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At least 469 records · Page 26

Automatic commanding of the Mars Observer Camera

Mars Observer, launched in September 1992, was intended to be a 'survey-type' mission that acquired global coverage of Mars from a low, circular, near-polar orbit during an entire Martian year. As such, most of its instruments had fixed data rates, wide fields of view, and relatively low resolution, with fairly limited requirements for commanding. An exception is the Mars Observer Camera, or MOC. The MOC consists of a two-color Wide Angle (WA) system that can acquire both global images at low resolution (7.5 km/pixel) and regional images at commandable resolutions up to 250 m/pixel. Complementing the WA is the Narrow Angle (NA) system, that can acquire images at 8 resolutions from 12 m/pixel to 1.5 m/pixel, with a maximum crosstrack dimension of 3 km. The MOC also provides various forms of data compression (both lossless and lossy), and is designed to work at data rates from 700 bits per second (bps) to over 80k bps. Because of this flexibility, developing MOC command sequences is much more difficult than the routine mode-changing that characterizes other instrument operations. Although the MOC cannot be pointed (the spacecraft is fixed nadir-pointing and has no scan platform), the timing, downlink stream allocation, compression type and parameters, and image dimensions of each image must be commanded from the ground, subject to the constraints inherent in the MOC and the spacecraft. To minimize the need for a large operations staff, the entire command generation process has been automated within the MOC Ground Data System. Following the loss of the Mars Observer spacecraft in August 1993, NASA intends to launch a new spacecraft, Mars Global Surveyor (MGS), in late 1996. This spacecraft will carry the MOC flight spare (MOC 2). The MOC 2 operations plan will be largely identical to that developed for MOC, and all of the algorithms described here are applicable to it.

Caplinger, Michael↗

An advanced imaging communication system for planetary exploration

An advanced imaging communication system (AICS) for planetary exploration is presented. The system offers 'end-to-end' information rate improvements of 3 to 5 times over existing systems in addition to extensive user flexibility to adapt his rate/fidelity priorities to fit a particular mission. AICS contains two major system elements. The first is a concatenated Reed-Solomon/Viterbi coded channel. This provides a powerful, yet practical, solution to the usual 'error vulnerability' problem associated with compressed data. The second major element is an extremely adaptive image data compression algorithm called RM2. The details of this algorithm as presently simulated are discussed in considerable detail. Used in conjunction with the virtually error free performance of the Reed-Solomon/Viterbi channel the stated AICS advantages are obtained.

Rice, R. F.↗

Dissemination of compressed satellite imagery within the Navy SPAWAR Central Site Product Display environment

This paper presents a case study of integration of compression techniques within a satellite image communication component of an actual tactical weather information dissemination system. The paper describes history and requirements of the project, and discusses the information flow, request/reply protocols, error handling, and, especially, system integration issues: specification of compression parameters and the place and time for compressor/decompressor plug-ins. A case for a non-uniform compression of satellite imagery is presented, and its implementation in the current system id demonstrated. The paper gives special attention to challenges of moving the system towards the use of standard, non-proprietary protocols (smtp and http) and new technologies (OpenDoc), and reports the ongoing work in this direction.

Kiselyov, Oleg↗

Orbital maneuvering vehicle teleoperation and video data compression

The Orbital Maneuvering Vehicle (OMV) and concepts of teleoperation and video data compression as applied to OMV design and operation are described. The OMV provides spacecraft delivery, retrieval, reboost, deboost and viewing services, with ground-control or Space Station operation, through autonomous navigation and pilot controlled maneuvers. Communications systems are comprised of S-band RF command, telemetry, and compressed video data links through the TDRSS and GSTDN networks. The control console video monitors display a monochrome image at an update rate of five frames per second. Depending upon the mode of operation selected by the pilot, the video resolution is either 255 x 244 pixels, or 510 x 244 pixels. Since practically all video image redundancy is removed by the compression process, the video reconstruction is particularly sensitive to data transmission bit errors. Concatenated Reed-Solomon and convolution coding are used with helical data interleaving for error detection and correction, and an error-containment process minimizes the propagation of error effects throughout the video image. Video sub-frame replacement is used, in the case of a non-correctable error or error burst, to minimize the visual impact to the pilot.

