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All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS2016

Methods, Systems and Apparatuses for Radio Frequency Identification

A system for radio frequency identification (RFID) includes an enclosure defining an interior region interior to the enclosure, and a feed for generating an electromagnetic field in the interior region in response to a signal received from an RFID reader via a radio frequency (RF) transmission line and, in response to the electromagnetic field, receiving a signal from an RFID sensor attached to an item in the interior region. The structure of the enclosure may be conductive and may include a metamaterial portion, an electromagnetically absorbing portion, or a wall extending in the interior region. Related apparatuses and methods for performing RFID are provided.

Fink, Patrick W.↗
NASA NTRS2017

Methods, Systems and Apparatuses for Radio Frequency Identification

A system for radio frequency identification (RFID) includes an enclosure defining an interior region interior to the enclosure, and a feed for generating an electromagnetic field in the interior region in response to a signal received from an RFID reader via a radio frequency (RF) transmission line and, in response to the electromagnetic field, receiving a signal from an RFID sensor attached to an item in the interior region. The structure of the enclosure may be conductive and may include a metamaterial portion, an electromagnetically absorbing portion, or a wall extending in the interior region. Related apparatuses and methods for performing RFID are provided.

Fink, Patrick W.↗
NASA NTRS2018

Internal Radio-Frequency Instrumentation System (IRIS) Overview

Wireless instrumentation has long been sought for spaceflight applications, but practical implementations capable of providing the utility of wired sensors have proven elusive. The power needed to drive transmitters/receivers in traditional "active" wireless sensor radios requires either frequent battery replacement or prohibitive duty cycling. This prevents installing such sensors early in a vehicle's integration and treating them as always-on throughout its operation. "Passive" solutions such as radio frequency identification (RFID) techniques provide an appealing alternative, though most common RFID sensing approaches such as surface acoustic wave (SAW) RFID do not lend themselves easily to integrating arbitrary suites of sensors and sensor processors. In this talk we detail the design, fabrication, and evaluation of the Internal Radio-frequency Instrumentation System (IRIS), an RFID-enabled instrumentation solution that integrates an EPC Global Class 1 Generation 2 interface with processor-based wireless sensors. IRIS thermocouple sensors can operate in a low-power hibernation state with instantaneous over-the-air wakeup for nearly a decade on a small (255 mAh) coin cell battery. In their active state, they can acquire and stream 10 Hz data for more than 200 days. This allows wireless sensors to be installed and powered on early in vehicle integration and continue to operate after launch through a lengthy mission, opening the vehicle design trade space to wireless sensing in a meaningful and unprecedented way.

Wagner, Raymond↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

EXCAP-LR: Exploration Capabilities Logistics Reduction

All human space missions require substantial logistical mass and volume. As our exploration missions increase in distance and duration, reduction of these logistics requirements becomes more important. The movement and tracking of logistics between vehicle elements are increasingly recognized as critical to crew efficiency and on-orbit mission assurance. This project targets the best opportunities to demonstrate logistics reduction, repurposing, and efficient tracking and management of logistics. These technologies and innovations will make future exploration missions more affordable. - REALM-3 (RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) Enabled Autonomous Logistics Management) – Hydra (HYper-Distributed RFID Antenna) Smart Stow: receives RFID signal from readers, use very small % of signal to self-power on-board microcontroller and RF switch, multiplex RFID signal to other nodes in a chain or to a multitude of antennas. ISS HYDRA Smart Stow is over-instrumented to allow evaluation of a branched network HYDRA chain. - UWMS (Universal Waste Management System) – provides a compact, lower mass/volume toilet for exploration missions - ACS (Advanced Clothing Systems) – investigates ways to reduce clothing mass and volume directly or through efficiently cleaning them for reuse.

