Search NASA⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search NASA

Results for “object oriented”

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 1,405 records · Page 78

Assembly and Integration Status of a High Fidelity Ground Test Bed for the Water Processor Assembly

The Water Recovery System (WRS) is a critical component of life support aboard the International Space Station (ISS) and will play an essential role in future missions beyond Low Earth Orbit (LEO). Its primary functional units – the Urine Processor Assembly (UPA), Brine Processor Assembly (BPA), and Water Processor Assembly (WPA) – must be evaluated for extended operation, dormancy resilience, material obsolescence, and reliability under exploration-driven constraints. Ground testing is vital for developing these technologies and generating statistically relevant reliability assessments, which requires extended runtime under integrated, Flight-like conditions. Currently, no high-fidelity, fully integrated WPA ground test bed exists to support these objectives. To address this gap, NASA is developing a WPA test bed at Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) that combines downgraded ISS flight hardware with functionally flight-like components in a cost-effective configuration while maintaining priority hardware investigations. This paper describes the current status of hardware assembly and integration, outlines key challenges such as simulating microgravity effects and mitigating obsolescence, and presents future test objectives including software development, reliability assessments, dormancy studies, and exploration-oriented upgrades.

Water Processor Assembly↗

Linear delta systems, hexapod systems, and related methods

A linear delta system includes a support frame, rails mounted to the support frame, linear actuators, each linear actuator configured to translate along a longitudinal length of a respective rail, pairs of parallel rods each coupled to the linear actuators, a platform coupled to a longitudinal end of each of the pairs of parallel rods opposite the respective linear actuator, and an object coupled to the platform. Longitudinal axes of the rails are oriented parallel to each other and lie within a common plane or an uncommon plane. A method of forming a linear delta system includes mounting rails to a support frame, the rails having longitudinal axes that are parallel to each other and lying within a common plane, coupling a linear actuator to each of the rails, coupling a pair of parallel rods to each linear actuator, and coupling a platform to the pairs of parallel rods.

Crawford, Anthony L.↗

Development and Clustering of Rate-Oriented Load Metrics for Customer Price-Plan Analysis: Preprint

One of the few methods electric utilities can use to motivate and change customer energy consumption is through their retail rate structures. Utilities are increasingly moving towards more dynamic rate-plans to achieve the objectives of motivating energy conservation, increasing self-consumption from onsite renewable generation, reducing peak demand and to flattening the demand profiles. This paper presents a set of rate-oriented customer load metrics that are the determinants of customers bill under four unique rate-plans. These metrics are not only indicative of which rate structure a customer should choose based on their load profiles, but also convey useful information about load consumption behavior. With these metrics, the utility can analyze their customers and identify customer classes that are rewarded under each rate-plan. This can help inform utilities whether the customer profiles being rewarded under each rate-plans are meeting their original objectives. To develop these customer classes, we calculate these rate-oriented load metrics for each customer and perform k-means clustering. The analysis is conducted on from a set of 300 customer profiles, examining the impact of four different rate-plans, different numbers of clusters and looking at customer bills and cluster load profile characteristics.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗

A Kalman-Filter-Based Approach to Combining Independent Earth-Orientation Series

An approach. based upon the use of a Kalman filter. that is currently employed at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) for combining independent measurements of the Earth's orientation, is presented. Since changes in the Earth's orientation can be described is a randomly excited stochastic process, the uncertainty in our knowledge of the Earth's orientation grows rapidly in the absence of measurements. The Kalman-filter methodology allows for an objective accounting of this uncertainty growth, thereby facilitating the intercomparison of measurements taken at different epochs (not necessarily uniformly spaced in time) and with different precision. As an example of this approach to combining Earth-orientation series, a description is given of a combination, SPACE95, that has been generated recently at JPL.

Gross, Richard S.↗

Programmable Ultralight Magnets via Orientational Arrangement of Ferromagnetic Nanoparticles within Aerogel Hosts

The actuation and levitation of air-suspended objects by a magnetic field, due to its noncontact and holonomic manipulation modes, are important technological capabilities for device applications. However, owing to a higher density of conventional ferromagnets or nanoparticle-containing polymers and strong magnetic fields required for actuation, fabricating lightweight materials with a sensitive magnetic response for weight critical applications is challenging. Here, we report ultralight aerogel-based magnets (aero-magnets) comprising assembled ferromagnetic nanomaterials with highly magnetic anisotropy where the magnetic domains can be programmed by external predesigned fields. To demonstrate the breadth of manufacturing methods for this breed of aero-magnet composites, both silica/nanocellulose aerogel hosts and ferromagnetic nanorod/nanoplatelet guests have been explored. Single and double domains with out-of-plane magnetization are programmed into the aero-magnets and characterized by magnetic force microscopy. The levitation and actuation of the aero-magnets are realized while exposed to a small external magnetic field of 11 mT and introduced to a switching circuit. Furthermore, the elastic moduli of the aero-magnets are estimated by dynamic magnetic responses of the ferromagnetic nanoparticles tightly tethered in the aerogel hosts under rapid cyclic fields. These programmable aero-magnets could serve as monolithic magnetic actuator units in the fields of tiny robots and aerospace components.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

