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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 73 records · Page 4
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2026

Plan It Together: Optimizing Across Generation, Transmission, Distribution, and Distributed Energy Resources

Integrated planning holds the promise of unlocking lower total system cost solutions by connecting previously siloed planning processes. This article summarizes the state of bulk and local grid planning today and details multiple new analytical approaches that can enable more holistic planning methods to develop comprehensive solutions to generation, transmission, distribution, and distributed energy resource needs. These include both iterative approaches as well as cooptimization techniques. In addition to the benefits of these methods, the technical and institutional challenges and associated solutions are also discussed.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗
NASA NTRS2005

Designing and Implementing a Distributed System Architecture for the Mars Rover Mission Planning Software (Maestro)

Distributed systems allow scientists from around the world to plan missions concurrently, while being updated on the revisions of their colleagues in real time. However, permitting multiple clients to simultaneously modify a single data repository can quickly lead to data corruption or inconsistent states between users. Since our message broker, the Java Message Service, does not ensure that messages will be received in the order they were published, we must implement our own numbering scheme to guarantee that changes to mission plans are performed in the correct sequence. Furthermore, distributed architectures must ensure that as new users connect to the system, they synchronize with the database without missing any messages or falling into an inconsistent state. Robust systems must also guarantee that all clients will remain synchronized with the database even in the case of multiple client failure, which can occur at any time due to lost network connections or a user's own system instability. The final design for the distributed system behind the Mars rover mission planning software fulfills all of these requirements and upon completion will be deployed to MER at the end of 2005 as well as Phoenix (2007) and MSL (2009).

Goldgof, Gregory M.↗
NASA NTRS2017

Distributed Fast Motion Planning for Spacecraft Swarms in Cluttered Environments using Spherical Expansions and Sequence of Convex Optimization Problems

This paper presents a novel guidance algorithm for spacecraft swarms in an environment cluttered with many obstacles like a debris field or the asteroid belt. The objective of this algorithm is to reconfigure the swarm to a desired formation in a distributed manner while minimizing fuel and avoiding collisions among themselves and with the obstacles. The agents first use a spherical-expansion-based sampling algorithm to cooperatively explore the workspace and find paths to the desired terminal positions. Using a distributed assignment algorithm, the agents converge on an optimal assignment of the target locations in the desired formation. Then each agent generates a locally optimal trajectory from its current location to its terminal position by solving a sequence of convex optimization problems. As the agent moves along this trajectory, it receives the position of other agents and updates its trajectory to avoid collisions with other agents and the obstacles. Thus the swarm achieves the desired formation in a distributed manner while avoiding collisions. Moreover, this algorithm is computationally efficient, therefore it can be implemented onboard resource-constrained spacecraft. Simulations results show that the proposed distributed algorithm can be used by a spacecraft swarm to reconfigure a desired formation around an asteroid in a collision-free manner.

Bandyopadhyay, Saptarshi↗
NASA NTRS1995

Architecture for Payload Planning System (PPS) Software Distribution

The complex and diverse nature of the pay load operations to be performed on the Space Station requires a robust and flexible planning approach, and the proper software tools which tools to support that approach. To date, the planning software for most manned operations in space has been utilized in a centralized planning environment. Centralized planning is characterized by the following: performed by a small team of people, performed at a single location, and performed using single-user planning systems. This approach, while valid for short duration flights, is not conducive to the long duration and highly distributed payload operations environment of the Space Station. The Payload Planning System (PPS) is being designed specifically to support the planning needs of the large number of geographically distributed users of the Space Station. This paper problem provides a general description of the distributed planning architecture that PPS must support and describes the concepts proposed for making PPS available to the Space Station payload user community.

