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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 73 records · Page 4
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1981

Process development for automated solar cell and module production. Task 4: Automated array assembly

Progress in the development of automated solar cell and module production is reported. The unimate robot is programmed for the final 35 cell pattern to be used in the fabrication of the deliverable modules. The mechanical construction of the automated lamination station and final assembly station phases are completed and the first operational testing is underway. The final controlling program is written and optimized. The glass reinforced concrete (GRC) panels to be used for testing and deliverables are in production. Test routines are grouped together and defined to produce the final control program.

Hagerty, J. J.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Space station automation study: Automation requriements derived from space manufacturing concepts,volume 2

Automation reuirements were developed for two manufacturing concepts: (1) Gallium Arsenide Electroepitaxial Crystal Production and Wafer Manufacturing Facility, and (2) Gallium Arsenide VLSI Microelectronics Chip Processing Facility. A functional overview of the ultimate design concept incoporating the two manufacturing facilities on the space station are provided. The concepts were selected to facilitate an in-depth analysis of manufacturing automation requirements in the form of process mechanization, teleoperation and robotics, sensors, and artificial intelligence. While the cost-effectiveness of these facilities was not analyzed, both appear entirely feasible for the year 2000 timeframe.

Source record↗
NASA NTRS1994

Crew aiding and automation: A system concept for terminal area operations, and guidelines for automation design

This research and development program comprised two efforts: the development of guidelines for the design of automated systems, with particular emphasis on automation design that takes advantage of contextual information, and the concept-level design of a crew aiding system, the Terminal Area Navigation Decision Aiding Mediator (TANDAM). This concept outlines a system capable of organizing navigation and communication information and assisting the crew in executing the operations required in descent and approach. In service of this endeavor, problem definition activities were conducted that identified terminal area navigation and operational familiarization exercises addressing the terminal area navigation problem. Both airborne and ground-based (ATC) elements of aircraft control were extensively researched. The TANDAM system concept was then specified, and the crew interface and associated systems described. Additionally, three descent and approach scenarios were devised in order to illustrate the principal functions of the TANDAM system concept in relation to the crew, the aircraft, and ATC. A plan for the evaluation of the TANDAM system was established. The guidelines were developed based on reviews of relevant literature, and on experience gained in the design effort.

Dwyer, John P.↗
NASA NTRS1996

Advanced Air Traffic Management Research (Human Factors and Automation): NASA Research Initiatives in Human-Centered Automation Design in Airspace Management

NASA has initiated a significant thrust of research and development focused on providing the flight crew and air traffic managers automation aids to increase capacity in en route and terminal area operations through the use of flexible, more fuel-efficient routing, while improving the level of safety in commercial carrier operations. In that system development, definition of cognitive requirements for integrated multi-operator dynamic aiding systems is fundamental. The core processes of control and the distribution of decision making in that control are undergoing extensive analysis. From our perspective, the human operators and the procedures by which they interact are the fundamental determinants of the safe, efficient, and flexible operation of the system. In that perspective, we have begun to explore what our experience has taught will be the most challenging aspects of designing and integrating human-centered automation in the advanced system. We have performed a full mission simulation looking at the role shift to self-separation on board the aircraft with the rules of the air guiding behavior and the provision of a cockpit display of traffic information and an on-board traffic alert system that seamlessly integrates into the TCAS operations. We have performed and initial investigation of the operational impact of "Dynamic Density" metrics on controller relinquishing and reestablishing full separation authority. (We follow the assumption that responsibility at all times resides with the controller.) This presentation will describe those efforts as well as describe the process by which we will guide the development of error tolerant systems that are sensitive to shifts in operator work load levels and dynamic shifts in the operating point of air traffic management.

