Aaron J. Swank | Engineering Papers

NASA NTRS2021

Transmission Telescope Optical Dynamic Alignment

The Integrated Radio Optical Communication System (iROC) is designed to transmit data between Mars and Earth by means of radio waves at 32.67 GHz (Ka Band) and laser beam at 1550 nm, both transmitted via a combined teletenna. The iROC terminal will provide ‘beaconless’ operations to allow full function from the outer planets. In order to point without the aid of an uplink beacon, the proof of concept presented here is addressing the need for an accurate determination and control of the relative position of the laser beam with respect to a reference star. The experiment presented simulates a surrogate transmission telescope system in laboratory setting and presents the model used in the correction of the outgoing beam. The results of the model show a nonlinear dependence between the outgoing and the reference beam, indicating the necessity of a minimum of two metrology instruments placed along the optical system for increased pointing precision.

optical communication↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

A Data & Reasoning Fabric to Enable Advanced Air Mobility

A Data & Reasoning Fabric (DRF) is envisioned to enable the full potential of advanced air mobility by providing all data and reasoning where they are needed. The DRF marketplace is based on an open foundational ecosystem of data and reasoning exchange between the many systems that must seamlessly interplay to manage the envisioned highly complex and dense airspace operations. DRF activities will identify, test and - as needed - research and develop critical core technologies, and collaboratively test these technologies, open standards and architectures, and the integrated framework with end-users so as to deliver reference designs and development environments that catalyze broad private and public sector buy-in and self-sustaining development of it and associated standards.

Urban Air Mobility↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Data & Reasoning Fabric Minimum Viable Product

A Data & Reasoning Fabric (DRF) is envisioned to enable the full potential of air mobility by providing all data and reasoning where they are needed. The DRF provides a marketplace based on an open foundational ecosystem of data and reasoning exchange between the many systems that must seamlessly interplay to manage the complex and dense airspace operations required to achieve advanced air mobility goals. The DRF marketplace is decentralized and will not be owned by any single party. To deliver reference designs and development environments that catalyze broad private and public sector buy-in and self-sustaining development of DRF and associated standards, DRF activities will collaboratively test these technologies, open standards and architectures, and an integrated framework with end-users.

DRF↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Data & Reasoning Fabric Minimum Viable Product

A Data & Reasoning Fabric (DRF) is envisioned to enable the full potential of air mobility by providing all data and reasoning where they are needed. The DRF provides a marketplace based on an open foundational ecosystem of data and reasoning exchange between the many systems that must seamlessly interplay to manage the complex and dense airspace operations required to achieve advanced air mobility goals. The DRF marketplace is decentralized and will not be owned by any single party. To deliver reference designs and development environments that catalyze broad private and public sector buy-in and self-sustaining development of DRF and associated standards, DRF activities will collaboratively test these technologies, open standards and architectures, and an integrated framework with end-users. The DRF activity is developing a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) called the DRF Accelerator which will enable the rapid deployment of candidate data and reasoning services to test and evaluate the DRF core system functionality. The DRF Project is engaging with government and industry end-users and stakeholders, to: (1) assess the technical feasibility of the DRF Accelerator; (2) assess the likelihood of adoption, through shared test and evaluation; and (3) identify what data and services can be shared across DRF.

DRF↗