Engineering Papers⌕ Search

SEARCH · Engineering Papers

Results for “real time optimization”

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.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 1,639 records · Page 91
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1989

An optimal recursive filter for the attitude determination of the Spacelab instrument pointing subsystem

The instrument pointing subsystem (IPS) is a three-axis stabilized platform developed to point various astronomical observation instruments aboard NASA's Shuttle. In order to compensate for system drifts and attitude errors, the IPS utilizes a linearized Kalman filter (LKF) with precomputed gains. Since the a priori gains are generated for an expected system configuration, any system variations result in a suboptimal estimation process. The performance of two real-time estimation filters is compared with that of the current LKF implementation. It is shown that a real-time estimation filter that reduces sensitivity to system variations and preflight computations is feasible.

West, Mark E.↗
DOE OSTI2024

Electron cyclotron emission detection of neoclassical tearing modes for control for ITER

Successful operation of ITER requires control of magnetic instabilities including neoclassical tearing modes (NTMs) that can degrade confinement and lead to disruption. Low latency detection by electron cyclotron emission (ECE) diagnostics has been demonstrated in a few current experiments. Using a synthetic diagnostic, we demonstrate low latency NTM detection for ITER with plasmas described by ITER IMAS database scenarios and with realistic limitations imposed on the instrumentation by these high temperature scenarios. 2/1 NTMs are detected 430 ms after magnetic island seeding and before island locking. The radiometer configuration was optimized using simulation, and the smallest detectable island size was explored. Island sizes of ∼3 cm are detectable at the 2/1 surface. The simulated signals incorporate recent physics models for island growth and rotation, which show early locking and continued island growth after locking and before disruption. This work determines limits for ITER ECE spatial resolution imposed by relativistic broadening of channels, which informs hardware design. Real-time detection is demonstrated in hardware that is required by ITER, including on an NI PXI-7853R FPGA system. Development of a synthetic diagnostic and details of the hardware will be discussed.

Cyclotron radiation↗
DOE OSTI2025

Using Artificial Intelligence to Improve Reliability and Operational Efficiency of Small-Scale Hydroelectric Distributed Generation

Reliability and resilience are critical concerns for distributed generation (DG) at the rural electric level. The integration of renewable energy sources, such as small-scale hydroelectric distributed generators (hydro DGs), introduces operational challenges, particularly regarding aging infrastructure and grid stability. Artificial Intelligence (AI)-driven Machine Learning (ML) models and applications of Large Language Models (LLMs) offer promising solutions for optimizing DG operations and enhancing resilience. This paper explores AI-based models for improving efficiency, fault resolution, and outage mitigation in small-scale hydro DGs. Furthermore, it highlights the development of a centralized, AI-powered information portal for rural electric cooperatives and municipalities. The research evaluates hydro DG plant models and discusses the applicability of AI-powered question-answering tools for real-time operations, focusing on statistical data, load flow, voltage regulation, and generation power. The findings demonstrate AI’s potential to transform DG management to ensure greater stability and resilience in rural electric grids.

Bhattacharyya, Arjun [ORNL] (ORCID:000900060976046↗
NASA NTRS1999

Control of Mixing and Reactive Flow Processes

The interdisciplinary field of reactive flow control is one that holds a great deal of promise for the optimization of complex phenomena occurring in many practical systems, ranging from automobile and gas turbine engines to environmental thermal destruction systems. The fundamental underpinnings of combustion control, however, require a detailed level of understanding of complex reactive flow phenomena, and, in the case of closed-loop active control, require the ability to sense (monitor) and actuate (manipulate) flow processes in a spatially distributed manner in "near real time". Hence the ultimate growth and success of the field of reactive flow control is intimately linked: 1) to advances in the understanding, simulation, and model reduction for complex reactive flows, 2) to the development of experimental diagnostic techniques, in particular, to the development of physically robust sensors, and 3) to the development of a framework or frameworks for generation of closed loop control algorithms suitable for unsteady, nonlinear reactive flow systems. The present paper seeks to outline the potential benefits and technical challenges that exist for mixing and combustion control in fundamental as well as practical systems and to identify promising research directions that could help meet these challenges.

