NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS) 20110004272: NASA Tech Briefs, January 1991. Volume 15, No. 1

68 Pages·31 MB·English

by  NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

A View To
The F ture
You don't need to wait hours to Our data compression option allows
True lP1ug-And-Play" Compatibility With:
you to write up to 10 GB per tape at up
change tapes.
You don't need to wait months for AAlll~i ~tMicro DDEECC 3H 0k0 IIBBMM SA/S3/64 00 PPleenxeues to 60 MB per minute. Completely
other storage technologies to catch up. :~IO g~~~~~81 ~~ntosh =Id unattended.
One 8 mm tape drive will already Of course, the data compression
Ari.x DEC Unibus Novell Sequent
deliver more than they promise. feature is switch-selectable, so you can
It's the digital CY- 8200, nowwith CADToa&tnavT Ge regneenrta l GIHBPoMu IdR T PPCCpcXo~y~e.I.,ri. WDOSUlXn ix SWUunanin sgy s turn off data compression to read and
optional data compression. And you write standard 8mm tapes.
and more. ..
can get it exclusively from ContemporatyCybemetics Group. Plus it's a simple upgrade for the best tape drive built:
With data compression, the CY-8200 can quadruple our CY-8200. Offering a complete range of standard
the amount of data you can load on an 8mm cassette that interfaces, a 2-line, 40-colurnn
fits neatly in your shirt pocket Meaning the already display option, and optional
tremendous savings in man hours, media costs, storage and security card encryption. And
shipping are multi assuring you of full support and
plied by four. a 12-month warranty from the leader in advanced 8mm
Until now, the helical scan technology.
best8mmdriveon The CY-8200 with data compression will remain the
the market stored best value in data storage for a long time to come. So
an impressive now you've got many good reasons for calling us today
2.5 GB per tape at at [phone]
speeds up to 15 MB and no good reason
per minute. for waiting.
Landing Corporate Center ·11846 Rock Landing· Newport News, Virginia 23606 • Phone (804) 873·0900 • FAX (804)
Circle Reader Action No. 411
Just a few FAST examples:
DVME-601 Smart, fast A/D coprocessor from $1995 DVME-614 1 MHz D5P /FFf "front end" from $2395
• Local 68010 CPU, 256K memory • 4 channels with optional simultaneous sampling
• 165/80 channels, 12-16 A/D bits • 4096-sample FIFO memory
• RS-232 serial port, counter-timers, digital I/O • 12-14 A/D bits, choice of speed
• Fast "no-programming" command executive
All boards include software, a comprehensive user's
DVME-611F 14-bits, 250 KHz A/D from $1750 manual, and applications support.
DATEL, Inc., 11 Cabot Boulevard, Mansfield,
• 325/16D A/D channels
MA 02048 [phone] FAX [phone]
• 20/ A's optional, software PGA
• Expandable to 256 channels
800-233-2765
For FREE brochure call
INNOVAnON AND EXCELLENCE IN PRECISION DATA ACOUlsmON
Circle Reader Action No. 316
,
ats
No matter what manufacturing you up-consistently exhibit Mil
frequencies you work, need for top per equivalent electrical characteristics.
you want everything formance, and top And you can enhance performance even
in your connectors productivity. That further with a choice of 50 ohm or
that engineering can kind of engineering 75 ohm versions.
deliver. care is why our "old Our product offerings cover the
From AMP, that's a great deal. standards" -from duakrimp BNCs on spectrum, pushing performance on out
Our entire line delivers the advanced
design and controlled, precision
sine?
your
to 26 GHz. And they do And with AMP, you get production tooling is second to none
it time after time, with the broadest selection in dependable, repeatable terminations.
unbeatable consistency. available any\vhere, in Call 1-800-522-6752 for technical
All the while saving every range. From cable liternture OIl AMP RF connectors, or for
you time-on the to bulkhead and panel, right the name of your local AMP DNributor.
