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By interrupting lines of stress with convolutions, structure can be designed to contain pressure, operate at cryogenic and high temperatures, and provide flexibility necessary for repetitive cycles of parallel-offset shear translation.
Concepts involved in determining the performance of coded digital communications systems are introduced. The basic concepts of convolutional encoding and decoding are summarized, and hardware implementations of sequential and maximum likelihood decoders are described briefly. Results of parametric studies of the Viterbi decoding algorithm are summarized. Bit error probability is chosen as the measure of performance and is calculated, by using digital computer simulations, for various encoder and decoder parameters. Results are presented for code rates of one-half and one-third, for constraint lengths of 4 to 8, for both hard-decision and soft-decision bit detectors, and for several important systematic and nonsystematic codes. The effect of decoder block length on bit error rate also is considered, so that a more complete estimate of the relationship between performance and decoder complexity can be made.
Experimental data frequently have a poor signal-to-noise ratio which one would like to enhance before analysis. With the data in digital form, this may be accomplished by means of a digital filter. A fast digital filter based upon the principle of least squares and using the techniques of convoluting integers is described. In addition to smoothing, this filter also is capable of accurately and simultaneously locating spectral peaks and shoulders. This technique has been adapted into a computer subroutine, and results of several test cases are shown, including mass spectral data and data from a proportional counter for the High Energy Astronomy Observatory.
The asymptotic properties of feedback systems are discussed, containing uncertain parameters and subjected to stochastic perturbations. The approach is functional analytic in flavor and thereby avoids the use of Markov techniques and auxiliary Lyapunov functionals characteristic of the existing work in this area. The results are given for the probability distributions of the accessible signals in the system and are proved using the Prohorov theory of the convergence of measures. For general nonlinear systems, a result similar to the small loop-gain theorem of deterministic stability theory is given. Boundedness is a property of the induced distributions of the signals and not the usual notion of boundedness in norm. For the special class of feedback systems formed by the cascade of a white noise, a sector nonlinearity and convolution operator conditions are given to insure the total boundedness of the overall feedback system.
The experiment concept involves the use of millimeter wave radiation the atmospheric oxygen to provide vertical sensing information to a satellite-borne radiometer. The radiance profile studies require the calculation of ray brightness temperature as a function of tangential altitude and atmosphere model, and the computer program developed for this purpose is discussed. Detailed calculations have been made for a total of 12 atmosphere models, including some showing severe warning conditions. The experiment system analysis investigates the effect of various design choices on system behavior. Calculated temperature profiles are presented for a wide variety of frequencies, bandwidths, and atmosphere models. System performance is determined by the convolution of the brightness temperature and an assumed antenna pattern. A compensation scheme to account for different plateau temperatures is developed and demonstrated. The millimeter wave components developed for the local vertical sensor are discussed, with emphasis on the antenna, low noise mixer, and solid state local oscillator. It was concluded that a viable sensing technique exists, useful over a wide range of altitude with an accuracy generally on the order of 0.01 degree or better.
The statistics of filtered pseudorandom digital sequences called hybrid-sum sequences, formed from the modulo-two sum of several maximum-length sequences, are analyzed. The results indicate that a relation exists between the statistics of the filtered sequence and the characteristic polynomials of the component maximum length sequences. An analysis procedure is developed for identifying a large group of sequences with good statistical properties for applications requiring the generation of analog pseudorandom noise. By use of the analysis approach, the filtering process is approximated by the convolution of the sequence with a sum of unit step functions. A parameter reflecting the overall statistical properties of filtered pseudorandom sequences is derived. This parameter is called the statistical quality factor. A computer algorithm to calculate the statistical quality factor for the filtered sequences is presented, and the results for two examples of sequence combinations are included. The analysis reveals that the statistics of the signals generated with the hybrid-sum generator are potentially superior to the statistics of signals generated with maximum-length generators. Furthermore, fewer calculations are required to evaluate the statistics of a large group of hybrid-sum generators than are required to evaluate the statistics of the same size group of approximately equivalent maximum-length sequences.
A dual stage seat valve head arrangement is described which consists of a primary sealing point located between a fixed orifice seat and a valve poppet, and a secondary sealing point between an orifice poppet and a valve poppet. Upstream of the valve orifice is a flexible, convoluted metal diaphragm attached to the orifice poppet. Downstream of the valve orifice, a finger spring exerts a force against the valve poppet, tending to keep the valve in a closed position. The series arrangement of a double seat and poppet is able to tolerate small particle contamination while minimizing chatter by controlling throttling or metering across the secondary seat, thus preserving the primary sealing surface.