Karagozian, A. R.↗
NASA NTRS2004

Adjoint Algorithm for CAD-Based Shape Optimization Using a Cartesian Method

Adjoint solutions of the governing flow equations are becoming increasingly important for the development of efficient analysis and optimization algorithms. A well-known use of the adjoint method is gradient-based shape optimization. Given an objective function that defines some measure of performance, such as the lift and drag functionals, its gradient is computed at a cost that is essentially independent of the number of design variables (geometric parameters that control the shape). More recently, emerging adjoint applications focus on the analysis problem, where the adjoint solution is used to drive mesh adaptation, as well as to provide estimates of functional error bounds and corrections. The attractive feature of this approach is that the mesh-adaptation procedure targets a specific functional, thereby localizing the mesh refinement and reducing computational cost. Our focus is on the development of adjoint-based optimization techniques for a Cartesian method with embedded boundaries.12 In contrast t o implementations on structured and unstructured grids, Cartesian methods decouple the surface discretization from the volume mesh. This feature makes Cartesian methods well suited for the automated analysis of complex geometry problems, and consequently a promising approach to aerodynamic optimization. Melvin et developed an adjoint formulation for the TRANAIR code, which is based on the full-potential equation with viscous corrections. More recently, Dadone and Grossman presented an adjoint formulation for the Euler equations. In both approaches, a boundary condition is introduced to approximate the effects of the evolving surface shape that results in accurate gradient computation. Central to automated shape optimization algorithms is the issue of geometry modeling and control. The need to optimize complex, "real-life" geometry provides a strong incentive for the use of parametric-CAD systems within the optimization procedure. In previous work, we presented an effective optimization framework that incorporates a direct-CAD interface. In this work, we enhance the capabilities of this framework with efficient gradient computations using the discrete adjoint method. We present details of the adjoint numerical implementation, which reuses the domain decomposition, multigrid, and time-marching schemes of the flow solver. Furthermore, we explain and demonstrate the use of CAD in conjunction with the Cartesian adjoint approach. The final paper will contain a number of complex geometry, industrially relevant examples with many design variables to demonstrate the effectiveness of the adjoint method on Cartesian meshes.

Nemec, Marian↗
NASA NTRS2012

From EXOSAT to the High Energy Astrophysics Science Archive (HEASARC): X-ray Astronomy Comes of Age

In May 1983 the European Space Agency launched EXOSAT, its first X-ray astronomy observatory. Even though it lasted only 3 short years, this mission brought not only new capabilities that resulted in unexpected discoveries, but also a pioneering approach to operations and archiving that changed X-ray astronomy from observations led by small instrument teams, to an observatory approach open to the entire community through a guest observer program. The community use of the observatory was supported by a small dedicated team of scientists, the precursor to the data center activities created to support e.g. Chandra and XMM-Newton. The new science capabilities of EX OS AT included a 90 hr highly eccentric high earth orbit that allow unprecedented continuous coverage of sources as well as direct communication with the satellite that allowed real time decisions to respond to unexpected events through targets of opportunity. The advantages of this orbit demonstrated by EXOSAT resulted in Chandra and XMM-Newton selecting similar orbits. The three instruments on board the EXOSAT observatory were complementary, designed to give complete coverage over a wide energy band pass of 0.05-50 keY. An onboard processor could be programmed to give multiple data modes that could be optimized in response to science discoveries: These new capabilities resulted in many new discoveries including the first comprehensive study of AGN variability, new orbital periods in X-ray binaries and cataclysmic variables, new black holes, quasi-periodic oscillations from neutron stars and black holes and broad band X-ray spectroscopy. The EXOSAT team generated a well-organized database accessible worldwide over the nascent internet, allowing remote selection of data products, making samples and undertaking surveys from the data. The HEASARC was established by NASA at Goddard Space Flight Center in 1990 as the repository of NASA X-ray and Gamma-ray data. The proven EXOSAT database system became the core of the HEASARC infrastructure. The HEASARC pioneered many concepts now taken for granted including standardized formats using FITS files, restoring data from earlier missions, multi-mission analysis tools and a searchable archive over the world wide web.

