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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 NTRS1993

Experimental evaluation of the certification-trail method

Certification trails are a recently introduced and promising approach to fault-detection and fault-tolerance. A comprehensive attempt to assess experimentally the performance and overall value of the method is reported. The method is applied to algorithms for the following problems: huffman tree, shortest path, minimum spanning tree, sorting, and convex hull. Our results reveal many cases in which an approach using certification-trails allows for significantly faster overall program execution time than a basic time redundancy-approach. Algorithms for the answer-validation problem for abstract data types were also examined. This kind of problem provides a basis for applying the certification-trail method to wide classes of algorithms. Answer-validation solutions for two types of priority queues were implemented and analyzed. In both cases, the algorithm which performs answer-validation is substantially faster than the original algorithm for computing the answer. Next, a probabilistic model and analysis which enables comparison between the certification-trail method and the time-redundancy approach were presented. The analysis reveals some substantial and sometimes surprising advantages for ther certification-trail method. Finally, the work our group performed on the design and implementation of fault injection testbeds for experimental analysis of the certification trail technique is discussed. This work employs two distinct methodologies, software fault injection (modification of instruction, data, and stack segments of programs on a Sun Sparcstation ELC and on an IBM 386 PC) and hardware fault injection (control, address, and data lines of a Motorola MC68000-based target system pulsed at logical zero/one values). Our results indicate the viability of the certification trail technique. It is also believed that the tools developed provide a solid base for additional exploration.

Sullivan, Gregory F.↗
DOE OSTI2026

An end-to-end workflow for executing a classically bootstrapped variational quantum algorithm on an academic quantum computer

Academic quantum computing platforms often face unique challenges in executing quantum workloads due to fragmented software environments and limited engineering support. Unlike commercial ecosystems, academic devices typically evolve without full-stack integration in mind, making it difficult to run complex applications—such as variational quantum algorithms (VQA)—reliably and efficiently. Issues such as incompatible software layers and lack of automated job management significantly increase the overhead of theory-experiment collaboration. To address these challenges, we develop a modular, end-to-end workflow that decouples application-layer code from low-level hardware control, automates circuit submission and result collection, and supports fine-grained circuit-level job scheduling and recovery. The architecture employs a dual-end application programming interface (API) design, enabling robust operation across unstable or resource-constrained hardware backends. For practical use, the framework is lightweight and user-friendly, allowing rapid prototyping of full-stack workflows using basic Python tools. We validate this workflow on a high-fidelity trapped-ion quantum computer by demonstrating a variational quantum eigensolver (VQE) experiment with a classically bootstrapped ansatz initialization technique. The system successfully executed over 60,000 circuits across multiple molecular test cases with minimal human intervention, highlighting the framework’s effectiveness in enabling reproducible, resilient quantum experimentation in academic settings.

Clifford↗
NASA NTRS1997

Calibrating the WFPC2 astrometry for MDS

The Hubble Space Telescope (HST) Medium Deep Survey has optimized an automated procedure to associate and stack WFPC2 data. The coordinates listed in HST WFPC2 image and/or jitter file headers are often found to be insufficient to stack images for cosmic ray removal. We discuss results from software developed for the HST Medium Deep Survey (MDS) pipeline to evaluate these shifts by cross-correlation of the images. We will also discuss the distortion of the pre-cool-down WFPC2 field and attempts to derive absolute coordinates for MDS WFPC2 observations using the USNO-Al.0 half billion object catalog.

