Nonterrestrial utilization of materials: Automated space manufacturing facility

Four areas related to the nonterrestrial use of materials are included: (1) material resources needed for feedstock in an orbital manufacturing facility, (2) required initial components of a nonterrestrial manufacturing facility, (3) growth and productive capability of such a facility, and (4) automation and robotics requirements of the facility

Index to 1984 NASA Tech Briefs, volume 9, numbers 1-4

Short announcements of new technology derived from the R&D activities of NASA are presented. These briefs emphasize information considered likely to be transferrable across industrial, regional, or disciplinary lines and are issued to encourage commercial application. This index for 1984 Tech B Briefs contains abstracts and four indexes: subject, personal author, originating center, and Tech Brief Number. The following areas are covered: electronic components and circuits, electronic systems, physical sciences, materials, life sciences, mechanics, machinery, fabrication technology, and mathematics and information sciences

Information impactogram application for fast detection of temperature instability zone of a two-channel ceramic roller kiln

Za dvokanalnu peć firme Siti predložen je postupak brzog određivanja zone nestabilnosti u priproizvodnji keramičkih pločica. Osnova za određivanje zone nestabilnosti jest izračun kodne identičnosti signala kvara i signala senzora temperature dvokanalne peći u odgovarajućem dijelu kritične zone paljenja. Slučaj povećanja škarta iznad 6 % je upotrebljen kao indikator primjene postupka. Određuju se kodni znakovi i računa se jednodimenzionalna teselacijska entropija za te mjerne signale. Slučaj slaganja ekspandiranih kodova i teselacijskog entropijskog iznosa može se smatrati dovoljno indikativnim za određivanje zone proizvodne nestabilnosti s naslova povećanja škarta. U razdoblju praćenja procesa 2009. u mjesecima kolovoz/rujan to je bila zona signala s50 u kanalu dvokanalne peći u trajanju približno šest uzastopnih radnih smjena. Na temelju ovih rezultata, predložen je radni tok za korištenje entropijske analize u industrijskom postrojenju u stvarnom vremenu.A fast procedure for determination of instability zone of a two-channel ceramic roller kiln, Siti type, is proposed. The basis for determination of instability zone is the calculation of code identity of final fallout signal and temperature sensor signal from the roller kiln in relevant critical firing zone. The case of product fallout increase above 6 % is used as indicator for procedure application. Code letters for the signals are determined and their respective one-dimensional tessellation entropy is calculated. The case of expanded code and entropy congruence can be taken as indicative enough for determination of the firing instability zone from the fallout increase standpoint. The signal s50 temperature zone of two-channel roller kiln was indicated in the period August/September 2009 as responsible for product losses in approximately six consecutive working shifts. Based on the results, a workflow is proposed for the use of the entropy analysis in real-time industrial setting

Automation of painted slate inspection

This thesis is concerned with the problem of how to detect visual defects on painted slates using an automated visual inspection system. The vision system that has been developed consists of two major components. The first component addresses issues such as the mechanical implementation and interfacing the inspection system with the optical and sensing equipment whereas the second component involves the development of an image processing algorithm able to identify the visual defects present on the slate surface. The visual defects can be roughly classified into two distinct categories. In this way, substrate faults occur when the slate is not fully formed or has excess material whilst paint faults describe a slate of uneven colour or gloss level. A key element in successfully imaging the slate surface defects is the illumination set-up. After extensive testing, an effective collimated lighting topology was selected and is described in detail. Imaging the slate surface was challenging because it is dark coloured, glossy and has depth profile non-uniformities. A four component image processing algorithm was designed to detect the range of defect types. The constituent components are global mean threshold, adaptive signal threshold, labelling, edge detection and labelling. Having proven a solution on the laboratory test bed, a prototype conveyor-based inspection system was assembled in order to replicate a factory-style environment. Robustness tests were performed on 400 slates and a 97% success rate was achieved. This thesis is concluded with a discussion on the feasibility of progressing this project to installation on an automated production line

Shuttle Ground Operations Efficiencies/Technologies (SGOE/T) study. Volume 2: Ground Operations evaluation

The Ground Operations Evaluation describes the breath and depth of the various study elements selected as a result of an operational analysis conducted during the early part of the study. Analysis techniques used for the evaluation are described in detail. Elements selected for further evaluation are identified; the results of the analysis documented; and a follow-on course of action recommended. The background and rationale for developing recommendations for the current Shuttle or for future programs is presented

