Engineering topics

Pitt, G. H., III

Publications and source records attributed to Pitt, G. H., III.

5 records

NASA NTRS1989

Performance of the image statistics decoder in conjunction with the Goldstone-VLA array

During Voyager's Neptune encounter, the National Radio Astronomy Observatory's Very Large Array (VLA) will be arrayed with Goldstone antennas to receive the transmitted telemetry data from the spacecraft. The telemetry signal from the VLA will drop out periodically, resulting in a periodic drop in the received signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). The Image Statistics Decoder (ISD), which assumes a correlation between pixels, can improve the bit error rate (BER) for images during these dropout periods. Simulation results have shown that the ISD, in conjunction with the Goldstone-VLA array can provide a 3-dB gain for uncompressed images at a BER of 5.0 x 10(exp -3).

Wang, H. C.↗

NASA NTRS1988

Frame synchronization performance and analysis

The analysis used to generate the theoretical models showing the performance of the frame synchronizer is described for various frame lengths and marker lengths at various signal to noise ratios and bit error tolerances.

Aguilera, C. S. R.↗

NASA NTRS1987

Image statistics decoding for convolutional codes

It is a fact that adjacent pixels in a Voyager image are very similar in grey level. This fact can be used in conjunction with the Maximum-Likelihood Convolutional Decoder (MCD) to decrease the error rate when decoding a picture from Voyager. Implementing this idea would require no changes in the Voyager spacecraft and could be used as a backup to the current system without too much expenditure, so the feasibility of it and the possible gains for Voyager were investigated. Simulations have shown that the gain could be as much as 2 dB at certain error rates, and experiments with real data inspired new ideas on ways to get the most information possible out of the received symbol stream.

Pitt, G. H., III↗

NASA NTRS1985

Decoding convolutionally encoded images

Maximum Likelihood Convolutional Decoding, which is used by the Deep Space Network for short constraint-length convolutional codes, assumes that all strings of information bits are equally likely. In some cases, like image data, this is not the case. The use of information about an adjacent pixel in decoding convolutionally encoded Voyager images is examined. It is discovered that, in a region of interest, as much as 2 dB may be gained.

Pitt, G. H., III↗

NASA NTRS1985

Erasure information for a Reed-Solomon decoder

Many Reed-Solomon decoders, including the one decoding the outer code for Voyager data from Uranus, assume that all symbols have the same chance of being correct or incorrect. Insome cases, like in a burst of incorrect symbols, this is not the case, and a Reed-Solomon decoder could make use of this. The use of information about bit quality sent to the Reed-Solomon from an (inner) Viterbi decoder is examined, as well as information about the error status of adjacent symbols in decoding interleaved Reed-Solomon encoded symbols. It is discovered that, in a region of interest, only about 0.04 dB can gained.

Pitt, G. H., III↗