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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 883 records · Page 49
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS2011

GOATS Image Projection Component

When doing mission analysis and design of an imaging system in orbit around the Earth, answering the fundamental question of imaging performance requires an understanding of the image products that will be produced by the imaging system. GOATS software represents a series of MATLAB functions to provide for geometric image projections. Unique features of the software include function modularity, a standard MATLAB interface, easy-to-understand first-principles-based analysis, and the ability to perform geometric image projections of framing type imaging systems. The software modules are created for maximum analysis utility, and can all be used independently for many varied analysis tasks, or used in conjunction with other orbit analysis tools.

Haber, Benjamin M.↗
NASA NTRS1991

A unified approach for composite cost reporting and prediction in the ACT program

The Structures Technology Program Office (STPO) at NASA Langley Research Center has held two workshops with representatives from the commercial airframe companies to establish a plan for development of a standard cost reporting format and a cost prediction tool for conceptual and preliminary designers. This paper reviews the findings of the workshop representatives with a plan for implementation of their recommendations. The recommendations of the cost tracking and reporting committee will be implemented by reinstituting the collection of composite part fabrication data in a format similar to the DoD/NASA Structural Composites Fabrication Guide. The process of data collection will be automated by taking advantage of current technology with user friendly computer interfaces and electronic data transmission. Development of a conceptual and preliminary designers' cost prediction model will be initiated. The model will provide a technically sound method for evaluating the relative cost of different composite structural designs, fabrication processes, and assembly methods that can be compared to equivalent metallic parts or assemblies. The feasibility of developing cost prediction software in a modular form for interfacing with state of the art preliminary design tools and computer aided design (CAD) programs is assessed.

Freeman, W. Tom↗
NASA NTRS1990

An approach to a real-time distribution system

The requirements of a real-time data distribution system are to provide fast, reliable delivery of data from source to destination with little or no impact to the data source. In this particular case, the data sources are inside an operational environment, the Mission Control Center (MCC), and any workstation receiving data directly from the operational computer must conform to the software standards of the MCC. In order to supply data to development workstations outside of the MCC, it is necessary to use gateway computers that prevent unauthorized data transfer back to the operational computers. Many software programs produced on the development workstations are targeted for real-time operation. Therefore, these programs must migrate from the development workstation to the operational workstation. It is yet another requirement for the Data Distribution System to ensure smooth transition of the data interfaces for the application developers. A standard data interface model has already been set up for the operational environment, so the interface between the distribution system and the application software was developed to match that model as closely as possible. The system as a whole therefore allows the rapid development of real-time applications without impacting the data sources. In summary, this approach to a real-time data distribution system provides development users outside of the MCC with an interface to MCC real-time data sources. In addition, the data interface was developed with a flexible and portable software design. This design allows for the smooth transition of new real-time applications to the MCC operational environment.

Kittle, Frank P., Jr.↗
NASA NTRS2005

Multistage Magnetic Separator of Cells and Proteins

The multistage electromagnetic separator for purifying cells and magnetic particles (MAGSEP) is a laboratory apparatus for separating and/or purifying particles (especially biological cells) on the basis of their magnetic susceptibility and magnetophoretic mobility. Whereas a typical prior apparatus based on similar principles offers only a single stage of separation, the MAGSEP, as its full name indicates, offers multiple stages of separation; this makes it possible to refine a sample population of particles to a higher level of purity or to categorize multiple portions of the sample on the basis of magnetic susceptibility and/or magnetophoretic mobility. The MAGSEP includes a processing unit and an electronic unit coupled to a personal computer. The processing unit includes upper and lower plates, a plate-rotation system, an electromagnet, an electromagnet-translation system, and a capture-magnet assembly. The plates are bolted together through a roller bearing that allows the plates to rotate with respect to each other. An interface between the plates acts as a seal for separating fluids. A lower cuvette can be aligned with as many as 15 upper cuvette stations for fraction collection during processing. A two-phase stepping motor drives the rotation system, causing the upper plate to rotate for the collection of each fraction of the sample material. The electromagnet generates a magnetic field across the lower cuvette, while the translation system translates the electromagnet upward along the lower cuvette. The current supplied to the electromagnet, and thus the magnetic flux density at the pole face of the electromagnet, can be set at a programmed value between 0 and 1,400 gauss (0.14 T). The rate of translation can be programmed between 5 and 2,000 m/s so as to align all sample particles in the same position in the cuvette. The capture magnet can be a permanent magnet. It is mounted on an arm connected to a stepping motor. The stepping motor rotates the arm to position the capture magnet above the upper cuvette into which a fraction of the sample is collected. The electronic unit includes a power switch, power-supply circuitry that accepts 110-Vac input power, an RS-232 interface, and status lights. The personal computer runs the MAGSEP software and controls the operation of the MAGSEP through the RS-232 interface. The status of the power, the translating electromagnet, the capture magnet, and the rotation of the upper plate are indicated in a graphical user interface on the computer screen.

