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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 721 records · Page 40
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS2003

Software for Displaying High-Frequency Test Data

An easy-to-use, intuitive computer program was written to satisfy a need of test operators and data requestors to quickly view and manipulate high-frequency test data recorded at the East and West Test Areas at Marshall Space Flight Center. By enabling rapid analysis, this program makes it possible to reduce times between test runs, thereby potentially reducing the overall cost of test operations. The program can be used to perform quick frequency analysis, using multiple fast- Fourier-transform windowing and amplitude options. The program can generate amplitude-versus-time plots with full zoom capabilities, frequency-component plots at specified time intervals, and waterfall plots (plots of spectral intensity versus frequency at successive small time intervals, showing the changing frequency components over time). There are options for printing of the plots and saving plot data as text files that can be imported into other application programs. The program can perform all of the aforementioned plotting and plot-data-handling functions on a relatively inexpensive computer; other software that performs the same functions requires computers with large amounts of power and memory.

Elmore, Jason L.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Software design specification. Part 2: Orbital Flight Test (OFT) detailed design specification. Volume 3: Applications. Book 2: System management

The functions performed by the systems management (SM) application software are described along with the design employed to accomplish these functions. The operational sequences (OPS) control segments and the cyclic processes they control are defined. The SM specialist function control (SPEC) segments and the display controlled 'on-demand' processes that are invoked by either an OPS or SPEC control segment as a direct result of an item entry to a display are included. Each processing element in the SM application is described including an input/output table and a structured control flow diagram. The flow through the module and other information pertinent to that process and its interfaces to other processes are included.

Source record↗
DOE OSTI2023

Stochastic Look-Ahead Commitment: A Case Study in MISO

This paper introduces the Stochastic Look Ahead Commitment (SLAC) software prototyped and tested for the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) look ahead commitment process. SLAC can incorporate hundreds of wind, load, and net scheduled interchange (NSI) uncertainty scenarios. It uses a progressive hedging method to solve a novel two-stage stochastic unit commitment. The first stage commitment decisions, made only for those generators whose decision to commit or not in each time period cannot be deferred, can cover the uncertainties within the next three hours. The second stage includes both the dispatch for each of the scenarios and the commitment decisions that can be deferred. Study results on 15 MISO production days show that SLAC may bring economic and reliability benefits under uncertainty.

MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗
NASA NTRS1994

Spacecraft Data Simulator for the test of level zero processing systems

The Microelectronic Systems Branch (MSB) at Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) has developed a Spacecraft Data Simulator (SDS) to support the development, test, and verification of prototype and production Level Zero Processing (LZP) systems. Based on a disk array system, the SDS is capable of generating large test data sets up to 5 Gigabytes and outputting serial test data at rates up to 80 Mbps. The SDS supports data formats including NASA Communication (Nascom) blocks, Consultative Committee for Space Data System (CCSDS) Version 1 & 2 frames and packets, and all the Advanced Orbiting Systems (AOS) services. The capability to simulate both sequential and non-sequential time-ordered downlink data streams with errors and gaps is crucial to test LZP systems. This paper describes the system architecture, hardware and software designs, and test data designs. Examples of test data designs are included to illustrate the application of the SDS.

