Engineering Papers⌕ Search

SEARCH · Engineering Papers

Results for “TRACKING”

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 595 records · Page 33
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS2023

Precision of Spacecraft Doppler Tracking at Low Signal-to-Noise Ratios

The signal-to-noise ratio received at Earth is typically larger than 10 dB-Hz for radio tracking of a spacecraft in deep space, allowing a phase-locked loop to execute reliable carrier tracking. Recently, missions have been proposed to utilize low-gain antennas for Doppler tracking where the signal-to-noise ratio may be at the single-digit (dB-Hz) level. In this work, we discuss spacecraft Doppler tracking at these low signal-to-noise ratios through an analysis of thermal noise on the radio link, results from ground testing with the Deep Space Network, and demonstrations with an active spacecraft. We show that by utilizing an open-loop receiver to capture the carrier signal and by applying post-processing techniques, radio data with the signal-to-noise ratio as low as 4 dB-Hz can be used to derive Doppler data with precision sufficient for tracking a spacecraft in deep space.

D. R. Buccino↗
NASA NTRS2024

Solar-Energetic-Particle Track-Production Rates in Interplanetary Dust Grains at 1 AU

Heavy ( Z >26) solar energetic particles (SEPs) with energies ~1 MeV/nucleon are known to leave visible damage tracks in meteoritic materials. The density of such ‘solar flare tracks’ in lunar and asteroidal samples has been used as a measure of a sample's exposure time to space, yielding critical information on planetary space weathering rates [e.g., 1] and the dynamics and lifetimes of interplanetary dust grains [e.g., 2, 3]. Knowledge of the SEP track accumulation rate in planetary materials at 1 au is critical for properly interpreting observed track densities. Here, we report comparisons of the SEP track-accumulation rate at 1 au from two separate sources: (i) laboratory analysis of returned Apollo sample 64455 and (ii) in-situ measurements of the Z >26, ~1 MeV/nuc SEP flux at the L1 Lagrange point by the Advanced Composition Explorer (ACE) spacecraft. Full details are available in Poppe et al. (2023).

A R Poppe↗
DOE OSTI2012

NGSI: FUNCTION REQUIREMENTS FOR A CYLINDER TRACKING SYSTEM

While nuclear suppliers currently track uranium hexafluoride (UF{sub 6}) cylinders in various ways, for their own purposes, industry practices vary significantly. The NNSA Office of Nonproliferation and International Security's Next Generation Safeguards Initiative (NGSI) has begun a 5-year program to investigate the concept of a global monitoring scheme that uniquely identifies and tracks UF{sub 6} cylinders. As part of this effort, NGSI's multi-laboratory team has documented the 'life of a UF{sub 6} cylinder' and reviewed IAEA practices related to UF{sub 6} cylinders. Based on this foundation, this paper examines the functional requirements of a system that would uniquely identify and track UF{sub 6} cylinders. There are many considerations for establishing a potential tracking system. Some of these factors include the environmental conditions a cylinder may be expected to be exposed to, where cylinders may be particularly vulnerable to diversion, how such a system may be integrated into the existing flow of commerce, how proprietary data generated in the process may be protected, what a system may require in terms of the existing standard for UF{sub 6} cylinder manufacture or modifications to it and what the limiting technology factors may be. It is desirable that a tracking system should provide benefit to industry while imposing as few additional constraints as possible and still meeting IAEA safeguards objectives. This paper includes recommendations for this system and the analysis that generated them.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗
DOE OSTI2016

Experience Paper: Software Engineering and Community Codes Track in ATPESC

Argonne Training Program in Extreme Scale Computing (ATPESC) was started by the Argonne National Laboratory with the objective of expanding the ranks of better prepared users of high performance computing (HPC) machines. One of the unique aspects of the program was inclusion of software engineering and community codes track. The inclusion was motivated by the observation that the projects with a good scientific and software process were better able to meet their scientific goals. In this paper we present our experience of running the software track from the beginning of the program until now. We discuss the motivations, the reception, and the evolution of the track over the years. We welcome discussion and input from the community to enhance the track in ATPESC, and also to facilitate inclusion of similar tracks in other HPC oriented training programs.

