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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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NASA NTRS2019

The NASA Urban Air Mobility Testbed Flight Research Aircraft

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is leading government, industry and academic research effort known as Urban Air Mobility (UAM). The UAM activity goal is to develop the technology needed to make possible an urban air transportation system that makes use of human-crewed and crewless vehicles using automation, artificial intelligence and other technologies to safely and efficiently air transport people and goods within an urban environment. The NASA Langley Research Center (LaRC) created a UAM Flight Research Testbed Aircraft from a Cessna LC40 general aviation aircraft. The testbed has updated digital avionics and research systems needed to conduct flight research. The aircraft has two separate autopilots; a standard Federal Aviation Ad-ministration (FAA) certified system, and a modified research autopilot. The research autopilot has modifications that allow increased authority and enhancements to allow more automation and artificial intelligence controls. A network of three research computers hosts software to research several activities including automated air traffic sense and avoid, ground collision avoidance and obstacle avoidance. These UAM research activities involve automation and artificial intelligence technologies developed at three NASA centers. The NASA Langley, NASA Armstrong, and NASA Ames Research Centers are working together to develop and test these UAM technologies. This paper provides details of the systems, capabilities and research projects of the UAM Testbed Research Aircraft.

Howell, Charles T.↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Artemis I Orion ESM Propulsion System Engine Performance

NASA's Orion spacecraft transports humans and cargo into cislunar space for the Artemis program. The European Service Module (ESM), supplied by ESA and its European industry partners, provides Orion with power and in-space propulsion. The Orion-ESM propulsion system is a bipropellant hypergolic propulsion system using monomethyl hydrazine (MMH) and nitrogen tetroxide (MON-3). Primary translational propulsion is provided by the Orbital Maneuvering System Engine(OMS-E), with backup translational propulsion provided by eight Auxiliary thrusters (AUX). Attitude control and small translational maneuvers are provided by twenty four Reaction Control System (RCS) engines. The 2022 Artemis I mission was the first integrated flight test of the Orion-ESM spacecraft and its propulsion system. The OMS-E used on Artemis I was a refurbished Space Shuttle OMS-E that previously flew on nineteen missions ranging f rom STS-41G in 1984 to STS-112 in 2002. The Auxiliary engines are modified Aerojet Rocketdyne R4D-11 engines produced specifically for the Orion program. The RCS engines are Ariane Group engines originally used for the Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV) program. This paper will discuss the unique operational requirements for each engine on Orion and the development and qualification effort sat both the engine and system-level that were completed to enable a successful Artemis I mission. Next the paper will evaluate the in-f light performance of the engines during the Artemis I mission showing nominal performance as expected. Additionally, comparisons to models will be presented showing very good correlation. Finally, the paper will address the plan for the engines on future Orion missions and the evolution of the system operation.

liquid propulsion systems↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Artemis I Orion ESM Propulsion System Engine Performance

NASA's Orion spacecraft transports humans and cargo into cislunar space for the Artemis program. The European Service Module (ESM), supplied by ESA and its European industry partners, provides Orion with power and in-space propulsion. The Orion-ESM propulsion system is a bipropellant hypergolic propulsion system using monomethyl hydrazine (MMH) and nitrogen tetroxide (MON-3). Primary translational propulsion is provided by the Orbital Maneuvering System Engine (OMS-E), with backup translational propulsion provided by eight Auxiliary thrusters (AUX). Attitude control and small translational maneuvers are provided by twenty-four Reaction Control System (RCS) engines. The 2022 Artemis I mission was the first integrated flight test of the Orion-ESM spacecraft and its propulsion system. The OMS-E used on Artemis I was a refurbished Space Shuttle OMS-E that previously flew on nineteen missions ranging from STS-41G in 1984 to STS-112 in 2002. The Auxiliary engines are modified Aerojet Rocketdyne R4D-11 engines produced specifically for the Orion program. The RCS engines are Ariane Group engines originally used for the Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV) program. This paper will discuss the unique operational requirements for each engine on Orion and the development and qualification effort sat both the engine and system-level that were completed to enable a successful Artemis I mission. Next the paper will evaluate the in-f light performance of the engines during the Artemis I mission showing nominal performance as expected. Additionally, comparisons to models will be presented showing very good correlation. Finally, the paper will address the plan for the engines on future Orion missions and the evolution of the system operation.

