Briefs: Materials
The term "secondary polymer layered impregnated tile" ("SPLIT") denotes a type of ablative composite-material thermal- insulation tiles having engineered, spatially non-uniform...
Briefs: Materials
Thermally sprayed dielectric ceramic coatings are the primary means of attaching strain and temperature gauges to hot-section rotating parts of turbine engines. As hot-section temperatures...
Briefs: Materials
In experiments conducted as part of a continuing effort to incorporate multifunctionality into advanced composite materials, blends of multi-walled carbon nanotubes and a resin denoted...
Briefs: Manufacturing & Prototyping
An automated apparatus has been designed and constructed that enables the automated lay-up of composite structures incorporating films, foils, and adhesives during...
Briefs: Materials
Radiation-Shielding Polymer/Soil Composites
It has been proposed to fabricate polymer/soil composites primarily from extraterrestrial resources, using relatively lowenergy processes, with the original intended application being that habitat structures constructed from such composites would have sufficient structural integrity and also provide...
Briefs: Physical Sciences
An improved statistical model has been developed to describe the chemical composition of an evaporating multicomponent- liquid drop and of the mixture of gases surrounding the drop....
Briefs: Physical Sciences
An electrochemical method of disposal of hydrazines dissolved in water has been devised. The method is applicable to hydrazine (N2H4), to monomethyl hydrazine [also...
Briefs: Physical Sciences
Resistively Heated SiC Nozzle for Generating Molecular Beams
An improved nozzle has been developed to replace nozzles used previously in an apparatus that generates a substantially unidirectional beam of molecules passing through a vacuum at speeds of several kilometers per second. The need to replace the previous nozzles arose from a complex...
Briefs: Information Technology
A mathematical model describes the evaporation of drops of a hydrocarbon liquid composed of as many as hundreds of chemical species. The model is intended especially for application to any...
Briefs: Information Technology
A Robustly Stabilizing Model Predictive Control Algorithm
A model predictive control (MPC) algorithm that differs from prior MPC algorithms has been developed for controlling an uncertain nonlinear system. This algorithm guarantees the resolvability of an associated finite-horizon optimal-control problem in a receding horizon implementation....
Briefs: Mechanical & Fluid Systems
Development of Vapor-Phase Catalytic Ammonia Removal System
A report describes recent accomplishments of a continuing effort to develop the vapor-phase catalytic ammonia removal (VPCAR) process for recycling wastewater for consumption by humans aboard a spacecraft in transit to Mars. The VPCAR process is implemented by a system of highly...
Briefs: Mechanical & Fluid Systems
Several Developments in Space Tethers
Five reports address different aspects of development of tethers to be deployed from spacecraft in orbit around the Earth. The first report discusses proposed optoelectronic tracking of retroreflective objects located at intervals or of retroreflective coats along the entire length of a tether to measure...
Briefs: Mechanical & Fluid Systems
Design Concept for a Nuclear Reactor-Powered Mars Rover
A report presents a design concept for an instrumented robotic vehicle (rover) to be used on a future mission of exploration of the planet Mars. The design incorporates a nuclear fission power system to provide long range, long life, and high power capabilities unachievable through the use...
Briefs: Mechanical & Fluid Systems
Formation-Initialization Algorithm for N Spacecraft
A paper presents an algorithm to initialize a formation of N distributed spacecraft in deep space. Such formations will enable variable-baseline interferometers in future NASA missions designed to study the structure and origin of the universe. The algorithm described in the paper reflects some...
Briefs: Physical Sciences
DNSs of Multicomponent Gaseous and Drop-Laden Mixing Layers Achieving Transition to Turbulence
A paper describes direct numerical simulations (DNSs) of three-dimensional mixing-layer flows undergoing transition to turbulence; the mixing layers may or may not be laden with evaporating liquid drops. In contrast to most studies in this field, the...
Products
Data Translation, Marlboro, MA, has released Measure Foundry® 5.0 test and measurement software that offers open support of all system standards, including VISA, SCPI, GPIB, USB, PCI, LXI,...
Techs for License
Secure-Document Markup Software
The Portion Marking Verification Tool (PMVT) software automates the process of regulatory document marking. This tool assists users in meeting the mandated requirements for portion marking in sensitive or classified documents. By utilizing PMVT, portion marking can be up to 200–400% faster than traditional...
Techs for License
Microencapsulation Technology
A flexible, platform microencapsulation technology can be applied to actives from water soluble to water insoluble materials at the 20–35% range; loading levels of up to >50% have been achieved for some actives. The microcapsules protect the actives from environmental conditions, and can be designed to release...
Tech Needs
Thin-Film Solar Cell Technologies
Thin-film technologies are sought for dye-sensitized solar cells that are flexible and printable on a plastic substrate; amorphous silicon/microcrystalline silicon tandem solar cells and textured TCO glass; and copper-indium- gallium-selenide solar cells that are flexible and printable on a plastic or stainless...
Application Briefs: Imaging
Interactive Supercomputing (ISC)
Waltham, MA
781-419-5050
www.interactivesupercomputing.com
NASA’s Optical...
Application Briefs: Software
IBM
Armonk, NY
914-766-1362
www.ibm.com/software/rational
Set to launch by 2013, the James...
Briefs: Electronics & Computers
A prototype helmet audio system has been developed to improve voice communication for the wearer in a noisy environment. The system was originally intended to be used in a space suit, wherein noise...
Briefs: Software
Program Analyzes Spacecraft/Ground Radio Links
A versatile computer program analyzes the link-design control table necessary for designing the telecommunication subsystem of a spacecraft in orbit around the Earth or on a deep-space mission. The program helps to calculate all the important parameter values for spacecraft-to-ground telemetry links...
Briefs: Mechanical & Fluid Systems
A proposed electromechanical display system would be capable of presenting as many as six distinct messages. This system would be a more capable and more complex successor to the proposed...
Briefs: Electronics & Computers
Equipment and techniques used in radio-frequency identification (RFID) would be extended, according to a proposal, to enable short-range, two-way communication between...
Briefs: Photonics/Optics
A proposed optoelectronic system, to be mounted aboard an exploratory robotic vehicle, would be used to generate a three-dimensional (3D) map of nearby terrain and obstacles for...
Products: Electronics & Computers
MEN Micro, Inc. (Ambler, PA) introduced the Universal Submodule (USM) development packages for M-Modules and PMCs that turn specialized I/O requirements into a series of standard products. The...
Products: Electronics & Computers
United Electronics Industries (UEI, Canton, MA) has released the DNA-AO-308 series of analog output boards for PowerDNA DAQ Cubes. Each board has eight analog output channels with maximum update rates to 100 kHz per...
Articles: Electronics & Computers
In the early days of modern automation, the use of microprocessor technology addressed the need for fast and efficient configuration of control logics through graphical methods...
Top Stories
Videos: Manufacturing & Prototyping
Stratolaunch Approaches Hypersonic Speeds in First Talon-A Flight
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3D Ice Printing Artificial Blood Vessels
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Countering Illegally Operated Drones at Airports, Stadiums, and Prisons
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Webcasts
On-Demand Webinars: Defense
From Data to Decision: How AI Enhances Warfighter Readiness
Upcoming Webinars: Aerospace
April Battery & Electrification Summit
Upcoming Webinars: Manufacturing & Prototyping
Tech Update: 3D Printing for Transportation in 2024
Upcoming Webinars: Materials
Unleashing Epoxy's Potential: Ensuring Hermetic Sealing in Modern...
Upcoming Webinars: Test & Measurement
Building an Automotive EMC Test Plan