Engineering Papers⌕ Search

SEARCH · Engineering Papers

Results for “neural simulation”

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.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 343 records · Page 19

Behavioral and Physiological Effects of Hindlimb Unloading in Rats

The overarching objective of this project was to identify changes in neural and biochemical systems of the central and peripheral nervous systems (the CNS and PNS) that are related to disruptions of functional motor responses, or motor control. The identification of neural and biochemical changes that are related to sensory-motor adaptation elicited as animals react to changes in the gravitational field was of particular interest. Thus, the major objective of this work was to study disruptions of motor responses that arise after (sic. due to) chronic exposure to altered gravity (G). To do this, parallel studies investigating changes in neural, sensory, and neuromuscular systems were conducted after animals (rats) experienced chronic exposure to conditions of altered-G. Conditions of altered-G included hyper-G produced by centrifugation, micro-G produced by orbital flight, and simulated micro-G produced by hind limb suspension. A second major interest was to examine the contribution of putative changes in sensory systems to disruptions of motor responses. To do this, motor responses and reflexes of rats were studied following chronic treatment with streptomycin sulfate (STP, an ototoxic chemical) to damage the vestibular hair cells.

Fox, Robert A.↗

Applications of Artificial Neural Networks in Structural Engineering with Emphasis on Continuum Models

The use of continuum models for the analysis of discrete built-up complex aerospace structures is an attractive idea especially at the conceptual and preliminary design stages. But the diversity of available continuum models and hard-to-use qualities of these models have prevented them from finding wide applications. In this regard, Artificial Neural Networks (ANN or NN) may have a great potential as these networks are universal approximators that can realize any continuous mapping, and can provide general mechanisms for building models from data whose input-output relationship can be highly nonlinear. The ultimate aim of the present work is to be able to build high fidelity continuum models for complex aerospace structures using the ANN. As a first step, the concepts and features of ANN are familiarized through the MATLAB NN Toolbox by simulating some representative mapping examples, including some problems in structural engineering. Then some further aspects and lessons learned about the NN training are discussed, including the performances of Feed-Forward and Radial Basis Function NN when dealing with noise-polluted data and the technique of cross-validation. Finally, as an example of using NN in continuum models, a lattice structure with repeating cells is represented by a continuum beam whose properties are provided by neural networks.

Kapania, Rakesh K.↗

CONSOLE: A CAD tandem for optimization-based design interacting with user-supplied simulators

CONSOLE employs a recently developed design methodology (International Journal of Control 43:1693-1721) which provides the designer with a congenial environment to express his problem as a multiple ojective constrained optimization problem and allows him to refine his characterization of optimality when a suboptimal design is approached. To this end, in CONSOLE, the designed formulates the design problem using a high-level language and performs design task and explores tradeoff through a few short and clearly defined commands. The range of problems that can be solved efficiently using a CAD tools depends very much on the ability of this tool to be interfaced with user-supplied simulators. For instance, when designing a control system one makes use of the characteristics of the plant, and therefore, a model of the plant under study has to be made available to the CAD tool. CONSOLE allows for an easy interfacing of almost any simulator the user has available. To date CONSOLE has already been used successfully in many applications, including the design of controllers for a flexible arm and for a robotic manipulator and the solution of a parameter selection problem for a neural network.

Fan, Michael K. H.↗

Adding dynamic rules to self-organizing fuzzy systems

This paper develops a Dynamic Self-Organizing Fuzzy System (DSOFS) capable of adding, removing, and/or adapting the fuzzy rules and the fuzzy reference sets. The DSOFS background consists of a self-organizing neural structure with neuron relocation features which will develop a map of the input-output behavior. The relocation algorithm extends the topological ordering concept. Fuzzy rules (neurons) are dynamically added or released while the neural structure learns the pattern. The DSOFS advantages are the automatic synthesis and the possibility of parallel implementation. A high adaptation speed and a reduced number of neurons is needed in order to keep errors under some limits. The computer simulation results are presented in a nonlinear systems modelling application.

