2018-2019 NASA I^2 Project List
1
NASA Center
Project Title
Mentor
Project Description
Requirements
Ames
Research
Center
Moffett Field,
California
Advanced Life Support
Michael Flynn
Advanced life support systems include all systems and technologies
required to keep astronauts alive in space: water recycling, air recycling
and waste treatment. This Internship is primarily focused on water
recycling but is cognizant that an optimized system will include
integration with air and waste systems. Our research areas include:
• Systems that can recover energy from waste.
• In situ resource utilization in spacecraft and on planetary surfaces
• Application of space flight systems technologies to sustainable
terrestrial development.
Innovation a required skill. Our group
focuses on training the next generation
of NASA scientists on how to innovate
and to develop the next generation of
water recycling space flight systems that
will enable the human exploration and
colonization of the Solar System.
The ideal candidate is an undergraduate
or graduate student in the fields of:
Engineering (Chemical, Environmental,
Electrical, Industrial, Civil, Computer),
Mathematics, Chemistry, Biology,
Physics, and Environmental Science and
must have at least completed their
freshman year of college and a GPA of
3.00 (out of 4). Professional Working
Proficiency (ILR level 3) of the English
language is the minimum level required.
The participant must be a team player
and comfortable working with
professionals of different cultural and
scientific background. At the end of the
internship the participant will be
required to submit a white paper.
Ames
Research
Center
Moffett Field,
California
Biosensor Development
Jessica Koehne
Development of biosensors is an active field due to a wide range of
applications in lab-on-a-chip, diagnostics of infectious diseases, cancer
diagnostics, environment monitoring, biodetection and others. One of
the strategies used for selective identification of a target is to /preselect/
a probe that has a unique affinity for the target or can uniquely interact
or hybridize with the target: sort of a "lock and key" approach. In this
approach, one then needs a platform to support the probe and a
recognizing element that can recognize the said interaction between the
probe and the target. The interaction result can manifest optically (by
using dyes, quantum dots for example) or electrically. The platform
design and configuration may vary depending on whether optical or
electrical readout is used and what environment the sensor will be
utilized. Recently, printed biosensors on paper substrates have gained
much attention for their low cost of manufacture. Within NASA, such
printed devices are being investigated because of our potential ability to
manufacture in an in-space environment. Such a biosensor would be a
print-on-demand device. The current project involves fabricating and
validating a printed, electrical biosensor for cardiac health monitoring
from a whole blood sample. The intended NASA application is point of
care diagnostics for astronaut health monitoring.
Ames
Research
Center
Moffett Field,
California
Closed-Loop Life Support
Jonathan Trent
The project is related to closed-loop life-support and is focused on
building a nexus between water, food, and energy.
More specifically, in the laboratory there are two projects: 1)
developing a monitoring system for microalgae cultivation and 2)
testing a combined forward/reverse osmosis system for purifying
wastewater to potable standards. Both of these systems have
automation/monitoring issues. Samples are non-toxic and utilize
standard scientific equipment.
Ames
Research
Center
Moffett Field,
California
Control Internship Position
Nhan Nguyen
Advances in material technologies have led to a new class of ultra-
efficient transport aircraft that incorporate advanced high-aspect ratio
flexible wing designs with novel control effectors. The NASA
Performance Adaptive Aeroelastic Wing (PAAW) research element under
the NASA Advanced Air Transport Technology (AATT) project seeks to
develop control technologies and analysis capabilities to enable the
implementation of these advanced future wing designs. Development of
control systems for highly flexible wings is a critical component of this
relevant and challenging field. This internship opportunity will support
the NASA research team in developing disturbance estimation
techniques for use in both adaptive and non-adaptive control designs for
gust load alleviation. The intern will also help formulate design
requirements for future hardware that facilitate successful estimation
and control. Specific applications for the techniques developed include
flight control, wing shaping, and load alleviation of flexible wing aircraft.
Final deliverables for this internship
include any research results such as
report, presentation, or conference
publication as well as simulations
demonstrating operation of the
disturbance observer in use with the
control system.
The intern should have theoretical and
practical knowledge of control and
estimation including adaptive control, as
well as extensive experience simulating
dynamic models within
MATLAB/Simulink.
Ames
Research
Center
Moffett Field,
California
Design a Pump Control System
with Flow Feedback for the Cell
Science Project
Terry Lusby
1. Re-design a charge pre-amplifier to custom fit a Far West proportional
counter (a gas-based sensor).
2. Assist with the build-up of an engineering design unit (EDU) for the
Cell Science Project. This is a cell growth module that will be flown to the
ISS.
2018-2019 NASA I^2 Project List
2
NASA Center
Project Title
Mentor
Project Description
Requirements
Ames
Research
Center
Moffett Field,
California
Evaluation of a Variable Density
Approach to Modeling Cryogenic
Jets
Cetin Kiris
The intern will assist ARC researchers in extending user defined equation
of state routines to include Real Gas effects and analyze the difference
between mass fraction and volume fraction formulations for modeling
variable density flows. The intern will evaluate the models on existing
cryogenic jets and compare with existing experimental and numerical
data.
Outline for 6 months:
- Discuss and analyze differences between mass fraction and volume
fraction formulations of the variable density formulation
- Begin interaction with the ARC researchers using the user-based source
routines which can be linked into the existing libraries
- Apply the implemented user routines to existing cryogenic jet problems
- Compare current results with existing experimental and numerical
results in the literature
Ames
Research
Center
Moffett Field,
California
Evaluation of Biomedical Devices
for Exploration Missions
Tianna Shaw
The primary responsibility for this intern position is to support the
development and testing of biosensor monitoring systems in support of
the Human Research Program (HRP) Exploration Medical Capability
(ExMC) Element. The Ames Research Center (ARC) team focuses on the
integration of biomedical devices into a prototype medical data
architecture (MDA), that will receive, store and display a wide variety of
physiological parameters which include; electrocardiogram (ECG), heart
rate, blood pressure, pulse oximetry, respiratory rate, and body
temperature. The intern will work under the guidance of an ExMC
project engineer and will also work with ExMC project system engineer.
The intern will support human in the loop laboratory testing of
biomedical devices and development of the medical data architecture
system. The intern will also participate in data collection, processing and
analysis of biosensor data and assist in report writing. He/She will
support MDA operations in collaboration with CSA prototype wearable
biosensor system and other systems.
Ames
Research
Center
Moffett Field,
California
Experimental Aero-Physics
Engineering Intern
Rabi Mehta
The intern will help with a variety of experimental projects which
investigate the fluid mechanic, aerodynamic, and/or aeroacoustic
characteristics of manned and unmanned spacecraft, aircraft, rotorcraft,
ground vehicles, ships, structures, sports balls, and other objects. The
experimental projects will be conducted in conjunction with on-site
research mentors, using NASA Ames wind tunnel, water channel, lab,
and/or computer facilities. The intern will assist with many different
phases of one or more test programs; these phases may include prior
data review and test planning, test logistics, experimental design and
setup, model construction and installation, instrumentation calibration,
installation, and operation, test video/photo documentation, post-test
data plotting and analysis, and report development. The intern may also
assist with the development and execution of various computer
programs used to analyze or simulate the results of experimental test
programs.
The main outcome of this internship will be experience with a variety of
disciplines related to fluid mechanics, aerodynamics, and/or
aeroacoustics
Physics, Science, Math, Engineering
backgrounds preferred
Ames
Research
Center
Moffett Field,
California
Intelligence for Choosing Icy
Landing and Exploration Sites
(ICICLES)
Terrence Fong
Landers for icy moons will want to land at regions that are both safe and
scientifically interesting. Communications restrictions that result from
these remote operations mean that humans cannot be involved in
updating landing site selection during descent, just when the most
reliable data becomes available. The objective of ICICLES is to
automatically select candidate landing sites from orbit and to contiunally
update the EDL plan while descending.
The intern will assist the Intelligent Robotics Group (IRG) in designing
orbits which observe scientifically interesting candidate landing sites, as
well as attempting to inform the geometry of the surface at those sites.
