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At least 1,027 records · Page 57

Implementation and validation of a wake model for vortex-surface interactions in low speed forward flight

The wake model was implemented using a VAX 750 and a Microvax II workstation. Online graphics capability using a DISSPLA graphics package. The rotor model used by Beddoes was significantly extended to include azimuthal variations due to forward flight and a simplified scheme for locating critical points where vortex elements are placed. A test case was obtained for validation of the predictions of induced velocity. Comparison of the results indicates that the code requires some more features before satisfactory predictions can be made over the whole rotor disk. Specifically, shed vorticity due to the azimuthal variation of blade loading must be incorporated into the model. Interactions between vortices shed from the four blades of the model rotor must be included. The Scully code for calculating the velocity field is being modified in parallel with these efforts to enable comparison with experimental data. To date, some comparisons with flow visualization data obtained at Georgia Tech were performed and show good agreement for the isolated rotor case. Comparison of time-resolved velocity data obtained at Georgia Tech also shows good agreement. Modifications are being implemented to enable generation of time-averaged results for comparison with NASA data.

Komerath, Narayanan M.↗

Modeling and sensory feedback control for space manipulators

The positioning control problem of the endtip of space manipulators whose base are uncontrolled is examined. In such a case, the conventional control method for industrial robots based on a local feedback at each joint is not applicable, because a solution of the joint displacements that satisfies a given position and orientation of the endtip is not decided uniquely. A sensory feedback control scheme for space manipulators based on an artificial potential defined in a task-oriented coordinates is proposed. Using this scheme, the controller can easily determine the input torque of each joint from the data of an external sensor such as a visual device. Since the external sensor is mounted on the unfixed base, the manipulator must track the moving image of the target in sensor coordinates. Moreover the dynamics of the base and the manipulator are interactive. However, the endtip is proven to asymptotically approach the stationary target in an inertial coordinate frame by the Liapunov's method. Finally results of computer simulation for a 6-link space manipulator model show the effectiveness of the proposed scheme.

Masutani, Yasuhiro↗

Shadowgraph flow visualization of isolated tiltrotor and rotor/wing wakes

Shadowgraph flow visualization images were acquired from a 0.184-scale tiltrotor and wing in hover. Measurements and details of the vortex core structure were examined as a function of thrust condition and wake age. Experimental data for the isolated rotor wake geometry and rotor wake interactions with a semi-span wing and image plane were acquired. Quantitative measurements and comparisons of wake geometry and distortion were made for three configurations: the isolated rotor, rotor/wing, and rotor/wing/image plane. Comparisons between tiltrotor and helicopter rotor wake geometry measurements were made. Experimental wake geometry data were also compared with two wake models. Suggestions for improvements to existing prescribed-wake and free-wake models are proposed.

Swanson, Alexandra A.↗

Interactive displays for trajectory planning and proximity operations

Rendezvous, docking, and other Space Station proximity operations (PROX OPS) will be conducted routinely in space. Real-time interactive visual aids and planning tools will be helpful, if not necessary, for future missions both in preflight training and on orbit. Two such displays, eivaN and Navie, are currently available for examination and human factors testing. A study was conducted in which data were collected from eight test subjects. Solution times for both devices decreased rapidly with experience. Neither fuel usage nor the number of waypoints (burns) decreased with experience. With Navie, medians of solution time and fuel consumption totaled over all subjects peaked at one of two starting points above the V-bar with monotonically decreasing values in both directions. This pattern did not appear with eivaN values. Since the docking tasks were fundamentally different with each device, and because Navie imposed more constraints on the users than eivaN did, the orbital mechanics effects had a more pronounced effect on the Navie results than on the eivaN data.