Ratnatunga, Kavan U.↗
NASA NTRS2006

Crew Launch Vehicle (CLV) Avionics and Software Integration Overview

On January 14, 2004, the President of the United States announced a new plan to explore space and extend a human presence across our solar system. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) established the Exploration Systems Mission Directorate (ESMD) to develop and field a Constellation Architecture that will bring the Space Exploration vision to fruition. The Constellation Architecture includes a human-rated Crew Launch Vehicle (CLV) segment, managed by the Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC), comprised of the First Stage (FS), Upper Stage (US), and Upper Stage Engine (USE) elements. The CLV s purpose is to provide safe and reliable crew and cargo transportation into Low Earth Orbit (LEO), as well as insertion into trans-lunar trajectories. The architecture's Spacecraft segment includes, among other elements, the Crew Exploration Vehicle (CEV), managed by the Johnson Space Flight Center (JSC), which is launched atop the CLV. MSFC is also responsible for CLV and CEV stack integration. This paper provides an overview of the Avionics and Software integration approach (which includes the Integrated System Health Management (ISHM) functions), both within the CLV, and across the CEV interface; it addresses the requirements to be met, logistics of meeting those requirements, and the roles of the various groups. The Avionics Integration and Vehicle Systems Test (ANST) Office was established at the MSFC with system engineering responsibilities for defining and developing the integrated CLV Avionics and Software system. The AIVST Office has defined two Groups, the Avionics and Software Integration Group (AVSIG), and the Integrated System Simulation and Test Integration Group (ISSTIG), and four Panels which will direct trade studies and analyses to ensure the CLV avionics and software meet CLV system and CEV interface requirements. The four panels are: 1) Avionics Integration Panel (AIP), 2) Software Integration Panel, 3) EEE Panel, and 4) Systems Simulation and Test Panel. Membership on the groups and panels includes the MSFC representatives from the requisite engineering disciplines, the First Stage, the Upper Stage, the Upper Stage Engine projects, and key personnel from other NASA centers. The four panels will take the results of trade studies and analyses and develop documentation in support of Design Analysis Cycle Reviews and ultimately the System Requirements Review.

Monell, Donald W.↗
NASA NTRS1976

Hardware additions to microprocessor architecture aid software development

An address trap (breakpoint) mechanism and last-in-first-out (LIFO) address stack are suggested as two additions to the basic microprocessor architecture whose functions are solely to aid the programmer. These devices provide the programmer with the ability to specify address breakpoints and to trace program execution back through N instructions, where N is the depth of the stack. Both devices, plus interface logic and buffering, have been designed for an INTEL 8080-based system using approximately 25 integrated-circuit packages.

Sievers, M. W.↗
DOE OSTI2025

2025 Peregrine in-situ monitoring and training dataset for laser powder bed fusion and binder jet printers

Peregrine, a software tool developed at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), was used to collect and analyze in-situ monitoring (ISM) data from a Concept Laser M2 (Colibrium Additive) laser powder bed fusion (L-PBF) printer and an ExOne Innovent (Desktop Metal) binder jet printer. Data for four builds (print jobs) were saved to HDF5 (high performance data) files for release. Additionally, process anomalies were annotated by the authors across 37 image stacks (i.e., print layers) and are also provided as HDF5 files.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2026

Detector Interface for Streaming, Control, and Open-source integration (DISCO) v1.0.0

This suite consists of a multi-package ecosystem featuring detector emulators, EPICS areaDetector drivers, and remote server frameworks designed for the Advanced Light Source (ALS). Engineered for high-bandwidth devices—including VFCCD, Timepix3, Timepix4, and related pixel detectors—the software simulates hardware, wraps vendor SDKs into remote-callable servers, and integrates with open-source control systems. Key Capabilities: Distributed SDK Architecture: Server packages wrap hardware-specific SDKs, allowing areaDetector drivers to execute remote framework calls. This isolates proprietary libraries from the EPICS IOC, enhancing stability and enabling distributed computing across beamline networks. Device Support: Custom drivers for VFCCD, the Timepix family, and similar sensors optimize the data path from hardware control to high-speed transport. Full-Stack Emulation: Sophisticated emulator packages allow end-to-end pipeline testing and software development without requiring physical hardware or beam time. Integrated Workflows: Supports high-bandwidth streaming for real-time analysis and robust, metadata-rich file-based workflows (e.g., HDF5/NeXus). By standardizing interfaces across heterogeneous hardware, this suite reduces technical debt. It provides the ALS with a scalable, open-source solution to manage massive data rates within a unified control environment.

