Engineering Papers⌕ Search

SEARCH · Engineering Papers

Results for “SMART”

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 901 records · Page 50
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

To the Die Smartly: Heavy Ion Testing of PEMs on COTS Boards Through the Plastic

Seven commercial off the shelf (COTS) boards containing electronic devices (all in plastic packages, PEMS), under consideration for use in a spacecraft subsystem, were exposed to beams of very high energy ions at the National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory (MSU). The ion energies were high enough that an entire board could be exposed in air, and it could still penetrate through the plastic and reach the silicon die. A total of about 300 runs were made, and for each, the LET of the ion entering the silicon die had to be determined, based on the thickness of the plastic lid and the thickness of overlaying materials (e.g., aluminum degraders). Single event latchup (SEL) and functional interrupt (SEFI) were determined during each run, the SEFI by means of simple programs being continuously written to and read from the boards to monitor functionality, while each part was being exposed to the heavy ions.

Wert, J. L.↗
NASA NTRS1999

Vibration Analysis and Control of Flexible Beam by Using Smart Damping Structures

The temperature effects on frequency, loss factor and control of a flexible beam with a constrained viscoelastic layer and shape memory alloy layer (SMA) are discussed. It is shown that the temperature in the SMA (actuation) layer is very important in the determination of frequency and loss factor of such a structure. The effects of damping layer shear modulus and damping layer height as affected by the temperature are also discussed. As temperature plays such an important role, it is, therefore, imperative to evaluate temperature effects on the control of the system as well. Results with and without active control are discussed.

Chen, Q.↗
NASA NTRS1999

Fiber Optic Sensor Components and Systems for Smart Materials and Structures

The general objective of the funded research effort has been the development of discrete and distributed fiber sensors and fiber optic centered opto-electronic networks for the intelligent monitoring of phenomena in various aerospace structures related to NASA Marshall specific applications. In particular, we have proposed and have been developing technologies that we believe to be readily transferrable and which involve new fabrication techniques. The associated sensors developed can be incorporated into the matrix or on the surfaces of structures for the purpose of sensing stress, strain, temperature-both low and high, pressure field variations, phase changes, and the presence of various chemical constituents.

Lyons, R.↗
NASA NTRS2000

Autonomous Landing and Smart Anchoring for In-Situ Exploration of Small Bodies

Future NASA missions include in-situ scientific explorations of small interplanetary objects like comets and asteroids. Sample acquisition systems are envisioned to operate directly from the landers that are anchored to the surface. Landing and anchoring proves to be challenging in the absence of an attitude control system and in the presence of nearly zero-gravity environments with uncertain surface terrain and unknown mechanical properties. This paper presents recent advancements in developing a novel landing and anchoring control system for the exploration of small bodies.

Ghavimi, Ali R.↗
NASA NTRS2000

Patch Network for Power Allocation and Distribution in Smart Materials

The power allocation and distribution (PAD) circuitry is capable of allocating and distributing a single or multiple sources of power over multi-elements of a power user grid system. The purpose of this invention is to allocate and distribute power that is collected by individual patch rectennas to a region of specific power-user devices, such as actuators. The patch rectenna converts microwave power into DC power. Then this DC power is used to drive actuator devices. However, the power from patch rectennas is not sufficient to drive actuators unless all the collected power is effectively used to drive another group by allocation and distribution. The power allocation and distribution (PAD) circuitry solves the shortfall of power for devices in a large array. The PAD concept is based on the networked power control in which power collected over the whole array of rectennas is allocated to a sub domain where a group of devices is required to be activated for operation. Then the allocated power is distributed to individual element of power-devices in the sub domain according to a selected run-mode.

