Search NASA⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search NASA

Results for “Positioning”

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.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 523 records · Page 29

X-ray position detector

An X-ray position detector for real time operation is described. A set of proportional counters is arranged into an array which can detect and indicate the position of an X-ray interaction within the array, in the X Y plane.

Garmire, G.↗

Loran-C plotting program for plotting lines of position on standard charts

A set of programs used to plot Loran C lines of position on any common map or standard aviation sectional chart are given. The Loran C plotting program JRPLOT FORTRAN uses a standard Calcomp compatible plotting subroutine package for the Hewlett-Packard 7203A graphic plotter. The programs are designed to be run on an IBM System 370 computer. A simple add subtract method is used to calculate the lines of position. A description of how to use the program and some methods of operation are given.

Roman, J. P.↗

The position angle of Jupiter's linearly polarized synchrotron emission Observations extending over 16 years

Parkes, Owens Valley and Goldstone measurements are presented, showing the variation with central meridian longitude of the position angle of Jupiter's linearly polarized synchrotron emission at wavelengths of 21, 13, 11 and 6 cm; the observations span a total time interval greater than one Jovian orbital period. The form of the position angle versus longitude curve shows a slight dependence on wavelength and epoch. The epoch dependence appears to reflect Jupiter's changing aspect with respect to the earth. The observations yield a Jovian rotation period agreeing to within about 0.02 s with that derived from the decametric burst measurements, implying a highly stable inner magnetic field configuration.

Komesaroff, M. M.↗

A comparative analysis of GPS range, Doppler and interferometric observations for geodetic positioning

Geodetic positioning accuracies obtained from range, integrated Doppler and double differenced interferometric phase observations from a constellation of twenty-four Global Positioning System satellites are presented. It is demonstrated the GPS range and Doppler observations will provide sufficient accuracy for the estimation of geodetic coordinates. However the instability of the receiver atomic oscillator will limit the usefulness of these observations in providing rapid first-order baseline determination. Interferometric phase measurements twice differenced to eliminate clock error appear as an alternate procedure for providing such accuracies.

Fell, P. J.↗

Brightness and polarization of the zodiacal light - Results of fixed-position observations from Skylab

A method is outlined for evaluating discrete and background starlight at the Skylab wavelengths so as to derive the total brightness of zodiacal light at five sky positions. These sky positions are north celestial pole, south ecliptic pole, vernal equinox and two places near the north galactic pole. Pioneer 10/11 imaging photopolarimeters were used to periodically measure sky brightness and polarization in the blue and red at heliocentric distances beyond 1.002 AU. Mean zodiacal light, which is assumed to be also solar color in total light, is then estimated by applying the method to all fixed-point observations.

Weinberg, J. L.↗

Wedge-and-strip anodes for centroid-finding position-sensitive photon and particle detectors

The paper examines geometries employing position-dependent charge partitioning to obtain a two-dimensional position signal from each detected photon or particle. Requiring three or four anode electrodes and signal paths, images have little distortion and resolution is not limited by thermal noise. An analysis of the geometrical image nonlinearity between event centroid location and the charge partition ratios is presented. In addition, fabrication and testing of two wedge-and-strip anode systems are discussed. Images obtained with EUV radiation and microchannel plates verify the predicted performance, with further resolution improvements achieved by adopting low noise signal circuitry. Also discussed are the designs of practical X-ray, EUV, and charged particle image systems.

Martin, C.↗

Variable-Position Acoustic Levitation

Method of acoustic levitation supports objects at positions other than acoustic nodes. Acoustic force is varied so it balances gravitational (or other) force, thereby maintaining object at any position within equilibrium range. Levitation method applicable to containerless processing. Such objects as table-tennis balls, hollow plastic spheres, and balsa-wood spheres levitated in laboratory by new method.

Barmatz, M. B.↗

Effect of positive pulse charge waveforms on the energy efficiency of lead-acid traction cells

The effects of four different charge methods on the energy conversion efficiency of 300 ampere hour lead acid traction cells were investigated. Three of the methods were positive pulse charge waveforms; the fourth, a constant current method, was used as a baseline of comparison. The positive pulse charge waveforms were: 120 Hz full wave rectified sinusoidal; 120 Hz silicon controlled rectified; and 1 kHz square wave. The constant current charger was set at the time average pulse current of each pulse waveform, which was 150 amps. The energy efficiency does not include charger losses. The lead acid traction cells were charged to 70 percent of rated ampere hour capacity in each case. The results of charging the cells using the three different pulse charge waveforms indicate there was no significant difference in energy conversion efficiency when compared to constant current charging at the time average pulse current value.

Smithrick, J. J.↗

Spatial, High-Accuracy, Positioning-Encoding Sensor (SHAPES) for large space system control applications

The Spatial, High-Accuracy, Position-Encoding Sensor is a controls sensor suitable for the determination of the static shape and vibrational motion of large space structures and similar systems and for the determination of position and velocity in rendezvous and docking. It uses a combination of electro-optical techniques to measure the three-dimensional coordinates distributed over the structure at reading rates high compared to the rates at which the coordinates are changing. The technical approach is that of measuring the distance to and the direction of points on the structure from a single sensor head. Many points can be measured simultaneously from a single head without significantly increasing the complexity of the system.