Dubey, Anshu↗
DOE OSTI2017

Correlation and 3D-tracking of objects by pointing sensors

A method and system for tracking at least one object using a plurality of pointing sensors and a tracking system are disclosed herein. In a general embodiment, the tracking system is configured to receive a series of observation data relative to the at least one object over a time base for each of the plurality of pointing sensors. The observation data may include sensor position data, pointing vector data and observation error data. The tracking system may further determine a triangulation point using a magnitude of a shortest line connecting a line of sight value from each of the series of observation data from each of the plurality of sensors to the at least one object, and perform correlation processing on the observation data and triangulation point to determine if at least two of the plurality of sensors are tracking the same object. Observation data may also be branched, associated and pruned using new incoming observation data.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗
DOE OSTI2016

Testing of the Authenticatable Container Tracking System (ACTS)

The Authenticatable Container Tracking System (ACTS) is being designed to provide a secure container tag that can be used to optimize chain-of-custody monitoring for packaged nuclear materials as they are being stored, processed, and transported. ACTS is an active device that uses an almost-universal core platform that can be appropriately configured to provide the necessary data acquisition, data logging, and communications functions needed for 21st century material accountancy, monitoring, and tracking applications. The core design supports active monitoring of containment, movement, and location and provides secure data transmission via selectable communication methods that can be used throughout the world. This core architecture enables appropriately designed modules to be easily interfaced to the basic system, thus providing an integration path for current and new technologies. ACTS contains a built-in set of sensors but also supports an expansion bus for up to six additional communications, tracking, or sensing modules that may enhance monitoring and tracking of particular containers for specific applications. ACTS stores events in memory, communicates activity to Argonne National Laboratory’s ARG-US TransPort tracking and information server, and provides options for data encryption and authentication. We are currently beginning a testing phase that will field five devices outdoors in a controlled environment to allow evaluation of the functionality of the systems and the hardness of the devices to outdoor conditions. Partners for this system are Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Argonne National Laboratory, Savannah River National Laboratory, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, and commercialization partner The Aquila Group.

Britton Jr, Chuck↗
DOE OSTI2018

Novel deep learning methods for track reconstruction

For the past year, the HEP.TrkX project has been investigating machine learning solutions to LHC particle track reconstruction problems. A variety of models were studied that drew inspiration from computer vision applications and operated on an image-like representation of tracking detector data. While these approaches have shown some promise, image-based methods face challenges in scaling up to realistic HL-LHC data due to high dimensionality and sparsity. In contrast, models that can operate on the spacepoint representation of track measurements ("hits") can exploit the structure of the data to solve tasks efficiently. In this paper we will show two sets of new deep learning models for reconstructing tracks using space-point data arranged as sequences or connected graphs. In the first set of models, Recurrent Neural Networks (RNNs) are used to extrapolate, build, and evaluate track candidates akin to Kalman Filter algorithms. Such models can express their own uncertainty when trained with an appropriate likelihood loss function. The second set of models use Graph Neural Networks (GNNs) for the tasks of hit classification and segment classification. These models read a graph of connected hits and compute features on the nodes and edges. They adaptively learn which hit connections are important and which are spurious. The models are scaleable with simple architecture and relatively few parameters. Results for all models will be presented on ACTS generic detector simulated data.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2019

Analysis and categorization of eye tracking data describing scanpaths

Described herein are various technologies pertaining to analysis of eye tracking data. A head and/or eyes of an observer who is viewing a visual stimulus is monitored, and eye tracking data that is representative of the path of the eyes of the observer over time (a scanpath) is generated. The eye tracking data is time-series data that defines the location of the focal point, or other measurable characteristics, of the eyes of the observer on the visual stimulus over time. A feature vector is constructed based upon the eye tracking data, where the feature vector is representative of the eye tracking data, and is thus representative of the scanpath. The feature vector is compared with other feature vectors to identify scanpaths that correspond to the scanpath represented by the feature vector.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗
DOE OSTI2019

