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John Sechrest
Part 1: Table of Contents
Part 2: Identification and Significance of the Innovation
Origami is a Martian Weather Station built using commodity off the shelf (COTS) sensors. It is intended that hundreds or thousands of stations are deployed to form clusters of sensors. The innovation of Origami is that it is an ultra small autonomous package designed to collect coordinated data from hundreds or thousands of stations. The small package is foldable, such that thousands of stations could be deployed from a volume the same as the Mars Rover delivery system. When Dr Jeffery Barnes wrote about the atmosphere of Mars, he was restricted to collecting data from a few in-situ sensors. In order to get a broader perspective on Martian weather, many more data collection points are required. The Origami Martian weather station is designed to directly address the need for many hundreds of sensor collection points, delivered in a cost effective way. The folding design allows for an order of magnitude increase in the number of stations that can be packed into the same volume.
The Origami weather station is a small (under 250 g) foldable instrument package with a sensor platform allowing collection of the following data values:
Air temperature
Ground temperature
Wind speed and direction
Air pressure
Atmospheric haze and dust (multi-spectral optical sensor)
Three-axis accelerometer
Electric discharge detector (Lightning)
The anticipated configuration is a 20cm tall, equilateral tetrahedron with a solar array on each face. Each vertex contains an antenna oriented to extend through a 2-axis force sensor. After landing, the 3-axis accelerometer will determine orientation and the appropriate antenna vertex will be enabled for transmission and wind sensing. If a drag element is valuable in the design, a preferred top and bottom orientation may become part of the design, with the associated changes to the design.
The package can be deployed by dropping from a hive platform containing hundreds to thousands of sensor packages. In the stored configuration, the package is flat and will expand to a tetrahedron during the deployment phase. Each package is a self-contained data collection and radio system allowing communication and coordination with neighboring stations for system-wide data collection and distribution of data to an orbiting platform.
The radio sub-package facilitates a self-organizing network of sensors distributed over a wide area (up to 1 kilometer apart.) The sensor network will allow for most of the sensors to be powered off at any given time in order to reduce the required power. Failures of individual stations will still allow other stations to collect data. Clusters of stations allow for the detection of weather fronts moving across a region.
The stations will have no internal high-precision way to locate themselves on the surface. A low precision location can be made using solar alignment, by detecting the location of sunrise and sunset. If an accurate time standard is available, approximate location can be determined. It is possible to use Doppler measurement from orbiting stations to determine location of the platforms. Mars Global Surveyor and Mars Odyssey were used to determine the location of the Spirit Rover. Mars surface location. If this system is available by the time of system deployment, each platform can be equipped with a receiver for determining its location to within the error provided by the Positioning System.
Sensor discussion
Several sensors are on the station. Many of the sensors will be re-used to
collect multiple types of data. The phase I project must determine that there
exists an appropriate solution for each of the following sub-components.
Temperature sensors - RTD or thermistor based, low cost,
low aging sensors, accurate to within 
C over the
surface temperature range of the planet.
Accelerometer - The accelerometer is used for two purposes: 1) to determine the landed orientation (which way is "up") and to detect micro-quakes.
Air pressure - Absolute pressure transducers suitable for the 0 to 2000 Pa range. This project will explore the use of MEMS based sensors, evaluating for accuracy and repeatability at low temperatures. This phase I will explore methods to operate these sensors at low Mars temperatures, including integral heating and external temperature compensation.
Many of the MEMS based pressure transducers have response rates that extend well into the audio spectrum. We will evaluate the use of these devices as sensors for electrostatic atmospheric discharge, triggering the sensor to record sound after receipt of an E-field event. It may also be possible to do other sound experiments with this transducer.
Wind Speed - A vertical rod with known drag characteristics is attached to a 2-axis force transducer. Forces acting upon the drag source will be converted to force and direction of the wind component.
Radio Sub-package - For terrestrial use, we will be deploying stations with 900 Mhz or 2.3 Ghz Part 15 band transceivers. NASA is or will be deploying devices using 1900 Mhz, using radio sub-systems based on devices used in the emerging European and Japans cordless telephone markets. This project will evaluate the use of these devices considering power and mass budgets for Origami.
Power Source - The power source will be a solar array, with
identical panels mounted on each of four faces of the package. For a
20 cm edge, the array will contain approximate 170 
of active
panel. Power storage will be based on large-value ultracap capacitors
with a capacity of at least 150 J
(which represents about 20 Farads at 5.0 Volt bus with a 1.0 Volt low-end
discharge point).
Power to equipment will be
maintained using low-dropout active regulators with ample supply
filtering for low system noise. These solar panels will also be used
to measure orientation and to detect sunrise and sunset.
Deployment
The stations can be deployed in several ways. When dropped from a descent package, each unit would deploy a drag element like a streamer or small parachute to stabilize descent to a known rate sufficient for "soft" landing. During descent, a profile of temperatures and pressures would be recorded. Power during this phase would be provided by a small battery sufficient for only a short period of time. After touch down, the cell would no longer be used. All of the power needed for the system would come from the solar panels.
Another deployment opportunity is to utilize the Mars Micro Balloon Probe or a similar platform to deliver clusters of stations. This would help create a wider dispersal of the stations into broadly spaced clusters.
A third deployment option is to outfit a set of nano-rovers with a micro launch mechanism, which would help scatter stations. This option does not provide for the ability to collect data on the way down.