Jones, Steve↗

Multiresolution With Super-Compact Wavelets

The solution data computed from large scale simulations are sometimes too big for main memory, for local disks, and possibly even for a remote storage disk, creating tremendous processing time as well as technical difficulties in analyzing the data. The excessive storage demands a corresponding huge penalty in I/O time, rendering time and transmission time between different computer systems. In this paper, a multiresolution scheme is proposed to compress field simulation or experimental data without much loss of important information in the representation. Originally, the wavelet based multiresolution scheme was introduced in image processing, for the purposes of data compression and feature extraction. Unlike photographic image data which has rather simple settings, computational field simulation data needs more careful treatment in applying the multiresolution technique. While the image data sits on a regular spaced grid, the simulation data usually resides on a structured curvilinear grid or unstructured grid. In addition to the irregularity in grid spacing, the other difficulty is that the solutions consist of vectors instead of scalar values. The data characteristics demand more restrictive conditions. In general, the photographic images have very little inherent smoothness with discontinuities almost everywhere. On the other hand, the numerical solutions have smoothness almost everywhere and discontinuities in local areas (shock, vortices, and shear layers). The wavelet bases should be amenable to the solution of the problem at hand and applicable to constraints such as numerical accuracy and boundary conditions. In choosing a suitable wavelet basis for simulation data among a variety of wavelet families, the supercompact wavelets designed by Beam and Warming provide one of the most effective multiresolution schemes. Supercompact multi-wavelets retain the compactness of Haar wavelets, are piecewise polynomial and orthogonal, and can have arbitrary order of approximation. The advantages of the multiresolution algorithm are that no special treatment is required at the boundaries of the interval, and that the application to functions which are only piecewise continuous (internal boundaries) can be efficiently implemented. In this presentation, Beam's supercompact wavelets are generalized to higher dimensions using multidimensional scaling and wavelet functions rather than alternating the directions as in the 1D version. As a demonstration of actual 3D data compression, supercompact wavelet transforms are applied to a 3D data set for wing tip vortex flow solutions (2.5 million grid points). It is shown that high data compression ratio can be achieved (around 50:1 ratio) in both vector and scalar data set.

Lee, Dohyung↗

Low bit rate coding of Earth science images

In this paper, the authors discuss compression based on some new ideas in vector quantization and their incorporation in a sub-band coding framework. Several variations are considered, which collectively address many of the individual compression needs within the earth science community. The approach taken in this work is based on some recent advances in the area of variable rate residual vector quantization (RVQ). This new RVQ method is considered separately and in conjunction with sub-band image decomposition. Very good results are achieved in coding a variety of earth science images. The last section of the paper provides some comparisons that illustrate the improvement in performance attributable to this approach relative the the JPEG coding standard.

Kossentini, Faouzi↗

Performance of a Discrete Wavelet Transform for Compressing Plasma Count Data and its Application to the Fast Plasma Investigation on NASA's Magnetospheric Multiscale Mission

Plasma measurements in space are becoming increasingly faster, higher resolution, and distributed over multiple instruments. As raw data generation rates can exceed available data transfer bandwidth, data compression is becoming a critical design component. Data compression has been a staple of imaging instruments for years, but only recently have plasma measurement designers become interested in high performance data compression. Missions will often use a simple lossless compression technique yielding compression ratios of approximately 2:1, however future missions may require compression ratios upwards of 10:1. This study aims to explore how a Discrete Wavelet Transform combined with a Bit Plane Encoder (DWT/BPE), implemented via a CCSDS standard, can be used effectively to compress count information common to plasma measurements to high compression ratios while maintaining little or no compression error. The compression ASIC used for the Fast Plasma Investigation (FPI) on board the Magnetospheric Multiscale mission (MMS) is used for this study. Plasma count data from multiple sources is examined: resampled data from previous missions, randomly generated data from distribution functions, and simulations of expected regimes. These are run through the compression routines with various parameters to yield the greatest possible compression ratio while maintaining little or no error, the latter indicates that fully lossless compression is obtained. Finally, recommendations are made for future missions as to what can be achieved when compressing plasma count data and how best to do so.

Particles↗

New dynamic diamond anvil cell for time-resolved radial x-ray diffraction

The dynamic diamond anvil cell (dDAC) is a recently developed experimental platform that has shown promise for studying the behavior of materials at strain rates ranging from intermediate to quasi-static and shock compression regimes. Combining dDAC with time-resolved x-ray diffraction (XRD) in the radial geometry (i.e., with incident x-rays perpendicular to the axis of compression) enables the study of material properties such as strength, texture evolution, and deformation mechanisms. This work describes a radial XRD dDAC setup at beamline P02.2 (Extreme Conditions Beamline) at DESY’s PETRA III synchrotron. Time-resolved radial XRD data are collected for titanium, zirconium, and zircon samples, demonstrating the ability to study the strength and texture of materials at compression rates above 300 GPa/s. In addition, the simultaneous optical imaging of the DAC sample chamber is demonstrated. The ability to conduct simultaneous radial XRD and optical imaging provides the opportunity to characterize plastic strain and deviatoric strain rates in the DAC at intermediate rates, exploring the strength and deformation mechanisms of materials in this regime.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗

