Search NASA⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search NASA

Results for “Remote Operation”

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 397 records · Page 22
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1982

A case study in the practical use of LANDSAT data

The use of computer aided classification of LANDSAT data in developing water quality plans for New Jersey watersheds is used to exemplify how a state natural resource management program benefits from satellite imagery. The transition of a research and development system into an operational remote sensing system to help decision makers is demonstrated. Nontechnial issues that can assist (or hinder) an agency in adopting a new technology are examined. The progress of LANDSAT use by state government from the earliest stage of curiosity through to incorporation in actual state planning methods is charted. Potential applications of LANDSAT data to real information needs and solutions to management problems are examined. The problems and mistakes that occurred in using LANDSAT data in the past are discussed as well as the ways by which these problems were overcome.

Cox, S.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Interactive capabilities: Between unacceptable and unnecessary

A very low cost interactive image analysis computer system suitable for use in education, research, or operational remote sensing applications system should be centered around a high quality image display through which the analyst can use photointerpretation skills to evaluate and alter computer mapping or classification calculations. The definition of acceptable capabilities for such a system must take into account the needs of the image analyst balanced with current state-of-the-art technology and cost. A range of acceptable capabilities is defined based primarily on image analysis requirements, but tempered occassionally by cost and technology constraints. Desirable parameters are also listed.

Egbert, D. D.↗
NASA NTRS1983

MOD-2 wind turbine development

The development of the Mod-2 turbine, designed to achieve a cost of electricity for the 100th production unit that will be competitive with conventional electric power generation is discussed. The Mod-2 wind turbine system (WTS) background, project flow, and a chronology of events and problem areas leading to Mod-2 acceptance are addressed. The role of the participating utility during site preparation, turbine erection and testing, remote operation, and routine operation and maintenance activity is reviewed. The technical areas discussed pertain to system performance, loads, and controls. Research and technical development of multimegawatt turbines is summarized.

Gordon, L. H.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Interchangeable Tools for Remote Manipulators

Report presents concepts and specifications for set of interchangeable end-effector tools used on remotely operated manipulator to work on satellites in orbit. Tools make urgent repairs, do routine maintenance, transfer fluids, construct and assemble satellites, and deploy and retract appendages. With modifications, tool concepts and systematic approach to tool design applicable to such terrestrial uses as industrial robots, manually operated tools, and safety equipment. Report discusses concept for tool-storage system that holds tools securely when not used but kept accessible to manipulator.

Cody, J. C.↗
NASA NTRS1989

Making Internal Molds Of Long, Curved Tubes

Mold material carried to internal weld joint and removed after impression taken. Remotely operated device makes impression mold of interior surface of tube at weld joint. Mold provides indication of extent of mismatch between members at joint. Maneuvered to weld inspected through curved tube 3 in. in diameter by 50 in. long. Readily adapted to making molds to measure depth of corrosion in boiler tubes or other pipes.

Burley, Richard K.↗
NASA NTRS1988

A consideration of the use of optical fibers to remotely couple photometers to telescopes

The possible use of optical fibers to remotely couple photometers to telescopes is considered. Such an application offers the apparent prospect of enhancing photometric stability as a consequence of the benefits of remote operation and decreased sensitivity to image details. A properly designed fiber optic coupler will probably show no significant changes in optical transmisssion due to normal variations in the fiber configuration. It may be more difficult to eliminate configuration-dependent effects on the pupil of the transmitted beam, and thus achieve photometric stability to guiding and seeing errors. In addition, there is some evidence for significant changes in the optical throughputs of fibers over the temperature range normally encountered in astronomical observatories.

Heacox, William D.↗
NASA NTRS1988

High level intelligent control of telerobotics systems

A high level robot command language is proposed for the autonomous mode of an advanced telerobotics system and a predictive display mechanism for the teleoperational model. It is believed that any such system will involve some mixture of these two modes, since, although artificial intelligence can facilitate significant autonomy, a system that can resort to teleoperation will always have the advantage. The high level command language will allow humans to give the robot instructions in a very natural manner. The robot will then analyze these instructions to infer meaning so that is can translate the task into lower level executable primitives. If, however, the robot is unable to perform the task autonomously, it will switch to the teleoperational mode. The time delay between control movement and actual robot movement has always been a problem in teleoperations. The remote operator may not actually see (via a monitor) the results of high actions for several seconds. A computer generated predictive display system is proposed whereby the operator can see a real-time model of the robot's environment and the delayed video picture on the monitor at the same time.

