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DOE OSTI2021

The Modeled Performance of the ORNL Matched Filter Detector for Seismic Signatures of Multi-Axle Tractor Trailers

The MINOS program seeks methods to passively monitor the transfer of special materials, which are reproducible and quantitatively defensible. To date, we have demonstrated that short-period seismometers deployed near vehicle tracks can detect and monitor signatures of multi-axle tractor trailers impacting small road obstacles as means to detect and identify some transfer activities. In this report, we model the seismic velocity signal output from a tractor-trailer impacting a small obstacle (a template waveform) to parameterize a matched filter that identifies signals with similar shapes buried in noise, and that indicate repeating events (target waveforms). We then use this model to perform thousands of synthetic experiments, in which we apply our detector to identify noisy waveforms output from a similarly modeled vehicle data set; we process all data in the same manner as we process real data collected from the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) seismic network. Our experiments, while limited, reveal that the matched filter shows a high discrimination capability, and at very low SNR values (at visibility thresholds). This means that template waveforms can match target waveforms that are sourced by models that share the same vehicle speed (target vehicles), and have a low probability of mis-identification. In particular, a matched filter designed to detect a five-axle tractor-trailer will reliably identify that target vehicle down to an SNR of 11.25 dB, and within ±0.1 km/hr, while successfully screening target vehicles with three axles.

42 ENGINEERING↗

DOE OSTI2026

Wind lidar operations and observations from Tundra Pigeon

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory brought a ZX-300 profiling lidar to the Tundra Pigeon experiment for the purpose of collecting wind measurements in the lower atmospheric boundary layer. The ZX-300 lidar is a portable Doppler lidar which uses light to track naturally occurring aerosols across a measurement cone, thereby deriving wind speed (horizontal and vertical) and wind direction. The ZX-300 is programable between the heights of 10 m and 300 m above ground level and additionally has a 1 m onboard meteorological sensor for collecting measurements of air temperature, relative humidity, air pressure and wind at 1 m height. We programmed the ZX-300 to target altitudes of most interest to the tracer experiment. These heights were 10, 15, 20, 30, 38, 50, 75, 100, 125, 150 and 200 m. Note that the 38 m level is a fixed calibration height and cannot be changed. This measurement strategy prioritized winds close to the surface while ensuring that we’d also collect information about the winds aloft. The wind measurements are collected directly over the lidar instrument and represent a vertical profile of the winds over that location. However, given that there were minimal terrain and vegetation differences in the area, we’d expect these wind conditions to be representative of a larger volume area, discussed in more detail below.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

DOE OSTI2022

Development, construction and qualification tests of the mechanical structures of the electromagnetic calorimeter of the Mu2e experiment at Fermilab

The “muon-to-electron conversion” (Mu2e) experiment at Fermilab will search for the Charged Lepton Flavour Violating neutrino-less coherent conversion of a muon into an electron in the field of an aluminum nucleus. The observation of this process would be the unambiguous evidence of physics beyond the Standard Model. Mu2e detectors comprise a straw-tracker, an electromagnetic calorimeter and an external veto for cosmic rays. The calorimeter provides excellent electron identification, complementary information to aid pattern recognition and track reconstruction, and a fast calorimetric online trigger. The detector has been designed as a state-of-the-art crystal calorimeter and employs 1340 pure Cesium Iodide (CsI) crystals readout by UV-extended silicon photosensors and fast front-end and digitization electronics. A design consisting of two identical annular matrices (named “disks”) positioned at the relative distance of 70 cm downstream the aluminum target along the muon beamline satisfies the Mu2e physics requirements.The hostile Mu2e operational conditions, in terms of radiation levels (total ionizing dose of 12 krad and a neutron fluence of 5x1010 n/cm2 @ 1 MeVeq (Si)/y), magnetic field intensity (1 T) and vacuum level (10$^{-4}$ Torr) have posed tight constraints on the design of the detector mechanical structures and materials choice. The support structure of the two 670 crystal matrices employs two aluminum hollow rings and parts made of open-cell vacuum-compatible carbon fiber. The photosensors and service front-end electronics for each crystal are assembled in a unique mechanical unit inserted in a machined copper holder. The 670 units are supported by a machined plate made of vacuum-compatible plastic material. The plate also integrates the cooling system made of a network of copper lines flowing a low temperature radiation-hard fluid and placed in thermal contact with the copper holders to constitute a low resistance thermal bridge. The data acquisition electronics is hosted in aluminum custom crates positioned on the external lateral surface of the two disks. The crates also integrate the electronics cooling system as lines running in parallel to the front-end system.The constraints on the calorimeter mechanical structures design, the development from the conceptual design to the specifications of all the structural components, the status of components production and the components quality assurance tests are presented.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

