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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 343 records · Page 19

Modeling and Simulation of Automated Mobility Districts

Connected and automated vehicles (CAVs) are increasingly being discussed as the basis for shared mobility and on-demand services to replace privately owned vehicles. The rapid growth of Transportation Networking Companies (TNCs) and their increasing investment in automated vehicle (AV) technologies attests to this. Combining the concepts of TNCs, with AV and on-demand transit services, the term 'automated mobility district' (AMD) describes a district-scale implementation of CAV technology to realize the full benefits of a shared, fully automated vehicle service within a confined region. A customized open-source microscopic mobility simulation toolkit is currently being developed at NREL to quantify the mobility and energy benefits of AMDs.

30 DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION↗

Case studies of robots and automation as health/safety interventions in small manufacturing enterprises

This article reviews the experiences of 63 case studies of small businesses (<250 employees) with manufacturing automation equipment acquired through a health/safety intervention grant program. The review scope included equipment technologies classified as industrial robots (n = 17), computer numerical control (CNC) machining (n = 29), or other programmable automation systems (n = 17). Descriptions of workers' compensation (WC) claim injuries and identified risk factors that motivated the acquisition of the equipment were extracted from grant applications. Other aspects of the employer experiences, including qualitative and quantitative assessment of effects on risk factors for musculoskeletal disorders (MSD), effects on productivity, and employee acceptance of the intervention were summarized from the case study reports. Case studies associated with a combination of large reduction in risk factors, lower cost per affected employee, and reported increases in productivity were CNC stone cutting system, CNC/vertical machining system, automated system for bottling, CNC/routing system for plastics products manufacturing, and a CNC/Cutting system for vinyl/carpet. Six case studies of industrial robots reported quantitative reductions in MSD risk factors in these diverse manufacturing industries: snack foods; photographic film, paper, plate, and chemical; machine shops; leather goods and allied products; plastic products; and iron and steel forging. Furthermore, this review of health/safety intervention case studies indicates that advanced (programmable) manufacturing automation, including industrial robots, reduced workplace musculoskeletal risk factors, and improved process productivity in most cases.

42 ENGINEERING↗

AEcroscopy: A Software–Hardware Framework Empowering Microscopy Toward Automated and Autonomous Experimentation

Microscopy has been pivotal in improving the understanding of structure-function relationships at the nanoscale and is by now ubiquitous in most characterization labs. However, traditional microscopy operations are still limited largely by a human-centric click-and-go paradigm utilizing vendor-provided software, which limits the scope, utility, efficiency, effectiveness, and at times reproducibility of microscopy experiments. Here, in this work, a coupled software–hardware platform is developed that consists of a software package termed AEcroscopy (short for Automated Experiments in Microscopy), along with a field-programmable-gate-array device with LabView-built customized acquisition scripts, which overcome these limitations and provide the necessary abstractions toward full automation of microscopy platforms. The platform works across multiple vendor devices on scanning probe microscopes and electron microscopes. It enables customized scan trajectories, processing functions that can be triggered locally or remotely on processing servers, user-defined excitation waveforms, standardization of data models, and completely seamless operation through simple Python commands to enable a plethora of microscopy experiments to be performed in a reproducible, automated manner. This platform can be readily coupled with existing machine-learning libraries and simulations, to provide automated decision-making and active theory-experiment optimization to turn microscopes from characterization tools to instruments capable of autonomous model refinement and physics discovery.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗

In-route inductive versus stationary conductive charging for shared automated electric vehicles: A university shuttle service