liquid propulsion systems↗
NASA NTRS1992

Role of automation in the ACRV operations

The Assured Crew Return Vehicle (ACRV) will provide the Space Station Freedom with contingency means of return to earth (1) of one disabled crew member during medical emergencies, (2) of all crew members in case of accidents or failures of SSF systems, and (3) in case of interruption of the Space Shuttle flights. A wide range of vehicle configurations and system approaches are currently under study. The Program requirements focus on minimizing life cycle costs by ensuring simple operations, built-in reliability and maintainability. The ACRV philosophy of embedded operations is based on maximum use of existing facilities, resources and processes, while minimizing the interfaces and impacts to the Space Shuttle and Freedom programs. A preliminary integrated operations concept based on this philosophy and covering the ground, flight, mission support, and landing and recovery operations has been produced. To implement the ACRV operations concept, the underlying approach has been to rely on vehicle autonomy and automation, to the extent possible. Candidate functions and processes which may benefit from current or near-term automation and robotics technologies are identified. These include, but are not limited to, built-in automated ground tests and checkouts; use of the Freedom and the Orbiter remote manipulator systems, for ACRV berthing; automated passive monitoring and performance trend analysis, and periodic active checkouts during dormant periods. The major ACRV operations concept issues as they relate to the use of automation are discussed.

Sepahban, S. F.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Booster propulsion/vehicle impact study

The use of hydrogen RP-1, propane, and methane as fuels for booster engines of launch vehicles is discussed. An automated procedure for integrated launch vehicle, engine sizing, and design optimization was used to define two stage and single stage concepts for minimum dry weight. The two stage vehicles were unmanned and used a flyback booster and partially reusable orbiter. The single stage designs were fully reusable, manned flyback vehicles. Comparisons of these vehicle designs, showing the effects of using different fuels, as well as sensitivity and trending data, are presented. In addition, the automated design technique utilized for the study is described.

Weldon, Vincent↗
NASA NTRS1974

Automated design of aerospace structures

The current state-of-the-art in structural analysis of aerospace vehicles is characterized, automated design technology is discussed, and an indication is given of the future direction of research in analysis and automated design. Representative computer programs for analysis typical of those in routine use in vehicle design activities are described, and results are shown for some selected analysis problems. Recent and planned advances in analysis capability are indicated. Techniques used to automate the more routine aspects of structural design are discussed, and some recently developed automated design computer programs are described. Finally, discussion is presented of early accomplishments in interdisciplinary automated design systems, and some indication of the future thrust of research in this field is given.

Fulton, R. E.↗
NASA NTRS2015

Computational Modeling and Experimental Characterization of Martensitic Transformations in Nicoal for Self-Sensing Materials

Fundamental changes to aero-vehicle management require the utilization of automated health monitoring of vehicle structural components. A novel method is the use of self-sensing materials, which contain embedded sensory particles (SP). SPs are micron-sized pieces of shape-memory alloy that undergo transformation when the local strain reaches a prescribed threshold. The transformation is a result of a spontaneous rearrangement of the atoms in the crystal lattice under intensified stress near damaged locations, generating acoustic waves of a specific spectrum that can be detected by a suitably placed sensor. The sensitivity of the method depends on the strength of the emitted signal and its propagation through the material. To study the transition behavior of the sensory particle inside a metal matrix under load, a simulation approach based on a coupled atomistic-continuum model is used. The simulation results indicate a strong dependence of the particle's pseudoelastic response on its crystallographic orientation with respect to the loading direction and suggest possible ways of optimizing particle sensitivity. The technology of embedded sensory particles will serve as the key element in an autonomous structural health monitoring system that will constantly monitor for damage initiation in service, which will enable quick detection of unforeseen damage initiation in real-time and during onground inspections.

Wallace, T. A.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Automation effects in a multiloop manual control system

An experimental and analytical study was undertaken to investigate human interaction with a simple multiloop manual control system in which the human's activity was systematically varied by changing the level of automation. The system simulated was the longitudinal dynamics of a hovering helicopter. The automation-systems-stabilized vehicle responses from attitude to velocity to position and also provided for display automation in the form of a flight director. The control-loop structure resulting from the task definition can be considered a simple stereotype of a hierarchical control system. The experimental study was complemented by an analytical modeling effort which utilized simple crossover models of the human operator. It was shown that such models can be extended to the description of multiloop tasks involving preview and precognitive human operator behavior. The existence of time optimal manual control behavior was established for these tasks and the role which internal models may play in establishing human-machine performance was discussed.

