Search NASA⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search NASA

Results for “user adoption”

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.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 127 records · Page 7

CalderaCast User Manual Version 1.0

CalderaCast is a user-friendly web-based tool for electrical-load forecast, providing stakeholders with a fully customizable decision-support framework that estimates the likely power draw from a possible future electric-vehicle (EV) charging station at a given location on a given day along an alternative fuel corridor (AFC). These EV charging profiles are accurately modeled in CalderaCast using the Caldera software framework developed by Idaho National Laboratories (INL), reflecting the realistic charging levels observed in actual charge events. This tool was developed as part of the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program, which is quickly generating substantial interest from would-be charging station operators (CSO), large and small electric utilities, and state transportation planners, some of whom had not seriously considered EV charging previously. All these entities—with or without background in EV infrastructure—must estimate the electricity load that a proposed charging station will generate. This load forecast is critically important for a utility to properly assess the capacity of their distribution network to support the proposed station or properly size grid upgrades for potential load growth due to future EV adoption, vehicle technology improvements, or station growth. This document describes each aspect of the CalderaCast tool and provides guidance to users who are interested in utilizing the tool for their work.

24 - POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗

Office of Space Terrestrial Applications (OSTA)/Applications Data Service (ADS) data systems standards

Standards needed to interconnect applications data service pilots for data sharing were identified. Current pilot methodologies are assessed. Recommendations for future work are made. A preliminary set of requirements for guidelines and standards for catalogues, directories, and dictionaries was identified. The user was considered to be a scientist at a terminal. Existing and emerging national and international telecommunication standards were adopted where possible in view of new and unproven standards.

Walton, B. A.↗

SCOS 2: An object oriented software development approach

The Spacecraft Control and Operations System 2 (SCOS 2), is intended to provide the generic mission control system infrastructure for future ESA missions. It represents a bold step forward in order to take advantage of state-of-the-art technology and current practices in the area of software engineering. Key features include: (1) use of object oriented analysis and design techniques; (2) use of UNIX, C++ and a distributed architecture as the enabling implementation technology; (3) goal of re-use for development, maintenance and mission specific software implementation; and (4) introduction of the concept of a spacecraft control model. This paper touches upon some of the traditional beliefs surrounding Object Oriented development and describes their relevance to SCOS 2. It gives rationale for why particular approaches were adopted and others not, and describes the impact of these decisions. The development approach followed is discussed, highlighting the evolutionary nature of the overall process and the iterative nature of the various tasks carried out. The emphasis of this paper is on the process of the development with the following being covered: (1) the three phases of the SCOS 2 project - prototyping & analysis, design & implementation and configuration / delivery of mission specific systems; (2) the close cooperation and continual interaction with the users during the development; (3) the management approach - the split between client staff, industry and some of the required project management activities; (4) the lifecycle adopted being an enhancement of the ESA PSS-05 standard with SCOS 2 specific activities and approaches defined; and (5) an examination of some of the difficulties encountered and the solutions adopted. Finally, the lessons learned from the SCOS 2 experience are highlighted, identifying those issues to be used as feedback into future developments of this nature. This paper does not intend to describe the finished product and its operation, but focusing on the journey to arrive there, concentrating therefore on the process and not the products of the SCOS 2 software development.

Symonds, Martin↗

Using CASE to Adopt Organizational Learning at NASA

The research direction was articulated in a statement of work created in collaboration between two program colleagues, an outside researcher and an internal user. The researcher was to deliver an implemented CASE tool (CasewiseTM) that was to be used to serve non-traditional (i.e., not software development related) organizational purposes. The explicitly stated functions of the tool were the support of 1) ISO-9000 compliance in the documentation of processes and 2) the management of process improvement. The collaborative team consisted of the researcher (GT), a full-time accompanying student (CRO), and the user (JD). The team originally focused on populating the CASE repository for the purpose of solving the two primary objectives. Consistent with the action research approach, several additional user requirements emerged as the project evolved, needs became apparent in discussions about how the tool would be used to solve organizational problems. These deliverables were contained within the CASE repository: 1) the creation of a paradigm diagram 2) the creation of a context diagram 3) the creation of child diagrams 4) the generation of 73 issues relating to organizational change 5) a compendium of stakeholder interview transcripts All record keeping was done manually and then keyed into the CASE interface. An issue is the difference between an organization s current situation (action) and its collective ideals.

