Leak Detection and Localization in Pressurized Space Structures Using Bayesian Inference: Theory and Practice

Impact from micrometeoroids and orbital debris (MMOD) can cause severe damage to space vehicles. The crew habitat can begin to leak precious oxygen, critical systems can be punctured causing fatal failures, and an accumulation of impacts by MMOD can decrease the lifetime of any and all devices in space. Due to these and other potential dangers, MMODs have been considered the third largest threat to spacecraft after launch and re-entry. Many satellites and other spacecraft face this very problem inherent in all space travel on a daily basis, but often times they can be repaired. A major hurdle is to first be able to identify the presence of a leak. Many times an impact and subsequent leak is not discovered until it has caused a problem. A complete system is needed to detect and localize the impact to improve longevity of the habitat or other pressurized space structures. In this work, a system for detection and localization of air leaks using air-borne acoustic waves is proposed. The system uses microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) microphone sensors to detect and record high frequency noise in an environment, angle of arrival (AOA) calculations to estimate possible leak locations, and a Bayesian tree-search filter to detect and more accurately localize a leak. This work includes proof of concept, simulations, and physical prototypes as steps to creation of a complete system. Data from deployed flight test using said prototypes are analyzed. Modeling the effects of environmental reflections on the accuracy of localization is also studied

Modelos, Algoritmos y Protocolos para Redes de Comunicaciones Tolerantes a Interrupciones con Alto Grado de Predecibilidad

Tesis (DCI)--FCEFN-UNC, 2019La industria de las comunicaciones satelitales ha mostrado un avance limitado en las últimas décadas en comparación con la evolución de las redes terrestres tales como Internet. La razón principal consiste en que el entorno espacial es radicalmente diferente al terrestre, lo cual impacta considerablemente en la estabilidad de las conexiones y en el hecho de que los protocolos de comunicación utilizados en Tierra resulten inadecuados y/o ineficientes cuando se tratan de adaptar al espacio. Sin embargo, recientemente, y producto de un esfuerzo conjunto de diferentes agencias espaciales (NASA, ESA, CONAE, etc), se ha comenzado a estudiar y experimentar con estrategias de comunicaciones en red que son capaces de tolerar retardos e interrupciones mediante un cambio paradigmático en la forma de realizar dichas comunicaciones. En particular, se ha propuesto una arquitectura de protocolos llamada Delay/Disruption Tolerant Networking (DTN), y que dada la predecibilidad de las trayectorias satelitales, permite aprovechar un plande contactos compuesto por las oportunidades de comunicación en el futuro, lo que permite a los satélites tomar decisiones eficientes sobre cómo y cuándo transmitir el tráfico generado o recibido desde otros satélites. En los últimos años, se han llevado a cabo numerosos avances en la implementación de DTN y se han realizado experimentos en órbita que avalan el potencial beneficio de esta arquitectura. Además, se ha estudiado el problema del diseño del plan de contactos que constituye el proceso de configurar y elegir apropiadamente las oportunidades de comunicación con el objetivo de optimizar el rendimiento y realizar una adecuada gestión de los limitados recursos que se disponen en este tipo de redes. Sin embargo, esta arquitectura se encuentra aún en una etapa de maduración y son numerosos los desafíos que deben ser superados. En particular, en esta tesis se pone el foco en el problema de la congestión que ocurre cuando la planificación referida a la utilización de los recursos no resulta apropiada. Básicamente, se proponen mecanismos que actúan, por un lado, sobre el algoritmo de enrutamiento ejecutado de manera distribuida por los satélites de la red, y por otro, sobre el diseño automático del plan de contactos. Adicionalmente, se realizan aportes referidos a los problemas de incertidumbre y de escalabilidad e integración de la red. De esta manera, en esta investigación contribuimos con enfoques originales en los que se aprovecha la predictibilidad de las comunicaciones satelitales para proveer mecanismos de gestión y toma de decisiones de manera automatizada, solucionando de esta forma problemas cuya complejidad aumenta drásticamente con la cantidad de satélites y tiempos de evaluación. Cabe destacar además, que si bien los aportes realizados pueden ser utilizados de forma general en la arquitectura DTN, los mismos encuentran aplicación dentro del Plan Espacial Argentino, ya que esta arquitectura resulta particularmente adecuada para ser aplicada en las nuevas misiones satelitales distribuidas que propone CONAE para la observación terrestre. Por lo tanto, los aportes brindados en esta tesis tienen alcance hacia protocolos desarrollados mediante colaboraciones internacionales y podrían además ser utilizados en nuestro país para resolver desafíos de interés local

Selected On-Demand Medical Applications of 3D-Printing for Long-Duration Manned Space Missions

