Nasa Tech

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Welcome to your Digital Edition of
NASA Tech Briefs, Embedded Technology,
and Motion Control and Automation Technology
Included in This June Edition:
NASA Tech Briefs Motion Control and Automation Technology Imaging Technology
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A New American Space Age
NASAs Inventions of the Year
Motion Control &
Automation Technology
Imaging Technology
June 2013 www.techbriefs.com Vol. 37 No. 6
DIGIKEY.COM/NEW
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See page 10.
www.techbriefs.com/motion
June 2013
Supplement to NASA Tech Briefs Supplement to NASA Tech Briefs
Linear Guide Systems
Streamline Aircraft Seat
Assembly and Operation
60
Custom Drive System
Helps Mercedes-Benz
Reduce Draft in
Convertibles
64
New Products
66
Linear guide rails are an
important component within
aircraft interiors, such as seat
assemblies, tray tables, and
footrests. See page 60.
June 2013
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A New American Space Age
NASAs Inventions of the Year
Motion Control &
Imaging Technology
June 2013 www.techbriefs.com Vol. 37 No. 6
DIGIKEY.COM/NEW
NEW
PRODUCTS
ADDED DAILY
THE
LAST CHANCE TO ENTER!
See page 10.
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6 www.techbriefs.com NASA Tech Briefs, June 2013
1a 14a
Imaging Technology
Follows page 40 in selected editions only.
June 2013 Vol. 37 No. 6
26 Technology Focus: Data Acquisition
26 Cloud Absorption Radiometer Autonomous
Navigation System CANS
26 Hyperspectral Imager-Tracker
28 Software Method for Computing Tomography Cylinder
Data Unwrapping, Re-slicing, and Analysis
28 Discrete Data Qualification System and Method
Comprising Noise Series Fault Detection
30 Web Application Software for Ground Operations
Planning Database (GOPDb) Management
31 Simple Laser Communications Terminal for Downlink
From Earth Orbit at Rates Exceeding 10 Gb/s
33 Application Program Interface for the Orion
Aerodynamics Database
34 Electronics/Computers
34 Compact Radar Transceiver With Included Calibration
36 Software Defined Radio With Parallelized Software
Architecture
38 Manufacturing & Prototyping
38 Phase Change Material Thermal Power Generator
38 The Thermal Hogan A Means of Surviving
the Lunar Night
40 Micromachined Active Magnetic Regenerator
for Low-Temperature Magnetic Coolers
42 Materials & Coatings
42 Nano-Ceramic Coated Plastics
43 Preparation of a Bimetal Using Mechanical
Alloying for Environmental or Industrial Use
44 Phase Change Material for Temperature Control of
Imager or Sounder on GOES Type Satellites in GEO
45 Mechanics/Machinery
45 Dual-Compartment Inflatable Suitlock
46 Piezoelectrically Initiated Pyrotechnic Igniter
46 Folding Elastic Thermal Surface FETS
48 Genesis Ultrapure Water Megasonic Wafer Spin Cleaner
48 Modular Connector Keying Concept
49 Physical Sciences
49 Environmental Qualification of a Single-Crystal Silicon
Mirror for Spaceflight Use
49 Multi-Pass Quadrupole Mass Analyzer
10 UpFront
12 Whos Who at NASA
41 Technologies of the Month
78 NASAs Innovative Partnerships Office
79 Advertisers Index
14 NASA Announces 2012 Inventions
of the Year
16 A New American Space Age
24 Application Briefs
80 NASA Spinoff: Digital Photo Technology
Connects Sports Teams and Fans
14
16
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73 Product Focus: Test Instruments
74 New Products/Software
N E W F O R D E S I G N E N G I N E E R S
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June 2013
more 'flexible.'
New Products...............................................12a
(Solutions continued on page 8)
74
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8 NASA Tech Briefs, June 2013 For Free Info Visit http://info.hotims.com/45604-866
50 Lunar Sulfur Capture System
51 Qualification of UHF Antenna for Extreme Martian
Thermal Environments
53 Planar Superconducting Millimeter-Wave/Terahertz
Channelizing Filter
54 Software
54 Ensemble Eclipse: A Process for Prefab Development
Environment for the Ensemble Project
54 Space Operations Learning Center (SOLC)
iPhone/iPad Application
55 ISS Live!
55 Software to Compare NPP HDF5 Data Files
56 Information Technology
56 Modeling the Behavior of a Polymer Electrolyte
Membrane within a Fuel Cell
57 Semi-Supervised Eigenbasis Novelty Detection
58 Translating MAPGEN to ASPEN for MER
59 Motion Control and
60 Linear Guide Systems Streamline Aircraft
Seat Assembly and Operation
64 Custom Drive System Helps Mercedes-Benz
Reduce Draft in Convertibles
66 New Products
Contents continued
NASA and its industry partners are developing a
U.S. commercial crew space transportation capabili-
ty with the goal of achieving safe, reliable, and
cost-effective access to and from low-Earth orbit
and the International Space Station (ISS). Orbital
Sciences (Dulles, VA), one of NASAs industry part-
ners in this program, successfully test-launched its
Antares rocket, which will carry the companys
new Cygnus spacecraft on its mission to resupply
the ISS. Shown is an artists rendering of Cygnus
preparing to dock at the ISS. Learn more about
NASAs commercial space vision in the article
beginning on page 16.
(Image courtesy of Orbital Sciences)
P R O D U C T O F T H E M O N T H
O N T H E C O V E R
73
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This document was prepared under the sponsorship of the National Aeronautics and Space
Administration. Neither Associated Business Publications Co., Ltd. nor the United States
Government nor any person acting on behalf of the United States Government assumes any
liability resulting from the use of the information contained in this document, or warrants that
such use will be free from privately owned rights. The U.S. Government does not endorse any
commercial product, process, or activity identified in this publication.
Permissions: Authorization to photocopy items for internal or personal use, or the internal or
personal use of specific clients, is granted by Associated Business Publications, provided that
the flat fee of $3.00 per copy be paid directly to the Copyright Clearance Center (222 Rose
Wood Dr., Danvers, MA 01923). For those organizations that have been granted a photocopy
license by CCC, a separate system of payment has been arranged. The fee code for users of the
Transactional Reporting Service is: ISSN 0145-319X194 $3.00+ .00
www.techbriefs.com/motion
June 2013
60
Custom Drive System
Helps Mercedes-Benz
Reduce Draft in
Convertibles
64
New Products
66
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The July issue of NASA Tech Briefs
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Data Acquisition, and a special tech-
nology focus on Sensors.
Mars has lost much of its original
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nasa.gov/msl.
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and other interface designs from a menu. Though WorldKit now focuses on interacting
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system in free space.
Visit www.chrisharrison.net/index.php/Research/WorldKit to learn more.
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With CMUs WorldKit system, you can rub the arm of a sofa to
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www.techbriefs.com NASA Tech Briefs, June 2013 Free Info at http://info.hotims.com/45604-709
Whos Who at NASA
H
uy Tran research -
es air traffic man-
agement, advanced
air craft design, and
thermal protection.
Tran has made signifi-
cant contributions to
flight hardware on
several NASA missions, and was lead
inventor of the Phenolic Impregnated
Carbon Ablator (PICA), an innovative
heat shield material.
NASA Tech Briefs: What kinds of avia-
tion projects and collaborations are you
trying to foster?
Huy Tran: Our most visible project
right now is the ATM (Air Traffic
Manage ment) tech demo project. We are
delivering decision-supporting tools to
the Federal Aviation Administration
(FAA), but in a way that integrates the
latest technology from terminal to
ground. [The ATM (Air Traffic Manage -
ment) project is NASAs collaboration
with the FAA and other industry partners
to develop advanced automation tools
that provide air traffic controllers, pilots,
and other airspace users with more accu-
rate real-time information about the
nations traffic flow, weather, and rout-
ing.] I help the team stay focused and
work on their deliverables, and I try to
make connections with the FAA so that
we can achieve our goals.
NTB: What kinds of thermal protec-
tion work are you doing now?
Tran: Last year, a part of the aeronau-
tics portfolio was in entry, descent, and
landing (EDL) technologies. This year,
NASA wanted to transfer it from aero-
nautics into space technology so that
we can better align research to mis-
sions. When EDL was in aeronautics, we
were actually doing advanced research
on the materials such as the next-gener-
ation of PICA, the heat shield on [the
spacecraft] Stardust, and the SpaceX
Dragon capsule.
We also were looking at a trans-
formable aeroshell. The aeroshell will
adapt to the dynamic pressure and tem-
perature, so that you can do a precision
landing or entry. In the typical rigid
heat shield, youre going to need a very
large launch shroud, lets say 5 meters
or more. If you can stow your heat
shield so you dont need a very large vol-
ume for launch, you will save quite a bit
of money.
NTB: What kinds of projects are tak-
ing place with air traffic management?
Tran: That is a very exciting area right
now for us. We are working on multiple
components where we can increase the
efficiency of the airspace. One of the
things that were working on, and we
actually just sent its deliverables to the
FAA, is called the Efficient Descent
Advisor (EDA). Essentially, its about pro-
viding decision support for the air traffic
controllers that allows them to issue fuel-
efficient, continuous descents during
peak traffic periods that save time and
also improve fuel burn for the aircraft,
which is a huge cost for the airline. We
came up with this tool that increases effi-
ciency during the terminal and approach
area, and also reduces the fuel burn (and
therefore the carbon emission).
Another area that is very exciting for
our team is DWR (dynamic weather
routing). The technology is currently
being tested in Texas, and our partner,
American Airlines, is very interested in
that. DWR is a tool that checks [meteo-
rological conditions], looks at the rout-
ing, and suggests more efficient routes
around the weather.
ATM Technology Demonstration-1
(ATD-1) is one of our major activities for
aeronautics. Were hoping to do field
testing and demonstrations in 2016 and
2017. The combination among the three
sets of tools will increase the efficiency of
air travel significantly.
To listen to a downloadable podcast of the
full interview, visit www.techbriefs.com/
podcast. For more information on licensing
and partnering opportunities related to the tech-
nologies mentioned here, contact sumedha.
garud@nasa.gov or call 1-855-NASA-BIZ
(1-855-627-2249).
Huy Tran, Deputy Director, Aeronautics
Directorate, Ames Research Center,
Moffett Field, CA
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Nano Sensors for Chemical Detection
The 2012 NASA Government Invention of the Year was
awarded to a tiny sensor that detects chemicals in the air. The
technology, titled High Sensitive, Low Power and Compact
Nano Sensors for Trace Chemical Detection, was invented by
Jing Li and Meyya Meyyappan of NASAs Ames Research
Center in Moffett Field, CA, and Yijang Lu of the University of
California, Santa Cruz.
Electronic sensors, made from carbon nanotubes, estimate
one or more unknown parts of a gas. The sensors are inex-
pensive, lightweight, and consume very little power. A typical
sensor includes a set of comb-shaped metal microelectrodes
fabricated by photolithography on an electrically insu-
lating substrate.
The sensors have been deployed by NASA to detect trace
gases in the crew cabin on the International Space Station.
Other federal agencies are using sensors based on this technol-
ogy to detect trace gases in various environments.
Specific applications for which the innovative devices have
been tested and used include trace chemical detection in plan-
etary exploration, air monitoring, leak detection, and haz-
ardous agent detection using cell phones. Potential future
applications may include environmental monitoring, industri-
al process monitoring and control, and biomedical diagnosis.
Were very pleased to have Ames inventiveness recognized with
this award for the third consecutive year, said S. Pete Worden,
NASA Ames center director. With this invention, our people have
basically created the insides of a tricorder, and based on the uses
weve already demonstrated, I cant wait to see the fantastic appli-
cations that NASA and industry are going to devise for it.
Visit www.nasa.gov/centers/ames/news/features/2009/cell_phone_
sensors.html for more information.
NASA Announces 2012
Inventions of the Year
Catalyst System
A team at Langley Research Center in Hampton, VA, was
presented with the 2012 NASA Commercial Invention of the
Year. The technology was invented by Jeff Jordan, Jacqueline
Schryer, Patricia Davis, Neal Watkins, Donald Oglesby, Bradley
Leighty, and the late David Schryer.
The teams creation, entitled Meth -
odology for the Effective Stabilization of
Tin Oxide-Based Oxidation/Reduction
Catalysts, stabilizes a catalyst in virtually
any application that requires the removal
of toxic compounds, including carbon
monoxide. Unlike a conventional catalyst,
the technology has low, near-room-temper-
ature oxidation capabilities that are main-
tained up to temperatures greater than
800 C, or about 1472 F. Current catalyst
systems cannot change the state of carbon
monoxide (CO) and hydrocarbons (HC)
in such a wide range of temperatures.
The technology is capable of removing
other volatile compounds, such as formaldehyde and nitrogen
oxides, from exhaust streams. Traditional technologies employ
filters to remove contaminants like CO and HC, which become
saturated and have to be replaced. The invention, however, can
be used for longer time periods since the molecules are convert-
ed to carbon dioxide, which requires less system maintenance.
The Langley methodology removes pollutants from envi-
ronments such as ground and flight vehicle engines that oper-
ate on fuels, including diesel, natural gas, and alcohol fuels.
The fact that it can operate over a very wide temperature
range lends itself to applications from lawn mowers to, poten-
tially, jumbo jets, said Neal Watkins, one
member of the Langley team.
The process could be valuable for min-
ing, power generation, construction,
loco motive, forestry, and marine purpos-
es. It may also be used in personal safety
equipment, as well as detection schemes,
to produce low-cost chemical sensors for
the trace detection of pollutants. The
methodology has immediate aerospace
applications as well, including green air-
craft, cabin and habitat air purification,
and other trace contaminant elimination
from life support systems.
The new production method incorpo-
rates at least one additional metal oxide species. The oxides
stabilize the active tin oxide layer during a high-temperature
operation in a reducing environment, such as vehicle exhaust.
Visit http://technologygateway.nasa.gov/ for information on this
and other Langley technologies.
A silicon-based sensing chip consists of 64 nano sensors, and is less than one
square centimeter. (NASA Ames/Dominic Hart)
A cordierite substrate, coated with a catalyst
material. (NASA)
NASAs Inventions of the Year competition consists of two awards: the NASA Commercial Invention of the
Year and the NASA Government Invention of the Year. Each NASA field center submits nominations for the
awards, which are evaluated by NASAs Inventions and Contributions Board. Here are the 2012 winners.
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Structural Mechanics Module
Nonlinear Structural Materials Module
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Microuidics Module
Subsurface Flow Module
Pipe Flow Module
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Batteries & Fuel Cells Module
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Material Library
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INTERFACING
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Intro
N
ASA and its industry partners are
developing a U.S. commercial
crew space transportation capa-
bility with the goal of achieving safe, reli-
able, and cost-effective access to and
from low-Earth orbit and the Interna -
tional Space Station. Through a pro-
gram begun in 2006, NASA is investing
financial and technical resources to
stimulate efforts within the private sec-
tor to develop these capabilities.
Phil McAlister (left)
is NASA Com mercial
Spaceflight Develop -
ment Direc t or at NASA
Head quarters in Wash -
ing ton, DC. He is a vet-
eran of the space in -
dustry with experience
in civil, military, and
commercial space pro-
grams. Over his career, he has participat-
ed in the design and development of
new launch vehicles, the redesign of the
International Space Station, plus several
commercial satellite endeavors.
Recently, Phil McAlister spoke with
NASA Tech Briefs about how NASAs part-
nerships with industry are shaping
Americas next-generation human space -
flight.
NASA Tech Briefs: Recently, NASAs 2014
budget was announced, with $814 million
earmarked for commercial spaceflight. Will
that enable the current activities to continue
progressing over the next 12 months?
Phil McAlister: The $814 million
request lets the program continue at a
level we think is required in order to
establish U.S. access to space by 2017.
This is what we are targeting for opera-
tional services. We are partnering with
industry by providing financial and tech-
nical assistance for them. Then we will
certify the vehicles and spacecraft for
launching NASA personnel to the
International Space Station.
Between now and 2017, we will go
through the certification process that
basically confirms the vehicles are safe to
fly NASA personnel. There will probably
be a test program as part of that certifi-
cation process. There will be some num-
ber of flights or test missions, and cer-
tainly I would think at least one of those
missions will be crewed. After the test
phase, if all goes according to plan, we
will certify one or more vehicles. Then
we will begin services basically, trans-
porting our astronauts up and down
from the International Space Station.
The start of services is what we are tar-
geting for 2017. You might see some
crewed flights before 2017, but they
would be part of a test program.
NASA Tech Briefs: Can you explain NASAs
commercial space programs the Commercial
Crew Program (CCP) and the Commercial
Orbital Transpor tation Services (COTS)?
McAlister: We have two programs: the
Commercial Cargo Program (or COTS)
and the Commercial Crew Program [see
sidebar on page 23]. The cargo program
was started in 2005 and we currently
A New American
Space Age
NASA and industry are working together to ensure safe, reliable, and
affordable space transportation launching from U.S. soil by mid-decade.
The SpaceX Dragon spacecraft
berthed to the International
Space Station.
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Intro
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Intro
have two partners: SpaceX and Orbital
Sciences. We invested, very similar to the
crew program, technical and financial
resources to those two companies. Last
year, SpaceX finished all their test mile-
stones and theyve started cargo resup-
ply services to the International Space
Station. Orbital Sciences is our other
partner. They started about a year-and-a-
half after SpaceX, so they are a little bit
behind. [Editors Note: At the time of
this interview, Orbital had not yet test-
launched its Antares rocket. The suc-
cessful launch occurred on April 21.]
For crew, its Boeing, Sierra Nevada,
and SpaceX. They all have a more
aggressive schedule than NASA. They
believe they can fly by 2015 for SpaceX,
and maybe 2016 for Boeing and Sierra
Nevada. NASA feels those are very
aggressive schedules, so we have tacked
on a year of reserve, and are targeting
2017. But the companies believe they
can get there, and we are fine with that.
If it turns out they do get there quicker,
were not going to slow them down
well let them accelerate. But in terms of
our commitment to the external com-
munity, we feel comfortable with 2017.
NASA Tech Briefs: NASAs initiative to work
with the private sector to commercialize space
is a significant shift in the Agencys traditional
spacecraft development programs. What are
some of the factors that led NASA to make this
shift? How is this partnership different from the
way NASA has always worked with private
industry in the past to build spacecraft?
McAlister: NASA has always had as
part of its mission to commercialize
space. Thats actually in the NASA Space
Act, so weve been doing that most of
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18 NASA Tech Briefs, June 2013
Commercial Space
Artists concept of Boeings CST-100 spacecraft preparing to dock with the International Space Station.
(Image: Boeing)
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Intro
NASAs history, but weve never really
done spacecraft development this way,
where we shift a lot of the responsibility
to industry, particularly in the human
spaceflight world. That has traditionally
been the domain of NASA.
There were five contributing factors.
The first one is budget. Were in a very
challenging budget environment. We
have to try and do things more cost effec-
tively. When youre in that kind of budg-
et environment, there is a lot of history
that says industry can move faster and
they can be more cost effective when
they are responsible for development.
Factor number two is that you cant
be pushing the state of the art in terms
of technology. Transporting people to
low-Earth orbit is a really hard mission.
Its one of the hardest things we do,
but its also something weve been
doing successfully for 40 years. Weve
had over 100 flights up and down to
low-Earth orbit, so were really not
pushing the state of the art. It just
requires good, disciplined engineer-
ing, and we believe industry can do
that. Since were not pushing the state
of the art, we think thats another fac-
tor that allows us to shift some of the
responsibility to industry.
The third factor is that you need to
have a fairly capable industrial base.
Twenty years ago, it may not have been
feasible to do commercial crew, but cer-
tainly within the last five years, weve
really seen the commercial space indus-
try take off. There are a number of com-
panies that are both financially and tech-
nically capable of this mission.
The fourth factor is that you need to
have the possibility or potential for non-
government customers. If NASA was the
only customer for this, I dont know if
we would be advocating doing it com-
NASA Tech Briefs, June 2013 19
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Artists concept of Sierra Nevada Corp.s Dream Chaser spacecraft landing on a traditional runway.
(Image: SNC)
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Intro
20 NASA Tech Briefs, June 2013 Free Info at http://info.hotims.com/45604-714
mercially, but there is definitely demand
for human access to low-Earth orbit.
Weve seen between 8 and 10 space
tourists fly to low-Earth orbit, and NASA
flies astronauts from other countries
that do not have a human spaceflight
program or we did when we had the
space shuttle program. There are a lot
of people who want to do research in
low-Earth orbit. There is potential for
customers other than NASA, so thats
another key ingredient.
The last factor is that the Interna -
tional Space Station provides an anchor
tenant or base market. Companies can
see that maybe the space tourism market
is a little speculative, but this NASA mar-
ket is definitely real. As long as the space
station is up there, were going to need
to fly our astronauts up, so it provides
them with a base market that really
makes this whole thing feasible.
NASA Tech Briefs: One concern about pri-
vate companies taking humans to space is
safety. Although private citizens have been
traveling to space for more than a decade, the
question of safety remains. How is NASA
ensuring that industry will be able to provide
reliable and more importantly, safe
human access to space?
McAlister: We have two strategies with
respect to safety. A key aspect of the pro-
gram is to maintain competition. Wed
like to be able to have more than one
company through the development
phase if budgets allow. We believe that
competition not only supports cost effec-
tiveness and short timelines, but it also
enhances safety. Weve seen that through-
out the commercial crew program for the
three years weve been in development.
Each one of the companies is trying to
knock themselves out to beat the other
guys in terms of safety because they know
thats a key criterion for NASA to use
when we evaluate these different systems.
The other approach were using is the
certification process. We have our
requirements for human spaceflight,
and the companies have to meet those
requirements in order for us to certify
them as safe to fly our astronauts. Thats
part of the partnership.
Industry is defining the how, and
NASA is defining the what. We define
what we want we want crew transporta-
tion services to low-Earth orbit and we want
them to meet our safety requirements
but how theyre going to meet those
requirements, were really leaving up to
industry. We feel thats a very effective way
to do spacecraft development when youre
not pushing the state of the art.
NASA Tech Briefs: Companies like Virgin
Galactic have begun taking reservations for
trips to space, and Space Adventures has been
taking private citizens to space since 2001
and is currently planning a mission to the
Moon. What is NASAs position regarding
such flights, and how closely does NASA work
with these companies?
An artists rendering of the Orbital Sciences
Cygnus spacecraft preparing to dock at the
International Space Station. (Image: Orbital
Sciences)
Commercial Space
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Intro
McAlister: I dont think NASA takes
any sort of official position on space
tourism, but Id say, in general, were
supportive of any activity that people
want to do in space. Thats what were
about. So if a private company wants to
do some space-related activity, I think
NASAs position in general is good for
them, good luck, and God speed.
In terms of the specific companies,
Virgin Galactic is private development
NASA is not contributing to that.
Personally, I think its a really interesting
concept. They have a lot of reservations
and they look like theyre going to fly
pretty soon. Theyve gone through a
very rigorous test program that gives us
confidence that private industry is not
going to shortchange safety. They know
that if they shortchange safety, theyll be
out of business, so theyre very incen-
tivized for safe flight. We have confi-
dence that those guys know what theyre
doing. I do believe we have a contract
with Virgin Galactic to potentially put
payloads into suborbital space, and we
have a contract with a number of others
through our Flight Opportunities Pro -
gram. We didnt facilitate or invest in the
development of Virgin Galactic that
was all done privately.
In terms of Space Adventures, thats
another company we wish the best for.
They arrange for trips to low-Earth orbit
through the Soyuz, and their lunar mis-
sion also utilizes the Soyuz spacecraft.
We dont contribute financially to Space
Adventures, and we dont use any of
their services, but we wish them well.
NASA Tech Briefs: What types of technolo-
gies will NASA and industry need to develop
or adapt for this new program of manned
space transportation?
McAlister: Each one of our partners
has a very unique concept. Sierra Nevada
has a lifting body that looks like a mini
shuttle, and they want to implement a
very innovative green propellant propul-
sion system that we think has potential.
Thats a technology area that probably
needs a little bit of development.
SpaceX and Boeing have their own
areas in which theyre working, but I
dont really see it as technology
enhancement. Its really just good engi-
neering. We know how to do liquid oxy-
gen and liquid hydrogen engines, and
we know how to do kerosene propulsion
systems. Each one of the companies is
adapting their own systems. I dont real-
ly characterize this as a technology pro-
gram its really just spacecraft and
launch vehicle development.
We believe at NASA that we have a
good integrated strategy for explo-
ration. We believe our concepts for
beyond low-Earth orbit that feature
the Space Launch System and the Orion
multipurpose crew vehicle are great
programs. The way were doing those
programs is the right approach for that
mission. For low-Earth orbit, were shift-
ing some of the responsibility to indus-
try, and that frees NASA up to do the
really hard thing, which is to go beyond
low-Earth orbit.
So we really do not see this as a com-
petition between low-Earth orbit and
beyond low-Earth orbit. We believe its
synergistic and complementary to our
space strategy. Were shifting responsi-
bility for low-Earth orbit more towards
private industry, and NASA is retaining
the very difficult missions.
Watch NASAs latest Commercial Crew
video on Tech Briefs TV at www.techbriefs.
com/tv/commercialspace. For more informa-
tion on NASAs commercial spaceflight pro-
gram, visit www.nasa.gov/commercial.
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Commercial Space
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Intro
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N
ASAs Commercial Crew and Cargo Program industry
partners Boeing, Sierra Nevada, SpaceX, and Orbital
Sciences are on track to meet exciting milestones this year.
Boeing will begin manufacturing its CST-100 spacecraft at
Kennedy Space Centers former Orbiter Processing Facility-3
this summer. In April, Boeing successfully completed a pre-
liminary design review of the Launch Vehicle Adapter com-
ponent that would connect the companys new crew capsule
to its United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket. (www.boeing.
com/boeing/defense-space/space/ccts)
Sierra Nevada is gearing up for its first free-flight test of
the Dream Chaser spacecraft at NASAs Dryden Flight
Research Center in California. The Dream Chaser would
launch on an Atlas V rocket, and land on a conventional
runway, much like the Space Shuttle. (www.sncspace.com)
SpaceX (Space Exploration Technologies), which
already has had success in the Commercial Cargo
Program, has ambitions to fly a crew on its Falcon 9 rocket
and Dragon capsule. Its first official resupply mission to
the International Space Station was in October 2012, fol-
lowed by the second in May 2012, and the most recent in
March 2013. Dragon is the only space station resupply
spacecraft able to return a significant amount of cargo to
Earth. It returned about 2,668 pounds of science samples,
equipment, and education activities. (www.spacex.com)
Orbital Sciences had a successful test launch on April 21
of its Antares rocket. The completed flight paves the way
for a demonstration mission to resupply the space station
later this year. (www.orbital.com)
Blue Origin will continue its Commercial Crew
Development partnership with NASA in an unfunded
capacity. The company previously received funding to
advance its technologies. (www.blueorigin.com)
The SpaceX Dragon Crew Engineer ing Model on the factory floor at
SpaceX headquarters. SpaceX and NASA have completed reviews of
the Dragon crew vehicle layout using the model equipped with seats
and representations of crew systems. (Photo: SpaceX)
NASA Partners Meeting Milestones
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Intro
B attery Pack Powers NASA
Rocket Launch
Lithium-Ion battery
Quallion, LLC
Sylmar, CA
818-833-2000
www.quallion.com
Quallion, a developer and manufacturer of lithium-ion stor-
age systems, assisted in the launch of Orbital Sciences
Corporations Pegasus
rocket, which carried NASAs Nuclear