Templeton, Gary F.↗

A high fidelity and user-friendly equation-oriented optimization model for carbon capture using a novel water-lean solvent

Research Triangle Institute (RTI) International and SLB have developed a novel water-lean solvent technology for carbon capture, demonstrating low specific reboiler duty (SRD) values at capture rates exceeding 90%. At the Technology Centre Mongstad (TCM) pilot plant, the technology achieved an SRD of 2.55 GJ/t-CO2 at 95% capture, utilizing an intercooler and a 5°C temperature approach in the lean/rich solvent cross exchanger. To meet varying carbon capture targets for Front End Engineering and Design (FEED) studies and to enable real-time optimization and advanced process control, an efficient optimization model is required. This model needs to minimize energy demand for a given capture rate and determine optimal operating parameters in response to fluctuating flue gas conditions. While an existing Aspen Plus simulation model, developed by RTI and SLB, accurately matches TCM plant data, its sequential modular (SM) strategy is too slow for real-time applications due to recycle streams and tight heat integration inherent in solvent-based carbon capture processes. Although an equation-oriented (EO) modeling strategy is more suitable for optimizing these processes, its adoption has been limited by several factors: feature limitations in Aspen Plus EO mode (e.g., lack of balance block support), a less user-friendly interface for variable identification and loop solving, complex troubleshooting of convergence issues, and the necessity for accurate initial values.

carbon capture↗

Residential Solar-Adopter Income and Demographic Trends: 2024 Update [Slides]

The report describes income, demographic, and other socio-economic trends among U.S. residential rooftop solar adopters. The report is based on address-level data for roughly 4.1 million residential rooftop solar systems installed through 2023, representing 87% of all U.S. systems. With its unique size, geographic scope, and level of detail, this report is intended to serve as a foundational reference document for policy-makers, industry stakeholders, and researchers. Key findings include the following: -The median income of households that installed solar in 2023 was about $\$$115k/year, compared to a U.S. median of $\$$75k/year for all households and $\$$94k/year for all U.S. owner-occupied households. -Compared to owner-occupied households in the same state, 2023 solar-adopter incomes were 7% higher in the median case, and in 10 states, median solar-adopter incomes were below the corresponding median income for all owner-occupied households. -Roughly 49% of solar adopters in 2023 had incomes below 120% of their area median income (AMI), a threshold sometimes used to define “low-and-moderate income” (or LMI), while 26% were below 80% of AMI, often used to define “low-income”. -Solar adoption continues to shift toward less affluent households over time, with the median present-day income of solar adopters dropping from $\$$141k for households that installed systems in 2010 to $\$$115k in 2023. -PV systems installed in 2023 by households earning less than $\$$50k had a median size of 6.4 kW, 33% were third-party owned, and 6% included battery storage, compared to corresponding values of 8.0 kW, 18%, and 14% for households earning more than $\$$200k. -Compared to all households in their respective state, solar adopters in 2023 were slightly more likely to be college educated and to live in rural areas; had higher home values; and were more likely to live outside a disadvantaged community (DAC), be middle-aged, identify as non-Hispanic white, work in a business or financial occupation, and own a single-family home. In conjunction with the report, Berkeley Lab has published an updated accompanying set of online data visualizations that allow users to further explore the underlying data. Berkeley Lab is also offering related analytical support to states, local agencies, and other organizations on issues related to solar adoption among low-to-moderate income households; requests for analytical support may be submitted through this online form.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗

ChargeX OCPI Recommendations

The Open Charge Point Interface (OCPI) is an open protocol that enables electric vehicle (EV) charging systems to work together across networks. It supports communication and data sharing between Charge Point Operators (CPOs), who manage charging stations, and e-Mobility Service Providers (eMSPs), who provide charging services to EV drivers. OCPI facilitates functions like user authorization, remote charge point control, charging session data exchange, and billing through Charge Detail Records (CDRs). This allows EV roaming, so drivers can charge at different networks without multiple accounts. As the EV market grows due to increased adoption and technological advancements, OCPI faces higher demands. This has revealed issues with CDR format consistency, timestamp standardization across regions, transmission of EV-side error codes for troubleshooting, and support for new use cases. These challenges can affect operations and user experience, particularly as the industry starts considering Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) systems, where EVs supply energy to the grid, and Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) technologies for broader energy interactions. Using feedback from the ChargeX Diagnostics taskforce discussions, industry 1-on-1 meetings, technical standards, and OCPI’s evolution through versions (e.g., OCPI 2.1.1, 2.2, and 2.2.1), this report identifies these issues and suggests practical recommendations. These aim to improve interoperability, streamline operations, and prepare OCPI for future trends in the EV charging ecosystem.