Recent technological advances in the area of Additive Manufacturing (i.e. 3D printing) allow for exploration of their use within long-duration manned space missions. Among the many potential application domains, medical and dental fabrication in support of crew health is of interest to NASA’s Advanced Exploration Systems directorate. A classification of medical events with their associated response timeline discern between those applications where current 3D printing technologies can provide adequate support. Products and devices that require on-demand fabrication (due to the high level of personal customization) but that can wait for a reasonable (e.g. few hours) fabrication time are the most promising areas. Among these non-emergency, on-demand applications, two were identified for further investigation: dental health and pharmaceutical drugs. A discussion on the challenges presented by a microgravity operational environment on these technologies is provided

Marshall Space Flight Center Faculty Fellowship Program

The research projects conducted by the 2016 Faculty Fellows at NASA Marshall Space Flight Center included propulsion studies on propellant issues, and materials investigations involving plasma effects and friction stir welding. Spacecraft Systems research was conducted on wireless systems and 3D printing of avionics. Vehicle Systems studies were performed on controllers and spacecraft instruments. The Science and Technology group investigated additive construction applied to Mars and Lunar regolith, medical uses of 3D printing, and unique instrumentation, while the Test Laboratory measured pressure vessel leakage and crack growth rates

Design and Analysis of Free-space Optical Communications Systems for Next Generation Short-range Wireless Networks

This dissertation focuses on indoor free-space optical communications systems for use in short range wireless networks. We propose that current radio frequency wireless links be augmented or replaced with optical frequency links due to overcrowding in the radio frequency spectrum. Optical frequencies contain hundreds of terahertz of unregulated bandwidth and offer a physical layer of protection due to the inherently line-of-sight nature of near infrared light. We first present a hybrid optical and radio frequency link based on inexpensive LEDs in which a downlink is established optically, while the uplink is routed through preexisting radio frequency channels. Second, an all optical dual channel laser-based communication system is implemented consisting of a medium bandwidth wide-angle optical femtocell and a high-speed line-of-sight optical attocell. This approach balances the diverse needs of end users by providing links optimized for both mobility and bandwidth. Lastly, we demonstrate a high-power vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL) array transmitter for use in optical femtocells. A complimentary design for a distributed current laser driver is also presented

Análisis de un computador embarcado para sistemas espaciales basado en arquitectura colaborativa

Tesis doctoral inédita, leída en Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Escuela Politécnica Superior, Departamento de Tecnología Electrónica y de las Comunicaciones. Fecha de Lectura: 26-06-201

Towards realisation of spectrum sharing of cognitive radio networks

Cognitive radio networks (CRN) have emerged as a promising solution to spectrum shortcoming, thanks to Professor Mitola who coined Cognitive Radios. To enable efficient communications, CRNs need to avoid interference to both Primary (licensee) Users (PUs), and among themselves (called self-coexistence). In this thesis, we focus on self-coexistence issues. Very briefly, the problems are categorised into intentional and unintentional interference. Firstly, unintentional interference includes: 1) CRNs administration; 2) Overcrowded CRNs Situation; 3) Missed spectrum detection; 4) Inter-cell Interference (ICI); and 5) Inability to model Secondary Users’ (SUs) activity. In intentional interference there is Primary User Emulation Attack (PUEA). To administer CRN operations (Prob. 1), in our first contribution, we proposed CogMnet, which aims to manage the spectrum sharing of centralised networks. CogMnet divides the country into locations. It then dedicates a real-time database for each location to record CRNs’ utilisations in real time, where each database includes three storage units: Networks locations storage unit; Real-time storage unit; and Historical storage unit. To tackle Prob. 2, our second contribution is CRNAC, a network admission control algorithm that aims to calculate the maximum number of CRNs allowed in any location. CRNAC has been tested and evaluated using MATLAB. To prevent research problems 3, 4, and to tackle research problem (5), our third contribution is RCNC, a new design for an infrastructure-based CRN core. The architecture of RCNC consists of two engines: Monitor and Coordinator Engine (MNCE) and Modified Cognitive Engine (MCE). Comprehensive simulation scenarios using ICS Designer (by ATDI) have validated some of RCNC’s components. In the last contribution, to deter PUEA (the intentional interference type), we developed a PUEA Deterrent (PUED) algorithm capable of detecting PUEAs commission details. PUED must be implemented by a PUEA Identifier Component in the MNCE in RCNC after every spectrum handing off. Therefore, PUED works like a CCTV system. According to criminology, robust CCTV systems have shown a significant prevention of clear visible theft, reducing crime rates by 80%. Therefore, we believe that our algorithm will do the same. Extensive simulations using a Vienna simulator showed the effectiveness of the PUED algorithm in terms of improving CRNs’ performance

