Summary

Description

Autonomous and semi-autonomous robotic systems require information about their surroundings in order to navigate properly. A video camera machine vision system can supply position information of external objects, but no range information. Ideally, a system that, in one package, provides 3-dimensional relative information about external objects is needed. To this end, Nanohmics will develop a lightweight, compact, low power, low cost, modular sensor system that produces a depth map of the surroundings. By combining a color optical camera, a multi-element range finding system, and digital processing electronics, a single low cost sensor system can be designed to provide relative position and anti-collision information i.e. a 3-Dimensional Vehicle Imaging Sensor for Incident Obstacle Navigation (3D VISION Mapper<SUP>TM</SUP>). The proposed system could, for example, be mounted on the long-neck mast near the PANCAMs and NAVCAMs on Martian robotic rovers.

Summary

Description

In this proposal a new carbide-based fuel is introduced with outstanding potential to eliminate the loss of uranium, minimizes the loss of uranium, and retains fission products for many hours of operation in hydrogen environment at temperatures in excess of 3,200K. The proposed fuel is a ceramic-ceramic (CerCer) composite of mixed uranium-refractory carbides such as (U, Zr)C or (U, Zr, Nb)C in a matrix of refractory carbides that mostly include transition metal carbides such as ZrC, NbC, TaC, and HfC. Due to its low neutron absorption cross-section, ZrC is the primary refractory carbide of choice. Replacing ZrC with higher temperature refractory carbides such as TaC and HfC could further improves the high temperature performance of CerCer fuels. However, higher neutron absorption cross-section penalty for Ta and Hf could potentially offset the performance enhancement gain. Due to complete containment and encapsulation of mixed uranium carbide in zirconium carbide matrix, the proposed CerCer fuel could be conveniently fabricated to different geometrical shapes such as solid block prismatic, twisted ribbon, pebbles, wafer, or square lattice honeycomb. Considering the operational parameters for the NT/BP systems, it is reasonable to argue that the proposed CerCer fuel concept could set the upper material performance limits while providing more flexibility in the geometrical design of the fuel.

Summary

Description

Lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries are attractive candidates for use as power sources in aerospace applications because they have high specific energy, energy density and long cycle life. Yardney/Lithion Inc has become the leader in cutting edge Lithium Ion batteries. At the present moment, two of the Lithion batteries are operating on the surface of Mars with great success. In a conventional Li-ion battery when the rate is higher than C, their charge/discharge performance is severely degraded and loss its capacity permanently. Now we are focusing our interest to develop Li-ion batteries that can rapidly charge/discharge at high current rates. Yardney in collaboration with researchers at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, MA, proposes to investigate a new non-toxic nano-engineered electrode that significantly shortens the Li+ diffusion length within the electrode materials and increases the rate capability of Li-ion batteries. The goal of Phase I of this project will be to develop new nano-architectured anode that has rapid Li+ recharge characteristics. Emphasis will be placed upon the construct of Fe3O4 based nano-engineered electrodes with Cu nanorods as current collectors. The high-rate capabilities change with the change in the diameter, packing density and aspect ratio of the Cu nanorods will be studied.

Summary

Description

Routine installation and use of high-temperature optical sensors for characterization of advanced materials critical to NASA hypersonic programs are difficult due to the fundamental difficulties of integrating very diverse materials into a reliable, manufacturable sensor. Sensors based on high-temperature optical fibers (including sapphire fibers) have been developed through extensive research; however, little advancement has been made with regard to achieving cost-effective sensors that can be employed in large numbers. Currently, the materials of the mounting site, the materials of the sensor coupon, the fiber itself, sensor assembly methods and the optical interrogation methods have limited compatibility, resulting in each application becoming a custom installation. Recent demonstrations at Virginia Tech, under NASA hypersonic program funding, of advanced Fracture-Release coupon structures, novel connectorization techniques, and improved assembly methods have enabled more rapid fabrication of high-temperature sapphire fiber sensors well-suited to instrumentation of advance materials in hypersonic research. Prime Research, teaming with Virginia Tech, proposes to leverage these previous demonstrations to improve the manufacturability and ease-of-use of sapphire fiber strain gages, and to modify the assembly methods to permit their use with Prime Research's patented spinel-clad sapphire fibers, which have improved optical properties over unclad sapphire fibers.