Patrick Fink↗
NASA NTRS2009

Determining Locations by Use of Networks of Passive Beacons

Networks of passive radio beacons spanning moderate-sized terrain areas have been proposed to aid navigation of small robotic aircraft that would be used to explore Saturn s moon Titan. Such networks could also be used on Earth to aid navigation of robotic aircraft, land vehicles, or vessels engaged in exploration or reconnaissance in situations or locations (e.g., underwater locations) in which Global Positioning System (GPS) signals are unreliable or unavailable. Prior to use, it would be necessary to pre-position the beacons at known locations that would be determined by use of one or more precise independent global navigation system(s). Thereafter, while navigating over the area spanned by a given network of passive beacons, an exploratory robot would use the beacons to determine its position precisely relative to the known beacon positions (see figure). If it were necessary for the robot to explore multiple, separated terrain areas spanned by different networks of beacons, the robot could use a long-haul, relatively coarse global navigation system for the lower-precision position determination needed during transit between such areas. The proposed method of precise determination of position of an exploratory robot relative to the positions of passive radio beacons is based partly on the principles of radar and partly on the principles of radio-frequency identification (RFID) tags. The robot would transmit radar-like signals that would be modified and reflected by the passive beacons. The distance to each beacon would be determined from the roundtrip propagation time and/or round-trip phase shift of the signal returning from that beacon. Signals returned from different beacons could be distinguished by means of their RFID characteristics. Alternatively or in addition, the antenna of each beacon could be designed to radiate in a unique pattern that could be identified by the navigation system. Also, alternatively or in addition, sets of identical beacons could be deployed in unique configurations such that the navigation system could identify their unique combinations of radio-frequency reflections as an alternative to leveraging the uniqueness of the RFID tags. The degree of dimensional accuracy would depend not only on the locations of the beacons but also on the number of beacon signals received, the number of samples of each signal, the motion of the robot, and the time intervals between samples. At one extreme, a single sample of the return signal from a single beacon could be used to determine the distance from that beacon and hence to determine that the robot is located somewhere on a sphere, the radius of which equals that distance and the center of which lies at the beacon. In a less extreme example, the three-dimensional position of the robot could be determined with fair precision from a single sample of the signal from each of three beacons. In intermediate cases, position estimates could be refined and/or position ambiguities could be resolved by use of supplementary readings of an altimeter and other instruments aboard the robot.

Okino, Clayton↗
NASA NTRS2009

Automation of Space Inventory Management

This viewgraph presentation describes the utilization of automated space-based inventory management through handheld RFID readers and BioNet Middleware. The contents include: 1) Space-Based INventory Management; 2) Real-Time RFID Location and Tracking; 3) Surface Acoustic Wave (SAW) RFID; and 4) BioNet Middleware.

Fink, Patrick W.↗
NASA NTRS2016

NASA JSC EV2 Intern Spring 2016 - Jennie Chung

Exploration Mission 2 (EM-2) is a mission to resume the manned exploration of the Solar System. This mission is the first crewed mission of NASA’s Orion on the Space Launch System. The target for EM-2 is to perform a flyby of a captured asteroid in lunar orbit, which NASA plans to launch in 2023. As an intern working with EV-2 – Avionics Systems Division in Johnson Space Center, we are developing flight instrumentation systems for EM-2 (MISL & RFID). The Modular Integrated Stackable Layer (MISL) is a compact space-related computer system that is modular, scalable and reconfigurable. The RFID (radio frequency identification) sensors are used to take lower frequency (TC) type measurements and be able to stream data real-time to an RF (radio frequency) interrogator upon demand. Our job, in EV-2, is to certify, test, manufacture/assemble and deliver flight EM-2 DFI System (MISL & RFID). Our goal is to propose a development effort to design low-mass wire and wireless data acquisition and sensor solutions for EM-2 DFI (Development Flight Instrumentation). The team is tasked to provide the most effective use of 75 pounds to acquire DFI data and to collect sensor data for 100-200 high priority DFI channels (mass driven).

Chung, Jennie↗
NASA NTRS2009

Number Codes Readable by Magnetic-Field-Response Recorders

A method of encoding and reading numbers incorporates some of the features of conventional optical bar coding and radio-frequency identification (RFID) tagging, but overcomes some of the disadvantages of both: (1) Unlike in conventional optical bar coding, numbers can be read without having a line of sight to a tag; and (2) the tag circuitry is simpler than the circuitry used in conventional RFID. The method is based largely on the principles described in Magnetic-Field-Response Measurement-Acquisition System (LAR-16908), NASA Tech Briefs, Vol. 30, No. 6 (June 2006) page 28. To recapitulate: A noncontact system includes a monitoring unit that acquires measurements from sensors at distances of the order of several meters. Each sensor is a passive radio-frequency (RF) resonant circuit in the form of one or more inductor(s) and capacitor(s). The monitoring unit a handheld unit denoted a magnetic field response recorder (MFRR) generates an RF magnetic field that excites oscillations in the resonant circuits resulting in the sensors responding with their own radiated magnetic field. The resonance frequency of each sensor is made to differ significantly from that of the other sensors to facilitate distinction among the responses of different sensors. The MFRR measures selected aspects of the sensor responses: in a typical application, the sensors are designed so that their resonance frequencies vary somewhat with the sensed physical quantities and, accordingly, the MFRR measures the resonance frequencies and variations thereof as indications of those quantities. In the present method, the resonance circuits are not used as sensors. Instead, the circuits are made to resonate at fixed frequencies that correspond to digits to be encoded. The number-encoding scheme is best explained by means of examples in which each resonant circuit consists of a spiral trace inductor electrically connected to a set of parallel-connected capacitors in the form of interdigitated electrode pairs (see figure). The inductor and capacitor(s) in each resonant circuit can be fabricated as a patterned thin metal film by means of established metal-deposition and -patterning techniques. The capacitance and, hence, the resonance frequency, depends on the number of interdigitated electrodes connected to the inductor. In a similar manner, sets of electrodes could be used.

