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At least 451 records · Page 25

Perceived control in rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta) - Enhanced video-task performance

This investigation was designed to determine whether perceived control effects found in humans extend to rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta) tested in a video-task format, using a computer-generated menu program, SELECT. Choosing one of the options in SELECT resulted in presentation of five trials of a corresponding task and subsequent return to the menu. In Experiments 1-3, the animals exhibited stable, meaningful response patterns in this task (i.e., they made choices). In Experiment 4, performance on tasks that were selected by the animals significantly exceeded performance on identical tasks when assigned by the experimenter under comparable conditions (e.g., time of day, order, variety). The reliable and significant advantage for performance on selected tasks, typically found in humans, suggests that rhesus monkeys were able to perceive the availability of choices.

Washburn, David A.↗

Impaired performance from brief social isolation of rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta) - A multiple video-task assessment

Social isolation has been demonstrated to produce profound and lasting psychological effects in young primates. In the present investigation, two adult rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta) were isolated from one another for up to 6 days and tested on 7 video tasks designed to assess psychomotor and cognitive functioning. Both the number and quality (i.e., speed and accuracy) of responses were significantly compromised in the social isolation condition relative to levels in which the animals were tested together. It is argued that adult rhesus are susceptible to performance disruption by even relatively brief social isolation, and that these effects can best be assessed by a battery of complex and sensitive measures.

Washburn, David A.↗

Single-Fiber Optical Link For Video And Control

Single optical fiber carries control signals to remote television cameras and video signals from cameras. Fiber replaces multiconductor copper cable, with consequent reduction in size. Repeaters not needed. System works with either multimode- or single-mode fiber types. Nonmetallic fiber provides immunity to electromagnetic interference at suboptical frequencies and much less vulnerable to electronic eavesdropping and lightning strikes. Multigigahertz bandwidth more than adequate for high-resolution television signals.

Galloway, F. Houston↗

Synchronizing A Stroboscope With A Video Camera

Circuit synchronizes flash of light from stroboscope with frame and field periods of video camera. Sync stripper sends vertical-synchronization signal to delay generator, which generates trigger signal. Flashlamp power supply accepts delayed trigger signal and sends pulse of power to flash lamp. Designed for use in making short-exposure images that "freeze" flow in wind tunnel. Also used for making longer-exposure images obtained by use of continuous intense illumination.

Rhodes, David B.↗

Synchronizing Light Pulses With Video Camera

Interface circuit triggers laser or other external source of light to flash in proper frame and field (at proper time) for video recording and playback in "pause" mode. Also increases speed of electronic shutter (if any) during affected frame to reduce visibility of background illumination relative to that of laser illumination.

Kalshoven, James E., Jr.↗

Autoguidance video sensor for docking

The Automated Rendezvous and Docking system (ARAD) is composed of two parts. The first part is the sensor which consists of a video camera ringed with two wavelengths of laser diode. The second part is a standard Remote Manipulator System (RMS) target used on the Orbiter that has been modified with three circular pieces of retro-reflective tape covered by optical filters which correspond to one of the wavelengths of laser diode. The sensor is on the chase vehicle and the target is on the target vehicle. The ARAD system works by pulsing one wavelength laser diodes and taking a picture. Then the second wavelength laser diodes are pulsed and a second picture is taken. One picture is subtracted from the other and the resultant picture is thresholded. All adjacent pixels above threshold are blobbed together (X and Y centroids calculated). All blob centroids are checked to recognize the target out of noise. Then the three target spots are windowed and tracked. The three target spot centroids are used to evaluate the roll, yaw, pitch, range, azimuth, and elevation. From that a guidance routine can guide the chase vehicle to dock with the target vehicle with the correct orientation.

Book, Michael L.↗

Large area projection liquid-crystal video display system with inherent grid pattern optically removed

A relatively small and low-cost system is provided for projecting a large and bright television image onto a screen. A miniature liquid crystal array is driven by video circuitry to produce a pattern of transparencies in the array corresponding to a television image. Light is directed against the rear surface of the array to illuminate it, while a projection lens lies in front of the array to project the image of the array onto a large screen. Grid lines in the liquid crystal array are eliminated by a spacial filter which comprises a negative of the Fourier transform of the grid.

