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At least 1,063 records · Page 59
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2026

Generative AI in Supply Chain Management: Applications, Challenges, and Future Directions

Supply chain management (SCM) is undergoing rapid transformation due to increasing global complexity, demand volatility, and operational disruptions. Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) has emerged as a powerful paradigm capable of synthesizing data, simulating operational scenarios, and enabling adaptive decision-making across supply chain networks. This paper presents a survey of GenAI’s role in SCM, focusing on its applications in predictive analytics, autonomous logistics, and fraud detection. Unlike traditional AI systems that rely primarily on predictive analytics, GenAI models, including large language models, generative adversarial networks, and diffusion-based architectures, enable the creation of synthetic supply chain scenarios and autonomous optimization strategies. This survey provides (1) a taxonomy of GenAI techniques for supply chain applications, (2) a comparative analysis of generative AI approaches with traditional machine learning, reinforcement learning, and blockchain-based methods, and (3) a discussion of key challenges such as data privacy, interpretability, and integration with legacy enterprise systems. Furthermore, we outline open research problems and propose directions for future research toward autonomous, resilient, and sustainable AI-driven supply chains.

15 - GEOTHERMAL ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2026

A Physics-Based Digital Twin for Wave Elevation and Seabed Moment Estimation of Offshore Monopiles: Preprint

In this work, we present a proof of concept of a physics-based digital twin for a monopile structure (with overhead inertia) subjected to wave loading. The digital twin is formulated using reduced-order models derived from first principles and combined with a Kalman filter for state estimation. The proposed framework estimates the monopile top motion, the wave elevation, and the section forces and moments along the pile using primarily acceleration measurements at the monopile top. Key innovations include the use of a hydrodynamic shape function to represent distributed wave loading in a compact and computationally efficient manner, and the introduction of a shaping filter to augment the state-space with wave kinematics. Synthetic measurement data are generated using OpenFAST and used as a reference to assess the performance of the digital twin. Results demonstrate that the wave elevation can be accurately reconstructed without direct sea-state measurements as long as the wave regime is inertia-dominated. Under the ideal tested conditions, the total hydrodynamic force and sea-bed bending moment are estimated with relative errors on the order of 1% and correlation coefficients exceeding 96%. Future work will evaluate the estimator's performance under operational uncertainties and more complex loading conditions.

17 WIND ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2026

Lessons learned from the development and implementation of a workforce training curriculum for advanced controls for high performance HVAC systems

Over the past decade, academic research on advanced controls has slowly transitioned into new software platforms, giving rise to various companies developing and deploying these innovative products, including solutions for light commercial HVAC systems. However, the current workforce remains widely unprepared to install, maintain and operate these systems, particularly complex software-based control platforms, as most workforce training programs still focus on traditional building automation for large commercial buildings. This paper presents the development and piloting of curriculum for three key types of professionals: ● Technicians (trade-level): installing and maintaining modern high-performance HVAC systems and controls ● Programmers (undergrad-level): developing and implementing advanced controls ● Engineers and energy professionals (undergrad/grad-level): managing and evaluating system performance We share details of the material developed including training videos, open-source software, instruction manuals. We also present the results of a pilot implementation of the training materials with real students.

Casillas, Armando↗
NASA NTRS2021

Role of Cyber-Physical Testing in Developing Resilient Extraterrestrial Habitats

Extraterrestrial long-term habitat systems (henceforth referred to as habitat systems) require groundbreaking technological advances to overcome the extreme demands introduced by isolation and challenging environments. A habitat system must operate as intended under continuous disruptive conditions. Designing for the demands that challenging environments will place on habitat systems (e.g., wild temperature fluctuations, galactic cosmic rays, destructive dust, meteoroid impacts, vibrations, and solar particle events) represents one of the greatest challenges in this endeavor. This engineering problem necessitates that we design and manage habitat systems to be resilient. System resilience requires a comprehensive approach that accounts for disruptions through the design process and adapts to them in operation. As the habitat system evolves—growing in physical size, complexity, population, and connectivity—and diversifies in operations, it must continue to be safe and resilient. In this endeavor, we should take advantage of lessons learned in developing civil infrastructure responsive to catastrophic natural hazards, autonomous robotics platforms, smart buildings, cyber-physical testing, complex systems, and diagnostics and prognostics for intelligent health management. This study highlights the importance of system resilience and cyber-physical testing to address the grand challenge of developing habitat systems.

