them if there are no errors.. ASP must be active 24 hours/day, 7 days/week..

Automated↗

Implementation of Charged Particle Behavior in Discrete Element Method (DEM) Simulations

To understand the behavior of charged lunar regolith when perturbed by lunar landers, it is important to couple the grain dynamics with mechanical and electrical particle interactions. To accomplish this, improvements have been made to a discrete element method (DEM) software package to include both short- and long-range interactions between spherical particles. Short-range interactions rely on contact between the particles, such as electrical conduction and triboelectric charge transfer driven by work functions. Long-range interactions act at a distance between every pairing of particles, such as electrostatic forces and gravitational forces. Results from simulations between a few particles are compared with theory to verify these added behaviors prior to scaling up to more complex scenarios. The radii, initial charges, electrical conductivities, work functions, and separation of the particles are varied and the resultant charges as well as the time required to reach the final state are determined.

Electrostatics↗

Predicting System Accidents with Model Analysis During Hybrid Simulation

Standard discrete event simulation is commonly used to identify system bottlenecks and starving and blocking conditions in resources and services. The CONFIG hybrid discrete/continuous simulation tool can simulate such conditions in combination with inputs external to the simulation. This provides a means for evaluating the vulnerability to system accidents of a system's design, operating procedures, and control software. System accidents are brought about by complex unexpected interactions among multiple system failures , faulty or misleading sensor data, and inappropriate responses of human operators or software. The flows of resource and product materials play a central role in the hazardous situations that may arise in fluid transport and processing systems. We describe the capabilities of CONFIG for simulation-time linear circuit analysis of fluid flows in the context of model-based hazard analysis. We focus on how CONFIG simulates the static stresses in systems of flow. Unlike other flow-related properties, static stresses (or static potentials) cannot be represented by a set of state equations. The distribution of static stresses is dependent on the specific history of operations performed on a system. We discuss the use of this type of information in hazard analysis of system designs.

Malin, Jane T.↗

Knowledge based and interactive control for the Superfluid Helium On-orbit Transfer Project

NASA's Superfluid Helium On-Orbit Transfer (SHOOT) project is a Shuttle-based experiment designed to acquire data on the properties of superfluid helium in micro-gravity. Aft Flight Deck Computer Software for the SHOOT experiment is comprised of several monitoring programs which give the astronaut crew visibility into SHOOT systems and a rule based system which will provide process control, diagnosis and error recovery for a helium transfer without ground intervention. Given present Shuttle manifests, this software will become the first expert system to be used in space. The SHOOT Command and Monitoring System (CMS) software will provide a near real time highly interactive interface for the SHOOT principal investigator to control the experiment and to analyze and display its telemetry. The CMS software is targeted for all phases of the SHOOT project: hardware development, pre-flight pad servicing, in-flight operations, and post-flight data analysis.

Castellano, Timothy P.↗

A condensed form of NASTRAN

The Interactive Graphics Finite Element System, IGFES, is described along with its supporting analysis software, graphics terminal support package and hardware configurations. IGFES provides an interactive design tool for structural engineers via pre- and postprocessing of finite element data. The system currently runs on an IBM 360/44 OS-MFT system or a PDP 11/40 DOS/BATCH system. Graphics devices are supported using an inhouse developed, device independent terminal support package. Support is available for the Calcomp 563 drum plotter, Tektronix 4002A storage display terminal and the Lundy Electronics 20 inch standalone refresh display system. IGFES and its associated systems are written in FORTRAN IV.

Rogers, J. L., Jr.↗

Software to model AXAF-I image quality

A modular user-friendly computer program for the modeling of grazing-incidence type x-ray optical systems has been developed. This comprehensive computer software GRAZTRACE covers the manipulation of input data, ray tracing with reflectivity and surface deformation effects, convolution with x-ray source shape, and x-ray scattering. The program also includes the capabilities for image analysis, detector scan modeling, and graphical presentation of the results. A number of utilities have been developed to interface the predicted Advanced X-ray Astrophysics Facility-Imaging (AXAF-I) mirror structural and thermal distortions with the ray-trace. This software is written in FORTRAN 77 and runs on a SUN/SPARC station. An interactive command mode version and a batch mode version of the software have been developed.

Ahmad, Anees↗

Smagglce: Surface Modeling and Grid Generation for Iced Airfoils: Phase 1 Results

SmaggIce (Surface Modeling and Grid Generation for Iced Airfoils) is a software toolkit used in the process of aerodynamic performance prediction of iced airfoils with grid-based Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD). It includes tools for data probing, boundary smoothing, domain decomposition, and structured grid generation and refinement. SmaggIce provides the underlying computations to perform these functions, a GUI (Graphical User Interface) to control and interact with those functions, and graphical displays of results, it is being developed at NASA Glenn Research Center. This paper discusses the overall design of SmaggIce as well as what has been implemented in Phase 1. Phase 1 results provide two types of software tools: interactive ice shape probing and interactive ice shape control. The ice shape probing tools will provide aircraft icing engineers and scientists with an interactive means to measure the physical characteristics of ice shapes. On the other hand, the ice shape control features of SmaggIce will allow engineers to examine input geometry data, correct or modify any deficiencies in the geometry, and perform controlled systematic smoothing to a level that will make the CFD process manageable.

