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At least 469 records · Page 26

Detection, Identification, Location, and Remote Sensing using SAW RFID Sensor Tags

In this presentation, we will consider the problem of simultaneous detection, identification, location estimation, and remote sensing for multiple objects. In particular, we will describe the design and testing of a wireless system capable of simultaneously detecting the presence of multiple objects, identifying each object, and acquiring both a low-resolution estimate of location and a high-resolution estimate of temperature for each object based on wireless interrogation of passive surface acoustic wave (SAW) radiofrequency identification (RFID) sensor tags affixed to each object. The system is being studied for application on the lunar surface as well as for terrestrial remote sensing applications such as pre-launch monitoring and testing of spacecraft on the launch pad and monitoring of test facilities. The system utilizes a digitally beam-formed planar receiving antenna array to extend range and provide direction-of-arrival information coupled with an approximate maximum-likelihood signal processing algorithm to provide near-optimal estimation of both range and temperature. The system is capable of forming a large number of beams within the field of view and resolving the information from several tags within each beam. The combination of both spatial and waveform discrimination provides the capability to track and monitor telemetry from a large number of objects appearing simultaneously within the field of view of the receiving array. In the presentation, we will summarize the system design and illustrate several aspects of the operational characteristics and signal structure. We will examine the theoretical performance characteristics of the system and compare the theoretical results with results obtained from experiments in both controlled laboratory environments and in the field.

Barton, Richard J.↗

On-line methods for rotorcraft aeroelastic mode identification

The requirements for the on-line identification of rotorcraft aeroelastic blade modes from random response test data are presented. A recursive maximum likelihood (RML) technique is used in conjunction with a bandpass filter to identify isolated blade mode damping and frequency. The RML technique is demonstrated to have excellent convergence characteristics in random measurement noise and random process noise excitation. The RML identification technique uses an ARMA representation for the aeroelastic stochastic system and requires virtually no user interaction while providing accurate confidence bands on the parameter estimates. Comparisons are made with an off-line Newton type maximum likelihood algorithm which uses a state variable model representation. Results are presented from simulation random response data which quantify the identifed parameter convergence behavior for various levels of random excitation which is typical of wind tunnel turbulence levels. The RML technique is applied to hingless rotor test data from the NASA Langley Research Center Helicopter Hover Facility.

Molusis, J. A.↗

A Markov model for NASA's Ground Communications Facility

A 'natural' way of constructing finite-state Markov chains (FSMC) is presented for those noise burst channels that can be modeled by them. In particular, a five-state Markov chain is given as a model of errors occurring at the Ground Communications Facility (GCF). A maximum likelihood procedure applicable to any FSMC is developed for estimating all the model parameters starting from the data of error runs. A few of the statistics important for estimating the performance of error control strategies on the channel are provided.

Adeyemi, O.↗

Curve fitting of aeroelastic transient response data with exponential functions

The extraction of frequency, damping, amplitude, and phase information from unforced transient response data is considered. These quantities are obtained from the parameters determined by fitting the digitized time-history data in a least-squares sense with complex exponential functions. The highlights of the method are described, and the results of several test cases are presented. The effects of noise are considered both by using analytical examples with random noise and by estimating the standard deviation of the parameters from maximum-likelihood theory.

Bennett, R. M.↗

Application of a Monte Carlo accuracy assessment tool to TDRS and GPS

In support of a NASA study on the application of radio interferometry to satellite orbit determination, MITRE developed a simulation tool for assessing interferometric tracking accuracy. Initially, the tool was applied to the problem of determining optimal interferometric station siting for orbit determination of the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite (TDRS). Subsequently, the Orbit Determination Accuracy Estimator (ODAE) was expanded to model the general batch maximum likelihood orbit determination algorithms of the Goddard Trajectory Determination System (GTDS) with measurement types including not only group and phase delay from radio interferometry, but also range, range rate, angular measurements, and satellite-to-satellite measurements. The user of ODAE specifies the statistical properties of error sources, including inherent observable imprecision, atmospheric delays, station location uncertainty, and measurement biases. Upon Monte Carlo simulation of the orbit determination process, ODAE calculates the statistical properties of the error in the satellite state vector and any other parameters for which a solution was obtained in the orbit determination. This paper presents results from ODAE application to two different problems: (1)determination of optimal geometry for interferometirc tracking of TDRS, and (2) expected orbit determination accuracy for Global Positioning System (GPS) tracking of low-earth orbit (LEO) satellites. Conclusions about optimal ground station locations for TDRS orbit determination by radio interferometry are presented, and the feasibility of GPS-based tracking for IRIDIUM, a LEO mobile satellite communications (MOBILSATCOM) system, is demonstrated.

