{"project":{"acronym":"","projectId":93646,"title":"Model Inversion","primaryTaxonomyNodes":[{"taxonomyNodeId":10884,"taxonomyRootId":8816,"parentNodeId":10879,"level":3,"code":"TX12.4.5","title":"Nondestructive Evaluation and Sensors","definition":"Non-destructive devices and nanodevices deployment and embedding rapidly and autonomously interrogate large structure areas, understand as-build conditions, accurately characterize structural integrity and environment, and detect and assess anomalies.","exampleTechnologies":"Special focus on increased sensitivity and selectivity, with reduced mass, power consumption and a smaller overall footprint; includes sensors, sensor networks, processing software for data reduction and damage location and life prediction","hasChildren":false,"hasInteriorContent":true}],"startTrl":2,"currentTrl":4,"endTrl":4,"benefits":"The two main categories of NASA applications are in support of in house R&D, and in the inspection of structures for NASA applications by NASA or its suppliers. The NDEInverter software will provide a set of tools or workbox enabling the power user to setup an inversion solver for a problem of interest. One can envision using development specimens, calibration specimens, and forward models to populate a \"truth\" table for the specific problem of interest. This would be followed by a defined process for data reduction using classifier and GLM techniques contained in the NDEInverter software using the available open source libraries. Finally, new data would be input to the software, and the Kriging algorithm from AeroMatter would be executed seamlessly. For low rate or one-off production, or R&D applications typical of NASA use this will be a less formal process, and many options or even source code in Python may be exposed. In a higher rate production environment this may be sold as a software as a service model, with an initial investment in the setup of the specifics for the problem, followed by a license or even a pay as you go model using cloud services to take full advantage of HPC. We do anticipate the NDEInverter would be one of the family of tools in the TRI/Austin NDEToolbox software.
The inversion software has direct applicability to commercial and military aerospace manufacturers who build and inspect large composite structures with stringent defect requirements. Even sub-rejectable defects are of interest in production as they are often indicative of a process variation issue, and better characterization of defects allows better response by the production team. After parts are manufactured, defective parts that are expensive are referred to a materials or manufacturing review board (MRB) for disposition. These decisions could be made better with improved understanding of the characteristics of a defect. Finally, components are inspected inservice. Similar to the MRB problem, better inspection and repair/or replacement decisions can be made by improved characterization of defects. TRI/Austin has an excellent record of SBIR transition success and works to begin the transition to market early on in the SBIR effort. Recently, TRI/Austin was awarded a Tibbetts award, which honors a small number of SBIR/STTR program participants and supports that have created a significant economic or social impact through the use of SBIR/STTR funding.","description":"Forward and inverse modeling of nondestructive evaluation (NDE) are key needs for optimized, quantitative NDE. Some forward modeling tools exist commercially, but inverse modeling remains a topic mostly in low TRL research. The ill-posed nature of the problem in general requires data-driven methods that are computationally intensive and highly problem specific. We propose two innovations to provide significant improvement to inversion: First, modern classifier-based data reduction, to prepare data for the second innovation, Kriging methods for a generalized NDE inversion approach. Experimental data and/or modeled data can be used to define known points in a multi-dimensional solution space, and Kriging methods can provide efficient interpolation in this space to invert new NDE data. TRI/Austin, AeroMatter, and Computational Tools are teaming to develop and demonstrate inversion of ultrasonic NDE on composite structures for quantitative damage assessment. The proposed innovations to be provided are: 1. Combined use of experiment and model data for developing the known solution points. 2. Dimensional reduction of the data for efficient inversion using state of the art classifier techniques. 3. Kriging methods for interpolation of new NDE data in the solution space. 4. High performance computing (HPC) technologies to speed data reduction and Kriging results. The significance of the innovations are that this approach offers an ability to invert NDE data using known or truth data from experiment and/or models, and is readily adapted to high performance computing technologies for practical use.The NDEInverter will work with the rest of the tools in TRI/Austin's NDEToolbox. NDEToolbox serves as a foundational, evolving platform for the management and analysis of NDE data, interaction with NDE models, and risk / reliability prediction.","startYear":2017,"startMonth":6,"endYear":2017,"endMonth":12,"statusDescription":"Completed","principalInvestigators":[{"contactId":3250963,"canUserEdit":false,"firstName":"David","lastName":"Forsyth","fullName":"David Forsyth","fullNameInverted":"Forsyth, David","primaryEmail":"dforsyth@tri-austin.com","publicEmail":true,"nacontact":false},{"contactId":106253,"canUserEdit":false,"firstName":"David","lastName":"Forsyth","fullName":"David S Forsyth","fullNameInverted":"Forsyth, David S","middleInitial":"S","primaryEmail":"Dforsyth@Tri-Austin.Com","publicEmail":true,"nacontact":false}],"programDirectors":[{"contactId":206378,"canUserEdit":false,"firstName":"Jason","lastName":"Kessler","fullName":"Jason