Spectroscopic Array Telescope (NuSTAR) satellite.
The company supplied Orbital Sciences with custom-
designed, rechargeable, 28V battery packs, three of which are
utilized on the Pegasus
rocket to power launch vehicle avion-

ics during flight.
NASA will use the NuStar to detect black holes and other
energetic phenomena in the universe, with the purpose of
expanding knowledge of the origins and lifecycles of stars and
galaxies. The Pegasus/NuSTAR mission originated from the
U.S. Armys Reagan Test Site, Kwajalein Atoll. Following a one-
hour pre-planned positioning flight, the Pegasus rocket was
released from Orbitals L-1011 carrier aircraft. After a 13-
minute powered flight sequence, Pegasus launched the 770-lb.
NuSTAR satellite into its targeted circular orbit approximately
400 miles above the Earth.
The launch is the 27th consecutive successful mission for
the Pegasus program over a 15-year period, and the first time
Orbital Sciences has ever used a lithium-ion battery on its
space launch systems. The event marks Quallions first launch
on a Pegasus
rocket.
For Free Info Visit http://info.hotims.com/45604-115
R adioisotope System Keeps
Mars Rover Moving
Thermoelectric generator
Idaho National Laboratory
Idaho Falls, ID
866-495-7440
www.inl.gov
The instruments aboard NASAs Mars Science Laboratory
Curiosity rover receive their power from a radioisotope system
assembled and tested at Idaho National Laboratory. The Multi-
Mission Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator is a space bat-
tery that can reliably power a deep space mission for many years.
The generator provides 110 Watts of electricity, as well as a
continuous source of heat and power for the Curiosity rovers
instruments. The power system will enable Curiosity to com-
plete its ambitious expedition in Mars extreme temperatures
and seasons. The nuclear fuel is protected by multiple layers
of safety features that have each been rigorously tested under
varied accident scenarios.
Other tests included vibrational testing to simulate rocket
launch conditions, magnetic testing to ensure the systems
electrical field did not affect the rovers sensitive scientific
equipment, mass properties tests to determine the center of
gravity, and thermal vacuum testing to verify operation on a
planets surface or in the cold vacuum of space.
The system will supply warmth and electricity to Curiosity
and its scientific instruments using heat from nuclear decay.
The generator is fueled with a ceramic form of plutonium
dioxide encased in multiple layers of protective materials,
including iridium capsules and high-strength graphite blocks.
As the plutonium naturally decays, it gives off heat, which is cir-
culated through the rover by heat transfer fluid plumbed
throughout the system. Electric voltage is produced by using
thermocouples, which exploit the temperature difference
between the heat source and the cold exterior.
The nuclear-powered rover travels farther, lasts longer, and
powers and heats a larger and more capable scientific payload
compared to the solar power alternative studied by NASA.
NASA has used nuclear generators to safely and reliably power
26 missions over the past 50 years.
A p p l i c a t i o n B r i e f s
A p p l i c a t i o n B r i e f s
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C ryogenic Turbines Aid
NASAs Morpheus
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Cryogenic turbine meters
Turbines, Inc.
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Turbines, Inc., a designer and manu-
facturer of turbine flow metering tech-
nology, has assisted NASA with its
Morpheus Lander project. Project
Morpheus, a vertical testbed, demon-
strates new autonomous landing and
hazard detection technology, as well as
green propellant propulsion systems.
The primary focus of the test bed is to
establish an integrated propulsion and
guidance, navigation, and control sys-
tem that flies a lunar descent profile and
exercises the Autonomous Landing and
Hazard Avoidance Technology
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closed-loop flight control.
Turbines, Inc. provided specialized
cryogenic turbine meters the TMC
0075-SAN, TMC 0150-SAN, and the
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cally engineered to include sanitary
process connections. To monitor the
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ance and fuel intake, the meters were
incorporated into NASA test stands.
Turbines, Inc.s cryogenic turbine
meters operate at very low tempera-
tures, making them suitable for the
extreme conditions of NASAs projects.
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Intro
Technology Focus: Data Acquisition
CAR (cloud absorption radiometer)
acquires spatial reference data from host
aircraft navigation systems. This poses var-
ious problems during CAR data reduction,
including navigation data format, accuracy
of position data, accuracy of airframe iner-
tial data, and navigation data rate.
Incorporating its own navigation system,
which included GPS (Global Positioning
System), roll axis inertia and rates, and
three-axis acceleration, CANS expedites
data reduction and increases the accuracy
of the CAR end data product.
CANS provides a self-contained naviga-
tion system for the CAR, using inertial ref-
erence and GPS positional information.
The intent of the software application was
to correct the sensor with respect to air-
craft roll in real time based upon inputs
from a precision navigation sensor. In
addition, the navigation information
(including GPS position), attitude data,
and sensor position details are all
streamed to a remote system for record-
ing and later analysis.
CANS comprises a commercially avail-
able inertial navigation system with inte-
gral GPS capability (Attitude Heading
Reference SystemAHRS) integrated
into the CAR support structure and data
system. The unit is attached to the bottom
of the tripod support structure. The relat-
ed GPS antenna is located on the P-3
radome immediately above the CAR. The
AHRS unit provides a RS-232 data stream
containing global position and inertial
attitude and velocity data to the CAR,
which is recorded concurrently with the
CAR data. This independence from air-
craft navigation input provides for posi-
tion and inertial state data that accounts
for very small changes in aircraft attitude
and position, sensed at the CAR location
as opposed to aircraft state sensors typical-
ly installed close to the aircraft center of
gravity. More accurate positional data
enables quicker CAR data reduction with
better resolution.
The CANS software operates in two
modes: initialization/calibration and
operational. In the initialization/calibra-
tion mode, the software aligns the preci-
sion navigation sensors and initializes the
communications interfaces with the sen-
sor and the remote computing system. It
also monitors the navigation data state for
quality and ensures that the system main-
tains the required fidelity for attitude and
positional information. In the operational
mode, the software runs at 12.5 Hz and
gathers the required navigation/attitude
data, computes the required sensor cor-
rection values, and then commands the
sensor to the required roll correction. In
this manner, the sensor will stay very near
to vertical at all times, greatly improving
the resulting collected data and imagery.
CANS greatly improves quality of result-
ing imagery and data collected. In addi-
tion, the software component of the sys-
tem outputs a concisely formatted, high-
speed data stream that can be used for
further science data processing. This pre-
cision, time-stamped data also can benefit
other instruments on the same aircraft
platform by providing extra information
from the mission flight.
This work was done by Duncan Kahle of
Goddard Space Flight Center, Charles Gatebe of
the University of Baltimore, Bill McCune of
Adaptive Aerospace, and Dustan Hellwig of
Chesapeake Technology International. For
more information, download the Technical
Support Package (free white paper) at
www.techbriefs.com/tsp under the Physical
Sciences category. GSC-16395-1
Cloud Absorption Radiometer Autonomous Navigation System
CANS
The system captures navigational data in real time while keeping the sensor centered on a fixed target.
Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland
The Hyperspectral Imager-Tracker
(HIT) is a technique for visualization
and tracking of low-contrast, fast-moving
objects. The HIT architecture is based
on an innovative and only recently devel-
oped concept in imaging optics. This
innovative architecture will give the
Light Prescriptions Innovators (LPI)
HIT the possibility of simultaneously col-
lecting the spectral band images (hyper-
spectral cube), IR images, and to operate
with high-light-gathering power and high
magnification for multiple fast- moving
objects. Adaptive Spectral Filtering algo-
rithms will efficiently increase the con-
trast of low-contrast scenes.
The most hazardous parts of a space mis-
sion are the first stage of a launch and the
last 10 kilometers of the landing trajectory.
In general, a close watch on spacecraft
operation is required at distances up to 70
km. Tracking at such distances is usually
associated with the use of radar, but its mil-
liradian angular resolution translates to
100-m spatial resolution at 70-km distance.
With sufficient power, radar can track a
spacecraft as a whole object, but will not
provide detail in the case of an accident,
particularly for small debris in the one-
meter range, which can only be achieved
optically. It will be important to track the
debris, which could disintegrate further
into more debris, all the way to the ground.
Such fragmentation could cause ballistic
predictions, based on observations using
high-resolution but narrow-field optics for
only the first few seconds of the event, to be
inaccurate. No optical imager architecture
exists to satisfy NASA requirements.
Hyperspectral Imager-Tracker
John F. Kennedy Space Center, Florida
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Intro
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Intro
The HIT was developed for space vehi-
cle tracking, in-flight inspection, and in
the case of an accident, a detailed record-
ing of the event. The system is a combina-
tion of five subsystems: (1) a roving
fovea telescope with a wide 30 field of
regard; (2) narrow, high-resolution
fovea field optics; (3) a Coude optics
system for telescope output beam stabi-
lization; (4) a hyperspectral-muti spectral
imaging assembly; and (5) image analysis
software with effective adaptive spectral
filtering algorithm for real-time contrast
enhancement.
This work was done by Ilya Agurok of
Prescriptions Innovators, LLC for Kennedy
Space Center. For more information, download
the Technical Support Package (free white
paper) at www.techbriefs.com/tsp under the
Physical Sciences category. KSC-13234
A software method has been developed
that is applicable for analyzing cylindrical
and partially cylindrical objects inspected
using computed tomography (CT). This
method involves unwrapping and re-slic-
ing data so that the CT data from the
cylindrical object can be viewed as a series
of 2D sheets (or flattened onion skins)
in addition to a series of top view slices
and 3D volume rendering. The advan-
tages of viewing the data in this fashion
are as follows: (1) the use of standard and
specialized image processing and analysis
methods is facilitated having 2D array
data versus a volume rendering; (2) accu-
rate lateral dimensional analysis of flaws is
possible in the unwrapped sheets versus
volume rendering; (3) flaws in the part
jump out at the inspector with the prop-
er contrast expansion settings in the
unwrapped sheets; and (4) it is much eas-
ier for the inspector to locate flaws in the
unwrapped sheets versus top view slices
for very thin cylinders. The method is
fully automated and requires no input
from the user except proper voxel
dimension from the CT experiment and
wall thickness of the part.
The software is available in 32-bit and
64-bit versions, and can be used with
binary data (8- and 16-bit) and BMP type
CT image sets. The software has memo-
ry (RAM) and hard-drive based modes.
The advantage of the (64-bit) RAM-
based mode is speed (and is very practi-
cal for users of 64-bit Windows operating
systems and computers having 16 GB or
more RAM). The advantage of the hard-
drive-based analysis is one can work with
essentially unlimited-sized data sets.
Separate windows are spawned for the
unwrapped/re-sliced data view and any
image processing interactive capability.
Individual unwrapped images and un -
wrapped image series can be saved in
common image formats.
More information is available at
http://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/OptIn
str/NDE_CT_CylinderUnwrapper.html.
This work was done by Don J. Roth of Glenn
Research Center. For more information, down-
load the Technical Support Package (free
white paper) at www.techbriefs.com/tsp
under the Information Technology category.
Inquiries concerning rights for the com-
mercial use of this invention should be
addressed to NASA Glenn Research Center,
Innovative Partnerships Office, Attn: Steven
Fedor, Mail Stop 48, 21000 Brookpark
Road, Cleveland, Ohio 44135. Refer to
LEW-18808-1.
Software Method for Computed Tomography Cylinder Data
Unwrapping, Re-slicing, and Analysis
Visualization of the data is possible in one view without having to rotate the volume rendering.
John H. Glenn Research Center, Cleveland, Ohio
Discrete Data Qualification System and Method Comprising
Noise Series Fault Detection
Noise fault detector detects an unreasonably high or low variance or standard deviation.
A Sensor Data Qualification (SDQ)
function has been developed that allows
the onboard flight computers on NASAs
launch vehicles to determine the validity of
sensor data to ensure that critical safety
and operational decisions are not based on
faulty sensor data. This SDQ function
includes a novel noise series fault detection
algorithm for qualification of the output
data from LO
2
and LH
2
low-level liquid
sensors. These sensors are positioned in a
launch vehicles propellant tanks in order
to detect propellant depletion during a
rocket engines boost operating phase.
This detection capability can prevent the
catastrophic situation where the engine
operates without propellant. The output
from each LO
2
and LH
2
low-level liquid
sensor is a discrete valued signal that is
expected to be in either of two states,
depending on whether the sensor is
immersed (wet) or exposed (dry).
Conventional methods for sensor data
qualification, such as threshold limit check-
ing, are not effective for this type of signal
due to its discrete binary-state nature.
To address this data qualification chal-
lenge, a noise computation and evalua-
tion method, also known as a noise fault
detector, was developed to detect unrea-
sonable statistical characteristics in the
discrete data stream. The method oper-
ates on a time series of discrete data
observations over a moving window of
data points and performs a continuous
examination of the resulting observa-
tion stream to identify the presence of
anomalous characteristics. If the
method determines the existence of
anomalous results, the data from the
sensor is disqualified for use by other
monitoring or control functions.
Data Acquisition
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Intro
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Intro
Web Application Software for Ground Operations Planning
Database (GOPDb) Management
A Web application facilitates collabora-
tive development of the ground operations
planning document. This will reduce costs
and development time for new programs
by incorporating the data governance,
access control, and revision tracking of the
ground operations planning data.
Ground Operations Planning requires
the creation and maintenance of detailed
timelines and documentation. The
GOPDb Web application was created
using state-of-the-art Web 2.0 technolo-
gies, and was deployed as SaaS (Software
as a Service), with an emphasis on data
governance and security needs.
Application access is managed using two-
factor authentication, with data write per-
missions tied to user roles and responsibil-
ities. Multiple instances of the application
can be deployed on a Web server to meet
the robust needs for multiple, future pro-
grams with minimal additional cost.
This innovation features high avail-
ability and scalability, with no additional
software that needs to be bought or
installed. For data governance and secu-
rity (data quality, management, business
process management, and risk manage-
ment for data handling), the software
uses NAMS. No local copy/cloning of
data is permitted. Data change
log/tracking is addressed, as well as col-
laboration, work flow, and process stan-
dardization. The software provides
online documentation and detailed
Web-based help.
There are multiple ways that this soft-
ware can be deployed on a Web server to
meet ground operations planning needs
for future programs. The software could
be used to support commercial crew
ground operations planning, as well as
commercial payload/satellite ground
operations planning. The application
source code and database schema are
owned by NASA.
This work was done by Clifton Lanham of
Kennedy Space Center, and Pravinkumar Asar,
Shawn Kallner, and Jeffrey Gernand of SAIC.
For more information, download the
Technical Support Package (free white paper)
at www.techbriefs.com/tsp under the Software
category. KSC-13621
This work was done by Christopher
Fulton, Edmond Wong, and Kevin Melcher
of Glenn Research Center; and Randall
Bickford of Expert Microsystems, Inc. For
more information, contact kimberly.a.
dalgleish@nasa.gov.
Inquiries concerning rights for the commer-
cial use of this invention should be addressed
to NASA Glenn Research Center, Innovative
Partnerships Office, Attn: Steven Fedor, Mail
Stop 48, 21000 Brookpark Road, Cleveland,
Ohio 44135. Refer to LEW-18694-1.
Data Acquisition
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Intro
A compact, low-cost laser communica-
tions transceiver was prototyped for
downlinking data at 10 Gb/s from
Earth-orbiting spacecraft. The design
can be implemented using flight-grade
parts. With emphasis on simplicity, com-
pactness, and light weight of the flight
transceiver, the reduced-complexity
design and development approach
involves:
1. A high-bandwidth coarse wavelength
division multiplexed (CWDM) (42.5
or 10-Gb/s data-rate) downlink trans-
mitter. To simplify the system, empha-
sis is on the downlink. Optical uplink
data rate is modest (due to existing
and adequate RF uplink capability).
2. Highly simplified and compact 5-cm-
diameter clear aperture optics assem-
bly is configured to single transmit
and receive aperture laser signals.
About 2 W of 4-channel multiplexed
(1,540 to 1,555 nm) optically ampli-
fied laser power is coupled to the opti-
cal assembly through a fiber optic
cable. It contains a highly compact,
precision-pointing capability two-axis
gimbal assembly to coarse point the
optics assembly. A fast steering mirror,
built into the optical path of the opti-
cal assembly, is used to remove resid-
ual pointing disturbances from the
gimbal. Acquisition, pointing, and
tracking are assisted by a beacon laser
transmitted from the ground and
received by the optical assembly,
which will allow transmission of a laser
beam.
3. Shifting the link burden to the
ground by relying on direct detection
optical receivers retrofitted to 1-m-
diameter ground telescopes.
4. Favored mass and volume reduction
over power-consumption reduction.
The two major variables that are avail-
able include laser transmit power at
either end of the link, and telescope
aperture diameter at each end of the
link. Increased laser power is traded
for smaller-aperture diameters.
5. Use of commercially available space-
qualified or qualifiable components
with traceability to flight qualification
(i.e., a flight-qualified version is com-
mercially available). An example is
use of Telecordia-qualified fiber optic
communication components includ-
ing active components (lasers, ampli-
fiers, photodetectors) that, except for
vacuum and radiation, meet most of
the qualifications required for space.
6. Use of CWDM technique at the flight
transmitter for operation at four chan-
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Simple Laser Communications Terminal for Downlink From
Earth Orbit at Rates Exceeding 10 Gb/s
Implementation of this technology will surpass the spectrum-allocation and bandwidth
limitations of current RF systems.
NASAs Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, California
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Intro
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nels (each at 2.5 Gb/s or a total of
10 Gb/s data rate). Applying this
technique allows utilization of larger
active area photodetectors at the
ground station. This minimizes
atmospheric scintillation/turbu-
lence in duced losses on the received
beam at the ground terminal.
7. Use of forward-error-correction
and deep-interleaver codes to min-
imize atmospheric turbulence
effects on the downlink beam.
Target mass and power consump-
tion for the flight data transmitter sys-
tem is less than 10 kg and approxi-
mately 60 W for the 400-km orbit
(900-km slant range), and 12 kg and
120 W for the 2,000-km orbit (6,000-
km slant range). The higher mass and
power for the latter are the result of
employing a higher-power laser only.
This work was done by Joseph M.
Kovalik, Hamid Hemmati, Abhijit
Biswas, and William T. Roberts of Caltech
for NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. For
more information, download the
Technical Support Package (free white
paper) at www.techbriefs.com/tsp under
the Physical Sciences category. NPO-
48413
A Laser Communications Terminal consists of the optical head on a 2-axis gimbal (left), and an elec -
tronics/laser box (right).
Data Acquisition
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Intro
The Application Programming Inter -
face (API) for the Crew Exploration
Vehicle (CEV) Aerodynamic Database
has been developed to provide the devel-
opers of software an easily implemented,
fully self-contained method of accessing
the CEV Aerodynamic Database for use
in their analysis and simulation tools.
The API is programmed in C and pro-
vides a series of functions to interact with
the database, such as initialization, select-
ing various options, and calculating the
aerodynamic data. No special functions
(file read/write, table lookup) are
required on the host system other than
those included with a standard ANSI C
installation. It reads one or more files of
aero data tables.
Previous releases of aerodynamic
databases for space vehicles have only
included data tables and a document of
the algorithm and equations to com-
bine them for the total aerodynamic
forces and moments. This process
required each software tool to have a
unique implementation of the database
code. Errors or omissions in the docu-
mentation, or errors in the implemen-
tation, led to a lengthy and burden-
some process of having to debug each
instance of the code. Additionally,
input file formats differ for each space
vehicle simulation tool, requiring the
aero database tables to be reformatted
to meet the tools input file structure
requirements. Finally, the capabilities
for built-in table lookup routines vary
for each simulation tool. Imple men -
tation of a new database may require an
update to and verification of the table
lookup routines. This may be required
if the number of dimensions of a data
table exceeds the capability of the sim-
ulation tools built-in lookup routines.
A single software solution was created
to provide an aerodynamics software
model that could be integrated into
other simulation and analysis tools. The
highly complex Orion aerodynamics
model can then be quickly included in a
wide variety of tools. The API code is
written in ANSI C for ease of portability
to a wide variety of systems. The input
data files are in standard formatted
ASCII, also for improved portability.
The API contains its own implementa-
tion of multidimensional table reading
and lookup routines. The same aerody-
namics input file can be used without
modification on all implementations.
The turnaround time from aerodynam-
ics model release to a working imple-
mentation is significantly reduced.
This work was done by Philip E. Robinson
and James Thompson of Johnson Space
Center. For further information, contact the
JSC Innovation Partnerships Office at (281)
483-3809. MSC-24819-1
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Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Houston, Texas
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Intro
www.techbriefs.com NASA Tech Briefs, June 2013
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Electronics/Computers
Compact Radar Transceiver With
Included Calibration
Volume and weight are reduced without performance penalties.
The Digital Beamforming Synthetic
Aperture Radar (DBSAR) is an eight-chan-
nel phased array radar system that employs
solid-state radar transceivers, a microstrip
patch antenna, and a reconfigurable wave-
form generator and processor unit. The
original DBSAR transceiver design utilizes
connectorized electronic components that
tend to be physically large and heavy. To
achieve increased functionality in a smaller
volume, PCB (printed circuit board) trans-
ceivers were designed to replace the large
connectorized transceivers.
One of the most challenging problems
designing the transceivers in a PCB for-
mat was achieving proper performance
in the calibration path. For a radar loop-
back calibration path, a portion of the
transmit signal is coupled out of the
antenna feed and fed back into the
receiver. This is achieved using passive
components for stability and repeatabili-
ty. Some signal also leaks through the
receive path. As these two signal paths are
correlated via an unpredictable phase,
the leakage through the receive path dur-
ing transmit must be 30 dB below the cal-
ibration path. For DBSARs design, this
requirement called for a 100-dB isolation
in the receiver path during transmit.
A total of 16 solid-state L-band trans-
ceivers on a PCB format were designed.
The transceivers include frequency con-
version stages, T/R switching, and a cal-
ibration path capable of measuring the
transmit power-receiver gain product
during transmit for pulse-by-pulse cali-
bration or matched filtering. In particu-
lar, this calibration path achieves 100-dB
isolation between the transmitted signal
and the low-noise amplifier through the
use of a switching network and a section
of physical walls achieving attenuation of
radiated leakage.
DBSAR's New Transceiver Architecture will enable the implementation and demonstration of the
next-generation digital beamfoming synthetic aperture radar, and help advance the technology for
infusion in future Earth science and planetary missions.
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Intro
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Intro
SPIDER-81
The FOURTH Generation Vibration Control System
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The fully networked Fourth Generation Spider-81 vibration control system
allows users to place the controller close to the shaker table and operate the
controller near the shaker or in a control room from a signifcant distance away.
A new iPad app by Crystal Instruments also allows even more mobility.
The fully networked Fourth Generation Spider-81 vibration control systtem
allows users to place the controller close to the shaker table and operate the
Electronics/Computers
The transceivers were designed in
microstrip PCBs with lumped elements
and individually packaged components
for compactness. Each transceiver was
designed on a single PCB with a custom
enclosure providing interior walls and
compartments to isolate transceiver sub-
systems from radiated interference. The
enclosure also acts as a heat sink for the
voltage regulators and power amplifiers
inside the system. The PCB transceiver
design produces transmit pulses of 2 W
with an arbitrary duty cycle. Each trans-
ceiver is fed by an external 120-MHz sig-
nal transmit and two 1,140-MHz local
oscillator signals. The received signal is
amplified and downconverted to 120
MHz and is fed to the data processor. The
transceiver dimensions are approximately
3.511.50.6 in. (9291.5 cm).
The PCB transceiver design reduces the
volume and weight of the DBSAR instru-
ment while maintaining the functionality
found in the original design. Both volume
and weight are critical for airborne and
flight remote sensing instrumentation.
This work was done by Matthew McLinden
and Rafael Rincon of Goddard Space Flight
Center. For more information, download the
Electronics/Computers category.
GSC-16508-1
This software implements software-
defined radio procession over multi-
core, multi-CPU systems in a way that
maximizes the use of CPU resources in
the system. The software treats each
processing step in either a communica-
tions or navigation modulator or
demodulator system as an independent,
threaded block. Each threaded block is
defined with a programmable number
of input or output buffers; these buffers
are implemented using POSIX pipes. In
addition, each threaded block is
assigned a unique thread upon block
installation. A modulator or demodula-
tor system is built by assembly of the
threaded blocks into a flow graph,
which assembles the processing blocks
to accomplish the desired signal pro-
cessing. This software architecture
allows the software to scale effortlessly
between single CPU/single-core com-
puters or multi-CPU/multi-core com-
puters without recompilation.
NASA spaceflight and ground com-
munications systems currently rely
exclusively on ASICs or FPGAs. This soft-
ware allows low- and medium-bandwidth
(100 bps to 50 Mbps) software defined
radios to be designed and implemented
solely in C/C++ software, while lowering
development costs and facilitating reuse
and extensibility.
This work was done by Greg Heckler of
Goddard Space Flight Center. For more informa-
tion, download the Technical Support Package
(free white paper) at www.techbriefs.com/tsp
under the Software category.
GSC-16442-1
Software Defined Radio With Parallelized Software Architecture
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Intro
Whats On
Under Your Skin, a Tiny Laboratory
A tiny device implanted just beneath the skin analyzes proteins and organic acids
in the bloodstream, and then transmits the results directly to a doctors computer.
It will allow a more personalized level of care than traditional blood tests, and
could help predict heart attacks earlier.
www.techbriefs.com/tv/implantable-chip
Shrinking Photonic Devices to Fit on Computer Chips
The smallest photonic devices are limited to sizes of at least a micrometer.
Researchers in Singapore have demonstrated a device design that beats such size
restrictions and can be easily integrated into a silicon chip.
www.techbriefs.com/tv/mini-photonics
Worlds First Single-Atom Transistor, Precisely Placed
Physicists at Australias University of New South Wales have created a working
transistor consisting of a single atom placed precisely in a silicon crystal. This work
could yield the building block for future super-fast quantum computers.
www.techbriefs.com/tv/atomic-transistor
Computers That Mimic the Brain
University of Michigan engineers are developing an electronic switch that mimics
the behavior of a biological neuron in the human brain. It could lead to a new type
of computer that can learn without being programmed.
www.techbriefs.com/tv/brainycomputers
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Intro
Manufacturing & Prototyping
An innovative modification has been
made to a previously patented design for
the Phase Change Material (PCM)
Thermal Generator, which works in water
where ocean temperature alternatively
melts wax in canisters, or allows the wax
to re-solidify, causing high-pressure oil to
flow through a hydraulic generator, thus
creating electricity to charge a battery
that powers the vehicle. In this modifica-
tion, a similar thermal PCM device has
been created that is heated and cooled by
the air and solar radiation instead of
using ocean temperature differences to
change the PCM from solid to liquid.
This innovation allows the device to use
thermal energy to generate electricity on
land, instead of just in the ocean.
This work was done by Jack A. Jones of
Caltech for NASAs Kennedy Space Center.
Manufacturing & Prototyping category.
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Phase Change Material Thermal Power Generator
The Thermal Hogan A Means of Surviving the Lunar Night
A document describes the Thermal
Hogan, a new shelter concept that
would be used on the Moon to moderate
the extreme nighttime temperatures,
allowing survival of equipment with min-
imal heater power. It is lightweight, has
few mechanical parts, and would be rel-
atively easy to deploy on the Moon.
The Lunar Hogan has two parts: an
insulated shelter and a thermal mass.
The shelter is constructed of multilayer
insulation (MLI) draped over a structur-
al framework. Entry and egress are
accomplished either by raising the struc-
ture or via a door constructed of the
same MLI material as the shelter. The
thermal mass can be manufactured from
locally available materials, either by pil-
ing substantially sized rocks to a depth of
0.25 meter, or by filling a 0.25-meter-
deep conductive honeycomb-like struc-
ture with lunar dust. For ease of trans-
port, the structural framework and hon-
eycomb can be collapsible. The door
can be opened by pushing on it in either
direction. Gravity would cause it to close
and it could be sealed via magnetic strips
on the doorframe.
This work was done by Neelay Fruitwala,
Eugene Ungar, and John Cornwell of Johnson
Space Center. For more information, down-
load the Technical Support Package (free
white paper) at www.techbriefs.com/tsp
under the Manufacturing & Prototyping cat-
egory. MSC-24898-1
Watch videos of the latest
developments in Manufacturing on
Tech Briefs TV at
www.techbriefs.com/tv/
manufacturing-prototyping
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Intro
A design of an Active Magnetic
Regenerative Refrigeration (AMRR) sys-
tem has been developed for space appli-
cations. It uses an innovative
3
He cryo-
genic circulator to provide continuous
remote/distributed cooling at tempera-
tures in the range of 2 K with a heat sink
at about 15 K. A critical component
technology for this cooling system is a
highly efficient active magnetic regener-
ator, which is a regenerative heat
exchanger with its matrix material made
of magnetic refrigerant gadolinium gal-
lium garnet (GGG).
Creare Inc. is developing a microchan-
nel GGG regenerator with an anisotropic
structured bed for high system thermal
efficiency. The regenerator core consists
of a stack of thin, single-crystal GGG disks
alternating with thin polymer insulating
layers. The insulating layers help minimize
the axial conduction heat leak, since GGG
has a very high thermal conductivity in the
regenerators operating temperature
range. The GGG disks contain micro -
channels with width near 100 microme-
ters, which enhance the heat transfer
between the circulating flow and the
refrigerant bed. The unique flow configu-
ration of the GGG plates ensures a uni-
form flow distribution across the plates.
The main fabrication challenges for the
regenerator are the machining of high-
aspect-ratio microchannels in fragile, sin-
gle-crystal GGG disks and fabrication and
assembly of the GGG insulation layers.
Feasibility demonstrations to date include
use of an ultra-short-pulse laser to
machine microchannels without produc-
ing unacceptable microcracking or depo-
sition of recast material, as shown in the
figure, and attachment of a thin insula-
tion layer to a GGG disk without obstruct-
ing the flow paths. At the time of this
reporting, efforts were focused on
improving the laser machining process to
increase machining speed and further
reduce microcracking.
This work was done by Weibo Chen and Michael
D. Jaeger of Creare Incorporated for Goddard Space
Flight Center. For more information, download the
Technical Support Package (free white paper) at
www.techbriefs.com/tsp under the Manu facturing
& Prototyping category. GSC-16220-1
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Manufacturing & Prototyping
Micromachined Active Magnetic Regenerator for Low-
Temperature Magnetic Coolers
Fabrication improvements are evaluated and introduced.
Microchannels in a 150-m thick GGG disk fabri-
cated by ultra-short pulse laser micromachining.
500m
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Intro
NASA Tech Briefs, June 2013 www.techbriefs.com 41
Technologies of the Month
For more information on these and other new, licensable inventions,
visit www.techbriefs.com/techsearch
Sponsored by
Viscosity Thickeners for Adhesive Polymer
A client uses sodium and potassium stearates to build body
and viscosity in a polymer dispersion intended as an adhesive.
The stearates adversely affect shear strength after the disper-
sion cures. Non-stearate thickeners, or different stearates, are
needed. By varying the nature of the fillers and thickeners,
and possibly by varying their loading, post-cure compression
shear strength of 2000-2500 pounds must be achieved. Lesser
strengths may also be of interest. The viscosity thickeners
must bond wood and similar porous substrates, as well as non-
porous surfaces. The adhesive must be applied smoothly, as
though poured.
Respond to this TechNeed at:
www.techbriefs.com/tn/201306c.html
Email: nasatech@yet2.com
Phone: 781-972-0600
New Sensations for Saline Nasal Sprays
New sensations for saline sprays and washes must moistur-
ize dry nasal passages and relieve a stuffy nose. Additives such
as eucalyptus or sesame oil, for example, produce coolness or
warmth. The desired effects must calm, soften, and relieve
symptoms. An antibacterial effect and a physical rinse are of
interest. Potential ingredients may include menthol, eucalyp-
tus, lavender, heather, aloe vera, Echinacea, elderberry, and
apple cider vinegar. A proposed solution, which must be
drug-free, efficacious, and safe, may also feature a differenti-
ated delivery device.
Respond to this TechNeed at:
www.techbriefs.com/tn/201306d.html
Phone: 781-972-0600
TechNeeds Requests for Technologies
TechNeeds are anonymous requests for technologies that you and your organization may be able to fulfill.
Responding to a TechNeed is the first step to gaining an introduction with a prospective buyer
for your technology solution.
Multiple-Component Fibers Strengthen
Non-Woven Fabric
DuPont
A technology provides a full-surface, bonded, nonwoven
fabric with a tensile strength suitable for packaging, bubble
packs, and other applications requiring tear resistance. Full-
width bonding, compared to the more common patterned
point bonding, produces the high-strength fabric. The thin,
low-cost material can be easily manufactured in smooth calen-
daring plants. Low voids reinforce the fabric.
The nonwoven fabrics include melt-spun, multiple-compo-
nent fibers. The fibers can be selected from multiple-compo-
nent staple fibers and/or multiple-component continuous
fibers. First and second polymeric components are arranged
in distinct zones across the cross-section of the multiple-com-
ponent fibers. The technology also includes a process for
preparing the thermally bonded, multiple-component, non-
woven fabric.
Get the complete report on this technology at:
www.techbriefs.com/tow/201306a.html
Phone: 781-972-0600
Microwave Energy Removes Fuel-
Processing Impurities
yet2.com US - UTC
A traditional sulfur-adsorption bed uses microwave energy
to remove, or desorb, captured impurities. Conventional
adsorption beds use heat and sometimes vacuum to cleanse
the bed of sorbents; the process is energy-intensive and can
reduce sorbent life. By using microwaves, the new technology
desorbs the captured impurities from the bed with little or no
change in temperature.
An oscillating electromagnetic field of microwave radiation
interacts directly with molecules adsorbed onto the sorbent
surface from the fuel/inlet liquid or gas stream. Polar or
polarizable molecules on the sorbent such as those con-
taining sulfur become excited, detach from the sorbent
bed, and are flushed away. During regeneration, the bed
adsorbs relatively little energy, and there is very little sensible
heating of either the inlet stream or the sorbent bed.
Get the complete report on this technology at:
www.techbriefs.com/tow/201306b.html
Phone: 781-972-0600
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Intro
Materials & Coatings
Nano-Ceramic Coated Plastics
Adding this non-stick coating to cookware can create easy-to-clean plastic containers.
Plastic products, due to their dura-
bility, safety, and low manufacturing
cost, are now rapidly replacing cook-
ware items traditionally made of glass
and ceramics. Despite this trend, some
still prefer relatively expensive and
more fragile ceramic/glassware
because plastics can deteriorate over
time after exposure to foods, which can
generate odors, bad appearance,
and/or color change. Nano-ceramic
coatings can eliminate these drawbacks
while still retaining the advantages of
the plastic, since the coating only alters
the surface of the plastic. The surface
coating adds functionality to the plas-
tics such as self-cleaning and disinfec-
tant capabilities that result from a pho-
tocatalytic effect of certain ceramic sys-
tems. These ceramic coatings can also
provide non-stick surfaces and higher
temperature capabilities for the base
plastics without resorting to ceramic or
glass materials.
Titanium dioxide (TiO
2
) and zinc
oxide (ZnO) are the candidates for a
nano-ceramic coating to deposit on the
plastics or plastic films used in cook-
ware and kitchenware. Both are wide-
bandgap semiconductors (3.0 to 3.2 eV
for TiO
2
and 3.2 to 3.3 eV for ZnO), so
they exhibit a photocatalytic property
under ultraviolet (UV) light. This will
lead to decomposition of organic com-
pounds. Decomposed products can be
easily washed off by water, so the use of
detergents will be minimal. High-crys-
talline film with large surface area for
the reaction is essential to guarantee
good photocatalytic performance of
these oxides. Low-temperature process-
ing (<100 C) is also a key to generating
these ceramic coatings on the plastics.
One possible way of processing nano-
ceramic coatings at low temperatures (<
90 C) is to take advantage of in-situ
precipitated nanoparticles and nano-
structures grown from aqueous solution.
These nanostructures can be tailored to
ceramic film formation and the subse-
quent microstructure development. In
addition, the process provides environ-
ment-friendly processing because of the
aqueous solution. Low-temperature pro-
cessing has also shown versatility to gen-
erate various nanostructures. The
growth of low-dimensional nanostruc-
tures (0-D, 1-D) provides a means of
enhancing the crystallinity of the solu-
tion-prepared films that is of importance
for photocatalytic performance.
This technology can generate
durable, fully functional nano-ceram-
ic coatings (TiO
2
, ZnO) on plastic
materials (silicone, Teflon, PET, etc.)
that can possess both photocatalytic
oxide properties and flexible plastic
properties. Processing cost is low and
it does not require any expensive
equipment investment. Processing
can be scalable to current manufac-
turing infrastructure.
This work was done by Junghyun Cho of
Binghamton University for Glenn Research
Center. For more information, download
paper) at www.techbriefs.com/tsp under
the Materials & Coatings category.
Inquiries concerning rights for the com-
mercial use of this invention should be
addressed to NASA Glenn Research Center,
Innovative Partnerships Office, Attn:
Steven Fedor, Mail Stop 48, 21000
Brookpark Road, Cleveland, Ohio 44135.
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Intro
Preparation of a Bimetal Using Mechanical Alloying for
Environmental or Industrial Use
This technology could be of use for catalyst production or environmental applications.
Following the 1976 Toxic Substances
Control Act ban on their manufacture,
PCBs remain an environmental threat.
PCBs are known to bio-accumulate and
concentrate in fatty tissues. Further
complications arise from the potential
for contamination of commercial mix-
tures with other more toxic chlorinated
compounds such as polychlorinated
dibenzodioxins (PCDDs) and polychlo-
rinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs). Until
recently, only one option was available
for the treatment of PCB-contaminated
materials: incineration. This may prove
to be more detrimental to the environ-
ment than the PCBs themselves due to
the potential for formation of PCDDs.
Metals have been used for the past
ten years for the remediation of halo-
genated solvents and other contami-
nants in the environment; however,
zero-valent metals alone do not possess
the activity required to dehalogenate
PCBs. Palladium has been shown to act
as an excellent catalyst for the dechlo-
rination of PCBs with active metals.
This invention is a method for the pro-
duction of a palladium/magnesium
bimetal capable of dechlorinating PCBs
using mechanical milling/mechanical
alloying. Other base metals and cata-
lysts may also be alloyed together (e.g.,
nickel or zinc) to create a similarly
functioning catalyst system. Several
bimetal catalyst systems currently can
be used for processes such as hydrogen
peroxide synthesis, oxidation of
ethane, selective oxidation, hydrogena-
tion, and production of syngas for fur-
ther conversion to clean fuels. The
processes for making these bimetal cat-
alysts often involve vapor deposition.
This technology provides an alternative
to vapor deposition that may provide
equally active catalysts.
A hydrogenation catalyst including a
base material coated with a catalytic
metal is made using mechanical milling
techniques. The hydrogenation catalysts
are used as an excellent catalyst for the
dehalogenation of contaminated com-
pounds and the remediation of other
industrial compounds. The mechanical
milling technique is simpler and cheap-
er than previously used methods for
producing hydrogenation catalysts.
Preferably, the hydrogenation catalyst
is a bimetallic particle formed from a
zero-valent iron or zero-valent magne-
sium particle coated with palladium that
is impregnated onto a high-surface-area
graphite support. The zero-valent metal
particles should be microscale or
nanoscale zero-valent magnesium or
zero-valent iron particles. Other zero-
valent metal particles and combinations
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Intro
www.techbriefs.com NASA Tech Briefs, June 2013
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Materials & Coatings
may be used. Additionally, the base
material may be selected from a variety
of minerals including, but not limited
to, alumina and zeolites. The catalytic
metal is preferably selected from the
group consisting of noble metals and
transition metals, preferably palladium.
The mechanical milling process
includes milling the base material with
a catalytic metal impregnated into a
high-surface-area support to form the
hydrogenation catalyst. In a preferred
mechanical milling process, a zero-
valent metal particle is provided as the
base material, preferably having a parti-
cle size of less than about 10 microns,
preferably 0.1 to 10 microns or smaller,
prior to milling. The catalytic metal is
supported on a conductive carbon sup-
port structure prior to milling. For
example, palladium may be impregnat-
ed on a graphite support. Other sup-
port structures such as semiconductive
metal oxides may also be used.
This work was done by Jacqueline Quinn
of Kennedy Space Center and Cherie Geiger
and Christian Clausen of the University of
Central Florida. For more information, con-
tact the KSC Technology Transfer Office at
(321) 867-5033. KSC-12978
Phase Change Material for Temperature
Control of Imager or Sounder on GOES
Type Satellites in GEO
An imager or sounder on satellites,
such as the Geostationary Operational
Environmental Satellite (GOES), in
geostationary orbit (GEO) has a scan
mirror and motor in the scan cavity.
The GEO orbit is 24 hours long. During
part of the orbit, direct sunlight enters
the scan aperture and adds heat to
components in the scan cavity. Solar
heating also increases the scan motor
temperature. Overheating of the scan
motor could reduce its reliability. For
GOES-N to P, a radiator with a thermal
louver rejects the solar heat absorbed
to keep the scan cavity cool. A sun-
shield shields the radiator/louver from
the Sun. This innovation uses phase
change material (PCM) in the scan cav-
ity to maintain the temperature stability
of the scan mirror and motor.
When sunlight enters the scan aper-
ture, solar heating causes the PCM to
melt. When sunlight stops entering the
scan aperture, the PCM releases the
thermal energy stored to keep the com-
ponents in the scan cavity warm. It
reduces the heater power required to
make up the heat lost by radiation to
space through the aperture. This is a
major advantage when compared to a
radiator/louver. PCM is compact because
it has a high solid-to-liquid enthalpy. Also,
it could be spread out in the scan cavity.
This is another advantage. Paraffin wax is
a good PCM candidate, with high solid-to-
liquid enthalpy, which is about 225 kJ/kg.
For GOES-N to P, a radiator with a
louver rejects the solar heat that enters
the aperture to keep the scan cavity
cool. For the remainder of the orbit,
sunlight does not enter the scan aper-
ture. However, the radiator/louver con-
tinues radiating heat to space because
the louver effective emittance is about
0.12, even if the louver is fully closed.
This requires makeup heater power to
maintain the temperature within the
stability range.
This work was done by Michael Choi of
Goddard Space Flight Center. For more informa-
tion, download the Technical Support Package
under the Materials & Coatings category.
GSC-16546-1
CHECK OUT THESE RELATED ARTICLES AT TECH BRIEFS ONLINE:
Non-Toxic, Non-Flammable, -80 C Phase Change Materials
www.techbriefs.com/component/content/article/15871
Using Pre-Melted Phase Change Material to Keep Payloads in
Space Warm for Hours Without Power
www.techbriefs.com/component/content/article/15457
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Intro
Mechanics/Machinery
Dual-Compartment Inflatable Suitlock
There is a need for an improvement
over current NASA Extravehicular
Activity (EVA) technology. The technol-
ogy must allow the capacity for quicker,
more efficient egress/ingress, allow for
shirtsleeve suit maintenance, be com-
pact in transport, and be applicable to
environments ranging from planetary
surface (partial-g) to orbital or deep
space zero-g environments. The tech-
nology must also be resistant to dust
and other foreign contaminants that
may be present on or around a plane-
tary surface. The technology should be
portable, and be capable of docking
with a variety of habitats, ports, stations,
vehicles, and other pressurized mod-
ules.
The Dual-Compartment Inflatable
Suitlock (DCIS) consists of three hard
inline bulkheads, separating two cylindri-
cal membrane-walled compartments. The
Inner Bulkhead can be fitted with a vari-
ety of hatch types, docking flanges, and
mating hardware, such as the Common
Berthing Mechanism (CBM), for the pur-
pose of mating with vehicles, habitats, and
other pressurized modules. The Inner
Bulkhead and Center Bulkhead function
as the end walls of the Inner Com -
partment, which during operations,
would stay pressurized, either matching
the pressure of the habitat or acting as a
lower-pressure transitional volume.
The Inner Compartment contains
donning/doffing fixtures and inner suit-
port hatches. The Center Bulkhead has
two integrated suitports along with a
maintenance hatch. The Center Bulk -
head and Outer Bulkhead function as
the end walls of the Outer Com -
partment, which stays at vacuum during
normal operations. This allows the
crewmember to quickly don a suit, and
egress the suitlock without waiting for
the Outer Compartment to depressur-
ize. The Outer Compartment can be
pressurized infrequently for both nomi-
nal and off-nominal suit maintenance
tasks, allowing shirtsleeve inspections
and maintenance/repair of the environ-
mental suits. The Outer Bulkhead has a
pressure-assisted hatch door that stays
open and stowed during EVA opera-
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Intro
www.techbriefs.com NASA Tech Briefs, June 2013 Free Info at http://info.hotims.com/45604-734
Folding Elastic Thermal Surface FETS
By using tape-spring hinges, the FETS avoids the need for lubricants.
The FETS is a light and compact ther-
mal surface (sun shade, IR thermal
shield, cover, and/or deployable radia-
tor) that is mounted on a set of offset
tape-spring hinges. The thermal surface
is constrained during launch and activat-
ed in space by a thermomechanical latch
such as a wax actuator.
An application-specific embodiment
of this technology developed for the
MATMOS (Mars Atmospheric Trace
Molecule Occultation Spectrometer)
