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At least 1,135 records · Page 63

Vision requirements for Space Station applications

Problems which will be encountered by computer vision systems in Space Station operations are discussed, along with solutions be examined at Johnson Space Station. Lighting cannot be controlled in space, nor can the random presence of reflective surfaces. Task-oriented capabilities are to include docking to moving objects, identification of unexpected objects during autonomous flights to different orbits, and diagnoses of damage and repair requirements for autonomous Space Station inspection robots. The approaches being examined to provide these and other capabilities are television IR sensors, advanced pattern recognition programs feeding on data from laser probes, laser radar for robot eyesight and arrays of SMART sensors for automated location and tracking of target objects. Attention is also being given to liquid crystal light valves for optical processing of images for comparisons with on-board electronic libraries of images.

Crouse, K. R.↗

Development of a CCTV system for welder training and monitoring of Space Shuttle Main Engine welds

A Weld Operator's Remote Monitoring System (WORMS) for remote viewing of manual and automatic GTA welds has been developed for use in Space Shuttle Main Engine (SSME) manufacturing. This system utilizes fiberoptics to transmit images from a receiving lens to a small closed-circuit television (CCTV) camera. The camera converts the image to an electronic signal, which is sent to a videotape recorder (VTR) and a monitor. The overall intent of this system is to provide a clearer, more detailed view of welds than is available by direct observation. This system has six primary areas of application: (1) welder training; (2) viewing of joint penetration; (3) viewing visually inaccessible welds; (4) quality control and quality assurance; (5) remote joint tracking and adjustment of variables in machine welds; and (6) welding research and development. This paper describes WORMS and how it applies to each application listed.

Gordon, S. S.↗

Merging Digital Data With A Video Signal

Data displayed on television image of experiment. Video images of experiment sent with digital data on experiment to remote station. Digital data raw and unformatted or in form of characters. For minimal power consumption, interface circuit built of CMOS and HMOS integrated-circuit chips. Buffer/decoder circuit enables experiment computer to communicate with board without excessive loading of computer bus by board. Memory multiplexer/memory array implements buffer-swapping scheme as one buffer is read, other filled with new data.

Collins, Thomas J., III↗

Subroutines For Image Processing

Image Processing Library computer program, IPLIB, is collection of subroutines facilitating use of COMTAL image-processing system driven by HP 1000 computer. Functions include addition or subtraction of two images with or without scaling, display of color or monochrome images, digitization of image from television camera, display of test pattern, manipulation of bits, and clearing of screen. Provides capability to read or write points, lines, and pixels from image; read or write at location of cursor; and read or write array of integers into COMTAL memory. Written in FORTRAN 77.

Faulcon, Nettie D.↗

Angular-Momentum-Compensating Actuator

Reactionless actuator developed for instrument-pointing platforms on flexible spacecraft; by eliminating reactions, actuator changes aiming angle of platform without inducing vibrations in spacecraft, eliminateing vibrations in point angle of instrument platform. Actuator used on Earth in such systems as helicopter platforms for television cameras in law enforcement and news telecasts.

Wiktor, Peter J.↗

Calculating Robot-Joint Coordinates From Image Coordinates

Detailed knowledge of robot joints not required. Algorithm generates approximate mathematical models of coordinates of joints of robot as functions of coordinates of points in images of work region viewed by television cameras. Joint coordinates necessary to position and orient end effector calculated by mathematical models fitted to experimentally determined data on positions, orientations, and joint coordinates. Generates models as functions of desired location of end effector of robot. Does not require priori knowledge of kinematic equations of robot.

Source record↗

Lewis Information Network (LINK): Background and overview

The NASA Lewis Research Center supports many research facilities with many isolated buildings, including wind tunnels, test cells, and research laboratories. These facilities are all located on a 350 acre campus adjacent to the Cleveland Hopkins Airport. The function of NASA-Lewis is to do basic and applied research in all areas of aeronautics, fluid mechanics, materials and structures, space propulsion, and energy systems. These functions require a great variety of remote high speed, high volume data communications for computing and interactive graphic capabilities. In addition, new requirements for local distribution of intercenter video teleconferencing and data communications via satellite have developed. To address these and future communications requirements for the next 15 yrs, a project team was organized to design and implement a new high speed communication system that would handle both data and video information in a common lab-wide Local Area Network. The project team selected cable television broadband coaxial cable technology as the communications medium and first installation of in-ground cable began in the summer of 1980. The Lewis Information Network (LINK) became operational in August 1982 and has become the backbone of all data communications and video.

Schulte, Roger R.↗

Space spider crane

A space spider crane for the movement, placement, and or assembly of various components on or in the vicinity of a space structure is described. As permanent space structures are utilized by the space program, a means will be required to transport cargo and perform various repair tasks. A space spider crane comprising a small central body with attached manipulators and legs fulfills this requirement. The manipulators may be equipped with constant pressure gripping end effectors or tools to accomplish various repair tasks. The legs are also equipped with constant pressure gripping end effectors to grip the space structure. Control of the space spider crane may be achieved either by computer software or a remotely situated human operator, who maintains visual contact via television cameras mounted on the space spider crane. One possible walking program consists of a parallel motion walking program whereby the small central body alternatively leans forward and backward relative to end effectors.

