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At least 127 records · Page 7

All sources NASA NTRS DOE OSTI

NASA NTRS1985

Retinally stabilized differential resolution television display

A remote television viewing system employing an eye tracker is disclosed, wherein a small region of the image appears in high resolution, and the remainder of the image appears in low resolution. The eye tracker monitors the position of the viewer's line of sight. The eye tracker position data is transmitted to the remote television camera and control. Both the remote camera and television display are adapted to have selectable high-resolution and low resolution raster scan modes. The position data from the eye tracker is used to determine the point at which the high-resolution scan is to commence. The video data defining the observed image is encoded in a novel format, wherein in each data field, the data representing the position of the high resolution region of predetermined size appears first, followed by the high resolution zone video data and then the low-resolution region data. As the viewer's line of sight relative to the displayed image changes, the position of the high resolution region changes to track the viewer's line of sight.

Ruoff, C. F., Jr.↗

NASA NTRS2004

Assurance Technology Challenges of Advanced Space Systems

The initiative to explore space and extend a human presence across our solar system to revisit the moon and Mars post enormous technological challenges to the nation's space agency and aerospace industry. Key areas of technology development needs to enable the endeavor include advanced materials, structures and mechanisms; micro/nano sensors and detectors; power generation, storage and management; advanced thermal and cryogenic control; guidance, navigation and control; command and data handling; advanced propulsion; advanced communication; on-board processing; advanced information technology systems; modular and reconfigurable systems; precision formation flying; solar sails; distributed observing systems; space robotics; and etc. Quality assurance concerns such as functional performance, structural integrity, radiation tolerance, health monitoring, diagnosis, maintenance, calibration, and initialization can affect the performance of systems and subsystems. It is thus imperative to employ innovative nondestructive evaluation methodologies to ensure quality and integrity of advanced space systems. Advancements in integrated multi-functional sensor systems, autonomous inspection approaches, distributed embedded sensors, roaming inspectors, and shape adaptive sensors are sought. Concepts in computational models for signal processing and data interpretation to establish quantitative characterization and event determination are also of interest. Prospective evaluation technologies include ultrasonics, laser ultrasonics, optics and fiber optics, shearography, video optics and metrology, thermography, electromagnetics, acoustic emission, x-ray, data management, biomimetics, and nano-scale sensing approaches for structural health monitoring.

Chern, E. James↗

NASA NTRS1992

Adaptive Vector-Quantization Scheme

Adaptive vector-quantization scheme provides for rapid encoding of signals for transmission in compressed form and for rapid decoding at receiver. Based on simple heuristic "move-to-front" protocol effecting lossless compression of high-rate textual data. Audio, video, or other signals compressed efficiently.

Cheung, Kar-Ming↗

NASA NTRS1990

Master/Programmable-Slave Computer

Unique modular computer features compactness, low power, mass storage of data, multiprocessing, and choice of various input/output modes. Master processor communicates with user via usual keyboard and video display terminal. Coordinates operations of as many as 24 slave processors, each dedicated to different experiment. Each slave circuit card includes slave microprocessor and assortment of input/output circuits for communication with external equipment, with master processor, and with other slave processors. Adaptable to industrial process control with selectable degrees of automatic control, automatic and/or manual monitoring, and manual intervention.

Smaistrla, David↗

NASA NTRS2000

PTS performance by flight- and control-group macaques

A total of 25 young monkeys (Macaca mulatta) were trained with the Psychomotor Test System, a package of software tasks and computer hardware developed for spaceflight research with nonhuman primates. Two flight monkeys and two control monkeys were selected from this pool and performed a psychomotor task before and after the Bion 11 flight or a ground-control period. Monkeys from both groups showed significant disruption in performance after the 14-day flight or simulation (plus one anesthetized day of biopsies and other tests), and this disruption appeared to be magnified for the flight animal.

Flight Experiment↗

NASA NTRS2015

State-of-the-Art Instrumentation Package to Support Model Organism Research in Space

Hardware was developed for the Ames student Fruit-Fly Experiment (AFEx) to support fly growth and analysis during spaceflight. The hardware consists of a 1.5U vented aluminum box that houses an acrylic habitat, video camera, LED lighting, and environmental sensors. Power is provided via two USB connectors, one of which also supports data downlink. While the hardware was designed for use with fruit flies, it will house plants on an upcoming mission and could be adapted for use with other systems.