In-route inductive charging technology, as applied to automated electric vehicles, can help realize a fully automated system of both vehicles and chargers. This study presents a planning optimization analysis for fixed-route automated shuttles supported by in-route inductive charging technology. A techno-economic feasibility of inductive charging was assessed in comparison with stationary charging, including Level 2 AC chargers, and DC fast chargers (DCFCs). This analysis considered both present-day and future vehicle operations and overall system costs. A real project with two circulator Navya Arma shared automated electric vehicles (SAEVs) at the University of Michigan was investigated using real-world collected energy and travel data. The outcomes show that the proper design of quasi-dynamic inductive chargers at designated stops allows SAEVs to realize unlimited driving range and be cost-competitive to DCFC technology. Considering present-day costs and vehicles, low-speed SAEVs can realize charge-sustaining operation at a minimum cost either by implementing a 50-kW inductive charger at two stops with one segment per position and a 29-kWh onboard battery, or by installing a 100-kW inductive charger at one stop with one segment per position and a 28-kWh onboard battery. Overall, considering future costs and vehicles, either a 40-kW charger at one stop with a 29-kWh battery or a 50-kW charger at the north stop with a 14-kWh battery would enable charge-sustaining operation. In addition, quasi-dynamic inductive solution can reduce the onboard battery by about 15% while providing unlimited driving range, but stationary scenarios require about 112% additional battery capacity to support a 12-h driving range.

33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS↗

Revolutionizing Energy Storage: AI, Automation, and Advanced Modeling as Catalysts for Next-Generation Breakthroughs

The Presidential Symposium (PRES) at the 2025 Fall Meeting, hosted by the President’s Office and Energy and Fuels Division, American Chemical Society (ACS) in Washington, DC, brought together a diverse group of chemists, engineers, and materials scientists working in battery materials & systems, automation and artificial intelligence from academia, industry, and national laboratories. The accelerating demand for high-performance, scalable, and sustainable energy storage has catalyzed a paradigm shift in how materials are dis-covered, devices are engineered, and systems are optimized. This Presidential Symposium, entitled “Revolutionizing Energy Storage: AI, Automation, and Advanced Modeling Driving Next-Gen Breakthroughs”, brings together global leaders to unveil transformative strategies anchored in the AAA framework: Artificial Intelligence, Automation, and Advanced Modeling. Artificial Intelligence is redefining the frontiers of energy storage by enabling predictive design, real-time optimization, and intelligent control across diverse chemistries and architectures. Automation is streamlining the synthesis, characterization, and testing of battery materials, dramatically accelerating innovation cycles and unlocking scalable solutions for grid and mobility applications. Advanced Modeling, spanning atomic to system-level scales, provides unprecedented insight into electrochemical dynamics, degradation pathways, and thermal behavior, particularly when coupled with physics-informed machine learning and digital twin technologies. Digital twins, in turn, leverage the AAA framework by integrating real-time data, physics-based models, and AI predictions into dynamic virtual replicas, enabling proactive diagnostics, optimization, and system resilience. Together, these synergistic pillars are not only re-shaping the scientific landscape but also forging a new era of reproducible, data-driven, and resilient energy storage innovation. In conclusion, this symposium marks a pivotal moment in the convergence of computational intelligence and experimental rigor, charting the course for next-generation breakthroughs in lithium-ion, solid-state, and flow battery technologies.

Artificial Intelligence (AI)↗

Automated Calibration for Rapid Optical Spectroscopy Sensor Development for Online Monitoring

An automated platform has been developed to assist researchers in the rapid development of optical spectroscopy sensors to quantify species from spectral data. This platform performs calibration and validation measurements simultaneously. Real-time, in situ monitoring of complex systems through optical spectroscopy has been shown to be a useful tool; however, building calibration models requires development time, which can be a limiting factor in the case of radiological or otherwise hazardous systems. While calibration time can be reduced through optimized design of experiments, this study approached the challenge differently through automation. The ATLAS (Automated Transient Learning for Applied Sensors) platform used pneumatic control of stock solutions to cycle flow profiles through desired calibration concentrations for multivariate model construction. Additionally, the transients between desired concentrations based on flow calculations were used as validation measurements to understand model predictive capabilities. This automated approach yielded an incredible 76% reduction in model development time and a 60% reduction in sample volume versus estimated manual sample preparation and static measurements. The ATLAS system was demonstrated on two systems: a three-lanthanide system with Pr/Nd/Ho representing a use case with significant overlap or interference between analyte signatures and an alternate system containing Pr/Nd/Ni to demonstrate a use case in which broad-band corrosion species signatures interfered with more distinct lanthanide absorbance profiles. Both systems resulted in strong model prediction performance (RMSEP < 9%). Lastly, ATLAS was demonstrated as a tool to simulate process monitoring scenarios (e.g., column separation) in which models can be further optimized to account for day-to-day changes as necessary (e.g., baseline correction). Ultimately, ATLAS offers a vital tool to rapidly screen monitoring methods, investigate sensor fusion, and explore more complex systems (i.e., larger numbers of species).