project serves as a deployable cover and
thermal shield for its passive cooler. The
FETS fits compactly against the instru-
ment within the constrained launch
envelope, and then unfolds into a larger
area once in space. In this application,
the FETS protects the passive cooler
from thermal damage and contamina-
Piezoelectrically Initiated Pyrotechnic
Igniter
This innovation consists of a pyrotech-
nic initiator and piezoelectric initiation
system. The device will be capable of
being initiated mechanically; resisting
initiation by EMF, RF, and EMI (electro-
magnetic field, radio frequency, and
electromagnetic interference, respective-
ly); and initiating in water environments
and space environments.
Current devices of this nature are initi-
ated by the mechanical action of a firing
pin against a primer. Primers historically
are prone to failure. These failures are
commonly known as misfires or hang-
fires. In many cases, the primer shows the
dent where the firing pin struck the
primer, but the primer failed to fire. In
devices such as T handles, which are
commonly used to initiate the blowout of
canopies, loss of function of the device
may result in loss of crew. In devices such
as flares or smoke generators, failure can
result in failure to spot a downed pilot.
The piezoelectrically initiated ignition
system consists of a pyrotechnic device that
plugs into a mechanical system (activator),
which on activation, generates a high-volt-
age spark. The activator, when released,
will strike a stack of electrically linked
piezo crystals, generating a high-voltage,
low-amperage current that is then con-
ducted to the pyro-initiator. Within the ini-
tiator, an electrode releases a spark that
passes through a pyrotechnic first-fire mix-
ture, causing it to combust. The combus-
tion of the first-fire initiates a primary
pyrotechnic or explosive powder. If used
in a T handle, the primary would ramp
the speed of burn up to the speed of
sound, generating a shock wave that would
cause a high explosive to go high order.
In a flare or smoke generator, the second-
ary would produce the heat necessary to
ignite the pyrotechnic mixture.
The piezo activator subsystem is redun-
dant in that a second stack of crystals would
be struck at the same time with the same
activation force, doubling the probability
of a first strike spark generation. If the first
activation fails to ignite, the device is capa-
ble of multiple attempts.
Another unique aspect is in the design of
the pyrotechnic device. There is an elec-
trode that aids the generation of a directed
spark and the use of a conductive matrix to
support the first-fire material so that the
spark will penetrate to the second electrode.
This work was done by Asia Quince, Maureen
Dutton, Robert Hicks, and Karen Burnham of
Johnson Space Center. For more information,
download the Technical Support Package (free
white paper) at www.techbriefs.com/tsp under
the Mechanics/Machinery category.
MSC-24841-1
tions, but can be closed for environmen-
tal protection of the suits, suit mainte-
nance, and pressurization.
This work was done by Kriss J. Kennedy,
Peggy L. Guirgis, and Robert M. Boyle of
Johnson Space Center. For more information,
download the Technical Support Package
under the Mechanics/Machinery category.
MSC-24914-1
Mechanics/Machinery
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Intro
tion during ground operations, launch,
and during orbit insertion. Once unfold-
ed or deployed, the FETS serves as a
heat shield, intercepting parasitic heat
loads by blocking the passive coolers
view of the warm spacecraft.
The technology significantly enhances
the capabilities of instruments requiring
either active or passive cooling of optical
detectors. This can be particularly impor-
tant for instruments where performance is
limited by the available radiator area.
Examples would be IR optical instruments
on CubeSATs or those launched as hosted
payloads because radiator area is limited
and views are often undesirable. As a
deployable radiator, the panels making up
the FETS are linked thermally by thermal
straps and heat pipes; the structural sup-
port and deployment energy is provided
using tape-spring hinges.
The FETS is a novel combination of
existing technologies. Prior art for deploy-
able heat shields uses rotating hinges that
typically must be lubricated to avoid cold
welding or static friction. By using tape-
spring hinges, the FETS avoids the need
for lubricants by avoiding friction altogeth-
er. This also eliminates the potential for
contamination of nearby cooled optics by
outgassing lubricants. Furthermore, the
tape-spring design of the FETS is also self-
locking so the panels stay in a rigid and
extended configuration after deployment.
This unexpected benefit makes the tape-
spring hinge design of the FETS a light,
simple, reliable, compact, non-outgassing
hinge, spring, and latch.
While tape-spring hinges are not novel,
they have never been used to deploy pas-
sive unfolding thermal surfaces (radiator
panels, covers, sun shades, or IR thermal
shields). Furthermore, because this tech-
nology is compact, it has minimal impact
on the launch envelope and mass specifi-
cations. FETS enhances the performance
of hosted payload instruments where the
science data is limited by dark noise.
Incorporating FETS into a thermal con-
trol system increases radiator area, which
lowers the optical detector temperature.
This results in higher SNR (signal-to-noise
ratio) and improved science data.
This work was done by Eugenio Urquiza,
Burt X. Zhang, Michael P. Thelen, Jose I.
Rodriguez, and Sergio Pellegrino of Caltech for
NASAs Jet Propulsion Laboratory. For more
information, contact iaoffice@jpl.nasa.gov.
NPO-48759
The figure depicts the FETS in its stowed and deployed states during high vacuum testing at JPL.
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Intro
A device removes, with high precision,
the majority of surface particle contami-
nation greater than 1-micron-diameter in
size from ultrapure semiconductor wafer
materials containing implanted solar
wind samples returned by NASAs Genesis
mission. This cleaning device uses a 1.5-
liter/minute flowing stream of heated
ultrapure water (UPW) with 1-MHz oscil-
lating megasonic pulse energy focused at
3 to 5 mm away from the wafer surface
spinning at 1,000 to 10,000 RPM, depend-
ing on sample size.
The surface particle contamination is
removed by three processes: flowing
UPW, megasonic cavitations, and cen-
tripetal force from the spinning wafer.
The device can also dry the wafer frag-
ment after UPW/megasonic cleaning by
continuing to spin the wafer in the
cleaning chamber, which is purged with
flowing ultrapure nitrogen gas at 65 psi
(448 kPa). The cleaner also uses three
types of vacuum chucks that can accom-
modate all Genesis-flown array frag-
ments in any dimensional shape
between 3 and 100 mm in diameter. A
sample vacuum chuck, and the manufac-
tured UPW/megasonic nozzle holder,
replace the human deficiencies by main-
taining a consistent distance between
the nozzle and wafer surface as well as
allowing for longer cleaning time. The
3- to 5-mm critical distance is important
for the ability to remove particles by
megasonic cavitations. The increased
UPW sonication time and exposure to
heated UPW improve the removal of 1-
to 5-micron-sized particles.
This work was done by Judith H. Allton and
Eileen K. Stansbery of Johnson Space Center,
Michael J. Calaway of Jacobs Technology, and
Melissa C. Rodriguez of Geocontrol Systems
Inc. For more information, download the
Mechanics/Machinery category.
MSC 24499-1
Mechanics/Machinery
Genesis Ultrapure Water Megasonic Wafer Spin Cleaner
Modular Connector
Keying Concept
Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center,
Houston, Texas
For panel-mount-type connectors,
keying is usually built-in to the connec-
tor body, necessitating different part
numbers for each key arrangement.
This is costly for jobs that require small
quantities. This invention was driven to
provide a cost savings and to reduce doc-
umentation of individual parts.
The keys are removable and config-
urable in up to 16 combinations. Since
the key parts are separate from the con-
nector body, a common design can be
used for the plug, receptacle, and key
parts. The keying can then be set at the
next higher assembly.
This work was done by Scott Ishman, Scott
Dukes, and Gary Warnica of Honeywell, and
Guy Conrad and Steven Senigla of Lockheed
Martin for Johnson Space Center. For further
information, contact the JSC Innovation
Partnerships Office at (281) 483-3809.
MSC-25074-1
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Intro
NASA Tech Briefs, June 2013 www.techbriefs.com
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Physical Sciences
Multi-Pass Quadrupole Mass Analyzer
The technology will enhance the resolving power of small
QMA instruments and simplify the electronics package for
ground and space instruments.
Analysis of the composition of planetary
atmospheres is one of the most important
and fundamental measurements in plane-
tary robotic exploration. Quadrupole mass
analyzers (QMAs) are the primary tool
used to execute these investigations, but
reductions in size of these instruments has
sacrificed mass resolving power so that the
best present-day QMA devices are still
large, expensive, and do not deliver per-
formance of laboratory instruments.
An ultra-high-resolution QMA was devel-
oped to resolve N
2
+
/CO
+
by trapping ions
in a linear trap quadrupole filter. Because
N
2
and CO are resolved, gas chromatogra-
phy columns used to separate species
before analysis are eliminated, greatly sim-
plifying gas analysis instrumentation. For
highest performance, the ion trap mode is
used. High-resolution (or narrow-band)
mass selection is carried out in the central
region, but near the DC electrodes at each
end, RF/DC field settings are adjusted to
allow broadband ion passage. This is to pre-
vent ion loss during ion reflection at each
end. Ions are created inside the trap so that
low-energy particles are selected by low-volt-
age settings on the end electrodes. This is
beneficial to good mass resolution since
low-energy particles traverse many cycles of
the RF filtering fields. Through Monte
Carlo simulations, it is shown that ions are
reflected at each end many tens of times,
each time being sent back through the cen-
tral section of the quadrupole where ultra-
high mass filtering is carried out. An analyz-
er was produced with electrical length
orders of magnitude longer than its physi-
cal length. Since the selector fields are sized
as in conventional devices, the loss of sensi-
tivity inherent in miniaturizing quadrupole
instruments is avoided. The no-loss, multi-
pass QMA architecture will improve mass
resolution of planetary QMA instruments
while reducing demands on the RF elec-
tronics for high-voltage/high-frequency
production since ion transit time is no
longer limited to a single pass. The QMA-
Environmental Qualification of a Single-
Crystal Silicon Mirror for Spaceflight Use
This innovation is the environmental
qualification of a single-crystal silicon mir-
ror for spaceflight use. The single-crystal sil-
icon mirror technology is a previous inno-
vation, but until now, a mirror of this type
has not been qualified for spaceflight use.
The qualification steps included mounting,
gravity change measurements, vibration
testing, vibration-induced change measure-
ments, thermal cycling, and testing at the
cold operational temperature of 225 K.
Typical mirrors used for cold applications
for spaceflight instruments include alu-
minum, beryllium, glasses, and glass-like
ceramics. These materials show less than
ideal behavior after cool-down. Single-crys-
tal silicon has been demonstrated to have
the smallest change due to temperature
change, but has not been spaceflight-quali-
fied for use. The advantage of using a silicon
substrate is with temperature stability, since
it is formed from a stress-free single crystal.
This has been shown in previous testing.
Mounting and environmental qualification
have not been shown until this testing.
This work was done by John Hagopian, John
Chambers, Scott Rohrback, Vincent Bly, Armando
Morell, and Jason Budinoff of Goddard Space
Flight Center. For more information, download
Physical Sciences category. GSC-16473-1
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Intro
based instrument will thus give way to sub-
stantial reductions of the mass of flight
instruments. Advantages of the multi-pass
quadrupole mass analyzer include:
AProvides ultra-high-resolution mass analy-
sis to resolve N
2
+
/CO
+
and Ne
+
/Ar
++
.
AMultiple passes through QMA region.
AVery slow ions can be created inside
the trap compared to beam injection
into conventional QMA.
A Low-risk, high-resolution performance
sufficient to resolve N
2
+
/CO
+
has already
been demonstrated. This work will
improve signal efficiency by 100-fold.
ADiscovery, MIDEX, and all planetary
science will advance by use of multi-
pass QMA instrument development.
AEliminates trade-off between high-volt-
age and high-frequency RF mass selec-
tor fields.
ABoth high mass operation and high
resolution are achievable in the multi-
pass QMA.
AMass range to over 1,000 Daltons will
be provided.
ARecycling ion passage through mass
selector fields, filtering length is orders
of magnitude longer than physical
length, matching resolution of the best
ground-based instruments.
A This technique can be applied to
improve mass resolution of ultra-
miniature QMA devices.
AThis approach reduces the risk and loss
of resolution typically encountered in
miniaturization of a quadrupole gas
analyzer since the QMA device uses con-
ventional-sized quadrupole filtering
fields, acceptance angles, etc. as current-
ly used in planetary instruments.
The pre-analysis provided by gas chro-
matography columns will not be required.
This work was done by John D. Prestage of
Caltech for NASAs Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
Physical Sciences category. NPO-47277
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Physical Sciences
Lunar Sulfur
Capture System
The process substantially
reduces the need for Earth-
supplied consumables.
The Lunar Sulfur Capture System
(LSCS) protects in situ resource utiliza-
tion (ISRU) hardware from corrosion,
and reduces contaminant levels in water
condensed for electrolysis. The LSCS
uses a lunar soil sorbent to trap over 98
percent of sulfur gases and about two-
thirds of halide gases evolved during
hydrogen reduction of lunar soils. LSCS
soil sorbent is based on lunar minerals
containing iron and calcium com-
pounds that trap sulfur and halide gas
contaminants in a fixed-bed reactor held
at temperatures between 250 and 400
C, allowing moisture produced during
reduction to pass through in vapor
phase. Small amounts of Earth-based
polishing sorbents consisting of zinc
oxide and sodium aluminate are used to
reduce contaminant concentrations to
one ppm or less. The preferred LSCS
configuration employs lunar soil benefi-
ciation to boost concentrations of reac-
tive sorbent minerals.
Lunar soils contain sulfur in concentra-
tions of about 0.1 percent, and halogen
compounds including chlorine and fluo-
rine in concentrations of about 0.01 per-
cent. These contaminants are released as
gases such as H
2
S, COS, CS
2
, HCl, and HF
during thermal ISRU processing with
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Intro
EMI Filters EMI Filtered Connectors Advanced Ceramics Power Filters & Capacitors Magnetics
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VTC WVDC Maximum Capacitance Value 2225 2425 3530 3640 3940 4540 5550 6560 7565 44105 X7R 50 156 156 276 396 476 566 826 127 157 157 X7R 100 685 685 126 186 206 256 396 566 686 586 X7R 200 475 475 685 825 106 126 156 256 336 276 X7R 500 155 155 275 395 395 475 685 825 126 126 BX 50 475 565 106 56 156 185 276 396 576 476 BX 100 215 335 475 575 825 825 125 186 226 276 BR 200 125 155 255 395 395 475 685 106 126 126 BQ 500 564 684 125 155 185 185 275 475 565 565
API Technologies Spectrum Control offers high reliability, military grade and commercial/industrial grade capacitors designed to provide superior performance in high frequency switch mode power supply applications. These capacitors, are ideal for bulk capacitance and pulsing applications and available in a wide range of different footprints and mounting configurations. The high reliability/military grade are based on the design principals and test requirements defined by MIL-49470 .
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Dimensions Case Size in (mm) 2225 2425 3530 3640 3940 4540 5550 6560 7565 44A5 C 0.235 (5.97) 0.250 (6.35) 0.360 (9.14) 0.370 (9.40) 0.400 (10.16) 0.460 (11.68) 0.560 (14.22) 0.660 (16.76) 0.760 (19.30) 0.450 (11.42) 0.025 (0.635) D 0.2240.275 0.2240.275 0.2750.325 0.3500.425 0.3500.425 0.3500.425 0.4505.25 0.5500.625 0.6000.675 0.9501.075 Min - Max (5.696.99) (5.696.99) (6.998.26) (8.8910.80) (8.8910.80) (8.8910.80) (11.4313.34) (13.9715.88) (15.2417.15) (24.1327.31) EMax 0.300 (7.62) 0.300 (7.62) 0.420 (4.67) 0.430 (10.92) 0.440 (11.17) 0.530 (13.46) 0.630 (16.00) 0.730 (18.54) 0.830 (21.08) 0.500 (12.70) AMax 0.650 (16.51) 0.650 (16.51) 0.650 (16.51) 0.650 (16.51) 0.650 (16.51) 0.650 (16.51) 0.650 (16.51) 0.650 (16.51) 0.650 (16.51) 0.650 (16.51) # Leads/Side 3 3 3 4 4 4 5 6 6 10
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hydrogen or other reducing gases.
Removal of contaminant gases is required
during ISRU processing to prevent hard-
ware corrosion, electrolyzer damage, and
catalyst poisoning. The use of Earth-sup-
plied, single-use consumables to entirely
remove contaminants at the levels existing
in lunar soils would make many ISRU
processes unattractive due to the large
mass of consumables relative to the mass of
oxygen produced. The LSCS concept of
using a primary sorbent prepared from
lunar soil was identified as a method by
which the majority of contaminants could
be removed from process gas streams,
thereby substantially reducing the required
mass of Earth-supplied consumables.
The LSCS takes advantage of minerals
containing iron and calcium compounds
that are present in lunar soil to trap sul-
fur and halide gases in a fixed-bed reac-
tor downstream of an in-ISRU process
such as hydrogen reduction. The lunar-
soil-sorbent trap is held at a temperature
significantly lower than the operating
temperature of the hydrogen reduction
or other ISRU process in order to maxi-
mize capture of contaminants, but is
held at a high enough temperature to
allow moisture to pass through without
condensing. The lunar soil benefits from
physical beneficiation to remove ultra-
fine particles (to reduce pressure drop
through a fixed bed reactor) and to
upgrade concentrations of iron and/or
calcium compounds (to improve reactiv-
ity with gaseous contaminants).
This work was done by Mark Berggren,
Robert Zubrin, and Emily Bostwick-White of
Pioneer Astronautics for Kennedy Space
Center. For more information, download the
Physical Sciences category.
KSC-13233/615
Qualification of UHF Antenna for Extreme Martian Thermal
Environments
This innovation can be used in aerospace and deep space applications.
Thepurposeof this development was to
validate the use of the external Rover
Ultra High Frequency (RUHF) antenna
forspaceunderextremethermal environ-
ments to be encountered during the sur-
face operations of the Mars Science
Laboratory (MSL) mission. The antenna
must survive all ground operations plus
the nominal 670 Martian sol mission that
includes summer and winter seasons of
the Mars thermal environment. The qual-
ificationeffort was toverify that theRUHF
antenna designandits bondingandpack-
aging processes are adequate to survive
the harsh environmental conditions.
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Intro
Physical Sciences
The RUHF is a quadrifilar helix
antenna mounted on the MSL Curiosity
rover deck. The main components of
the RUHF antenna are the helix struc-
ture, feed cables, and hybrid coupler,
and the high-power termination load.
In the case of MSL rover externally
mounted hardware, not only are the
expected thermal cycle depths severe, but
there are temperature offsets between
the Mars summer and winter seasons.
The total number of temperature cycles
needed to be split into two regimes of
summer cycles and winter cycles.
The qualification test was designed to
demonstrate a survival life of three times
more than all expected ground testing,
plus a nominal 670 Martian sol missions.
Baseline RF tests and a visual inspection
were performed prior to the start of the
qualification test. Functional RF tests
were performed intermittently during
chamber breaks over the course of the
qualification test. For the RF return loss
measurements, the antenna was tested
in a controlled environment outside the
thermal chamber with a vector network
analyzer that was calibrated over the
antennas operational frequency range.
A total of 2,010 thermal cycles were per-
formed. Visual inspection showed a
The locations of the Rover UHF (RUHF), rover X-band low-gain, and rover X-band high-gain anten-
nas on the Mars Science Laboratory rover.
Rover UHF
Antenna
Rover X-Band
Low Gain Antenna
X-band High Gain
Antenna (HGAS)
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Intro
NASA Tech Briefs, June 2013 www.techbriefs.com
DISPLACEMENT &
POSITION SENSORS
MICRO-EPSILON
Raleigh, NC 27617 / USA
Phone +1/919 787 9707
me-usa@micro-epsilon.com
WWW.m|cro-eps||on.com
Measuring ranges:
up to 300m (without reflector)
up to 3000m (with reflector)
Outstanding repeatability
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heW: 0ompacI & re||ab|e
|aser d|sIance sensor
DISTANCE SENSORS
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|ong measur|ng ranges
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h|gh prec|s|on and accuracy
Measuring ranges from 50mm to 50m
Customer specific OEMs
Very compact sensor design
Output: encoder, potentiometer,
current, voltage
Simple to install
and easy-to-use
dulling of the solder material. This change
will not affect the performance of the
antenna. No other changes were observed.
RF tests were performed on the RUHF
helix antenna, hybrid, and load after the
2,010 qualification cycles test. The RF per-
formance of the RUHF antenna, hybrid,
and load were almost identical before and
after the complete test. Therefore, the
developed design of RUHF is qualified for
a long-duration MSL mission.
The RUHF antenna has not been
used for long-duration missions such as
MSL in the past. The state-of-the-art
technology of the RUHF antenna is used
to develop the antennas for MSL mis-
sion survivability. This developmental
test data provides the confidence in
using this RUHF antenna for future
NASA missions to Mars.
This work was done by Rajeshuni
Ramesham, Luis R. Amaro, Paula R. Brown,
and Robert Usiskin of Caltech for NASAs Jet
Propulsion Laboratory. For more information,
download the Technical Support Package
under the Physical Sciences category.
NPO-48475
Planar Superconducting Millimeter-
Wave/Terahertz Channelizing Filter
The design enables multiple-octave operation with no spurious
harmonic response.
This innovation is a compact, supercon-
ducting, channelizing bandpass filter on a
single-crystal (0.45 m thick) silicon sub-
strate, which operates from 300 to 600 GHz.
This device consists of four channels with
center frequencies of 310, 380, 460, and
550 GHz, with approximately 50-GHz band-
width per channel. The filter concept is
inspired by the mammalian cochlea, which
is a channelizing filter that covers three
decades of bandwidth and 3,000 channels
in a very small physical space. By using a
simplified physical cochlear model, and its
electrical analog of a channelizing filter cov-
ering multiple octaves bandwidth, a large
number of output channels with high inter-
channel isolation and high-order upper
stop-band response can be designed.
A channelizing filter is a critical com-
ponent used in spectrometer instruments
that measure the intensity of light at vari-
ous frequencies. This embodiment was
designed for MicroSpec in order to
increase the resolution of the instrument
(with four channels, the resolution will
be increased by a factor of four).
MicroSpec is a revolutionary wafer-scale
spectrometer that is intended for the
SPICA (Space Infrared Telescope for
Cosmology and Astrophysics) Mission. In
addition to being a vital component of
MicroSpec, the channelizing filter itself is
a low-resolution spectrometer when inte-
grated with only an antenna at its input,
and a detector at each channels output.
During the design process for this fil-
ter, the available characteristic imped-
ances, possible lumped element ranges,
and fabrication tolerances were identi-
fied for design on a very thin silicon sub-
strate. Iterations between full-wave and
lumped-element circuit simulations
were performed. Each channels circuit
was designed based on the availability of
characteristic impedances and lumped
element ranges.
This design was based on a tabular type
bandpass filter with no spurious harmon-
ic response. Extensive electromagnetic
modeling for each channel was per-
formed. Four channels, with 50-GHz
bandwidth, were designed, each using
multiple transmission line media such as
microstrip, coplanar waveguide, and
quasi-lumped components on 0.45-m
thick silicon. In the design process, mod-
eling issues had to be overcome. Due to
the extremely high frequencies, very thin
Si substrate, and the superconducting
metal layers, most commercially available
software fails in various ways. These issues
were mitigated by using alternative soft-
ware that was capable of handling them
at the expense of greater simulation time.
The design of on-chip components for
the filter characterization, such as a
broadband antenna, Wilkinson power
dividers, attenuators, detectors, and tran-
sitions has been completed.
This work was done by Negar Ehsan, Kongpop
U-yen, Ari Brown, Wen-Ting Hsieh, Edward
Wollack, and Samuel Moseley of Goddard Space
Flight Center. For more information, download
Physical Sciences category. GSC-16486-1
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Intro
Ensemble Eclipse: A Process
for Prefab Development
Environment for the
Ensemble Project
This software simplifies the process of
having to set up an Eclipse IDE pro-
gramming environment for the mem-
bers of the cross-NASA center project,
Ensemble. It achieves this by assembling
all the necessary add-ons and custom
tools/preferences.
This software is unique in that it
allows developers in the Ensemble
Project (approximately 20 to 40 at any
time) across multiple NASA centers to
set up a development environment
almost instantly and work on Ensemble
software. The software automatically has
the source code repositories and other
vital information and settings included.
The Eclipse IDE is an open-source
development framework. The NASA
(Ensemble-specific) version of the soft-
ware includes Ensemble-specific plug-ins
as well as settings for the Ensemble proj-
ect. This software saves developers the
time and hassle of setting up a program-
ming environment, making sure that
everything is set up in the correct manner
for Ensemble development.
Existing software (i.e., standard Eclipse)
requires an intensive setup process that is
both time-consuming and error prone.
This software is built once by a single user
and tested, allowing other developers to
simply download and use the software.
This work was done by Michael N.
Wallick, David S. Mittman, and Khawaja
S. Shams of Caltech; and Andrew G.
Bachmann and Melissa Ludowise of NASA
Ames Research Center for NASAs Jet
Propulsion Laboratory. For more informa-
tion, contact iaoffice@jpl.nasa.gov.
This software is available for commercial
licensing. Please contact Dan Broderick at
Daniel.F.Broderick@jpl.nasa.gov. Refer to
NPO-47677.
Space Operations Learning
Center (SOLC)
iPhone/iPad Application
This iPhone application, Space Junk
Sammy, is intended to be an educational
application designed for Apple iPhones
and iPads. This new concept educates
kids in an innovative way about how
orbital debris affects space missions.
Orbital debris is becoming a very signifi-
cant concern for NASA and all Earth-orbit-
ing space missions. Spacecraft in low-Earth
orbit are in constant danger of being
potentially damaged or destroyed by
debris. High-profile spacecraft such as the
International Space Station (ISS) and
Hubble Space Telescope are dealing with
orbital debris on a regular basis. Other
basic educational concepts that are por-
trayed are low-Earth orbits, satellites, ISS,
attitude control, and other facts that can be
presented in between-level popup screens.
The Orbital Debris Cleanup game is rel-
atively simple from the users technical
standpoint. It is a 2D game where the users
avatar is a satellite buddy, named Sammy,
in orbit around Earth. Sammy is controlled
by the user with the devices gyroscope as
well as touchscreen controls. It has equip-
ment used for taking care of the space
debris objects on the screen. Sammy also
has a claw, a laser deflector, and hydrazine
rockets to grab or push the debris objects
into a higher orbit or into a lower orbit to
burn up in the Earths atmosphere.
The user interface shows Sammy and
space debris objects constantly moving
from left to right, where Sammy is trying
to catch the debris objects before they
move off the right side of the screen.
Everything will be in constant motion to
increase fun and add to the realism of
orbiting the Earth. The satellite buddy is
used to clean up the space debris and pro-
tect other satellites. Later levels will
include a laser deflector and hydrazine
rockets instead of a robotic claw to push
the orbital debris into a higher orbit and
out of the path of other satellites.
This work was done by Daniel Binebrink,
Heng Kuok, Malinda Hammond, and Scott
Hull of Goddard Space Flight Center. For
www.techbriefs.com/tsp under the Software
category. GSC-16612-1
Keil
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ISS Live!
International Space Station Live!
(ISSLive!) is a Web application that uses
a proprietary commercial technology
called Lightstreamer to push data across
the Internet using the standard http port
(port 80). ISSLive! uses the push tech-
nology to display real-time telemetry and
mission timeline data from the space sta-
tion in any common Web browser or
Internet-enabled mobile device.
ISSLive! is designed to fill a unique
niche in the education and outreach
areas by providing access to real-time
space station data without a physical
presence in the mission control center.
The technology conforms to Internet
standards, supports the throughput
needed for real-time space station data,
and is flexible enough to work on a large
number of Internet-enabled devices.
ISSLive! consists of two custom com-
ponents: (1) a series of data adapters
that resides server-side in the mission
control center at Johnson Space Center,
and (2) a set of public html that renders
the data pushed from the data adapters.
A third component, the Lightstreamer
server, is commercially available from a
third party and acts as an intermediary
between custom components (1) and
(2). Lightstreamer also provides propri-
etary software libraries that are required
to use the custom components.
At the time of this reporting, this is the
first usage of Web-based, push streaming
technology in the aerospace industry.
This work was done by Jennifer Price and
Philip Harris of Johnson Space Center; Bruce
Hochstetler, Mark Guerra, and Israel Mendez
of Tietronix Software, Inc.; and Matthew
Healy and Ahmed Khan of the United Space
Alliance. For further information, contact the
JSC Innovation Partnerships Office at (281)
483-3809. MSC-25253-1
Software to Compare NPP
HDF5 Data Files
This software was developed for the
NPOESS (National Polar-orbiting
Operational Environmental Satellite
System) Preparatory Project (NPP)
Science Data Segment. The purpose of
this software is to compare HDF5
(Hierarchical Data Format) files specific
to NPP and report whether the HDF5
files are identical. If the HDF5 files are
different, users have the option of print-
ing out the list of differences in the
HDF5 data files.
The user provides paths to two directo-
ries containing a list of HDF5 files to com-
pare. The tool would select matching
HDF5 file names from the two directories
and run the comparison on each file.
The user can also select from three
levels of detail. Level 0 is the basic level,
which simply states whether the files
match or not. Level 1 is the intermediate
level, which lists the differences between
the files. Level 2 lists all the details
regarding the comparison, such as
which objects were compared, and how
and where they are different.
The HDF5 tool is written specifically for
the NPP project. As such, it ignores certain
attributes (such as creation_date, cre-
ation_time, etc.) in the HDF5 files. This is
because even though two HDF5 files could
represent exactly the same granule, if they
are created at different times, the creation
date and time would be different. This tool
is smart enough to ignore differences that
are not relevant to NPP users.
This work was done by Chiu P. Wiegand,
Jacqueline LeMoigne-Stewart, and LaMont
T. Ruley of Goddard Space Flight Center. For
www.techbriefs.com/tsp under the Software
category. GSC-16404-1
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Information Technology
Scientists have deemed the fuel cell as
one of the most promising power sources
that can replace the use of fossil fuels as
well as satisfy global expectations. The
polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell
shows great potential to power homes and
vehicles. A special class of fuel cell
Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell
(PEMFC) was investigated during this
study. The membrane of the PEMFC is
one of the most fundamental parts of the
cell, as its properties have great impact on
the cells output capability.
Most PEMFCs employ the use of hydrat-
ed membranes. This poses a problem
where the membrane only works properly
at temperatures below 80 C, because
above this, the water in the membrane
would start to evaporate, leading to mem-
brane degradation and lowering the cells
output voltage. The Poly(1-vinylimida-
zole) (PVIm) polymer is a material that
does not involve the presence of water for
operation as a membrane.
This polymer, when combined with tri-
flic acid, forms an acid-base ternary com-
posite-blend-based membrane. The acid-
base interaction within the membrane, as
well as the addition of nanocomposite
materials, leads to increased proton con-
ductivity and morphology that results in
larger output voltages. In this particular
membrane, nanotubular titania are
included in the base polymer matrix. The
membrane also has high chemical, ther-
mal, and mechanical stability making it
suitable for use in a PEMFC for tempera-
tures much greater than 80 C.
In this project, a model of the PVIm
polymer membrane was made. This
model was applied to different composi-
tions of the acid-base blended membrane,
with special attention to the composition
of PVIm-Triflic acid-PVDF-HFP in the
ratio of 5-2-3. The modeling process was
done using COMSOL Multiphysics 4.2a.
A computational domain was created as
well as a computational mesh. There are
two separate gas channels at the anode and
cathode that allow for hydrogen and oxy-
gen gases to enter the fuel cell. The chan-
nels are bounded by graphite-sheet bipolar
plates that are highly conductive, both ther-
mally and electrically, and are also stable at
high temperatures. Between the two chan-
nels is the membrane electrode assembly
(MEA) that comprises two carbon fiber gas
diffusion layers (GDLs), which allow the
incoming gases to be dispersed throughout
the entire reaction surface layers. Hence,
there are also two reaction layers made of
platinum where the gases undergo the fol-
lowing chemical reactions:
At anode:
2H
2
=> 4H
+
+ 4e
-
At cathode:
O
2
+ 4H
+
+ 4e
-
=> 2H
2
O
The last component of the MEA is the
PVIm membrane. The membrane allows
protons to flow within the cell, from the
anode to the cathode. The membrane
thickness is 54210
-6
[m].
In order to develop the model, several
assumptions were made. The fuel cell oper-
ates under time-dependent conditions. No
water passes through the membrane. Flow
of gases is laminar in all channels. The gas
inlet conditions are fully developed. All
gases are ideal. Gases do not cross over into
Modeling the Behavior of a Polymer Electrolyte Membrane
within a Fuel Cell
Multiphysics software enables accurate membrane modeling in studying physical and electrical
behavior of fuel cells.
University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago; and COMSOL, Burlington, MA
Figure 1. Porous Media Flow within channels.
Figure 2. Secondary Current Distribution in the
PVIm membrane.
Figure 3. Magnified view of the Membrane.
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Intro
other channels. Since the fuel cell operates at temperatures high-
er than 80 C, there is single-phase water flow. All electrochemical
reactions occur in the gaseous phase. The parameters of the mate-
rials used in the model are homogenous and isotropic.
Acid-base membranes have increased proton transport abili-
ty, thereby increasing the proton conductivity and the output
voltage. A stable hydrophobic backbone was created for the
membrane with the inclusion of PVDF-HFP (polyvinylidene
fluoride-co-hexafluoropropene). Conductivity measurements
were obtained for different compositions of PVDF-HFP-triflic
acid-PVIm for the membrane. The 5-2-3 membrane with 2%
wt. titania showed the highest conductivity. The thermal con-
ductivity and heat capacity of the PVIm-based membrane were
calculated from DSC and thermogravimetry studies performed
on the membrane.
Thermal insulation boundaries were used for internal
boundary conditions. For the gas channels, temperature, pres-
sure, flow rate, and composition were applied. The voltage and
temperature of the cell based on the membrane operation
were applied at the bipolar plates.
The free and porous media flow within the model was exam-
ined, as shown in Figure 1. The secondary current distribution
was then obtained across the membrane, as shown in Figures 2
and 3. The voltage is significantly increased from the anodic
side of the cell model to the cathodic side as protons flow
through the membrane to give a maximum output of 0.95V.
The cold gas entering the cell may cause cooling of the mem-
brane. This can lead to a lowering of proton conductivity, caus-
ing higher ohmic losses within the cell.
This model shows fairly good agreement with experimental
values.
This work was done by S. Beharry of the University of the West Indies
using software from COMSOL, Inc., Burlington, MA. For more infor-
mation, visit http://info.hotims.com/45604-122.
Semi-Supervised Eigenbasis
Novelty Detection
Recent discoveries in high-time-resolution radio astronomy data
have focused attention on a new class of events. Fast transients are
rare pulses of radio frequency energy lasting from microseconds to
seconds that might be produced by a variety of exotic astrophysical
phenomena. For example, X-ray bursts, neutron stars, and active
galactic nuclei are all possible sources of short-duration, transient
radio signals. It is difficult to anticipate where such signals might
appear, and they are most commonly discovered through analysis
of high-time-resolution data that had been collected for other pur-
poses. Transients are often faint and difficult to detect, so
improved detection algorithms can directly benefit the science
yield of all such commensal monitoring.
A new detection algorithm learns a low-dimensional linear man-
ifold for describing the normal data. High reconstruction error
indicates a novel signal that does not match the patterns of normal
data. One unsupervised portion of the manifold model adapts its
representation in response to recent data. A second supervised por-
tion of the model is made of a basis trained in advance using labeled
examples of RFI; this prevents false positives due to these events. For
a linear model, an orthonormalization operation is used to com-
bine these bases prior to the anomaly detection decision.
15 Jonathan Drive, Unit 4, Brockton, MA 02301-5566
Tel: (508) 580-1660; Fax: (508) 583-8989; www.krohn-hite.com
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Accuracy: 4ppm (0.0004%)
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Quality since 1949
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Information Technology
This software translates MAPGEN(Europa and APGEN) domains
to ASPEN, and the resulting domain can be used to perform plan-
ning for the Mars Exploration Rover (MER). In other words, this
is a conversion of two distinct planning languages (both declara-
tive and procedural) to a third (declarative) planning language in
order to solve the problem of faithful translation from mixed-
domain representations into the ASPEN Modeling Language.
The MAPGEN planning system is an example of a hybrid pro-
cedural/declarative system where the advantages of each are
leveraged to produce an effective planner/scheduler for MER
tactical planning. The adaptation of the same domain to an
entirely declarative planning system (ASPEN) was investigated,
and, with some translation, much of the procedural knowledge
encoding is amenable to declarative knowledge encoding.
The approach was to compose translators from the core lan-
guages used for adapting MAGPEN, which consists of Europa and
APGEN. Europa is a constraint-based planner/scheduler where
domains are encoded using a declarative model. APGEN is also
constraint-based, in that it tracks constraints on resources and
states and other variables. Domains are encoded in both con-
straints and code snippets that execute according to a forward
sweep through the plan. Europa and APGEN communicate to
each other using proxy activities in APGEN that represent con-
straints and/or tokens in Europa. The composition of a translator
from Europa to ASPEN was fairly straightforward, as ASPEN is also
a declarative planning system, and the specific uses of Europa for
the MER domain matched ASPENs native encoding fairly closely.
On the other hand, translating from APGEN to ASPEN was con-
siderably more involved. On the surface, the types of activities and
resources one encodes in APGEN appear to match one-to-one to
the activities, state variables, and resources in ASPEN. But, when
looking into the definitions of how resources are profiled and activ-
ities are expanded, one sees code snippets that access various infor-
mation available during planning for the moment in time being
planned to decide at the time what the appropriate profile or
expansion is. APGEN is actually a forward (in time) sweeping dis-
crete event simulator, where the model is composed of code snip-
pets that are artfully interleaved by the engine to produce a
plan/schedule. To solve this problem, representative code is sim-
ulated as a declarative series of task expansions.
Predominantly, three types of procedural models were trans-
lated: loops, if-statements, and code blocks. Loops and if-state-
ments were handled using controlled task expansion, and code
blocks were handled using constraint networks that main-
tained the generation of results based on what the order of
execution would be for a procedural representation.
One advantage with respect to performance for MAPGEN is
the use of APGENs GUI. This GUI is written in C++ and Motif,
and performs very well for large plans.
This work was done by Gregg R. Rabideau, Russell L. Knight, Matthew
Lenda, and Pierre F. Maldague of Caltech for NASAs Jet Propulsion
Laboratory. For more information, download the Technical Support
Package (free white paper) at www.techbriefs.com/tsp under the
Information Technology category.
The software used in this innovation is available for commercial licens-
ing. Please contact Dan Broderick at Daniel.F.Broderick@jpl.nasa.gov.
Refer to NPO-48597.
Translating MAPGEN to ASPEN for MER
Faithful translation is achieved from mixed-domain representations into the ASPEN
Modeling Language.
Another novel aspect of the approach lies in combining basis
vectors learned in an unsupervised, online fashion from the data
stream with supervised basis vectors learned in advance from
known examples of false alarms. Adaptive, data-driven detection
is achieved that is also informed by existing domain knowledge
about signals that may be statistically anomalous, but are not
interesting and should therefore be ignored.
The method was evaluated using data from the Parkes
Multibeam Survey. This data set was originally collected to
search for pulsars, which are astronomical sources that emit
radio pulses at regular periods. However, several non-pulsar
anomalies have recently been discovered in this dataset, making
it a compelling test case. By explicitly filtering known false alarm
patterns, the approach yields significantly better performance
than current transient detection methods.
This work was done by Kiri L. Wagstaff and David R. Thompson
of Caltech for NASAs Jet Propulsion Laboratory. For more information,
contact iaoffice@jpl.nasa.gov. NPO-48239
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w
w
w
.t
e
c
h
b
r
ie
f
s
.c
o
m
/
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o
t
io
n
June 2013
60
Custom Drive System
Helps Mercedes-Benz
Reduce Draft in
Convertibles
64
New Products
66
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60 www.techbriefs.com/motion Motion Control and Automation Technology, June 2013
L
inear guide rails are an important
component within aircraft interiors.
Following are some of the places where
they are used:
For seat adjustments forward and
back seat movements, footrests, sliding
armrests, and tables.
Rails enable 180 positioning for super
first class seats that flatten for sleeping.
Sliding privacy screens between pas-
sengers.
Kitchen slide-outs, such as garbage
compactors.
Sliding lavatory doors.
When airline passengers travel in
coach class, expectations are fairly low
with regard to comfort. For example,
most seats only offer two positions:
straight for takeoff and landing, and a
slight recline for the journey. Coach
seats are relatively simple and light-
weight structures compared to their
more sophisticated counterparts in busi-
ness class, first class, and super first class.
Whereas a coach seat weighs approxi-
mately 100 pounds, seats in higher class-
es weigh 200 to 300 pounds each,
depending on their features.
Super first class seats are the most
complex, folding flat to 180 for sleep-
ing, and featuring infinitely adjustable
headrests, footrests, and seatbacks. At a
cost of $250,000 to $300,000 per seat
and a spec sheet of 5,000 parts design-
ers must carefully consider how each
component contributes to the overall
design. To facilitate smooth and quiet
operation, engineers incorporate vari-
ous linear motion components into
their seat designs.
Among these components are the lin-
ear rails and bearings that allow seats to
move forward and back, and armrests
and footrests to slide smoothly into a
range of positions. Because weight and
reliability are the most important design
constraints in aerospace applications,
each component must be as lightweight
and robust as possible. To achieve this,
design engineers have traditionally
relied on titanium as the material of
choice for certain components, due to
its blend of lightweight, high-strength
properties. However, titanium has
become more difficult to source over the
past few years, leading to a correspond -
ing increase in both price and delivery
schedules. Steel is increasingly being
used in place of titanium, as it is widely
available and offers comparable strength
at roughly one-fourth the cost.
The design tradeoff is that steel is
approximately twice as heavy as titani-
um. However, with regard to the linear
rails and bearings used in seat construc-
tion, this is not much of an issue: Of the
300-pound weight of a super first class
seat, a mere 2 pounds comes from the
steel rails and bearings. Using titanium
would save another pound of weight,
but at a significant cost and time disad-
vantage. To compensate for the weight
of steel versus titanium, aircraft design-
ers have shaved bulk from other areas
with lighter-weight seat materials and
Linear Guide Systems Streamline
Aircraft Seat Assembly and Operation
Applications for linear rails in business class and first class seating include forward and back seat move-
ments, footrests, sliding armrests, tables, and positioning for seats that flatten for sleeping.
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strong er engines, reduced meal service,
and other strategies.
In addition to meeting weight con-
straints, the linear motion components
used in aircraft seats must be rigid,
straight, and feature a sufficient load
capacity to support passengers. Seats
must also withstand extremely severe
tests, including 16 g of acceleration in
both vertical drops and side impact test-
ing. To conduct the trials, seats are
placed on a track within a testing cham-
ber and subjected to g forces to deter-
mine how they hold up. In addition to in-
house manufacturer testing, seats must
also be verified by FAA-authorized labs in
order to gain approval for use in com-
mercial aircraft. Seat rails may deform
and bend up to 3 inches, but cannot
break apart and create flying debris.
Design Considerations
Straightness is the major design and
assembly issue when it comes to specify-
ing and installing linear rails in aircraft
seats. If the framing is not straight
enough, misalignment will occur, result-
ing in friction, stuck bearings, and seats
that are difficult to operate. Trad -
itionally, designers have specified linear
rails and bearings separately, leaving
alignment tasks up to assembly techni-
cians. However, this approach can result
in time-consuming assembly processes.
Even worse, improper alignment can
occur, leading to maintenance issues and
significantly reduced seat lives. Seats are
expected to last for five to seven years
with little if any maintenance issues.
Another option is to use a self-aligning,
preloaded linear guide system. These
multi-component systems offer guide
rails that include pre-installed rolling slid-
ers with radial bearings that slide on
internal raceways. These flexible systems
feature three types of rails, including a
fixed bearing rail, floating bearing rail,
and a compensation rail that can be com-
bined in different ways. For example, a
fixed bearing rail and floating bearing
rail can be supplied as a system to allow
for deviations in parallelism of up to
1
8".
Fixed bearing rails act as the main load-
bearing surface for radial and axial
forces, while floating bearing rails are
used for load bearing of radial forces, and
as a support bearing for any occurring
moments. Because the rails are supplied
together with sliders already mounted
and preloaded inside there is no
chance of misalignment. The self-align-
ing system guarantees that straightness is
not an issue during seat assembly and
operation, saving time and costs.
Linear guide systems absorb rotation-
al positioning errors, misalignments
between lateral planes, and longitudinal
parallelism errors while maintaining the
original preload setting. Sliders are
equipped with rollers that are in alter-
nating contact with both sides of the
raceway. Individual sliders can carry up
to 3,300 pounds dynamically.
Compact rails are made of readily
available carbon bearing steel with
induction-hardened raceways and zinc-
plated surfaces for corrosion resist-
ance. The systems are lubricated for
life and insensitive to dirt, due to slid-
ers that run on internal tracks inside
the guide rails. Noise-free and very
smooth operation is another advan-
tage. Because the rails employ radial
bearings, they are significantly quieter
than traditional recirculating ball sys-
tems, an important design feature in
first-class aircraft cabins.
This article was contributed by Rollon
Corp., Hackettstown, NJ. For more informa-
tion, visit http://info.hotims.com/45604-320.
Additional applications for linear rails throughout the aircraft include partitions, tray adjustments,
pocket doors, foot rests, and privacy screens.
Compact rails absorb rotational positioning
errors, misalignments between lateral planes,
and longitudinal parallelism errors, while main-
taining the original preload setting.
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Speed, Accuracy,
Efcient Operation Range
Delivered
Speeds up to 2500 mm/sec
High-speed operation with commanded
acceleration of up to 3.2 G
(Max. instantaneous acceleration: 4.8 G)
See it in action!
IAI America, Inc. California: 800-736-1712 Illinois: 800-944-0333 Georgia: 888-354-9470
www.IntelligentActuator.com/CT4
1. Increase speed and acceleration
2. Be capable of many positions
3. Have long life
4. Have reliable operation
1. Shorten cycle time
2. Minimize stoppage
3. Shorten each setup time
4. Improve the yield rate
For maximum 24/7 productivity, automated operation must:
To achieve these
objectives,
actuators must:
ated operation must:
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Applications
Custom Drive System Helps Mercedes-Benz Reduce
Draft in Convertibles
T
he AIRCAP
automatic draft stop,