Fruit-Fly Experiment↗

NASA NTRS1993

Network and user interface for PAT DOME virtual motion environment system

The Device for Orientation and Motion Environments Preflight Adaptation Trainer (DOME PAT) provides astronauts a virtual microgravity sensory environment designed to help alleviate tye symptoms of space motion sickness (SMS). The system consists of four microcomputers networked to provide real time control, and an image generator (IG) driving a wide angle video display inside a dome structure. The spherical display demands distortion correction. The system is currently being modified with a new graphical user interface (GUI) and a new Silicon Graphics IG. This paper will concentrate on the new GUI and the networking scheme. The new GUI eliminates proprietary graphics hardware and software, and instead makes use of standard and low cost PC video (CGA) and off the shelf software (Microsoft's Quick C). Mouse selection for user input is supported. The new Silicon Graphics IG requires an Ethernet interface. The microcomputer known as the Real Time Controller (RTC), which has overall control of the system and is written in Ada, was modified to use the free public domain NCSA Telnet software for Ethernet communications with the Silicon Graphics IG. The RTC also maintains the original ARCNET communications through Novell Netware IPX with the rest of the system. The Telnet TCP/IP protocol was first used for real-time communication, but because of buffering problems the Telnet datagram (UDP) protocol needed to be implemented. Since the Telnet modules are written in C, the Adap pragma 'Interface' was used to interface with the network calls.

Worthington, J. W.↗

NASA NTRS2002

STS-111 Flight Day 3 Highlights

On Flight Day 3 of STS-111, the crew of Endeavour (Kenneth Cockrell, Commander; Paul Lockhart, Pilot; Franklin Chang-Diaz, Mission Specialist; Philippe Perrin, Mission Specialist) and the Expedition 5 crew (Valery Korzun, Commander; Peggy Whitson, Flight Engineer; Sergei Treschev, Flight Engineer), begin their final approach towards the International Space Station (ISS). From cameras aboard the ISS, live video of Endeavour is shown as it approaches the station. The Orbiter is maneuvered slowly to a position for docking, and cameras from multiple angles show this process. As it is maneuvered, there are clear views of its payload bay, which includes the Leonardo MultiPurpose Logistics Module (MPLM) and the Mobile Base System (MBS), both of which will be installed on the ISS during this mission. In the final stages of the docking procedure there is close-up footage of Endeavour meeting the ISS's Pressurized Mating Adapter 2 on the Destiny Laboratory Module. Inside the ISS, the Expedition 4 crew (Yury Onufrienko, Commander; Daniel Bursch, Flight Engineer; Carl Walz, Flight Engineer), which will be replaced by the Expedition 5 crew, prepares for final docking. Crew members are shown transferring equipment from the Endeavour to the ISS, prior to a replay of the mating of the two crafts. In the replay, the hatch is shown being opened and the two newly arrived crews are greeted with excitement by Expedition 4 crewmembers. The video closes with footage of the Quest airlock used for EVA (extravehicular activity) egress, and the Canadarm 2 robotic arm.

Source record↗

NASA NTRS2011

Modification of Otolith Reflex Asymmetries Following Space Flight

We hypothesize that changes in otolith-mediated reflexes adapted for microgravity contribute to perceptual, gaze and postural disturbances upon return to Earth s gravity. Our goal was to determine pre- versus post-fight differences in unilateral otolith reflexes that reflect these adaptive changes. This study represents the first comprehensive examination of unilateral otolith function following space flight. Ten astronauts participated in unilateral otolith function tests three times pre-flight and up to four times after Shuttle flights from landing day through the subsequent 10 days. During unilateral centrifugation (UC, +/- 3.5cm at 400deg/s), utricular function was examined by the perceptual changes reflected by the subjective visual vertical (SVV) and by video-oculographic measurement of the otolith-mediated ocular counter-roll (OOR). Unilateral saccular reflexes were recorded by measurement of collic Vestibular Evoked Myogenic Potential (cVEMP). Although data from a few subjects were not obtained early post-flight, a general increase in asymmetry of otolith responses was observed on landing day relative to pre-flight baseline, with a subsequent reversal in asymmetry within 2-3 days. Recovery to baseline levels was achieved within 10 days. This fluctuation in the asymmetry measures appeared strongest for SVV, in a consistent direction for OOR, and in an opposite direction for cVEMP. These results are consistent with our hypothesis that space flight results in adaptive changes in central nervous system processing of otolith input. Adaptation to microgravity may reveal asymmetries in otolith function upon to return to Earth that were not detected prior to the flight due to compensatory mechanisms.

