Briefs: Semiconductors & ICs
MMIC DHBT Common-Base Amplifier for 172 GHz
Figure 1 shows a single-stage monolithic microwave integrated circuit (MMIC) power amplifier in which the gain element is a double-heterojunction bipolar transistor (DHBT) connected in common-base...
Briefs: Medical
Studying Functions of All Yeast Genes Simultaneously
A method of studying the functions of all the genes of a given species of micro-organism simultaneously has been developed in experiments on Saccharomyces cerevisiae (commonly known as baker’s or brewer’s yeast). It is already known that many yeast genes perform functions similar to those...
Briefs: Medical
Microfluidic Devices for Studying Biomolecular Interactions
Microfluidic devices for monitoring biomolecular interactions have been invented. These devices are basically highly miniaturized liquid-chromatography columns. They are intended to...
Briefs: Medical
Neuro-Prosthetic Implants With Adjustable Electrode Arrays
Brushlike arrays of electrodes packaged with application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs) are undergoing development for use as electronic implants — especially as neuro-prosthetic devices that might be implanted in brains to detect weak electrical signals generated by neurons....
Briefs: Physical Sciences
Tunable-Bandwidth Filter System
A tunable-bandwidth filter system (TBFS), now undergoing development, is intended to be part of a remote-sensing multispectral imaging system that will operate in the visible and near infrared spectral region...
Briefs: Physical Sciences
Polarization Phase-Compensating Coats for Metallic Mirrors
A method of compensating for or minimizing phase differences between orthogonal polarizations of light reflected from metallic mirrors at oblique incidence, as, for example, from weakly curved mirrors, is undergoing development. The method is intended to satisfy a need to maintain...
Briefs: Physical Sciences
Monitoring Temperatures of Tires Using Luminescent Materials
A method of noncontact, optical monitoring of the surface temperature of a tire has been devised to enable the use of local temperature rise as an indication of potential or...
Briefs: Information Technology
Methodology for Designing Fault-Protection Software
A document describes a methodology for designing fault-protection (FP) software for autonomous spacecraft. The methodology embodies and extends established engineering practices in the technical discipline of Fault Detection, Diagnosis, Mitigation, and Recovery; and has been successfully...
Products: Software
Adobe® Acrobat® 3D
Adobe Systems, San Jose, CA , has released Adobe® Acrobat® 3D that enables engineers to publish and share 3D design information from major CAD applications with virtually any computer user, allowing collaboration...
Briefs: Information Technology
Ground-Based Localization of Mars Rovers
The document discusses a procedure for localizing the Mars rovers in site frame, a locally defined reference frame on the Martian surface. MER onboard position within a site frame is estimated onboard and is based on wheel odometry. Odometry estimation of rover position is only reliable over relatively...
Application Briefs: Aerospace
Digital Thermometer and Surface Probe Help Repair Shuttle Tiles
Fluke 80PK-27 surface probe
Fluke Corp.
Everett, WA
425-347-6100
www.fluke.com
Application Briefs: Software
Software Helps NASA Create Graphics Library
Right Hemisphere
Fremont, CA
877-309-3204
www.righthemisphere.com
As part of the Forward Technology Solar Cell Experiment (FTSCE), a team of engineers from NASA Glenn, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Ohio State...
Briefs: Materials
Polyimides From a-BPDA and Aromatic Diamines
Polymers having low color and a favorable combination of other properties, including high glass-transition temperature (Tg) and high mechanical properties (strength, tensile modulus,...
Briefs: Materials
Making Plant-Support Structures From Waste Plant Fiber
Environmentally benign, biodegradable structures for supporting growing plants can be made in a process based on recycling of such waste plant fiber materials as wheat straw or of such derivative materials as paper and cardboard. Examples of structures that can be made in this way include...
Briefs: Test & Measurement
Dielectric Heaters for Testing Spacecraft Nuclear Reactors
Like the electrical-resistance heaters used heretofore for such testing, the dielectric heaters would be inserted in the reactors in place of nuclear fuel rods. A typical heater according to the proposal would consist of a rod of lossy dielectric material sized and shaped like a fuel rod...
Articles
Three Reasons Why New Businesses Fail
The Business Briefs series of articles takes you through the basics of developing and presenting a design idea, obtaining funding, protecting and licensing your intellectual property, and getting your ideas to market. This month, learn how to avoid the most common pitfalls that cause a startup business to...
