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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

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NASA NTRS1995

Advanced control design for hybrid turboelectric vehicle

The new environment standards are a challenge and opportunity for industry and government who manufacture and operate urban mass transient vehicles. A research investigation to provide control scheme for efficient power management of the vehicle is in progress. Different design requirements using functional analysis and trade studies of alternate power sources and controls have been performed. The design issues include portability, weight and emission/fuel efficiency of induction motor, permanent magnet and battery. A strategic design scheme to manage power requirements using advanced control systems is presented. It exploits fuzzy logic, technology and rule based decision support scheme. The benefits of our study will enhance the economic and technical feasibility of technological needs to provide low emission/fuel efficient urban mass transit bus. The design team includes undergraduate researchers in our department. Sample results using NASA HTEV simulation tool are presented.

Abban, Joseph↗

NASA NTRS2016

Space Architecture for MoonVillage

The concept of a multinational MoonVillage, as proposed by Jan Wörner of ESA, is analyzed with respect to diverse factors affecting its implementation feasibility: potential activities and scale as a function of location, technology, and purpose; potential participants and their roles; business models for growth and sustainability as compared to the ISS; and implications for the field of space architecture. Environmental and operations constraints that govern all types of MoonVillage are detailed. Findings include: 1) while technically feasible, a MoonVillage would be more distributed and complex a project than the ISS; 2) significant and distinctive opportunities exist for willing participants, at all evolutionary scales and degrees of commercialization; 3) the mixed-use space business park model is essential for growth and permanence; 4) growth depends on exporting lunar material products, and the rate and extent of growth depends on export customers including terrestrial industries; 5) industrial-scale operations are a precondition for lunar urbanism, which goal in turn dramatically drives technology requirements; but 6) industrial viability cannot be discerned until significant in situ operations occur; and therefore 7) government investment in lunar surface operations is a strictly enabling step. Because of the resources it could apply, the U.S. government holds the greatest leverage on growth, no matter who founds a MoonVillage. The interplanetary business to be built may be cause for engagement.

Sherwood, Bent↗

NASA NTRS2023

Ch. 12. A Theoretical Approach to Management of Limited Attentional Resources to Support the m:N Operation in Advanced Air Mobility Ecosystem

Advanced air mobility (AAM) technologies incorporate increasingly autonomous systems that allow fully remote, independent, and intelligent operation of air vehicles to support the transportation of goods and passengers within and across urban and rural areas. With a myriad of automated technologies enabling the AAM ecosystem, the human operator’s role will likely be a passive supervisory monitor of the air vehicles, involving increasingly fewer humans (m) that manage many more autonomous systems (N), or m:N operations. Unfortunately, the human performance literature suggests that human operators will exhibit poor supervision of numerous autonomous agents due to the limits of attentional resources in the operators. In the general human information-processing model, a human operator exercises a limited pool of attentional resources to engage various information-processing stages including detecting, perceiving, comprehending, and predicting objects around them. Yamani and Horrey (2018) expanded the human information-processing model to characterize a tradeoff between information-processing demand and resource relief that automation brings in the context of automated driving. In their model, a driver interacting with an automated driving system is assumed to reallocate resources “freed” by automation to support other information-processing stages required for successful task performance. A future AAM ecosystem enabled by an orchestration of advanced automated systems, however, requires a single operator to interact with more than one air vehicle with varying levels and degrees of automated systems, making the traditional framework of human-automation interaction insufficient. To address this gap, we provide a review of the literature on situation assessment and trust, two constructs identified as critical for a fuller understanding of intimate and intricate interactions between a human operator and multiple air vehicles equipped with increasingly autonomous systems. Then, we propose an expansion of Yamani and Horrey’s (2018) model to motivate systematic research on the human operator’s role, identify factors that influence resource allocation and guide human-centered design of an interface supporting the m:N operation in the AAM environment.

Advanced Air Mobility↗

NASA NTRS2000

Physics for the Correction of a Calibrated Airborne Scanner, Visible to Thermal Bands

To use remote sensing modalities in a reproducible manner it is essential that extraneous phenomena be removed from the signal. For those interested in the surface of the Earth, airborne and satellite systems, which are sensitive in wavelengths ranging from the visible to the infrared are significantly degraded by the atmosphere. The authors have developed a series of mathematical models to describe and correct the degradation. The models are based directly on the physics of the systems and are computationally tractable. Modeling of the atmosphere is done using public domain code, loaded with data and configured using information form systems developed by Schiller and Luvall. The results of this are then integrated with a physical model of the sensor to permit reduction of data to geophysically meaningful units. The components of the overall modeling, the logic of the components, and the limitations of the approach are discussed. The authors are employing there technology on applications ranging from measurements of urban heat islands to precision agriculture.

