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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 91 records · Page 5
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2025

Grid Resiliency using Hydro-based Microgrids During Wildfires

The primary objective of this project is to assess the techno-economic viability of hydropower resources with supplementary investments, including microgrid controllers, storage solutions, load banks, additional generation like diesel generators, communication links, and transmission infrastructure. The aim is to enable these systems to operate autonomously (in islanded mode) and ensure grid resiliency during and after wildfire events. The project seeks to establish a comprehensive framework for setting up hydropower-based microgrids, from risk estimation to final investment decisions. These microgrids can provide critical support during emergencies and offer additional grid stability and revenue opportunities during regular operations and other system contingencies.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗
DOE OSTI2025

The (R)evolution of Scientific Workflows in the Agentic AI Era: Towards Autonomous Science

Modern scientific discovery increasingly requires coordinating distributed facilities and heterogeneous resources, forcing researchers to act as manual workflow coordinators rather than scientists. Advances in AI leading to AI agents show exciting new opportunities that can accelerate scientific discovery by providing intelligence as a component in the ecosystem. However, it is unclear how this new capability would materialize and integrate in the real world. To address this, we propose a conceptual framework where workflows evolve along two dimensions which are intelligence (from static to intelligent) and composition (from single to swarm) to chart an evolutionary path from current workflow management systems to fully autonomous scientific laboratories. With these trajectories in mind, we present an architectural blueprint that can help the community take the next steps towards harnessing the opportunities in autonomous science with the potential for 100x discovery acceleration and transformational scientific workflows.

Shin, Woong [ORNL] (ORCID:0000000172077814)↗
DOE OSTI2025

Analog In-Memory Computing for the Synthetic Aperture Radar Polar Format Algorithm

As the utility of synthetic aperture radar (SAR) systems increases in autonomous vehicles, satellites, and other power- and space-constrained edge applications, there is a growing need for processors that can form SAR images at low power. In recent years, analog in-memory compute (AIMC) has shown immense promise for accelerating neural networks and other matrix-vector multiplication (MVM) heavy workloads at the edge. Here, in this work, we examine how the polar format algorithm (PFA), a popular SAR image formation algorithm, can be mapped to these AIMC systems. The PFA maps readily onto analog MVMs because it primarily consists of two linear operations: interpolation of frequency-domain data to a Cartesian grid, followed by a 2-D Fourier transform. This work presents two approaches to map the interpolation operation onto MVMs in analog hardware: a chirp transform and a modified form of sinc interpolation. These mappings introduce algorithmic errors, and their effect on the quality of SAR image formation is examined, both quantitatively and qualitatively. In addition, the impact of errors introduced by the analog hardware is explored to determine which approach is optimal under varying assumptions about the underlying analog memory devices and circuits.

Analog computing↗
DOE OSTI2025

Techno-economic assessment of distributed wellhead RO water treatment for nitrate removal and salinity reduction: A field study in small disadvantaged communities

Techno-economic analysis of distributed wellhead water treatment and desalination (DWTD) systems was carried out based on a three-year field study in three small, disadvantaged communities (DACs) to evaluate the reliability and affordability of upgrading their impaired well water. The local water supplies of the three study DACs, located in Salinas Valley, California, were contaminated with nitrate at levels (~ 12–87 mg/L NO$^{-}_{3}$ - N) ) above the California maximum contaminant level (MCL) of 10 mg/L NO$^{-}_{3}$ - N , and had elevated water salinity (~600–1,600 mg/L total dissolved solids(TDS)) above its secondary MCL (SMCL) of 500 mg/L TDS. Well water nitrate removal and salinity reduction were accomplished via reverse osmosis (RO) based DWTD systems that operated autonomously, supported by remote monitoring and supervisory cyberinfrastructure. Reliable DWTD operation provided treated water quality, with respect to nitrate and salinity, in the range of 0.5–6.3 mg/L NO$^{-}_{3}$ - N and 57–161 mg/L TDS, respectively, which were well below the respective MCL and SMCL. The levelized cost of water treatment was in the range of ~$$2/m 3 - $$2.9/m 3 which aligns with typical residential water costs in California and in the study region, and monthly residential water costs (39 dollars-74 dollars/residential unit/month) were also within the range in California. The study showcased the DWTD approach as a viable and potentially scalable solution for upgrading impaired local potable water supply of communities lacking centralized water delivery infrastructure. However, streamlined permitting processes and standardized regulatory frameworks are critical to promoting wider adoption and maximizing the socio-economic benefits of the DWT approach. Moreover, DACs are likely to require government subsidies in order to cover the CapEx of DWTD systems in addition to upgrade of site infrastructure.