Woodard, Stanley E.↗
NASA NTRS2013

Wireless Chalcogenide Nanoionic-Based Radio-Frequency Switch

A new nonvolatile nanoionic switch is powered and controlled through wireless radio-frequency (RF) transmission. A thin layer of chalcogenide glass doped with a metal ion, such as silver, comprises the operational portion of the switch. For the switch to function, an oxidizable electrode is made positive (anode) with respect to an opposing electrode (cathode) when sufficient bias, typically on the order of a few tenths of a volt or more, is applied. This action causes the metal ions to flow toward the cathode through a coordinated hopping mechanism. At the cathode, a reduction reaction occurs to form a metal deposit. This metal deposit creates a conductive path that bridges the gap between electrodes to turn the switch on. Once this conductive path is formed, no further power is required to maintain it. To reverse this process, the metal deposit is made positive with respect to the original oxidizable electrode, causing the dissolution of the metal bridge thereby turning the switch off. Once the metal deposit has been completely dissolved, the process self-terminates. This switching process features the following attributes. It requires very little to change states (i.e., on and off). Furthermore, no power is required to maintain the states; hence, the state of the switch is nonvolatile. Because of these attributes the integration of a rectenna to provide the necessary power and control is unique to this embodiment. A rectenna, or rectifying antenna, generates DC power from an incident RF signal. The low voltages and power required for the nanoionic switch control are easily generated from this system and provide the switch with a novel capability to be operated and powered from an external wireless device. In one realization, an RF signal of a specific frequency can be used to set the switch into an off state, while another frequency can be used to set the switch to an on state. The wireless, miniaturized, and nomoving- part features of this switch make it suitable for applications such as integration into garments, RFID (radio-frequency identification) tags, and conformal structures (e.g., aircraft wings, sounding rockets contours, etc). In the case of RFID tags the innovation will provide countermeasures to attempts for identity theft and other uninvited attempts for retrieval of information. It could also be applicable to the automotive industry as well as the aerospace industry for collision avoidance and phased array radar systems, respectively

Nessel, James↗
NASA NTRS2014

Logistics Reduction and Repurposing Technology for Long Duration Space Missions

One of NASA's Advanced Exploration Systems (AES) projects is the Logistics Reduction and Repurposing (LRR) project, which has the goal of reducing logistics resupply items through direct and indirect means. Various technologies under development in the project will reduce the launch mass of consumables and their packaging, enable reuse and repurposing of items and make logistics tracking more efficient. Repurposing also reduces the trash burden onboard spacecraft and indirectly reduces launch mass by replacing some items on the manifest. Examples include reuse of trash as radiation shielding or propellant. This paper provides the status of the LRR technologies in their third year of development under AES. Advanced clothing systems (ACS) are being developed to enable clothing to be worn longer, directly reducing launch mass. ACS has completed a ground exercise clothing study in preparation for an International Space Station (ISS) technology demonstration in 2014. Development of launch packaging containers and other items that can be repurposed on-orbit as part of habitation outfitting has resulted in a logistics-to-living (L2L) concept. L2L has fabricated and evaluated several multi-purpose cargo transfer bags (MCTBs) for potential reuse on orbit. Autonomous logistics management (ALM) is using radio frequency identification (RFID) to track items and thus reduce crew requirements for logistics functions. An RFID dense reader prototype is under construction and plans for integrated testing are being made. Development of a heat melt compactor (HMC) second generation unit for processing trash into compact and stable tiles is nearing completion. The HMC prototype compaction chamber has been completed and system development testing is underway. Research has been conducted on the conversion of trash-to-gas (TtG) for high levels of volume reduction and for use in propulsion systems. A steam reformation system was selected for further system definition of the TtG technology. And benefits analysis of all LRR technologies have been updated with the latest test and analysis results.