Rickman, Doug L.↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

NASA's Megawatt Electric Aircraft Propulsion Research and Development

Electric aircraft propulsion (EAP) has become a major thrust in NASA’s aeronautics programs. The EAP is a NASA technology used to fulfill NASA’s role in its Sustainable Flight National Partnership, which has a goal of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. Three of NASA’s four aeronautics programs have one or more projects that support EAP technology development and target technologies for wide body (> 10 megawatts) aircraft to urban air mobility (100s of kilowatts). The effort includes megawatt-scale flight demonstration, systems studies, electric machine and drive development, thermal management, and materials development. The Glenn Research Center (GRC) in Cleveland is intensely involved in much of this research. Specifically, GRC has material development groups working to develop materials that will help enable EAP. This presentation will focus on selected NASA megawatt-scale EAP technology efforts that span several NASA projects and programs and will highlight material development in this area.

Electric Aircraft Propulsion↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

A Review on Cybersecurity Vulnerabilities for Urban Air Mobility

Recent developments of high-powered unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have allowed for urban air mobility (UAM) to become a reality. While these flying cars' propulsive technology has almost become economically viable, the infrastructure to allow these vehicles to operate in an urban environment is still lacking. With numerous known vulnerabilities in UAVs and commercial aircraft, manufacturers have not addressed cybersecurity in the scope of urban air mobility.

UAM↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

A Review on Cybersecurity Vulnerabilities for Urban Air Mobility

Urban Air Mobility↗

NASA NTRS2015

Urban SAFE50: Modeling, Controlling, and Testing Safe UAS Operations in Low Altitude Settings

The research and development of UAVs (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles) are quickly progressing as industries and hobbyist societies recognize their utility. NASA is focused on the technology development and safety considerations surrounding commercial use of UAVs. Urban SAFE50 (Safe Autonomous Flight Environment within the notional last 50 feet of operation of 55 pound class UAS (Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems)) is focused on the necessary real-time decision algorithms and flight models prevalent in low-altitude, high-density city environments. Construction of on-board controls to respond to motor failure and wind dynamics as well as a database of computational flight models and battery discharge profiles will help policymakers to predict and regulate unmanned aircraft flight safely and effectively.

SAFE↗

NASA NTRS2002

International Conference on Remote Sensing Applications for Archaeological Research and World Heritage Conservation

Contents include the following: Monitoring the Ancient Countryside: Remote Sensing and GIS at the Chora of Chersonesos (Crimea, Ukraine). Integration of Remote Sensing and GIS for Management Decision Support in the Pendjari Biosphere Reserve (Republic of Benin). Monitoring of deforestation invasion in natural reserves of northern Madagascar based on space imagery. Cartography of Kahuzi-Biega National Park. Cartography and Land Use Change of World Heritage Areas and the Benefits of Remote Sensing and GIS for Conservation. Assessing and Monitoring Vegetation in Nabq Protected Area, South Sinai, Egypt, using combine approach of Satellite Imagery and Land Surveys. Evaluation of forage resources in semi-arid savannah environments with satellite imagery: contribution to the management of a protected area (Nakuru National Park) in Kenya. SOGHA, the Surveillance of Gorilla Habitat in World Heritage sites using Space Technologies. Application of Remote Sensing to monitor the Mont-Saint-Michel Bay (France). Application of Remote Sensing & GIS for the Conservation of Natural and Cultural Heritage Sites of the Southern Province of Sri Lanka. Social and Environmental monitoring of a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve: Case Study over the Vosges du Nord and Pfalzerwald Parks using Corona and Spot Imagery. Satellite Remote Sensing as tool to Monitor Indian Reservation in the Brazilian Amazonia. Remote Sensing and GIS Technology for Monitoring UNESCO World Heritage Sites - A Pilot Project. Urban Green Spaces: Modern Heritage. Monitoring of the technical condition of the St. Sophia Cathedral and related monastic buildings in Kiev with Space Applications, geo-positioning systems and GIS tools. The Murghab delta palaeochannel Reconstruction on the Basis of Remote Sensing from Space. Acquisition, Registration and Application of IKONOS Space Imagery for the cultural World Heritage site at Mew, Turkmenistan. Remote Sensing and VR applications for the reconstruction of archaeological landscapes. Archaeology through Space: Experience in Indian Subcontinent. The creation of a GIS Archaeological Site Location Catalogue in Yucatan: A Tool to preserve its Cultural Heritage. Mapping the Ancient Anasazi Roads of Southeast Utah. Remote Sensing and GIS Technology for Identification of Conservation and Heritage sites in Urban Planning. Mapping Angkor: For a new appraisal of the Angkor region. Angkor and radar imaging: seeing a vast pre-industrial low-density, dispersed urban complex. Technical and methodological aspects of archaeological CRM integrating high resolution satellite imagery. The contribution of satellite imagery to archaeological survey: an example from western Syria. The use of satellite images, digital elevation models and ground truth for the monitoring of land degradation in the "Cinque Terre" National park. Remote Sensing and GIS Applications for Protection and Conservation of World Heritage Site on the coast - Case Study of Tamil Nadu Coast, India. Multispectral high resolution satellite imagery in combination with "traditional" remote sensing and ground survey methods to the study of archaeological landscapes. The case study of Tuscany. Use of Remotely-Sensed Imagery in Cultural Landscape. Characterisation at Fort Hood, Texas. Heritage Learning and Data Collection: Biodiversity & Heritage Conservation through Collaborative Monitoring & Research. A collaborative project by UNESCO's WHC (World Heritage Center) & The GLOBE Program (Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment). Practical Remote Sensing Activities in an Interdisciplinary Master-Level Space Course.

