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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 NTRS1995

Sensor Fusion in Telerobotic Task Controls

Model-based telerobotic task control and automation is typically limited to motion control of robot arms in free space, and contact events under predictable conditions. A display and control method- ology is described for combining different multidimensional sensor data to guide the performance of telerobotic contact or near-contact tasks successfully in manual or supervised automatic modes of control.

telerobotics robotic task controllers sensor fusio↗
NASA NTRS2015

Tool-Enabled Changes in Terminal Air Traffic Controller Task and Workload Distribution

A human-in-the-loop simulation was conducted that examined an approach to adjusting airport arrivals in such a way as to enable higher departure throughput while maintaining arrival throughput. This approach, referred to as Departure-Sensitive Arrival Spacing (DSAS), leverages the capabilities of the Terminal Sequencing and Spacing (TSS) system with an additional Decision Support Tool (DST) to assign more precise arrival spacing interval. This presentation will focus on the changes observed in the task distribution and control strategies among three Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON) controller participants and the workload associated with those changes across three conditions: Baseline, TSS, and DSAS. Results showed that the application of the DSTs in the TSS condition and those in the DSAS condition enabled a progressive reduction in the number of clearances issued and for the clearances to be issued earlier, further away from the airport. In doing so, there was also a greater use of speed control versus vectoring and altitude for schedule conformance in the TSS and DSAS conditions respectively and relative to Baseline. Workload also shifted in conjunction with the clearance distribution with an overall reduction across conditions. The changes in task and workload distribution enabled a shift from tactical to strategic control, which allowed for a more predictable and efficient delivery of arrivals.

task↗
NASA NTRS2025

Trade Space Analyses: Balancing Crew and Mission Design Parameters-Candidate Mars Master Task List

In 2020, the Associate Administrator for Human Exploration and Operations and the Agency’s Federated Board requested an assessment to develop a methodology for trade space analysis comparing crew size for Mars missions against mission design parameters. The NASA Engineering and Safety Center (NESC) conducted an assessment to develop a methodology for systematic, repeatable trade space analysis for crew size and developed an initial set of human performance models and a list of candidate crew tasks for NASA’s first mission to Mars. This report contains list of candidate crew tasks for Mars.

Crew Duties and Tasks↗
NASA NTRS1969

A model for task interference

Task interference model for interference among two or more continuous manual control tasks, suggesting metric for pilot mental work load

Levison, W. H.↗
NASA NTRS1971

Motion effects on an IFR hovering task: Analytical predictions and experimental results

An analytical pilot model incorporating the effects of motion cues and display scanning and sampling is tested by comparing predictions against experimental results on a moving base simulator. The simulated task is that of precision hovering of a VTOL having varying amounts of rate damping, and using separated instrument displays. Motion cue effects are investigated by running the experiment under fixed and moving base conditions, the latter in two modes; full motion, and angular motion only. Display scanning behavior is measured on some of the runs. The results of the program show that performance is best with angular motion only, most probably because a g-vector tilt cue is available to the pilot in this motion condition. This provides an attitude indication even when not visually fixating the attitude display. Vestibular threshold effects are also present in the results because of the display scaling used to permit hovering position control within the motion simulator limits; no washouts are used in the simulator drive signals. The IFR nature of the task results in large decrements in pilot opinion and performance relative to VFR conditions because of the scanning workload. Measurements of scanning behavior are sensitive to motion conditions and show more attention to attitude control under fixed base conditions.

Ringland, R. F.↗
NASA NTRS1972

Development of flight experiment task requirements. Volume 2: Technical Report. Part 1: Program report and Appendices A-G

Activities are documented of the study to determine skills required of on-orbit crew personnel of the space shuttle. The material is presented in four sections that include: (1) methodology for identifying flight experiment task-skill requirements, (2) task-skill analysis of selected flight experiments, (3) study results and conclusions, and (4) new technology.

Hatterick, G. R.↗
NASA NTRS1972

Human strength simulations for one and two-handed tasks in zero gravity

A description is given of a three dimensional hand force capability model for the seated operator and a biomechanical model for analysis of symmetric sagittal plane activities. The models are used to simulate and study human strengths for one and two handed tasks in zero gravity. Specific conditions considered include: (1) one hand active, (2) both hands active but with different force directions on each, (3) body bracing situations provided by portable foot restraint when standing and lap belt when seated, (4) static or slow movement tasks with maximum length of 4 seconds and a minimum rest of 5 minutes between exertions, and (5) wide range of hand positions relative to either the feet or bisection of a line connecting the hip centers. Simulations were also made for shirt sleeved individuals and for the male population strengths with anthropometry matching that of astronauts.

Source record↗
NASA NTRS1972

A pilot's opinion - VTOL control design requirements for the instrument approach task.

This paper presents pilot opinion supported by test data concerning flight control and display concepts and control system design requirements for VTOL aircraft in the instrument approach task. Material presented is drawn from research flights in the following aircraft: Dornier DO-31, Short SC-1, LTV XC-142A, and Boeing-Vertol CH-46. The control system concepts and mechanizations employed in the above aircraft are discussed, and the effect of control system augmentation is shown on performance. Operational procedures required in the instrument approach task are described, with comments on need for automation and combining of control functions.

Patton, J. M., Jr.↗
NASA NTRS1972

The elusive tradeoff - Speed vs accuracy in visual discrimination tasks.