NASA NTRS1982

Ranging/tracking system for proximity operations

The hardware development and testing phase of a hand held radar for the ranging and tracking for Shuttle proximity operations are considered. The radar is to measure range to a 3 sigma accuracy of 1 m (3.28 ft) to a maximum range of 1850 m (6000 ft) and velocity to a 3 sigma accuracy of 0.03 m/s (0.1 ft/s). Size and weight are similar to hand held radars, frequently seen in use by motorcycle police officers. Meeting these goals for a target in free space was very difficult to obtain in the testing program; however, at a range of approximately 700 m, the 3 sigma range error was found to be 0.96 m. It is felt that much of this error is due to clutter in the test environment. As an example of the velocity accuracy, at a range of 450 m, a 3 sigma velocity error of 0.02 m/s was measured. The principles of the radar and recommended changes to its design are given. Analyses performed in support of the design process, the actual circuit diagrams, and the software listing are included.

Nilsen, P.↗

NASA NTRS1993

A simultaneous estimation of the mass of Mars and its natural satellites, Phobos and Deimos, from the orbital perturbations on the Mariner 9, Viking 1, and Viking 2 orbiters

The natural satellites of Mars, Phobos and Deimos, caused perturbations on the orbits of the Mariner 9, and the Viking spacecraft that were used to estimate the satellite masses. The Viking spacecraft were specifically targeted to make close flybys (within a few hundred kilometers) of Phobos in February 1977 and of Deimos in October 1977. These close encounters were used to estimate the moon's gravitational constant, GM (the universal constant of gravitation multiplied by the satellite mass). However, the Viking and Mariner 9 spacecraft made numerous flybys of Phobos and Deimos at distances of a few thousand kilometers. The tracking data from these more 'distant' encounters were processed to estimate the masses of Mars, Phobos, and Deimos.

Lemoine, F. G.↗

NASA NTRS2004

Video-Guidance Design for the DART Rendezvous Mission

NASA's Demonstration of Autonomous Rendezvous Technology (DART) mission will validate a number of different guidance technologies, including state-differenced GPS transfers and close-approach video guidance. The video guidance for DART will employ NASA/Marshall s Advanced Video Guidance Sensor (AVGS). This paper focuses on the terminal phase of the DART mission that includes close-approach maneuvers under AVGS guidance. The closed-loop video guidance design for DART is driven by a number of competing requirements, including a need for maximizing tracking bandwidths while coping with measurement noise and the need to minimize RCS firings. A range of different strategies for attitude control and docking guidance have been considered for the DART mission, and design decisions are driven by a goal of minimizing both the design complexity and the effects of video guidance lags. The DART design employs an indirect docking approach, in which the guidance position targets are defined using relative attitude information. Flight simulation results have proven the effectiveness of the video guidance design.

Ruth, Michael↗

NASA NTRS2010

An High Resolution Near-Earth Objects Population Enabling Next-Generation Search Strategies