Buhusi, Catalin V.↗

Neural Network Atmospheric Correction of Remote Sensing Imagery Over Water Using a Synthetic Dataset

Remote sensing atmospheric correction methods have primarily focused on imagery over land. However, accurate correction over water is important for monitoring and research of aquatic environments. More research in this area is ongoing, though one of the biggest challenges is enough quality data to develop and validate correction methods. This is especially true for neural network (NN) -based models which have shown promise in this area given enough quality data. To address this deficiency of data, we are leveraging a synthetic dataset produced by a model called SWIPE that uses radiative transfer modeling to simulate the atmospheric effects on water-leaving (WL) reflectance to estimate top-of-atmosphere (TOA) reflectance. This allows us to produce almost unlimited pairs of WL reflectance and corresponding TOA reflectance for model training across a variety of atmospheric conditions. We use two approaches for our atmospheric correction model. One uses a conditional variational autoencoder (VAE) to estimate a single WL reflectance value from a single TOA reflectance value. The second is based on a UNET architecture and estimates an array of WL reflectance values from an array of TOA reflectance values. The goal of the second method is to capture atmospheric effects that occur spatially between values within the array as compared to the first method.

deep learning↗

Monitoring task loading with multivariate EEG measures during complex forms of human-computer interaction

Electroencephalographic (EEG) recordings were made while 16 participants performed versions of a personal-computer-based flight simulation task of low, moderate, or high difficulty. As task difficulty increased, frontal midline theta EEG activity increased and alpha band activity decreased. A participant-specific function that combined multiple EEG features to create a single load index was derived from a sample of each participant's data and then applied to new test data from that participant. Index values were computed for every 4 s of task data. Across participants, mean task load index values increased systematically with increasing task difficulty and differed significantly between the different task versions. Actual or potential applications of this research include the use of multivariate EEG-based methods to monitor task loading during naturalistic computer-based work.

NASA Discipline Space Human Factors↗

Visual Orientation in Unfamiliar Gravito-Inertial Environments

The goal of this project is to better understand the process of spatial orientation and navigation in unfamiliar gravito-inertial environments, and ultimately to use this new information to develop effective countermeasures against the orientation and navigation problems experienced by astronauts. How do we know our location, orientation, and motion of our body with respect to the external environment ? On earth, gravity provides a convenient "down" cue. Large body rotations normally occur only in a horizontal plane. In space, the gravitational down cue is absent. When astronauts roll or pitch upside down, they must recognize where things are around them by a process of mental rotation which involves three dimensions, rather than just one. While working in unfamiliar situations they occasionally misinterpret visual cues and experience striking "visual reorientation illusions" (VRIs), in which the walls, ceiling, and floors of the spacecraft exchange subjective identities. VRIs cause disorientation, reaching errors, trigger attacks of space motion sickness, and potentially complicate emergency escape. MIR crewmembers report that 3D relationships between modules - particularly those with different visual verticals - are difficult to visualize, and so navigating through the node that connects them is not instinctive. Crew members learn routes, but their apparent lack of survey knowledge is a concern should fire, power loss, or depressurization limit visibility. Anecdotally, experience in mockups, parabolic flight, neutral buoyancy and virtual reality (VR) simulators helps. However, no techniques have been developed to quantify individual differences in orientation and navigation abilities, or the effectiveness of preflight visual. orientation training. Our understanding of the underlying physiology - for example how our sense of place and orientation is neurally coded in three dimensions in the limbic system of the brain - is incomplete. During the 16 months that this human and animal research project has been underway, we have obtained several results that are not only of basic research interest, but which have practical implications for the architecture and layout of spacecraft interiors and for the development of astronaut spatial orientation training countermeasures.

Oman, Charles M.↗

Sensor Fault Detection in Smart Extraterrestrial Habitats Using Unsupervised Learning

Various types of sensors are needed to monitor the health state of smart deep-space habitats. However, measured data can be affected by sensor faults, which influence the health management system and consequently the decision-making. In this paper, an unsupervised learning approach based on convolutional autoencoders (CAEs) is developed to detect anomalies in temperature and pressure sensors. The proposed method is systematically investigated using a habitat simulator (HabSim). Several illustrative examples are demonstrated in the nominal and hazardous states of the habitat, including micrometeorite impact and fire scenarios. The performance of the proposed method using CAEs is compared with that of existing methods using auto-associative neural networks (AANNs) and variational autoencoders. This comparison is based on typical evaluation metrics, including precision, recall, F1 score, training time, and testing time. The effect of temperature–pressure coupling on the detection performance of CAEs and AANNs is explored by training different data-driven models, including one with temperature sensors, one with pressure sensors, and one with both temperature and pressure sensors. The effect of the number of faulty sensors on the performance of CAEs is studied, as with an increase in the number of faulty sensors, redundant information among the sensors is reduced. The capability of CAEs to change the number of sensors without redesigning the network architecture and retraining the neural network is investigated and demonstrated. The capabilities and limitations of the proposed solution are discussed.

