Engineering Papers⌕ Search

SEARCH · Engineering Papers

Results for “Translation operations”

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 541 records · Page 30
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS2014

Enhanced International Space Station Ku-Band Telemetry Service

The International Space Station (ISS) is in an operational configuration. To fully utilize the ISS and take advantage of the modern protocols and updated Ku-band access, the Huntsville Operations Support Center (HOSC) has designed an approach to extend the Kuband forward link access for payload investigators to their on-orbit payloads. This dramatically increases the ground to ISS communications for those users. This access also enables the ISS flight controllers operating in the Payload Operations and Integration Center to have more direct control over the systems they are responsible for managing and operating. To extend the Ku-band forward link to the payload user community the development of a new command server is necessary. The HOSC subsystems were updated to process the Internet Protocol Encapsulated packets, enable users to use the service based on their approved services, and perform network address translation to insure that the packets are forwarded from the user to the correct payload repeating that process in reverse from ISS to the payload user. This paper presents the architecture, implementation, and lessons learned. This will include the integration of COTS hardware and software as well as how the device is incorporated into the operational mission of the ISS. Thus, this paper also discusses how this technology can be applicable to payload users of the ISS.

Cecil, Andrew J.↗
NASA NTRS2002

Science Goal Driven Observing and Spacecraft Autonomy

Spacecraft autonomy will be an integral part of mission operations in the coming decade. While recent missions have made great strides in the ability to autonomously monitor and react to changing health and physical status of spacecraft, little progress has been made in responding quickly to science driven events. For observations of inherently variable targets and targets of opportunity, the ability to recognize early if an observation will meet the science goals of a program, and react accordingly, can have a major positive impact on the overall scientific returns of an observatory and on its operational costs. If the onboard software can reprioritize the schedule to focus on alternate targets, discard uninteresting observations prior to downloading, or download a subset of observations at a reduced resolution, the spacecraft's overall efficiency will be dramatically increased. The science goal monitoring (SGM) system is a proof-of-concept effort to address the above challenge. The SGM will have an interface to help capture higher level science goals from the scientists and translate them into a flexible observing strategy that SGM can execute and monitor. We are developing an interactive distributed system that will use on-board processing and storage combined with event-driven interfaces with ground-based processing and operations, to enable fast re-prioritization of observing schedules, and to minimize time spent on non-optimized observations.

Koratkar, Amuradha↗
NASA NTRS2002

Science Goal Driven Observing and Spacecraft Autonomy

Spacecraft autonomy will be an integral part of mission operations in the coming decade. While recent missions have made great strides in the ability to autonomously monitor and react to changing health and physical status of spacecraft, little progress has been made in responding quickly to science driven events. For observations of inherently variable targets and targets of opportunity, the ability to recognize early if an observation will meet the science goals of a program, and react accordingly, can have a major positive impact on the overall scientific returns of an observatory and on its operational costs. If the onboard software can reprioritize the schedule to focus on alternate targets, discard uninteresting observations prior to downloading, or download a subset of observations at a reduced resolution, the spacecraft's overall efficiency will be dramatically increased. The science goal monitoring (SGM) system is a proof- of-concept effort to address the above challenge. The SGM will have an interface to help capture higher-level science goals from the scientists and translate them into a flexible observing strategy that SGM can execute and monitor. We are developing an interactive distributed system that will use on-board processing and storage combined with event-driven interfaces with ground-based processing and operations, to enable fast re-prioritization of observing schedules, and to minimize time spent on non-optimized observations. This paper will focus on our strategy for developing SGM and the technical challenges that we have encountered. We will discuss the SGM architecture as it applies to the proposed MIDEX-class mission Kronos. However, the architecture and interfaces will also be designed for easy adaptability to other observing platforms, including ground-based systems and to work with different scheduling and pipeline processing systems.

Jones, Jeremy↗
NASA NTRS1993

Evolution of catalytic function

An RNA-based evolution system was constructed in the laboratory and used to develop RNA enzymes with novel catalytic function. By controlling the nature of the catalytic task that the molecules must perform in order to survive, it is possible to direct the evolving population toward the expression of some desired catalytic behavior. More recently, this system has been coupled to an in vitro translation procedure, raising the possibility of evolving protein enzymes in the laboratory to produce novel proteins with desired catalytic properties. The aim of this line of research is to reduce darwinian evolution, the fundamental process of biology, to a laboratory procedure that can be made to operate in the service of organic synthesis.

