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Briefs: Physical Sciences
A mathematical model constructed within a theoretical framework applicable to direct numerical simulation (DNS) predicts the behavior of evaporating liquid drops entrained in a turbulent...
Briefs: Mechanical & Fluid Systems
Computational Test Cases for a Rectangular Supercritical Wing
A report describes wind-tunnel experiments on a rectangular supercritical wing and presents test cases that have been selected from the archived sets of experimental data for comparison with computational fluid dynamics (CFD) predictions. In the experiments, the wing was driven in...
Briefs: Electronics & Computers
Data-Acquisition System Takes 8-Bit Samples at 1 GHz
A unique data-acquisition system converts analog input voltages to 8-bit digital data at a rate as high as 109 samples per second (1 GHz), stores the data, and makes the data available for further processing. The system is compact, is highly resistant to ionizing radiation, consumes relatively...
Briefs: Materials
Proton-conductive (solid-electrolyte) membranes made from sulfonated poly(phenylether sulfone), plus membrane/electrode assemblies containing these membranes, have been developed for use...
Briefs: Motion Control
Spectrol has produced an innovative design for a three-terminal voltage output device that integrates a Hall-effect sensor and a patented magnetic circuit to convert radial motion...
Briefs: Electronics & Computers
Dryden Flight Research Center's Flight Loads Laboratory (FLL) was constructed in 1964 for use in performing combined mechanical and thermal tests of structural components and complete...
Briefs: Information Technology
An all-software data server has been invented to enable any set of connected application programs to create or gain access to live data streams. (As used here, "connected" signifies running on...
Briefs: Electronics & Computers
The addition of special-purpose signal-processing circuitry has been proposed to overcome some of the deleterious effects of hardware faults in integrated-circuit image sensors of...
Briefs: Medical
A whole-blood-staining device provides a means of (1) staining white blood cells by use of monoclonal antibodies conjugated to various fluorochromes, followed by (2) lysing and fixing of the cells by use of a...
Briefs: Robotics, Automation & Control
An electromechanical device implements a unique method of actuating a fabric joint in an inflatable structure in particular, the joint in an astronaut's pressure suit. The method is...
Briefs: Physical Sciences
EPRI of Distributions of Free Radicals in Polyimide Samples
A report describes experiments in which electron paramagnetic resonance imaging (EPRI) was used to determine one-dimensional spatial distributions of free radicals in two plate specimens of PMR-15 polyimide. One specimen had been postcured at a temperature of 315 °C in nitrogen, then...
Briefs: Software
On-Line System Provides Accurate Ephemeris and Related Data
The Horizons On-Line Ephemeris and Data System ("Horizons" for short) is a computer program that provides data on the locations, motions, and dynamical parameters of solar-system objects, including the Sun, nine planets, 61 natural satellites, more than 16,000 comets and asteroids, and...
Briefs: Information Technology
Strategies for Optimal Placement of Sensors and Actuators
A paper presents a survey of sensor- and actuator-placement problems from various applications that involve a wide range of engineering disciplines. "Smart" structures that contain sensors (e.g., microphones or strain sensors) and actuators (e.g., loudspeakers or piezoelectric actuators) can...
Briefs: Physical Sciences
A magnetic sector in a proposed miniature mass spectrometer would include (1) a permanent magnet made of a high-energy-product material, (2) a conventional ferromagnetic yoke, and (3) a...
Briefs: Energy
Improved Control of Charging Current for Ni/H Battery
In a proposed method of controlling the electric current supplied for charging a nickel/hydrogen battery, the rate of evolution of heat would be taken into account along with the electrical quantities (voltage, current, and/or charge as functions of time) that are traditionally taken into...
Briefs: Software
Software for Planning and Execution in an Autonomous System
A software system for planning and execution of actions by an autonomous spacecraft engaged in scientific exploration has been developed to satisfy requirements to (1) maintain positive resource margins and avoid short-sighted decisions in order to achieve long-term scientific and...
Briefs: Electronics & Computers
The figure schematically illustrates an instrument designed expressly for recording lightning-induced transient voltages on power and signal cables. The principal advantage of this instrument over previously...
Briefs: Robotics, Automation & Control
Modifications of the Ventricular Assist Device
A report discusses some modifications of the ventricular assist device (VAD), which was described in "Small Implantable Pump Would Assist Circulation of Blood" (MSC-22424), NASA Tech Briefs, Vol. 20, No. 7 (July 1996), page 86. The VAD is a surgically implantable, miniature rotary pump designed to...
Briefs: Motion Control
Biomorphic Robot With Distributed Power
The biomorphic robot with distributed power (BIROD) is a prototype of a class of robots that will contain simple, reliable distributed actuators that will consume power from local sources - a design concept inspired in part by biological actuators like muscles in limbs. The BIROD concept stands in contrast...
Briefs: Manufacturing & Prototyping
Heated weights have been found to be useful in adhesive bonding of clips, doublers, and other small parts to lightweight structures and structural components (e.g., face-sheet/honeycomb-core sandwich...
Briefs: Electronics & Computers
Improved Lightning-Current Measurements on a Protective Wire
A test procedure has been devised to increase the accuracy with which lightning currents on a protective wire can be determined from raw current measurements. The procedure was conceived specifically for determining lightning currents on a steel cable used to protect the space shuttle...
Briefs: Software
Program Generates Maps From IFSAR Data
A computer program provides for automated generation of maps from data acquired via C-band interferometric synthetic-aperture radar (IFSAR). The program reads in height, radar-brightness, and correlation data generated by IFSAR processors and computes a series of image features to be used in classifying...
Briefs: Robotics, Automation & Control
A program of flight testing of an instrumented subscale model of the X-33 aerospace vehicle is underway. The objectives of this program are the following:
Briefs: Electronics & Computers
A low-power serial data communication link has been designed to transmit data among subsystems of a spacecraft instrumentation system, at rates up to 5 × 105 bits per second. The design...
Briefs: Motion Control
A fault-tolerant feedback (FTF) system has been integrated into a robot control system to prevent robot-arm runaways that could be caused by failure of one or more transducers such as...
Briefs: Materials
Lightweight, monolithic ceramics that retain their shapes and strengths and resist oxidation at temperatures up to 1,200 °C have been invented. These ceramics are made of carbon,...
Briefs: Mechanical & Fluid Systems
Kinetic-energy-absorbing shrouds have been proposed to protect nearby persons and equipment against high-speed debris ejected by disintegrating machines. Examples of machines that could...
Briefs: Electronics & Computers
Focal-plane arrays of active-pixel sensors (photodetectors integrated with in-pixel readout transistors) would be designed and fabricated within the emerging technological discipline of...
Briefs: Electronics & Computers
Capacitive proximity sensors of this proposed type would be based on the capaciflector concept, with an extension of hardware and software designs to incorporate capabilities for scanning in frequency and...
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