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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 1,459 records · Page 81
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1994

Advanced Teleoperator Control System

Proposed teleoperator control system incorporates several advanced features to improve coordination between remote robotic manipulator (slave arm) and human operator at control manipulator (master arm). Provides superior performance in terms of error profiles and task-completion time in presence of human control errors varying over wide range and maintains stability under large signal-propagation delays. System highly robust in presence of nonlinearities and incorrect human commands in both position and rate modes of control.

Lee, Sukhan↗
NASA NTRS2015

Control and Non-Payload Communications (CNPC) Prototype Radio - Generation 2 Security Flight Test Report

NASA Glenn Research Center (GRC), in cooperation with Rockwell Collins, is working to develop a prototype Control and Non-Payload Communications (CNPC) radio platform as part of NASA Integrated Systems Research Program's (ISRP) Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Integration in the National Airspace System (NAS) project. A primary focus of the project is to work with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and industry standards bodies to build and demonstrate a safe, secure, and efficient CNPC architecture that can be used by industry to evaluate the feasibility of deploying a system using these technologies in an operational capacity. GRC has been working in conjunction with these groups to assess threats, identify security requirements, and to develop a system of standards-based security controls that can be applied to the GRC prototype CNPC architecture as a demonstration platform. The proposed security controls were integrated into the GRC flight test system aboard our S-3B Viking surrogate aircraft and several network tests were conducted during a flight on November 15th, 2014 to determine whether the controls were working properly within the flight environment. The flight test was also the first to integrate Robust Header Compression (ROHC) as a means of reducing the additional overhead introduced by the security controls and Mobile IPv6. The effort demonstrated the complete end-to-end secure CNPC link in a relevant flight environment.

Communication Networks↗
DOE OSTI2022

Reinforcement Learning for Volt- Var Control: A Novel Two-stage Progressive Training Strategy

This paper develops a reinforcement learning (RL) approach to solve a cooperative, multi-agent Volt-Var Control (VVC) problem for high solar penetration distribution systems. The ingenuity of our RL method lies in a novel two-stage progressive training strategy that can effectively improve training speed and convergence of the machine learning algorithm. In Stage 1 (individual training), while holding all the other agents inactive, we separately train each agent to obtain its own optimal VVC actions in the action space: fconsume, generate, do-nothingg. In Stage 2 (cooperative training), all agents are trained again coordinatively to share VVC responsibility. Rewards and costs in our RL scheme include (i) a system-level reward (for taking an action), (ii) an agent-level reward (for doing-nothing), and (iii) an agent-level action cost function. This new framework allows rewards to be dynamically allocated to each agent based on their contribution while accounting for the trade-off between control effectiveness and action cost. The proposed methodology is tested and validated in a modified IEEE 123-bus system using realistic PV and load profiles. Simulation results confirm that the proposed approach is robust and computationally efficient; and it achieves desirable volt-var control performance under a wide range of operation conditions.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗
DOE OSTI2025

Mastering the Copolymerization Behavior of Ethyl Cyanoacrylate as Gel Polymer Electrolyte for Lithium‐metal Battery Application

Polymers with strong electron-withdrawing groups (e.g., cyano-containing polymers) are attractive for a wide range of applications due to their high dielectric constant and outstanding electrochemical stability. However, the polymerization of such monomers is difficult to control with trace of water affording instant reactions, and copolymerization with other monomers without using strong acid is even more challenging. The present study demonstrates a facile approach enabling efficient and controllable copolymerization of ethyl cyanoacrylate (ECA) without adding undesired additives, achieving mechanically robust and high ion-conduction gel polymer electrolyte (GPE) for safe and long cycle-life lithium-metal batteries (LMBs). The incorporated dual-lithium salts, i.e., lithium difluoro(oxalato)borate (LiDFOB) and lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulphonyl)imide (LiTFSI) not only facilitate radical polymerization of ECA monomers by suppressing their anionic polymerization, but also promote the formation of high-ionic conducting GPE. The incorporated methyl methacrylate (MMA) monomer accelerates the radical polymerization of ECA (confirmed by DFT calculations), achieving controlled copolymerization of ECA-based copolymers. Here, the mechanically robust polymer network made by the ECA copolymer enables LMBs with both LFP cathodes and high-voltage LCO cathodes (4.5 V) operatable at different temperatures with ultra-long cycle life at 1 C (capacity retention of 81.1 % and 83.8 %, respectively, over 1000 cycles).