In particular, the intern will help develop optimal control methods to
design orbit trajectories that provide optimal views of the surface. Very
strong emphasis will be placed on incorporating and integrating the
intern's research into IRG's on-going projects.
Ames
Research
Center
Moffett Field,
California
Lunar Topographic Products from
Orbital Images
Terrence Fong
Digital terrain models are essential for cartography, science analysis,
mission planning and operations. The NASA Ames Intelligent Robotics
Group (IRG) has developed software to automatically generate high-
quality topographic and albedo models from satellite images. Our
software, the Ames Stereo Pipeline (ASP), uses stereo vision and
photoclinometric techniques to produce 3D models of the Earth, Moon,
and Mars with very high accuracy and resolution. The intern will assist
IRG to improve the quality of topographic products from lunar orbital
images. In particular, the intern will help develop multi-stage
stereogrammetric methods to exploit the full potential of multiple,
overlapping views of a planetary surface. The intern will work closely
with NASA researchers and engineers throughout the internship. Very
strong emphasis is placed on incorporating and integrating the intern's
research into IRG's on-going projects. Research results may be published
in one (or more) technical forums: as a NASA technical report, a
conference paper, or journal article.
The intern must have a background in
Computer Science or Mathematics.
Practical experience with computer
programming, Linux-based software
development and open-source tools
(gcc, git, etc) is required. Experience
with C++ is strongly encouraged.
2018-2019 NASA I^2 Project List
3
NASA Center
Project Title
Mentor
Project Description
Requirements
Ames
Research
Center
Moffett Field,
California
MADCAT Project
Kenneth Cheung
The Coded Structures Laboratory conducts research across material
science, robotics, and algorithms, for application to aeronautics and
space systems. The lab's primary current project incorporates a building-
block based approach to ultralight lattice-based structures for shape
morphing aircraft. Expected activities for this position will be both
theoretical and experimental in nature, in support of advanced research
using multidisciplinary analyses to understand the mechanics of new
structural strategies and to develop predictive analytical models for the
design of systems with novel behavior. Experimental work is aimed at
testing these analyses with mechanical load testing and a wind tunnel
experiment.
Ames
Research
Center
Moffett Field,
California
Metabolic Control for Adaptation
to Spaceflight Environment
Yuri Griko
With the growing interest in long haul flights and the colonization of the
solar system, it is becoming important to develop organism self-
regulatory control systems which would be able to meet the
requirements of extraterrestrial environments rather than requiring an
Earthly environment in space. A better mechanistic understanding of
metabolism offers a means for sustaining astronauts in long-duration
missions beyond the low Earth orbit. Recent data obtained from several
research reports have shown that metabolic suppression could protect
biological organisms from damaging effects of space radiation and
microgravity. The ability to drastically reduce and suspend metabolism
appears to be closely tied to the unique survival of bacteria and some
invertebrates (e.g., tardigrades) after a prolonged exposure to cosmic
vacuum and radiation. It is possible that there is a monophyletic origin
for this adaptation at the molecular level among a variety of different
organisms. Our ultimate goals are to demonstrate proof-of-principle for
metabolic suppression as means to reduce the negative effects of
spaceflight environmental issues such as radiation and microgravity.
In order to demonstrate the potential application of the metabolic
control technology the PI's laboratory at NASA Ames Research Center
has engineered a hypo-metabolic chamber with a range of life-
monitoring equipment for high-throughput testing of hypo-metabolic
parameters and conditions that enable reversible induction of a state of
suspended animation in non-hibernating animals.
This internship opportunity will assist in defining and implementing
demonstrations of the metabolic control technology using different
animal models.
Objectives of this research are:
1 To characterize the hypometabolic state
2 To develop methodology for real time monitoring of respiratory and
other physiological parameters and conditions associated with the
hypometabolic stasis.
In the proposed experiments, the intern will work in collaboration with
molecular biologists and engineers to (1) reproduce induction of the
reversible suspended animation-like state in selected animal models,
and to (2) establish a comprehensive life support system for monitoring
physiological parameters of the hypometabolic state.
Intern should be willing to work with
animals. He/she should have basic
knowledge of life support systems
(respiratory parameters, ventilation, and
core body temperature control), have
basic laboratory skills and technical
knowledge for monitoring physical
parameter from telemetric devises, and
have software management skills.
Strong analytical and organizational
skills; interest in biology; interest in data
analysis. Senior undergraduate at
junior/senior level or higher preferred.
Ames
Research
Center
Moffett Field,
California
Microbial Factories for Solar
System Exploration
John Hogan
Long duration missions to distant bodies within our solar system will
require significant resources to support astronauts. Microbial factories
could help produce mission relevant products during such missions using
in situ resources such as carbon dioxide and water. In terrestrial systems,
microbial factories are already being used to produce a wide variety of
materials, fuels, nutrients, and medicines. Typically, these microbial
systems use high-energy carbon substrates such as sugars. In the
extremes of space, however, obtaining sugar-like compounds will prove
to be problematic, thus alternative low-energy carbon compounds may
need to be employed. The main objective of this project is to evaluate
the potential combination of substrates, microorganisms, and products
in understanding how a microbial production system will function in the
constraints of relevant space missions. The work entails performing
microbiological studies and conducting an analysis to determine
effective solutions for in-space microbial production systems.
Ames
Research
Center
Moffett Field,
California
Monitoring Changes in ASRS
Reports using Python and Text
Mining
Hamed Valizadegan
We aim to develop tools that can be used to monitor the changes in the
aviations safety reports submitted to NASA Aviation Safety Reporting
System (ASRS) program. ASRS collects and analysis the voluntarily
submitted aviation safety incidents reports in order to reduce the
likelihood of aviation accidents. We need tools that can help ASRS to
monitor changes in the narratives of the reports over time and can
summarize these reports.
2018-2019 NASA I^2 Project List
4
NASA Center
Project Title
Mentor
Project Description
Requirements
Ames
Research
Center
Moffett Field,
California
Nanotechnology in electronics
and sensor development
Meyya Meyyappan
Nanomaterials such as carbon nanotubes (CNTs), graphene and a variety
of inorganic nanowires offer tremendous potential for future
nanoelectronics, nanosensors and related devices. We have active
ongoing programs in these areas. Several examples are given below.
Chemical sensors to detect trace amounts of gases and vapors are
needed in planetary exploration, crew cabin air quality monitoring and
leak detection; there are numerous societal applications as well. We
have been working on CNT based sensors amenable for various
platforms including smartphones.
Flexible electronics on substrates such as textile and paper is of great
deal of interest to us. We have fabricated gas/vapor sensors on cotton
textile as well as cellulose paper. Other interests in paper electronics and
flexible substrates include memory devices, energy storage devices,
displays and detectors. Finally, we have also been revisiting vacuum
tubes although in the nanoscale, using entirely silicon based technology.
These radiation resistant devices offer exceptionally high frequency
performance. Our interest here extends to exploring the nano vacuum
tubes for THz electronics applications.
In all the areas, the projects include material growth, characterization,
device fabrication, device testing and evaluation, reliability and lifetime
assessment.
For device related aspects, majoring in
electrical engineering or physics is
preferred. For the remaining aspects of
the project, majors in material science,
chemistry and other engineering
disciplines are welcome. PhD candidates
and talented undergraduates will get
preference.
Ames
Research
Center
Moffett Field,
California
NASA Ames SPHERES/Astrobee
Facility
Jose Benavides
NASA Ames SPHERES/Astrobee Facility Brief description of duties: The
successful applicant would be involved with software development and
general support of the NASA Ames SPHERES/Astrobee Facility. (www.
nasa.gov/spheres) Specifically, the successful applicant would initially be
validating and developing C software for a SPHERES. Additional work
may include ISS flight quality hardware and maintaining SPHERES Facility
labs. The applicant should be familiar with Python and C software
development and good coding practices. In general, we are looking for
someone who is motivated, a self-starter, and capable of working
independently on tasks. Other beneficial experience may include; -
MATLAB, C/C++, Java, Python, Android Apps, and Linux scripting,
Computer Networking - Spacecraft, Small Satellites, CubeSat's - Avionics,
Embedded Hardware & Software - Software testing - experience building
space flight hardware - Good writing and communications skills, along
with the ability to work well both individually and within a
multidisciplinary team.
