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All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1987

Diagnosis and sensor validation through knowledge of structure and function

The liquid oxygen expert system 'LES' is proposed as the first capable of diagnostic reasoning from sensor data, using model-based knowledge of structure and function to find the expected state of all system objects, including sensors. The approach is generally algorithmic rather than heuristic, and represents uncertainties as sets of possibilities. Functional relationships are inverted to determine hypothetical values for potentially faulty objects, and may include conditional functions not normally considered to have inverses.

Scarl, Ethan A.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Effects of substrate misorientation and background impurities on electron transport in molecular-beam-epitaxial grown GaAs/AlGaAs modulation-doped quantum-well structures

The effects of substrate misorientation off the (001) plane and of background impurities on electron transport in MBE-grown GaAs/AlGaAs modulation-doped superlattice-buffered quantum-well structures were investigated. Low-field transport data were obtained on GaAs/AlGaAs structures grown on substrates oriented 0, 2, 4, and 6.5 deg off the (001) plane towards either (111)A or (111)B. It is shown that the low-field two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) mobility is a function of the angle and direction of the substrate orientation, and that the 2DEG mobility is a function of the direction of the applied electric field in the GaAs quantum well. The anisotropy in the 2DEG mobility is also a function of the tilt angle and tilt azimuth direction of the substrate from the (001) plane. In addition, it is shown that the amount of interface scattering from the inverted interface is a sensitive function of the amount of background impurities in the MBE machine.

Radulescu, D. C.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Recursive inverse kinematics for robot arms via Kalman filtering and Bryson-Frazier smoothing

This paper applies linear filtering and smoothing theory to solve recursively the inverse kinematics problem for serial multilink manipulators. This problem is to find a set of joint angles that achieve a prescribed tip position and/or orientation. A widely applicable numerical search solution is presented. The approach finds the minimum of a generalized distance between the desired and the actual manipulator tip position and/or orientation. Both a first-order steepest-descent gradient search and a second-order Newton-Raphson search are developed. The optimal relaxation factor required for the steepest descent method is computed recursively using an outward/inward procedure similar to those used typically for recursive inverse dynamics calculations. The second-order search requires evaluation of a gradient and an approximate Hessian. A Gauss-Markov approach is used to approximate the Hessian matrix in terms of products of first-order derivatives. This matrix is inverted recursively using a two-stage process of inward Kalman filtering followed by outward smoothing. This two-stage process is analogous to that recently developed by the author to solve by means of spatial filtering and smoothing the forward dynamics problem for serial manipulators.

Rodriguez, G.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Amphibian egg cytoplasm response to altered g-forces and gravity orientation

Elucidation of dorsal/ventral polarity and primary embryonic axis development in amphibian embryos requires an understanding of cytoplasmic rearrangements in fertile eggs at the biophysical, physiological, and biochemical levels. Evidence is presented that amphibian egg cytoplasmic components are compartmentalized. The effects of altered orientation to the gravitational vector (i.e., egg inversion) and alterations in gravity force ranging from hypergravity (centrifugation) to simulated microgravity (i.e., horizontal clinostat rotation) on cytoplasmic compartment rearrangements are reviewed. The behavior of yolk compartments as well as a newly defined (with monoclonal antibody) nonyolk cytoplasmic compartment, in inverted eggs and in eggs rotated on horizontal clinostats at their buoyant density, is discussed.

Neff, A. W.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Zero-G thermodynamic vent system for shuttle/Centaur

Viewgraphs are presented showing drawings of Centaur configurations, the Thermodynamic Vent System (TVS), the mixer pump, and the hydrogen vent motor pump inverter. A cryogenic performance summary is given in chart form. The TVS liquid flow operation and vapor flow operation are diagrammed.

Niggemann, Richard E.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Improved canopy reflectance modeling and scene inference through improved understanding of scene pattern

The Li-Strahler reflectance model, driven by LANDSAT Thematic Mapper (TM) data, provided regional estimates of tree size and density within 20 percent of sampled values in two bioclimatic zones in West Africa. This model exploits tree geometry in an inversion technique to predict average tree size and density from reflectance data using a few simple parameters measured in the field (spatial pattern, shape, and size distribution of trees) and in the imagery (spectral signatures of scene components). Trees are treated as simply shaped objects, and multispectral reflectance of a pixel is assumed to be related only to the proportions of tree crown, shadow, and understory in the pixel. These, in turn, are a direct function of the number and size of trees, the solar illumination angle, and the spectral signatures of crown, shadow and understory. Given the variance in reflectance from pixel to pixel within a homogeneous area of woodland, caused by the variation in the number and size of trees, the model can be inverted to give estimates of average tree size and density. Because the inversion is sensitive to correct determination of component signatures, predictions are not accurate for small areas.

