Briefs: Software
Program for Simulating Dynamics of Multibody Systems
The Dynamics Algorithms for Real-Time Simulation (DARTS) computer program solves the equations of motion of tree-topology, flexible, and/or multibody mechanical systems as diverse as molecules, mechanisms, robots, spacecraft, and ground vehicles. It has proven to be particularly useful for...
Briefs: Electronics & Computers
Hybrid Superconductor/Semiconductor Planar Oscillators
Hybrid high-temperature-superconductor (HTS)/semiconductor planar oscillator circuits that operate at a frequency of 8.4 GHz have been developed. In the original intended application,...
Briefs: Information Technology
Work-Measurement and Methods-Analysis Studies of the OPF
Two reports describe early phases of continuing studies directed toward the selection and adaptation of industrial work-measurement and methods-analysis procedures for application to the Orbiter Processing Facility (OPF) at Kennedy Space Center. These studies were prompted by a need to...
Briefs: Photonics/Optics
A High-Repetition-Rate Optical Communications Source
High-speed communications, medical applications, and semiconductor processing would all benefit from a laser that can produce stable, high-repetition-rate pulses at 1.55 micrometers. One...
Briefs: Photonics/Optics
Transmitting Power to Sensor Circuitry via Modulated Light
Modulated (as opposed to steady) light can be used in the optical transmission of power to remotely located sensor circuitry in a system like that described in the preceding...
Briefs: Physical Sciences
Elevation Corrections for Absolute-Pressure Measurements
A method of correcting absolute-air-pressure measurements for small differences in the elevations of pressure taps and pressure transducers has been devised. The variation in air...
Briefs: Mechanical & Fluid Systems
Self-Contained Impact-Type Damper for Bellows-Type Face Seals
A self-contained impact-type damper for a bellows-type face seals suppresses dynamic instability or chatter. In current practice, damping in a typical seal is accomplished through...
Briefs: Electronics & Computers
General-Purpose Optically Powered Sensor and Control System
The figure schematically illustrates a prototype general-purpose, microprocessor-based sensor and control system in which power, data, and control signals are transmitted via...
Briefs: Information Technology
Model for Investigating Human Factors in an Organization
The Kennedy Space Center Human Factors Event Evaluation Model is a model to facilitate long-term gathering and analysis of data to investigate the effects of human factors on the...
Briefs: Robotics, Automation & Control
All-Terrain Vehicle With Self-Righting and Pose Control
A small prototype robotic all-terrain vehicle features a unique drive and suspension system that affords capabilities for self righting, pose control, and enhanced maneuverability for...
Briefs: Photonics/Optics
Measuring Flow Using Spectrally Resolved Rayleigh Scattering
An experimental study has been conducted to demonstrate the feasibility of using spectrally resolved Rayleigh scattering to nonintrusively measure the instantaneous properties of...
Briefs: Information Technology
Consortium Benchmarking in a Competitive Environment
The Kennedy Benchmarking Clearinghouse (KBC) is an organization for implementing an emerging methodology called "consortium benchmarking" in a competitive business environment. The...
Briefs: Physical Sciences
Thermographic Detection of Defects in Refractory Composites
Significant effort and resources are being expended to develop ceramic-matrix composite (CMC), metal-matrix composite (MMC), and polymer-matrix composite (PMC) materials for...
Briefs: Photonics/Optics
Pulse Shepherding in Nonlinear Fiber Optics
Pulse shepherding is a nonlinear signal-propagation phenomenon that can occur when several pulses of light at different wavelengths are launched simultaneously or nearly simultaneously along the...
Briefs: Software
Software for Scheduling Use of Shared Resources
The Quick Utility for Intelligence Planning and Scheduling (QUIPS) computer program automates the scheduling of resources that must be shared among multiple tasks or groups. Designed to aid coordination of military intelligence operations at the division and brigade levels, QUIPS might also prove...
