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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 91 records · Page 5
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS2017

Risk-Significant Adverse Condition Awareness Strengthens Assurance of Fault Management Systems

As spaceflight systems increase in complexity, Fault Management (FM) systems are ranked high in risk-based assessment of software criticality, emphasizing the importance of establishing highly competent domain expertise to provide assurance. Adverse conditions (ACs) and specific vulnerabilities encountered by safety- and mission-critical software systems have been identified through efforts to reduce the risk posture of software-intensive NASA missions. Acknowledgement of potential off-nominal conditions and analysis to determine software system resiliency are important aspects of hazard analysis and FM. A key component of assuring FM is an assessment of how well software addresses susceptibility to failure through consideration of ACs. Focus on significant risk predicted through experienced analysis conducted at the NASA Independent Verification & Validation (IV&V) Program enables the scoping of effective assurance strategies with regard to overall asset protection of complex spaceflight as well as ground systems. Research efforts sponsored by NASAs Office of Safety and Mission Assurance (OSMA) defined terminology, categorized data fields, and designed a baseline repository that centralizes and compiles a comprehensive listing of ACs and correlated data relevant across many NASA missions. This prototype tool helps projects improve analysis by tracking ACs and allowing queries based on project, mission type, domain/component, causal fault, and other key characteristics. Vulnerability in off-nominal situations, architectural design weaknesses, and unexpected or undesirable system behaviors in reaction to faults are curtailed with the awareness of ACs and risk-significant scenarios modeled for analysts through this database. Integration within the Enterprise Architecture at NASA IV&V enables interfacing with other tools and datasets, technical support, and accessibility across the Agency. This paper discusses the development of an improved workflow process utilizing this database for adaptive, risk-informed FM assurance that critical software systems will safely and securely protect against faults and respond to ACs in order to achieve successful missions.

IV&V↗
NASA NTRS2017

Risk-Significant Adverse Condition Awareness Strengthens Assurance of Fault Management Systems

As spaceflight systems increase in complexity, Fault Management (FM) systems are ranked high in risk-based assessment of software criticality, emphasizing the importance of establishing highly competent domain expertise to provide assurance. Adverse conditions (ACs) and specific vulnerabilities encountered by safety- and mission-critical software systems have been identified through efforts to reduce the risk posture of software-intensive NASA missions. Acknowledgement of potential off-nominal conditions and analysis to determine software system resiliency are important aspects of hazard analysis and FM. A key component of assuring FM is an assessment of how well software addresses susceptibility to failure through consideration of ACs. Focus on significant risk predicted through experienced analysis conducted at the NASA Independent Verification Validation (IVV) Program enables the scoping of effective assurance strategies with regard to overall asset protection of complex spaceflight as well as ground systems. Research efforts sponsored by NASA's Office of Safety and Mission Assurance defined terminology, categorized data fields, and designed a baseline repository that centralizes and compiles a comprehensive listing of ACs and correlated data relevant across many NASA missions. This prototype tool helps projects improve analysis by tracking ACs and allowing queries based on project, mission type, domaincomponent, causal fault, and other key characteristics. Vulnerability in off-nominal situations, architectural design weaknesses, and unexpected or undesirable system behaviors in reaction to faults are curtailed with the awareness of ACs and risk-significant scenarios modeled for analysts through this database. Integration within the Enterprise Architecture at NASA IVV enables interfacing with other tools and datasets, technical support, and accessibility across the Agency. This paper discusses the development of an improved workflow process utilizing this database for adaptive, risk-informed FM assurance that critical software systems will safely and securely protect against faults and respond to ACs in order to achieve successful missions.

Fault management↗
NASA NTRS2018

An Abstract Interpretation Framework for the Round-Off Error Analysis of Floating-Point Programs

This paper presents an abstract interpretation framework for the round-off error analysis of floating-point programs. This framework defines a parametric abstract analysis that computes, for each combination of ideal and floating-point execution path of the program, a sound over-approximation of the accumulated floating-point round-off error that may occur. In addition, a Boolean expression that characterizes the input values leading to the computed error approximation is also computed. An abstraction on the control flow of the program is proposed to mitigate the explosion of the number of elements generated by the analysis. Additionally, a widening operator is defined to ensure the convergence of recursive functions and loops. An instantiation of this framework is implemented in the prototype tool PRECiSA that generates formal proof certificates stating the correctness of the computed round-off errors.

