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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

Open Data Integration (ODIN): A Concurrent, Distributed Message-Based Architecture and Framework for Disaster Response

The Runtime for Airspace Concept Evaluation (RACE) is an open-source software architecture and framework to build configurable, highly concurrent and distributed message-based systems that offer scalable, low-latency performance on commodity hardware. RACE was used in commercial aviation applications to rapidly build systems that span several machines (including synchronized displays), interface existing hardware simulators and other live data feeds, and incorporate sophisticated visualization components such as NASA WorldWind. These RACE applications validated elements of the FAA’s System Wide Information Management (SWIM) Program, handling up to 1000 messages/sec from diverse sources (SFDPS, TFM-DATA, TAIS, ASDE-X, ITWS and local ADS) for 4,500 simultaneous flights tracked in the next-generation air transportation system’s digital backbone. We have since generalized RACE to support Open Data Integration (ODIN) applications outside aviation. Systems built with RACE/ODIN can be deployed in the field, on commodity hardware, and operate with limited or intermittent connectivity to the outside world. Our primary use case is a web-server with local/persistent data storage that runs within and only serves the stakeholder network (e.g. an incident command post). We are tailoring the RACE/ODIN system to support wildland fire management for the upcoming NASA Wildland Fire Safety Demonstration Series. RACE-ODIN is under consideration for application in the Scalable Traffic Management for Emergency Response Operations project, or STEReO, which aims to create a system that can be deployed during emergencies, to coordinate multiple elements of disaster response. Such data sources predominantly come from existing services on the internet (e.g. weather and satellite data, imported from so called "edge servers") but can also include dynamic (real-time) data from computer simulations and within the stakeholder network (such as aircraft and personnel tracking information). We will present the architecture and ODIN system demonstration incorporating local data from instrumented power-line towers, interpolated weather data and geospatial data from space-based platforms.

Joseph C Coughlan↗

Open Data Integration (ODIN): A Concurrent, Distributed Message-Based Architecture and Framework for Disaster Response

The Runtime for Airspace Concept Evaluation (RACE) is an open-source software architecture and framework to build configurable, highly concurrent and distributed message-based systems that offer scalable, low-latency performance on commodity hardware. RACE was used in commercial aviation applications to rapidly build systems that span several machines (including synchronized displays), interface existing hardware simulators and other live data feeds, and incorporate sophisticated visualization components such as NASA WorldWind. These RACE applications validated elements of the FAA’s System Wide Information Management (SWIM) Program, handling up to 1000 messages/sec from diverse sources (SFDPS, TFM-DATA, TAIS, ASDE-X, ITWS and local ADS) for 4,500 simultaneous flights tracked in the next-generation air transportation system’s digital backbone. We have since generalized RACE to support Open Data Integration (ODIN) applications outside aviation. Systems built with RACE/ODIN can be deployed in the field, on commodity hardware, and operate with limited or intermittent connectivity to the outside world. Our primary use case is a web-server with local/persistent data storage that runs within and only serves the stakeholder network (e.g. an incident command post). We are tailoring the RACE/ODIN system to support wildland fire management for the upcoming NASA Wildland Fire Safety Demonstration Series. RACE-ODIN is under consideration for application in the Scalable Traffic Management for Emergency Response Operations project, or STEReO, which aims to create a system that can be deployed during emergencies, to coordinate multiple elements of disaster response. Such data sources predominantly come from existing services on the internet (e.g. weather and satellite data, imported from so called "edge servers") but can also include dynamic (real-time) data from computer simulations and within the stakeholder network (such as aircraft and personnel tracking information). We will present the architecture and ODIN system demonstration incorporating local data from instrumented power-line towers, interpolated weather data and geospatial data from space-based platforms.