offered in the Mercedes-Benz E-Class
convertibles, is distinctively different
from conventional angular wind deflec-
tors. It is entirely embedded into the car
body and completely concealed into the
windshield frame when deactivated. In
its activated state, an aerodynamically
shaped wind deflector extends on top of
the windshield without disfiguring the
automobiles aesthetic side line.
The AIRCAP comprises two main com-
ponents: an electrically operated wind
deflector built into the windshield frame,
and a wind blocker located between the
rear head cushions. Its activation increas-
es the free flow of air over the car interi-
or, which results in dramatically reduced
air pressure and reverse airflow. It can be
activated while driving (up to speeds of
160 km/h, or 100 mph), and can be used
all the way up to the cars top speed. The
result is increased driving comfort and
clearly reduced wind noise. And, as
weather conditions and temperatures
call for or just to give free rein to a
boundless convertible feeling the AIR-
CAP can again be deactivated at the push
of a button.
The Drive System
A drive system, designed by maxon
motor GmbH in Sexau, Germany, takes
care of moving the AIRCAP. Its core
piece is a motor/gear combination spe-
cially designed for the application
based on a maxon A-max 22 DC motor
and a customized gearbox with three
separate reduction stages. Prominent
characteristics are compact, robust
design; high-capacity, silent, highly
dynamic ganging; self-locking output in
both end positions; and handling-opti-
mized, screwless assembly into the
wind shield frame.
Behind the concept are extraordinari-
ly stringent requirements related to
comfort, small installation space, and
screwless assembly technique suitable
for high-volume production. The result
is a drive system that claims just 22 mm
of installation height and drives the
three outputs for bracing, adjustment of
the lamella module, and latching of the
AIRCAP in a fixed, coordinated, and
synchronized ratio.
In the retracted position, the lamella
module is braced and interlocked flush
to the car bodys surface, and in the
extended end position, it is mechanical-
ly interlocked. While being deployed,
the drive overcomes wind ram pressures
well beyond 250 km/h (155 mph) by
torques of up to 7 Nm.
As for acoustics and ganging, the
drive fulfills the same strict require-
ments that Mercedes-Benz imposes for
interior passenger compartment instru-
ments. Besides the high-end demands
on power density, dependability, and
comfort, the drive also complies to the
rigid constraints on optimized serial
production. Thus, the entire drive
assembly can be mounted into the wind-
shield frame without the use of screws.
Similarly, the individual components
such as the anti-vibration motor recep-
tacle, motor, gear pinion, bipartite hull,
etc., are assembled within a specially
designed procedure.
This article was contributed by maxon pre-
cision motors, Fall River, MA. For more infor-
mation, visit http://info.hotims.com/45604-
321.
Detailed view of the extended AIRCAP. (
Daimler AG)
The Mercedes-Benz E-Class Cabriolet with exten d -
ed AIRCAP. ( Daimler AG)
The maxon motor AIRCAP drive. ( maxon
motor ag)
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66 Motion Control and Automation Technology, June 2013 Free Info at http://info.hotims.com/45604-868
11715 Main Street,
Roscoe, IL 61073
815-623-2168
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US Navy MH-60S Seahawk helicopters patrolling for mines
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Dont let gear challenges go undetected.
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Products
NEW
Rotary Actuator
Oriental Motor (Torrance, CA) has intro-
duced the DGII Series hollow rotary actuator that
uses an AR Series closed loop motor. In addition
to the pulse input type package, a built-in con-
troller (stored data) type package with I/O,
Modbus, or EtherCAT (via a gateway converter)
communications is also available. Both types
come with a 3-m (9.8-ft.) cable. The actuator
offers reduced power consumption and heat out-
put, and the large-diameter hollow hole (through-hole) helps to
reduce the complexity of wiring and piping.
The actuator is available in 60-mm (2.36 in.), 85-mm (3.35 in.), 130-
mm (5.12 in.), and 200-mm (7.87 in.) frame sizes with a maximum
torque of 50 N
m (440 lb-in), and can handle up to 400 N (900 lbs) of

