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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

Measuring Mobility Potential: A Novel Metric to Quantify Mobility Energy Productivity (MEP) of Transportation Systems

For nearly a century, the automobile has been the primary mode of personal transportation in American life. This remains true today as millions of people rely heavily on cars to connect suburbs with cities or to travel long distances - often out of routine or convenience. However, advances in technology are fueling an era of transportation transformation, with the potential to transform a system that has remained virtually unchanged for decades. The challenges of interconnecting our cities and creating a cross-continental transportation system for military purposes spawned the interstate highway system, generating the age of the automobile. In this century, congestion and mobility challenges of rising urban populations are spawning ever-evolving mobility and communications technologies to connect people to goods, services, and employment within a metropolitan and national context - all of which define a high quality of life. Aspiring smart cities are wrestling with questions such as: How does mobility impact a person's quality of life? Would people make different travel choices if they were presented with better information about their mobility options? Would businesses make different location decisions if they could assess the quality of mobility in that area? The ability to quantify the quality of mobility at a given location is the first step toward answering these questions. In response, an interdisciplinary team at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has developed the Mobility-Energy Productivity (MEP) metric. The MEP metric provides an avenue to not only measure the quality of mobility at a specific location in its current configuration, but also to test how various technological advances (e.g., connected and automated vehicles, plug-in electric vehicles, shared mobility) and infrastructure investments (e.g., building an additional highway lane, constructing a new shopping mall, implementing a transit-oriented development) impact the mobility of that location over time.

30 DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION↗

Evaluating Time Varying Connectivities and System Throughput in Opportunistic Networks for Smart Grid Applications

With increasing proliferation of smart phones, there is an opportunity to employ mobile ad hoc networks to connect to distributed energy assets located in remote areas. With embedded intelligence and edge computing capabilities, autonomous ‘edge control nodes’ can enable a decentralized energy nexus, without the need for on-demand communications. Authors have developed an opportunistic networking framework using Bluetooth Low Energy and a specialized mobile phone application that enables delay tolerant networking for the above framework. Here, this paper presents the analysis of time varying graph connectivity for such an opportunistic mobile ad hoc network. Dependence of connectivity on different network parameters such as radio characteristics, the mobility of data mules and parameters governing how connections are established are explored. Simulation results showing the variation of above trends have been presented.

Bluetooth↗

An overview of the operation architectures and energy management system for multiple microgrid clusters

The emerging novel energy infrastructures, such as energy communities, smart building-based microgrids, electric vehicles enabled mobile energy storage units raise the requirements for a more interconnective and interoperable energy system. It leads to a transition from simple and isolated microgrids to relatively large-scale and complex interconnected microgrid systems named multi-microgrid clusters. In order to efficiently, optimally, and flexibly control multi-microgrid clusters, cross-disciplinary technologies such as power electronics, control theory, optimization algorithms, information and communication technologies, cyber-physical, and big-data analysis are needed. This paper introduces an overview of the relevant aspects for multi-microgrids, including the outstanding features, architectures, typical applications, existing control mechanisms, as well as the challenges.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗

RouteE: A Vehicle Energy Consumption Prediction Engine

The emergence of connected and automated vehicles and smart cities technologies create the opportunity for new mobility modes and routing decision tools, among many others. To achieve maximum mobility and minimum energy consumption, it is critical to understand the energy cost of decisions and optimize accordingly. The Route Energy prediction model (RouteE) enables accurate estimation of energy consumption for a variety of vehicle types over trips or sub-trips where detailed drive cycle data are unavailable. Applications include vehicle route selection, energy accounting and optimization in transportation simulation, and corridor energy analyses, among others. The software is a Python package that includes a variety of pre-trained models from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). However, RouteE also enables users to train custom models using their own data sets, making it a robust and valuable tool for both fast calculations and rigorous, data-rich research efforts. The pre-trained RouteE models are established using NREL's Future Automotive Systems Technology Simulator paired with approximately 1 million miles of drive cycle data from the Transportation Secure Data Center, resulting in energy consumption behavior estimates over a representative sample of driving conditions for the United States. Validations have been performed using on-road fuel consumption data for conventional and electrified vehicle powertrains. Transferring the results of the on-road validation to a larger set of real-world origin-destination pairs, it is estimated that implementing the present methodology in a green-routing application would accurately select the route that consumes the least fuel 90% of the time. The novel machine learning techniques used in RouteE make it a flexible and robust tool for a variety of transportation applications.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗

Introduction to the special issue on smart transportation

Transportation is getting smarter and smarter, with the prominence of connected automated vehicle technologies in the global auto industry’s near-term growth strategies, of big data analytics and unprecedented access to sensing data of mobility, and of integration of this analytics into the optimization of mobility and transport. Further, these developments are setting off a wave of smart transportation innovations, which are featured by new methods and applications driven by various forms of sensor data such as GPS, CAN bus, LIDA, images, etc. At the same time, complexities surrounding the use, conflation, and processing of disparate data in near real-time is of essence for the design and development of futuristic smart transportation.

33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS↗

Livewire Data Platform - A Solution for EEMS Data Sharing

To bring about fundamental changes in our transportation system, data sharing must be endemic. The Livewire Data Platform is a user-friendly, searchable platform allowing easy and secure data sharing and discovery for DOE's Energy Efficient Mobility Systems (EEMS) researchers. The platform was funded by the DOE Vehicle Technologies Office (VTO) to enable a research community that builds partnerships and collaboration around data in order to find answers to today's biggest mobility challenges.

33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS↗

Technical Assistance

DOE-TTO Annual Merit Review presentation on the Technical Assistance task, covering FY25-26. Includes an overview of what technical assistance is and highlights three key projects: (1) FLeet CNG Infrastructure Clean Cities TA request, (2) 3D Mobile App for Emergency Responders (for EVs) Pilot Project, and (3) Smart Playbook for Fleets AFDC content development.

33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS↗

From BASE-ASIA Toward 7-SEAS: A Satellite-Surface Perspective of Boreal Spring Biomass-Burning Aerosols and Clouds in Southeast Asia

In this paper, we present recent field studies conducted by NASA's SMART-COMMIT (and ACHIEVE, to be operated in 2013) mobile laboratories, jointly with distributed ground-based networks (e.g., AERONET, http://aeronet.gsfc.nasa.gov/ and MPLNET, http://mplnet.gsfc.nasa.gov/) and other contributing instruments over northern Southeast Asia. These three mobile laboratories, collectively called SMARTLabs (cf. http://smartlabs.gsfc.nasa.gov/, Surface-based Mobile Atmospheric Research & Testbed Laboratories) comprise a suite of surface remote sensing and in-situ instruments that are pivotal in providing high spectral and temporal measurements, complementing the collocated spatial observations from various Earth Observing System (EOS) satellites. A satellite-surface perspective and scientific findings, drawn from the BASE-ASIA (2006) field deployment as well as a series of ongoing 7-SEAS (2010-13) field activities over northern Southeast Asia are summarized, concerning (i) regional properties of aerosols from satellite and in situ measurements, (ii) cloud properties from remote sensing and surface observations, (iii) vertical distribution of aerosols and clouds, and (iv) regional aerosol radiative effects and impact assessment. The aerosol burden over Southeast Asia in boreal spring, attributed to biomass burning, exhibits highly consistent spatial and temporal distribution patterns, with major variability arising from changes in the magnitude of the aerosol loading mediated by processes ranging from large-scale climate factors to diurnal meteorological events. Downwind from the source regions, the tightly coupled-aerosolecloud system provides a unique, natural laboratory for further exploring the micro- and macro-scale relationships of the complex interactions. The climatic significance is presented through large-scale anti-correlations between aerosol and precipitation anomalies, showing spatial and seasonal variability, but their precise cause-and-effect relationships remain an open-ended question. To facilitate an improved understanding of the regional aerosol radiative effects, which continue to be one of the largest uncertainties in climate forcing, a joint international effort is required and anticipated to commence in springtime 2013 in northern Southeast Asia.

biomass burning aerosols↗

OPTIMIZATION OF INTRA-CITY FREIGHT MOVEMENT WITH NEW DELIVERY METHODS

The purpose of this study is to develop a methodology for modeling intra-city freight delivery tours using innovative modes and alternative last mile delivery scenarios to determine potential energy savings in Columbus, Ohio. This study is part of the Department of Energy (DOE)’s SMART (Systems and Modeling for Accelerated Research in Transportation) Mobility Multi-Modal Freight Pillar. It is a partnership with the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Idaho National Laboratory, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, United Parcel Service – Columbus, Ohio, and the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission.