Guillaume P Brat↗

Using Monte-Carlo Simulations to Study the Disk Structure in Cygnus X-1

As the first dynamically determined black hole X-ray binary system, Cygnus X-1 has been studied extensively. However, its broad-band spectra in hard state with BeppoSAX is still not well understood. Besides the soft excess described by the multi-color disk model (MCD), the power- law component and a broad excess feature above 10 keV (disk reflection component), there is also an additional soft component around 1 keV, whose origin is not known currently.We propose that the additional soft component is due to the thermal Comptonization process between the s oft disk photon and the warm plasma cloud just above the disk.i.e., a warm layer. We use Monte-Carlo technique t o simulate this Compton scattering process and build several table models based on our simulation results.

Yao, Y.↗

Development and flight evaluation of an augmented stability active controls concept: Executive summary

A pitch active control system (PACS) was developed and flight tested on a wide body jet transport (L-1011) with a flying horizontal stabilizer. Two dual channel digital computers and the associated software provide command signals to a dual channel series servo which controls the stabilizer power actuators. Input sensor signals to the computer are pitch rate, column trim position, and dynamic pressure. Control laws are given for the PACS and the system architecture is defined. Discussions are given regarding piloted flight simulation and vehicle system simulation and vehicle system simulation tests that are performed to verify control laws and system operation prior to installation on the aircraft. Modifications to the basic aircraft included installation of the PACS, addition of a c.g. management system to provide a c.g. range from 25 to 39% mac, and downrigging of the geared elevator to provide the required nose down control authority for aft c.g. flight test conditions. Three pilots used the Cooper-Harper Rating Scale to judge flying qualities of the aircraft with PACS on and off. The handling qualities with the c.g. at 39% mac (41% stability margin) and PACS operating were judged to be as good as the handling qualities with the c.g. at 25% mac (+15% stability margin) and PACS off.

Guinn, W. A.↗

Guidance Enhancements and Performance Assessments for the Mars Ascent Vehicle Spin-Stabilized Upper Stage Configuration

The objective of the Mars Sample Return (MSR) campaign is to return samples from the surface of Mars to Earth for research. As one element of the MSR campaign, the Mars Ascent Vehicle (MAV) is responsible for transporting the samples from the surface of Mars to a Low-Martian Orbit (LMO) for retrieval. Complete autonomy is required throughout ascent, and orbital insertion is constrained by tight dispersion boundaries. An unguided, spin-stabilized second stage for MAV has been selected over a guided upper-stage to drive mass savings and reduce overall MSR campaign mass risk, at the cost of reduced GNC capability. To address this design change, the MAV GNC team has derived a robust prediction algorithm, building on previous energy management schemes, that solves for a single inertial pointing direction solution for the spin-stabilized 2nd stage burn. Algorithm stability is explored that compared to previous versions of the algorithm. Also, a set of analytical partials was developed to study MAV’s dispersed orbital insertion performance with respect to MAV system uncertainties. These partials were verified through simulation analysis and prove useful for analytical insight into the dynamics of MAV during the 2nd stage maneuver.

GNC↗

Hybrid Propulsion Emulation Rig (HyPER)

HyPER is a hardware-in-the-loop laboratory that was designed specifically to investigate the dynamic interactions between turbomachinery, the electric power system, and the constantly varying loads of electrified aircraft. It is a small-scale lab capable of rapid reconfiguration through software. This allows the emulation of new engines using simulation models that are easily replaced and then appropriately scaled for power and inertia to the test hardware.

Control↗

Plugin for Integrated Exoskeleton Simulations (PIES)

Upper extremity offload is a new capability to be developed for the Active Response Gravity Offload System (ARGOS) at the Johnson Space Center. To address the need, the Actuated Real-time Control for ARGOS Negation of Gravitational Effects on the Limbs (ARC-ANGEL) system is being designed and developed by the HumanWorks team in the Flight Systems Branch (ER3). The Plugin for Integrated Exoskeleton Simulations (PIES) is a multibody modeling and analysis capability developed by the Digital Astronaut Simulation (DAS) team in the Simulation and Graphics Branch (ER7). The C++ plugin is used in the open source biomechanics software, OpenSim (Stanford University), and integrates human multibody modeling with system dynamic modeling. The latest ‘flavor’ is the ANGEL with Passive and Powered Line of force Evaluation (APPLE) PIES.

