NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS) 20110024105: Software for Estimating Costs of Testing Rocket Engines

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by  NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

ther information, please contact Michael F. data (label data) in the format of the Video tion incorporated into the CEM is that total
Abernathy, Rapid Imaging Software, Inc., Image Communication and Retrieval labor times depend mainly on thrust levels.
1318 Ridgecrest Place S.E., Albuquerque, (VICAR) image-processing software and in As a result of a recent modification of the
NM 87108. several similar formats, including a subset CEM to increase the accuracy of predicted
MSC-23096 of the Planetary Data System (PDS) image labor times, the dependence of labor time
file format. The library does the following: on thrust level is now embodied in third- and
CLARAty Functional-Layer • It provides low-level, direct access fourth-order polynomials.
Software layer, enabling an application subpro- This program was developed by Merlon
gram to read and write specific image M. Hines of Lockheed Martin Space Oper-
Functional-layer software for the Coupled files, lines, or pixels, and manipulate ations for Stennis Space Center.
Layer Architecture for Robotics Autonomy metadata directly. Inquiries concerning rights for the com-
(CLARAty) is being developed. [CLARAty • Two coding/decoding subprograms mercial use of this invention should be
was described in “Coupled-Layer Architec- (“codecs” for short) based on the Java addressed to the Intellectual Property Man-
ture for Advanced Software for Robots” Advanced Imaging (JAI) software pro- ager, Stennis Space Center [see page 1].
(NPO-21218), NASA Tech Briefs, Vol. 26, vide access to VICAR and PDS images Refer to SSC-00154.
No. 12 (December 2002), page 48. To reca- in a file-format-independent manner. The
pitulate: CLARAty was proposed to VICAR and PDS codecs enable any pro-
improve the modularity of robotic software gram that conforms to the specification
while tightening the coupling between of the JAI codec to use VICAR or PDS
planning/execution and control subsys- images automatically, without specific
tems. Whereas prior robotic software archi- knowledge of the VICAR or PDS format.
tectures have typically contained three lev- • The library also includes Image I/O plug-
els, the CLARAty architecture contains two in subprograms for VICAR and PDS for-
layers: a decision layer and a functional mats. Application programs that conform
layer.] Just as an operating system provides to the Image I/O specification of Java
abstraction from computational hardware, version 1.4 can utilize any image format
the CLARAty functional-layer software pro- for which such a plug-in subprogram
vides for abstraction for the different robotic exists, without specific knowledge of the
systems. The functional-layer software format itself. Like the aforementioned
establishes interrelated, object-oriented codecs, the VICAR and PDS Image I/O
hierarchies that contain active and passive plug-in subprograms support reading
objects that represent the different levels of and writing of metadata.
system abstrations and components. The This program was written by Robert
functional-layer software is decomposed Deen and Steven Levoe of Caltech for
into a set of reusable core components and NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. For
a set of extended components that adapt further information, access the Technical
the reusable set to specific hardware imple- Support Package (TSP) free on-line at
mentations. The reusable components (a) www.nasatech.com.
provide behavior and interface definitions This software is available for commer-
and implementations of basic functionality, cial licensing. Please contact Don Hart of
(b) provide local executive capabilities, (c) the California Institute of Technology at
manage local resources, and (d) support [phone]. Refer to NPO-30470.
state and resource queries by the decision
layer. Software for robotic systems can be Software for Estimating
built by use of these components. Costs of Testing Rocket
This software was architected and writ-
Engines
ten by Issa Nesnas, Richard Volpe, Hari
Das, Darren Mutz, Richard Petras, and A high-level parametric mathematical
Tara Estlin of Caltech for NASA’s Jet model for estimating the costs of testing
Propulsion Laboratory. For further infor- rocket engines and components at Stennis
mation, access the Technical Support Space Center has been implemented as a
Package (TSP) free on-line at www. Microsoft Excel program that generates
nasatech.com. multiple spreadsheets. The model and the
This software is available for commer- program are both denoted, simply, the Cost
cial licensing. Please contact Don Hart of Estimating Model (CEM). The inputs to the
the California Institute of Technology at CEM are the parameters that describe par-
[phone]. Refer to NPO-30132. ticular tests, including test types (component
or engine test), numbers and duration of
Java Library for Input and tests, thrust levels, and other parameters.
Output of Image Data and The CEM estimates anticipated total project
Metadata costs for a specific test. Estimates are bro-
ken down into testing categories based on a
A Java-language library supports input work-breakdown structure and a cost-ele-
and output (I/O) of image data and meta- ment structure. A notable historical assump-
36 NASA Tech Briefs, January 2003