Source record↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Overview of an Exploratory, Real-Time, Multi-Pilot Simulation Study of Early eVTOL Operations at Non-Towered Vertiports

This paper provides a report out on an exploratory, multi-aircraft/multi-pilot, real-time simulation study conducted by NASA of early commercial powered-lift, Urban Air Mobility (UAM) operations at a non-towered vertiport. As used in this paper, vertiport refers to the primary ground and airspace elements facilitating the takeoff and landing of electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft with central emphasis on a vertipad, i.e. the physical touch-down and lift-off area and surrounding approach , departure, local pattern procedures. The study, known as the Piloted UML-2 ConOps Study (PUCS), had two high-level goals. The first goal was providing preliminary insights and observations relevant to the piloting and flight operations of early, commercial UAM operations aligned with the initial stage of the FAA’s Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) Implementation Plan and the second level NASA’s UAM Maturity Level (UML) scale. The second goal was evaluating a novel, medium-fidelity, extensible, many-pilot, real-time simulation capability known as the UAM Flyers developed by NASA. The Flyers are intended to allow rapid development, screening, evaluation, and demonstrations of potential Concepts of Operation (ConOps) for UAM flight operations and airspace management in a modular and low-cost, real-time, human-in-the-loop rapid simulation prototyping environment. For this study, ten Flyer cockpits were configured to evaluate flight operations through a non-towered vertiport with pilot interfaces and displays (external and in-cockpit) appropriate for operations under visual flight rules (VFR) and employing flight and communication procedures representative of current operations at non-towered airports. The presented results include an achieved operational tempo; durations of individual flight tasks for approaches and departures; off-nominal events and triggers; and pilot comments regarding potential procedural and technology improvements.

Urban Air Mobility↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Overview of an Exploratory, Multi-Pilot Simulation Study of Early eVTOL Operations at Non-Towered Vertiports

Urban Air Mobility↗

NASA NTRS2010

Workshop Report On Sustainable Urban Development

The key workshop goal was to explore and document how NASA technologies, such as remote sensing, climate modeling, and high-end computing and visualization along with NASA assets such as Earth Observing Satellites (EOS) and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) can contribute to creating and managing a sustainable urban environment. The focus was on the greater Bay Area, but many aspects of the workshop were applicable to urban management at the local, regional and global scales. A secondary goal was to help NASA better understand the problems facing urban managers and to make city leaders in the Bay Area more aware of NASA's capabilities. By bringing members of these two groups together we hope to see the beginnings of new collaborations between NASA and those faced with instituting sustainable urban management in Bay Area cities.

Langhoff, Stephanie↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

A Review on Cybersecurity Vulnerabilities for Urban Air Mobility

Recent developments of high-powered unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have allowed for urban air mobility (UAM) to become a reality. While the propulsive technology of these flying cars has almost reached an economic level, the infrastructure to allow for these vehicles to operate in an urban environment is still lacking. With numerous known vulnerabilities in UAVs and commercial aircraft, manufacturers have not addressed cybersecurity in the scope of urban air mobility. This paper presents a review of several known cybersecurity vulnerabilities and previous attacks associated with the core communication systems of UAVs and aircraft. Analyzing current solutions to each threat and incorporating early concepts for UAM, this paper then presents a basic framework featuring a blockchain-based PKI with secondary navigation systems to allow for the development of secure airspace.

