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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

A Multi-Tier Autonomous Aerial Architecture for Wildfire Detection, Characterization, and Communication in Infrastructure-Denied Environments

Wildfire response depends on how fast an ignition can be confirmed and located, especially in remote regions where ground-based communication and monitoring may be limited. Geostationary sensors provide frequent observations but at kilometer-scale resolution, which is too coarse to resolve small fires in remote terrain. Ground camera networks require sightlines and infrastructure that back-country areas lack. To address these limitations, this work proposes a Multi-Tier Autonomous Wildfire Intelligence System that combines wide-area monitoring with targeted, high-resolution sensing. A solar-powered high-altitude long endurance (HALE) platform operating at approximately 60,000 ft provides persistent wide-area thermal and optical surveillance, running onboard edge inference to screen candidate ignitions and reduce false positives and downlink bandwidth. When a candidate ignition is detected, low-altitude uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS) can be deployed to conduct localized observations, including high-resolution imaging and atmospheric measurements such as wind and plume observation. By combining persistent detection with local sensing, the proposed architecture is designed to provide first responders with timely, high-resolution information about fire location and behavior to aid in emergency decision making.

Wildfire management, UAS, drones↗

BEAST: Expanding Sustainable Data Infrastructure for High-Enthalpy Facilities

Reproducible, data-driven thermal protection system (TPS) research requires that experimental records from high-enthalpy testing be consistently structured, traceable, and accessible across campaigns and institutions. In practice, however, arcjet and plasma facilities data remain largely fragmented: raw diagnostics are stored in ad hoc formats, material sample histories are disconnected from test conditions, and metadata standards are absent, precluding systematic cross-campaign analysis and long-term reuse. BEAST (Backend for Experiment Analysis, Storage, and Traceability) is an open-source, web-based platform that addresses these limitations by providing a unified, queryable infrastructure for high-enthalpy ground-test data [1]. First presented at the 15th Ablation Workshop [2], BEAST has since undergone significant development. The platform ingests and structures multi-channel time-series diagnostics, facility configurations, and material property records within a common provenance model, ensuring end-to-end traceability from raw sensor acquisition to reduced experimental quantities. A versioned material library links specimen identity and processing history to the specific runs in which each sample was tested. An integrated modeling workbench enables training and evaluation of regression models directly on archived experimental data, supporting condition interpolation and the construction of empirical material response databases. Beyond its original deployment at NASA Ames Research Center, BEAST has been designed to be facility-agnostic, with ongoing efforts to extend its adoption to other facilities. Its modular architecture accommodates heterogeneous diagnostic setups and facility types, and its future open-source distribution allows institutions to build on a common data standard rather than maintaining isolated, bespoke solutions. BEAST is further integrated within a broader ecosystem of companion tools: arcjetCV [3] extracts recession rates and shock standoff distances from high-speed video using computer vision, and miniSTARscan [4] provides sub-minute, portable photogrammetric surface reconstruction of test articles before and after exposure. All tools share a common data schema, enabling seamless ingestion of surface geometry, imagery, and time-series data into a single, coherent experimental record.

Database↗

Neutrino Program at Fermilab - Enhancing Proton Beam Power and Accelerator Infrastructure

The upcoming long baseline neutrino experiments aim to enhance proton beam power to multi-MW scale and utilize large-scale detectors to address the challenge of limited event statistics. The DUNE experiment at LBNF will test the three neutrino flavor paradigm and directly search for CP violation by studying oscillation signatures in the high intensity $\nu_{\mu}$ (anti-$\nu_{\mu}$) beam to $\nu_e$ (anti-$\nu_e$) measured over a long baseline.\par Higher beam power and improved accelerator up-time will enhance neutrino flux for the neutrino program by increasing the number of protons on target. LBNF/DUNE, as well as PIP-II upgrade and Accelerator Complex Evolution (ACE) plan, play a vital role in this effort. The scientific potential of ACE plan extends beyond neutrino physics, encompassing endeavors such as the Muon Collider, Charged Lepton Flavor Violation (CLFV), Dark Sectors, and exploration of neutrinos beyond DUNE. In the era of higher-power accelerator operation, research in target materials and beam instrumentation is crucial for optimizing design modifications. This abstract discusses Fermilab ACE, the science opportunities it provides, and how Fermilab is pushing the limits of proton beam power and accelerator infrastructure. By tackling neutrino beam challenges and exploring research and development ideas, we are advancing our understanding of fundamental particles and their interactions.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Neutrino Program at Fermilab -- Enhancing proton beam power and accelerator infrastructure