Ames
Research
Center
Moffett Field,
California
Orbit Analysis for LEO CubeSats
and Low Lunar Orbits
Marcus Murbach
The intern will fulfill assignments as a member of the orbital dynamics
team in the Mission Design Division at NASA Ames Research Center.
The Mission Design Division conducts early-stage concept development
and technology maturation supporting the Center's space and aircraft
mission proposals. Personnel have experience in mission planning, small
spacecraft design, and engineering analysis.
The Mission Design Division, or MDD, supports the full mission life cycle
in the areas of:
• Early Concept Development
• Mission Design
• Rapid Prototyping
• Mission Implementation
The candidate will work closely with flight dynamics engineers to expand
existing innovative approaches to low altitude orbit design. This work
includes the effects of differential drag in Low Earth Orbit (LEO), as well
as, the effects of mascon perturbations in low lunar orbits. SmallSat and
CubeSat missions are a specialty of Ames Research Center and current
research addresses practical issues with small spacecraft missions in a
LEO and an interplanetary environment. Another orbital mechanics
specialty of ARC is low, equatorial lunar orbits and design tools for
addressing lunar gravitational perturbations.
For lunar orbits, we plan to expand the research on equatorial frozen
orbits and the visualization displays for characterizing gravitational
perturbations. For LEO, the characterization of the effects of drag in
relative satellite disposition is in the scope of this position.
The goals of this assignment include documentation and display tools
that will reside as part of the Mission Design Division’s computational
capability. Additional assignments as needed may involve CubeSat low
thrust trajectory design, multiple CubeSat swarms, and CubeSat reentry
calculations.
Candidate’s Computer and/or special skills: GMAT or STK/Astrogator,
Matlab or Visual Basic. Strong writing skills are expected, both for
internal documentation of work accomplished and for publications
resulting from this work.
2018-2019 NASA I^2 Project List
5
NASA Center
Project Title
Mentor
Project Description
Requirements
Ames
Research
Center
Moffett Field,
California
Robotic Sample Transfer
Automation
Brian Glass
The Atacama Rover Astrobiology Drilling Studies (ARADS) project is a
Science Mission Directorate-sponsored project led at NASA-Ames.
ARADS proposes a Mars rover analog mission as a field test of an
integrated rover-drill system with prototype life-detection instruments
that are flight mission candidates. The essential elements to ARADS are:
1) use of integrated drill and rover at sites in the Atacama Desert in Chile
in unprepared "regolith"; 2) field use of instruments with the rover/drill
that are flight prototypes comparable to those planned for ExoMars and
Icebreaker; 3) acquire drilled cuttings and transfer to instruments
onboard the rover; 4) on-board autonomy and monitoring to support
drilling; mission and demonstrate science support (operations and
control) for the rover/drill/instrument operations.
This intern project will address the third element above: automated
sample transfer between a drill (on one side of the KREX2 rover) and
instrument intakes (on the other side of the rover). The ARADS sample
transfer arm is mounted on a KREX2 rocker, which rotates relative to the
central platform on which both the drill and instruments are mounted.
Hence, as the rover moves, the trajectory between the drill and
instruments will rotate relative to the sample arm’s origin point.
The arm is powered by servo motors which respond to pulse width
modulation signals from the arm interface – two extra servo control
channels support the testing of end effectors with up to two actuators.
The intern will assist an existing ARADS staff member in developing a
dynamic transformation for arm trajectories that will automatically
compensate for rocker rotation and for vertical drill movements. This
will be coded and tested with the actual arm, drill and rover
mechanisms.
Ames
Research
Center
Moffett Field,
California
Rotorcraft Aeromechanics
William Warmbrodt
The Aeromechanics Branch is responsible for aeromechanics research
activities that directly support the civil competitiveness of the U.S.
helicopter industry and the Department of Defense. Branch programs
address all aspects of the rotorcraft which directly influence the vehicle's
performance, structural, and dynamic response, external acoustics,
vibration, and aeroelastic stability. The span of research also includes
unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) platforms, including quadcopters and
other advanced, small remotely piloted vertical takeoff and landing
(VTOL) aircraft. The programs are both theoretical and experimental in
nature. Advanced computational methodology research using
computational fluid dynamics and multidisciplinary comprehensive
analyses seeks to understand the complete rotorcraft's operating
environment and to develop analytical models to predict rotorcraft
aerodynamic, aeroacoustic, and dynamic behavior. Experimental
research seeks to obtain accurate data to validate these analyses,
investigate phenomena currently beyond predictive capability, and to
achieve rapid solutions to flight vehicle problems. Databases from the
flight and wind tunnel experimental programs are validated,
documented and maintained for the benefit of the U.S. rotorcraft
technology base.
Broad background in science and math
classes typical of an upper division
undergraduate in mechanical,
aeronautical or aerospace engineering.
Knowledge of MatLab, Simulink, CREO
ProE/SolidWorks/AutoCad,, VSP, Rhino,
C++, python, or other
programming/software languages is
desired, but not mandatory.
Ames
Research
Center
Moffett Field,
California
Small Satellite Swarm Interactions Matthew Sorgenfrei
Very small spacecraft (also known as CubeSats or Nanosatellites) have
not yet realized their full potential regarding swarm operations in low
Earth orbit or beyond. The relatively low Technology Readiness Level
(TRL) is due in part to a lack of sufficient testbeds with which to test the
enabling technologies. The Generalized Nanosatellite Avionics Testbed
(G-NAT) lab at NASA Ames seeks an intern to research foundational
technologies associated with CubeSat swarm operations. Over the
course of the internship period the intern will investigate the use of
commercially available sensors and actuators for sensing the state of
individual members of a satellite swarm and sharing that state
information to enable distributed science operations.
The successful candidate should possess strong MATLAB/Simulink
programming skills, and also be proficient in C and Python. Familiarity
with Linux operating systems and embedded systems/single board
computers is also desired. The intern will be given access to two
separate CubeSat-scale hardware testbeds, each of which utilize
commercially available sensors and actuators to enable attitude
determination and control. Desired outcomes of the research period
include:
• Develop real-time MATLAB (or other) visualizations of spacecraft
attitude state for both CubeSat testbeds during air bearing operations
• Study the efficacy of demonstrating swarm communications by way of
Xbee wireless transponders
• Study/develop operational modes that are relevant to possible swarm
science operations, such as GPS Radio Occulation
2018-2019 NASA I^2 Project List
6
NASA Center
Project Title
Mentor
Project Description
Requirements
Ames
Research
Center
Moffett Field,
California
Synthetic Biomaterials: A Multi-
Scale Approach
Diana Gentry
A small group of interns with backgrounds in bioscience, materials
chemistry and science, and bioengineering will, with the guidance of
senior researchers, design and fabricate a proof-of-concept hybrid
biomaterial using the interactions between living and non-living
components to control the material structure. The material proof-of-
concept will use existing genetic parts, such as binding domains, and
established synthetic biology techniques, such as fusion protein design.
The fabrication will be done using current techniques such as 3D CAD
modeling, microscale gel deposition, and stereolithography. The exact
implementation will be chosen jointly by the interns and mentors after a
literature survey.
The interns will learn about the history and current state of biomaterials,
materials science, and synthetic biology, how to perform basic
bioengineering techniques, and how to perform basic biomaterials
analyses. They will gain real-world experience with literature searches,
proposing and defending research implementations, hands-on
bioengineering lab work (including synthetic biology, rapid prototyping,
and fluidics), preparing documentation of research work, and statistics
and data analysis.
Interns will have a chance to present their research at a poster
symposium and/or workshop. Depending on the breadth of work
covered by the interns, participation in writing a published research
paper is a possibility.