Part 3: Technical Objectives
Overview The success of the Origami weather station is based on a set of propositions being valid. The objective of this Phase I is to evaluate all of the critical assumptions in order to make sure that these assumptions hold. It assumes that COTS sensors will provide adequate data under Martian conditions. It assumes that the package can be made to manage thermal and deployment stresses adequately. It assumes that the radio communications software can negotiate communications strategies which fall within the power budget.
In order to evaluate these initial assumptions for the viability of the Origami platform, the following tasks must be performed:
Thermal Management Heat Dissipation Simulation - In order to maintain the electronics within operating limits, the station must manage its internal temperature. Analysis of the heat flow characteristics of the station is required in order to understand the thermal dynamics of the package in the Martian context.
Structural Stress Terminal Velocity Simulation - To maximize the number of stations that survive initial impact, a structural analysis is required to evaluate the effects of terminal velocity on the station, with specific consideration on how shape and assorted drag objects will alter forces upon landing.
Component Survivability - The Martian environment and the need for flight certifiability reduces the number of usable components. The availability of parts which operate in this harsh environment will directly affect size, shape, mass and power budget for the Origami station. One of the underlying assumptions for this project is that many of the newly available sensors make good solutions for collecting data. While those sensors work well in the terrestrial environment, this project will validate that they can work under typical Martian conditions. A review of typical components and a search for acceptable alternatives for each of the proposed sensors is required to validate the plan for constructing the Origami station.
Radio Communications Self Organizing Radio Simulation - In order to accomplish a self organizing network, the phase I effort must simulate the process to validate the expected behaviors of the network. Each of the stations will communicate with its neighbors and the orbiting relay satellite. Not all stations are active at the same time, forcing them to coordinate the communication windows among themselves. This communication model, including the mechanism for choosing time slots and roles, must be simulated and the associated power budget determined to ensure the communication is effective within the power budget available
Part 4: Work Plan
This phase I project will involve several members of the Alpha Omega staff, and several consultants. All of the work will be done at Alpha Omega, or at the subcontract offices, which are all in the US. Below is a list of the team members who will work on the project and then a list of the specific tasks needed to accomplish the project.
Project Team
AO Staff
John Sechrest - 164 hrs - PI
Gary Oliver - 390 hrs - Project technical lead
Mike Linse - 100 hrs - Hardware/circuit design
Phil Hays - 200 hrs - Board layout/circuit design
Doreen Hegre - 20 hrs - Parts acquisition and assembly
Subcontractors
Rich Danler - 80 hrs - Mechanical design and packaging
Robert Wands - 120 hrs - Thermal and structural analysis
Consultant
Jeffrey Barnes - .25 FTE - Technical science adviser
Overview
Month 1 - Setup, Test Chamber, Choose Sensors, Design Test Platform
Month 2 - Test Sensors
Month 3 - Solar Panel Orientation, Heat dissipation, structural Analysis,
E-Field Detector
Month 4 - E-Field Detector testing, Radio Simulator
Month 5 - Data Analysis
Month 6 - Report Writing
Task 1: Setup Test Fixtures and Define Parts
Activity: The testing of the different sensors and the conditions
that they will be under can be done systematically through a
test fixture. That data acquisition into the system will
use a test fixture board, which will be created to facilitate
rapid testing of the different sensors.
Results: A completed PC Test fixture board, part list sensors and
the PC test fixture driver programmed
Resources: Phil Hays, Gary Oliver
Task 2 Build Test Chamber
Activity: Alpha Omega has a vacuum chamber, which is used in testing
and production of systems. With about two weeks of construction, this
chamber can be converted to support the testing of the Martian conditions.
Alpha Omega will contribute the construction retrofitting effort.
Results: Functioning vacuum chamber with Martian atmosphere
Resources: Gary Oliver
Task 3 - Choose Sensors
Activity: Each of the data sets that need to be collected, must
be collected in a specific environment. The sensor must be accurate
in that environment and must be able to sustain the range of changes
in that environment. The team will meet with Jeffrey Barnes and
validate operating conditions and data accuracy needs. Then
off the shelf parts which meet these criteria will be selected.
At least two different sensors for each type of data element will
be selected and tested.
Results: A list of sensors which are likely to work in the Martian
environment and produce acceptable accuracy for the data collected.
Resources: Gary Oliver, Phil Hays
Task 4 - Design and Build a Sensor Test Platform
Activity: In order to run the series of chamber tests on
each sensor, it would be more effective to have a test platform to place
these in. A sensor test platform will be designed for the set of
sensors selected and then several of these will be constructed and
populated with the sensors.
Results: A set of sensor test platforms
Resources: Phil Hays, Doreen Hegre
Task 5 - Sensor Testing
Activity: A sensor test platform will be used to separately test each
of the selected sensors to see if they work in a Martian atmosphere.
Each sensor will be placed in the Test chamber, and then cycled
through a temperature and pressure test. As the temperature and pressure
are changed, data will be collected from the sensor to ensure that the
part will work correctly.
The test chamber will include a mechanism to cool the interior to 
C
and will be able to bring pressures down to 400 Pascals.
Each sensor will be tested down to these conditions. The following
sensors will be placed in a test fixture and evaluated.