Barton, Ken↗
NASA NTRS1994

Development of a Power Electronics Unit for the Space Station Plasma Contactor

A hollow cathode plasma contactor has been baselined as a charge control device for the Space Station (SS) to prevent deleterious interactions of coated structural components with the ambient plasma. NASA LeRC Work Package 4 initiated the development of a plasma contactor system comprised of a Power Electronics Unit (PEU), an Expellant Management Unit (EMU), a command and data interface, and a Plasma Contactor Unit (PCU). A breadboard PEU was designed and fabricated. The breadboard PEU contains a cathode heater and discharge power supply, which were required to operate the PCU, a control and auxiliary power converter, an EMU interface, a command and telemetry interface, and a controller. The cathode heater and discharge supplies utilized a push-pull topology with a switching frequency of 20 kHz and pulse-width-modulated (PWM) control. A pulse ignition circuit derived from that used in arcjet power processors was incorporated in the discharge supply for discharge ignition. An 8088 based microcontroller was utilized in the breadboard model to provide a flexible platform for controller development with a simple command/data interface incorporating a direct connection to SS Mulitplexer/Demultiplexer (MDM) analog and digital I/O cards. Incorporating this in the flight model would eliminate the hardware and software overhead associated with a 1553 serial interface. The PEU autonomously operated the plasma contactor based on command inputs and was successfully integrated with a prototype plasma contactor unit demonstrating reliable ignition of the discharge and steady-state operation.

Hamley, John A.↗
NASA NTRS2024

Uranus Global Reference Atmospheric Model (Uranus-GRAM) 2024: User Guide

Engineers and mission planners designing vehicles that pass through Uranus’ atmosphere require an atmospheric model that calculates the mean values and variations of atmospheric properties. The Uranus Global Reference Atmospheric Model(Uranus-GRAM)is an engineering- oriented model that provides this information based on data from Voyager observations. Uranus- GRAM is designed to offer mission planners the flexibility to select input parameters such as time, latitude, and longitude. Uranus-GRAM outputs atmospheric constituent data and mean values for atmospheric density, temperature, pressure, and zonal wind along a user defined path. Uranus-GRAM also provides dispersions of density and zonal wind. Uranus-GRAM is one option in the GRAM Suite that shares a common software core with the other planetary GRAMs while maintaining Uranus specific models. Additionally, documentation, including this User Guide, a Programmer’s Manual, and trajectory code interfaces has been made available with the software release. This Technical Memorandum summarizes the atmospheric data model in Uranus-GRAM and provides a guide for the user to obtain, set up, and run the code in various configurations. Section 2 describes the input atmospheric data files and how they are used in Uranus-GRAM. Section 3 explains the process to obtain the Uranus-GRAM code, the data files, and how to set up and run the program. Appendices A through E provide additional details regarding the Uranus-GRAM input and output files. Appendix F provides a history of Uranus-GRAM revisions.

atmospheric models↗
NASA NTRS1995

TIA Software User's Manual

This user's manual describes the installation and operation of TIA, the Thermal-Imaging acquisition and processing Application, developed by the Nondestructive Evaluation Sciences Branch at NASA Langley Research Center, Hampton, Virginia. TIA is a user friendly graphical interface application for the Macintosh 2 and higher series computers. The software has been developed to interface with the Perceptics/Westinghouse Pixelpipe(TM) and PixelStore(TM) NuBus cards and the GW Instruments MacADIOS(TM) input-output (I/O) card for the Macintosh for imaging thermal data. The software is also capable of performing generic image-processing functions.

Cramer, K. Elliott↗
DOE OSTI2021

Building Efficiency Targeting Tool for Energy Retrofits (BETTER) Application Programing Interface (API) (BETTER API) v1.0

The BETTER API allows advanced users and developers to access BETTER's analytical functionalities via HTTP requests from their own software platform without using the BETTER web-interface. API users prepare the input data and analysis configurations in a JSON format and send it to the web application via an HTTP request. The web application runs the analytical workflow on the back end and returns an HTTP response in JSON format. The user can then decide to render the results or further process it.

