Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Power source requirements for the military were presented to provide guidelines for research and development planning. Power sources that contain a high amount of energy and are small, light and durable are a common request from military users. Safety, reliability and low temperature performance are also important factors in the selection of power sources, as are cost and energy efficiency. Issues concerning advanced batteries were reviewed with reference to high energy density cathode materials. Various thermoelectric and renewable energy materials were discussed, with reference to recovery and conversion of waste heat. It was suggested that photovoltaic devices could help revolutionize military logistics by modifying energy re-supply requirements. Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFC) were considered in relation to the high price of the ceramic materials required for operation. It was noted that the development of SOFC anodes capable of generating hydrogen from liquid fuels such as methanol ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Unmanned systems are often used to augment the ability of humans to perform challenging tasks. While the value of individual unmanned vehicles have been proven for a variety of tasks, it is less understood how multiple unmanned systems should be used together to accomplish larger missions such as site security. The purpose of this paper is to discuss efforts by researchers at the Idaho National Laboratory (INL) to explore the utility and practicality of operating multiple unmanned systems for a site security mission. This paper reviews the technology developed for a multi-agent mission and summarizes the lessons-learned from a technology demonstration.

Science.gov (United States)

... space vehicles, robot and machine guidance systems, and in various types of autonomous UUV docking situations. Page 3. ...

Science.gov (United States)

This certifies that the face of Flat Granny has flown in space aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery on mission STS-. 133 from February 24 - March 9, 2011. ...

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

Robonaut 2 goes through a series of tests aboard the International Space Station, including its first motions on the orbital outpost. n

Science.gov (United States)

Gaseous Nitrogen Dewar apparatus developed by Dr. Alex McPherson of the University of California, Irvine for use aboard Mir and the International Space ...

Science.gov (United States)

instrument is shown in Figure 4-9 The incoming radiation is focused onto ...... An early rocket-borne ultraviolet spectrometer of the Ebert type by ...

Science.gov (United States)

A Self-Powered Underwater Robot for Ocean Exploration and Beyond ... first unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV) that is completely powered by renewable energy . ...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

On Oct. 24, 2005, Hurricane Wilma, a category 5 storm, made landfall at Cape Romano, Florida. Three days later, the Center for Robot-Assisted Search and Rescue at the University of South Florida deployed an iSENYS helicopter and a prototype unmanned water surface vehicle, AEOS-1, to survey damage in parts of Marco Island, 14 km from landfall. The effort was the first known use of unmanned sea surface vehicles (USVs) for emergency response and established their suitability for the recovery phase of disaster management by detecting damage to seawalls and piers, locating submerged debris (moorings and handrails), and determining safe lanes for sea navigation. It provides a preliminary domain theory of postdisaster port and littoral inspection with unmanned vehicles for use by the human-robot ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The direct-current submarine cable interconnecting Hokkaido and Honshu (hereafter called HH linkage) is an example of installation of an undersea cable for long-distance power transmission crossing a sea strait. In particular, the feature of this interconnection is that an oil-filled (OF) cable is used for the high-voltage side with crosslinked polyethylene (XPLE) cable adopted for the return to comprise a conductor return system. The details of the facilities, especially the design of the OF submarine cable are described. 3 refs.

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

School buses contribute substantially to childhood air pollution exposures yet they are rarely quantified in epidemiology studies. This paper characterizes fine particulate matter (PM_2.5)...Full Text Available

Science.gov (United States)

Feb 23, 2001 ... Florida, as an F-16 weapons separation engineer with .... new era of space-based research aboard the International Space. Station. ..... the Web at: http://www. aiaa.org/calen- dar/index.hfm?cal=1&cfp=1 ...

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

Expedition 22 Commander Jeff Williams, aboard the International Space Station 220 miles above Earth, responds to questions posted on YouTube concerning the station's orientation, life in space and the recent butterfly experiment.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The field of micro unmanned aerial vehicles ({mu}UAVs) has advanced rapidly in recent years. This paper studies the design and construction of a small solar-powered aircraft near the size range of current {theta}UAVs. A number of aspects of their design were analysed, including structural, aerodynamic and propulsion system considerations. The effect of small-scale, low Reynolds number aerodynamics was investigated, and the performance of a range of candidate aerofoils was compared. The integration of a solar power source into the aircraft system was considered a key design issue. Consequently, a number of aircraft configurations were examined, with the intention of optimising the application of solar power in a miniature aircraft. Investigation of improved system components suggests that a practical solar-powered aircraft in the size range below 500 mm maximum linear dimension should be viable given modest technological improvements. (Author)

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

This document is a Final Technical Report that describes the results of the Geophex Airborne Unmanned Survey System (GAUSS) research project. The objectives were to construct a geophysical data acquisition system that uses a remotely operated unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and to evaluate its effectiveness for characterization of hazardous environmental sites. The GAUSS is a data acquisition system that mitigates the potential risk to personnel during geophysical characterization of hazardous or radioactive sites. The fundamental basis of the GAUSS is as follows: (1) an unmanned survey vehicle carries geophysical sensors into a hazardous location, (2) the pilot remains outside the hazardous site and operates the vehicle using radio control, (3) geophysical measurements and their spatial locations are processed by an automated data-acquisition system which displays data on an off-site monitor in real-time, and (4) the pilot ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