Temperature
pressure transducer
accelerometer
Optic sensor (haze and dust)
e-field monitoring
force sensor for wind vector
Results: A collection of raw data
Resources: Gary Oliver, Test Chamber
Task 6 - Wind Testing/Calibration
Activity: For each of the sensors a series of tests will be
done to evaluate if they work correctly in varying pressure and
temperature conditions. Several devices will be evaluated for each
sensor type to be included. The evaluation will consist of putting
the part on the test fixture and run it through a series of
temperature changes and atmospheric pressures, simulating the Martian
surface. Data will be collected on the quality of the data received
from the sensors. For the force sensors, additional tests and
calibrations will be made to verify that the force sensor and antenna
design will give meaningful wind vector data. The force sensors will
be put under specific force conditions to validate that it produces
the resolution needed for detecting winds in Martian conditions.
Results: A collection of raw data, gathered from all of the sensor tests.
Resources: Gary Oliver
Task 7 - Compare and Contrast Results
Activity: The test process will create a large data set. This task
will evaluate the data for sensor accuracy, precision and repeatability.
Results: A table of sensors, test and test data
Resources: Gary Oliver, John Sechrest
Task 8 - Processor Data and Validation
Activity: All of the terrestrial work on sensors has been
focused around the Texas Instruments MSP-430 processor. It is unlikely
this processor can be flight certified due to radiation hardness. It
is also likely that when development is complete on this project, that
choices for processors will have changed. However, it is important to
validate that a processor exists which can be flight certified and
which also meets the low power budgets needed for this design.
Results: A list of processors which can meet the power budget and can be
flight certified, surviving hard radiation and temperature extremes.
Resources: Gary Oliver
Task 9 - Package Design/Evaluation
Activity: The station has a tetrahedral shape as a way to
manage solar gain, with no moving parts after deployment. In
addition, the tetrahedron facilitates an orientation calculation.
In order to pack the stations together more densely, the station
is designed to fold flat. The folding of the station, and
the expansion into the tetrahedral shape has packaging
consequences. The choice of materials impacts the station
survivability on landing, heat flow characteristics and station
lifespan. This task will be to design at least two packaging
scenarios which meets the following conditions:
Folds from flat to a tetrahedron
Is stable under windy conditions
Can survive a 10 m/s landing
Maintains the internal electronics between 
C and 
C
Results: Two possible packaging designs for the stations
Resources: Rich Danler
Task 10 - Solar Panel Orientation
Activity: The station has four sets of solar panels, one on each
side of the tetrahedron. If these panels are configured as
separate circuits, then it should be possible to use
the output of each panel as sensor data.
Each station has an accelerometer that will confirm
which side is down. By measuring the voltage from each
of the sides which are up, several pieces of data
should be able to be derived:
- sunrise
- sunset
- orientation of the station
This information is important to be calculated on a regular basis in order to verify that the station is not moving about and to aid in the calculation of which neighbor should be sent data.
With the addition of temperature sensors on each face, the combination of information from voltage and solar heat gain should be able to be used to calculate the wind vector. This data will validate and error check the readings from the force sensor.
Results: An algorithm outlining how to calculate sunrise, sunset,
orientation and how to calculate the wind vector from
differential heating of the solar panels.
Resources: Gary Oliver
Task 11 - Heat Dissipation Simulation
Activity: The environmental temperature range is larger than the
operating temperatures for the core electronics. The power budget is
very low and can not afford to heat the electronics continuously.
If it is possible to isolate heat losses, perhaps the opportunistic
gathering of heat from the processor and radio can be conserved
and managed to keep the electronics within the operating ranges. This
analysis will outline the constraints of the heat loss and gain based
on the package structure and construction.
Results: A report outlining the results of a heat dissipation simulation
for the station.
Resources: Robert Wands
Task 12 - Structural Analysis
Activity: Most of the deployment ideas explored have involved dropping
or tossing the stations from some height. The Martian terminal velocity
of the object and drag elements will determine the structural impact on the
station as it lands. This analysis will do a finite element analysis on the
structure to determine impact consequences for the station deployment.
Results: A structural analysis report showing best path for station landing
Resources: Robert Wands
Task 13 - E-field Monitoring
Activity: In order to achieve power management and yet to be able
to detect electric discharge, an E-Field detection circuit will be
evaluated. The goal is to construct a circuit which can passively
detect rise times and wake the processor to collect further data.
This task will construct a prototype circuit and characterize the
power costs and the circuit ability to detect discharges.
Results: A prototype of a circuit which awakens the processor
to acquire data in the event of an electrostatic discharge and
which operates within the available power budget.
Resources: Phil Hays, Mike Linse, Gary Oliver
Task 14 - Radio Simulation
Activity: Each stations has a radio transceiver. This radio
is used to communicate with the other stations and to
communicate with the orbiting platform for data uploading. The stations
will be programmed to be quiescent most of the time. The stations will
negotiate with each other to coordinate when to wake up and collect
data. They will also coordinate when to wake up and communicate with each
other. It will take more power to reach the satellite than talking to
neighbors. In order to conserve power, the neighbors will negotiate
which stations should communicate with the satellite. This self-organizing
network needs to be simulated.
The stations organize into as few fully connected arrays as possible. Using this array, the system as a whole will reduce the overall power budget required for communicating the recorded data to the orbiting relay platform. The network of stations will arrange to maintain a high precision local clock so as to schedule transmissions only when an intended target station is listening. This helps minimize the power budget for communication. Using a similar mechanism, timing of communication to the orbiting relay station will be optimized such that only a few stations will be scheduled to listen during the relay station "pass". Data to be uploaded in a pass will be moved to the next set of target uplink stations. When stations fail, the self organizing nature of the network will accommodate by rearranging the timing of the communication between the stations, possibly arranging the network as a bifurcated array of stations.
