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At least 505 records · Page 28

The effect of simulator dynamics on pilot response

The effects of visual display dynamics on the altitude tracking performance of a subject in a fixed base flight simulator are considered. The subject, flying the linearized longitudinal equations of motion, attempts to maintain the same altitude as two airplanes positioned three hundred feet ahead, as in level formation flying. The horizon together with the two leading aircraft are represented symbolically on a CRT display. The subject's aircraft is disturbed by atmospheric turbulence. The data indicate a relationship between the bandwidth of the display dynamics and the short period characteristics of the simulated airplane. For an airplane with a relatively fast pitch response the presence of altitude display dynamics, with a bandwidth as high as five times the short period natural frequency, causes significant degradation of altitude tracking performance.

Weener, E. F.↗

Modal analysis and control of flexible manipulator arms

The possibility of modeling and controlling flexible manipulator arms was examined. A modal approach was used for obtaining the mathematical model and control techniques. The arm model was represented mathematically by a state space description defined in terms of joint angles and mode amplitudes obtained from truncation on the distributed systems, and included the motion of a two link two joint arm. Three basic techniques were used for controlling the system: pole allocation with gains obtained from the rigid system with interjoint feedbacks, Simon-Mitter algorithm for pole allocation, and sensitivity analysis with respect to parameter variations. An improvement in arm bandwidth was obtained. Optimization of some geometric parameters was undertaken to maximize bandwidth for various payload sizes and programmed tasks. The controlled system is examined under constant gains and using the nonlinear model for simulations following a time varying state trajectory.

Neto, O. M.↗

The effects of notch filters on the correlation properties of a PN signal

With wideband pseudo-noise (PN) communications systems, it is sometimes desirable to supplement the inherent interference rejection capabilities by adding notch filters to attenuate relatively narrowband interference. This correspondence presents an investigation of the effects of notch filters on the performance of PN correlation receivers. A theoretical analysis of the correlation drop due to filter distortion has been conducted and confirmed by experimentation. Additional measurements and analysis have established the trade-off between correlation drop and interference suppression as a function of interference bandwidth. A typical result is that by incurring a penalty of a 1-dB drop in correlation peak, interfering signals having bandwidths of 2 to 3% of the PN chip rate can be attenuated by 25 dB.

Sussman, S. M.↗

Continuous Fourier transform method and apparatus

An input analog signal to be frequency analyzed is separated into N number of simultaneous analog signal components each identical to the original but delayed relative to the original by a successively larger time delay. The separated and delayed analog components are combined together in a suitable number of adders and attenuators in accordance with at least one component product of the continuous Fourier transform and analog signal matrices to separate the analog input signal into at least one of its continuous analog frequency components of bandwidth 1/N times the bandwidth of the original input signal. The original analog input signal can be reconstituted by combining the separate analog frequency components in accordance with the component products of the continuous Fourier transform and analog frequency component matrices. The continuous Fourier transformation is useful for spectrum analysis, filtering, transfer function synthesis, and communications.

Munoz, R. M.↗

Recent improvements to BANDIT

The NASTRAN preprocessor BANDIT, which improves NASTRAN's computer efficiency by resequencing grid point labels for reduced matrix bandwidth is described. The addition of (1) the Gibbs-Poole-Stockmeyer (GPS) algorithm, and (2) the user option to reduce matrix profile rather than matrix bandwidth is also described. It is shown that, compared to the Cuthill-McKee algorithm on which BANDIT was originally based, GPS is faster and achieves similar results. Current capabilities and options of BANDIT are summarized.

Everstine, G. C.↗

Sensitivity limits of an infrared heterodyne spectrometer for astrophysical applications

A discussion and an evaluation of the degradation in sensitivity is given for a heterodyne spectrometer employing a HgCdTe photodiode mixer and tunable diode lasers. The minimum detectable source brightness is considered as a function of the mixer parameters, transmission coefficient of the beam splitter, and local oscillator emission powers. The degradation in the minimum detectable line source brightness which results from the bandwidth being a function of the line width is evaluated and plotted as a function of the wavelength and bandwidth for various temperature to mass ratios. It is shown that the minimum achievable degradation in the sensitivity of a practical astronomical heterodyne spectrometer is approximately 30. Estimates of signal-to-noise ratios with which infrared line emission from astronomical sources of interest may be detected are given.