Mahl, Johannes [Lawrence Berkeley National Laborat↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Commanding Constellations (Pipeline Architecture)

Providing ground command software for constellations of spacecraft is a challenging problem. Reliable command delivery requires a feedback loop; for a constellation there will likely be an independent feedback loop for each constellation member. Each command must be sent via the proper Ground Station, which may change from one contact to the next (and may be different for different members). Dynamic configuration of the ground command software is usually required (e.g. directives to configure each member's feedback loop and assign the appropriate Ground Station). For testing purposes, there must be a way to insert command data at any level in the protocol stack. The Pipeline architecture described in this paper can support all these capabilities with a sequence of software modules (the pipeline), and a single self-identifying message format (for all types of command data and configuration directives). The Pipeline architecture is quite simple, yet it can solve some complex problems. The resulting solutions are conceptually simple, and therefore, reliable. They are also modular, and therefore, easy to distribute and extend. We first used the Pipeline architecture to design a CCSDS (Consultative Committee for Space Data Systems) Ground Telecommand system (to command one spacecraft at a time with a fixed Ground Station interface). This pipeline was later extended to include gateways to any of several Ground Stations. The resulting pipeline was then extended to handle a small constellation of spacecraft. The use of the Pipeline architecture allowed us to easily handle the increasing complexity. This paper will describe the Pipeline architecture, show how it was used to solve each of the above commanding situations, and how it can easily be extended to handle larger constellations.

Tim Ray↗
DOE OSTI2025

automesh: Automatic mesh generation in Rust

automesh is an open-source Rust software program that uses a segmentation, typically generated from a 3D image stack, to create a finite element mesh, composed either of hexahedral (volumetric) or triangular (isosurface) elements. automesh converts between segmentation formats (.npy, .spn) and mesh formats (.exo, .inp, .mesh, .stl, .vtk). automesh can defeature voxel domains, apply Laplacian and Taubin smoothing, and output mesh quality metrics. automesh uses an internal octree for fast performance.

Hovey, Chad Brian [Sandia National Laboratories (S↗
NASA NTRS2016

Mechanical Design and Development of TES Bolometer Detector Arrays for the Advanced ACTPol Experiment

The next generation Advanced ACTPol (AdvACT) experiment is currently underway and will consist of four Transition Edge Sensor (TES) bolometer arrays, with three operating together, totaling 5800 detectors on the sky. Building on experience gained with the ACTPol detector arrays, AdvACT will utilize various new technologies, including 150 mm detector wafers equipped with multichroic pixels, allowing for a more densely packed focal plane. Each set of detectors includes a feedhorn array of stacked silicon wafers which form a spline pro le leading to each pixel. This is then followed by a waveguide interface plate, detector wafer, back short cavity plate, and backshort cap. Each array is housed in a custom designed structure manufactured from high purity copper and then gold plated. In addition to the detector array assembly, the array package also encloses cryogenic readout electronics. We present the full mechanical design of the AdvACT high frequency (HF) detector array package along with a detailed look at the detector array stack assemblies. This experiment will also make use of extensive hardware and software previously developed for ACT, which will be modi ed to incorporate the new AdvACT instruments. Therefore, we discuss the integration of all AdvACT arrays with pre-existing ACTPol infrastructure.

Advanced ACTPol (AdvACT)↗
NASA NTRS2017

Reconfigurable Wideband Circularly Polarized Stacked Square Patch Antenna for Cognitive Radios

An almost square patch, a square patch and a stacked square patch with corner truncation for circular polarization (CP) are researched and developed at X-band for cognitive radios. Experimental results indicate, first, that the impedance bandwidth of a CP almost square patch fed from the edge by a 50 ohm line is 1.70% and second, that of a CP square patch fed from the ground plane side by a surface launch connector is 1.87%. Third, the impedance bandwidth of a CP stacked square patch fed by a surface launch connector is 2.22%. The measured center frequency for the CP square patch fed by a surface launch connector without and with an identical stacked patch is 8.45 and 8.1017 GHz, respectively. By stacking a patch, separated by a fixed air gap of 0.254 mm, the center frequency is observed to shift by as much as 348.3 MHz. The shift in center frequency, brought about by the reconfiguring of the physical layer antenna, can be exploited in a cognitive system since it expands the usable frequency spectrum for software reconfiguration in the presence of interference. In addition, varying the fixed air gap in the stacked antenna geometry by increments of 0.254 mm further expands the usable frequency spectrum.