The first goal of the simulation is to ensure that the assumptions about power budget work correctly. Secondly, the goal is to ensure that the negotiation mechanisms which are discussed, can operate correctly.
Results: A simulation which demonstrates peer to peer communication
of the self organizing network, which is able to select some nodes to
communicate with the simulated satellite.
Resources: Gary Oliver, John Sechrest
Task 15 - Data Analysis
Activity: Collect together all the results of all the tests and subtasks,
organize and review them. Prepare the data for the final report writing.
Results: List of all tests and results.
Resources: Gary Oliver, John Sechrest
Task 16 - Report Writing
Activity: Complete the Phase I final reports. And create the
framework for the phase II report.
Results: A final Phase I report
Resources: John Sechrest, Gary Oliver
Part 5: Related R/R&D
This work grows out of previous work by Alpha Omega Computer systems. There are been several projects, including custom meteorological stations for the Arctic, undersea measurements, and low power tags and sensors, that have demonstrated the value of low power solutions for data collection. This project is a direct outgrowth of much of the earlier oceanographic activities.
Current Alpha Omega activities include projects which are expanding into the development of low cost environmental sensors and distributed sensor networks in a terrestrial context.
Project References for the Origami project
Kliore, A. 1982 - Advances in Space Research Vol 2, No. 2 - The Mars Reference Atmosphere , Pergamon Press
Kieffer et al., 1992 Mars , University of Arizona Press
Seiff et al., 1997, Journal of Geophysical Research, 102, E2, p4045-4056. "The atmosphere structure and meteorology instrument on the Mars Pathfinder Lander"
Wilcox, B - 2001 - Miniature Rover for Small Body and Planetary Surface Exploration
http://robotics.jpl.nasa.gov/tasks/nrover/
Zubrin, R. 2000 - Report on the analysis, Design, Construction, and
Testing of a Prototype Mars Micro Balloon Probe -
Nasa Contract number NAS8-98169
http://www.pioneerastro.com/Mmb/mmb.html
Part 6: Key Personnel and Bibliography of Directly Related Work
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH: John Sechrest
Professional Preparation
BS in CS/Math 1980 University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana
Professional Appointments
1/2004- Present Research and Development Manager for Alpha Omega Computer Systems. Responsible for developing a research program at Alpha Omega.
2/2002-12/31/2003 C.T.O - PEAK Internet Services. Responsable for the technical deployment and facilitation of the new merged organization of Casco and PEAK.
6/97-6/2003 Oregon State University CS Instructor CS 312 - Unix system Administration, CS 372 - Introduction to networking, CS 295 - Introduction to Web Design.
3/96-2/2002 C.E.O - PEAK Internet Services An ISP and Education Center. Responsible for the performance of a local Internet Service Provider and Education Center. PEAK grew out of the CSOS work at OSU.
8/92-3/96 Executive Director OSU Computer Science Outreach Services
Responsible for the extended learning component of the Computer
Science Department as embodied in the Outreach Services. CSOS
built models of connectivity about how the public can use computers
and networking effectively.
1/95-6/96 NERO K-14 Outreach Coordinator Oregon State University
Coordinate the K-14 outreach activities of the NERO network
In Oregon.
6/94-5/96 Interquest project consultant -
Provide technical support for Interquest, a project exploring
email and World Wide Web as the basis for asynchronous distributed
learning. Developed the QuestWriter program, helped put
Calculus courses online, helped put Philosophy 201 online
http://oregonstate.edu/research/TechTran/technos/osC97-01.html
6/92-12/94 Member of NERO technical group Oregon State University - NERO is a High speed ATM based network between the colleges of Engineering in the state of Oregon. http://www.nero.net
9/84 - 12/94 Lab Coordinator OSU Computer Science Department - Responsible for the operations and installation for the Computer Science Departmental machines and support staff. Also taught courses in Unix system administration, Unix system programing, and Unix Networking.
Period:6 /80 to 8/84 Title: MTS, System Manager
Computer Division - Hewlett-Packard, Corvallis Oregon Wrote
first draft for HP 41 I/O Rom manual. Wrote the code for HP 41
Extended I/O ROM and HPIL development.
Worked in Computer support, providing computer resources to
the engineers in the Development lab.
Grants:
Sage (http://www.sage.org) System Admin Open Source Web Based Course Experiment - April 2001 - $12,000
Publications
K. Begnum , K. Koymans,,A. Krap, J. Sechrest, Using Virtual Machines in System Administration Education SANE 2004 Paper
J. Sechrest, (1995, May) Rural Datafication: Building
Models of connectivity: A 7 layer model
http://www.peak.org/ sechrest/talks/datafication.95.paper.html
W. Bogley, J. Dorbolo, R. Robson, & J. Sechrest, (1996) Pedagogic innovation in web-based instruction WebBNet 96: World Conference of the Web Society Proceedings (pp 33-39)
J. Sechrest, CEO Peak, Inc., Computer Science Instructor, OSU,
The Teaching and Learning Potential of Wiki
2002 Computers and Philosophy Conference
http://instruct.orst.edu:8082/ramgen/Dbase/0000075/06cap_sechrest.smil
J. Sechrest, CTO Peak, Inc., 2003
Wiki and Conceptual Maps
2003 Computers and Philosophy Conference
http://instruct.orst.edu:8082/ramgen/dbase/0000189/05sechrest.smil
J. Sechrest (1998, April)
Interquest and Questwriter, Experience in Online Classes
Teaching in a Community College
On-Line Conference Site.