Shi, Jeff↗
NASA NTRS2004

Teleoperated Modular Robots for Lunar Operations

Solar system exploration is currently carried out by special purpose robots exquisitely designed for the anticipated tasks. However, all contingencies for in situ resource utilization (ISRU), human habitat preparation, and exploration will be difficult to anticipate. Furthermore, developing the necessary special purpose mechanisms for deployment and other capabilities is difficult and error prone. For example, the Galileo high gain antenna never opened, severely restricting the quantity of data returned by the spacecraft. Also, deployment hardware is used only once. To address these problems, we are developing teleoperated modular robots for lunar missions, including operations in transit from Earth. Teleoperation of lunar systems from Earth involves a three second speed-of-light delay, but experiment suggests that interactive operations are feasible.' Modular robots typically consist of many identical modules that pass power and data between them and can be reconfigured for different tasks providing great flexibility, inherent redundancy and graceful degradation as modules fail. Our design features a number of different hub, link, and joint modules to simplify the individual modules, lower structure cost, and provide specialized capabilities. Modular robots are well suited for space applications because of their extreme flexibility, inherent redundancy, high-density packing, and opportunities for mass production. Simple structural modules can be manufactured from lunar regolith in situ using molds or directed solar sintering. Software to direct and control modular robots is difficult to develop. We have used genetic algorithms to evolve both the morphology and control system for walking modular robots3 We are currently using evolvable system technology to evolve controllers for modular robots in the ISS glove box. Development of lunar modular robots will require software and physical simulators, including regolith simulation, to enable design and test of robot software and hardware, particularly automation software. Ready access to these simulators could provide opportunities for contest-driven development ala RoboCup (http://www.robocup.org/). Licensing of module designs could provide opportunities in the toy market and for spin-off applications.

Globus, Al↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Verification and Validation of Elastodynamic Simulation Software for Aerospace Research

Physics-based simulation of nondestructive evaluation (NDE) inspection can help to advance the inspectability and reliability of mechanical systems. However, NDE simulations applicable to non-idealized mechanical components often require large compute domains and long run times. This has prompted development of custom NDE simulation software tailored to high performance computing (HPC) hardware. Verification and validation (V&V) is an integral part of developing this software to ensure implementations are robust and applicable to inspection problems, producing tools and simulations suitable for computational NDE research. This presentation addresses factors common to V&V of several elastodynamic simulation codes applicable to ultrasonic NDE. Examples are drawn from in-house simulation software at NASA Langley Research Center, ranging from ensuring reliability in a 1D heterogeneous media wave equation solver to the V&V needs of 3D cluster-parallel elastodynamic software. Factors specific to a research environment are addressed, where individual simulation results can be as relevant as the software product itself. Distinct facets of V&V are discussed including testing to establish software reliability, employing systematic approaches for consistency with fundamental conservation laws, establishing the numerical stability of algorithms, and demonstrating concurrence with empirical data. This talk also addresses V&V practices for small groups of researchers. This includes establishing resources (e.g. time and personnel) for V&V during project planning to mitigate and control the risk of setbacks. Similarly, we identify ways for individual researchers to use V&V during simulation software development itself to both speed up the development process and reduce incurred technical debt.

NDE↗
DOE OSTI2016

Google Test MPI Listener

Google Test MPI Listener is a plugin for the Google Test c++ unit testing library that organizes test output of software that uses both the MPI parallel programming model and Google Test. Typically, such output is ordered arbitrarily and disorganized, making difficult the process of interpreting test output. This plug organizes output in MPI rank order, enabling easy interpretation of test results.

Oxberry, Geoffrey↗
NASA NTRS1994

Using virtual reality for science mission planning: A Mars Pathfinder case

NASA's Mars Pathfinder Project requires a Ground Data System (GDS) that supports both engineering and scientific payloads with reduced mission operations staffing, and short planning schedules. Also, successful surface operation of the lander camera requires efficient mission planning and accurate pointing of the camera. To meet these challenges, a new software strategy that integrates virtual reality technology with existing navigational ancillary information and image processing capabilities. The result is an interactive workstation based applications software that provides a high resolution, 3-dimensial, stereo display of Mars as if it were viewed through the lander camera. The design, implementation strategy and parametric specification phases for the development of this software were completed, and the prototype tested. When completed, the software will allow scientists and mission planners to access simulated and actual scenes of Mars' surface. The perspective from the lander camera will enable scientists to plan activities more accurately and completely. The application will also support the sequence and command generation process and will allow testing and verification of camera pointing commands via simulation.