Zixin Wang↗

Structured Covariance Gaussian Networks for Orion Crew Module Aerodynamic Uncertainty Quantification

In this paper we propose a new approach for nonlinear regression and uncertainty quantification. The method is based on a pair of neural networks which parameterize mean and dense covariance functions of a multivariate Gaussian process, trained together to maximize the log-likelihood of observing the given data. The covariance matrix is made positive definite at every input by construction. We also propose a sampling approach that produces viable surrogate function realizations from the Gaussian process. We call the proposed model a Structured Covariance Gaussian Network (SCGN). We illustrate the use of SCGNs for learning an aerodynamic response surface with built-in uncertainty for the Orion crew module. We find that SCGN provides an efficient and systematic way to learn nonlinear functional relationships and dense covariances. We compare results to a baseline Gaussian process regressor and observe that the SCGN provides comparable uncertainty descriptions with improved scalability to dataset size. The sample functions generated by SCGN are fast to evaluate online and are therefore convenient for use in trajectory simulations. These results suggest that SCGN may be a viable computational method for aerodynamic uncertainty quantification.

machine learning↗

Structured Covariance Gaussian Networks for Orion Crew Module Aerodynamic Uncertainty Quantification

In this paper we propose a new approach for nonlinear regression and uncertainty quantification. The method is based on a pair of neural networks which parameterize mean and dense covariance functions of a multivariate Gaussian process, trained together to maximize the log-likelihood of observing the given data. The covariance matrix is made positive definite at every input by construction. We also propose a sampling approach that produces viable surrogate function realizations from the Gaussian process. We call the proposed model a Structured Covariance Gaussian Network (SCGN). We illustrate the use of SCGNs for learning an aerodynamic response surface with built-in uncertainty for the Orion crew module. We find that SCGN provides an efficient and systematic way to learn nonlinear functional relationships and dense covariances. We compare results to a baseline Gaussian process regressor and observe that the SCGN provides comparable uncertainty descriptions with improved scalability to dataset size. The sample functions generated by SCGN are fast to evaluate online and are therefore convenient for use in trajectory simulations. These results suggest that SCGN may be a viable computational method for aerodynamic uncertainty quantification.

machine learning↗

Optomotor behaviour in Xenopus laevis tadpoles as a measure of the effect of gravity on visual and vestibular neural integration

The ability of aquatic vertebrates to maintain their position requires integration of visual and vestibular sensory information. To understand better how aquatic animals integrate such information, we measured the optomotor behaviour of Xenopus laevis tadpoles raised in growth chambers in microgravity (< 10(-3)g), normal gravity (1 g), hypergravity (3 g) and on a slowly rotating clinostat (simulated microgravity). The goal of this research was to determine how development in an altered gravitational force field affects the visual- and vestibular-dependent behaviour of tadpoles. This research represents the first time that the optomotor behaviour of an organism raised from fertilization in microgravity has been tested. Significant differences were observed in the optomotor behaviour among the four gravity treatments. When first exposed to normal gravity, the microgravity-raised tadpoles exhibited the strongest (or most positive) optomotor behaviour, while the 3 g centrifuge tadpoles showed no optomotor response. Some abnormal behaviours (such as erratic swimming, lying motionless and abnormal swimming posture) were observed in the tadpoles raised in altered gravity on the initial day of testing. One day later, the tadpoles raised in hypergravity did not differ significantly in their optomotor behaviour from control tadpoles raised in normal gravity. However, tadpoles raised in microgravity still displayed an exaggerated optomotor response. One week after the tadpoles had been introduced to normal gravity, there was no longer a significant difference in optomotor behaviour among the different gravity treatments. This convergence of optomotor behaviour by tadpoles from the different treatment reflects the acclimation of their vestibular systems to normal gravity.