Titolo, Laura↗
NASA NTRS2023

Exploration Habitat (X-Hab) 2013-2014 Academic Innovation Challenge

Outreach activities were coordinated with OSU’s NASA Education Office and focused around the Space Habitat Innovation Challenge. Two challenges were developed for this year: the Rapidly Prototyped Tool Challenge (RaPTC) and the Space Habitat Airlock Challenge (SHAC). RaPTC was open to eligible high school student teams while SHAC was open to eligible community college student teams. Teams involved 3-6 students from 12 states across the country and submitted videos or virtual presentations.1 Entries were judged by the OSU XHab students and were provided with feedback on feasibility and design. Three groups in each challenge were selected as finalists for a final virtual presentation and interview with students and professors in the engineering program at Oklahoma State University. Three groups total were selected to present their design to engineers and astronauts at a NASA JSC. Judges included astronauts Joe Acaba, Nicole Stott, and Dottie Metcalf-Lindenburger.

Jamey D Jacob↗
NASA NTRS2024

A Computational Framework for Making Early Design Decisions in Deep Space Habitats

The dynamics of systems of systems often involve complex interactions among the individual systems, making the implications of design choices challenging to predict. Design features in such systems may trigger unexpected behaviors or result in large variations in safety, performance or resilience. To provide a means of simulating such systems for aiding in these decisions, we have developed a prototype tool, the control-oriented dynamic computational modeling tool (CDCM). The CDCM provides rapid simulation capabilities to perform trade studies in systems of systems. The general class of systems of systems that we aim to examine involve multiple hazards, damage, cascading consequences, repair and recovery. We especially focus on systems-of-systems that incorporate a health management system (HMS) that can monitor the state of the habitat and make decisions about actions to take. In this paper we describe the features of the CDCM, the architecture we devised for simulation of systems-of-systems, the unique functionalities of this tool, and we provide a demonstration of the capabilities by performing two illustrative examples. We articulate the use of this tool for making early design decisions and demonstrate its use for trade studies that consider a model of a deep space habitat. We also share some experiences and lessons that may be useful for others seeking to address similar problems.

Amir Behjat↗
NASA NTRS1988

Development of a prototype commonality analysis tool for use in space programs

A software tool to aid in performing commonality analyses, called Commonality Analysis Problem Solver (CAPS), was designed, and a prototype version (CAPS 1.0) was implemented and tested. The CAPS 1.0 runs in an MS-DOS or IBM PC-DOS environment. The CAPS is designed around a simple input language which provides a natural syntax for the description of feasibility constraints. It provides its users with the ability to load a database representing a set of design items, describe the feasibility constraints on items in that database, and do a comprehensive cost analysis to find the most economical substitution pattern.

Yeager, Dorian P.↗
DOE OSTI2025

Standardization of ancillary installation tooling for SRF cavities at Fermilab

For assemblies of cavities in cleanrooms, single-use tooling systems are made for the alignment and installation of ancillary components such as couplers and bellows. To minimize the number of tooling sets created, a design has been created to standardize alignment features to allow for assembly of different components with one set of tooling. A prototype set of tooling has been developed to with the required degrees of freedom for multiple assemblies while minimizing deformation during the assembly process. Prototype designs have been created for PIP-II SSR2 and 650 Cavities and for AUP Crab Cavities. Using 3D printing, this tooling can be quickly adjusted to allow for different ancillary components. The development process and status of the design will be discussed.