Hess, R. A.↗
NASA NTRS2022

Automation & Autonomy Standards and Guidelines for Space Vehicles

The NASA Office of the Chief Health and Medical Officer (OCHMO) requested HRP conduct a survey of industry and government standards and guidelines for the interaction of automation/autonomy with humans. Guidance for verification testing of human-automation designs was also requested. A rapid response was requested so that the deliverables could be provided as part of a future NASA solicitation for automated systems for HLS. The project began with a broad review and analysis of prior NASA work in this area, as well as external standards related to human interaction with automation/autonomy. The team reviewed approximately 200 documents, and interviewed multiple industry and government subject matter experts (SMEs). “Gold standard” documents were selected for focus and key categories were identified. A cross-walk of standards was created, and common standards and guidelines were selected and rephrased (where necessary) to be information-rich, concise, and usable. Verification guidelines and examples were also developed. The final report includes an introduction to automation and autonomy, selected standards and guidelines, verification method guidance, and research gaps. In addition to the report, the team delivered a list of candidate standards for autonomous vehicles, as well as a list of candidate standards for a future NASA-STD-3001 update on automation/autonomy. The presentation will describe the rapid response project approach and methods, examples of standards and guidelines identified and delivered to OCHMO, and research needed to develop additional automation/autonomy design guidance where gaps currently exist.

automation↗
NASA NTRS2010

Configuring the Orion Guidance, Navigation, and Control Flight Software for Automated Sequencing

The Orion Crew Exploration Vehicle is being designed with greater automation capabilities than any other crewed spacecraft in NASA s history. The Guidance, Navigation, and Control (GN&C) flight software architecture is designed to provide a flexible and evolvable framework that accommodates increasing levels of automation over time. Within the GN&C flight software, a data-driven approach is used to configure software. This approach allows data reconfiguration and updates to automated sequences without requiring recompilation of the software. Because of the great dependency of the automation and the flight software on the configuration data, the data management is a vital component of the processes for software certification, mission design, and flight operations. To enable the automated sequencing and data configuration of the GN&C subsystem on Orion, a desktop database configuration tool has been developed. The database tool allows the specification of the GN&C activity sequences, the automated transitions in the software, and the corresponding parameter reconfigurations. These aspects of the GN&C automation on Orion are all coordinated via data management, and the database tool provides the ability to test the automation capabilities during the development of the GN&C software. In addition to providing the infrastructure to manage the GN&C automation, the database tool has been designed with capabilities to import and export artifacts for simulation analysis and documentation purposes. Furthermore, the database configuration tool, currently used to manage simulation data, is envisioned to evolve into a mission planning tool for generating and testing GN&C software sequences and configurations. A key enabler of the GN&C automation design, the database tool allows both the creation and maintenance of the data artifacts, as well as serving the critical role of helping to manage, visualize, and understand the data-driven parameters both during software development and throughout the life of the Orion project.

Odegard, Ryan G.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Office automation: The administrative window into the integrated DBMS

In parallel to the evolution of Management Information Systems from simple data files to complex data bases, the stand-alone computer systems have been migrating toward fully integrated systems serving the work force. The next major productivity gain may very well be to make these highly sophisticated working level Data Base Management Systems (DMBS) serve all levels of management with reports of varying levels of detail. Most attempts by the DBMS development organization to provide useful information to management seem to bog down in the quagmire of competing working level requirements. Most large DBMS development organizations possess three to five year backlogs. Perhaps Office Automation is the vehicle that brings to pass the Management Information System that really serves management. A good office automation system manned by a team of facilitators seeking opportunities to serve end-users could go a long way toward defining a DBMS that serves management. This paper will briefly discuss the problems of the DBMS organization, alternative approaches to solving some of the major problems, a debate about problems that may have no solution, and finally how office automation fits into the development of the Manager's Management Information System.

Brock, G. H.↗
NASA NTRS1994

Intelligent vehicle control: Opportunities for terrestrial-space system integration

For 11 years the Department of Defense has cooperated with a diverse array of other Federal agencies including the National Institute of Standards and Technology, the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and the Department of Energy, to develop robotics technology for unmanned ground systems. These activities have addressed control system architectures supporting sharing of tasks between the system operator and various automated subsystems, man-machine interfaces to intelligent vehicles systems, video compression supporting vehicle driving in low data rate digital communication environments, multiple simultaneous vehicle control by a single operator, path planning and retrace, and automated obstacle detection and avoidance subsystem. Performance metrics and test facilities for robotic vehicles were developed permitting objective performance assessment of a variety of operator-automated vehicle control regimes. Progress in these areas will be described in the context of robotic vehicle testbeds specifically developed for automated vehicle research. These initiatives, particularly as regards the data compression, task sharing, and automated mobility topics, also have relevance in the space environment. The intersection of technology development interests between these two communities will be discussed in this paper.