line or in the field-with down to the board-and now AMP Incorporated, Hanisburg, PA
proven crimp/seal technology. including custom and semi-custom 17105-3608.
high-speed coax and transmission
cable assemblies. And our field and
Circle Reader Action No. 657
NI\S/\T ech Briefs
Transferring Technology to
American Industry and Government
January 1991
Volume 15 Number 1
SPECIAL FEATURES
Technology 2000 Show Report:
Photo courtesy NASA
Editorial Notebook .................. 8
A piloted spacecraft performs an aerobrake maneuver over
Martian terrain in this conceptual image. The digital model of
Keynote Address .................. 9
Mars'surface was generated using data from the 1970s Viking
A View To The Future .......... 12 missions. The development of new concepts for transfer and
landing vehicles is a key part of the Space Exploration Initiative,
Mission Accomplished ................ 66 described on page 12.
TECHNICAL SECTION DEPARTMENTS
New on the
~
New Product Ideas............ 16 On The Cover: NASA Ad
ministrator Richard H. rv1arket. .......... 58
~ NASA TU Services............ 18 Truly opened Technology
2000, the first-ever na New
_ Electronic Components tional technology transfer
conference and exposi Literature ....... 59
~ and Circuits ...................... 20 tion, held in Washington,
'j;I' .
t-!_",,, Electronic Systems ............ 26 D.C. November 27-28. Our Advertisers
show coverage begins on
Physical Sciences ............ 30 pageS. Index .............. 65
o
~ rv1aterials ............................ 32
~
Computer Programs .......... 36
o rv1echanics ........................ 39
rv1achinery .......................... 43
i i Fabrication Technology ...... 44
tJ
rv1athematics and
Photo courtesy NASA
r: ~ Information Sciences 48 NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center has created a
o~ Life Sciences .................... 54 computer program to study atmospheric pres
sures, densities, temperatures, and winds. This
Subject Index .................... 61 plot was generated to analyze the upper atmos
phere's response to a solar storm. Turn to page 35.
This document was prepared under the sponsorship of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Neither Associated Business Publications Co., Ltd. nor anyone
acting on behalf of Associated Business Publications Co., Ltd. nor the United States Government nor any person acting on behalf of Jhe 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 etlents, is granted by Associated BUSiness Publications, provided that
the flat fee of $3.00 per copy IS paid directly to the Copyright Clearance Center (21 Congress St., Salem, MA 0(970). 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 0145·319XI90 $3.00+ .00
NASA Tech Briefs,ISSN 0145·319X, USPS 750-070, copyrightC 1991 in U.S" is published monthly by Associated Business Publications Co., Ltd., 41 E. 42nd St., New York, NY 10017·5391.
The copyrighted information does not Include the individual tech briefs which are supplied by NASA. Edltonal, sales, productIon and Circulation offices at 41 East 42nd Street, New Yol1l, NY
10017·5391. Subscription for non·qualified subscribers In the U.S. , Panama Canal Zone, and Puerto RICO, $75.00 for 1 year; $125.00 for 2 years; $200.00 for 3 years. Single copies $10.00.
Foreign subscriptions one·year U.S. Funds $150.00 Rem~ by check, draft, postal, express orders or VISA, MasterCard, and Amencan Express. Other remittances at sende(s risk. Address
all communications for subscnptions or Circulation to NASA Tech Briefs. 41 East 42nd Street, New Yol1l, NY 10017·5391 Second-class postage paid at New York, NY and additional mailing
offices. POSTMASTER: please send address changes to NASA Tech Briefs, 41 E. 42nd Street, Suite 921, New York, NY 10017-5391.
4 NASA Tech Briefs, January 1991
Toshowyou
G LD
whatournew
Electronics
DataGraf recorder
cando,
No matter how advanced your recorder is, it still has to
meet your most basic recording needs. That's why our neN
DataGraf offers everything you'd expect from a computer-
based recorder-plus unique hard copy output flexibility.
