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At least 37 records · Page 2

Flight test evaluation of a video tracker for enhanced offshore airborne radar approach capability

As a part of NASA's Rotorcraft All-Weather Operations Research Program, advanced airborne radar approach (ARA) concepts are being investigated. Since data from previous NASA/FAA flight tests showed significant ARA limitations, a research program was initiated at NASA Ames Research Center to determine the benefit that could be derived by automating certain radar functions and superimposing course display data on the radar display. To evaluate these concepts, a newly developed video tracking system which interfaces with weather radar was acquired. After the pilot designates a destination target, the system tracks the target video as it moves on the radar indicator. Using a small, efficient microprocessor, the autotracker presents valuable approach data on the radar screen and automatically adjusts the radar gain and tilt. Results of a limited flight test evaluation of the autotracker show that the course display concept, combined with automated gain and tilt functions, is effective for improving ARA's and reducing radar operator workload.

Clary, G. R.↗

Hydra Rendezvous and Docking Sensor

The U.S. technology to support a CEV AR&D activity is mature and was developed by NASA and supporting industry during an extensive research and development program conducted during the 1990's and early 2000 time frame at the Marshall Space Flight Center. Development and demonstration of a rendezvous/docking sensor was identified early in the AR&D Program as the critical enabling technology that allows automated proxin~ity operations and docking. A first generation rendezvous/docking sensor, the Video Guidance Sensor (VGS) was developed and successfully flown on STS 87 and again on STS 95, proving the concept of a video-based sensor. Advances in both video and signal processing technologies and the lessons learned from the two successful flight experiments provided a baseline for the development of a new generation of video based rendezvous/docking sensor. The Advanced Video Guidance Sensor (AVGS) has greatly increased performance and additional capability for longer-range operation. A Demonstration Automatic Rendezvous Technology (DART) flight experiment was flown in April 2005 using AVGS as the primary proximity operations sensor. Because of the absence of a docking mechanism on the target satellite, this mission did not demonstrate the ability of the sensor to co~ltrold ocking. Mission results indicate that the rendezvous sensor operated successfully in "spot mode" (2 km acquisition of the target, bearing data only) but was never commanded to "acquire and track" the docking target. Parts obsolescence issues prevent the construction of current design AVGS units to support the NASA Exploration initiative. This flight proven AR&D technology is being modularized and upgraded with additional capabilities through the Hydra project at the Marshall Space Flight Center. Hydra brings a unique engineering approach and sensor architecture to the table, to solve the continuing issues of parts obsolescence and multiple sensor integration. This paper presents an approach to sensor hardware trades, to address the needs of future vehicles that may rendezvous and dock with the International Space Station (ISS). It will also discuss approaches for upgrading AVGS to address parts obsolescence, and concepts for modularizing the sensor to provide configuration flexibility for multiple vehicle applications. Options for complementary sensors to be integrated into the multi-head Hydra system will also be presented. Complementary sensor options include ULTOR, a digital image correlator system that could provide relative six-degree-of-freedom information independently from AVGS, and time-of-flight sensors, which determine the range between vehicles by timing pulses that travel from the sensor to the target and back. Common targets and integrated targets, suitable for use with the multi-sensor options in Hydra, will also be addressed.

Roe, Fred↗

Successful Development of an Automated Rendezvous and Capture System

During the 1990's, the Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) conducted pioneering research in the development of an automated rendezvous and capture/docking system for U.S. space vehicles. Development and demonstration of a rendezvous sensor was identified early in the AR&C Program as the critical enabling technology that allows automated proximity operations and docking. A first generation rendezvous sensor, the Video Guidance Sensor (VGS) was developed and successfully flown on STS 87 and again on STS 95, proving the concept of a video-based sensor. Advances in both video and signal processing technologies and the lessons learned from the two successful flight experiments provided a baseline for the development, by the MSFC, of a new generation of video based rendezvous sensor. The Advanced Video Guidance Sensor (AVGS) has greatly increased performance and additional capability for longer-range operation with a new Target designed as a direct replacement for existing ISS hemispherical reflectors. A ground demonstration of the entire system and software was successfully tested.

