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At least 307 records · Page 17

Novel 3D Force Sensors for a Cost-Effective 3D Force Plate for Biomechanical Analysis

Three-dimensional force plates are important tools for biomechanics discovery and sports performance practice. However, currently, available 3D force plates lack portability and are often cost-prohibitive. To address this, a recently discovered 3D force sensor technology was used in the fabrication of a prototype force plate. Thirteen participants performed bodyweight and weighted lunges and squats on the prototype force plate and a standard 3D force plate positioned in series to compare forces measured by both force plates and validate the technology. For the lunges, there was excellent agreement between the experimental force plate and the standard force plate in the X-, Y-, and Z-axes (r = 0.950–0.999, p < 0.001). For the squats, there was excellent agreement between the force plates in the Z-axis (r = 0.996, p < 0.001). Across axes and movements, root mean square error (RMSE) ranged from 1.17% to 5.36% between force plates. Although the current prototype force plate is limited in sampling rate, the low RMSEs and extremely high agreement in peak forces provide confidence the novel force sensors have utility in constructing cost-effective and versatile use-case 3D force plates.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Non-volatile magnetic random access memory

Improvements are made in a non-volatile magnetic random access memory. Such a memory is comprised of an array of unit cells, each having a Hall-effect sensor and a thin-film magnetic element made of material having an in-plane, uniaxial anisotropy and in-plane, bipolar remanent magnetization states. The Hall-effect sensor is made more sensitive by using a 1 m thick molecular beam epitaxy grown InAs layer on a silicon substrate by employing a GaAs/AlGaAs/InAlAs superlattice buffering layer. One improvement avoids current shunting problems of matrix architecture. Another improvement reduces the required magnetizing current for the micromagnets. Another improvement relates to the use of GaAs technology wherein high electron-mobility GaAs MESFETs provide faster switching times. Still another improvement relates to a method for configuring the invention as a three-dimensional random access memory.

Katti, Romney R.↗

Performance Evaluation Modeling of Network Sensors

Substantial benefits are promised by operating many spatially separated sensors collectively. Such systems are envisioned to consist of sensor nodes that are connected by a communications network. A simulation tool is being developed to evaluate the performance of networked sensor systems, incorporating such metrics as target detection probabilities, false alarms rates, and classification confusion probabilities. The tool will be used to determine configuration impacts associated with such aspects as spatial laydown, and mixture of different types of sensors (acoustic, seismic, imaging, magnetic, RF, etc.), and fusion architecture. The QualNet discrete-event simulation environment serves as the underlying basis for model development and execution. This platform is recognized for its capabilities in efficiently simulating networking among mobile entities that communicate via wireless media. We are extending QualNet's communications modeling constructs to capture the sensing aspects of multi-target sensing (analogous to multiple access communications), unimodal multi-sensing (broadcast), and multi-modal sensing (multiple channels and correlated transmissions). Methods are also being developed for modeling the sensor signal sources (transmitters), signal propagation through the media, and sensors (receivers) that are consistent with the discrete event paradigm needed for performance determination of sensor network systems. This work is supported under the Microsensors Technical Area of the Army Research Laboratory (ARL) Advanced Sensors Collaborative Technology Alliance.

probability of detection↗

Galfenol Tactile Sensor Array and Visual Mapping System

The smart material, Galfenol, is being explored for its uses as a magnetostrictive material. This project seeks to determine if Galfenol can be used as a tactile sensor in a 2-D grid array, magnetic circuit system. When used within a magnetic circuit, Galfenol indicates induced stress and force as a change in flux, due to a change in permeability of the material. The change in flux is detected by Giant MagnetoResistive (GMR) Sensors, which produce a voltage change proportional to the field change. By using Galfenol in an array, this research attempts to create a sensory area. Galfenol is an alloy made of Iron and Gallium. FexGax, where 15 less than or equal to x less than or equal to 28, creates a material with useful mechanical and transduction attributes (Clark et al and Kell). Galfenol is also distinguished by the crystalline structure of the material. Two types currently exist: single crystal and polycrystalline. Single crystal has higher transduction coefficients than polycrystalline, but is more costly. Polycrystalline Galfenol is currently available as either production or research grade. The designations are related to the sample growth rate with the slower rate being the research grade. The slower growth rate more closely resembles the single crystal Galfenol properties. Galfenol 17.5- 18% research grade is used for this experiment, provided by Etrema Products Inc. The magnetic circuit and sensor array is first built at the macro scale so that the design can be verified. After the macro scale is proven, further development will move the system to the nano-level. Recent advances in nanofabrication have enabled Galfenol to be grown as nanowires. Using the nanowires, research will seek to create high resolution tactile sensors with spatial resolutions similar to human finger tips, but with greater force ranges and sensitivity capabilities (Flatau & Stadler). Possible uses of such systems include robotics and prosthetics.