Macconochie, Ian O.↗

Resources: NASA for entrepreneurs

The services of NASA's Technology Utilization Program are detailed and highlights of spinoff products in various stages of completion are described. Areas discussed include: Stirling engines for automotive applications, klystron tubes used to reduce power costs at UHF television stations, sports applications of riblet film (e.g., boat racing), reinforced plastic for high-temperature applications, coating technology appropriate for such applications similar to the renovation of the Statue of Liberty, and medical uses of fuel pump technology (e.g., heart pumps).

Jannazo, Mary Ann↗

Space Station viewing requirements

Concern based on historical precedent led to early investment of resources to identify Space Station viewing requirements in order that they could be transferred to module window designs, cupolas, indirect viewing methods (e.g., closed circuit television), and implemented in cost models tracking overall station configuration weight and cost. Previous space history and earth based analogs were used to identify needs and requirements relevant to long term missions.

Mount, Frances E.↗

Advanced communications, tracking, robotic vision technology for space applications

Recent advancements in the areas of tracking, communications, and robotics vision sensors being pursued within NASA, as applicable to space programs, are presented. Optical and laser-based communications and tracking systems and applications to space programs are discussed. Communication systems for multiple access, broadband, high data rate, and efficient operations are given. Current efforts at 20/30 GHz and millimeter wave bands are summarized. The use of optical data processing in control system applications for rendezvous and docking is presented. Robotics vision, based on television, laser, and microwave sensors for space applications, is discussed. The fusion of these technologies for remote control, station keeping, tracking, inspection, and satellite repair is detailed.

Krishen, Kumar↗

Human-telerobot interactions - Information, control, and mental models

A part of the NASA's Space Station will be a teleoperated robot (telerobot) with arms for grasping and manipulation, feet for holding onto objects, and television cameras for visual feedback. The objective of the work described in this paper is to develop the requirements and specifications for the user-telerobot interface and to determine through research and testing that the interface results in efficient system operation. The focus of the development of the user-telerobot interface is on the information required by the user, the user inputs, and the design of the control workstation. Closely related to both the information required by the user and the user's control of the telerobot is the user's mental model of the relationship between the control inputs and the telerobot's actions.

Smith, Randy L.↗

Optical pseudocolor image enhancement with real-time large screen display

A real-time broadband pseudocolor image enhancement technique using a liquid crystal television spatial light modulator (LCTV SLM) is described. Three different schemes to modulate the gray-scale disribution of an input scene by an LCTV SLM through varying the orientations of its analyzer are presented. These schemes are incorporated into a compact white light optical projection system that is able to display, on a large screen, broadband pseudocolor images of real-world input scenes. Experimental results demonstrating the feasibility of the technique are reported.

Chao, Tien-Hsin↗

Gray-Scale Processing For Tracking Of Welds

Digital analysis of video-image-processing system contributes to automation of weld-seam tracking. Makes no contact with seam. Small television camera views seam just ahead of point currently being welded. Arc provides illumination. Periodically frame grabber digitizes video image and stores in computer memory as gray-scale values. Seam located by analyzing Hough-transform arrays of derivatives of digitally-filtered image data. Information on location and orientation of seam used as feedback by welding robot to correct deviations of electrode from seam as welding continues.

Gutow, David A.↗

Liquid-Crystal Optical Correlator

Optical correlator uses commercially-available liquid-crystal television (LCTV) screen as spatial light modulator. Correlations with this device done at video frame rates, making such operations as bar-code recognition possible at reasonable cost. With further development, such correlator useful in automation, robotic vision, and optical image processing.

Liu, Hua-Kuang↗

Multiplying Video Mixer

Video mixing circuit places transparent overlay image on all or portion of normal image on television screen. Overlay computer-generated graphics, text, or another image. Background video brightness signal fed into one input terminal of circuit, while overlay brightness signal fed into other input terminal. Amplitude of background brightness signal modulated by overlay brightness signal, resulting in video image in which background image appears as though viewed through overlay. Multiplying video mixer, combined with additional circuitry, places transparent or opaque overlay images on normal (background) video images.

Heckt, Neil W.↗

Robotic Vision Would Combine Optics And Microwaves

Conceptual robot-vision system processes data from both microwave and visible-wavelength sensors. Concept, called "fusion of sensors," yields better information on shapes of some objects than obtained from one type of sensor alone. Proposed system fuses data from television images with polarized low-resolution radar-scattering cross sections. Using iterative procedure, generates successive approximations to shape of target by minimizing differences between observed radar returns and radar returns observed if object characterized by computed scattering transfer matrix.

Krishen, Kuma↗

Applications of artificial intelligence to space station: General purpose intelligent sensor interface

This final report describes the accomplishments of the General Purpose Intelligent Sensor Interface task of the Applications of Artificial Intelligence to Space Station grant for the period from October 1, 1987 through September 30, 1988. Portions of the First Biannual Report not revised will not be included but only referenced. The goal is to develop an intelligent sensor system that will simplify the design and development of expert systems using sensors of the physical phenomena as a source of data. This research will concentrate on the integration of image processing sensors and voice processing sensors with a computer designed for expert system development. The result of this research will be the design and documentation of a system in which the user will not need to be an expert in such areas as image processing algorithms, local area networks, image processor hardware selection or interfacing, television camera selection, voice recognition hardware selection, or analog signal processing. The user will be able to access data from video or voice sensors through standard LISP statements without any need to know about the sensor hardware or software.

Mckee, James W.↗