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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 505 records · Page 28
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2021

Chess Master Project

This final technical report tracks the accomplishments of the Chess Master Project to the statement of project objects and resulting commercialization of the technology. Objectives for the project include 1) to sustain critical energy delivery functions during a cyber intrusion, control system operators need the ability to automate identification and containment of the affected network areas, and re-route critical information and control flows around; and 2) to effectively isolate impacted network areas and re-route critical flows, control system network operators need a global view of all the communication flows and have a method to proactively determine the whitelisted communications and how to respond to communications when adversarial behavior is detected.

42 ENGINEERING↗
NASA NTRS1990

A development framework for artificial intelligence based distributed operations support systems

Advanced automation is required to reduce costly human operations support requirements for complex space-based and ground control systems. Existing knowledge based technologies have been used successfully to automate individual operations tasks. Considerably less progress has been made in integrating and coordinating multiple operations applications for unified intelligent support systems. To fill this gap, SOCIAL, a tool set for developing Distributed Artificial Intelligence (DAI) systems is being constructed. SOCIAL consists of three primary language based components defining: models of interprocess communication across heterogeneous platforms; models for interprocess coordination, concurrency control, and fault management; and for accessing heterogeneous information resources. DAI applications subsystems, either new or existing, will access these distributed services non-intrusively, via high-level message-based protocols. SOCIAL will reduce the complexity of distributed communications, control, and integration, enabling developers to concentrate on the design and functionality of the target DAI system itself.

Adler, Richard M.↗
NASA NTRS2002

Using CONFIG for Simulation of Operation of Water Recovery Subsystems for Advanced Control Software Evaluation

A hybrid discrete/continuous simulation tool, CONFIG, has been developed to support evaluation of the operability life support systems. CON FIG simulates operations scenarios in which flows and pressures change continuously while system reconfigurations occur as discrete events. In simulations, intelligent control software can interact dynamically with hardware system models. CONFIG simulations have been used to evaluate control software and intelligent agents for automating life support systems operations. A CON FIG model of an advanced biological water recovery system has been developed to interact with intelligent control software that is being used in a water system test at NASA Johnson Space Center

Malin, Jane T.↗
DOE OSTI2022

VAC: A Software Approach to Resilient SCADA Automation

To better secure critical infrastructure, especially power systems, this paper introduces a virtual SCADA automation controller. The automation controller is a gateway into a power subsystem, making it a valuable target for cyber-attacks that could cut it off from the control center and cause a loss of view and control. To prevent this, the Virtual Automation Controller (VAC) is a backup device that mirrors the capabilities of the physical controller. It can communicate via Modbus and DNP3 and is containerized so it can be deployed on a variety of platforms. Furthermore, it utilizes software-defined networking to quickly disconnect a failed automation controller and preserve its state for forensics. The VAC gives system operators time to replace the failed controller and prevents dangerous and costly damage to power systems. The VAC is compared against the SEL 3505-3 RTAC and shown to have the necessary features to act as a failover controller.

Johnson, Jordan↗
DOE OSTI2020

Multi-Agent Control of Lane-Switching Automated Vehicles for Energy Efficiency

The proliferation of automatic control systems and their connectivity accents the performance of their interactions. In particular, connected and automated vehicles could become high-impact examples thanks to their energy use and productivity effects. Ideally, a controller might collectively optimize all agents' control moves for a given objective. However, limits on computational complexity, incomplete knowledge of the central planner, and risks of a single point of failure make distributed control attractive as well. This paper proposes a collaborative heuristic to approach the performance of centralized control with decentralized-like computational effort. The related centralized controller is also described in detail and evaluated as a baseline. A collaboration-intensive obstacle avoidance scenario involving electric vehicles is simulated to demonstrate benefits over fully decentralized control. While centralized optimization performed best with an 8.6 % energy reduction, the collaborative decentralized scheme reached a favorable computation-performance tradeoff with a 6.7 % energy reduction.

Dollar, R. Austin↗
NASA NTRS1993

Real-time automated failure identification in the Control Center Complex (CCC)

A system which will provide real-time failure management support to the Space Station Freedom program is described. The system's use of a simplified form of model based reasoning qualifies it as an advanced automation system. However, it differs from most such systems in that it was designed from the outset to meet two sets of requirements. First, it must provide a useful increment to the fault management capabilities of the Johnson Space Center (JSC) Control Center Complex (CCC) Fault Detection Management system. Second, it must satisfy CCC operational environment constraints such as cost, computer resource requirements, verification, and validation, etc. The need to meet both requirement sets presents a much greater design challenge than would have been the case had functionality been the sole design consideration. The choice of technology, discussing aspects of that choice and the process for migrating it into the control center is overviewed.

