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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 NTRS1973

Design, capability, and cost of a Versatile Upper Stage /VUS/ family of vehicles.

Trade-off studies and a preliminary design were accomplished to investigate the Versatile Upper Stage (VUS) concept. This concept entails the development by one contractor of a family of stages with a great deal of commonality to perform a spectrum of potential unmanned automated missions planned through 1990. The trade studies and analyses revealed areas where the penalty for commonality between stages was excessive in weight and performance loss. This occurred in the selection of the vehicle structural shell. In many of the expensive subsystems, especially astrionics, it was found that establishing the requirements for all family members and the application of commonality in subsystem selection could result in significant savings.

Haltermann, R. L.↗

NASA NTRS1973

A versatile instrument for thermal radiation measurement

A radiometer has been designed, fabricated, and tested which is rugged, versatile, and highly reliable for measurement of real or simulated solar radiation in an ambient or vacuum environment, and for measurement of total hemispherical infrared radiation in a vacuum. This radiometer may be considered as an all purpose radiometer for space environment simulation and testing.

Wolff, C. M.↗

NASA NTRS1976

The NASA high power carbon dioxide laser: A versatile tool for laser applications

A closed-cycle, continuous wave, carbon dioxide high power laser has been designed and fabricated to support research for the identification and evaluation of possible high power laser applications. The device is designed to generate up to 70 kW of laser power in annular shape beams from 1 to 9 cm in diameter. Electric discharge, either self sustained or electron beam sustained, is used for excitation. This laser facility provides a versatile tool on which research can be performed to advance the state-of-the-art technology of high power CO2 lasers in such areas as electric excitation, laser chemistry, and quality of output beams. The facility provides a well defined, continuous wave beam for various application experiments, such as propulsion, power conversion, and materials processing.

Lancashire, R. B.↗

NASA NTRS1976

A versatile system for biological and soil chemical tests on a planetary landing craft. II - Hardware development

A system has been under development which is designed to seek remotely for clues to life in planetary soil samples. The basic approach is a set of experiments, all having a common sensor, a gas analysis mass spectrometer which monitors gas composition in the head spaces above sealed, temperature controlled soil samples. Versatility is obtained with up to three preloaded, sealed fluid injector capsules for each of eleven soil test cells. Tests results with an engineering model has demonstrated performance capability of subsystem components such as soil distribution, gas sampling valves, injector mechanisms, temperature control, and test cell seal.

Martin, J. P.↗

NASA NTRS1977

Versatile solid-state relay

Solid-state relay (SSR), containing multinode control logic, is operated as normally open, normally closed, or latched. Moreover several can be paralleled to form two-pole or double-throw relays. Versatile unit ends need to design custom control circuit for every relay application. Technique can be extended to incorporate selectable time delay, on operation or release, or pulsed output.

Fox, D. A.↗

NASA NTRS1978

Versatile communications terminal

Widely-separated parties are linked into efficient communications network by versatile control terminal. Terminal handles voice and data communications via both telephone lines and radio-frequency channels. It includes telephone-to-radio "patch", telephone autodialer, and other advanced features to provide rapid communications for applications such as emergency medical services (EMS) operations.

Belasco, N.↗

NASA NTRS1977

The NASA high-power carbon dioxide laser - A versatile tool for laser applications

The NASA Lewis Research Center has designed and fabricated a closed-cycle, continuous wave (CW), carbon dioxide (CO2) high-power laser to support research for the identification and evaluation of possible high-power laser applications. The device is designed to generate up to 70 kW of laser power in annular-shape beams from 1 to 9 cm in diameter. Electric discharge, either self-sustained or electron-beam-sustained, is used for excitation. This laser facility can be used in two ways. First, it provides a versatile tool on which research can be performed to advance the state-of-the-art technology of high-power CO2 lasers in such areas as electric excitation, laser chemistry, and quality of output beams, all of which are important whether the laser application is government or industry oriented. Second, the facility provides a well-defined, continuous wave beam for various application experiments, such as propulsion, power conversion, and materials processing.

Lancashire, R. B.↗

NASA NTRS1978

Some programming techniques for increasing program versatility and efficiency on CDC equipment

Five programming techniques used to decrease core and increase program versatility and efficiency are explained. The techniques are: (1) dynamic storage allocation, (2) automatic core-sizing and core-resizing, (3) matrix partitioning, (4) free field alphanumeric reads, and (5) incorporation of a data complex. The advantages of these techniques and the basic methods for employing them are explained and illustrated. Several actual program applications which utilize these techniques are described as examples.

Tiffany, S. H.↗

NASA NTRS1978

Structural concepts and experimental considerations for a versatile high-speed research airplane

Future aircraft may be hydrogen fueled and fly at hypersonic speeds. The resulting environments will require new structural concepts to satisfy performance goals. Large representative structures will have to be flight tested prior to commitment to a costly vehicle fleet. To perform flight tests, a versatile, economical, high-speed research airplane is defined. Results of this study including experimental considerations for a hypersonic research airplane are reported.

Jackson, L. R.↗

NASA NTRS1979

A fast-reacting and versatile optokinetic stimulus pattern by computer graphics with application examples

A computer graphics method for the generation of horizontally moving vertical stripes which serve as stimuli for optokinetic nystagmus is presented. The pattern is generated by the successive addition of a constant in a digital register, leading to its periodic overflow. Digital to analog conversion of the register contents results in a staircase waveform, which is converted into a pattern of vertical lines on a CRT. The addition of any number to the reference buffer shifts all lines uniformly, so that the group velocity of the pattern is easily controlled. The computer controlled display allows an accurate realization of a commanded velocity profile with practically no time delay and facilitates study under conditions of variable feedback. The display software can be easily modified to limit stimulation to a selected area of the moving retina, and the method has been used to simulate central scotomata. It is pointed out that the technique, while more accurate, versatile and responsive than a rotating drum device, may be less useful in experiments requiring a wide field display.