Public health and safety↗
DOE OSTI2024

Niobium-tin as a transformative technology for low-beta linacs

Niobium-tin has been identified as the most promising next-generation superconducting material for accelerator cavities. This is due to the higher critical temperature (Tc = 18 K) of Nb3Sn compared to niobium (TC = 9.2 K), which leads to greatly reduced RF losses in the cavity during 4.5 K operation. This allows two important changes during cavity and cryomodule design. First, the higher Tc leads to negligible BCS losses when operated at 4.5 K, which allows for a higher frequency to be used, translating to significantly smaller cavities and cryomodules. Second, the reduced dissipated power lowers the required cryogenic cooling capacity, meaning that cavities can feasibly be operated on 5-10 W cryocoolers instead of a centralized helium refrigeration plant. These plants and distribution systems are costly and complex, requiring skilled technicians for operation and maintenance. These fundamental changes present an opportunity for a paradigm shift in how low-beta linacs are designed and operated. Fabrication challenges and first coated cavity test results are discussed.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗
DOE OSTI2026

Nb3Sn Superconducting Cavity Developments for Heavy-ion Beams

Nb3Sn has been identified as the most promising next-generation superconducting material for accelerator cavities. This is due to the higher critical temperature (Tc = 18 K) of Nb3Sn compared to niobium (Tc = 9.2 K), which leads to greatly reduced RF losses in the cavity during 4.5 K operation. This allows two important changes during cavity and cryomodule design. First, the higher Tc leads to negligible BCS losses when operated at 4.5 K, which allows for a higher frequency to be used, translating to significantly smaller cavities and cryomodules. Second, the reduced dissipated power lowers the required cryogenic cooling capacity, meaning that cavities can feasibly be operated on 5-10 W cryocoolers instead of a centralized helium refrigeration plant. These plants and distribution systems are costly and complex, requiring skilled technicians for operation and maintenance. These fundamental changes present an opportunity for a paradigm shift in how low-beta linacs are designed and operated. Fabrication and testing results of first prototypes are discussed.

Petersen, T. [Argonne]↗
NASA NTRS1996

GOES-8 and -9 mission launch and operations support overview

The new series of geosynchronous operational environmental satellite (GOES) missions, GOES-8 and GOES-9, provide greater instrument coverage flexibility and greater resolution than previous GOES spinners. This added flexibility and the three-axis stabilized operating mode results in control system of increased complexity: almost 5000 real-time commands are sent daily to the satellites compared to 200 commands per day for GOES-7. These advanced technologies present new challenges to the NASA operations support personnel. In order to prepare for launching, post-launch tests and in-orbit operations, a mission planning scheme was developed in order to assure the flight system command and the systems' health monitoring. The mission operations approaches are reviewed together with the associated philosophies and the operation tools developed to assist the personnel in performing complex routine and special operation tasks.

McCuistion, D.↗
NASA NTRS2008

Increasing the Cost-efficiency of the DSN

JPL has operated the Deep Space Network (DSN) on behalf of NASA since the 1960's. Over the last two decades, the DSN budget has generally declined in real-year dollars while the aging assets required more attention, and the missions became more complex. As a result, the budget has been increasingly consumed by Operations and Maintenance (O and M), significantly reducing the funding wedge available for technology investment and for enhancing the DSN capability and capacity. Responding to this budget squeeze, the DSN launched an effort to improve the cost-efficiency of the O and M. In this paper we: Analyze the components of O&M. We note for example that, for the DSN, less than 20% of the staff engage in the traditional human-in-front-a-console role, so any effort to increase the cost efficiency must go beyond reducing the number of "Real-time operators." Explain the underlying organizational and cultural structures. Any cost-efficiency activities changes either accept, or carefully modify these structures. For example, the DSN O&M is based on the concept that there are three nearly identical antenna complexes separated by approximately 1200 in latitude and that each antenna complex is operated by a different contractor (driven by international agreements). Explore planned changes in the customer interface, e.g. web-based automated scheduling, and the processes required for a transition. Changes have to be evaluated in the larger end-to-end context, e.g. do the changes provide a net cost-efficiency for the DSN and the missions, or do they merely shift cost from the DSN to the missions. Consider possible significant changes in real-time pass management, e.g. full-remoting of operations, and lights-dim operations, while maintaining (or improving) the performance metrics of the DSN. Investigate how procedural and administrative changes could increase cost-efficiency, in conjunction with changes in the customer interfaces and real-time pass management. Examples would be handling of inter-governmental agreements, improved sharing of resources with other agencies, and better use of commercial (rather than government) resources