Hale, Kathleen↗

Low Current Magnet

Because Goddard Space Flight Center needed a way to cool sensors aboard the AXAF, a low current superconducting magnet was developed under contract by Cryomagnetics, Inc. The magnet, now commercially available, reduced the rate of helium consumption, extending the lifetime of the AXAF's x-ray spectrometer. On Earth, it offers a way to reduce operating costs through smaller, less expensive power supplies and reduced use of coolant. The magnet has particular advantages for MRI systems, as it is safer and has lower maintenance requirements.

Source record↗

Fiber-optic diagnostic system for future accelerator magnets

The next generation high energy physics accelerators will require magnetic fields at ~20 T. HTS coils will be an essential component of future accelerator magnets and several efforts are currently dedicated on designing 20 T HTS- LTS hybrid magnets. Among the existing challenges, there is the lack of a robust quench detection system for hybrid magnet technology. Another big challenge is represented by the high number of training quenches required by Nb3Sn magnets to reach performance level. In this framework it is important to find a tool that allow local real-time monitoring of magnet strain and temperature. In this paper, we propose the use of fiber optics sensors for diagnostic and quench detection in future accelerator superconducting magnets. Discrete and distributed fiber optic sensors have demonstrated to be a promising tool. The goal is to instrument hundreds of accelerator superconducting magnets and to move beyond the proof-of-concept level. Significant developments are still needed. Here, we are going to present the most recent results and discuss the most urgent technical developments in order to make those sensors a robust and reliable diagnostic tool for accelerator superconducting magnets over the next 10 year. We foresee that discrete fiber sensors will be a stable diagnostic probe for superconducting magnets over the next 3 to 5 years. More R&D work will be necessary for distributed fibers. The most urgent needs are the increase of sample rate and sensitivity. Close collaboration with vendors will be necessary to improve mechanical properties and fabrication processes in order to produce hundreds of meters of fiber and instrument a large number of accelerator superconducting magnets. Those R&D efforts will last up to 10 years with a founding level that spans between 5-10 M$.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗

Makeup and uses of a basic magnet laboratory for characterizing high-temperature permanent magnets

A set of instrumentation for making basic magnetic measurements was assembled in order to characterize high intrinsic coercivity, rare earth permanent magnets with respect to short term demagnetization resistance and long term aging at temperatures up to 300 C. The major specialized components of this set consist of a 13 T peak field, capacitor discharge pulse magnetizer; a 10 in. pole size, variable gap electromagnet; a temperature controlled oven equipped with iron cobalt pole piece extensions and a removable paddle that carries the magnetization and field sensing coils; associated electronic integrators; and sensor standards for field intensity H and magnetic moment M calibration. A 1 cm cubic magnet sample, carried by the paddle, fits snugly between the pole piece extensions within the electrically heated aluminum oven, where fields up to 3.2 T can be applied by the electromagnet at temperatures up to 300 C. A sample set of demagnetization data for the high energy Sm2Co17 type of magnet is given for temperatures up to 300 C. These data are reduced to the temperature dependence of the M-H knee field and of the field for a given magnetic induction swing, and they are interpreted to show the limits of safe operation.