http://leahi.kcc.hawaii.edu/org/tcon98/paper/sechrest.html
J. Sechrest. (1999, April). Ask-A-Sysadm Oracle for Student
Interaction with the Public. Oregon State U, Corvallis.
http://leahi.kcc.hawaii.edu/org/tcon99/papers/sechrest.html
Synergistic Activities
Workshop: Usenix LISA System Administration Education workshop
Workshop Chairman or Co-chairman with Curt Freeland 1999-2004
"Unix System Tuning" A four day OCATE workshop in Portland July 1991
"Unix Security Tuning" A two day OCATE workshop in Portland August 1991
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH: Gary Oliver
Attended Oregon Statue University, 1970 through 1976. Completed major course work toward BS degree in Computer Science. Left to work for Alpha Omega as first employee.
In 1981 purchased AO from previous owner with Michael Linse.
Authored a real-time tasking kernel and successfully deployed on several platforms, ranging from Z-80 (8 bit) through modern (32 bit) architectures. The kernel was used for numerous projects, including products for energy management and environmental data collection. Later versions were used in our Oceanographic and Atmospheric instrumentation products.
Co-developed ``C'' cross compiler for the Transputer microprocessor. Principle responsibility were parsing and parse-tree construction, with some aspects of optimization during tree formation. The C compiler was marketed under the name of ``Logical Systems C'' and was sold into a number of application areas, including imaging, parallel processing, and financial analysis.
Developed networking system and many of the controls for a large vacuum electron-beam refining furnace. Systems were deployed to manufacture refined metals and to control coating processes for film and plastics.
Developed drivers for high-end commercial vision acquisition systems for a local vision system manufacturer. The drivers have been successfully utilized by a number of Fortune-500 and worldwide semiconductor manufacturing firms.
Developed software for an X-Ray densitometers, utilizing an off-the-shell small-aperture x-ray source. Developed the control software to manage security, data collection, stage control and X-ray system parameter control.
Developed software for a line of Alpha Omega products, including Low-power long duration temperature logging, barometric pressure logging and micro-meteorological recording stations. Software is substantially based on early micro-tasking kernel architecture developed by me over the past several years. Using this kernel, I am able to manage power budgets and optimally control the on-board data collection devices so as to meet a required power level for long duration recording. These units were successfully deployed by a number of research institutions, saving them substantial money by collection large amounts of data with inexpensive, reliable, precise and accurate sensor platforms.
Developed software for a recording Vector Averaging Current Meter used to record integrated vector of ocean currents. Software was designed to operate a small (several kilogram) platform at sub-ocean pressures and temperatures for more than a year, then release a float-away satellite up-link transmitter for data delivery. The entire package was constructed to be expendable, and thus inexpensive, so that fuel intensive recovery was not necessary.
Publication
User Defined Files, ACM SIGOPS - Operating Systems
Review, V15, #4, pp 75-84, 1981
Part 7: Relationship with Phase II or Future R/R&D
This Phase I project will examine the questions that are barriers to completing the Phase II project. If the Phase I is successful, it will give first order answers about key questions:
It will demonstrate there is a foldable package that can manage the heat flow between the inside and the outside of the weather station, keeping the electronics within operating temperatures.
It will demonstrate there is a package structure which can reasonably expect to survive a landing if dropped from a height.
It will demonstrate there exists a sensor for each type of data , that can survive the Martian environment and still give acceptable quality data.
It will demonstrate the radio communications can be operated in the time and power budget available, including communications to upload to the satellite without mutual interference.
By validating these issues are not barriers, it lays the foundation for constructing a prototype in Phase II. The Phase II effort would focus on the creation of prototypes and subjecting those prototypes to a collection of tests. Phase II would have a substantially larger effort in software, in order to instantiate the peer to peer network.
Each of the issues above are critical questions. There is a collection of interleaved assumptions about the power budget, the package structure, the sensor data collection and the communication process. If each of these works, then the Phase II should be possible. If any of them fail to give positive results, it would be a show stopper for the project.
Once a collection of Origami stations are created, it would be possible to work to propose deploying these stations on Mars. As a Phase III commercial project, Alpha Omega will be working to create versions of the Origami station that could be deployed in niche terrestrial markets. This type of station would be able to be physically smaller in a terrestrial application. They would be useful for:
Monitoring Forest Fires
Monitoring Range Fires
Collecting Building environmental data
Collecting ecosystem weather data
With a different type of power system, these stations could be useful in any enclosed space going vessel for autonomous environmental health monitoring. Additional research is progressing at Alpha Omega for alternative power sources.
Part 8: Company Information and Facilities
Alpha Omega Computer Systems, Inc. Corporate Resume
Alpha Omega was founded to serve the process automation and control industry and has grown to serve the custom scientific instrument market as well. Started in 1977, the mission is to provide cost effective solutions to small and medium scale process automation and system control environments. There are currently eight employees generating an annual revenue stream of about $700,000 a year.
