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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 415 records · Page 23

A hybrid FPGA/Tilera compute element for autonomous hazard detection and navigation

To increase safety for future missions landing on other planetary or lunar bodies, the Autonomous Landing and Hazard Avoidance Technology (ALHAT) program is developing an integrated sensor for autonomous surface analysis and hazard determination. The ALHAT Hazard Detection System (HDS) consists of a Flash LIDAR for measuring the topography of the landing site, a gimbal to scan across the terrain, and an Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU), along with terrain analysis algorithms to identify the landing site and the local hazards. An FPGA and Manycore processor system was developed to interface all the devices in the HDS, to provide high-resolution timing to accurately measure system state, and to run the surface analysis algorithms quickly and efficiently. In this paper, we will describe how we integrated COTS components such as an FPGA evaluation board, a TILExpress64, and multi-threaded/multi-core aware software to build the HDS Compute Element (HDSCE). The ALHAT program is also working with the NASA Morpheus Project and has integrated the HDS as a sensor on the Morpheus Lander. This paper will also describe how the HDS is integrated with the Morpheus lander and the results of the initial test flights with the HDS installed. We will also describe future improvements to the HDSCE.

Trawny, Nikolas↗

A Predictive Bubble Point Pressure Model for Porous Liquid Acquisition Device Screens

This article presents a simplified model for porous screen channel liquid acquisition devices based on a maximum bubble point pressure method from Adamson and Gast (1997). To validate the model, three 304 stainless steel (325 × 2300, 450 × 2750, and 510 × 3600) mesh samples were tested in methanol, acetone, isopropyl alcohol, and water. Screen pores are estimated based on analysis from scanning electron microscopy, historical data, and current test data. Results show that the bubble point pressure is proportional to the surface tension of the fluid only when accounting for nonzero contact angles. The previous assumption that bubble point pressure scales inversely with effective pore diameter is shown to be invalid, as the second finest 450 × 2750 produced the highest bubble point of the three screens. The simplified bubble point model can be used to make predictions for any pure fluid when pore diameters are based on bubble point tests and not SEM analysis.

Liquid Acquisition Device↗

Electromagnetic radiation screening of semiconductor devices for long life applications

A review is presented of the mechanism of interaction of electromagnetic radiation in various spectral ranges, with various semiconductor device defects. Previous work conducted in this area was analyzed as to its pertinence to the current problem. The task was studied of implementing electromagnetic screening methods in the wavelength region determined to be most effective. Both scanning and flooding type stimulation techniques are discussed. While the scanning technique offers a considerably higher yield of useful information, a preliminary investigation utilizing the flooding approach is first recommended because of the ease of implementation, lower cost and ability to provide go-no-go information in semiconductor screening.

Hall, T. C.↗

Method of and device for determining the characteristics and flux distribution of micrometeorites

A micrometeorite impact sensing method of and device for determining the characteristics and flux distribution of micrometeorites are discussed. The method consists of exposing to the micrometeorite environment, a panel of sheet material of a thickness to be punctured by impacting micrometeorites and then scanning the panel with a scanner which produces an output representing the number and size of the puncture holes in the panel. After, exposure, the panel is scanned for puncture holes by illuminating one side of the panel and retracting the panel into its stowage container past a photoelectric scanner which produces an output representing the incident light.

Meissinger, H. F.↗

An advanced programmable/reconfigurable color graphics display system for crew station technology research

The hardware configuration, software organization, and applications software for the NASA IKONAS color graphics display system are described. The systems were created at the Langley Research Center Display Device Laboratory to develop, evaluate, and demonstrate advanced generic concepts, technology, and systems integration techniques for electronic crew station systems of future civil aircraft. A minicomputer with 64K core memory acts as a host for a raster scan graphics display generator. The architectures of the hardware system and the graphics display system are provided. The applications software features a FORTRAN-based model of an aircraft, a display system, and the utility program for real-time communications. The model accepts inputs from a two-dimensional joystick and outputs a set of aircraft states. Ongoing and planned work for image segmentation/generation, specialized graphics procedures, and higher level language user interface are discussed.

