Briefs: Mechanical & Fluid Systems
The Rover Analysis Modeling and Simulation (ROAMS) algorithm is to solve the kinematics of a wheeled mo- bile robot (rover) traversing on a rocky terrain. The rover is constructed...
Briefs: Photonics/Optics
A process that would include a combination of dry and wet chemical etching has been proposed for making facets for low-loss mirrors on silicon-on-insulator (SOI) optical waveguides....
Briefs: Photonics/Optics
Fabricating Sapphire Optical Fibers for High-Temperature Use
A process for the fabrication of coated sapphire multimode optical fibers has been developed. Sapphire multimode optical fibers are suitable for use as embedded sensors for measuring mechanical and thermal stresses and strains in material specimens at temperatures up to about 1,500...
Briefs: Electronics & Computers
A rectangular array of Y-junction electro-optical switches has been proposed as a prototype of reliable, high-speed cross-point switches for fiber-optic-based photonic communication...
Briefs: Photonics/Optics
An optoelectronic device based on interferometry in a resonant microcavity has been proposed for use in measuring the direction of arrival of a circularly polarized beam of light...
Briefs: Materials
Improved Conversion Coating for Protection of Metals
A simple, cost effective, environmentally friendly conversion-coating process has been developed for protecting a variety of metals against wear and corrosion and to increase adhesion of paints. This process results in the deposition of a thin, adherent coats of iron phosphate on treated metal...
Briefs: Materials
Improved lightweight composite-material structures have been invented to protect persons and equipment during aircraft and ground-vehicle crashes. These structures are designed to hold...
Briefs: Materials
Crystalline phases of compounds of general composition (Cuw, CuxFey, or Tiz)Mo6Se8 [where w<4, x<2, y<1, and...
Briefs: Energy
Alkyl pyrocarbonates have been found to be useful as electrolyte additives for improving the low-temperature performances of rechargeable lithium-ion electrochemical cells. The...
Briefs: Materials
Partially fluorinated alkyl carbonate liquid compounds have been found to be excellent electrolyte cosolvents for rechargeable lithium-ion electrochemical cells. The benefits...
Briefs: Materials
Non-polymeric N,N´-di-N-hydrocarbyl- 2,5-diamino-1,4-benzoquinones (where the hydrocarbyl substituents are alkyl or aryl) have been found to be useful as corrosion-inhibiting additives...
Briefs: Software
Program for Tracking Air-Purification Cartridges
The Cartridge Automated Reliance Tracking (CART) computer program enables authorized requesters associated with NASA to gain access to the most recent tracking data on LiOH-based airpurification cartridges used during space-shuttle flights. CART could also be adapted to suit the needs of other...
Briefs: Electronics & Computers
Multiple-Cavity Masers as 32-GHz LNAs
Improved multiple-cavity ruby masers are under development for use as low-noise amplifiers (LNAs) for receiving very weak radio signals in frequency bands up to and including one centered approximately at 32 GHz. These masers were designed specifically to be incorporated into receivers in ground stations of...
Briefs: Software
Software for Implementing Fuzzy Logic on Microcontrollers
Fuzzy Inference System Translator (FIST) is a computer program that facilitates the implementation of fuzzy-logic software on commercial or other viable microcontrollers. In the original application for which FIST was developed, there was a need to implement plantgrowth- chamber (PGC)...
Briefs: Software
Software for Constructing a Facility-Management Database
Facility Management Tracking System (FMTS) is a computer program for constructing an integrated database that defines any event in a managed facility. FMTS provides a simple user interface for entering all relevant data connected to the event. The entered data, as displayed and processed...
Briefs: Electronics & Computers
Software Implements Telemetry Protocols
The CCSDS Telemetry and Telecom Software Library provides a reference implementation of the Consultative Committee for Space Data Systems (CCSDS) international protocol standard for the transmission and reception of telemetry and telecommand data in radio communications with spacecraft. The library...
