Briefs: Software
This software provides a library of middleware functions with a simple application programming interface, enabling implementation of distributed applications in conformance with the CCSDS AMS (Consultative Committee for Space Data Systems Asynchronous Message Service) specification.
Briefs: Software
Zero-copy objects (ZCOs) are abstract data access representations designed to minimize I/O (input/output) in the encapsulation of application source data within one or more layers of communication protocol structure. They are constructed within the heap space of a “Simple Data Recorder” (SDR) data store to which all...
Briefs: Software
To verify satisfaction of communication requirements imposed by unique missions, as early as 2000, the Communications Networking Group at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) saw the need for an environment to support interplanetary communication protocol design, validation, and characterization....
Briefs: Software
Contact Graph Routing (CGR) is a dynamic routing system that computes routes through a time-varying topology of scheduled communication contacts in a network based on the DTN (Delay-Tolerant Networking) architecture. It is designed to enable dynamic selection of data transmission routes in a space network based on DTN. This...
Briefs: Software
Parallel Eclipse Project Checkout (PEPC) is a program written to leverage parallelism and to automate the checkout process of plug-ins created in Eclipse RCP (Rich Client Platform). Eclipse plug-ins can be aggregated in a “feature project.” This innovation digests a feature description (xml file) and...
Briefs: Manufacturing & Prototyping
As the recycling of plastic continues in the United States, there is a great need for the increased utilization of recycled products. Some of the plastic being recycled is extruded into a product known as plastic lumber, which is similar in shape and texture to its wood...
Briefs: Manufacturing & Prototyping
Broad area cooling shields are a massefficient alternative to conductively cooled thermal radiation shielding. The shield would actively intercept a large portion of incident thermal radiation and transport the heat away using cryogenic helium gas. The design concept...
Briefs: Materials
This work addresses the need for robust rechargeable batteries that can operate well over a wide temperature range. To this end, a number of electrolyte formulations have been developed that incorporate the use of electrolyte additives to improve the...
Briefs: Materials
Future NASA missions aimed at exploring Mars and the outer planets require rechargeable batteries that can operate at low temperatures to satisfy the requirements of such applications as landers, rovers, and penetrators. A number of terrestrial applications,...
Briefs: Medical
Tissue lithography will enable physicians and researchers to obtain macromolecules with high purity (>90 percent) from desired cells in conventionally processed, clinical tissues by simply annotating the desired cells on a computer screen. After identifying the desired cells, a suitable lithography mask will be generated t...
Briefs: Medical
Although suited astronauts are currently cooled with a Liquid Cooled Ventilation Garment (LCVG), which can remove up to 85 percent of body heat, their effectiveness is limited because cooling must penetrate layers of skin, muscle, fat, bone, and tissue to reach the bloodstream, where its...
Briefs: Medical
This invention relates to surface modification of porosified silicon (pSi) structures with poly(alkylene) glycols for the purpose of controlled degradation of the silicon matrix and tailored release of encapsulated substances for biomedical applications. The pSi structures are currently...
Briefs: Physical Sciences
To date, the method for astronauts to drink liquids in microgravity or weightless environments is to suck the liquid from a bag or pouch through a straw. A new beverage cup works in...
Briefs: Physical Sciences
A microshutter array (MSA) has been developed for use as an aperture array for multi-object selections in James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) technology. Light shields, molybdenum nitride (MoN) coating on shutters, and aluminum/ aluminum oxide coatings on interior walls are put on each shutter for...
Briefs: Physical Sciences
Hall thrusters utilize identical hollow cathode technology as ion thrusters, yet must operate at much higher mass flow rates in order to efficiently couple to the bulk plasma discharge. Higher flow rates are necessary in order to provide enough neutral collisions to transport electrons across magnetic fields so...
Briefs: Information Technology
The purpose of Hazard Relative Navigation (HRN) is to provide measurements to the Navigation Filter so that it can limit errors on the position estimate after hazards have been detected. The hazards are detected by processing a hazard digital elevation map (HDEM). The HRN process takes lidar...
Briefs: Information Technology
An autonomous vehicle patrols a large region, during which an algorithm receives measurements of detected potential objects within its sensor range. The goal of the algorithm is to track all objects in the region over time. This problem differs from traditional multi-target tracking...
Briefs: Information Technology
This invention introduces a methodology and associated software tools for automatically learning spacecraft system models without any assumptions regarding system behavior. Data stream mining techniques were used to learn models for critical portions of the International Space Station (ISS)...
Briefs: Electronics & Computers
A paper discusses the successful development of a miniaturized radiation hardened high-voltage switching module operating at 2.5 kV suitable for space application. The high-voltage architecture was designed, fabricated, and tested using a commercial process that...
Briefs: Electronics & Computers
An architecture for a Direct RF-digitization Type Digital Mode RADAR was developed at GSFC in 2008. Two variations of a basic architecture were developed for use on RADAR imaging missions using aircraft and spacecraft. Both systems can operate with a pulse repetition rate up to 10 MHz with 8 received RF...
Articles: Photonics/Optics
Unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) and their applications are experiencing rapid growth, especially in the area of remote sensing. Advances in propulsion; airframe materials;...
Application Briefs: Photonics/Optics
Fine laser cutting is an ideal technology for specialized cutting requirements found in the manufacturing of medical tube tools and components. From surgical instruments used in cutting and biopsy, to needles...
Briefs: Photonics/Optics
The “polished panel” optical receiver concept described here makes use of aluminum panels on the main reflector of the Deep Space Network’s...
Products: Photonics/Optics
The Universal Workholder (UVG) from Krell Technologies (Morganville, NJ) is designed to polish any fiber optic component that incorporates a UPC-style ferrule with a diameter between 1.25 mm and 3.2 mm. The fixture...
Products: Photonics/Optics
From high-speed automated inspection of printed circuit boards to rapid 3D mapping of disaster areas, Imperx (Boca Raton, FL) supports a wide range of high-resolution video-capture applications with two 29-Mpx B6620...
Products: Photonics/Optics
Vision Research (Wayne, NJ) has introduced the Phantom® v1210 and v1610 cameras. The devices feature high-definition and widescreen 1280 × 800 CMOS sensors. Both cameras are based on proprietary sensors offering...
Products: Photonics/Optics
Austriamicrosystems (Raleigh, NC) has announced a 30V, 40mA, 16-channel LED driver with 12-bit pulse width modulation (PWM), dot correction, and diagnostics. With a 30V LED supply voltage, the AS1121 reduces external support...
Products: Photonics/Optics
ROHM Semiconductor (San Diego, CA) has announced the SCS1xxAGC series of silicon carbide (SiC) Schottky barrier diodes (SBDs). The SiC diode maintains low forward voltage over a wide operating temperature...
Products: Photonics/Optics
The TXG02 from Baumer (Southington, CT) features VGA resolution and a frame rate of up to 140 fps. Available in both monochrome and color versions, the TXG02 has integrated ExView HAD technology for the visible and...