Roe, Fred D.↗

Design Thinking for the Applied Sciences: Developing a Novel Approach to Encourage the Use of Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) and Open Source Tools for Forest Monitoring

Earth observations from Synthetic Aperture Radar, or SAR, have yet to be fully leveraged for forest monitoring applications. While SAR sensors are uniquely able to capture components of forest structure over optical imagery, especially in cloud-heavy regions, there is a shortage of freely-available applied training materials and related case studies. With the wealth of available datasets from Sentinel-1 and other missions, such as ALOS-Palsar open historical archive, and in preparation for upcoming opendata policy SAR missions (e.g. NISAR and BIOMASS), the applied forestry community would benefit from increased access to relevant, understandable SAR training materials. This work documents lessons learned and best practices for creating EO capacity building/training materials gleaned from the SAR Handbook project. Strategies for increasing legibility for both print and online applications, illustration and editing guidelines for original and modified figures, and the development of quick-reference guides will be shared. Additionally, the conception and use of companion “explainer” videos, using cartoon characters and humor to outline relevant SAR concepts will be explored. Preliminary results indicate the SAR Handbook and supplemental project materials are already having an impact in training sessions. Increased uptake of SAR technologies in SERVIR Hub regions, where Hubs are leading follow-on SAR trainings, has also been noted. In addition, a review of download statistics from the SERVIR global website indicates widespread worldwide access. We conclude similar holistic approaches integrating design concepts into future content development would help increase uptake of EO applications by the earth science community.

Kucera, Leah M.↗

Development and Testing of Harpoon-Based Approaches for Collecting Comet Samples (Video Supplement)

This video supplement contains a set of videos created during the approximately 10-year-long course of developing and testing the Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) harpoon-based approach for collecting comet samples. The purpose of the videos is to illustrate various design concepts used in this method of acquiring samples of comet material, the testing used to verify the concepts, and the evolution of designs and testing. To play the videos this PDF needs to be opened in the freeware Adobe Reader. They do not seem to play while within a browser. While this supplement can be used as a stand-alone document, it is intended to augment its parent document of the same title, Development and Testing of Harpoon-Based Approaches for Collecting Comet Samples (NASA/CR-2017-219018; this document is accessible from the website: https://ssed.gsfc.nasa.gov/harpoon/SAS_Paper-V1.pdf). The parent document, which only contains text and figures, describes the overall development and testing effort and contains references to each of the videos in this supplement. Thus, the videos are primarily intended to augment the information provided by the text and figures in the parent document. This approach was followed to allow the file size of the parent document to remain small enough to facilitate downloading and storage. Some of the videos were created by other organizations, Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (JHU APL) and the German Aerospace Center called, the Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt (DLR), who are partnering with GSFC on developing this technology. Each video is accompanied by text that provides a summary description of its nature and purpose, as well as the identity of the authors. All videos have been edited to only show key parts of the testing. Although not all videos have sound, the sound has been retained in those that have it. Also, each video has been given one or more title screens to clarify what is going in different phases of the video.

Purves, Lloyd↗

Field Science Ethnography: Methods For Systematic Observation on an Expedition

The Haughton-Mars expedition is a multidisciplinary project, exploring an impact crater in an extreme environment to determine how people might live and work on Mars. The expedition seeks to understand and field test Mars facilities, crew roles, operations, and computer tools. I combine an ethnographic approach to establish a baseline understanding of how scientists prefer to live and work when relatively unemcumbered, with a participatory design approach of experimenting with procedures and tools in the context of use. This paper focuses on field methods for systematically recording and analyzing the expedition's activities. Systematic photography and time-lapse video are combined with concept mapping to organize and present information. This hybrid approach is generally applicable to the study of modern field expeditions having a dozen or more multidisciplinary participants, spread over a large terrain during multiple field seasons.