Deep Space Network (DSN)↗
NASA NTRS2003

Applications of Space-Filling-Curves to Cartesian Methods for CFD

This paper presents a variety of novel uses of space-filling-curves (SFCs) for Cartesian mesh methods in CFD. While these techniques will be demonstrated using non-body-fitted Cartesian meshes, many are applicable on general body-fitted meshes-both structured and unstructured. We demonstrate the use of single theta(N log N) SFC-based reordering to produce single-pass (theta(N)) algorithms for mesh partitioning, multigrid coarsening, and inter-mesh interpolation. The intermesh interpolation operator has many practical applications including warm starts on modified geometry, or as an inter-grid transfer operator on remeshed regions in moving-body simulations Exploiting the compact construction of these operators, we further show that these algorithms are highly amenable to parallelization. Examples using the SFC-based mesh partitioner show nearly linear speedup to 640 CPUs even when using multigrid as a smoother. Partition statistics are presented showing that the SFC partitions are, on-average, within 15% of ideal even with only around 50,000 cells in each sub-domain. The inter-mesh interpolation operator also has linear asymptotic complexity and can be used to map a solution with N unknowns to another mesh with M unknowns with theta(M + N) operations. This capability is demonstrated both on moving-body simulations and in mapping solutions to perturbed meshes for control surface deflection or finite-difference-based gradient design methods.

Aftosmis, M. J.↗
DOE OSTI2018

Highly Selective and Stable Multivariable Gas Sensors for Enhanced Robustness and Reliability of SOFC Operation

GE Global Research, in partnership with SUNY Polytechnic Institute (SUNY Poly) and GE–Fuel Cells LLC, designed, built, and tested multi-gas sensor prototypes for in situ monitoring of gases produced during steam reforming in solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) systems. To be widely adopted and to deliver a lower operating cost for customers, SOFC systems should enhance their operation reliability and improve stack robustness. These needs can be achieved by early diagnostics of potential upsets by using in-situ gas sensors for the real-time monitoring of gas mixture compositions. Thus, this project objective was to achieve selectivity and stability of sensing of gases for SOFC applications by implementing a new generation of gas sensors, known as multivariable sensors. Such sensors are intended to complement the mature traditional analytical instruments based on sensor performance and design characteristics. The key sensor-performance characteristics include accurate detection and quantitation of several gases in their mixtures and stability of operation in unattended applications. The key design characteristics of sensors include their unobtrusive form factor and cost-effectiveness. The duration of the project was 18 months with the project structure that included three technical tasks such as (1) design and laboratory validation of multivariable sensors for selective detection of H 2 and CO gases, (2) laboratory validation of sensor stability over a two-week testing, and (3) field-validation of the developed multivariable sensor system prototype at GE–Fuel Cells factory. Multi-gas detection was achieved with multivariable photonic sensors designed to operate at elevated temperature. The sensor design was based on three-dimensional (3D) bio-inspired photonic nanostructure that was fabricated using materials responsive to gases of interest such as H 2 and CO. The gas discrimination and the rejection of interferences such as CH 4 , H 2 O, and others was performed by optimizing the design parameters of the 3D photonic nanostructures such as their composition and morphology. Planar sol-gel and sputtered sensing films were fabricated as controls. As a result of the fabrication, functionalization, excitation, and performance testing of 3D photonic sensors, we developed initial design rules for high temperature multivariable sensors. These design rules pave the way for the new generation of cost-effective industrial sensors. Stability of sensor operation was tested in the laboratory conditions under variations of the ambient environments. Stability tests were designed in the order of enhanced complexity and realism of sensor operation and included quantitation of a single gas, quantitation of a single gas in the presence of interferences, and quantitation of two and three gases. We have found that conventional machine learning data analysis stools were unable to correct for the sensor drift. Thus, we have developed new methods of machine learning data analysis that provided us with needed performance stability. Such performance improvement in gas sensing was a significant milestone in bringing our multivariable sensors to practical applications. The project culminated with initial field validation of developed multivariable sensor prototypes at GE–Fuel Cells LLC. The in situ data generated by the sensor system in the lab and field conditions provided inputs that advanced our fundamental understanding of gas sensing at high temperatures to enable sensors for SOFC applications and allowed development of the recommendations for further deliverables.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗
NASA NTRS2011

