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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 451 records · Page 25
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1987

Sensor-based diagnosis using knowledge of structure and function

A system for fault detection and isolation called LES, developed at the Kennedy Space Center for the Space Shuttle's Launch Processing System, is a well-developed diagnostic system that is simultaneously model-based and sensor-based. This experiment has led to a surprising result: the failure of a sensor can not only be handled in precisely the same way as the failure of any other object, but may present an especially easy case. Classical rule-based diagnostic systems need to find out whether or not their sensors are telling them the truth before they can safely draw inferences from them. By contrast, while LES does treat sensors as a special case, it does so only because there may exist a short cut that allows them to be handled more simply than other objects. LES uses both structural and functional knowledge, and has found cases in which the structural knowledge can be economically replaced by the judicious use of functional relationships; LES' functional relationships are stored in exactly one place, so they must be inverted to determine hypothetical values for possibly faulty objects. The inversion process has been extended to include conditional functions not normally considered to have inverses.

Scarl, Ethan A.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Constructing a working taxonomy of functional Ada software components for real-time embedded system applications

A major impediment to a systematic attack on Ada software reusability is the lack of an effective taxonomy for software component functions. The scope of all possible applications of Ada software is considered too great to allow the practical development of a working taxonomy. Instead, for the purposes herein, the scope of Ada software application is limited to device and subsystem control in real-time embedded systems. A functional approach is taken in constructing the taxonomy tree for identified Ada domain. The use of modular software functions as a starting point fits well with the object oriented programming philosophy of Ada. Examples of the types of functions represented within the working taxonomy are real time kernels, interrupt service routines, synchronization and message passing, data conversion, digital filtering and signal conditioning, and device control. The constructed taxonomy is proposed as a framework from which a need analysis can be performed to reveal voids in current Ada real-time embedded programming efforts for Space Station.

Wallace, Robert↗
NASA NTRS1988

The discrete correlation function: A new method for analyzing unevenly sampled variability data

A method of measuring correlation functions without interpolating in the temporal domain, the discrete correlation function, is introduced. It provides an assumption-free representation of the correlation measured in the data, and allows meaningful error estimates. This method does not produce spurious correlations at zero lag due to correlated errors. It is shown that physical interpretation of active galactic nuclei cross-correlation functions requires knowledge of the input function's fluctuation power spectrum, involves model-dependence in the form of symmetry assumptions, and must take into account intrinsic scale bias. This technique was used to find a correlation in published IUE data for NGC 4151, which indicates that the broad C IV feature emanates from a shell 15 to 75 light-days in radius, assuming spherical symmetry.

Edelson, R. A.↗
NASA NTRS1988

On the efficient calculation of the incomplete Airy function with application to edge diffraction

When the geometrical theory of diffraction (GTD) and its extensions are used to calculate fields across transition regions or in focal areas, various special functions are necessary to create uniform representations. One such transition function is the incomplete Airy function, which is applicable when two reflection points are arbitrarily close to each other and the endpoint of the domain considered. An efficient calculation of the incomplete Airy function is presented and shown to equal known asymptotic expansions when its argument is away from the critical point. By using these expansions, uniform field expressions are found which are consistent with the GTD and maintain its computational efficiency.

Cwik, Tom↗
NASA NTRS1989

Probability function of breaking-limited surface elevation

The effect of wave breaking on the probability function of surface elevation is examined. The surface elevation limited by wave breaking zeta sub b(t) is first related to the original wave elevation zeta(t) and its second derivative. An approximate, second-order, nonlinear, non-Gaussian model for zeta(t) of arbitrary but moderate bandwidth is presented, and an expression for the probability density function zeta sub b(t) is derived. The results show clearly that the effect of wave breaking on the probability density function of surface elevation is to introduce a secondary hump on the positive side of the probability density function, a phenomenon also observed in wind wave tank experiments.

Tung, C. C.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Functional component approach to telemetry data capture systems

A functional component approach to telemetry data capture systems is under development at the Mission Operations and Data Systems Directorate at the Goddard Space Flight Center which could support telemetry system needs in the next decade. The objective is to develop a library of functional modules which perform common telemetry functions. Some common telemetry data capture functions are NASA communications block processing, frame synchronization, Reed/Solomon decoding, packet processing, and virtual channel sorting/multiplexing.

Sabia, Steve↗
NASA NTRS1988

Function minimization with partially correct data via simulated annealing

The simulated annealing technique has been applied successfully to the problem of estimating the coefficients of a function in cases where only a portion of the data being fitted to the function is truly representative of the function, the rest being erroneous. Two examples are given, one in photometric function fitting and the other in pattern recognition. A schematic of the algorithm is provided.