Kaitlin Lostroscio↗

Comprehensive Modeling and Analysis of Rotorcraft Variable Speed Propulsion System With Coupled Engine/Transmission/Rotor Dynamics

This project develops comprehensive modeling and simulation tools for analysis of variable rotor speed helicopter propulsion system dynamics. The Comprehensive Variable-Speed Rotorcraft Propulsion Modeling (CVSRPM) tool developed in this research is used to investigate coupled rotor/engine/fuel control/gearbox/shaft/clutch/flight control system dynamic interactions for several variable rotor speed mission scenarios. In this investigation, a prototypical two-speed Dual-Clutch Transmission (DCT) is proposed and designed to achieve 50 percent rotor speed variation. The comprehensive modeling tool developed in this study is utilized to analyze the two-speed shift response of both a conventional single rotor helicopter and a tiltrotor drive system. In the tiltrotor system, both a Parallel Shift Control (PSC) strategy and a Sequential Shift Control (SSC) strategy for constant and variable forward speed mission profiles are analyzed. Under the PSC strategy, selecting clutch shift-rate results in a design tradeoff between transient engine surge margins and clutch frictional power dissipation. In the case of SSC, clutch power dissipation is drastically reduced in exchange for the necessity to disengage one engine at a time which requires a multi-DCT drive system topology. In addition to comprehensive simulations, several sections are dedicated to detailed analysis of driveline subsystem components under variable speed operation. In particular an aeroelastic simulation of a stiff in-plane rotor using nonlinear quasi-steady blade element theory was conducted to investigate variable speed rotor dynamics. It was found that 2/rev and 4/rev flap and lag vibrations were significant during resonance crossings with 4/rev lagwise loads being directly transferred into drive-system torque disturbances. To capture the clutch engagement dynamics, a nonlinear stick-slip clutch torque model is developed. Also, a transient gas-turbine engine model based on first principles mean-line compressor and turbine approximations is developed. Finally an analysis of high frequency gear dynamics including the effect of tooth mesh stiffness variation under variable speed operation is conducted including experimental validation. Through exploring the interactions between the various subsystems, this investigation provides important insights into the continuing development of variable-speed rotorcraft propulsion systems.

DeSmidt, Hans A.↗

Technology Projections for Solar Dynamic Power

Solar Dynamic power systems can offer many potential benefits to Earth orbiting satellites including high solar-to-electric efficiency, long life without performance degradation, and high power capability. A recent integrated system test of a 2 kilowatt SD power system in a simulated space environment has successfully demonstrated technology readiness for space flight. Conceptual design studies of SD power systems have addressed several potential mission applications: a 10 kilowatt LEO satellite, a low power Space Based Radar, and a 30 kilowatt GEO communications satellite. The studies show that with moderate component development, SD systems can exhibit excellent mass and deployed area characteristics. Using the conceptual design studies as a basis, a SD technology roadmap was generated which identifies the component advances necessary to assure SD systems a competitive advantage for future NASA, DOD, and commercial missions.

Mason, Lee S.↗

Simulation model of the F/A-18 high angle-of-attack research vehicle utilized for the design of advanced control laws

The 'f18harv' six degree-of-freedom nonlinear batch simulation used to support research in advanced control laws and flight dynamics issues as part of NASA's High Alpha Technology Program is described in this report. This simulation models an F/A-18 airplane modified to incorporate a multi-axis thrust-vectoring system for augmented pitch and yaw control power and actuated forebody strakes for enhanced aerodynamic yaw control power. The modified configuration is known as the High Alpha Research Vehicle (HARV). The 'f18harv' simulation was an outgrowth of the 'f18bas' simulation which modeled the basic F/A-18 with a preliminary version of a thrust-vectoring system designed for the HARV. The preliminary version consisted of two thrust-vectoring vanes per engine nozzle compared with the three vanes per engine actually employed on the F/A-18 HARV. The modeled flight envelope is extensive in that the aerodynamic database covers an angle-of-attack range of -10 degrees to +90 degrees, sideslip range of -20 degrees to +20 degrees, a Mach Number range between 0.0 and 2.0, and an altitude range between 0 and 60,000 feet.

