16,956 research outputs found
H2O: An Autonomic, Resource-Aware Distributed Database System
This paper presents the design of an autonomic, resource-aware distributed
database which enables data to be backed up and shared without complex manual
administration. The database, H2O, is designed to make use of unused resources
on workstation machines. Creating and maintaining highly-available, replicated
database systems can be difficult for untrained users, and costly for IT
departments. H2O reduces the need for manual administration by autonomically
replicating data and load-balancing across machines in an enterprise.
Provisioning hardware to run a database system can be unnecessarily costly as
most organizations already possess large quantities of idle resources in
workstation machines. H2O is designed to utilize this unused capacity by using
resource availability information to place data and plan queries over
workstation machines that are already being used for other tasks. This paper
discusses the requirements for such a system and presents the design and
implementation of H2O.Comment: Presented at SICSA PhD Conference 2010 (http://www.sicsaconf.org/
Flight telerobotic servicer control from the Orbiter
The research and work conducted on the development of a testbed for a display and control panel for the Flight Telerobotic Servicer (FTS) are presented. Research was conducted on both software and hardware needed to control the FTS. A breadboard was constructed and placed into a mockup of the aft station of the Orbiter spacecraft. This breadboard concept was then evaluated using a computer graphics representation of the Tinman FTS. Extensive research was conducted on the software requirements and implementation. The hardware selected for the breadboard was 'flight like' and in some cases fit and function evaluated. The breadboard team studied some of the concepts without pursuing in depth their impact on the Orbiter or other missions. Assumptions are made concerning payload integration
An empirical investigation into the use of product development in the educational furniture industry : a thesis presented in fulfilment of the requirements for the Master of Technology in Product Development at Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
An empirical investigation into the use of product development in the educational furniture industry is summarised in this thesis. New Zealand furniture manufacturers are facing increased competition from imported furniture and are also exporting more and more furniture. Developing new products is therefore important to the New Zealand furniture industry's growth. This research was based on a small furniture-manufacturing firm from Hastings, New Zealand called Furnware Industries Limited (Furnware). A product development process was developed to their specific needs by comparing their current product development activities with identified best practices in product development. Those parts of the current activities that worked well were amalgamated with the structured Stage-Gateœ process of Cooper (1998). This process was tested by using it to develop a Mobile Technology Education Workstation range for Furnware. The aim of the project was to develop a new product for Furnware to sell and to simultaneously test the developed process. Once the project was completed, an evaluation of the product development process used was undertaken. Several areas for improvement were identified and a revised process outlined. The use of Computer-Aided Design (CAD) software was identified as another area of improvement that would assist both product development activities and existing manufacturing processes at Furnware. Consequently, a CAD package best suited to Furnware is selected using a structured process. The three main outcomes of the research were: 1. A product development process suited to Furnware. 2. A Mobile Technology Education Workstation range of products ready for launch, pending minor adjustments and testing. 3. A CAD software package suggested for use at Furnware
System analysis in rotorcraft design: The past decade
Rapid advances in the technology of electronic digital computers and the need for an integrated synthesis approach in developing future rotorcraft programs has led to increased emphasis on system analysis techniques in rotorcraft design. The task in systems analysis is to deal with complex, interdependent, and conflicting requirements in a structured manner so rational and objective decisions can be made. Whether the results are wisdom or rubbish depends upon the validity and sometimes more importantly, the consistency of the inputs, the correctness of the analysis, and a sensible choice of measures of effectiveness to draw conclusions. In rotorcraft design this means combining design requirements, technology assessment, sensitivity analysis and reviews techniques currently in use by NASA and Army organizations in developing research programs and vehicle specifications for rotorcraft. These procedures span simple graphical approaches to comprehensive analysis on large mainframe computers. Examples of recent applications to military and civil missions are highlighted
IMIS: Integrated Maintenance Information System. A maintenance information delivery concept
The Integrated Maintenance Information System (IMIS) will optimize the use of available manpower, enhance technical performance, improve training, and reduce the support equipment and documentation needed for deployment. It will serve as the technician's single, integrated source of all the technical information required to perform modern aircraft maintenance
A human factors methodology for real-time support applications
A general approach to the human factors (HF) analysis of new or existing projects at NASA/Goddard is delineated. Because the methodology evolved from HF evaluations of the Mission Planning Terminal (MPT) and the Earth Radiation Budget Satellite Mission Operations Room (ERBS MOR), it is directed specifically to the HF analysis of real-time support applications. Major topics included for discussion are the process of establishing a working relationship between the Human Factors Group (HFG) and the project, orientation of HF analysts to the project, human factors analysis and review, and coordination with major cycles of system development. Sub-topics include specific areas for analysis and appropriate HF tools. Management support functions are outlined. References provide a guide to sources of further information
Development of life prediction capabilities for liquid propellant rocket engines. Post-fire diagnostic system for the SSME system architecture study
This system architecture task (1) analyzed the current process used to make an assessment of engine and component health after each test or flight firing of an SSME, (2) developed an approach and a specific set of objectives and requirements for automated diagnostics during post fire health assessment, and (3) listed and described the software applications required to implement this system. The diagnostic system described is a distributed system with a database management system to store diagnostic information and test data, a CAE package for visual data analysis and preparation of plots of hot-fire data, a set of procedural applications for routine anomaly detection, and an expert system for the advanced anomaly detection and evaluation
On Regulatory and Organizational Constraints in Visualization Design and Evaluation
Problem-based visualization research provides explicit guidance toward
identifying and designing for the needs of users, but absent is more concrete
guidance toward factors external to a user's needs that also have implications
for visualization design and evaluation. This lack of more explicit guidance
can leave visualization researchers and practitioners vulnerable to unforeseen
constraints beyond the user's needs that can affect the validity of
evaluations, or even lead to the premature termination of a project. Here we
explore two types of external constraints in depth, regulatory and
organizational constraints, and describe how these constraints impact
visualization design and evaluation. By borrowing from techniques in software
development, project management, and visualization research we recommend
strategies for identifying, mitigating, and evaluating these external
constraints through a design study methodology. Finally, we present an
application of those recommendations in a healthcare case study. We argue that
by explicitly incorporating external constraints into visualization design and
evaluation, researchers and practitioners can improve the utility and validity
of their visualization solution and improve the likelihood of successful
collaborations with industries where external constraints are more present.Comment: 9 pages, 2 figures, presented at BELIV workshop associated with IEEE
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