Brody, Adam R.↗

Overview of NASARTI (NASA Radiation Track Image) Program: Highlights of the Model Improvement and the New Results

This presentation summarizes several years of research done by the co-authors developing the NASARTI (NASA Radiation Track Image) program and supporting it with scientific data. The goal of the program is to support NASA mission to achieve a safe space travel for humans despite the perils of space radiation. The program focuses on selected topics in radiation biology that were deemed important throughout this period of time, both for the NASA human space flight program and to academic radiation research. Besides scientific support to develop strategies protecting humans against an exposure to deep space radiation during space missions, and understanding health effects from space radiation on astronauts, other important ramifications of the ionizing radiation were studied with the applicability to greater human needs: understanding the origins of cancer, the impact on human genome, and the application of computer technology to biological research addressing the health of general population. The models under NASARTI project include: the general properties of ionizing radiation, such as particular track structure, the effects of radiation on human DNA, visualization and the statistical properties of DSBs (DNA double-strand breaks), DNA damage and repair pathways models and cell phenotypes, chromosomal aberrations, microscopy data analysis and the application to human tissue damage and cancer models. The development of the GUI and the interactive website, as deliverables to NASA operations teams and tools for a broader research community, is discussed. Most recent findings in the area of chromosomal aberrations and the application of the stochastic track structure are also presented.

Ponomarev, Artem L.↗

TPSAS-NF1676L-35475-DND

This project would identify a methodology and implement a living solution to map, both visually and utilizing some form of database, the complex network of stakeholders that the Disasters Program routinely interacts with to maximize efficiency and minimize confusion and overlapping effort during disaster responses. This project's solution will take into account factors such as stakeholder data production type, geospatial data maturity, geographic areas of interest, federal mandates, type of relationship, national priorities and many additional relevant attributes.

Lauren Cutler↗

Bringing Planetary Science Mission Outreach to the Deaf and Blind Communities

Introduction: Technology for enhancing outreach, like 3D printing, and science communication products, such as videos and podcasts, can be utilized within the planetary science community, especially for the engagement and excitement of current or upcoming planetary exploration missions. However, these communication products can also be further enhanced for the benefit of the blind and deaf communities. While such products may already be readily available, such projects are not easily accessible to blind and/or deaf certified educators, which often rely on making their own resources or do not have the funds to provide such resources (e.g., cost of 3D printers or cost of braille books). The planetary science community can have better practices to reach these broader audiences. Best practices can include transcripts from podcasts, transcripts in videos, and large-font captions. Images on websites and social media accounts should also include alt-text descriptive captions. 3D printing can also enhance planetary science for the blind community, through tactile posters, maps, and pamphlets. Planetary data can also be augmented by providing different tactile geological maps (e.g., topography or various datasets), and audio-visual videos freely available for educators. Visual Engagement: Visual engagement consists of several avenues to consider, the three main themes includes: 1) swag; 2) videos; 3) interactive exploration. Swag can include the fun visual take-home materials, such as stickers, posters, bookmarks, etc. Videos can include educational-specific videos (available freely via YouTube or by other educational-specific streaming avenues, such as Nebula or Curiosity Stream), provided they have Closed Captioning (CC). The use of QR codes to such videos or websites can also benefit to being added on swag. Interactive exploration can also be sub-divided by different types of engagement. A popular and still fairly new technology for public engagement is the use of virtual reality (VR). While this has been mainly for martian and lunar surface exploration [1], the deaf communities can benefit from VR through a more extensive look at our solar system and beyond (for example, a VR experience of the flight path, or visual map of the heliosphere/dynamics of our Sun). Audio Engagement: Audio tools can also be a useful avenue of communication, especially for the blind communities. Audio archiving can certainly be transcripts from the video engagements, but also the use of podcasts can also be a benefit. Podcasting can take on two forms: 1) interview engagement; and 2) update engagement. For interviews, scientists can communicate with STEM-specific podcast platforms to make other listener-bases aware of what is going on with a specific mission. For update-type communication, missions may opt to have an archived podcast of news, updates, and the teams involved. The most important aspect of such podcasts would be for the need of complimentary transcripts (including descriptive transcripts if sounds are included), and the limited use of jargon. Research Engagement: There have been several examples of involving the blind and low-vision communities in citizen science, such as through the NASA Heliophysics division. Examples include the NASA PUNCH (Polarimeter to Unify the Corona and Heliosphere) mission led by the Southwest Research Institute [2], which include blind and visually-impaired citizens to assist in the Sun’s coronal rhythms.” Another example is the Eclipse Soundscapes: Citizen Science Project (ES:CSP), which documents observations of acoustical changes of nature and ecosystems during solar eclipse events [3]. Inclusivity: A major theme that is necessary for public engagement is inclusivity and the awareness of reaching broader audiences. Outreach to include hearing/seeing impaired communities are still lacking in the sciences. There are several opportunities that the planetary sciences could take. Other projects that have emerged from the space sciences include adding transcripts to visual engagement [4], and the use of 3D printing for the visually-impaired [5]. References: [1] Olgin, J. (2020) 51st LPSC, Abstract 2137. [2] https://scitechdaily.com/outreach-for-nasa-punch-mission-embraces-ancient-and-modern-sun-watching-theme/ [3] https://science.nasa.gov/science-activation-team/eclipse-soundscapes [4] NASA International Observe the Moon Night (Blind and Deaf Accessible), Youtube Video ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=neHCfg0S3-Q) [5] Richardson, J., et al. (2018) AGU Fall Meeting, Abstract ED23F-0963.