Over the past decade, the dedicated search for kilometer-size near-Earth objects (NEOs), potentially hazardous objects (PHOs), and potential Earth impactors has led to a boost in the rate of discoveries of these objects. The catalog of known NEOs is the fundamental ingredient used to develop a model for the NEOs population, either by assessing and correcting for the observational bias (Jedicke et al., 2002), or by evaluating the migration rates from the NEOs source regions (Bottke et al., 2002). The modeled NEOs population is a necessary tool used to track the progress in the search of large NEOs (Jedicke et al., 2003) and to try to predict the distribution of the ones still undiscovered, as well as to study the sky distribution of potential Earth impactors (Chesley & Spahr, 2004). We present a method to model the NEOs population in all six orbital elements, on a finely grained grid, allowing us the design and test of targeted and optimized search strategies. This method relies on the observational data routinely reported to the Minor Planet Center (MPC) by the Catalina Sky Survey (CSS) and by other active NEO surveys over the past decade, to determine on a nightly basis the efficiency in detecting moving objects as a function of observable quantities including apparent magnitude, rate of motion, airmass, and galactic latitude. The cumulative detection probability is then be computed for objects within a small range in orbital elements and absolute magnitude, and the comparison with the number of know NEOs within the same range allows us to model the population. When propagated to the present epoch and projected on the sky plane, this provides the distribution of the missing large NEOs, PHOs, and potential impactors.

Tricaico, Pasquale↗

DOE OSTI2025

Pu-238 Production Progress at Idaho National Laboratory From December 2023 to November 2024

Idaho National Laboratory (INL) has continued in the effort to produce Pu-238 to support NASA deep space missions. In support of the production goal of contributing 700 g to the 1.5 kg per year constant rate production of Pu-238 heat source material in the United States by 2026. All available inner core positions of the Advanced Test Reactor (ATR) have been qualified for production for a 20% Np target, with efforts nearing completion for a 30% Np target further increasing production amounts. This includes the North East Flux Trap (NEFT), South Flux Trap (SFT), Inner A, H positions. With the completion of qualifying the inner core of ATR, work has started on the qualifying the outer core. The portion of the outer core that will produce Pu-238 includes the Large and Medium I positions. With the continued qualification work, INL is on track to contribute to the production goal by 2026.

07 - ISOTOPES AND RADIATION SOURCES↗

DOE OSTI2026

Characterizing the GD-1 Stream with DESI DR2 Data: Thin Stream and Hot Cocoon

GD-1 is among the longest, coldest stellar streams in the Milky Way, making it an ideal target for probing dark matter substructure through dynamical heating. We present a catalog of 608 spectroscopically confirmed GD-1 members from the first three years of Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI) observations. This constitutes the largest homogeneous spectroscopic sample of GD-1, doubling the number of members previously available only through heterogeneous compilations combining multiple surveys with different systematics. Using these data, we derive updated stream tracks in sky position, proper motion, and radial velocity that extend over $100^\circ$ of the stream. We apply a Gaussian mixture model to decompose the stream into a dynamically cold thin component ($Ï_V = 2.49\pm 0.28$ km s$^{-1}$, width $= 0.23\pm0.01^\circ$) and a kinematically hot cocoon ($Ï_V = 6.13\pm0.75$ km s$^{-1}$, width $= 2.18\pm0.17^\circ$). The cocoon contains $\sim30\%$ of members and its velocity dispersion is consistent with $\sim11$ Gyr of heating by cold dark matter subhalos. We also detect a large proper motion dispersion ($41.36\pm4.98$ km s$^{-1}$) along the stream direction in the cocoon component. This feature indicates a significant line-of-sight distance spread in the cocoon, and its origin will be further explored in a forthcoming paper. These measurements demonstrate the power of DESI spectroscopy for characterizing the multi-component phase-space structure of stellar streams and constraining small-scale dark matter substructure.

Jarvis, Emma [Toronto U.] (ORCID:0009000656127336)↗

DOE OSTI2022

A 194nW Energy-Performance-Aware loT SoC Employing a 5.2nW 92.6% Peak Efficiency Power Management Unit for System Performance Scaling, Fast DVFS and Energy Minimization