White, Nicholas E.↗
NASA NTRS2007

Scope of Gradient and Genetic Algorithms in Multivariable Function Optimization

Global optimization of a multivariable function - constrained by bounds specified on each variable and also unconstrained - is an important problem with several real world applications. Deterministic methods such as the gradient algorithms as well as the randomized methods such as the genetic algorithms may be employed to solve these problems. In fact, there are optimization problems where a genetic algorithm/an evolutionary approach is preferable at least from the quality (accuracy) of the results point of view. From cost (complexity) point of view, both gradient and genetic approaches are usually polynomial-time; there are no serious differences in this regard, i.e., the computational complexity point of view. However, for certain types of problems, such as those with unacceptably erroneous numerical partial derivatives and those with physically amplified analytical partial derivatives whose numerical evaluation involves undesirable errors and/or is messy, a genetic (stochastic) approach should be a better choice. We have presented here the pros and cons of both the approaches so that the concerned reader/user can decide which approach is most suited for the problem at hand. Also for the function which is known in a tabular form, instead of an analytical form, as is often the case in an experimental environment, we attempt to provide an insight into the approaches focusing our attention toward accuracy. Such an insight will help one to decide which method, out of several available methods, should be employed to obtain the best (least error) output. *

Shaykhian, Gholam Ali↗
NASA NTRS2013

Automated Meteor Fluxes with a Wide-Field Meteor Camera Network

Within NASA, the Meteoroid Environment Office (MEO) is charged to monitor the meteoroid environment in near ]earth space for the protection of satellites and spacecraft. The MEO has recently established a two ]station system to calculate automated meteor fluxes in the millimeter ]size ]range. The cameras each consist of a 17 mm focal length Schneider lens on a Watec 902H2 Ultimate CCD video camera, producing a 21.7 x 16.3 degree field of view. This configuration has a red ]sensitive limiting meteor magnitude of about +5. The stations are located in the South Eastern USA, 31.8 kilometers apart, and are aimed at a location 90 km above a point 50 km equidistant from each station, which optimizes the common volume. Both single station and double station fluxes are found, each having benefits; more meteors will be detected in a single camera than will be seen in both cameras, producing a better determined flux, but double station detections allow for non ]ambiguous shower associations and permit speed/orbit determinations. Video from the cameras are fed into Linux computers running the ASGARD (All Sky and Guided Automatic Real ]time Detection) software, created by Rob Weryk of the University of Western Ontario Meteor Physics Group. ASGARD performs the meteor detection/photometry, and invokes the MILIG and MORB codes to determine the trajectory, speed, and orbit of the meteor. A subroutine in ASGARD allows for the approximate shower identification in single station meteors. The ASGARD output is used in routines to calculate the flux in units of #/sq km/hour. The flux algorithm employed here differs from others currently in use in that it does not assume a single height for all meteors observed in the common camera volume. In the MEO system, the volume is broken up into a set of height intervals, with the collecting areas determined by the radiant of active shower or sporadic source. The flux per height interval is summed to obtain the total meteor flux. As ASGARD also computes the meteor mass from the photometry, a mass flux can be also calculated. Weather conditions in the southeastern United States are seldom ideal, which introduces the difficulty of a variable sky background. First a weather algorithm indicates if sky conditions are clear enough to calculate fluxes, at which point a limiting magnitude algorithm is employed. The limiting magnitude algorithm performs a fit of stellar magnitudes vs camera intensities. The stellar limiting magnitude is derived from this and easily converted to a limiting meteor magnitude for the active shower or sporadic source.