Clancey, William J.↗

Leveraging the Power of SAR Observations for Forest Monitoring Systems

Earth observations from Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) can provide unique information related to forest structure and condition. Despite the many advantages of SAR, particularly where clouds impede optical observations, a knowledge gap has prevented the applied remote sensing community from harnessing its full potential. Here, we discuss the results of a collaboration between SERVIR, a joint program between NASA and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), and SilvaCarbon, the United States’ contribution to the Global Forest Observation Initiative, to build global capacity in using SAR for forest monitoring and biomass estimation. This includes primarily the creation of 1) The SAR Handbook: Comprehensive Methodologies for Forest Monitoring and Biomass Estimation, 2) a series of international hands-on trainings and training materials, 3) quick-reference guides illustrating SAR concepts, and 4) animated videos explaining how SAR works. The SERVIR-Global community joined efforts to develop a hands-on guide to support decision-makers in the forestry community to leverage the power of SAR technology to better protect and manage forest resources. We worked with world-renowned SAR experts to provide targeted trainings and develop the SAR Handbook. This handbook consists of approachable theoretical background and applied content that contributes to filling the knowledge gap in the applied use of SAR technology for forestry applications. We hope that forest managers and remote sensing specialists will use these materials to benefit from currently available SAR datasets, as well as prepare for future SAR missions, such as NISAR and BIOMASS. Since its release on April 11, 2019, the SAR Handbook has been accessed more than 100,000 times in less than a month, demonstrating the remote sensing community’s urgent need and interest to learn and use SAR.

Herndon, Kelsey E.↗

Leveraging the Power of SAR Observations for Forest Monitoring Systems

Earth observations from Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) can provide unique information related to forest structure and condition. Despite the many advantages of SAR, particularly where clouds impede optical observations, a knowledge gap has prevented the applied remote sensing community from harnessing its full potential. Here, we discuss the results of a collaboration between SERVIR, a joint program between NASA and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), and SilvaCarbon, the United States' contribution to the Global Forest Observation Initiative, to build global capacity in using SAR for forest monitoring and biomass estimation. This includes primarily the creation of 1) The SAR Handbook: Comprehensive Methodologies for Forest Monitoring and Biomass Estimation, 2) a series of international hands-on trainings and training materials, 3) quick-reference guides illustrating SAR concepts, and 4) animated videos explaining how SAR works. The SERVIR-Global community joined efforts to develop a hands-on guide to support decision-makers in the forestry community to leverage the power of SAR technology to better protect and manage forest resources. We worked with world-renowned SAR experts to provide targeted trainings and develop the SAR Handbook. This handbook consists of approachable theoretical background and applied content that contributes to filling the knowledge gap in the applied use of SAR technology for forestry applications. We hope that forest managers and remote sensing specialists will use these materials to benefit from currently available SAR datasets, as well as prepare for future SAR missions, such as NISAR and BIOMASS. Since its release on April 11, 2019, the SAR Handbook has been accessed more than 100,000 times in less than a month, demonstrating the remote sensing community's urgent need and interest to learn and use SAR.

Herndon, Kelsey E.↗

Conveying International Space Station Science

Over 1,000 experiments have been completed, and others are being conducted and planed on the International Space Station (ISS). In order to make the information on these experiments accessible, the IGOAL develops mobile applications to easily access this content and video products to convey high level concepts. This presentation will feature the Space Station Research Explorer as well as several publicly available video examples.

Goza, Sharon P.↗

The interactive digital video interface

A frequent complaint in the computer oriented trade journals is that current hardware technology is progressing so quickly that software developers cannot keep up. A example of this phenomenon can be seen in the field of microcomputer graphics. To exploit the advantages of new mechanisms of information storage and retrieval, new approaches must be made towards incorporating existing programs as well as developing entirely new applications. A particular area of need is the correlation of discrete image elements to textural information. The interactive digital video (IDV) interface embodies a new concept in software design which addresses these needs. The IDV interface is a patented device and language independent process for identifying image features on a digital video display and which allows a number of different processes to be keyed to that identification. Its capabilities include the correlation of discrete image elements to relevant text information and the correlation of these image features to other images as well as to program control mechanisms. Sophisticated interrelationships can be set up between images, text, and program control mechanisms.

Doyle, Michael D.↗

Sensory, Decision and Control Systems: April to July 1966

The quarter reported here for the NASA contract, and the longer period reported for the Air Force contract, saw the development of two system concepts for the transmission of video data from a remote location to Earth. In the simpler system, a stereoscopic outline together with other data such as reflectance and possibly the texture of objects will be transmitted to Earth. The objects considered are those larger than a predetermined size and within a predetermined range. From the stereoscopic outlines presented to the operator on Earth he will decide what objects he would like pictured in full TV frames and order these transmitted. In the more elaborate system, TV cameras will be carried on a vehicle and the direction in which the vehicle moves will be chosen by an onboard decision computer. Perceptual decisions may also be made to identify objects whose characteristics have been reported to Earth and whose value to the Earth observer has been communicated back to the perceptual computer. The assembly of cameras, perceptual computer, decision computer and vehicle is called a robot. Photosensors for this robot are television cameras, the first models of which have been tested under computer control. A model of both the perceptual computer and the decision computer has been simulated. It consists of 12 modules, each of which makes an initial guess as to what the response to incoming data should be. Each takes the data from all other modules and combines it in a nonlinear fashion with the data coming directly into it to arrive at a mixed guess as to what act should be performed. When 60% of the modules vote 0. 5 probability for one act, that act is performed. Convergence to a satisfactory decision took from 5 to 25 time steps. The model of the frog's retina previously reported is here extended to that part of the brain, called the tectum, where the frog begins to respond to objects detected by the retina.