Abbas, M. M.↗

A low-cost multiple-channel 12-GHz receiver for satellite television broadcasting

The design of a low-cost FM-microwave satellite-ground-station receiver is described. It is capable of accepting 12 contiguous color-television equivalent-bandwidth channels in the 11.72-12.2-GHz band using a wide-band FM format and frequency division multiplexing (FDM) of the channels. Each channel has 36 MHz of usable bandwidth with a 4-MHz guard band and provides a CATV compatible output. The overall system specifications are first discussed. Then consideration is given to the design, fabrication, and evaluation of the different subsystems in the receiver.

Risch, C. O.↗

A multichannel physiological data/voice telemetry system

A seven channel physiological telemetry system was designed, constructed, and tested for a space environment to transfer physiological and voice information to and from an astronaut. Three ECG leads were monitored simultaneously, and two-way voice communication was achieved. The portable unit operated properly under ground based station (GBS) control. The major design problem was associated with the constraints of a wide bandwidth FM transmitter with crystal control combined with the tri-state logic format used. However, by using an ''indirect FM'' scheme and incorporating additional waveshaping circuits at the GBS, proper operation of the system was obtained. In the present form, the telemetry system has capability for seven channels of low level (2.5 mv peak maximum) physiological signals with bandwidths between 0.03 Hz and 100 Hz. Additional signal conditioning and modification of the instrumentation amplifier gains are required for other signals.

Portnoy, W. M.↗

Study of on-board compression of earth resources data

The current literature on image bandwidth compression was surveyed and those methods relevant to compression of multispectral imagery were selected. Typical satellite multispectral data was then analyzed statistically and the results used to select a smaller set of candidate bandwidth compression techniques particularly relevant to earth resources data. These were compared using both theoretical analysis and simulation, under various criteria of optimality such as mean square error (MSE), signal-to-noise ratio, classification accuracy, and computational complexity. By concatenating some of the most promising techniques, three multispectral data compression systems were synthesized which appear well suited to current and future NASA earth resources applications. The performance of these three recommended systems was then examined in detail by all of the above criteria. Finally, merits and deficiencies were summarized and a number of recommendations for future NASA activities in data compression proposed.

Habibi, A.↗

Interstellar scattering of pulsar radiation. I - Scintillation

An investigation of the intensity fluctuations of 28 pulsars near 0.4 GHz indicates that spectra of interstellar scintillation are consistent with a Gaussian shape, that scintillation indices are near unity, and that the scintillation bandwidth depends linearly on dispersion measure. Observations at cm wavelengths show that the observer is in the near field of the scattering medium for objects with the lowest dispersion measures, and confirm the steep dependence of correlation bandwidth on dispersion measure found by Sutton (1971). The variations of scattering parameters with dispersion measure may indicate that the rms deviation of thermal electron density on the scale of 10 to the 11th cm grows with path length through the galaxy.

Backer, D. C.↗

Sensitivity limits of an infrared heterodyne spectrometer for astrophysical applications

A discussion and an evaluation of the degradation in sensitivity are given for a heterodyne spectrometer employing a HgCdTe photodiode mixer and tunable diode lasers. The minimum detectable source brightness is considered as a function of the mixer parameters, transmission coefficient of the beam splitter, and local oscillator emission powers. The degradation in the minimum detectable line source brightness that results from the bandwidth being a fraction of the line width is evaluated and plotted as a function of the wavelength and bandwidth for various temperature to mass ratios. It is shown that the minimum achievable degradation in the sensitivity of a practical astronomical heterodyne spectrometer is about 30. Estimates of SNRs with which IR line emission from astronomical sources of interest may be detected are given.