Montoya, R. J.↗

Time effect of erosion by solid particle impingement on ductile materials

Erosion and morphological studies of several metals and alloys eroded by normal impingement jets of spherical glass beads and angular crushed-glass erodent particles were conducted. Erosion morphology (the width, depth, and width-depth ratio of the pit) was studied in order to fully investigate the effect of time on erosion rate. The eroded surfaces were studied with a scanning electron microscope, and surface profiles were measured with a profilometer. A large amount of experimental data reported in the literature was also analyzed in order to understand the effect of variables such as the type of device, the erodent particle size and shape, the impact velocity, and the abrasive charge on erosion-rate-versus-time curves. In the present experiments the pit-width-versus-time or pit-depth-versus-time curves were similar to erosion-versus-time curves for glass-bead impingement. The pit-depth-rate-versus-time curves were similar to erosion-rate-versus-time curves for crushed-glass impingement. Analysis of experimental data with two forms of glass resulted in four types of erosion-rate-versus-time curves: (1) incubation, acceleration, and steady-state periods (type I), (2) incubation, acceleration, deceleration, and steady-state periods (type III), (3) incubation, acceleration, peak rate, and deceleration periods (type IV), and (4) incubation, acceleration, steady-state, and deceleration periods (type V).

Rao, P. V.↗

Laser beam steering device

Agile beam steering is a critical requirement for airborne and space based LIDAR and optical communication systems. Design and test results are presented for a compact beam steering device with low inertia which functions by dithering two complementary (positive and negative) binary optic microlens arrays relative to each other in directions orthogonal to the direction of light propagation. The miniaturized system has been demonstrated at scan frequencies as high as 300 Hz, generating a 13 x 13 spot array with a total field of view of 2.4 degrees. The design is readily extendable to a 9.5 degree field of view and a 52 x 52 scan pattern. The system is compact - less than 2 in. on a side. Further size reductions are anticipated.

Motamedi, M. E.↗

Investigation of optical/infrared sensor techniques for application satellites

A method of scanning an optical sensor array by acoustic surface waves is discussed. Data cover detailed computer based analysis of the operation of a multielement acoustic surface-wave-scanned optical sensor, the development of design and operation techniques that were used to show the feasibility of an integrated array to design several such arrays, and experimental verification of a number of the calculations with discrete sensor devices.

Kaufman, I.↗

Energy-selective SESD imaging utilizing a CMA

A particularly simple conversion of a scanning Auger system for ESD ion energy distributions and scanning ESD has been developed. This approach combines the advantages of the small spot-size electron guns and mapping systems developed for SAM with the capability of ESD for the detection of hydrogen. Our intended use for the device is detection and mapping of surface concentrations of hydrogen on metals. The characteristics of SESD are illustrated with the preliminary results of an investigation into the ESD properties of hydrogenic adsorbates on Nb. It is shown that the ESDIED exhibit distinct differences indicative of the surface preparation, and that the ESD ion angular distributions have an effect on the observed contrast relationships in SESD.

Larson, L. A.↗

Skylab and its solar astronomy experiments.

The functional characteristics of the Skylab are considered together with general information concerning the spacecraft and its equipment. The Skylab solar instruments are examined, giving attention to two H-alpha telescopes, a white light coronograph, X-ray spectrographic telescopes, a UV scanning polychromator/spectroheliometer, a dual X-ray telescope, an XUV spectrograph/spectroheliograph, and instruments of X-ray/UV solar photography. The Skylab solar observing programs are discussed along with aspects of astronaut training and details regarding the control and display devices of the spacecraft.

Schneider, W. C.↗

Validation of CERES/TERRA Data

There are 2 CERES scanning radiometer instruments aboard the TERRA spacecraft, one for mapping the solar radiation reflected from the Earth and the outgoing longwave radiation and the other for measuring the anisotropy of the radiation. Each CERES instrument has on-board calibration devices, which have demonstrated that from ground to orbit the broadband total and shortwave sensor responses maintained their ties to the International Temperature Scale of 1990 at precisions approaching radiances have been validated in orbit to +/- 0.3 % (0.3 W/sq m sr). Top of atmosphere fluxes are produced by use of the CERES data alone. By including data from other instruments, surface radiation fluxes and radiant fluxes within the atmosphere and at its top, shortwave and longwave, for both up and down components, are derived. Validation of these data products requires ground and aircraft measurements of fluxes and of cloud properties.

Barkstrom, Bruce R.↗

Plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition of multiwalled carbon nanofibers

Plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition is used to grow vertically aligned multiwalled carbon nanofibers (MWNFs). The graphite basal planes in these nanofibers are not parallel as in nanotubes; instead they exhibit a small angle resembling a stacked cone arrangement. A parametric study with varying process parameters such as growth temperature, feedstock composition, and substrate power has been conducted, and these parameters are found to influence the growth rate, diameter, and morphology. The well-aligned MWNFs are suitable for fabricating electrode systems in sensor and device development.