Broyan, James L.↗
NASA NTRS2014

Logistics Reduction and Repurposing Technology for Long Duration Space Missions

One of NASA's Advanced Exploration Systems (AES) projects is the Logistics Reduction and Repurposing (LRR) project, which has the goal of reducing logistics resupply items through direct and indirect means. Various technologies under development in the project will reduce the launch mass of consumables and their packaging, enable reuse and repurposing of items, and make logistics tracking more efficient. Repurposing also reduces the trash burden onboard spacecraft and indirectly reduces launch mass by one manifest item having two purposes rather than two manifest items each having only one purpose. This paper provides the status of each of the LRR technologies in their third year of development under AES. Advanced clothing systems (ACSs) are being developed to enable clothing to be worn longer, directly reducing launch mass. ACS has completed a ground exercise clothing study in preparation for an International Space Station technology demonstration in 2014. Development of launch packaging containers and other items that can be repurposed on-orbit as part of habitation outfitting has resulted in a logistics-to-living (L2L) concept. L2L has fabricated and evaluated several multi-purpose cargo transfer bags for potential reuse on-orbit. Autonomous logistics management is using radio frequency identification (RFID) to track items and thus reduce crew time for logistics functions. An RFID dense reader prototype is under construction and plans for integrated testing are being made. A heat melt compactor (HMC) second generation unit for processing trash into compact and stable tiles is nearing completion. The HMC prototype compaction chamber has been completed and system development testing is under way. Research has been conducted on the conversion of trash-to-gas (TtG) for high levels of volume reduction and for use in propulsion systems. A steam reformation system was selected for further system definition of the TtG technology.

Broyan, James Lee, Jr.↗
NASA NTRS2018

Technology Transfer Program [Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC)]

Contents (in this order, some are repeats, shown on a continuous loop): Shuttle Launch; *Estimated Spectrum Adaptive Postfilter; *Fiber Optic Shape Sensing Technology; *Dyed Liquid; *RFID Smart Dispensers; Life on ISS; *Fiber Optic Shape Sensing; View from ISS; *Advanced Actuators and Transducers; SLS Booster Hot Fire Test; *Estimated Spectrum Adaptive Postfilter; ISS Fly Through; *Fiber Optic Shape Sensing Technology; Solar Flares; *RFID Smart Dispensers; ISS Fly Through; *Fiber Optic Shape Sensing; SLS in 30 Seconds; *Advanced Actuators and Transducers; View from ISS. *Note asterisked items have "Technology Available for Licensing."

Harkey, Ann M.↗
NASA NTRS2019

Astrobee Free Flyers: Integrated and Tested. Ready for Launch!

As of March 2019, four Astrobee free-flying robots have been integrated, tested and shipped to NASA’s Johnson Space Center, Texas, ready to be launched to space. Two of these Astrobee units (Honey and Bumble) will be launched to the International Space Station (ISS) on April 17, 2019, on the Cygnus NG-11 (Northrop Grumman) cargo resupply spacecraft from the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport (MARS) launch facility, at NASA's Wallops Flight Facility, in Virginia, while the third unit (Queen) will be launched in mid-July 2019, with the cargo resupply mission Space-X 18, from Cape Canaveral, at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. The primary purpose of the Astrobee system is to provide an autonomous and flexible platform for research on zero-g free-flying robotics, with the ability to accommodate guest researchers looking to utilize the unique capabilities of this platform in the microgravity of low earth orbit, and to advance the state of the art of guest science software and research payloads, which range from gecko-inspired adhesives for perching on smooth surfaces, to augmented reality interfaces to help astronauts and robots work together effectively, to RFID reader, performing inventory of RFID tagged items inside the ISS. Astrobee will also serve utility functions, such as free-flying cameras to record video and provide assistance during astronaut activities, and as mobile sensor platforms to conduct surveys of the ISS. In this paper we will give an overview of the status of the Astrobee system, which includes the docking station already launched and mounted in the JAXA JEM module of the ISS, the Astrobee robots, the Astrobee robotic arms, the ground data system (GDS) and the development of the several guest science payloads.

Carlino, Roberto↗
NASA NTRS2013

Interactive Inventory Monitoring

Method and system for monitoring present location and/or present status of a target inventory item, where the inventory items are located on one or more inventory shelves or other inventory receptacles that communicate with an inventory base station through use of responders such as RFIDs. A user operates a hand held interrogation and display (lAD) module that communicates with, or is part of the base station to provide an initial inquiry. lnformation on location(s) of the larget invenlory item is also indicated visibly and/or audibly on the receptacle(s) for the user. Status information includes an assessment of operation readiness and a time, if known, that the specified inventory item or class was last removed or examined or modified. Presentation of a user access level may be required for access to the target inventgory item. Another embodiment provides inventory informatin for a stack as a sight-impaired or hearing-impaired person adjacent to that stack.

