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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 973 records · Page 54
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS2003

A High Efficiency DC Bus Regulator/RPC for Spacecraft Applications

DC bus voltage regulation may be required in future high powered spacecraft due to the length of the busses or because they are not generated at precise voltage levels. In these cases the regulation range is often only a few percent increase or decrease, but conventional DC voltage regulators switch all the power passing through them, and this level of power switched determines the size and losses in the regulator. A recently developed concept used a low power DC-DC converter in series with the bs to raise or lower the bus voltage over a small range. This partial power processing technique combines the small size and power losses of the low power converter with the ability to regulate, (over a small range) a high power bus. The Series Connected Buck Boost Regulator (SCBBR) described herein provides bus regulation with an efficiency of 98%. The circuit also provides bus switching and overcurrent limiting functions of a Remote Power Controller (RPC). This paper described the circuit design and performance of a breadboard SCBBR configured as a bus voltage regulator providing plus of minus 40% voltage regulation range, bus switching, and overload limiting.

Birchenough, Arthur G.↗
NASA NTRS2008

Evolution of the Mobile Information SysTem (MIST)

The Mobile Information SysTem (MIST) had its origins in the need to determine whether commercial off the shelf (COTS) technologies could improve intervehicular activities (IVA) on International Space Station (ISS) crew maintenance productivity. It began with an exploration of head mounted displays (HMDs), but quickly evolved to include voice recognition, mobile personal computing, and data collection. The unique characteristic of the MIST lies within its mobility, in which a vest is worn that contains a mini-computer and supporting equipment, and a headband with attachments for a HMD, lipstick camera, and microphone. Data is then captured directly by the computer running Morae(TM) or similar software for analysis. To date, the MIST system has been tested in numerous environments such as two parabolic flights on NASA's C-9 microgravity aircraft and several mockup facilities ranging from ISS to the Altair Lunar Sortie Lander. Functional capabilities have included its lightweight and compact design, commonality across systems and environments, and usefulness in remote collaboration. Human Factors evaluations of the system have proven the MIST's ability to be worn for long durations of time (approximately four continuous hours) with no adverse physical deficits, moderate operator compensation, and low workload being reported as measured by Corlett Bishop Discomfort Scale, Cooper-Harper Ratings, and the NASA Total Workload Index (TLX), respectively. Additionally, through development of the system, it has spawned several new applications useful in research. For example, by only employing the lipstick camera, microphone, and a compact digital video recorder (DVR), we created a portable, lightweight data collection device. Video is recorded from the participants point of view (POV) through the use of the camera mounted on the side of the head. Both the video and audio is recorded directly into the DVR located on a belt around the waist. This data is then transferred to another computer for video editing and analysis. Another application has been discovered using simulated flight, in which, a kneeboard is replaced with mini-computer and the HMD to project flight paths and glide slopes for lunar ascent. As technologies evolve, so will the system and its application for research and space system operations.

Litaker, Harry L., Jr.↗
NASA NTRS2009

Voltage Sensors Monitor Harmful Static

A tiny sensor, small enough to be worn on clothing, now monitors voltage changes near sensitive instruments after being created to alert Agency workers to dangerous static buildup near fuel operations and avionics. San Diego s Quasar Federal Systems received a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) contract from Kennedy Space Center to develop its remote voltage sensor (RVS), a dime-sized electrometer designed to measure triboelectric changes in the environment. One of the unique qualities of the RVS is that it can detect static at greater distances than previous devices, measuring voltage changes from a few centimeters to a few meters away, due to its much-improved sensitivity.

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NASA NTRS2019

Portable Laser Guided Robotic Metrology System

This paper introduces the new Portable Laser Guided Robotic antenna range (PLGR) at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA) Glenn Research Center. Previous work used industrial robots in fixed facilities to characterize antennas and required fixtures that do not lend themselves to portable applications.NASA's PLGR system is designed for in-situ antenna measurements at a remote site. The system consists of a robot arm mounted on a vertical lift and a laser tracker, each on a portable base. The lift and laser tracker enable scanning a surface larger than the robot's reach. To accomplish this the robot first collects all points within its reach, then the system is moved and the laser tracker is used to relocate the robot before additional points are captured.The PLGR architecture will be discussed including how safety systems and path planning are combined to effectively characterize antennas. Software was written in high level languages for flexible integration of vector network analyzers and antenna controllers. Lastly, data will be shown to demonstrate the system functionality and accuracy.