Szum, Carolyn↗
DOE OSTI2021

AENET–LAMMPS and AENET–TINKER : Interfaces for accurate and efficient molecular dynamics simulations with machine learning potentials

Machine-learning potentials (MLPs) trained on data from quantum-mechanics based first-principles methods can approach the accuracy of the reference method at a fraction of the computational cost. To facilitate efficient MLP-based molecular dynamics and Monte Carlo simulations, an integration of the MLPs with sampling software is needed. Here, we develop two interfaces that link the atomic energy network (ænet) MLP package with the popular sampling packages TINKER and LAMMPS. The three packages, ænet, TINKER, and LAMMPS, are free and open-source software that enable, in combination, accurate simulations of large and complex systems with low computational cost that scales linearly with the number of atoms. Scaling tests show that the parallel efficiency of the ænet–TINKER interface is nearly optimal but is limited to shared-memory systems. The ænet–LAMMPS interface achieves excellent parallel efficiency on highly parallel distributed memory systems and benefits from the highly optimized neighbor list implemented in LAMMPS. We demonstrate the utility of the two MLP interfaces for two relevant example applications: the investigation of diffusion phenomena in liquid water and the equilibration of nanostructured amorphous battery materials.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
NASA NTRS1995

Geometric modeling for computer aided design

The primary goal of this grant has been the design and implementation of software to be used in the conceptual design of aerospace vehicles particularly focused on the elements of geometric design, graphical user interfaces, and the interaction of the multitude of software typically used in this engineering environment. This has resulted in the development of several analysis packages and design studies. These include two major software systems currently used in the conceptual level design of aerospace vehicles. These tools are SMART, the Solid Modeling Aerospace Research Tool, and EASIE, the Environment for Software Integration and Execution. Additional software tools were designed and implemented to address the needs of the engineer working in the conceptual design environment. SMART provides conceptual designers with a rapid prototyping capability and several engineering analysis capabilities. In addition, SMART has a carefully engineered user interface that makes it easy to learn and use. Finally, a number of specialty characteristics have been built into SMART which allow it to be used efficiently as a front end geometry processor for other analysis packages. EASIE provides a set of interactive utilities that simplify the task of building and executing computer aided design systems consisting of diverse, stand-alone, analysis codes. Resulting in a streamlining of the exchange of data between programs reducing errors and improving the efficiency. EASIE provides both a methodology and a collection of software tools to ease the task of coordinating engineering design and analysis codes.

Schwing, James L.↗
NASA NTRS1974

Engineering simulation development and evaluation of the two-segment noise abatement approach conducted in the B-727-222 flight simulator

Profile modification as a means of reducing ground level noise from jet aircraft in the landing approach is evaluated. A flight simulator was modified to incorporate the cockpit hardware which would be in the prototype airplane installation. The two-segment system operational and aircraft interface logic was accurately emulated in software. Programs were developed to permit data to be recorded in real time on the line printer, a 14-channel oscillograph, and an x-y plotter. The two-segment profile and procedures which were developed are described with emphasis on operational concepts and constraints. The two-segment system operational logic and the flight simulator capabilities are described. The findings influenced the ultimate system design and aircraft interface.

Nylen, W. E.↗
NASA NTRS2003

An Interface for Specifying Rigid-Body Motions for CFD Applications

An interface for specifying rigid-body motions for CFD applications is presented. This interface provides a means of describing a component hierarchy in a geometric configuration, as well as the motion (prescribed or six-degree-of-freedom) associated with any component. The interface consists of a general set of datatypes, along with rules for their interaction, and is designed to be flexible in order to evolve as future needs dictate. The specification is currently implemented with an XML file format which is portable across platforms and applications. The motion specification is capable of describing general rigid body motions, and eliminates the need to write and compile new code within the application software for each dynamic configuration, allowing client software to automate dynamic simulations. The interface is integrated with a GUI tool which allows rigid body motions to be prescribed and verified interactively, promoting access to non-expert users. Illustrative examples, as well as the raw XML source of the file specifications, are included.

Murman, Scott M.↗
NASA NTRS2020

Command and Control System Automated Testing

To support the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and the Orion capsule, designed to take humans back to the moon in 2024, Kennedy Space Center (KSC) has developed the Spaceport Command and Control System (SCCS) to monitor and control the launch. Within SCCS, the Launch Control System (LCS) is designed to allow console engineers to control and monitor the status of the launch and flight hardware, as well as issue commands to ground control systems and launch vehicles. The messaging software of LCS is responsible for handling the various data types that can be sent between the hardware and software components of the LCS. Since this system is interacting with numerous devices, controllers, and viewports in real time, the distribution of data across the system must be fast, but also reliable and accurate. To verify the accuracy and reliability of the system, developers on the project have created a set of tests to be performed that covers all operations allowed by the system. Given the extensive Application Programming Interface(API) provided by the messaging software, these unit tests are rather time-consuming and costly (in terms of man-hours) to perform. Therefore, an automated testing framework is used to perform supplemental tests automatically when updates are made to the code base.

