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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

Real-time onboard geometric image correction

A system to perform real time onboard geometric connection of LANDSAT D resolution satellite imagery is described. System requirements, algorithms, sensors, and other hardware components are defined. Feasibility of implementing the correction process is demonstrated using Kalman filter techniques to incorporate information from onboard ephemeris, attitude control, and ground control points. Random access sensor systems, such as charge injected devices and charge coupled devices are used to obtain pixel values at desired ground location, thus greatly reducing the data processing requirements.

Discenza, W.↗

Onboard processing for future space-borne imaging systems

There is a strong rationale for increasing the rate of information return from imaging class experiments aboard both terrestrial and planetary spacecraft. Future imaging systems will be designed with increased spatial resolution, broader spectral range and more spectral channels (or higher spectral resolution). The data rate implied by these improved performance characteristics can be expected to grow more rapidly than the projected telecommunications capability. One solution to this dilemma is the use of improved onboard data processing. The use of onboard classification processing in a multispectral imager can result in orders of magnitude increase in information transfer for very specific types of imaging tasks. Several of these processing functions are included in the conceptual design of an Infrared Multispectral Imager which would map the spatial distribution of characteristic geologic features associated with deposits of economic minerals.

Wellman, J. B.↗

Real-time SAR image processing onboard a Venus orbiting spacecraft

The potential use of real-time SAR processing to produce 200-meter resolution imagery onboard a 1983 Venus Orbiter Imaging Radar (VOIR) spacecraft is discussed. The current NASA SAR processor development program and its relationship to the VOIR application are described. VOIR SAR processing requirements are defined in terms of a nominal baseline design evolving from a 1977 VOIR mission study by JPL. A candidate onboard SAR processor architecture compatible with the VOIR requirements is described. Detailed implementation characteristics, based on currently available integrated circuits, are estimated in terms of chip count, weight, and power.

Arens, W. E.↗

Onboard navigation - The near-earth options

This paper summarizes anticipated onboard navigation accuracies and user system characteristics for near-earth spacecraft. Alternate onboard systems configurations using inputs from the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System (TDRSS) and the DOD NAVSTAR Global Positioning System (GPS) are described. Initial simulation results indicate that TDRSS will provide accuracies of 100 meters or less, and GPS can permit user spacecraft orbit determination to within 10 meters. Specific GPS user equipment developments for Landsat-D and Shuttle are outlined, along with future low-cost versions of these systems.

Kurzhals, P. S.↗

An approach to autonomous, onboard orbit determination

An orbit determination subsystem that will operate as an integral part of an autonomous, onboard navigation system is presented and analyzed. The navigation system is required to interface solely with the downlink telemetry stream and uplink command stream of an existing class of geostationary satellites. In particular, the orbit will be determined from a set of onboard sensors, which previously were used only for attitude determination. The design of the orbit determination subsystem is described in detail. The rationale behind the choice of each component of the design is given. Finally, the performance of the orbit determination subsystem, under a variety of assumptions, is determined by a combination of numerical simulation and analytical methods.

Mease, K. D.↗

Space Station Engineering and Technology Development. Proceedings of the Panel on Program Performance and Onboard Mission Control

An ad-hoc committee was asked to review the following questions relevant to the space station program: (1) onboard maintainability and repair; (2) in-space research and technology program and facility plans; (3) solar thermodynamic research and technology development program planning; (4) program performance (cost estimating, management, and cost avoidance); (5) onboard versus ground-based mission control; and (6) technology development road maps from IOC to the growth station. The objective of these new assignments is to provide NASA with advice on ways and means for improving the content, performance, and/or effectiveness of these elements of the space station program.

Source record↗

An artificial intelligence approach to onboard fault monitoring and diagnosis for aircraft applications

Real-time onboard fault monitoring and diagnosis for aircraft applications, whether performed by the human pilot or by automation, presents many difficult problems. Quick response to failures may be critical, the pilot often must compensate for the failure while diagnosing it, his information about the state of the aircraft is often incomplete, and the behavior of the aircraft changes as the effect of the failure propagates through the system. A research effort was initiated to identify guidelines for automation of onboard fault monitoring and diagnosis and associated crew interfaces. The effort began by determining the flight crew's information requirements for fault monitoring and diagnosis and the various reasoning strategies they use. Based on this information, a conceptual architecture was developed for the fault monitoring and diagnosis process. This architecture represents an approach and a framework which, once incorporated with the necessary detail and knowledge, can be a fully operational fault monitoring and diagnosis system, as well as providing the basis for comparison of this approach to other fault monitoring and diagnosis concepts. The architecture encompasses all aspects of the aircraft's operation, including navigation, guidance and controls, and subsystem status. The portion of the architecture that encompasses subsystem monitoring and diagnosis was implemented for an aircraft turbofan engine to explore and demonstrate the AI concepts involved. This paper describes the architecture and the implementation for the engine subsystem.