End-to-end imaging information rate advantages of various alternative communication systems

The efficiency of various deep space communication systems which are required to transmit both imaging and a typically error sensitive class of data called general science and engineering (gse) are compared. The approach jointly treats the imaging and gse transmission problems, allowing comparisons of systems which include various channel coding and data compression alternatives. Actual system comparisons include an advanced imaging communication system (AICS) which exhibits the rather significant advantages of sophisticated data compression coupled with powerful yet practical channel coding. For example, under certain conditions the improved AICS efficiency could provide as much as two orders of magnitude increase in imaging information rate compared to a single channel uncoded, uncompressed system while maintaining the same gse data rate in both systems. Additional details describing AICS compression and coding concepts as well as efforts to apply them are provided in support of the system analysis.

Rice, R. F.↗

Better Pictures in a Snap

Retinex Imaging Processing, winner of NASA's 1999 Space Act Award, is commercially available through TruView Imaging Company. With this technology, amateur photographers use their personal computers to improve the brightness, scene contrast, detail, and overall sharpness of images with increased ease. The process was originally developed for remote sensing of the Earth by researchers at Langley Research Center and Science and Technology Corporation (STC). It automatically enhances a digital image in terms of dynamic range compression, color independence from the spectral distribution of the scene illuminant, and color/lightness rendition. As a result, the enhanced digital image is much closer to the scene perceived by the human visual system, under all kinds and levels of lighting variations. TruView believes there are other applications for the software in medical imaging, forensics, security, recognizance, mining, assembly, and other industrial areas.

Source record↗

Interactive data line study and experiment

The paper considers the utility of having remote terminals on a Landsat image processing system and the development of efficient data transfer strategies such as data compression. The approach is to link an image processing terminal (located in a mobile van) to a multiuser host computer via the Communications Technology Satellite and a leased phone line. The host computer will share time between the remote state users and local users. The terminal includes a minicomputer, a color video display, and a communications interface, and the user has access to all of the resources of the host facility via the data link. While at present the terminal acts in the display-only mode, the computing capability of the terminal can be varied from display-only up to a stand-alone image processing system. An analysis of trade-offs between data link and remote terminal capacities is described with attention to the evaluation of the system by state users and the selection of a system architecture suitable to unique needs.

Rasmussen, D. N.↗

A two dimensional artificial reality

The current presumption is that it is necessary to don goggles, gloves and a data suit to experience artificial reality. However, there is another technology that offers an alternative or complement to the encumbering techniques associated with NASA. In VIDEOPLACE, your image appears in a 2D graphic world created by a computer. The VIDEOPLACE computer can analyze a person's image in 1/30 second and can detect when an object is touched. Thus, it can generate a graphic or auditory response to an illusory contact. VIDEOPLACE technology exists in two formats: the VIDEODESK and the VIDEOPLACE. In the VIDEODESK environment, the image of your hands can be used to perform the normal mouse functions, such as menuing and drawing. In addition, you have the advantage of multipoint control. For instance, you can use the thumbs and forefingers of each hand as control points for a spline curve. Perhaps most important, the image of your hands can be compressed and transmitted to a colleague over an ISDN voice channel to appear on the remote screen superimposed over identical information. Likewise, the image of your colleague's hands can appear on both screens. The result is that the two of you can use your hands to point to features on your respective screens as you speak, exactly as you would if you were sitting together. In the VIDEOPLACE environment, you can interact with graphic creatures and the images of other people in other locations in a graphic world. Your whole body can be moved, scaled and rotated in real-time without regard to the laws of physics. Thus, VIDEOPLACE can be used to create a fantasy world in which the laws of cause and effect are composed by an artist.

Krueger, Myron W.↗

In situ x-ray diffraction study of dynamically compressed α -cristobalite using a dynamic diamond anvil cell

Here we present results of the dynamic compression of α -cristobalite up to a pressure of 106 GPa with the use of the dynamic diamond anvil cell. X-ray diffraction images were recorded at different ramp compression and decompression rates to investigate in situ the high-pressure phase transitions of α -cristobalite. Our results suggest that the pressure onset of the phase transformation of α -cristobalite to cristobalite II, cristobalite X-I, and ultimately to seifertite ( α – PbO 2 type SiO 2 ) is dependent on the applied compression rates and stress conditions of the experiment. Increasing compression rates in general shift the studied phase transitions to higher pressures. Furthermore, our results indicate for single crystals under hydrostatic conditions a suppression of a phase transition from cristobalite X-I to seifertite at pressures of up to 82 GPa.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