Lorre, Jean J.↗
NASA NTRS1989

Distribution function of continuously created newborn and pickup ions in outer cometary exospheres

The time evolution of the distribution function of newborn ions in the solar wind is investigated using a quasi-linear-type diffusion equation. The initial distribution is taken to be a ring beam, which is approximated by delta function in pitch angle and velocity, and it is assumed that the ions are created at a constant rate with a similar distribution. A long-time asymptotic form of ion distribution is obtained, which is a mixture of newborn ions and ions generated throughout the entire process. It is shown that the time asymptotic distribution function exists even in the presence of a continuous ionization process. The stability of the long-time asymptotic distribution was examined for the case of parallel propagation, and the results show that the distribution function can be unstable to low-frequency hydromagnetic waves. The results of the analysis were found to agree with recent satellite observations.

Gaffey, J. D., Jr.↗
NASA NTRS1989

The luminosity function for the CfA redshift survey slices

The luminosity function for two complete slices of the extension of the CfA redshift survey is calculated. The nonparametric technique of Lynden-Bell (1971) and Turner (1979) is used to determine the shape for the luminosity function of the 12 deg slice of the redshift survey. The amplitude of the luminosity function is determined, taking large-scale inhomogeneities into account. The effects of the Malmquist bias on a magnitude-limited redshift survey are examined, showing that the random errors in the magnitudes for the 12 deg slice affect both the determination of the luminosity function and the spatial density constrast of large scale structures.

De Lapparent, Valerie↗
NASA NTRS1989

The flight telerobotic servicer: From functional architecture to computer architecture

After a brief tutorial on the NASA/National Bureau of Standards Standard Reference Model for Telerobot Control System Architecture (NASREM) functional architecture, the approach to its implementation is shown. First, interfaces must be defined which are capable of supporting the known algorithms. This is illustrated by considering the interfaces required for the SERVO level of the NASREM functional architecture. After interface definition, the specific computer architecture for the implementation must be determined. This choice is obviously technology dependent. An example illustrating one possible mapping of the NASREM functional architecture to a particular set of computers which implements it is shown. The result of choosing the NASREM functional architecture is that it provides a technology independent paradigm which can be mapped into a technology dependent implementation capable of evolving with technology in the laboratory and in space.

Lumia, Ronald↗
NASA NTRS1989

Speech versus manual control of camera functions during a telerobotic task

Voice input for control of camera functions was investigated in this study. Objective were to (1) assess the feasibility of a voice-commanded camera control system, and (2) identify factors that differ between voice and manual control of camera functions. Subjects participated in a remote manipulation task that required extensive camera-aided viewing. Each subject was exposed to two conditions, voice and manual input, with a counterbalanced administration order. Voice input was found to be significantly slower than manual input for this task. However, in terms of remote manipulator performance errors and subject preference, there was no difference between modalities. Voice control of continuous camera functions is not recommended. It is believed that the use of voice input for discrete functions, such as multiplexing or camera switching, could aid performance. Hybrid mixes of voice and manual input may provide the best use of both modalities. This report contributes to a better understanding of the issues that affect the design of an efficient human/telerobot interface.

Bierschwale, John M.↗
NASA NTRS1990

The white dwarf luminosity function - A possible probe of the galactic halo

The dynamically inferred dark halo mass density, amounting to above 0.01 solar masses/cu pc at the sun's Galactocentric radius, can be composed of faint white dwarfs provided that the halo formed in a sufficiently early burst of star formation. The model is constrained by the observed disk white dwarf luminosity function which falls off below log (L/solar L) = -4.4, due to the onset of star formation in the disk. By using a narrow range for the initial mass function and an exponentially decaying halo star formation rate with an e-folding time equal to the free-fall time, all the halo dark matter is allowed to be in cool white dwarfs which lie beyond the falloff in the disk luminosity function. Although it is unlikely that all the dark matter is in these dim white dwarfs, a definite signature in the low-luminosity end of the white dwarf luminosity function is predicted even if they comprise only 1 percent of the dark matter. Current CCD surveys should answer the question of the existence of this population within the next few years.