A Novel Optical/digital Processing System for Pattern Recognition

This paper describes two processing algorithms that can be implemented optically: the Radon transform and angular correlation. These two algorithms can be combined in one optical processor to extract all the basic geometric and amplitude features from objects embedded in video imagery. We show that the internal amplitude structure of objects is recovered by the Radon transform, which is a well-known result, but, in addition, we show simulation results that calculate angular correlation, a simple but unique algorithm that extracts object boundaries from suitably threshold images from which length, width, area, aspect ratio, and orientation can be derived. In addition to circumventing scale and rotation distortions, these simulations indicate that the features derived from the angular correlation algorithm are relatively insensitive to tracking shifts and image noise. Some optical architecture concepts, including one based on micro-optical lenslet arrays, have been developed to implement these algorithms. Simulation test and evaluation using simple synthetic object data will be described, including results of a study that uses object boundaries (derivable from angular correlation) to classify simple objects using a neural network.

Boone, Bradley G.↗

Visual-vestibular integration as a function of adaptation to space flight and return to Earth

Research on perception and control of self-orientation and self-motion addresses interactions between action and perception . Self-orientation and self-motion, and the perception of that orientation and motion are required for and modified by goal-directed action. Detailed Supplementary Objective (DSO) 604 Operational Investigation-3 (OI-3) was designed to investigate the integrated coordination of head and eye movements within a structured environment where perception could modify responses and where response could be compensatory for perception. A full understanding of this coordination required definition of spatial orientation models for the microgravity environment encountered during spaceflight.

Reschke, Millard R.↗

Remote sensing applications to Missouri environmental resources information system

An efficient system for retrieval of remotely sensed data to be used by natural resources oriented agencies, and a natural resources data system that can meet the needs of state agencies were studied. To accomplish these objectives, natural resources data sources were identified, and study of systems already in operation which address themselves to the more efficient utilization of natural resources oriented data was prepared.

Myers, R. E.↗

A model-based approach for detection of objects in low resolution passive millimeter wave images

A model-based vision system to assist the pilots in landing maneuvers under restricted visibility conditions is described. The system was designed to analyze image sequences obtained from a Passive Millimeter Wave (PMMW) imaging system mounted on the aircraft to delineate runways/taxiways, buildings, and other objects on or near runways. PMMW sensors have good response in a foggy atmosphere, but their spatial resolution is very low. However, additional data such as airport model and approximate position and orientation of aircraft are available. These data are exploited to guide our model-based system to locate objects in the low resolution image and generate warning signals to alert the pilots. Also analytical expressions were derived from the accuracy of the camera position estimate obtained by detecting the position of known objects in the image.

Kasturi, Rangachar↗

A model-based approach for detection of objects in low resolution passive-millimeter wave images

We describe a model-based vision system to assist pilots in landing maneuvers under restricted visibility conditions. The system was designed to analyze image sequences obtained from a Passive Millimeter Wave (PMMW) imaging system mounted on the aircraft to delineate runways/taxiways, buildings, and other objects on or near runways. PMMW sensors have good response in a foggy atmosphere; but, their spatial resolution is very low. However, additional data such as airport model and approximate position and orientation of aircraft are available. We exploit these data to guide our model-based system to locate objects in the low resolution image and generate warning signals to alert the pilots. We also derive analytical expressions for the accuracy of the camera position estimate obtained by detecting the position of known objects in the image.

Tang, Yuan-Liang↗

Surface enrichment dictates block copolymer orientation

Orientation of block copolymer (BCP) morphology in thin films is critical to applications as nanostructured coatings. Despite being well-studied, the ability to control BCP orientation across all possible block constituents remains challenging. Here, in this study, we deploy coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations to study diblock copolymer ordering in thin films, focusing on chain makeup, substrate surface energy, and surface tension disparity between the two constituent blocks. We explore the multi-dimensional parameter space of ordering using a machine-learning approach, where an autonomous loop using a Gaussian process (GP) control algorithm iteratively selects high-value simulations to compute. The GP kernel was engineered to capture known symmetries. The trained GP model serves as both a complete map of system response, and a robust means of extracting material knowledge. We demonstrate that the vertical orientation of BCP phases depends on several counter-balancing energetic contributions, including entropic and enthalpic material enrichment at interfaces, distortion of morphological objects through the film depth, and of course interfacial energies. BCP lamellae are found more resistant to these effects, and thus more robustly form vertical orientations across a broad range of conditions; while BCP cylinders are found to be highly sensitive to surface tension disparity.