Shoemaker, Charles↗
NASA NTRS1976

Automated optimization techniques for aircraft synthesis

Application of numerical optimization techniques to automated conceptual aircraft design is examined. These methods are shown to be a general and efficient way to obtain quantitative information for evaluating alternative new vehicle projects. Fully automated design is compared with traditional point design methods and time and resource requirements for automated design are given. The NASA Ames Research Center aircraft synthesis program (ACSYNT) is described with special attention to calculation of the weight of a vehicle to fly a specified mission. The ACSYNT procedures for automatically obtaining sensitivity of the design (aircraft weight, performance and cost) to various vehicle, mission, and material technology parameters are presented. Examples are used to demonstrate the efficient application of these techniques.

Vanderplaats, G. N.↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Urban Air Mobility Airspace Dynamic Density Safety Metric

NASA’s Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) project focuses on enabling emerging aviation markets by accelerating development of safe, high-volume flight operations.[1] It involves development and validation of vehicles, airspace, and automation changes required to support concepts such as Urban Air Mobility, a vision for electric or hybrid electric, vertical or short take-off and landing vehicles that can transport passengers and cargo over an urban environment.[2] NASA’s System Wide Safety (SWS) project is coordinating with AAM by understanding how safety could be affected by these emerging operations. We approach the assessment of airspace safety by identifying threats to operations and then monitoring and predicting the evolution of those threats encoded in a set of safety metrics.[3] Toward this end, we have been developing a dynamic density metric to predict the likelihood of vehicle conflicts in the airspace.

Dynamic Density↗
NASA NTRS2005

Situation Awareness of Onboard System Autonomy

We have developed intelligent agent software for onboard system autonomy. Our approach is to provide control agents that automate crew and vehicle systems, and operations assistants that aid humans in working with these autonomous systems. We use the 3 Tier control architecture to develop the control agent software that automates system reconfiguration and routine fault management. We use the Distributed Collaboration and Interaction (DCI) System to develop the operations assistants that provide human services, including situation summarization, event notification, activity management, and support for manual commanding of autonomous system. In this paper we describe how the operations assistants aid situation awareness of the autonomous control agents. We also describe our evaluation of the DCI System to support control engineers during a ground test at Johnson Space Center (JSC) of the Post Processing System (PPS) for regenerative water recovery.

Schreckenghost, Debra↗
NASA NTRS1994

Synchronized Flashing Lights For Approach And Docking

Proposed optoelectronic system for guiding vehicle in approaching and docking with another vehicle includes active optical targets (flashing lights) on approached vehicle synchronized with sensor and image-processing circuitry on approaching vehicle. Conceived for use in automated approach and docking of two spacecraft. Also applicable on Earth to manually controlled and automated approach and docking of land vehicles, aircraft, boats, and submersible vehicles, using GPS or terrestrial broadcast time signals for synchronization. Principal advantage: optical power reduced, with consequent enhancement of safety.

Book, Michael L.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Optimal guidance with obstacle avoidance for nap-of-the-earth flight

The development of automatic guidance is discussed for helicopter Nap-of-the-Earth (NOE) and near-NOE flight. It deals with algorithm refinements relating to automated real-time flight path planning and to mission planning. With regard to path planning, it relates rotorcraft trajectory characteristics to the NOE computation scheme and addresses real-time computing issues and both ride quality issues and pilot-vehicle interfaces. The automated mission planning algorithm refinements include route optimization, automatic waypoint generation, interactive applications, and provisions for integrating the results into the real-time path planning software. A microcomputer based mission planning workstation was developed and is described. Further, the application of Defense Mapping Agency (DMA) digital terrain to both the mission planning workstation and to automatic guidance is both discussed and illustrated.

Pekelsma, Nicholas J.↗
NASA NTRS1993

MASTRE trajectory code update to automate flight trajectory design, performance predictions, and vehicle sizing for support of shuttle and shuttle derived vehicles: Programmers manual

The information required by a programmer using the Minimum Hamiltonian AScent Trajectory Evaluation (MASTRE) Program is provided. This document enables the programmer to either modify the program or convert the program to computers other than the VAX computer. Documentation for each subroutine or function based on providing the definitions of the variables and a source listing are included. Questions concerning the equations, techniques, or input requirements should be answered by either the Engineering or User's manuals. Three appendices are also included which provide a listing of the Root-Sum-Square (RSS) program, a listing of subroutine names and definitions used in the MASTRE User Friendly Interface Program, and listing of the subroutine names and definitions used in the Mass Properties Program. The RSS Program is used to aid in the performance of dispersion analyses. The RSS program reads a file generated by the MASTRE Program, calculates dispersion parameters, and generates output tables and output plot files. UFI Program provides a screen user interface to aid the user in providing input to the model. The Mass Properties Program defines the mass properties data for the MASTRE program through the use of user interface software.

Source record↗