Briefs: Information Technology

Modeling and Control of Aerothermoelastic Effects

Aerothermoelasticity comprises those aspects of the dynamics of an aircraft that are caused by flexibility and heating during flight. The concept of aerothermoelasticity is particularly...

Briefs: Information Technology

Algorithms for Haptic Rendering of 3D Objects

Algorithms have been developed to provide haptic rendering of three-dimensional (3D) objects in virtual (that is, computationally simulated) environments. The goal of haptic rendering is to...

Briefs: Information Technology

Prognostics Methodology for Complex Systems

An automatic method to schedule maintenance and repair of complex systems is produced based on a computational structure called the Informed Maintenance Grid (IMG). This method provides solutions...

Briefs: Electronics & Computers

Capacitor-Chain Successive-Approximation ADC

A proposed successive approximation analog-to-digital converter (ADC) would contain a capacitively terminated chain of identical capacitor cells (see figure). Like a conventional successive...

Briefs: Electronics & Computers

Simpler Alternative to an Optimum FQPSK-B Viterbi Receiver

A reduced-complexity alternative to an optimum FQPSK-B Viterbi receiver has been invented. As described below, the reduction in complexity is achieved at the cost of only a small...

Briefs: Electronics & Computers

Multilayer Patch Antenna Surrounded by a Metallic Wall

A multilayer patch antenna, similar to a Yagi antenna, surrounded by a metallic wall has been devised to satisfy requirements to fit within a specified size and shape and to generate a...

Briefs: Software

Software To Secure Distributed Propulsion Simulations

Distributed-object computing systems are presented with many security threats, including network eavesdropping, message tampering, and communications middleware masquerading. NASA Glenn...

Briefs: Physical Sciences

Alternative Electrochemical Systems for Ozonation of Water

Electrochemical systems that are especially well suited for the small-scale generation of ozone and ozonated water for local use have been invented. These systems can operate with...

Briefs: Physical Sciences

Magnetic Field Would Reduce Electron Backstreaming in Ion Thrusters

The imposition of a magnetic field has been proposed as a means of reducing the electron backstreaming problem in ion thrusters.

Electron backstreaming refers to the...

Briefs: Materials

Transparent Metal-Salt-Filled Polymeric Radiation Shields

"COR-RA" (colorless atomic oxygen resistant — radiation shield) is the name of a transparent polymeric material filled with x-ray-absorbing salts of lead, bismuth, cesium, and...

Briefs: Materials

Meshed-Pumpkin Super-Pressure Balloon Design

An improved, lightweight design has been proposed for super-pressure balloons used to carry scientific instruments at high altitudes in the atmosphere of Earth for times as long as 100 days. [A...

Briefs: Materials

Corrosion Inhibitors as Penetrant Dyes for Radiography

Liquid/vapor-phase corrosion inhibitors (LVCIs) have been found to be additionally useful as penetrant dyes for neutron radiography (and perhaps also x-radiography). Enhancement of...

Briefs: Materials

Explicit Pore Pressure Material Model in Carbon-Cloth Phenolic

An explicit material model that uses predicted pressure in the pores of a carbon-cloth phenolic (CCP) composite has been developed. This model is intended to be used within a...

Briefs: Photonics/Optics

Interferometer for Measuring Displacement to Within 20 pm

An optical heterodyne interferometer that can be used to measure linear displacements with an error -20 pm has been developed. The remarkable accuracy of this interferometer is...

Briefs: Photonics/Optics

Processing Digital Imagery To Enhance Perceptions of Realism

Multi-scale retinex with color restoration (MSRCR) is a method of processing digital image data based on Edwin Land's retinex (retina + cortex) theory of human color vision. An...

Briefs: Photonics/Optics

UV-Enhanced IR Raman System for Identifying Biohazards

An instrumentation system that would include an ultraviolet (UV) laser or light-emitting diode, an infrared (IR) laser, and the equivalent of an IR Raman spectrometer has been proposed...

Briefs: Manufacturing & Prototyping

Relatively Inexpensive Rapid Prototyping of Small Parts

Parts with complex three-dimensional shapes and with dimensions up to 8 by 8 by 10 in. (20.3 by 20.3 by 25.4 cm) can be made as unitary pieces of a room- temperature- curing polymer,...

Briefs: Manufacturing & Prototyping

Dry Process for Making Polyimide/Carbon-and-Boron-Fiber Tape

A dry process has been invented as an improved means of manufacturing composite prepreg tapes that consist of high- temperature thermoplastic polyimide resin matrices reinforced...

Briefs: Medical

Real-Time, High-Frequency QRS Electrocardiograph

An electronic system that performs real-time analysis of the low-amplitude, high-frequency, ordinarily invisible components of the QRS portion of an electrocardiographic signal in real time...

Briefs: Mechanical & Fluid Systems

Lightweight Energy Absorbers for Blast Containers

Kinetic-energy- absorbing liners made of aluminum foam have been developed to replace solid lead liners in blast containers on the aft skirt of the solid rocket booster of the space shuttle....