Vickerman, Mary B.↗

Surface temperatures and temperature gradient features of the US Gulf Coast waters

Satellite thermal infrared data on the Gulf of Mexico show that a seasonal cycle exists in the horizontal surface temperature structure. In the fall, the surface temperatures of both coastal and deep waters are nearly uniform. With the onset of winter, atmospheric cold fronts, which are accompanied by dry, low temperature air and strong winds, draw heat from the sea. A band of cooler water forming on the inner shelf expands, until a thermal front develops seaward along the shelf break between the cold shelf waters and the warmer deep waters of the Gulf. Digital analysis of the satellite data was carried out in an interactive mode using a minicomputer and software. A time series of temperature profiles illustrates the temporal and spatial changes in the sea-surface temperature field.

Huh, O. K.↗

Standards for the user interface - Developing a user consensus

The user support environment (USE) which is a set of software tools for a flexible standard interactive user interface to the Space Station systems, platforms, and payloads is described in detail. Included in the USE concept are a user interface language, a run time environment and user interface management system, support tools, and standards for human interaction methods. The goals and challenges of the USE are discussed as well as a methodology based on prototype demonstrations for involving users in the process of validating the USE concepts. By prototyping the key concepts and salient features of the proposed user interface standards, the user's ability to respond is greatly enhanced.

Moe, Karen L.↗

Program For Engineering Electrical Connections

DFACS is interactive multiuser computer-aided-engineering software tool for system-level electrical integration and cabling engineering. Purpose of program to provide engineering community with centralized data base for putting in and gaining access to data on functional definition of system, details of end-circuit pinouts in systems and subsystems, and data on wiring harnesses. Objective, to provide instantaneous single point of interchange of information, thus avoiding error-prone, time-consuming, and costly shuttling of data along multiple paths. Designed to operate on DEC VAX mini or micro computer using Version 5.0/03 of INGRES.

Billitti, Joseph W.↗

Cooperating Expert Systems For Automated Monitoring And Diagnostics

Human operators freer to perform nonrepetitive tasks. Expert software system for monitoring multiple streams of sensory data from interacting equipment subsystems undergoing development. Organized hierarchically to monitor multiple equipment subsystems simultaneously. Each expert software subsystem responsible for one of equipment subsystems. Intended to assist human analysts in interpretation of telemetry data indicating operating statuses of subsystems of spacecraft, enables analysts to maintain desired mode(s) of operation, and helps to correct anomalies in subsystems or in overall spacecraft system. Other versions devised for industrial monitoring and analysis tasks similarly complicated.

Schwuttke, Ursula M.↗

Program Assists Design Of Cabling

DFACS is interactive, multiuser, computer-aided-engineering software tool for system-level electrical-integration and cabling engineering. Purpose to provide engineering community with centralized data base for entering and gaining access to definitions of functions of systems, details of pin connections to circuits at subsystem and instrument ends and data on harnessing of cables. Primary objective provides instantaneous single point of interchange of information, avoiding error-prone, time-consuming, and costly multiple-path shuttling of data.

Billitti, Joseph W.↗

Spacecraft design applications of QUICK

The interactive space mission trajectory design environment software QUICK, which is currently available on 14 different machine architectures, furnishes a programmable FORTRAN-like interface for a wide range of both built-in and user-defined functions. Since its inception at JPL in 1971, QUICK has evolved from a specialized calculator into a general-purpose engineering tool which also facilitates spacecraft conceptual design by treating spacecraft as collections of data records describing individual components of instruments.

Skinner, David L.↗

Computer Program For Generation Of Surface Grids

S3D is useful computer program for generation of grids on surfaces of bodies having complicated shapes. Product of integration of robust and widely applicable interpolation technique with latest in computer-workstation technology. Incorporates highly efficient and easy-to-use graphical-interface software, enables real-time and interactive analyses of surface-geometry data and facilitates construction of surface grids.

Ching, Raymond↗

Working Notes from the 1992 AAAI Workshop on Automating Software Design. Theme: Domain Specific Software Design

The goal of this workshop is to identify different architectural approaches to building domain-specific software design systems and to explore issues unique to domain-specific (vs. general-purpose) software design. Some general issues that cut across the particular software design domain include: (1) knowledge representation, acquisition, and maintenance; (2) specialized software design techniques; and (3) user interaction and user interface.

Keller, Richard M.↗