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NASA NTRS2009

Geospatial Authentication

A software package that has been designed to allow authentication for determining if the rover(s) is/are within a set of boundaries or a specific area to access critical geospatial information by using GPS signal structures as a means to authenticate mobile devices into a network wirelessly and in real-time has been developed. The advantage lies in that the system only allows those with designated geospatial boundaries or areas into the server. The Geospatial Authentication software has two parts Server and Client. The server software is a virtual private network (VPN) developed in Linux operating system using Perl programming language. The server can be a stand-alone VPN server or can be combined with other applications and services. The client software is a GUI Windows CE software, or Mobile Graphical Software, that allows users to authenticate into a network. The purpose of the client software is to pass the needed satellite information to the server for authentication.

Lyle, Stacey D.↗

NASA NTRS2009

Geospatial Authentication

Lyle, Stacey D.↗

NASA NTRS2017

A Framework for Extending the Science Traceability Matrix: Application to the Planned Europa Mission

One of the most critical functions of the systems engineering requirements process for a large multi-instrument science-driven space mission is to successfully communicate customer expectations into a comprehensive and traceable science requirements flowdown. These requirements are essential to communicating the constraints on the scope of the science investigations and clarifying how multiple instruments contribute to a given science goal. They also provide insight into how the science goals of the whole mission are affected by design choices. There is little specific guidance available on best practices for developing this science-driven flowdown. A unified Science Traceability Matrix (USTM) contains a significant amount of information that can be leveraged for that purpose, but the USTM was not designed to directly produce a complete science requirements flowdown. Thus, starting with the principles codified in a USTM, the authors propose a framework that directly maps into the requirements flowdown and supports broader systems engineering processes while retaining its meaning to the science team. This Science Traceability and Alignment Framework, or STAF, defines a set of common definitions and valid relationships to structure communication across the project. In addition, STAF populates a network of information that can be useful to support complex mission analysis activities such as fault protection. This work discusses the highest-level implementation of the STAF, the project-domain or P-STAF, which describes an approach to decomposing customer requirements into science requirements. The planned Europa Mission is used as a case study for the implementation of this framework and its potential benefits to a project.

Susca, Sara↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Impacts and Conclusions of NASA DEVELOP’s Environmental Justice Landscape Analyses and Feasibility Studies

The NASA DEVELOP National Program builds dual capacity in their partner organizations and participants (students and early or transitioning career professionals) to apply Earth science and remote sensing for decision making about environmental and policy issues. The first iteration of projects at DEVELOP’s Environmental Justice (EJ) node conducted landscape analyses to identify geospatial understandings and needs of organizations working at the intersection of EJ and disasters and air quality. Their findings about collaboration, community engagement, networking, and holistic approaches to justice informed the planning and structures of the EJ node’s successive feasibility projects, which leverage NASA Earth observations and sociodemographic and economic data to provide geospatial analyses tailored to partner concerns. This poster provides an overview of DEVELOP’s approach to conducting EJ feasibility projects, use of Earth observations, end products, project outcomes, challenges, and impacts.

Julianne Bo-Heen Liu↗

NASA NTRS1985

Statistical analysis and use of VAS radiance data

Researchers goals are to describe the information content of Vertical Atmospheric Sounder (VAS) radiance data, especially the 6.7 micrometers water vapor channel, to better interpret the atmosphere's water vapor structure from 6.7 micrometers imagery, and to investigate new analysis and forecasting techniques utilizing retrieved VAS soundings. Researchers made major progress toward these goals during FY-85. They are investigating 6.7 micrometer imagery on 6 to 7 March 1982, a day when special mesoscale ground truth data were collected during the 1982 atmospheric variability experiment/vertical amospheric sounder (AVE/VAS) field experiment. A dark (dry) image streak having mesoscale details was located over the special data region, and it provides the major focus of the case study. Mesoscale radiosonde-derived humidity data are found to verify fine scale features of the image that are not evident from the standard National Weather Service network. Thus, VAS imagery is a reliable detector of mesoscale moisture structure during this case. To investigate causes for the image streak, researchers are calculating water vapor budgets. Subsidence is found to be a factor in the current case as well; however, patterns of descent are not related to the jet streak according to traditional conceptual models. Thus, it appears that more research into jet stream dynamics is needed in order to better interpret 6.7 micrometer imagery.

