Line spread instrumentation for propagation measurements

A line spread device capable of yielding direct measure of a laser beam's line spread function (LSF) was developed and employed in propagation tests conducted in a wind tunnel to examine optimal acoustical suppression techniques for laser cavities exposed to simulated aircraft aerodynamic environments. Measurements were made on various aerodynamic fences and cavity air injection techniques that effect the LSF of a propagating laser. Using the quiescent tunnel as a control, the relative effect of each technique on laser beam quality was determined. The optical instrument employed enabled the comparison of relative beam intensity for each fence or mass injection. It was found that fence height had little effect on beam quality but fence porosity had a marked effect, i.e., 58% porosity alleviated cavity resonance and degraded the beam the least. Mass injection had little effect on the beam LSF. The use of a direct LSF measuring device proved to be a viable means of determining aerodynamic seeing qualities of flow fields

Airplane take-off performance indicator Patent

Aircraft instrument for indicating malfunctions during takeof

Distortion of the Magnetosphere During a Magnetic Storm on 30 September, 1961

Magnetosphere distortion during magnetic storm observed by Explorer XII satellit

A simplified analysis of propulsion installation losses for computerized aircraft design

A simplified method is presented for computing the installation losses of aircraft gas turbine propulsion systems. The method has been programmed for use in computer aided conceptual aircraft design studies that cover a broad range of Mach numbers and altitudes. The items computed are: inlet size, pressure recovery, additive drag, subsonic spillage drag, bleed and bypass drags, auxiliary air systems drag, boundary-layer diverter drag, nozzle boattail drag, and the interference drag on the region adjacent to multiple nozzle installations. The methods for computing each of these installation effects are described and computer codes for the calculation of these effects are furnished. The results of these methods are compared with selected data for the F-5A and other aircraft. The computer program can be used with uninstalled engine performance information which is currently supplied by a cycle analysis program. The program, including comments, is about 600 FORTRAN statements long, and uses both theoretical and empirical techniques

The Real Time Display Builder (RTDB)

The Real Time Display Builder (RTDB) is a prototype interactive graphics tool that builds logic-driven displays. These displays reflect current system status, implement fault detection algorithms in real time, and incorporate the operational knowledge of experienced flight controllers. RTDB utilizes an object-oriented approach that integrates the display symbols with the underlying operational logic. This approach allows the user to specify the screen layout and the driving logic as the display is being built. RTDB is being developed under UNIX in C utilizing the MASSCOMP graphics environment with appropriate functional separation to ease portability to other graphics environments. RTDB grew from the need to develop customized real-time data-driven Space Shuttle systems displays. One display, using initial functionality of the tool, was operational during the orbit phase of STS-26 Discovery. RTDB is being used to produce subsequent displays for the Real Time Data System project currently under development within the Mission Operations Directorate at NASA/JSC. The features of the tool, its current state of development, and its applications are discussed

Preliminary performance estimates of an oblique, all-wing, remotely piloted vehicle for air-to-air combat

A computerized aircraft synthesis program has been used to assess the effects of various vehicle and mission parameters on the performance of an oblique, all-wing, remotely piloted vehicle (RPV) for the highly maneuverable, air-to-air combat role. The study mission consists of an outbound cruise, an acceleration phase, a series of subsonic and supersonic turns, and a return cruise. The results are presented in terms of both the required vehicle weight to accomplish this mission and the combat effectiveness as measured by turning and acceleration capability. This report describes the synthesis program, the mission, the vehicle, and results from sensitivity studies. An optimization process has been used to establish the nominal RPV configuration of the oblique, all-wing concept for the specified mission. In comparison to a previously studied conventional wing-body canard design for the same mission, this oblique, all-wing nominal vehicle is lighter in weight and has higher performance

Environmental stress alters genetic regulation of novelty seeking in vervet monkeys.

Considerable attention has been paid to identifying genetic influences and gene-environment interactions that increase vulnerability to environmental stressors, with promising but inconsistent results. A nonhuman primate model is presented here that allows assessment of genetic influences in response to a stressful life event for a behavioural trait with relevance for psychopathology. Genetic and environmental influences on free-choice novelty seeking behaviour were assessed in a pedigreed colony of vervet monkeys before and after relocation from a low stress to a higher stress environment. Heritability of novelty seeking scores, and genetic correlations within and between environments were conducted using variance components analysis. The results showed that novelty seeking was markedly inhibited in the higher stress environment, with effects persisting across a 2-year period for adults but not for juveniles. There were significant genetic contributions to novelty seeking scores in each year (h(2) = 0.35-0.43), with high genetic correlations within each environment (rhoG > 0.80) and a lower genetic correlation (rhoG = 0.35, non-significant) between environments. There were also significant genetic contributions to individual change scores from before to after the move (h(2) = 0.48). These results indicate that genetic regulation of novelty seeking was modified by the level of environmental stress, and they support a role for gene-environment interactions in a behavioural trait with relevance for mental health