A self-powered IoT system-on-chip (SoC) reduces power to sub-μw and employs multiple power-management techniques to trade-off ultra-low power (ULP), higher performance, smaller energy harvester footprint, and longer operating lifetime. Minimum Energy Point Tracking (MEPT) [1]–[4] keeps an SoC operating at the minimum energy point (MEP) to enhance system lifetime. Previous sample-and-hold MEPT schemes need frequent voltage comparisons and a high-frequency clock that increases power [2]. Current-ratio-based MEPT relies on specialized CMOS technology for body-bias tuning [3]. A switched-capacitor-based MEPT can achieve energy minimization at a targeted performance [4], but it uses a 30MHz clock witμW power consumption and low power efficiency. For ULP IoT applications, SoCs need to have ultra-low quiescent power, high efficiency for energy delivery, performance scaling based on available energy, and energy minimization to increase system lifetime. In this work, we propose an ULP IoT SoC with a triple-mode power management unit (PMU) that integrates energy-performance scaling, event-driven fast DVFS, and MEPT features to improve the system energy efficiency, as shown in Fig. 13.8.1. This work achieves a minimum 194nW power consumption for the SoC and 5.2nW quiescent power for the PMU with a 92.6% peak efficiency and >10 4 dynamic range. The timing waveform in Fig. 13.8.1 (bottom), demonstrates the transition of the three modes including energy aware (EA), performance aware (PA), and MEPT based on event priority and input voltage level which reflects the energy availability. As such, the system energy consumption and performance could be well-balanced based on both the input and output conditions.

self-powered IoT system-on-chip (SoC)↗

DOE OSTI2022

Feedback Power Cost Optimization in Power Distribution Networks with Prosumers

Here, we propose a feedback control approach for solving optimal power flow (OPF) problems in power distribution networks (DNs) based on a projected gradient scheme, where the cost is given by the sum of functions of local power injections. This approach does not require detailed knowledge of the grid model and enables real-time tracking of the optimal generation configuration. Moreover, the communication burden is minimal: only a broadcast from a central entity, called the Network Supervisor (NS), to the agents in the network is needed. Hence, agents do not have to share local information that can be sensitive, e.g., their power injections or the value of the local costs. Our approach is then used to solve a particular OPF problem targeting DNs with high penetration of distributed energy resources (DERs) in which the energy cost is given by the remuneration that the DERs owners receive for the service they provide.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗

DOE OSTI2013

Z-petawatt driven ion beam radiography development.

Laser-driven proton radiography provides electromagnetic field mapping with high spatiotemporal resolution, and has been applied to many laser-driven High Energy Density Physics (HEDP) experiments. Our report addresses key questions about the feasibility of ion radiography at the Z-Accelerator (%E2%80%9CZ%E2%80%9D), concerning laser configuration, hardware, and radiation background. Charged particle tracking revealed that radiography at Z requires GeV scale protons, which is out of reach for existing and near-future laser systems. However, it might be possible to perform proton deflectometry to detect magnetic flux compression in the fringe field region of a magnetized liner inertial fusion experiment. Experiments with the Z-Petawatt laser to enhance proton yield and energy showed an unexpected scaling with target thickness. Full-scale, 3D radiation-hydrodynamics simulations, coupled to fully explicit and kinetic 2D particle-in-cell simulations running for over 10 ps, explain the scaling by a complex interplay of laser prepulse, preplasma, and ps-scale temporal rising edge of the laser.

Schollmeier, Marius↗

DOE OSTI2022

The BREKTRIA 500 – A Breakthrough in Technology and Power Density for an Advanced 500kW Utility-Scale String Inverter (Final Technical Report)

