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At least 1,225 records · Page 68

Implementing embedded artificial intelligence rules within algorithmic programming languages

Most integrations of artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities with non-AI (usually FORTRAN-based) application programs require the latter to execute separately to run as a subprogram or, at best, as a coroutine, of the AI system. In many cases, this organization is unacceptable; instead, the requirement is for an AI facility that runs in embedded mode; i.e., is called as subprogram by the application program. The design and implementation of a Prolog-based AI capability that can be invoked in embedded mode are described. The significance of this system is twofold: Provision of Prolog-based symbol-manipulation and deduction facilities makes a powerful symbolic reasoning mechanism available to applications programs written in non-AI languages. The power of the deductive and non-procedural descriptive capabilities of Prolog, which allow the user to describe the problem to be solved, rather than the solution, is to a large extent vitiated by the absence of the standard control structures provided by other languages. Embedding invocations of Prolog rule bases in programs written in non-AI languages makes it possible to put Prolog calls inside DO loops and similar control constructs. The resulting merger of non-AI and AI languages thus results in a symbiotic system in which the advantages of both programming systems are retained, and their deficiencies largely remedied.

Feyock, Stefan↗

A framework for implementing data services in multi-service mobile satellite systems

Mobile satellite systems being planned for introduction in the early 1990s are expected to be invariably of the multi-service type. Mobile Telephone Service (MTS), Mobile Radio Service (MRS), and Mobile Data Service (MDS) are the major classifications used to categorize the many user applications to be supported. The MTS and MRS services encompass circuit-switched voice communication applications, and may be efficiently implemented using a centralized Demand-Assigned Multiple Access (DAMA) scheme. Applications under the MDS category are, on the other hand, message-oriented and expected to vary widely in characteristics; from simplex mode short messaging applications to long duration, full-duplex interactive data communication and large file transfer applications. For some applications under this service category, the conventional circuit-based DAMA scheme may prove highly inefficient due to the long time required to set up and establish communication links relative to the actual message transmission time. It is proposed that by defining a set of basic bearer services to be supported in MDS and optimizing their transmission and access schemes independent of the MTS and MRS services, the MDS applications can be more efficiently integrated into the multi-service design of mobile satellite systems.

Ali, Mohammed O.↗

Implementing direct, spatially isolated problems on transputer networks

Parametric studies were performed on transputer networks of up to 40 processors to determine how to implement and maximize the performance of the solution of problems where no processor-to-processor data transfer is required for the problem solution (spatially isolated). Two types of problems are investigated a computationally intensive problem where the solution required the transmission of 160 bytes of data through the parallel network, and a communication intensive example that required the transmission of 3 Mbytes of data through the network. This data consists of solutions being sent back to the host processor and not intermediate results for another processor to work on. Studies were performed on both integer and floating-point transputers. The latter features an on-chip floating-point math unit and offers approximately an order of magnitude performance increase over the integer transputer on real valued computations. The results indicate that a minimum amount of work is required on each node per communication to achieve high network speedups (efficiencies). The floating-point processor requires approximately an order of magnitude more work per communication than the integer processor because of the floating-point unit's increased computing capacity.

Ellis, Graham K.↗

A digitally implemented phase-locked loop detection scheme for analysis of the phase and power stability of a calibration tone

A digital phase-locked loop (PLL) scheme is described which detects the phase and power of a high SNR calibration tone. The digital PLL is implemented in software directly from the given description. It was used to evaluate the stability of the Goldstone Deep Space Station open loop receivers for Radio Science. Included is a derivative of the Allan variance sensitivity of the PLL imposed by additive white Gaussian noise; a lower limit is placed on the carrier frequency.

