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At least 577 records · Page 32

Design of an intelligent information system for in-flight emergency assistance

The present research has as its goal the development of AI tools to help flight crews cope with in-flight malfunctions. The relevant tasks in such situations include diagnosis, prognosis, and recovery plan generation. Investigation of the information requirements of these tasks has shown that the determination of paths figures largely: what components or systems are connected to what others, how are they connected, whether connections satisfying certain criteria exist, and a number of related queries. The formulation of such queries frequently requires capabilities of the second-order predicate calculus. An information system is described that features second-order logic capabilities, and is oriented toward efficient formulation and execution of such queries.

Feyock, Stefan↗

Silicon carbide, an emerging high temperature semiconductor

In recent years, the aerospace propulsion and space power communities have expressed a growing need for electronic devices that are capable of sustained high temperature operation. Applications for high temperature electronic devices include development instrumentation within engines, engine control, and condition monitoring systems, and power conditioning and control systems for space platforms and satellites. Other earth-based applications include deep-well drilling instrumentation, nuclear reactor instrumentation and control, and automotive sensors. To meet the needs of these applications, the High Temperature Electronics Program at the Lewis Research Center is developing silicon carbide (SiC) as a high temperature semiconductor material. Research is focussed on developing the crystal growth, characterization, and device fabrication technologies necessary to produce a family of silicon carbide electronic devices and integrated sensors. The progress made in developing silicon carbide is presented, and the challenges that lie ahead are discussed.

Matus, Lawrence G.↗

Emergency locating transmitter

A transmitter generates three signals for sequential transmission. These signal are an unmodulated r.f. carrier, a r.f. carrier amplitude modulated by a first audio frequency waveform and a r.f. carrier amplitude modulated by a second audio frequency waveform which is distinguishable from the first and which may be employed as a means for identifying a particular transmitter. The composite, sequentially transmitted signal may be varied in terms of the individual signal transmission sequence, the duration of the individual signals, overall composite signal repetition rate and the frequency of the second audio waveform. Various combinations of signal variations may be employed to transmit different information.

Wren, Paul E.↗

Hubble Space Telescope (HST): Emergency support

The Hubble Space Telescope (HST) is a national facility that consists of a 2.4-m aperture Ritchey-Chretien cassegrain telescope weighing approximately 9525 kg with various energy detectors designed for the observation of IR, visible, and UV wavelengths (0.12 to 1000 microns). The HST was deployed into a 28.5-degree inclination, circular orbit, which permits a mission lifetime of 15 years. The orbit is decaying circular between 594 and 400 km x 28.5 deg; the period = 95 minutes. Information is presented in tabular form on the following areas: Deep Space Network support, frequency assignments, telemetry, command, and tracking support responsibility.

Repass, J.↗

LANDSAT 4 and 5: Emergency

The primary purpose of LANDSAT is to study Earth resources. Each satellite contains a Thematic Mapper (TM) and a Multispectral Scanner (MSS) imaging device plus mission unique hardware. The flight profile is presented, and information is presented in tabular form on the following topics: Deep Space Network support, frequency assignments, telemetry, command, and tracking support responsibility.

Webb, W.↗

Ocean topography experiment (TOPEX/Poseidon): Emergency support

The DSN (Deep Space Network) mission support requirements for the Ocean Topography Experiment (TOPEX/Poseidon) and the Global Positioning System (GPS) demonstration are summarized. The TOPEX mission consists of a single spacecraft which will be placed in a high earth circular orbit, with an altitude of 1334 km and a 63-deg inclination. The TOPEX mission objectives are outlined and the DSN support requirements are defined through the presentation of tables and narratives describing the spacecraft flight profile; DSN support coverage; frequency assignments; and tracking support responsibility.

Stiver, R. A.↗

Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite (UARS): Emergency support

The DSN (Deep Space Network) mission support requirements for the Upper Atmospheric Research Satellite (UARS) are summarized. The UARS satellite will be placed into a circular orbit of 600 km and 57 deg inclination with a period of 97 minutes. The mission objectives are outlined and the DSN support requirements are defined through the presentation of tables and narratives describing the spacecraft flight profile; DSN support coverage; frequency assignments; support parameters for telemetry, command and support systems; and tracking support responsibility.

Osler, S.↗

Integrated launch and emergency vehicle system

A heavy launch vehicle is discussed. The launch vehicle is comprised of an expendable, multi-container, propellant tank that has a plurality of winged booster propulsion modules at one end and a payload supported by adapter structure at the other end. The preferred payload is an entry module that can be adapted for docking to the space station and used as a return vehicle for the space station crew. Additionally, the payload may include communication satellites, supplies, equipment, and/or structural elements for the space station. The winged propulsion modules are released from the expendable propellant tank, in pairs, and they return to Earth in a controlled glide. After a safe landing, at or near the launch site, the modules are prepared for reuse. The rocket engines for each propulsion module are dual-fuel, dual-mode engines and use methane-oxygen and hydrogen-oxygen from the multi-containers of the propellant tank. When the propulsion modules are released from the expendable propellant tank, the rocket engines are moved into the module cargo bay for the return glide flight.

