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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 109 records · Page 6
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2021

Boundary detection evaluation

Illustrative embodiments are directed to a method and apparatus for evaluating boundary detection in an image. A processed image is received, wherein a detected boundary of an image of an object is identified in the processed image. A Radon transform is applied to the processed image for a plurality of angles to form a processed image histogram corresponding to the detected boundary for each of the plurality of angles. The processed image histogram for each of the plurality of angles and a corresponding ground truth histogram for each of the plurality of angles is normalized to provide a normalized processed image histogram and a normalized ground truth histogram for each of the plurality of angles, wherein the ground truth histogram corresponds to a ground truth boundary of the object for a corresponding angle. An indication of the edges of the normalized processed image histogram for each of the plurality of angles is plotted to form a boundary detection evaluation visualization.

Wantuch, Andrew C.↗
DOE OSTI2024

Boundary detection evaluation

Illustrative embodiments are directed to a method and apparatus for evaluating boundary detection in an image. A processed image is received, wherein a detected boundary of an image of an object is identified in the processed image. A Radon transform is applied to the processed image for a plurality of angles to form a processed image histogram corresponding to the detected boundary for each of the plurality of angles. The processed image histogram for each of the plurality of angles and a corresponding ground truth histogram for each of the plurality of angles is normalized to provide a normalized processed image histogram and a normalized ground truth histogram for each of the plurality of angles, wherein the ground truth histogram corresponds to a ground truth boundary of the object for a corresponding angle. An indication of the edges of the normalized processed image histogram for each of the plurality of angles is plotted to form a boundary detection evaluation visualization.

Wantuch, Andrew C.↗
DOE OSTI2022

Automated Defect Identification For Triso Fuels

The developed code is to be used to identify manufacturing defects of nuclear fuel kernels using image processing methods. Past batches of TRi-structural ISOtropic particle (TRISO) fuel kernels have on occasion contained fissures that result in the fuel batch not meeting specifications. The developed code automates the inspection process of these kernels. The code analyzes micrographs of TRISO fuel kernels and outputs a count of total kernels in the sample, a count of the number of defective particles in the sample, as well as processed images for more effective manual inspection. This information output will be used to help identify if defective kernels are present in a fuel batch and quantify the countable fissure fraction.

Oncken, JosephE.↗
DOE OSTI2015

SU-E-P-31: Quantifying the Amount of Missing Tissue in a Digital Breast Tomosynthesis

Purpose: To automatically quantify the amount of missing tissue in a digital breast tomosynthesis system using four stair-stepped chest wall missing tissue gauges in the Tomophan™ from the Phantom Laboratory and image processing from Image Owl. Methods: The Tomophan™ phantom incorporates four stair-stepped missing tissue gauges by the chest wall, allowing measurement of missing chest wall in two different locations along the chest wall at two different heights. Each of the four gauges has 12 steps in 0.5 mm increments rising from the chest wall. An image processing algorithm was developed by Image Owl that first finds the two slices containing the steps then finds the signal through the highest step in all four gauges. Using the signal drop at the beginning of each gauge the distance to the end of the image gives the length of the missing tissue gauge in millimeters. Results: The Tomophan™ was imaged in digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) systems from various vendors resulting in 46 cases used for testing. The results showed that on average 1.9 mm of 6 mm of the gauges are visible. A small focus group was asked to count the number of visible steps for each case which resulted in a good agreement between observer counts and computed data. Conclusion: First, the results indicate that the amount of missing chest wall can differ between vendors. Secondly it was shown that an automated method to estimate the amount of missing chest wall gauges agreed well with observer assessments. This finding indicates that consistency testing may be simplified using the Tomophan™ phantom and analysis by an automated image processing named Tomo QA. In general the reason for missing chest wall may be due to a function of the beam profile at the chest wall as DBT projects through the angular sampling. Research supported by Image Owl, Inc., The Phantom Laboratory, Inc. and Raforninn ehf; Mallozzi and Healy employed by The Phantom Laboratory, Inc.; Goodenough is a consultant to The Phantom Laboratory, Inc.; Fredriksson, Kristbjornsson, Olafsson, Oskarsdottir and Olafsdottir are employed by Raforninn, Ehf.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2015

TU-F-CAMPUS-J-04: Evaluation of Metal Artifact Reduction Technique for the Radiation Therapy Planning

Purpose: To evaluate the feasibility of using a metal artifact reduction technique in depleting metal artifact and its application in improving dose calculation in External Radiation Therapy Planning. Methods: CIRS electron density phantom was scanned with and without steel drill bits placed in some plug holes. Meta artifact reduction software with Metal Deletion Technique (MDT) was used to remove metal artifacts for scanned image with metal. Hounsfield units of electron density plugs from artifact free reference image and MDT processed images were compared. To test the dose calculation improvement after the MDT processed images, clinically approved head and neck plan with manual dental artifact correction was tested. Patient images were exported and processed with MDT and plan was recalculated with new MDT image without manual correction. Dose profiles near the metal artifacts were compared. Results: The MDT used in this study effectively reduced the metal artifact caused by beam hardening and scatter. The windmill around the metal drill was greatly improved with smooth rounded view. Difference of the mean HU in each density plug between reference and MDT images were less than 10 HU in most of the plugs. Dose difference between original plan and MDT images were minimal. Conclusion: Most metal artifact reduction methods were developed for diagnostic improvement purpose. Hence Hounsfield unit accuracy was not rigorously tested before. In our test, MDT effectively eliminated metal artifacts with good HU reproduciblity. However, it can introduce new mild artifacts so the MDT images should be checked with original images.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2014