Densmore, A. C.↗

Implementation of variable time step stochastic dynamics for electronically inelastic gas-surface collisions

A variable time step algorithm has been implemented for solving the stochastic equations of motion for gas-surface collisions. It has been tested for a simple model of electronically inelastic collisions with an insulator surface in which the phonon manifold acts as a heat bath and electronic states are localized. In addition to reproducing the accurate nuclear dynamics of the surface atoms, numerical calculations have shown the algorithm to yield accurate ensemble averages of physical observables such as electronic transition probabilities and total energy loss of the gas atom to the surface. This new algorithm offers a gain in efficieny of up to an order of magnitude compared to fixed time step integration.

Garrett, Bruce C.↗

Evaluation of a dual processor implementation for a fault inferring nonlinear detection system

The design of a modified fault inferring nonlinear detection system (FINDS) algorithm for a dual-processor configured flight computer is described. The algorithm was changed in order to divide it into its translational dynamics and rotational kinematics and to use it for parallel execution on the flight computer. The FINDS consists of: (1) a no-fail filter (NFF), (2) a set of test-of-mean detection tests, (3) a bank of first order filters to estimate failure levels in individual sensors, and (4) a decision function. NFF filter performance using flight recorded sensor data is analyzed using a filter autoinitialization routine. The failure detection and isolation capability of the partitioned algorithm is evaluated. A multirate implementation for the bias-free and bias filter gain and covariance matrices is discussed.

Godiwala, P. M.↗

A proposed Applications Information System - Concept, implementation, and growth

This paper describes a newly developed concept within NASA for an Applications Information System (AIS). The AIS would provide the opportunity to the public and private sectors of shared participation in a remote sensing research program directed to a particular set of land-use or environmental problems. Towards this end, the AIS would offer the technological framework and information system resources to overcome many of the deficiencies that end-users have faced over the years such as limited access to data, delay in data delivery, and a limited access to data reduction algorithms and models to convert data to geophysical measurements. In addition, the AIS will take advantage of NASA developments in networking among information systems and use of state of the art technology, such as CD Roms and optical disks for the purpose of increasing the scientific benefits of applied environmental research. The rationale for the establishment of an AIS, a methodology for a step-wise, modular implementation, and the relationship of the AIS to other NASA information systems are discussed.

Mcconnell, Dudley G.↗

Implementation of a fast digital optical matrix-vector multiplier using a holographic look-up table and residue arithmetic

The design and implementation of a digital (numerical) optical matrix-vector multiplier are presented. A Hughes liquid crystal light valve, the residue arithmetic representation, and a holographic optical memory are used to construct position coded optical look-up tables. All operations are performed in effectively one light valve response time with a potential for a high information density.

Habiby, Sarry F.↗

Implementation of RCCL, a robot control C library on a microVAX II

The robot control C library (RCCL), a high-level robot programing system which enables a progammer to employ a set of system calls to specify robot manipulator tasks, is discussed. The general structure of RCCL is described, and the implementation of RCCL on a microVAX II is examined. Proposed extensions and improvements of RCCL relevant to NASA's telerobotic system are addressed.

Lee, Jin S.↗

Electronic hardware implementations of neutral networks

This paper examines some of the present work on the development of electronic neural network hardware. In particular, the investigations currently under way at JPL on neural network hardware implementations based on custom VLSI technology, novel thin film materials, and an analog-digital hybrid architecture are reviewed. The availability of such hardware will greatly benefit and enhance the present intense research effort on the potential computational capabilities of highly parallel systems based on neural network models.

Thakoor, A. P.↗

Requirements and principles for the implementation and construction of large-scale geographic information systems

This paper provides a brief survey of the history, structure and functions of 'traditional' geographic information systems (GIS), and then suggests a set of requirements that large-scale GIS should satisfy, together with a set of principles for their satisfaction. These principles, which include the systematic application of techniques from several subfields of computer science to the design and implementation of GIS and the integration of techniques from computer vision and image processing into standard GIS technology, are discussed in some detail. In particular, the paper provides a detailed discussion of questions relating to appropriate data models, data structures and computational procedures for the efficient storage, retrieval and analysis of spatially-indexed data.