This paper describes the safety system and training for personnel on board the floating production storage and offloading (FPSO II) currently working in the Cadlao Field, offshore Palawan in the Philippine Islands. (See Figure 1). The crude oil being produced has wellstream hydrogen sulfide concentrations up to 6000 PPM. Concentrations of hydrogen sulfide at 700 PPM or higher can be immediately dangerous to life and every effort must be made to ensure personnel safety.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

For large transmission steel towers to be built in a mountainous area, caisson type pile foundations are often applied. The works for construction of this kind of foundation are manned operations such as drilling, arranging reinforcements, concrete laying, etc. in a narrow vertical pit which is 3m in diameter and about 20m in depth, but securing labour force of good quality for such works becomes increasingly difficult. In order to cope with the above situation and achieve reduction of costs, shortening of construction period, improvement of safety, saving of manpower, etc. a power supply company and construction companies have developed jointly a method of unmanned construction in a caisson type pile foundation pit. This method consists of the use of a caisson type pile full size excavator (this consists of an excavator proper, a vacuum soil discharging device, a monitor/controller, a load crane and a reaction pad, and performs continuously ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

To heighten durability and safety of materials/parts for undersea oil drilling, the development of ceramic base materials was made by developing function harmony type process technology which harmonizes on a high grade contrary characteristics and various functions. The paper summed up the fiscal 1997 results. In the design of system formation, computational simulation technology was developed to the composite process and the diploid system. The development of multifunction simultaneous manifestation materials was trially made by the higher nano structure process. A study was made of control of microstructures of porous materials and matrix filling by the gas phase precipitation control. Proposed were selective control of grain growth from species crystals and the columnar particle orientation laminated structure of simultaneous manifestation of strength and toughness. By composite precipitation reaction control, studied were simultaneous dispersion of whisker and ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The united research plan named 'Boiling' is created on the basis of several cryogenic research projects developed by experts in Russia and Ukraine for International Space Station. The 'Boiling' plan includes 8 first experiments aimed at investigating the influence of microgravity on boiling processes, heat transfer and hydrodynamics in liquid helium being either under normal or superfluid conditions. The experiments are supposed to be carried out with individual cells collected inside a single cryogenic onboard experimental facility. The international research program experiments are characterized by the following features: utilization of several artificially simulated microgravity levels, owing to rotation of the experimental helium cryostat; visualization of the processes that occur in liquid helium; research of boiling and hydrodynamics both in a large volume of stationary liquid, and in a liquid flow running through a channel. Upon completion of the 'Boiling' research plan, the ...

CERN Document Server

The true nature of the progenitor to GRBs remains elusive; one characteristic that would constrain our understanding of the GRB mechanism considerably is gamma-ray polarimetry measurements of the initial burst flux. We present a method that interprets the prompt GRB flux as it Compton scatters off the Earth's atmosphere, based on detailed modelling of both the Earth's atmosphere and the orbiting detectors. The BATSE mission aboard the \\textit{CGRO} monitored the whole sky in the 20 keV - 1 MeV energy band continuously from April 1991 until June 2000. We present the BATSE Albedo Polarimetry System (BAPS), and show that GRB 930131 and GRB 960924 provide evidence of polarisation in their prompt flux that is consistent with degrees of polarisation of $\\Pi>35$% and $\\Pi>50$% respectively. While the evidence of polarisation is strong, the method is unable to strongly constrain the degree of polarisation beyond a systematics based estimation. Hence the ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