Fuelberg, H. E.↗

NASA NTRS2006

Enhancement of the Feature Extraction Capability in Global Damage Detection Using Wavelet Theory

The main objective of this study is to assess the specific capabilities of the defect energy parameter technique for global damage detection developed by Saleeb and coworkers. The feature extraction is the most important capability in any damage-detection technique. Features are any parameters extracted from the processed measurement data in order to enhance damage detection. The damage feature extraction capability was studied extensively by analyzing various simulation results. The practical significance in structural health monitoring is that the detection at early stages of small-size defects is always desirable. The amount of changes in the structure's response due to these small defects was determined to show the needed level of accuracy in the experimental methods. The arrangement of fine/extensive sensor network to measure required data for the detection is an "unlimited" ability, but there is a difficulty to place extensive number of sensors on a structure. Therefore, an investigation was conducted using the measurements of coarse sensor network. The white and the pink noises, which cover most of the frequency ranges that are typically encountered in the many measuring devices used (e.g., accelerometers, strain gauges, etc.) are added to the displacements to investigate the effect of noisy measurements in the detection technique. The noisy displacements and the noisy damage parameter values are used to study the signal feature reconstruction using wavelets. The enhancement of the feature extraction capability was successfully achieved by the wavelet theory.

Saleeb, Atef F.↗

NASA NTRS1981

The large- and small-scale structures of 3C 293

A Very Large Array (VLA) 1.465-GHz map of the radio galaxy 3C 293 shows that the source, which is unusual in that it is dominated by a steep-spectrum extended core, has a two-sided Z-shaped structure whose physical association with the galaxy VV 5-33-12 is now clear. The core is resolved by the Multi-Element Radio Linked Interferometer Network (MERLIN) at 1.666-GHz, and the VLA at 15.035 GHz, into an inner, two-sided structure within 1 kpc of the center of VV 5-33-12, and curved bridges of emission linking this structure to the large-scale emission. The major axis of the core lies 35 deg from the major axes of the emission bridges that make up the bar of the large-scale Z structure, and 60 deg from the minor axis of VV 5-33-12. Precessional and buoyant-refraction models for these misalignments are discussed.

Bridle, A. H.↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Ice-Over-Water Cloud Properties in an Artificial Neural Network Approach

Clouds are a crucial component of the atmospheric energy system, particularly the radiative balance within, above, and below the troposphere. The vertical distribution of cloud mass and phase determines layer heating rates, the loss of radiation to space, and the amount of radiative heating at the surface. Thus, it is important to know how clouds are distributed both vertically and horizontally at all times of day. Satellite remote sensing is the only approach available to monitor clouds day and night around the globe. In this paper several artificial neural network (ANN) algorithms, employing several Aqua MODIS infrared channels, profiles of relative humidity and temperature from GMAO numerical weather analyses, and the retrieved total cloud visible optical depth, are trained to detect multilayer ice-over-water cloud systems and to retrieve some of their properties as identified by a year of 2008 Aqua MODIS data matched with CloudSat and CALIPSO (CC) cloud profiles. The CC lidar and radar profiles provide the vertical structure that serves as output truth for the multilayer algorithm. The neural networks were trained using one year (2008) of cloud top height data from the CC dataset, with correlation around 0.94 (0.95) and MAE as low as 0.82 (0.81) km for nonpolar regions during the day (night). Applying the trained ANN to independent year 2009 MODIS data resulted in a combined ML and single layer hit rate of 86.4% (85.1%) for nonpolar regions during the day (night). Since the ANN is trained using near-nadir MODIS pixels, infrared radiance corrections were developed as a function of view zenith angle from MODIS and applied to off-nadir pixels when processing MODIS swath data. The multilayer amount derived with the ANN is relatively invariant with increasing view zenith angle compared to the multilayer amount without the corrections.

MODIS↗

NASA NTRS1994

Software For Management Of A Packet-Radio Network

Network-management software assists in planning, monitoring, and controlling resources of Datalink network. Packet-message network featuring time-division multiple access, frequency and spatial diversity, and dynamic tree-structured routing scheme. Developed for communication between central control station on ground and instrumented aircraft flying over test range. Aircraft derives navigational data from satellites of Global Positioning System, and primary function of Datalink network feeding GPS position data from participating aircraft into control center in real time.

