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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 109 records · Page 6
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1978

A physical parameter method for the design of broad-band X-ray imaging systems to do coronal plasma diagnostics

The technique commonly used for the analysis of data from broad-band X-ray imaging systems for plasma diagnostics is the filter ratio method. This requires the use of two or more broad-band filters to derive temperatures and line-of-sight emission integrals or emission measure distributions as a function of temperature. Here an alternative analytical approach is proposed in which the temperature response of the imaging system is matched to the physical parameter being investigated. The temperature response of a system designed to measure the total radiated power along the line of sight of any coronal structure is calculated. Other examples are discussed.

Kahler, S.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Survey of multispectral imaging systems for earth observations

Fifty-six multispectral imaging systems are described in terms of their instantaneous fields of view, spectral bands, fields of view, and number of quantization levels. These systems have been used during the past decade for earth resources studies from aircraft or spacecraft, or are currently in the proposal or design and development stage.

Slater, P. N.↗
NASA NTRS1989

Differential imaging system

In this study, a technique which enhances image contrast using differentials of radiances being measured from successively overlapping footprints is discussed. One of the immediate advantages of this approach is to improve spatial resolution when the practical size limitation of detectors is reached. When diffraction is considered, radiometric accuracy at the higher spatial frequencies is decreased even though edge response (boundary crossing sharpness) will improve. For instance, an imager system based on this principle could have a primary aperture no larger than 30 cm diameter yet be capable of resolving a ground footprint as small as 2 m from a 780 km altitude.

Kim, Hongsuk H.↗
NASA NTRS2004

Compact Microscope Imaging System With Intelligent Controls Improved

The Compact Microscope Imaging System (CMIS) with intelligent controls is a diagnostic microscope analysis tool with intelligent controls for use in space, industrial, medical, and security applications. This compact miniature microscope, which can perform tasks usually reserved for conventional microscopes, has unique advantages in the fields of microscopy, biomedical research, inline process inspection, and space science. Its unique approach integrates a machine vision technique with an instrumentation and control technique that provides intelligence via the use of adaptive neural networks. The CMIS system was developed at the NASA Glenn Research Center specifically for interface detection used for colloid hard spheres experiments; biological cell detection for patch clamping, cell movement, and tracking; and detection of anode and cathode defects for laboratory samples using microscope technology.

McDowell, Mark↗
NASA NTRS2006

Rotational-translational fourier imaging system requiring only one grid pair

The sky contains many active sources that emit X-rays, gamma rays, and neutrons. Unfortunately hard X-rays, gamma rays, and neutrons cannot be imaged by conventional optics. This obstacle led to the development of Fourier imaging systems. In early approaches, multiple grid pairs were necessary in order to create rudimentary Fourier imaging systems. At least one set of grid pairs was required to provide multiple real components of a Fourier derived image, and another set was required to provide multiple imaginary components of the image. It has long been recognized that the expense associated with the physical production of the numerous grid pairs required for Fourier imaging was a drawback. Herein one grid pair (two grids), with accompanying rotation and translation, can be used if one grid has one more slit than the other grid, and if the detector is modified.

Campbell, Jonathan W.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Transonic applications of the Wake Imaging System

The extension of a rapid flow field survey method (wake imaging system) originally developed for low speed wind tunnel operation, to transonic wind tunnel applications is discussed. The advantage of the system, beside the simplicity and low cost of the data acquisition system, is that the probe position data are recorded as an optical image of the actual sensor and thus are unaffected by the inevitable deflections of the probe support. This permits traversing systems which are deliberately flexible and have unusual motions. Two transverse drive systems are described and several typical data images are given.

Crowder, J. P.↗
NASA NTRS2000

Reflight of the Gamma-Ray Arcminute Telescope Imaging System (GRATIS) Payload

The Gamma-Ray Arcminute Telescope Imaging System (GRATIS) balloon payload was prepared for reflight. This involved repair of damage caused in the previous flight to structural members of the payload (the gondola support structure) as well as damage to some of the pointing system elements and electronics modules. This work was successfully completed. An extensive pre-calibration of the CsI(Na) imaging detectors was then done. The plan was to take several months to calibrate the 36 detectors and to compare the results with the post-calibration from the previous flight in Alice Springs Australia. During the course of the pre-calibrations it was noted that the light output of the crystals was severely degraded in more than half the detectors compared to the values recorded 1.5 years earlier. Subsequent investigation revealed that the light yield degradation was not unreasonable. The CsI crystals had in fact performed well past their rated life from hygroscopic contamination. The crystals had spent the majority of their life either in the desert or in the extremely low humidity conditions of Livermore California. where the GRATIS payload had been based prior to transfer to Columbia. The extreme summer humidity of New York simply exacerbated a degradation process that had been artificially delayed by dry conditions. Because such a large part of the detector array had been degraded we did not feel it was appropriate to refly the payload because the scientific performance would have been compromised.