Briefs: Electronics & Computers
Software for Parallel Processing of Telemetry
Parallel Telemetry Processor (PTEP) is a high-speed, robust, extensible, Javalanguage computer program that (1) enables the parallel processing of a serial stream of telemetric data and (2) generates a graphical display for monitoring the processing. Originally intended for application to spacecraft...
Briefs: Software
Software for Global Forecasting of Winds and Waves
The WorldWinds™ software system generates high-resolution global weather forecasts, with emphasis on wind and ocean-wave vectors, in nearly real time. WorldWinds™ was developed primarily to serve organizations and individuals needing accurate forecasts for scientific, safety, or economic...
Briefs: Software
Software for Modeling Spacecraft Electric Power
Multi-Mission Power Analysis Tool (MMPAT) is a computer program for constructing computational models of the generation, storage, consumption, and flow of electric power in a spacecraft. Heretofore, such modeling has been accomplished by means of unique software for each application. In contrast,...
Briefs: Mechanical & Fluid Systems
An instrument is undergoing development for use in measuring both the horizontal direction and the horizontal speed of wind in the speed range from 60 to 300 mph (about 27 to 134 m/s) at a rate of at...
Briefs: Mechanical & Fluid Systems
A second-generation design for a finger seal has been proposed to reduce a hysteretic effect that gives rise to increased leakage in a first-generation finger seal. As explained below, the...
Briefs: Mechanical & Fluid Systems
Mechanized Harvesting of Plants in a Controlled Environment
The proposed Plant Harvesting Mechanization System (PHARMS) would comprise machinery and controls for semiautomated harvesting of plants grown in a controlled environment. The PHARMS was conceived as a prototype of harvesters to be incorporated into life-support systems of spacecraft...
Briefs: Mechanical & Fluid Systems
Normally, the damage that results in a total loss of the primary flight control of a transport airplane, including all the engines on one side, would be catastrophic. Dryden Flight...
Briefs: Manufacturing & Prototyping
High-Velocity, Pulsed Wire Arc Spray
A high-velocity, pulsed wire arc spraying apparatus has been proposed and partly developed in an effort to improve the quality of coatings deposited by thermal spray techniques. In this apparatus, material from a wire arc is atomized and propelled toward a deposition substrate by a repetitively pulsed plasma...
Briefs: Physical Sciences
Software for Electromagnetic Detection of Buried Explosives
U-HUNTER (also called “UXOHUNTER”) is a computer program that affords knowledge-based real-time sensor- fusion and display capabilities for detecting buried objects and materials of interest. U-HUNTER is intended especially for inferring the presence of buried unexploded ordnance...
Briefs: Physical Sciences
Aircraft Anti-Icing Systems Utilizing Induced Hydrophobicity
Aircraft anti-icing systems of a proposed type would utilize static electric fields to reduce or eliminate the electrostatic forces that bond ice and water to metal surfaces. These would be lightweight, low-power-consumption, inexpensive systems that would be installed on the surfaces...
Briefs: Information Technology
IIR Filters for Postprocessing Noisy Test Data
A little-known parametric form of an infinite impulse response (IIR) filter has been found to be useful in digital postprocessing of noisy test signals. The filter equation is:
y(n) = α[x(n) + x(n – 1)] + γy(n – 1),
Briefs: Physical Sciences
A project is underway in the Flight Loads Laboratory (FLL) at Dryden Flight Research Center to reduce the uncertainties in heat-flux measurements. The impetus for this project is...
Briefs: Mechanical & Fluid Systems
Tests of Finger Seals
A report discusses tests of finger seals, which were described in “Pressure- Balanced, Low-Hysteresis Finger Seal” (LEW-16840), which appears on page 52 in this issue. Like a labyrinth or brush seal, a finger seal is used (typically in a gas turbine) to minimize a leakage flow along a rotating shaft. The report...
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