Strickland, Mark E.↗

A Novel Solution-Technique Applied to a Novel WAAS Architecture

The Federal Aviation Administration has embarked on an historic task of modernizing and significantly improving the national air transportation system. One system that uses the Global Positioning System (GPS) to determine aircraft navigational information is called the Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS). This paper describes a reliability assessment of one candidate system architecture for the WAAS. A unique aspect of this study regards the modeling and solution of a candidate system that allows a novel cold sparing scheme. The cold spare is a WAAS communications satellite that is fabricated and launched after a predetermined number of orbiting satellite failures have occurred and after some stochastic fabrication time transpires. Because these satellites are complex systems with redundant components, they exhibit an increasing failure rate with a Weibull time to failure distribution. Moreover, the cold spare satellite build-time is Weibull and upon launch is considered to be a good-as-new system with an increasing failure rate and a Weibull time to failure distribution as well. The reliability model for this system is non-Markovian because three distinct system clocks are required: the time to failure of the orbiting satellites, the build time for the cold spare, and the time to failure for the launched spare satellite. A powerful dynamic fault tree modeling notation and Monte Carlo simulation technique with importance sampling are shown to arrive at a reliability prediction for a 10 year mission.

Bavuso, J.↗

Spinoff 2010

Topics covered include: Burnishing Techniques Strengthen Hip Implants; Signal Processing Methods Monitor Cranial Pressure; Ultraviolet-Blocking Lenses Protect, Enhance Vision; Hyperspectral Systems Increase Imaging Capabilities; Programs Model the Future of Air Traffic Management; Tail Rotor Airfoils Stabilize Helicopters, Reduce Noise; Personal Aircraft Point to the Future of Transportation; Ducted Fan Designs Lead to Potential New Vehicles; Winglets Save Billions of Dollars in Fuel Costs; Sensor Systems Collect Critical Aerodynamics Data; Coatings Extend Life of Engines and Infrastructure; Radiometers Optimize Local Weather Prediction; Energy-Efficient Systems Eliminate Icing Danger for UAVs; Rocket-Powered Parachutes Rescue Entire Planes; Technologies Advance UAVs for Science, Military; Inflatable Antennas Support Emergency Communication; Smart Sensors Assess Structural Health; Hand-Held Devices Detect Explosives and Chemical Agents; Terahertz Tools Advance Imaging for Security, Industry; LED Systems Target Plant Growth; Aerogels Insulate Against Extreme Temperatures; Image Sensors Enhance Camera Technologies; Lightweight Material Patches Allow for Quick Repairs; Nanomaterials Transform Hairstyling Tools; Do-It-Yourself Additives Recharge Auto Air Conditioning; Systems Analyze Water Quality in Real Time; Compact Radiometers Expand Climate Knowledge; Energy Servers Deliver Clean, Affordable Power; Solutions Remediate Contaminated Groundwater; Bacteria Provide Cleanup of Oil Spills, Wastewater; Reflective Coatings Protect People and Animals; Innovative Techniques Simplify Vibration Analysis; Modeling Tools Predict Flow in Fluid Dynamics; Verification Tools Secure Online Shopping, Banking; Toolsets Maintain Health of Complex Systems; Framework Resources Multiply Computing Power; Tools Automate Spacecraft Testing, Operation; GPS Software Packages Deliver Positioning Solutions; Solid-State Recorders Enhance Scientific Data Collection; Computer Models Simulate Fine Particle Dispersion; Composite Sandwich Technologies Lighten Components; Cameras Reveal Elements in the Short Wave Infrared; Deformable Mirrors Correct Optical Distortions; Stitching Techniques Advance Optics Manufacturing; Compact, Robust Chips Integrate Optical Functions; Fuel Cell Stations Automate Processes, Catalyst Testing; Onboard Systems Record Unique Videos of Space Missions; Space Research Results Purify Semiconductor Materials; and Toolkits Control Motion of Complex Robotics.