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗
DOE OSTI2026

Self-Healing Cements with Improved Toughness at Casing and Formation Interfaces for Subsurface Applications (CRADA 530)

Over the three-year CRADA, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) advanced a new class of Molecular Velcro™ self-healing wellbore cements designed to improve the long-term integrity of wells used for geothermal energy production and carbon storage. Conventional wellbore cement can crack due to repeated mechanical loading, temperature swings, and exposure to aggressive subsurface fluids. Once cracks form, they can create leakage pathways, drive expensive remediation (“workovers”), and in extreme cases shorten well life. This project addressed that problem by developing polymer-modified cement systems that can autonomously re-seal cracks and better tolerate the extreme conditions experienced in subsurface wells, while remaining compatible with practical cementing operations.

15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2026

ARCH Technology Snapshot Autonomous Robot Control Hierarchy (ARCH): A universal software system that removes the need to rebuild robotic software for every new platform or task

Robots are increasingly used to perform repetitive, hazardous, and time-sensitive tasks, improving safety and operational efficiency. However, most robotic systems remain difficult to adapt because they are tightly tied to specific hardware and require extensive reprogramming for each new configuration.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2026

Advanced Research on Integrated Energy Systems Cyber Range

As digital technologies expand to meet the needs of a more autonomous, interconnected, and advanced power system, new cybersecurity complexities and vulnerabilities arise. The ARIES Cyber Range enables the energy sector to evaluate these evolutions and validate cybersecurity solutions without impacting live systems. Combining power grid-scale hardware with emulation and simulation approaches, the ARIES Cyber Range can faithfully replicate modern energy systems - from grid physics to communication networks, and everything in between - with real-world fidelity. At NLR, researchers and partners are answering complex power system cybersecurity questions, examining emerging threats to the electric sector, and de risking new security technologies, all at a mission-relevant speed that keeps pace with rapidly evolving systems and hazards.

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗
DOE OSTI2026

Autonomous Hydrogen Fueling Station

This project “Autonomous Hydrogen Fueling Station” covered the autonomous refueling with both gaseous hydrogen and liquid hydrogen. The part on gaseous hydrogen focused on the development of an autonomous robotic fueling arm that would couple to a fuel cell engine for hydrogen refueling without guidance from the forklift operator and budget period. Research was also covered for the robotic fueling with a commercial vehicle. The second phase of the project created the baseline for an autonomous liquid hydrogen transfer system that would minimize boil off losses by operating at thermodynamically efficient state points. For the development of the robotic fueling arm, testing was conducted to establish a baseline measurement of the accuracy and repeatability of a human operator positioning a lift truck in front of a dispenser. The goal was to establish the range of motion required for an autonomous fueling mechanism to mate a hydrogen nozzle with a receptacle on a fuel cell system installed in a forklift. The final design comprised a selective compliance articulated robot arm (SCARA)-type mechanism with two arms for horizontal motion and a ball screw for vertical movement and color and LIDAR cameras were used for marker identification and proximity awareness to guide the robotic arm to its target receptacle. Initial tests resulted in 199 out of 200 successful attempts at autonomous coupling of the dispensing coupler and a fuel cell engine, without hydrogen. The dispenser prototype was modified to include tubing for both hydrogen fuel and air purge lines, but subsequent tests were confounded by the shoulder motor over current errors which limited the robot from getting to the fully inserted position to achieve a positive latch. Robotic hydrogen refueling was successfully demonstrated over 1.5 hours of testing, Plug completed 29 successful latches with an average number of 4 sequential latches before failure. However, a robot capable of placing the nozzle with more force is required for higher reliability. For budget period two, a small scale (10 kg / transfer) automated control system was designed that would operate valves to control pressure and flow of liquid nitrogen between a source and receiving tank with an aim to minimize boil off losses by operating at the most thermodynamically efficient state points. Control system logic flow and a P&ID were developed prior to system safety characterization via HAZOP. A control narrative and system state points were defined. Delays in approval for a change of project objective and procurement issues precluded the construction and test of the final prototype system.

