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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 163 records · Page 9
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2021

GPU-accelerated multitiered iterative phasing algorithm for fluctuation X-ray scattering

The multitiered iterative phasing (MTIP) algorithm is used to determine the biological structures of macromolecules from fluctuation scattering data. It is an iterative algorithm that reconstructs the electron density of the sample by matching the computed fluctuation X-ray scattering data to the external observations, and by simultaneously enforcing constraints in real and Fourier space. This paper presents the first ever MTIP algorithm acceleration efforts on contemporary graphics processing units (GPUs). The Compute Unified Device Architecture (CUDA) programming model is used to accelerate the MTIP algorithm on NVIDIA GPUs. The computational performance of the CUDA-based MTIP algorithm implementation outperforms the CPU-based version by an order of magnitude. Furthermore, the Heterogeneous-Compute Interface for Portability (HIP) runtime APIs are used to demonstrate portability by accelerating the MTIP algorithm across NVIDIA and AMD GPUs.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗
NASA NTRS1989

The development of the Canadian Mobile Servicing System Kinematic Simulation Facility

Canada will develop a Mobile Servicing System (MSS) as its contribution to the U.S./International Space Station Freedom. Components of the MSS will include a remote manipulator (SSRMS), a Special Purpose Dexterous Manipulator (SPDM), and a mobile base (MRS). In order to support requirements analysis and the evaluation of operational concepts related to the use of the MSS, a graphics based kinematic simulation/human-computer interface facility has been created. The facility consists of the following elements: (1) A two-dimensional graphics editor allowing the rapid development of virtual control stations; (2) Kinematic simulations of the space station remote manipulators (SSRMS and SPDM), and mobile base; and (3) A three-dimensional graphics model of the space station, MSS, orbiter, and payloads. These software elements combined with state of the art computer graphics hardware provide the capability to prototype MSS workstations, evaluate MSS operational capabilities, and investigate the human-computer interface in an interactive simulation environment. The graphics technology involved in the development and use of this facility is described.

Beyer, G.↗
NASA NTRS1987

User engineering: A new look at system engineering

User Engineering is a new System Engineering perspective responsible for defining and maintaining the user view of the system. Its elements are a process to guide the project and customer, a multidisciplinary team including hard and soft sciences, rapid prototyping tools to build user interfaces quickly and modify them frequently at low cost, and a prototyping center for involving users and designers in an iterative way. The main consideration is reducing the risk that the end user will not or cannot effectively use the system. The process begins with user analysis to produce cognitive and work style models, and task analysis to produce user work functions and scenarios. These become major drivers of the human computer interface design which is presented and reviewed as an interactive prototype by users. Feedback is rapid and productive, and user effectiveness can be measured and observed before the system is built and fielded. Requirements are derived via the prototype and baselined early to serve as an input to the architecture and software design.

Mclaughlin, Larry L.↗
NASA NTRS1993

Spatial interpretation of NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center Payload Operations Control Center using virtual reality technology

In its search for higher level computer interfaces and more realistic electronic simulations for measurement and spatial analysis in human factors design, NASA at MSFC is evaluating the functionality of virtual reality (VR) technology. Virtual reality simulation generates a three dimensional environment in which the participant appears to be enveloped. It is a type of interactive simulation in which humans are not only involved, but included. Virtual reality technology is still in the experimental phase, but it appears to be the next logical step after computer aided three-dimensional animation in transferring the viewer from a passive to an active role in experiencing and evaluating an environment. There is great potential for using this new technology when designing environments for more successful interaction, both with the environment and with another participant in a remote location. At the University of North Carolina, a VR simulation of a the planned Sitterson Hall, revealed a flaw in the building's design that had not been observed during examination of the more traditional building plan simulation methods on paper and on computer aided design (CAD) work station. The virtual environment enables multiple participants in remote locations to come together and interact with one another and with the environment. Each participant is capable of seeing herself and the other participants and of interacting with them within the simulated environment.

Lindsey, Patricia F.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Three-dimensional virtual acoustic displays

The development of an alternative medium for displaying information in complex human-machine interfaces is described. The 3-D virtual acoustic display is a means for accurately transferring information to a human operator using the auditory modality; it combines directional and semantic characteristics to form naturalistic representations of dynamic objects and events in remotely sensed or simulated environments. Although the technology can stand alone, it is envisioned as a component of a larger multisensory environment and will no doubt find its greatest utility in that context. The general philosophy in the design of the display has been that the development of advanced computer interfaces should be driven first by an understanding of human perceptual requirements, and later by technological capabilities or constraints. In expanding on this view, current and potential uses are addressed of virtual acoustic displays, such displays are characterized, and recent approaches to their implementation and application are reviewed, the research project at NASA-Ames is described in detail, and finally some critical research issues for the future are outlined.