Mckee, James↗
NASA NTRS1989

A long-range laser velocimeter for the National Full-Scale Aerodynamics Complex: New developments and experimental application

A long-range laser velocimeter (LV) developed for remote operation from within the flow fields of the large wind tunnels of the National Full-Scale Aerodynamics Complex is described. Emphasis is placed on recent improvements in optical hardware as well as recent additions to data acquisition and processing techniques. The system has been upgraded from a dual-beam, single-color LV with focal range to 10 m, to a dual-beam, two-color LV with focal range to 20 m. At the new extended measurement range (between 10 and 20 m), signals are photon-resolved, and a photon correlation technique is applied to acquire and process the LV signals. This technique permits recovery of the velocity probability distributions at a particular measurement location from which the mean components of velocity and the corresponding normal stress components of turbulence are obtained. The method used for data reduction is outlined in detail, and a discussion of measurement accuracy is made. To study the performance of the LV and verify the measurement accuracy, laboratory measurements were made in the flow field of a 10 cm-diameter, 30-m/sec axisymmetric jet. A discussion of the requirements and techniques used to seed the flow is made, and boundary-layer surveys of mean velocity and turbulence intensity of the streamwise component and the component normal to the surface are presented.

Reinath, Michael S.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Space telerobotic systems: Applications and concepts

The definition of a variety of assembly, servicing, and maintenance missions has led to the generation of a number of space telerobot concepts. The remote operation of a space telerobot is seen as a means to increase astronaut productivity. Dexterous manipulator arms are controlled from the Space Shuttle Orbiter cabin or a Space Station module. Concepts for the telerobotic work system have been developed by the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center through contracts with the Grumman Aerospace Corporation and Marin Marietta Corporation. These studies defined a concept for a telerobot with extravehicular activity (EVA) astronaut equivalent capability that would be controlled from the Space Shuttle. An evolutionary development of the system is proposed as a means of incorporating technology advances. Early flight testing is seen as needed to address the uncertainties of robotic manipulation in space. Space robotics can be expected to spin off technology to terrestrial robots, particularly in hazardous and unstructured applications.

Jenkins, L.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Tuning and scanning control system for high resolution alexandrite lasers

An alexandrite laser is spectrally narrowed and tuned by the use of three optical elements. Each element provides a successively higher degree of spectral resolution. The digitally controlled tuning and scanning control servo system simultaneously positions all three optical elements to provide continuous high resolution laser spectral tuning. The user may select manual, single, or continuous modes of automated scanning of ranges up to 3.00/cm and at scan rates up to 3.85/cm/min. Scanning over an extended range of up to 9.999/cm may be achieved if the highest resolution optic is removed from the system. The control system is also capable of being remotely operated by another computer or controller via standard RS-232 serial data link.

Smith, James C.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Telescience concept for habitat monitoring and control

The operational environment for life sciences on the Space Station will incorporate telescience, a new set of operational modes for conducting science and operations remotely. This paper presents payload functional requirements for Space Station Life Sciences habitat monitoring and control and describes telescience concepts and technologies which meet these requirements. Special considerations for designing sensors and effectors to accommodate future evolutions in technology are discussed.

Rasmussen, Daryl↗
NASA NTRS1989

Construction of large space power facilities

Construction was an important facet of the Satellite Power System studies in the late 1970s. Satellite servicing and assembly of the Space Station Freedom are addressing many of the critical issues in construction of large space systems. Design for assembly, capability of construction equipment and interaction with the launch system influence configuration development. The extravehicular capabilities of space-suited crew and remote operating systems like the Flight Telerobotic Servicer will provide an operational experience base for development of future large space power facilities. Economics success may well depend on early consideration of construction requirements and capabilities.

Jenkins, Lyle M.↗
NASA NTRS1990

Two-Fault-Tolerant Release Mechanism

Remotely-operated, compact quick-release mechanism still functions in event that one or even two attempts to actuate it fail. Contains three independent pyrotechnic devices. Firing of any one of devices sufficient to actuate mechanism. Three pins hold toggle at its base. Retraction of any one of pins allows toggle head to rotate in spherical bearing to free itself from remaining pin or pins. Besides allowing rotation after retraction, bearing also aligns toggle during assembly.

Graves, Thomas J.↗
NASA NTRS1989

Rod gripper, changer, and storage system

A rod changer and storage design is presented for the lunar deep drill apparatus to be used in conjunction with the Skitter walking platform. The design must take into account all of the lunar environment and working conditions. Some of these are: (1) the moon has one sixth the gravity of earth; (2) temperature gradients can range from about -170 to 265 C; (3) because of the high transportation costs, the design must be as light as possible; and (4) the process must be remotely operated (from earth or satellite) and must be automated. Because of Skitter's multiple degree of freedom movement, the design will utilize Skitter's movement to locate an implement and transport it from the rack to the drill string. The implement will be gripped by a thumb and two finger device, identified through an electronic sensing device on the thumb, and transported from the rack to the footplate and back from the footplate to the rack. The major designs discussed in this report have been broken down into three major areas: (1) gripper design (linear transport mechanism); (2) indexing system; and (3) rack design.