08 HYDROGEN↗
DOE OSTI2025

Casing Annulus Monitoring of CO 2 Injection Using Wireless Autonomous Distributed Sensor Networks

Effective and secure carbon subsurface storage, involving the deep underground injection of CO 2 into geological formations where it is permanently trapped, is paramount to mitigating CO 2 emissions (Figure I). Ensuring the integrity of these storage sites and detecting potential leakage through the casing annulus necessitates robust monitoring. This work provides the first integrated demonstration of a wireless casing-annulus monitoring architecture that can operate in highly attenuating cement-brine environments relevant to CO 2 storage. This project focused on developing and validating a novel sensor system for integration with autonomous monitoring near the cement reservoir interface. The goal was a fully integrated Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 4/5 field validation of a distributed wireless intelligent sensor system providing real-time, direct subsurface formation measurements to enhance fluid movement monitoring in the cemented casing annulus. Achieving this objective required the development and integration of 1) wireless autonomous microsensor technology by California Institute of Technology (Caltech); 2) sensor packaging and emplacement technology by Research Triangle Institute (RTI); and 3) smart well completions using wireless active casing collars and NOV pipe by the Sandia National Lab (SNL). The collaboration with the Caltech team in this project aimed to develop millimeter-scale radio frequency identification (RFID) sensors capable of detecting CO 2 , pH, and/or methane levels. These sensors are engineered to be impervious to fluids, allowing them to be mixed with cement and installed within the casing annulus. They operate using RFID protocols at frequencies of 902–928 MHz for both power and communication. A Sandia National Laboratories’ team engaged their expertise in the development of a Smart Collar system designed for the wireless data collection from these RFID sensors embedded in the cement annulus and transmission of this information to the ground surface via IntelliPipe/IntelliServ NOV drill pipe. This is accomplished through inductive coupling at the collar, which facilitates data transfer through each segment of the pipe. Because the system cannot transmit a direct current signal to power the Smart Collar, both power and communication were implemented using alternating current and electromagnetic signals at varying frequencies. Furthermore, the developed microsensor technology had to be demonstrated and validated in comparison with reference transducer measurements in a field test site at The University of Texas at Austin (UT-Austin). Although the full sensor suite did not reach field-deployment readiness, the system-level integration achieved in this project establishes a validated pathway for future incorporation of advanced microsensors.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗
DOE OSTI2024

Development of Supervisory Control System for Thermal Energy Distribution System

The integrated energy system (IES) refers to the combination of nuclear energy generation with other energy sources to enable the efficiency and reliability of power generations. To create technologically viable and economically competitive systems, supervisory control strategies are critical for optimizing performance and ensuring stability across different energy generation, transportation, and utilization. This work focuses on the control strategies for the thermal energy distribution system (TEDS), which is a cornerstone of the Dynamic Energy Transport and Integration Laboratory at Idaho National Laboratory. TEDS currently relies on operators to coordinate across different components to manage energy storage and ensure efficiency. This work demonstrates the use of model predictive control (MPC) with surrogate models in determining optimal setpoints for major TEDS components. The capability of MPC-based supervisory control system is evaluated by autonomously matching the power outputs from a Dymola-based TEDS with target heat demands.