Min, Weixing [Nankai University, Tianjin (China)]↗
DOE OSTI2024

High-temperature quantum valley Hall effect with quantized resistance and a topological switch

Edge states of a topological insulator can be used to explore fundamental science emerging at the interface of low dimensionality and topology. Achieving a robust conductance quantization, however, has proven challenging for helical edge states. In this work, we show wide resistance plateaus in kink states—a manifestation of the quantum valley Hall effect in Bernal bilayer graphene—quantized to the predicted value at zero magnetic field. The plateau resistance has a very weak temperature dependence up to 50 kelvin and is flat within a dc bias window of tens of millivolts. We demonstrate the electrical operation of a topology-controlled switch with an on/off ratio of 200. These results demonstrate the robustness and tunability of the kink states and its promise in constructing electron quantum optics devices.

Science & Technology - Other Topics↗
DOE OSTI2023

Adaptive Online Multivariate Signal Extraction With Locally Weighted Robust Polynomial Regression

High-frequency, multivariate data collected in real-time and used to control or make decisions regarding a process’ operation often contain some noise and outliers. Thus, a method to extract the signal is needed in order to reduce the number and magnitude of control-based adjustments that are implemented. Such a method must be (i) online, depending only on past and current observations; (ii) fast, producing a smooth value more quickly than the measurement frequency; (iii) robust, ignoring brief bursts of erroneously measured values; (iv) multivariate, ignoring observations that are jointly unusual; (v) adaptive, adjusting to periods of rapid fluctuation in the signal versus periods of stability; and (vi) purely data-driven, not incorporating any information about the process from which the data are collected. Most existing methods are only able to address a subset of these six features. Furthermore, we also require the method to be nonlinear, providing a local nonlinear estimate of the signal. In this work, we propose a novel, real-time signal extraction method based on a local, robust polynomial fit. We demonstrate the performance of our method compared to a state-of-the-art competitor through simulation. For illustration, the methodology is applied to data collected from a reverse osmosis water treatment process.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗
DOE OSTI2022

Design of a Proportional-Control-Based Advanced Control Strategy for Independent Temperature and Humidity Control of a Pre-Cooled Desiccant Air Cooling System

In this study, the control of a desiccant-wheel-based evaporative cooling system with a double-layer dew-point cooler system is emphasized. There are two dew-point evaporative coolers in the system and the air taken inside is subjected to pre- and post-cooling processes. The dehumidification process of the air taken in is carried out by the desiccant wheel after the pre-cooling process. A proportional-based control strategy has been developed to adjust the temperature and relative humidity of the room quickly and robustly with different operation modes for actuators to bring comfort with less energy consumption. In addition, an automatic Stop/Run mode has been added to the control strategy to save extra energy. With the developed control strategy, enabling the actuators to switch between the operation modes, more energy savings are achieved compared to both traditional ON/OFF and proportional controls. The accuracy and applicability of the developed control strategy were analyzed and it was observed that the room comfort reached the desired levels successfully under all disruptive effects. The control inputs and the energies consumed by all the actuators were investigated and it was determined that 21.19% more energy savings are provided by adding the automatic Stop/Run feature. With the multi-mode control strategy, a total of 40.90% less energy consumption is achieved compared to the classical ON/OFF control technique. Thus, it is seen that the controller developed for the desiccant-wheel-based evaporative cooler is a viable method to provide fast and robust comfort conditions with less energy.