Golembiewski, Walter T.↗
NASA NTRS2001

Infrared Fibers for Use in Space-Based Smart Structures

Infrared optical fibers are finding a number of applications including laser surgery, remote sensing, and nuclear radiation resistant links. Utilizing these fibers in space-based structures is another application, which can be exploited. Acoustic and thermal sensing are two areas in which these fibers could be utilized. In particular, fibers could be embedded in IM7/8552 toughened epoxy and incorporated into space structures both external and internal. ZBLAN optical fibers are a candidate, which have been studied extensively over the past 20 years for terrestrial applications. For the past seven years the effects of gravity on the crystallization behavior of ZBLAN optical fiber has been studied. It has been found that ZBLAN crystallization is suppressed in microgravity. This lack of crystallization leads to a fiber with better transmission characteristics than its terrestrial counterpart.

Tucker, Dennis S.↗
NASA NTRS1998

Software Smarts

Under an SBIR (Small Business Innovative Research) contract with Johnson Space Center, Knowledge Based Systems Inc. (KBSI) developed an intelligent software environment for modeling and analyzing mission planning activities, simulating behavior, and, using a unique constraint propagation mechanism, updating plans with each change in mission planning activities. KBSI developed this technology into a commercial product, PROJECTLINK, a two-way bridge between PROSIm, KBSI's process modeling and simulation software and leading project management software like Microsoft Project and Primavera's SureTrak Project Manager.

Source record↗
NASA NTRS1993

Smart Starter

A NASA-developed technology provides an effective and economical method of starting standard three phase motors. Firing Circuits, Inc. uses the power factor controller in its Wattstop Reduced Voltage AC Motor Starters. The power factor controller matches voltage with a motor's actual need by continuously sensing shifts between voltage and circuit. Energy savings range from 8 to 65 percent. Wattstops are used on cranes, hoists, conveyors, fans, as well as in papermaking, woodworking, metalworking, and many other applications.

Source record↗
NASA NTRS1984

Big Savings from Smart Motors

Chesebrough-Pond's operates 32 plants across the nation and in those plants are more than 10,000 electric motors. In an effort to cut down on waste of electrical power used by these motors, Chesebrough organized a Corporate Advanced Technology Group to devise ways of improving productivity and cut manufacturing costs. Chesebrough used NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center's Power Factor Controller technology as a departure point for development of their own computerized motor controller that enables motors to operate at maximum efficiency regardless of the motor's applications or operating condition.

Source record↗
NASA NTRS2003

Smart Buying

When it came time to buy the next-generation data storage system for the Mission Control Center at Johnson Space Center, we asked our contractor who provides Control Center support to come up with a solution that would consolidate three current storage systems, as well as provide additional capability and functionality - all without spending vast amounts of money. Eventually, the contractor's report arrived at my office. To my great disappointment, the proposed system came along with a multi-million dollar price tag. And, even more disappointing, the system relied on the same technology we already had in place and wouldn't deliver much additional functionality. It was clear that we needed to come up with a better solution-the best we could buy. But how do you buy the best technology, when you don't even know what technology is out there?

Gonzalez, Steven A.↗
NASA NTRS2003

Designing It Smart With SIV

When research staff at NASA s Glenn Research Center developed and patented Stereo Imaging Velocimetry (SIV), the world s first three-dimensional (3-D), full-field quantitative and qualitative analysis tool to investigate flow velocities, experiments that were previously impossible became a reality. Seizing the opportunity to commercialize NASA s breakthrough invention, Digital Interface Systems (DIS), Inc., of North Olmsted, Ohio, acquired an exclusive license to market SIV, which has a range of applications from improving the aerodynamics of aircraft and automobiles to avoiding "no flow" regions in artificial hearts.