Blaauw, R. C.↗
NASA NTRS2018

Antimicrobials for Water Systems in Manned Spaceflight - Past, Present, and Future Applications and Challenges

The use of antimicrobials to control microbiological growth in manned spaceflight water-based systems has and will continue to have a unique set of challenges and needs. The challenges are varied, and include antimicrobial effectiveness, crew health and safety, materials compatibility, optimal system functionality, antimicrobial shelf life, means to monitor antimicrobial concentration, and means to re-introduce biocides periodically in the case of depletion. Needs vary from application to application, and include control of pathogens for crew health, control of biofilm formation for optimal system functionality, inhibition and prevention of microbiologically influenced corrosion, optimization of wetted metallic material life, and general living quarter and consumable aesthetics with respect to odor and taste. This paper outlines and discusses the various antimicrobials used in prior and current manned spaceflight water-based applications with focus on pros, cons and lessons learned. Design factors such as minimum inhibitory concentration, minimum lethal concentration, required circulated concentrations, materials selection, means to introduce, means to monitor real-time, and concentration maintenance are discussed. The challenges associated with longer term missions, as well as long-term system dormancy as envisioned for exploration missions, lunar habitats, and a manned Mars mission are outlined with respect to anticipated needs and potential design solutions.

potable water↗
DOE OSTI2024

A Distributed Model Identification Algorithm for Multi-Agent Systems: Preprint

In this study, we investigate agent-based approach for system model identification with emphasis on power distribution system applications. Departing from conventional practices of relying on historical data for offline model identification, we adopt online update approach utilizing real-time data by employing the latest data points for gradient computation. This methodology offers advantages including a large reduction in the communication network's bandwidth requirements by minimizing the data exchanged at each iteration and enabling the model to adapt in real-time to disturbances. Furthermore, we extend our model identification process from linear frameworks to more complex non-linear convex models. This extension is validated through numerical studies demonstrating improved control performance for a synthetic IEEE test case.

data-driven control↗
DOE OSTI2020

Microbial potentiometric sensor: A new approach to longstanding challenges

The underlying hypothesis of this study is that simple potentiometric measurements between sensing electrodes and a shared reference electrode - Microbial Potentiometric Sesnor (MPS) system - can be employed in a long-term, continuous mode of operation to resolve the spatial and temporal changes in environmental systems. To address the hypothesis, (1) a conceptual description of the MPS system and its postulated principle of operation are provided; (2) the MPS system performance is documented under controlled laboratory conditions; and (3) the capabilities of the MPS system are documented under quiescent and dynamic field condition. In a laboratory setting, the variability among different MPS signals was insignificant confirming the postulated high accuracy and reproducibility of the sensor performance. It also demonstrated statistically significant correlations with dissolved oxygen (DO) and oxidation-reduction potential (ORP) sensors, while showing capabilities of operating under anoxic and anaerobic conditions. Regardless of their locations in the model wetland system, three MPS sensors functioned without interruption and cleaning for a period >2 years, and thus demonstrating long-term durability of the MPS technology. In real batch-wastewater treatment facility, the deployed MPS system signals were able to describe the organic carbon trends and correlate with each treatment phase in a cycle. Data reproducibility and reliability exceeded the expectations better describing the carbon treatment levels than the DO and ORP sensors (p < 4.4 × 10 –162 vs phase adjusted p < 3.0 × 10 –58 ). While MPS signals correlate with specific parameters that describe the local process or environments, it is more prudent to employ both the magnitude and pattern of a composite signal like the MPS signal describe the change to reflect any shift in the local environment. Finally, when compared to a baseline pattern, this change in signal magnitude and pattern reveals important information that can be employed to tailor and optimize any condition or process which involves microorganisms.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗
DOE OSTI2021