Autonomous real-time detection of plumes and jets from moons and comets

Dynamic activity on the surface of distant moons, asteroids, and comets can manifest as jets or plumes. These phenomena provide information about the interior of the bodies and the forces (gravitation, radiation, thermal) they experience. Fast detection and follow-up study is imperative since the phenomena may be time-varying and because the observing window may be limited (e.g., during a flyby). We have developed an advanced method for real-time detection of plumes and jets using onboard analysis of the data as it is collected. In contrast to prior work, our technique is not restricted to plume detection from spherical bodies, making it relevant for irregularly shaped bodies such as comets. Further, our study analyzes raw data, the form in which it is available on board the spacecraft, rather than fully processed image products. In summary, we contribute a vital assessment of a technique that can be used on board tomorrow's deep space missions to detect, and respond quickly to, new occurrences of plumes and jets.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2016

TEMPORAL EVOLUTION AND SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION OF WHITE-LIGHT FLARE KERNELS IN A SOLAR FLARE

On 2011 September 6, we observed an X2.1-class flare in continuum and H α with a frame rate of about 30 Hz. After processing images of the event by using a speckle-masking image reconstruction, we identified white-light (WL) flare ribbons on opposite sides of the magnetic neutral line. We derive the light curve decay times of the WL flare kernels at each resolution element by assuming that the kernels consist of one or two components that decay exponentially, starting from the peak time. As a result, 42% of the pixels have two decay-time components with average decay times of 15.6 and 587 s, whereas the average decay time is 254 s for WL kernels with only one decay-time component. The peak intensities of the shorter decay-time component exhibit good spatial correlation with the WL intensity, whereas the peak intensities of the long decay-time components tend to be larger in the early phase of the flare at the inner part of the flare ribbons, close to the magnetic neutral line. The average intensity of the longer decay-time components is 1.78 times higher than that of the shorter decay-time components. If the shorter decay time is determined by either the chromospheric cooling time or the nonthermal ionization timescale and the longer decay time is attributed to the coronal cooling time, this result suggests that WL sources from both regions appear in 42% of the WL kernels and that WL emission of the coronal origin is sometimes stronger than that of chromospheric origin.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2019

Development of a Semi-autonomous Miniature Rover for Inspection of Double Shell Tank Floors - 19575

Leaks in the primary liner of double-shell tank (DST) 241-AY-102 at Hanford have prompted the need for the development of inspection tools that are able to access confined spaces around and underneath the tanks. Last year, Florida International University (FIU) has continued to improve inspection tools that were developed in the previous years, to ensure that the resultant tools are able to overcome the challenges posed by the DSTs. Experimental testing conducted last year at the full-scale sectional mock-up of the DST's refractory slots revealed some shortcomings of the miniature rover, particularly in traversing over weld seams of different heights. The weld seams are the results of welded steel plate-joints for the DST. It was advised by the site engineers that the weld seams height could range from 6.35 mm - 9.525 mm (1/4 to 3/8 inches), and with 12.7 mm (1/2 inches) width. As the rover traverses over a weld seam, the gap between the rover's magnets and tank surface increases, causing the adhesive force to drop. The rover loses its surface contact if this adhesive force drops below its weight, jeopardizing the inspection tasks. In this paper, we present the numerical studies to calculate the minimum magnetic force required for the miniature rover to traverse over weld seams with different heights and the corresponding modifications to the rover design. Initial bench scale tests were conducted using a steel bar with 5 welds of varying heights. The testing validated the results from the simulation studies and established the rover's capability in traversing weld seams. Another challenge for the miniature rover is the use of a joystick or keypad for manual control. Utilizing these controls will likely be difficult for the operators due to the tight channels underneath the tank. Having a semi-autonomous navigational capability would alleviate the complexity of the inspection tasks and allow the operator to focus on the channel inspection. The goal is to implement lane-keeping capability, akin to that of a driverless car, for the inspection tool, so that it will maintain its relative position with respect to the wall of the channels. Am image processing pipeline has been developed using both the Robot Operating System (ROS) and OpenCV to process the image stream coming from the onboard camera, for the purpose of lane identification. Additionally, a PID controller has been implemented to navigate the miniature rover along the central location of the detected lane, while allowing the operator to control the tool's forward and backward motion. (authors)

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗
DOE OSTI2016

Ultrasonic power measurement system based on acousto-optic interaction

Ultrasonic waves are widely used, with applications including the medical, military, and chemical fields. However, there are currently no effective methods for ultrasonic power measurement. Previously, ultrasonic power measurement has been reliant on mechanical methods such as hydrophones and radiation force balances. This paper deals with ultrasonic power measurement based on an unconventional method: acousto-optic interaction. Compared with mechanical methods, the optical method has a greater ability to resist interference and also has reduced environmental requirements. Therefore, this paper begins with an experimental determination of the acoustic power in water contained in a glass tank using a set of optical devices. Because the light intensity of the diffraction image generated by acousto-optic interaction contains the required ultrasonic power information, specific software was written to extract the light intensity information from the image through a combination of filtering, binarization, contour extraction, and other image processing operations. The power value can then be obtained rapidly by processing the diffraction image using a computer. The results of this work show that the optical method offers advantages that include accuracy, speed, and a noncontact measurement method.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