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Hurd, W. J.

Publications and source records attributed to Hurd, W. J..

At least 55 records · Page 3
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1984

Improved Carrier Tracking by Smoothing Estimators

Smoothing as a way to improve the carrier phase estimation is proposed and analyzed. The performance of first and second order Kalman optimum smoothers are investigated. This performance is evaluated in terms of steady state covariance error computation, dynamic tracking, and noise response. It is shown that with practical amounts of memory, a second order smoother can have a position error due to an acceleration or jerk step input less than any prescribed maximum. As an example of importance to the NASA Deep Space Network, a second order smoother can be used to track the Voyager spacecraft at Uranus and Neptune encounters with significantly better performance than a second order phase locked loop.

Raez, C. A. P.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Symbol-stream Combiner: Description and Demonstration Plans

A system is described and demonstration plans presented for antenna arraying by symbol stream combining. This system is used to enhance the signal-to-noise ratio of a spacecraft signals by combining the detected symbol streams from two or more receiving stations. Symbol stream combining has both cost and performance advantages over other arraying methods. Demonstrations are planned on Voyager 2 both prior to and during Uranus encounter. Operational use is possible for interagency arraying of non-Deep Space Network stations at Neptune encounter.

Hurd, W. J.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Coherent Digital Demodulation of a Residual Carrier Signal Using IF Sampling

An analysis is presented of a digital technique for the coherent demodulation of a residual carrier signal with a biphase modulated square wave subcarrier. The processing technique employs the concept of intermediate frequencies IF sampling. An optimum Costas loop is used for subcarrier demodulation and data-aided carrier tracking, i.e., combined Costas and residual carrier tracking. It is shown that the loops perform essentially the same as the corresponding analog loops in terms of signal-to-noise ratio and loop bandwidth. The sampling does not introduce biases or other significant effects on the loops, provided that the loop bandwidth is very small compared to the symbol rate, and that the number of samples per symbol is large compared to inverse loop bandwidth.

Sfeir, R.↗
NASA NTRS1983

High dynamic, low volume GPS receiver

A new GPS receiver concept and design are presented to meet the high dynamic and low volume requirements for range applications in missiles and drones. The receiver has the potential to satisfy all range requirements with one basic receiver, which has significant potential economic benefit over the alternate approach of using a family of receivers, each tailored for specific applications. The main new concept is to use approximate maximum likelihood estimates of pseudo range and range-rate, rather than tracking with carrier phase locked loops and code delay locked loops. Preliminary analysis indicates that receivers accelerating at 50 g or more can track with position errors due to acceleration of approximately 0.2 m/g, or 10 m at 50 g. Implementation is almost entirely digital to meet the low volume requirements.

Hurd, W. J.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Offset compensation for A/D converters

Analog-to-digital (A/D) converter eliminates dc offset in final digitized signal as well as in analog input by using digital feedback for compensation. Circuit could prove useful in data processing applications in which analog-format data are entered at high rates, as in point-of-sale data input systems.

Brokl, S. S.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Submicrosecond comparison of international clock synchronization by VLBI and the NTS satellite

The intercontinental clock synchronization capabilities of Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI) and the Navigation Technology Satellite (NTS) were compared using both methods to synchronize the Cesium clocks at the NASA Deep Space Net complexes at Madrid, Spain and Goldstone, California. Verification of the accuracy of both systems was examined. The VLBI experiments used the Wideband VLBI Data Acquisition System developed at the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory. The NTS Satellites were designed and built by the Naval Research Laboratory used with NTS Timing Receivers developed by the Goddard Space Flight Center. The two methods agreed at about the one-half microsecond level.

Hurd, W. J.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Submicrosecond comparison of intercontinental clock synchronization by VLBI and the NTS satellite

The intercontinental clock synchronization capabilities of Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI) and the Navigation Technology Satellite (NTS) were compared in May 1978 by using both methods to synchronize the cesium clocks at the NASA Deep Space Net complexes at Madrid, Spain, and Goldstone, California. The VLBI experiments used the Wideband VLBI Data Acquisition System. The Navigation Technology Satellites were used with NTS Timing Receivers developed by the Goddard Space Flight Center. The two methods agreed at about the one-half microsecond level. The VLBI system also obtained long-term stability information on the HP5061A004 cesium standards by measuring delta T/T over four 3- to 4-day intervals, obtaining stability estimates of (1 + or - 1)x10 to the -13th power for the combined timing systems.