Mclauchlan, J. M.↗

Case-positive versus case-negative designs for low-rate lithium thionyl chloride cells

Case polarity design choices are discussed. Two examples of case-negative designs are presented. One battery is thionyl chloride limited and the other is lithium limited. The case-positive design is thionyl chloride limited. It is found that the case-positive/case-negative design consideration does not seem to have much bearing on storage. However, during low rate discharge, the case-negative cells show a steadily decreasing capacity as you go to lower and lower rates.

Mahy, T. X.↗

VLA observations of positions 42 6 centimeter burst peaks associated with hard X-ray burst spikes

Using the Very Large Array with a spatial resolution of 3 arcsec, two-dimensional, 10-second synthesis maps are produced of four 6-cm lambda bursts associated with multiply spiked hard X-ray bursts (20-300 keV). The positional, structural, and polarization characteristics are investigated. It is noted that three of the four burst sources are rather compact (less than approximately 10 arcsec). It is found that the positions of the individual peaks or spikes within a single burst are the same within plus or minus 2 arcsec. Interpreting these different peaks as separate electron acceleration events, the results suggest repeated acceleration of electrons within the same magnetic trap. The trap situation is found to be consistent with the bipolar nature of the burst sources except in one case.

Kundu, M. R.↗

Plasma injection events at synchronous orbit related to positive Dst

AST 6 spacecraft synchronous orbit measurements are compared with space and ground data in a study of plasma effects related to SI and SC magnetic perturbations. It is found that synchronous orbit plasma injections related to the sudden phenomena are similar to those associated with substorms, although the former occur at all local times. The synchronous orbit plasma injections are interpreted as the co-location of particle boundaries on an inward propagating front and the compression magnetic pulse associated with SI and SC events is seen as responsible for the co-location of the boundaries and their inward propagation. The positive Dst magnetic pulse plays a role similar to that of the magnetic tail reconfiguration pulse associated with substorms, and evidence is shown that positive Dst enhances magnetospheric convection independently of interplanetary magnetic field direction

Arnoldy, R. L.↗

Positioning Vise for Crystal Cleavage

Vise manipulates brittle crystals, such as lithium fluoride, so they are in proper position for cleaving. Vise allows crystals as thin as 2 millimeters or less positioned so that cleaved without breakage. Vise holds workpiece firmly but gently. Bushings, shafts and adjusting screw designed to move jaws smoothly and uniformly with great tactile sensitivity.

Hallberg, F. C.↗

Characteristics of the handling and positioning aid

The handling and positioning aid which (HPA) provides a wide range of adjustable work stations both inboard and outboard of the cargo bay is discussed. It can assist with berthing and docking, it is robust, stiff, has a simple control system, and is modular. An articulated arm version of HPA employed in a typical servicing mission is shown. Mounted on a base frame that spans the Orbiter cargo bay, the 6 m arm is long enough to hold the satellite being serviced and keep its solar array clear of the Orbiter radiators. By adjusting the length and angle of the support platform mast, and rotating the tip of the HPA arm, almost every item on the satellite can be reached. Spares and change-out units can be brought to and from the work site by the RMS, which is controlled from the aft flight deck. The fore and aft position of the base frame can be changed between Orbiter flights and this, together with the 5 degrees of freedom (DOF) of the long arm, allows work sites to be chosen that meet the clearance, reach and vision requirements of many missions. Flight article activities are shown are shown above the dashed horizontal line and Development Test Article (DTA) work below. Flight article requirements and concepts and the design of the DTA are developed.

Goodwin, C. J.↗

A microcomputer-based position updating system for general aviation utilizing Loran-C

Modern digital electronic technology is used to produce a device to convert LORAN C to useful pilot information using a simple software algebra and low cost microprocessor devices. Results indicate that the processor based LORAN C navigator has an accuracy of 1.0 nm or less over an area typically covered by a triad of Loran C stations and can execute a position update in less than 0.2 seconds. The system was tested in 30 hours of flight and proved that it can give reliable and accurate navigation information. Methods of converting time differences to position, design considerations for the microcomputer system, and the system for coordinate conversion are discussed. Testing with predetermined points and possible fixes for errors are also considered.

Fischer, J. P.↗

Program to compute the positions of the aircraft and of the aircraft sensor footprints

The positions of the ground track of the aircraft and of the aircraft sensor footprints, in particular the metric camera and the radar scatterometer on the C-130 aircraft, are estimated by a program called ACTRK. The program uses the altitude, speed, and attitude informaton contained in the radar scatterometer data files to calculate the positions. The ACTRK program is documented.

Paris, J. F.↗

Architecture and performance of a new GPS time transfer and positioning receiver

This paper describes the Interstate Electronics 4200 GPS Receiver System that has been developed for time transfer and low dynamic positioning applications. The receiver employs the NAVSTAR Global Positioning System (GPS) l sub 1 C/A code and has three optional solution modes fo the clock/navigation state estimation.

Kido, T. I.↗

Beam-plasma interactions in a positive ion-negative ion plasma

An electron-free plasma consisting of negative ions /SF6(-)/ and positive ions /Ar(+)/, and negligible neutral-ion collision frequencies has been created in the laboratory. This plasma has a mass ratio of approximately 3.5-similar to many computer particle-in-cell simulated systems. A fluid description of this positive and negative ion confinement (PANIC) plasma is given and compared to experimental measurements of a beam-plasma instability for both beam species and a wide range of beam energies. The fluid dispersion relation and most growing modes are predicted to be insensitive to many parameters of the PANIC beam-plasma system, and found to the consistent with the data.

Intrator, T.↗