Technology Applications
Engineering applications projects are efforts to create beneficial
new products, or to solve significant public sector or industrial
problems, through redesign or reengineering of existing technology.
Some projects stem from requests for assistance from government
agencies or industrial firms, others are generated by NASA technologists
who perceive possible problem solutions or useful product developments
by adapting NASA technology to a particular need. NASA also employs
an applications team composed of scientists and engineers representing
different areas of expertise, who identify problems, submit them
to NASA centers for review, then assist the centers in adapting
the technology. Engineering applications projects are generally
conducted in cooperation with a partnering organization on a
cost-sharing basis.
This is a special version of the Earth Alert System disaster
warning receiver designed for use in Hawaii; the emergency symbols
are the same as those used in the Honolulu phone book. The system
was developed as a partnership applications project of Goddard
Space Flight Center and Scientific and Commercial Systems Corporation.
The camera pictured on page 116 exemplifies an application
project undertaken by Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC). The
gold-rimmed device is a 4K ¥ 4K Mosaic CCD Camera, used by
NASA for ground-based astronomy at Kitt Peak National Observatory,
Tucson, Arizona. The engineering applications project, in which
GSFC is teamed with the University of Massachusetts, involves
adapting the technology for use in mammography (cancer-screening
breast examination).
Mammography is normally accomplished by x-ray examination
of the internal structure of the breast. The 4K ¥ 4K device
offers significant improvement over the x-ray technique because
it is an electronic camera that takes pictures without film by
converting light directly into digital images; digitizing the
image enables real-time display on a screen and allows technicians
to zoom in on a specific feature and to enhance or otherwise
manipulate the image to extract additional information. Continuing
work on this application is aimed toward development of a display
compatible with existing x-ray systems for clinical use.
Satellite-relayed warnings are picked up by this solar-powered
mobile tower/trailer antenna system and broadcast to the handheld
personal receivers. The dish antenna is the satellite downlink
antenna; the warning transmission antenna is on the 37-foot mast.
Another example of an engineering applications project, one
that also offers life-saving potential, is a disaster warning
device for isolated populations-such as the inhabitants of islands
in the Pacific-where there are insufficient means of delivering
warnings of severe weather or other natural disasters. This project
draws on NASA weather satellite technology to provide a fast,
effective personal warning system for individuals threatened
by a disaster, such as a hurricane, tornado, forest fire or flood.
In this development, GSFC is teamed with Scientific and Commercial
Systems Corporation (SCSC), Beltsville, Maryland. SCSC is a Goddard
support contractor producing electronic schematics, circuit boards
and integrated systems for such applications as steerable antenna
controls and satellite downlink data processors.
A closeup view of the Earth Alert System mast showing the
electronics container (box in center of photo) and the warning
transmission antenna (top of mast).
Called Earth Alert, the system provides direct transmission
of severe weather warnings to a handheld device that uses symbols,
maps or text messages to indicate the nature and status of the
emergency and allow the users to take survival actions. The system
consists of a central trailer-mounted transmitter plus an appropriate
number of handheld receivers, distributed to individuals, homes
and offices in the isolated area. When a disaster threatens,
an initial warning is sent to a National Oceanographic and Atmospheric
Administration weather satellite in geostationary orbit. The
satellite rebroadcasts the message back to Earth, where it is
picked up by an Earth Alert ground station and broadcast, via
the central transmitter, to the personal receivers in the area.
Each Earth Alert system is tailored to a specific locale. The
handheld beeper-like device, the mobile central transmitter,
and the software/hardware for decoding and display were developed
by SCSC.
Goddard and SCSC have modeled an Earth Alert System for the
Republic of Fiji and developed a special variant of the receiver
for use in the islands of Hawaii. The receivers were modified
to report four threats-hurricane, tsunami, flash flood and high
surf -specified by the State of Hawaii Office of Civil Defense.
Tests demonstrated communications compatibility with standard
radio and satellite systems. SCSC is continuing its partnership
with GSFC by working on a design for a standardized VHF receiver.
The company is offering commercial Earth Alert Systems tailored
to specific locales, including the central transmitter, documentation,
training and a block of 1,000 receivers.
|