22 - GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗
DOE OSTI2025

Nuclear Thermal Rocket Emulator for a Hardware-in-the-Loop Test Bed

To support NASA’s mission to use nuclear thermal rockets for future Mars missions, an instrumentation and control test bed has been built at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. The system is designed as a hardware-in-the-loop test bed for testing control elements and autonomous control algorithms for nuclear thermal propulsion rockets. The mock reactor system consists of a modular and scalable framework, using inexpensive components and open-source software. The hardware system consists of a two-phase flow loop and a mock reactor with six control drums. A single-board computer (NVIDIA Jetson) handles reactor core emulation and hosts a message queuing telemetry transport broker that allows user-deployed control algorithms to interact with the system hardware. The reactor emulator receives sensor data from the hardware and provides the simulated performance of the reactor under steady-state, transient, and fault conditions. The emulator uses a reactivity lookup table and the point kinetics equations to solve for the reactor dynamics in real time. Emulated reactor dynamics and sensor input inform the autonomous control algorithm’s decision-making in a closed-loop manner. The current system is capable of operating at 10 Hz, but faster cycle rates are an area of ongoing research. This test bed will enable NASA and other space vendors to rigorously test their autonomous control systems for NTP rockets under transient (reactor startup and shutdown), steady-state, and fault conditions to reduce development time and risk for autonomous control systems in future missions.

autonomous control↗
DOE OSTI2026

Boundary Layer Exploration of Aerosols and Clouds ON Ships (BEACONS)

BEACONS aims to demonstrate autonomous deployment of a shipborne system that routinely observes atmospheric, cloud, and aerosol properties. These observations enable scientists to study aerosol-cloud interactions, advancing energy resilience and the Department of Energy's mission to improve model prediction. Key Project Outcomes Autonomous deployment of aerosol and cloud measurement systems aboard a Pasha Hawaii Marjorie C commercial ship. Six-month campaign for continuous, high-resolution aerosol and cloud data collection with minimal crew intervention. Development and testing of instruments in two phases, advancing from essential to complex systems. AI-ready processed data on the BEACONS Data Platform for near-real-time data access. Validation of aerosol-cloud interaction hypotheses for improved modeling. Establishment of best practices for instrument deployment in marine environments. Scientific collaboration to support the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Biological and Environmental Research (BER) mission.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2026

Functional Nano-to-Microstructures by Jet Printing and Direct Ink Writing

Jet-based printing techniques and direct ink writing have emerged as complementary, convergent technologies serving as key platforms in additive manufacturing for functional nano- to microscale architectures. This review highlights how these approaches enable fine feature resolution and three-dimensional structures in advanced electronics and biointerfacing applications. The interplay of fluid mechanics, viscoelastic ink rheology, droplet–substrate interactions, and drying dynamics is examined as a critical determinant of printing fidelity. Application-focused case studies, from flexible thin-film transistors to bioprinted artificial tissues, demonstrate how precise structural control via printing translates to enhanced device performance and new functionality in electronic and biological systems. Finally, we discuss the challenges and future opportunities driving the evolution of these printing platforms toward autonomous, adaptive, and intelligent manufacturing systems.

Luo, Junchen [Sichuan Univ. of Arts and Science (C↗
DOE OSTI2026

Programmable hydrogels by combining persistent and transient dynamic bonds

Out-of-equilibrium chemistry is currently being applied to polymer systems to mimic the autonomous behavior of biological materials. In this study, hydrogels with self-healing properties were developed that combine persistent crosslinks from dynamic metal-ligand coordination with transient crosslinks from dynamic anhydride bonds. Polymers containing terpyridine ligands and carboxylic acid groups were synthesized and crosslinked with divalent metal ions (Fe 2+ , Ni 2+ , Co 2+ , Zn 2+ , Cu 2+ ). The coordination bonds from terpyridine–metal coordination impart persistent stability, while transient anhydrides formed on treatment with 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)carbodiimide hydrochloride (EDC) temporarily increase crosslink density. Distinct behaviors are observed depending on the choice of metal, with Ni 2+ forming robust, stable networks; Zn 2+ creating moderately dynamic gels; and Cu 2+ yielding highly dynamic, soft materials. Treatment with EDC increased storage moduli significantly, with transient effects lasting up to 280 min depending on the metal ion. Self-healing experiments demonstrated independent contributions from metal coordination and transient anhydrides, enabling recovery of stress and strain under varying conditions. Additionally, complex and reversible 2D stiffness patterns were generated by spatially controlled EDC treatment of Zn 2+ and Cu 2+ hydrogel films, demonstrating programmability and reusability.