42 ENGINEERING↗
NASA NTRS2002

Cost Estimation and Control for Flight Systems

Good program management practices, cost analysis, cost estimation, and cost control for aerospace flight systems are interrelated and depend upon each other. The best cost control process cannot overcome poor design or poor systems trades that lead to the wrong approach. The project needs robust Technical, Schedule, Cost, Risk, and Cost Risk practices before it can incorporate adequate Cost Control. Cost analysis both precedes and follows cost estimation -- the two are closely coupled with each other and with Risk analysis. Parametric cost estimating relationships and computerized models are most often used. NASA has learned some valuable lessons in controlling cost problems, and recommends use of a summary Project Manager's checklist as shown here.

Hammond, Walter E.↗
DOE OSTI2020

High-Level Considerations for Access and Access Controls by Design

Nuclear power plants must be, by design and construction, robust structures and difficult to penetrate. Ideally, for security, the reactors would be sited underground, beneath a massive solid block, too thick to be penetrated by tools or explosives with all communications and power transfer lines also underground and fortified. Limiting access with difficult-to-penetrate physical barriers is going to be key for determining response and staffing requirements.

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗
DOE OSTI2020

High-Level Considerations for Access and Access Controls by Design

Nuclear power plants must be, by design and construction, robust structures and difficult to penetrate. Limiting access with difficult-to-penetrate physical barriers is going to be key for staffing reduction. Ideally, for security, the reactors would be sited underground, beneath a massive solid block, too thick to be penetrated by tools or explosives with all communications and power transfer lines also underground and fortified. Having the minimal possible number of access points and methods to completely block access from these points if a threat is detected will greatly help us justify staffing reduction.

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS↗
NASA NTRS2014

Impedance Controlled Twisted String Actuators for Tensegrity Robots

We are developing impedance controlled twisted string actuators (TSA) for use in tensegrity robots, as an alternative to traditional spooled cable actuation. Tensegrity robots are composed of continuous tension and discontinuous compression elements, with no rigid joints between elements, which give them unique force distribution properties. The use of tensegrity robots is strongly motivated by biological examples, and they are capable of locomotion and manipulation by changing lengths of their continuous network of tensional elements, which is also the primary pathways for load transfer through the structure. TSA show the potential to address some of the unique engineering challenges faced by tensegrity structures, and provide unique qualities well suited to an actively controlled tension system, such as compact, light-weight mechanical structures, inherent compliance, variable gearing'', and the ability to transmit high forces with a very low input torque. The inherent variable compliance of impedance control is essential for tensegrity robots to move through and manipulate the environment, and is a natural match to the unique qualities of TSA. This paper briefly introduces the tensegrity robots in the NASA Ames Intelligent Robotics Group and an overview of their future application to space planetary exploration. Then the effectiveness and robustness of TSA are verified through the performance of impedance control modes.

Park, In-Won↗
DOE OSTI2022

Implementation of a Model Predictive Control Strategy to Regulate Temperature Inside Plug-Flow Solar Reactor With Countercurrent Flow

Abstract Solar-driven thermochemical energy storage systems are proven to be promising energy carriers (solar fuels) to utilize solar energy by using reactive solid-state pellets. However, the production of solar fuel requires a quasi-steady-state process temperature, which represents the main challenge due to the transient nature of solar power. In this work, an adaptive model predictive controller (MPC) is presented to regulate the temperature inside a tubular solar reactor to produce solid-state solar fuel for long-term thermal storage systems. The solar reactor system consists of a vertical tube heated circumferentially over a segment of its length by concentrated solar power, and the reactive pellets (MgMn2O4) are fed from the top end and flow downwards through the heated tube. A countercurrent flowing gas supplied from the lower end interacts with flowing pellets to reduce it thermochemically at a temperature range of 1000—1500 °C. A low-order physical model was developed to simulate the dynamics of the solar reactor including the reaction kinetics, and the proposed model was validated numerically by using a 7-kW electric furnace. The numerical model then was utilized to design the MPC controller, where the control system consists of an MPC code linked to an adaptive system identification code that updates system parameters online to ensure system robustness against external disturbances (sudden change in the flow inside the reactor), model mismatches, and uncertainty. The MPC controller parameters are tuned to enhance the system performance with minimum steady-state error and overshoot. The controller is tested to track different temperature ranges between 500 °C and 1400 °C with different particles/gas mass flowrates and ramping temperature profiles. Results show that the MPC controller successfully regulated the reactor temperature within ± 1 °C of its setpoint and maintained robust performance with minimum input effort when subjected to sudden changes in the amount of flowing media and the presence of chemical reaction.