Source record↗

Space Solar Power Multi-body Dynamics and Controls, Concepts for the Integrated Symmetrical Concentrator Configuration

Orbiting space solar power systems are currently being investigated for possible flight in the time frame of 2015-2020 and later. Such space solar power (SSP) satellites are required to be extremely large in order to make practical the process of collection, conversion to microwave radiation, and reconversion to electrical power at earth stations or at remote locations in space. These large structures are expected to be very flexible presenting unique problems associated with their dynamics and control. The purpose of this project is to apply the expanded TREETOPS multi-body dynamics analysis computer simulation program (with expanded capabilities developed in the previous activity) to investigate the control problems associated with the integrated symmetrical concentrator (ISC) conceptual SSP system. SSP satellites are, as noted, large orbital systems having many bodies (perhaps hundreds) with flexible arrays operating in an orbiting environment where the non-uniform gravitational forces may be the major load producers on the structure so that a high fidelity gravity model is required. The current activity arises from our NRA8-23 SERT proposal. Funding, as a supplemental selection, has been provided by NASA with reduced scope from that originally proposed.

Glaese, John R.↗

The X-15 3-65 Accident: An Aircraft Systems and Flight Control Perspective

Despite the NASA X-15 program's outstanding success in developing and operating the first manned hypersonic research platform, the program suffered a fatal accident on November 15, 1967, when X-15-3, the only aircraft outfitted with advanced pilot displays and an adaptive flight control system, was lost after entering uncontrolled flight at an altitude of 230,000 feet and a velocity near Mach 5. The pilot, Major Michael J. Adams, was incapacitated by the aircraft accelerations and was killed either during the ensuing breakup or upon ground impact. In light of mitigating risk to current and emerging manned aerospace vehicles, a comprehensive systems level analysis of the accident is presented with a focus on the electrical power, flight control, and instrumentation failures that affected not only the vehicle dynamics but substantially impacted the pilot decisions that led to an inevitable loss of control. Insights based on reconstructed flight data as well as analysis and simulation of the X-15's unique adaptive control system, yield new conclusions about the reasons for the control systems anomalous behavior and the system-level interactions and human-machine interface design oversights that led to the accident.

Accident Investigation↗

Towards an integral computer environment supporting system operations analysis and conceptual design

VITROCISET has in house developed a prototype tool named System Dynamic Analysis Environment (SDAE) to support system engineering activities in the initial definition phase of a complex space system. The SDAE goal is to provide powerful means for the definition, analysis, and trade-off of operations and design concepts for the space and ground elements involved in a mission. For this purpose SDAE implements a dedicated modeling methodology based on the integration of different modern (static and dynamic) analysis and simulation techniques. The resulting 'system model' is capable of representing all the operational, functional, and behavioral aspects of the system elements which are part of a mission. The execution of customized model simulations enables: the validation of selected concepts with respect to mission requirements; the in-depth investigation of mission specific operational and/or architectural aspects; and the early assessment of performances required by the system elements to cope with mission constraints and objectives. Due to its characteristics, SDAE is particularly tailored for nonconventional or highly complex systems, which require a great analysis effort in their early definition stages. SDAE runs under PC-Windows and is currently used by VITROCISET system engineering group. This paper describes the SDAE main features, showing some tool output examples.