32 - ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZA↗

Automation of Shuttle Tile Inspection - Engineering methodology for Space Station

The Space Systems Integration and Operations Research Applications (SIORA) Program was initiated in late 1986 as a cooperative applications research effort between Stanford University, NASA Kennedy Space Center, and Lockheed Space Operations Company. One of the major initial SIORA tasks was the application of automation and robotics technology to all aspects of the Shuttle tile processing and inspection system. This effort has adopted a systems engineering approach consisting of an integrated set of rapid prototyping testbeds in which a government/university/industry team of users, technologists, and engineers test and evaluate new concepts and technologies within the operational world of Shuttle. These integrated testbeds include speech recognition and synthesis, laser imaging inspection systems, distributed Ada programming environments, distributed relational database architectures, distributed computer network architectures, multimedia workbenches, and human factors considerations.

Wiskerchen, M. J.↗

Role of Uncertainty Quantification in the Explainability of Large Language Models for the Nuclear Industry

The meteoric rise of generative artificial intelligence (AI) large language models (LLMs) has created an opportunity to utilize them to increase efficiencies in a multitude of industries. While LLMs carry great potential to revolutionize the manner in which work is performed, numerous known deficiencies limit their utility, including the black box nature of the models, the stochastic nature of the response (i.e., presenting the same prompt multiple times results in different responses), and the potential for hallucination. Widespread adoption of LLMs in safety-critical industries such as nuclear will require some form of explainability to assure end users that the LLM’s response to a given query is valid. Model uncertainty is inherently linked to the concepts of trust and explainability, and can be used to identify situations in which the model is insufficiently certain about its answer. Although uncertainty is not enough in and of itself to determine the suitability of an answer—a model can be very certain of an inaccurate answer—it still provides valuable supporting information. Practical methodologies for gauging or quantifying the uncertainty in LLM outputs are presented herein, along with examples based on nuclear-specific prompts.

22 - GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗

The CEOS Data Cube Portal: A User-Friendly, Open Source Software Solution for the Distribution, Exploration, Analysis, and Visualization of Analysis Ready Data

There is an urgent need to increase the capacity of developing countries to take part in the study and monitoring of their environments through remote sensing and space-based Earth observation technologies. The Open Data Cube (ODC) provides a mechanism for efficient storage and a powerful framework for processing and analyzing satellite data. While this is ideal for scientific research, the expansive feature space can also be daunting for end-users and decision-makers who simply require a solution which provides easy exploration, analysis, and visualization of Analysis Ready Data (ARD). Utilizing innovative web-design and a modular architecture, the Committee on Earth Observation Satellites (CEOS) has created a web-based user interface (UI) which harnesses the power of the ODC yet provides a simple and familiar user experience: the CEOS Data Cube (CDC). This paper presents an overview of the CDC architecture and the salient features of the UI. In order to provide adaptability, flexibility, scalability, and robustness, we leverage widely-adopted and well-supported technologies such as the Django web framework and the AWS Cloud platform. The fully-customizable source code of the UI is available at our public repository. Interested parties can download the source and build their own UIs. The UI empowers users by providing features that assist with streamlining data preparation, data processing, data visualization, and sub-setting ARD products in order to achieve a wide variety of Earth imaging objectives through an easy to use web interface.

User Interface↗

An Evaluation of Extended Reality Technologies for Use in Verification Testing at NASA 2024 HRP IWS Abstract