C J Ahrens↗

Analysis and Prediction of VFR Vs IFR Traffic Behavior to Support Uncrewed Aircraft Flight Operations at Regional Airports

Uncrewed Aircraft flight operations at a regional airport will be affected by the uncertainty in the Visual Flight Rules traffic around. This paper analyzes Visual Flight Rules traffic behavior, compares it with Instrument Flight Rules traffic and develops traffic prediction methods to support uncrewed aircraft flight operations. The spatio-temporal distribution of traffic operating under Visual Flight Rules and Instrument Flight Rules was analyzed from one month of historical track data around Fort Worth Alliance airport as a representative regional airport. The traffic behavior was visualized as occupancy maps generated at different altitudes. The Instrument Flight Rules traffic was concentrated in fewer regions of the airspace along structured routes where the risk of interacting with one or more flights reached close to fifty percent in some areas. Visual Flight Rules traffic was spread over more regions, mostly segregated from the Instrument Flight Rules regions, and the risk of interaction was lower reaching up to twenty-five percent on average over the month in some regions. The interaction risk was predicted using predictive occupancy maps over multiple time horizons and conditioned on time and partial observation of traffic in the vicinity. The month-to-month predictability of Visual Flight Rules risk was lower than that of the Instrument Flight Rules traffic, consistently over all the conditions analyzed. However, the prediction and its accuracy were demonstrated to be sensitive to the conditions used. The predictive models generated can be used to support both strategic planning and in-flight decision-making by uncrewed aircraft during flight operations while maintaining an acceptable risk of interacting with other traffic.

VFR↗

Analysis and Prediction of VFR Vs IFR Traffic Behavior to Support Uncrewed Aircraft Flight Operations at Regional Airports

Uncrewed Aircraft flight operations at a regional airport will be affected by the uncertainty in the Visual Flight Rules traffic around. This paper analyzes Visual Flight Rules traffic behavior, compares it with Instrument Flight Rules traffic and develops traffic prediction methods to support uncrewed aircraft flight operations. The spatio-temporal distribution of traffic operating under Visual Flight Rules and Instrument Flight Rules was analyzed from one month of historical track data around Fort Worth Alliance airport as a representative regional airport. The traffic behavior was visualized as occupancy maps generated at different altitudes. The Instrument Flight Rules traffic was concentrated in fewer regions of the airspace along structured routes where the risk of interacting with one or more flights reached close to fifty percent in some areas. Visual Flight Rules traffic was spread over more regions, mostly segregated from the Instrument Flight Rules regions, and the risk of interaction was lower reaching up to twenty-five percent on average over the month in some regions. The interaction risk was predicted using predictive occupancy maps over multiple time horizons and conditioned on time and partial observation of traffic in the vicinity. The month-to-month predictability of Visual Flight Rules risk was lower than that of the Instrument Flight Rules traffic, consistently over all the conditions analyzed. However, the prediction and its accuracy were demonstrated to be sensitive to the conditions used. The predictive models generated can be used to support both strategic planning and in-flight decision-making by uncrewed aircraft during flight operations while maintaining an acceptable risk of interacting with other traffic.