A pressure suit for high altitude flights, particularly space missions is reported. The suit is designed for astronauts in the Apollo space program and may be worn both inside and outside a space vehicle, as well as on the lunar surface. It comprises an integrated assembly of inner comfort liner, intermediate pressure garment, and outer thermal protective garment with removable helmet, and gloves. The pressure garment comprises an inner convoluted sealing bladder and outer fabric restraint to which are attached a plurality of cable restraint assemblies. It provides versitility in combination with improved sealing and increased mobility for internal pressures suitable for life support in the near vacuum of outer space.
A theory of transport of gases emanating from a source on the lunar surface is developed, in which the distribution of a gas is given by the convolution of the time and space description of its source with a Green's function. Green's functions that represent the impulsive response of vertical and horozontal components of particle flux at the lunar surface are derived. The characteristics of these functions and their dependence on the nature of encounters of gas molecules with the lunar surface are discussed in detail.
Performance versus complexity is compared for the Viterbi maximum likelihood decoder and the sequential decoder of convolutional codes for the additive white Gaussian noise memoryless channel. It is found that sequential decoders outperform Viterbi decoders at low data rates (less than 100 kbps) for the same complexity. However, Viterbi decoders are less complex than sequential decoders at high data rates (10 Mbps and greater) for the same performance.
Analysis of the bit-level operations involved in the convolution realizing a nonrecursive digital filter leads to hardware designs of digital filters based on the operation of counting. Two distinct designs are outlined: the first one is capable of very high speed but is rather expensive; the second is quite slow but has the advantages of low cost and high flexibility. The basic designs considered utilize fixed-point representation for the data and filter coefficients. Variants allowing floating-point representation of the coefficients are also described.
Analysis of the bit-level operations involved in the convolutions realizing recursive digital filters leads to hardware designs of such filters based on the operation of counting. Various designs realizing both the canonic and 'direct' forms are presented with particular emphasis on low-cost low-speed high-flexibility machines.
A convolutional coding theory is given for the IME and the Heliocentric spacecraft. The amount of coding gain needed by the mission is determined. Recommendations are given for an encoder/decoder system to provide the gain along with an evaluation of the impact of the system on the space network in terms of costs and complexity.
The convolutional coding study on the IME Mother-Daughter and Heliocentric spacecraft is reported. The three major tasks involved in the study are summarized.
The IDAMS Processor is a package of task routines and support software that performs convolution filtering, image expansion, fast Fourier transformation, and other operations on a digital image tape. A unique task control card for that program, together with any necessary parameter cards, selects each processing technique to be applied to the input image. A variable number of tasks can be selected for execution by including the proper task and parameter cards in the input deck. An executive maintains control of the run; it initiates execution of each task in turn and handles any necessary error processing.
Thin metallic liners that provide leak-free service in cryogenic propulsion systems are overwrapped with a glass-fiber composite that provides strength and protection from handling damage. The resultant tube is lightweight, strong, and has a low thermal flux. The inside commodity flow line and the outside vacuum jacket were fabricated using this method. Several types of vacuum jackets were fabricated and tested at operating temperatures from 294 to 21 K (+70 to minus 423 F) and operating pressure up to 69 N/cm2 (100 psi). The primary objective of the program was to develop vacuum jacket concepts, using previously developed concepts for the inner line. All major program objectives were met resulting in a design concept that is adaptable to a wide range of aerospace vehicle requirements. Major items of development included convolution of thin metallic sections up to 46 cm (18 in.) in diameter, design and fabrication of an extremely lightweight tension membrane concept for the vacuum jacket, and analytical tools that predict the failure mode and levels.
Development of organized synthesis techniques, using concepts of modern control theory was studied for the design of active flutter suppression systems for two and three-dimensional lifting surfaces, utilizing a control moment gyro (CMG) to generate the required control torques. Incompressible flow theory is assumed, with the unsteady aerodynamic forces and moments for arbitrary airfoil motion obtained by using the convolution integral based on Wagner's indicial lift function. Linear optimal control theory is applied to find particular optimal sets of gain values which minimize a quadratic performance function. The closed loop system's response to impulsive gust disturbances and the resulting control power requirements are investigated, and the system eigenvalues necessary to minimize the maximum value of control power are determined.
Development of a computer algorithm for coding gain for use in an automated communications link design system. Using an empirical formula which defines coding gain as used in space communications engineering, an algorithm is constructed on the basis of available performance data for nonsystematic convolutional encoding with soft-decision (eight-level) Viterbi decoding.