Schutte, P. C.↗

Reducing the risks of using Ada onboard the Space Station

In 1986, the Ada programming language was chosen by NASA as the primary computer programming language for the development of new software for the Space Station. Ada was selected based on the results of investigations coordinated through Johnson Space Center (JSC). These investigations resulted in the identification of a set of problems and risks associated with using software developed in Ada onboard the Space Station. But the risks associated with these problems were found to be of insufficient severity to outweigh the significant benefits and suitability of Ada for the project. However, since the selection of Ada for the Space Station Project, detailed investigations have continued at Johnson Space Center into the most important problems identified in using Ada. This paper discusses some of the specific solutions to problems which have been identified through these investigations and which are reducing the risks of using Ada onboard the Space Station.

Humphrey, Terry D.↗

Feasibility of an onboard wake vortex avoidance system

It was determined that an onboard vortex wake detection system using existing, proven instrumentation is technically feasible. This system might be incorporated into existing onboard systems such as a wind shear detection system, and might provide the pilot with the location of a vortex wake, as well as an evasive maneuver so that the landing separations may be reduced. It is suggested that this system might be introduced into our nation's commuter aircraft fleet and major air carrier fleet and permit a reduction of current landing separation standards, thereby reducing takeoff and departure delays.

Bilanin, Alan J.↗

Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System (TDRSS) Onboard Navigation System (TONS) experiment on the Explorer Platform/Extreme Ultraviolet Explorer (EP/EUVE)

NASA has taken a stepwise approach to giving high-accuracy, autonomous navigation to TDRSS utilizers. With implementation of the TONS experiment on EP complete, flight demonstration of onboard Doppler extraction and onboard signal acquisition is progressing. Preflight and preliminary inflight analyses show that the flight components are operating within their specifications.

Gramling, Cheryl J.↗

Design of a vibration isolation system for a cycle ergometer to be used onboard the Space Shuttle

Low frequency vibrations generated during exercise using the cycle ergometer onboard the Space Shuttle are disrupting sensitive microgravity experiments. The design team is asked by NASA/USRA to generate alternatives for the design of a vibration isolation system for the cycle ergometer. It is the design team's objective to present alternative designs and a problem solution for a vibration isolation system for an exercise cycle ergometer to be used onboard the Space Shuttle. In the development of alternative designs, the design team emphasizes passive systems as opposed to active control systems. This decision is made because the team feels that passive systems are less complex than active control systems, external energy sources are not required, and mass is reduced due to the lack of machinery such as servomotors or compressors typical of active control systems. Eleven alternative designs are developed by the design team. From these alternatives, three active control systems are included to compare the benefits of active and passive systems. Also included in the alternatives is an isolation system designed by an independent engineer that was acquired late in the project. The eight alternatives using passive isolation systems are narrowed down by selection criteria to four considered to be the most promising by the design team. A feasibility analysis is performed on these four passive isolation systems. Based on the feasibility analysis, a final design solution is chosen and further developed. From the development of the design, the design team has concluded that passive systems are not effective at isolating vibrations for the low frequencies considered for this project. Recommendations are made for guidelines of passive isolation design and application of such systems.

Pearson, Lillian↗

Onboard navigation rendezvous expert system

The Onboard Navigation rendezvous expert system is designed to aid the ground flight controller in monitoring the shuttle onboard navigation system. The system is designed to keep track of the navigation sensors and relative state vectors. In addition, the system also keeps an event log and fills out forms usually handled by the flight controller. This expert system is one of the few rendezvous specific systems being developed for the Mission Control Center. The expert system has been in development for six years. Through these years the system has seen hardware, software, and personnel changes. Initial development was done by the Information Systems Directorate (ISD) and Mission Operations Directorate (MOD) at Johnson Space Center. As of October 1, 1991 the system has been turned over to MOD. The system is completely developed except for some minor adjustments to the user interface. The rule base is in the verification stage with total certification of the system due to be completed by May 1992. Test cases for verification are obtained by saving data used for flight controller integrated simulations. The actual data comes from both the shuttle mission simulator and the Mission Control Center Computer. So far no actual flight data has been available. This paper covers all aspects of the system from the development history to the current hardware, software, and use of the system.