The NASA SBIR product catalog

The purpose of this catalog is to assist small business firms in making the community aware of products emerging from their efforts in the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program. It contains descriptions of some products that have advanced into Phase 3 and others that are identified as prospective products. Both lists of products in this catalog are based on information supplied by NASA SBIR contractors in responding to an invitation to be represented in this document. Generally, all products suggested by the small firms were included in order to meet the goals of information exchange for SBIR results. Of the 444 SBIR contractors NASA queried, 137 provided information on 219 products. The catalog presents the product information in the technology areas listed in the table of contents. Within each area, the products are listed in alphabetical order by product name and are given identifying numbers. Also included is an alphabetical listing of the companies that have products described. This listing cross-references the product list and provides information on the business activity of each firm. In addition, there are three indexes: one a list of firms by states, one that lists the products according to NASA Centers that managed the SBIR projects, and one that lists the products by the relevant Technical Topics utilized in NASA's annual program solicitation under which each SBIR project was selected

Space Transportation Materials and Structures Technology Workshop

The Space Transportation Materials and Structures Technology Workshop was held on September 23-26, 1991, in Newport News, Virginia. The workshop, sponsored by the NASA Office of Space Flight and the NASA Office of Aeronautics and Space Technology, was held to provide a forum for communication within the space materials and structures technology developer and user communities. Workshop participants were organized into a Vehicle Technology Requirements session and three working panels: Materials and Structures Technologies for Vehicle Systems, Propulsion Systems, and Entry Systems

Small business innovation research. Abstracts of 1988 phase 1 awards

Non-proprietary proposal abstracts of Phase 1 Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) projects supported by NASA are presented. Projects in the fields of aeronautical propulsion, aerodynamics, acoustics, aircraft systems, materials and structures, teleoperators and robots, computer sciences, information systems, data processing, spacecraft propulsion, bioastronautics, satellite communication, and space processing are covered

Design and implementation of sensor systems for control of a closed-loop life support system

The sensing and controlling needs for a Closed-Loop Life Support System (CLLSS) were investigated. The sensing needs were identified in five particular areas and the requirements were defined for workable sensors. The specific areas of interest were atmosphere and temperature, nutrient delivery, plant health, plant propagation and support, and solids processing. The investigation of atmosphere and temperature control focused on the temperature distribution within the growth chamber as well as the possibility for sensing other parameters such as gas concentration, pressure, and humidity. The sensing needs were studied for monitoring the solution level in a porous membrane material along with the requirements for measuring the mass flow rate in the delivery system. The causes and symptoms of plant disease were examined and the various techniques for sensing these health indicators were explored. The study of sensing needs for plant propagation and support focused on monitoring seed viability and measuring seed moisture content as well as defining the requirements for drying and storing the seeds. The areas of harvesting, food processing, and resource recycling, were covered with a main focus on the sensing possibilities for regulating the recycling process

Real time contour based ceramic tile edge and corner defects detection

Kako bi se povećala kvaliteta i smanjili troškovi proizvodnje u keramičkoj industriji, gotovo sve proizvodne faze se automatiziraju. Jedan od načina smanjenja troškova proizvodnje je otkrivanje neispravnosti na keramičkim pločicama prije procesa pečenja (sirova keramička pločica). Neispravne sirove keramičke pločice vraćaju se u ulaznu sirovinu i na taj način smanjuje se potrošnja energije. U ovom radu predstavljene su metode za otkrivanje neispravnosti rubova i kutova sirovih keramičkih pločica. Sve su metode implementirane i testirane na sirovim keramičkim pločicama korištenjem industrijske linije i kamere s matričnim osjetnikom. Metode su ocjenjivane na osnovu rada u stvarnom vremenu i mogućnosti otkrivanja neispravnosti. Rezultati pokazuju da se metode mogu koristiti za rad u stvarnom vremenu i da postotak otkrivanja neispravnosti može zadovoljiti zahtijevanu vrijednost.In attempts to increase the production quality and to decrease the production costs in ceramic tile industry almost every phase in the production process needs to be automated. One way of decreasing the production costs is to detect the tiles with defects before the baking process (biscuit tiles). The separated tiles are returned to the input material mixture and the energy is not spent on baking the tiles with defects. In this paper methods for edge and corner defects detection of a biscuit ceramic tile are presented. Methods are implemented and tested on biscuit ceramic tiles using area scan camera and a prototype conveyor line. These methods are evaluated by the defect detection capabilities and the real-time application features. The results show that the methods could be used for real-time application and that the defect tiles detection percentage can reach the required value