Yasui, S.↗

NASA NTRS1981

The feasibility of miniaturizing the versatile portable speech prosthesis: A market survey of commercial products

The feasibility of a miniature versatile portable speech prosthesis (VPSP) was analyzed and information on its potential users and on other similar devices was collected. The VPSP is a device that incorporates speech synthesis technology. The objective is to provide sufficient information to decide whether there is valuable technology to contribute to the miniaturization of the VPSP. The needs of potential users are identified, the development status of technologies similar or related to those used in the VPSP are evaluated. The VPSP, a computer based speech synthesis system fits on a wheelchair. The purpose was to produce a device that provides communication assistance in educational, vocational, and social situations to speech impaired individuals. It is expected that the VPSP can be a valuable aid for persons who are also motor impaired, which explains the placement of the system on a wheelchair.

Walklet, T.↗

NASA NTRS1982

Upper Vortex Flap - A versatile surface for highly swept wings

The Upper Vortex Flap (UVF) is a multipurpose surface concept to improve the subsonic aerodynamics of highly swept delta wings. Hinged along the leading edges and deployed from the wing upper surface, the UVF generates a vortex inboard on the wing in addition to the leading-edge vortex acting on the flap. The relative suction levels on the wing and on the flap surface, governed by the flap angle and angle of attack, lead to a variety of functional applications viz. lift increment, drag modulation, lift/drag improvement and roll augmentation. This paper presents wind tunnel force and pressure measurements on a 74-deg flat plate delta to define the UVF-related vortex effects and to assess its potential as a versatile control surface in different angle-of-attack regimes.

Rao, D. M.↗

NASA NTRS1986

ICAN: A versatile code for predicting composite properties

The Integrated Composites ANalyzer (ICAN), a stand-alone computer code, incorporates micromechanics equations and laminate theory to analyze/design multilayered fiber composite structures. Procedures for both the implementation of new data in ICAN and the selection of appropriate measured data are summarized for: (1) composite systems subject to severe thermal environments; (2) woven fabric/cloth composites; and (3) the selection of new composite systems including those made from high strain-to-fracture fibers. The comparisons demonstrate the versatility of ICAN as a reliable method for determining composite properties suitable for preliminary design.

Ginty, C. A.↗

NASA NTRS1986

Versatile simulation testbed for rotorcraft speech I/O system design

A versatile simulation testbed for the design of a rotorcraft speech I/O system is described in detail. The testbed will be used to evaluate alternative implementations of synthesized speech displays and speech recognition controls for the next generation of Army helicopters including the LHX. The message delivery logic is discussed as well as the message structure, the speech recognizer command structure and features, feedback from the recognizer, and random access to controls via speech command.

Simpson, Carol A.↗

NASA NTRS1991

Versatile, Fast Computer Core

Versatile computer core serves as state-of-the-art component and tool for development of computing systems required to process data rapidly, particularly as part of control tasks involving relatively large volumes of input and output data. Exploits new technology to enhance performance needed in flight computers. Computing and other equipment specific to flight system added around this core to develop flight systems rapidly without incurring time and monetary costs of designing new core.

Ross, Douglas↗

NASA NTRS1990

Development of a versatile laser light scattering instrument

A versatile laser light scattering (LLS) instrument is developed for use in microgravity to measure microscopic particles of 30 A to above 3 microns. Since it is an optical technique, LLS does not affect the sample being studied. A LLS instrument built from modules allows several configurations, each optimized for a particular experiment. The multiangle LLS instrument can be mounted in the rack in the Space Shuttle and on Space Station Freedom. It is possible that a Space Shuttle glove-box and a lap-top computer containing a correlator card can be used to perform a number of experiments and to demonstrate the technology needed for more elaborate investigations. This offers simple means of flying a great number of experiments without the additional requirements of full-scale flight hardware experiments.

Meyer, William V.↗

NASA NTRS1990

Attached shuttle payload carriers: Versatile and affordable access to space

The shuttle has been primarily designed to be a versatile vehicle for placing a variety of scientific and technological equipment in space including very large payloads; however, since many large payloads do not fill the shuttle bay, the space and weight margins remaining after the major payloads are accommodated often can be made available to small payloads. The Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) has designed standardized mounting structures and other support systems, collectively called attached shuttle payload (ASP) carriers, to make this additional space available to researchers at a relatively modest cost. Other carrier systems for ASP's are operated by other NASA centers. A major feature of the ASP carriers is their ease of use in the world of the Space Shuttle. ASP carriers attempt to minimized the payload interaction with Space Transportation System (STS) operations whenever possible. Where this is not possible, the STS services used are not extensive. As a result, the interfaces between the carriers and the STS are simplified. With this near autonomy, the requirements for supporting documentation are considerably lessened and payload costs correspondingly reduced. The ASP carrier systems and their capabilities are discussed in detail. The range of available capabilities assures that an experimenter can select the simplest, most cost-effective carrier that is compatible with his or her experimental objectives. Examples of payloads which use ASP basic hardware in nonstandard ways are also described.

Source record↗

NASA NTRS1991

Versatile, low-cost, computer-controlled, sample positioning system for vacuum applications

A versatile, low-cost, easy to implement, microprocessor-based motorized positioning system (MPS) suitable for accurate sample manipulation in a Second Ion Mass Spectrometry (SIMS) system, and for other ultra-high vacuum (UHV) applications was designed and built at NASA LeRC. The system can be operated manually or under computer control. In the latter case, local, as well as remote operation is possible via the IEEE-488 bus. The position of the sample can be controlled in three linear orthogonal and one angular coordinates.

Vargas-Aburto, Carlos↗