The primary goal of this development project, planned to be 36 months in duration, was to create a 500kW utility-scale string inverter, demonstrating an advanced hybrid architecture that would achieve unprecedented high power density, and bring the inverter to the stage of production readiness. Specific key objectives for the 500kW utility-scale string inverter were: Create a 500kW 3-phase 600Vac inverter that was similar in overall size to the existing 250kW string inverters in the market, thereby demonstrating dramatically increased power density; Achieve a cost of goods, including all manufacturing-related costs and overheads, at or below 2.5¢/Wac ($12,500); Demonstrate full-power operation at a 45-50C ambient temperature with no power de-rating; Accommodate a PV array DC input of up to 1MWdc, aka a DC/AC Ratio of 2.0; Demonstrate peak efficiency greater than 99% at any operating dc voltage, and a CEC weighted average efficiency greater than or equal to 98.5%. The motivation for this project was to leapfrog the competition by creating the world’s most powerful string inverter, utilizing an innovative topology and achieving a step change increase in power density. Achieving the goals of the project would have enabled Yaskawa Solectria Solar to demonstrate its technology leadership, manufacture the utility-scale string inverter in the company’s facilities in Illinois, and bring to the market a highly-differentiated and compelling product to help the company grow its share in the large and growing utility market segment. During the course of this project, BREK Electronics’ hybrid architecture inverter was taken from an early-stage 125kW prototype, to a more mature and successfully demonstrated power stage at twice the power. Two 250kW power stages were planned to build the 500kW inverter. Significant progress was made in the inverter controls, achieving a clean AC sinewave and closed-loop operation into the grid, and improved efficiency by control of the high-speed switching. Further, the updated 250kW power stage was on track to achieve full power operation at an ambient temperature of 50C. At the time of the project’s closure in September 2022, global semiconductor supply remained limited, with shortages creating dramatic swings in both availability and price. Given this situation, our ability to predict cost-of-goods two years out with any accuracy or confidence was limited. As a result, the probability of attaining the target cost of 2.5¢/Wac for the 500kW inverter remained uncertain at the closure of the project. This project successfully demonstrated the potential for the advanced hybrid architecture inverter that emerged from a decade of university research on Si IGBTs and SiC mosfets, leading to this unique inverter topology. The team has taken the first steps toward an evolutionary advancement in inverter technology that remains to be fully realized.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗

DOE OSTI2025

Virtual Reality for Shoot/No-Shoot Decision Training in Law Enforcement: A Literature Review and Research Agenda

Virtual reality (VR) can materially improve “shoot / no-shoot” (SNS) training by giving officers realistic, repeatable practice making high-stakes decisions under pressure. Traditional tools—live-fire ranges and video simulators—build basics, but they cannot adapt to each officer in real time or fully mirror the complexity of the field. VR closes that gap by creating immersive scenarios that are safer, more flexible, easier to scale across units, and able to capture objective performance data. SNS decisions are not just about marksmanship; they rely on perception, judgment, memory, and the ability to hold fire when a threat is uncertain. Effective training therefore needs realism, decision complexity, and branching outcomes that reflect the true consequences of choices. These elements strengthen recognition of hostile intent while reducing false positives and building the self-control required in ambiguous situations. VR brings specific advantages: dynamic environments, full-body interaction, and the ability to measure performance with precision—enabling targeted feedback and better transfer of learning to the street. At the same time, responsible deployment must address scenario quality (credible environments and behaviors), lawful decision models, and user wellbeing (appropriate stress levels, comfort, and safety). Sandia’s VIPER Lab is positioned to lead this work. The team combines human-performance science, AI/ML, and VR/AR development with a deep equipment bench (e.g., omnidirectional treadmill, eye-tracking, haptics, multiple HMDs). This ecosystem supports building and validating next-generation SNS training that is immersive, measurable, and trustworthy. Bottom line: Investment in VR-enabled SNS training that blends evidence-based design with careful validation and legal safeguards is expected to pay off in safer, more consistent decision-making and improved community trust, delivered through training that is practical to deploy at scale.

45 MILITARY TECHNOLOGY, WEAPONRY, AND NATIONAL DEF↗

NASA NTRS1988

Summary of along-track data from the Earth radiation budget satellite for several major desert regions

For several days in January and August 1985, the Earth Radiation Budget Satellite, a component of the Earth Radiation Budget Experiment (ERBE), was operated in an along-track scanning mode. A survey of radiance measurements is given for four desert areas in Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, Australia, and the Sahel region of Africa. Each overflight provides radiance information for four scene categories: clear, partly cloudy, mostly cloudy, and overcast. The data presented include the variation of radiance in each scene classification as a function of viewing zenith angle during each overflight of the five target areas. Several features of interest in the development of anisotropic models are evident, including day-night differences in longwave limb darkening and the azimuthal dependence of short wave radiance. There is some evidence that surface features may introduce thermal or visible shadowing that is not incorporated in the usual descriptions of the anisotropic behavior of radiance as viewed from space. The data also demonstrate that the ERBE scene classification algorithms give results that, at least for desert surfaces, are a function of viewing geometry.

