Report on the Stanford/Ames direct-link space suit prehensor

Researchers at the Center for Design Research at Stanford University, in collaboration with NASA Ames at Moffet Field, California, are developing hand-powered mechanical prehensors to replace gloves for EVA spacesuits. The design and functional properties of the first version Direct Link Prehensor (DLP) is discussed. It has a total of six degrees-of-freedom and is the most elaborate of three prehensors being developed for the project. The DLP has a robust design and utilizes only linkages and revolute joints for the drive system. With its anthropomorphic configuration of two fingers and a thumb, it is easy to control and is capable of all of the basic prehension patterns such as cylindrical or lateral pinch grasps. Kinematic analysis reveals that, assuming point contacts, a grasped object can be manipulated with three degrees-of-freedom. Yet, in practice more degrees-of-freedom are possible

Montgomery & Smithies: Public Policy

A Review of Public Policy Volume XIV. Edited by John D. Montgomery and Arthur Smithie

Energy consumption analysis of cooling tower fan operation

"The purpose of this thesis is to present a method to quantitatively evaluate the annual energy consumption of several types of fan control that may be used on cooling towers. The types of fan control considered are: the cycling of single speed motors, the cycling of two speed motors, the use of variable speed drives (more specifically, variable frequency drives), and the use of automatic variable pitch fans. The energy consumption of these four means of fan control are determined through the use of a computer program. The program calculates the percentage of design air flow required for each wet bulb and heat load combination of a given weather profile for the geographic location of the tower. The theoretically required fan energy is related to the air flow through the fan law relationships. This quantity is then adjusted for any efficiency changes in the fan and drive system to arrive at the actual fan energy requirement. The energy requirement at each weather point is multiplied by its number of hours of occurrence and, added to the values from the other weather points to determine the total annual energy consumption for a given fan mode of operation. The four modes of fan operation are then economically evaluated on a comparative basis."--Introduction.Includes bibliographical references

Acausality and the Machian Mind

In this paper we propose a mechanism in the brain for supporting consciousness. We leave open the question of the origin of consciousness itself, although an acausal origin is suggested since it should mesh with the proposed quasi-acausal network dynamics.  In particular, we propose simply that fixed-point attractors, such as exemplified by the simple deterministic Hopfield network, correspond to conscious moments.  In a sort of dual to Tononi's Integrated Information Theory, we suggest that the "main experience" corresponds to a dominant fixed point that incorporates sub-networks that span the brain and maximizes "relatedness." The dynamics around the dominant fixed point correspond in some parts of the system to associative memory dynamics, and to more binding constraint satisfaction dynamics in other areas. Since the memories that we are familiar with appear to have a conscious origin, it makes sense that a conscious moment itself corresponds in effect to what amounts to memory recollection.  Furthermore, since Hopfield-like networks are generative, a conscious moment can in effect be seen as a living, partially predicted memory. Another primary motivation for this approach is that alternative states can be naturally sensed, or contrasted, at the fixed points

Rules of Procedure of the United States District Court for the District of Montana

Rules of Procedure of the United States District Court for the District of Montan

Computation of transonic viscous-inviscid interacting flow

Transonic viscous-inviscid interaction is considered using the Euler and inverse compressible turbulent boundary-layer equations. Certain improvements in the inverse boundary-layer method are mentioned, along with experiences in using various Runge-Kutta schemes to solve the Euler equations. Numerical conditions imposed on the Euler equations at a surface for viscous-inviscid interaction using the method of equivalent sources are developed, and numerical solutions are presented and compared with experimental data to illustrate essential points