Kirby, Sarah↗
NASA NTRS1988

A method of measuring fault latency in a digital flight control system

This paper describes the motivation, conduct, and analysis of some 2500 low-level hardware fault cases applied in automated testing at the NASA Ames Reconfigurable Digital Flight Control System Facility. Fault detection was correlated with hardware and software fault monitoring and, in limited cases, with sensitivity to flight program execution modes. The results are statistically assessed to ascertain system-level reliability implications based on a single-fault model. Extension to multiple-fault models is addressed. The overall methodology/facility itself is judged to be a promising enhancement to current practice.

Mcgough, John↗
NASA NTRS1974

The Role of the Onboard Operator in Automated Rapid Rail Transit

A study of automatic train control systems used in rail rapid transit systems with various levels of automation revealed: full automation, now possible, does not preclude the onboard operator as a safety element. Elimination of the operator necessitates extremely high levels of guideway protection. Where such protection is impossible operator viglance must be maintained through assignment of non-trivial tasks. The. functions most difficult to automate are right-of-way surveillance and door operation. In new systems automation level should be based on local transportation needs derived from system studies and verified through simulation.

Susssman, E. D.↗
NASA NTRS1975

Automated maintenance for complex hybrid systems

Digital computer, Control Computer Subsystem (CCS), possess high degree of fault tolerance. CCS embodies concepts of self-test and repair. It is capable of monitoring its own performance and of identifying and replacing with standby spare any of its units that fail.

Gilley, G. C.↗
NASA NTRS1990

Automation of Space Station module power management and distribution system

Viewgraphs on automation of space station module (SSM) power management and distribution (PMAD) system are presented. Topics covered include: reasons for power system automation; SSM/PMAD approach to automation; SSM/PMAD test bed; SSM/PMAD topology; functional partitioning; SSM/PMAD control; rack level autonomy; FRAMES AI system; and future technology needs for power system automation.

Bechtel, Robert↗
NASA NTRS1999

Automated Testing Experience of the Linear Aerospike SR-71 Experiment (LASRE) Controller

System controllers must be fail-safe, low cost, flexible to software changes, able to output health and status words, and permit rapid retest qualification. The system controller designed and tested for the aerospike engine program was an attempt to meet these requirements. This paper describes (1) the aerospike controller design, (2) the automated simulation testing techniques, and (3) the real time monitoring data visualization structure. Controller cost was minimized by design of a single-string system that used an off-the-shelf 486 central processing unit (CPU). A linked-list architecture, with states (nodes) defined in a user-friendly state table, accomplished software changes to the controller. Proven to be fail-safe, this system reported the abort cause and automatically reverted to a safe condition for any first failure. A real time simulation and test system automated the software checkout and retest requirements. A program requirement to decode all abort causes in real time during all ground and flight tests assured the safety of flight decisions and the proper execution of mission rules. The design also included health and status words, and provided a real time analysis interpretation for all health and status data.

Larson, Richard R.↗
NASA NTRS1980

Spacelab's interface to payload experiments

The Spacelab Payload Standard Modular Electronics (SPSME) program has been designed to provide a standardized set of space-qualified low-power electronic modules from which an experimenter may economically implement a command and data management system. SPSME is based on the Computer Automated Measurement and Control (CAMAC) interface standards. To the system of CAMAC, SPSME adds Spacelab interface modules, a flight qualified system crate, and an efficient light-weight power supply to produce a system compatible with the Spacelab environments, the Spacelab Command and Data Management System interface, and any experiment.

Golemon, W. F.↗
NASA NTRS2016

Towards Autonomous Aviation Operations: What Can We Learn from Other Areas of Automation?

Rapid advances in automation has disrupted and transformed several industries in the past 25 years. Automation has evolved from regulation and control of simple systems like controlling the temperature in a room to the autonomous control of complex systems involving network of systems. The reason for automation varies from industry to industry depending on the complexity and benefits resulting from increased levels of automation. Automation may be needed to either reduce costs or deal with hazardous environment or make real-time decisions without the availability of humans. Space autonomy, Internet, robotic vehicles, intelligent systems, wireless networks and power systems provide successful examples of various levels of automation. NASA is conducting research in autonomy and developing plans to increase the levels of automation in aviation operations. This paper provides a brief review of levels of automation, previous efforts to increase levels of automation in aviation operations and current level of automation in the various tasks involved in aviation operations. It develops a methodology to assess the research and development in modeling, sensing and actuation needed to advance the level of automation and the benefits associated with higher levels of automation. Section II describes provides an overview of automation and previous attempts at automation in aviation. Section III provides the role of automation and lessons learned in Space Autonomy. Section IV describes the success of automation in Intelligent Transportation Systems. Section V provides a comparison between the development of automation in other areas and the needs of aviation. Section VI provides an approach to achieve increased automation in aviation operations based on the progress in other areas. The final paper will provide a detailed analysis of the benefits of increased automation for the Traffic Flow Management (TFM) function in aviation operations.