BACKGROUND At NASA, verification testing is the formal process of ensuring that a product conforms to requirements set by a project or program. Some verification methods, such as Demonstrations and Test, require either the end product or a mockup of the product with sufficient fidelity to stand-in for the product during the test. Traditionally, these mockups have been physical (e.g., foam-core and wood) but there is growing interest in exploring new methods for testing with these mockups. These methods include virtual reality (VR), mixed reality, and augmented reality which are collectively referred to as eXtended Reality (XR) technologies. VR has already been adopted and used by many in the aerospace industry as a tool for use in early design phases (e.g., developmental testing) and may have the most potential for use in verification tests. Benefits of using VR mockups offer cost effectiveness, ease of iteration, simulation of hazardous conditions (e.g., an egress through a hatch with smoke obscuring vision), and the ability to simulate microgravity conditions, which are challenging to do with physical mockups. However, the validity of test results obtained from VR mockup demonstrations or testing, compared to the current gold standard of physical mockups, remains uncertain. It is unlikely that there is one clean answer as there are many different types of verification outcomes and each XR technology must be evaluated on its own merits. This is not an issue during developmental testing as the design is still in flux and the total success of the design is not dependent upon the results of a developmental test. Verification tests, however, only happen once, assuming no change to the design, and the results are used to certify the product. Therefore, establishing the validity of XR mockup-based verification outcomes is essential before considering them for any use in verification tests. OBJECTIVE AND METHOD To address this concern, the Human Research Program has funded a project to explore and qualify how XR technologies might be used in verification demonstration and testing at NASA. Currently, we are conducting a review of the literature on the utilization of XR mockups for design activities, prototyping, and user testing. We are employing the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT) analysis method to identify the pros, cons, and barriers to adoption of XR technologies for verification testing at NASA. Additionally, we are developing a framework to guide the deployment of XR mockups for verification tests. Building upon available evidence from the literature and subject-matter expert feedback, our goal for the framework is to provide guidelines for which forms of XR mockups are suitable for a given verification test, when only physical mockups should be employed and to highlight areas for which more evidence is needed. To further refine our framework and to contribute to the body of evidence, we are planning a lab-based experiment comparing a VR mockup to a physical twin for a set of select verification outcomes. ANTICIPATED RESULTS In this presentation, we will present the work we conducted to evaluate XR technologies for use in verification tests at NASA. We will summarize and report our findings from the SWOT analysis and our lab-based study, and we will present the current state of the XR Technologies for Verification Testing framework. We will conclude by summarizing remaining work and future directions for the project. Technologies for Verification Testing framework. We will conclude by summarizing remaining work and future directions for the project.

Extended Reality↗

Affine Transformations to Enable Machine Learning for Semi-Quantitative EDS Analysis

Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS) is an essential technique for determining elemental concentrations and distributions within microstructures, critical for materials discovery, optimization, and qualification. However, most published EDS data is qualitative because current quantitative EDS analysis methods require extensive calibration and post-processing, limiting their practicality and widespread adoption. This work seeks to establish a framework for accelerated EDS characterization and spectrum analysis that can leverage ML to analyze correlations between various elemental compositions and resulting EDS spectra. The complex physics and data result in a high-dimensional problem that grows exponentially with the number of elements in the system and the complexity of the spectrum analysis. ML provides a way to compute and optimize the results of this highly dimensional problem in a flexible way to tailor it to the user’s specific needs and material system. However, the framework emphasizes transparency through a strictly mathematical affine transformation, so the analysis remains understandable and reviewable to facilitate adoption by the scientific community. While currently implemented methods are simplistic and unvalidated, further development and demonstration of this framework could enable high-throughput, accurate, and accessible EDS characterization.

11 - NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗

Affine Transformations to Correlate Experimental and Simulated EDS Spectra for Multi-Element Systems

Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS) is an essential technique for determining elemental concentrations and distributions within microstructures, critical for materials discovery, optimization, and qualification. However, most published EDS data is qualitative because current quantitative EDS analysis methods require extensive calibration and post-processing, limiting their practicality and widespread adoption. This work seeks to establish a framework for accelerated EDS characterization and spectrum analysis that can leverage ML to analyze correlations between various elemental compositions and resulting EDS spectra. The complex physics and data result in a high-dimensional problem that grows exponentially with the number of elements in the system and the complexity of the spectrum analysis. ML provides a way to compute and optimize the results of this highly dimensional problem in a flexible way to tailor it to the user’s specific needs and material system. However, the framework emphasizes transparency through a strictly mathematical affine transformation, so the analysis remains understandable and reviewable to facilitate adoption by the scientific community. While currently implemented methods are simplistic and unvalidated, further development and demonstration of this framework could enable high-throughput, accurate, and accessible EDS characterization.