NASA Program Exobiology↗
DOE OSTI2025

Innovative Symmetrical Electrolyte Architecture Enables Ultra-Flat and Thermal Resilient Protonic Ceramic Electrochemical Cells

Protonic ceramic electrochemical cells (PCECs) represent a promising class of solid‐state energy conversion devices capable of high‐efficiency hydrogen production and power generation. However, the practical deployment of planar PCECs is fundamentally constrained by severe structural deformation and mechanical failure during fabrication, stemming from asymmetric shrinkage between the thin electrolyte and the thick NiO‐based support layer. Here, in this work, a functionally integrated, symmetry‐engineered double‐sided electrolyte (DE) design is unveiled, which not only suppresses thermally induced curvature but also unlocks significant gains in electrochemical performance and stability. This architecture intrinsically balances shrinkage dynamics across the cell bilaterally, enabling the fabrication of ultra‐flat 5 × 5 cm 2 cells with sub‐100 µm thickness variation. A numerical solid mechanics simulation is introduced to investigate and interpret this achievement. Beyond structural advantages, the DE configuration enhances the cell operational stability, delivering a low open‐circuit voltage degradation of 9.5 mV/100 h across 80 thermal cycles. This work establishes a compelling paradigm wherein architectural symmetry directly translates to both mechanical fidelity and functional enhancement, offering a promising route toward PCECs scale‐up.

08 - HYDROGEN↗
NASA NTRS1974

Teleoperator docking simulation

A simulation study is described of the translation, station keeping and final approach segments of the teleoperator implemented at MSFC. An effort is made to identify the teleoperator visual system design parameters which influence operator performance and to determine human factors design requirements for free flying teleoperators.

Kirkpatrick, M.↗
NASA NTRS1980

Rapid correlation analysis in a group of motions and homogeneous scale transforms of the plane (M(2)xR sub +)

A method is proposed for picking out a given image, in a plane, irrespective of translations, rotations, and homogeneous scale transforms of the plane. The correlation integral is calculated, using the method of abstract harmonic analysis. In this case, and also for groups of translations, it is possible to carry out the calculations using the rapid Fourier transform. The latter fact makes it possible to substantially reduce the number of computer operations for calculating the correlation integral, as compared with direct methods.

Tkhabisimov, D. K.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Helistat simulation studies

An analysis of the flight dynamics and piloted control characteristics of the Helistat, a quadrotor heavy-lift airship, was completed using the HYBRDS airship simulation facility. The analysis covered the full operating flight envelope, including likely ranges of altitude, airspeed, sideslip, and loading variations. Particular areas of study were performance, trim, power requirements, linearized dynamics, handling qualities, and mooring operations. The key assumptions were: a rigid vehicle, no control system dynamics, fixed rotor and propeller RPM, and no ballonet dynamics. The nominal cruise speed for the H34 engines operating at 1275 HP was found to be 40-50 kts, depending on the loading condition. The maximum payload capability was calculated as 45,000 lbs for sea level-based operations. The crosswind capability in hover is 5-10 kts depending on the loading conditions, but this requires excessive roll angle due to the roll-to-translate control gearing. Sideslip angles of 110-135 degrees (wind from aft quarters) are critical for directional trim and stability, and should be avoided.

Tischler, M. B.↗
NASA NTRS2003

SpaceDock: A Performance Task Platform for Spaceflight Operations

Preliminary evidence during both short- and long-duration spaceflight indicates that perceptual-motor coordination changes occur and persist in-flight. However, there is presently no in-flight method for evaluating astronaut performance on mission-critical tasks such as docking. We present a portable platform we have developed for attempting and evaluating docking, and describe the results of a pilot study wherein flight novices learned the docking task. Methods: A dual-joystick, six degrees of freedom platform-called SpaceDock-was developed to enable portable, adaptable performance testing in a spaceflight operations setting. Upon this platform, a simplified docking task was created, involving a constant rate of approach towards a docking target and requiring the user to correct translation in two dimensions and attitude orientation along one dimension (either pitch or roll). Ten flight naive subjects performed the task over a 45 min period and all joystick inputs and timings were collected, from which we could successfully reconstruct travel paths, input profiles and relative target displacements. Results: Subjects exhibited significant improvements in docking over the course of the experiment. Learning to compensate for roll-alterations was robust, whereas compensation for pitch-alterations was not in evidence in this population and relatively short training period. Conclusion: The SpaceDock platform can provide a novel method for training and testing subjects, on a spaceflight-relevant task, and can be used to examine behavioral learning, strategy use, and has been adapted for use in brain imaging experiments.