How advanced is DataGraf? It offers 16-channel recording
capability, all in a rugged, portable package weighing less
than forty pounds. With DataGraf, you can store events on
disk and replay them as often as you like. You can also expand
or compress traces, overlay signals, and even label key points.
What's more, using advanced waveform analysis software,
DataGraf automatically analyzes your data, virtually eliminating
the need for manual interpolation and long-hand math.
Whether you're interested in the entire Signal or just a specific
section, the touch of a button will calculate
Max/Min, Standard Deviation,
dY/dX, RMS, and much more.
And when it comes to seeing
your results on paper, DataGraf
can output your traces to hun-
dreds of printers, plotters and tradi-
tional oscillographic recorders.
It's exactly the kind of solution you'd expect
from Gould, a company with over fifty years of
recorder development experience. By applying new
technology to the real needs of today's engineers, we've
developed a unitthat offers real advantages. Advantages
that go beyond advanced features. Advantages you can
put on paper.
Send for a free DataGraf demo disk. Use the coupon below,
or fax your request to [phone].
NTB 11111
Yes! I tJ like to see what DataGraf can do. Send me
a free demo disk and product information package.
_______ TITLE: _______
SffiEET: ________________________________ _
CITY: _____________ STATE: ___ ZIP: _________
PHONE: ________________________________ _
Send to: Gould, Inc., Test and Measurement. 8333 Rockside Road.
Vallev VieN. Ohio 44125. or cl'Ili f?16) 3?R·70Cl0 i=a){· {71~\ ~?A_7i!N'I
NI\S/\T ech Briefs
Convert
Official Publication of YBPA
National Aeronautics and NJP
Computer
Space Administration
Graphics
NASA Tech Briefs:
to Published by ....................................... As.oclated Business Publications
Editor-in-ChieflPublisher ....................................................... BIII Schnlrrlng
Associate Publisher ................................................................ Frank Nothaft
Video Editor ........................................................................J oseph T. Pramberger
Managing Editor ............................................................................... R.J Laer
Assistant Editor .................................................................. Kathleen Carrea
Assistant Editor .................................................................. Justina Cardillo
Assistant Editor .................................................................... Patrick Corbett
Technical Advisor ................................................. Or. Robert E. Waterman
Production Manager ................................................................. Rlta Nothaft
Traffic Manager ......... _. ......................................................... James E. Cobb
Art Director ............................................................................. Pierre Granier
Circulation Manager ............................................................... Cheryl Cohen
Advertising Coordinator ..... _. .................................................. Danlel Murphy
Telecommunications Specialist ................................................ Evelyn Mars
Reader Service Manager ..................................................... Sylvla Valentin
Brief. & Supporting Literature:
Provided to National Aeronautics and Space Administration by
International Computers & Telecommunications. Inc .•
NY, NY with assistance from Logical Technical Services, NY, NY
TechnicaVManaging Editor .......................................................T ed Sellnsky
Art Director .............................................................................. Luls Martinez
Administrator .................................................................... Ellzabeth Texeira
HTSC or PAL
Chief Copy Editor ................................................................... Lorne Bullen
Staff Writers/Editors ...................... Dr. James Boyd, Dr. Larry Gnunberger.