Franklin, Janet↗
NASA NTRS1988

An integrated and modular digital modeling approach for the space station electrical power system development

An electrical power system for the Space Station was designed, developed and built. This system provides for electrical power generation, conditioning, storage, and distribution. The initial configuration uses photovoltaic power generation. The power system control is based on a hierarchical architecture to support the requirements of automation. In the preliminary design and technology development phase of the program, various modeling techniques and software tools were evaluated for the purpose of meeting the Space Station power system modeling requirements. Rocketdyne and LeRC jointly selected the EASY5 simulation software, developed by Boeing Computer Services, as a system level modeling tool. The application of the selected analytical modeling approach to represent the entire power system is described. Typical results of model predictions are also summarized. The equipment modeled includes solar arrays, dc to ac converters, resonant inverters, battery storage system, alternator, transmission line, switch gear, and system level microprocessor controls. During the advanced development phase of this program, several models were developed using this approach.

Gombos, Frank J.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Acoustic characteristics of 1/20-scale model helicopter rotors

A wind tunnel test to study the effects of geometric scale on acoustics and to investigate the applicability of very small scale models for the study of acoustic characteristics of helicopter rotors was conducted in the United Technologies Research Center Acoustic Research Tunnel. The results show that the Reynolds number effects significantly alter the Blade-Vortex-Interaction (BVI) Noise characteristics by enhancing the lower frequency content and suppressing the higher frequency content. In the time domain this is observed as an inverted thickness noise impulse rather than the typical positive-negative impulse of BVI noise. At higher advance ratio conditions, in the absence of BVI, the 1/20 scale model acoustic trends with Mach number follow those of larger scale models. However, the 1/20 scale model acoustic trends appear to indicate stall at higher thrust and advance ratio conditions.

Shenoy, Rajarama K.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Semi-microdroplet assay for cell adhesion molecules

A new cell-to-cell adhesion assay was devised. Using dissociated embryos of the sea urchin, this procedure involves rotating a 0.100 ml suspension of single cells with 0.100 ml of the solution to be tested in the bulb portion of a transfer pipet with the tip removed. After 1 hour of rotation at 60 rpm at 15 C, the contents of each bulb were transferred into individual wells of a 96 well flat bottom plate. After the plate was incubated for 1 hour at 15 C, black and white photographs were taken with a 35 mm camera attached to an inverted photomicroscope. Examining a proof sheet of the negatives directly allowed a rapid evaluation of suspected cell adhesion promoting factors. A ranking system was used to evaluate all samples. The assay was tested by examining the effect of specific solutions on the aggregation of single cells obtained from dissociated 23 hour embryos.

Tawa, Lawrence Shinzo↗
NASA NTRS1988

Eruptive viscosity and volcano morphology

Terrestrial central volcanoes formed predominantly from lava flows were classified as shields, stratovolcanoes, and domes. Shield volcanoes tend to be large in areal extent, have convex slopes, and are characterized by their resemblance to inverted hellenic war shields. Stratovolcanoes have concave slopes, whereas domes are smaller and have gentle convex slopes near the vent that increase near the perimeter. In addition to these differences in morphology, several other variations were observed. The most important is composition: shield volcanoes tend to be basaltic, stratovolcanoes tend to be andesitic, and domes tend to be dacitic. However, important exceptions include Fuji, Pico, Mayon, Izalco, and Fuego which have stratovolcano morphologies but are composed of basaltic lavas. Similarly, Ribkwo is a Kenyan shield volcano composed of trachyte and Suswa and Kilombe are shields composed of phonolite. These exceptions indicate that eruptive conditions, rather than composition, may be the primary factors that determine volcano morphology. The objective of this study is to determine the relationships, if any, between eruptive conditions (viscosity, erupted volume, and effusion rate) and effusive volcano morphology. Moreover, it is the goal of this study to incorporate these relationships into a model to predict the eruptive conditions of extraterrestrial (Martian) volcanoes based on their morphology.

Posin, Seth B.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Computer modeling and simulation of a 20kHz ac distribution system for Space Station

A computer model of a 20 kHz, ac distribution testbed for Space Station is presented. The system consists of six resonant inverters, a one-hundred-meter transmission line, and three load receivers: a dc receiver, a bidirectional receiver, and an ac receiver. A model library is generated characterizing all system components. The system's local and global behaviors are investigated using the EASY5 dynamic analysis program.

Tsai, Fu-Sheng↗
NASA NTRS1987

Fast simulation techniques for switching converters

Techniques for simulating a switching converter are examined. The state equations for the equivalent circuits, which represent the switching converter, are presented and explained. The uses of the Newton-Raphson iteration, low ripple approximation, half-cycle symmetry, and discrete time equations to compute the interval durations are described. An example is presented in which these methods are illustrated by applying them to a parallel-loaded resonant inverter with three equivalent circuits for its continuous mode of operation.