Wenzel, Elizabeth M.↗
NASA NTRS1997

Using APEX to Model Anticipated Human Error: Analysis of a GPS Navigational Aid

The interface development process can be dramatically improved by predicting design facilitated human error at an early stage in the design process. The approach we advocate is to SIMULATE the behavior of a human agent carrying out tasks with a well-specified user interface, ANALYZE the simulation for instances of human error, and then REFINE the interface or protocol to minimize predicted error. This approach, incorporated into the APEX modeling architecture, differs from past approaches to human simulation in Its emphasis on error rather than e.g. learning rate or speed of response. The APEX model consists of two major components: (1) a powerful action selection component capable of simulating behavior in complex, multiple-task environments; and (2) a resource architecture which constrains cognitive, perceptual, and motor capabilities to within empirically demonstrated limits. The model mimics human errors arising from interactions between limited human resources and elements of the computer interface whose design falls to anticipate those limits. We analyze the design of a hand-held Global Positioning System (GPS) device used for radical and navigational decisions in small yacht recalls. The analysis demonstrates how human system modeling can be an effective design aid, helping to accelerate the process of refining a product (or procedure).

VanSelst, Mark↗
DOE OSTI2022

Proton Tunable Analog Transistor for Low Power Computing

This project was broadly motivated by the need for new hardware that can process information such as images and sounds right at the point of where the information is sensed (e.g. edge computing). The project was further motivated by recent discoveries by group demonstrating that while certain organic polymer blends can be used to fabricate elements of such hardware, the need to mix ionic and electronic conducting phases imposed limits on performance, dimensional scalability and the degree of fundamental understanding of how such devices operated. As an alternative to blended polymers containing distinct ionic and electronic conducting phases, in this LDRD project we have discovered that a family of mixed valence coordination compounds called Prussian blue analogue (PBAs), with an open framework structure and ability to conduct both ionic and electronic charge, can be used for inkjet-printed flexible artificial synapses that reversibly switch conductance by more than four orders of magnitude based on electrochemically tunable oxidation state. Retention of programmed states is improved by nearly two orders of magnitude compared to the extensively studied organic polymers, thus enabling in-memory compute and avoiding energy costly off-chip access during training. We demonstrate dopamine detection using PBA synapses and biocompatibility with living neurons, evoking prospective application for brain - computer interfacing. By application of electron transfer theory to in-situ spectroscopic probing of intervalence charge transfer, we elucidate a switching mechanism whereby the degree of mixed valency between N-coordinated Ru sites controls the carrier concentration and mobility, as supported by density functional theory (DFT) .

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

The Repair Maintenance and Fabrication Facility in the Common Habitat Architecture

The Common Habitat Architecture seeks to increase the habitability of long-duration human spaceflight systems. A key aspect of this is vehicle survivability. Missions beyond low Earth orbit need onboard capabilities for Repair, Maintenance, And Fabrication (RMAF) to overcome potential contingency scenarios. Strategies employed in historic human spaceflight such as redundancy management, reliability, sparing, orbital replacement units, and aborts may be insufficient by themselves. Based on subject matter input, a list of 53 critical failures defining a set of incidents that can render a key spacecraft subsystem inoperable were generated. A subsequent analysis found that a robust in-space RMAF system capable of performing 14 key functions can potentially repair a subsystem plagued by any of these failures. An ancillary benefit is this capability may provide psychological benefits to the crew, by enabling greater self-sufficiency in earth-independent problem solving. A basic RMAF facility has been defined for the Common Habitat, consisting of five workstations. A work bench and computer workstation provide a multipurpose horizontal work surface, computing interface, and tools storage. A CNC machining center provides a subtractive manufacturing capability for metals and plastics. A multi-material 3D printing facility provides additive manufacturing capabilities for plastic, metals, and printed electronics. A welding facility is used for joining metal components where a higher strength is needed than can be achieved with fasteners or adhesives. A glovebox facility is used to perform work that is too hazardous for any of the other workstations. This may include hardware brought in from outside the spacecraft that could potentially contaminate the cabin environment. Forward work includes considering the accommodation of additional manufacturing processes not modeled in the current system, assessing the ability of systems to operate in partial gravity and microgravity environments, incorporation of the system into the Common Habitat Computer Aided Design (CAD) model, bottoms-up mass estimating, and a crew time analysis.