VFR↗

Integrating and Visualizing Tropical Cyclone Data Using the Real Time Mission Monitor

The Real Time Mission Monitor (RTMM) is a visualization and information system that fuses multiple Earth science data sources, to enable real time decision-making for airborne and ground validation experiments. Developed at the NASA Marshall Space Flight Center, RTMM is a situational awareness, decision-support system that integrates satellite imagery, radar, surface and airborne instrument data sets, model output parameters, lightning location observations, aircraft navigation data, soundings, and other applicable Earth science data sets. The integration and delivery of this information is made possible using data acquisition systems, network communication links, network server resources, and visualizations through the Google Earth virtual globe application. RTMM is extremely valuable for optimizing individual Earth science airborne field experiments. Flight planners, scientists, and managers appreciate the contributions that RTMM makes to their flight projects. A broad spectrum of interdisciplinary scientists used RTMM during field campaigns including the hurricane-focused 2006 NASA African Monsoon Multidisciplinary Analyses (NAMMA), 2007 NOAA-NASA Aerosonde Hurricane Noel flight, 2007 Tropical Composition, Cloud, and Climate Coupling (TC4), plus a soil moisture (SMAP-VEX) and two arctic research experiments (ARCTAS) in 2008. Improving and evolving RTMM is a continuous process. RTMM recently integrated the Waypoint Planning Tool, a Java-based application that enables aircraft mission scientists to easily develop a pre-mission flight plan through an interactive point-and-click interface. Individual flight legs are automatically calculated "on the fly". The resultant flight plan is then immediately posted to the Google Earth-based RTMM for interested scientists to view the planned flight track and subsequently compare it to the actual real time flight progress. We are planning additional capabilities to RTMM including collaborations with the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in the joint development of a Tropical Cyclone Integrated Data Exchange and Analysis System (TC IDEAS) which will serve as a web portal for access to tropical cyclone data, visualizations and model output.

Goodman, H. Michael↗

Quantitative Effects of Disorder on Chemically Modified Amorphous Carbon Electrodes

Real materials are disordered. This disorder influences the properties of these materials and the chemical processes that occur at their interfaces. Gaining a molecular-level understanding of the underlying physical manifestations caused by disordered materials is crucial to unraveling and ultimately controlling the efficiency and performance of these materials in a range of energy-related devices. This understanding necessitates measurement techniques through which disorder can be detected, quantified, and monitored. However, such quantitative measurements are notoriously difficult, as effects often average out in ensemble measurements. In this work, we describe how a combination of electrochemical and spatially resolved surface spectroscopy measurements illuminate a molecular-level picture of disorder in materials. Using amorphous carbon as an intrinsically disordered material, we covalently attached a monolayer of ferrocene. Interfacial electron transfer across the amorphous carbon–ferrocene interface is highly sensitive to disruptions of order. Here, by systematically varying linker properties and surface loadings, the influence of lateral interactions between nonuniformly distributed ferrocene headgroups on ensemble electrochemical measurements is demonstrated. Electrochemical and imaging data collectively indicate that conformational flexibility of the ferrocene moieties provides a mechanism to elude repulsive and unbalanced lateral interactions, while rigid linkages provide direct information about the underlying disorder of the material. This study is the first of its kind to quantify and visualize molecular disorder and heterogeneity with an experimental model accessed through ensemble measurements.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