Tamanaha, Christopher M.↗
NASA NTRS1990

The ratio of molecular to atomic gas in spiral galaxies as a function of morphological type

In order to gain an understanding of the global processes which influence cloud and star formation in disk galaxies, it is necessary to determine the relative amounts of atomic, molecular, and ionized gas both as a function of position in galaxies and from galaxy to galaxy. With observations of the CO distributions in over 200 galaxies now completed as part of the Five College Radio Astronomy Observatory (FCRAO) Extragalactic CO Survey (Young et al. 1989), researchers are finally in a position to determine the type dependence of the molecular content of spiral galaxies, along with the ratio of molecular to atomic gas as a function of type. Do late type spirals really have more gas than early types when the molecular gas content is included. Researchers conclude that there is more than an order of magnitude decrease in the ratio of molecular to atomic gas mass as a function of morphological type from Sa-Sd; an average Sa galaxy has more molecular than atomic gas, and an average Sc has less. Therefore, the total interstellar gas mass to blue luminosity ratio, M sub gas/L sub B, increases by less than a factor of two as a function of type from Sa-Sd. The dominant effect found is that the phase of the gas in the cool interstellar medium (ISM) varies along the Hubble sequence. Researchers suggest that the more massive and centrally concentrated galaxies are able to achieve a molecular-dominated ISM through the collection of more gas in the potential. That gas may then form molecular clouds when a critical density is exceeded. The picture which these observations support is one in which the conversion of atomic gas to molecular gas is a global process which depends on large scale dynamics (cf Wyse 1986). Among interacting and merging systems, researchers find considerable scatter in the M(H2)/M(HI) ratio, with the mean ratio similar to that in the early type galaxies. The high global ratio of molecular to atomic gas could result from the removal of HI gas, the enhanced conversion of HI into H2, or both.

Knezek, Patricia M.↗
NASA NTRS1990

Neural computation of arithmetic functions

An area of application of neural networks is considered. A neuron is modeled as a linear threshold gate, and the network architecture considered is the layered feedforward network. It is shown how common arithmetic functions such as multiplication and sorting can be efficiently computed in a shallow neural network. Some known results are improved by showing that the product of two n-bit numbers and sorting of n n-bit numbers can be computed by a polynomial-size neural network using only four and five unit delays, respectively. Moreover, the weights of each threshold element in the neural networks require O(log n)-bit (instead of n-bit) accuracy. These results can be extended to more complicated functions such as multiple products, division, rational functions, and approximation of analytic functions.

Siu, Kai-Yeung↗
NASA NTRS1991

Computer program for Bessel and Hankel functions

A set of FORTRAN subroutines for calculating Bessel and Hankel functions is presented. The routines calculate Bessel and Hankel functions of the first and second kinds, as well as their derivatives, for wide ranges of integer order and real or complex argument in single or double precision. Depending on the order and argument, one of three evaluation methods is used: the power series definition, an Airy function expansion, or an asymptotic expansion. Routines to calculate Airy functions and their derivatives are also included.

Kreider, Kevin L.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Numerical evaluation of the incomplete airy functions and their application to high frequency scattering and diffraction

The incomplete Airy integrals serve as canonical functions for the uniform ray optical solutions to several high frequency scattering and diffraction problems that involve a class of integrals characterized by two stationary points that are arbitrarily close to one another or to an integration endpoint. Integrals of such analytical properties describe transition region phenomena associated with composite shadow boundaries. An efficient and accurate method for computing the incomplete Airy functions would make the solutions to such problems useful for engineering purposes. Here, a convergent series solution form for the incomplete Airy functions is derived. Asymptotic expansions involving several terms were also developed and serve as large argument approximations. The combination of the series solution form with the asymptotic formulae provides for an efficient and accurate computation of the incomplete Airy functions. Validation of accuracy is accomplished using direct numerical integration data.

Constantinides, E. D.↗
NASA NTRS1990

On a cost functional for H2/H(infinity) minimization

A cost functional is proposed and investigated which is motivated by minimizing the energy in a structure using only collocated feedback. Defined for an H(infinity)-norm bounded system, this cost functional also overbounds the H2 cost. Some properties of this cost functional are given, and preliminary results on the procedure for minimizing it are presented. The frequency domain cost functional is shown to have a time domain representation in terms of a Stackelberg non-zero sum differential game.

Macmartin, Douglas G.↗
NASA NTRS1991

The three-point correlation function for Abell clusters - Observations and simulations

Results are reported of a 3D study tracing the three-point correlation function of Abell clusters and of a comparison of this with the biased cold dark matter (CDM) simulations of Park (1990). For the observations, the maximum likelihood fits are Z11 = 0.85 and Q111 = 0.1, in excellent agreement with the result of the 2D study of Toth et al. (1989). For Park's simulation, maximum likelihood fits of Q11 = 0.9 and Q111 = 0.0 are found, which is in excellent agreement with the observational result. It is concluded that the standard biased CDM gravitational instability model reproduces the observed form of the three-point correlation functions for Abell clusters remarkably well. The number of triples as a function of the sides of triangles for Abell clusters, and the number of triples as a function of the sides of triangles for clusters in Park's simulation are illustrated on graphs.

Gott, J. R., III↗