permissible thrust load and high moment loading.
Coupler Brake
Force Control Industries (Fairfield, OH) offers a double C-Face cou-
pler brake that mounts on the drive end of a standard C-Face motor.
Mounting the brake between the reducer and C-Face motor allows a stan-
dard C-face motor to be used. Applications
include palletizers, packaging machinery, and
cranes. The Posistop air-actuated and
MagnaShear electrically actuated coupler brakes
never need adjustment. An annual fluid change,
without removing the motor, is required.
Unlike dry brakes, the oil shear technology
includes a layer of automatic transmission
fluid between the brake disc and the drive
plate. As the fluid is compressed, the fluid molecules shear, imparting
torque to the other side. This torque transmission causes the station-
ary surface to turn, bringing it up to the same relative speed as the
moving surface. In addition to transmitting torque, a patented fluid
recirculation system helps to dissipate heat.
Slide
The NV type STUDROLLER
from NB
Corp. (Hanover Park, IL) is designed for
motion control applications with extremely
fast acceleration and deceleration at
dimensions ranging from 30 to 600-mm
lengths. The slide features Anti-Creep
Cage Technology and raceway depressions
that track the nodules, preventing slippage in any position. Load
capacities were increased 1.4 to 2.3 times over the standard SV type,
and the number of rollers was increased 20 to 55 percent.
Control Platform
The Ensemble
LAB control plat-

form from Aerotech (Pittsburgh, PA)
enables automation of light industrial manu-
facturing applications. The full-color touchscreen display enables
access to core functionality, while the tabbed interface provides single-
press access to setup and operation screens. An integral rubberized front-
panel interface provides tactile feedback for jogging and manual posi-
tioning operations. The platform is programmed in a BASIC-like syntax,
and is programmed offline with a graphical user interface in Windows
.
It can run up to 4 programs simultaneously for partitioning of com-
plex operations. One task could be used for motion while the remain-
ing tasks are used for process control, or the controller could be con-
figured to operate four separate programs controlling four motors.
Applications include point-to-point motion, linear and circular inter-
polation, single- and multi-axis error correction, direct commutation
of linear and rotary brushless servomotors, and servo auto-tuning.
Inclination Sensors
Balluff (Florence, KY) offers BSI inclination sensors
that measure the deviation in a horizontal axis of up to
360 degrees. They operate in temperatures down to -40 C.
They feature rugged metal housing and accuracy of 0.1 degree
for controlling processes. An extended temperature range of -40
to 85 C is suitable for outdoor applications such as oil and gas
extraction, wind energy systems, and solar-thermal power plants.
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Intro
CREATING SOLUTIONS
Your Customers Can Rely On
Lin Steppers are Utilized in a Variety
of Motion Control applications including:
3D Printing
Tracking Systems
Semiconductor
Check out this quick overview on common industries steppers are utilized in
www.linengineering.com/industries
#SteppersImproveMotionControl
16245 Vineyard Blvd., Morgan Hill, CA 95037
Tel. 408.919.0200 - www.linengineering.com
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Intro
68 Motion Control and Automation Technology, June 2013
St ill using shims t o get it right ?
Benefts of the HEL-CAL Machined Spring include;
accurate and repeatable performance in compression,
extension, torsion, lateral bending, and lateral
translation.
Custom attachments such as tangs,
clamps, fanges or threaded ends
all integrated into a single
multi-functional component.
Before After
SIMPLIFIED ASSEMBLY
AS9100C & ISO 9001:2008 Certied
PO Box 1069 901 West McCoy Lane
Santa Maria, CaIifornia 93455
877-353-9873 Fax 805-928-2369
ONE-PIECE COMPONENT
IMPROVED PERFORMANCE
For Lengt h and Rat e ac c ur acy c hoose a
HELI -CAL Machi ned Spr i ng
Products
NEW
Slotless Motor
Koford Engineering (Winchester, OH) offers a 6,300-rpm, hollow
shaft, 48-mm-diameter, slotless, 2-pole motor with a shaft bore size of
.400". The motor is designed for low temperature rise and low operating
current (.06 amps at 12v for 6,300 rpm). The cogless design results in smooth
rotation. Applications include optics, filter, beam choppers, and any application
where access through the center of the motor is required. Matching sensorless
drives are also available.
Servo Controller
PI (Physik Instrumente) LP (Auburn, MA)
offers the C-884 4-axis digital servo controller
for motorized linear translation stages and
rotary positioners with very high accuracy and
repeatability. The high-speed encoder inter-
face allows the use of direct-metrology linear
and angular scales with resolutions down to the
nanometer and microrad realm and below.
The controller is equipped with a dual-core
architecture for fast servo handling and com-
mand interpretation. Software tools are provid-
ed, including PIMikroMove software that does
not require writing code.
The General Command Set (GCS) simpli-
fies the development of custom applications.
The GCS commands are available at the con-
troller terminal, in macros, and in the form of
a universal driver set for LabVIEW (VIs),
Windows dynamic link libraries (DLL), and
Linux libraries. The controller supports sev-
eral motion profiles, linear vector motion,
and point-to-point motion. PID parameters
can be changed on the fly, and the servo
update rate is 20 kHz. Communication is
through industry-standard TCP/IP, USB, and
RS-232 interfaces.
For Free Info Visit
Actuator
BEI Kimco Magnetics (Vista, CA) has
released the Moving Magnet voice coil actua-
tor series. When combined with smart drive
electronics, the actuator can be controlled for
speed and desired output force. Moving mag-
net actuators are designed for applications
that require moderate speed and control-
lable, gentle stop points including remotely
controlled circuit breakers, medical hand
tools, and other delicate instrumentation.
Unlike standard voice coil actuators where
the magnet assembly is intended to remain
fixed while the coil assembly moves, these
actuators are designed to use a stationary coil.
For Free Info Visit
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Intro
Motion Control and Automation Technology, June 2013 69
AH1212I_TM
Aer ot ec h Wor l dwi de
United States France Germany United Kingdom
China Japan Taiwan
Ph: 412-963-7470
Email: sales@aerotech.com
www.aerotech.com
Dedicated to the
Science of Motion
DATA ACQUISITION
SOLUTIONS
SENSOR
FUSION
The Sensor Fusion desktop, rack mount and panel mount
systems allow you to record sensor I/O precisely aligned
with encoder position and to retrieve the results through one
easy-to-use software interface. Sensor Fusion, when used
with PSO and the Digital Scope, is Aerotechs answer for
all of your data acquisition needs.
With a variety of analog, digital, encoder and PSO cards
available, Sensor Fusion allows you to record sensor data
and position data in ways that have never been possible. Its
modular design accepts additional cards such as vision and
serial data acquisition. With desktop, rack mount and panel
mount options available, there is a Sensor Fusion for every
application. Sensor Fusion is an integrated member of the
A3200 motion controller family.
Features and Benefits
Sensor I/O precisely aligned with encoder position
Combine sensor inputs in real time
One easy-to-use software interface
No additional software required
Data recording and playback
5 MHz collection rates
Desktop, rack mount or panel mount
Linear Motors
Applimotion (Loomis, CA) offers LARC (Linear Arc) motors for
large-diameter applications greater than 1 meter in diameter. The
modular nature of the motors allows them to integrate with large
assemblies for scanning, imaging, and metrology applications
where size requirements take priority over high-torque require-
ments. LARC motors come in modular pieces and bolt into any
large-diameter servo motor application. The motors operate from standard brushless motor
amplifiers from 24 to 30V. They work with encoders, resolvers, or magnetic encoders for direct-
drive applications. The motors offer a low-profile design to fit into tight spaces. Hermetically
sealed magnet tracks and coil assemblies are available for vacuum or special environments.
Position Switches
AutomationDirect (Cumming, GA) offers
the NITRA
line of position switches for