Habitat↗
NASA NTRS1998

BioSIGHT: Interactive Visualization Modules for Science Education

Redefining science education to harness emerging integrated media technologies with innovative pedagogical goals represents a unique challenge. The Integrated Media Systems Center (IMSC) is the only engineering research center in the area of multimedia and creative technologies sponsored by the National Science Foundation. The research program at IMSC is focused on developing advanced technologies that address human-computer interfaces, database management, and high-speed network capabilities. The BioSIGHT project at is a demonstration technology project in the area of education that seeks to address how such emerging multimedia technologies can make an impact on science education. The scope of this project will help solidify NASA's commitment for the development of innovative educational resources that promotes science literacy for our students and the general population as well. These issues must be addressed as NASA marches toward the goal of enabling human space exploration that requires an understanding of life sciences in space. The IMSC BioSIGHT lab was established with the purpose of developing a novel methodology that will map a high school biology curriculum into a series of interactive visualization modules that can be easily incorporated into a space biology curriculum. Fundamental concepts in general biology must be mastered in order to allow a better understanding and application for space biology. Interactive visualization is a powerful component that can capture the students' imagination, facilitate their assimilation of complex ideas, and help them develop integrated views of biology. These modules will augment the role of the teacher and will establish the value of student-centered interactivity, both in an individual setting as well as in a collaborative learning environment. Students will be able to interact with the content material, explore new challenges, and perform virtual laboratory simulations. The BioSIGHT effort is truly cross-disciplinary in nature and requires expertise from many areas including Biology, Computer Science Electrical Engineering, Education, and the Cognitive Sciences. The BioSIGHT team includes a scientific illustrator, educational software designer, computer programmers as well as IMSC graduate and undergraduate students.

Wong, Wee Ling↗
NASA NTRS1998

BioSIGHT: Interactive Visualization Modules for Science Education

Redefining science education to harness emerging integrated media technologies with innovative pedagogical goals represents a unique challenge. The Integrated Media Systems Center (IMSC) is the only engineering research center in the area of multimedia and creative technologies sponsored by the National Science Foundation. The research program at IMSC is focused on developing advanced technologies that address human-computer interfaces, database management, and high- speed network capabilities. The BioSIGHT project at IMSC is a demonstration technology project in the area of education that seeks to address how such emerging multimedia technologies can make an impact on science education. The scope of this project will help solidify NASA's commitment for the development of innovative educational resources that promotes science literacy for our students and the general population as well. These issues must be addressed as NASA marches towards the goal of enabling human space exploration that requires an understanding of life sciences in space. The IMSC BioSIGHT lab was established with the purpose of developing a novel methodology that will map a high school biology curriculum into a series of interactive visualization modules that can be easily incorporated into a space biology curriculum. Fundamental concepts in general biology must be mastered in order to allow a better understanding and application for space biology. Interactive visualization is a powerful component that can capture the students' imagination, facilitate their assimilation of complex ideas, and help them develop integrated views of biology. These modules will augment the role of the teacher and will establish the value of student-centered interactivity, both in an individual setting as well as in a collaborative learning environment. Students will be able to interact with the content material, explore new challenges, and perform virtual laboratory simulations. The BioSIGHT effort is truly cross-disciplinary in nature and requires expertise from many areas including Biology, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Education, and the Cognitive Sciences. The BioSIGHT team includes a scientific illustrator, educational software designer, computer programmers as well as IMSC graduate and undergraduate students. Our collaborators include TERC, a research and education organization with extensive k-12 math and science curricula development from Cambridge, MA.; SRI International of Menlo Park, CA.; teachers and students from local area high schools (Newbury Park High School, USC's Family of Five schools, Chadwick School, and Pasadena Polytechnic High School).

Wong, Wee Ling↗
DOE OSTI2023

HIPLZ: Enabling performance portability for exascale systems

While heterogeneous computing has emerged as a dominant trend in current and future High-Performance Computing (HPC) systems, it is also widely recognized that this shift has led to increased software complexity due to a proliferation of programming systems for different heterogeneous processors. One such example is the Heterogeneous-Compute Interface for Portability from AMD (HIP ), which is composed of a C Runtime API and C++ Kernel Language. Many HPC applications will likely use HIP on future exascale systems (e.g., Frontier and El Capitan), but HIP currently only targets AMD and NVIDIA processors. This limitation creates challenges for users who would also like to run their applications on exascale systems based on other architectures (e.g., Aurora, which is based on Intel hardware) that are currently not targeted by HIP . In this paper, we introduce the design and implementation of HIPLZ , a compiler and runtime system that uses the Intel Level Zero API to support HIP on Intel GPU architectures. We discuss the design of HIPLZ , derived from HIPCL (an implementation of HIP on top of OpenCL ), and portability issues that occur from using the Level Zero runtime as a backend. We evaluate our implementation by running several performance benchmarks and mini-apps written in HIP on Intel architectures using HIPLZ . Our results show that this approach provides competitive performance relative to Intel's OpenCL implementations on Intel Gen9 and UHD Graphics 770 GPUs, while providing good coverage of features needed by HPC applications. Overall, this approach is a promising demonstration of enabling performance portability for exascale systems.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗
NASA NTRS2002