Vehicle track detection in synthetic aperture radar imagery

The various technologies presented herein relate to detecting one or more vehicle tracks in radar imagery. A CCD image can be generated from a first SAR image and a second SAR image captured for a common scene, wherein the second SAR image may include a vehicle track that is not present in the first SAR image. A Radon transform (RT) process can be applied to each pixel in the CCD image, and further, a radial derivative (RDRT) can be determined for each pixel from RT values derived for each pixel. Each pixel can be labelled as being related to a track, or not, based upon a unary cost obtained from the RDRT value of that pixel, combined with a probability of the pixel label based upon labels applied to neighboring pixels. A labelled representation of the CCD image can be generated based upon the determination of “track” or “not track”.

45 MILITARY TECHNOLOGY, WEAPONRY, AND NATIONAL DEF↗
DOE OSTI2019

ADVANCING THE TRANSPORTATION – SECURITY, TRACKING, AND REPORTING (T-STAR) SYSTEM

The Transportation – Security, Tracking and Reporting (T-STAR) System was developed by NNSA NA-21 Office of Radiological Security (ORS) to provide a transportation security system for use during transport of Category 1 and Category 2 radiological material to provide detection and tracking capability for shipments. While many off the shelf systems provide asset tracking of the conveyance, few offer detection of a breach into the cargo compartment or the removal of cargo from the conveyance. Systems that do offer such capability need to be permanently installed on the conveyance, requiring drilling of holes and running of cables throughout the conveyance itself. This means that dedicated shipping containers or vehicles are required, and this is not sustainable in many countries where ORS is building capacity for the security of radioactive materials in use, storage, and in transport. T-STAR is leveraging various ORNL technologies for improved communications capability and reduced power requirements; the multimode communications module developed by the Unmanned Aerial Systems group and the low power and extensible Authenticatable Container Tracking System (ACTS) tag developed for the US Department of Energy’s Packaging Certification Program provide a small footprint tracking system which can be installed quickly as needed. T-STAR uses a cellular and an Iridium modem to communicate configuration and alert information to a server used to monitor the shipment and incorporates a Z-wave © wireless security system allowing various intrusion detection sensors to be located in the conveyance. The Z-wave sensors are readily available, inexpensive, and power efficient, making them replaceable and low maintenance. The server software be configured as a standalone system installed on a light duty computer hosted by the competent authority, carrier, or response agency, or hosted as part of an Amazon Cloud Server (AWS) accessible via a secure login. The server has two functions, first is to handle messages to/from the T-STAR field unit, second is to host the user interface which can be accessed using a web browser on desktop or mobile device. The user interface implements roles to determine the level of access to shipment information, define geo-fences, and configure notifications. The user interface also supports multiple languages for display as well as notifications by using a simple lookup file which can be modified by the host country to ensure translations are correct and meaningful to responders receiving notifications and alerts. This paper will detail the overarching T-STAR capabilities, architecture and components, and provide insights on how it is deployed, used, and monitored during transportation of radioactive material.

Schultze, Michael↗
DOE OSTI2017

Implementation of Weighted Delta-Tracking with Scattering in the Serpent 2 Monte Carlo Code

Serpent 2, a continuous-energy Monte Carlo Reactor physics burnup code developed at the VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, uses a common rejection sampling technique, known as Woodcock delta-tracking. This method improves the efficiency of Monte Carlo in the complicated geometric layout of nuclear reactors and is widely used despite drawbacks that make it inefficient in specific cases, such as in the presence of strong absorbers. At present, Serpent actively uses delta-tracking, falling back to a surface tracking option in situations where delta-tracking is inefficient to partially offset these weaknesses. Morgan and Kotlyar introduced a Weighted Delta Tracking (WDT) routine to address these issues, replacing the rejection sampling of absorption events with an implicit event. In this research, we examine the theoretical basis for rejection sampling and implicit events, and how they relate to WDT. We then discuss implementation of a routine that extends the WDT routine to include scattering events. The routine is implemented and tested within Serpent. We examine various test cases including a Boiling Water Reactor (BWR) pin cell, and homogenous fuel media based on the content of the fuel of the Transient Test Reactor (TREAT) at Idaho National Lab (INL)