Urban Air Mobility↗

NASA NTRS2013

Large-Scale Spacecraft Fire Safety Experiments in ISS Resupply Vehicles

Our understanding of the fire safety risk in manned spacecraft has been limited by the small scale of the testing we have been able to conduct in low-gravity. Fire growth and spread cannot be expected to scale linearly with sample size so we cannot make accurate predictions of the behavior of realistic scale fires in spacecraft based on the limited low-g testing to date. As a result, spacecraft fire safety protocols are necessarily very conservative and costly. Future crewed missions are expected to be longer in duration than previous exploration missions outside of low-earth orbit and accordingly, more complex in terms of operations, logistics, and safety. This will increase the challenge of ensuring a fire-safe environment for the crew throughout the mission. Based on our fundamental uncertainty of the behavior of fires in low-gravity, the need for realistic scale testing at reduced gravity has been demonstrated. To address this concern, a spacecraft fire safety research project is underway to reduce the uncertainty and risk in the design of spacecraft fire safety systems by testing at nearly full scale in low-gravity. This project is supported by the NASA Advanced Exploration Systems Program Office in the Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate. The activity of this project is supported by an international topical team of fire experts from other space agencies to maximize the utility of the data and to ensure the widest possible scrutiny of the concept. The large-scale space flight experiment will be conducted on three missions; each in an Orbital Sciences Corporation Cygnus vehicle after it has deberthed from the ISS. Although the experiment will need to meet rigorous safety requirements to ensure the carrier vehicle does not sustain damage, the absence of a crew allows the fire products to be released into the cabin. The tests will be fully automated with the data downlinked at the conclusion of the test before the Cygnus vehicle reenters the atmosphere. The international topical team is collaborating with the NASA team in the definition of the experiment requirements and performing supporting analysis, experimentation and technology development.

Combustion↗

NASA NTRS1990

Earth benefits from space life sciences

Contributions of space exploration which are widely recognized are those dealing with the impact of space technology on public health and medical services in both urban and remote rural areas. Telecommunications, image enhancement, 3-dimensional image reconstructions, miniaturization, automation, and data analysis, have transformed the delivery of medical care and have brought about a new impetus to the field of biomedicine. Many areas of medical care and biological research have been affected. These include technological breakthroughs in such areas as: (1) diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of cardiovascular diseases, (2) new approaches to the understanding of osteoporosis, (3) early detection of genetic birth defects, (4) emergency medical care, and (5) treatment of chronic metabolic disorders. These are but a few examples where technology originally developed to support space medicine or space research has been applied to solving medical and health care delivery problems on Earth.

NASA Center HQS↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Predicting Quadcopter Noise With The Lattice-Boltzmann Method

From small delivery Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) to short-haul building-to-building aircraft, urban air mobility is gaining traction as a new approach to tackle the problem of transportation in densely populated areas. NASA’s vision for vertical lift vehicles is to capitalize on and improve unique capabilities to greatly benefit the United States’ growing civil flight requirements. This vision is embodied in the Revolutionary Vertical Lift Technology (RVLT)project [1]. Beyond safety, one of the chief concerns of communities where drones are becoming more popular is the noise they generate. Noise will undoubtedly be one of the major obstacles to public acceptance of any new urban air mobility technology. The ability to predict the acoustics of new conceptual aircraft with multiple rotors and complex fuselages is critical to enable the creation of quieter designs. The objective of this research is to build up a better physical understanding of the noise generated by a typical quadcopter drone and what it takes to predict it from first principles using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) with the Lattice-Boltzmann method (LBM). The specific goals are to establish best practices to predict multi-rotor and vehicle interaction noise with LBM, validate these predictions by comparing to wind tunnel measurements, and assess the computational cost necessary to obtain accurate predictions.

Francois Cadieux↗

NASA NTRS1978

Wide area detection system: Conceptual design study

An integrated sensor for traffic surveillance on mainline sections of urban freeways is described. Applicable imaging and processor technology is surveyed and the functional requirements for the sensors and the conceptual design of the breadboard sensors are given. Parameters measured by the sensors include lane density, speed, and volume. The freeway image is also used for incident diagnosis.

Hilbert, E. E.↗

NASA NTRS2002

Using the Process and Excitement of Science and Technology to Empower Teachers and Engage their Students

Students United with NASA Becoming Enthusiastic About Math and Science (SUNBEAMS) is a Partnership between NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) and the District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS). It empowers teachers and inspires students with the process and excitement of science and technology. SUNBEAMS is being developed as a model urban intervention program for sixth grade teachers and their students. The teachers come to Goddard for five weeks during the summer. They partner with Goddard mentors and work much the same way that summer students do. In addition, the teachers are responsible for developing lesson plans that they pilot at their schools and post on the SUNBEAMS web site. During the school year, each teacher brings one class to Goddard for a full week of total immersion in math and science.

Crannell, Carol Jo↗