Advanced manned space flight simulation and training: An investigation of simulation host computer system concepts

The findings of a preliminary investigation by Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) in simulation host computer concepts is presented. It is designed to aid NASA in evaluating simulation technologies for use in spaceflight training. The focus of the investigation is on the next generation of space simulation systems that will be utilized in training personnel for Space Station Freedom operations. SwRI concludes that NASA should pursue a distributed simulation host computer system architecture for the Space Station Training Facility (SSTF) rather than a centralized mainframe based arrangement. A distributed system offers many advantages and is seen by SwRI as the only architecture that will allow NASA to achieve established functional goals and operational objectives over the life of the Space Station Freedom program. Several distributed, parallel computing systems are available today that offer real-time capabilities for time critical, man-in-the-loop simulation. These systems are flexible in terms of connectivity and configurability, and are easily scaled to meet increasing demands for more computing power

Design-space exploration of most-recent-only communication using myrinet on SGI ccNUMA architectures

technical reportSGI's current ccNUMA multiprocessor architectures offer high scalability and performance without sacrificing the ease of use of simpler SMP systems. Although these systems also provide a standard PCI expansion bus, the bridging between PCI and SGI's ccNUMA architecture invalidates the assumptions typically made by network protocol designers attempting to use Myrinet to reduce communications latencies. We explore the complications introduced by SGI's architecture in the context of designing most-recent-only communications, in which a reader requires only the most recent datum produced by a writer

Enhancing the collaboration of earthquake engineering research infrastructures

Towards stronger international collaboration of earthquake engineering research infrastructures International collaboration and mobility of researchers is a means for maximising the efficiency of use of research infrastructures. The European infrastructures are committed to widen joint research and access to their facilities. This is relevant to European framework for research and innovation, the single market and the competitiveness of the construction industry.JRC.G.4-European laboratory for structural assessmen

An Orion/Ares I Launch and Ascent Simulation: One Segment of the Distributed Space Exploration Simulation (DSES)

This paper describes the architecture and implementation of a distributed launch and ascent simulation of NASA's Orion spacecraft and Ares I launch vehicle. This simulation is one segment of the Distributed Space Exploration Simulation (DSES) Project. The DSES project is a research and development collaboration between NASA centers which investigates technologies and processes for distributed simulation of complex space systems in support of NASA's Exploration Initiative. DSES is developing an integrated end-to-end simulation capability to support NASA development and deployment of new exploration spacecraft and missions. This paper describes the first in a collection of simulation capabilities that DSES will support

RECENT RESEARCH IN VLSI, MEMS AND POWER DEVICES WITH PRACTICAL APPLICATION TO THE ITER AND DREAM PROJECTS

Several MEMS (Micro Electro-Mechanical Systems) devices have been analysed and simulated. The new proposed model of SiC MPS (Merged PIN-Schottky) diodes is in full agreement with the real MPS devices. The real size DLL (Dynamic Lattice Liquid) simulator as well as the research on modelling and simulation of modern VLSI devices with practical applications have been presented. In the basis of experience in the field of ATCA (Advanced Telecommunications Computing Architecture) based systems a proof-of-concept DAQ (data acquisition) system for ITER (International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor) have been proposed

Virtual Reality Games for Motor Rehabilitation

This paper presents a fuzzy logic based method to track user satisfaction without the need for devices to monitor users physiological conditions. User satisfaction is the key to any product’s acceptance; computer applications and video games provide a unique opportunity to provide a tailored environment for each user to better suit their needs. We have implemented a non-adaptive fuzzy logic model of emotion, based on the emotional component of the Fuzzy Logic Adaptive Model of Emotion (FLAME) proposed by El-Nasr, to estimate player emotion in UnrealTournament 2004. In this paper we describe the implementation of this system and present the results of one of several play tests. Our research contradicts the current literature that suggests physiological measurements are needed. We show that it is possible to use a software only method to estimate user emotion

Fluid Structure Interaction for Cascading Seismic and Tsunami Events using Real-Time Hybrid Simulation

While real-time hybrid simulation has been utilized for structures subjected to seismic events for decades, its use in fluid-structure interaction problems is still a novel endeavor. Gathering data for cascading seismic and tsunami events is difficult due to space constraints in existing experimental facilities, complications regarding the application of scaling laws for both the fluid and structure, and limitations of computational software in simulating multiple hazards within the same analysis. To alleviate these constraints, this study demonstrates the feasibility of a real-time hybrid simulation testing method to enhance fluid-structure interaction simulations. A cylindrical bridge pier specimen and three-dimensional numerical bridge model were subjected to cascading seismic and tsunami events within a three-tier real-time hybrid simulation architecture. The domain was partitioned such that the wave-structure interaction was physically simulated and coupled to a numerical model of the remaining bridge. To simulate existing damage, seismic loading was applied in the structural model prior to the wave loading. Textbook short pulse response was exhibited by the specimen, and the results illustrate that a real-time hybrid simulation approach is both feasible and economical for future investigations using this method