Source record↗
NASA NTRS1999

Smart Objects, Dumb Archives: A User-Centric, Layered Digital Library Framework

Currently, there exist a large number of superb digital libraries, all of which are, unfortunately, vertically integrated and all presenting a monolithic interface to their users. Ideally, a user would want to locate resources from a variety of digital libraries dealing only with one interface. A number of approaches exist to this interoperability issue exist including: defining a universal protocol for all libraries to adhere to; or developing mechanisms to translate between protocols. The approach we illustrate in this paper is to push down the level of universal protocols to one for digital object communication and for communication for simple archives. This approach creates the opportunity for digital library service providers to create digital libraries tailored to the needs of user communities drawing from available archives and individual publishers who adhere to this standard. We have created a reference implementation based on the hyper text transfer protocol (http) with the protocols being derived from the Dienst protocol. We have created a special class of digital objects called buckets and a number of archives based on a NASA collection and NSF funded projects. Starting from NCSTRL we have developed a set of digital library services called NCSTRL+ and have created digital libraries for researchers, educators and students that can each draw on all the archives and individually created buckets.

Maly, Kurt↗
NASA NTRS2002

A Nonlinear Theory for Smart Composite Structures

The paper discusses the following: (1) Development of a completely coupled thermo-piezoelectric-mechanical theory for the analysis of composite shells with segmented and distributed piezoelectric sensor/actuators and shape memory alloys. The higher order displacement theory will be used to capture the transverse shear effects in anisotropic composites. The original theory will be modified to satisfy the stress continuity at ply interfaces. (2) Development of a finite element technique to implement the mathematical model. (3) Investigation of the coupled structures/controls interaction problem to study the complex trade-offs associated with the coupled problem.

Chattopadhyay, Aditi↗
NASA NTRS2004

Smart Camera Technology Increases Quality

When it comes to real-time image processing, everyone is an expert. People begin processing images at birth and rapidly learn to control their responses through the real-time processing of the human visual system. The human eye captures an enormous amount of information in the form of light images. In order to keep the brain from becoming overloaded with all the data, portions of an image are processed at a higher resolution than others, such as a traffic light changing colors. changing colors. In the same manner, image processing products strive to extract the information stored in light in the most efficient way possible. Digital cameras available today capture millions of pixels worth of information from incident light. However, at frame rates more than a few per second, existing digital interfaces are overwhelmed. All the user can do is store several frames to memory until that memory is full and then subsequent information is lost. New technology pairs existing digital interface technology with an off-the-shelf complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) imager to provide more than 500 frames per second of specialty image processing. The result is a cost-effective detection system unlike any other.

Source record↗
NASA NTRS2004

Processing Techniques Developed to Fabricate Lanthanum Titanate Piezoceramic Material for High-Temperature Smart Structures

Piezoelectric ceramic materials are potential candidates for use as actuators and sensors in intelligent gas turbine engines. For piezoceramics to be applied in gas turbine engines, they will have to be able to function in temperatures ranging from 1000 to 2500 F. However, the maximum use temperature for state-of-the-art piezoceramic materials is on the order of 300 to 400 F. Research activities have been initiated to develop high-temperature piezoceramic materials for gas turbine engine applications. Lanthanum titanate has been shown to have high-temperature piezoelectric properties with Curie temperatures of T(sub c) = 1500 C and use temperatures greater than 1000 C. However, the fabrication of lanthanum titanate poses serious challenges because of the very high sintering temperatures required for densification. Two different techniques have been developed at the NASA Glenn Research Center to fabricate dense lanthanum titanate piezoceramic material. In one approach, lower sintering temperatures were achieved by adding yttrium oxide to commercially available lanthanum titanate powder. Addition of only 0.1 mol% yttrium oxide lowered the sintering temperature by as much as 300 C, to just 1100 C, and dense lanthanum titanate was produced by pressure-assisted sintering. The second approach utilized the same commercially available powders but used an innovative sintering approach called differential sintering, which did not require any additive.

Goldsby, Jon C.↗
NASA NTRS2000

Evolutionary design of smart analog circuits

This paper discusses the use of Evolvable Hardware (EHW) in automatic synthesis of electronic circuits for computational intelligence (CI) hardware.

evolvable hardware fuzzy logic reconfigurable devi↗