Design study for lunar exploration hand tools Third quarterly report

Powered geologist tool and auxiliary geological sampling hand tools for use in lunar exploratio

Engineering study program to determine the optimum design for a hand held camera to be used on the lunar surface final report

Hand held camera for use on lunar surface - design study - stereoscopic photograph

Final Report Contract Number NAS 9-3583 P-426A

The purpose of this study was to determine the optimum design for a hand held stereo camera considering the types of data to be taken, the environmental conditions, the limited dexterity of the space suited astronaut and the allowable space and weight. The scope of the study was limited by time and funding to a preliminary investigation of the best compromise between a wide array of conflicting capability requirements, a harsh environment, a somewhat limited photographer and a severe limitation on space and weight.Contract Number NAS 9-3583Introduction -- Optical Design -- Format and Field Angle -- Focus Considerations -- Range Finder Requirements -- View Finder -- Shutter -- Exposure Control -- Time Recording -- Temperature Control -- Filters -- Materials -- Distance and Attitude Recording -- Camera Design -- Specifications

Aspects of laser absorption spectroscopy in the mid-infrared and visible

Laser absorption spectroscopy can be used to identify and quantify gas analytes. The sponsor company’s present systems operate in the mid-infrared using room temperature pulsed quantum cascade lasers (pulsed-QCL’s). These systems use the noise reduction / sensitivity enhancing technique of sweep integration (SI). In this work, an extension of measurement capabilities is sought in two ways. Firstly, sensitivity enhancement is pursued. The noise reduction technique of wavelength modulation spectroscopy (WMS) is applied using a room temperature continuous wave (cw) QCL spectrometer. Secondly, molecular oxygen is added to the list of measurable analytes. This molecule’s near-infrared and visible transitions are addressed with a wavenumber prototype semiconductor diode laser. The sensitivities of the SI and WMS techniques are compared for the cw-QCL spectrometer, and compared to the SI sensitivity of a typical company pulsed-QCL system. New analysis and modeling software was written to facilitate the thesis work and to carry it forward. A thorough analysis of a pulsed-QCL CT3000 analyzer is undertaken to minimize a reduction in capability - should an oxygen measuring laser replace one of its pulsed-QCL’s. The experimental work was constrained by time and budget - particularly with regard to the cw-QCL spectrometer’s AC-coupled detection. Using AC-coupled detection had cost and integration advantages, but posed a number of problems - including electronic incompatibility issues. Nevertheless, the outlook is positive, and a modest sensitivity improvement was found for WMS over sweep integration (0.017 absorbance units (a.u.) in 102.4s compared to 0.080 a.u. in 51ms). Both sensitivities are some way behind the present sweep integration performance of the company’s pulsed spectrometers (0.004 a.u. in 10ms). However, the sensitivities are comparable to earlier stages of development. In the case of oxygen spectroscopy, the prototype diode laser’s thermal stability was an issue, but several spectral regions were found to be suitable for single or multimode spectroscopy.Laser absorption spectroscopy can be used to identify and quantify gas analytes. The sponsor company’s present systems operate in the mid-infrared using room temperature pulsed quantum cascade lasers (pulsed-QCL’s). These systems use the noise reduction / sensitivity enhancing technique of sweep integration (SI). In this work, an extension of measurement capabilities is sought in two ways. Firstly, sensitivity enhancement is pursued. The noise reduction technique of wavelength modulation spectroscopy (WMS) is applied using a room temperature continuous wave (cw) QCL spectrometer. Secondly, molecular oxygen is added to the list of measurable analytes. This molecule’s near-infrared and visible transitions are addressed with a wavenumber prototype semiconductor diode laser. The sensitivities of the SI and WMS techniques are compared for the cw-QCL spectrometer, and compared to the SI sensitivity of a typical company pulsed-QCL system. New analysis and modeling software was written to facilitate the thesis work and to carry it forward. A thorough analysis of a pulsed-QCL CT3000 analyzer is undertaken to minimize a reduction in capability - should an oxygen measuring laser replace one of its pulsed-QCL’s. The experimental work was constrained by time and budget - particularly with regard to the cw-QCL spectrometer’s AC-coupled detection. Using AC-coupled detection had cost and integration advantages, but posed a number of problems - including electronic incompatibility issues. Nevertheless, the outlook is positive, and a modest sensitivity improvement was found for WMS over sweep integration (0.017 absorbance units (a.u.) in 102.4s compared to 0.080 a.u. in 51ms). Both sensitivities are some way behind the present sweep integration performance of the company’s pulsed spectrometers (0.004 a.u. in 10ms). However, the sensitivities are comparable to earlier stages of development. In the case of oxygen spectroscopy, the prototype diode laser’s thermal stability was an issue, but several spectral regions were found to be suitable for single or multimode spectroscopy

Advanced Technology Large-Aperture Space Telescope (ATLAST): A Technology Roadmap for the Next Decade