Engineering↗
DOE OSTI2025

Enhancing chemical bioproduction with rational control of bacterial post-translational modifications

Efficient conversion of inexpensive feedstocks to valuable chemicals by microbes is critical for a robust bioeconomy, but the ability to rationally design bacteria is hampered by insufficient knowledge of how post translational modifications (PTMs) control bacterial protein function and thus bioproduction phenotypes. Our study will focus on the lysine acetylation, a ubiquitous bacterial PTM that can affect the function of enzymes in central metabolism that are often critical for bioproduction processes, disrupt transcriptional regulation, and reduce translation. However, most lysine acetylation data is observational, which means that we do not know when, how, and what specific acetylated residues affect protein function and bacterial physiology. For our model host, we will use a Pseudomonas putida strain that we previously engineered to convert lignocellulosic feedstocks into chemicals such as itaconic acid (ITA). With this strain, we use a dynamic two-stage bioproduction process in which ITA is produced during a non-growth associated production phase. Production is highest during growth stages when lysine acetylation is low in other organisms (early stationary phase) and stalls in conditions where acetylation is highest (late stationary phase). The switch from high to stalled ITA production is also correlated with an unexpected increase in acetate levels – the precursor to non-enzymatic lysine acetylation. As such, we predict that lysine acetylation plays a substantial role in regulating the metabolic pathways required for ITA production. We will develop a generalizable approach that combines high-throughput genetic screens and cutting-edge genome engineering with state-of-the-art proteomics, metabolomics, and genetic code expansion methods to identify and modulate lysine acetylation patterns in bacteria. Ultimately, these strategies aim to manipulate protein expression and acetylation patterns to enhance bioproduction phenotypes (e.g., sustained ITA production in late stationary phase).

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗
NASA NTRS2012

Avoiding Human Error in Mission Operations: Cassini Flight Experience

Operating spacecraft is a never-ending challenge and the risk of human error is ever- present. Many missions have been significantly affected by human error on the part of ground controllers. The Cassini mission at Saturn has not been immune to human error, but Cassini operations engineers use tools and follow processes that find and correct most human errors before they reach the spacecraft. What is needed are skilled engineers with good technical knowledge, good interpersonal communications, quality ground software, regular peer reviews, up-to-date procedures, as well as careful attention to detail and the discipline to test and verify all commands that will be sent to the spacecraft. Two areas of special concern are changes to flight software and response to in-flight anomalies. The Cassini team has a lot of practical experience in all these areas and they have found that well-trained engineers with good tools who follow clear procedures can catch most errors before they get into command sequences to be sent to the spacecraft. Finally, having a robust and fault-tolerant spacecraft that allows ground controllers excellent visibility of its condition is the most important way to ensure human error does not compromise the mission.