Corker, Kevin M.↗
DOE OSTI2018

Redefining the Practice of Peer Review Through Intelligent Automation—Part 3: Automated Report Analysis and Data Reconciliation

One method for addressing existing peer review limitations is the assignment of peer review cases on a completely blinded basis, in which the peer reviewer would create an independent report which can then be cross-referenced with the primary reader report of record. By leveraging existing computerized data mining techniques, one could in theory automate and objectify the process of report data extraction, classification, and analysis, while reducing time and resource requirements intrinsic to manual peer review report analysis. Once inter-report analysis has been performed, resulting inter-report discrepancies can be presented to the radiologist of record for review, along with the option to directly communicate with the peer reviewer through an electronic data reconciliation tool aimed at collaboratively resolving inter-report discrepancies and improving report accuracy. All associated report and reconciled data could in turn be recorded in a referenceable peer review database, which provides opportunity for context and user-specific education and decision support.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2018

Hydroxamate column-based purification of zirconium-89 (89Zr) using an automated fluidic platform

Zirconium-89 (89Zr) is a long-lived (t1/2 = 78.4 h) positron-emitting isotope that is useful for positron emission tomography (PET) based diagnostic imaging using radiolabeled antibodies. Hydroxamate resin columns are predominantly used for the purification of 89Zr from cyclotron bombarded natY targets dissolved in strong HCl. 89Zr is conventionally eluted from the resin in 1 M oxalic acid (H2C2O4), a complexant that is conducive to follow-on binding of 89Zr through a transchelation process to the deferoxamine siderophore. In the present study, we determined that a lower concentration of H2C2O4 eluent (0.8 M) is adequate to efficiently remove 89Zr from a column containing 100 mg hydroxamate resin. As a result, less buffering agents are needed to be added to the 89Zr product fraction prior to labeling. A simple automated fluidic system prototype has been developed to perform the steps required for 89Zr purification using a hydroxamate resin column (column conditioning in HCl, Y target dissolution, dissolved target solution load onto column, column washes using HCl and water, and 89Zr elution). The system performance was evaluated using several cyclotron bombarded Y targets; 89Zr product fractions demonstrated excellent chemical recoveries from these targets, with 1.0 mL product volumes yielding 89±2% of the column elution peak activity and 84±2% of 89Zr recovered from the target (at EOB). These results compare favorably with previously published 89Zr product volumes and yields, despite the lower concentration of H2C2O4 eluent employed. Transchelation of resulting 89Zr product fractions was performed to assess product quality. The effective specific activity (ESA) ranged between 44(7) and 109(22) TBq·mmole-1, while the bindable metals concentration, a metric introduced for assessing and comparing product purity, ranged between 43(7) and 115(27) nmole·g-1.

zirconium-89, 89Zr, ImmunoPET, medical isotope, au↗
DOE OSTI2018

Automated Algorithms for Band Gap Analysis from Optical Absorption Spectra

As high-throughput combinatorial experimental methods become more common, the technical challenge is shifting from producing materials to dealing with increasingly large datasets. One of the most important metrics to determine suitability of semiconductor materials for various applications is the band gap. This paper discusses automated algorithms for determining band gaps from optical absorption spectra. The algorithms are applied to a database of 34,313 optical absorption spectra, and selected results are compared to published theoretical and experimental band gap data from 16 materials sets. The best algorithm determines the band gaps with an accuracy of 0.37 eV for direct- and 0.93 eV for indirect band gaps for >20,000 spectra.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗
DOE OSTI2019

Predicting Reaction Products and Automating Reactive Trajectory Characterization in Molecular Simulations with Support Vector Machines