Briefs: Software
Analyzing Power Supply and Demand on the ISS
Station Power and Energy Evaluation Determiner (SPEED) is a Java application program for analyzing the supply and demand aspects of the electrical power system of the International Space Station (ISS). SPEED can be executed on any computer that supports version 1.4 or a subsequent version of the Java...
Briefs: Software
X-Windows Information Sharing Protocol Widget Class
The X-Windows Information Sharing Protocol (ISP) Widget Class ("Class" is used here in the object-oriented -programming sense of the word) was devised to simplify the task of implementing ISP graphical-user-interface (GUI) computer programs. ISP programming tasks require many method calls to...
Briefs: Software
X-Windows Socket Widget Class
The X-Windows Socket Widget Class ("Class" is used here in the object-oriented -programming sense of the word) was devised to simplify the task of implementing network connections for graphical-userinterface (GUI) computer programs. UNIX Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) socket programming...
Briefs: Software
Simulating Humans as Integral Parts of Spacecraft Missions
The Collaborative-Virtual Environment Simulation Tool (C-VEST) software was developed for use in a NASA project entitled "3-D Interactive Digital Virtual Human." The project is oriented toward the use of a comprehensive suite of advanced software tools in computational simulations for...
Briefs: Software
Processing Raman Spectra of High-Pressure Hydrogen Flames
The Raman Code automates the analysis of laser-Raman- spectroscopy data for diagnosis of combustion at high pressure. On the basis of the theory of molecular spectroscopy, the software calculates the rovibrational and pure rotational Raman spectra of H2, O2,...
Briefs: Software
Modular Aero-Propulsion System Simulation
The Modular Aero-Propulsion System Simulation (MAPSS) is a graphical simulation environment designed for the development of advanced control algorithms and rapid testing of these algorithms on a generic computational model of a turbofan engine and its control system. MAPSS is a nonlinear, non-real- time...
Briefs: Software
Generic Environment for Simulating Launch Operations
GEM-FLO (A Generic Simulation Environment for Modeling Future Launch Operations) is a computer program that facilitates creation of discreteevent simulation models of ground processes in which reusable or expendable launch vehicles (RLVs) are prepared for flight. GEM-FLO includes a component,...
Briefs: Software
Infrastructure for Rapid Development of Java GUI Programs
The Java Application Shell (JAS) is a software framework that accelerates the development of Java graphical-userinterface (GUI) application programs by enabling the reuse of common, proven GUI elements, as distinguished from writing custom code for GUI elements. JAS is a software...
Briefs: Software
DCS-Neural-Network Program for Aircraft Control and Testing
A computer program implements a dynamic-cell-structure (DCS) artificial neural network that can perform such tasks as learning selected aerodynamic characteristics of an airplane from windtunnel test data and computing realtime stability and control derivatives of the airplane for use...
Application Briefs: Robotics, Automation & Control
Software and Hardware Automate Cylindrical Coordinate Measurement Machine Control System
The Mechanical Engineering School at the Georgia Institute of Technology needed to reduce the set-up time involved in centering a bearing ring on a...
Application Briefs: Motion Control
Analysis Software Used to Test Solar Car Steering and Stability
The Toronto, Canada-based Power of One solar car was built to set world distance records and promote the use of sustainable energy, unlike most solar cars that are built for...
Application Briefs: Motion Control
Lead Screws Play Role in Case Packer Retrofit
In the industrial automation market, an increase in speed results in an increase in production rates. Increased production rates, in turn, lead to increased profit.
Products: Motion Control
Automation System
Robohand (Monroe, CT) has announced the Smart Linear Actuator (SLA) modular automation system featuring DIRECTCONNECT™ technology enabling integration of Robohand pneumatic slides, grippers, and rotaries. The SLA...
Products: Motion Control
Ball Bearings
Products: Motion Control
Frameless Motors
Applimotion (Loomis, CA) has released ULT direct drive frameless motors in sizes up to 355-mm diameter, with 200-mm through holes, covering , and lasers.
Products: Robotics, Automation & Control
Miniature Digital Servo Drive
Elmo Motion control (Westford, MA) offers the “Whistle” digital servo drive with up to 500 watts of continuous power at 99% efficiency. The device weighs 1.76 ounces and measures 2 × 1.8 × 0.6". It...