Ames
Research
Center
Moffett Field,
California
The Influence of Mechanical
Unloading on Biological Function
Elizabeth Blaber
The spaceflight environment, including microgravity and space radiation,
is known to negatively impact mammalian physiology, including somatic
stem cell-based tissue regeneration. The degenerative effects of
spaceflight that we understand best include rapid microgravity-adaptive
bone and muscle loss, loss of cardiovascular capacity, defects in wound
and bone fracture healing and impaired immune function. These
implications pose a significant risk for long-term human space
exploration. Our work focuses on the influence of mechanical unloading
on stem cell proliferation, differentiation and regeneration and how
alterations in stem cell function may be the cause of widespread tissue
degeneration in space. In this opportunity, the selected candidate will
work with research scientists to analyze the response of mouse bone
and bone marrow stem cells to mechanical unloading using both
spaceflight samples and mouse hindlimb unloading experiments. The
intern will investigate stem cell responses to microgravity and
mechanical unloading using gene expression and protein analysis and
furthermore, will investigate the influence of stem cell function on
whole bone tissue properties - including structural and molecular
analysis. Furthermore, the intern will also work with scientists on
optimizing conditions for an upcoming spaceflight experiment where we
aim to identify key molecular mechanisms that cause degenerative
effects in bone tissue through impaired differentiation of mesenchymal
stem cells. The intern will conduct cell culture and gene
expression/protein assays to characterize wildtype stem cells compared
to the transgenic model. The intern will then work with research
scientists to determine the optimal cell culture parameters to conduct
the experiment in spaceflight hardware.
Laboratory experience is preferred
Ames
Research
Center
Moffett Field,
California
Unmanned Aircraft System
Marcus Johnson
Many applications of small Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) have been
envisioned. These include surveillance of key assets such as pipelines,
rail, or electric wires, deliveries, search and rescue, traffic monitoring,
videography, and precision agriculture. These operations are likely to
occur in the same airspace in the presence of many static and dynamic
constraints such as airports, and high wind areas. Therefore, operations
of small UAS need to be managed to ensure safety and operation
efficiency is maintained. NASA has advanced a concept for UAS Traffic
Management (UTM) and has initiated a research effort to refine that
concept and develop operational and system requirements. A UTM
research platform is in development and flight test activities to evaluate
core functions and key assumptions focusing exclusively on UAS
operations in different environments are underway. This internship will
help support the development, planning, support and data analysis for
UAS field test activities by:
- Preparing documentation and conducting analysis to gain approval to
fly;
- Planning flight test activities, including developing testing
methodologies for determining the effectiveness of detect and avoid
systems and other separation mechanisms.
- Working flight test logistics such as support, transportation, storage,
and procurement of equipment needed at the test site;
- Providing on-site support during flight test activities;
- Providing post-flight analysis of data collected from the experiment.
2018-2019 NASA I^2 Project List
7
NASA Center
Project Title
Mentor
Project Description
Requirements
Ames
Research
Center
Moffett Field,
California
Worldwind Application
Development
Patrick Hogan
Interns will build an open source app that serves beneficial interests of
society, using the EAR99 certified NASA World Wind Open Source
technology, virtual globe technology and applications in Java, C++, iOS
and Android using NASA World Wind technology.
Typical project examples from last year NASA Interns:
The wikis that describe these NASA apps (with a video!):
https://github.com/NASAWorldWindResearch/SpaceBirds/wiki
https://github.com/NASAWorldWindResearch/WorldWeather/wiki
https://github.com/NASAWorldWindResearch/Quake-Hunter/wiki
The web apps:
http://worldwind.arc.nasa.gov/spacebirds/ (Satellite Data)
http://worldwind.arc.nasa.gov/worldweather/ (Weather & Climate
Data)
http://worldwind.arc.nasa.gov/quakehunter/ (Seismic Data)
Ames
Research
Center
Moffett Field,
California
Robotic 3D Mapping for
Exploration of Planetary Caves
Uland Wong, Ara
Nefian
BRAILLE (Biologic and Resource Analog Investigations in Low Light
Environments) is a new astrobiology project at NASA Ames which is
investigating technologies and developing a concept robotic mission for
exploration of planetary caves on Mars. Martian caves may be
hospitable environments for microbial life due to temperate conditions,
radiation shielding, and presence of water. BRAILLE will conduct
terrestrial testing in an analog environment (at Lava Beds National
Monument) in order to learn what sensors, samples and operational
strategies are best suited for Martian missions to detect and
characterize life. To this end, we are developing a robotic platform that
will carry science sensors, perform high resolution 3D mapping of cave
interiors, and return this information to scientists for analysis. Creating
3D maps is a challenge because planetary caves are GPS-denied, so any
position estimates from the robot must be strictly local and incremental.
Increment drift in maps can be further compounded by the irregular
nature of cave features. Lastly, lack of natural illumination presents an
issue with producing quality images and sensing at range. Solutions to
this problem have far-reaching impact to future missions which will
venture to such extreme locales.We are looking for a student intern to
help with software development and research on the BRAILLE project.
The student will have the ability to work on a self-contained, but
impactful problem at the forefront of planetary exploration research at
NASA. Projects will be tailored to areas of interest and experience.
Examples include multi-view stereo mapping with active flash
illumination, sensor fusion (LIDAR, imaging, multispectral), or machine
learning for detecting interesting science features.
The applicant should, at a minimum,
have experience with Linux (Ubuntu)
and be able to program well in C or C++.
Independent problem solving under
guidance of the mentor is expected.
Ideally, you will have taken some upper
division computer science and
introductory robotics classes. Be familiar
with data structures applicable to
autonomous systems, like voxel grids,
point clouds, octrees, range images, and
triangulated meshes. Be familiar with
the research process: literature survey,
problem formulation, hypothesis,
implementation, experimentation and
statistical analysis. Priority will be given
to those who have some prior field
experience with caves and other
underground environments, or high
enthusiasm for such. Any significant
experience with one or more areas of
robotics research, particularly
perception, localization or machine
learning is also a plus.
Ames
Research
Center
Moffett Field,
California
Software for Autonomous Robotic
Landing on Icy Moons
Uland Wong, Michael
Dille
Do you want to help NASA land in extreme icy environments? Icy moons,
such as Europa, Enceladus and Titan, are the among the most likely
locations for finding life elsewhere in the solar system. NASA is
developing future missions to explore Europa in particular, beginning
with orbital assets in the next decade and eventually leading to robotic
surface probes. A leap in autonomous capability is necessary for robotic
landers to aerially explore and touch down in environments as remote
and unknown as icy moons. Uncharacterized features on these worlds
such as fractures, crevasses, plumes, jagged penitente fields, and
textureless surfaces will push the limits of current entry, descent and
landing (EDL) approaches. ICICLES (Intelligent for Choosing Icy Candidate
Landing and Exploration Sites) is a new funded project at NASA Ames
that will look at autonomy approaches for assisting landing in safe-but-
scientifically interesting locales on icy bodies.
We are looking for a student intern to help with software development
and research on the ICICLES project. The student will have the ability to
work on a self-contained, but impactful problem at the forefront of
science autonomy research at NASA. Projects will be tailored to areas of
interest and experience. Examples include hazard avoidance algorithms
for landing near icy features, trajectory planning for exploring vapor
plumes, or 3D thermal mapping in cryogenic environments. The
intention is to push hard for results to set the stage for publication by
the end of the internship period.
The applicant should, at a minimum,
have experience with Linux (Ubuntu)
and be able to program well in C or C++.
Independent problem solving under
guidance of the mentor is anticipated.
Ideally, you will have taken some upper
division computer science and
introductory robotics classes. Be familiar
with data structures applicable to
autonomous systems, such as voxel
grids, point clouds, octrees, range
images, and triangulated meshes. Be
familiar with the research process:
literature survey, problem formulation,
hypothesis, implementation,
experimentation and statistical analysis.
Any significant experience with one or
more areas of robotics research,
particularly computer vision, path
planning and semi-supervised learning,
is a major plus.
2018-2019 NASA I^2 Project List
8
NASA Center
Project Title
Mentor
Project Description
Requirements
Ames
Research
Center
Moffett Field,
California
Novel Planetary Robotic Sensor
Development
Michael Dille
Recent confirmations of water flow on Mars has refreshed interest in
exploration ofcaves and lava tubes on planetary bodies, where
temperate conditions present a uniqueenvironment that may harbor
trapped liquid water, exotic geologies, and possible life.However,
current robotics technology lacks the ability to negotiate such precarious
terrains that include very tight operating spaces and partial collapses.