NASA Discipline Developmental Biology↗

Development of Methodologies for IV and V of Neural Networks

Non-deterministic systems often rely upon neural network (NN) technology to "lean" to manage flight systems under controlled conditions using carefully chosen training sets. How can these adaptive systems be certified to ensure that they will become increasingly efficient and behave appropriately in real-time situations? The bulk of Independent Verification and Validation (IV&V) research of non-deterministic software control systems such as Adaptive Flight Controllers (AFC's) addresses NNs in well-behaved and constrained environments such as simulations and strict process control. However, neither substantive research, nor effective IV&V techniques have been found to address AFC's learning in real-time and adapting to live flight conditions. Adaptive flight control systems offer good extensibility into commercial aviation as well as military aviation and transportation. Consequently, this area of IV&V represents an area of growing interest and urgency. ISR proposes to further the current body of knowledge to meet two objectives: Research the current IV&V methods and assess where these methods may be applied toward a methodology for the V&V of Neural Network; and identify effective methods for IV&V of NNs that learn in real-time, including developing a prototype test bed for IV&V of AFC's. Currently. no practical method exists. lSR will meet these objectives through the tasks identified and described below. First, ISR will conduct a literature review of current IV&V technology. TO do this, ISR will collect the existing body of research on IV&V of non-deterministic systems and neural network. ISR will also develop the framework for disseminating this information through specialized training. This effort will focus on developing NASA's capability to conduct IV&V of neural network systems and to provide training to meet the increasing need for IV&V expertise in such systems.

Taylor, Brian↗

WNN 92; Proceedings of the 3rd Workshop on Neural Networks: Academic/Industrial/NASA/Defense, Auburn Univ., AL, Feb. 10-12, 1992 and South Shore Harbour, TX, Nov. 4-6, 1992

The present conference discusses such neural networks (NN) related topics as their current development status, NN architectures, NN learning rules, NN optimization methods, NN temporal models, NN control methods, NN pattern recognition systems and applications, biological and biomedical applications of NNs, VLSI design techniques for NNs, NN systems simulation, fuzzy logic, and genetic algorithms. Attention is given to missileborne integrated NNs, adaptive-mixture NNs, implementable learning rules, an NN simulator for travelling salesman problem solutions, similarity-based forecasting, NN control of hypersonic aircraft takeoff, NN control of the Space Shuttle Arm, an adaptive NN robot manipulator controller, a synthetic approach to digital filtering, NNs for speech analysis, adaptive spline networks, an anticipatory fuzzy logic controller, and encoding operations for fuzzy associative memories.

Padgett, Mary L.↗

On-Line Tracking Controller for Brushless DC Motor Drives Using Artificial Neural Networks

A real-time control architecture is developed for time-varying nonlinear brushless dc motors operating in a high performance drives environment. The developed control architecture possesses the capabilities of simultaneous on-line identification and control. The dynamics of the motor are modeled on-line and controlled using an artificial neural network, as the system runs. The control architecture combines the experience and dependability of adaptive tracking systems with potential and promise of the neural computing technology. The sensitivity of real-time controller to parametric changes that occur during training is investigated. Such changes are usually manifested by rapid changes in the load of the brushless motor drives. This sudden change in the external load is simulated for the sigmoidal and sinusoidal reference tracks. The ability of the neuro-controller to maintain reasonable tracking accuracy in the presence of external noise is also verified for a number of desired reference trajectories.

Rubaai, Ahmed↗

Effect of altered gravity on temperature regulation in mammals: Investigation of gravity effect on temperature regulation in mammals

Male, Long-Evans hooded rats were instrumented for monitoring core and hypothalamic temperatures as well as shivering and nonshivering thermogenesis in response to decreased ambient temperature in order to characterize the nature of the neural controller of temperature in rats at 1G and evaluate chronic implantation techniques for the monitoring of appropriate parameters at hypergravic fields. The thermoregulatory responses of cold-exposed rats at 2G were compared to those at 1G. A computer model was developed to simulate the thermoregulatory system in the rat. Observations at 1 and 2G were extended to acceleration fields of 1.5, 3.0 and 4.0G and the computer model was modified for application to altered gravity conditions. Changes in the acceleration field resulted in inadequate heat generation rather than increased heat loss. Acceleration appears to impair the ability of the neurocontroller to appropriately integrate input signals for body temperature maintenance.