The upcoming long baseline neutrino experiments aim to enhance proton beam power to multi-MW scale and utilize large-scale detectors to address the challenge of limited event statistics. The DUNE experiment at LBNF will test the three neutrino flavor paradigm and directly search for CP violation by studying oscillation signatures in the high intensity $\nu_{\mu}$ (anti-$\nu_{\mu}$) beam to $\nu_{e}$ (anti-$\nu_{e}$) measured over a long baseline. Higher beam power and improved accelerator up-time will enhance neutrino flux for the neutrino program by increasing the number of protons on target. LBNF/DUNE, as well as PIP-II upgrade and Accelerator Complex Evolution (ACE) plan, play a vital role in this effort. The scientific potential of ACE plan extends beyond neutrino physics, encompassing endeavors such as the Muon Collider, Charged Lepton Flavor Violation (CLFV), Dark Sectors, and exploration of neutrinos beyond DUNE.\par In the era of higher-power accelerator operation , research in target materials and beam instrumentation is crucial for optimizing design modifications. This abstract discusses Fermilab ACE, the science opportunities it provides, and how Fermilab is pushing the limits of proton beam power and accelerator infrastructure. By tackling neutrino beam challenges and exploring research and development ideas, we are advancing our understanding of fundamental particles and their interactions.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗

Spatiotemporal Automatic Calibration of Infrastructure Lidar, Radar, and Camera with a Global Navigation Satellite System: Preprint

Robust and accurate perception is important for modern intelligent transportation systems (ITS), which use sensors of various modalities for data fusion to create a digital twin of an intersection. Sensor calibration is an important process that creates a unified coordinate frame for the sensor output data so that it can be used for data fusion. Classical approaches for sensor calibration are time-consuming, require an overlapping field of view for feature matching, and are not feasible for ITS application as they cause disruptions in the flow of traffic. In this paper, we present a spatiotemporal automatic calibration approach to calibrate multiple infrastructure lidar, radar, and cameras installed at a traffic intersection. The approach uses global navigation satellite system (GNSS) positioning information shared by connected vehicles, and when the vehicle is detected by the sensor, we match the sensor detections with the GNSS coordinates. The proposed algorithm is evaluated with a real-world dataset utilizing detections from two radars, cameras, and lidars with a test vehicle instrumented with a post-processing kinematic (PPK)-corrected GNSS driving past the sensors installed at a four-way traffic intersection. The experimental results show that the proposed automatic calibration approach can achieve the transformation with a root mean squared error of less than 0.5 for radar and lidar and less than 2 for camera detections. The ability to rapidly calibrate sensors not only benefits initial installations, but can also be used for system health monitoring, while utilizing available connected vehicle data to test the real-time sensor fidelity and operational status.

ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS↗

Empowering Critical Infrastructure Communication with Secure 5G Private Networks

With the transformational New Radio- Unlicensed (NR-U), 5G network can be operated with unlicensed and shared spectrum. Private 5G networks without any licensed bands, which are both highly expensive and usually available to only large commercial wireless providers, can now be used for a whole range of new applications including smart factories, warehouses, connected cars and drones. 5G’s support of a) massive machine type communication (mMTC) for a large number of connected devices with b) ultra-reliable low latency communication (URLLC) capability when needed, and c) up to 20 times higher data rate with enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB) than previously available, enables new and powerful capabilities in a wireless network. While these capabilities are transformational, necessary security and reliability requirements have to be satisfied when used in critical infrastructure such as factories, power plants, water systems, ports, and other industrial facilities. 5G standards have introduced significant security improvement over 4G/LTE as well as mitigations for new attack surfaces created by changes in the 5G network. This talk will discuss these security improvements and whether they meet the security properties required for mission critical communication over wireless.

5G↗

Airships as Transformative Tools for Power Systems Logistics: Addressing Infrastructure Challenges and Enhancing Disaster Resilience

Airships represent a transformative advancement in logistics, particularly for the power systems industry. Their unique ability to transport heavy equipment and personnel efficiently over remote or disaster-stricken areas, while requiring minimal infrastructure, addresses critical gaps left by traditional methods. Combining adaptability with environmental sustainability, airships offer a low-carbon alternative for routine operations and emergency responses. This review presents current developments in airship technology, such as rigid airships designed for large payloads, demonstrate their potential to revolutionize supply chains.

Fuhr, Peter L. [ORNL] (ORCID:0000000211627445)↗

Empowering Scientific Innovation Through An Integrated Research Infrastructure: The Role of the Advanced Computing Ecosystem

As the landscape of computational science evolves, the Department of Energy (DOE) is reimagining the roles of its large-scale computing facilities to meet emerging research challenges. The Integrated Research Infrastructure (IRI) program aims to transform how experiments are designed, conducted, and shared, with significant impacts on all stakeholders. In response, the Oak Ridge Leadership Computing Facility (OLCF) has established the Advanced Computing Ecosystem (ACE), a strategic framework to prepare its hardware, software, and experimental capabilities for the IRI era. ACE focuses on integrating novel compute environments, orchestrating advanced workflows, and developing foundational technologies, ensuring a seamless transition to IRI while accelerating scientific discovery. This paper outlines ACE's role in advancing OLCF's mission and its impact on the future of computational science.