NASA Tech Briefs, November 2005

Topics covered include: Laser System for Precise, Unambiguous Range Measurements; Flexible Cryogenic Temperature and Liquid-Level Probes; Precision Cryogenic Dilatometer; Stroboscopic Interferometer for Measuring Mirror Vibrations; Some Improvements in H-PDLCs; Multiple-Bit Differential Detection of OQPSK; Absolute Position Encoders With Vertical Image Binning; Flexible, Carbon-Based Ohmic Contacts for Organic Transistors; GaAs QWIP Array Containing More Than a Million Pixels; AutoChem; Virtual Machine Language; Two-Dimensional Ffowcs Williams/Hawkings Equation Solver; Full Multigrid Flow Solver; Doclet To Synthesize UML; Computing Thermal Effects of Cavitation in Cryogenic Liquids; GUI for Computational Simulation of a Propellant Mixer; Control Program for an Optical-Calibration Robot; SQL-RAMS; Distributing Data from Desktop to Hand-Held Computers; Best-Fit Conic Approximation of Spacecraft Trajectory; Improved Charge-Transfer Fluorescent Dyes; Stability-Augmentation Devices for Miniature Aircraft; Tool Measures Depths of Defects on a Case Tang Joint; Two Heat-Transfer Improvements for Gas Liquefiers; Controlling Force and Depth in Friction Stir Welding; Spill-Resistant Alkali-Metal-Vapor Dispenser; A Methodology for Quantifying Certain Design Requirements During the Design Phase; Measuring Two Key Parameters of H3 Color Centers in Diamond; Improved Compression of Wavelet-Transformed Images; NASA Interactive Forms Type Interface - NIFTI; Predicting Numbers of Problems in Development of Software; Hot-Electron Photon Counters for Detecting Terahertz Photons; Magnetic Variations Associated With Solar Flares; and Artificial Intelligence for Controlling Robotic Aircraft.

Source record↗

Potential end-to-end imaging information rate advantages of various alternative communication systems

Various communication systems were considered which are required to transmit both imaging and a typically error sensitive, class of data called general science/engineering (gse) over a Gaussian channel. The approach jointly treats the imaging and gse transmission problems, allowing comparisons of systems which include various channel coding and data compression alternatives. Actual system comparisons include an Advanced Imaging Communication System (AICS) which exhibits the rather significant potential advantages of sophisticated data compression coupled with powerful yet practical channel coding.

Rice, R. F.↗

Automated phase segmentation and quantification of high-resolution TEM image for alloy design

In the alloy design and development process, a wealth of atomically resolved structural high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) images are produced. Identifying the different nano-precipitate phases and tracking their evolution under various compositions and during manufacturing or post-processing requires hundreds of HRTEM images and thousands of precipitates. The nanoscopic phase information labeling and analysis purely relies on humans are prohibitively costly and time-consuming, sometimes not reliable because of the lack of authoritative knowledge. Here, in this work, we develop a novel unsupervised machine learning approach coupled with adaptive computer vision techniques with features in the Fourier space to automatically determine the number of phases and segment/quantify the phases with nanoscale resolution, allowing for quantitative correlation between nanostructure formation, processing and functional properties. To automate the phase extraction/quantification and ascertain its applicability, we have applied the developed framework to the HRTEM images from several alloy systems, processing conditions, image magnifications, and phase types and morphologies (precipitates, nano-twins, stacking faults, crystalline matrix, and amorphous structures) for verification. This study paves the road for compression, visualization, and translation of raw image structural data into physically relevant information in real-time with minimal human supervision. It shows the promise of enabling high-throughput materials characterization for the acceleration of alloy manufacturing and design.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Review and Implementation of the Emerging CCSDS Recommended Standard for Multispectral and Hyperspectral Lossless Image Coding

A new standard for image coding is being developed by the MHDC working group of the CCSDS, targeting onboard compression of multi- and hyper-spectral imagery captured by aircraft and satellites. The proposed standard is based on the "Fast Lossless" adaptive linear predictive compressor, and is adapted to better overcome issues of onboard scenarios. In this paper, we present a review of the state of the art in this field, and provide an experimental comparison of the coding performance of the emerging standard in relation to other state-of-the-art coding techniques. Our own independent implementation of the MHDC Recommended Standard, as well as of some of the other techniques, has been used to provide extensive results over the vast corpus of test images from the CCSDS-MHDC.

hyperspectral images↗