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS↗
DOE OSTI2011

Increasing the energy dynamic range of solid-state nuclear track detectors using multiple surfaces

Solid-state nuclear track detectors, such as CR-39, are widely used in physics and in many inertial confinement fusion (ICF) experiments. In the ICF experiments, the particles of interest, such as D{sup 3}He-protons, have ranges of order of the detector thickness. In this case, the dynamic range of the detector can be extended by recording data on both the front and back sides of the detector. Higher energy particles which are undetectable on the front surface can then be measured on the back of the detector. Studies of track formation under the conditions on the front and back of the detector reveal significant differences. Distinct front and back energy calibrations of CR-39 are therefore necessary and are presented for protons. Utilizing multiple surfaces with additional calibrations can extend the range of detectable energies on a single piece of CR-39 by up to 7-8 MeV. The track formation process is explored with a Monte Carlo code, which shows that the track formation difference between front and back is due to the non-uniform ion energy deposition in matter.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2011

Motion Tracking Of A Handheld Scanner With An Infrared Vision System

Handheld scanners are used in a large number of applications to inspect walls, floors, tanks, and other large structures. Measurements are made to characterize physical properties, uncover defects, detect evidence of tampering, quantify surface contamination, and so forth. Handheld scanning suffers from a number of drawbacks. The relationship between the data collected and scanned location is difficult or impossible to track. Humans using handheld scanners can unintentionally scan the same area multiple times or entirely overlook an area of interest. An automated scanner tracking system could improve upon current inspection practices with a handheld scanner in terms of efficiency, accuracy, and quality. The authors have developed a handheld scanner tracking system that will allow users to visualize previously scanned areas, highlight areas where important or unusual data are acquired, and store scanning location with acquired data. The scanned regions are saved in real time and projected back on the scanned area using a projector. The system currently utilizes the Smoothboard software, which has already been designed to interpret the location of a captured infrared source from a Wii Remote controller to create an interactive whiteboard. This software takes advantage of the Wii Remote’s ability to track the location of an infrared source, and when proper calibration of the Wii Remote orientation is complete, any surface can become a virtual whiteboard. In addition to recording and projecting scan pathways, the system developed by the authors can be used to make notes on the scanning process and project acquired data on top of the scanned area. This latter capability can be used to guide sample acquisition or demolition activities. This paper discusses development of the system and potential benefits to wall scanning with handheld scanners.

Wii Remote, Wall scanner, IR tracking, Motion Trac↗
DOE OSTI2013

Effect of combined local variations in elastic and inelastic energy losses on the morphology of tracks in ion-irradiated materials

A judicious choice of irradiation parameters and experimental methodology allowed the visualization of the tracks created by swift heavy ions in pyrochlores over the entire ion trajectories. Several peculiarities were observed: a layered structure of tracks composed of an amorphous core surrounded by a strained crystalline envelope, a change of the track diameter as a function of the ion slowing down, a loss of parallelism of tracks, a transformation from continuous to discontinuous regime, and an increasing contribution of elastic collisions at large depths. These observations are compared to the respective amount of electronic and nuclear energy losses.

