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A categorization was made of independent variables previously found to be potent in simple perceptual-motor tasks. A computer was then used to generate hypothetical factorial designs. These were evaluated in terms of literature trends and pragmatic criteria. Potential side-effects of machine-assisted research strategy were discussed.
The lower susceptibility to vestibular stimulation aloft, compared with that on ground under experimental conditions, is attributed to a precondition, namely, either there is no need to adapt, or, as exemplified by the Skylab 3 pilot, adaptation to weightlessness is achieved. Findings in some of the astronauts emphasize the distinction between two categories of vestibular side effects: immediate reflex phenomena (illusions, sensations of turning, etc.), and delayed epiphenomena that include the constellation of symptoms and syndromes comprising motion sickness. The drug combinations 1-scopolamine and d-amphetamine and promethazine hydrochloride and ephedrine sulfate are effective in prevention and treatment of motion sickness. It is concluded that prevention of motion sickness in any stressful motion environment involves selection, adaptation, and the use of drugs.
Observations of Io suggest that it may have an atmosphere in which sodium vapor, ammonia, and nitrogen are important constituents. Several atmospheric models consisting of these gases are tested as a function of total content against the Pioneer 10 observations and for stability against escape. The results suggest that the atmosphere is very tenuous and that the interpretation of the ionosphere detected by Pioneer 10 by a static model may be inconsistent with the sodium-cloud observations. It is postulated that ionization may also be escaping and that sodium may be comparable in content in the atmosphere with some molecular constituent such as NH3 or N2. Sodium and this molecular component then dominate the atmosphere. It is also suggested that particle precipitation contributes to heating of the atmosphere and to the production of ionization; the difference between day- and nighttime ionospheres and possible trailing and leading side effects may relate to the nature of the particle energy distributions. These distributions may result from the peculiar interaction of Io with the Jovian magnetosphere.
A status report is presented on assessments of antimotion sickness drugs in slow-rotation rooms and, particularly, with two candidate medications - fixed-dose combinations of promethazine plus ephedrine and a transdermal therapeutic system-scopalamine - that are efficacious over long periods with acceptable side effects. Attention is given to evaluating the use of free fall in parabolic flight as a model for orbital flight to assess the efficacy of antimotion sickness drugs. Experience in slow-rotation rooms suggests that programming adaptation (executing head movements) is significantly superior to random head movements when performing required tasks.
Radar measurements from Chryse Planitia in 1978 confirm earlier estimates of 4-5 deg rms slope (on meter scales) over 45-50 deg W longitude. The new measurements also confirm a skewing of the measured spectra. This has now been interpreted as a combined result of large-scale surface tilt and a side effect of the decrease in small-scale roughness as the subradar point moves from the basin floor toward the west.
The history of NACA and NASA from 1915 to 1980 is narrated. The impact of two world wars on aeronautics is reviewed. Research activity before and during World War II is presented. Postwar exploitation of new technologies is summarized. The creation of NASA and a comprehensive space program is discussed. Long range planning for a lunar mission is described. The Gemini project is reviewed. The Apollo project and side effects includng NASA's university and technology transfer programs are presented. Numerous scientific and application satellite projects are reviewed. The impact of budget reductions is explained. The value of space exploration is emphasized. Development of the Space Shuttle is reported.
A well known sampling theorem states that a bandlimited function can be completely determined by its values at a uniformly placed set of points whose density is at least twice the highest frequency component of the function (Nyquist rate). A less familiar but important sampling theorem states that a bandlimited narrowband function can be completely determined by its values at a properly chosen, nonuniformly placed set of points whose density is at least twice the passband width. This allows for efficient digital demodulation of narrowband signals, which are common in sonar, radar and radio interferometry, without the side effect of signal group delay from an analog demodulator. This theorem was extended by developing a technique which allows a finite sum of bandlimited narrowband functions to be determined by its values at a properly chosen, nonuniformly placed set of points whose density can be made arbitrarily close to the sum of the passband widths.
When faced with choosing between alternatives, people tend to use a number of criteria (often subjective, rather than objective) to decide which is the best alternative for them given their unique situation. The subjectivity inherent in the decision-making process can be reduced by the definition and use of a quantitative method for evaluating alternatives. This type of method can help decision makers achieve degree of uniformity and completeness in the evaluation process, as well as an increased sensitivity to the factors involved. Additional side-effects are better documentation and visibility of the rationale behind the resulting decisions. General guidelines for defining a quantitative method are presented and a particular method (called 'hierarchical weighted average') is defined and applied to the evaluation of design alternatives for a hypothetical computer system capability.
Aircraft-alone dynamics and superaugmented control system fundamental regulatory properties including stability and regulatory responses of the basic closed-loop systems; fundamental high and low frequency margins and governing factors; and sensitivity to aircraft and controller parameters are addressed. Alternative FCS mechanizations, and mechanizational side effects are also discussed. An overview of flying qualities considerations encompasses general pilot operations as a controller in unattended, intermittent and trim, and full-attention regulatory or command control; effective vehicle primary and secondary response properties to pilot inputs and disturbances; pilot control architectural possibilities; and comparison of superaugmented and conventional aircraft path responses for different forms of pilot control. Results of a simple experimental investigation into pilot dynamic behavior in attitude control of superaugmented aircraft configurations with high frequency time laps and time delays are presented.