77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY↗

Full-Field Strain Measurement Integrated with Two Dimension Regression Analysis to Evaluate the Bi-Modulus Elastic Properties of Isotropic and Transversely Isotropic Materials

Background: Measuring the physical properties of shale is critical for optimizing engineering activities such as geothermal energy generation and hydraulic fracturing. Shale is a transversely isotropic material. Furthermore, this material can also include micro and macro cracks at different locations and orientations that cause it to behave differently under tensile or compressive loading. Objective: In this work, a combined experimental–numerical approach is proposed to evaluate the bi-modulus elastic properties of isotropic and transversely isotropic materials. Methods: Full-field strain measurements for a circular disk under diametral compression are integrated with a regression analysis technique to evaluate the elastic properties of bi-modulus materials subjected to tensile and compressive loads using two loading configurations on the same specimen. Digital Image Correlation (DIC) is used to measure the full-field strains. Subsequently, in the case of an isotropic material, a linear least-squares approach is utilized to process the experimentally determined strains in conjunction with analytical expressions of the stress fields (in terms of far-field loading) to determine the elastic modulus E, the shear modulus G, and the Poisson’s ratio $v$. In the case of a transversely isotopic material, such as shale, a finite element model is implemented to determine the stress fields (again in terms of far-field loading), which is followed by repeating the previous regression analysis in an iterative process to estimate the elastic parameters. Results: The results show that the proposed technique successfully provides a complete set of elastic properties as a function of both the loading condition and the principal material directions. The technique is validated by measurements on a known isotropic material and then applied to determine the properties of shale. Conclusion: In this work, the proposed approach is successfully used to calculate the bi-modulus elastic response of poly(methyl meth- acrylate) (PMMA) and shale. As expected, PMMA exhibits an isotropic response with no bi-modulus effect, however, shale exhibits both transverse isotropy and a bi-modulus effect. Therefore, this approach holds promise for investigating the elastic properties of materials like rocks and fiber-reinforced composite laminates as functions of the principal material directions and the loading conditions.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Combining Laue diffraction with Bragg coherent diffraction imaging at 34-ID-C

Measurement modalities in Bragg coherent diffraction imaging (BCDI) rely on finding a signal from a single nanoscale crystal object which satisfies the Bragg condition among a large number of arbitrarily oriented nanocrystals. However, even when the signal from a single Bragg reflection with ( hkl ) Miller indices is found, the crystallographic axes on the retrieved three-dimensional (3D) image of the crystal remain unknown, and thus localizing in reciprocal space other Bragg reflections becomes time-consuming or requires good knowledge of the orientation of the crystal. Here, the commissioning of a movable double-bounce Si (111) monochromator at the 34-ID-C endstation of the Advanced Photon Source is reported, which aims at delivering multi-reflection BCDI as a standard tool in a single beamline instrument. The new instrument enables, through rapid switching from monochromatic to broadband (pink) beam, the use of Laue diffraction to determine crystal orientation. With a proper orientation matrix determined for the lattice, one can measure coherent diffraction patterns near multiple Bragg peaks, thus providing sufficient information to image the full strain tensor in 3D. The design, concept of operation, the developed procedures for indexing Laue patterns, and automated measuring of Bragg coherent diffraction data from multiple reflections of the same nanocrystal are discussed.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

Selective Epitaxial Growth of III–N Structures Using Ion-Beam Nanolithography

The selective epitaxial growth of GaN by metalorganic vapor-phase epitaxy combined with ion-beam etching is investigated. To this end, partially masked GaN epitaxial layers are fabricated by depositing a thin Si{sub 3}N{sub 4} layer onto the surface in a single technological process with the growth of GaN and the subsequent opening of windows of different shapes in this layer by an ion beam. Selective epitaxial growth regimes are studied. It is shown that, in a situation where the total area of the windows in the mask is small relative to the total area of the sample, the required epitaxy duration should be 5–10 s, which impairs the reproducibility of the parameters of the epitaxial process. It is also shown that the mechanism of the selective growth of submicrometer objects differs significantly from that for planar layers and selectively grown layers with dimensions of ~1 μm or greater. The effect of precursor (trimethylgallium and ammonia) fluxes on the character of selective epitaxy is examined. To investigate the possibilities of varying mask topology for fabricating model objects with regard to photonic crystals, the impact of the shape and orientation of the windows in the Si{sub 3}N{sub 4} mask on the character of selective epitaxy is studied.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Forward calibration of closed-loop jointed manipulators