Use of Data Comm by Flight Crew to Conduct Interval Management Operations to Parallel Dependent Runways

The Interval Management (IM) concept is being developed as a method to maintain or increase high traffic density airport arrival throughput while allowing aircraft to conduct near idle thrust descents. The Interval Management with Spacing to Parallel Dependent Runways (IMSPiDR1) experiment at NASA Langley Research Center used 24 commercial pilots to examine IM procedures to conduct parallel dependent runway arrival operations while maintaining safe but efficient intervals behind the preceding aircraft. The use of IM procedures during these operations requires a lengthy and complex clearance from Air Traffic Control (ATC) to the participating aircraft, thereby making the use of Controller Pilot Data Link Communications (CPDLC) highly desirable as the communication method. The use of CPDLC reduces the need for voice transmissions between controllers and flight crew, and enables automated transfer of IM clearance elements into flight management systems or other aircraft avionics. The result is reduced crew workload and an increase in the efficiency of crew procedures. This paper focuses on the subset of data collected related to the use of CPDLC for IM operations into a busy airport. Overall, the experiment and results were very successful, with the mean time under 43 seconds for the flight crew to load the clearance into the IM spacing tool, review the calculated speed, and respond to ATC. An overall mean rating of Moderately Agree was given when the crews were asked if the use of CPDLC was operationally acceptable as simulated in this experiment. Approximately half of the flight crew reported the use of CPDLC below 10,000 for IM operations was unacceptable, with 83% reporting below 5000 was unacceptable. Also described are proposed modifications to the IM operations that may reduce CPDLC Respond time to less than 30 seconds and should significantly reduce the complexity of crew procedures, as well as follow-on research issues for operational use of CPDLC during IM operations.

Baxley, Brian T.↗
DOE OSTI2020

The TRANSCEND Consortium - In-situ Identification of Surface Corrosion Products on Spent Nuclear Fuels - 20276

The management of spent nuclear fuel is a major ongoing concern for the UK owing to the cessation of reprocessing operations at Sellafield and the large, complex inventory arising from Magnox, AGR, PWR and prototype reactors. Retrieval and relocation operations for legacy fuels are imminent and therefore, any models that enhance our understanding of fuel evolution will help mitigate the risks associated with fuel storage and disposal. The TRANSCEND Consortium on nuclear waste management comprises four work packages, within this current paper we provide a summary overview of progress to date and illustrative results from Theme 3: Spent Nuclear Fuels. (authors)

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗
DOE OSTI2022

Quantum state preparation and nonunitary evolution with diagonal operators

Realizing nonunitary transformations on unitary-gate-based quantum devices is critically important for simulating a variety of physical problems, including open quantum systems and subnormalized quantum states. Here, we present a dilation-based algorithm to simulate nonunitary operations using probabilistic quantum computing with only one ancilla qubit. We utilize the singular-value decomposition (SVD) to decompose any general quantum operator into a product of two unitary operators and a diagonal nonunitary operator, which we show can be implemented by a diagonal unitary operator in a one-qubit dilated space. While dilation techniques increase the number of qubits in the calculation, and thus the gate complexity, our algorithm limits the operations required in the dilated space to a diagonal unitary operator, which has known circuit decompositions. We use this algorithm to prepare random subnormalized two-level states on a quantum device with high fidelity. Furthermore, we present the accurate nonunitary dynamics of two-level open quantum systems in a dephasing channel and an amplitude-damping channel computed on a quantum device. The algorithm presented will be most useful for implementing general nonunitary operations when the SVD can be readily computed, which is the case for most operators in the noisy intermediate-scale quantum computing era.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
NASA NTRS2003