Narug, C. [Fermilab]↗
DOE OSTI2024

Standardization of Ancillary Installation Tooling for SRF Cavities at Fermilab

For assemblies of cavities in cleanrooms, single-use tooling systems are made for the alignment and installation of ancillary components such as couplers and bellows. To try and minimize the amount of tooling sets used, a design has been created to standardize alignment features to allow for assembly of different components with one set of tooling. A prototype set of tooling has been developed to with the required degrees of freedom for multiple assemblies while minimizing deformation during the assembly process. Prototype designs have been created for PIP-II SSR2 and 650 Cavities and for AUP Crab Cavities. Using 3D printing, this tooling can be quickly adjusted to allow for different ancillary components. The development process and status of the design will be discussed.

Narug, Colin↗
NASA NTRS2008

Automated Translation of Safety Critical Application Software Specifications into PLC Ladder Logic

The numerous benefits of automatic application code generation are widely accepted within the software engineering community. A few of these benefits include raising the abstraction level of application programming, shorter product development time, lower maintenance costs, and increased code quality and consistency. Surprisingly, code generation concepts have not yet found wide acceptance and use in the field of programmable logic controller (PLC) software development. Software engineers at the NASA Kennedy Space Center (KSC) recognized the need for PLC code generation while developing their new ground checkout and launch processing system. They developed a process and a prototype software tool that automatically translates a high-level representation or specification of safety critical application software into ladder logic that executes on a PLC. This process and tool are expected to increase the reliability of the PLC code over that which is written manually, and may even lower life-cycle costs and shorten the development schedule of the new control system at KSC. This paper examines the problem domain and discusses the process and software tool that were prototyped by the KSC software engineers.

Leucht, Kurt W.↗
NASA NTRS1994

Robotic Tool Changer For Automated Welding

Prototype robotic tool changer for automated welding system eliminates need for most manual tool setups and attendant problems: operates rapidly, always chooses designated tool, maneuvers tip of welding torch or other tool in correct position, and reliably connects water, gas, welding wire, high-voltage electrical signals, and ground. Also loads tools other than those for welding. Intended for use in robotic work cell producing all good parts, no rejects. In production, robot welds part, tests for flaws, and reworks as necessary before releasing it.

Gilbert, Jeffrey L.↗
NASA NTRS1998

Virtual Environment Design for Low/Zero Visibility Tower Tools

This paper describes prototype software for three-dimensional display of aircraft movement based on realtime radar and other Air Traffic Control (ATC) information. This prototype can be used to develop operational tools for controllers in ATC Towers who cannot view aircraft in low or zero visibility (LZV) weather conditions. The controller could also use the software to arbitrarily reposition his virtual eyepoint to overcome physical obstructions or increase situation awareness. The LZV Tower tool prototype consists of server and client components. The server interfaces to operational ATC radar and communications systems, sending processed data to a client process written in java. This client process runs under Netscape Communicator to provide an interactive perspective display of aircraft in the airport environment. Prototype VRML airport models were derived from 3-D databases used in FAA-certified high fidelity flight-simulators. The web-based design offers potential efficiency increases and decreased costs in the development and deployment of operational LZV Tower tools.

Reisman, Ron↗
DOE OSTI2021

HIPPO – A Software Platform for Electricity Market Research and Development

The goal of this project is to provide Regional transmission organizations (RTOs) and independent system operators (ISOs) a market design and prototyping software, High-Performance Power-Grid Optimization (HIPPO), that they can evaluate electricity market design options, calculate market planning strategies and operational performance. With the high standards and strict reliability requirements for operating power systems, impacts of new technologies need to be fully investigated prior to any consideration for adoption. A market design and prototyping software tool which can be used to prototype electricity market design options, to calculate market planning strategies and operational performance with high precision, and to investigate the impacts for integrating future power grid technologies will be valuable to RTOs/ISOs who operate power systems, to vendors like GE and ABB who provide the market solvers, and to market participants and researchers who are actively doing market research. HIPPO is a such tool that can be used to improve the current market operations and provide capabilities for rigorous forward-looking design and prototyping of next-generation energy markets. HIPPO has a high-resolution model for the day-ahead SCUC, which was validated with MISO and GE-Grid Solutions. HIPPO is built with parallel and distributed computing capabilities and can be executed in both multi-thread and high-performance computing (HPC) settings. This capability provides fast solution speed necessary to handle the larger and more complex SCUC problems of real-world cases and the potentially growing size and complexity of future scenarios. In addition, HIPPO has a concurrent optimizer (CO) which manages multiple algorithm executions simultaneously and leverages the advantages from different algorithms. This structure provides flexibility to better benchmark competing approaches. Highly accurate market model, fast solution technologies and flexible model and algorithm control are the features which will make HIPPO an extensible platform for developing and testing multiple approaches to meet a wide range of future market needs.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗
NASA NTRS1992