Clarke, Andrew H.↗

NASA NTRS1996

Holographic Vibration Testing With Video/Computer Imaging

In improved system for holographic vibration testing, holographic interferograms indicating shapes of vibrational modes recorded by video camera under computer control. Results available almost immediately, and images distributed simultaneously to multiple computer terminals connected to vibration-testing computer via local-area network. Designed to replace prior photography-based system for identifying natural vibrational modes of propfan blades; adaptable to similar vibration testing of other objects.

Miller, Christopher J.↗

NASA NTRS1986

Micromechanics of composite laminate compression failure

The Dugdale analysis for metals loaded in tension was adapted to model the failure of notched composite laminates loaded in compression. Compression testing details, MTS alignment verification, and equipment needs were resolved. Thus far, only 2 ductile material systems, HST7 and F155, were selected for study. A Wild M8 Zoom Stereomicroscope and necessary attachments for video taping and 35 mm pictures were purchased. Currently, this compression test system is fully operational. A specimen is loaded in compression, and load vs shear-crippling zone size is monitored and recorded. Data from initial compression tests indicate that the Dugdale model does not accurately predict the load vs damage zone size relationship of notched composite specimens loaded in compression.

Guynn, E. Gail↗

NASA NTRS2011

A Review of the NASA MLAS Flight Demonstration

The NASA Engineering and Safety Center (NESC) has tested the Max Launch Abort System (MLAS) as a risk-mitigation design should problems arise with the baseline Orion spacecraft launch abort design. The Max in MLAS is not Maximum, but rather dedicated to Max Faget, the renowned NASA Spacecraft designer. In July 2009, the mission was flown, with great success, from the NASA Wallops Flight Facility. The MLAS flight test vehicle prototype consists of a boost skirt, coast skirt, and the MLAS fairing itself, which houses an Orion Command Module (CM) boilerplate. The objective of the MLAS flight test is to reorient the fairing with the CM, weighing approximately 29,000 lbs and traveling 290 fps, 180 degrees to an orientation suitable for the release of the CM during a pad abort or low altitude abort. The boost and coast skirts provide the necessary thrust and stability to establish the flight test conditions and are released prior to the reorientation of the fairing. A secondary test objective after successful release of the CM from the fairing is to demonstrate the removal of the CM forward bay cover (FBC) with the CM drogue parachutes, and subsequent deployment of the CM main parachutes attached to the FBC. Although multiple parachute deployments are used in the MLAS flight test vehicle to complete its objective, there are only two parachute types employed in the flight test. Five of the nine parachutes used for MLAS are 27.6 ft DO ribbon parachutes already proven as a spin/stall parachute for military aircraft, and the remaining four are G-12 cargo parachutes modified for increased strength and reefing. This paper presents an overview of the 27.6 ft DO ribbon parachute system employed on the MLAS flight test vehicle for coast skirt separation, fairing reorientation, and as CM drogue parachutes. Discussion will include: the process used to select this design; descriptions of all components of the parachute system; the minor modifications necessary to adapt the parachute to the MLAS program; the techniques used to analyze the parachute for the multiple roles it performs including discussions of how the evolution of the program affected parachute usage and analysis; a summary of the results of the highly successful flight test, including video of the flight test; and an overview of the subsequent post-test analysis.

Taylor, Anthony P.↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Adaptive Multi-Sensor Localization Information Fusion for Autonomous Urban Air Mobility Operations

An adaptive method is developed to iteratively fuse the information provided by multiple sensors to enable autonomous urban air mobility type operations. First, noisy and bias corrupted IMU readings are processed as soon as they arrive using kinematic equations represented in the vehicle's body frame. To correct the systems drift resulting from the integration, an information content measure is introduced to decide on the environment. For the cluttered environment the information provided by environmental sensors is counted as reliable and the drift correction as accurate. For the open space, the GPS data is counted as reliable, and the drift correction is done based on the GPS readings. The measurement noise effects are minimize using Iterated Extended Kalman Filter framework. The algorithm is implemented in the in-house developed FlightDeckz simulation environment using an IMU model, simulated video recorded from a camera mounted on the vehicle (for the purpose of this study, outside scenery was generated with XPlane), which flies in an urban environment, and GPS data generated from the environment's digital map.