Nanotechnology/instrumentation/methods↗

Event Recorder Scans 2,048 Channels

Up to 16 input signals feed each of up to 128 input circuit cards. Single input circuit card contains optical isolators with input-diode lamping, RC filters, Schmitt-trigger input buffers, and 16-to-1 multiplexer. Input circuit cards feed logic, memory, and input/output circuits, which are standard, off-the-shelf devices. Instrument records sequence and time of events and could be useful in monitoring operation of manufacturing machinery and furnishing information useful in diagnosis of machinery malfunctions.

Slusser, K. J.↗

Seeding requirements for scanning laser velocimetry

To measure the velocity distributions within time dependent turbulent flow fields, a continuously scanning laser velocimeter system is being developed at Sandia National Laboratories Livermore (SNLL). A prototype of this system has produced results which show that spatial and temporal variations in particle seed distribution seriously compromise the overall performance and operation of this device. To alleviate some of these problems, alternate flow seeding concepts are explored. The most promising appear to be those that actively induce laser sparks within the gas flow, the velocity of which may be measured by a Fourier transformed velocimetry system.

Hackett, C. E.↗

Emperor's new clothes: Novel textile-based supercapacitors using sheep wool fiber as electrode substrate

Textile-based supercapacitors (TSCs) are being used to meet the ever-increasing demand for mobile, safe, and convenient energy sources to power personal electronic devices. To that end, the smart textiles used in wearable technology need to be made from highly conductive yarns that are easily manufacturable. To date, synthetic- and cellulosic-based yarns have been exclusively used for the fabrication of TSCs, while other yarns have not been explored. Here, we used conductive protein-based yarns for TSCs and report on the use of wool coated with Ti 3 C 2 T x MXene as a potential electrode material. To knit TSCs, wool and cotton yarns were coated with MXene flakes and their surfaces were characterized using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and X-Ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS). The electrochemical characterization was conducted to examine the performance of wool- and cotton-based MXene electrodes as substrates and determine charge storage and resistive behavior. These tests showed that wool TSCs exhibited more pseudocapacitive behavior, while cotton TSCs exhibited a wider current range. At a scan rate of 5 mV/s, cotton TSCs presented an areal capacitance of 823.9 mF/cm 2 while this value for the wool TSCs was 284 mF/cm 2 . The performance of yarns was also tested under various mechanical deformation conditions and after washing in order to assess the stability of TSCs. This study indicates the potential of protein-based yarns as electrode substrates for integration of MXene to fabricate smart textile-based devices.

Alyssa Grube↗

The extraction of accurate coordinates of images on photographic plates by means of a scanning type measuring machine

The Moire method experimental stress analysis is similar to a problem encountered in astrometry. It is necessary to extract accurate coordinates from images on photographic plates. The solution to the mutual problem found applicable to the field of experimental stress analysis is presented to outline the measurement problem. A discussion of the photo-reading device developed to make the measurements follows.

Ross, B. E.↗

Log-Output Signal Processor Scans Eight Decades

Processor has automatic range switching and continuous readout over eight decades. Comparator output switches logarithmic converter to detector of interest and enables blinder grid to protect more-sensitive detector when operating in high-input range. Could be used to process any wide-varying signal that is to be read on a limited-range recording device such as a strip-chart recorder.

Hayden, J. L.↗

Evaluation of Data Retention and Imprint Characteristics of FRAMs Under Environmental Stresses for NASA Applications

A major reliability issue for all advanced nonvolatile memory (NVM) technology devices including FRAMs is the data retention characteristics over extended period of time, under environmental stresses and exposure to total ionizing dose (TID) radiation effects. For this testing, 256 Kb FRAMs in 28-pin plastic DIPS, rated for industrial grade temperature range of -40 C to +85 C, were procured. These are two-transistor, two-capacitor (2T-2C) design FRAMs. In addition to data retention characteristics, the parts were also evaluated for imprint failures, which are defined as the failure of cells to change from a "preferred" state, where it has been for a significant period of time to an opposite state (e.g., from 1 to 0, or 0 to 1). These 256 K FRAMs were subjected to scanning acoustic microscopy (C-SAM); 1,000 temperature cycles from -65 C to +150 C; high temperature aging at 150 C, 175 C, and 200 C for 1,000 hours; highly accelerated stress test (HAST) for 500 hours; 1,000 hours of operational life test at 125 C; and total ionizing dose radiation testing. As a preconditioning, 10 K read/write cycles were performed on all devices. Interim electrical measurements were performed throughout this characterization, including special imprint testing and final electrical testing. Some failures were observed during high temperature aging test at 200 C, during HAST testing, and during 1,000 hours of operational life at 125 C. The parts passed 10 Krad exposure, but began showing power supply current increases during the dose increment from 10 Krad to 30 Krad, and at 40 Krad severe data retention and parametric failures were observed. Failures from various environmental group testing are currently being analyzed.

Sharma, Asbok K.↗