Martin, James A.↗

Hazardous materials emergency response mobile robot

A simple or unsophisticated robot incapable of effecting straight-line motion at the end of its arm inserts a key held in its end effector or hand into a door lock with nearly straight-line motion by gently thrusting its back heels downwardly so that it pivots forwardly on its front toes while holding its arm stationary. The relatively slight arc traveled by the robot's hand is compensated by a complaint tool with which the robot hand grips the door key. A visible beam is projected through the axis of the hand or gripper on the robot arm end at an angle to the general direction in which the robot thrusts the gripper forward. As the robot hand approaches a target surface, a video camera on the robot wrist watches the beam spot on the target surface fall from a height proportional to the distance between the robot hand and the target surface until the beam spot is nearly aligned with the top of the robot hand. Holes in the front face of the hand are connected through internal passages inside the arm to an on-board chemical sensor. Full rotation of the hand or gripper about the robot arm's wrist is made possible by slip rings in the wrist which permit passage of the gases taken in through the nose holes in the front of the hand through the wrist regardless of the rotational orientation of the wrist.

Stone, Henry W.↗

Emerging polyheterocyclic films, coatings and resins - Thermoplastic polyquinolines

The processing and performance characteristics of a soluble, thermoplastic polyquinoline suggest its utility in a variety of high performance applications. The polymer is characterized by excellent thermal and oxidative stability, very low moisture absorption, good mechanical properties, very low dielectric constant, and an unusually low thermal expansion coefficient. This polymer, designated PQ-100 (TM), can be cast into strong, transparent, free standing films from common solvents. Coatings of variable thickness can be spin-coated on to silicon and other surfaces. After processing into films, PQ-100 (TM) can be rendered insoluble in a wide range of solvents using a proprietary process. The low CTE contributes to very low residual stress when the polymer is spin-coated onto silicon wafers. PQ-100 (TM) is currently under evaluation for use as an interlayer dielectric substrate in high-density interconnect applications, including multichip modules. Many of the characteristics of the polymer also suggest its utility as a high-performance film and as a matrix resin for specialty composite applications.

Hendricks, Neil H.↗

Pre-flight risk assessment in emergency medical service (EMS) helicopters

A preflight risk assessment system (SAFE) was developed at NASA-Ames Research Center for civil EMS operations to assist pilots in making a decision objectively to accept or decline a mission. The ability of the SAFE system to predict risk profiles was examined at an EMS operator. Results of this field study showed that the usefulness of SAFE was largely dependent on the type of mission flown.

Shively, Robert J.↗

Vector Quantization With Emergent Codebook Structure

Proposed scheme under development for transmission of vector-quantized digital video images, vector quantizer codebook updated to adapt quantizer to changing signal statistics. Intended to be realized with electronic neural network. Codebook, which consists of patterns constituting video images, will undergo training during operation and scheme will develop codebooks ordered during training. System enables coding more compact, more immune to noise, and supports variable rate compression.

Ahalt, Stanley C.↗

Analysis of a space emergency ammonia dump using the FLOW-NET two-phase flow program

Venting of cryogenic and non-cryogenic fluids to a vacuum or a very low pressure will take place in many space-based systems that are currently being designed. This may cause liquid freezing either internally within the flow circuit or on external spacecraft surfaces. Typical ammonia flow circuits were investigated to determine the effect of the geometric configuration and initial temperature, pressure, and void fraction on the freezing characteristics of the system. The analysis was conducted also to investigate the ranges of applicability of the FLOW-NET program. It was shown that a typical system can be vented to very low liquid fractions before freezing occurs. However, very small restrictions in the flow circuit can hasten the inception of freezing. The FLOW-NET program provided solutions over broad ranges of system conditions, such as venting of an ammonia tank, initially completely filled with liquid, through a series of contracting and expanding line cross sections to near-vacuum conditions.

Navickas, J.↗

Emergency medical operations at Kennedy Space Center in support of space shuttle

The unique environment of the Kennedy Space Center includes a wide variety of industrial processes culminating in launch and spaceflight. Many are potentially hazardous to the work force and the astronauts. Technology, planning, training, and quality control are utilized to prevent contingencies and expedite response should a contingency occur.

Myers, K. J.↗

'Emerging technologies for the changing global market' - Prioritization methodology for chemical replacement

This project served to define an appropriate methodology for effective prioritization of technology efforts required to develop replacement technologies mandated by imposed and forecast legislation. The methodology used is a semiquantitative approach derived from quality function deployment techniques (QFD Matrix). This methodology aims to weight the full environmental, cost, safety, reliability, and programmatic implications of replacement technology development to allow appropriate identification of viable candidates and programmatic alternatives. The results will be implemented as a guideline for consideration for current NASA propulsion systems.

Cruit, Wendy↗

Multidisciplinary design optimization - An emerging new engineering discipline

A definition of the multidisciplinary design optimization (MDO) is introduced, and functionality and relationship of the MDO conceptual components are examined. The latter include design-oriented analysis, approximation concepts, mathematical system modeling, design space search, an optimization procedure, and a humane interface.

Sobieszczanski-Sobieski, Jaroslaw↗