Pavloff, Michael S.↗

Detection, Identification, Location, and Remote Sensing Using SAW RFID Sensor Tags

The Electromagnetic Systems Branch (EV4) of the Avionic Systems Division at NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston, TX is studying the utility of surface acoustic wave (SAW) radiofrequency identification (RFID) tags for multiple wireless applications including detection, identification, tracking, and remote sensing of objects on the lunar surface, monitoring of environmental test facilities, structural shape and health monitoring, and nondestructive test and evaluation of assets. For all of these applications, it is anticipated that the system utilized to interrogate the SAW RFID tags may need to operate at fairly long range and in the presence of considerable multipath and multiple-access interference. Towards that end, EV4 is developing a prototype SAW RFID wireless interrogation system for use in such environments called the Passive Adaptive RFID Sensor Equipment (PARSED) system. The system utilizes a digitally beam-formed planar receiving antenna array to extend range and provide direction-of-arrival information coupled with an approximate maximum-likelihood signal processing algorithm to provide near-optimal estimation of both range and temperature. The system is capable of forming a large number of beams within the field of view and resolving the information from several tags within each beam. The combination of both spatial and waveform discrimination provides the capability to track and monitor telemetry from a large number of objects appearing simultaneously within the field of view of the receiving array. In this paper, we will consider the application of the PARSEQ system to the problem of simultaneous detection, identification, localization, and temperature estimation for multiple objects. We will summarize the overall design of the PARSEQ system and present a detailed description of the design and performance of the signal detection and estimation algorithms incorporated in the system. The system is currently configured only to measure temperature (jointly with range and tag ID), but future versions will be revised to measure parameters other than temperature as SAW tags capable of interfacing with external sensors become available. It is anticipated that the estimation of arbitrary parameters measured using SAW-based sensors will be based on techniques very similar to the joint range and temperature estimation techniques described in this paper.

Barton, Richard J.↗

Aerodynamic Parameter Estimation Using Reconstructed Turbulence Measurements

A classical method for reconstructing atmospheric turbulence from onboard measurements of airdata and inertial sensors was improved. The reconstructed turbulence was included in a system identification analysis to estimate nondimensional stability and control derivatives in a longitudinal short period model using the maximum likelihood equation-error method with Fourier transform data. Practical aspects of the approach are discussed, such as reconstruction accuracy, data collinearity, model structure, and real-time estimation. Results using simulation and flight test data for a subscale airplane indicated that accurate turbulence reconstructions and parameter estimates could be obtained from maneuvering flight in high levels of turbulence.

Jared A Grauer↗

Filtering flight data prior to aerodynamic system identification

An algorithm for processing flight-test data to provide state estimates and instrument calibrations for aerodynamic or hydrodynamic system identification by the equation error estimation method is developed and demonstrated on synthesized data. The extended-Kalman-filter algorithm employs a locally level, north-pointing frame of reference, accounts for rotating ellipsoidal earth effects, and estimates sensor bias, scale factors, wind components, and process noise levels by maximum-likelihood parameters. The method is found to be most effective with navigation quality inertial input data. The algorithm is applied to data from a six-degree-of-freedom F-4 aircraft simulation and shown to produce state estimates in good agreement with the simulation values.

Trankle, T. L.↗

Multi crop area estimation in Idaho using EDITOR

The use of LANDSAT multispectral scanner digital data for multi-crop acreage estimation in the central Snake River Plain of Idaho was examined. Two acquisitions of LANDSAT data covering ground sample units selected from a U.S. Department of Agriculture sampling frame in a four country study site were used to train a maximum likelihood classifier which, subsequently, classified all picture elements in the study site. Acreage estimates for six major crops, by county and for the four counties combined, were generated from the classification using the Battesse-Fuller model for estimation by regression in small areas. Results from the regression analysis were compared to those obtained by direct expansion of the ground data. Using the LANDSAT data significantly decreased the errors associated with the estimates for the three largest acreage crops. The late date of the second LANDSAT acquisition may have contributed to the poor results for three summer crops.

Sheffner, E. J.↗

Analytical evaluation of tilting proprotor wind tunnel test requirements

Specific test requirements related to the wind tunnel testing of the XV-15 advanced tilt rotor research aircraft were determined. The following analytical tools were developed: (1) digital simulation of the XV-15, incorporating a simplified tunnel support model, control system loop, measurement lags, gust disturbances, and sensor noise, (2) specialization of existing data analysis programs to the high order XV-15 dynamical model (transfer function program, a time series analysis program, an advanced maximum likelihood parameter identification program), (3) several auxiliary programs to provide estimates of damping from transfer functions as well as calculations of model decomposition of system response. The following results were discussed: (1) modelling of the aircraft, instrumentation, and controls, (2) results of the rotor/cantilever wing model and coupled wing, (3) examples of data prediction with system identification techniques, and (4) detailed conclusions and recommendations.

Hall, W. E., Jr.↗

The use of Landsat data to inventory cotton and soybean acreage in North Alabama

This study was performed to determine if Landsat data could be used to improve the accuracy of the estimation of cotton acreage. A linear classification algorithm and a maximum likelihood algorithm were used for computer classification of the area, and the classification was compared with ground truth. The classification accuracy for some fields was greater than 90 percent; however, the overall accuracy was 71 percent for cotton and 56 percent for soybeans. The results of this research indicate that computer analysis of Landsat data has potential for improving upon the methods presently being used to determine cotton acreage; however, additional experiments and refinements are needed before the method can be used operationally.