ExpoKids: An R-based tool for characterizing aggregate chemical exposure during childhood

Background: Aggregate exposure, the combined exposures to a single chemical from all pathways, is a critical children’s health issue. Objective: The primary objective is to develop a tool to illustrate potential differences in aggregate exposure at various childhood lifestages and the adult lifestage. Methods: We developed ExpoKids (an R-based tool) using oral exposure estimates across lifestages generated by US EPA’s Exposure Factors Interactive Resource for Scenarios Tool (ExpoFIRST). Results: ExpoKids is applied to illustrate aggregate oral exposure, for ten media, as average daily doses (ADD) and lifetime average daily doses (LADD) in five graphs organized across seven postnatal childhood lifestages and the adult lifestage. This data visualization tool conveys ExpoFIRST findings, from available exposure data, to highlight the relative contributions of media and lifestages to chemical exposure. To evaluate the effectiveness of ExpoKids, three chemical case examples (di[2-ethylhexyl] phthalate [DEHP], manganese, and endosulfan) were explored. Data available from the published literature and databases for each case example were used to explore research questions regarding media and lifestage contributions to aggregate exposure. Significance: These illustrative case examples demonstrate ExpoKids’ versatile application to explore a diverse set of children’s health risk assessment and management questions by visually depicting specific media and lifestage contributions to aggregate exposure.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Potential Demand Reduction from Buildings in a Simulated Utility

The availability of large-area sensing, scalable algorithms, and high-performance computing has enabled the possibility of urban-scale building energy modeling using new methods not limited to the scalability of manual building energy model creation or retrieval of county-by-county tax assessor’s data. Automatic Building detection and Energy Model creation (AutoBEM) has created 178,368 building energy models for the Electric Power Board (EPB) of Chattanooga, TN, and compared simulation performance to 15-minute data from each building. These models leverage several data sources (e.g. imagery, GIS, utility), software tools to extract building properties (e.g. footprint, height, façade type, window-to-wall ratio, occupancy, building type), simulate at scale on two of the world’s #1 fastest supercomputers, and provide web-based visual analytics.Grid-interactive efficient buildings offer the potential to reduce utility and rate-payer energy costs during each calendar month’s hour of critical generation – when the least efficient, most costly, and often dirtiest generation assets must be brought online. In this paper, EnergyPlus is used to simulate over 150,000 buildings to assess the technical potential of utility-controlled smart thermostats. This is analyzed under a couple scenarios leveraging buildings as thermal batteries via pre-conditioning to coast through peak hours. Results are provided in box and whisker plots assessing the distribution of peak demand reduction at the utility-scale along with breakouts of energy and demand savings by building type and vintage.

Bass, Brett↗

A Geometry Based Infra-structure for Computational Analysis and Design

The computational steps traditionally taken for most engineering analysis (CFD, structural analysis, and etc.) are: Surface Generation - usually by employing a CAD system; Grid Generation - preparing the volume for the simulation; Flow Solver - producing the results at the specified operational point; and Post-processing Visualization - interactively attempting to understand the results For structural analysis, integrated systems can be obtained from a number of commercial vendors. For CFD, these steps have worked well in the past for simple steady-state simulations at the expense of much user interaction. The data was transmitted between phases via files. Specifically the problems with this procedure are: (1) File based. Information flows from one step to the next via data files with formats specified for that procedure. (2) 'Good' Geometry. A bottleneck in getting results from a solver is the construction of proper geometry to be fed to the grid generator. With 'good' geometry a grid can be constructed in tens of minutes (even with a complex configuration) using unstructured techniques. (3) One-Way communication. All information travels on from one phase to the next. Until this process can be automated, more complex problems such as multi-disciplinary analysis or using the above procedure for design becomes prohibitive.