Dr. Theron Cole, Jordan Randjelovlch,
George Watson, Oden Browne
Graphics .............................................................................. Vernald Gillman,
Pamela Baynham, Charles Sammartano
Editorial & Production............................ .. .... Bill Little, Ivonnne Valdes,
Frank Ponce
RGB IVideolink™
NASA:
Scan Converters NASA Tech Briefs are provided by the National Aeronautics and Space
Administration, Technology Utilization Division, Washington, DC:
with Autosync Administrator ....................................................................... Rlchard H. Truly
Assistanl Administrator for Commercial Programs ................ James T. Rose
Deputy Assistant Admlnistrator(Programs) ................... Frank E. Penaranda
The Link Between Deputy Director TU Division(Publications Manager) ........... Leonard A. Ault
Computer Graphics Manager, Technology Utilization Office, NASA Scientific
and Technical Information Facility .................................... Walter M. Helland
and Television Video for
Video Taping, Video Transmission
Associated Business Publications
and Video Teleconferencing 41 East 42nd Street, Suite 921, New York, NY 10017-5391
[phone] FAX [phone]
• Adjustment free auto-locking President ................................................................................ Bill Schnirring
• Full broadcast quality encoder Executive Vice President. ....................................................... Frank Nothaft
Vice President. .......................................................... Domenlc A. Mucchettl
and sync generator Operations Manager. .................................................................. Rita Nothaft
• Flicker elimination Controlier. ............................................................. , ................ Felecla Lahey
• Anti-aliasing
• Genlock Advertising:
• Video overlays with linear keyer New York Offlce:[phone] FAX [phone]
Director of Advertising Sales .................................... Domenic A. Mucchettl
• Full 24 bit color processing Account Executive (NY,NJ) ...................................................... Brlan Clerkin
• Composite (NTSC or PAL). S-Video. at [phone]
Y. R-Y. B-Y and RGB video outputs Account Executive (VA,DC.MD.DE,WV) ...................... John D. Floyd, CBC
at [phone]
• Made in the USA Account Executive .................................................................... Debby Crane
al [phone]
Model 1400AX
Account Executive (Midwest) ............................................ Paul Lesher.CBC
autosyncs to workstation at [phone]
displays (45-80 kHz) Account Executive (Northwest) ..................................................... BIII Hague
at [phone]
Model600AX Regional Sales Manager (South) ........................................ Douglas Shaller
autosyncs to EGA. VGA. and Mac 11 at [phone]
displays (21.5-35.0 kHz) Account Executives (Eastern MA,NH,ME,RI) ......................... Paul Gillespie
at [phone]:BIII Doucette at [phone]
Account EXecu1ives (Western MA,CT,V T) ............................. George Watt.
or David Haggett at [phone]
Account Executives (Cal~.,AZ,NV,NM)
for Area Codes 8181213/805 Robert D'Alexander
for Area Codes 4081415191612091707) Elizabeth Cooper
NTBM-Research Center
SPECTRUM Account Supervisor. ......................................................... Lourdes Del Valle
2550 Ninth Street. Berkeley. CA 94710
TEL: [phone] FAX: [phone]
6 Circle Reader Action No. 467 NASA Tech Briefs, January 1991
THE MAl!HWORKS lROOtJCES
Block Diagram Software
for Nonlinear Simulation
ofD ynamic Systems
• Fie EdII S w. .....
SWt _T
r. ._ _
..p.. .. -....•..
p. ........
F·'4n'1tOO11
1-
~
ntroducing SIMULAB, the next genera SIMULAB provides you with the tools for
tion software for modelling, analyzing, constructing and anal yzing block diagram
and imulaLing nonlinear ystems. SIMU- models interactively us ing a mou e and pull-
LAB delivers a combination of flexibility, down menu . You can explore the behavior
ea e of use, and speed in a single package. of systems during a si mulation and interac-
,
tively see how the model behaVIOr changes
• A complete set of tools for constructing as you change it parameters. (Top) Use the Scope block to see the "real·time"
response of this F·14 model during the simula·
and analyzing models of dynamic systems,
tion; (Center) Specify simulation parameters via
including linear, nonlinear, discrete, contin SIMULAB includes a comprehensive set dialog boxes or the MATLA8 command line;
uous, and hybrid sy terns. of built-in blocks for creating model . In ad (Bottom) SIMULAB takes full advantage of the
dition, SIMULAB lets you extend its func XlMotif and Macintosh windowing systems.
• The ability to de cribe models either in tionality by creating your own tools. Cus
The
Block Diagram form or as ets of differen tomize built-in SIMULAB blocks or create
tial equations. your own as C, Fortran, or l\>1ATLAB code. MATH
SIMULAB delivers the flexibility to meet
• A design. analy is, and simulation environ your needs.