Applications of Space-Filling-Curves to Cartesian Methods for CFD

The proposed paper presents a variety novel uses of Space-Filling-Curves (SFCs) for Cartesian mesh methods in 0. While these techniques will be demonstrated using non-body-fitted Cartesian meshes, most are applicable on general body-fitted meshes -both structured and unstructured. We demonstrate the use of single O(N log N) SFC-based reordering to produce single-pass (O(N)) algorithms for mesh partitioning, multigrid coarsening, and inter-mesh interpolation. The intermesh interpolation operator has many practical applications including warm starts on modified geometry, or as an inter-grid transfer operator on remeshed regions in moving-body simulations. Exploiting the compact construction of these operators, we further show that these algorithms are highly amenable to parallelization. Examples using the SFC-based mesh partitioner show nearly linear speedup to 512 CPUs even when using multigrid as a smoother. Partition statistics are presented showing that the SFC partitions are, on-average, within 10% of ideal even with only around 50,000 cells in each subdomain. The inter-mesh interpolation operator also has linear asymptotic complexity and can be used to map a solution with N unknowns to another mesh with M unknowns with O(max(M,N)) operations. This capability is demonstrated both on moving-body simulations and in mapping solutions to perturbed meshes for finite-difference-based gradient design methods.

Aftosmis, Michael J.↗
NASA NTRS1996

Rapid Inspection of Aerospace Structures - Is It Autonomous Yet?

The trend to increase the usage of aging aircraft added a great deal of urgency to the ongoing need for low-cost, rapid, simple-to-operate, reliable and efficient NDE methods for detection and characterization of flaws in aircraft structures. In many cases, the problem of inspection is complex due to the limitation of current technology and the need to disassemble aircraft structures and testing them in lab conditions. To overcome these limitations, reliable field inspection tools are being developed for rapid NDE of large and complex-shape structures, that can operate at harsh, hostal and remote conditions with minimum human interface. In recent years, to address the need for rapid inspection in field conditions, numerous portable scanners were developed using NDE methods, including ultrasonics, shearography, thermography. This paper is written with emphasis on ultrasonic NDE scanners, their evolution and the expected direction of growth.

Crawling System autonomous robotics↗
DOE OSTI2022

Estimation of pipe failure frequencies in the absence of operational experience data: A pilot study

Probabilistic failure metrics such as leak frequency and rupture frequency are commonly used to characterize piping reliability. The methodologies for calculating the failure metrics rely on a complex set of input parameters. Operating experience data and experimental data play an important role in informing the different input parameters. The paper describes results and conclusions of a coordinated research project to benchmark three different reliability models using a four-step procedure: reference case definition of relevance to advanced reactor designs, input parameter calibration, validation of results, and application of different methodologies upon completion of the calibration and validation steps. The reference case is a weld consisting of nickel-base alloy 152/52 and located within a primary pressure boundary of an advanced reactor. This alloy is a class of structural materials known to be highly resistant to stress corrosion cracking. Synergies between the different methods are noted and the importance of a multi-disciplinary approach to input parameter development is underscored. A key conclusion is that the three methods are equally suitable for estimating failure frequencies. In any specific application, a selection of the most practical or effective computational tool can be considered. The comparison of alternative models confirms and helps to gain confidence in the computed failure frequency estimates. The study was part of a coordinated research project organized by the International Atomic Energy Agency.

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS↗
NASA NTRS2023

Technology Infusion in U.S. Spacesuits - A Comparative System Analysis

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has evolved multiple spacesuit systems for performing extravehicular activity (EVA) or space walks. These spacesuit systems include the Apollo Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU), Space Shuttle and International Space Station (ISS) EMU, and Exploration EMU (xEMU). Each spacesuit system is like the other for functionality. However, each spacesuit system is different in configuration based on the technology infused into the system associated with the purpose of the mission. Each spacesuit system is made up of many components and the integrate environment targeted for operations leads to an integrated system that is complex. Since Apollo, NASA has invested in multiple technologies that make up these spacesuit systems in different iterations. The Apollo EMU was designed in the 1960’s with a focus to facilitate the first human to walk on the moon. The Space Shuttle EMU was designed in the 1970’s for reusable microgravity operations that began in the early 1980’s. The Space Shuttle EMU was enhanced to facilitate extended operation on the ISS. Over the last 15 years, NASA has been designing, developing, and testing a new spacesuit system, the xEMU which is considered a design, verification, and test unit. NASA is planning to land the first woman and first person of color on the Moon. NASA recently engaged industry through a new contractual arrangement to provide EVA services needed to return to the Moon and to continue operations on the ISS. Spacesuit systems are complex. Understanding the requirements, operational environment, the necessary technologies, and the integrated spacesuit system are paramount. In addition, understanding the technology infusion process to meet the mission objectives is critical. This paper will review the spacesuit systems for EVA and several component functions within the spacesuits, along with a system comparison of those technologies from Apollo to xEMU.

Extravehicular Activity (EVA)↗