Only by reachingthese areas with onboard sensors can astrobiologists
and geologists hope to completecomprehensive mapping of cave
conditions and sample biofilm candidates. To providesuch reach, we are
investigating projectile sensing methodologies in which expendable
sensors are lobbed from a mortar-like delivery mechanism and anchored
into floors,walls, and ceilings. These sensors can work in cooperation
with mobile robots to extendtheir reach, provide situational awareness,
and long-duration monitoring capabilities.Constellations of deployed
sensors can cooperate, communicating wirelessly duringflight and once
anchored, to provide radio or illuminated landmarks aiding photography,
mapping, and mobility operations. The exploratory SPEARS (Smart
Projectiles forEnvironmental Assessment, Reconnaissance, and Sensing)
project here at AmesResearch Center has proven the viability of the
projectile sensor concept by developinga rover-mounted platform and
evaluating several sensor types.We are now seeking a student intern to
develop new and miniaturized sensing payloads.Currently, high priority
payload plans include either microscopic imagers for terrainsurface
study or fluorescence and spectroscopic instruments for geological
compositionsurveys and signs of life detection, closely followed by radio
transceivers for selfreorganizingmesh networks. Additional mechanism
development is also planned,including refining sensor launcher design,
building a micro soil sample collector, andevaluating concepts for
projectile self-stabilization in flight. Another particularlyinteresting
avenue is actuated or flexible payloads that unfurl or expand a soil
collector,solar panel, antenna, or small mobility mechanism such as a
wheel or foot.
The ideal intern is a well-rounded
student with an interest in sensing
instrumentdevelopment and the ability
to work well independently on open-
ended problems.Depending on the
student's interests, valuable skills and
experience could lie in optics,RF,
electronics, or mechanical design. A self-
contained implementation project
wouldinclude the design and testing of a
useful payload in one of these areas.
Ames
Research
Center
Moffett Field,
California
SUPERball 2.0 Tensegrity Robot
Terrence Fong
We are looking for a student intern to help with electronics design and
integration for our SUPERball 2.0 tensegrity robot. The participant will
conduct basic research in mobile robotics in the Intelligent Robotics
Group (IRG) at the NASA Ames Research Center. Research will involve
development of advanced mobile robots, including design and testing of
novel mechatronic systems with SUPERball 2.0. Developing advanced
mobile robots is critical to improving the performance and productivity
of future NASA exploration missions. In particular, methods that enable
dynamic tensegrity system to function robustly and autonomously under
a wide range of environmental and operational conditions will enable
robots to be used for a broader set of missions than is currently possible.
The applicant should be enrolled in a
master level engineering program and
have previous experience in electronics
development. Good knowledge of C and
Matlab and a Linux environment is
preferred. Ability to work independently
and effectively as part of a
multidisciplinary team, prioritize tasks,
coordinate tasks with others, and meet
deadlines are a major plus.
Ames
Research
Center
Moffett Field,
California
Small Satellite Swarm Mission
Design and Implementation
Belcagem Jaroux
Recent advances in small spacecraft capabilities (particularly in
CubeSats, NanoSats, and PicoSats) hold the promise that swarms or
constellations of small satellites could perform NASA science,
exploration, and technology demonstration missions that traditionally
were the realm of large, expensive, and complex platforms. As a result,
NASA Ames is embarking on a number of small satellite demonstration
missions aimed at validating new approaches and processes needed to
design, build, test, launch, and operate a large number of identical
satellites in a cost-effective manner.
Several internship positions are open to engineering students in all areas
of SmallSat swarm and constellation mission design and implementation.
Particularly needed skills and mentoring opportunities include:
• Avionics and embedded systems hardware and software design,
simulation and test.
• Laboratory simulation and validation of network system
architectures of various swarm and constellation mission concepts based
on low-cost, commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) components and systems.
• Computer-aided spacecraft thermal analysis, simulation, and test
procedures, using commercial software products such as Thermal
Desktop.
Selected candidates will join small teams of NASA Ames engineers and
on-site contractors, with ample opportunities for mentorship as well as
independent learning and technical development.
Ames
Research
Center
Moffett Field,
California
Astrobee Robot Software
Marion Smith
The Astrobee robot will launch to the International Space Station in May
2018. It will fly freely and autonomously throughout the space station,
where it will assist astronauts, provide a mobile telepresence platform
for ground controllers, and be used as a research platform for a variety
of experiments. See https://www.nasa.gov/astrobee for more
information.
Students of all levels are encouraged to
apply to join the Astrobee Flight
Software Team. Experience with C++,
Linux, and git is preferred. The
internship project will depend both on
need and the student's interests. Ideally,
the project will result in a research
publication. Past student projects have
included diverse topics such as path
planning, obstacle mapping, depth
camera calibration, simulator
development, sensing and filtering, fault
recovery, video streaming, mapping
under changing light levels, and more.
2018-2019 NASA I^2 Project List
9
NASA Center
Project Title
Mentor
Project Description
Requirements
Ames
Research
Center
Moffett Field,
California
Experimental Visualization of
Shock Structure in a Miniature Arc
Jet
Megan
Macdonald/Mark
McGlaughlin
The Thermophysics Facilities Branch is upgrading its 30 kW miniature arc
jet (mARC). These upgrades will result in a high-speed, high-
temperature jet with a new shock structure. Visualization of this new
shock structure will allow the mARC operators and any future
investigators to carry out testing in the regions of the jet with the most
uniform conditions. The intern will be responsible for studying the shock
structure of this plasma jet with experimental flow visualization
techniques. Specifically of interest is the Background Oriented Schlieren
(BOS) technique. It is expected that the intern will review prior similar
work and seek input from Ames researchers who are experts in flow
visualization methods to guide the experimental strategy. The intern will
work closely with the team that operates and maintains the mARC.
Student will give a final presentation and compile a final report
documenting the work completed at ARC. If the results support it, the
work will be considered for submission to a conference or journal
publication.
Student should be a graduate student
with a solid background in aerospace or
mechanical engineering and familiarity
with fluid flow, optical diagnostics, and
experimental research. Student should
have experience with flow visualization
techniques, particularly the BOS
technique. The student should be able
to work as part of a team. It would also
be desirable (though not mandatory) for
the student to have experience writing
conference and/or journal publications.
Pursuing Masters
Pursuing Doctorate
Pursuing Post Doctorate
Engineering - Aerospace Eng.
Engineering - General
Engineering - Instrumentation Eng.
Engineering - Materials Eng.
Engineering - Mechanical Eng.
Engineering - Optical Eng.
Ames
Research
Center
Moffett Field,
California
Space Structure Assembly
Robotics - The Automated
Reconfigurable Mission Adaptive
Digital Assembly System
(ARMADAS) Project
Kenny Cheung
Opportunity Description/Objective (specific student assignment):
The Coded Structures Laboratory at NASA Ames Research Center
conducts research across material science, robotics, and algorithms, for
application to aeronautics and space systems. The lab's primary project
is titled Automated Reconfigurable Mission Adaptive Digital Assembly
System (ARMADAS), and it incorporates a building-block based approach
to automated assembly of ultralight lattice-based structures for space
infrastructure. Expected activities for this position can be both
theoretical and experimental in nature. Advanced research using
multidisciplinary analyses seeks to understand the mechanics of new
mechatronic and structural strategies and to develop predictive
analytical models for the design of systems with novel behavior.
Experimental work seeks to obtain accurate data to validate these
analyses.
Expected opportunity outcome (i.e. research, final report, poster
presentation, etc.):
At the conclusion of the internship, the intern will prepare a final report
and either make a final presentation or participate in a poster day. The
results of the research, if appropriate, can be considered for abstract
submittal to a national conference in the appropriate subject area for
publication.