L Kessler","fullNameInverted":"Kessler, Jason L","middleInitial":"L","primaryEmail":"jason.l.kessler@nasa.gov","publicEmail":true,"nacontact":false}],"programExecutives":[{"contactId":215154,"canUserEdit":false,"firstName":"Jennifer","lastName":"Gustetic","fullName":"Jennifer L Gustetic","fullNameInverted":"Gustetic, Jennifer L","middleInitial":"L","primaryEmail":"jennifer.l.gustetic@nasa.gov","publicEmail":true,"nacontact":false}],"programManagers":[{"contactId":62051,"canUserEdit":false,"firstName":"Carlos","lastName":"Torrez","fullName":"Carlos Torrez","fullNameInverted":"Torrez, Carlos","primaryEmail":"carlos.torrez@nasa.gov","publicEmail":true,"nacontact":false}],"projectManagers":[{"contactId":3164589,"canUserEdit":false,"firstName":"Cara","lastName":"Leckey","fullName":"Cara Leckey","fullNameInverted":"Leckey, Cara","primaryEmail":"cara.ac.leckey@nasa.gov","publicEmail":true,"nacontact":false},{"contactId":461333,"canUserEdit":false,"firstName":"Theresa","lastName":"Stanley","fullName":"Theresa M Stanley","fullNameInverted":"Stanley, Theresa M","middleInitial":"M","primaryEmail":"theresa.m.stanley@nasa.gov","publicEmail":true,"nacontact":false}],"website":"","libraryItems":[{"file":{"fileExtension":"pdf","fileId":293338,"fileName":"SBIR_2017_1_BC_Z11.02-8352","fileSize":120388,"objectId":289857,"objectType":{"lkuCodeId":889,"code":"LIBRARY_ITEMS","description":"Library Items","lkuCodeTypeId":182,"lkuCodeType":{"codeType":"OBJECT_TYPE","description":"Object Type"}},"objectTypeId":889,"fileSizeString":"117.6 KB"},"files":[{"fileExtension":"pdf","fileId":293338,"fileName":"SBIR_2017_1_BC_Z11.02-8352","fileSize":120388,"objectId":289857,"objectType":{"lkuCodeId":889,"code":"LIBRARY_ITEMS","description":"Library Items","lkuCodeTypeId":182,"lkuCodeType":{"codeType":"OBJECT_TYPE","description":"Object Type"}},"objectTypeId":889,"fileSizeString":"117.6 KB"}],"id":289857,"title":"Briefing Chart","description":"Model Inversion, Phase I Briefing Chart","libraryItemTypeId":1222,"projectId":93646,"primary":false,"publishedDateString":"","contentType":{"lkuCodeId":1222,"code":"DOCUMENT","description":"Document","lkuCodeTypeId":341,"lkuCodeType":{"codeType":"LIBRARY_ITEM_TYPE","description":"Library Item Type"}}},{"caption":"Model Inversion, Phase I Briefing Chart Image","file":{"fileExtension":"jpg","fileId":303786,"fileName":"SBIR_2017_1_BC_Z11.02-8352","fileSize":104014,"objectId":300336,"objectType":{"lkuCodeId":889,"code":"LIBRARY_ITEMS","description":"Library Items","lkuCodeTypeId":182,"lkuCodeType":{"codeType":"OBJECT_TYPE","description":"Object Type"}},"objectTypeId":889,"fileSizeString":"101.6 KB"},"files":[{"fileExtension":"jpg","fileId":303786,"fileName":"SBIR_2017_1_BC_Z11.02-8352","fileSize":104014,"objectId":300336,"objectType":{"lkuCodeId":889,"code":"LIBRARY_ITEMS","description":"Library Items","lkuCodeTypeId":182,"lkuCodeType":{"codeType":"OBJECT_TYPE","description":"Object Type"}},"objectTypeId":889,"fileSizeString":"101.6 KB"}],"id":300336,"title":"Briefing Chart Image","description":"Model Inversion, Phase I Briefing Chart Image","libraryItemTypeId":1095,"projectId":93646,"primary":true,"publishedDateString":"","contentType":{"lkuCodeId":1095,"code":"IMAGE","description":"Image","lkuCodeTypeId":341,"lkuCodeType":{"codeType":"LIBRARY_ITEM_TYPE","description":"Library Item Type"}}}],"transitions":[],"primaryImage":{"file":{"fileExtension":"jpg","fileId":303786,"fileSizeString":"0 Byte"},"id":300336,"description":"Model Inversion, Phase I Briefing Chart Image","projectId":93646,"publishedDateString":""},"responsibleMd":{"acronym":"STMD","canUserEdit":false,"city":"","external":false,"linkCount":0,"organizationId":4875,"organizationName":"Space Technology Mission Directorate","organizationType":"NASA_Mission_Directorate","naorganization":false,"organizationTypePretty":"NASA Mission Directorate"},"program":{"acronym":"SBIR/STTR","active":true,"description":"
The NASA SBIR and STTR programs fund the research, development, and demonstration of innovative technologies that fulfill NASA needs as described in the annual Solicitations and have significant potential for successful commercialization. If you are a small business concern (SBC) with 500 or fewer employees or a non-profit RI such as a university or a research laboratory with ties to an SBC, then NASA encourages you to learn more about the SBIR and STTR programs as a potential source of seed funding for the development of your innovations.
The SBIR and STTR programs have 3 phases:
The SBIR and STTR Phase I contracts last for 6 months with a maximum funding of $125,000, and Phase II contracts last for 24 months with a maximum funding of $750,000 - $1.5 million.
Opportunity for Continued Technology Development Post-Phase II:
The NASA SBIR/STTR Program currently has in place two initiatives for supporting its small business partners past the basic Phase I and Phase II elements of the program that emphasize opportunities for commercialization. Specifically, the NASA SBIR/STTR Program has the Phase II Enhancement (Phase II-E) and Phase II eXpanded (Phase II-X) contract options.
Please review the links below to obtain more information on the SBIR/STTR programs.
Provides an overview of the SBIR and STTR programs as implemented by NASA
Provides access to the annual SBIR/STTR Solicitations containing detailed information on the program eligibility requirements, proposal instructions and research topics and subtopics
Schedule and links for the SBIR/STTR solicitations and selection announcements
Federal and non-Federal sources of assistance for small business
Search our complete archive of awarded project abstracts to learn about what NASA has funded
Still have questions? Visit the program FAQs
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