Project Integration Architecture (PIA) and Computational Analysis Programming Interface (CAPRI) for Accessing Geometry Data from CAD Files

Integration of a supersonic inlet simulation with a computer aided design (CAD) system is demonstrated. The integration is performed using the Project Integration Architecture (PIA). PIA provides a common environment for wrapping many types of applications. Accessing geometry data from CAD files is accomplished by incorporating appropriate function calls from the Computational Analysis Programming Interface (CAPRI). CAPRI is a CAD vendor neutral programming interface that aids in acquiring geometry data directly from CAD files. The benefits of wrapping a supersonic inlet simulation into PIA using CAPRI are; direct access of geometry data, accurate capture of geometry data, automatic conversion of data units, CAD vendor neutral operation, and on-line interactive history capture. This paper describes the PIA and the CAPRI wrapper and details the supersonic inlet simulation demonstration.

Benyo, Theresa L.↗
DOE OSTI2020

Optogenetics and biosensors set the stage for metabolic cybergenetics

We report cybergenetic systems use computer interfaces to enable feed-back controls over biological processes in real time. The complex and dynamic nature of cellular metabolism makes cybergenetics attractive for controlling engineered metabolic pathways in microbial fermentations. Cybergenetics would not only create new avenues of research into cellular metabolism, it would also enable unprecedented strategies for pathway optimization and bioreactor operation and automation. Implementation of metabolic cybergenetics, however, will require new capabilities from actuators, biosensors, and control algorithms. The recent application of optogenetics in metabolic engineering, the expanding role of genetically encoded biosensors in strain development, and continued progress in control algorithms for biological processes suggest that this technology will become available in the not so distant future.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2024

Integrated edge-to-exascale workflow for real-time steering in neutron scattering experiments

We introduce a computational framework that integrates artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, and high-performance computing to enable real-time steering of neutron scattering experiments using an edge-to-exascale workflow. Focusing on time-of-flight neutron event data at the Spallation Neutron Source, our approach combines temporal processing of four-dimensional neutron event data with predictive modeling for multidimensional crystallography. At the core of this workflow is the Temporal Fusion Transformer model, which provides voxel-level precision in predicting 3D neutron scattering patterns. The system incorporates edge computing for rapid data preprocessing and exascale computing via the Frontier supercomputer for large-scale AI model training, enabling adaptive, data-driven decisions during experiments. This framework optimizes neutron beam time, improves experimental accuracy, and lays the foundation for automation in neutron scattering. Although real-time experiment steering is still in the proof-of-concept stage, the demonstrated potential of this system offers a substantial reduction in data processing time from hours to minutes via distributed training, and significant improvements in model accuracy, setting the stage for widespread adoption across neutron scattering facilities and more efficient exploration of complex material systems.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗
DOE OSTI2023

Single-trial classification of evoked responses to auditory tones using OPM- and SQUID-MEG

Abstract Objective. Optically pumped magnetometers (OPMs) are emerging as a near-room-temperature alternative to superconducting quantum interference devices (SQUIDs) for magnetoencephalography (MEG). In contrast to SQUIDs, OPMs can be placed in a close proximity to subject’s scalp potentially increasing the signal-to-noise ratio and spatial resolution of MEG. However, experimental demonstrations of these suggested benefits are still scarce. Here, to compare a 24-channel OPM-MEG system to a commercial whole-head SQUID system in a data-driven way, we quantified their performance in classifying single-trial evoked responses. Approach. We measured evoked responses to three auditory tones in six participants using both OPM- and SQUID-MEG systems. We performed pairwise temporal classification of the single-trial responses with linear discriminant analysis as well as multiclass classification with both EEGNet convolutional neural network and xDAWN decoding. Main results. OPMs provided higher classification accuracies than SQUIDs having a similar coverage of the left hemisphere of the participant. However, the SQUID sensors covering the whole helmet had classification scores larger than those of OPMs for two of the tone pairs, demonstrating the benefits of a whole-head measurement. Significance. The results demonstrate that the current OPM-MEG system provides high-quality data about the brain with room for improvement for high bandwidth non-invasive brain–computer interfacing.