Michael Linse and Gary Oliver split operations management of Alpha Omega along their respective skill sets, when they purchased the company in 1981. Michael provides hardware engineering management. Gary manages the software design and development group. They cooperate in overall corporate management as equal partners.
The company is known for its ability to leverage core technology and to respond rapidly to diverse customer needs. As specific vertical market niches grow, AO evaluates whether these niches can be better served through an alternative business structure. For example, in 1996 AO spun off OEI (Oregon Environmental Instruments) to focus on product development for oceanographic and atmospheric applications.
Alpha Omega has considerable experience developing Windows drivers, as well as graphical, object-oriented applications for Windows and Linux. The AO development team has decades of experience developing embedded applications on most 8, 16 and 32 bit processor families.
Principle areas of experience include:
Embedded and real-time systems, GUI development for Windows or Linux/Embedded Linux,Perl programs, Java Programs ,Web CGI programs, Windows Driver development, Network applications, TCP/IP development, Compiler and tool development.
Our projects demonstrate the broad expertise available in the organization:
Web based courseware administration system for "distance learning" applications called QuestWriter with Oregon State University.
Disk drive assembly control software for coordinated control of multiple robotic work cells involved in disk drive assembly, including part queuing, exception processing and fail-restart processing.
IMOS Transputer compiler - Co-developed a ``C'' cross-compiler for development of parallel-processing applications. An associated Transputer logic and state analyzer with intrinsic support for real-time state analysis was very successful.
Control Software for vacuum furnaces for processing of exotic metals, and for vacuum-deposition of metal films. This work controls furnace power level, calibrates and controls electron-beam motion, and responds to safety interlocks.
Vision Acquisition drivers for Windows NT and XP high to do high performance ystem vision systems.
Ski Lift software - For many years, local ski lift operators use a ticketing system built and designed with the support of Alpha Omega.
Custom Scientific Instrumentation - There have been numerous successful scientific research projects in the development of X-ray densitometers, meteorological, ocean current, tide, and river flow measurement apparatus. Alpha Omega has also developed energy-use monitors, animal and platform tracking systems, and radio, satellite, and telephone-based data collection. Alpha Omega has provided short-run manufacture of the resulting instruments, and has assisted customers in setting up contract or in-house production and test arrangements for items of their manufacture.
Ocean Temperature data loggers (AO-9102) - Custom built and
production Temperature loggers for rugged environments. These loggers
have an accuracy and resolution to .001
C and can operate up
to a year on a small battery. Data is read through an inductive
coupler, preventing the need for opening the waterproof enclosure.
http://www.pnas.org/cgi/content/full/94/26/14530
http://www.opl.ucsb.edu/tommy/pubs/ChangtimescalesJGR2001.pdf
http://www.usglobec.org/news/news.pdf.files/news5.pdf
Puffin egg simulator - This project had the goal of measuring the incubation environment of the eggs of tufted puffins. AO packaged a miniaturized monitoring system in a molded epoxy replica of an egg. The system recorded temperature and motion, learning how often and in what direction the adult puffin rotates the egg. This data was used to accomplish the first artificial incubation of puffin eggs at the Oregon Coast Aquarium.
Saw Mill control software - Machine control for plywood mill peeling process. AO developed and maintains software for a multiprocessor industrial control system that controls the "green end" of veneer manufacturing which produces the raw veneer sheets ready for drying and lamination. This process involves controlling and monitoring about 15 axises of motion control.
Seven Band Moored Spectroradiometer - Developed communications software for underwater measurement of light penetration. For Mark Abbott - Oregon State University. Data collected was referenced in:
Mark R. Abbott, James G. Richman, Ricardo M. Letelier and Jasmine S. Bartlett - The spring bloom in the Antarctic Polar Frontal Zone as observed from a mesoscale array of bio-optical sensors - Deep Sea Research 47 - 3285-3314
Crater Lake Temperature Logger developed packages for Robert Collier to monitor Crater Lake temperature and pressure logger. This was used to measure characteristics of Crater Lake.
Arctic Meteorological Station - Clayton Paulson - Oregon State University College of Oceanography and Atmospheric Science. Developed three axis magnatometer software for deployment in the Arctic, measuring air temperature, ocean temperature, barometric pressure, wind speed, wind direction, humidity, orientation (tilt and yaw) and magnetic bearing. This was encased in a sealed package
Megapump for Charles Miller - Oregon State University. Pump based sampling system with a nine sampling containers filtering 2 cubic meter/minute through a 150 micron mesh , computer operated and lowerable to depth, reporting temperature and salinity depth profiles.
Alpha Omega Computer Systems has 4000 sq ft of space, located in Corvallis Oregon. It has over a dozen Pentium class computers on an internal network. It has a machine shop for prototype development. In has a vacuum chamber used for encapsulation, which can be converted to a testing chamber. c It has a dedicated network connection using DSL through PEAK Internet Services, with access to the PEAK Co-location Facility. All network services for Alpha Omega are hosted in-house and are managed internally.
Part 9: Subcontracts and Consultants
Robert Wands
MSME
Experience
1990-Present - Fermilab - Batavia,IL - Group Leader, Engineering Analysis Group
Direct three analysts in support of the design and development
of high energy physics experimental apparatus.
Analyses include low heat-leak superconducting magnet
supports, silicon detector chip cooling, large diameter
kevlar/mylar vacuum windows, small diameter thin metallic beam
line windows, field and forces in 13 Tesla accelerator dipole
magnets, high-pressure vessel design (ASME Code), beam dump
cooling, analysis of failed components.