Better methods for the prediction, prevention, and treatment of the space adaptation syndome (SAS) were developed. A systematic, long range program of operationally oriented data collection on all individuals flying space shuttle missions was initiated. Preflight activities include the use of a motion experience questionnaire, laboratory tests of susceptibility to motion sickness induced by Coriolis stimuli and determinations of antimotion sickness drug efficacy and side effects. During flight, each crewmember is required to provide a daily report of symptom status, use of medications, and other vestibular related sensations. Additional data are obtained postflight. During the first nine shuttle missions, the reported incidence of SAS has been48%. Self-induced head motions and unusual visual orientation attitudes appear to be the principal triggering stimuli. Antimotion sickness medication, was of limited therapeutic value. Complete recovery from symptoms occurred by mission day three or four. Also of relevance is the lack of a statistically significant correlation between the ground based Coriolis test and SAS. The episodes of SAS have resulted in no impact to shuttle mission objectives and, no significant impact to mission timelines.
This paper addresses: (1) an application of the well-known time-optimal bang-bang control theory to the design of minimal-time limited-torque single-axis slew maneuvers for the rigidized configuration of NASA Langley Research Center's Spacecraft Control Laboratory Experiment (SCOLE) and (2) the associated generic side effects due to spillover of slew motions and applied torques. Numerical experiments that helped pinpoint the specific causes of performance degradation are discussed. Analytical as well as scientifically interesting numerical research results are given.
Grain-refining techniques using multistep heat treatments to reduce the grain size of five commercial high-strength steels were investigated. The goal of this investigation was to improve the low-temperature toughness as measured by Charpy V-notch impact test without a significant loss in tensile strength. The grain size of four of five alloys investigated was successfully reduced up to 1/10 of original size or smaller with increases in Charpy impact energy of 50 to 180 percent at -320 F. Tensile properties were reduced from 0 to 25 percent for the various alloys tested. An unexpected but highly beneficial side effect from grain refining was improved machinability.
Replacement of current turbojets by high-efficiency unducted propfans could have the unfortunate side effect of increasing cabin noise, essentially because unsteady-aerodynamic mechanisms are likely to be introduced whereby some of the energy saved may be lost again, to the production of propeller noise and to wing/pylon vibrations coupling to the cabin as a sounding board. The present study estimates theoretically associated harmonic aerodynamic forces for two candidate configurations: a pusher propeller which chops through the mean wake of the pylon supporting it, and in the process generates a blade-rate force driving the structure, and a tractor wing-mounted propeller, whose trailing rotating wake induces an unsteady downwash field generating unsteady wing airloads. Reported predictions of such propfan aerodynamic sources of structure-borne sound, or vibration, could be the basis for devising means for their mechanical isolation, and thus for the effective interruption of the structural noise path into the cabin. Both mechanisms are analyzed taking advantage of the high subsonic Mach number and high reduced frequency of the interaction between the impinging flow and the affected aerodynamic element.
In construction is a knowledge-based system that will aid astronauts in the performance of vestibular experiments in two ways: it will provide real-time monitoring and control of signals and it will optimize the quality of the data obtained, by helping the mission specialists and payload specialists make decisions that are normally the province of a principal investigator, hence the name PI-in-a-box. An important and desirable side-effect of this tool will be to make the astronauts more productive and better integrated members of the scientific team. The vestibular experiments are planned by Prof. Larry Young of MIT, whose team has already performed similar experiments in Spacelab missions SL-1 and D-1, and has experiments planned for SLS-1 and SLS-2. The knowledge-based system development work, performed in collaboration with MIT, Stanford University, and the NASA-Ames Research Center, addresses six major related functions: (1) signal quality monitoring; (2) fault diagnosis; (3) signal analysis; (4) interesting-case detection; (5) experiment replanning; and (6) integration of all of these functions within a real-time data acquisition environment. Initial prototyping work has been done in functions (1) through (4).
We discuss denotational semantics of object-oriented languages, using the concept of closure widely used in (semi) functional programming to encapsulate side effects. It is shown that this denotational framework is adequate to explain classes, instantiation, and inheritance in the style of Simula as well as SMALLTALK-80. This framework is then compared with that of Kamin, in his recent denotational definition of SMALLTALK-80, and the implications of the differences between the two approaches are discussed.
Artificial dissipation in modern computational fluid dynamics is something of an art. In spite of the dramatic strides made over the last decade, dissipation continues to lack a quantitative theory with predictive power. Such a theory, based on entropy production, is presented. An important side-effect is nonlinear stability for schemes which satisfy certain conditions.
The denotational semantics of object-oriented languages is discussed using the concept of closure widely used in (semi) functional programming to encapsulate side effects. It is shown that this denotational framework is adequate to explain classes, instantiation, and inheritance in the style of Simula as well as SMALLTALK-80. This framework is then compared with that of Kamin (1988), in his recent denotational definition of SMALLTALK-80, and the implications of the differences between the two approaches are discussed.
An attempt to apply the Martin Marietta Corporation's XD technology to the fabrication of NiAl-Ni2AlTi materials with improved creep properties is presented. Composite materials, containing from 0 to 30 vol pct of nominally 1-micron-diameter TiB2 particles in the intermetallic matrix have been produced by the XD process and compacted by hot pressing. Such composites demonstrated significant strength increases, approaching 3-fold for the 20 vol pct materials, in comparison to the unreinforced aluminide. This behavior was accomplished without deleterious side effects as the grain boundaries and particle-matrix interfaces were intact after compressive deformation to 10 percent or more strain. Typical true compressive stress-strain diagrams for materials tested in air between 1200 and 1400 K at approximate strain rates of 1.7 x 10 to the -6th/sec are presented.