Downs, S. W., Jr.↗

A square root formulation for the combined state-parameter estimator with application to the identification of sailplane performance

A square root formulation is presented for the discrete combined state parameter estimation problem with linear plant dynamics, Gaussian random disturbances, and constant but uncertain parameters. The estimator is a combination of the classical Kalman filter and a maximum likelihood algorithm which maximizes the parameter log-likelihood function using a first order search routine.

Froidevaux, M. R.↗

Regions of constrained maximum likelihood parameter identifiability

This paper considers the parameter identification problem of general discrete-time, nonlinear, multiple-input/multiple-output dynamic systems with Gaussian-white distributed measurement errors. Knowledge of the system parameterization is assumed to be known. Regions of constrained maximum likelihood (CML) parameter identifiability are established. A computation procedure employing interval arithmetic is proposed for finding explicit regions of parameter identifiability for the case of linear systems. It is shown that if the vector of true parameters is locally CML identifiable, then with probability one, the vector of true parameters is a unique maximal point of the maximum likelihood function in the region of parameter identifiability and the CML estimation sequence will converge to the true parameters.

Lee, C.-H.↗

Determination of the stability and control derivatives of the F/A-18 HARV from flight data using the maximum likelihood method

The research being conducted pertains to the determination of the stability and control derivatives of the F/A-18 High Alpha Research Vehicle (HARV) from flight data using the Maximum Likelihood Method. The document outlines the approach used in the parameter estimation (PID) process and briefly describes the mathematical modeling of the F/A-18 HARV and the maneuvers designed to generate a sufficient data base for the PID research.

Napolitano, Marcello R.↗

Very High-Resolution Satellite-Derived Bathymetry and Habitat Mapping Using Pleiades-1 and ICESat-2

Accurate and reliable bathymetric data are needed for a wide diversity of marine research and management applications. Satellite-derived bathymetry represents a time saving method to map large shallow waters of remote regions compared to the current costly in situ measurement techniques. This study aims to create very high-resolution (VHR) bathymetry and habitat mapping in Mayotte island waters (Indian Ocean) by fusing 0.5 m Pleiades-1 passive multispectral imagery and active ICESat-2 LiDAR bathymetry. ICESat-2 georeferenced photons were filtered to remove noise and corrected for water column refraction. The bathymetric point clouds were validated using the French naval hydrographic and oceanographic service Litto3D® dataset and then used to calibrate the multispectral image to produce a digital depth model (DDM). The latter enabled the creation of a digital albedo model used to classify benthic habitats. ICESat-2 provided bathymetry down to 15 m depth with a vertical accuracy of bathymetry estimates reaching 0.89 m. The benthic habitats map produced using the maximum likelihood supervised classification provided an overall accuracy of 96.62%. This study successfully produced a VHR DDM solely from satellite data. Digital models of higher accuracy were further discussed in the light of the recent and near-future launch of higher spectral and spatial resolution satellites.

Bathymetry↗

Aerodynamic Parameter Estimation Using Reconstructed Turbulence Measurements

A classical method for reconstructing atmospheric turbulence from onboard measurements of airdata and inertial sensors was improved and implemented for real-time computation. The reconstructed turbulence measurements were then included in a system identification analysis to estimate nondimensional stability and control derivatives in a longitudinal short period model using the maximum likelihood equation-error method in the frequency domain with Fourier-transform data. Flight test results using a subscale transport-type airplane showed that the power spectra for the reconstructed vertical gusts resembled the von Kármán turbulence model. Flight data in moderate and severe turbulence exhibited a decorrelation of the modeling data that increased the accuracy of parameter estimation results using the reconstructed turbulence. In particular, pitch rate and angle-of-attack rate derivatives could both be identified from flight data about straight and level flight without special maneuvers or prior information.

Jared A Grauer↗

Modeling, estimation and identification methods for static shape determination of flexible structures

This paper outlines methods for modeling, identification and estimation for static determination of flexible structures. The shape estimation schemes are based on structural models specified by (possibly interconnected) elliptic partial differential equations. The identification techniques provide approximate knowledge of parameters in elliptic systems. The techniques are based on the method of maximum-likelihood that finds parameter values such that the likelihood functional associated with the system model is maximized. The estimation methods are obtained by means of a function-space approach that seeks to obtain the conditional mean of the state given the data and a white noise characterization of model errors. The solutions are obtained in a batch-processing mode in which all the data is processed simultaneously. After methods for computing the optimal estimates are developed, an analysis of the second-order statistics of the estimates and of the related estimation error is conducted. In addition to outlining the above theoretical results, the paper presents typical flexible structure simulations illustrating performance of the shape determination methods.

Rodriguez, G.↗