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗

Design of Distributed Cyber-Physical Systems for Connected and Automated Vehicles with Implementing Methodologies

With the development of communication and control technology, intelligent transportation systems have received increasing attention from both industry and academia. Intelligent transportation systems are supported by the Internet of Things, Cyber-Physical System, Artificial Intelligence, Cloud Computing and many other technologies, which supply fundamental information for connected and automated vehicles. Although plenty of studies have provided different formulations for intelligent transportation systems, many of them depend on Master Control Center. However, a centralized control mode requires a huge amount of data transmission and high level of hardware configuration and may cause communication delay and privacy leak. Some distributed architectures have been proposed to overcome the above problems but systematized technologies to collect and exchange information, process large amounts of data, model the dynamics of vehicles, and safely control the connected and automated vehicles are not explored in detail. In this paper, we proposed a novel distributed cyber-physical system for connected and automated vehicles in which every vehicle is modeled as a double-integrator using edge computing to analyze information collected from its nearest neighbors. The vehicles are supposed to travel along a desired trajectory and to maintain a rigid formation geometry. Related methodologies for the proposed system are illustrated and experiments are conducted showing that the performance of the connected and automated vehicles matches very well with analytic predictions. Some design guidelines and open questions are provided for the future study.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

Automated planning of breast radiotherapy using cone beam CT imaging

Purpose: Develop and clinically validate a methodology for using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) imaging in an automated treatment planning framework for breast IMRT. Methods: A technique for intensity correction of CBCT images was developed and evaluated. The technique is based on histogram matching of CBCT image sets, using information from “similar” planning CT image sets from a database of paired CBCT and CT image sets (n = 38). Automated treatment plans were generated for a testing subset (n = 15) on the planning CT and the corrected CBCT. The plans generated on the corrected CBCT were compared to the CT-based plans in terms of beam parameters, dosimetric indices, and dose distributions. Results: The corrected CBCT images showed considerable similarity to their corresponding planning CTs (average mutual information 1.0±0.1, average sum of absolute differences 185 ± 38). The automated CBCT-based plans were clinically acceptable, as well as equivalent to the CT-based plans with average gantry angle difference of 0.99°±1.1°, target volume overlap index (Dice) of 0.89±0.04 although with slightly higher maximum target doses (4482±90 vs 4560±84, P < 0.05). Gamma index analysis (3%, 3 mm) showed that the CBCT-based plans had the same dose distribution as plans calculated with the same beams on the registered planning CTs (average gamma index 0.12±0.04, gamma <1 in 99.4%±0.3%). Conclusions: The proposed method demonstrates the potential for a clinically feasible and efficient online adaptive breast IMRT planning method based on CBCT imaging, integrating automation.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗

MO-FG-303-04: A Smartphone Application for Automated Mechanical Quality Assurance of Medical Accelerators

Purpose: The mechanical quality assurance (QA) of medical accelerators consists of a time consuming series of procedures. Since most of the procedures are done manually – e.g., checking gantry rotation angle with the naked eye using a level attached to the gantry –, it is considered to be a process with high potential for human errors. To remove the possibilities of human errors and reduce the procedure duration, we developed a smartphone application for automated mechanical QA. Methods: The preparation for the automated process was done by attaching a smartphone to the gantry facing upward. For the assessments of gantry and collimator angle indications, motion sensors (gyroscope, accelerator, and magnetic field sensor) embedded in the smartphone were used. For the assessments of jaw position indicator, cross-hair centering, and optical distance indicator (ODI), an optical-image processing module using a picture taken by the high-resolution camera embedded in the smartphone was implemented. The application was developed with the Android software development kit (SDK) and OpenCV library. Results: The system accuracies in terms of angle detection error and length detection error were < 0.1° and < 1 mm, respectively. The mean absolute error for gantry and collimator rotation angles were 0.03° and 0.041°, respectively. The mean absolute error for the measured light field size was 0.067 cm. Conclusion: The automated system we developed can be used for the mechanical QA of medical accelerators with proven accuracy. For more convenient use of this application, the wireless communication module is under development. This system has a strong potential for the automation of the other QA procedures such as light/radiation field coincidence and couch translation/rotations.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