Widener, Patrick↗

Game Strategies for Entanglement Paths in Quantum Network Infrastructure

Entanglement distribution is a core function of quantum networks, and the paths used for this purpose are composed of quantum and conventional network components and are routed through physical facility sites. A game theoretic model is formulated for the defense of entanglement paths in a quantum network infrastructure by modeling the correlations and probabilities of reinforcement and failure of its components. A sum-form utility function is used to capture the cost-benefit trade-offs in reinforcing the entanglement path components to defend against their failures and attacks. Under Nash Equilibrium criteria, estimates of survival probabilities of entanglement paths are derived using the parameters and correlations of quantum, conventional, hybrid, and facility components. They provide insights into the dependencies of entanglement paths on its components, including cross-boundary effects of conventional, quantum, and facility components.

Rao, Nageswara [ORNL] (ORCID:0000000234085941)↗

Sequence-Based Anomaly Detection in Critical Infrastructure Networks

United States critical infrastructure faces new cyber threats from adversarial nation-state actors in the form of malware-free attacks. Traditional cybersecurity techniques use rules-based methods to identify indicators of compromise on networks, often missing these sophisticated attacks. Our approach leverages multiple state of the art machine learning models in a pipeline to identify abnormal network events through sequential analysis. We combine both device and packet-level information into individual events to characterize anomalous network actions. The model is trained and tested on real network traffic from the Idaho National Lab High Performance Computing (HPC) with greater than 98% precision. It is capable of flagging malicious tactics used by adversaries in malware-free attacks, severe changes to the network, and abnormal user activity by network devices.

99 - GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS↗

Navigating Common Electric Vehicle and Charging Infrastructure Concerns

Increasing knowledge about electric vehicles (EVs) can increase Tribal member comfort level with the technology, leading to increased EV adoption. This fact sheet lists common EV and charging infrastructure concerns and provides information to help address these hurdles during engagement with Tribal communities.

33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS↗

Evaluating hydrogen permeation through medium-density and high-density polyethylene pipes to enable a hydrogen-compatible infrastructure

As the United States and the global community pursue energy abundance and resilience, hydrogen is becoming a critical energy carrier. The future of hydrogen transport depends on one thing: verifying that today’s pipelines are hydrogen ready. This study investigates the permeation behavior of medium-density polyethylene (MDPE) and high-density polyethylene (HDPE) pipelines under pure hydrogen gas environment at various pressures and temperatures. Using thermal desorption analysis (TDA) and direct pipe permeability measurements, hydrogen loss rates are quantified, revealing minimal permeation losses (< 10.5 g/km/day) under realistic operating conditions. Effects of temperature and pressure with Standard Dimension Ratios (SDR), were evaluated to determine their influence on permeation rates of MDPE and HDPE pipelines. In addition, ex-situ density and degree of crystallinity (DOC) of MDPE and HDPEs after hydrogen exposure were also investigated to understand pressure-dependency of polymer properties. The findings provide essential data for assessing polymer-based pipeline materials for safe and reliable hydrogen transport.

08 HYDROGEN↗

Colorado Alternatively Powered Aircraft Airport Infrastructure Study

Advanced Air Mobility encompasses emerging technologies in propulsion of general aviation and commuter aircraft for the purpose of moving passengers and goods. The State of Colorado has a strong aerospace and aviation legacy, and this research explores the potential energy implications of a transition from traditional aircraft propulsion systems to more-electric, full electric and hydrogen powered aircraft in flight schools, and small community air service utilizing NASA's Regional Air Mobility Model. Effort includes identifying potential energy needs and cost-effective solutions to support those emerging needs analyzing potential benefits on on-site generation and storage to optimize energy systems.Advanced Air Mobility encompasses emerging technologies in propulsion of general aviation and commuter aircraft for the purpose of moving passengers and goods. The State of Colorado has a strong aerospace and aviation legacy, and this research explores the potential energy implications of a transition from traditional aircraft propulsion systems to more-electric, full electric and hydrogen powered aircraft in flight schools, and small community air service utilizing NASA's Regional Air Mobility Model. Effort includes identifying potential energy needs and cost-effective solutions to support those emerging needs analyzing potential benefits on on-site generation and storage to optimize energy systems.

33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS↗

Hydrogen Infrastructure Analysis Frameworks for Aviation Applications

While aircraft account for less than 10% of United States (U.S.) transportation energy consumption, it is the only mode expected to see sustained growth in energy demand through 2050. Currently, commercially available aircraft rely heavily on either jet fuel or leaded aviation gasoline. Over the past few decades, concerns have grown over the contributing effects that greenhouse gases, which are produced from fossil fuels, have on the environment.

08 HYDROGEN↗