rfid↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

An Automated Medical Inventory System (AMIS) to Enable Earth-Independent Medical Operations

BACKGROUND: Inventory of medical consumables and durables (medications, treatment aids, diagnostic equipment, etc.) aboard the International Space Station is a manual process whereby crewmembers reach out to their flight surgeon to relay when items are used. Performing a full medical system inventory is time intensive. However, as exploration progresses to long duration missions with little to no resupply or evacuation capabilities, maintaining an accurate account of inventory and location for medical systems across the mission will become increasingly critical. A new system must be developed for future exploration missions to meet the need for a crew-facing, real time method of managing medical inventory. OVERVIEW: NASA’s Exploration Medical Integrated Product Team (XMIPT) is funding the AMIS project to mature the technology readiness level and to conduct a flight demonstration of a medical inventory capability. AMIS will leverage lessons learned from a Medical Consumables Tracking project previously demonstrated aboard the ISS in 2016 and 2017. Key components of AMIS include a database, supporting hardware and software, and interfaces to power, communications, or other vehicle or medical systems. Some medical inventory capability may be provided by the vehicle inventory management system which relies upon RFID-based technology and can track larger items such as medical kits or medical hardware. AMIS will augment these capabilities to enable tracking of individual medical kit contents. Efforts are underway to characterize the optimal solution trade space by comparing system specifications (e.g. mass and volume, etc.) across maintenance and operational use cases (e.g. crew time saved, total inventory automated, etc). DISCUSSION: The contents of a Mars Medical System have not been fully defined which poses challenges to defining an inventory system and requires assumptions regarding medical kit contents and medical system design. Other important considerations include minimizing crew time required, avoiding access restrictions to medical inventory in the event of an emergency, and ensuring that data is accessible to other medical system elements to enable crew autonomy in provision of medical care.

Automated Medical Inventory System↗
NASA NTRS2001

Health Monitoring Technology for Thermal Protection Systems on Reusable Hypersonic Vehicles

Integrated subsystem health diagnostics is an area where major improvements have been identified for potential implementation into the design of new reusable launch vehicles (RLVs) in order to reduce life cycle costs, to increase safety margins, and to improve mission reliability. This talk summarizes a joint effort between NASA Ames and industry partners to develop rapid non-contact diagnostic tools for health and performance monitoring of thermal protection systems (TPS) on future RLVs. The specific goals for TPS health monitoring are to increase the speed and reliability of TPS inspections for improved operability at lower cost. The technology being developed includes a 3-D laser scanner for examining the exterior surface of the TPS, and a subsurface microsensor suite for monitoring the health and performance of the TPS. The sensor suite consists of passive overlimit sensors and sensors for continuous parameter monitoring in flight. The sensors are integrated with radio-frequency identification (RFID) microchips to enable wireless communication of-the sensor data to an external reader that may be a hand-held scanner or a large portal. Prototypes of the laser system and both types of subsurface sensors have been developed. The laser scanner was tested on Shuttle Orbiter Columbia and was able to dimension surface chips and holes on a variety of TPS materials. The temperature-overlimit microsensor has a diameter under 0.05 inch (suitable for placement in gaps between ceramic TPS tiles) and can withstand 700 F for 15 minutes.

Milos, Frank S.↗
NASA NTRS2001

Wireless Subsurface Sensors for Health Monitoring of Thermal Protection Systems on Hypersonic Vehicles

Health diagnostics is an area where major improvements have been identified for potential implementation into the design of new reusable launch vehicles (RLVs) in order to reduce life cycle costs, to increase safety margins, and to improve mission reliability. NASA Ames is leading the effort to develop inspection and health management technologies for thermal protection systems. This paper summarizes a joint project between NASA Ames and industry partners to develop "wireless" devices that can be embedded in the thermal protection system to monitor temperature or other quantities of interest. These devices are sensors integrated with radio-frequency identification (RFID) microchips to enable non-contact communication of sensor data to an external reader that may be a hand-held scanner or a large portal. Both passive and active prototype devices have been developed. The passive device uses a thermal fuse to indicate the occurrence of excessive temperature. This device has a diameter under 0.13 cm. (suitable for placement in gaps between ceramic TPS tiles on an RLV) and can withstand 370 C for 15 minutes. The active device contains a small battery to provide power to a thermocouple for recording a temperature history during flight. The bulk of the device must be placed beneath the TPS for protection from high temperature, but the thermocouple can be placed in a hot location such as near the external surface.

Milos, Frank S.↗