Rebecca McFadden↗
NASA NTRS2012

LEGION: Lightweight Expandable Group of Independently Operating Nodes

LEGION is a lightweight C-language software library that enables distributed asynchronous data processing with a loosely coupled set of compute nodes. Loosely coupled means that a node can offer itself in service to a larger task at any time and can withdraw itself from service at any time, provided it is not actively engaged in an assignment. The main program, i.e., the one attempting to solve the larger task, does not need to know up front which nodes will be available, how many nodes will be available, or at what times the nodes will be available, which is normally the case in a "volunteer computing" framework. The LEGION software accomplishes its goals by providing message-based, inter-process communication similar to MPI (message passing interface), but without the tight coupling requirements. The software is lightweight and easy to install as it is written in standard C with no exotic library dependencies. LEGION has been demonstrated in a challenging planetary science application in which a machine learning system is used in closed-loop fashion to efficiently explore the input parameter space of a complex numerical simulation. The machine learning system decides which jobs to run through the simulator; then, through LEGION calls, the system farms those jobs out to a collection of compute nodes, retrieves the job results as they become available, and updates a predictive model of how the simulator maps inputs to outputs. The machine learning system decides which new set of jobs would be most informative to run given the results so far; this basic loop is repeated until sufficient insight into the physical system modeled by the simulator is obtained.

Burl, Michael C.↗
DOE OSTI2025

Data Integration and Visualization for Enhanced Resilience and Sustainability in Hydropower (DIVERS-H)

U.S. hydropower plants face potential threats from shrinking water supply, rising demands, and warmer stream temperatures from various causes. Power plant owners, operators, and regulators require new tools to take advantage of and interpret the diverse range of scientific data being produced by both observational methods (for example, satellite, radar, stream gauges) and computer modeling methods that evaluate and predict how earth's dynamic systems (atmosphere, oceans, land surface, and sea ice) are changing and interacting. Combining datasets such as these with AI-based analyses introduces a novel decision support system to help users anticipate and address potential impacts on power generation stations. This new technology has been named DIVERS-H for "Data Integration and Visualization for Enhanced Resilience and Sustainability in Hydropower." In Phase I, technical feasibility was established with the development and demonstration of all the new technologies that are required. Most notably, DIVERS-H will use new artificial intelligence (AI) methods to capture the complex dynamics of water availability, demand, and environmental changes. In addition, new data management software was developed, and a prototype user interface was implemented as the precursor to a full scale decision support system. With technical research complete, the project focus now shifts to development of a commercial software product to provide users with actionable insight into water availability and the risk/resilience of critical systems at their locations of interest. Although DIVER-H was originally conceived as a tool for hydroelectric power applications, the same underlying technology can be readily applied to other water-consuming systems including coal, natural gas, oil, and nuclear power plants.

Chaudhary, Aashish [Kitware, Inc., Clifton Park, N↗
NASA NTRS1982

Bi-directional communication interface for microprocessor-to-system/370

The design and operation of a bi-directional communication interface between a microcomputer and the IBM System/370 is documented. The hardware unit inter-connects a modem to interface to the S/370, the microcomputer with an EIA I/O port, and a terminal for sending and receiving data from either the microcomputer of the S/370. The software necessary for the two-way interface is also described. This interface was designed so that no modifications need to be made to the terminal, modem or microcomputer.

Fischer, J. P.↗
DOE OSTI2025

Dtc Commercialization Software Package

This code is the complete software and firmware components supporting DTC model radios H2 and BluSDR6. This software package contains all the hardware boot up code/config files(BSP), user space Linux code (Web, Network, MAC (media access control) & drivers), the field programable gate array HDL (hardware description language) code and the build environment to compile and organize these components together to work in the aforementioned radios. Additional details of these components are as follows: • Hardware support components o Board support package and configuration files o uBoot • Linux Components: o The web components include the user interface for setup, configuration, and status components of the system. o Vulture code configures the radio’s IP network, configures radio parameters and runs the MAC layer of the radio. • The Field Programmable Gate Array HDL contains hardware drivers, interface logic to go between the software to the physical layer and the radio hardware as well as the logic for the physical layer of the radio. • Build environment includes compilers and config files that compile and organize all the other components to be able to be run on the radios.

Loera, Jose [Idaho National Laboratory (INL), Idah↗
DOE OSTI2026

MCP-eGridGPT (MCP-Enabled Chatbot with Electrical Power System Analysis and Interactive Visualization Tool) [SWR-25-126]

This software is an advanced chatbot system that integrates the Model Context Protocol (MCP) to provide intelligent electrical power system analysis and automated visualization generation. The system enables users to interact with complex electrical engineering tools through natural language, automatically analyzes power system data for voltage violations and grid health assessment, and generates professional interactive HTML dashboards and reports. Key features include dynamic tool discovery from MCP servers, multi-LLM provider support, intelligent data interpretation using large language models, automated chart generation, and a web-based interface for real-time analysis. The software bridges sophisticated electrical engineering analysis with user-friendly interfaces, making power system diagnostics accessible through conversational AI.

Choi, Seong [National Laboratory of the Rockies (N↗