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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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NASA NTRS1986

Integrated Composite Analyzer (ICAN): Users and programmers manual

The use of and relevant equations programmed in a computer code designed to carry out a comprehensive linear analysis of multilayered fiber composites is described. The analysis contains the essential features required to effectively design structural components made from fiber composites. The inputs to the code are constituent material properties, factors reflecting the fabrication process, and composite geometry. The code performs micromechanics, macromechanics, and laminate analysis, including the hygrothermal response of fiber composites. The code outputs are the various ply and composite properties, composite structural response, and composite stress analysis results with details on failure. The code is in Fortran IV and can be used efficiently as a package in complex structural analysis programs. The input-output format is described extensively through the use of a sample problem. The program listing is also included. The code manual consists of two parts.

Murthy, P. L. N.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Towards a lunar base programme

When the requisite technlogy exists, the U.S. political process will inevitably include lunar surface activities as a major space objective. This article examines a manned lunar base in terms of three distinct functions: the scientific investigation of the moon and its environment; development of the capability to use lunar resources for beneficial purposes throughout the earth-moon system; and conduct of R and D leading to a self-sufficient and self-supporting manned lunar base. Three scenarios are outlined with respect to each possible function.

Duke, M. B.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Communications satellite business ventures - Measuring the impact of technology programmes and related policies

An economic evaluation and planning procedure which assesses the effects of various policies on fixed satellite business ventures is described. The procedure is based on a stochastic financial simulation model, the Domsat II, which evaluates spacecraft reliability, market performance, and cost uncertainties. The application of the Domsat II model to the assessment of NASA's ion thrusters for on-orbit propulsion and GaAs solar cell technology is discussed. The effects of insurance rates and the self-insurance option on the financial performance of communication satellite business ventures are investigated. The selection of a transportation system for placing the satellites into GEO is analyzed.

Greenberg, J. S.↗
NASA NTRS1986

FTMP (Fault Tolerant Multiprocessor) programmer's manual

The Fault Tolerant Multiprocessor (FTMP) computer system was constructed using the Rockwell/Collins CAPS-6 processor. It is installed in the Avionics Integration Research Laboratory (AIRLAB) of NASA Langley Research Center. It is hosted by AIRLAB's System 10, a VAX 11/750, for the loading of programs and experimentation. The FTMP support software includes a cross compiler for a high level language called Automated Engineering Design (AED) System, an assembler for the CAPS-6 processor assembly language, and a linker. Access to this support software is through an automated remote access facility on the VAX which relieves the user of the burden of learning how to use the IBM 4381. This manual is a compilation of information about the FTMP support environment. It explains the FTMP software and support environment along many of the finer points of running programs on FTMP. This will be helpful to the researcher trying to run an experiment on FTMP and even to the person probing FTMP with fault injections. Much of the information in this manual can be found in other sources; we are only attempting to bring together the basic points in a single source. If the reader should need points clarified, there is a list of support documentation in the back of this manual.

Feather, F. E.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Developmental testing of a programmable multizone furnace

A multizone furnace was evaluated for its potential utilization for process experimentation on board the Space Shuttle. A temperature gradient can be created through the use of a series of connected temperature zones and can be translated by the coordinated sequencing of zone temperatures. The Bridgman-Stockbarger thermal configuration for directional solidification was implemented so that neither the sample nor furnace was translated. The thermal behavior of the furnace was measured and characterized. Limitations due to both thermal and electronic (computer) factors are identified. The results indicate that the multizone design is limited to low temperature gradients because of the indirect furnace-to-sample thermal coupling needed to blend the discrete thermal zones. The multizone furnace design inherently consumes more power than a similar (two temperature) conventional Bridgman type directional solidification furnace because every zone must be capable of the high cooling rates needed to produce the maximum desired temperature drop. Typical achievable static temperature gradients for the furnace tested were between 6 and 75 C/in. The maximum gradient velocity was approximately 10 in./hr. Several aspects of the tested system could be improved, but the dependence of the multizone design on high heat loss will limit Space Shuttle applications in the form tested unless additional power is available. The multizone furnace offers great flexibility but requires a high level of operator understanding for full advantage to be obtained.