Exploring the physics of cesium lead halide perovskite quantum dots via Bayesian inference of the photoluminescence spectra in automated experiment

The unique optoelectronic properties of metal halide perovskite quantum dots (QDs) make them promising candidates for applications in light-emitting diodes (LEDs), scintillators, and other photonic devices. The automated micropipetting synthesis platform equipped with an optical reader enables the opportunity for high throughput synthesis and photoluminescent (PL) characterization of metal halide perovskite QDs for the first time. Here, we explore the compositional dependence of the PL behavior and stability of the combinatorial library of cesium lead halide (CsPbX 3 ) perovskites QDs via the automated platform. To study the stability of synthesized QDs in the binary and ternary configurations, we study the time-dependent PL properties using previously developed machine learning analysis. Additionally, to systematically explore the PL behavior in the ternary CsPbX 3 QDs system, we introduce the Bayesian inference framework that allows the probabilistic fit of multiple models to the PL data and establishes both optimal model and model parameter robustly. Furthermore, these behaviors can be used as a control parameter for the navigation of the multidimensional compositional spaces in automated synthesis. Furthermore, this analysis shows the nonuniformity of the PL peak behavior in the ternary CsPbX 3 QDs system. Further, the analysis confirms narrow size distribution and good quality of CsPbBr 3 QDs alloyed with low concentrations of iodide and chloride. We note that Bayesian Inference fit parameters can be further used as a control signal for navigation of the chemical spaces in automated synthesis.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Automation Technologies Impact on the Work Process of Nuclear Power Plants

The current cost associated with the work process of nuclear power plants necessities modernizing the work process by augmenting it with automation technologies. This work was performed to assess various automation technologies and the means by which they assimilate into the work process in order to make gains in cost savings in modern nuclear power plants. The goal was to identify key informational items that would be useful to members of industry who are undertaking the large effort to reduce costs through automation by identifying technology maturity levels, recent research, and an analysis of cost impacts of the work process. The technologies cost saving was categorized into low, medium, and high cost savings. Through this effort, a substantive literature review and analysis of recent technological and market trends was performed. The key areas of cost impact were identified through communication with users in industry from operations and maintenance organizations. The results were assembled into a list of work process steps and technologies that are ready be implemented or researched for the automating aspects of that step. This effort aims to present to utilities opportunities of cost saving that are achievable in the short term, and gaps for research organizations and vendors to consider for further research and development. The results of this effort generated a list of technologies that fit each of the three cost saving categories. Electronic work packages remain a high cost saving technology, but data mining and integration, smart scheduling, and dynamic risk models are also indicated to yield a high cost savings. Video applications, spatial mapping, and image processing and identification technologies appear to provide solid cost savings in the medium category, and rounding out the low cost saving areas are deployable technologies such as bar codes, communication tools, and electronic tags.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

Automation of Nanoparticle Synthesis Processes in a Plasma Environment Using LabVIEW