Kim, Jacqueline H.↗
NASA NTRS2006

Software Tools for Developing and Simulating the NASA LaRC CMF Motion Base

The NASA Langley Research Center (LaRC) Cockpit Motion Facility (CMF) motion base has provided many design and analysis challenges. In the process of addressing these challenges, a comprehensive suite of software tools was developed. The software tools development began with a detailed MATLAB/Simulink model of the motion base which was used primarily for safety loads prediction, design of the closed loop compensator and development of the motion base safety systems1. A Simulink model of the digital control law, from which a portion of the embedded code is directly generated, was later added to this model to form a closed loop system model. Concurrently, software that runs on a PC was created to display and record motion base parameters. It includes a user interface for controlling time history displays, strip chart displays, data storage, and initializing of function generators used during motion base testing. Finally, a software tool was developed for kinematic analysis and prediction of mechanical clearances for the motion system. These tools work together in an integrated package to support normal operations of the motion base, simulate the end to end operation of the motion base system providing facilities for software-in-the-loop testing, mechanical geometry and sensor data visualizations, and function generator setup and evaluation.

Bryant, Richard B., Jr.↗
DOE OSTI2015

On-Site Inspection RadioIsotopic Spectroscopy (Osiris) System Development

We have designed and tested hardware and software for the acquisition and analysis of high-resolution gamma-ray spectra during on-site inspections under the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT). The On-Site Inspection RadioIsotopic Spectroscopy—Osiris—software filters the spectral data to display only radioisotopic information relevant to CTBT on-site inspections, e.g.,132I. A set of over 100 fission-product spectra was employed for Osiris testing. These spectra were measured, where possible, or generated by modeling. The synthetic test spectral compositions include non-nuclear-explosion scenarios, e.g., a severe nuclear reactor accident, and nuclear-explosion scenarios such as a vented underground nuclear test. Comparing its computer-based analyses to expert visual analyses of the test spectra, Osiris correctly identifies CTBT-relevant fission product isotopes at the 95% level or better.The Osiris gamma-ray spectrometer is a mechanically-cooled, battery-powered ORTEC Transpec-100, chosen to avoid the need for liquid nitrogen during on-site inspections. The spectrometer was used successfully during the recent 2014 CTBT Integrated Field Exercise in Jordan. The spectrometer is controlled and the spectral data analyzed by a Panasonic Toughbook notebook computer. To date, software development has been the main focus of the Osiris project. In FY2016-17, we plan to modify the Osiris hardware, integrate the Osiris software and hardware, and conduct rigorous field tests to ensure that the Osiris system will function correctly during CTBT on-site inspections. The planned development will raise Osiris to technology readiness level TRL-8; transfer the Osiris technology to a commercial manufacturer, and demonstrate Osiris to potential CTBT on-site inspectors.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2019

ParaDyn Test Suite: Coverage Analysis

A summary and analysis of the ParaDyn source code covered by the ParaDyn Software Quality Assurance test suite is presented. The fraction of files, functions and blocks executed by the ParaDyn test suite on CPU-based architectures are 89%, 52% and 49%, respectively, as quantified by Intel’s Code Coverage Tool. When select GPU-related files are excluded, the code coverage tool shows that 89% of the files, 77% of the functions, and 56% of the code blocks are covered. It is generally considered that 70-80% coverage is a reasonable target. The primary features and general areas not currently covered by the ParaDyn test suite are identified for future inclusion in the test suite.

42 ENGINEERING↗
NASA NTRS1987

Software reliability perspectives

Software which is used in life critical functions must be known to be highly reliable before installation. This requires a strong testing program to estimate the reliability, since neither formal methods, software engineering nor fault tolerant methods can guarantee perfection. Prior to the final testing software goes through a debugging period and many models have been developed to try to estimate reliability from the debugging data. However, the existing models are poorly validated and often give poor performance. This paper emphasizes the fact that part of their failures can be attributed to the random nature of the debugging data given to these models as input, and it poses the problem of correcting this defect as an area of future research.