Mechanisms of Dynamic Near-Wake Modulation of a Utility-Scale Wind Turbine

The current study uses large eddy simulations to investigate the transient response of a utility-scale wind turbine wake to dynamic changes in atmospheric and operational conditions, as observed in previous field-scale measurements. Most wind turbine wake investigations assume quasi-steady conditions, but real wind turbines operate in a highly stochastic atmosphere, and their operation (e.g. blade pitch, yaw angle) changes constantly in response. Furthermore, dynamic control strategies have been recently proposed to optimize wind farm power generation and longevity. Therefore, improved understanding of dynamic wake behaviours is essential. First, changes in blade pitch are investigated and the wake expansion response is found to display hysteresis as a result of flow inertia. The time scales of the wake response to different pitch rates are quantified. Next, changes in wind direction with different time scales are explored. Under short time scales, the wake deflection is in the opposite direction of that observed under quasi-steady conditions. Finally, yaw changes are implemented at different rates, and the maximum inverse wake deflection and time scale are quantified, showing a clear dependence on yaw rate. To gain further physical understanding of the mechanism behind the inverse wake deflection, the streamwise vorticity in different parts of the wake is quantified. The results of this study provide guidance for the design of advanced wake flow control algorithms. The lag in wake response observed for both blade pitch and yaw changes shows that proposed dynamic control strategies must implement turbine operational changes with a time scale of the order of the rotor time scale or slower.

flow-structure interactions↗
DOE OSTI2025

Pyrolyzed Parylene-N for in Vivo Electrochemical Detection of Neurotransmitters

Carbon electrodes are typically used for in vivo dopamine detection, and new types of electrodes and customized fabrication methods will facilitate new applications. Parylene is an insulator that can be deposited in a thin layer on a substrate and then pyrolyzed to carbon to enable its use as an electrode. However, pyrolyzed parylene has not been used for the real-time detection of neurochemicals by fast-scan cyclic voltammetry. In this work, we deposited thin layers of parylene-N (PN) on metal wires and then pyrolyzed them to carbon with high temperatures in a rapid thermal processor (RTP). Different masses of PN, 1, 6, and 12 g, were deposited to vary the thickness. RTP-PN (6 g) produced a 194 nm layer carbon thickness and had optimal electrochemical stability. Pyrolyzed parylene-N modified electrodes (PPNMEs) were characterized for electrochemical detection of dopamine, serotonin, and adenosine. Background-normalized currents at PPNMEs were about 2 times larger than those of carbon-fiber microelectrodes (CFMEs). Rich defect sites and oxygen functional groups promoted the neurochemical adsorption of cationic neurotransmitters. PPNMEs resisted fouling from serotonin polymer formation. PPNMEs were used in vivo to detect stimulated dopamine release and monitor spontaneous adenosine release. Pyrolyzed parylene is a sensitive and fouling-resistant thin-film carbon electrode that could be used in the future for making customized electrodes and devices.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
DOE OSTI2023

Human-Building Collaboration: Toward lighting enabled collaborative system design

The profession of lighting design is evolving as contemporary lighting systems increasingly rely on cutting-edge computational technologies, sensors, and IOT systems. This trend requires designers to incorporate ideas of automation, dynamic controls, and user-system interaction into their design logic. However, real-time lighting simulations are constrained by inherent limitations arising from the reductive assumptions inevitably introduced in simulated lighting environments. This raises the question of how can designers account for the discrepancies between simulated and real lighting environments, and how can collaboration between humans and autonomous lighting systems bridge this gap. To address this question, we propose a protocol for designing collaborative interactions between humans and systems. Furthermore, this protocol builds on the Human-Lighting System Interaction Framework and demonstrates how human and system intelligence can be combined to fine-tune lighting qualities in a given space. Our paper shows how interactive lighting systems can customize lighting based on user preferences in real-time and how global lighting configurations can be adjusted over time. Specifically, we demonstrate: a) Human-system collaboration assumptions and goals, as well as how the protocol can be integrated into digitally programmable lighting systems. b) Implementations of collaboration that reveal how system autonomy, performance, and user experience are improved over short and long-term timeframes. c) How lighting design can be enhanced beyond simulation-driven design optimization capacities. The associated affordances and limitations are discussed with respect to existing lighting simulation design frameworks.