Moore, Amy↗

A Safety and Management Framework to Enable Automated Mobility Districts in Urban Areas

Automated mobility technology is beginning to emerge as a viable means to create sustainable and effective public mobility systems within denser urban environments. Automated mobility districts (AMDs) describe major urban districts or activity centers in which deployments of multiple automated vehicle (AV) transit and ride-hailing fleets are supported to meet public mobility needs. The authors put forward a framework to enable AMDs and their governing and management jurisdictional authorities to manage safety of AV operations based on lessons learned from the last century of automated guideway transit and roadway intersection traffic control systems. The essential concept is that of operational management and safety-critical control of multiple AV fleets using a “system-of-systems” approach to system safety analysis. The safety analysis would focus on safe passage of the AV fleet vehicles through complex roadway intersections and junctions, especially in the presence of other non-automated modes such as pedestrians and manually operated vehicles.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗

Gaussian process regression for radiological contamination mapping- Applied to optimal motion planning for mobile sensor platforms [Slides]

Want to achieve best representative characterization of the entire area efficiently and accurately-Unmanned aerial/ground vehicles (UAV/UGVs) for contamination mapping. Some major challenges include: Limited battery life (move smart), Human operated (fully autonomous controls) and Many measurements (predictive mapping capabilities). The objective: Develop fully autonomous controls for mobile sensor platforms to improve efficiency and maintain performance.

61 RADIATION PROTECTION AND DOSIMETRY↗

Development and Testing of the Smart SPHERES Telerobotic Free-Flyer

Smart SPHERES is a free-flying robot that can be remotely operated by astronauts in space, or by mission controllers on the ground. We are developing Smart SPHERES to perform a variety of intravehicular activities (IVA) inside the International Space Station (ISS). These IVA tasks include interior environmental surveys, inventory, and mobile camera work. During 2013, we tested crew-controlled remote operations and wireless network-based localization with Smart SPHERES on ISS. In 2014, we plan to test 3D vision-based navigation.

Fong, Terrence↗

Best practices mobile application for D and D KM-IT - 15712

The Deactivation and Decommissioning Knowledge Management Information Tool (D and D KM-IT) is the repository of useful information built specifically for D and D community. The knowledge provided by the D and D KM-IT is the experience and expertise gained by people within the field and fellow employees of the Department of Energy (DOE). This information has been the result of gathering, analyzing, storing, and sharing knowledge to help reduce time spent on discovering previously found data. In order to help in organizing all the data from all the professional contributors, the D and D KM-IT has been divided into 12 different modules. Each individual module pertains to a different area of information for users, such as vendor and technology information, collaboration tools, and even a hotline that contains problems posted by the users. Purpose: - Design and develop the module for the Best Practices on D and D KM-IT mobile platform deployed at https://m.dndkm.org; - The Best Practices mobile module should integrate with existing modules seamlessly; - Use the D and D KM-IT existing database to consume information for the mobile system. jQuery Mobile framework was used to develop Best Practices module for mobile devices. jQuery Mobile framework provides support for responsive web design (RWD). RWD allows adaptation of the layout and user interface of web sites and web apps to different device resolutions, screen densities, and views. UI design was implemented with three fundamental elements: CSS media queries, An adaptable grid, Flexible images and media. Advantages/benefits: - A responsive web design adapts to any-sized screen / resolution and orientation view; - ASP.NET compatible which allows the D and D KM-IT database to support all platforms accessing the system; - Navigating pages is more bandwidth efficient by refreshing data in small section with Ajax instead of reloading the entire page; - Multiple parts of a page can perform different tasks resulting in improved user's experience. Results: - Mobile system is accessible on compatible devices running Android, Apple, Blackberry, Palm, and Windows devices; - Best Practices searches through Characterization, Decontamination, Dismantlement, Material Disposition, and Worker Safety; - Keyword search is enabled for the best practices that are available on both the desktop and mobile systems - Documents are formatted into a PDF file format to ensure compatibility on any device. Conclusion: - Fully integrated with the desktop Best Practices module and displays documents that are uploaded on web platform; - Fast-loading with D and D KM-IT mobile system and downloadable documents; - Responsive design which gives the same user experience when either viewed on smart phone or tablet.

