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At least 235 records · Page 13

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↗

The 13th Technology of Deep Space One - Abstract

On October 24th, 1998, the Deep Space One (DS-1) spacecraft launched aboard a Delta II rocket as the first step towards the bold task of testing and validating 12 new technologies for future missions. This launch also represented yet another thrilling event; namely, the successful test and validation of a 13th heretofore undisclosed technology: model-based code-generation of the spacecraft's system-level fault-protection (FP) software from behavioral state diagrams and structural models.In this paper, we describe the process we used to leverage model-based code generation from state diagrams and structural specifications to better respond to the evolving requirements and scope of DS- I's system-level fault-protection design, development, test and operation. The evolution of the high-level design and the low-level changes in the flight software architecture and interfaces contributed to multiplying the number and frequency of fault-protection software releases thereby creating a multitude of software integration issues. To address the resulting software integration issues, we broadened the scope of code -eneration to other forms of model- based analysis techniques more traditionally associated with first-principle's reasoning about physical models. Additionally, we describe our in-flight launch and initial acquisition experience.

Rouquette, Nicolas↗

Software-Defined Radio for Space-to-Space Communications

A paper describes the Space- to-Space Communications System (SSCS) Software- Defined Radio (SDR) research project to determine the most appropriate method for creating flexible and reconfigurable radios to implement wireless communications channels for space vehicles so that fewer radios are required, and commonality in hardware and software architecture can be leveraged for future missions. The ability to reconfigure the SDR through software enables one radio platform to be reconfigured to interoperate with many different waveforms. This means a reduction in the number of physical radio platforms necessary to support a space mission s communication requirements, thus decreasing the total size, weight, and power needed for a mission.

Fisher, Ken↗

High speed cylindrical rolling element bearing analysis 'CYBEAN' - Analytic formulation

This paper documents the analytic foundation and software architecture for the computerized mathematical simulation of high speed cylindrical rolling element bearing behavior. The software, CYBEAN (CYlindrical BEaring ANalysis), considers a flexible, variable geometry outer ring, EHD films, roller centrifugal and quasidynamic loads, roller tilt and skew, mounting fits, cage and flange interactions. The representation includes both steady state and time transient simulation of thermal interactions internal to and coupled with the surroundings of the bearing. A sample problem illustrating program use is presented.

Kleckner, R. J.↗

Solving Equations of Multibody Dynamics

Darts++ is a computer program for solving the equations of motion of a multibody system or of a multibody model of a dynamic system. It is intended especially for use in dynamical simulations performed in designing and analyzing, and developing software for the control of, complex mechanical systems. Darts++ is based on the Spatial-Operator- Algebra formulation for multibody dynamics. This software reads a description of a multibody system from a model data file, then constructs and implements an efficient algorithm that solves the dynamical equations of the system. The efficiency and, hence, the computational speed is sufficient to make Darts++ suitable for use in realtime closed-loop simulations. Darts++ features an object-oriented software architecture that enables reconfiguration of system topology at run time; in contrast, in related prior software, system topology is fixed during initialization. Darts++ provides an interface to scripting languages, including Tcl and Python, that enable the user to configure and interact with simulation objects at run time.

Jain, Abhinandan↗

Software Design for the Supervised Autonomous Assembly of a Tall Lunar Tower Presentation

Tall towers enable a wide-ranging set of capabilities on the lunar surface including communication, navigation, surveillance, power generation, and more. The Tall Lunar Tower project at NASA Langley Research Center is focused on the design, modeling, fabrication, and testing of an engineering development unit to assemble a tall tower through supervised autonomous operations. In this paper, the software design for the supervised autonomous assembly of a tall lunar tower is presented. The paper includes a high-level description of the concept of operations, the agents, and an overview of the software architecture.

TLT↗

Forecasting trends in NASA flight software development tools

The experience gained in the design and development of Shuttle flight and ground support embedded software systems along with projections of increasing role and size of software in the proposed Space Station and other future NASA projects provides the basis for forecasting substantial changes in the tools and methodologies by which embedded software systems are developed and acquired. Similar changes in software architectures and operator interfaces will lead to substantial changes in the approach and techniques involved in software test and system integration. Increasing commonality among different flight systems and between flight and supporting ground systems is projected, along with a more distributed approach to software acquisition in highly complex projects such as Space Station.

Garman, J. R.↗

Independent Configurable Architecture for Reliable Operation of Unmanned Systems with Distributed Onboard Services

This paper presents the development of ICAROUS-2 (Independent Configurable Architecture for Reliable Operation of Unmanned Systems with Distributed Onboard Services), the second generation of a software architecture that integrates several algorithms as distributed onboard services to enable robust autonomous UAS applications. In particular, the ICAROUS architecture defines a framework to perform detect and avoid, geofencing, path monitoring, path planning, and autonomous decision making to ensure safety and mission progress. Most of the core algorithms implemented in ICAROUS are formally verified using an interactive theorem prover. These algorithms are composed together using a plan execution engine, whose operational semantics is formally specified. A description of the integrated architecture, services currently available, and flight test results highlighting the capability of ICAROUS are presented.

Balachandran, Swee↗

Independent Configurable Architecture for Reliable Operation of Unmanned Systems with Distributed Onboard Services

This paper presents the development of ICAROUS-2 (Independent Configurable Architecture for Reliable Operation of Unmanned Systems with Distributed Onboard Services), the second generation of a software architecture that integrates several algorithms as distributed onboard services to enable robust autonomous UAS applications. In particular, the ICAROUS architecture defines a framework to perform detect and avoid, geofencing, path monitoring, path planning, and autonomous decision making to ensure safety and mission progress. Most of the core algorithms implemented in ICAROUS are formally verified using an interactive theorem prover. These algorithms are composed together using a plan execution engine, whose operational semantics is formally specified. A description of the integrated architecture, services currently available, and flight test results highlighting the capability of ICAROUS are presented.