Products: Motion Control
Motion Controller
The RMC75E one- and two-axis motion controllers from Delta Computer Systems (Vancouver, WA) support Ethernet communications that can be used to download parameters and variables to modify motion control programs from a...
Products: Electronics & Computers
Switching Chassis Enables Ethernet Control of 3U Modules in LXI Environment
Designed to enable the use of PXI test modules in a LAN extensions for Instrumentation (LXI) environment, Pickering Interfaces' (Woburn, MA) 60-100 and 60-101...
Products: Robotics, Automation & Control
Rodless Cylinders
The HORV Series of rodless cylinders from Humphrey Products (Kalamazoo, MI) have a flat piston that creates a profile that is 40% thinner than conventional rodless cylinders of equal bore and stroke. The block-type end cap...
Products: Robotics, Automation & Control
Linear Encoders
Products: Robotics, Automation & Control
Motion Controller/Driver
A CAN bus interface has been added to the SilverDust™ IGB servo motion controller/ driver by QuickSilver Controls (San Dimas, CA) for servo control of NEMA 17 and 23 frame step motors. The CAN interface is fully...
Products: Robotics, Automation & Control
Induction Motor Reverser
Teledyne Relays (Hawthorne, CA) has introduced the Series EMCRT solid-state, three-phase induction motor reverser that can be used to turn on an industrial motor in either direction. The maximum current is 50 Amps....
Products: Motion Control
Linear Actuators
The Bug series of linear actuators from Ultra Motion (Mattituck, NY) includes ABEC-7 angular contact bearings and interchangeable motor mounting plates. A Kevlar drive belt and pulleys provide 1:1, 2:1, 3:1, 4:1, and 5:1...
Products: Motion Control
Rotary Encoders
RESM rotary/angle encoders from Renishaw (Hoffman Estates, IL) combine stainless steel mounting ring/scale and dirt-filtering options with signal processing and IN-TRAC™ auto-phase bidirectional optical reference mark. The...
Products: Robotics, Automation & Control
Rodless Actuator
Tol-O-Matic (Hamel, MN) has introduced the B3W series electric belt drive actuator that can be used as a direct drop-in replacement for the company’s B3B actuator. The series features a sealed bearing system at both drive...
Products: Robotics, Automation & Control
Stock Springs
Lee Spring (Brooklyn, NY) offers Type 316 stainless steel stock compression springs in wire sizes from 0.006" through 0.072". The compression springs feature squared and ground ends, and are ultrasonically cleaned. The...
Products: Robotics, Automation & Control
Tension Stepper
Azonic Products (Albion, NE) has released the Model 300 switchable tension stepper that allows set-up of up to four predetermined tension levels that adjust during a winding cycle. The switchable tension stepper enables a...
Products: Robotics, Automation & Control
Wire Draw Encoders
SICK Stegmann (Dayton, OH) has released the PRF incremental wire draw encoders providing resolution to 0.025 mm at lengths to 50 m. They are available with HTL or TTL interfaces. The encoders consist of the wire draw...
Products: Robotics, Automation & Control
Indexing Conveyor
The Dual Track Precision Indexing Conveyor from Conveyor Technologies (Milford, OH) permits single-track positioning accuracy for a variety of in-line operations. Dual tracks allow processing of smaller parts on each belt...
Products: Robotics, Automation & Control
Stepper Drive
The STAC6-Si stepper drive from Applied Motion Products (Watsonville, CA) is programmable for standalone operation with Si Programmer™ Windows-based software with integrated tuning. A graphical point-and-click format combines...
Products: Robotics, Automation & Control
Scanning Stages
PI L.P. (Auburn, MA) offers the P-714 high-speed XY-nanopositioning and scanning stages that are piezo-driven and feature a resonant frequency of 2.2 kHz for sub-millisecond response. Integrated position sensors and...
Products: Motion Control
Motorized Potentiometers
The MR267 motorized potentiometers from Micronor (Newbury Park, CA) include a current loop controller (CLC) option that remotely controls the potentiometer and/or rotary cam switch via a 4-20 mA current loop, 0- 2.5...
