Stories
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Briefs: Software
Spacecraft Antenna Clusters for High EIRP
Several documents in a collection discuss a proposal to use clusters of appropriately phased, relatively small microwave antennas to obtain high levels of effective isotropically radiated power (EIRP) for transmission of data from spacecraft to Earth during exploration of distant planets. The advantages of...
Briefs: Software
Decision Support for Emergency Operations Centers
The Flood Disaster Mitigation Decision Support System (DSS) is a computerized information system that allows regional emergency-operations government officials to make decisions regarding the dispatch of resources in response to flooding. The DSS implements a real-time model of inundation utilizing...
Briefs: Electronics & Computers
Modeling and Diagnostic Software for Liquefying-Fuel Rockets
A report presents a study of five modeling and diagnostic computer programs considered for use in an integrated vehicle health management (IVHM) system during testing of liquefying-fuel hybrid rocket engines in the Hybrid Combustion Facility (HCF) at NASA Ames Research Center.
Briefs: Electronics & Computers
Progress on a Multichannel, Dual-Mixer Stability Analyzer
Several documents describe aspects of the continuing development of a multichannel, dual-mixer system for simultaneous characterization of the instabilities of multiple precise, low noise oscillators.
Briefs: Electronics & Computers
Nanowire thermoelectric devices, now under development, are intended to take miniaturization a step beyond the prior state of the art to exploit the potential advantages afforded by shrinking some device features...
Briefs: Electronics & Computers
No matter how sophisticated or advanced, electronic components must be attached reliably and securely if they are to deliver optimum performance. Beyond this universal requirement, particular...
Briefs: Electronics & Computers
Patch Antenna Fed via Unequal-Crossed-Arm Aperture
A proposed rectangular-patch antenna for transmitting or receiving microwave circularly polarized (CP) radiation would be fed via a cross-shaped aperture that would have unequal arms and would, in turn, be fed at a single point via a microstrip transmission line. As a consequence of the unequal-arm...
Briefs: Manufacturing & Prototyping
Parylene C as a Sacrificial Material for Microfabrication
Although Parylene C cannot be patterned lithographically like photoresists, it nevertheless extends the range of processing options by offering a set of properties that are suitable for microfabrication and are complementary to those of photoresists. The compatibility of Parylene C with...
Briefs: Manufacturing & Prototyping
A method of fabrication of wires having micron and submicron dimensions is built around electrochemical deposition of the wires in their final positions between electrodes in integrated...
Briefs: Information Technology
Applying Standard Interfaces to a Process-Control Language
A method of applying open-operating-system standard interfaces to the NASA User Interface Language (UIL) has been devised.
Briefs: Information Technology
A method for adaptive (or, optionally, nonadaptive) filtering has been developed for estimating the states of complex process systems (e.g., chemical plants, factories, or manufacturing...
Briefs: Medical
The term “satellite-derived management zones” (SAMZ) denotes agricultural management zones that are subdivisions of large fields and that are derived from images of the fields acquired by instruments...
Briefs: Medical
Briefs: Materials
Multifunctional hinges have been developed for deploying and electrically connecting panels comprising planar arrays of thin-film solar photovoltaic cells. In the original intended...
Briefs: Physical Sciences
Vacuum apparatuses have been developed for increasing the range of elements that can be identified by use of x-ray fluorescent (XRF) scanners of the type mentioned in the two immediately preceding articles. As...
Briefs: Physical Sciences
Systems for identifying objects by means of x-ray fluorescence (XRF) of encased labeling elements have been developed. The XRF spectra of objects so labeled...
Briefs: Physical Sciences
A digital equivalent data system (DEDS) is a system for identifying objects by means of the x-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectra of labeling elements that are encased in or deposited on the...
Briefs: Physical Sciences
A new Spectral Beam Combining (SBC) architecture is currently being developed to address the limitations diode laser bars in applications requiring high output power and excellent beam...
Briefs: Physical Sciences
In optical systems in which laser illumination is delivered via multimode optical fibers, laser speckle can be rendered incoherent by a simple but highly effective technique. The need to...
Briefs: Physical Sciences
In a modification of the basic configuration of InAs quantum-dot semiconductor lasers on (001)lnP substrate, a thin layer (typically 1 to 2 monolayer thick) of GaAs is incorporated...
Briefs: Test & Measurement
A new instrument was developed for chemical characterization of surfaces that combines the analytical power of Raman spectroscopy with the three-dimensional topographic information...
Briefs: Mechanical & Fluid Systems
An ultrasonic/sonic jackhammer (USJ) is the latest in a series of related devices, the first of which were reported in “Ultrasonic/Sonic Drill/Corers With Integrated Sensors” (NPO-20856), NASA Tech Briefs, Vol....
Briefs: Mechanical & Fluid Systems
The term “vortobots” denotes proposed swimming robots that would have dimensions as small as micrometers or even nanometers and that would move in swarms through fluids by generating and exploiting vortices in a cooperative...
Briefs: Mechanical & Fluid Systems
The figures depict two miniature mechanisms actuated by strips made of shape-memory alloy (SMA). A typical SMA is a nickel-titanium alloy known by the trade name “Flexinol” or “Nitinol.” In...
Briefs: Mechanical & Fluid Systems
The figure shows parts of a shutter mechanism designed to satisfy a number of requirements specific to its original intended application as a component of an atomic clock to be flown in outer space....
Briefs: Mechanical & Fluid Systems
Temperature-Controlled Clamping and Releasing Mechanism
A report describes the development of a mechanism that automatically clamps upon warming and releases upon cooling between temperature limits of ~180 K and ~293 K.
Briefs: Mechanical & Fluid Systems
Fastener Starter
The Fastener Starter is a creative solution to prevent the loss of small fasteners during their installation. This is the only currently available tool that can firmly grip and hold a single screw, bolt, nut, washer, spacer, or any combination of these parts. Other commercially available fastener starters are unable to accommodate...
Briefs: Semiconductors & ICs
An active frequency doubler in the form of an InP-based monolithic microwave integrated circuit (MMIC) containing a high electron mobility transistor (HEMT) has been demonstrated in operation at...
Briefs: Semiconductors & ICs
A field-programmable gate array (FPGA) on a single lightweight, low power integrated-circuit chip has been developed to implement an azimuth pre-filter (AzPF) for a synthetic-aperture radar (SAR)...
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Ask the Expert
John Chandler on Achieving Quality Motion Control
FAULHABER MICROMO brings together the highest quality motion technologies and value-added services, together with global engineering, sourcing, and manufacturing, to deliver top quality micro motion solutions. With 34 years’ experience, John Chandler injects a key engineering perspective into all new projects and enjoys working closely with OEM customers to bring exciting new technologies to market.
Webcasts
Podcasts: Medical
How Wearables Are Enhancing Smart Drug Delivery
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Developing Sustainable Drug-Delivery Devices
Podcasts: Design
Smarter Pathways for Precision Drug Delivery in Cancer Care
On-Demand Webinars: Manufacturing & Prototyping
Understanding Testing and Compliance Requirements for Wireless Medical Devices
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Personalized Medicine and Drug Delivery
Podcasts: Green Design & Manufacturing
Inside Story
Inside Story: Trends in Packaging and Sterilization
Eurofins Medical Device Testing (MDT) provides a full scope of testing services. In this interview, Eurofins’ experts, Sunny Modi, PhD, Director of Package Testing; and Elizabeth Sydnor, Director of Microbiology; answer common questions on medical device packaging and sterilization.