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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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Conference paper explaining the new user interface and software design for the Pyomo.DoE and ParmEst packages. An example utilizing these packages will be presented, showcasing modeling capabilities, and capabilities for handling complex models that have been developed within the PrOMMiS and CCSI2 ecosystems.
Ridesharing allows people to share a vehicle with others traveling in the same direction, which can reduce costs and traffic congestion. Pooled rideshare (PR) services, such as UberX Share and Lyft Shared, offer an economical and environmentally friendly alternative by matching passengers traveling similar routes. However, despite these benefits, PR adoption remains low due to concerns about safety, privacy, and convenience. This research explores the factors influencing PR adoption and provides recommendations to improve user acceptance. A nationwide survey of 5,385 participants across the U.S. was conducted to understand why people choose or avoid PR. The study identified five key factors influencing PR consideration: safety, service experience, privacy, traffic/environment, and time/cost. Additional research examined ways to optimize PR experiences by identifying four critical factors: comfort/ease of use, convenience, vehicle technology/accessibility, and passenger safety. To measure the impact of these factors, a statistical model called the Pooled Rideshare Acceptance Model (PRAM) was developed, providing insights into how each element influences PR adoption. Further analysis using the Pooled Rideshare Acceptance Model Multigroup Analyses (PRAMMA) revealed how demographic characteristics such as age, gender, income, and past rideshare experience shape PR perceptions. Some key findings from the multigroup analyses showed that younger users valued technological features and environmental benefits, while older users prioritized reliability and service transparency. Additionally, privacy concerns were more significant for female users, while convenience was critical for higher-income groups. These results emphasize that a 'onesize-fits-all' approach to PR service design is not effective, highlighting the need for tailored strategies to address different user segments. Further, workshops were conducted with researchers and students to translate the findings into real-world solutions. These workshops and 3 all the statistical analyses led to the development of 95 actionable recommendations. The recommendations focus on key areas such as safety, service reliability, user education, and accessibility, offering tangible improvements to PR services. The insights from this study provide valuable guidance for policymakers, transportation network companies (TNCs), and researchers aiming to make PR services safer, more accessible, and widely accepted. By addressing user concerns, PR can become a more viable transportation option, supporting sustainable urban mobility and reducing reliance on private vehicles. Additionally, these findings emphasize the importance of user-centric service design in encouraging broader PR adoption. Future research should explore evolving trends in PR preferences, technological advancements, and policy changes to ensure continued improvements. By implementing these recommendations, PR services can better align with user expectations, enhance trust in shared mobility, and contribute to a more efficient transportation ecosystem.
Conference proceedings are represented in graphic visual-aid form. Presentation and panel discussion topics include user experiences with C++ and Ada; the design and interaction of the user interface; the history and goals of TAE; commercialization and testing of TAE Plus; Computer-Human Interaction Models (CHIMES); data driven objects; item-to-item connections and object dependencies; and integration with other software. There follows a list of conference attendees.
This report documents a Seedling project supported by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Water Power Technologies Office (WPTO), conducted by Argonne National Laboratory (ANL) and the National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR). The Seedling and Sapling Program provides small grants over short duration to enable early-stage research at national laboratories. This funding mechanism is intended to cultivate innovative ideas and expand research road maps in hydropower and marine energy technologies. Under this Seedling award, the project team developed an educational outreach tool, or “serious game”, built in Python and powered by the Pygame library, aimed at teaching fundamental hydropower concepts through an engaging, interactive learning experience. The game features multiple lessons covering several hydropower topics while allowing for expansion and customization in the instance of future funding availability: • Hydropower Plant Types: Players explore and compare the mechanics and applications of run-of-river, dam hydropower, and pumped-storage hydropower. • Flow Dynamics and Power Generation: Interactive tasks demonstrate how release rate and hydraulic head combine to determine power output. • Grid Operations and Load Following: Simulations illustrate how hydropower facilities respond to fluctuating electricity demand to balance the grid. • Market Integration: Levels scaffold understanding of how hydropower interfaces with the broader energy market, including operational and economic considerations. The tool was showcased at several science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) outreach events, where it was demoed to students, educators, and the general public. These events provided valuable opportunities to collect feedback on the gameplay, storyline, and educational objectives from a wide audience. The game was presented at STEMapalooza, Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day, STEMCON, and Clean Currents 2025. Insights gathered during these demonstrations informed refinements to the game’s user experience and strengthened its effectiveness as an educational tool for teaching hydropower concepts. This report outlines the game’s design philosophy, educational objectives, technical implementation, user experience insights, and potential for broader deployment within educational and workforce development contexts. It emphasizes how gamified learning can demystify complex hydropower science and inspire interest in water-power technologies. The project’s success demonstrates the value of Seedling funding in fostering creative, lowcost educational tools that support DOE’s mission to advance energy literacy and innovation. The report concludes with recommendations for expanding the tool by adding new levels, integrating assessment metrics, and exploring commercialization or deployment pathways through future Sapling funding. The official webpage of the Hydropower Game, which includes a link to the educational tool, can be accessed at www.anl.gov/hydropower/hydropower-game.