Howell, Eric↗
NASA NTRS1990

An innovative approach for distributed and integrated resources planning for the Space Station Freedom

This paper presents a planning approach to the Space Station Freedom program which takes into account the widely distributed nature of that program. The program management structure is organized into three major levels: a strategic level, a tactical level, and an execution level. For each level, resource availabilities are determined, the resources are distributed, schedules are built independently within the resource limits, the schedules are integrated into a single schedule, and conflicts are resolved by negotiating requirements and/or relaxing contraints. This approach distributes resources to multiple planning entities in such a way that when the multiple plans are collected, they fit together with minimal modification. The up-front distribution is planned in such a way and to a sufficient degree that a fit is virtually assured.

Hornstein, Rhoda S.↗
DOE OSTI2026

Effectively Considering the Distribution System in Integrated Resource Plans

While electricity planning practices vary by state and utility based on utility type and market structure, integrated resource planning (IRP) remains a prominent vehicle — even in states with centrally-organized wholesale electricity markets. IRP focuses on meeting forecasted long-term electricity needs. Typically, utilities have not considered impacts of design and operation of the low-voltage distribution network in IRP. With advanced capabilities of grid-edge technologies to generate and store electricity and provide load flexibility, and large utility investments in distribution systems, it's increasingly important to consider at least some distribution planning elements in IRP. This report considers the value proposition for doing so, such as reducing utility costs through resource co-optimization and strategic siting of grid-edge resources, and idenfities the most important touchpoints between planning for bulk power and distribution systems and provide a range of tactics for integrating these two processes.

Relf, Grace [Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory↗
DOE OSTI2024

Joint Expansion Planning of Power and Water Distribution Networks

This research considers the joint expansion planning of power and water distribution networks, which are interdependent at various levels. We consider the dependency arising through the power consumption of pumps and develop models for integrating new components into existing networks. Then, we formulate the joint expansion planning as a Mixed Integer Nonlinear Program (MINLP). Applying this MINLP to a small-scale test network, we illustrate the advantages offered by joint expansion planning, such as increased flexibility and reduced costs and redundancy, over independently expanding power and water distribution networks.

expansion planning↗
DOE OSTI2024

Grid Resilience Plans: State Requirements, Utility Practices, and Utility Plan Template

As of June 2024, 14 states and one city require jurisdictional electric utilities to file resilience plans. Drawing on these requirements and filed plans, this report offers a standard template that states and utilities can consider to improve utility filings for grid resilience plans, either as part of a distribution system plan or as a separate filing. Key elements include a vulnerability assessment, description of proposed resilience programs, and projected costs and rate impacts. While many of these requirements and plans focus on extreme weather hazards, the template also can be used to address additional threats, including cyber and physical attacks and seismic events.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗
NASA NTRS2006

Advances in Distributed Operations and Mission Activity Planning for Mars Surface Exploration

A centralized mission activity planning system for any long-term mission, such as the Mars Exploration Rover Mission (MER), is completely infeasible due to budget and geographic constraints. A distributed operations system is key to addressing these constraints; therefore, future system and software engineers must focus on the problem of how to provide a secure, reliable, and distributed mission activity planning system. We will explain how Maestro, the next generation mission activity planning system, with its heavy emphasis on portability and distributed operations has been able to meet these design challenges. MER has been an excellent proving ground for Maestro's new approach to distributed operations. The backend that has been developed for Maestro could benefit many future missions by reducing the cost of centralized operations system architecture.

Mars Exploration Rover (MER)↗
NASA NTRS2021

Progress in Scheduling Algorithms for a Collaborative Distributed System for Flight Planning

This Technical Memorandum describes four contributions made by the authors to a larger team effort toward developing a distributed system for scheduling commercial flights at navigation fixes and/or airport runways. These contributions are as follows: (1) a proof of correctness for a scheduling algorithm published previously by Meyn, (2) an improvement of Meyn's algorithm from quadratic to linear time, (3) two independent implementations of the algorithm with test results identical to those published, and (4) an extension of Meyn's algorithm to support minimum usable time intervals.