Ting, E. Y.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Exploration of the solar system: Achievements and future plans in NASA's programme

The Voyager 2 encounter with Uranus, ground-based and spacecraft observations of Comet Halley, and other NASA solar system exploration is reviewed. The Challenger tragedy significantly delayed the next NASA planetary mission, Galileo, as well as the Ulysses and the Space Telescope missions, all of which will provide data vital to understanding of the solar system. However, the results anticipated from these missions, as well as those from the 1989 Voyager encounter with Neptune and from other approved and planned planetary missions promise that NASA's future role in solar system exploration will remain alive and vital.

Brunk, William E.↗
NASA NTRS1987

A crisis in the NASA space and earth sciences programme

Problems in the space and earth science programs are examined. Changes in the research environment and requirements for the space and earth sciences, for example from small Explorer missions to multispacecraft missions, have been observed. The need to expand the computational capabilities for space and earth sciences is discussed. The effects of fluctuations in funding, program delays, the limited number of space flights, and the development of the Space Station on research in the areas of astronomy and astrophysics, planetary exploration, solar and space physics, and earth science are analyzed. The recommendations of the Space and Earth Science Advisory Committee on the development and maintenance of effective space and earth sciences programs are described.

Lanzerotti, Louis, J.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Programmable Synaptic Arrays For Electronic Neural Networks

High resistances prevent hotspots in parallel input and output operation. Nonvolatile computer memory combines ultrahigh storage density with extremely-low power dissipation. Accommodates about 1 billion bits in square centimeter of surface area. Bit written with expenditure of less than 1 nanojoule of energy and read with even lower energy. Developed for parallel input and output operation.

Thakoor, Anilkumar P.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Programmable Data Formatter

System adapts data in diverse formats for transmission. Microprocessor controls complex activities of data formatting, error checking, and transmission-priority arbitration. System developed for formatting signals from and to telemetry units on spacecraft for widespread telecommunication network.

Martin, Robert E.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Overview of Austrian Airborne Imaging Spectrometer (AIS) programme and first results

Airborne Imaging Spectrometer (AIS) data collected from eight test areas in Austria were evaluated for their usefulness in forest damage assessment, geobotany, alpine vegetation mapping, and land use classification. Difficulties encountered in installing the SPAM spectral analysis software for use on the image display system and the necessity to adapt existing programs for this task impeded and delayed the analysis of the AIS data. Spectral reflectance curves obtained from a geobotanical test site show a marked increase in reflectance across most of the measured spectrum for metal stressed spruce trees compared with nonstressed spruce trees.

Banninger, C.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Global Geospace Science Programme

The Global Geospace Science (GGS) Program, an element of the international Solar Terrestrial Physics Program dedicated to the study of the global plasma dynamics of the solar-terrestrial environment, is discussed. Past research on the injection of solar wind ions into the magnetosphere and on the detection of ions in the terrestrial ring current of both solar wind and ionospheric origins is reviewed, showing its relevance for the GGS program. Research on the interplanetary magnetic field, the auroral electrojet, the outer magnetosphere, the geomagnetic tail, the ionospheric electric field and the related electron precipitation is also addressed. The results demonstrate that the solar wind and the ionsophere both contribute to the magnetospheric particle population. Unanswered questions regarding hot plasma sources, transport processes, energy storage in the magnetic field, and energization of plasmas are discussed. The relevant mission strategy, instrumentation, theory and modeling, and data collection are addressed.

Parks, George↗
NASA NTRS1989

Programmable Positioner For Spot Welding

Welding station mechanized by installing preset indexing system and gear drive. Mechanism includes a low-cost, versatile, single-axis motion control and motor drive to provide fully-automatic weld sequencing and spot-to-spot spacing. Welding station relieves operator of some difficult, tedious tasks and increases both productivity and quality of welds. Results in welds of higher quality and greater accuracy, fewer weld defects, and faster welding operation.