Haimes, Robert↗

GenomeDepot: data management system for microbial comparative genomics

Summary GenomeDepot is an open-source web-based platform for annotation, management, and comparative analysis of microbial genomic sequences and associated data including ortholog families, protein domains, operons, regulatory interactions, strain taxonomy, and sample metadata. GenomeDepot supports rapid creation of websites for user-defined genome collections that include bioinformatic tools for interactive genome browsing, Basic Local Alignment Search Tool (BLAST) search, annotation search, comparative genomic neighborhood visualization, and sequence download. Gene function annotations are generated by a customizable annotation pipeline. The pipeline runs annotation tools in Conda environments and can be easily extended with additional user-specified tools. Availability and implementation GenomeDepot is open source and distributed under the GNU General Public License via GitHub (https://github.com/aekazakov/genome-depot). GenomeDepot is implemented in Python and was tested in Ubuntu Linux. Full installation instructions and documentation are available at https://aekazakov.github.io/genome-depot/. GenomeDepot demo server is freely accessible at https://iseq.lbl.gov/demogd/.

Kazakov, Alexey [Lawrence Berkeley National Labora↗

libIS: a lightweight library for flexible in transit visualization

As simulations grow in scale, the need for in situ analysis methods to handle the large data produced grows correspondingly. One desirable approach to in situ visualization is in transit visualization. By decoupling the simulation and visualization code, in transit approaches alleviate common difficulties with regard to the scalability of the analysis, ease of integration, usability, and impact on the simulation. We present libIS, a lightweight, flexible library which lowers the bar for using in transit visualization. Our library works on the concept of abstract regions of space containing data, which are transferred from the simulation to the visualization clients upon request, using a client-server model. We also provide a SENSEI analysis adaptor, which allows for transparent deployment of in transit visualization. We demonstrate the flexibility of our approach on batch analysis and interactive visualization use cases on different HPC resources.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

EVA Glove Research Team

The goal of the basic research portion of the extravehicular activity (EVA) glove research program is to gain a greater understanding of the kinematics of the hand, the characteristics of the pressurized EVA glove, and the interaction of the two. Examination of the literature showed that there existed no acceptable, non-invasive method of obtaining accurate biomechanical data on the hand. For this reason a project was initiated to develop magnetic resonance imaging as a tool for biomechanical data acquisition and visualization. Literature reviews also revealed a lack of practical modeling methods for fabric structures, so a basic science research program was also initiated in this area.

Strauss, Alvin M.↗

Discovery of Activities via Statistical Clustering of Fixation Patterns

Human behavior often consists of a series of distinct activities, each characterized by a unique pattern of interaction with the visual environment. This is true even in a restricted domain, such as a pilot flying an airplane; in this case, activities with distinct visual signatures might be things like communicating, navigating, monitoring, etc. We propose a novel analysis method for gaze-tracking data, to perform blind discovery of these hypothetical activities. We compare, not individual fixations, but groups of fixations aggregated over a fixed time interval (Tau). We assume that the environment has been divided into a finite set of discrete areas-of-interest (AOIs). For a given time interval, we compute the proportion of time spent fixating each AOI, resulting in an N-dimensional vector, where N is the number of AOIs. These proportions can be converted to integer counts by multiplying by Tau divided by the average fixation duration, a parameter that we fix at 283 milliseconds. We compare different intervals by computing the chi-squared statistic. The p-value associated with the statistic is the likelihood of observing the data under the hypothesis that the data in the two intervals were generated by a single process with a single set of probabilities governing the fixation of each AOI. We cluster the intervals, first by merging adjacent intervals that are sufficiently similar, optionally shifting the boundary between non-merged intervals to maximize the difference. Then we compare and cluster non-adjacent intervals. The method is evaluated using synthetic data generated by a hand-crafted set of activities. While the method generally finds more activities than put into the simulation, we have obtained agreement as high as 80 percent between the inferred activity labels and ground truth.

Eye Movements↗