Ames
Research
Center
Moffett Field,
California
Machine Learning classification of
transit-like signals
Hamed Valizadegan
Kepler and the upcoming TESS are critical missions to increase our
understanding of how common earth-like planets and the chances of
alien life are. These telescopes work based on transit photometry and
their piplines return a list of threshold crossing events (TCEs) whose light
signature resemble a planet. However, not all TCEs are planet orbiting a
star and they could be due instrument noise or other astrophysical
phenomena. Thus, the TCEs are subject to a vetting process in which
they are classified into three categories: Planetary Candidate (PC),
Astrophusical False Positibe (AFP), and Non-transiting phenomena (NTP).
This classification is currently being done manually and we need
machine learning tools to automate it. The kepler teams responsible for
this vetting process released multiple data release over time as they
have learned how to obtain better diagnostics (features) from the light
curve and how to classify the TCEs. However, the values of these
diagnostics might not be perfect or representative enough and we are
developing deep learning methodology (e.g. LSTM) that work directly on
the raw light curves to classify these TCEs automatically. The intern is
expected to help us developing parts of this project in Python! Tools we
use for this project are scikit-learn and Keras!
Specific Tasks and Responsibilities: Python Coding, Research on
appropriate deep learning architectures for time series classification
AI general knowledge, Masters or PhD,
Python programming
Ames
Research
Center
Moffett Field,
California
Deep Learning Binarization of
Vascular images
Hamed Valizadegan
The Space Bioscience Research Branch (SCR) of NASA Ames has
developed VESGEN, a software package for analyses and study of
vascular images. A bottleneck in efficient application of VESGEN is the
fact that it needs binary images as input in order to analyze the vascular
images and provides insight about them. Currently, a VESGEN user needs
to semi-manually binarize a vascular image using CAD software packages
such as Adobe Photoshop before giving the image as input to VESGEN
for analysis. Binarization aims to categorize the pixels of a vascular image
into two categories, foreground or Vessel pixels and background pixels.
We are investigating deep learning technologies to automate the
binarization of vascular image. Our results with deep learning have been
very encouraging and we are looking to hire an intern to help us further
improve the existing technology!
Specific Tasks and Responsibilities: Python Coding, Research on
appropriate deep learning architectures for image segmentation
AI general knowledge, Senior Masters or
PhD, Python programming
2018-2019 NASA I^2 Project List
10
NASA Center
Project Title
Mentor
Project Description
Requirements
Ames
Research
Center
Moffett Field,
California
Modeling Moderate-to-High
Ionization in Hypersonic Flows
Michael Barnhardt
Current practices for modeling hypersonic shock layers assume that the
degree of ionization is low, which is a reasonable assumption in most
instances. However, this assumption becomes questionable for
freestream velocities in excess of 14-15 km/s. The low-ionization
assumption has led the state-of-the-art to a number of simplifications
regarding the thermochemical state of the shock layer, most notably
restricting the interplay between free electrons, energy transfer
processes, non-equilibrium chemistry, and transport. This task seeks to
develop new models and methods, starting with non-equilibrium
treatment of free electron energy, to enable the basic understanding of
very high-speed flows. The respondent is expected to develop models in
a practical CFD framework and will work closely with other NASA
researchers on evaluating the impact of free-electron modeling on shock
layer radiation predictions.
PhD candidate with knowledge of
plasmadynamics and Computational
Fluid Dynamics.
Ames
Research
Center
Moffett Field,
California
Shockwave Radiation Testing
Brett Cruden
The Electric Arc Shock Tube (EAST) Facility is NASA's only remaining
shock tube capable of obtaining hyperorbital velocities (Mach 10-50,
velocities up to ~15 km/s). The EAST data is the primary source of data
for informing NASA's radiation modeling practices and associated
uncertainties. The intern will participate in planning and conducting tests
in the EAST facility, operating the diagnostics, performing calibrations,
and analyzing data. The exact tests being performed in EAST will depend
on the term of the intern's residency. Current plans for 2018 are to study
radiation from expanding flows in the newly refurbished 20º expansion
nozzle.
Experience with spectroscopic
techniques and/or hypersonic testing
facility, esp. shock tubes/tunnels
desired. Graduate level (MS or PhD)
strongly preferred.
Ames
Research
Center
Moffett Field,
California
Aerothermodynamics Modeling
Khalil Bensassi
The Aerothermodynamics Branch at NASA Ames Research Center
focuses on advancing the understanding of the fundamental aspects of
hypersonic flows for multiple planetary atmospheres including Mars,
Venus, Titan, and Earth. Computational Fluid Dynamics solvers, coupled
with non-equilibrium radiation codes, are employed for this purpose.
Interns will collaborate with engineers and scientists to enhance the
capabilities of the current software to better capture the fundamental
aspects of the basic physical phenomena in hypersonic flows. They will
have access to a world class HPC machine and will be using state-of-the-
art physical models and numerical methods. Multiple openings are
available in the following areas:
"Develop an accurate and efficient radiation-flow solver coupling
strategy.
"Support the development of a robust and scalable adaptive mesh
refinement algorithm.
"Assess the performance of the shockwave radiation solver, NEQAIR, on
hybrid nodes (CPU/GPU) and investigate optimization strategies.
Experience with Fortran and shell
scripting.
Experience with computational
modeling and parallel simulations.
Ames
Research
Center
Moffett Field,
California
Validating Non-Equilibrium
Chemistry Models for Entry Flows
Richard Jaffe
Hypersonic shock layers are characterized by chemical and thermal non-
equilibrium. The chemical non-equilibrium condition is due to chemical
reactions occurring on the time-scale of the flow and the thermal non-
equilibrium is due to insufficient collisions for maintaining Boltzmann
distributions within ro-vibrational and electronic state manifolds. In the
past, models to describe this condition were based on results of
contemporaneous shock tube experiments. These models are still widely
used today. However, they are being supplanted by "physics-based
models" that use results of accurate quantum mechanical calculations to
determine collision cross sections and reaction rate coefficients. Results
of these calculations must be validated against new shock tube data
using Master Equation and CFD calculations. Recent work in this area has
been focused on air at velocities of 10-14 km/s and CO2/N2
atmospheres for Mars and Venus at velocities of 7-10 km/s. The
respondent will learn about all aspects of non-equilibrium for these
cases and may be required to compute additional collision cross sections
for specific flow conditions.
PhD candidate with interest in
understanding non-equilibrium
chemistry.
Ames
Research
Center
Moffett Field,
California
Mobile Robot for Education and
Outreach
George Gorospe
NASA's robotic missions to Mars continue to inspire students across the
country. However many of these students have no access to the
components or the facilities to produce a robotic vehicle. We are
interested in the development of a robotic vehicle for the demonstration
of control and navigation algorithms. The student will participate in the
development of mobile rover for education and outreach. This includes a
study of current NASA rovers and science objectives, and the
development of analog activities which the educational rover could
perform. The student would participate in the design, fabrication,
programming, and testing of such a rover.
Research report outlining educational capabilities of the rover, technical
report on the design and fabrication of the rover. All code written for the
rover.
C++, Arduino, ROS experience preferred
but not required. Student should be a
capable communicator and willing to
learn and apply knowledge to difficult
problems.
2018-2019 NASA I^2 Project List
11
NASA Center
Project Title
Mentor
Project Description
Requirements
Ames
Research
Center
Moffett Field,
California
Slip Estimation for Planetary RoversArno Rogg/Terry Fong
IRG is developing technologies for planetary rover exploration that will
enable future NASA missions to access new places in the solar system in
a safer and more reliable way. Planetary environments such as Mars and
the Moon are challenging terrains to rove on. In multiple sites, the
terrain has shown to be very loose and this represents a significant risk
of entrapment for mobile platforms and for the mission success.
Previous rover missions had issues. The Lunar Roving Vehicle (LRV) spun
its wheels until the rover got embedded and one astronaut had to lift it
up to get it out of this situation. The two Mars Exploration Rovers (MER)
rovers had similar issues on Mars: Opportunity encountered some deep
wheel sinking issues that took weeks to resolve and Spirit’s embedding
was so severe it brought an end to the rover’s mission.