Cognitive↗
NASA NTRS2012

Compact Autonomous Hemispheric Vision System

Solar System Exploration camera implementations to date have involved either single cameras with wide field-of-view (FOV) and consequently coarser spatial resolution, cameras on a movable mast, or single cameras necessitating rotation of the host vehicle to afford visibility outside a relatively narrow FOV. These cameras require detailed commanding from the ground or separate onboard computers to operate properly, and are incapable of making decisions based on image content that control pointing and downlink strategy. For color, a filter wheel having selectable positions was often added, which added moving parts, size, mass, power, and reduced reliability. A system was developed based on a general-purpose miniature visible-light camera using advanced CMOS (complementary metal oxide semiconductor) imager technology. The baseline camera has a 92 FOV and six cameras are arranged in an angled-up carousel fashion, with FOV overlaps such that the system has a 360 FOV (azimuth). A seventh camera, also with a FOV of 92 , is installed normal to the plane of the other 6 cameras giving the system a > 90 FOV in elevation and completing the hemispheric vision system. A central unit houses the common electronics box (CEB) controlling the system (power conversion, data processing, memory, and control software). Stereo is achieved by adding a second system on a baseline, and color is achieved by stacking two more systems (for a total of three, each system equipped with its own filter.) Two connectors on the bottom of the CEB provide a connection to a carrier (rover, spacecraft, balloon, etc.) for telemetry, commands, and power. This system has no moving parts. The system's onboard software (SW) supports autonomous operations such as pattern recognition and tracking.

Pingree, Paula J.↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Space Launch System (SLS) Human Factors Engineering Modeling & Analysis

The Human Systems Integration & Engineering (HSI&E) team at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) strives to advocate for the humans in the loop of Space Launch System’s (SLS) ground operations. Using assessment methods like human simulation, virtual reality, and physical mockups, both flight hardware and ground support equipment (GSE) are evaluated for human integration. Those ranging from 5th percentile female (approximately 5’2” tall) to 95th percentile male (approximately 6’2” tall) should be able to perform all SLS stacking operations. Operations include element physical mates, element electrical mates, and testing activities. The primary human simulation software used is Process Simulate Human (PSH) made by Siemens. This software supplies highly accurate human manikins that can interact with CAD models. PSH was used to evaluate the Transportation and Integration Platform’s (TIP) side opening that was designed for access to the Payload Adapter (PLA) cables. Technicians will need to access these cables for testing purposes before element stacking at Kennedy Space Center (KSC). After performing an analysis in PSH using the TIP side opening, it was found that neither a 5th percentile female or a 95th percentile male could perform the task as the designers had intended. There is a C-beam that blocks access to the cables (both physically and visually). An alternative analysis was performed using PSH to look at another access point to the PLA cables. Although this method would disrupt already established procedures and produce more work, the designers confirmed it was an option. Instead of technicians accessing the cables through the side opening in the TIP, a human simulation was performed for going through a panel opening in the bottom of the TIP. This method requires removal of a TIP panel and a stepladder of at least 36 inches for a 5th percentile female to access the cables.

human factors↗
DOE OSTI2024

How to Build a Quantum Supercomputer: Scaling from Hundreds to Millions of Qubits

In the span of four decades, quantum computation has evolved from an intellectual curiosity to a potentially realizable technology. Today, small-scale demonstrations have become possible for quantum algorithmic primitives on hundreds of physical qubits and proof-of-principle error-correction on a single logical qubit. Nevertheless, despite significant progress and excitement, the path toward a full-stack scalable technology is largely unknown. There are significant outstanding quantum hardware, fabrication, software architecture, and algorithmic challenges that are either unresolved or overlooked. These issues could seriously undermine the arrival of utility-scale quantum computers for the foreseeable future. Here, we provide a comprehensive review of these scaling challenges. We show how the road to scaling could be paved by adopting existing semiconductor technology to build much higher-quality qubits, employing system engineering approaches, and performing distributed quantum computation within heterogeneous high-performance computing infrastructures. These opportunities for research and development could unlock certain promising applications, in particular, efficient quantum simulation/learning of quantum data generated by natural or engineered quantum systems. To estimate the true cost of such promises, we provide a detailed resource and sensitivity analysis for classically hard quantum chemistry calculations on surface-code error-corrected quantum computers given current, target, and desired hardware specifications based on superconducting qubits, accounting for a realistic distribution of errors. Furthermore, we argue that, to tackle industry-scale classical optimization and machine learning problems in a cost-effective manner, heterogeneous quantum-probabilistic computing with custom-designed accelerators should be considered as a complementary path toward scalability.

