Briefs: Electronics & Computers

Three-Phase Sine-Wave Generator

A variable-frequency, three-phase, sine-wave generator circuit has been designed for use as a source of polyphase excitation in studies of the propagation of traveling waves in plasmas. This circuit, combined...

Briefs: Motion Control

Apparatus for Attaching Two Spacecraft Under Remote Control

An apparatus called a "pneumatic stinger" has been developed to enable a first spacecraft, operating under remote control, to grasp a second spacecraft that is in orbit or other...

Briefs: Mechanical & Fluid Systems

FoilSim: Software for Teaching About Airfoils

FoilSim is a computer program that calculates and graphically depicts information on flows of air around airfoils of various shapes. Although it is useful primarily as a teaching tool to enhance...

Briefs: Motion Control

Motor Feedback Systems Raise Performance Level

Servomotor drive manufacturers agree that the performance of today's digital drive is largely determined by the performance of its feedback device. Clearly, previous feedback solutions, such as...

Briefs: Mechanical & Fluid Systems

Experiment on Reducing Drag on an Aerospace Launch Vehicle

Current proposed shapes for single-stage-to-orbit vehicles like the Lockheed-Martin X-33 and VentureStar reusable launch vehicle have extremely large base areas when compared with...

Briefs: Materials

Magnetostrictive Micropositioner for Cryogenic Applications

A magnetostrictive linear-translation mechanism has been designed to function as a micropositioning device at any temperature from ambient down to the temperature of liquid helium...

Briefs: Electronics & Computers

Managing Wire Harness Design Information

Wiring is a major deliverable in just about all electromechanical equipment. From airplanes to semiconductor capital equipment, the key component tying together all of the technological innovations...

Briefs: Electronics & Computers

Supplementing Overvoltage Protection

Low-voltage high-current loads requiring precision voltage regulation are served by power systems that sense voltage remotely at the load. This creates the risk of an overvoltage (OV) condition at the...

Briefs: Materials

Magnetostrictive Heat Switch for Cryogenic Use

A magnetostrictively actuated heat switch has been proposed for use in a variety of cryogenic equipment, including adiabatic-demagnetization refrigerators, calorimeters, and coolers for...

Briefs: Robotics, Automation & Control

Small Hybrid Rocket Engines Fabricated via X-Ray Lithography

Small hybrid rocket engines of a proposed type would burn specially shaped hollow cylinders of solid fuel containing slanted oxygen-injection channels, as shown in the figure....

Briefs: Information Technology

Software for Viewing Results of Computational Simulations

Parallel Visual 3 (pV3) is an interactive computer program that provides selected displays of data generated in numerical simulations - especially simulations that involve parallel...

Briefs: Materials

Push/Pull Magnetostrictive Linear Actuator

A proposed "kinematic inchworm"-type linear actuator would move a mass as large as 2 kg along rails, with lengthwise position controllable in increments as small as 50 nm. The actuator could be...

Briefs: Motion Control

Variable-Speed Motor Drives with Digital Control

Energy efficiency is a continuing focus of the power electronics industry. Motors consume the most electricity in commercial and industrial applications (followed at a distant second by...

Briefs: Materials

Polycrystalline Tb/Dy Alloy for Magnetostrictive Actuators

Research has shown that with suitable processing, one can produce a polycrystalline version of a terbium/dysprosium alloy suitable for use in a magnetostrictive actuator for...

Briefs: Physical Sciences

Exploiting Crossed Magnetic Antennas in a Natural Waveguide

A technique that involves the use of crossed magnetic antennas in a natural waveguide has been proposed for tracking Martian dust storms from a single observing station; that is,...

Briefs: Robotics, Automation & Control

Miniature Turbomolecular Pump for High Vacuum

A proposed miniature turbomolecular pump would be a prototype of high-vacuum sources for a forthcoming generation of miniature, portable mass spectrometers and other scientific instruments. The...

Briefs: Electronics & Computers

Microwave Heating of Fibers for Chemical Vapor Deposition

A microwave-cavity applicator has been developed for coating multiple fibers by chemical vapor deposition (CVD). A prototype of the applicator was used to deposit silicon carbide...

Briefs: Materials

Improved Magnetostrictive Valve for Use at Low Temperature

An improved magnetostrictive valve for remotely controlling a flow of liquid helium has been developed. Heretofore, flows of liquid helium have been controlled by use of valves with...