Briefs: Motion Control
Passive Magnetic Bearings With Ferrofluid Stabilization
Permanent-magnet rotary bearings with ferrofluid stabilization in the axial degree of freedom are undergoing development. These bearings are totally passive, yet stable in all degrees...
Briefs: Motion Control
Large Gimbal Mount Enables Focal-Plane Testing
The latest missile guidance and tracking guidance systems deliver unprecedented performance, in terms of range, precision, and the ability to function in very unfavorable atmospheric conditions....
Briefs: Electronics & Computers
ASIC for Viterbi Decoding With 2 ≤ K ≤ 15 and 1/2 ≥ r ≥ 1/6
An application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) serves as a building block for a digital system that effects maximum-likelihood decoding of a Viterbi code (a binary...
Briefs: Electronics & Computers
Fabricating Diffusion-Cooled Hot-Electron-Bolometer Elements
Microbridges that constitute the superconducting-transition sensory elements of electron-diffusion-cooled hot-electron bolometers can now be fabricated in increased yield and...
Briefs: Software
Software for Processing SAR Images of the Polar Oceans
The RADARSAT/ERS-1,2 Geophysical Processor System (RGPS) is an automated system of hardware and software that processes synthetic-aperture-radar (SAR) images of ice and open water in polar oceans to generate higher-level geophysical-data products. Information in such products includes the...
Briefs: Information Technology
Diagnosing Helicopter Gearboxes Using Connectionist Networks
A method of automated diagnosis of helicopter gearboxes involves processing of selected features of digitized outputs of vibration sensors via structure-based connectionist...
Briefs: Software
Software for Development of Spacecraft-Simulation Programs
DARTS Shell (Dshell) is a multimission spacecraft simulator for the development, integration, and test of flight software and hardware. Dshell reduces the time and cost of developing simulation programs by enabling the development of the software in modular, reusable form and by...
Briefs: Physical Sciences
Mass Analyzer With Rotating Electric Fields
A device for measuring the distribution of masses in an atmosphere or plasma exploits the electrostatic deflection of ions in a rotating magnetic field. A magnetic field is not required. The device...
Briefs: Photonics/Optics
Program for Analysis of a Complex Optomechanical System
The IMOS computer program contains subprograms that, collectively, provide a unique capability for multidisciplinary analysis of a system represented by a combination of mathematical models of structural (mechanical), control, thermal, and optical characteristics. One example of such a...
Briefs: Electronics & Computers
Algorithm Estimates Doppler Shift in a Received DPSK Signal
An algorithm estimates the Doppler frequency shift in a received radio signal with square-wave-pulse binary differential-phase-shift-keyed (DPSK) modulation. [With little...
Briefs: Software
Software for Tracking the Performance of Other Software
The Flight Software Memory Tracker (FMT) computer program is a collection of utility subprograms developed for use on the ground to track images of the flight software (FSW) in the computers aboard the Cassini spacecraft. [As used here, "images" signifies both (1) the memory load and...
Briefs: Physical Sciences
Production of Tar in Pyrolysis of Large Biomass Particles
A paper presents a study of the production of tar in the pyrolysis of spherical biomass particles, with computational simulations performed by using the macroparticle portion of the model described in "Generalized Mathematical Model of Pyrolysis of Plant Biomass" (NPO-20068) elsewhere in...
Briefs: Materials
Phospha-s-Triazines and Other Compounds for Use as Additives
A report describes research on selected compounds as additives to perfluoroalkyether (PFPAE) fluids that are used as synthetic lubricants for metal parts. Additives are needed to inhibit both thermo-oxidative degradation of, and corrosion of metals by, the PFPAE fluids in the presence...
Briefs: Photonics/Optics
Thermal Lens Spectrometer Yields High Sensitivity
Thermal lens spectrometry is a highly sensitive method for detecting very small quantities of material by the absorption of light from a laser source. It takes advantage of the thermal lens effect to measure the absorption spectrum of a sample. This invention utilizes an optical parametric...
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