Abbas, M. M.↗

Fiber optic multiplexed optical transmission systems for space vehicle launch facilities

Low loss Fiber Optic Cable is being evaluated as a potential future replacement for Kennedy Space Center's 13,000 mile Wideband cable system. In order to make economical use of the wide bandwidth characteristic of glass fibers, a Frequency Division Multiplexing (FDM) scheme has been devised to stack many analog and digital data channels on a single fiber. The Multiplexed Optical Transmission System (MOTS) will offer a unique flexibility of plug-in modularity to meet changing data and bandwidth requirements in addition to the standard 'goodies' of immunity to lightning and other EMI, RFI type interferences, and of smaller size and lighter weight.

Bell, C. H.↗

Real-time video compression algorithm for Hadamard transform processing

A real-time digital video processor using Hadamard transform techniques to reduce video bandwidth is described. The processor can be programmed with different parameters to investigate various algorithms for bandwidth compression. The processor is also adaptive in that it can select different parameter sets to tradeoff spatial resolution for temporal resolution in the regions of the picture that are moving. Algorithms used in programming the system are described along with results achieved at various levels of compression. The algorithms relate to spatial compression, temporal compression, and the adaptive selection of parameter sets.

Knauer, S. C.↗

Real-time video compression algorithm for Hadamard transform processing

A real-time digital video processor using Hadamard transform techniques to reduce video bandwidth is described. The processor can be programmed with different parameters to investigate various algorithms for bandwidth compression. The processor is also adaptive in that it can select different parameter sets to trade off spatial resolution for temporal resolution in the regions of the picture that are moving. Algorithms used in programming the system are described along with results achieved at various levels of compression. The algorithms relate to spatial compression, temporal compression, and the adaptive selection of parameter sets.

Knauer, S. C.↗

Design criteria for noncoherent Gaussian channels with MFSK signaling and coding

This paper presents data and criteria to assess and guide the design of modems for coded noncoherent communication systems subject to practical system constraints of power, bandwidth, noise spectral density, coherence time, and number of orthogonal signals M. Three basic receiver types are analyzed for the noncoherent multifrequency-shift keying (MFSK) additive white Gaussian noise channel: hard decision, unquantized (optimum), and quantized (soft decision). Channel capacity and computational cutoff rate are computed for each type and presented as functions of the predetection signal-to-noise ratio and the number of orthogonal signals. This relates the channel constraints of power, bandwidth, coherence time, and noise power to the optimum choice of signal duration and signal number.

Butman, S. A.↗

Distortion in AM-baseband telemetry

Report presents very thorough and rigorous analysis of bandwidths and filters required to achieve a specific error. Included is an investigation of contribution to error of 3- and 6-pole Chebyschev, Butterworth, and Bessel filters. Also included is methodology for designing DSB/FM telemetry system to make optimum use of available bandwidth while reducing error toward its theoretical minimum.

Salter, W. E.↗

Multiplexed fiber-optic transmission system

Digital, audio, and video data channels spanning 100 megahertz bandwidth are transmitted via single fiber-optical link. System is flexible by virtue of its plug-in modularity and optical patchboard that allows it to adjust to data and bandwidth changes.

Bell, C. H.↗

Characteristics of magnetospheric radio noise spectra

Magnetospheric radio noise spectra (30 kHz to 10 MHz) taken by IMP-6 and RAE-2 exhibit time varying characteristics which are related to spacecraft position and magnetospheric processes. In the midfrequency range (100-1000 kHz) intense noise peaks rise a factor of 100 or more above background; 80% of the peak frequencies are within the band 125 kHz to 600 kHz, and the peak occurs most often (18% of the time) at 280 kHz. Bandwidths of the peaks range from about 100 kHz to more than 500 kHz; most often the lower cutoff is at about 100 kHz and the upper at 380 kHz for a total bandwidth of 280 kHz. This intense mid-frequency noise was detected at radial distances from 1.3 Re to 60 Re on all sides of the earth (i.e., all local times) during magnetically quiet as well as disturbed periods. Maximum occurrence of the mid-frequency noise is in the evening to midnight hours where splash-type energetic particle precipitation takes place.

Herman, J. R.↗