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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 523 records · Page 29

The expanded role of computers in Space Station Freedom real-time operations

The challenges that NASA and its international partners face in their real-time operation of the Space Station Freedom necessitate an increased role on the part of computers. In building the operational concepts concerning the role of the computer, the Space Station program is using lessons learned experience from past programs, knowledge of the needs of future space programs, and technical advances in the computer industry. The computer is expected to contribute most significantly in real-time operations by forming a versatile operating architecture, a responsive operations tool set, and an environment that promotes effective and efficient utilization of Space Station Freedom resources.

Crawford, R. Paul↗

Implementation of a blade element UH-60 helicopter simulation on a parallel computer architecture in real-time

A high-performance platform for development of real-time helicopter flight simulations based on a simulation development and analysis platform combining a parallel simulation development and analysis environment with a scalable multiprocessor computer system is described. Simulation functional decomposition is covered, including the sequencing and data dependency of simulation modules and simulation functional mapping to multiple processors. The multiprocessor-based implementation of a blade-element simulation of the UH-60 helicopter is presented, and a prototype developed for a TC2000 computer is generalized in order to arrive at a portable multiprocessor software architecture. It is pointed out that the proposed approach coupled with a pilot's station creates a setting in which simulation engineers, computer scientists, and pilots can work together in the design and evaluation of advanced real-time helicopter simulations.

Moxon, Bruce C.↗

Reliable magnetic tape recording for real-time data acquisition systems

The design of a real-time magnetic tape I/O system using automatic error recovery and data spooling is discussed. Real time requirements (data acquired at one rate and recorded at another by queing) must be met and data integrity must be provided regardless of tape failures or I/O errors. Automatic blocking services should be used for multiple local records storage. Avoidance of operational delays and loss of data is essential, noting the problems of the tape drives of the NASA Langley cryogenic wind tunnel. A series of block diagrames and flow charts are included.

Richard W Ross↗

Real time visual tracking of targets in six dimensions

Six dimensional target information is produced by a target tracking vision system for use in real time target tracking by a robotic system. The vision system described in this paper produces three axes of position data and three axes of orientation data using a single camera which views a three dimensional target. The system performs target detection, target discrimination and determines the target position and orientation relative to the camera. As the target information is determined, it is communicated to a computer which is controlling the robot motion in real time. Details of the image processing algorithms and image processing hardware used in the vision system are discussed in the paper.

Walsh, Peter M.↗

Optimal real correlation filters

Expressions are derived for real filters that have a maximum correlation signal to noise ratio. Both continuous and discrete cases are treated and shown to have similar forms. The signal can be complex, and the case of a real signal is considered and related to previous results.

Juday, Richard D.↗

Trajectory optimization for real-time guidance. I - Time-varying LQR on a parallel processor

A key algorithmic element of a real-time trajectory optimization hardware/software implementation, the quadratic program (QP) solver element, is presented. The purpose of the effort is to make nonlinear trajectory optimization fast enough to provide real-time commands during guidance of a vehicle such as an aeromaneuvering orbiter. Many methods of nonlinear programming require the solution of a QP at each iteration. In the trajectory optimization case the QP has a special dynamic programming structure, a LQR-like structure. QP algorithm speed is increased by taking advantage of this special structure and by parallel implementation.

Psiaki, Mark L.↗

A real-time approximate optimal guidance law for flight in a plane

A real-time guidance scheme is presented for the problem of maximizing the payload into orbit subject to the equations of motion of a rocket over a nonrotating spherical earth. The flight is constrained to a path in the equatorial plane while reaching an orbital altitude at orbital injection speeds. The dynamics of the problem can be separated into primary and perturbation effects by a small parameter, epsilon, which is the ratio of the atmospheric scale height to the radius of the earth. The Hamilton-Jacobi-Bellman or dynamic programming equation is expanded in an asymptotic series where the zeroth-order term (epsilon = 0) can be obtained in closed form. The neglected perturbation terms are included in the higher-order terms of the expansion, which are determined from the solution of first-order linear partial differential equations requiring only integrations which are quadratures. The quadratures can be performed rapidly with emerging computer capability, so that real-time approximate optimization can be used to construct the launch guidance law. The application of this technique to flight in three-dimensions is made apparent from the solution presented.

Feeley, Timothy S.↗

Real-time diagnostics of the reusable rocket engine using on-line system identification

A model-based failure diagnosis system has been proposed for real-time diagnosis of SSME failures. Actuation, sensor, and system degradation failure modes are all considered by the proposed system. In the case of SSME actuation failures, it was shown that real-time identification can effectively be used for failure diagnosis purposes. It is a direct approach since it reduces the detection, isolation, and the estimation of the extent of the failures to the comparison of parameter values before and after the failure. As with any model-based failure detection system, the proposed approach requires a fault model that embodies the essential characteristics of the failure process. The proposed diagnosis approach has the added advantage that it can be used as part of an intelligent control system for failure accommodation purposes.

Guo, T.-H.↗

Real-time image processing II; Proceedings of the Meeting, Orlando, FL, Apr. 16-18, 1990

The present conference discusses topics in the fields of feature extraction and implementation, filter and correlation algorithms, optical correlators, high-level algorithms, and digital image processing for ranging and remote driving. Attention is given to a nonlinear filter derived from topological image features, IR image segmentation through iterative thresholding, orthogonal subspaces for correlation masking, composite filter trees and image recognition via binary search, and features of matrix-coherent optical image processing. Also discussed are multitarget tracking via hybrid joint transform correlator, binary joint Fourier transform correlator considerations, global image processing operations on parallel architectures, real-time implementation of a differential range finder, and real-time binocular stereo range and motion detection.