96 KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT AND PRESERVATION↗

Detection, Localization, and Tracking of Unauthorized UAS and Jammers

Small unmanned aircraft systems (UASs) are expected to take major roles in future smart cities, for example, by delivering goods and merchandise, potentially serving as mobile hot spots for broadband wireless access, and maintaining surveillance and security. Although they can be used for the betterment of the society, they can also be used by malicious entities to conduct physical and cyber attacks to infrastructure, private/public property, and people. Even for legitimate use-cases of small UASs, air traffic management (ATM) for UASs becomes of critical importance for maintaining safe and collusion-free operation. Therefore, various ways to detect, track, and interdict potentially unauthorized drones carries critical importance for surveillance and ATM applications. In this paper, we will review techniques that rely on ambient radio frequency signals (emitted from UASs), radars, acoustic sensors, and computer vision techniques for detection of malicious UASs. We will present some early experimental and simulation results on radar-based range estimation of UASs, and receding horizon tracking of UASs. Subsequently, we will overview common techniques that are considered for interdiction of UASs.

surveillance↗

High-Fidelity Solar Irradiance Data: Simple Access to State-of-the-Art Information Accelerates Southeast Asia's Clean Energy Economic Transformation

High quality, robust, and reliable renewable energy resource data is foundational to climate-smart decision making, evidence-based policy planning, and clean energy investment mobilization. USAID and NREL, through the Advanced Energy Partnership for Asia, are expanding access to this critical resource data by providing free, high-fidelity solar resource data for Southeast Asia through the RE Data Explorer platform. This brief highlights several ways the Southeast Asia solar resource data has been used for power system planning and project development in the region.

Advanced Energy Partnership for Asia↗

Brick : Metadata schema for portable smart building applications

Buildings account for 32% of worldwide energy usage. A new regime of exciting new “applications” that span a distributed fabric of sensors, actuators and humans has emerged to improve building energy efficiency and operations management. These applications leverage the technological advances in embedded sensing, processing, networking and methods by which they can be coupled with supervisory control and data acquisition systems deployed in modern buildings and with users on mobile wireless platforms. There are, however, several technical challenges to confront before such a vision of smart building applications and cyber-physical systems can be realized. The sensory data produced by these systems need significant curation before it can be used meaningfully. This is largely a manual, cost-prohibitive task and hence such solutions rarely experience widespread adoption due to the lack of a common descriptive schema. Recent attempts have sought to address this through data standards and metadata schemata but fall short in capturing the richness of relationships required by applications. Here, this paper describes Brick, a uniform metadata schema for representing buildings that builds upon recent advances in the area. Our schema defines a concrete ontology for sensors, subsystems and the relationships between them, which enables portable applications. We demonstrate the completeness and effectiveness of Brick by using it to represent the entire vendor-specific sensor metadata of six diverse buildings across different campuses, comprising 17,700 data points, and running eight unmodified energy efficiency applications on these buildings.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗

Polarization-controlled volatile ferroelectric and capacitive switching in Sn 2 P 2 S 6

Abstract Smart electronic circuits that support neuromorphic computing on the hardware level necessitate materials with memristive, memcapacitive, and neuromorphic- like functional properties; in short, the electronic response must depend on the voltage history, thus enabling learning algorithms. Here we demonstrate volatile ferroelectric switching of Sn 2 P 2 S 6 at room temperature and see that initial polarization orientation strongly determines the properties of polarization switching. In particular, polarization switching hysteresis is strongly imprinted by the original polarization state, shifting the regions of non-linearity toward zero-bias. As a corollary, polarization switching also enables effective capacitive switching, approaching the sought-after regime of memcapacitance. Landau–Ginzburg–Devonshire simulations demonstrate that one mechanism by which polarization can control the shape of the hysteresis loop is the existence of charged domain walls (DWs) decorating the periphery of the repolarization nucleus. These walls oppose the growth of the switched domain and favor back-switching, thus creating a scenario of controlled volatile ferroelectric switching. Although the measurements were carried out with single crystals, prospectively volatile polarization switching can be tuned by tailoring sample thickness, DW mobility and electric fields, paving way to non-linear dielectric properties for smart electronic circuits.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