Products: Motion Control
Motor Control Center
The Square D® Model 6 Intelligent Motor Control Center from Schneider Electric (Palatine, IL) enables real-time monitoring and remote control of motor functions for industrial facilities. Motor protection features of...
Products: Motion Control
Motor/Driver/Encoder
Lin Engineering (Santa Clara, CA) offers the SilverPak 23DE, and integrated NEMA 23 high-torque, 1.8° bipolar step motor; microstepping driver; and encoder. The system is 2.25" wide and is available in three body...
Products: Robotics, Automation & Control
Thermoplastic Insert Couplings
R+W America (Bensenville, IL) has introduced the SERVOMAX TX1 series of molded thermoplastic insert couplings that are suitable for pump drive and servo applications. The couplings are chemical-compatible and...
Products: Robotics, Automation & Control
Brushless Gearmotor
Midwest Motion Products (Watertown, MN) offers the MMP-B23-150H-24V GP52-035 BR-005 brushless DC gearmotor/brake that features Hall Cell Commutation. The gearmotor measures 2.3" in diameter by 9.2" long, and has a keyed...
Products: Robotics, Automation & Control
Shock Absorber
ACE Controls (Farmington Hills, MI) has introduced the SC 190-HC high-cycle industrial shock absorber for use in high-speed production equipment. It features quick rod-ready time and short stroke, as well as rapid repeat...
Products: Robotics, Automation & Control
Worm Gear Speed Reducers
Flexbloc right-angle worm gear speed reducers from NORD Gear Corp. (Waunakee, WI) stop oil leaks and eliminate bolt-on covers and split casting, encompassing all gearing within a single piece. They feature an aluminum alloy housing that is corrosion resistant. The speed reducers are lubricated with a food-grade synthetic...
Products: Motion Control
Rail Brakes
The RB Series of linear profile guide rail brakes from Nexen Group (Vadnais Heights, MN) use spring force to secure the load in holding applications. Each brake clamps directly onto the center of the guide rail for positive...
Products: Robotics, Automation & Control
Tie Rod Cylinder
The CA2 metric tie rod cylinder series from SMC Corp. of America (Indianapolis, IN) features aluminum die-cast covers to reduce weight. Cushioning capabilities were improved by increasing the volume of the cushion chamber...
Products: Motion Control
Brushless Vibration Motors
Nidoc Copal USA Corp. (Torrance, CA) offers the LVB10 line of brushless vibration motors measuring 10 mm outside diameter and 3.4 mm axial length. The LBV10-003 model reaches speeds of 13,500 rpm and draws a rated...
Products: Robotics, Automation & Control
Voice Coil Actuator
Gee Plus (Elgin, SC) has announced the VM2436 voice coil actuator that provides bi-directional linearity over a maximum linear stroke of 0.59". It develops a peak force of almost 11 ounces in a package size of 0.94"...
Products: Motion Control
Servo Motor
Nanomotion (Ronkonkoma, NY) offers the MM industrial servo motor that provides unlimited rotary or linear motion with 0.17 N of driving force and velocity to 235 mm/sec. The motor measures 9 × 17 × 5 mm and weighs 5 grams. It...
Products: Motion Control
Direct Drive Actuator
Copley Controls (Canton, MA) offers the ServoTube actuator with twin outrigger bearings designed for applications subject to high side loading. A ball-bushing option with steel bearing rails provides maximum...
Products: Robotics, Automation & Control
Motor Driver
Allegro MicroSystems (Worcester, MA) has announced the A1441 full-bridge motor driver designed to drive single-phase, low-voltage, bipolar brushless DC motors. Commutation of the motor is achieved by the use of one Hall element...
Products: Motion Control
Vibration Analyzer
Datastick Systems (Campbell, CA) offers the VSA-1212 vibration spectrum analyzer, a PDA-based vibration analyzer that uses off-the-shelf ICP®-type piezoelectric accelerometers for machine condition monitoring and...
Products: Robotics, Automation & Control
Collet Chuck
Lexair (Lexington, KY) has announced the Lexair/ Production Dynamics Full Bore® chuck, a mechanical-grip, air-release, front-mounted collet chuck designed to make the full spindle bore available to handle larger bar stock. The...