This group is the only dedicated engineering analysis group at
Fermilab, and highly regarded by the laboratory community.
1981-1990 - Fermilab - Batavia, IL - Staff Engineer
Provided finite element support to the CDF and D0 experiments
(high energy proton-antiproton colliders, credited with
discovering the top quark) using the ANSYS general purpose FEA
program.
Rationalized the analysis of the 11 Tesla Superconducting Supercollider dipole magnet, providing realistic predictions of behavior, and aligning analysis and testing in useful ways
Raised the profile of FEA at the laboratory sufficiently to warrant the formation of a specialist group.
1994-2002 - University of Illinois Urbana, IL - Consultant
Provided analytical support for the superconducting toroid
spectrometer magnet used it he G0 experiment at Jefferson
Laboratories. Responsibilities included field and force
calculations, cryostat design, support system, and cooldown
analysis.
1994-1995 - Francis Bitter Magnet Laboratory - Cambridge, MA - Consultant
Performed ASME Section VIII Div. 2 code analysis of
modifications to a high pressure vessel for an extremely high
field NbSn superconducting magnet.
1997 - Payhauler, Inc - Batavia, IL - Consultant
Performed a plastic analysis of a roll-over cage for a 50 ton
quarry truck to assess compliance with the applicable ISO
standard for operator safety, and allow the truck to be
certified for use in Australia.
1998-2001 - Navistar, Inc - Melrose Park, IL - Consultant
Performed static, vibratory, and fatigue analyses of several
components for a new generation of high output V-6 and V-8
diesel engines. Included were cylinder head, crankshaft,
engine block, balancer, and fuel injector rails. Worked with
in-house testing lab to verify results.
Education
MS in Mechanical Engineering - 1977-1981 University of Illinois , Urbana, IL
Emphasis in stress and thermal analysis, and finite element methods
Rich Danler
BSME, PE
Mechanical Engineering Design, Technical Project Management
Consumer Products, Durables (Appliances, Toys, Machinery)
Summary
Rich has more than thirty years of engineering experience in
widely diverse products ranging from sawmill
machines to toys, wafer inspection to minesweeping.
He is an expert in 3D modeling.
He was a consulting engineer for eight years,
maintaining his own Cad system, Unix computer
and LAN. He has been a project engineer as well as the
manager of small R&D and design departments. He has an
encyclopedic knowledge of mechanisms, plastics, metals and
most manufacturing processes.
Experience
Senior Mechanical Engineer -
ATS systems Oregon Inc. Corvallis , OR 11/2003 - 8/2004 -
Machine automation systems for semiconductor and medical customers.
Wyvern Product Design Corvallis, OR 07/1995 - 01/2003
Independent work has included the following work:
Designed custom saw blades for a startup company
Designed a "magic" wand and "magic" orb electronic toys
Developed process and product design for a 'cooking' appliance
Express mail scanner/sorter concept design and prototype
Consulted on design of a new plywood-patching machine
Inspection fixtures and tooling for ink jet printer cartridges
Electroglas Corvallis, OR 07/1995 - 06/2002 - Designed several silicon wafer inspection systems for 200 mm and 300 mm wafers. Integrated robot, SMIF pod, and air bearing X-Y stage into a complete system. Designed wafer end effectors, wafer handlers, custom optics, machine frames, EMI compliant enclosures, custom cameras.
SUPRA PRODUCTS INC. Salem, OR 10/1989 - 03/1995 - Did all mechanical and industrial design for the industry standard real estate keybox, including package design. Patent holder of a unique solenoid latch. Approximately 5 million sold over the last ten years.
INTELLEDEX, INC. Corvallis, OR 05/1988 - 07/1989 - Robotics systems design including integration and design of custom robotic manufacturing cells. Designs include, but not limited to, end effectors, load cells, light curtains, tracks, and vision systems.
IOLINE CORP. Bothell, WA 04/1987 - 05/1988 - Provided design and manufacturing support for engineering pen plotters. Designed new plotter using aluminum extrusions, sheet metal and injection molded plastic parts.
PROMATION, INC. Seattle, WA 03/1986 - 01/1987 - Designed and developed fish cannery machinery, using modern concepts and novel inventions replacing 60-year-old designs.
STRUCTURAL INSTRUMENTATION Tukwila, WA 10/1985 - 03/1986 - Was responsible for new product design and technical support for a manufacturer of load cells used in heavy trucks.
FLOW SYSTEMS INC. Kent, WA 01/1984 - 01/1985 - Custom applications of high-pressure water jet systems, including PCB routing, paper slitting, abrasive jet R&D, and robotics infeed/out feed.
APPLIED THEORY INC. Corvallis, OR 08/1979 - 01/1984 - Internal consultant and mechanical engineer supporting sawmill automation at Applied Theory. Designed board edger saw infeed, laser scanner systems, LED scanners, 30' scanner gantry, and hydraulic linear positioner.
HYDRO RESEARCH SCIENCE Santa Clara, CA 10/1978 - 06/1979 - Provided hydraulic model designs of such structures as dams, pumping stations, and sewer systems. Designed custom instrumentation for analysis of the flow conditions.
JETSTREAM SYSTEMS Hayward, CA 06/1976 - 08/1978 - Was responsible for air conveyor design and development and the R&D facility at Jetstream. Received patents for several conveying systems.