Benson, Mark↗
NASA NTRS1990

University of Maryland walking robot: A design project for undergraduate students

The design and construction required that the walking robot machine be capable of completing a number of tasks including walking in a straight line, turning to change direction, and maneuvering over an obstable such as a set of stairs. The machine consists of two sets of four telescoping legs that alternately support the entire structure. A gear-box and crank-arm assembly is connected to the leg sets to provide the power required for the translational motion of the machine. By retracting all eight legs, the robot comes to rest on a central Bigfoot support. Turning is accomplished by rotating the machine about this support. The machine can be controlled by using either a user operated remote tether or the on-board computer for the execution of control commands. Absolute encoders are attached to all motors (leg, main drive, and Bigfoot) to provide the control computer with information regarding the status of the motors (up-down motion, forward or reverse rotation). Long and short range infrared sensors provide the computer with feedback information regarding the machine's relative position to a series of stripes and reflectors. These infrared sensors simulate how the robot might sense and gain information about the environment of Mars.

Olsen, Bob↗
NASA NTRS1989

Geometric transformations for video compression and human teleoperator display

A method for bandwidth-efficient processing of video imagery to be viewed by the teleoperator of a remotely-operated vehicle on which the camera is mounted is described. The method comprises image coding, transmission, and reconstruction. It is assumed that the transmission bandpass is the limiting factor rather than encoding/decoding schemata; that image coding and reconstruction will be done within the general abilities of the NASA/TI Programmable Remapper; and that the ratio of retained local detail to the operator's visual resolution is held constant throughout the large-field image that is seen. Novel features include that the compression and reconstruction address certain characteristics of the human visual system, that two-way communication controls a moving 'fovea' in the transformation, and that resolution varies over the image. Conventional motivations accommodated include the Cartesian raster-scan nature of available imagers and display devices and a need for low bandwidth in the image transmission. Unique image processing hardware, NASA's Programmable Remapper, allows demonstration of the method. Once refined, the technology could be adapted to special purpose imagers and display devices, or otherwise to dedicated image processing hardware.

Juday, Richard D.↗
NASA NTRS1990

AVHRR monitoring of U.S. crops during the 1988 drought

Effects of the 1988 drought on crops in the U.S. Corn Belt were assessed and monitored by the Foreign Crop Condition Assessment Division (FCCAD), U.S. Department of Agriculture. The primary data were vegetation index numbers (VINs), each of which was calculated as an average vegetation index of a geographically referenced cell of AVHRR pixels. Using VINs, the FCCAD was able to detect the existence of drought early in the season, monitor changing conditions, and provide objective assessments of the drought's extent and severity. Field observations confirmed the image analyses, and underlined the importance of the timing of extreme weather events with respect to crop stages for interpreting VINs. The analyses were conducted in an operational environment, providing a unique test of the AVHRR data for large area, near real-time crop monitoring. Because large area, operational remote sensing of crops is quite different from traditional, controlled, small plot research studies, more work is needed to link the two; this would improve crop assessment capabilities.

Teng, William L.↗
NASA NTRS1990

Propulsion simulation for magnetically suspended wind tunnel models

The feasibility of simulating propulsion-induced aerodynamic effects on scaled aircraft models in wind tunnels employing Magnetic Suspension and Balance Systems. The investigation concerned itself with techniques of generating exhaust jets of appropriate characteristics. The objectives were to: (1) define thrust and mass flow requirements of jets; (2) evaluate techniques for generating propulsive gas within volume limitations imposed by magnetically-suspended models; (3) conduct simple diagnostic experiments for techniques involving new concepts; and (4) recommend experiments for demonstration of propulsion simulation techniques. Various techniques of generating exhaust jets of appropriate characteristics were evaluated on scaled aircraft models in wind tunnels with MSBS. Four concepts of remotely-operated propulsion simulators were examined. Three conceptual designs involving innovative adaptation of convenient technologies (compressed gas cylinders, liquid, and solid propellants) were developed. The fourth innovative concept, namely, the laser-assisted thruster, which can potentially simulate both inlet and exhaust flows, was found to require very high power levels for small thrust levels.

Joshi, Prakash B.↗