This report presents a usability evaluation of NASA’s Open Science 101 (OS101) interface. It offers design recommendations for improving the user experience (UX) and user interface (UI) of the initial self-paced OS101 release. The author initially conducted an independent heuristic evaluation, followed by an analysis of written user feedback to corroborate findings. Overall, the usability evaluation found that the OS101 interface offers a linear and interactive UX, with areas for improvement across five major, three minor, and two cosmetic aspects of usability.
Experiment computer application software (ECAS) display design and command usage guidelines were developed, which if followed by spacelab experiments, would standardize methods and techniques for data presentation and commanding via ECAS. These guidelines would provide some commonality among experiments which would enhance crew training and flight operations. The guidelines are applicable to all onboard experiment displays, whether allocated by ECAS or a dedicated experiment processor. A brief description of the spacelab data display system characteristics and of the services provided by the experiment computer operating system is included. Guidelines concerning data presentation and layout of alphanumeric and graphic information are presented along with guidelines concerning keyboard commanding and command feedback.
The Fluids and Combustion Facility (FCF) is a multi-rack payload planned for the International Space Station (ISS) that will enable the study of fluid physics and combustion science in a microgravity environment. The Combustion Integrated Rack (CIR) is one of two International Standard Payload Racks of the FCF and is being designed primarily to support combustion science experiments. The Multi-user Droplet Combustion Apparatus (MDCA) is a multi-user apparatus designed to accommodate four different droplet combustion science experiments and is the first payload for CIR. The CIR will function independently until the later launch of the Fluids Integrated Rack component of the FCF. This paper provides an overview of the capabilities and the development status of the CIR and MDCA.
New developments in automated optimal experimental design within the PSE+ software ecosystem. Advancements in user experience (to reduce the time taken to perform optimal experiment design) and computational capabilities (allowing more diverse experimental design) are shown with an example relevant to critical minerals and materials. Also, a small tutorial on science-based optimal experimental design and novel contributions therein are presented.
The paper discusses the Point-Focusing Thermal and Electric Applications Project which encompasses three primary activities: (1) applications analysis and development, in which potential markets for small power systems (less than 10 MWe) are identified and characterized in order to provide requirements for design and information for activities relating to market development; (2) systems engineering and development, for analyses that will define the most appropriate small power system designs based on specific user requirements; and (3) experiment implementation and test, which deals with the design and placement of engineering experiments in various applications environments in order to test the readiness of the selected technology in an operational setting. Progress to date and/or key results are discussed throughout the text.
The Data Collection System flown on the first Earth Resources Technology Satellite (ERTS-1) relays earth resources data from remotely located in-situ sensors to Goddard Space Flight Center. Data is received at Goddard at least twice each day from every sensor installation and is distributed to users (who operate the sensors and transmitters) by mail and teletype. The system consists of a data formatting and transmitting unit, called the Data Collection Platform (DCP), a receiver and a retransmitter aboard ERTS-1; and receiving, demodulating and decoding equipment located at the Goldstone, California and Goddard data acquisition stations. Data is transmitted from the data acquisition stations to the ERTS Control Center at Goddard, then to the NASA (ERTS) Data Processing Facility (NDPF) where it is processed and distributed to users. Experience to date indicates that the design of the ERTS-1 Data Collection System is adequate for operational use for 50% of the users and, with minor modifications, could meet the requirements of 75%. Some users will have to augment the system by other data collection techniques to meet their operational requirements.