Marshburn, Thomas H.↗
NASA NTRS2005

High-Aperture-Efficiency Horn Antenna

A horn antenna (see Figure 1) has been developed to satisfy requirements specific to its use as an essential component of a high-efficiency Ka-band amplifier: The combination of the horn antenna and an associated microstrip-patch antenna array is required to function as a spatial power divider that feeds 25 monolithic microwave integrated-circuit (MMIC) power amplifiers. The foregoing requirement translates to, among other things, a further requirement that the horn produce a uniform, vertically polarized electromagnetic field in its patches identically so that the MMICs can operate at maximum efficiency. The horn is fed from a square waveguide of 5.9436-mm-square cross section via a transition piece. The horn features cosine-tapered, dielectric-filled longitudinal corrugations in its vertical walls to create a hard boundary condition: This aspect of the horn design causes the field in the horn aperture to be substantially vertically polarized and to be nearly uniform in amplitude and phase. As used here, cosine-tapered signifies that the depth of the corrugations is a cosine function of distance along the horn. Preliminary results of finite-element simulations of performance have shown that by virtue of the cosine taper the impedance response of this horn can be expected to be better than has been achieved previously in a similar horn having linearly tapered dielectric- filled longitudinal corrugations. It is possible to create a hard boundary condition by use of a single dielectric-filled corrugation in each affected wall, but better results can be obtained with more corrugations. Simulations were performed for a one- and a three-corrugation cosine-taper design. For comparison, a simulation was also performed for a linear- taper design (see Figure 2). The three-corrugation design was chosen to minimize the cost of fabrication while still affording acceptably high performance. Future designs using more corrugations per wavelength are expected to provide better field responses and, hence, greater aperture efficiencies.

Pickens, Wesley↗
DOE OSTI2025

Integrating catalytic fractionation and microbial funneling to produce 2-pyrone-4,6-dicarboxylic acid and ethanol

Replacing biorefinery designs that use stepwise fractionation, depolymerization, and conversion processes with designed tandem process steps can greatly reduce a biorefinery's operating costs and environmental impact. Reductive Catalytic Fractionation (RCF) is a highly efficient lignin-first approach that combines biomass fractionation and lignin depolymerization to generate a hydrogenolysis oil and pulp. The oil is composed of a complex mixture of phenolic monomers, dimers, and oligomers. Intergrating this chemical deconstruction process with microbial funneling of phenolics can simplify the product mixture and make high-value products. We applied RCF to poplar biomass in a biomass-to-bioproduct processing chain in which the phenolics were funneled to 2-pyrone-4,6-dicarboxylic acid (PDC) by an engineered strain of Novosphingobium aromaticivorans DSM12444. The pulp was enzymatically digested and the glucose and xylose was funneled to ethanol by an engineered strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae GLBRCY945. By combining biomass fractionation and lignin depolymerization we removed a costly processing step that directly translated into a 29% reduction in the minimum selling price of PDC. This work combines experimentation with process modeling of an integrated biorefinery design to show how utilizing tandem process steps can significantly reduce operating expenses and environmental impact of upgrading lignocellulosic biomass to a portfolio of high value products.

Sener, Canan [Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Cente↗
NASA NTRS2004

Improving Control of Two Motor Controllers

A computer program controls motors that drive translation stages in a metrology system that consists of a pair of two-axis cathetometers. This program is specific to Compumotor Gemini (or equivalent) motors and the Compumotor 6K-series (or equivalent) motor controller. Relative to the software supplied with the controller, this program affords more capabilities and is easier to use. Written as a Virtual Instrument in the LabVIEW software system, the program presents an imitation control panel that the user can manipulate by use of a keyboard and mouse. There are three modes of operation: command, movement, and joystick. In command mode, single commands are sent to the controller for troubleshooting. In movement mode, distance, speed, and/or acceleration commands are sent to the controller. Position readouts from the motors and from position encoders on the translation stages are displayed in marked fields. At any time, the position readouts can be recorded in a file named by the user. In joystick mode, the program yields control of the motors to a joystick. The program sends commands to, and receives data from, the controller via a serial cable connection, using the serial-communication portion of the software supplied with the controller.