Marshall Space Flight Center Faculty Fellowship Program

The 2017 Marshall Faculty Fellowship Program involved 21 faculty in the laboratories and departments at Marshall Space Flight Center. These faculty engineers and scientists worked with NASA collaborators on NASA projects, bringing new perspectives and solutions to bear. This Technical Memorandum is a compilation of the research reports of the 2017 Marshall Faculty Fellowship program, along with the Program Announcement (Appendix A) and the Program Description (Appendix B). The research affected the following six areas: (1) Materials (2) Propulsion (3) Instrumentation (4) Spacecraft systems (5) Vehicle systems (6) Space science The materials investigations included composite structures, printing electronic circuits, degradation of materials by energetic particles, friction stir welding, Martian and Lunar regolith for in-situ construction, and polymers for additive manufacturing. Propulsion studies were completed on electric sails and low-power arcjets for use with green propellants. Instrumentation research involved heat pipes, neutrino detectors, and remote sensing. Spacecraft systems research was conducted on wireless technologies, layered pressure vessels, and two-phase flow. Vehicle systems studies were performed on life support-biofilm buildup and landing systems. In the space science area, the excitation of electromagnetic ion-cyclotron waves observed by the Magnetospheric Multiscale Mission provided insight regarding the propagation of these waves. Our goal is to continue the Marshall Faculty Fellowship Program funded by Center internal project offices. Faculty Fellows in this 2017 program represented the following minority-serving institutions: Alabama A&M University and Oglala Lakota College

Políticas de Copyright de Publicações Científicas em Repositórios Institucionais: O Caso do INESC TEC

A progressiva transformação das práticas científicas, impulsionada pelo desenvolvimento das novas Tecnologias de Informação e Comunicação (TIC), têm possibilitado aumentar o acesso à informação, caminhando gradualmente para uma abertura do ciclo de pesquisa. Isto permitirá resolver a longo prazo uma adversidade que se tem colocado aos investigadores, que passa pela existência de barreiras que limitam as condições de acesso, sejam estas geográficas ou financeiras. Apesar da produção científica ser dominada, maioritariamente, por grandes editoras comerciais, estando sujeita às regras por estas impostas, o Movimento do Acesso Aberto cuja primeira declaração pública, a Declaração de Budapeste (BOAI), é de 2002, vem propor alterações significativas que beneficiam os autores e os leitores. Este Movimento vem a ganhar importância em Portugal desde 2003, com a constituição do primeiro repositório institucional a nível nacional. Os repositórios institucionais surgiram como uma ferramenta de divulgação da produção científica de uma instituição, com o intuito de permitir abrir aos resultados da investigação, quer antes da publicação e do próprio processo de arbitragem (preprint), quer depois (postprint), e, consequentemente, aumentar a visibilidade do trabalho desenvolvido por um investigador e a respetiva instituição. O estudo apresentado, que passou por uma análise das políticas de copyright das publicações científicas mais relevantes do INESC TEC, permitiu não só perceber que as editoras adotam cada vez mais políticas que possibilitam o auto-arquivo das publicações em repositórios institucionais, como também que existe todo um trabalho de sensibilização a percorrer, não só para os investigadores, como para a instituição e toda a sociedade. A produção de um conjunto de recomendações, que passam pela implementação de uma política institucional que incentive o auto-arquivo das publicações desenvolvidas no âmbito institucional no repositório, serve como mote para uma maior valorização da produção científica do INESC TEC.The progressive transformation of scientific practices, driven by the development of new Information and Communication Technologies (ICT), which made it possible to increase access to information, gradually moving towards an opening of the research cycle. This opening makes it possible to resolve, in the long term, the adversity that has been placed on researchers, which involves the existence of barriers that limit access conditions, whether geographical or financial. Although large commercial publishers predominantly dominate scientific production and subject it to the rules imposed by them, the Open Access movement whose first public declaration, the Budapest Declaration (BOAI), was in 2002, proposes significant changes that benefit the authors and the readers. This Movement has gained importance in Portugal since 2003, with the constitution of the first institutional repository at the national level. Institutional repositories have emerged as a tool for disseminating the scientific production of an institution to open the results of the research, both before publication and the preprint process and postprint, increase the visibility of work done by an investigator and his or her institution. The present study, which underwent an analysis of the copyright policies of INESC TEC most relevant scientific publications, allowed not only to realize that publishers are increasingly adopting policies that make it possible to self-archive publications in institutional repositories, all the work of raising awareness, not only for researchers but also for the institution and the whole society. The production of a set of recommendations, which go through the implementation of an institutional policy that encourages the self-archiving of the publications developed in the institutional scope in the repository, serves as a motto for a greater appreciation of the scientific production of INESC TEC