Barro, E.↗

Non-Maximally Decimated Filter Banks Enable Adaptive Frequency Hopping for Unmanned Aircraft Vehicles

In the last few years, radio technologies for unmanned aircraft vehicle (UAV) have advanced very rapidly. The increasing need to fly unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) in the national airspace system (NAS) to perform missions of vital importance to national security, defense, and science has pushed ahead the design and implementation of new radio platforms. However, a lot still has to be done to improve those radios in terms of performance and capabilities. In addition, an important aspect to account for is hardware cost and the feasibility to implement these radios using commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) components. UAV radios come with numerous technical challenges and their development involves contributions at different levels of the design. Cognitive algorithms need to be developed in order to perform agile communications using appropriate frequency allocation while maintaining safe and efficient operations in the NAS and, digital reconfigurable architectures have to be designed in order to ensure a prompt response to environmental changes. Command and control (C2) communications have to be preserved during "standard" operations while crew operations have to be minimized. It is clear that UAV radios have to be software-defined systems, where size, weight and power consumption (SWaP) are critical parameters. This paper provides preliminary results of the efforts performed to design a fully digital radio architecture as part of a NASA Phase I STTR. In this paper, we will explain the basic idea and technical principles behind our dynamic/adaptive frequency hopping radio for UAVs. We will present our Simulink model of the dynamic FH radio transmitter design for UAV communications and show simulation results and FPGA system analysis.

UAV↗

A Simplified Model of ARIS for Optimal Controller Design

Many space-science experiments require active vibration isolation. Boeing's Active Rack Isolation System (ARIS) isolates experiments at the rack (vs. experiment or sub-experiment) level, with multi e experiments per rack. An ARIS-isolated rack typically employs eight actuators and thirteen umbilicals; the umbilicals provide services such as power, data transmission, and cooling. Hampton, et al., used "Kane's method" to develop an analytical, nonlinear, rigid-body model of ARIS that includes full actuator dynamics (inertias). This model, less the umbilicals, was first implemented for simulation by Beech and Hampton; they developed and tested their model using two commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) software packages. Rupert, et al., added umbilical-transmitted disturbances to this nonlinear model. Because the nonlinear model, even for the untethered system, is both exceedingly complex and "encapsulated" inside these COTS tools, it is largely inaccessible to ARIS controller designers. This paper shows that ISPR rattle-space constraints and small ARIS actuator masses permit considerable model simplification, without significant loss of fidelity. First, for various loading conditions, comparisons are made between the dynamic responses of the nonlinear model (untethered) and a truth model. Then comparisons are made among nonlinear, linearized, and linearized reduced-mass models. It is concluded that these three models all capture the significant system rigid-body dynamics, with the third being preferred due to its relative simplicity.

Beech, Geoffrey S.↗

Coupling a Computational Fluid Dynamics Model to a Spacecraft Thermal System Model for the DraMS Instrument Thermal Analysis

The Dragonfly Mass Spectrometer (DraMS) is an instrument on the Dragonfly mission, which will spend 7 years in deep space cruise before landing and operating on the surface of Titan. Vacuum thermal analyses are required for deep space cruise, and convection analyses are required for the Titan surface operations. Model exchanges across multiple thermal teams are needed for all phases of the mission. For DraMS, Thermal Desktop® (TD) has been the main thermal analytical tool of choice due to its capability in modeling complex thermal systems with relatively low computational power and for its availability across thermal teams. However, TD does not have computational fluid dynamics (CFD) capability and struggles to accurately capture complex convective behavior. DraMS has fans operating in tandem and gas flow behaviors are not easily predicted due to its complex flow paths. CFD software, such as Fluent, can model and predict such complex flow behaviors, but CFD models are computationally expensive, and its workflow processes are not tailored towards simulating large and complex systems. Therefore, a coupled modeling approach was chosen for DraMS: A TD model was used for simulating all the conductive, radiative, and source terms, while a Fluent CFD model was added on, as needed, to the TD model to provide the convective boundary conditions using the System Coupling software. The coupling software allows the TD and Fluent models to communicate data and arrive at a co-solved and co-converged solution. Furthermore, Thermal Iso-value Exchange (TIE) method was developed to facilitate and improve the TD-Fluent data exchange process. This paper will discuss the analytical studies that were done to verify the accuracy and usability of the coupled approach and the challenges associated, which lead to the development of the TIE approach. DraMS thermal design and co-solved analysis results will also be discussed.

Heat transfer↗