A method for performing forward kinematic calibration of manipulators with one or more closed-loop actuated joints is presented. The technique is an extension of algorithms designed for open-loop jointed manipulators and is equivalent to minimizing a constrained objective function. The constraints arise from the closed-loop mechanisms in the manipulator. The objective function is taken as the integral of end effector position and orientation error and is optimized using the method of Lagrange multipliers.

Everett, Louis J.↗

Numerical simulation of rotorcraft

The objective of the research is to develop and validate accurate, user-oriented viscous CFD codes (with inviscid options) for three-dimensional, unsteady aerodynamic flows about arbitrary rotorcraft configurations. Unsteady, three-dimensional Euler and Navier-Stokes codes are developed, adapted, and extended to rotor-body combinations. Flow solvers are coupled with zonal grid topologies, including rotating and nonrotating blocks. Special grid clustering and wave-fitting techniques were developed to capture low-level radiating acoustic waves. Significant progress was made in computing the propagation of acoustic waves due to the interaction of a concentrated vortex and a helicopter airfoil. The need for higher-order schemes was firmly established in relatively inexpensive two-dimensional calculations. In three dimensions, the number of grid points required to capture the low-level acoustic waves becomes very large, so that large supercomputer memory becomes essential. Good agreement was obtained between the numerical results obtained with a thin-layer Navier-Stokes code and experimental data from a model rotor. In addition, several nonrotating configurations that are sometimes proposed to simulate rotor blade tips in conventional wind tunnels were examined, and the complex flow around the radical tip shape of the world's fastest helicopter is under investigation. These studies demonstrate the flexibility and power of CFD to gain physical insight, study novel ideas, and examine various possibilities that might be difficult or impossible to set up in physical experiments. As a prelude to studies of rotor-body aerodynamic interactions, a preliminary grid topology and moving-interface strategy were developed. A new Euler/Navier-Stokes code using these techniques computes the vortical wake directly, rather than modeling it, as in most previous rotorcraft studies. Several hover cases were run for conventional and advanced-geometry blades. Numerical schemes using multi-zones and/or adaptive grids appear to be necessary to simulate the complex vortical flows in rotor wakes.

Mccroskey, William J.↗

Querying Semi-Structured Data

The amount of data of all kinds available electronically has increased dramatically in recent years. The data resides in different forms, ranging from unstructured data in the systems to highly structured in relational database systems. Data is accessible through a variety of interfaces including Web browsers, database query languages, application-specic interfaces, or data exchange formats. Some of this data is raw data, e.g., images or sound. Some of it has structure even if the structure is often implicit, and not as rigid or regular as that found in standard database systems. Sometimes the structure exists but has to be extracted from the data. Sometimes also it exists but we prefer to ignore it for certain purposes such as browsing. We call here semi-structured data this data that is (from a particular viewpoint) neither raw data nor strictly typed, i.e., not table-oriented as in a relational model or sorted-graph as in object databases. As will seen later when the notion of semi-structured data is more precisely de ned, the need for semi-structured data arises naturally in the context of data integration, even when the data sources are themselves well-structured. Although data integration is an old topic, the need to integrate a wider variety of data- formats (e.g., SGML or ASN.1 data) and data found on the Web has brought the topic of semi-structured data to the forefront of research. The main purpose of the paper is to isolate the essential aspects of semi- structured data. We also survey some proposals of models and query languages for semi-structured data. In particular, we consider recent works at Stanford U. and U. Penn on semi-structured data. In both cases, the motivation is found in the integration of heterogeneous data.

DATA MANAGEMENT↗

Self-amplified optical pattern recognition system

A self amplifying optical pattern recognizer includes a geometric system configuration similar to that of a Vander Lugt holographic matched filter configuration with a photorefractive crystal specifically oriented with respect to the input beams. An extraordinarily polarized, spherically converging object image beam is formed by laser illumination of an input object image and applied through a photorefractive crystal, such as a barium titanite (BaTiO.sub.3) crystal. A volume or thin-film dif ORIGIN OF THE INVENTION The invention described herein was made in the performance of work under a NASA contract, and is subject to the provisions of Public Law 96-517 (35 USC 202) in which the Contractor has elected to retain title.

Liu, Hua-Kuang↗