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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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At least 667 records · Page 37
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1981

Experimental results on tracking performance of the MTDD Costas loop with UQPSK signal

The carrier tracking performance of the breadboard Costas Loop of the Multimegabit Telemetry Demodulator Detector System was tested with unbalanced quadriphase shift keying (UQPSK) signals. An S-band UQPSK modulator was built for the tests. The experimental results are very close to the theoretical rms phase error calculations. The test and analysis show that the rms phase error for UQPSK signals is less than 5 deg at the design point if the I-to-Q channel power ratio is larger than 6 dB.

Park, Y. H.↗
NASA NTRS1982

The Delta-K ocean wave spectrometer - Aircraft measurements and theoretical system analysis

Measurements of the relative strength of ocean surface wave spectral components have been made from an aircraft using the two-frequency microwave resonance technique. A coherent Ku-band radar was used to study the Bragg type resonance matching (at the difference frequency Delta-f) to the surface wave components. The spatial spectrum of the surface reflectivity modulation was then computed as the value of Delta-f was varied over a matching range of approximately 15 150 m in surface wavelength. This paper contains experimental results from flights conducted during the 1979 MARSEN project and the 1980 ARSLOE project, and the objective here is to present the radar results in terms of the variety of surface illumination geometries encountered. It will be shown that the MARSEN results, with the narrow footprint, are consistent with a one-dimensional theoretical approach and that the ARSLOE results, with a symmetric beam pattern, agree well with the existing two-dimensional theory.

Weissman, D. E.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Thin-film reliability and engineering overview

The reliability and engineering technology base required for thin film solar energy conversions modules is discussed. The emphasis is on the integration of amorphous silicon cells into power modules. The effort is being coordinated with SERI's thin film cell research activities as part of DOE's Amorphous Silicon Program. Program concentration is on temperature humidity reliability research, glass breaking strength research, point defect system analysis, hot spot heating assessment, and electrical measurements technology.

Ross, R. G., Jr.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Measurement of Thematic Mapper data quality

Thematic Mapper data from Landsat-4 and Landsat-5 were examined for band-to-band registration, absolute geodetic registration, periodic noise and spatial resolution. Between focal planes, appreciable misregistrations existed in early data products but were corrected in later data products. The analysis of absolute geodetic registration used only system-corrected data because ground control point-corrected data were unavailable. Geodetic registration errors averaged only 9.7 pixels, less than expected for system-corrected data. Periodic noise at four spatial frequencies was observed in Landsat-5 Thematic Mapper data by using Fourier analysis on small areas over water. Magnitudes of periodic noise components were consistent within a scene. The modulation transfer function was determined for two Landsat-4 scenes. The effective instantaneous field of view was 40.8 meters in one case, and 48.6 meters in the other.

Wrigley, R. C.↗
NASA NTRS1990

High power density dc/dc converter: Selection of converter topology

The work involved in the identification and selection of a suitable converter topology is described. Three new dc/dc converter topologies are proposed: Phase-Shifted Single Active Bridge DC/DC Converter; Single Phase Dual Active Bridges DC/DC Converter; and Three Phase Dual Active Bridges DC/DC Converter (Topology C). The salient features of these topologies are: (1) All are minimal in structure, i.e., each consists of an input and output bridge, input and output filter and a transformer, all components essential for a high power dc/dc conversion process; (2) All devices of both the bridges can operate under near zero-voltage conditions, making possible a reduction of device switching losses and hence, an increase in switching frequency; (3) All circuits operate at a constant frequency, thus simplifying the task of the magnetic and filter elements; (4) Since, the leakage inductance of the transformer is used as the main current transfer element, problems associated with the diode reverse recovery are eliminated. Also, this mode of operation allows easy paralleling of multiple modules for extending the power capacity of the system; (5) All circuits are least sensitive to parasitic impedances, infact the parasitics are efficently utilized; and (6) The soft switching transitions, result in low electromagnetic interference. A detailed analysis of each topology was carried out. Based on the analysis, the various device and component ratings for each topology operating at an optimum point, and under the given specifications, are tabulated and discussed.

Divan, Deepakraj M.↗
NASA NTRS1993

Analysis Of Noise In Optical Phase-Locked Loop

Report presents theoretical and experimental analysis of noise in coherent optical phase-locked loop. Optical phase-locked loop being considered for use in heterodyne reception of binary pulse-position modulation at data rate of 100 Kb/s in optical communication system in which transmitter also includes frequency-stabilized laser.