Horwitz, B. A.↗

Towards Validation of an Adaptive Flight Control Simulation Using Statistical Emulation

Traditional validation of flight control systems is based primarily upon empirical testing. Empirical testing is sufficient for simple systems in which a.) the behavior is approximately linear and b.) humans are in-the-loop and responsible for off-nominal flight regimes. A different possible concept of operation is to use adaptive flight control systems with online learning neural networks (OLNNs) in combination with a human pilot for off-nominal flight behavior (such as when a plane has been damaged). Validating these systems is difficult because the controller is changing during the flight in a nonlinear way, and because the pilot and the control system have the potential to co-adapt in adverse ways traditional empirical methods are unlikely to provide any guarantees in this case. Additionally, the time it takes to find unsafe regions within the flight envelope using empirical testing means that the time between adaptive controller design iterations is large. This paper describes a new concept for validating adaptive control systems using methods based on Bayesian statistics. This validation framework allows the analyst to build nonlinear models with modal behavior, and to have an uncertainty estimate for the difference between the behaviors of the model and system under test.

He, Yuning↗

A dynamical model for reflex activated head movements in the horizontal plane

We present a controls systems model of horizontal-plane head movements during perturbations of the trunk, which for the first time interfaces a model of the human head with neural feedback controllers representing the vestibulocollic (VCR) and the cervicocollic (CCR) reflexes. This model is homeomorphic such that model structure and parameters are drawn directly from anthropomorphic, biomechanical and physiological studies. Using control theory we analyzed the system model in the time and frequency domains, simulating neck movement responses to input perturbations of the trunk. Without reflex control, the head and neck system produced a second-order underdamped response with a 5.2 dB resonant peak at 2.1 Hz. Adding the CCR component to the system dampened the response by approximately 7%. Adding the VCR component dampened head oscillations by 75%. The VCR also improved low-frequency compensation by increasing the gain and phase lag, creating a phase minimum at 0.1 Hz and a phase peak at 1.1 Hz. Combining all three components (mechanics, VCR and CCR) linearly in the head and neck system reduced the amplitude of the resonant peak to 1.1 dB and increased the resonant frequency to 2.9 Hz. The closed loop results closely fit human data, and explain quantitatively the characteristic phase peak often observed.

NASA Discipline Neuroscience↗

Oxidative Stress and Neuroconsequences of the Spaceflight Environment –A 5-ion GCRsim Dose-response Study

The overall scope of this project is to test the hypothesis that Ionizing Radiation (IR), microgravity and social isolation combine synergistically to trigger an oxidative stress response that alters immune homeostasis, brain structure/function, and neurobehavioral/cognitive performance. Specific Aims for this project are to: (1) Determine dose-response curves for acute ‘Five-Ion GCR Simulation’ exposure for immune, brain and performance responses in crew age-matched adult male and female mice; (2) Determine effects of acute ‘Five-Ion GCR Simulation’ exposure singly and in combination with simulated microgravity and social isolation, on immune, brain and performance responses in crew age-matched male and female mice mimicking deep space missions; and (3) Determine efficacy of the dietary antioxidant, Nicotinamide Mononucleotide (NMN), a key intermediate in nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) biosynthesis. Here we exposed mature (23-24-week-old) male and female mice to simulated 5-Ion GCR (either 0, 5, 15, or 50cGy) at the NASA Space Radiation Laboratory (NSRL). Across ‘Acute’ (IR+72hrs and IR+14 days) and ‘Delayed’ (IR+28 to IR+124 days) phases of the 6-month-long study, we assessed immune, neural, and functional (sensorimotor/behavioral/cognitive) responses anticipated during a transit to Mars. This presentation will report on dose-response curves for 5-ion GCRsim related to potential biomarkers; structural/functional changes in the immune and nervous systems; and behavioral/cognitive performance deficits. This project addresses NASA’s efforts to characterize risks and identify appropriate countermeasures in anticipation of future deep space missions. Ensuring crew health and performance during extended transits necessitates that sensorimotor and cognitive abilities remain strong to avoid potentially catastrophic health and safety outcomes.

deep space↗