Roden, William A.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Ada (R) assessment: An important issue within European Columbus Support Technology Programme

Software will be more important and more critical for Columbus than for any ESA previous project. As a simple comparison, overall software size has been in the range of 100 K source statements for EXOSAT, 500 K for Spacelab, and will probably reach several million lines of code for Columbus (all element together). Based on past experience, the total development cost of software can account for about 10 pct to 15 pct of the total space project development cost. The Ada technology may support the strong software engineering principles needed for Columbus, provided that technology is sufficiently mature and industry plans are meeting the Columbus project schedule. Over the past 3 years, Informatique Internationale has conducted a coherent program based on Ada technology assessment studies and experiments, for ESA and CNES. This specific research and development program benefits from 15 years experience in the field of space software development and is supported by the overall software engineering expertise of the company. The assessment and experiments of Ada software engineering by Informatique Internationale are detailed.

Vielcanet, P.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Programmable pipelined image processor

A pipelined image processor selectively interconnects modules in a column of a two-dimensional array to modules of the next column of the array of modules 1,1 through M,N, where M is the number of modules in one dimension and N is the number of modules in the other direction. Each module includes two input selectors for A and B inputs, two convolvers, a binary function operator, a neighborhood comparison operator which produces an A output and an output selector which may select as a B output the output of any one of the components in the module, including the A output of the neighborhood comparison operator. Each module may be connected to as many as eight modules in the next column, preferably with the majority always in a different row that is up (or down) in the array for a generally spiral data path around the torus thus formed. The binary function operator is implemented as a look-up table addressed by the most significant 8 bits of each 12-bit argument. The table output includes a function value and the slopes for interpolation of the two arguments by multiplying the 4 least significant bits in multipliers and adding the products to the function value through adders.

Donald B Gennery↗
NASA NTRS1987

Motion coordination and programmable teleoperation between two industrial robots

Tasks for two coordinated industrial robots always bring the robots in contact with a same object. The motion coordination among the robots and the object must be maintained all the time. To plan the coordinated tasks, only one robot's motion is planned according to the required motion of the object. The motion of the second robot is to follow the first one as specified by a set of holonomic equality constraints at every time instant. If any modification of the object's motion is needed in real-time, only the first robot's motion has to be modified accordingly in real-time. The modification for the second robot is done implicitly through the constraint conditions. Thus the operation is simplified. If the object is physically removed, the second robot still continually follows the first one through the constraint conditions. If the first robot is maneuvered through either the teach pendant or the keyboard, the second one moves accordingly to form the teleoperation which is linked through the software programming. Obviously, the second robot does not need to duplicate the first robot's motion. The programming of the constraints specifies their relative motions.

Luh, J. Y. S.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Voyager programmability - Experiences in control system adaptation

The two Voyager spacecraft were designed with reprogrammable attitude and articulation control system flight control processors to permit inflight modification of the software. These software modifications were designed to: (1) correct for hardware failures that occurred during the interstellar journey, and (2) improve spacecraft dynamic performance for better control so that, by minimizing the use of propellant, the life of the mission could be extended. It is suggested that, in the future, spacecraft be launched with additional unused memory to deal with anomalies unforeseen in the decision-making process.

Patel, Keyur↗
NASA NTRS1990

Dummy Cup Helps Robot-Welder Programmers

Dummy gas cup used on torch of robotic welder during programming and practice runs. Made of metal or plastic, dummy cup inexpensive and durable. Withstands bumps caused by programming errors, and is sized for special welding jobs within limited clearances. After robot satisfactorily programmed, replaced by ceramic cup of same dimensions for actual welding.

Gordon, Stephen S.↗
NASA NTRS1990

Programmable Remapper

Input image remapped rapidly and accurately onto different coordinate grid. Analog/digital electronic image-processing system developed to warp input images onto arbitrary coordinate grids at video rates. Advantages of system include antialiasing effect of many-to-one data path and speed of lookup-table operation. Lookup tables reprogrammed easily with help of computer that generates table values from mathematical description of desired transformation. Applications include real-time corrections of distortions in input optics of image sensors, corrections for repeatable nonlinear scanning, and aiding persons of impaired vision by deliberately distorting images onto remaining functional portions of retinas.

Juday, Richard D.↗