The MERMAID project

The tendency for software development projects to be completed over schedule and over budget was documented extensively. Additionally many projects are completed within budgetary and schedule target only as a result of the customer agreeing to accept reduced functionality. In his classic book, The Mythical Man Month, Fred Brooks exposes the fallacy that effort and schedule are freely interchangeable. All current cost models are produced on the assumption that there is very limited scope for schedule compression unless there is a corresponding reduction in delivered functionality. The Metrication and Resources Modeling Aid (MERMAID) project, partially financed by the Commission of the European Communities (CEC) as Project 2046 began in Oct. 1988 and its goal were as follows: (1) improvement of understanding of the relationships between software development productivity and product and process metrics; (2) to facilitate the widespread technology transfer from the Consortium to the European Software Industry; and (3) to facilitate the widespread uptake of cost estimation techniques by the provision of prototype cost estimation tools. MERMAID developed a family of methods for cost estimation, many of which have had tools implemented in prototypes. These prototypes are best considered as toolkits or workbenches.

Cowderoy, A. J. C.↗
DOE OSTI2025

Alquimia v1.0: a generic interface to biogeochemical codes – a tool for interoperable development, prototyping and benchmarking for multiphysics simulators

Alquimia v1.0 is a generic interface to geochemical solvers that facilitates development of multiphysics simulators by enabling code coupling, prototyping and benchmarking. The interface enforces the function arguments and their types for setting up, solving, serving up output data and carrying out other common auxiliary tasks while providing a set of structures for data transfer between the multiphysics code driving the simulation and the geochemical solver. Alquimia relies on a single-cell approach that permits operator splitting coupling and parallel computation. We describe the implementation in Alquimia of two widely used open-source codes that perform geochemical calculations: PFLOTRAN and CrunchFlow. We then exemplify its use for the implementation and simulation of reactive transport in porous media by two open-source flow and transport simulators: Amanzi and ParFlow. We also demonstrate its use for the simulation of coupled processes in novel multiphysics applications including the effect of multiphase flow on reaction rates at the pore scale with OpenFOAM, the role of complex biogeochemical processes in land surface models such as the E3SM Land Model (ELM) and the impact of surface–subsurface hydrological interactions on hydrogeochemical export from watersheds with the Advanced Terrestrial Simulator (ATS). These applications make it apparent that the availability of a well-defined yet flexible interface has the potential to improve the software development workflow, freeing up resources to focus on advances in process models and mechanistic understanding of coupled problems.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
NASA NTRS1988

Developing integrated parametric planning models for budgeting and managing complex projects

The applicability of integrated parametric models for the budgeting and management of complex projects is investigated. Methods for building a very flexible, interactive prototype for a project planning system, and software resources available for this purpose, are discussed and evaluated. The prototype is required to be sensitive to changing objectives, changing target dates, changing costs relationships, and changing budget constraints. To achieve the integration of costs and project and task durations, parametric cost functions are defined by a process of trapezoidal segmentation, where the total cost for the project is the sum of the various project cost segments, and each project cost segment is the integral of a linearly segmented cost loading function over a specific interval. The cost can thus be expressed algebraically. The prototype was designed using Lotus-123 as the primary software tool. This prototype implements a methodology for interactive project scheduling that provides a model of a system that meets most of the goals for the first phase of the study and some of the goals for the second phase.

Etnyre, Vance A.↗