Liu, Hua-Kuang↗

Composite video and graphics display for camera viewing systems in robotics and teleoperation

A system for real-time video image display for robotics or remote-vehicle teleoperation is described that has at least one robot arm or remotely operated vehicle controlled by an operator through hand-controllers, and one or more television cameras and optional lighting element. The system has at least one television monitor for display of a television image from a selected camera and the ability to select one of the cameras for image display. Graphics are generated with icons of cameras and lighting elements for display surrounding the television image to provide the operator information on: the location and orientation of each camera and lighting element; the region of illumination of each lighting element; the viewed region and range of focus of each camera; which camera is currently selected for image display for each monitor; and when the controller coordinate for said robot arms or remotely operated vehicles have been transformed to correspond to coordinates of a selected or nonselected camera.

Diner, Daniel B.↗

Study and simulation of low rate video coding schemes

The semiannual report is included. Topics covered include communication, information science, data compression, remote sensing, color mapped images, robust coding scheme for packet video, recursively indexed differential pulse code modulation, image compression technique for use on token ring networks, and joint source/channel coder design.

Sayood, Khalid↗

Introduction to study and simulation of low rate video coding schemes

During this period, the development of simulators for the various HDTV systems proposed to the FCC were developed. These simulators will be tested using test sequences from the MPEG committee. The results will be extrapolated to HDTV video sequences. Currently, the simulator for the compression aspects of the Advanced Digital Television (ADTV) was completed. Other HDTV proposals are at various stages of development. A brief overview of the ADTV system is given. Some coding results obtained using the simulator are discussed. These results are compared to those obtained using the CCITT H.261 standard. These results in the context of the CCSDS specifications are evaluated and some suggestions as to how the ADTV system could be implemented in the NASA network are made.

Source record↗

A robust coding scheme for packet video

A layered packet video coding algorithm based on a progressive transmission scheme is presented. The algorithm provides good compression and can handle significant packet loss with graceful degradation in the reconstruction sequence. Simulation results for various conditions are presented.

Chen, Yun-Chung↗

Micro-video display with ocular tracking and interactive voice control

In certain space-restricted environments, many of the benefits resulting from computer technology have been foregone because of the size, weight, inconvenience, and lack of mobility associated with existing computer interface devices. Accordingly, an effort to develop a highly miniaturized and 'wearable' computer display and control interface device, referred to as the Sensory Integrated Data Interface (SIDI), is underway. The system incorporates a micro-video display that provides data display and ocular tracking on a lightweight headset. Software commands are implemented by conjunctive eye movement and voice commands of the operator. In this initial prototyping effort, various 'off-the-shelf' components have been integrated into a desktop computer and with a customized menu-tree software application to demonstrate feasibility and conceptual capabilities. When fully developed as a customized system, the interface device will allow mobile, 'hand-free' operation of portable computer equipment. It will thus allow integration of information technology applications into those restrictive environments, both military and industrial, that have not yet taken advantage of the computer revolution. This effort is Phase 1 of Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) Topic number N90-331 sponsored by the Naval Undersea Warfare Center Division, Newport. The prime contractor is Foster-Miller, Inc. of Waltham, MA.

Miller, James E.↗

Video guidance sensor for autonomous capture

A video-based sensor has been developed specifically for the close-range maneuvering required in the last phase of autonomous rendezvous and capture. The system is a combination of target and sensor, with the target being a modified version of the standard target used by the astronauts with the Remote Manipulator System (RMS). The system, as currently configured, works well for autonomous docking maneuvers from approximately forty feet in to soft-docking and capture. The sensor was developed specifically to track and calculate its position and attitude relative to a target consisting of three retro-reflective spots, equally spaced, with the center spot being on a pole. This target configuration was chosen for its sensitivity to small amounts of relative pitch and yaw and because it could be used with a small modification to the standard RMS target already in use by NASA.