To prevent future rover entrapment from happening, it is important to
develop new and more reliable slip estimation techniques. Different
approaches can be used, such a visual odometry, inertial units, current
threshold and others.
The goal of this project is to investigate some of these techniques and
find the most suited one that will then be implemented. The existing
data coming from the Resource Prospector mission as well as the K-Rex
II rover will provide first data to test with. Some new tests could be
achieved on the K-Rex II rover that is currently at NASA Ames Research
Center.
Ames
Research
Center
Moffett Field,
California
Rover-Instrument Automation
and Data Integration
Brian Glass
The Atacama Rover Astrobiology Drilling Studies (ARADS) project is a
Science Mission Directorate-sponsored project led at NASA-Ames.
ARADS proposes a Mars rover analog mission as a field test of an
integrated rover-drill system with prototype life-detection instruments
that are flight mission candidates. The essential elements to ARADS are:
1) use of integrated drill and rover at sites in the Atacama Desert in Chile
in unprepared "regolith"; 2) field use of instruments with the rover/drill
that are flight prototypes comparable to those planned for ExoMars and
Icebreaker; 3) acquire drilled cuttings and transfer to instruments
onboard the rover; 4) on-board autonomy and monitoring to support
drilling; mission and demonstrate science support (operations and
control) for the rover/drill/instrument operations.
This student project will address the fourth element above: integrated
remote rover and instrument control in science operations. The current
ARADS rover (KREX-2) hosts three instruments, plus a drill and robot
arm. The drill and arm are already partially integrated and hosted on the
rover CPU. The instruments are controlled and return their data to two
auxiliary laptops strapped to the rover. These communicate by wifi and
trunk network connections with instrument team members.
Intern will assist ARADS developers in developing system operating
procedures, drill and arm control software, drilling system diagnosis and
executive controls. The student with work with both the KREX2 rover
team and the instrument leads and existing ARADS team members
(Thomas Stucky, Antoine Tardy) to define the internal interfaces for
commands and data to be relayed from the rover. A “data suitcase” of
instrument results and images will be defined and a mechanism
developed with the rover team to capture the “suitcase” and then
forward it intact to a remote science server for offline parallel analysis
by the science team. Likewise, a command dictionary to each instrument
will be defined.
2018-2019 NASA I^2 Project List
12
NASA Center
Project Title
Mentor
Project Description
Requirements
Ames
Research
Center
Moffett Field,
California
Image analysis software based on
neural nets and “deep learning”
James Bell
Image analysis software based on neural nets and “deep learning” has
been successfully used to find and classify objects in images. This project
investigates whether such software can be used to determine the
orientation of an object. For example, it is commonly claimed that image
recognition software can use deep learning to recognize the presence of
some feature, such as a cat, in an image or video. (http://www.nec.
com/en/global/ad/insite/article/bigdata07.html ) This is done by
providing the software with a large training set of images in which a
particular feature has been identified, and allowing the software to learn
to recognize that feature in new images. The idea of this project is that if
such software is trained with images of a wind tunnel model at different
orientations, along with independent information about orientation of
the model in each image, the software will be able to recognize the
orientation of the model in new images.
Currently, wind tunnel model orientation is found with a combination of
onboard accelerometers to detect orientation with respect to the gravity
vector, and encoders on the model support to detect rotations around
the gravity vector (yaw). These methods are less accurate when the
principle motion of the model is in yaw (eg wings-vertical orientation of
the model in the wind tunnel) or the model is too small to accommodate
an accelerometer package. Conventional photogrammetry can be used
to measure model orientation but requires time-consuming setup and
calibration, and is vulnerable to changes in illumination.
The project would consist of these parts
1) Set up a simple test apparatus consisting of a rigid body resembling a
wind tunnel model, a multi-axis accelerometer, and a yaw meter, on a
multi-axis rotation stage. Set up a camera to view the model. Take
images at a variety of model orientations while recording the orientation
measurements.
2) Feed the images and orientation data into open source deep learning
software such as Keras.
3) Compare the accuracy of the resulting software against conventional
sensors for determining model orientation.
Ames
Research
Center
Moffett Field,
California
Visualizing the flow field around
the SLS and MPCV vehicles in a
low-speed water tunnel
Jayanta Panda
These vehicles have gone through many tests in high-speed wind tunnels
where the global flow features such as the generation of vortices, and
the interaction with plumes are difficult to see. We have small-scale (
around 1.5% scale) models of these vehicles which need to be modified
and placed in a water-channel facility, and the flow around them will be
visualized by placing streaks of dye. The student is expected to perform
some modifications of these models and then work with Hannah & I to
perform the test. If time permits then we may take the models in a low
speed wind tunnel for some more visualization study.
Ames
Research
Center
Moffett Field,
California
VESsel GENeration Analysis
(VESGEN)
David Kao
Students of relevant disciplines, such as computer science, and
biomedical engineering and imaging, and mathematics, are welcome to
consider our multidisciplinary research on NASA's innovative research
and discovery software tool, the VESsel GENeration Analysis (VESGEN).
For this biomedical data visualization and analysis research, the intern
will investigate existing data analysis techniques and apply the results to
3D microvascular data from clinical and research microscopic imaging.
The intern will gain a good understanding of existing data analysis
techniques (which are implemented in JAVA and C) and then develop an
ImageJ plugin based on these pioneering methods. ImageJ, a public
domain JAVA image processing program. The plugins will be used for
designing new, globally requested 3D visualization and analysis software
capabilities. VESGEN is requested by scientists, engineers and physicians
around the world for biomedical research on vascular-dependent
diseases such as inflammation, cancer, heart disease and reproductive
disorders. Request specific expertise in 3D image reconstruction/3D
medical image analysis, JAVA programming, and/or extensive computer
programming experience.
Expected outcome: development of ImageJ plugins, research experience,
and co-authorships on conference presentations. A poster/paper
presentation of the internship work.
Required Skills: Graduate majors in
computer science, biomedical
engineering, and mathematics are
welcome to consider this
multidisciplinary research. Relevant skills
include C, Java, openGL, NIH ImageJ, and
image and signal processing.
Ames
Research
Center
Moffett Field,
California
Analyzing satellite and drone
imagery from the Atacama
Desert, a Mars analog
environment in Chile
Mary Beth Wilhelm
Kim Warren-Rhodes
(SETI)
The project goal is to understand the impact of an extreme and rare
rainfall event on the modification of soil and unltimately on the
generation and preservation of molecular biosignatures from the largely
inactive microbial community in the driest soils in the Atacama Desert,
Chile. This work has implications for predicting if rapid shifts in water
availability could impact a putative microbial population sufficiently to
generate measurable biomarkers in modern Martian near-surface
environments (e.g. RSL, gullies, northern plains ice-cemented soil), and
inform where future missions should search for biomarkers that could
have been preferentially preserved. More specifically, we would like to
have a student (1) analyze nano-climate sensor data from hyperarid
Atacama soils and map data onto regional gravimetric moisture data; (2)
integrate and analyze historical satellite data, drone, and field imagery
to understand the extant, patterns, and history of the water regime in
the driest parts of the Atacama Desert; and (3) develop a fluvial map and
construct a simple model of water transport and accumulation across
surfaces and infiltration into the soil column at different spatial scales.
2018-2019 NASA I^2 Project List
13
NASA Center
Project Title
Mentor
Project Description
Requirements
Ames
Research
Center
Moffett Field,
California
Exploration of piloting for eVTOL
urban operations
Michael Feary
The Aerospace Cognitive Engineering (ACE) group is working on several
Human-Automation Interaction flight deck research topics for the NASA
Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate (ARMD) and the FAA. While
Dr. McMahon is at Ames the group is hoping to work with him to utilize
his expertise in simulation of low speed and low altitude electric Vertical
Takeoff and Landing (eVTOL) operations in support of the Airspace
Operations and Safety Program (AOSP) System Wide Safety and ATM-X
projects. The focus of these projects will be to identify automaiton
development and training needs for urban eVTOL operations.