King, Roger J.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Design and performance of the halogen occultation experiment (HALOE) remote sensor

HALOE is an optical remote sensor that measures extinction of solar radiation caused by the earth's atmosphere in eight channels, ranging in wavelength from 2.5 to 10.1 microns. These measurements, which occur twice each satellite orbit during solar occultation, are inverted to yield vertical distributions of middle atmosphere ozone (O3), water vapor, nitrogen dioxide, nitric oxide, hydrogen fluoride, hydrogen chloride, and methane. A channel located in the 2.7 region is used to infer the tangent point pressure by measuring carbon dioxide absorption. The HALOE instrument consists of a two-axis gimbal system, telescope, spectral discrimination optics and a 12-bit data system. The gimbal system tracks the solar radiometric centroid in the azimuthal plane and tracks the solar limb in the elevation plane, placing the instrument's instantaneous field-of-view 4 arcmin down from the solar top edge. The instrument gathers data for tangent altitudes ranging from 150 km to the earth's horizon. Prior to an orbital sunset and after an orbital sunrise, HALOE automatically performs calibration sequences to enhance data interpretation. The instrument is presently being tested at the NASA Langley Research Center in preparation for launch on the Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite near the end of this decade. This paper describes the instrumenmt design, operation, and functional performance.

Baker, R. L.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Measurements of OH(X2pi) in the stratosphere by high resolution UV spectroscopy

This paper reports the first results obtained using high spectral resolution imaging ultraviolet spectroscopy to observe multiple rotational lines of OH A2 Sigma-X2pi (0-0) band. A 9.2 A spectral segment from 3075.8 A to 3085.0 A is imaged at 0.08 A FWHM spectral resolution, allowing the simultaneous acquisition of six of the brightest OH resonance fluorescence emission lines. The high spectral resolution and low scattered light design of the instrument allows these lines to be detected above the Rayleigh scattered sunlight background. The technique permits remote sensing of stratospheric OH from a high altitude instrument. The instrument was flown to an altitude of 40 km on Aug. 25, 1983, and again on June 12, 1986, on scientific balloons from Palestine, TX. The OH profiles inverted from the limb scans made during these flights are reported here. These profiles represent the first measurements of the temporal variation of OH over an extended height range. The results demonstrate that the technique can be used to monitor OH from orbit.

Torr, D. G.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Tectonics of the Nazca-Antarctic plate boundary

A new bathymetric chart of part of the Chile transform system is constructed, based mainly on an R/V Endeavor survey from 100 deg W to its intersection with the East Ridge of the Juan Fernandez microplate. A generally continuous lineated trend can be followed through the entire region, with the transform valley being relatively narrow and well-defined from 109 deg W to approximately 104 deg 30 min W. The fracture zone then widens to the east, with at least two probable en echelon offsets to the south at 104 deg and 102 deg W. Six new strike-slip mechanisms along the Chile Transform and one normal fault mechanism near the northern end of the Chile Rise, inverted together with other plate-motion data from the eastern portion of the boundary, produce a new best-fit Euler pole for the Nazca-Antarctic plate pair, providing tighter constraints on the relative plate motions.

Anderson-Fontana, Sandra↗
NASA NTRS1987

Single-state selection system for hydrogen masers

The design and operation of a single-state selection system based on the adiabatic fast-passage technique for atomic state inversion is described. The system uses a variable-pitch dc solenoid and orthogonal four-wire RF coil to create the state-changing magnetic fields, and a half-wavelength state selection magnet to remove the inverted state atoms from the hydrogen beam. The system's performance was determined by measuring maser power as a function of line Q. The system removes more than 85 percent of undesired atoms from the beam. The potential effects of improvements in the maser on its frequency stability have been calculated. The use of single-state selection combined with increased RF coupling to the cavity and increased storage bulb collimation offers the possibility of frequency stability in the 10 to the -17th regime over intervals on the order of 60,000 s.

Mattison, Edward M.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Mesospheric 5577 A green line and atmospheric motions - Atmosphere Explorer satellite observations

Photometric measurements of the 5577 A O(1S) green line mesospheric emission obtained by the Visible Airglow Experiment on board the Atmosphere Explorer satellite have been analyzed. The inverted volume emission rate profiles showed a peak at approximately 96-97 km with a half-width of about 8 km. The diurnal variation of the intensity indicates the presence of a wave component with a 10 to about 12 h period, probably of solar semidiurnal tide. Shorter time scale variations due to the presence of traveling waves were also observed.

Yee, J. H.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Flexible spacecraft maneuver - Inverse attitude control and modal stabilization

A control law is presented for three-axis rotational maneuvers of a spacecraft (orbiter)-beam-tip body (antenna or a reflector) configuration based on nonlinear inversion and modal velocity feedback. Using invertibility and functional reproducibility results, a decoupling attitude control law is presented such that, in the closed-loop system, the attitude angles of the spacecraft are independently controlled using the control moments acting on the space vehicle. This controller asymptotically decouples the flexible dynamics from the rigid one and also allows the decomposition of the elastic dynamics into two subsystems representing the transverse deflections of the beam in two orthogonal planes. These low-order subsystems are used for derivation of a modal velocity feedback stabilizer using the force and moment actuators at the end body. Simulation results are presented to show that, in the closed-loop system, attitude control and elastic mode stabilization are accomplished in spite of the parameter uncertainty and disturbance torque input in the system.

Singh, Sahjendra N.↗