pneumatic cylinders, including round, dove-
tail, t-slot, square, and D-shaped. Additional
dovetail accessories are available to accommo-
date larger dovetail slots. The solid-state elec-
tronic switches are available in normally
open, 3-wire DC PNP and NPN configura-
tions, and can be purchased with an M8
wiring connector or 3-meter integral cable
with wire leads. Mounting bands with
adapters for round body cylinders are avail-
able ranging from 1/8" to 4" sizes.
For Free Info Visit
Rotary Position Sensor
Piher Sensors & Controls (Chicago, IL) has introduced the MTS-360
Mechanical Mount rotary position sensor with integral PCB. Designed
with the sensor directly mounted onto a PCB, the package allows engi-
neers to install a rotary sensor without designing a printed circuit board for the
sensor. The assembly is available with either 6-pin (dual output) or 3-pin (single output)
Molex 90119 Series mating connectors. The assembly can be secured with three standard M3 screws.
The sensor model merges a through-shaft design with 360 absolute position feedback. It relies
on patented Hall effect technology to enable true non-contacting through-hole shaft sensing using
a three-hole mechanical mounting. The standard model features a 4-mm double D-flat through-
hole, and three slotted mounting holes for final rotational adjustment at assembly. Rated for use at
-40 C to +125 C environments, the sensor can operate up to 333 RPM, and can be programmed
with full-scale output with angles as narrow as 15 or as wide as 360 degrees.
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Intro
usdigital.com
360-260-2468
sales@usdigital.com
Motion Control Products
Encoders for OEMs, Available Now
Best-in-Industry Lead Times
To learn more about our
entire line of encoders, visit
usdigital.com/encoders
E6 Optical
Kit Encoder
E5 Optical
Kit Encoder
Made in the USA
Products
NEW
Linear Servo Actuator
Tolomatic (Hamel, MN) offers the IMA integrated linear servo actu-
ator with ball screws that provide up to 58 inches per second. Designed
for long life in high duty cycles, the actuator is suited for press fitting
systems, valve and process control, lightweight spot welding, and fluid
dispensing. The actuator integrates a servo motor into a ball or roller
screw-driven actuator to provide high force in a compact design. The
IMA55 high-force servo actuator offers thrust capability of 6,875
pounds force (30,470 N). The patented design eliminates the need for
couplers, adapters, belts, and gears, and allows for re-lubrication without disassembly. Available in
four sizes, the actuators feature stroke lengths from 3 to 18 inches (76.2 to 457.2 mm).
Vibration Isolator
Minus K Technology (Inglewood, CA) has released the CM-1
compact, high-capacity, low-frequency, negative-stiffness isolator
designed to support heavy payloads while reducing low-frequen-
cy vibrations. The isolator comes in several capacity ranges to
match vibration-sensitive instruments such as SPMs, micro-hard-
ness testers, profilers, interferometers, electron microscopes, or
other imaging systems, for weight loads from 50 to 800 pounds.
The isolator delivers a vertical natural frequency of 1/2 Hz or
less, which can be achieved over the entire load range. Horizontal
natural frequency is load-dependent. The unit is completely passive, using no air or electricity,
and can be combined into multi-isolator systems to support heavy payloads. They can be placed
on pedestals to bring them to an appropriate height to retrofit existing air tables.
Rotary Position Sensors
Bourns (Riverside, CA) has introduced the
Bourns
Model AMS22U and Model AMM20B

non-contacting rotary position sensors for
rugged environments. They utilize magnetic
Hall Effect (HE) technology, and are designed
for pneumatic control valve position feedback,
actuator motor position feedback, lift/shuttle
suspension systems, and
tilt control feedback. The
Bourns
Model AMS22U
is a single-turn, non-con-
tacting rotary position sen-
sor that offers a rotational
life of up to 100 million
cycles, and features a 1/8"
shaft supported by dual
ball bearings and a factory-programmable
electrical angle from 10 to 360 degrees. The
Bourns
Model AMM20B is a multi-turn, non-

contacting rotary position sensor that features
a rotational life of up to 50 million cycles. It
features a slim profile for space-constrained
applications, 12-bit resolution, and a factory-
programmable electrical angle from 1080 to
3600 degrees.
For Free Info Visit
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Intro
Motion Control and Automation Technology, June 2013 71
(330| 545-5624 www.centr|c|ty.net sa|es@centr|c|ty.net
State of the art servo
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Controllers
The Simatic S7-1500 controllers from
Siemens Industry (Chicago, IL) feature inte-
grated motion control, security, and safety func-
tions, as well as a color display. The controllers
feature a backplane bus with a high baud rate
and efficient transmission protocol, and have
have two built-in, standard Profinet interfaces.
The largest controller in the line has an addi-
tional Profinet interface onboard with a sepa-
rate IP address, allowing network isolation to
integrate into the corporate network.
Standard motion control functions enable
analog and Profidrive-compatible drives to be
connected without additional modules. The
controllers support speed and positioning axes,
as well as encoders. The F-version (failsafe)
function provides both standard and safety-
related programs. The controllers are integrat-
ed into Siemens TIA Portal engineering frame-
work that offers a standardized operating con-
cept for controller, HMI and drives, shared
data storage, and automatic data consistency.
For Free Info Visit
Cartesian Robot
IAI America (Torrance, CA) offers a
Cartesian robot with commanded acceleration
of up to 3.2 G (maximum instantaneous accel-
eration: 4.8 G). The dedicated cast aluminum
frame ensures high rigidity. The shape and
vibration damping of the fastening brackets for
XY-axes reduce the vibration at the tip of the Z-
axis, while the vibration control function of the
XSEL controller reduces vibration during high-
speed operation. A wide operation range of
400 mm (X-axis) 300 mm (Y-axis) is provided.
The high-speed Cartesian robot combines sin-
gle-axis robots, each performing linear motion,
for straight-moving performance.
For Free Info Visit
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Intro
Gear Reducer
The Able VRB Gear Reducer from Shimpo Drives is available from
Servo2Go.com (Greenville, DE), and is suited for packaging machin-
ery, medical equipment, and assembly cell automation. The standard
mounting is a through-bolt style. The maximum output torque peaks
at 2,300 in-lbs. It provides high-precision backlash rating of <3 arc-
minutes as its standard.
USA Inc.
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800.713.6170
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Products
NEW
AC Vector Drives
The SK 200E series distributed size 4 AC vector drives from
NORD Gear Corp. (Waunakee, WI) offers power capacity to
30 HP. The drives are capable of operating up to 15-HP motors
on 200 to 240 VAC 3-phase power, and up to 30-HP motors on
380 to 500 VAC 3-phase power. The drive mounts directly to
the motor and not in the control panel. The drive offers sen-
sorless current vector control (ISD), plug-in memory-storage
module (EEPROM) for storing application-specific drive settings on a transferrable memory mod-
ule, diagnostic LEDs, internal 24V control power supply with the option to provide external 24V con-
trol power, and POSICON positioning control with incremental or absolute encoder feedback.
The drives also include cover-mounted trim potentiometers, an electromechanical motor brake
power supply, and an integral cooling fan. They feature both digital and analog inputs as standard. These
inputs give the drive many options to apply basic process control, governing aspects of the operation
including flow, pressure, and temperature. Four configurable digital inputs are available, as well as two
digital outputs. The drives are available in two protection classes for various installation environments.
Standard IP55 version drives feature protection from limited ingress, dust, and low-pressure water jets.
Lens Actuator
New Scale Technologies (Victor, NY) offers
the UTAF (ultra-thin auto focus) piezoelec-
tric lens actuator module that measures 8.5
8.5 3.8 mm. The module integrates the
companys UTAF piezoelectric beam motor
with a drive IC and position sensor IC for
closed-loop motion control. A pin bushing
system moves the
lens in a straight line
with dynamic tilt of
less than 0.1 degree,
a requirement for
high-megapixel cam-
eras and imaging sys-
tems. A flexure pre-
load or magnetic
preload system pro-
duces substantially
zero additional friction in the bearing guide,
irrespective of the location along the optical
centerline. This allows the module to lift a
mass at least three times greater than the
typical lens mass of 0.25 grams, insuring a
low sensitivity to gravity orientation for the
camera system.
For Free Info Visit
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Intro
Product of the Month Product of the Month
Silicon Designs, Kirkland, WA, has announced the Model 3330 G-Logger USB-pow-
ered portable data acquisition system with FFT analysis. The three-channel unit is
designed to optimize the low-noise characteristics of triaxial MEMS variable capacitance
accelerometer modules with analog output and 8-32 VDC excitation. It offers 16-bit data
acquisition with data rates of 1 to 10k samples per second and per axis through each of
its available input channels. The user interface is built on an NI LabVIEW platform.
Features include real-time data acquisition and readout capabilities with live streaming;
real-time pause, scroll back, and rewind; SD-card recording of up to 32-GB, multi-speed
recording playback; and remote operation via TCP. Data output is displayed over a time
range from 100 ms to 2 minutes. Users may view accelerometer performance data from
any remote network location.
Wireless Communications Test
Agilent Technologies, Santa Clara,
CA, has introduced the E6607C EXT
wireless communications test set, fea-
turing an integrated multiport
adapter for wireless device manufac-
turing test. The device is a one-box
tester that includes a vector signal analyzer, vector signal generator,
high-speed sequence analyzer, eight bidirectional input/output
ports for multi-format cellular testing, and four output ports for
GNSS testing. For Free Info Visit http://info.hotims.com/45604-100
Phase Noise Test
Saelig Company, Fairport, NY,
has introduced the APPH30G
cross-correlation phase noise test
system for 5-MHz to 30-GHz fre-
quencies. It provides measure-
ments of single sideband resid-
ual and additive phase noise, amplitude noise, and baseband noise.
The self-contained instrument with cross-correlator engine and
internal low noise reference sources is optionally available with LAN
(VXI-11), USBTMC, or GPIB interfaces. For Free Info Visit
Thermal Imaging Test Kits
The FLIR A5sc, A15sc, and A35sc
long-wave infrared thermal imaging test
kits from FLIR Systems, Portland, OR,
are designed for thermal benchtop test-
ing applications in tight machine vision
locations. Cameras are available in a
variety of pixel resolutions from 80 64
to 320 256. The kits include a gooseneck stand and FLIR Tools+
software for image analysis, recording, and report generation.
Waveform Generators
Tektronix, Beaverton, OR,
offers the AWG70000 Series arbi-
trary waveform generators that
offer up to 50 GS/s sample rate,
16 GS of waveform memory, and
10-bit vertical resolution. They provide the ability to create, generate,
or replicate ideal, distorted, or real-life signals, and generate wide
bandwidth signals at baseband, IF, and RF frequencies up to 20GHz.
The generators offer a two-box solution for HDMI 2.0, supporting
four lanes at 6 Gbps per lane. For Free Info Visit http://info.hotims.
com/45604-103
Test Software
National Instruments, Austin, TX, has
announced NI VeriStand 2012 configu-
ration-based software environment with
an open, intuitive software interface for
developing real-time testing applica-
tions. Features include real-time model
execution from various modeling envi-
ronments; open, extensible architecture
to create custom code modules or incorporate custom user inter-
faces; and built-in test automation using the Stimulus Profile Editor.
Dip Strip Photometer
The HHWT-13 series of handheld dip strip
photometers from Omega Engineering,
Stamford, CT, tests water for cyanide, iron,
ammonia, phosphate, pH (5 to 10) sulfide,
fluoride, chloride, and quarternary ammonia.
The device uses a 4-ml water sample, and fea-
tures 3-button control, 140 test memory, and
an automatic countdown test time. For Free
Info Visit http://info.hotims.com/45604-105
Product Focus: Test Instruments
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Intro
WEDGE, SWING & TOGGLE CLAMPS.
'JYUVSJOH"DDFTTPSJFTt.BDIJOF5PPM&MFNFOUTt.BUFSJBM)BOEMJOH$PNQPOFOUT
Fixtureworks is your source for manual clamps from Imao,