Education
University of Maryland, Bachelor's, Mechanical Engineering
Studied Naval Architecture at University of Michigan
Oregon PE
Jeffrey Barnes - Oregon State University - barnes@coas.oregonstate.edu
College of Oceanic and Atmospheric Sciences
Dr Jeffrey Barnes will consult with Alpha Omega on the sensor development. This consultation will take a week of Dr Barnes schedule. For .25 FTE, the salary is $1831, with a benefits of $842, generating an Oregon State indirect costs @ 41.5Dr Barnes involvement to $3782.
There will be 5 meetings with Dr Barnes to evaluate the sensor selection and package construction. Most of these meetings will take place in Month 1 and Month 2 of the project.
Education
B.S., Physics (Mathematics Minor), Iowa State University, 1975
M.S., Planetary Sciences, California Institute of Technology, 1977
Ph.D., Atmospheric Sciences, University of Washington, 1983
Fields of Specialization
Dynamics and Circulation of Planetary Atmospheres
Numerical Modeling of Atmospheric Circulation
Analysis of Spacecraft Atmospheric Data
Selected National and International Teams and Committees
1992-present: Mars Observer/Mars Climate Orbiter Participating Scientist/Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter Mars Climate Sounder Team
1997-1998: Mars Pathfinder ASI/MET Science Team Member and Atmospheric Sciences Operations Group Leader
Selected Publications
1980: Time spectral analysis of midaltitude disturbances in the Martian atmosphere, J. Atmos. Sci., 37, 2002-2015.
1984: Linear baroclinic instability in the Martian atmosphere, J. Atmos. Sci., 41, 1536-1550.
1993: Mars atmospheric dynamics as simulated by the NASA-Ames General Circulation Model 2. Transient baroclinic eddies, J. Geophys. Res., 98, 3125-3148, (J.R. Barnes, J.B. Pollack, R.M. Haberle, R.W. Zurek, C.B. Leovy, H. Lee, and J. Schaeffer).
1996: Mars atmospheric dynamics as simulated by the NASA Ames General Circulation Model 3. Quasi-Stationary Eddies, J. Geophys. Res., 101, 12,753-12,776 (J.R. Barnes, R.M. Haberle, J.B. Pollack, H. Lee, and J. Schaeffer).
1997: The Mars Pathfinder Atmospheric Structure Investigation/Meteorology (ASI/MET) Experiment, Science, 278, 1752-1758 (J.T. Schofield, J.R. Barnes, D. Crisp, R.M. Haberle, S. Larsen, J.A. Magalhaes, J.R. Murphy, A. Seiff, , and G. Wilson).
1999: GCM Simulations of the Mars Pathfinder ASI/MET Data, J. Geophys. Res., 104, 8957-8974 (R.M. Haberle, M.M. Joshi, J.R. Murphy, J.R. Barnes, J.T. Schofield, G. Wilson, M. Lopez-Valverde, J.L. Hollingsworth, A.F.C. Bridger, and J. Schaeffer).
2002: Simulation of Surface Meteorology at the Pathfinder and VL1 Sites Using a Mars Mesoscale Model, J. Geophys. Res., 107, E4, 2-1
Part 10: Commercial Applications Potential
The Origami station provides several opportunities for NASA. Having a weather station which can operate on Mars can provide significant scientific data. This same conceptual idea can be redeployed into several other roles in the space program. Having self powered, autonomous monitoring of any inhabited space can provide a backup system for detecting system failures or disasters. It would be possible to use this type of station as building integrity monitoring system for lunar or martian habitats. Alpha Omega is exploring alternative power systems to enable this type of monitoring.
The development of self powered, long term, clustered networks of sensors have many terrestrial markets. These markets include Wild Fire detection, ecosystem monitoring, custom scientific instrumentation, building health analysis and crop monitoring.
Alpha Omega Computer Systems has specific interest in developing products for custom scientific instrumentation and ecosystem monitoring. These product lines fit well within the current company activities. Additional products for Wild Fire detection and crop monitoring have been discussed in some detail. To accomplish these products, Alpha Omega would likely encapsulize these products into a separate organization, which would allow direct focus on those specific markets. This is the pattern that was followed when Alpha Omega created Oregon Environmental Instruments. Product families need to have focused marketing and dedicated resources.
While current marketing hype claims that the current market for wireless network sensors will grow from the current $150 Million to $7 billion by 2010, this market will segment. The current products on the market are much higher power requirements and have a specific architectures for communication. Origami structured systems will be appropriate for long term monitoring of remote situations where relatively low volume data is interesting. Temperature readings every 5 minutes will work well, where constant sound recordings would not work at all. This will be part of the cause of market segmentation.
While there are marketing discussions of smart dust costing pennies for each node, these products will take several years to develop and will rely on high volume semiconductor production. These high volume products will take even longer to mature into sophisticated sensors which can collect the data needed for specific crops and for specific ecosystems. This provides a market opportunity for Alpha Omega to provide services to clients who need more specific data sets and thereby capture a portion of the sensor network market.
Crop Monitoring and Wild Fire detection stations would benefit greatly from a semiconductor solution costing pennies a piece. In order to engage in this market, a dedicated company will have to be focused specifically on following the technology arc for each of these market places. Once the Phase I project has been engaged, Alpha Omega will be engaging in conversations with investors for the creation of possible spin-off organizations for derivative products.
Part 11: Similar Proposals and Awards
Not Applicable
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