As more remote sensing data moves to the cloud, the design tools we use to build user experiences and visualizations need to change and adapt to make the best use this new data reality. EUI 2.0, the next major iteration of the Earthdata User Interface Library, aims to make creating rich user experiences around NASA's Earth Observation System Data and Information System (EOSDIS) data easy and user-friendly. Building on a solid framework of design components, EUI 2.0 will be open source and have off-the-shelf integration with the Common Metadata Repository (CMR), basic mapping and visualization tools, a refreshed design toolkit for building apps and websites that fit the Earthdata design theme and guidelines. EUI 2.0 will allow for the rapid development of websites and applications based on EOSDIS tools and data holdings. It will also make use of cloud data availability to enable data visualization and analysis without the need to download and sync data.
Designing software is a complex process. How object-oriented design (OOD), coupled with formalized documentation and tailored object diagraming techniques, can reduce the complexity of the software design process is described and illustrated. The described OOD methodology uses a hierarchical decomposition approach in which parent objects are decomposed into layers of lower level child objects. A method of tracking the assignment of requirements to design components is also included. Increases in the reusability, portability, and maintainability of the resulting products are also discussed. This method was built on a combination of existing technology, teaching experience, consulting experience, and feedback from design method users. The discussed concepts are applicable to hierarchal OOD processes in general. Emphasis is placed on improving the design process by documenting the details of the procedures involved and incorporating improvements into those procedures as they are developed.
The SynGenics Optimization System (SynOptSys) software application optimizes a product with respect to multiple, competing criteria using statistical Design of Experiments, Response-Surface Methodology, and the Desirability Optimization Methodology. The user is not required to be skilled in the underlying math; thus, SynOptSys can help designers and product developers overcome the barriers that prevent them from using powerful techniques to develop better pro ducts in a less costly manner. SynOpt-Sys is applicable to the design of any product or process with multiple criteria to meet, and at least two factors that influence achievement of those criteria. The user begins with a selected solution principle or system concept and a set of criteria that needs to be satisfied. The criteria may be expressed in terms of documented desirements or defined responses that the future system needs to achieve. Documented desirements can be imported into SynOptSys or created and documented directly within SynOptSys. Subsequent steps include identifying factors, specifying model order for each response, designing the experiment, running the experiment and gathering the data, analyzing the results, and determining the specifications for the optimized system. The user may also enter textual information as the project progresses. Data is easily edited within SynOptSys, and the software design enables full traceability within any step in the process, and facilitates reporting as needed. SynOptSys is unique in the way responses are defined and the nuances of the goodness associated with changes in response values for each of the responses of interest. The Desirability Optimization Methodology provides the basis of this novel feature. Moreover, this is a complete, guided design and optimization process tool with embedded math that can remain invisible to the user. It is not a standalone statistical program; it is a design and optimization system.
The definition of proposed research addressing the development and validation of a methodology for the design and evaluation of user interfaces for interactive information systems is given. The major objectives of this research are: the development of a comprehensive, objective, and generalizable methodology for the design and evaluation of user interfaces for information systems; the development of equations and/or analytical models to characterize user behavior and the performance of a designed interface; the design of a prototype system for the development and administration of user interfaces; and the design and use of controlled experiments to support the research and test/validate the proposed methodology. The proposed design methodology views the user interface as a virtual machine composed of three layers: an interactive layer, a dialogue manager layer, and an application interface layer. A command language model of user system interactions is presented because of its inherent simplicity and structured approach based on interaction events. All interaction events have a common structure based on common generic elements necessary for a successful dialogue. It is shown that, using this model, various types of interfaces could be designed and implemented to accommodate various categories of users. The implementation methodology is discussed in terms of how to store and organize the information.