The Advanced Technology Large-Aperture Space Telescope (ATLAST) is a set of mission concepts for the next generation of UVOIR space observatory with a primary aperture diameter in the 8-m to 16-m range that will allow us to perform some of the most challenging observations to answer some of our most compelling questions, including "Is there life elsewhere in the Galaxy?" We have identified two different telescope architectures, but with similar optical designs, that span the range in viable technologies. The architectures are a telescope with a monolithic primary mirror and two variations of a telescope with a large segmented primary mirror. This approach provides us with several pathways to realizing the mission, which will be narrowed to one as our technology development progresses. The concepts invoke heritage from HST and JWST design, but also take significant departures from these designs to minimize complexity, mass, or both. Our report provides details on the mission concepts, shows the extraordinary scientific progress they would enable, and describes the most important technology development items. These are the mirrors, the detectors, and the high-contrast imaging technologies, whether internal to the observatory, or using an external occulter. Experience with JWST has shown that determined competitors, motivated by the development contracts and flight opportunities of the new observatory, are capable of achieving huge advances in technical and operational performance while keeping construction costs on the same scale as prior great observatories.Comment: 22 pages, RFI submitted to Astro2010 Decadal Committe

Mid-term report, period ending January 31, 1965, contract number NAS 9-3583, P-418

During the first two months, materials were selected and the design of a high resolution, wide spectral range lens was carried nearly to completion. An investigation of requirements for artificial illumination showed the high weight requirement for artificial illumination and the extremely high brilliance range of the lunar landscape. The use of micro electronics to provide a digital record of time of exposure and duration of exposure was investigated.Contract number NAS 9-3583General -- Optical Design -- Format and Field Angle -- Focus Considerations - Range Finder Requirements -- View Finder -- Shutter -- Auxiliary Lighting -- Time Recording -- Temperature Control -- Materials -- Mechanical Design -- Continuation of Program

Automated shape anthropometry

In medicine, ergonomics, the clothing Industry and many other areas such as the design of 'g' suits for military aeroplane pilots and protective clothing for chemical warfare, there is a requirement for the accurate 3-D measurement of the size and shape of the human form. To meet this need a novel whole body scanner has been designed which is capable of measuring both the size and shape of people in a non invasive socially acceptable manner. The scanner uses structured light and an array of television cameras to view free standing subjects while they are being rotated on an electrically driven turntable. The accuracy and repeatability of the scanner is as good as trained anthropometrists using traditional manual methods. A computer program has been written which uses a cubic spline interpolation method to edit and interrogate the data from the scanner and arrange it in a shape matrix form. This is a new way of arranging the data which allows for the 3-D average of several bodies to be obtained and also for the comparison of one body with another. A technique which is essential if 3-D survey work is to be undertaken. Using master files which contain information from a data base of previously scanned people and eight circumferential measurements it is possible to re-create body forms of any size but which correspond to the average shape for that size. The re-creation of body shapes from eight circumferences is accurate enough for the manufacture of all but the most close fitting garments but may be more useful in the future as a replacement for somatotyping (physique classification). It is perfectly possible to manipulate the eight circumferences to create body torsos of almost any shape. Conversely a torso of almost any shape could be defined by eight two digit numbers

Databook for human factors engineers. Volume 2 - Common formulas, metrics, definitions

Human factors engineering manual including mathematical formulas, nomographs, conversion tables, units of measurement, and nomenclature

Purkinje image eyetracking: A market survey

The Purkinje image eyetracking system was analyzed to determine the marketability of the system. The eyetracking system is a synthesis of two separate instruments, the optometer that measures the refractive power of the eye and the dual Purkinje image eyetracker that measures the direction of the visual axis

Accelerated neuromorphic cybernetics

Accelerated mixed-signal neuromorphic hardware refers to electronic systems that emulate electrophysiological aspects of biological nervous systems in analog voltages and currents in an accelerated manner. While the functional spectrum of these systems already includes many observed neuronal capabilities, such as learning or classification, some areas remain largely unexplored. In particular, this concerns cybernetic scenarios in which nervous systems engage in closed interaction with their bodies and environments. Since the control of behavior and movement in animals is both the purpose and the cause of the development of nervous systems, such processes are, however, of essential importance in nature. Besides the design of neuromorphic circuit- and system components, the main focus of this work is therefore the construction and analysis of accelerated neuromorphic agents that are integrated into cybernetic chains of action. These agents are, on the one hand, an accelerated mechanical robot, on the other hand, an accelerated virtual insect. In both cases, the sensory organs and actuators of their artificial bodies are derived from the neurophysiology of the biological prototypes and are reproduced as faithfully as possible. In addition, each of the two biomimetic organisms is subjected to evolutionary optimization, which illustrates the advantages of accelerated neuromorphic nervous systems through significant time savings