WOR~
ment that i eamle ly integrated with
MATLAB'" and the MATLAB Toolboxes. SIMULAB is available for a wide range of ~
computers, including UNIX workstations and
• An intuitive graphical user interface based the Apple Macinto h. For more information
The MathWorks,lnc.
on the indu try- tandard X WmdowlMotif on how SIMULAB can address your applica
21 Eliot Street, South Natick, MA 01760
and Macintosh windowing ysterns. tion , contact The MathWorks today for a Tel: [phone]
free information packet Fax: [phone]
Circle Reader Action No. 503 Telex: 910-240-5521
Email: [email protected]
As successful as Technology 2000
was, as excited as we all were and are,
Editorial Notebook we know it was just the beginning.
We've already started planning for Tech
nology 2001, which will be held at the
An Overwhelming new convention center in San Jose,
CA, Dec. 3-5, 1991. We've added a
third day to the conference and tripled
Success
the size of the exhibit and meeting
areas. From the interest we saw on the
part of exhibitors and attendees at
When you initiate the first-ever na secondary or commercial application Technology 2000, we think we'll need
every inch.
tional technology transfer conference was sought and found. This process
We're planning an even more ex
and exposition, you're not sure what to often took a decade or more. Given the
tensive collection of symposia for Tech
expect. You know that you'll feature fast pace at which technology develop
nology 2001 and a wide range of pro
the work of NASA's best and brightest ment is now moving, and the competi
gram innovations. We will keep you
minds, thanks to the support of top tiveness from other nations to capital
apprised in this space.
NASA management, but there are still ize on these developments, that tradi
For all of you who came and partici
butterflies as you go into the show. tional approach is simply no longer ac
pated, our heartfelt thanks. It couldn't
What happens if you give the party and ceptable.
have happened without you. For those
nobody comes? "At this conference, you will be ex
of you who wished to come but for
Well, you came. As NASA Adminis posed to some of the developments
whatever reasons couldn't, I'm sorry
trator Richard Truly stated in his re under way at NASA, so you may begin
you missed an exciting event. To ev
marks opening the conference, the to imagine their commercial applica
erybody . .. see you in San Jose in
response to Technology 2000 was tions and get a jump start on our com
1991.
"overwhelming." Some 2500 of the petitors. You will also be exposed to
nation's leading technical minds came the many mechanisms we have for as
to listen, learn, and present. More than sisting you in this process. NASA is
90 papers were presented in two days, dedicated to keeping 'made in the USA'
covering a wide array of innovative synonymous with the finest aeronauti
technologies with commercial poten cal, space-related, and high-technol
tial. In the exhibit area, NASA's field ogy products in the world."
centers, other government agencies, Technology 2000 not only featured
and some 150 high-tech companies the transfer of technology from NASA
showcased technologies for transfer, to industry, but from other government
services to help industry access and agencies to the private sector ... and
use technology, and examples of suc from industry back to government and
cessful spinoffs. from company to company.
Administrator Truly set the tone for We received extensive media cov
Technology 2000 in his plenary ses erage of Technology 2000, not just in
sion speech: the business and technical press, but
"We are having this conference to also in USA Today, the Baltimore Sun,
do our part to accelerate the time pe and a host of other newspapers, as
The 176 exhibit booths at Technology
riod from technology generation to well as on network and cable televi 2000 featured a wide array ofg overnment
technology application. Too many times sion. We were surprised and frankly and-indus try-developed innovations, in
in the past we have waited until the delighted to have 119 members of the cluding improved prosthetic devices for
technology generated for NASA mis working media register for the confer amputees (above), a new material mixing
technique (below), and a dynamic posi
sions was placed on the shelf before ence.
tioning system (left).
For information on obtaining the com
plete proceedings of Technology 2000
technical sessions, see page 24.
NASA Tech Briefs, January 1991