Smyth, Patrick J.↗

NASA NTRS1984

Initial experience with distributing structural calculations among computers operating in parallel

An existing program is currently being adapted to perform finite element analysis by distributing substructures over a network of four Apple IIe microcomputers connected to a shared disk. In this network, one microcomputer controls the entire process while the others perform the analysis on each substructure in parallel. This substructure analysis is used in an iterative, fully stressed, structural resizing procedure. This procedure allows experimentatation with resizing in which all analyses are not completed during a single iteration. This research gives some insight on how to configure multidiscriplinary analysis and optimization procedures for decomposable engineering systems using either high performance engineering workstations or a parallel processor supercomputer. In addition, the operational experience gained facilitates the implementation of analysis programs on these new computers when they become available in an engineering environment.

Rogers, J. L., Jr.↗

NASA NTRS1992

On the use of ANN interconnection weights in optimal structural design

The present paper describes the use of interconnection weights of a multilayer, feedforward network, to extract information pertinent to the mapping space that the network is assumed to represent. In particular, these weights can be used to determine an appropriate network architecture, and an adequate number of training patterns (input-output pairs) have been used for network training. The weight analysis also provides an approach to assess the influence of each input parameter on a selected output component. The paper shows the significance of this information in decomposition driven optimal design.

Hajela, P.↗

NASA NTRS1987

Radial/axial power divider/combiner

An electromagnetic power divider/combiner comprises N radial outputs (31) having equal powers and preferably equal phases, and a single axial output (20). A divider structure (1) and a preferably identical combiner structure (2) are broadside coupled across a dielectric substrate (30) containing on one side the network of N radial outputs (31) and on its other side a set of N equispaced stubs (42) which are capacitively coupled through the dielectric substrate (30) to the N radial outputs (31). The divider structure (1) and the combiner structure (2) each comprise a dielectric disk (12, 22, respectively) on which is mounted a set of N radial impedance transformers (14, 24, respectively). Gross axial coupling is determined by the thickness of the dielectric layer (30). Rotating the disks (12, 22) with respect to each other effectuates fine adjustment in the degree of axial coupling.

Vaddiparty, Yerriah P.↗

NASA NTRS1990

Bridge feedback for active damping augmentation

A method is described for broadband damping augmentation of a structural system in which the active members (with feedback control) were developed such that their mechanical input impedance can be electrically adjusted to maximize the energy dissipation rate in the structural system. The active member consists of sensors, an actuator, and a control scheme. A mechanical/electrical analogy is described to model the passive structures and the active members in terms of their impedance representation. As a result, the problem of maximizing dissipative power is analogous to the problem of impedance matching in the electrical network. Closed-loop performance was demonstrated for single- and multiple-active-member controlled truss structure.

Chen, G.-S.↗

NASA NTRS2015

On Proper Selection of Multihop Relays for Future Enhancement of AeroMACS Networks

As the Aeronautical Mobile Airport Communications System (AeroMACS) has evolved from a technology concept to a deployed communications network over major US airports, it is now time to contemplate whether the existing capacity of AeroMACS is sufficient to meet the demands set forth by all fixed and mobile applications over the airport surface given the AeroMACS constraints regarding bandwidth and transmit power. The underlying idea in this article is to present IEEE 802.16j-based WiMAX as a technology that can address future capacity enhancements and therefore is most feasible for AeroMACS applications. The principal argument in favor IEEE 802.16j technology is the flexible and cost effective extension of radio coverage that is afforded by relay fortified networks, with virtually no increase in the power requirements and virtually no rise in interference levels to co-allocated applications. The IEEE 802.16j-based multihop relay systems are briefly described. The focus is on key features of this technology, frame structure, and its architecture. Next, AeroMACS is described as a WiMAX-based wireless network. The two major relay modes supported by IEEE 802.16j amendment, i.e., transparent and non-transparent are described. The benefits of employing multihop relays are listed. Some key challenges related to incorporating relays into AeroMACS networks are discussed. The selection of relay type in a broadband wireless network affects a number of network parameters such as latency, signal overhead, PHY (Scalable Physical Layer) and MAC (Media Access Layer) layer protocols, consequently it can alter key network quantities of throughput and QoS (Quality of Service).