Kocen, Michelle↗

Onboard System Health Assessment

Viewgraphs and discussion of onboard system health assessment are presented. Success of the space station program will be measured by how well it addresses the basic requirements for (1) maintaining the orbiting Space Station Freedom fully operational for its projected life of thirty years, and (2) the cost-effective execution of the overall space station program. Onboard system health assessment must provide complete and thorough testing capabilities along with effective associated redundancy/fault management.

Barry, Tom↗

Use of data from the AVIRIS onboard calibrator

The AVIRIS onboard calibrator became operational in 1992. This subsystem on the AVIRIS sensor has operated nominally throughout the 1992 and 1993 flight season. This paper describes the data measured by the onboard calibration and the two primary uses of these data. First, the data may be used to optimize the tractability of the calibration of the delivered AVIRIS data to the laboratory radiometric calibration standard. Second, these data may be used to monitor and normalize the inflight radiometric performance of AVIRIS through the flight season.

Green, Robert O.↗

Flight assessment of the onboard propulsion system model for the Performance Seeking Control algorithm on an F-15 aircraft

Performance Seeking Control (PSC), an onboard, adaptive, real-time optimization algorithm, relies upon an onboard propulsion system model. Flight results illustrated propulsion system performance improvements as calculated by the model. These improvements were subject to uncertainty arising from modeling error. Thus to quantify uncertainty in the PSC performance improvements, modeling accuracy must be assessed. A flight test approach to verify PSC-predicted increases in thrust (FNP) and absolute levels of fan stall margin is developed and applied to flight test data. Application of the excess thrust technique shows that increases of FNP agree to within 3 percent of full-scale measurements for most conditions. Accuracy to these levels is significant because uncertainty bands may now be applied to the performance improvements provided by PSC. Assessment of PSC fan stall margin modeling accuracy was completed with analysis of in-flight stall tests. Results indicate that the model overestimates the stall margin by between 5 to 10 percent. Because PSC achieves performance gains by using available stall margin, this overestimation may represent performance improvements to be recovered with increased modeling accuracy. Assessment of thrust and stall margin modeling accuracy provides a critical piece for a comprehensive understanding of PSC's capabilities and limitations.

Orme, John S.↗

Airborne Visible/Infrared Imaging Spectrometer (AVIRIS) onboard calibration system

The AVIRIS instrument uses an onboard calibration system to provide auxiliary calibration data. The system consist of a tungsten halogen cycle lamp imaged onto a fiber bundle through an eight position filter wheel. The fiber bundle illuminates the back side of the foreoptics shutter during a pre-run and post-run calibration sequence. The filter wheel contains two neutral density filters, five spectral filters and one blocked position. This paper reviews the general workings of the onboard calibrator system and discusses recent modifications.

Chrien, Thomas G.↗

Hubble space telescope onboard battery performance

The performance of six 88 Ah Nickel-Hydrogen (Ni-H2) batteries that are used onboard in the Hubble Space Telescope (Flight Spare Module (FSM) and Flight Module 2 (FM2)) is discussed. These batteries have 22 series cells per battery and a common bus that would enable them to operate at a common voltage. It is launched on April 24, 1990. This paper reviews: the cell design, battery specification, system constraints, operating parameters, onboard battery management, and battery performance.

Rao, Gopalakrishna M.↗

Onboard Inert Gas Generation System/Onboard Oxygen Gas Generation System (OBIGGS/OBOGS) Study: Aircraft System Requirements - Part 1

The purpose of this technology assessment is to define a multiphase research study program investigating Onboard Inert Gas Generation Systems (OBIGGS) and Onboard Oxygen Generation Systems (OBOGS) that would identify current airplane systems design and certification requirements (Subtask 1); explore state-of-the-art technology (Subtask 2); develop systems specifications (Subtask 3); and develop an initial system design (Subtask 4). If feasible, consideration may be given to the development of a prototype laboratory test system that could potentially be used in commercial transport aircraft (Subtask 5). These systems should be capable of providing inert nitrogen gas for improved fire cargo compartment fire suppression and fuel tank inerting and emergency oxygen for crew and passenger use. Subtask I of this research study, presented herein, defines current production aircraft certification requirements and design objectives necessary to meet mandatory FAA certification requirements and Boeing design and performance specifications. These requirements will be utilized for baseline comparisons for subsequent OBIGGS/OBOGS application evaluations and assessments.

Reynolds, Thomas L.↗