Control system↗

Low-Noise Charge-Coupled Device

Same quantity measured many times to reduce uncertainty. "Skipper" charge-coupled device (CCD) underlines development of new class of imaging detectors exhibiting exceptionally low readout noise. Operates on nondestructive-readout scheme combined with other advances in CCD technology to reduce average readout noise to less than 1 electron rms. Concept has potential for improving video images made at ultra-low light levels, involving only few incoming photons per picture element (pixel).

Janesick, James R.↗

FeatherSail--Design, Development and Future Impact

This CD contains the slide presentation and a brief video of the solar sail concept. Solar Sailing is a method of space flight propulsion, which utilizes the light photons to propel spacecrafts through the vacuum of space. The goal of the FeatherSail project is to create a sail vehicle with the ability to provide steering from the sails and increase the areal density.

Alhorn, Dean C.↗

Utah FORGE 7-3639: Design and Implementation of a Novel Multi-Frac Stimulation Concept - 2024 Annual Workshop Presentation

This is a presentation on the Design and Implementation of a Novel Multi-Frac Stimulation Concept by The University of Oklahoma, presented by Ahmad Ghassemi. This slide presentation video discusses the design and implementation of a reservoir stimulation concept improving near-wellbore and well-to-well conductivity while enhancing the SRV and promoting self-propping and heat exchange. This presentation was featured in the Utah FORGE R&D Annual Workshop on August 13-15, 2024.

15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY↗

An airborne system for vortex flow visualization on the F-18 high-alpha research vehicle

A flow visualization system for the F-18 high-alpha research vehicle is described which allows direct observation of the separated vortex flows over a wide range of flight conditions. The system consists of a smoke generator system, on-board photographic and video systems, and instrumentation. In the present concept, smoke is entrained into the low-pressure vortex core, and vortice breakdown is indicated by a rapid diffusion of the smoke. The resulting pattern is observed using photographic and video images and is correlated with measured flight conditions.

Curry, Robert E.↗

House Advantage or House of Cards? Stacking the Deck for Data Videos Leads to Null Results: Preprint

Videos are becoming a ubiquitous means of sharing information on social media platforms. In response, data videos - short clips combining visualization with dynamic storytelling, audio descriptions, and spatial referencing - have gained popularity for communicating data. These affordances suggest that data videos might communicate data patterns, trends, and concepts more effectively than static visualizations, enhancing comprehension. However, existing research has not systematically tested this claim. To address this gap, we conducted three controlled studies to measure comprehension differences between data videos and static visualizations. Despite leveraging visual cues and audio explanations, no data video led to significantly better comprehension than an analogous static visualization. Our results suggest data videos are not categorically better and that future research should examine the tradeoffs between their engagement benefits and costs.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

The Role of Game Based Learning in the Health Literacy of African American Adolescent Males

Twenty-first century literacy is more than being able to encode for spelling ability, decode for reading comprehension, and calculate for numeric reasoning. It demands the skills to negotiate the world of technology. Health literacy is lower than general literacy, and general literacy is lower among African American males than the overall population. The authors discuss the prospects of incorporating Game Based Learning approaches into strategies for teaching health literacy. Results of a survey administered to youth to determine their level of involvement in video game playing indicate that key elements must be in place to ensure that a game will be played. These include action, strategy, and entertainment. Future investigation will examine the knowledge level of African American adolescent males of the nexus of certain concepts of climate change and health literacy. Climate change has significant implications for human health. This understanding will produce a scientifically based foundation for curricular and instructional decisions that include GBL. Results of this study will be used to design a video game concept and will contribute to the body of knowledge concerning environmental justice and empower individuals to make informed decisions about their own health and those they influence.

Connell, Judith↗