Rajawasam, Chamoni W. H. [Miami University, Oxford↗
DOE OSTI2024

Autonomous online optimization of a closed-circuit reverse osmosis system

As freshwater becomes increasingly scarce, many industrial and municipal water utilities look at premise-scale water treatment and reuse to meet water demand. Closed-circuit reverse osmosis (CCRO) has been proposed as a promising process design to do so. This sequencing batch process enables operation at higher brine salinity levels by means of a recycle flow. Optimal operation requires that the maximum salinity level at the membrane surface represents an optimal trade-off between brine disposal costs and energy efficiency. This maximum salinity level may change over time as the feed water composition changes and electricity markets fluctuate. In this article, we present the results of the experimental evaluation of an automatic technique for continuous online optimization, known as extremum seeking control. This technique has a long history in the process control community but has received little traction so far in the water industry. We modify this technique to enable its use for online optimization of CCRO, specifically to account for its sequential batch operation. We challenge the optimization schemes through several experimental tests and illustrate the advantages and drawbacks of extremum-seeking control.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗
DOE OSTI2025

Data Quality Assessment Process for Real-Time Data-Driven Traffic Microsimulation of Smart Corridor

Smart corridor digital twins are often created for the development and evaluation of emerging intelligent transportation systems and Connected and Autonomous Vehicle (CAV) technologies. However, limited guidance exists for data quality assessment for digital twin development. To address this, this paper discusses the data quality assessment utilized to develop data-driven real-time microscopic simulation models, i.e., digital twins, for two separate smart corridors: the North Avenue Smart Corridor in Atlanta, GA, and the Martin Luther King Smart Corridor in Chattanooga, Tennessee. This paper provides a summary of the author’s investigations of data requirements and data characteristics for the given smart corridor digital twin development efforts. With a focus on data, this summary includes a description of the data investigation process, key data issues observed, and strategies to address observed issues. Discussion is provided to help expand the lessons from these studies to other digital twin development efforts.

Saroj, Abhilasha [ORNL] (ORCID:0000000191178063)↗
DOE OSTI2024

Towards Agentic AI on Particle Accelerators

As particle accelerators grow in complexity, traditional control methods face increasing challenges in achieving optimal performance. This paper envisions a paradigm shift: a decentralized multi-agent framework for accelerator control, powered by Large Language Models (LLMs) and distributed among autonomous agents. We present a proposition of a self-improving decentralized system where intelligent agents handle high-level tasks and communication and each agent is specialized control individual accelerator components. This approach raises some questions: What are the future applications of AI in particle accelerators? How can we implement an autonomous complex system such as a particle accelerator where agents gradually improve through experience and human feedback? What are the implications of integrating a human-in-the-loop component for labeling operational data and providing expert guidance? We show two examples, where we demonstrate viability of such architecture.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗
DOE OSTI2024

Interdependent Water And Power Infrastructure Model

The approach used is the Multi-Agent System (MAS) paradigms, where systems components are represented as agents, interacting both with each other, and with the environment in which they evolved. Agents behaviors correspond to components in the real Integrated Water-Power System. The model simulate actions and interactions of these (autonomous) agents to analyze their effects on the overall system. Agents in the water system capture components of water collection, treatment, transportation, distribution and use (e.g. pipe, canal, pump, water demands for agriculture, etc.). Agents in the power system capture components of power generation, transportation, distribution and use (electricity demands, sources, etc.).

Toba, Danho Ange Lionel [Idaho National Laboratory↗