Win, Moe Z.↗
NASA NTRS1995

Design of a real-time wind turbine simulator using a custom parallel architecture

The design of a new parallel-processing digital simulator is described. The new simulator has been developed specifically for analysis of wind energy systems in real time. The new processor has been named: the Wind Energy System Time-domain simulator, version 3 (WEST-3). Like previous WEST versions, WEST-3 performs many computations in parallel. The modules in WEST-3 are pure digital processors, however. These digital processors can be programmed individually and operated in concert to achieve real-time simulation of wind turbine systems. Because of this programmability, WEST-3 is very much more flexible and general than its two predecessors. The design features of WEST-3 are described to show how the system produces high-speed solutions of nonlinear time-domain equations. WEST-3 has two very fast Computational Units (CU's) that use minicomputer technology plus special architectural features that make them many times faster than a microcomputer. These CU's are needed to perform the complex computations associated with the wind turbine rotor system in real time. The parallel architecture of the CU causes several tasks to be done in each cycle, including an IO operation and the combination of a multiply, add, and store. The WEST-3 simulator can be expanded at any time for additional computational power. This is possible because the CU's interfaced to each other and to other portions of the simulation using special serial buses. These buses can be 'patched' together in essentially any configuration (in a manner very similar to the programming methods used in analog computation) to balance the input/ output requirements. CU's can be added in any number to share a given computational load. This flexible bus feature is very different from many other parallel processors which usually have a throughput limit because of rigid bus architecture.

Hoffman, John A.↗
NASA NTRS1993

Results from the Middeck 0-gravity Dynamics Experiment

The experimental results of the Middick Zero-gravity Dynamics Experiment (MODE) are presented. MODE investigated the dynamics of two key spacecraft components; contained fluids and jointed truss structures. The change in the lateral slosh behavior of contained fluids and the changes in the modal parameters of space structural test articles from one- to zero-gravity were studied. The experimental apparatus used to determine the dynamic characteristics is described. For the MODE fluid experiments, the forced response characteristics of silicone oil and distilled water in cylinder tanks with either a flat or spherical bottom are reported and discussed. A comparison of the measured earth and space results identifies and highlights the effects of gravity on the linear and nonlinear slosh behavior of these fluids. For the MODE structural experiments, an analytic and experimental study is presented. Deployable, erectable, and rotary modules were assembled to form three one- and two-dimensional structures in which variations in bracing wire and rotary joint preload could be introduced. Analysis is compared with ground experimental measurements made on a spring/wire suspension system with a nominal plunge frequency of one Hertz, and with measurements made on the Shuttle middeck. The degree of change in linear modal parameters as well as the change in nonlinear nature of the response is examined. Trends in modal parameters are presented as a function of force amplitude, joint preload, and ambient gravity level.

Van Schoor, M. C.↗
NASA NTRS1995

Thermal Modulation Methods To Improve the Efficiency of a Gas Chromatograph

Thermal modulation techniques can be used to improve capacity, resolution, and time of analysis of a gas chromatograph. Two of-the techniques developed in our laboratories include using a GC column to store a sample (sample storage system) and applying temperature programming directly onto the wall of a capillary column. The storage system developed allowed the continuous collection of a sample profile for about 3 hours and storing it for as long as 20 hours. Thereafter, the samples were eluted maintaining the individual characteristics of the components present in it. Moreover, temperature programming was done directly on a capillary column improving the time of analysis and resolution of a mixture containing light hydrocarbons.

Valentin, J. R.↗
NASA NTRS1996

A Robust Digital Autopilot for Spacecraft Equipped with Pulse-Operated Thrusters

The analysis and design of attitude control systems for spacecraft employing pulse-operated (on-off) thrusters is usually accomplished through a combination of modeling approximations and empirical techniques. In this paper a new thruster pulse-modulation scheme for pointing and tracking applications is developed from nonlinear control theory.