Correlation↗
DOE OSTI2018

Synergistically-enhanced ion track formation in pre-damaged strontium titanate by energetic heavy ions

Latent ion tracks created by energetic heavy ions (12 MeV Ti to 946 MeV Au) in single crystal SrTiO 3 are investigated in this paper using Rutherford backscattering spectrometry and scanning transmission electron microscopy. The results demonstrate that pre-existing irradiation damage, introduced via elastic collision processes, interacts synergistically with the electronic energy deposition from energetic heavy ions to enhance formation of latent ion tracks. The average amorphous cross-section increases with the level of pre-damage and is linearly proportional to the electronic energy loss of the ions, with a slope dependent on the pre-damage level. For the highest energy ions (629 MeV Xe and 946 MeV Au), the tracks are continuous over the pre-damaged depth, but become discontinuous beyond the pre-damaged region. Finally, this work provides new understanding and insights on ion-solid interactions that significantly impact the interpretation of latent track formation processes, models of amorphization, and the fabrication of electro-ceramic devices.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2012

Software for precise tracking of cell proliferation

Highlights: Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer We developed software for analyzing cultured cells that divide as well as migrate. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer The active contour model (Snakes) was used as the core algorithm. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer The time backward analysis was also used for efficient detection of cell division. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer With user-interactive correction functions, the software enables precise tracking. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer The software was successfully applied to cells with fluorescently-labeled nuclei. -- Abstract: We have developed a multi-target cell tracking program TADOR, which we applied to a series of fluorescence images. TADOR is based on an active contour model that is modified in order to be free of the problem of locally optimal solutions, and thus is resistant to signal fluctuation and morphological changes. Due to adoption of backward tracing and addition of user-interactive correction functions, TADOR is used in an off-line and semi-automated mode, but enables precise tracking of cell division. By applying TADOR to the analysis of cultured cells whose nuclei had been fluorescently labeled, we tracked cell division and cell-cycle progression on coverslips over an extended period of time.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2022

Concentric core-shell tracks and spectroscopic properties of SrTiO 3 under intense electronic excitation

A deeper understanding of the intrinsic link between the irradiation-induced microstructures and the corresponding spectroscopic properties is becoming increasingly attractive for the research fields of materials science, physics, and information technology. In this work, the structural damage response, spectroscopic features, and associated physical mechanisms of SrTiO 3 single crystals under swift heavy ion irradiation were comparatively analyzed using a combination of experimental and theoretical approaches. Corresponding to 0.11–5.00 MeV/u ion irradiation with electronic energy loss ranging from 4.0 to 29.3 keV/nm, the inelastic thermal spike calculations combined with molecular dynamics simulations are compared with the experimental observations, revealing the track fine structures (individual spherical defects with a disordered region, and discontinuous and continuous tracks consisting of an amorphous core and a disordered outer shell) and demonstrating the dominant effects of the deposition energy and lattice temperature on track damage formation and evolution; thus, two essential thresholds for defect formation of ~0.60 eV/atom and amorphous region formation of ~1.81 eV/atom were identified to better describe the concentric core-shell track structure. The enhanced nanohillock formation in the surface region is attributed to the combined action of kinetic and potential energy depositions, and the fluence dependence in regulating the hillock dimensions is also presented. The measured refractive index profiles along different crystal axes further indicate the anisotropy of irradiation-induced lattice expansion. With increasing ion fluence and damage level, the intrinsic bandgap gradually decreased, and the concentration of additional radiative recombination centers (1.81 eV, 2.31 eV, and 2.42 eV) accordingly increased in the SrTiO 3 crystal, providing the possibility of regulating related defects to achieve tunable/selective photon emission for more critical technological applications.

77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2015

Recent numerical and algorithmic advances within the volume tracking framework for modeling interfacial flows

A review of recent advances made in numerical methods and algorithms within the volume tracking framework is presented. The volume tracking method, also known as the volume-of-fluid method has become an established numerical approach to model and simulate interfacial flows. Its advantage is its strict mass conservation. However, because the interface is not explicitly tracked but captured via the material volume fraction on a fixed mesh, accurate estimation of the interface position, its geometric properties and modeling of interfacial physics in the volume tracking framework remain difficult. Several improvements have been made over the last decade to address these challenges. In this study, the multimaterial interface reconstruction method via power diagram, curvature estimation via heights and mean values and the balanced-force algorithm for surface tension are highlighted.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