A 308-size hybrid ball bearing, with ceramic balls and steel rings, was tested using a diester oil and gas turbine fuel as lubricants at several speeds and loads. Heat generation data from this test work was then correlated with the heat generation model from a widely used computer code. The ability of this hybrid split inner ring bearing design to endure thrust reversals, which are expected in many turbine applications, was demonstrated. Finally, the bearing was successfully endurance tested in JP-10 fuel for 25 hours at 7560 N axial load and 36,000 rpm. This work has successfully demonstrated the technology necessary to use fuel-lubricated hybrid bearings in limited-life gas turbine engine applications such as missiles, drones, and other unmanned air vehicles (UAVs). In addition, it has provided guidance for use in designing such bearing systems. As a result, the benefits of removing the conventional oil lubricant system, i.e., design simplification and reduced ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Solar High Altitude Powered Platform (Solar HAPP) aircraft are unmanned remote sensing vehicles designed for cruises lasting up to one year at 20-km altitude, while carrying up to 250 pounds of cameras and electrooptic sensors in an underslung payload pod. It is anticipated that real time IR and UV images of earth features may be more inexpensively and accurately obtained by this means than by the conventional geosynchronous earth resources satellites. Solar HAPPs, with wing spans of over 300 ft and weights of only 2000 lb, require ultralight composite structures with external wire bracing. Solar cells will cover both sides of the vertical wing stabilizers and wing tips, which hinge up in daytime to capture the maximum amount of sunlight. A 15-hp electric propulsion unit drives a low-rpm, large diameter propeller; power will be derived from the solar cells diurnally, and from hydrogen-oxygen fuel cells nocturnally. The fuel gases will be generated in a water ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The popularity of UAVs has increased dramatically because of their successful deployment in military operations, their ability to preserve human life, and the continual improvements in wireless communication that serves to increase their capabilities. We believe the usefulness of UAVs would be dramatically increased if formation flight were added to the list of capabilities. Currently, sustained formation flight with a cluster of UAVs has only been achieved with two nodes by the Multi-UAV Testbed at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. (Park, 2004) Formation flight is a complex operation requiring the ability to adjust the flight patterns on the fly and correct for wind gusts, terrain, and differences in node equipment. All of which increases the amount of inner node communication. Since one of the problems with MANET communication is network congestion, we believe a first step towards formation flight can be made through improved inner node communication. We have investigated ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Two-phase flow, thermal management systems are currently being considered as an alternative to conventional, single phase systems for future space missions because of their potential to reduce overall system mass, size, and pumping power requirements. Knowledge of flow regime transitions, heat transfer characteristics, and pressure drop correlations is necessary to design and develop two-phase systems. This work is concerned with microgravity, two-phase flow regime analysis. The data come from a recent sets of experiments. The experiments were funded by NASA Johnson Space Center (JSC) and conducted by NASA JSC with Texas A ampersand M University. The experiment was on loan to NASA JSC from Foster-Miller, Inc., who constructed it with funding from the Air Force Phillips Laboratory. The experiment used R12 as the working fluid. A Foster-Miller two phase pump was used to circulate the two phase mixture and allow separate measurements of the vapor and liquid flow streams. The experimental ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

A near-real-time integrated temperature and water vapor sounding system has been designed and in operation since June 1993. It combines hourly data from the ground-based radio acoustic sounding system (RASS), a two-channel microwave radiometer, standard surface meteorological instruments, a lidar ceilometer, and the Aerodynamic Research Incorporated Communication, Addressing and Reporting System aboard commercial airlines with space-based data from the TIROS-N Operational Vertical Sounder (TOVS). The physical retrieval algorithm provided by the International TOVS Processing Package is used for combining the ground- and space-based temperature and humidity profiles. The first-guess profiles of temperature and humidity required by the physical retrieval algorithm are obtained by using a statistical inversion technique and the ground-based remote sensors measurements. Statistical error estimates are presented for the hourly, near-real-time, ground-, and space-based ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

As part of an ongoing strategic research project to find barrels of radioactive waste off San Francisco, the U.S. Navy (USN), the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), and the Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary (GFNMS) pooled their expertise, resources, and technology to form a partnership to verify new computer enhancement techniques developed for detecting targets the size of 55 gallon barrels on sidescan sonar images. Between 1946 and 1970, approximately 47,800 large barrels and other containers of radioactive waste were dumped in the ocean west of San Francisco; the containers litter an area of the sea floor of at least 1400 km {sup 2} knows as the Farallon Island Radioactive Waste Dump. The exact location of the containers and the potential hazard the containers pose to the environment is unknown. The USGS developed computer techniques and contracted with private industry to enhance sidescan data, collected in cooperation with the GFNMS, to detect objects as small as 55 ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The state of exploration in the Terra Nova field offshore Newfoundland, and the progress in constructing the floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) at Bull Arm, the assembly site west of St. John's for the Terra Nova vessel, are described. Comparisons are made between the excitement created by the first production well at Leduc in Western Canada in 1947, and the offshore developments currently underway and accelerating offshore Newfoundland. It is estimated that exploration and development offshore had barely touched the surface, with only 160 wells of all types drilled to date, of which 48 exploration wells have uncovered 1.7 billion barrels of oil. The area is practically unexplored; the source rock is there, and the current estimate is that there are a number of basins in the offshore area that are several times the size of the Jeanne d'Arc Basin, where the Hibernia field is currently producing about 135,000 barrels of oil per day. The total estimated ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Some of well known F{sub 2} layer anomalies might have their origin in lower atmosphere and some have extra terrestrial sources. It has been suggested that the phenomena occurring below the ionosphere such as thunderstorms, lightning/sprites, volcanic eruptions and earthquakes and above the phenomena like corona mass ejection, solar flares and extra terrestrial events may produce F{sub 2} layer signatures. In the present paper we have tried to summarize the effect of some phenomena occurring below the ionosphere like thunderstorms, lightning/sprites and seismic activity and the phenomena such as solar flares which occur above the ionosphere, on the ionospheric electron and ion temperatures. The paper also discusses possibilities. The ionospheric electron and ion temperatures were measured by the RrPAa payload aboard the Iindian SRrOSS-C2 satellite. The normal day's ion and electron temperatures have been compared to the temperatures recorded during the ...