Wilson, Larry↗
DOE OSTI2017

Introducing Human Mandible Identification [(hu)MANid]: A Free, Web‐Based GUI to Classify Human Mandibles

Abstract Statistical programs have revolutionized the way in which forensic anthropologists conduct casework by allowing practitioners to use computationally complex analytics at the click of a button. Importantly, the products of these statistical programs are reproducible and contain measures of error or uncertainty, thereby strengthening conclusions. This paper is an introduction to (hu) MAN id, a free, web‐based application that uses linear and mixture discriminant function analyses to classify human mandibles into one of many worldwide and/or periodic reference groups. The mechanics, development, and use of the application will be discussed. Further, the program was tested against other software to compare model performances and classifications. Total correct classifications among the test cases and programs were identical. Ten mandibles were tested using both statistical procedures. Mixture discriminant analysis improved classification by an average of 9.3% and correctly identified three more mandibles than LDA . Therefore, we believe (hu) MAN id will be an asset to the anthropological community.

Berg, Gregory E.↗
DOE OSTI2023

Verification Testing of Body Forces due to a Prescribed Angular Velocity in DYNA3D/Paradyn

This report documents the verification testing and regression testing done on a new feature in DYNA3D/Paradyn, which allows users to prescribe body force loads based upon an angular velocity. This feature is unique in that the direction of the angular velocity vector follows the unit vector formed by two coordinate points associated with two nodes or the average coordinates of two separate small collection of nodes. The angular velocity direction will follow the directional vector defined by these nodes while the angular velocity magnitude is defined by a load curve. A simple single element verification test was performed to determine the correct implementation of this feature, and two separate regression tests were added to the DYNA3D Software Quality Assur ance test suite. The nodal positions, velocities, and accelerations from the solution of the single element verification test compare well to analytically derived values of those nodal quantities. The regression tests serve as good examples of this new feature’s use case and were consequently added to the SQA test suite to ensure that further modifications of the DYNA3D source code do not unintentionally change the generated baseline answers.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2023

Flow Sensor Test Article (F-STAr) - Assembly and Water Testing Report

The Flow Sensor Test Article (F-STAr) is a new test article under development for the Mechanisms Engineering Test Loop (METL) facility at Argonne National Laboratory. F-STAr’s purpose is to provide sodium submersible, high flowrate testing capabilities for the development of sensors, components, fluid studies and more. This report will provide a status update on the assembly and initial qualification testing of F-STAr. All components have been manufactured and received. Some modifications to these components were made to support minor changes in the test article design. Additionally, the power distribution, and data acquisition and control enclosures were designed, completed, and tested along with the control system software. Furthermore, initial qualification testing was completed in water. Finally, the F-STAr submersible Electromagnetic Flowmeter (EMFM) was completed and calibrated in flowing sodium.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2024

Ristra Project FY23 L2 Milestone Report, Rev.1: MRT #8541: Multiphysics Scaling on EAS-3

The findings of this report were used to close out the ATDM milestone MRT# 8541, which was designed to demonstrate readiness of ATDM multiphysics codes for mission-relevant work on ATS-4, El Capitan. To this end, the closure criteria were to run a 3D shaped charge problem at scale up to 50% of the El Capitan early-access system, RZVernal (AMD Trento CPUs and AMD MI-250X GPUs), demonstrate scalability, and document challenges with the software stack and environment. LANL’s approach to this milestone was to test our modular software capability by developing an entirely new code, Moya, built upon our FleCSI framework. The physics capability and the GPU infrastructure needed for the shaped charge problem on GPUs was added to Moya, and the required calculations were performed at scale. Moya showed good scaling without any fine-tuning of GPU kernels; there is still significant room for performance enhancements, especially for the Legion backend. Tied up in this L2 milestone was a closeout of KPP-3s for the ECP ST Projects at LANL; this material will be covered in a separate document.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