Summary

Description

This data set reports the characterization of fallen necromass as the volume and density of coarse woody debris (CWD), and standing necromass as the volume and density of standing dead trees. Measurements were made in undisturbed and logged forest areas of the Tapajos National Forest, and Cauaxi Forest, Para, Brazil, and Juruena Forest, Mato Grosso, Brazil from 2002-2004. Fallen and standing necromass were classified into one of five categories according to its state of decomposition. There are two comma-delimited ASCII data files with this data set: two files contain the sampling information, decomposition state, and DBH measurements. There are also two files provided as companion data files which provide sampling transect descriptions.

Summary

Description

The overall program objective is to develop a high temperature variable conductance heat pipe (VCHP) backup radiator, and integrate it into a Stirling radioisotope power system. A VCHP is similar to a heat pipe, but has a reservoir and a controlled amount of non-condensable gas (NCG) inside the reservoir. At low power, most of the condenser is blocked by the NCG. As the power increases, more and more of the condenser becomes active. This allows a VCHP to passively control the temperature while the power varies. Aluminum/ammonia VCHPs are commonly used in spacecraft thermal control. The proposed program will extend this concept to the alkali metal heat pipes that will be required for a Stirling system. During normal operation, the VCHP will be inactive. If the Stirling engine stops working for any reason, the VCHP will passively remove the heat from the General Purpose Heat Source (GPHS) preventing the GPHS from overheating. The benefits of the VCHP radiator include increased safety and reliability, and the ability to design an optimum Stirling engine.

Summary

Description

This data set reports measurements of aquatic macrophyte biomass, phenology, leaf characteristics, and length and diameter of stems of both submerged and unsubmerged macrophytes. Data were collected from sites in the Monte Alegre Lake region on the eastern Amazon River floodplain in Para, Brazil. Ten field surveys were made at approximately monthly intervals from December 2003 to November 2004. There is one comma-delimited data file with this data set.

Summary

Description

The proposed effort addresses a current need for high fidelity simulation tools to support the design and analysis of combustion devices for the Constellation program and Exploration Mission that includes earth-to-orbit, upper stage, as well as in-space propulsion systems. Injector designs are a critical component of robust thrust chamber assembly designs since they impact combustion chamber instability and its transient response. Inadequate injector designs have been the cause of major failures during engine development of all earlier liquid rocket systems including the SSME; the root cause for this may be attributed to the use of relatively simple empirically based, one-dimensional tools in the design process that are incapable of identifying localized failures driven by three-dimensional geometry and physics effects. The proposed three-dimensional, CFD tool will focus on rigorous modeling of the mixing and combustion processes in cryogenic liquid-gas injectors that operate in the trans-critical and sub-critical regime and exhibit strong non-linear sensitivities to real fluid thermodynamics, as well as turbulent mixing effects. The advanced models developed will permit improved predictions of combustion chamber mean heat flux and localized peaks, as well as lay the foundation for predicting unsteady response of the injector and its coupling to the feed system dynamics.

Summary

Description

Thorleaf Research, Inc. has demonstrated feasibility in Phase 1 and now proposes a Phase 2 effort to develop a miniature, low power cryogenic inlet system with sampling probes for Titan. This addresses a key technology gap for planetary studies, mainly how to acquire and prepare complex cryogenic samples of astrobiology interest for in situ analysis while meeting challenging mass, volume and power constraints. The proposed sampling system is designed to collect surface samples at Titan's 94K (-179C) cryogenic temperatures using two different miniature probe designs, one for collecting atmospheric aerosols, dust or particles, and another for surface penetration. The samples, which are presumed to include hydrocarbons, nitriles, tholins and other materials, can then be thermally processed by vaporization, thermal desorption or pyrolysis to prepare them for chemical analysis by GC/MS, GC/IMS or other techniques. Our Phase 1 results have demonstrated feasibility for developing a miniaturized cryogenic sampling inlet system with sampling probes weighing on the order of 100g with a peak power consumption of 20 watts or less. Because vaporization, thermal desorption or pyrolysis heating would only be required for a few seconds during each chemical analysis duty cycle, we project average power usage at a fraction of a watt.