Hailey, Charles J.↗
NASA NTRS2014

Lock-In Imaging System for Detecting Disturbances in Fluid

A lock-in imaging system is configured for detecting a disturbance in air. The system includes an airplane, an interferometer, and a telescopic imaging camera. The airplane includes a fuselage and a pair of wings. The airplane is configured for flight in air. The interferometer is operatively disposed on the airplane and configured for producing an interference pattern by splitting a beam of light into two beams along two paths and recombining the two beams at a junction point in a front flight path of the airplane during flight. The telescopic imaging camera is configured for capturing an image of the beams at the junction point. The telescopic imaging camera is configured for detecting the disturbance in air in an optical path, based on an index of refraction of the image, as detected at the junction point.

Park, Yeonjoon↗
NASA NTRS2005

Operation and Performance of the Mars Exploration Rover Imaging System on the Martian Surface

This slide presentation details the Mars Exploration Rover (MER) imaging system. Over 144,000 images have been gathered from all Mars Missions, with 83.5% of them being gathered by MER. Each Rover has 9 cameras (Navcam, front and rear Hazcam, Pancam, Microscopic Image, Descent Camera, Engineering Camera, Science Camera) and produces 1024 x 1024 (1 Megapixel) images in the same format. All onboard image processing code is implemented in flight software and includes extensive processing capabilities such as autoexposure, flat field correction, image orientation, thumbnail generation, subframing, and image compression. Ground image processing is done at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory's Multimission Image Processing Laboratory using Video Image Communication and Retrieval (VICAR) while stereo processing (left/right pairs) is provided for raw image, radiometric correction; solar energy maps,triangulation (Cartesian 3-spaces) and slope maps.

imaging↗
NASA NTRS1991

A two camera video imaging system with application to parafoil angle of attack measurements

This paper describes the development of a two-camera, video imaging system for the determination of three-dimensional spatial coordinates from stereo images. This system successfully measured angle of attack at several span-wise locations for large-scale parafoils tested in the NASA Ames 80- by 120-Foot Wind Tunnel. Measurement uncertainty for angle of attack was less than 0.6 deg. The stereo ranging system was the primary source for angle of attack measurements since inclinometers sewn into the fabric ribs of the parafoils had unknown angle offsets acquired during installation. This paper includes discussions of the basic theory and operation of the stereo ranging system, system measurement uncertainty, experimental set-up, calibration results, and test results. Planned improvements and enhancements to the system are also discussed.

Meyn, Larry A.↗
NASA NTRS2001

Utilization of an Airborne Plant Chlorophyll Imaging System for Detection of Septic System Malfunction

Malfunctioning, or leaking, sewer systems increase the supply of water and nutrients to surface vegetation. Excess nutrients and harmful bacteria in the effluent pollute ground water and local water bodies and are dangerous to humans and the aquatic ecosystems. An airborne multispectral plant chlorophyll imaging system (PCIS) was used to identify growth patterns in the vegetation covering onsite and public sewer systems. The objective was to evaluate overall performance of the PCIS as well as to determine the best operational configuration for this application. The imaging system was flown in a light aircraft over selected locations Mobile County, Alabama. Calibration panels were used to help characterize instrument performance. Results demonstrated that the PCIS performed well and was capable of detecting septic leakage patterns from altitudes as high as 915 m. From 915 m, 6 of 18 sites were suspected to have sewage leakage. Subsequent ground inspections confirmed leakage on 3 of the 6 sites. From 610 m, 3 of 8 known leakage sites were detected. Tree cover and shadows near residential structures prevented detection of several known malfunctioning systems. Also some leakages known to occur in clear areas were not detected. False detections occurred in areas characterized by surface water drainage problems or recent excavation.

Spiering, Bruce A.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Short summary of multispectral imaging systems

This paper summarizes a survey of over 40 multispectral imaging systems that have been used during the past decade for earth resources studies from aircraft or spacecraft, or are presently in the proposal or design and development stage. In addition, some short wave infrared systems are described including a recent NASA suggestion for a research remote sensing system for the 1990's.

Slater, P. N.↗
NASA NTRS2004

Development of an Optical-Real Time Polarimetric Imaging System for Aerospace Applications

The design of an optical polarimetric imaging system, aimed to detect cracks or structural defects on the surface of rotating aircraft engine shafts, is presented. The experimental results have been processed by a real time wavelet denouncing system implemented by a Filed Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGA), which has been designed for this purpose. The experimental results clearly indicate that high signal-to-noise ratio signals can be obtained.

Giakos, George C.↗