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At least 289 records · Page 16

Advanced study of video signal processing in low signal to noise environments

A generalized mathematical and computer model of the revised Apollo television system was developed and used to determine spectral compatibility with the overall Apollo communication system. In particular the effects of the change to commercial television format from slow-scan black and white on the principal telemetering subcarriers was analyzed. Experimental data was obtained from MSC telemetry division confirming the analytical results.

Garden, F.↗

Advanced study of video signal processing in low signal to noise environments

A nonlinear analysis of a multifilter phase-lockloop (MPLL) by using the method of harmonic balance is presented. The particular MPLL considered has a low-pass filter and a band-pass filter in parallel. An analytic expression for the relationship between the input signal phase deviation and the phase error is determined for sinusoidal FM in the absence of noise. The expression is used to determine bounds on the proper operating region for the MPLL and to investigate the jump phenomenon previously observed. From these results the proper modulation index, modulating frequency, etc. used for the design of a MPLL are determined. Data for the loop unlock boundary obtained from the theoretical expression are compared to data obtained from analog computer simulations of the MPLL.

Carden, F.↗

The electrostatic storage tube

An electrostatic camera system is discussed which is based on the electrostatic storage tube. The development of the system was begun following a series of experiments which indicated that the device offers signficantly improved performance over currently available devices. The approach used in developing the high performance camera involves: converting the input image to an electron image at low loss, applying a low noise gain process, and storing the resulting charge pattern in a low-loss target. The basic processes and elements of the electrostatic storage tube are illustrated and discussed. Graphs that depict the camera performance characteristics are included.

Rutherford, R. E., Jr.↗

Advanced study of video signal processing in low signal to noise environments

Conventional analytical techniques used to determine and optimize phase-lock loop (PLL) characteristics are most often based on a model which is valid only if the intermediate frequency (IF) filter bandwidth is large compared to the PLL bandwidth and the phase error is small. An improved model (called the quasi-linear model) is developed which takes into account small IF filter bandwidths and nonlinear effects associated with large phase errors. By comparison of theoretical and experimental results it is demonstrated that the quasi-linear model accurately predicts PLL characteristics. This is true even for small IF filter bandwidths and large phase errors where the conventional model is invalid. The theoretical and experimental results are used to draw conclusions concerning threshold, multiplier output variance, phase error variance, output signal-to-noise ratio, and signal distortion. The relationship between these characteristics and IF filter bandwidth, modulating signal spectrum, and rms deviation is also determined.

Carden, F.↗

CCD filter and transform techniques for interference excision

The theoretical and some experimental results of a study aimed at applying CCD filter and transform techniques to the problem of interference excision within communications channels were presented. Adaptive noise (interference) suppression was achieved by the modification of received signals such that they were orthogonal to the recently measured noise field. CCD techniques were examined to develop real-time noise excision processing. They were recursive filters, circulating filter banks, transversal filter banks, an optical implementation of the chirp Z transform, and a CCD analog FFT.

Borsuk, G. M.↗

Aircraft adaptive learning control

The optimal control theory of stochastic linear systems is discussed in terms of the advantages of distributed-control systems, and the control of randomly-sampled systems. An optimal solution to longitudinal control is derived and applied to the F-8 DFBW aircraft. A randomly-sampled linear process model with additive process and noise is developed.

Lee, P. S. T.↗

An experimental study of the noise generating mechanisms in supersonic jets

Flow fluctuation measurements with normal and X-wire hot-wire probes and acoustic measurements with a traversing condenser microphone were carried out in small air jets in the Mach number range from M = 0.9 to 2.5. One of the most successful studies involved a moderate Reynolds number M = 2.1 jet. The large scale turbulence properties in the jet, and the noise radiation were characterized. A parallel study involved similar measurements on a low Reynolds number M = 0.9 jet. These measurements show that there are important differences in the noise generation process of the M = 0.9 jet in comparison with low supersonic Mach number (M = 1.4) jets. Problems encounted while performing X-wire measurements in low Reynolds number jets of M = 2.1 and 2.5, and in installing a vacuum pump are discussed.

Mclaughlin, D. K.↗

Optimal spatial filtering and transfer function for SAR ocean wave spectra

The impulse response of the SAR system is not a delta function and the spectra represent the product of the underlying image spectrum with the transform of the impulse response which must be removed. A digitally computed spectrum of SEASAT imagery of the Atlantic Ocean east of Cape Hatteras was smoothed with a 5 x 5 convolution filter and the trend was sampled in a direction normal to the predominant wave direction. This yielded a transform of a noise-like process. The smoothed value of this trend is the transform of the impulse response. This trend is fit with either a second- or fourth-order polynomial which is then used to correct the entire spectrum. A 16 x 16 smoothing of the spectrum shows the presence of two distinct swells. Correction of the effects of speckle is effected by the subtraction of a bias from the spectrum.

Beal, R. C.↗

Sound generated by instability waves of supersonic flows. I Two-dimensional mixing layers. II - Axisymmetric jets

An investigation is conducted of the phenomenon of sound generation by spatially growing instability waves in high-speed flows. It is pointed out that this process of noise generation is most effective when the flow is supersonic relative to the ambient speed of sound. The inner and outer asymptotic expansions corresponding to an excited instability wave in a two-dimensional mixing layer and its associated acoustic fields are constructed in terms of the inner and outer spatial variables. In matching the solutions, the intermediate matching principle of Van Dyke and Cole is followed. The validity of the theory is tested by applying it to an axisymmetric supersonic jet and comparing the calculated results with experimental measurements. Very favorable agreements are found both in the calculated instability-wave amplitude distribution (the inner solution) and the near pressure field level contours (the outer solution) in each case.