Explicit payoffs were used to control pressures for speed and accuracy in experiments seeking tradeoffs for difficult visual discrimination tasks. The experiments involved stimuli on a cathode ray tube display controlled by a PDP-1 computer, with the subjects performing increasingly complex discrimination tasks and their earnings increasing with their performance. Models for discrimination under time pressure are proposed on the basis of the results.

Swensson, R. G.↗
NASA NTRS1972

Visual motor response of crewmen during a simulated 90 day space mission as measured by the critical task battery

In order to test various components of a regenerative life support system and to obtain data on the physiological and psychological effects of long-duration exposure to confinement in a space station atmosphere, four carefully screened young men were sealed in space station simulator for 90 days. A tracking test battery was administered during the above experiment. The battery included a clinical test (critical instability task) related to the subject's dynamic time delay, and a conventional steady tracking task, during which dynamic response (describing functions) and performance measures were obtained. Good correlation was noted between the clinical critical instability scores and more detailed tracking parameters such as dynamic time delay and gain-crossover frequency. The comprehensive data base on human operator tracking behavior obtained in this study demonstrate that sophisticated visual-motor response properties can be efficiently and reliably measured over extended periods of time.

Allen, R. W.↗
NASA NTRS1972

Prediction and analysis of human performance in a VTOL hover task

An optimal control model is used to predict pilot performance in a series of longitudinal hovering tasks. Configurational changes are considered that alter significantly the system response to both control and disturbance inputs. Model predictions of mean-squared performance are compared with measurements obtained in an independent experimental study of the task. In addition, the optimal control model is used to predict describing functions that correspond to the loop closing pilot transfer functions frequently employed in classical multiloop manual control analyses.

Baron, S.↗
NASA NTRS1973

Visual-motor response of crewmen during a simulated 90-day space mission as measured by the critical task battery

In order to test various components of a regenerative life support system and to obtain data on the physiological and psychological effects of long duration exposure to confinement in a space station atmosphere, four carefully screened young men were sealed in a space station simulator for 90 days and administered a tracking test battery. The battery included a clinical test (Critical Instability Task) designed to measure a subject's dynamic time delay, and a more conventional steady tracking task, during which dynamic response (describing functions) and performance measures were obtained. Good correlation was noted between the clinical critical instability scores and more detailed tracking parameters such as dynamic time delay and gain-crossover frequency. The levels of each parameter span the range observed with professional pilots and astronaut candidates tested previously. The chamber environment caused no significant decrement on the average crewman's dynamic response behavior, and the subjects continued to improve slightly in their tracking skills during the 90-day confinement period.

Allen, R. W.↗
NASA NTRS1967

Continued investigation of solid propulsion economics. Task 1B: Large solid rocket motor case fabrication methods - Supplement process complexity factor cost technique

This supplement to Task lB-Large Solid Rocket Motor Case Fabrication Methods supplies additional supporting cost data and discusses in detail the methodology that was applied to the task. For the case elements studied, the cost was found to be directly proportional to the Process Complexity Factor (PCF). The PCF was obtained for each element by identifying unit processes that are common to the elements and their alternative manufacturing routes, by assigning a weight to each unit process, and by summing the weighted counts. In three instances of actual manufacture, the actual cost per pound equaled the cost estimate based on PCF per pound, but this supplement, recognizes that the methodology is of limited, rather than general, application.

Baird, J.↗
NASA NTRS1974

The effects of bedrest on crew performance during simulated shuttle reentry. Volume 2: Control task performance

A simplified space shuttle reentry simulation performed on the NASA Ames Research Center Centrifuge is described. Anticipating potentially deleterious effects of physiological deconditioning from orbital living (simulated here by 10 days of enforced bedrest) upon a shuttle pilot's ability to manually control his aircraft (should that be necessary in an emergency) a comprehensive battery of measurements was made roughly every 1/2 minute on eight military pilot subjects, over two 20-minute reentry Gz vs. time profiles, one peaking at 2 Gz and the other at 3 Gz. Alternate runs were made without and with g-suits to test the help or interference offered by such protective devices to manual control performance. A very demanding two-axis control task was employed, with a subcritical instability in the pitch axis to force a high attentional demand and a severe loss-of-control penalty. The results show that pilots experienced in high Gz flying can easily handle the shuttle manual control task during 2 Gz or 3 Gz reentry profiles, provided the degree of physiological deconditioning is no more than induced by these 10 days of enforced bedrest.

Jex, H. R.↗
NASA NTRS1975

Human interaction with an intelligent computer in multi-task situations

A general formulation of human decision making in multiple task situations is presented. It includes a description of the state, event, and action space in which the multiple task supervisor operates. A specific application to a failure detection and correction situation is discussed and results of a simulation experiment presented. Issues considered include static vs. dynamic allocation of responsibility and competitive vs. cooperative intelligence.

Rouse, W. B.↗
NASA NTRS1975

Effects of automobile steering characteristics on driver vehicle system dynamics in regulation tasks

A regulation task which subjected the automobile to a random gust disturbance which is countered by driver control action is used to study the effects of various automobile steering characteristics on the driver/vehicle system. The experiments used a variable stability automobile specially configured to permit insertion of the simulated gust disturbance and the measurement of the driver/vehicle system characteristics. Driver/vehicle system dynamics were measured and interpreted as an effective open loop system describing function. Objective measures of system bandwidth, stability, and time delays were deduced and compared. These objective measures were supplemented by driver ratings. A tentative optimum range of vehicle dynamics for the directional regulation task was established.

Mcruer, D. T.↗