OK-Vise,
KIPP and Mitee-Bite.
Quick and secure fastening for

repetitive machining. Ideal for easy load/unloading of workpiece.
Variety of sizes, clamping-force options and configurations.
Call us at 888.794.8687 or go to fixtureworks.net.
Data Loggers
The HOBO
UX100 Series
data loggers for tracking tempera-
ture and relative humidity in
indoor environments is available
from Onset Computer Corp.,
Bourne, MA. They feature an LCD
display that visually confirms log-
ger operation and battery status, and a large memory capacity. Data
can be viewed in graph form and analyzed using HOBOware
Pro soft-
ware. For Free Info Visit http://info.hotims.com/45604-106
Engineering Software
CD-adapco, Melville, NY, offers
STAR-CCM+ v8 multidisciplinary engi-
neering software with enhanced parts-
based meshing that allows users to
associate mesh definitions with geo-
metric entities, surface preparation
that reduces the amount of time required to clean up imported CAD
geometries, and JTOpen integration to cut import times for complex
CAD assemblies. For Free Info Visit http://info.hotims.com/45604-107
Data Acquisition System
Elsys Instruments, Monroe, NY, offers
the TraNET PPC portable, ruggedized
data acquisition system for in-the-field
measurements. Available with up to 24
channels and sample rates up to 240
MS/s, the system enables data acquisition
from multiple points simultaneously. The
system combines high-speed, LAN-controlled instruments with an
industrial PC, enabling standalone operation in remote applications.
Channel configurations of 4, 8, and 12 are available. For Free Info Visit
Technical Computing Software
Maplesoft, Waterloo, ON,
Canada, has announced Maple
17 technical computing software
with new functionality in solving
differential equations and sys-
tems of equations, and new sig-
nal processing tools and support
for physics, statistics, and dynamic systems. Enhancements include
improvements to frequently called routines and algorithms, as well as
in the low-level infrastructure of memory management. For Free Info
Visit http://info.hotims.com/45604-109
Multibody Simulation Software
Adams 2013 multibody dynamics
simulation software from MSC
Software, Santa Ana, CA, includes
new modules for machinery dynamics
analysis, and extended automotive
features for ride test, leafspring gen-
eration, and powertrain modeling.
The Adams/Machinery solution
incorporated in the software adds a new bearing module to the exist-
ing gear, belt, and chain modules. For Free Info Visit http://info.
hotims.com/45604-110
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Intro
Free Info at http://info.hotims.com/45604-884 Free Info at http://info.hotims.com/45604-876 Free Info at http://info.hotims.com/45604-880
PRECISION
DISPENSERS &
METERING PUMPS
Fluid Metering, Inc. offers a full
line of Dispensers and Metering
Pumps for Laboratory, Industrial
and OEM applications. FMIs
unique piston-type positive displacement units fea-
ture no valves, low-dead volume, 1% accuracy and a
ceramic/fluorocarbon fluid path. Flows from 2.5
l/dispense to flows of 4,600 ml/min with pressures
to 200 psig. Fluid Metering is certified as compliant
with ISO 9001 quality standards. Call toll free (800)
223-3388 or 1-(516) 922-6050; Fax: 1-(516)624-8261;
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Fluid Metering Inc.
NEW LEXIUM
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Well suited for a wide range of industries and appli-
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machine reliability. And with their robust design,
LMD products are backed by an extended warranty.
www.motion.schneider-electric.com/lmd
Schneider Electric
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AN INTRODUCTION
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Aeroflex offers Slip Rings as
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CAMERA
The Nocturn extreme low-
light camera module offers read noise < 4e-, frame
rates to 100 fps, and full SXGA resolution (1280
1024). It provides real-time imaging capabilities
from daylight to bright starlight in the visible and
near infrared spectrum. Optimized for SWaP
requirements, this camera module is ideal for inte-
gration into aerial, mobile and hand-held surveil-
lance systems. www.nocturncamera.com
PHOTONIS USA
EVANSCAPS
STUD MOUNTED
THQ & THS
HYBRIDS
Evanscap Stud Mounting
provides threaded mounting studs welded directly to
the leaded end of the capacitor. The studs are suitable
for insertion into a pre-drilled circuit board to provide
rigid support and stability for even high shock and
vibration applications. Studs are 0.312-56 CDA 75 in a
variety of standard lengths. Studs are available on any
THQ or THS Hybrid. Visit http://www.evanscap.com/
Stud-Mount-Hybrid-Caps.html; Call: 401-435-3555.
Evans Capacitor
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PhotoMachining of -
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with thin films and other flat samples. Pore sizes
under 25 microns assure uniform suction and holding
power for even the smallest parts. PhotoMachining
also provides contract laser-manufacturing services,
and designs and builds custom laser-based manufactur-
ing equipment. PhotoMachining, Inc., 4 Industrial Dr.,
Unit 40, Pelham, NH 03076; Tel: 603-882-9944; Fax:
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other high-performance applications. Custom packag-
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are available. Design assistance is available from
Universe Kogaku America. Web: www.ukaoptics.com;
email: info@ukaoptics.com; or phone: 516-624-2400.
Universe Kogaku America
GUIDE TO CRITICAL
CLEANING
FREE Alconox 16-page Guide to
Critical Cleaning provides valu-
able tips and techniques for solv-
ing cleaning problems for
Biotechnology, Electronics, Envi -
ronmental, Nuclear, Medical
Device Precision Manufacturing and Optics.
Selection guide identifies the right cleaner for each
hard surface and application. Cleaner samples and
offer for The Aqueous Cleaning Handbook also avail-
able all for free. Alconox, Inc.; Tel: 914-948-4040;
Fax: 914-948-4088; e-mail: cleaning@alconox.com;
www.alconoxguide.com/NASA
Alconox
PRECISION
ORIFICES & FILTERS
Bird Precision offers laser-
drilled, wire-lapped ruby and
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cal resistance Engineering resources & design
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Free Info at http://info.hotims.com/45604-878 Free Info at http://info.hotims.com/45604-883 Free Info at http://info.hotims.com/45604-874
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Intro
Repairing equipment or replacing components on a fixed schedule irrespective of condition or exposure history introduces unneces-
sary costs and down time. Advanced fatigue modeling coupled with physics-based simulation is a proven way to predict the remain-
ing life of equipment and components, and drive toward optimized condition-based maintenance.
In this Webinar we will review the trends and pressures facing the engineering sustainment community and discuss in detail the
ANSYS nCode DesignLife solution for finite-element-based life prediction.
Predicting Fatigue Failure to Increase
Operational Availability
Wednesday, June 12, 2013, 12:00pm ET
The Altair HyperWorks suite includes OptiStruct, a market-leading structural analysis and optimization software that allows engineers
to rapidly synthesize and optimize design structures. Engineers are able to leverage advanced simulation capabilities for material,
geometric, and contact nonlinearities while using different optimization approaches like topology, topography, size, and shape. The
results are lightweight and efficient, cost-effective designs with reduced development timing and cost.
Nonlinear Response Optimization:
Rapidly Design New Structures
Incorporating Real World Loading
Thursday, June 6, 2013, 2:00pm ET
This 60-minute webinar includes:
Live Q&A session
Application Demo
Access to archived event on demand
Webinars
Upcoming...
Presenters:
Detlef Schneider
Senior Vice President
Solver Products
Altair
Please visit www.techbriefs.com/webinar153
Warren Dias
Business Development Manager
Altair
Live Q&A session
Application Demo
Presenters:
Robert Harwood, Ph.D
Director, Vertical Marketing
ANSYS, Inc.
Erik Ostergaard
Application Engineer
HBM-nCode
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Intro
Meeting Flame Resistance
Requirements for Green Electronics:
Evaluating Halogen-free Materials
Wednesday, June 19, 2013, 2:00 pm ET
Brominated Flame Retardants (BFRs) have successfully been used in electronic products for decades to reduce fire-related injury and
damage. However, many companies have chosen non-Halogen based flame retardants in Printed Wiring Board (PWB) applications in
an effort to go green.
This presentation will explore the environmental impact of flame retardants and the current trends in the industry. This is a powerful
Webinar for any design engineer looking to understand the trade-offs in selecting brominated vs. phosphorus retardants to comply
with todays strict safety standards.
Extreme Stepper Motor Applications
Most engineers know that steppers are one of the more nimble motor technologies available but most havent heard of the extreme
conditions that steppers can be manufactured to operate in. Well go through a number of different stepper motor configurations
and show you what these engineering marvels are capable of!
Live Q&A session
Application Demo
Presenters:
Jim Nimitz
Sales Engineer
Lin Engineering
James Stiling
Sales Engineer
Lin Engineering
Live Q&A session
Application Demo
Presenters:
David Bedner
Principle Scientist
Isola Group S.a.r.l.
Bringing Space Robotics to
Earth Applications
Researchers at NASAs Johnson Space Center (JSC), in collaboration with General Motors, have designed a state-of-the-art, highly
dexterous, humanoid robot: Robonaut 2 (R2). Ron Diftler, JSCs Robonaut Project Manager, will provide an overview of the exception-
al suite of technologies now available for licensing.
Also, David Leestma, Manager of NASA JSCs Technology Transfer Office, will highlight the innovative work being done at Johnson
Space Center.
Live Q&A session
Application Demo
Presenters:
Dr. Ron Diftler
Robonaut Project Leader
NASA Johnson Space Center
Dave Leestma
Manager, Technology Transfer
and Commercialization Office
NASA Johnson Space Center
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Intro
NASAs Technology Sources
If you need further information about new technologies presented in NASA Tech Briefs,
request the Technical Support Package (TSP) indicated at the end of the brief. If a TSP is not
available, the Innovative Partnerships Office at the NASA field center that sponsored the
research can provide you with additional information and, if applicable, refer you to the
innovator(s). These centers are the source of all NASA-developed technology.
Ames Research Center
Selected technological strengths: Information
Technology; Biotechnology; Nanotechnology;
Aerospace Operations Systems; Rotorcraft;
Thermal Protection Systems.
Lisa L. Lockyer
(650) 604-1754
lisa.l.lockyer@nasa.gov
Dryden Flight Research Center
Selected technological strengths:
Aerodynamics; Aeronautics Flight Testing;
Aeropropulsion; Flight Systems; Thermal
Testing; Integrated Systems Test and
Validation.
Yvonne D. Gibbs
(661) 276-3720
yvonne.d.gibbs@nasa.gov
Glenn Research Center
Aeropropulsion; Communications; Energy
Technology; High-Temperature Materials
Research.
Kathleen Needham
(216) 433-2802
kathleen.k.needham@nasa.gov
Goddard Space Flight Center
Selected technological strengths: Earth and
Planetary Science Missions; LIDAR; Cryogenic
Systems; Tracking; Telemetry; Remote Sensing;
Command.
Nona Cheeks
(301) 286-5810
nona.k.cheeks@nasa.gov
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Selected technological strengths: Near/Deep-
Space Mission Engineering; Microspacecraft;
Space Communications; Information Systems;
Remote Sensing; Robotics.
Indrani Graczck
(818) 354-4906
indrani.graczck-1@nasa.gov
Johnson Space Center
Selected technological strengths: Artificial
Intelligence and Human Computer Interface;
Life Sciences; Human Space Flight
Operations; Avionics; Sensors;
Communications.
David Leestma
(281) 483-3809
david.c.leestma@nasa.gov
Kennedy Space Center
Selected technological strengths: Fluids and
Fluid Systems; Materials Evaluation; Process
Engineering; Command, Control, and Monitor
Systems; Range Systems; Environmental
Engineering and Management.
David R. Makufka
(321) 867-6227
david.r.makufka@nasa.gov
Langley Research Center
Selected technological strengths: Aerodynamics;
Flight Systems; Materials; Structures; Sensors;
Measurements; Information Sciences.
Elizabeth B. Plentovich
(757) 864-2857
elizabeth.b.plentovich@nasa.gov
Marshall Space Flight Center
Selected technological strengths: Materials;
Manufacturing; Nondestructive Evaluation;
Biotechnology; Space Propulsion; Controls and
Dynamics; Structures; Microgravity Processing.
Jim Dowdy
(256) 544-7604
jim.dowdy@nasa.gov
Stennis Space Center
Selected technological strengths: Propulsion
Systems; Test/Monitoring; Remote Sensing;
Nonintrusive Instrumentation.
Ramona Travis
(228) 688-3832
ramona.e.travis@ssc.nasa.gov
National Technology Transfer Center
Darwin Molnar
Wheeling, WV
(800) 678-6882
NASA HEADQUARTERS
Innovative Partnerships Program Office
Doug Comstock, Director
(202) 358-2221
doug.comstock@nasa.gov
Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) &
Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR)
Programs
Carl Ray, Program Executive
(202) 358-4652
carl.g.ray@nasa.gov
Published by....................................... Tech Briefs Media Group,
an SAE International Company
Publisher.....................................................Joseph T. Pramberger
Editorial Director ........................................................Linda L. Bell
Editor, PTB and Embedded Technology...............Bruce A. Bennett
Technical/Managing Editor.........................................Ted Selinsky
Technical Writers.........................................................Shirl Phelps
.........................................................................Nick Lukianoff
Managing Editor, Tech Briefs TV...............................Kendra Smith
Associate Editor...........................................................Billy Hurley
Production Manager .............................................Adam Santiago
Assistant Production Manager .........................Danielle Gaglione
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NASA Tech Briefs are provided by the National Aeronautics
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261 Fifth Avenue, Suite 1901, New York, NY 10016
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CO, UT, MT, WY, ID, NM ...............................................Tim Powers
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Reprints........................................................................Jill Kaletha
.................................................................at (866) 879-9144, x168
w w w . t e c h b r i e f s . c o m
NASAs Technology Sources
If you need further information about new technologies presented in NASA Tech Briefs,
request the Technical Support Package (TSP) indicated at the end of the brief. If a TSP is not
available, the IPO at the NASA field center that sponsored the research can provide you with
additional information and, if applicable, refer you to the innovator(s). These centers are the
source of all NASA-developed technology.
Ames Research Center
Selected technological strengths: Information
Technology; Biotechnology; Nanotechnology;
Aerospace Operations Systems; Rotorcraft;
Thermal Protection Systems.
David Morse
(650) 604-4724
david.r.morse@nasa.gov
Dryden Flight Research Center
Aerodynamics; Aeronautics Flight Testing;
Aeropropulsion; Flight Systems; Thermal
Testing; Integrated Systems Test and
Validation.
Ron Young
(661) 276-3741
ronald.m.young@nasa.gov
Glenn Research Center
Aeropropulsion; Communications; Energy
Technology; High-Temperature Materials
Research.
Kimberly A. Dalgleish-Miller
(216) 433-8047
kimberly.a.dalgleish@nasa.gov
Goddard Space Flight Center
Selected technological strengths: Earth and
Planetary Science Missions; LIDAR; Cryogenic
Systems; Tracking; Telemetry; Remote Sensing;
Command.
Nona Cheeks
(301) 286-5810
nona.k.cheeks@nasa.gov
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Selected technological strengths: Near/Deep-
Space Mission Engineering; Microspacecraft;
Space Communications; Information Systems;
Remote Sensing; Robotics.
Dan Broderick
(818) 354-1314
daniel.f.broderick@jpl.nasa.gov
Johnson Space Center
Selected technological strengths: Artificial
Intelligence and Human Computer Interface;
Life Sciences; Human Space Flight
Operations; Avionics; Sensors;
Communications.
John E. James
(281) 483-3809
john.e.james@nasa.gov
Kennedy Space Center
Selected technological strengths: Fluids and
Fluid Systems; Materials Evaluation; Process
Engineering; Command, Control, and Monitor
Systems; Range Systems; Environmental
Engineering and Management.
David R. Makufka
(321) 867-6227
david.r.makufka@nasa.gov
Langley Research Center
Selected technological strengths: Aerodynamics;
Flight Systems; Materials; Structures; Sensors;
Measurements; Information Sciences.
Michelle Ferebee
(757) 864-5617
michelle.t.ferebee@nasa.gov
Marshall Space Flight Center
Selected technological strengths: Materials;
Manufacturing; Nondestructive Evaluation;
Biotechnology; Space Propulsion; Controls and
Dynamics; Structures; Microgravity Processing.
Terry L. Taylor
(256) 544-5916
terry.taylor@nasa.gov
Stennis Space Center
Selected technological strengths: Propulsion
Systems; Test/Monitoring; Remote Sensing;
Nonintrusive Instrumentation.
Ramona Travis
(228) 688-3832
ramona.e.travis@ssc.nasa.gov
NASA HEADQUARTERS
Daniel Lockney, Technology Transfer
Program Executive
(202) 358-2037
daniel.p.lockney@nasa.gov
Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) & Small
Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Programs
Rich Leshner, Program Executive
(202) 358-4920
rleshner@nasa.gov
w w w . t e c h b r i e f s . c o m
NASAs Innovative Partnerships
Office (IPO)
NASAs R&D efforts produce a robust supply of promising technologies with applications in many indus-
tries. A key mechanism in identifying commercial applications for this technology is NASAs national
network of laboratories and business support entities. The network includes ten NASA field centers,
and a full tie-in with the Federal Laboratory Consortium (FLC) for Technology Transfer. To explore tech-
nology transfer, development, and collaboration opportunities with NASA, visit www.ipp.nasa.gov.
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Intro
Advertisers Index
For free product literature, enter advertisers reader service numbers at www.techbriefs.com/rs, or visit the
Web site listed beneath their ad in this issue.
Advertisers listed in bold-face type have banner ads on the NASA Tech Briefs Web site www.techbriefs.com
Reader Service
Company Number Page
Reader Service
Company Number Page
Aeroflex Inc. ......................................................874 ............................75
Aerotech Inc. ......................................................752 ............................69
Agilent Technologies..........................................708 ............................11
Alconox Inc.........................................................875 ............................75
Alicat Scientific ..................................................738 ............................50
Allied Electronics, Inc. ......................................725 ............................35
AllMotion, Inc. ....................................................734 ............................46
Andantex USA Inc. ............................................750 ............................72
API Technologies Spectrum Control............739 ............................51
AutomationDirect ..............................................719 ............................27
Avnet Electronics ................................................707 ..............................9
Basler AG ............................................................761 ............................1a
Bird Precision ....................................................876 ............................75
Centricity Corporation ......................................755 ............................71
COMSOL, Inc. ................................................711, 877 ............15, 75
Concept Group, Inc. ..........................................706 ............................45
Create The Future Design Contest ......................................................4-5
Crystal Instruments Corp. ..................................726 ............................36
CUI Inc. ..............................................................736 ............................48
Dewetron Inc. ..................................................718 ..........................25
Digi-Key Corporation ........................................701........COV I, COV II
Dymax Corporation............................................712 ............................17
Eagle Stainless Tube........................................732 ..........................44
Edmund Optics ..................................................762 ............................2a
Edwards Vacuum ................................................735 ............................47
EPIX, Inc. ............................................................769 ..........................14a
Evans Capacitor ..............................................878 ..........................75
Field Precision LLC ............................................879 ............................75
Fixtureworks........................................................757 ............................74
Fluid Line Products, Inc. ....................................754..............................71
Fluid Metering Inc. ............................................880 ............................75
Fluoramics Inc. ..................................................866 ..............................8
Forest City Gear ..................................................868 ............................66
Fotofab ................................................................729 ............................40
HaydonKerk Motion Solutions ..........................747 ............................61
HBM, Inc. ............................................................881 ............................75
Helical Products Company, Inc. ........................751 ............................68
IAI America, Inc. ................................................748 ............................63
Imagineering, Inc. ..........................................704 ............................3
Indium Corporation ..........................................737 ............................49
International Rectifier........................................724 ............................34
Keil, Tools by ARM ............................................742 ............................54
Krohn-Hite Corporation ....................................744 ............................57
Lin Engineering..................................................749 ............................67
LPKF Laser & Electronics ..................................723 ............................33
M.S. Kennedy Corporation..............................714 ..........................20
Master Bond Inc. ................................................731 ............................43
MathWorks ..........................................................760....................COV IV
Matrox Imaging ..................................................767 ..........................11a
Measurement Computing Corp. ......................722 ..........................31
Micro-Epsilon Messtechnik GmbH....................741 ............................53
MicroCare Corp. ................................................717 ............................23
Miller-Stephenson Chemical Co. ......................730 ............................42
Minalex Corporation..........................................727 ............................38
Mouser Electronics, Inc. ..................................705..............................7
Multisorb Technologies......................................765 ............................5a
National Instruments..........................................710 ............................13
National Reconnaissance Office........................720 ............................29
Newark/element14..........................................759 ................COV III
Newcomb Spring Corporation ..........................745 ............................57
Newport Corporation ........................................867 ............................32
Omega Engineering ........................................702 ............................1
PennEngineering................................................716 ............................22
PhotoMachining, Inc. ........................................882 ............................75
Photonics Consortium........................................768 ..........................13a
PHOTONIS USA................................................883, 764 ..............75, 4a
PI (Physik Instrumente) LP ..............................740 ............................52
Proto Labs, Inc. ..................................................728 ............................39
PTC......................................................................715 ............................21
Reynard Corp......................................................766 ............................7a
Santest Co., Ltd. ..................................................746 ............................58
Schneider Electric Motion USA ........................770, 884 ..............65, 75
Sealevel Systems, Inc. ..........................................721..............................30
Seastrom Mfg. ....................................................758 ............................74
Smalley Steel Ring Company ............................709 ............................12
Stanford Research Systems Inc. ......................703 ............................2
TDK-Lambda Americas, Inc. ..............................743..............................55
TE Connectivity
Aerospace, Defense & Marine ......................713......................18-19
Tech Briefs TV........................................................................................37
Teledyne DALSA ................................................763 ............................3a
Universe Kogaku America, Inc. ......................885 ..........................75
US Digital ............................................................753 ............................70
yet2.com ................................................................................................41
Reader Service
Company Number Page
NASA Tech Briefs, ISSN 0145-319X, USPS 750-070, copyright 2013 in U.S. is published
monthly by Tech Briefs Media Group, an SAE International Company, 261 Fifth Avenue,
Suite 1901, New York, NY 10016. The copyright information does not include the (U.S.
rights to) individual tech briefs that are supplied by NASA. Editorial, sales, production,
and circulation offices at 261 Fifth Avenue, Suite 1901, New York, NY 10016. Subscription
for non-qualified subscribers in the U.S. and Puerto Rico, $75.00 for 1 year; $135 for 2
years. Single copies $6.25. Foreign subscriptions one-year U.S. Funds $195.00. Remit by
check, draft, postal, express orders or VISA, MasterCard, and American Express. Other
remittances at senders risk. Address all communications for subscriptions or circula-
tion to NASA Tech Briefs, 261 Fifth Avenue, Suite 1901, New York, NY 10016. Periodicals
postage paid at New York, NY and additional mailing offices.
POSTMASTER: Send address changes and cancellations to NASA Tech Briefs, P.O. Box
3525, Northbrook, Il 60065.
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Intro
Spinoff
Spinoff is NASAs annual publication featuring successfully commercialized
NASA technology. This commercialization has contributed to the development
of products and services in the fields of health and medicine, consumer goods,
transportation, public safety, computer technology, and environmental resources.
N
ASAs twin Mars rovers, Spirit and
Opportunity, remain one of the
Agencys greatest achievements in
exploration. On Earth, these robots are
best known for their stunning pictures of
the Martian landscape. Although the
rovers each had a mere 1-megapixel cam-
era, the pictures they have become famous
for measure up to 96 megapixels in size.
This was made possible by a NASA-built
automated tripod that, with the help of
photo processing software, seamlessly inte-
grates a series of smaller shots into one
large image.
Through multiple commercial partner-
ships, NASA and Carnegie Mellon
University first brought the supersized dig-
ital picture technology to the market as the
GigaPan robotic platform. Soon after it
had spun off into consumer applications,
the technologys potential caught the eye
of Major League Baseball Advanced Media
(MLBAM) LP, based in New York City.
MLBAM runs the official Web site for
Major League Baseball (MLB) and coordi-
nates the interactive media efforts of the
league and its 30 teams. In 2009, MLBAM
was already taking large-scale, flat images of
stadiums at game time. These photos were
interesting, said Andrew Patterson, direc-
tor of New Media at MLBAM, but we were
really looking for a way to make them more
personal and interactive.
The opportunity came when MLBAM
was approached by David Bergman, a
professional photographer experienced
with the GigaPan system. Following con-
sultation with Bergman, MLBAM worked
with GigaPan engineers to customize the
system for capturing large-scale, in-game
shots photos that the MLB hoped
would become a new platform for engag-
ing and energizing its fan base. The
resulting technology is now licensed to
MLBAM, which offers its benefits to indi-
vidual teams and supports its use in stadi-
ums nationwide with Bergman taking
many of the photos.
Photos taken during games are dis-
played as navigable images on MLB.coms
TagOramic Web site. While nearly the
entire stadium can be viewed at a glance,
thanks to the images high resolution,
users can zoom in to see individuals in the
crowd with remarkable detail.
Nicole Blaszczyk, marketing coordina-
tor for the Detroit Tigers, said the tech-
nology came at a good time for her
organization. We have had a photo
booth in the park; however, because its
been there for so long, it wasnt piquing
fan interest as much. Rather than entic-
ing fans into an individual shot, the
Gigapan camera captures nearly every-
one in its series of candid photos, typi-
cally spanning a period of time less than
20 minutes. Once the images are
stitched together, users can explore
almost the entire stadium, zooming in to
high levels of detail.
TagOramic GigaPan photos have
proven so popular that more teams are
taking them and more often. Patterson
says MLBAM bears the licensing costs on
behalf of every team in the league. The
technology is available for anyone who
wants it, he said, and many teams are tak-
ing advantage of it.
Visit http://spinoff.nasa.gov/Spinoff2012/
cg_4.html for more information.
This Gigapan image was taken at a Detroit Tigers game in October 2011. The 1,777-megapixel photo is
comprised of 300 individual shots taken over 18 minutes that were subsequently stitched together. Users
who view the image online can zoom in to high levels of detail, shown here to the left and right. ( 2011
David Bergman)
Digital Picture Technology Connects Sports
Teams with Fans
NASA-developed digital photo technology lets baseball fans enjoy highly detailed
panoramic pictures.
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Intro
Its easy to nd all your development boards & accessories at our dev kit headquarters. newark.com/devkits
Free Info at http://info.hotims.com Free Info at http://info.hotims.com//45604-759
Now Boarding.
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Intro
Find it at
mathworks.com/accelerate
datasheet
video example
trial request
2010 The MathWorks, Inc.

MODEL
PHYSICAL
SYSTEMS
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in
with Simscape
t Electrical
t.FDIBOJDBM
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and more
Use 4*.4$"1& with 4*.6-*/,