Balachandran, Swee↗

Guiding Architects in Selecting Architectural Evolution Alternatives

Although there exist methods and tools to support architecture evolution, the derivation and evaluation of alternative evolution paths are realized manually. In this paper, we introduce an approach, where architecture specification is converted to a graph representation. Based on this representation, we automatically generate possible evolution paths, evalute quality attributes for different architecture configurations, and optimize the selection of a particular path accordingly. We illustrate our approach by modeling the software architecture evolution of a crisis management system.

99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS↗

Case Study of an Object-Oriented System: EOSDIS

Mission to Planet Earth (MTPE) is a long-term NASA research mission to study the processes leading to global climate change. The Earth Observing System (EOS) is a NASA campaign of satellite observatories that are a major component of MTPE. The EOS Data and Information System (EOSDIS) is another component of MTPE that will provide the Earth science community with easy, affordable, and reliable access to Earth science data. EOSDIS is a distributed system, with major facilities at six Distributed Active Archive Centers (DAACS) located throughout the United States. The EOSDIS software architecture is being designed to receive, process, and archive several terabytes of science data on a daily basis. Thousands of science users and perhaps several hundred thousands of non-science users are expected to access the system. While there are many segments in EOSDIS (e.g., flight operations, network) this case study discusses the development of the science data processing segment (SDPS). We briefly review the architecture of the system, the goals of the SDPS, and the development progress to date. This study highlights key software development challenges, experiences integrating COTS, and the difficulties of managing a complex system development effort.

Behnke, Jeanne↗

Flexible Rover Architecture for Science Instrument Integration and Testing

At NASA Ames Research Center, the Intelligent Robotics Group (IRG) fields the K9 and K10 class rovers. Both use a mobile robot hardware architecture designed for extensibility and reconfigurability that allows for rapid changes in instrumentation and provides a high degree of modularity. Over the past ssveral years, we have worked with instrument developers at NASA centers, universities, and national laboratories to integrate or partially integrate their instruments onboard the K9 and K10 rovers. Early efforts required considerable interaction to work through integration issues such as power, data protocol and mechanical mounting. These interactions informed the design of our current avionics architecture, and have simplified more recent integration projects. In this paper, we will describe the IRG extensible avionics and software architecture and the effect it has had on our recent instrument integration efforts, including integration of four Mars Instrument Development Program devices.

Bualat, Maria G.↗

Reinventing User Applications for Mission Control

In 2006, NASA Ames Research Center's (ARC) Intelligent Systems Division, and NASA Johnson Space Centers (JSC) Mission Operations Directorate (MOD) began a collaboration to move user applications for JSC's mission control center to a new software architecture, intended to replace the existing user applications being used for the Space Shuttle and the International Space Station. It must also carry NASA/JSC mission operations forward to the future, meeting the needs for NASA's exploration programs beyond low Earth orbit. Key requirements for the new architecture, called Mission Control Technologies (MCT) are that end users must be able to compose and build their own software displays without the need for programming, or direct support and approval from a platform services organization. Developers must be able to build MCT components using industry standard languages and tools. Each component of MCT must be interoperable with other components, regardless of what organization develops them. For platform service providers and MOD management, MCT must be cost effective, maintainable and evolvable. MCT software is built from components that are presented to users as composable user objects. A user object is an entity that represents a domain object such as a telemetry point, a command, a timeline, an activity, or a step in a procedure. User objects may be composed and reused, for example a telemetry point may be used in a traditional monitoring display, and that same telemetry user object may be composed into a procedure step. In either display, that same telemetry point may be shown in different views, such as a plot, an alpha numeric, or a meta-data view and those views may be changed live and in place. MCT presents users with a single unified user environment that contains all the objects required to perform applicable flight controller tasks, thus users do not have to use multiple applications, the traditional boundaries that exist between multiple heterogeneous applications disappear, leaving open the possibility of new operations concepts that are not constrained by the traditional applications paradigm.

Trimble, Jay Phillip↗

The machine protection system for the R&D energy recovery LINAC

The Machine Protection System (MPS) is a device-safety system that is designed to prevent damage to hardware by generating interlocks, based upon the state of input signals generated by selected sub-systems. It protects all the key machinery in the R&D Project called the Energy Recovery LINAC (ERL) against the high beam current. The MPS is capable of responding to a fault with an interlock signal within several microseconds. The ERL MPS is based on a National Instruments CompactRIO platform, and is programmed by utilizing National Instruments' development environment for a visual programming language. The system also transfers data (interlock status, time of fault, etc.) to the main server. Transferred data is integrated into the pre-existing software architecture which is accessible by the operators. This paper will provide an overview of the hardware used, its configuration and operation, as well as the software written both on the device and the server side.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗

SimpleSSD: Modeling Solid State Drives for Holistic System Simulation

Existing solid state drive (SSD) simulators unfortunately lack hardware and/or software architecture models. Consequently, they are far from capturing the critical features of contemporary SSD devices. More importantly, while the performance of modern systems that adopt SSDs can vary based on their numerous internal design parameters and storage-level configurations, a full system simulation with traditional SSD models often requires unreasonably long runtimes and excessive computational resources. In this work, we propose SimpleSSD, a high-fidelity simulator that models all detailed characteristics of hardware and software, while simplifying the nondescript features of storage internals. In contrast to existing SSD simulators, SimpleSSD can easily be integrated into publicly-available full system simulators. Here, in addition, it can accommodate a complete storage stack and evaluate the performance of SSDs along with diverse memory technologies and microarchitectures. Thus, it facilitates simulations that explore the full design space at different levels of system abstraction.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