Specifically these tasks will include:
-evaluation of flight controls and displays for eVTOL concept vehicles
-development and evaluation of eVTOL simulation environments
-support in the development of research issues for implementation of
eVTOL operations in the United States
-Subject Matter Expertise for VTOL airline operations
-Support for simulation and VR research development
Ames
Research
Center
Moffett Field,
California
Scott Murman
This project extends simulations of rotating machinery in atmospheric
boundary layers using an advanced high-order discontinuous-Galerkin
fluid solver. The eddy solver is a novel code suite for scale-resolving
simulations developed at NASA as part of the CFD Vision 2030 study.
This tool has previously been used for turbomachinery, fluid-structure
interaction, and fundamental benchmark studies, including transition,
inflow turbulence, and wall roughness. During this project, eddy will be
extended and validated for atmospheric boundary layers, and then
applied to relevant rotating machinery problems. The simulations will
be used to investigate the detailed flow physics and develop a multi-
fidelity design capability. Potential applicaitons include wind farms,
trans-oceanic autonomous vehicles, and urban VTOL aircraft. Final
application will be determined in collaboration with the student and
their advisor.
Ames
Research
Center
Moffett Field,
California
Analysis and Modeling of
Meteoroid Ablation
Eric Stern
Student will support analysis and modeling of recent novel experiments
to investigate meteoroid ablation. Activities may include utilizing
numerical material response modeling tools to simulate the
experiments, analysis and reduction of data products from prior
experiments, and support the design and execution of diagnostic
approaches for future ground test campaigns.
Ames
Research
Center
Moffett Field,
California
Nanotechnology based sensors
for chemical and biological
detection – wearable sensors and
medical diagnostic sensors
Jing Li
NASA ARC is continuing develop sensors using nanostructures for
chemical and biological detection. Nanostructures, such as carbon
nanotubes, metal oxides nanowires and gold nanoparticles offer high
sensitivity with good selectivity. These sensors are low power, small size
and low cost. We are using these sensors for making wearable sensors
for environmental monitoring and for making portable device for
medical diagnosis in space and terrestrial applications. The interns will
learn how to make sensors, test sensors and process the sensor data.
Ames
Research
Center
Moffett Field,
California
Genomics of Single Cell
Mechanostransduction in Mouse
Embryonic Stem Cells
Eduardo Almeida
Forces generated by gravity have a profound impact on the behavior of
cells in tissues and can affect the course of the cell cycle and
differentiation fate of progenitors in mammalian tissues, potentially
impacting the course of normal tissue regenerative health and disease.
In this context, to enable Human space exploration, it is increasingly
important to understand the gene expression patterns associated with
regenerative health and disease as they relate to space travel in
microgravity. Until recently changes in gene expression of stem cell
progenitors exposed to spaceflight factors have been difficult to
interpret, primarily because cellular responses are often not
homogeneous in tissue populations, and may occur only in a subset of
those cells. In stem cells in particular, “cell decisions” made in response
to stimulation may include proliferative self-renewal, progression to
differentiation, or entry into a state of replicative quiescence, however
the gene expression programs associated with each are not readily
knowable in a mixed cell population. Recent developments however
now allow us to isolate and separately barcode mRNAs from thousands
of single cells and to sequence their expressomes, opening a new field of
“quantum genomics” in which regulatory gene networks and stimulus
responses are studied and understood with greater clarity at the single
cell level. In this project the fellow will specifically culture mouse
embryonic stem cells and model gravity by either mechanostimulating
them with axial stretch and compression, or not, as they initiate
development in vitro, then conduct single cell isolation and barcoding of
mRNAs using the 10XGenomics Chromium Controller, followed by
reverse transcription into cDNAs and preparation of sequencing libraries
for Illumina NGS or Oxford Nanopore long read sequencing. The fellow
will also utilize bioinformatic tools including Cell Ranger, Loupe, and
GeneSpring to analyze results and attempt to identify common patterns
of gravity mechanoresponses in stem cells. If conducted successfully,
this research may enable the development of novel tissue regenerative
approaches to tissue degeneration such as that induced by spaceflight in
microgravity.
2018-2019 NASA I^2 Project List
14
NASA Center
Project Title
Mentor
Project Description
Requirements
Ames
Research
Center
Moffett Field,
California
Prognostics and Health
Management for Aeronautics
Applications
Kai Goebel
This project investigates the use of Prognostics techniques for
components critical for use in emerging aeronautics applications.
Components of interest include in particular batteries, motors, and
inertial navigation units. Deterioration or faults of these components
leads to potentially serious adversial consequences in the operation of
aerial vehicles. Therefore, it is important to understand how these
components fail and to what degree the failure point can be predicted.
To that end, the components will be modeled both for nominal
operations as well as when subject to operational and environmental
stresses. Suitable algorithms will be explored that will aid in the
prediction of the failure threshold. Experimental data (where available)
will be used to assess the efficacy of the algorithmic solutions.
Ames
Research
Center
Moffett Field,
California
Geological Context for the Search
for Life on Mars in Polar Ground
Ice: Support for the Icebreaker
mission
Chris McKay/Carol
Stoker
A team at NASA Ames is currently working toward the development of a
Discovery mission to search for evidence of life on Mars. The working
framework for this mission is to focus on amino acids and lipid
biomarkers. In this student project we will consider two cases for the
detection of amino acids and lipids. First an “abiotic” case in which only
meteoritic infall of organic material is the source of amino acids and
lipids. The sink is thermal degradation over time. The second case we
will consider is the “biotic” case. Here we will review the recent
geological data from Mars to determine the best site on Mars for biotic
amino acids and lipids and use analog environments on Earth as a guide
for the possible concentrations expected. The student needs a
background and interest in planetary sciences, geology, and
astrobiology.
Ames
Research
Center
Moffett Field,
California
Next Generation Animal Tracking
Project
Andres Martinez
We will have the intern working on the Next Generation Animal Tracking
Project that is under Andres Martinez (cc’d). This is an inter-agency
project with the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), trying
find possible solutions for the next generation of worldwide animal
tracking. The intern will work on analyzing the data obtained from our
Range Tests on the awarded High Altitude Balloon Flights. This will
require the intern to provide us with reports regarding the viability of
the hardware tested.
Ames
Research
Center
Moffett Field,
California
Hybrid Rocket Modeling and
Experiments
Laura Simurda
This internship will have two primary focuses.
The first will be using ANSYS Fluent to model a small-scale hybrid rocket
motor that will be used in upcoming experiments. This problem is
challenging as it involves using deforming meshes to model the
regression of the solid fuel grain over time and the continued
combustion as oxidizer is added. It should be noted that the only part of
the motor that is ITAR restricted is the rocket injector. This part will not
be modeled by the student and the student will not have access to any
designs or models including the injector.
The second will be aiding in physical experiments. This may include
completing tests using an oxyacetylene torch with an optical setup to
prove that the sodium line reversal technique works or helping to setup
and run small-scale rocket motor tests. Again, the only component in
these tests that is ITAR restricted is the injector and the student will not
have access to this part.
Ames
Research
Center
Moffett Field,
California
Erosional Studies of Mars and
Earth Using Digital Terrain Models
Virginia Gulick
Fluvial and hydrothermal studies using HiRISE images and Digital
(Terrain) Elevation Models, combined with CTX, HRSC, CRISM, and other
Mars or terrestrial data sets. These studies are focused mainly on the
formation of gullies, channels, valleys and other fluvial landforms on
Mars and Earth. Terrestrial analog sites or hydrologic or landform
models will be used to illuminate the importance of various processes as
well as understanding the implications for paleoclimatic change.
Additional opportunities may also be available in assisting with HiRISE
science planning and targeting support, submitting image requests, and
analysing acquired image data. Geology, geography, or planetary science
background is desired.
Experience working with ENVI, Matlab,
Photoshop, USGS Integrated Software
for Imagers and Spectrometers (ISIS),
Geographic Information Systems GIS (e.
g., ArcGIS, GRASS), SOCET SET, Ames
Stereo Pipeline, and Python
programming is helpful.
Excellent communication and writing
skills are desired. Enjoys working both
individually and in teams, with creativity,
positive energy, and determination.