Onboard Perception↗

NASA NTRS2004

Compact Microscope Imaging System with Intelligent Controls

The figure presents selected views of a compact microscope imaging system (CMIS) that includes a miniature video microscope, a Cartesian robot (a computer- controlled three-dimensional translation stage), and machine-vision and control subsystems. The CMIS was built from commercial off-the-shelf instrumentation, computer hardware and software, and custom machine-vision software. The machine-vision and control subsystems include adaptive neural networks that afford a measure of artificial intelligence. The CMIS can perform several automated tasks with accuracy and repeatability . tasks that, heretofore, have required the full attention of human technicians using relatively bulky conventional microscopes. In addition, the automation and control capabilities of the system inherently include a capability for remote control. Unlike human technicians, the CMIS is not at risk of becoming fatigued or distracted: theoretically, it can perform continuously at the level of the best human technicians. In its capabilities for remote control and for relieving human technicians of tedious routine tasks, the CMIS is expected to be especially useful in biomedical research, materials science, inspection of parts on industrial production lines, and space science. The CMIS can automatically focus on and scan a microscope sample, find areas of interest, record the resulting images, and analyze images from multiple samples simultaneously. Automatic focusing is an iterative process: The translation stage is used to move the microscope along its optical axis in a succession of coarse, medium, and fine steps. A fast Fourier transform (FFT) of the image is computed at each step, and the FFT is analyzed for its spatial-frequency content. The microscope position that results in the greatest dispersal of FFT content toward high spatial frequencies (indicating that the image shows the greatest amount of detail) is deemed to be the focal position.

McDowell, Mark↗

NASA NTRS1997

A quantitative assay for intercellular aggregation

In an earlier communication (Munn et al., J Immunol. Methods 166: 11-25, 1993), we presented the initial development of a quantitative assay for monitoring the rates of cellular aggregation based on digital image processing and video microscopy. This study describes some important enhancements and modifications to the procedure. A new index is introduced to characterize the three-dimensional morphology of the aggregates. This index is based on temporal changes in the projected area of the cells and cell aggregates during the course of the experiment. By drawing an analogy with the kinetic theory of gases, we have also introduced a procedure to normalize for variations in cell seeding density among different experiments. In addition, the image analysis technique has been improved by introducing a background subtraction algorithm to remove illumination defects and an adaptive segmentation procedure. These improvements allowed us to completely automate the image analysis procedure, thus minimizing user intervention and improving the reproducibility of the measurements. The enhanced visual assay is evaluated using some recent results from our studies on homotypic lymphocyte aggregation.

Non-NASA Center↗

NASA NTRS1974

A technique for correcting transmission errors in delta modulation channels

The delta modulator is a relatively new device which has found wide application in voice encoding. Two main difficulties in using this device for video encoding and processing is that it slope overloads and 'rings' and that channel errors produce a DC level shift. An algorithm is developed which is easily implemented and which significantly reduces 'picture streaks' due to the production of DC level shifts by channel errors. The algorithm can be made adaptive whereby the insertion rate of the pulse code modulation (PCM) codeword needed for correction can be adjusted depending on the strength of the channel noise. This yields a more efficient use of bandwidth. Further, the resulting signal can still be processed further using line-to-line correlation to remove the remaining 'streaks'.

Ali, M. Z.↗

NASA NTRS1977

The Automation of Field Operations and Services (AFOS) within the NWS and its impact on aviation meteorology

Future program efforts in Automation of Field Operations and Services (AFOS) are presented. The AFOS concept involves extensive use of minicomputers, video display, and rapid communication to aid field personnel in their daily activities. Some of the predominant characteristics of AFOS are: (1) communications will be consolidated and streamlined, (2) the system is modular in structure, (3) it is not subject to catastrophic failure, (4) it can be implemented in phases adaptable to changing conditions and requirements. Aviation forecast products now available and future products are discussed.

Gross, E. M.↗

NASA NTRS1989

GetAway Tether Experiment (GATE) for the Tether Dynamics Explorer (TDE) series

Designs for the GetAway Tether Experiment (GATE) can easily be adapted and applied to the Tether Dynamics Explorer (TDE) series. The GATE development schedule coincides with the planned first flight of the TDE. GATE technology has centered on the development of miniature deployers/actuators, sensors, control laws and simulation capability. The sensors currently under development are a tension sensor and a video based tether tracker. Both sensors are currently undergoing laboratory testing and development. The actuators currently being investigated are a small reel/deployed for active control of the tether and a small tether crawler to damp vibrations of the tether. Laboratory results are presented and the designs reviewed and discussed.

Greene, Michael↗