This work presents an automated control system for the synthesis of nanomaterials by plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD), implemented using the LabVIEW software environment. The main objective of the study is to develop an integrated hardware-software platform that enables sequential control of the key stages of the PECVD process, including vacuum chamber preparation, pressure monitoring, working gas supply, plasma ignition, power matching, cyclic nanomaterial growth, and optical monitoring of nanoparticles in the plasma environment. The use of LabVIEW made it possible to integrate actuator control, experimental parameter acquisition, and realtime process visualization within a single automated system. The automated cycle begins with evacuation of the reaction chamber to a predefined base pressure. Transition to the next stage is permitted only after the specified pressure threshold has been reached, ensuring reproducible initial conditions for each experiment. The program then controls the supply of the working gas through mass flow controllers (MFCs). In this work, two gas-flow control modes were considered: analog control using a 0-5 V voltage signal and digital communication via RS-232 interface. It was shown that the analog approach requires accurate scaling of the control voltage, since applying 5 V corresponds to full-scale opening of the controller and results in the maximum gas flow. In contrast, the RS232 interface enables the gas flow rate to be specified directly in sccm, improving the accuracy, flexibility, and convenience of gas-environment control. After pressure stabilization, LabVIEW initiates RF plasma ignition and executes the RF matching algorithm aimed at minimizing reflected power and improving the stability of the plasma process. A separate software module implements the cyclic nanomaterial growth mode, in which the plasma-on time, plasma duration, and total number of synthesis cycles are predefined. This approach makes it possible to control material accumulation on the substrate and to correlate the process parameters with the morphological characteristics of the resulting nanostructures. The final module of the system is designed for optical monitoring of the nanoparticle cloud density in dusty plasma. For this purpose, the change in the intensity of laser radiation passing through the plasma region is recorded using a photodetector and a Keithley 2401 measuring unit connected to LabVIEW via RS-232 interface. The difference between the initial and modified optical signal intensity is used as a diagnostic parameter characterizing the formation and temporal evolution of nanoparticles. The developed system demonstrates that LabVIEW can be effectively applied not only for the automation of individual instruments, but also for the implementation of a complete digital control cycle for PECVD-based nanomaterial synthesis.

PECVD↗

Human versus automation in responding to failures: an expected-value analysis

A simple analytical criterion is provided for deciding whether a human or automation is best for a failure detection task. The method is based on expected-value decision theory in much the same way as is signal detection. It requires specification of the probabilities of misses (false negatives) and false alarms (false positives) for both human and automation being considered, as well as factors independent of the choice--namely, costs and benefits of incorrect and correct decisions as well as the prior probability of failure. The method can also serve as a basis for comparing different modes of automation. Some limiting cases of application are discussed, as are some decision criteria other than expected value. Actual or potential applications include the design and evaluation of any system in which either humans or automation are being considered.

NASA Discipline Space Human Factors↗

Effects of a psychophysiological system for adaptive automation on performance, workload, and the event-related potential P300 component

The present study examined the effects of an electroencephalographic- (EEG-) based system for adaptive automation on tracking performance and workload. In addition, event-related potentials (ERPs) to a secondary task were derived to determine whether they would provide an additional degree of workload specificity. Participants were run in an adaptive automation condition, in which the system switched between manual and automatic task modes based on the value of each individual's own EEG engagement index; a yoked control condition; or another control group, in which task mode switches followed a random pattern. Adaptive automation improved performance and resulted in lower levels of workload. Further, the P300 component of the ERP paralleled the sensitivity to task demands of the performance and subjective measures across conditions. These results indicate that it is possible to improve performance with a psychophysiological adaptive automation system and that ERPs may provide an alternative means for distinguishing among levels of cognitive task demand in such systems. Actual or potential applications of this research include improved methods for assessing operator workload and performance.

Task Performance and Analysis↗

Cassini-Huygens maneuver automation for navigation

Many times during the Cassini-Huygens mission to Saturn, propulsive maneuvers must be spaced so closely together that there isn't enough time or workforce to execute the maneuver-related software manually, one subsystem at a time. Automation is required. Automating the maneuver design process has involved close cooperation between teams. We present the contribution from the Navigation system. In scope, this includes trajectory propagation and search, generation of ephemerides, general tasks such as email notification and file transfer, and presentation materials. The software has been used to help understand maneuver optimization results, Huygens probe delivery statistics, and Saturn ring-plane crossing geometry. The Maneuver Automation Software (MAS), developed for the Cassini-Huygens program enables frequent maneuvers by handling mundane tasks such as creation of deliverable files, file delivery, generation and transmission of email announcements, generation of presentation material and other supporting documentation. By hand, these tasks took up hours, if not days, of work for each maneuver. Automated, these tasks may be completed in under an hour. During the cruise trajectory the spacing of maneuvers was such that development of a maneuver design could span about a month, involving several other processes in addition to that described, above. Often, about the last five days of this process covered the generation of a final design using an updated orbit-determination estimate. To support the tour trajectory, the orbit determination data cut-off of five days before the maneuver needed to be reduced to approximately one day and the whole maneuver development process needed to be reduced to less than a week..