Smith, Terence R.↗

Development and implementation of standards-based telemetry systems

The paper is concerned with the problem of appropriate data handling standards that allow the interchange of individual elements in a noninterfering manner and accomodate increasing performance needs without requiring total system replacement. An example is presented where an implementation (in software) is replaced by a new technology (VLSI circuitry), and it is shown how this approach can point the way to the next generation of telemetry handling systems.

Connell, Edward B.↗

Implementation of optimal trajectory control of series resonant converter

Due to the presence of a high-frequency LC tank circuit, the dynamics of a resonant converter are unpredictable. There is often a large surge of tank energy during transients. Using state-plane analysis technique, an optimal trajectory control utilizing the desired solution trajectory as the control law was previously proposed for the series resonant converters. The method predicts the fastest response possible with minimum energy surge in the resonant tank. The principle of the control and its experimental implementation are described here. The dynamics of the converter are shown to be close to time-optimal.

Oruganti, Ramesh↗

Smart command recognizer (SCR) - For development, test, and implementation of speech commands

The SCR, a rapid prototyping system for the development, testing, and implementation of speech commands in a flight simulator or test aircraft, is described. A single unit performs all functions needed during these three phases of system development, while the use of common software and speech command data structure files greatly reduces the preparation time for successive development phases. As a smart peripheral to a simulation or flight host computer, the SCR interprets the pilot's spoken input and passes command codes to the simulation or flight computer.

Simpson, Carol A.↗

Implementation of adaptive proximate time-optimal controllers

Following a review of the Proximate Time-Optimal Servomechanism (PTOS) and the adaptive version of PTOS (APTOS), implementation techniques are described which make both algorithms practical for discrete-time control of second-order plants with real roots. The double integrator plant and the real pole plus an integrator plant are both used as examples. The effects of unmodeled dynamics on the algorithms are discussed and illustrated by simulation and experiment.

Workman, M. L.↗

Design and implementation of a microcomputer-based user interface controller for bursted data communications satellite ground terminals

The NASA Lewis Research Center is developing a laboratory-based satellite communications test bed for evaluation of state-of-the-art communications hardware and systems. Most of the digital components of the ground terminals are being constructed in-house at NASA Lewis. One of the ground terminal subsystems, the user interface controller, controls the connection and disconnection of all users to the communication network. The role of the user interface controller in the ground terminal is described and the design and implementation of the microcomputer-based subsystem is discussed.

Shalkhauser, Mary Jo W.↗

Concepts and implementations of natural language query systems

The currently developed user language interfaces of information systems are generally intended for serious users. These interfaces commonly ignore potentially the largest user group, i.e., casual users. This project discusses the concepts and implementations of a natural query language system which satisfy the nature and information needs of casual users by allowing them to communicate with the system in the form of their native (natural) language. In addition, a framework for the development of such an interface is also introduced for the MADAM (Multics Approach to Data Access and Management) system at the University of Southwestern Louisiana.

Dominick, Wayne D.↗

A hardware implementation of a relaxation algorithm to segment images

Relaxation labelling is a mathematical technique frequently applied in image processing algorithms. In particular, it is extensively used for the purpose of segmenting images. The paper presents a hardware implementation of a segmentation algorithm, for images consisting of two regions, based on relaxation labelling. The algorithm determines, for each pixel, the probability that it should be labelled as belonging to a particular region, for all regions in the image. The label probabilities (labellings) of every pixel are iteratively updated, based on those of the pixel's neighbors, until they converge. The pixel is then assigned to the region correspondent to the maximum label probability. The system consists of a control unit and of a pipeline of segmentation stages. Each segmentation stage emulates in the hardware an iteration of the relaxation algorithm. The design of the segmentation stage is based on commercially available digital signal processing integrated circuits. Multiple iterations are accomplished by stringing stages together or by looping the output of a stage, or string of stages, to its input. The system interfaces with a generic host computer. Given the modularity of the architecture, performance can be enhanced by merely adding segmentation stages.

Loda, Antonio G.↗