Fault-Tolerant NDE Data Reduction Framework

A distributed fault tolerant nondestructive evaluation (NDE) data reduction framework is proposed in which large NDE datasets are mapped to thousands to millions of parallel, independent processes running on a mobile device, standard computer, or a networked cluster of machines. Each process scans a subset of the data for flaws and as independent entities are unaffected by errors in fellow processes or system failures. If a process fails, only its work is lost as the system continues to process the data; the work lost is immediately picked up by another process. The results of the parallel analyses are compiled back to the original dataset with structural flaw indicators. Phase I efforts are devoted to designing the framework and providing a proof of concept prototype able to automatically detect defects in NDE data.

Potential NASA commercial applications include data reduction for aerospace inspection systems that generate terabytes of data and signal processing in microwave detection of water ingress in honeycomb structures such as radomes.

Potential non-NASA commercial applications include face detection in security video for the DHS and TSA; aerial surveys used in law enforcement; and autonomous vehicle computer vision for the military and law enforcement.

This is early/mid-stage (TRL 5) — the most realistic path in is NASA SBIR/STTR, which funds small businesses and research institutions to develop technology aligned with NASA's needs (equity-free, phased funding). Check whether a current SBIR/STTR solicitation topic overlaps with this project's technology area, or contact the project directly (above) to ask.

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