Toland, Ronald W.↗
DOE OSTI2021

On preheating in Higgs inflation

Abstract Recently, the problem of unitarity violation during the preheating stage of Higgs inflation with a large non-minimal coupling has been much discussed in the literature. We point out that this problem can be translated into a strong coupling problem for the dimensionless effective coupling, and that the existence of these problems is highly dependent on the choice of higher-dimensional operators because they can significantly change the background dynamics and the canonical normalization of the fluctuations around it. Correspondingly, the typical energy of particles produced during the first stage of preheating can remain comparable to or below the cutoff scale of the theory. As an example, we numerically calculate the particle production in the presence of a specific four-derivative operator of the Higgs field, and confirm the statement above. Our argument also applies to multi-field inflation with non-minimal couplings.

Astronomy & Astrophysics↗
NASA NTRS1975

Development and investigation of single-scan TV radiography for the acquisition of dynamic physiologic data

A light amplifier for large flat screen fluoroscopy was investigated which will decrease both its size and weight. The work on organ contouring was extended to yield volumes. This is a simple extension since the fluoroscopic image contains density (gray scale) information which can be translated as tissue thickness, integrated, yielding accurate volume data in an on-line situation. A number of devices were developed for analog image processing of video signals, operating on-line in real time, and with simple selection mechanisms. The results show that this approach is feasible and produces are improvement in image quality which should make diagnostic error significantly lower. These are all low cost devices, small and light in weight, thereby making them usable in a space environment, on the Ames centrifuge, and in a typical clinical situation.

Baily, N. A.↗
NASA NTRS1980

A 163 micron laser heterodyne radiometer for OH

A 163 micron (1.836 THz) radiometer developed for airplane and/or balloon platforms is described. The laser local oscillator is a CO2 pumped methanol laser operating at a frequency which is approx. 1 GHz from the J = 3/2 - 1/2 transition of OH. The laser is used directly as a local oscillator or is translated in frequency to closer coincidence with the OH emission, depending on achieved detector IF bandwidth. Frequency translation techniques which are described are diode mixing and a method of single sideband generation using an external Stark modulated gas cell. The photoconductive mixer used is a strained Ge crystal, doped with Ga, originally used as an incoherent detector. The uniaxial strain on the Ga doped Ge crystal shifts the threshold for photoconduction from 100/cm to frequencies as low as 50/cm. These detectors are currently being characterized as mixers in the laboratory. Of particular interest are the effect of local oscillator power and strain on IF, bandwidth detector impedance, and conversion loss. Preliminary results of these tests are described and compared with theorectical expectations.

Pickett, H. M.↗
NASA NTRS1983

VTOL controls for shipboard operations

Piloted, moving-base simulations have been performed in the evaluation of several VTOL control system concepts during landings on a destroyer in adverse weather conditions. All the systems incorporated attitude control augmentation; most systems incorporated various types of translational control augmentation implemented either through aircraft attitude or, more directly, through the propulsion system (thrust magnitude and deflection). Only one of the control systems failed to provide satisfactory handling qualities in calm seas. Acceptable handling qualities in sea state 6 seem to require a system with control augmentation in all translational degrees of freedom.

Merrick, V. K.↗
NASA NTRS1956

Development of flow distortions in a full-scale nacelle inlet at Mach numbers 0.63 and 1.6 to 2.0

The nature of flow-distortion development in the subsonic diffuser was determined for a typical full-scale axisymmetric nose inlet at Mach numbers to 2.0 and angles of attack to -8 degrees. Inlet design variables studied included 14 degrees and 17 degrees internalcowl lip angles conical compression surfaces with and without boundary-layer removal slots, and cone tip translation. Data presented include the inlet overall pressure recovery, mass flow, and distortion at the diffuser exit. Primary emphasis in the data, however, is placed on critical inlet operation, for which the flow distortion is traced from the inlet throat to the diffuser exit.

Piercy, Thomas G↗
NASA NTRS1994

Energy absorber for the CETA

The energy absorber that was developed for the CETA (Crew Equipment and Translation Aid) on Space Station Freedom is a metal on metal frictional type and has a load regulating feature that prevents excessive stroking loads from occurring while in operation. This paper highlights some of the design and operating aspects and the testing of this energy absorber.

Wesselski, Clarence J.↗