Hurd, W. J.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Demonstration of remote clock monitoring by VLBI with three baseline closures

The capability of very long baseline interferometry (VLBI) to monitor the stability of remotely located hydrogen maser frequency standards has been demonstrated by a series of experiments conducted between Deep Space Stations in Australia, Spain, and California. The measured stabilities of the clock systems, over approximately 10 day intervals, were 1 to 3 parts in 10 to the 13th power, with the instabilities due to the oscillators, the clock distribution systems, the receiving system delays, and the VLBI measurement error. Experiments were conducted independently using two different systems (BLOCK 0 and WBDAS). Later comparison shows agreement on the order of 1 part in 10 to the 13th power. Closure was demonstrated on three separate occasions to 33, 10, and 13 ns with an error uncertainty of + or - 42 ns. The results represent an important consistency check on VLBI measurements.

Cheetham, C. M.↗
NASA NTRS1977

VLBI (Very Long Baseline Interferometry) instrumental effects, part 1

Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI) is a method for observation of extragalactic radio sources which appears to have potential for precise long-distance earth surveying, clock synchronization and spacecraft navigation. Many researchers have been working to establish the accuracy of VLBI observations. The intent of the work reported here is to review the principal components of the VLBI instrument in order to estimate and/or bound the systematic error contributions. In this first of a series of articles, the definitions and tools which are needed in order to apply filter transfer-function analysis to the VLBI receiver are established and they are used to estimate the sensitivity of the VLBI receiver to plausible filter variations.

Layland, J. W.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Concatenated shift registers generating maximally spaced phase shifts of PN-sequences

A large class of linearly concatenated shift registers is shown to generate approximately maximally spaced phase shifts of pn-sequences, for use in pseudorandom number generation. A constructive method is presented for finding members of this class, for almost all degrees for which primitive trinomials exist. The sequences which result are not normally characterized by trinomial recursions, which is desirable since trinomial sequences can have some undesirable randomness properties.

Hurd, W. J.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Preliminary demonstration of precision DSN clock synchronization by radio interferometry

A wideband digital data acquisition system has been developed to measure the clock offsets to the 10-ns accuracy required to facilitate three-way spacecraft ranging, to monitor the hydrogen maser frequency standard rates to 1 part in 10 to the forteenth power and to potentially reduce operational costs by replacing the current DSN operational time sync system.

Hurd, W. J.↗
NASA NTRS1975

Synchronizer for random binary data

Simplified binary-data transition detector, for synchronization of relatively noise-free signals, can be used with radio or cable data-control links. It permits reception of binary data in absence of clock signal or self-clocking coder.

Anderson, T. O.↗
NASA NTRS1975

Quasars as very-accurate clock synchronizers

Quasars can be employed to synchronize global data communications, geophysical measurements, and atomic clocks. It is potentially two to three orders of magnitude better than presently-used Moon-bounce system. Comparisons between quasar and clock pulses are used to develop correction or synchronization factors for station clocks.

Hurd, W. J.↗
NASA NTRS1974

An analysis and demonstration of clock synchronization by VLBI

A prototype of a semi-real time system for synchronizing the Deep Space Net station clocks by radio interferometry was successfully demonstrated on August 30, 1972. The system utilized an approximate maximum likelihood estimation procedure for processing the data, thereby achieving essentially optimum time sync estimates for a given amount of data, or equivalently, minimizing the amount of data required for reliable estimation. Synchronization accuracies as good as 100 ns rms were achieved between Deep Space Stations 11 and 12, both at Goldstone, Calif. The accuracy can be improved by increasing the system bandwidth until the fundamental limitations due to baseline and source position uncertainties and atmospheric effects are reached. These limitations are under 10 ns for transcontinental baselines.

Hurd, W. J.↗
NASA NTRS1974

Efficient generation of statistically good pseudonoise by linearly interconnected shift registers

A number of efficient new algorithms for generating digital pseudonoise are presented. The algorithms are efficient because a large number of new pseudorandom bits are generated at each iteration of a computer implementation or at each clock pulse of a hardware implementation. The maximal-length shift register sequences obtained have good randomness properties. Some of the properties of p-n sequences are reviewed and the results of an extensive statistical evaluation of the pseudonoise are presented.

Hurd, W. J.↗
NASA NTRS1973

Code regenerative clean-up loop transponder for a mu-type ranging system

A loop transponder for regenerating the code of a mu type ranging system is disclosed. It includes a phase locked loop, a code generator, and a loop detector. The function of the phase locked loop is to provide phase lock between a received component wk of the range signal and a replica rafter wk of the received component, provided by the code generator. The code generator also provides a replica of the next component rafter w(w+1). The loop detector responds to wk rafler wk and rafter w(k+1) to determine when the next component w(k+1) is received and controls the code generator to supply w(k+1) to the phase locked loop and to generate a replica rafter w(k+2) of the next component.

Hurd, W. J.↗
NASA NTRS1973

Code-regenerative clean-up loop for a ranging transponder

Digital processing system phase locks on received ranging signal and creates clean replica of received ranging code. System is broadly applicable to variety of terrestrial ranging problems, including oceanic navigation.

Hurd, W. J.↗