Summary

Description

The variability of bi-directional spectral reflectance of cut conifer foliage between age classes, species and sites, measured by LICOR

Summary

Description

Axis Engineering Technologies proposes a revolutionary new technology that can provide performance levels, in terms of output power, bandwidth and mass, previously unmet in current commercially available actuation platforms. The approach features a new hybrid pump, which is powered by active material stacks, and produces fluidic power to directly power hydraulic actuators. The compact, sealed unit eliminates external hydraulic components, such as accumulators, reservoirs, and, especially, long hydraulic tubing runs. By increasing system efficiency, reducing system mass and exploiting the unique characteristics of active materials, we expect to get a significant performance improvement in representative applications. This is in contrast with many commercially available actuation systems, composed of either traditional hydraulic or electromechanical mechanisms. Each of these systems is limited due to either excessive mass or limited bandwidth, or both. And yet these technologies have been adopted across a wide spectrum of applications, including Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), high performance fighter aircraft, active automotive suspension systems and mobile robotic systems. Each of these applications would benefit greatly from the introduction of an actuation system that can provide mass-savings and bandwidth improvements, simultaneously.

Summary

Description

Advanced Scientific Concepts, Inc. (ASC) has developed a 128 x 128 frame, 3D Flash LADAR video camera capable of a 30 Hz frame rate. Because Flash LADAR captures an entire frame of data from a single pulse of light, platform motion and vibration will not affect the measurements. This is not true for any other laser-ranging system, such as scanning LIDAR. Additionally, with no moving parts, the system is smaller, lighter, and requires less power than traditional approaches. The proposed project will use an ASC camera in a flight test. Hazard identification, and Entry Decent and Landing applications will be investigated. Multiple data sets will be generated at various resolutions and frame rates. This data will be analyzed, and together with inputs from JPL scientists, will be used to breadboard the camera design for NASA applications. Industry inputs will define a pathway for space qualification. An optimized breadboard camera will be fabricated and delivered in Phase II.

Summary

Description

Measurements of leaf photosynthesis rates measured with Li-Cor LI-6200

Summary

Description

This Small Business Innovation Research Phase I project will demonstrate a vapor compressor driven hybrid two-phase loop technology. The hybrid two-phase loop technology incorporates an advanced evaporator design that is capable of passive separation of liquid and vapor phases at high heat flux conditions. Combining the hybrid two-phase loop technology with a vapor compressor increases the technology's operating range. The integral phase separation feature in the evaporator greatly improves the vapor compressor performance and reliability by preventing two-phase flows in the compressor. The proposed technology is particularly suited for the lunar surface systems where the cooling system size, mass, reliability and operation under widely varying environmental conditions are critically important.

Summary

Description

This SBIR project will develop and deliver to NASA revolutionary laser diode driver technology with intelligent fault protection for driving high power laser diode arrays (LDAs). A key goal of the project is to increase the lifetime of LDAs operating under long-pulse (>2 msec), quasi-CW conditions by a factor-of-10, to at least 1 billion shot lifetime, in order to meet NASA mission requirements. A critical issue with operating LDAs for long pulses is localized diode heating leads to current and optical instabilities, which damages emitters resulting in LDA failure. SRL has demonstrated that diode instabilities can be detected and eliminated, and SRL's fault protected drivers increase laser diode lifetimes by more than a factor-of-10. A key technical step that will be implemented in Phase 2 is to develop and integrate SRL fault protection with laser diode stacks. This will also include NASA-developed temperature/voltage diagnostic to provide additional information on laser diode performance and lifetime. In Phase 2 SRL will develop multiple laser diode protection technologies, and deliver to NASA an integrated fault protection module for test and evaluation. This fault protected driver package for laser diode stacks will support scale up designs for flight hardware in Phase 3.