Tam, C. K. W.↗

Mephisto: Interfacial Destabilization in Metal Alloys

The destabilizing mechanisms at a solidification interface were studied to obtain information on the kinetics and morphologies in the transient and steady state, and to separate the influences of liquid phase instabilities from interfacial instabilities. A differential seebeck voltage measurements technique was developed to provide a continuous record of the solid-liquid interface temperature as the solidification rate is varied to determine the kinetic coefficients. Signal processing and noise suppression techniques allow nonovolt precision which corresponds to mK accuracy for the interfacial temperature.

Favier, J. J.↗

Airfoil gust response and the sound produced by airifoil-vortex interaction

This paper contributes to the understanding of the noise generation process of an airfoil encountering an unsteady upwash. By using a fast Fourier transform together with accurate airfoil response functions, the lift-time waveform for an airfoil encountering a delta function gust (the indicial function) is calculated for a flat plate airfoil in a compressible flow. This shows the interesting property that the lift is constant until the generated acoustic wave reaches the trailing edge. Expressions are given for the magnitude of this constant and for the pressure distribution on the airfoil during this time interval. The case of an airfoil cutting through a line vortex is also analyzed. The pressure-time waveform in the far field is closely related to the left-time waveform for the above problem of an airfoil entering a delta function gust. The effects of varying the relevant parameters in the problem are studied, including the observed position, the core diameter of the vortex, the vortex orientation and the airfoil span. The far field sound varies significantly with observer position, illustrating the importance of non-compactness effects. Increasing the viscous core diameter tends to smooth the pressure-time waveform. For small viscous core radius and infinite span, changing the vortex orientation changes only the amplitude of the pressure-time waveform, and not the shape.

Amiet, R. K.↗

Proposed input for determining longitudinal aerodynamic parameters for the space shuttle

A control input form to improve the identification of longitudinal aerodynamic parameters for the Space Shuttle, especially at low Mach numbers, has been proposed. This input combines features of several inputs currently used with the Shuttle to improve the response in angle-of-attack without exceeding pitch rate limits. The responses of the proposed input were generated using a simple three-degree-of-freedom simulation. An examination of the power spectral densities of these responses showed them to have more power near the vehicle natural frequency than doublet inputs previously used with the Shuttle. When the responses to the proposed input were corrupted with noise and processed using a maximum likelihood parameter extraction program, the identifiability of the parameters was improved over the identifiability of the same parameters using actual Shuttle responses from doublet input of a similar magnitude. This preliminary study indicates that the proposed input form should result in improved identifiability of longitudinal static and control parameters for the Shuttle vehicle.

Suit, W. T.↗

The TIMS Data User's Workshop

A workshop was held to bring together all users of data from NASA's airborne Thermal Infrared Multispectral Scanner (TIMS). The purpose was to allow users to compare results, data processing algorithms, and problems encountered; to update the users on the latest instrument changes and idiosyncracies, including distribution of the TIMS investigation guide; to inform the users of the wide range of problems that are currently being tackled by other TIMS investigators; to explore ways to expand the user community; to discuss current areas where more basic research is required; and to discuss the future directions of NASA's thermal infrared remote sensing programs. Also discussed were: geology, land use, archeology; and data processing and noise research.

Kahle, Anne B.↗

Enhancement of time images for photointerpretation

The Thermal Infrared Multispectral Scanner (TIMS) images consist of six channels of data acquired in bands between 8 and 12 microns, thus they contain information about both temperature and emittance. Scene temperatures are controlled by reflectivity of the surface, but also by its geometry with respect to the Sun, time of day, and other factors unrelated to composition. Emittance is dependent upon composition alone. Thus the photointerpreter may wish to enhance emittance information selectively. Because thermal emittances in real scenes vary but little, image data tend to be highly correlated along channels. Special image processing is required to make this information available for the photointerpreter. Processing includes noise removal, construction of model emittance images, and construction of false-color pictures enhanced by decorrelation techniques.

Gillespie, A. R.↗

Advances in the development of piezoelectric quartz-crystal oscillators, hydrogen masers, and superconducting frequency standards

This paper describes recent research advances made in the development of radiation-hardened piezoelectric quartz oscillators, hydrogen masers, and superconducting oscillators, with emphasis placed on the principles involved in the operation of these oscillators and the factors affecting the operation. Particular attention is given to the radiation-susceptibility studies of quartz-crystal resonators, the hydrogen-maser relaxation process and noise sources, and low-phase-noise superconducting oscillators. Diagrams of these devices and performance graphs are included.

Suter, Joseph J.↗

Estimation of Kalman filter gain from output residuals

This paper presents a procedure for estimating the Kalman filter gain from output residuals. The system state space model is assumed to be known, but the process and noise covariance are unknown. The proposed procedure consists of three basic steps. First, the output residuals are computed from the given model and a given set of input-output data. Second, a linear regression model for this part of the response is computed by a least squares solution. Third, the Kalman filter gain is then estimated from the coefficients of this model. Numerical results using experimental data are presented to illustrate the validity of the developed procedure.

Juang, Jer-Nan↗

Control of jet noise

To investigate the possibility of active control of jet noise, knowledge of the noise generation mechanisms in natural jets is essential. Once these mechanisms are determined, active control can be used to manipulate the noise production processes. We investigated the evolution of the flow fields and the acoustic fields of rectangular and circular jets. A predominant flapping mode was found in the supersonic rectangular jets. We hope to increase the spreading of supersonic jets by active control of the flapping mode found in rectangular supersonic jets.

Schreck, Stefan↗