autonomous systems↗
NASA NTRS1991

Robust control with structured perturbations

This semi-annual report describes continued progress on the research. Among several approaches in this area of research, our approach to the parametric uncertainties are being matured everyday. This approach deals with real parameter uncertainties which other techniques such as H (sup infinity) optimal control, micron analysis and synthesis, and l(sub 1) optimal control cannot deal. The primary assumption of this approach is that the mathematical models are well obtained so that the most of system uncertainties can be translated into parameter uncertainties of their linear system representations. These uncertainties may be due to modeling, nonlinearity of the physical system, some time-varying parameters, etc. In this report period of research, we are concentrating on implementing a computer aided analysis and design tool based on new results on parametric robust stability. This implementation will help us to reveal further details in this approach.

Keel, Leehyun↗
NASA NTRS1997

Data Partitioning and Load Balancing in Parallel Disk Systems

Parallel disk systems provide opportunities for exploiting I/O parallelism in two possible waves, namely via inter-request and intra-request parallelism. In this paper we discuss the main issues in performance tuning of such systems, namely striping and load balancing, and show their relationship to response time and throughput. We outline the main components of an intelligent, self-reliant file system that aims to optimize striping by taking into account the requirements of the applications and performs load balancing by judicious file allocation and dynamic redistributions of the data when access patterns change. Our system uses simple but effective heuristics that incur only little overhead. We present performance experiments based on synthetic workloads and real-life traces.

Scheuermann, Peter↗
DOE OSTI2022

Toward fully automated UED operation using two-stage machine learning model

To demonstrate the feasibility of automating UED operation and diagnosing the machine performance in real time, a two-stage machine learning (ML) model based on self-consistent start-to-end simulations has been implemented. This model will not only provide the machine parameters with adequate precision, toward the full automation of the UED instrument, but also make real-time electron beam information available as single-shot nondestructive diagnostics. Furthermore, based on a deep understanding of the root connection between the electron beam properties and the features of Bragg-diffraction patterns, we have applied the hidden symmetry as model constraints, successfully improving the accuracy of energy spread prediction by a factor of five and making the beam divergence prediction two times faster. The capability enabled by the global optimization via ML provides us with better opportunities for discoveries using near-parallel, bright, and ultrafast electron beams for single-shot imaging. It also enables directly visualizing the dynamics of defects and nanostructured materials, which is impossible using present electron-beam technologies.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2025

Super-Resolution Ptychography with Small Segmented Detectors

To overcome the spatial resolution limit set by aperture-limited diffraction in traditional scanning transmission electron microscopy, microscopists have developed ptychography enabled by iterative phase retrieval algorithms and high-dynamic-range pixel array detectors. Current detector designs are limited by the data rate off chip, so a high-pixel-count detector has a proportionally lower frame rate than the few-segment detectors used for differential phase contrast (DPC) imaging. This slower acquisition speed leads to heightened vulnerability to scan noise, drift, and potential sample damage. This creates opportunities for repurposing fast segmented detectors for ptychography by trading a reduction in reciprocal space pixels for an increase in real space pixels. Here, we explore a strategy of oversampling in real space and instead apply detector pixel upsampling during the reconstruction process. Further, we demonstrate the viability of achieving super-resolution ptychography on thin objects using only 2 × 2 detector pixels, surpassing the resolution of integrated DPC (iDPC) imaging. With optimization using simulated datasets and experiments on MoTe 2 /WSe 2 bilayer moiré superlattices, we achieved super-resolution ptychography reconstructions under rapid acquisition conditions (37.5 pA, 1 μs dwell time), yielding over 50% improvements in contrast and information limit compared to annular dark field and iDPC imaging on the same detectors.

2D materials↗