Summary

Description

Formation flying enables new capabilities in distributed sensing, surveillance in Earth orbit and for interferometer imaging in deep space as envisioned by the Terrestrial Plant Finder-Interferometer (TPF-I) mission. Specifically, formation flying spacecraft refer to a set of spatially distributed spacecraft interacting and cooperating with one another. Our objective in Phase II is to develop and implement highly reliable fault detection, identification, and reconstruction algorithms that take into account the high analytic redundancy of the spacecraft and the distributed spacecraft system. In the Phase I our analytic redundancy management methodology was developed and demonstrated on a small distributed and collaborative set of simulated spacecraft. These results are to be generalized and applied to realistic spacecraft systems in Phase II. Faults in spacecraft sensors and actuators of a cluster of spacecraft are to be detected, identified, and reconstructed using abstractions from high-fidelity models such as found in FAST (Formation Algorithms and Simulation Testbed). From these analytical redundancy algorithms a fault-tolerant state estimator is constructed which is not corrupted by system faults. These techniques will be implemented and tested in FAST. These algorithms will be transferred to the Formation Control Testbed (FCT) robots and tested and verified in FCT.

Summary

Description

This data set reports the results of carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen isotopic analyses of soil, soil water, and N2O soil gas samples; total soil carbon and nitrogen concentrations; and soil texture and bulk density. Samples were collected from the km 83 Logged Forest Tower Site and the km 67 Seca-Floresta Site in the Tapajos National Forest (TNF) near Santarem, Para, Brazil. Soil samples were collected in July of 2000 and soil gas samples were collected in 2001 and 2002. Soil and gas samples were collected from various soil types at each site and from several depths in specially constructed pits. There is one comma-delimited ASCII data file with this data set.

Summary

Description

Recycling of water using biological processes is a primary goal of NASA's advanced life support programs. This proposal concerns a technology to simultaneously reduce the microbial count (MC) and total organic carbon (TOC) content of biological water processor (BWP) effluent. This technology is based on an advanced oxidation process using an on-demand oxidizer generator, which does not require consumable chemicals. Phase I feasibility studies successfully demonstrated the efficacy of the process for the reduction of both TOC and MC of the BWP processed water. Independent evaluation of the technology at a well known technological university successfully demonstrated the efficacy of the process for minimizing the RO membrane fouling. The residual disinfectant and reduced TOC in the treated effluent minimize fouling the RO membrane and water lines. In addition, reduced TOC lowers the load on equipment downstream to the BWP, enabling a reduction in the equivalent system mass. In the Phase II project, a prototype will be fabricated and evaluated for its ability to reduce TOC, MC and extend RO membrane life in a technological university having a small scale water reclamation system similar to that at NASA-JSC. The GEN I unit developed will be delivered to NASA-JSC.

Summary

Description

This data set provides (1) areal estimates of deforestation events (>25 ha) that were identified from 2001-2004 in Mato Grosso by the Brazilian Institute for Space Research (INPE) as part of the Program for the Estimation of Deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon (PRODES) and (2) the classification of the post-deforestation land use as either cropland, cattle pasture, or not in production (deforested areas that were never fully cleared or returned immediately to secondary forest) in the years after the large deforestation events from 2002-2005. Data are provided in ESRI shapefile format. There are five compressed (*.zip) data files with this data set. Each shapefile represents one year of post-deforestation land use. Land use in the years following deforestation was estimated using annual time series of MODIS NDVI (normalized difference vegetation index) and EVI (enhanced vegetation index). Metrics of vegetation phenology derived annual time series of MODIS NDVI and EVI data were analyzed using a decision-tree classifier to characterize the major cover type in each area of new deforestation. Post-deforestation land use for each large deforestation event was classified based on the classification of MODIS phenology metrics for all years following deforestation during 2002-2005.

Summary

Description

Trace gas fluxes of carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and nitric oxide (CO2, CH4, N2O, and NO) from surface soil were measured manually in an undisturbed forest at the Tapajos National Forest Seca-Floresta Site, which is within the footprint of the km 67 eddy flux tower. Measurements were made in January 2000 through April 2004, approximately twice per month. On each sampling date, up to four sets of 30-m lines were established off the existing transects at the Seca-Floresta site. Along each line eight chambers were installed for gas collection. In addition soil samples were collected for analysis of soil moisture as water-filled pore space (WFPS). There is one comma-delimited ASCII file with this data set.