Mohseni, Masoud↗
NASA NTRS1991

Stacking-sequence optimization for buckling of laminated plates by integer programming

Integer-programming formulations for the design of symmetric and balanced laminated plates under biaxial compression are presented. Both maximization of buckling load for a given total thickness and the minimization of total thickness subject to a buckling constraint are formulated. The design variables that define the stacking sequence of the laminate are zero-one integers. It is shown that the formulation results in a linear optimization problem that can be solved on readily available software. This is in contrast to the continuous case, where the design variables are the thicknesses of layers with specified ply orientations, and the optimization problem is nonlinear. Constraints on the stacking sequence such as a limit on the number of contiguous plies of the same orientation and limits on in-plane stiffnesses are easily accommodated. Examples are presented for graphite-epoxy plates under uniaxial and biaxial compression using a commercial software package based on the branch-and-bound algorithm.

Haftka, Raphael T.↗
NASA NTRS2018

Advanced Utilization of the Payload Executive Processor (PEP) Ethernet Port to Support JSL Based Payloads

Increased interest by Payload Developers in utilization of the Joint Station LAN (Local Area Network) (JSL) for command and data transactions has driven the investigation of providing bi-directional Ethernet communication with PEP (Payload Executive Processor). Ethernet-only payload developers are interested in taking advantage of the services provided by PEP. Enabling Ethernet communications within PEP requires more than just turning on the hardware. PEP contains no Operating System (OS) or Ethernet stack so it does not inherit any built in functionality for Ethernet support. Both hardware drivers and application software must be developed from scratch. In the absence of an OS (Operating System) the design must address security issues in terms of access and data transferred, i.e. blocking unauthorized users and preventing denial of service. Developing a design to process Ethernet data within the existing real-time constraints of PEP requires a few compromises: data rates, supported protocols, custom packet format and limited client connections to name a few. Integration of the light weight internet protocol (LwIP). Ethernet stack provides a customizable solution for the embedded real-time environment. As utilization of the JSL increases, the successful implementation of an Ethernet interface enhances the utilization of PEP, and provides a new path for future Ethernet-only payloads to gain access to around the clock command and data services.

Guyette, Greg↗
NASA NTRS2008

Monte Carlo Simulation to Estimate Likelihood of Direct Lightning Strikes

A software tool has been designed to quantify the lightning exposure at launch sites of the stack at the pads under different configurations. In order to predict lightning strikes to generic structures, this model uses leaders whose origins (in the x-y plane) are obtained from a 2D random, normal distribution.

Mata, Carlos↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

A new template for developing C++ applications in NASA's Core Flight System

In this presentation, we will demonstrate an example Core Flight System (cFS) application written in C++, compatible with the Draco releases of the Core Flight Executive (cFE) and NASA Operating System Abstraction Layer (OSAL). The application boilerplate, supporting library, and associated generation script were recently developed and licensed under the permissive Apache License 2.0 with the goal of easing the cFS app development with C++. The design and features of this application will be presented, including a higher-level interface for interactions with the cFE software bus pipes, tables, and event services. Data structures are provided for centralized telecommand and telemetry parsing which isolates bookkeeping of message components from the calling code in an application's core logic. Specific advantages of writing a cFS application in C++ will be shown, including easier avoidance of symbol collisions via namespaces, expanded compile-time checks via constant expressions, default initialization for data structures, null safety via references, improved syntax for operating on multi-dimensional arrays, and reliable serialization of enumerations via enumeration classes. Special considerations needed for integrating a C++ application will be identified, including function linkage, exceptions, and stack unwinding. Evidence for the usefulness of this template will be discussed in the context of development of a flight software application used for interfacing with a solid-state data recorder.

Dominick Allen↗