arrival scheduling↗
NASA NTRS2006

Model-Unified Planning and Execution for Distributed Autonomous System Control

The Intelligent Distributed Execution Architecture (IDEA) is a real-time architecture that exploits artificial intelligence planning as the core reasoning engine for interacting autonomous agents. Rather than enforcing separate deliberation and execution layers, IDEA unifies them under a single planning technology. Deliberative and reactive planners reason about and act according to a single representation of the past, present and future domain state. The domain state behaves the rules dictated by a declarative model of the subsystem to be controlled, internal processes of the IDEA controller, and interactions with other agents. We present IDEA concepts - modeling, the IDEA core architecture, the unification of deliberation and reaction under planning - and illustrate its use in a simple example. Finally, we present several real-world applications of IDEA, and compare IDEA to other high-level control approaches.

Aschwanden, Pascal↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Formal Verification, Distributed Computing, and Path Planning Algorithms

The safety- and mission-critical nature of much of the work done at NASA requires algorithms and software to be exceedingly reliable. Formal methods techniques are one way of ensuring this high level of robustness. This talk will discuss the development and formal verification of autonomous aircraft path planning algorithms related to the Bellman-Ford shortest path algorithm, including consideration of distributed computation of the algorithm.

Formal Methods↗
NASA NTRS1990

An expansion plan for the 60 Hz power distribution system at KSC: LC-39 substations load allocation plan

The increasing load density in the LC-39 area of Kennedy Space Center (KSC) can be met by either modifying the existing substation and increasing its capacity or by planning an additional new substation. Evidence that the later approach is more economical, enhances the system reliability, and would produce more satisfactory performance indices is provided. Network theory is the basis for the optimal location determination of the proposed substation. A load reallocation plan which minimizes investment cost and power losses and meets other desirable system features is drafted. The report should be useful to the system designer and can be a useful guideline for future facility planners.

Kalu, Alex↗
NASA NTRS1998

Distribution of a Generic Mission Planning and Scheduling Toolkit for Astronomical Spacecraft

This 2-year report describes the progress made to date on the project to package and distribute the planning and scheduling toolkit for the SWAS astronomical spacecraft. SWAS was scheduled to be launched on a Pegasus XL vehicle in fall 1995. Three separate failures in the launch vehicle have delayed the SWAS launch. The researchers have used this time to continue developing scheduling algorithms and GUI design. SWAS is expected to be launched this year.

Kleiner, Steven C.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Description and planned use of a data distribution evaluation system for fiber optic data buses

A general description of a laboratory data distribution evaluation system (DDES) is given and some plans to use the system. The DDES is a microprocessor-based evaluation system consisting of three identical terminals. The DDES provides the capability for evaluating different system protocols and data word structures by making appropriate software changes, and different transmission medias and modulation schemes by making front-end hardware changes. A data multiplexing standard for fiber optic data transmission which parallels MIL-STD-1553B has proposed four different data modulation schemes. These modulation schemes will be described along with the plans to evaluate each of them. NASA-Langley has also been developing a data distribution approach which utilizes optical wavelength division multiplexing (WDM). A four-port, four-wavelength WDM system will be described along with the planned use of the DDES to evaluate its performance.

Spencer, J. L.↗
NASA NTRS2006

Advances in distributed operations and mission activity planning for Mars surface exploration

A centralized mission activity planning system for any long-term mission, such as the Mars Exploration Rover Mission (MER), is completely infeasible due to budget and geographic constraints. A distributed operations system is key to addressing these constraints; therefore, future system and software engineers must focus on the problem of how to provide a secure, reliable, and distributed mission activity planning system. We will explain how Maestro, the next generation mission activity planning system, with its heavy emphasis on portability and distributed operations has been able to meet these design challenges. MER has been an excellent proving ground for Maestro's new approach to distributed operations. The backend that has been developed for Maestro could benefit many future missions by reducing the cost of centralized operations system architecture.

Shams, Khawaja↗