A machine learning-based methodology for the prediction of chemical reaction products, along with automated elucidation of mechanistic details via phase space analysis of reactive trajectories, is introduced using low-dimensional heuristic models and then applied to ab initio computer simulations of the photodissociation of acetaldehyde, an important chemical system in atmospheric chemistry. Our method is centered around training Support Vector Machines (SVMs) to identify optimal separatrices that delineate the regions of phase space that lead to different chemical reaction products. In contrast to the more common “black box” type machine learning methodologies for analyzing chemical simulation data, this SVM-based methodology allows for mechanistic insight to be gleaned from further analysis of the positioning of the phase space points used to train the SVM with respect to the separatrices. For example, a pair of phase space points that are in close proximity to each other but on opposite sides of a separatrix may be situated on opposite sides of a transition state, while phase space points occurring early in a simulation that are distant from a separatrix are likely to belong to trajectories that are highly biased toward the product state associated with the basin of attraction to which they belong. In addition to inferring mechanistic details about multiple-pathway chemical reactions, our method can also be used to increase reactive trajectory sampling efficiency in molecular simulations via rejection sampling, with trajectories leading to undesired product states being identified and terminated early in the simulation rather than being carried to completion.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2017

1366 Project Automate: Enabling Automation for <$0.10/W High-Efficiency Kerfless Wafers Manufactured in the US

For photovoltaic (PV) manufacturing to thrive in the U.S., there must be an innovative core to the technology. Project Automate builds on 1366’s proprietary Direct Wafer® kerfless wafer technology and aims to unlock the cost and efficiency advantages of thin kerfless wafers. Direct Wafer is an innovative, U.S.-friendly (efficient, low-labor content) manufacturing process that addresses the main cost barrier limiting silicon PV cost-reductions – the 35-year-old grand challenge of manufacturing quality wafers (40% of the cost of modules) without the cost and waste of sawing. This simple, scalable process will allow 1366 to manufacture “drop-in” replacement wafers for the $10 billion silicon PV wafer market at 50% of the cost, 60% of the capital, and 30% of the electricity of conventional casting and sawing manufacturing processes. This SolarMat project developed the Direct Wafer processes’ unique capability to tailor the shape of wafers to simultaneously make thinner AND stronger wafers (with lower silicon usage) that enable high-efficiency cell architectures. By producing wafers with a unique target geometry including a thick border (which determines handling characteristics) and thin interior regions (which control light capture and electron transport and therefore determine efficiency), 1366 can simultaneously improve quality and lower cost (using less silicon).

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
NASA NTRS1981

Process development for automated solar cell and module production. Task 4: Automated array assembly

The Unimate robot was programmed for the final 35 cell pattern to be used in the fabrication of the deliverable modules. Mechanical construction of the Automated Lamination Station and Final Assembly Station were completed on schedule. All final wiring and interconnect cables were also completed and the first operational testing began. The final controlling program was written. A local fabricator was contracted to produce the glass reinforced concrete panels to be used for testing and deliverables. A video tape showing all three stations in operation was produced.

Hagerty, J. J.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Space station automation study. Automation requirements derived from space manufacturing concepts. Volume 1: Executive summary

The two manufacturing concepts developed represent innovative, technologically advanced manufacturing schemes. The concepts were selected to facilitate an in depth analysis of manufacturing automation requirements in the form of process mechanization, teleoperation and robotics, and artificial intelligence. While the cost effectiveness of these facilities has not been analyzed as part of this study, both appear entirely feasible for the year 2000 timeframe. The growing demand for high quality gallium arsenide microelectronics may warrant the ventures.

Source record↗
NASA NTRS1991

Automated Predictive Diagnosis (APD): A 3-tiered shell for building expert systems for automated predictions and decision making

The APD software features include: On-line help, Three level architecture, (Logic environments, Setup/Application environment, Data environment), Explanation capability, and File handling. The kinds of experimentation and record keeping that leads to effective expert systems is facilitated by: (1) a library of inferencing modules (in the logic environment); (2) an explanation capability which reveals logic strategies to users; (3) automated file naming conventions; (4) an information retrieval system; and (5) on-line help. These aid with effective use of knowledge, debugging and experimentation. Since the APD software anticipates the logical rules becoming complicated, it is embedded in a production system language (CLIPS) to insure the full power of the production system paradigm of CLIPS and availability of the procedural language C. The development is discussed of the APD software and three example applications: toy, experimental, and operational prototype for submarine maintenance predictions.

Steib, Michael↗