Slater, Peter A.↗
NASA NTRS2019

Portable Laser Guided Robotic Metrology (PLGRM) System

This paper introduces the new Portable Laser Guided Robotic Metrology (PLGRM) system at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA) Glenn Research Center. Previous work used industrial robots in fixed facilities to characterize antennas and required fixtures that do not lend themselves to portable applications. NASA's PLGRM system is designed for in-situ antenna measurements at a remote site.The system consists of a collaborative robot arm mounted on a vertical lift and a laser tracker, each on a mobile base. Together,they enable scanning a surface larger than the robot's reach.To accomplish this, the robot first collects all points within its reach, then the system is moved and the laser tracker is used to relocate the robot before additional points are captured. The PLGRM implementation will be discussed including how safety and planning are combined to effectively characterize antennas.Software defined triggering is a feature, for flexible integration of vector network analyzers and antenna controllers. Lastly, data will be shown to demonstrate system functionality and accuracy.

Slater, Peter A.↗
NASA NTRS2013

Cratos: The Evolution of a Robotic Vehicle

Cratos was originally designed to evaluate a small footprint, low-power, tracked vehicle for traversing a crater face and for scraping regolith from a crater basin on the lunar surface. These activities require a power-to-weight ratio such that the vehicle is able to pull its entire mass vertically off the ground with the power from one track. Further complicating matters, the available power-units that fit the vehicles approximate one cubic meter volume, restrict power consumption to 100 watts. Lastly, the vehicle is required to telemeter data from an array of sensors to a remote control station for further study. This unique mix of design constraints lead to the creation of a versatile mobile sensor platform, described in this paper, capable of performing a myriad of functions beyond the scope of its original purpose.

Greer, Lawrence C.↗
NASA NTRS1977

The Role of Aerospace Technology in Agriculture. The 1977 Summer Faculty Fellowship Program in Engineering Systems Design

Possibilities were examined for improving agricultural productivity through the application of aerospace technology. An overview of agriculture and of the problems of feeding a growing world population are presented. The present state of agriculture, of plant and animal culture, and agri-business are reviewed. Also analyzed are the various systems for remote sensing, particularly applications to agriculture. The report recommends additional research and technology in the areas of aerial application of chemicals, of remote sensing systems, of weather and climate investigations, and of air vehicle design. Also considered in detail are the social, legal, economic, and political results of intensification of technical applications to agriculture.

Source record↗
NASA NTRS1980

Preliminary cryogenic performance of the Shuttle Infrared Telescope Facility

The Shuttle Infrared Telescope Facility (SIRTF) is a cryogenically cooled telescope in the one-meter aperture class designed for sensing in the infrared from 2-200 microns. This facility is designed to be flown many times on the Space Shuttle with varying instrument complements. All components of the SIRTF within the field of view of the optics are cryogenically cooled. The primary coolant is supercritical helium which is stored in an external tank and routed through the telescope - cooling the instruments first, then the optical components and finally the baffles. For detector cooling below 6K small reservoirs of superfluid helium (He II) are provided. The SIRTF cryogenic system is designed to automatically control the tank pressure and telescope flow rates during prelaunch operations and flight as well as meet the Space Shuttle environmental and safety requirements. Temperatures maintained in the telescope are a function of instrument operation, design, energy dissipation, and telescope pointing angle. By control of the cryogen flow rate any selected instrument temperature can be maintained within fixed limits, and the critical secondary mirror can be maintained below 10K throughout a 14-day mission. Instrument thermal design is a critical factor in the maintenance of proper temperature differences in the experiment package. Design of a cryogenic telescope for space use presents many problems which do not exist in earth based systems. The limited opportunity for servicing, the restricted coolant supply, and the remote instrumentation and control all provide new considerations for the instrument and system designers.

Gier, H. L.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Flight test experience and controlled impact of a large, four-engine, remotely piloted airplane

A controlled impact demonstration (CID) program using a large, four engine, remotely piloted transport airplane was conducted. Closed loop primary flight control was performed from a ground based cockpit and digital computer in conjunction with an up/down telemetry link. Uplink commands were received aboard the airplane and transferred through uplink interface systems to a highly modified Bendix PB-20D autopilot. Both proportional and discrete commands were generated by the ground pilot. Prior to flight tests, extensive simulation was conducted during the development of ground based digital control laws. The control laws included primary control, secondary control, and racetrack and final approach guidance. Extensive ground checks were performed on all remotely piloted systems. However, manned flight tests were the primary method of verification and validation of control law concepts developed from simulation. The design, development, and flight testing of control laws and the systems required to accomplish the remotely piloted mission are discussed.

Kempel, R. W.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Flight test experience and controlled impact of a large, four-engine remotely piloted airplane

A controlled impact demonstration (CID) program using a large, four engine, remotely piloted transport airplane was conducted. Closed loop primary flight control was performed from a ground based cockpit and digital computer in conjunction with an up/down telemetry link. Uplink commands were received aboard the airplane and transferred through uplink interface systems to a highly modified Bendix PB-20D autopilot. Both proportional and discrete commands were generated by the ground pilot. Prior to flight tests, extensive simulation was conducted during the development of ground based digital control laws. The control laws included primary control, secondary control, and racetrack and final approach guidance. Extensive ground checks were performed on all remotely piloted systems. However, manned flight tests were the primary method of verification and validation of control law concepts developed from simulation. The design development, and flight testing of control laws and the systems required to accomplish the remotely piloted mission are discussed.