Niedra, Janis M.↗

Magnetic Field Response Measurement Acquisition System

A measurement acquisition method that alleviates many shortcomings of traditional measurement systems is presented in this paper. The shortcomings are a finite number of measurement channels, weight penalty associated with measurements, electrical arcing, wire degradations due to wear or chemical decay and the logistics needed to add new sensors. The key to this method is the use of sensors designed as passive inductor-capacitor circuits that produce magnetic field responses. The response attributes correspond to states of physical properties for which the sensors measure. A radio frequency antenna produces a time-varying magnetic field used to power the sensor and receive the magnetic field response of the sensor. An interrogation system for discerning changes in the sensor response is presented herein. Multiple sensors can be interrogated using this method. The method eliminates the need for a data acquisition channel dedicated to each sensor. Methods of developing magnetic field response sensors and the influence of key parameters on measurement acquisition are discussed.

Woodard, Stanley E.↗

Predicting the formation of fractionally doped perovskite oxides by a function-confined machine learning method

Abstract Fractionally doped perovskites oxides (FDPOs) have demonstrated ubiquitous applications such as energy conversion, storage and harvesting, catalysis, sensor, superconductor, ferroelectric, piezoelectric, magnetic, and luminescence. Hence, an accurate, cost-effective, and easy-to-use methodology to discover new compositions is much needed. Here, we developed a function-confined machine learning methodology to discover new FDPOs with high prediction accuracy from limited experimental data. By focusing on a specific application, namely solar thermochemical hydrogen production, we collected 632 training data and defined 21 desirable features. Our gradient boosting classifier model achieved a high prediction accuracy of 95.4% and a high F1 score of 0.921. Furthermore, when verified on additional 36 experimental data from existing literature, the model showed a prediction accuracy of 94.4%. With the help of this machine learning approach, we identified and synthesized 11 new FDPO compositions, 7 of which are relevant for solar thermochemical hydrogen production. We believe this confined machine learning methodology can be used to discover, from limited data, FDPOs with other specific application purposes.

08 HYDROGEN↗

Patterning of magneto-optical nanomaterials

Patterning of colloidal particles in precisely organized architectures has attracted intense research interest for decades. This is due to their potential applications in flexible electronics, magnetic and optical devices, sensors, biotechnology, communications, etc. However, creation of mesoscale assemblies at commercial scale received less attention. The mesoscale systems reside between the micro- and macroscopic scales, with length dimensions from ≈ 100 um to 5mm. One way to create mesoscale materials is to leverage decades of experimental and theoretical research in nanomaterials field that allows us to precisely create and control the placement of nanoscale materials. We developed a versatile and automatic mesoscale patterning technology that provide precise and consistent control and special arrangement of functional nanomaterials. The versatility of the strategy is demonstrated by patterning nanoparticles with different dimensions, shapes and compositions, tethered with various functionalities and subjected to different external stimuli. Nanomaterials were created via the paten t pending automated flow-throughput domain process (AFTDP), aka nano-additive manufacturing approach, recently developed by us, based on a unique small-scale fluidics concept, that enables a uniform reaction environment for production of high-quality materials in large quantities.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Patterning of magneto-optical nanomaterials

Patterning of colloidal particles in precisely organized architectures has attracted intense research interest for decades. This is due to their potential applications in flexible electronics, magnetic and optical devices, sensors, biotechnology, communications, etc. However, creation of mesoscale assemblies at commercial scales have received less attention. The mesoscale systems reside between the micro- and macroscopic scales, with length dimensions from ≈ 100 µm to 5 mm. By leveraging decades of experimental and theoretical research in nanomaterial fields, we were able to precisely create and control the placement of nanoscale materials, allowing us to create mesoscale materials. We developed a versatile and automatic mesoscale patterning technology (via SEM-FIB and 3D printing) that provides precise and consistent control and special arrangement of functional nanomaterials. The versatility of the strategy is demonstrated by patterning nanoparticles with different dimensions, shapes and compositions, tethered with various functionalities and subjected to different external stimuli.