Sridhar, Banavar↗
DOE OSTI2023

Levels of Digitization, Digitalization, and Automation for Advanced Reactors

Much has been written about levels of automation (LOA), but comparatively little has been written about levels of digitization (LODi) and levels of digitalization (LODa). Digitization is a digital representation of analog information and is typical of migration from analog to digital control systems, digitalization involves enhancing the functionality of digital information, and automation changes control from humans to machines. Each of these technology implementations has its own scales, and each forms a viable type of functionality that should be considered not as a continuum toward automation but rather as separate categories of solutions that meet the needs of advanced reactors. In this paper we develop separate LODi, LODa, and LOA scales and demonstrate how conflation of these technologies, using the example of computer-based procedures, can lead to confusion in the design process. With the race to develop advanced reactors, the surest metric of success and safety is proper consideration of the right technology requirements for different control systems.

99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS↗
NASA NTRS1986

The uptake of NO3-, NO2-, and NH4+ by intact wheat (Triticum aestivum) seedlings. I. Induction and kinetics of transport systems

The inducibility and kinetics of the NO3-, NO2-, and NH4+ transporters in roots of wheat seedlings (Triticum aestivum cv Yercora Rojo) were characterized using precise methods approaching constant analysis of the substrate solutions. A microcomputer-controlled automated high performance liquid chromatography system was used to determine the depletion of each N species (initially at 1 millimolar) from complete nutrient solutions. Uptake rate analyses were performed using computerized curve-fitting techniques. More precise estimates were obtained for the time required for the extent of the induction of each transporter. Up to 10 and 6 hours, respectively, were required to achieve apparent full induction of the NO3- and NO2- transporters. Evidence for substrate inducibility of the NH4+ transporters requiring 5 hours is presented. The transport of NO3- was mediated by a dual system (or dual phasic), whereas only single systems were found for transport of NO2- and NH4+. The Km values for NO3-, NO2-, and NH4+ were, respectively, 0.027, 0.054, and 0.05 millimolar. The Km for mechanism II of NO3- transport could not be defined in this study as it exhibited only apparent first order kinetics up to 1 millimolar.

NASA Program CELSS↗
DOE OSTI2021

Sequential Perturbation-based FDIA Detection using DERs for Unbalanced Distribution System

The power distribution system with its reliance on automated monitoring and control infrastructure makes it a complicated cyber-physical system and vulnerable to various cyber-attacks. This paper proposes a moving target defense inspired false data injection attack (FDIA) detection mechanism for an unbalanced distribution system. In the proposed grid diagnosis service framework, the distribution system operator judiciously manipulates power outputs of a subset of inverter-based distribution energy resources (DERs) to create secret low magnitude voltage perturbations which are inconsequential to the normal operation of the grid. A mixed-integer-linear-programming algorithm is developed to select the optimal set of DERs that can create a voltage perturbation signal of the required magnitude at each sensor location at a minimum cost. Then, a sequential detector is applied that detects for the FDIA as measurements are received from individual sensors. The performance of the proposed perturbation-based FDIA detection framework is demonstrated via simulation of the IEEE 123 bus test system.

Attack Detection↗
NASA NTRS1985

Space Station man-machine automation trade-off analysis

The man machine automation tradeoff methodology presented is of four research tasks comprising the autonomous spacecraft system technology (ASST) project. ASST was established to identify and study system level design problems for autonomous spacecraft. Using the Space Station as an example spacecraft system requiring a certain level of autonomous control, a system level, man machine automation tradeoff methodology is presented that: (1) optimizes man machine mixes for different ground and on orbit crew functions subject to cost, safety, weight, power, and reliability constraints, and (2) plots the best incorporation plan for new, emerging technologies by weighing cost, relative availability, reliability, safety, importance to out year missions, and ease of retrofit. A fairly straightforward approach is taken by the methodology to valuing human productivity, it is still sensitive to the important subtleties associated with designing a well integrated, man machine system. These subtleties include considerations such as crew preference to retain certain spacecraft control functions; or valuing human integration/decision capabilities over equivalent hardware/software where appropriate.

Zimmerman, W. F.↗
NASA NTRS1976

Automated mixed traffic vehicle control and scheduling study

The operation and the expected performance of a proposed automatic guideway transit system which uses low speed automated mixed traffic vehicles (AMTVs) were analyzed. Vehicle scheduling and headway control policies were evaluated with a transit system simulation model. The effect of mixed traffic interference on the average vehicle speed was examined with a vehicle pedestrian interface model. Control parameters regulating vehicle speed were evaluated for safe stopping and passenger comfort. Some preliminary data on the cost and operation of an experimental AMTV system are included. These data were the result of a separate task conducted at JPL, and were included as background information.

Peng, T. K. C.↗