aircraft communications↗

NASA NTRS2005

A Preliminary Investigation of the E-Beam Induced Polymerization of Maleimide and Norbornene End-capped Polyimides

A research area of high activity in connection with aerospace engineering has been the development of polymer thermosetting resins that can resist temperature as high as 300 C while maintaining adequate toughness, and providing ease of processing to enable low temperature and low cost composite fabrication methods. In order to meet such requirements, sequential interpenetrating polymer networks (IPNs) based on bismaleimide (BMI) and cyanate ester (CE) monomers were investigated. In these systems, a polycyanurate network is first formed in the presence of BMI and appropriate reactive diluent monomers and in a second step, a network based on the BMI is created in the presence of a fully formed polycyanurate network. The materials developed can be processed at relatively low temperature (less than 150 C) and with the aid of electron beam (EB) curing. Of major importance to the success of this work was the identification of a reactive diluent that improves ease of processing and has tailored reactivity to allow for the controlled synthesis of CE-BMI sequential IPNs. Based on solubility and reactivity of a number of reactive diluents, N-acryloylmorpholine (AMP) was selected as a comonomer for BMI copolymerization. A donor-acceptoreaction mechanism was suggested to explain the relative reactivity of a variety of reactive diluents towards maleimide functionality. The optimum processing parameters for the formation of the first network were determined through the study of metal catalyzed cure and hydrolysis of cyanate esters, whereas the reaction behavior for second network formation in terms of the influence of EB dose rate and temperature was elucidated through an in-situ kinetics study of maleimide and AMP copolymerization. Structure-property relationships were developed which allowed for the design of improved resin systems. In particular, appropriate network coupler possessing cyanate ester and maleimide functionality was synthesized to link the polycyanurate first network to the BMI/AMP second network and thus form linked sequential IPNs (LIPNs). Consequently, Tg as high as 370 C was achieved and a fracture toughness of 120 Joules per square meters was obtained for resin systems that possess adequately low viscosity for processing using liquid molding techniques at low temperature.

Palmese, Giuseppe R.↗

NASA NTRS2001

Reliability of a Series Pipe Network

The goal of this NASA-funded research is to advance research and education objectives in theoretical and computational probabilistic structural analysis, reliability, and life prediction methods for improved aerospace and aircraft propulsion system components. Reliability methods are used to quantify response uncertainties due to inherent uncertainties in design variables. In this report, several reliability methods are applied to a series pipe network. The observed responses are the head delivered by a main pump and the line head at a desired flow rate. The probability that the flow rate in the line will be less than a specified minimum will be discussed.

Harris, Rodney↗

NASA NTRS2001

Reliability of a Parallel Pipe Network

The goal of this NASA-funded research is to advance research and education objectives in theoretical and computational probabilistic structural analysis, reliability, and life prediction methods for improved aerospace and aircraft propulsion system components. Reliability methods are used to quantify response uncertainties due to inherent uncertainties in design variables. In this report, several reliability methods are applied to a parallel pipe network. The observed responses are the head delivered by a main pump and the head values of two parallel lines at certain flow rates. The probability that the flow rates in the lines will be less than their specified minimums will be discussed.

Herrera, Edgar↗

NASA NTRS1987

A high-resolution local network study of the Nazca plate Wadati-Benioff zone under western Argentina

Seismic data, recorded by INPRES telemetered network located above one of the subhorizontal segments of the subducted Nazca plate Wadati-Benioff zone beneath western Argentina, were analyzed to determine the zone's fine structure. The depth of the center and the thickness of the subhorizontal Wadati-Benioff zone beneath the network were calculated to be about 107 km and about 20 km, respectively, with most of the seismogenic zone concentrated in a region about 12 km thick. The Nazca plate is interpreted to be in a state of down-dip tension and to be decoupled from the overriding South American plate by a weak zone of asthenospheric or shear-heated material. The South American plate is estimated to be 80 km thick, based on the location of the subducted Nazca plate and an inferred decoupling zone between the plates.

Smalley, Robert F., Jr.↗