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Intro
June 2013
more 'flexible.'
New Products...............................................12a
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Intro
IIa www.techbriefs.com Imaging Technology, June 2013
M
achine vision has become indis-
pensable in todays highly auto-
mated manufacturing environments,
which rely on accurate in spec tion to en-
sure high product quality and high
process efficiency. Applications for the
technology span industry, and include
everything from validation of printed
barcodes and text on consumer product
labeling, to assembly verification of
printed circuit boards, to dimensional
measurement of automotive parts. The
demand for vision inspection only con-
tinues to grow with increasing through-
put requirements and stringent quality
standards that necessitate full inspec-
tion and render manual product inspec-
tion unfeasible.
The prevalence of machine vision in-
spection and identification in manufac-
turing operations has also grown the
user base of the technology. What was
once exclusively the realm of experi-
enced vision specialists is now being
done by users ranging from factory-floor
operators and manufacturing engineers
to system integrators and OEMs. With
application requirements and a broad
range of skill levels to accommodate, vi-
sion system manufacturers have sought
to develop technologies that are both
easy to use and implement, yet maintain
the flexibility to address expanding re-
quirements. New hardware and software
products provide the ability to adapt to
changing application demands, en-
abling easy system modification while at
the same time protecting the users time
and investment.
Cameras have become more modular
as new smart cameras pack complete vi-
sion systems into miniaturized form fac-
tors, with lens and lighting options to
address a multitude of system con figura -
tions and allow for modification. Recent
advances in CMOS sensor technology
enable high-resolution, high-speed
models that are both cost-effective and
easy to use. New software developments,
similarly, are scalable to accommodate
applications that expand beyond their
original scope; users are no longer
locked into a single hardware/software
technology. The software features porta-
bility from one device to another, and
its current graphical subsystems pro-
duce intuitive user interfaces. In this ar-
ticle, well explore these three technolo-
gies sensors, lenses, and software
providing machine vision tools with a
greater flexibility.
Advances in CMOS
Sensor Technology
Current CMOS sensor technology has
made smart camera systems a viable op-
tion for more users than ever. Tradition-
ally more expensive, more complex, and
physically larger than CMOS technology,
CCD sensors were, until recent years, re-
quired to address applications require-
ments for motion, high resolution, and
image quality. Advancements in CMOS
sensors have bridged the gap in image
quality. Now available in both high reso-
lution and with a global shutter, CMOS
technology enables smart cameras with
freeze motion performance at resolu-
tions of 1MB+. While CCD sensors still
hold a place in certain applications,
such as precision measurement where
image quality is critical and very high
resolution is required, the benefits of
CMOS technology have made it an at-
tractive replacement to CCD devices in
many applications.
CMOS sensors feature a simple design
and high-speed data transfer, thanks to
their ability to quickly get rid of pixels.
CCD technology is physically limited on
how fast the images can exit the sensor.
CMOS is very low powered and there-
fore builds up less heat; smaller designs
are possible because the boards are less
complex and require fewer components
(see Figure 1). In addition, CMOS tech-
nology has the ability to take sections or
windows of an image in order to further
increase frame rates. Microscans 2MP
Vision HAWK smart camera, for exam-
ple, incorporates a high-resolution
CMOS sensor to achieve frame rates of
up to 300 frames/sec (see Figure 2).
Configurable Lens and
Lighting Options
A variety of lens and lighting options
are available for use with todays modu-
Flexible Machine Vision:
Sensors, Lenses, and Software
Figure 1. Comparable CCD (left) and CMOS
(right) sensors, shown side by side, illustrate
the relative simplicity of CMOS design.
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Intro
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Intro
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lar smart cameras. Microscans Vision
HAWK model uses interchangeable C-
mount lenses and external lighting.
Other new smart camera designs feature
a fully integrated lens and lighting for
equipment integration. Some offer the
ability to mix and match accessory op-
tions, allowing system designs tailored to
specific application needs.
Fully integrated liquid lens technol-
ogy is valuable for production lines
where the camera is out of reach, or
other cases where manual adjustments
to the lens are impractical or undesir-
able. A liquid lens is made of two liquids.
A supplied voltage alters the curvature
of the liquid, resulting in a lens with a
focus position that can be controlled
without moving parts. Different field
angle options with liquid lens configura-
tions offer multiple field-of-view options
(see Figure 3).
Flexible Software
Architecture for Portability
to Multiple Devices
At the heart of any machine vision sys-
tem is the image processing software.
Recent camera developments provide
portability to multiple hardware devices
and scalability to other platforms.
Early innovations in machine vision
software have laid the foundation for
todays flexible programs, which have
evolved from custom-programmed
products, requiring a group of engi-
neers to develop and deploy, to the pres-
ent-day drag-and-drop interfaces with
intuitive vision tools. Some programs
use an object-oriented approach to de-
scribe a vision program as a sequence of
steps, where each step, in turn, further
processes the data produced by the pre-
ceding step.
For a machine vision system, the first
piece of data is the image, with an
eventual output of pass/fail. Over the
years, developers have refined and en-
hanced the abilities of these steps, mak-
ing assumptions for the user along the
way to produce an easy-to-use interface
with fewer parameters to navigate,
while at the same time retaining the
power and flexibility of the underlying
architecture. Applications can there-
fore be created in a simple environ-
ment and then loaded into a broader
structure with additional parameters
for more complex functionality.
Microscans patented software tech-
nology recreates objects on a target plat-
form rather than interpreting them, al-
lowing for portability from one
hardware device to another. Objects on
a smart camera and PC, for example,
are the exact implementation and se-
quence of objects; adding new function-
ality to a smart camera is the same as
adding to a PC. By way of contrast, using
an interpretive model would require
two separate development efforts.
Todays machine vision technology
also features more flexible software envi-
ronments and user-friendly interfaces
(see Figure 4). WPF (Windows Presenta-
tion Foundation) employs the declara-
tive language XAML to define the look
of the various UI elements, and how they
are linked to the underlying data. The
technology separates look and content,
much in the same way that HTML and
CSS do so for web pages. Developers de-
termine the best way for setting up a pro-
gram for a richer user experience, inde-
pendent of the look and feel, without
the need to write extensive code.
Figure 3. Modular smart camera designs enable
system designs tailored to specific application
needs. The smart camera shown here includes in-
tegrated liquid lens and lighting, with additional
lighting supplied by a mountable ring light.
Figure 2. Microscans Vision HAWK smart camera
uses CMOS sensor technology to achieve high
frame rates and high resolution operation.
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Intro
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Intro
4a Imaging Technology, June 2013 Free Info at http://info.hotims.com/45604-764
Looking Forward
Large multi-national companies are in-
creasingly deploying machine vision tech-
nology across their plants. Scalable soft-
ware that can be deployed across multi-
ple cameras, and the flexibility to make
system modifications without extensive
downtime, are essential to optimizing op-
erational efficiency in global, multi-facil-
ity environments. Employees need only
be trained on one standardized platform
that can be used on many cameras, in-
stead of learning a different program for
each piece of hardware. In addition, the
users time, effort, and investment are
protected if the scope of the application
grows over time or requires a different
hardware configuration.
As more and more industries adopt
machine vision, manufacturers of the
technology will continue to focus on the
ease of use of their products in order to
address a range of user levels. Cus-
tomers are also looking for higher
throughput, which means higher frame
rates and/or the ability to take one
image and run multiple inspections on
it not moving the object or camera
and taking multiple images. A higher
throughput enables faster job
changeover in applications such as PCB
assembly. An ongoing emphasis on ease
of use will continue to make machine vi-
sion more accessible to a wider user
group in the years to come.
This article was written by Cathy McBeth,
Global Commercial Marketing Manager at
Microscan (Renton, WA), or visit http://
info.hotims.com/45604-140.
Figure 4. New software features user-friendly interfaces that can be scaled to more advanced pro-
grams and ported to multiple hardware devices.
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Intro
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Intro
6a www.techbriefs.com Imaging Technology, June 2013
The pixel-scale patterning of optical
filters directly onto sensors has the po-
tential to drastically simplify and scale
down the cost of real-time multispectral
imaging. Without moving parts, a more
robust and compact system can be de-
ployed into harsher environments than
have been previously accessible for mul-
tispectral imagers.
Current multispectral imaging systems
provide data about specific spectral re-
gions. Similar to the common spectrome-
ter, information about an object or scene
can be obtained across UV-VIS-IR wave-
lengths. Imaging techniques, however,
offer decided advantages over point spec-
tral readings because of the ability to uti-
lize the full capacity of an advanced imag-
ing sensor. There is a broad range of
applications where multispectral imaging
and sensing techniques are utilized, in-
cluding agriculture, machine vision/sort-
ing, chemical and biological detection,
art conservation, art and document au-
thentication, and biomedical sciences
(see Figure 1). The primary drawback
with current systems is that they are not as
portable or compact as would be desired
for many applications. With patterned
pixel sensors, those concerns can be ad-
dressed in a more cost-effective package.
Optical Coatings
Dielectric filters allow for unparal-
leled flexibility in spectral selection. A
dielectric filter that passes only a narrow
band of red laser light while blocking
the rest of the visible spectrum, for ex-
ample, is just as feasible to fabricate as
one that passes blue starlight from hot
stars while blocking light pollution from
broad-spectrum home lighting. The
most commonly encountered dielectric
filter is the anti-reflective (AR) coating
found in vision-correction glasses, home
windows, and cell-phone cameras. For
cameras and glasses, clarity is improved
by eliminating glare. Cameras also ac-
quire images more quickly, as more
light reaches the sensor. Home windows
can be coated to reflect the invisible in-
frared radiation that brings unwanted
heat, while allowing more visible light
through. Additionally, all of these coat-
ings can be scratch- and chip-resistant
when made with hardened materials.
More complex coatings produce the as-
sortment of application-specific filters
found in biological imaging, chemical
identification, and laser physics, rang-
ing from filters passing only light pro-
duced from green fluorescent proteins
to the specialized laser-line selectors
(see Figure 2).
With dielectric filters placed prior to
cameras, inexpensive monochrome im-
aging sensors can now be sensitized to
only specific spectral bands allowed
Pixel-Scale Coated Sensors
Bring Multispectral Imaging
to New Users
Figure 1: Multispectral imaging has many applications, including inspection, authentication, and sorting. The above image includes six vials of various white
powders and two vials of clear liquids, demonstrating different properties as viewed in the infrared region with a PixelCam-SWIR. Money can be authen-
ticated with this imaging system by utilizing the infrared-blocking ink that is applied in different patterns to bills. Coffee beans with impurities, in petri
dish, demonstrate inspection and sorting capabilities.
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Intro
through the filter. Traditionally, dielec-
tric filters are deposited onto a rigid,
transparent substrate like glass or hard
thermoplastics. Dielectric filters operate
on the principle of interference: Light
travels through media as waves, and by
adjusting the phase of a reflected wave
relative to its forward traveling counter-
part, the amplitude of a specific fre-
quency (or wavelength) at the output of
the filter is modulated. The filter mate-
rial is deposited in sub-wavelength
stacks, the composition and arrange-
ment of which dictate the spectral trans-
mission properties. The aforemen-
tioned AR coating stack results in
constructive interference across the visi-
ble spectrum. An improved, averaged
index gradient between air and glass
lessens the discontinuity in the refrac-
tive index, reducing the amount of light
reflected at the air-glass interface. Spec-
tral bands can be likewise eliminated by
tuning the stack for destructive interfer-
ence across the desired spectral subset.
Ultimately, dielectric filters improve
imaging contrast by rejecting light out-
side of the spectral band(s) of interest,
as well as improve the transmission of
light within the band of interest. The
transmission improvement is only possi-
ble with dielectric filters, and not with
the dye filters typically employed in the
ubiquitous RGB sensor.
Deposition on Sensors
In principle, depositing interference
filters onto substrates other than glass
only requires accounting for the differ-
ent refractive index of the substrate. Of
particular interest is the direct applica-
tion of a dielectric filter to the surface of
an active device. Coated glass can be uti-
lized as well, and placed in front of the
sensor. Direct application, however, has
a significant advantage in that there is
one less optical surface in the light path.
Additionally, internal Pixelteq re-
searchers have calculated a 3-10% theo-
retical increase in light throughput to
the sensor when the filter is deposited
directly, compared to being on interme-
diary glass. The features of the device
that make it active such as bond pads
on photodiodes are the very source of
the challenge in successfully applying a
patterned filter onto a sensor. These sen-
sitive areas must be protected from the
bombardment of high-energy atoms in a
coating chamber.
Adaptation of lithography techniques
from the semiconductor world enable
Pixelteq to coat dielectric filters directly
onto the active portion of a device, while
leaving sensitive areas free of material.
The entire sensor, however, is not neces-
sarily coated with a single filter; an imag-
ing sensor can be patterned with an arbi-
trary number of filters in any pre-
determined geometric pattern. While the
Bayer pattern with absorptive dye filters is
the most common arrangement to gener-
ate an RGB image from a monochromatic
sensor, use of dielectric filters allows for
detection of a greater number of bands,
each with adjustable transmission and
blocking properties during fabrication.
In this manner, a monochrome sen-
sor can become sensitive to multiple
spectral bands without the need for ex-
ternal filter switching as in the case of
wheel-based multispectral cameras or
scanning over space, as in the case of hy-
perspectral imagers. Eliminating mov-
ing parts removes the costly temporal
delay associated with transitioning be-
tween filters or sampling different loca-
tions in space, enabling true video-rate
multispectral imaging. Additionally, re-
moving the moving parts enables de-
ployment into harsh environments
where the rate of failure increases dra-
matically. Weight, power consumption,
and design costs are all reduced with a
directly-coated sensor.
Applying a patterned filter onto glass,
then bonding the glass to a sensor with
optical-grade epoxy, would seem to ac-
complish the same goal. There are two
distinct drawbacks, however, to the ap-
proach. First, the index match between
sensor and glass substrate is imperfect,
and results in some degree of light loss.
The loss is further compounded by the
already poor efficiency of silicon sen-
sors, even with AR coatings. Secondly,
the dielectric coating which was pre-
viously stated to be sensitive to angle of
incidence is further removed from
the sensor plane by the thickness of the
glass substrate, requiring the delivery of
Imaging Technology, June 2013 www.techbriefs.com Free Info at http://info.hotims.com/45604-766
Figure 2: Scanning Electron Micrograph (SEM)
view of two individual, pixel-scale optical coat-
ings
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Intro
collimated light to the surface of the
glass, not the image plane, potentially
introducing aberrations that reduce
image quality.
Applications of Patterned
Pixel Devices
The improvement in frame-rate and
the elimination of moving parts comes,
however, with a cost. The functional
resolution of the system is reduced as
the number of filters applied increases.
A nine-band camera, for example,
would produce nine simultaneous im-
ages, but each with a resolution one-
ninth of the full frame. That informa-
tion is not fully lost, and adapting
image interpolation algorithms can aid
in restoring the perception of resolu-
tion, as is currently performed in com-
mon RGB cameras.
Video-rate multispectral imaging with
coated sensors opens up a previously in-
accessible application space. Aerial in-
spection techniques benefit greatly from
a system lacking both moving parts and
environmentally sensitive optical epoxy.
The imager benefits primarily from im-
proved vibration resistance, and could
be mounted onto any number of
manned or unmanned observation plat-
forms. Operational longevity is also im-
proved, as the coated sensor platform is
lighter and smaller than existing multi-
spectral tools. Applications in the visible
wavelengths include crop inspection, il-
licit drug enforcement, and a wide vari-
ety of biomedical research and clinical
tools. Each application relies on the im-
proved image contrast produced from
spectral differentiation, as well as rapid
image acquisition.
For all multispectral imaging, spectral
channels are highly application-specific
and may be functionally defined by use
of a flexible platform (interchangeable
filter channels) such as the Pixelteq
SpectroCam (see Figure 3). A silicon-
based imaging sensor, for example, may
be customized to acquire three specific
visible wavelength regions, as well as a
near infrared channel for a particular
IR-emitting fluorophore.
Indocyanine green (ICG) is one such
biologically relevant dye that has signifi-
cant clinical and research applications
due to it being FDA approved. ICG
binds tightly to proteins in blood vessel
walls and, as such, can be a very power-
ful tool for visualizing blood flow in a va-
riety of biomedical use cases.
Applications within the security and
defense space extend the spectral range
from the visible and near infrared (NIR)
into the short-wave infrared (SWIR)
band of 900nm-1.7 microns (see Figure
4). The applications range from color
night-vision to aerial surveillance and re-
mote detection. Simultaneous acquisi-
tion of multiple spectral channels across
the SWIR wavelength range is a unique
ability facilitated by depositing selective
bandpass filters at the pixel level on a
SWIR (InGaAs) sensor. Additionally,
multispectral imaging can prove a pow-
erful tool in authentication applications,
allowing innovative new methods of
analysis for documents, artwork, antiqui-
ties, currency, pharmaceuticals, uni-
forms, and many others.
Conclusion
In the past few years, multispectral im-
aging has developed a great deal as a
technique. For most applications, wave-
bands of interest can be narrowed to less
than ten, which makes data acquisition
and analysis much more manageable
than with hyperspectral systems. Cur-
rent innovations in coating techniques
allow deposition of filters down to the
single pixel level, and thusly, high-speed
imaging simultaneously using multiple
specific spectral channels is born. With
proper selection of application-specific
filters, pixel-scale patterned sensors will
deliver multispectral imaging to many
new users.
This article was written by Steve Smith,
PhD, Product Manager, PIXELTEQ (Golden,
CO). For more information visit http://info.
hotims.com/45604-141.
Figure 4: The PixelCam-SWIR imaging platform with pen for size comparison
Pixel-Scale Coated Sensors
Figure 3: Image output from the PixelCam, demonstrating four individual channels representative of
the four spectral filters applied to this sensor and the integrated, pseudocolor composite image
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Intro
Imaging Technology, June 2013 www.techbriefs.com 9a
A
veraging 1.6 million passengers per
day, the Taipei Metro, also known
as the Taipei Mass Rapid Transit (MRT)
system, is one of the busiest transporta-
tion systems in Asia and has become an
important driver for business and
lifestyle in Taiwan. To ensure smooth
and reliable operations and keep a
watchful eye on the security and safety
of riders, a CCTV-based onboard video
surveillance system has been in place on
a number of Taipei Metro carriages
since 2010. The system makes it possible
for train drivers to access live video im-
ages of critical areas, and video record-
ings are also available for later review
and analysis.
In late 2012, the Taipei Metro under-
took a project to install an onboard
video surveillance system for the Nan-
gang-Banqiao-Tucheng Line. Instead of
relying on the analog cameras and DVR
systems that are used on the other lines,
the Taipei Metro used Moxa IP video
technology, including IP cameras and
network video recorders (NVR).
The Brea, CA- based companys IP
video technology enables the Nangang-
Banqiao-Tucheng Line to achieve great -
er video coverage, improved image qual-
ity, higher bandwidth, and better system
management. By using an open network
architecture, the system is also easier to
deploy and integrate into the Taipei
Metros other systems. Finally, IP video
technology supports live view and video
recording, both on the train itself and
remotely at train stations and Operation
and Control Centers (OCCs).
As an essential passenger safety and se-
curity system, it was critical for the video
surveillance system to meet the Taipei
Metros strict performance and reliability
criteria for EMC, vibration, and physical
protection. Moxas IEC 60571-compliant
IP cameras, network switches, and net-
work video recorders were found to meet
or exceed the technology and perform-
ance requirements, and were then se-
lected to power the system.
Three models of the Moxa IP rolling
stock camera line are used in the on-
board video surveillance system: the
VPort 16-M12 series, a ceiling-mounted,
dome-type IP camera for carriage sur-
veillance; the VPort 26A series, a ceil-
ing-mounted, low-illumination, dome-
type IP camera for surveillance in the
drivers cab; and the VPort P06HC se-
ries, a hidden-type IP camera for the in-
tercom system.
All three IP cameras conform to
ONVIF standards, meet the rugged
EMC, temperature, vibration, and shock
design requirements of IEC 60571, and
support Full-HD, 1080P (1920 1080)
resolution for large images. Moxa also
developed custom hardware and form
factors in order to meet special require-
ments for the Taipei Metro system.
The V2416 and the V2616 Moxa
rolling stock NVRs are being used for
on-board recording. The V2416 smart
NVR enables video recording, live dis-
play, and system management in the dri-
vers cab. The network video recorders,
designed for reliable operation on mov-
ing vehicles, feature a patented anti-vi-
bration kit with hard disk modules that
have passed the IEC 61373 vibration test.
The hard disk modules can be hot-
swapped for easy maintenance and min-
imal system downtime.
Moxas rolling stock TN-5516-8PoE
Ethernet switches are used for the IP-
based communication backbone along
the train. The TN models are specially
designed to withstand extreme temper-
atures and vibration, and they feature
locking M12 connectors to minimize
the chance of disconnection. Since the
IP cameras are powered over the
switches PoE ports, the system benefits
from greatly reduced cabling. The port-
trunking function on the Moxa switches
also makes it possible for the system to
support wide bandwidth usage. Ad-
vanced switch management enables sys-
tem operators to have full control over
network performance, security, and
configuration.
For Free Info Visit http://info.hotims.com/
45604-142.
Rugged IP-Based Video Surveillance System Keeps
Taipei Trains Moving
A diagram of the video surveillance equipment implemented along the train
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Intro
This software automatically calibrates a
camera or an imaging array to an inertial
navigation system (INS) that is rigidly
mounted to the array or imager. In effect, it
recovers the coordinate frame transforma-
tion between the reference frame of the im-
ager and the reference frame of the INS.
This innovation can automatically de-
rive the camera-to-INS alignment using
image data only. The assumption is that
the camera fixates on an area while the
aircraft flies on orbit. The system then,
fully automatically, solves for the camera
orientation in the INS frame. No man-
ual intervention or ground tie point
data is required.
This work was done by Adnan I. Ansar,
Daniel S. Clouse, Michael C. McHenry, Dim-
itri V. Zarzhitsky, and Curtis W. Padgett of
Caltech for NASAs Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
For more information, contact iaoffice@
jpl.nasa.gov.
This software is available for commercial li-
censing. Please contact Dan Broderick at
NPO-48755.
Automatic Calibration of an Airborne Imaging System to an
Inertial Navigation Unit
This software consists of a set of ap-
plication programs that support
ground-based image processing for in
situ missions. These programs repre-
sent a collection of utility routines that
perform miscellaneous functions in the
context of the ground data system.
Each one fulfills some specific need as
determined via operational experience.
The most unique aspect to these pro-
grams is that they are integrated into
the large, in situ image processing sys-
tem via the PIG (Planetary Image
Geometry) library. They work directly
with space in situ data, understanding
the appropriate image meta-data fields
and updating them properly. The pro-
grams themselves are completely multi-
mission; all mission dependencies are
handled by PIG.
This suite of programs consists of:
marscahv: Generates a linearized,
epi polar aligned image given a ste -
reo pair of images. These images are
optimized for 1-D stereo correla-
tions.
marscheckcm: Compares the camera
model in an image label with one de-
rived via kinematics modeling on the
ground.
Support Routines for In Situ Image Processing
The Planetary Image Atlas (PIA) is a
Rich Internet Application (RIA) that
serves planetary imaging data to the sci-
ence community and the general public.
PIA also utilizes the USGS Unified Plan-
etary Coordinate system (UPC) and the
on-Mars map server.
The Atlas was designed to provide
the ability to search and filter through
greater than 8 million planetary image
files. This software is a three-tier Web
application that contains a search en-
gine backend (MySQL, JAVA), Web
service interface (SOAP) between
server and client, and a GWT Google
Maps API client front end. This applica-
tion allows for the search, retrieval, and
download of planetary images and asso-
ciated meta-data from the following
missions: 2001 Mars Odyssey, Cassini,
Galileo, LCROSS, Lunar Reconnais-
sance Orbiter, Mars Exploration Rover,
Mars Express, Magellan, Mars Global
Surveyor, Mars Pathfinder, Mars Recon-
naissance Orbiter, MESSENGER, Phoe -
nix, Viking Lander, Viking Orbiter, and
Voyager.
The Atlas utilizes the UPC to translate
mission-specific coordinate systems into
a unified coordinate system, allowing
the end user to query across missions of
similar targets. If desired, the end user
can also use a mission-specific view of
the Atlas. The mission-specific views rely
on the same code base.
This application is a major improve-
ment over the initial version of the Plan-
etary Image Atlas. It is a multi-mission
search engine. This tool includes both
basic and advanced search capabilities,
providing a product search tool to inter-
rogate the collection of planetary im-
ages. This tool lets the end user query in-
formation about each image, and
ignores the data that the user has no in-
terest in. Users can reduce the number
of images to look at by defining an area
of interest with latitude and longitude
ranges.
This work was done by Alice Stanboli and
James M. McAuley of Caltech for NASAs Jet
Propulsion Laboratory. For more information,
contact iaoffice@jpl.nasa.gov.
NPO-47820.
Planetary Data Systems (PDS) Imaging Node Atlas II
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Intro
marschkovl: Checks the overlaps be-
tween a list of images in order to deter-
mine which might be stereo pairs. This
is useful for non-traditional stereo im-
ages like long-baseline or those from
an articulating arm camera.
marscoordtrans: Translates mosaic co-
ordinates from one form into an-
other.
marsdispcompare: Checks a LeftRight
stereo disparity image against a
RightLeft disparity image to ensure
they are consistent with each other.
marsdispwarp: Takes one image of a
stereo pair and warps it through a dis-
parity map to create a synthetic oppo-
site-eye image. For example, a right
eye image could be transformed to
look like it was taken from the left eye
via this program.
marsfidfinder: Finds fiducial markers
in an image by projecting their ap-
proximate location and then using
correlation to locate the markers to
subpixel accuracy. These fiducial mar-
kets are small targets attached to the
spacecraft surface. This helps verify, or
improve, the pointing of in situ cam-
eras.
marsinvrange: Inverse of marsrange
given a range file, re-computes an
XYZ file that closely matches the orig-
inal.
marsproj: Projects an XYZ coordinate
through the camera model, and re-
ports the line/sample coordinates of
the point in the image.
marsprojfid: Given the output of
marsfidfinder, projects the XYZ loca-
tions and compares them to the found
locations, creating a report showing
the fiducial errors in each image.
marsrad: Radiometrically corrects an
image.
marsrelabel: Updates coordinate sys-
tem or camera model labels in an
image.
marstiexyz: Given a stereo pair, allows
the user to interactively pick a point in
each image and reports the XYZ value
corresponding to that pair of loca-
tions.
marsunmosaic: Extracts a single frame
from a mosaic, which will be created
such that it could have been an input
to the original mosaic. Useful for creat-
ing simulated input frames using dif-
ferent camera models than the origi-
nal mosaic used.
merinverter: Uses an inverse lookup
table to convert 8-bit telemetered data
to its 12-bit original form. Can be used
in other missions despite the name.
This work was done by Robert G. Deen,
Oleg Pariser, Mathew C. Yeates, Hyun H.
Lee, and Jean Lorre of Caltech for NASAs Jet
Propulsion Laboratory. For more informa-
tion, download the Technical Support Pack-
age (free white paper) at www.techbriefs.
com/tsp under the Software category.
NPO-47728.

1-800-804-6243 / +1-514-822-6020
imaging.info@matrox.com
Make Matrox
your standard
With the ability to interface to standards like Camera Link,
CoaXPress, USB3 Vision, GigE Vision, SDI/DVI as well as analog,
the Matrox 4Sight GP embedded computer has unprecedented
acquisition flexibility. Powered by a third generation Intel
Core

processor, 4Sight GP also offers desktop-level performance,
longevity and ruggedness all from a single supplier.
Take the Matrox 4Sight GP 360 product tour:
www.matrox.com/4sightgp/nt/
Camera Link supported by a Matrox Solios eV-CL or a Matrox Radient eCL frame grabber.
CoaXPress supported by a Matrox Radient eV-CXP frame grabber. USB3 Vision and GigE
Vision supported by the Matrox Imaging Library (MIL). SDI/DVI supported by a Matrox Vio or
a Matrox Orion HD frame grabber.
Imaging Technology, June 2013 11a Free Info at http://info.hotims.com/45604-767
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Intro
Frame Grabbers
Teledyne DALSA (Billerica, MA) has
released the Xtium-CL PX4 series of
frame grabbers. In addition to PCIe Gen
2.0 4 and Camera Link
, upcoming
models will support Camera Link HS
as well as other interface standards on a PCIe Gen 2.0 8 platform.

The Xtium series sustains Camera Link 80-Bit modes over longer
cable distances, and the frame grabbers support a variety of area and line
scan color and monochrome cameras.
The newly engineered, on-board, Data Transfer Engine (DTE) produces
bandwidth without the need for specialized motherboards or chipsets. By en-
abling maximum sustained throughput and ready-to-use image data, the
Xtium-CL PX4 minimizes CPU usage and improves processing times for host
applications. In addition, the Xtium-CL PX4 has been engineered with en-
hanced memory architecture, allowing it to handle different sensor tap
topologies while sustaining color decoding at the maximum frame/line rate.
Other features of the Xtium-CL PX4 include up to 512 MB of high-
speed image memory; single slot with reconfigurable camera control and
general purpose input/outputs; Sapera
Vision SDK and Sapera CamEx-

pert compatibility; Sapera Standard tools run-time license; and support
for Microsoft
Windows
7, Windows 8 32/64-bit, and WOW64.

3D Machine Vision Inspection
Cognex Corporation (Natick, MA) has an-
nounced the DS1000 3D laser profiling system.
The system calibrates real-world units of meas-
urement for inspections too difficult to perform
with traditional two-dimensional machine vision.
The new DS1000 3D sensor reads embossed or
raised characters, such as those on automobile
tires; verifies the presence of low-contrast items
in boxes or packages; identifies surface defects
and chips; measures heights and tilts of components to determine mis-
alignment; and calculates volumes and dimensions for food portion-
ing. The DS1000 system is integrated with VisionPro
3D software. Vi-
sionPro allows users to add GigE cameras for 2D inspection tasks.
DS1000 is an integrated technology; a Cognex proprietary high-speed
sensor and laser are both enclosed in an IP65-rated industrial housing.
Infrared Camera
FLIR Systems (Portland, OR) has released its
SC6800 infrared camera. The device captures
sensitive infrared imagery at up to 565 frames per
second, in full 640 512 pixel resolution. The im-
ages can be thermographically and radiometri-
cally calibrated.
The SC600 also provides interface flexibility.
Simultaneous analog and digital outputs include component video,
HD-SDI, Camera Link Full, or CoaxPress. FLIR offers CoaxPress on its
IR camera, which allows transmission of high-speed, high-resolution
data over a standard coaxial cable up to 120 meters long.
Other features include: advanced triggering options through external
BNC input, IRIG time-stamping, interchangeable optional lenses (in-
cluding close-up and telephoto), and FLIR Research IR software for data
acquisition, analysis, and reporting.
Spherical Imaging System
Point Grey Research (Richmond, BC,
Canada) has announced its Lady-
bug
5 camera. The LD5-U3-51S5C

features 30 megapixels (MP) of total
resolution, covering 90% of a full
sphere; a 5Gbit/s USB 3.0 interface;
and a post-processing workflow.
The Ladybug5 spherical imaging
system uses six high-sensitivity 5 MP Sony ICX655 CCD sensors; five
CCDs are positioned in a horizontal ring, and one is positioned verti-
cally pointing upwards. Global shutter CCD technology prevents mo-
tion artifacts when capturing images from a moving vehicle.
All six Ladybug5 imagers are pre-calibrated in Point Greys manufac-
turing facility. The Ladybug5 captures, optionally compresses, and
transmits full bit-depth (12-bit) images to the host PC, where a software
post-processing workflow applies white balance, gamma, smear correc-
tion, fall-off correction, and other image processing functions.
Frame Grabbers
VRmagic (Mannheim, Germany)
has introduced the VRmDAVC-2,
an intelligent version of the com-
panys USB frame grabber. In com-
bination with analog cameras, the
frame grabber provides users with a
platform that performs image pro-
cessing tasks autonomously.
Built upon the established D2 platform, the VRmDAVC-2 is a pro-
grammable Linux-based device. The D2 platform features a 300 MHz
ARM9 processor, a 600 MHz DSP, 256 MB RAM, and 512 MB flash
memory. Image data may either be processed directly or transmitted
via Ethernet for further processing. The embedded platform also al-
lows the direct connection of peripherals and control of equipment via
RS-232 or GPIOs.
The VRmagic API offers image data access from any PC. Other char-
acteristics of the frame grabber include: PAL and NTSC resolution,
UBIFS file system, pre-configured tool chain with cross compiler, S-
Video (input and output), Y/C input, HDMI output adapter board
(only OEM), 100 Mbit Ethernet on RJ45, USB 2.0 host, MPE-Garry
Micro T connector, Hirose DF14-15P, and a 5 V power supply. The
VRmDAVC-2 is available with a Pico interface board, which includes an
RGB888 interface.
Imaging Objectives
Edmund Optics
(Barrington, NJ) offers Mitutoyo Glass

Thickness-Compensated Infinity Corrected Objectives.
The components are suited for imaging objects through
glass up to 3.5 mm thick. Applications for the G Plan
Apochromatic (Apo) objectives include imaging
through a coverslip or mediums like agar, water, or
nutrients; inspecting LCDs, semiconductor, or flat-
screen TV monitors; or imaging into a vacuum. Avail-
able in 20 and 50 magnifications, Mitutoyo Glass Thick-
ness-Compensated Infinity Corrected Objectives feature color
reproducibility and a flat image surface over the entire field of view.
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Intro
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Intro
3D Machine Vision Camera
IDS Imaging Development
Systems (Woburn, MA) offers a
new stereo 3D camera: the En-
senso N10. The Ensenso
N10 is fitted with two global
shutter CMOS sensors and a
pattern projector that projects a
static, high-contrast texture
onto the object being captured, adding structures that are not visible or
are only faintly visible to the human eye.
With a refresh rate of 30 frames per second, the Ensenso N10 can be
used completely in-line. It is optimized for working distances of 280 mm
to 1400 mm, and available in configurations for variable fields of view.
Image resolution is 752 480 pixels (WVGA).
Featuring an aluminum housing that measures 150 45 45 mm, the
Ensenso N10 is qualified for space-sensitive industrial environments, in-
cluding mounting on mobile robot heads. Its rugged design also includes
a lockable 3-pin M8 sensor/actuator connector, GPIOs for 12-24 V hard-
ware trigger input and output, as well as a lockable USB cable.
The software package features an MVTec HALCON interface and an
object-oriented API (C++). When working with multiple cameras, the
software enables output of a single 3D point cloud containing the data
of all the cameras used, resulting in the capture of the scene synchro-
nously from different sides, thus reducing shadowing effects and ex-
tending the field of view.
Camera Board
e-con Systems (St Louis, MO) has released
the Full HD MIPI Camera Board, e-
CAM51_44, for Texas Instruments OMAP4
family of processors. The e-CAM51_44 cam-
era board is interfaced to the PandaBoard,
which is based on the OMAP4430/
OMAP4460 processor. e-CAM51_44 in-
cludes e-CAM57_MI5640_MOD, a 5 MP
autofocus MIPI CSI-2 camera module. A 70-
mm flex cable provides flexibility in enclo-
sure design as the module can be placed as
far as 100 mm from the processor interface.
OmniVisions OV5640 CameraChip sensor, which is part of the
e-CAM57_MI5640_MOD, has an embedded ISP. The sensor features
automatic image control functions: automatic exposure control
(AEC), automatic white balance (AWB), automatic band filter (ABF),
50/60Hz automatic luminance detection, and automatic black level
calibration (ABLC).
The e-CAM51_44 board includes full schematics and Linux driver
support with source code. It streams Full HD 1080p@30fps and HD
720p@60fps.
CMOS/CCD Camera
The Imaging Source (Charlotte,
NC) has announced monochrome and
color FireWire 800 cameras. The cam-
eras have an Aptina CMOS or Sony
CCD sensor, 1/4'' to 1/1.8''. Other fea-
tures of the 29 29 47 mm devices in-
clude resolution from VGA to 5 MP;
frame rate up to 150 fps; binning and
ROI; and trigger and digital I/Os.
PoE Switch
D-Link (Fountain Valley,
CA) has introduced the DGS-
1100-08P switch. The DGS-
1100-08P delivers Power-over-
Ethernet (PoE) capabilities for
IP surveillance, VoIP phone,
and access point deployment.
Equipped with eight 10/100/1000 BASE-T Ethernet ports, the
DGS-1100-08P complies with the IEEE 802.3af PoE standard. A power
budget of 64W ensures power is available for a variety of IP cameras
and other powered devices. The DGS-1100-08P supports the Smart-
Console Utility and a Web-based management interface. The inter-
face allows network administrators to control and monitor the PoE at-
tributes on each port, including priority assignments, power threshold
limits, and PoE power usage.
The DGS-1100-08P also enables Auto Surveillance VLAN, which con-
solidates data and surveillance video traffic through a single switch. Ad-
ditional switch features include: loopback detection, cable diagnostics,
storm control, QoS/bandwidth control, IGMP snooping, and
IEEE802.3az Energy Efficient Ethernet.
EPIX, Inc.
Buffalo Grove, IL USA
Tel - 847 465 1818
epixinc.com
Frame Grabbers, Software, Lenses,
SV1C45, SV1M45
SILICON VIDEO
1 Megapixel Cameras
Ruggedized Enclosures, Specialty Cables
Everything you need to build complete and
flexible imaging systems.
Async Reset
Global Shutter
12 bits per pixel
1280 x 960 @ 45.2 fps
Compact Camera Head
Color or Monochrome
Camera Integration and Reset Control
lens optional
14a Imaging Technology, June 2013 Free Info at http://info.hotims.com/45604-769
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