attitude control spacecraft thrusters control theo↗
NASA NTRS2008

Advanced Land Imager Assessment System

The Advanced Land Imager Assessment System (ALIAS) supports radiometric and geometric image processing for the Advanced Land Imager (ALI) instrument onboard NASA s Earth Observing-1 (EO-1) satellite. ALIAS consists of two processing subsystems for radiometric and geometric processing of the ALI s multispectral imagery. The radiometric processing subsystem characterizes and corrects, where possible, radiometric qualities including: coherent, impulse; and random noise; signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs); detector operability; gain; bias; saturation levels; striping and banding; and the stability of detector performance. The geometric processing subsystem and analysis capabilities support sensor alignment calibrations, sensor chip assembly (SCA)-to-SCA alignments and band-to-band alignment; and perform geodetic accuracy assessments, modulation transfer function (MTF) characterizations, and image-to-image characterizations. ALIAS also characterizes and corrects band-toband registration, and performs systematic precision and terrain correction of ALI images. This system can geometrically correct, and automatically mosaic, the SCA image strips into a seamless, map-projected image. This system provides a large database, which enables bulk trending for all ALI image data and significant instrument telemetry. Bulk trending consists of two functions: Housekeeping Processing and Bulk Radiometric Processing. The Housekeeping function pulls telemetry and temperature information from the instrument housekeeping files and writes this information to a database for trending. The Bulk Radiometric Processing function writes statistical information from the dark data acquired before and after the Earth imagery and the lamp data to the database for trending. This allows for multi-scene statistical analyses.

Chander, Gyanesh↗
NASA NTRS1973

RF to digital converter

Converter can be used for automatic spectrum analysis. Automatic gain amplifier digitizes RF amplitude, and amplifier gain is measured by binary counter. Amount of gain corresponds to signal level and is proportional to count in counter. System can be used to calculate AM and FM modulation index and other parameters of pulse-modulated FM waves.

Flanders, T. E.↗
NASA NTRS1980

Incipient Failure Detection (IFD) of antifriction ball bearings

Two methods were investigated for retrieving the ball bearing signals buried by the overall signature of an operating large engine such as the main space shuttle engine. The signal averaging method averages n** signals over a time duration equaling the known period of the ball bearing defect frequency. With this method, the desired ball bearing defect signal will be enhanced over the noise by a factor of the square root of n. A second method is to perform a further frequency analysis on the logarithmic spectrum in order to detect and separate different families of harmonics and sidebands, thereby giving information about modulating frequencies. These two alternate IFD methods were carried out with a Norland 3001 waveform and data system. The obtained results are then compared with the power spectral density (PSD) of the overall machine signals and conclusions are made accordingly.

Wang, D. Y.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Integrated Analysis Capability pilot computer program

An integrated analysis capability (IAC) computer software package was developed for the design analysis and performance evaluation of large space systems. The IAC aids the user in coupling the required technical disciplines (initially structures, thermal and controls), providing analysis solution paths which reveal critical interactive effects in order to study loads, stability and mission performance. Existing technical software modules, having a wide existing user community, are combined with the interface software to bridge between the different technologies and mathematical modeling techniques. The package is supported by executive, data management and interactive graphics software, with primary development within the superminicomputer environment.

Vos, R. G.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Space operations center construction, flight support, and satellite servicing

The Space Operations Center will have 3 primary missions: (1) construction of large satellites and platforms, (2) flight support of orbital transfer vehicles, including manned and unmanned vehicles, and (3) satellite servicing, including tending of attached payload modules, spacecraft stationkeeping with the SOC, and remotely located satellites. This paper describes some of the facilities, equipment, and operations involved in conducting these missions. The data described in this paper are from an on-going system analysis study and therefore should not be considered as final.

Miller, K. H.↗
NASA NTRS1982

IAC level "O" program development

The current status of the IAC development activity is summarized. The listed prototype software and documentation was delivered, and details were planned for development of the level 1 operational system. The planned end product IAC is required to support LSST design analysis and performance evaluation, with emphasis on the coupling of required technical disciplines. The long term IAC effectively provides two distinct features: a specific set of analysis modules (thermal, structural, controls, antenna radiation performance and instrument optical performance) that will function together with the IAC supporting software in an integrated and user friendly manner; and a general framework whereby new analysis modules can readily be incorporated into IAC or be allowed to communicate with it.

Vos, R. G.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Dynamic characteristics of a vibrating beam with periodic variation in bending stiffness

A detailed dynamic analysis is performed of a vibrating beam with bending stiffness periodic in the spatial coordinate. The effects of system parameters on beam response are explored with a perturbation expansion technique. It is found that periodic stiffness acts to modulate the modal displacements from the characteristic shape of a simple sine wave. The results are verified by a finite element solution and through experimental testing.

Townsend, John S.↗