Briefs: Mechanical & Fluid Systems
Large Deployable Reflectarray Antenna
A report discusses a 7-meter-diameter reflectarray antenna that has been conceived in a continuing effort to develop large reflectarray antennas to be deployed in outer space. Major underlying concepts were reported in three prior NASA Tech Briefs articles: "Inflatable Reflectarray Antennas" (NPO-20433),...
Products: Motion Control
Brushless DC Motors
Pittman® Brushless DC servomotors from PennEngineering® Motion Technologies (Harleysville, PA) feature a slotless stator design for applications in data storage, medical, semiconductor, and automation. Features include...
Briefs: Mechanical & Fluid Systems
Periodically Discharging, Gas-Coalescing Filter
A proposed device would remove bubbles of gas from a stream of liquid (typically water), accumulate the gas, and periodically release the gas, in bulk, back into the stream. The device is...
Products: Robotics, Automation & Control
Electro-Mechanical Actuator
Exlar Corp. (Chanhassen, MN) has introduced the Exlar I Series electro-mechanical actuator with roller screw technology. Users have a choice of motor brand and type, including brushless servo, stepper, DC, or AC...
Briefs: Electronics & Computers
Modular, Microprocessor-Controlled Flash Lighting System
A microprocessor- controlled lighting system generates brief, precisely timed, high- intensity flashes of light for scientific imaging at frame rates up to about 1 kHz. The system includes an array of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) that are driven in synchronism with an externally generated...
Briefs: Electronics & Computers
Highly Efficient Multilayer Thermoelectric Devices
Multilayer thermoelectric devices now at the prototype stage of development exhibit a combination of desirable characteristics, including high figures of merit and high performance/cost ratios. These devices are capable of producing temperature differences of the order of 50 K in operation at or...
Briefs: Electronics & Computers
Using Doppler Shifts of GPS Signals To Measure Angular Speed
A method has been proposed for extracting information on the rate of rotation of an aircraft, spacecraft, or other body from differential Doppler shifts of Global Positioning...
Briefs: Electronics & Computers
Very High-Speed Digital Video Capability for In-Flight Use
A digital video camera system has been qualified for use in flight on the NASA supersonic F-15B Research Testbed aircraft. This system is capable of very-high-speed color digital...
Briefs: Software
Analysis Software Used in Liquids Berth Trestle Structure Design
Madsen Giersing, an Australian consulting engineering firm that specializes in marine engineering and construction solutions, was commissioned to design a new bulk liquids...
Briefs: Electronics & Computers
Nearly Direct Measurement of Relative Permittivity
A recently conceived technique for determining the relative permittivity of a material sample at a given frequency is more nearly direct than are prior techniques that involve measurement of...
Briefs: Manufacturing & Prototyping
Ion Milling On Steps for Fabrication of Nanowires
Arrays of nanowires having controlled dimensions can now be fabricated on substrates, optionally as integral parts of multilayer structures, by means of a cost-effective, high-yield process...
Articles: Software
A Software Development Process for Small-Scale Embedded Systems
Developing software for small-scale embedded applications is different from developing large-scale software applications. Large-scale applications use commercially available...
Articles: Electronics & Computers
Choosing Among ZigBee RF Power Options for Your Wireless Application
While often associated with home automation, the new ZigBee wireless data standard is making fast inroads into industrial, military, and aerospace applications. By...
Products: Electronics & Computers
Current Loop Controller (CLC) Eases Industrial Automation Retrofits
Micronor Inc.’s (Newbury Park, CA) MR267 Current Loop Controller (CLC) option remotely controls a motorized potentiometer and/or rotary cam switch via current, voltage...
Products: Electronics & Computers
Hardware Debug Software Adds 64-bit JTAG, Flash Support
Macraigor Systems LLC (Brookline, MA) has added JTAG debug and Flash memory programming support for several Freescale PowerPC and MIPS processor support, in addition to existing ARM...
Products: Electronics & Computers
USB Digital I/O Board Enables High-Speed Digital Monitoring and Control
ACCES I/O Products (San Diego, CA) offers the Model USB-IIRO-16, featuring 16 Form C (SPDT) electromechanical relays and 16 optically isolated digital inputs. The board...
Products: Electronics & Computers
PLL/Synthesizer Includes VCO
Crystek Corporation’s (Fort Myers, FL) CPLL66 family is the company’s first foray into the PLL/Synthesizer market. Designed for digital radio equipment, fixed wireless access, satellite communications...
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