42 ENGINEERING↗

SERAPH: Wavelike Dark Matter Searches with SRF Cavities

Haloscopes consisting of a microwave cavity with a high quality factor (Q) connected to low-noise electronics have been deployed to detect wavelike axions and dark photons. But the dark matter mass is unknown, so haloscopes must be tunable to search through the photon coupling vs. mass parameter space. Therefore, the scan rate for haloscope experiments is a crucial figure of merit and is proportional to the cavity’s quality factor. State-of-the-art experiments like ADMX currently use copper cavities with 𝑄∼80000. However, implementing superconducting cavities with 𝑄∼1010 can increase the instantaneous scan rate by possibly a factor of 105. This presentation will report progress on the SERAPH experiment, a family of superconducting haloscopes being developed by the Superconducting Quantum Materials and Systems (SQMS) Center. In this presentation, I will first discuss the principles behind operating a haloscope whose bandwidth is much narrower than the dark matter halo energy distribution. I will then describe the first SERAPH experiments implementing a 1.3 GHz Niobium cavity with an ultra-high quality factor (Q~1010) that has achieved the best sensitivity and deepest exclusion to wavelike dark photon dark matter by almost an order of magnitude. Next, I will discuss progress on the next phase of SERAPH, which will search dark photon dark matter using a widely-tunable SRF cavity (4-7 GHz). I will finally describe plans for subsequent SERAPH experiments to search for dark photons and axions with tunable SRF cavities tolerant to multi-Tesla magnetic fields and quantum sensors that subvert the Standard Quantum Limit.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Space Science and Applications

The exploitation of the present tethered system and the need for repeat missions; multiple payloads placed along the tether; the extension of the present altitude limit to below 130 km; the development of free-flying tether satellites for studying both the Earth's atmosphere and ionosphere and also for studying the plantes; and a subtether were discussed. Areas of research were identified: aeronomy studies, gravity and magnetic potential mission, advanced sensors for geodynamics, and mapping and remote sensing.

Hudson, R.↗

On-orbit attitude control of the Cosmic Background Explorer (COBE)

The way in which COBE (launched by the SS in late 1982) performs its attitude control is described, along with the design of its on-orbit system. COBE, to be situated in a 900 km high, sun-synchronous orbit, contains two unique control features: (1) the orientation of the spinning satellite is controlled to a sun-normal attitude in the sun/local vertical plane; and (2) pitch and roll control is maintained by a unique triaxial arrangement of reaction wheels, magnetic torque bars and sensors, located in the body's tranverse plane. Inherent in this triaxial configuration concept is a built-in redundancy that will maintain attitude control in the event of any single-point sensor/actuator component failure. Each of the three control drive electronics operates independently and directly of a system of dedicated sensors. This system functions independently of a computer or an ephemeris communication link, leading to greater reliability.

Bramberg, B.↗

Coding Ropes For Length And Speed Measurements

Ferromagnetic staples serve as markers. Like crude magnetic-tape-playback head, sensor detects ferromagnetic staples as rope is unwound or wound. Pulses from staples analyzed electronically; numbers of pulses and intervals between them interpreted in terms of velocity of rope and length payed out. Adaptable to laying submarine cables and contstruction of suspension bridges.

Rupp, Charles C.↗

Natural and artificially initiated lightning

An evaluation is made of the development status of theories and experimental results concerning both natural and artificially triggered lightning, with a view to prospective research efforts able to deepen understanding of these phenomena. Over the last decade, great progress has been made in methods for identifying and locating natural cloud-to-ground lightning; nationwide lightning-sensor networks employing wideband magnetic direction-finding technology to yield lightning locations in real time are currently operational in the U.S., France, Japan, and Sweden. Triggered lightning, which is the primary atmospheric electricity hazard to aircraft and launch vehicles, research must be done on meteorological and electrical environments associated with the threat.

Uman, Martin A.↗

Rugged Low-Resistance Contacts To High-Tc Superconductors

Newly developed technique involving use of gold makes possible to fabricate low-resistance contacts with rugged connections to high-Tc superconductors. Gold diffused into specimen of superconducting material by melting gold beads onto surface of specimen, making strong mechanical contacts. Shear strength of gold bead contacts greater than epoxy or silver paste. Practical use in high-current-carrying applications of new high-Tc materials, including superconducting magnets, long-wavelength sensors, electrical ground planes at low temperatures, and efficient transmission of power.

Caton, Randall↗