Summary

Description

One of NASA's primary goals for the next decade is the design, development and launch of a spacecraft aimed at the in-situ exploration of the deep atmosphere and surface of Venus. The success of this mission, called VISE (Venus In-Situ Explorer), is reliant on the development of effective thermal insulation solutions capable of protecting spacecraft for extended periods of time from the extreme heat and pressure associated with the lower atmosphere of Venus. Materials intended for exterior application must also be inert towards the sulfuric, hydrochloric and hydrofluoric acid present. Aspen Aerogels, Inc. proposes to continue its development of aerogel composites intended for thermal and chemical protection to a Venus spacecraft. During the Phase I program, we fabricated several aerogels with inherent thermal conductivities below 40 mW/m-K. In Phase II, we propose to optimize the synthesis through systematic changes in gelation, extraction, and pyrolysis conditions. Furthermore, we will demonstrate thermal conductivities of 100 mW/m-K at 500 C under 90 bars of CO2 pressure. Lastly, methods for fabricating aerogel composites into complex shapes will be investigated along with system level design including attachment to the Venus spacecraft.

Summary

Description

Canopy measurements in an undisturbed eastern Amazon forest (Cauxi, Para, Brazil. See Figure 1) were derived from a one-time event in 2000 using a hand-held laser range finder, and diameter at breast height (DBH) was determined manually. Parameters reported include: Crown Width, Crown Depth, Tree Height, and DBH. There is one comma-delimited ASCII data file with this data set. In addition, these manually derived measurements were compared to the IKONOS satellite data of crown dimensions that were acquired on 2 November 2000, from an orbital altitude of 680 km. The data from a 600 x 600 m block of undisturbed forest, including the 50 ha area surveyed in the field, were analyzed in a combined image processing and geographic information system environment.DATA QUALITY STATEMENT: The Data Center has determined that there are questions about the quality of the data reported in this data set. The data set has missing or incomplete data, metadata, or other documentation that diminishes the usability of the products. KNOWN PROBLEMS: Only the general location for this study was identified -- Cauaxi, Para, Brazil. The tree measurement data are of limited use because coordinates for the study site, coordinates of the beginning and end of the transects, and coordinates of the measured trees were not provided. Also, the area that the IKONOS image captured was not provided and the IKONOS image is not available due to restricted distribution.

Summary

Description

The bathymetry data provided represent a continuous surface of interpolated point measurements of depth values of Lago Curuai, an Amazon River floodplain lake, upstream from Santarem, Para, Brazil, from measurements made in June of 2004. The first product contains the actual depth values (in meters) of the interpolated continuous surface saved as real numbers in both ENVI and GeoTIFF formats. Also available is a color scaled depth GeoTIFF image which has an embedded color scale bar. This secondary file is meant only for viewing but has the unique advantage of being a GeoTIFF file. Therefore, this map can be a background image with other projected files of interest in the area. Data provided in this data set were used to develop a methodology for processing and applying high resolution bathymetric data acquired with a Lowrance-480M ecosounder in the Amazon floodplain. This research was supported by the addition of Landast/TM images for planning and executing the survey. 4600 km of transects were processed semi-automatically and integrated into a georeferenced database. A digital elevation model with 15 m horizontal resolution and 1 cm vertical resolution was generated for the floodplain. The changes in inundated area and volume of water on the floodplain were estimated. Regression models were constructed to predict flood area and water stored volume from water level. The results of this research show that water level and flooded area mapped from images are good enough for estimating water stored volume in the Lago Grande de Curuai (Barbosa et al., 2006).

Summary

Description

Absolute (diffuse & specular) reflectance of leaves measured in the lab by Perkin-Elmer spectrophotometer to aid in understanding remotely sensed spectral data

Summary

Description

This data set provides concentrations of carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O) from air samples collected at several heights on towers at three locations in upland old growth forests in the Brazilian Amazon during the wet and dry seasons of 2004 and 2005. Towers are located in the Caxiuana National Forest, in the state of Amazonas; the Manaus, Para, site in the Cuieiras Reserve; and the Sinop site, located north of that city in the state of Mato Grosso. Two sampling campaigns were conducted at each location. Samples were collected from each height 3-5 times on several nights and at least once during well-mixed daytime conditions during each campaign for a total of 75 profiles on 19 dates. There is one comma-delimited ASCII file with this data set.