Brooks, David R.↗

NASA NTRS2016

Exploring Cognition Using Software Defined Radios for NASA Missions

NASA missions typically operate using a communication infrastructure that requires significant schedule planning with limited flexibility when the needs of the mission change. Parameters such as modulation, coding scheme, frequency, and data rate are fixed for the life of the mission. This is due to antiquated hardware and software for both the space and ground assets and a very complex set of mission profiles. Automated techniques in place by commercial telecommunication companies are being explored by NASA to determine their usability by NASA to reduce cost and increase science return. Adding cognition the ability to learn from past decisions and adjust behavior is also being investigated. Software Defined Radios are an ideal way to implement cognitive concepts. Cognition can be considered in many different aspects of the communication system. Radio functions, such as frequency, modulation, data rate, coding and filters can be adjusted based on measurements of signal degradation. Data delivery mechanisms and route changes based on past successes and failures can be made to more efficiently deliver the data to the end user. Automated antenna pointing can be added to improve gain, coverage, or adjust the target. Scheduling improvements and automation to reduce the dependence on humans provide more flexible capabilities. The Cognitive Communications project, funded by the Space Communication and Navigation Program, is exploring these concepts and using the SCaN Testbed on board the International Space Station to implement them as they evolve. The SCaN Testbed contains three Software Defined Radios and a flight computer. These four computing platforms, along with a tracking antenna system and the supporting ground infrastructure, will be used to implement various concepts in a system similar to those used by missions. Multiple universities and SBIR companies are supporting this investigation. This paper will describe the cognitive system ideas under consideration and the plan for implementing them on platforms, including the SCaN Testbed. Discussions in the paper will include how these concepts might be used to reduce cost and improve the science return for NASA missions.

transmitters receivers↗

NASA NTRS2022

Using Trajectory Smoothness Metrics to Identify Drones in Radar Track Data

The identification of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) using trajectory data is considered. Specifically, a number of smoothness metrics are proposed, which can be used to distinguish UAS from other aerial objects even when they are engaged in accelerative maneuvers (non-constant-velocity flight). The metrics are evaluated on a data set from a UAS sense-and-avoid field test, which contains track data of aerial objects recorded by a vehicle-board radar system during a flight test. The metrics are found to effectively differentiate UAS from other objects such as birds for this data set. In addition, an initial statistical performance analysis of one of the smoothness metrics is undertaken, using 15 data sets deriving from multiple flight tests. The smoothness metric is shown to identify the target UAS with 95% accuracy (95% true positive rate), while achieving a false positive rate of less than 9%.

Sandip Roy↗

DOE OSTI2022

Tracking ebolavirus genomic drift with a resequencing microarray

Filoviruses are emerging pathogens that cause acute fever with high fatality rate and present a global public health threat. During the 2013–2016 Ebola virus outbreak, genome sequencing allowed the study of virus evolution, mutations affecting pathogenicity and infectivity, and tracing the viral spread. In 2018, early sequence identification of the Ebolavirus as EBOV in the Democratic Republic of the Congo supported the use of an Ebola virus vaccine. However, field-deployable sequencing methods are needed to enable a rapid public health response. Resequencing microarrays (RMA) are a targeted method to obtain genomic sequence on clinical specimens rapidly, and sensitively, overcoming the need for extensive bioinformatic analysis. This study presents the design and initial evaluation of an ebolavirus resequencing microarray (Ebolavirus-RMA) system for sequencing the major genomic regions of four Ebolaviruses that cause disease in humans. The design of the Ebolavirus-RMA system is described and evaluated by sequencing repository samples of three Ebolaviruses and two EBOV variants. The ability of the system to identify genetic drift in a replicating virus was achieved by sequencing the ebolavirus glycoprotein gene in a recombinant virus cultured under pressure from a neutralizing antibody. Comparison of the Ebolavirus-RMA results to the Genbank database sequence file with the accession number given for the source RNA and Ebolavirus-RMA results compared to Next Generation Sequence results of the same RNA samples showed up to 99% agreement.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