Rapid Aero Modeling (RAM) applied to computational testing, RAM-C, is an approach to efficiently and automatically obtain aerodynamic models during computational investigations. RAM-C is designed to estimate models appropriate for flight dynamics studies and simulations. The approach responds to a demand for experimental efficiency and model fidelity that has increased with growing aircraft complexity and aerodynamic nonlinearities associated with hybrid and electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. In an Urban Air Mobility (UAM) transportation system, it is expected that aircraft will embrace many features from both airplanes and rotorcraft. These vehicles present many more factors than conventional aircraft which can lead to increased computational costs and missed key factor interactions when applying traditional testing and modeling methods. RAM-C provides feedback loops around computational codes to rapidly guide testing toward aerodynamic models meeting user-defined fidelity goals. It combines and extends concepts from design of experiment theory and aircraft system identification theory that allow the user the freedom to choose, in advance of the test, a specific level of fidelity in terms of prediction error. RAM-C only collects enough data required to meet the user-specified prediction error requirements thus saving computational time and resources. The overall achievable fidelity of the final model also depends on the accuracy of the test facility, or in this case, the computational modeling approach. Previous studies to support development of the RAM-T process were conducted in wind tunnel tests to assess potential metrics, algorithms, and procedures. This paper presents results from the next steps taken and tests conducted for the development of RAM-C technology and highlights some of the unique features of RAM applied eVTOL configurations in a computational study.
Wave energy converters are a nascent energy generation technology that harnesses the power in ocean waves. To assist in communicating both fundamental and complex concepts of wave energy, a small-scale portable wave tank and wave energy converter have been developed. The system has been designed using commercial off-the-shelf components, and all design hardware and software are openly available for replication. This project builds on prior research conducted at Sandia National Laboratories, particularly in the areas of WEC device design and control systems. By showcasing the principles of causal feedback control and innovative device design, SIWEED not only serves as a practical demonstration tool but also enhances the educational experience for users. This paper presents the detailed system design of this tool. Furthermore, via testing and analysis, we demonstrate the basic functionality of the system.
The Vehicles Implementation Project (VIP), a knowledge-based design aid for the engineering of space systems is described. VIP combines qualitative knowledge in the form of rules, quantitative knowledge in the form of equations, and other mathematical modeling tools. The system allows users rapidly to develop and experiment with models of spacecraft system designs. As information becomes available to the system, appropriate equations are solved symbolically and the results are displayed. Users may browse through the system, observing dependencies and the effects of altering specific parameters. The system can also suggest approaches to the derivation of specific parameter values. In addition to providing a tool for the development of specific designs, VIP aims at increasing the user's understanding of the design process. Users may rapidly examine the sensitivity of a given parameter to others in the system and perform tradeoffs or optimizations of specific parameters. A second major goal of VIP is to integrate the existing corporate knowledge base of models and rules into a central, symbolic form.
This paper describes an experiment designed to compare the use of paper strips with the use of a new user interface, the Ramp Traffic Console (RTC), designed for use by ramp controllers to be used in place of paper strips. A Human-In-the-Loop (HITL) experiment was performed as the fifth study in a series of six HITL simulation experiments designed to evaluate a concept that provided advisories to the users. The RTC was designed to be used as a Decision Support Tool (DST) that provided advisories to ramp controllers regarding metering or pushback such that most of the delay was taken at the gate to save fuel and emissions. In addition to being a DST, an added benefit of the RTC is that it can provide real-time updates of flight data, airport and airspace status to the controller including Traffic Management Initiatives (TMI). The RTC was designed as new user interface that displays virtual strips on a terminal map drawn on a 27-inch touch screen monitor. The RTC was used in some conditions of the experiment by ramp controllers in place of paper strips and paper maps in the HITL environment. In other conditions the controllers were given paper strips and paper maps similar to what they currently use at Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT). The study described here, evaluated the use of the virtual strips displayed on the RTC as compared to the use of paper strips and paper map, using current ramp tower controllers at CLT as participants. The research question being asked was - How does management of ramp traffic affect user workload and usability ratings while using RTC to manage traffic in the ramp verses using paper strips? Workload for our purposes is defined by four components of the NASA-TLX (Task Load Index). Usability was assessed with two sets of usability questions - One set of usability questions addressed traffic management performance and the other set addressed issues of resources and efficiency. Both Post Run and Post Study questionnaire responses were gathered and the results were analyzed to assess controller workload and usability ratings under both conditions, virtual strips shown on RTC and Paper Strips. The results indicate that controllers perceived lower workload while using virtual strips displayed on RTC to manage ramp traffic. Usability ratings for Traffic management performance questions are lower in the virtual strip/RTC condition than in the paper strip condition showing a preference for RTC over Paper. Usability ratings for Resources and efficiency questions show mixed results. Additionally, the Post Study Questions show preference for RTC over paper strips. Results of this data analysis will be presented in this paper. This DST evaluation was an important step in researching and improving the tool, which was planned to be deployed in the field.