Computer Technology
Control Software
Computer software to control automated rovers trekking across the reddish
terrain of Mars serve double time in industrial robots that inspect hazardous
waste sites, underwater cables, and in the decommissioning of nuclear reactors.
In 1996, Real-Time Innovations, Inc. (RTI) of Sunnyvale, California
became the first "graduate" of Ames Research Center's Technology
Commercialization Center (ATCC). RTI collaborated with Ames, the Jet Propulsion
Laboratory and Stanford University to leverage NASA research to produce
ControlShell™ software. RTI's ControlShell is complex, real-time command
and control software, capable of processing information and controlling
mechanical devices. This capability permits large groups of programmers
and projects to share and reuse software objects.
The ControlShell system was used extensively on a cooperative project
to enhance the capabilities of a Russian-built Marsokhod rover. As a U.S.-Russian
collaborative endeavor, NASA avionics and a ControlShell controller were
used in the upgrade.
The Marsokhod rover is being evaluated for eventual flight to Mars.
Operated from Earth through electronic links, the planetary tele-rover
would depend on control software for day-to-day operations. Additionally,
the long delay times of communications between Earth and Mars, upwards
of 20 minutes each way, demand a high degree of computer and software support.
RTI's ControlShell empowers its users to build applications from small
code objects called components. These components let developers share and
reuse code on a scale never before possible. Other key features of ControlShell
include its ability to graphically automate both sophisticated feedback-loop
control and event-driven reactive logical programming. Another attractive
distinction of the software is that novice programmers can easily build
structured, quality code. On the other hand, the most talented of programmer
can effortlessly extend the framework and build large, complex systems.
| Ames Technology Commercialization Center
spurred computer software to run space robots bound for planetary distances
to find Earthly applications, such as hazardous waste site inspection. |
Like any job, having the right tool greatly increases productivity.
ControlShell offers powerful tools that merge design, translation, execution
and analysis. By sharing components, ControlShell increases organizational
and inter-site productivity. It also saves time in documentation, verification,
and maintenance.
One ControlShell tool is RTI's StethoScope® . As a real-time data
collection and display tool, StethoScope allows a user to see how a program
is running without changing its execution. A live, graphical window allows
the user to monitor variables, archive data, collect time histories, and
change values--all without affecting how a system is executing.
RTI has successfully applied its software savvy in other arenas, such
as telecommunications, networking, video editing, semiconductor manufacturing,
automotive systems, and medical imaging.
| ControlShell allows large groups of programmers
and projects to share and reuse software objects. RTI software was the
first graduate of the Ames Technology Commercialization Center. |
Work on the Marsokhod project demonstrated the value of the ATCC incubator
program. Taxpayer supported research was leveraged by placing NASA technologies
in the entrepreneurial hands of RTI.
"NASA Ames made a huge contribution to our technology," states
RTI President and CEO Stan Schneider. "The ATCC catalyzed our efforts
to bring this technology to market. These cooperative efforts allow important
research results to impact a much wider audience. They are crucial to the
efficient use of our national research talent," Schneider says.
™ ControlShell is a trademark of Real-Time Innovations, Inc.
® StethoScope is a registered trademark of Real-Time Innovations,
Inc.
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