Howard, Richard T.↗

Automated rendezvous and docking with video imagery

For rendezvous and docking, assessing and tracking relative orientation is necessary within a minimum approach distance. Special target light patterns have previously been considered for use with video sensors for ease of determining relative orientation. A generalization of those approaches is addressed. At certain ranges, the entire structure of the target vehicle constitutes an acceptable target; at closer ranges, substructures will suffice. Acting on the same principle as the human intelligence, these structures can be compared with a memory model to assess the relative orientation and range. Models for comparison are constructed from a CAD facet model and current imagery. This approach requires fast image handling, projection, and comparison techniques which rely on rapidly developing parallel processing technology. Relative orientation and range assessment consists of successful comparison of the perceived target aspect with a known aspect. Generating a known projection from a model within required times, say subsecond times, is only now approaching feasibility. With this capability, rates of comparison used by the human brain can be approached and arbitrary known structures can be compared in reasonable times. Future space programs will have access to powerful computation devices which far exceed even this capability. For example, the possibility will exist to assess unknown structures and then control rendezvous and docking, all at very fast rates. The first step which has the current utility, namely applying this to known structures, is taken.

Rodgers, Mike↗

A study of video frame rate on the perception of moving imagery detail

The rate at which each frame of color moving video imagery is displayed was varied in small steps to determine what is the minimal acceptable frame rate for life scientists viewing white rats within a small enclosure. Two, twenty five second-long scenes (slow and fast animal motions) were evaluated by nine NASA principal investigators and animal care technicians. The mean minimum acceptable frame rate across these subjects was 3.9 fps both for the slow and fast moving animal scenes. The highest single trial frame rate averaged across all subjects for the slow and the fast scene was 6.2 and 4.8, respectively. Further research is called for in which frame rate, image size, and color/gray scale depth are covaried during the same observation period.

Haines, Richard F.↗

Video luminescent barometry - The induction period

Video monitoring of oxygen quenching of the photoluminescence of platinum octaethylporphyrin (PtOEP) in silicone polymer resin may be used to measure pressure distribution over an airfoil. A continuous increase of the luminescence intensity of PtOEP on exposure to the exciting light is known as the induction effect. The effect of several factors on PtOEP photoluminescence and the induction effect was investigated. The experimental apparatus is described and results are presented. It was observed that the relative induction amplitude and induction time increase at higher oxygen pressure and with thicker films. These observations may be explained if the singlet oxygen produced by oxygen quenching is consumed by the polymer and is therefore unavailable for further quenching. Researchers using this method for measuring pressure distribution on airfoil surfaces should be aware of the induction effect and its implications.

Uibel, Rory H.↗

Very high spatial resolution two-dimensional solar spectroscopy with video CCDs

We have developed techniques for recording and reducing spectra of solar fine structure with complete coverage of two-dimensional areas at very high spatial resolution and with a minimum of seeing-induced distortions. These new techniques permit one, for the first time, to place the quantitative measures of atmospheric structure that are afforded only by detailed spectral measurements into their proper context. The techniques comprise the simultaneous acquisition of digital spectra and slit-jaw images at video rates as the solar scene sweeps rapidly by the spectrograph slit. During data processing the slit-jaw images are used to monitor rigid and differential image motion during the scan, allowing measured spectrum properties to be remapped spatially. The resulting quality of maps of measured properties from the spectra is close to that of the best filtergrams. We present the techniques and show maps from scans over pores and small sunspots obtained at a resolution approaching 1/3 arcsec in the spectral region of the magnetically sensitive Fe I lines at 630.15 and 630.25 nm. The maps shown are of continuum intensity and calibrated Doppler velocity. More extensive spectral inversion of these spectra to yield the strength of the magnetic field and other parameters is now underway, and the results of that analysis will be presented in a following paper.

Johanneson, A.↗

Video Game Adapts To Brain Waves

Electronic training system based on video game developed to help children afflicted with attention-deficit disorder (ADD) learn to prolong their attention spans. Uses combination of electroencephalography (EEG) and adaptive control to encourage attentiveness. Monitors trainee's brain-wave activity: if EEG signal indicates attention is waning, system increases difficulty of game, forcing trainee to devote more attention to it. Game designed to make trainees want to win and, in so doing, learn to pay attention for longer times.

Pope, Alan T.↗