Iivanainen, Joonas (ORCID:0000000160344604)↗
DOE OSTI2020

Deep learning approaches for neural decoding across architectures and recording modalities

Decoding behavior, perception or cognitive state directly from neural signals is critical for brain–computer interface research and an important tool for systems neuroscience. In the last decade, deep learning has become the state-of-the-art method in many machine learning tasks ranging from speech recognition to image segmentation. The success of deep networks in other domains has led to a new wave of applications in neuroscience. In this article, we review deep learning approaches to neural decoding. Here, we describe the architectures used for extracting useful features from neural recording modalities ranging from spikes to functional magnetic resonance imaging. Furthermore, we explore how deep learning has been leveraged to predict common outputs including movement, speech and vision, with a focus on how pretrained deep networks can be incorporated as priors for complex decoding targets like acoustic speech or images. Deep learning has been shown to be a useful tool for improving the accuracy and flexibility of neural decoding across a wide range of tasks, and we point out areas for future scientific development.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2022

Biosensor and optogenetics for systems biology of yeast branched-chain alcohol production and tolerance

In this project we combined synthetic biology, systems biology, protein engineering and metabolic engineering to study, control, and improve the production of branched chain alcohols (BCAs), a class of advanced biofuels preferred by the DOE, in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. This involved the development and application of optogenetic systems as a new modality of dynamic control of native and engineered metabolic pathways, using light as inducible or repressible agent. The optogenetic systems include gene circuits for light control of gene expression, as well as light-assembled synthetic organelles and photo-switchable protein binders to control metabolic and protein function with light at the protein level. In addition, we developed the first genetically encoded biosensor for BCA production in yeast, which we used to design high throughput assays to identify highly productive strains, pathways, and enzymes. We also showed that this biosensor can be functionally co-expressed with optogenetic circuits in the same strain, raising the possibility of establishing, for the first time, computer-interfaced closed-loop controls of engineered metabolic pathways. The yeast gene deletion library was also utilized to conduct the first systems-level study on BCA toxicity in yeast, which uncovered key fundamental principles of yeast sensitivity and tolerance to these alcohols, allowing us to design highly tolerant strains with increased BCA production. This project, thus comprises the development of several new technologies, which we integrated to make new discoveries on the dynamics of BCA production and their mechanisms of cellular toxicity and tolerance, as well as to establish new paradigms to engineer and control metabolic pathways and microbial fermentations with light, for the production of BCAs and other products of interest to the DOE.

2-metyl-1-butanol↗
DOE OSTI2022

Fusion Blanket and Fuel Cycle Research at PNNL: FY22 Year-end Report

During the reporting period, research at PNNL focused on two tasks within the DOE Fusion Blanket and Fuel Cycle Program. Research on Task 1, Tritium Extraction from Pb-Li and He Using a Vacuum Permeator, focused on atomistic modeling to better understand tritium transport in Pd-coated V vacuum permeators. As a lower cost alternative to Pd permeators, thin coatings of Pd (or other noble metals) can be deposited over a substrate like V. However, the permeation performance of composite metal membranes degrades over time, due to the formation of intermetallics at the coating-substrate interface. Computational studies were performed to better understand tritium transport through these Pd-V intermetallics. The results of the FY22 Pd-V modeling study were recently submitted for publication in Computational Materials Science and presented at the Technology of Fusion Energy conference. Future work in this area will focus on interdiffusion barriers to prevent intermetallic formation that is deleterious to tritium transport. There are opportunities for collaboration with researchers at the Colorado School of Mines, who are manufacturing and testing candidate interdiffusion barriers. Research on Task 3, Solid Breeder Materials, included ion irradiation and post-irradiation characterization of lithium orthosilicate (Li 4 SiO 4 ) and lithium metasilicate (Li 2 SiO 3 ) to improve fundamental understanding of irradiation effects, in combination with atomistic modeling focused on the energetics of He clustering in these two ceramic phases. The results of the study suggested that the Li 4 SiO 4 phase, which is more desirable as a solid breeder due to its higher Li density, was amorphized during ion irradiation while the Li 2 SiO 3 phase appeared to be more resistant to irradiation damage. It is possible that Li loss contributed to the poor irradiation performance of the Li 4 SiO 4 , and some thoughts are provided regarding coatings that could be applied to solid breeders like this to prevent Li loss at elevated temperature while not hindering tritium diffusion. The results of the FY22 ion irradiation study were recently submitted for publication in Journal of Nuclear Materials and presented at the 22nd International Conference on Ion Beam Modification of Materials. Future work in this area will focus on Li-rich ceramics such as Li 5 AlO 4 and Li 8 ZrO 6 that have high Li density and should provide rapid tritium release based on previous work with less Li-rich ceramics.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