11 - NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗

A New Understanding of Decarbonizing Industrial Process Heat

Analysis conducted over the last few years has improved our understanding of how industrial process heat is used in the United States. These improvements are important for characterizing the possibilities for industrial decarbonization. However, this analysis has largely been conducted from technical perspective and has remained disconnected from the social processes that underlie how industrial firms may adopt and implement technologies to decarbonize their process heating operations. This presentation introduces the concept of generic and configurational technology systems, and outlines the how the incorporation of user requirements and local contexts are essential for successful implementation of configurational systems. Insights drawn from semi-structured interviews with representatives of industrial firms are used to support the hypothesis that industrial process heat technologies are configurational. The potential implications for strategies to decarbonize process heat are then discussed.

adoption↗

Defining an industrial heat pump: A review & synthesis

Clear and understandable definitions of advanced energy technologies are not common and often confuse those who are not experts. This review paper addresses a critical issue in the field of heat pumps: the ambiguity surrounding the term “industrial heat pump.” The term, as discussed in various literature and media, often leads to misconceptions about the capabilities and applications of heat pumps, particularly in industrial contexts. This review paper seeks to refine and unify the definition of industrial heat pumps by analyzing existing academic and commercial literature, industry reports, and classifications. Unique identifiers explored for the definition of an industrial heat pump include the use of waste heat, operating temperature ranges, size specifications, and specific end-use applications. The study reveals differences in how industrial heat pumps are defined in academic and commercial contexts, highlighting the need for a standardized definition to facilitate better communication among manufacturers, policymakers, and end users. This is especially important considering recent legislative efforts such as the HEAT Act, which seeks to promote industrial heat pump adoption. The proposed definition aims to provide clarity while supporting the effective deployment of industrial heat pumps. With proper adoption, the definition will help promote the role of industrial heat pumps in achieving energy efficiency goals in the industrial sector. The intended impact is for the definition to serve as a foundational reference for future research and policy development.

Heat pump characteristics↗

Western Combined Heat and Power Technical Assistance Partnership (Final Technical Report)

Since 2018, the Western Combined Heat and Power Technical Assistance Partnership (CHP TAP) has been dedicated to advancing the adoption and implementation of Combined Heat and Power. The CHP TAP has diligently worked towards its mission of fostering end-user engagement, promoting technical solutions, and enhancing energy security within the region. As we reflect on our journey, we are proud to announce the completion of the required metrics set forth at the beginning of our endeavor. From the outset, our aim has been clear: to leverage CHP technology as a catalyst for bolstering American competitiveness, utilizing local fuels, and fortifying energy resilience. Through collaborative efforts with a diverse array of stakeholders, including manufacturing, commercial, institutional, and federal facilities, and campuses, we have strived to realize this vision. In this report, we outline the achievements, activities, and impact of the Western CHP TAP, highlighting the transformative journey undertaken since 2018. From providing technical assistance and guidance to conducting educational workshops and advocating for supportive policies, our initiatives have been guided by a commitment to excellence and innovation. As we celebrate the completion of our required metrics, we reaffirm our dedication to continuing our mission, building upon our accomplishments, and shaping a sustainable energy future for the Western region. Through ongoing collaboration and engagement, we are confident that the Western CHP TAP will continue to serve as a beacon of progress and a catalyst for positive change in the years to come.

03 NATURAL GAS↗

Extension of an Object-Oriented Optimization Tool: User's Reference Manual

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration Armstrong Flight Research Center has developed a cost-effective and flexible object-oriented optimization (O (sup 3)) tool that leverages existing tools and practices and allows easy integration and adoption of new state-of-the-art software. This object-oriented framework can integrate the analysis codes for multiple disciplines, as opposed to relying on one code to perform analysis for all disciplines. Optimization can thus take place within each discipline module, or in a loop between the O (sup 3) tool and the discipline modules, or both. Six different sample mathematical problems are presented to demonstrate the performance of the O (sup 3) tool. Instructions for preparing input data for the O (sup 3) tool are detailed in this user's manual.

Multidisciplinary design optimization↗

End-to-End Information System design at the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory

Recognizing a pressing need of the 1980s to optimize the two-way flow of information between a ground-based user and a remote space-based sensor, an end-to-end approach to the design of information systems has been adopted at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. The objectives of this effort are to ensure that all flight projects adequately cope with information flow problems at an early stage of system design, and that cost-effective, multi-mission capabilities are developed when capital investments are made in supporting elements. The paper reviews the End-to-End Information System (EEIS) activity at the Laboratory, and notes the ties to the NASA End-to-End Data System program.

Hooke, A. J.↗