propulsion maneuvers↗

Automation and Process Improvement Enables a Small Team to Operate a Low Thrust Mission in Orbit Around the Asteroid Vesta

NASA's Dawn mission to the asteroid Vesta and dwarf planet Ceres launched September 27, 2007 and arrived at Vesta in July of 2011. This mission uses ion propulsion to achieve the necessary delta-V to reach and maneuver at Vesta and Ceres. This paper will show how the evolution of ground system automation and process improvement allowed a relatively small engineering team to transition from cruise operations to asteroid operations while maintaining robust processes. The cruise to Vesta phase lasted almost 4 years and consisted of activities that were built with software tools, but each tool was open loop and required engineers to review the output to ensure consistency. Additionally, this same time period was characterized by the evolution from manually retrieved and reviewed data products to automatically generated data products and data value checking. Furthermore, the team originally took about three to four weeks to design and build about four weeks of spacecraft activities, with spacecraft contacts only once a week. Operations around the asteroid Vesta increased the tempo dramatically by transitioning from one contact a week to three or four contacts a week, to fourteen contacts a week (every 12 hours). This was accompanied by a similar increase in activity complexity as well as very fast turn around activity design and build cycles. The design process became more automated and the tools became closed loop, allowing the team to build more activities without sacrificing rigor. Additionally, these activities were dependent on the results of flight system performance, so more automation was added to analyze the flight data and provide results in a timely fashion to feed the design cycle. All of this automation and process improvement enabled up the engineers to focus on other aspects of spacecraft operations, including spacecraft health monitoring and anomaly resolution.

ground system automation↗

NextGen Technologies on the FAA's Standard Terminal Automation Replacement System

This paper describes the integration, evaluation, and results from a high-fidelity human-in-the-loop (HITL) simulation of key NASA Air Traffic Management Technology Demonstration - 1 (ATD- 1) technologies implemented in an enhanced version of the FAA's Standard Terminal Automation Replacement System (STARS) platform. These ATD-1 technologies include: (1) a NASA enhanced version of the FAA's Time-Based Flow Management, (2) a NASA ground-based automation technology known as controller-managed spacing (CMS), and (3) a NASA advanced avionics airborne technology known as flight-deck interval management (FIM). These ATD-1 technologies have been extensively tested in large-scale HITL simulations using general-purpose workstations to study air transportation technologies. These general purpose workstations perform multiple functions and are collectively referred to as the Multi-Aircraft Control System (MACS). Researchers at NASA Ames Research Center and Raytheon collaborated to augment the STARS platform by including CMS and FIM advisory tools to validate the feasibility of integrating these automation enhancements into the current FAA automation infrastructure. NASA Ames acquired three STARS terminal controller workstations, and then integrated the ATD-1 technologies. HITL simulations were conducted to evaluate the ATD-1 technologies when using the STARS platform. These results were compared with the results obtained when the ATD-1 technologies were tested in the MACS environment. Results collected from the numerical data show acceptably minor differences, and, together with the subjective controller questionnaires showing a trend towards preferring STARS, validate the ATD-1/STARS integration.

air traffic management↗

Human-Automation Cooperation for Separation Assurance in Future NextGen Environments

A 2012 Human-In-The-Loop air traffic control simulation investigated a gradual paradigm-shift in the allocation of functions between operators and automation. Air traffic controllers staffed five adjacent high-altitude en route sectors, and during the course of a two-week experiment, worked traffic under different function-allocation approaches aligned with four increasingly mature NextGen operational environments. These NextGen time-frames ranged from near current-day operations to nearly fully-automated control, in which the ground systems automation was responsible for detecting conflicts, issuing strategic and tactical resolutions, and alerting the controller to exceptional circumstances. Results indicate that overall performance was best in the most automated NextGen environment. Safe operations were achieved in this environment for twice todays peak airspace capacity, while being rated by the controllers as highly acceptable. However, results show that sector operations were not always safe; separation violations did in fact occur. This paper will describe in detail the simulation conducted, as well discuss important results and their implications.

air traffic control↗