Kempel, R. W.↗
NASA NTRS1975

Crop identification technology assessment for remote sensing (CITARS). Volume 10: Interpretation of results

The CITARS was an experiment designed to quantitatively evaluate crop identification performance for corn and soybeans in various environments using a well-defined set of automatic data processing (ADP) techniques. Each technique was applied to data acquired to recognize and estimate proportions of corn and soybeans. The CITARS documentation summarizes, interprets, and discusses the crop identification performances obtained using (1) different ADP procedures; (2) a linear versus a quadratic classifier; (3) prior probability information derived from historic data; (4) local versus nonlocal recognition training statistics and the associated use of preprocessing; (5) multitemporal data; (6) classification bias and mixed pixels in proportion estimation; and (7) data with differnt site characteristics, including crop, soil, atmospheric effects, and stages of crop maturity.

Bizzell, R. M.↗
NASA NTRS1989

An EUV spectrometer for atmospheric remote sensing

This paper describes the Berkeley EUV Airglow Rocket Spectrometer (BEARS) experiment, designed to investigate the interactions between the solar ionizing radiation and the earth's upper atmosphere. The primary objective of this experiment is the verification the feasibility of using EUV observations as a quantitative diagnostic of the terrestrial atmosphere and its plasma environment. The expected information provided by spectroscopic measurements of EUV emission will include data on the excitation mechanisms, excitation rates, and branching ratios. The BEARS experimental package consists of a high-resolution EUV airglow spectrometer, a hydrogen Lyman-alpha photometer to measure both the solar radiations and the geocoronal emissions, and a moderate-resolution solar EUV spectrometer. In a test experiment, the instruments were carried aboard a four-stage sounding rocket to a peak altitude of about 960 km and obtained airglow spectra in the 980-1060 A range and in the 1300-1360 range.

Chakrabarti, S.↗
NASA NTRS2017

Status of Remote Sensing of Salinity by Aquarius

Aquarius is an L-band instrument designed to measure sea surface salinity from space. The instrument was launched in 2011 and data acquisition ended in June 2015 when control of the spacecraft was lost. Aquarius produced global maps of salinity with accuracy of 0.2 psu (Practical Salinity Unit) and special resolution of 150 kilometers as well as other products such as global maps of RFI (Radio Frequency Interference) and soil moisture. The mission will formally end December 2017.

Le Vine, D. M.↗
NASA NTRS2007

Ikhana: A NASA UAS Supporting Long Duration Earth Science Missions

The NASA Ikhana unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is a General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. (San Diego, California) MQ-9 Predator-B modified to support the conduct of Earth science missions for the NASA Science Mission Directorate and, through partnerships, other government agencies and universities. It can carry over 2000 lb of experiment payloads in the avionics bay and external pods and is capable of mission durations in excess of 24 hours at altitudes above 40,000 ft. The aircraft is remotely piloted from a mobile ground control station (GCS) that is designed to be deployable by air, land, or sea. On-board support capabilities include an instrumentation system and an Airborne Research Test System (ARTS). The Ikhana project will complete GCS development, science support systems integration, external pod integration and flight clearance, and operations crew training in early 2007. A large-area remote sensing mission is currently scheduled for Summer 2007.

Cobleigh, Brent R.↗
NASA NTRS2024

Initial Results of Wyatt EIRP- The Ground Based Power and Ambiguity Function Monitor for P-Band Signals of Opportunity Sources

The Wideband Year-round AmbuguiTy-function Track-ing Effective Isotropic Radiated Power (WYATT EIRP)instrument is designed to support P-Band based Sig-nals of Opportunity (SoOp) remote sensing instrument.SoOp utilizes pre-existing non-cooperative microwavetransmitters as sources of illumination. This remotesensing method requires knowledge of the signals EIRP,position and ambugituty function’s shape.WYATT EIRP is designed to periodically generateEIRP measurements, ambuguity functions and transmit-ter elevation. It uses an array of RHCP and LHCPantennas, mounted on a rotating antenna pedestal togenerate EIRP measurements. A secondary observationantenna is placed to allow time difference of arrival mea-surements for transmitter elevation estimates. Both thepedestal and reference antenana are used to generateamituigyt fionctions. The pedestal will also be used tovalidate existing P-Band background noise temperaturesky maps. WYATT EIRP will be commissioned in thefirst quarter of 2024 and will be used to provide calibra-tion data to the upcoming spaceborne SigNals Of Op-portunity: P-Band Investigation (SNOOPI) instrument.

Remote Sensing↗