Juday, Richard D.↗

Implementing real-time robotic systems using CHIMERA II

A description is given of the CHIMERA II programming environment and operating system, which was developed for implementing real-time robotic systems. Sensor-based robotic systems contain both general- and special-purpose hardware, and thus the development of applications tends to be a time-consuming task. The CHIMERA II environment is designed to reduce the development time by providing a convenient software interface between the hardware and the user. CHIMERA II supports flexible hardware configurations which are based on one or more VME-backplanes. All communication across multiple processors is transparent to the user through an extensive set of interprocessor communication primitives. CHIMERA II also provides a high-performance real-time kernel which supports both deadline and highest-priority-first scheduling. The flexibility of CHIMERA II allows hierarchical models for robot control, such as NASREM, to be implemented with minimal programming time and effort.

Stewart, David B.↗

Real-time simulation of supersonic inlets

A previously published real-time simulation algorithm, the matrix stability region placement (MSRP) method, is used to simulate a small perturbation model of the NASA Lewis Mach 2.5 40-60 mixed compression inlet. The model is representative of high-speed internal flow propulsion systems which can be approximated as quasi-one-dimensional flows. The resulting system of equations, which is stiff, is also simulated by the second-order Adam-Bashforth method. It is shown that the MSRP method can be used to simulate small perturbation models of high-speed internal flow propulsion systems in real time.

Mossayebi, F.↗

Real-time fault diagnosis for propulsion systems

Current research toward real time fault diagnosis for propulsion systems at NASA-Lewis is described. The research is being applied to both air breathing and rocket propulsion systems. Topics include fault detection methods including neural networks, system modeling, and real time implementations.

Merrill, Walter C.↗

Real Time Data System (RTDS)

Lessons learned from operational real time expert systems are examined. The basic system architecture is discussed. An expert system is any software that performs tasks to a standard that would normally require a human expert. An expert system implies knowledge contained in data rather than code. And an expert system implies the use of heuristics as well as algorithms. The 15 top lessons learned by the operation of a real time data system are presented.

Muratore, John F.↗

A near-real-time full-parallax holographic display for remote operations

A near real-time, full parallax holographic display system was developed that has the potential to provide a 3-D display for remote handling operations in hazardous environments. The major components of the system consist of a stack of three spatial light modulators which serves as the object source of the hologram; a near real-time holographic recording material (such as thermoplastic and photopolymer); and an optical system for relaying SLM images to the holographic recording material and to the observer for viewing.

Iavecchia, Helene P.↗

An assembly to provide a time reference for the JPL Network Operations Control Center, Real-Time

A device is described which provides the value of date coordinated universal time (date UTC) to the JPL Network Operations Control Center, Real Time (NOCC-RT) facility. The NOCC-RT is the real time portion of the NOCC upgrade task. The time scale is generated in the NOCC-RT clock processor; however, there is a continuous reference to UTC, as realized by the National Institute of Standards and Technology and transmitted by Earth orbiting satellites. An important functional design requirement is the 99.9 pct. availability.

Clements, P. A.↗

Case for real-time systems development - Quo vadis?

The paper focuses on the distinctive issues of computer-aided software engineering (CASE) products for the development of real-time systems. CASE technologies and associated standardization efforts are evolving from sets of conflicting interests. The majority of case products are intended for use in the development of management information systems. CASE products to support the development of large, complex real-time systems must provide additional capabilities. Generic concerns include the quality of the implementation of the required method for the phase of the system's development and whether the vendor is stable and committed to evolving the products in parallel with nonproprietary standards. The CASE market is undergoing considerable consolidation. The paper describes the major forces, cooperating entities, and remaining uncertainties that need to be weighed in near-term CASE procurements to limit risk of loss of investment in project time, trianing, and money.

Erb, Dona M.↗

A real time neural net estimator of fatigue life

A neural network architecture is proposed to estimate, in real-time, the fatigue life of mechanical components, as part of the intelligent Control System for Reusable Rocket Engines. Arbitrary component loading values were used as input to train a two hidden-layer feedforward neural net to estimate component fatigue damage. The ability of the net to learn, based on a local strain approach, the mapping between load sequence and fatigue damage has been demonstrated for a uniaxial specimen. Because of its demonstrated performance, the neural computation may be extended to complex cases where the loads are biaxial or triaxial, and the geometry of the component is complex (e.g., turbopumps blades). The generality of the approach is such that load/damage mappings can be directly extracted from experimental data without requiring any knowledge of the stress/strain profile of the component. In addition, the parallel network architecture allows real-time life calculations even for high-frequency vibrations. Owing to its distributed nature, the neural implementation will be robust and reliable, enabling its use in hostile environments such as rocket engines.

Troudet, T.↗

Real-time expert system and neural network for the classification of remotely sensed data

The paper examines software techniques for classifying remotely sensed data such that the number of computational steps and the amount of resources are bounded. The combination of both neural network and expert system methodology for classifying these data based on land use/land cover categories is examined. The method involves pipelining images through a neural net for initial classification and then through the expert system which resolves the ambiguous classifications. As with any pipeline, every component must have approximately equivalent run-times or otherwise a bottleneck will occur. If real-time is a requirement, each of the components must execute within a bounded number of steps. Attention is focused on the real-time system technique, which is argued to prevent a bottleneck for this data classification application.

Short, Nicholas, Jr.↗