guidance and control↗
NASA NTRS2013

Optimal Recursive Digital Filters for Active Bending Stabilization

In the design of flight control systems for large flexible boosters, it is common practice to utilize active feedback control of the first lateral structural bending mode so as to suppress transients and reduce gust loading. Typically, active stabilization or phase stabilization is achieved by carefully shaping the loop transfer function in the frequency domain via the use of compensating filters combined with the frequency response characteristics of the nozzle/actuator system. In this paper we present a new approach for parameterizing and determining optimal low-order recursive linear digital filters so as to satisfy phase shaping constraints for bending and sloshing dynamics while simultaneously maximizing attenuation in other frequency bands of interest, e.g. near higher frequency parasitic structural modes. By parameterizing the filter directly in the z-plane with certain restrictions, the search space of candidate filter designs that satisfy the constraints is restricted to stable, minimum phase recursive low-pass filters with well-conditioned coefficients. Combined with optimal output feedback blending from multiple rate gyros, the present approach enables rapid and robust parametrization of autopilot bending filters to attain flight control performance objectives. Numerical results are presented that illustrate the application of the present technique to the development of rate gyro filters for an exploration-class multi-engined space launch vehicle.

Orr, Jeb S.↗
DOE OSTI2025

Autonomous Synthesis of Metastable Materials Using a Modular Mixed-Flow Reactor

Understanding and controlling atomic-level processes at solid-liquid interfaces is key to advancing technologies in energy storage, carbon capture, critical element recovery, and materials synthesis. Many of these processes are dominated by the formation of short-lived intermediate precipitates that determine the final properties of synthesized materials. However, studying these intermediates is challenging due to their sensitivity and the reliance on trial-and-error methods. To address this, we developed an automated variable-volume mixed-flow reactor (MFR) to optimize metastable material synthesis and investigate rapid kinetic processes. This state-of-the-art MFR system, paired with an automated modeling framework, enables efficient synthesis and real-time analysis of transient phases. Benchmarking with advanced capabilities, such as wide-/small-angle X-ray scattering, allows us to resolve fast nucleation and growth dynamics that were previously inaccessible. By combining automation, ML-guided optimization, and tailored kinetic modeling, this approach provides a robust platform for improving material design and achieving precise control over solid-liquid reactions.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
NASA NTRS1995

Design of high performance multivariable control systems for supermaneuverable aircraft at high angle of attack

The main motivation for the work under the present grant was to use nonlinear feedback linearization methods to further enhance performance capabilities of the aircraft, and robustify its response throughout its operating envelope. The idea was to use these methods in lieu of standard Taylor series linearization, in order to obtain a well behaved linearized plant, in its entire operational regime. Thus, feedback linearization was going to constitute an 'inner loop', which would then define a 'design plant model' to be compensated for robustness and guaranteed performance in an 'outer loop' application of modern linear control methods. The motivation for this was twofold; first, earlier work had shown that by appropriately conditioning the plant through conventional, simple feedback in an 'inner loop', the resulting overall compensated plant design enjoyed considerable enhancement of performance robustness in the presence of parametric uncertainty. Second, the nonlinear techniques did not have any proven robustness properties in the presence of unstructured uncertainty; a definition of robustness (and performance) is very difficult to achieve outside the frequency domain; to date, none is available for the purposes of control system design. Thus, by proper design of the outer loop, such properties could still be 'injected' in the overall system.

Valavani, Lena↗
DOE OSTI2020

Nonlinear optical control of chiral charge pumping in a topological Weyl semimetal

Solids with topologically robust electronic states exhibit unusual electronic and optical properties that do not exist in other materials. A particularly interesting example is chiral charge pumping, the so-called chiral anomaly, in recently discovered topological Weyl semimetals, where simultaneous application of parallel DC electric and magnetic fields creates an imbalance in the number of carriers of opposite topological charge (chirality). Here, using time-resolved terahertz measurements on the Weyl semimetal TaAs in a magnetic field, we optically interrogate the chiral anomaly by dynamically pumping the chiral charges and monitoring their subsequent relaxation of the nonequilibrium state. Theory based on Boltzmann transport shows that the observed effects originate from an optical nonlinearity in the chiral charge pumping process. Our measurements reveal that the nonequilibrium chiral excitation relaxation time is much greater than 1 ns. The observation of terahertz-controlled chiral carriers with long coherence times and topological protection suggests the application of Weyl semimetals for quantum optoelectronic technology.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