Engineering Papers⌕ Search

SEARCH · Engineering Papers

Results for “telemetry”

Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 613 records · Page 34

Command and telemetry in autonomous spacecraft design

Some major steps are summarized in the evolution of autonomous design features for planetary exploration spacecraft. The control and data architectures for the Viking, Voyager, and Galileo spacecraft are considered. Telemetry and command capabilities are fundamental features of spacecraft design that have been successfully used for autonomous control. Also discussed is the Autonomous Redundancy and Maintenance Management Subsystem (ARMMS) concept. The software approach to autonomous control provides for modifications to the control process or the addition of new operating features during flight operations.

Turner, P. R.↗

Antenna arraying of Voyager telemetry signals by symbol stream combining

Telemetry signals received from the Voyager 2 spacecraft at Deep Space Stations at Parkes and Canberra, Australia, on February 6, 1986, were combined by the method of symbol stream combining. This second demonstration of symbol stream combining followed the International Cometary Explorer (ICE) demonstration at Giacobini-Zinner encounter in September 1985. The Voyager demonstration was at a symbol rate of 43.2 ksymb/s, compared to 2 ksymb/s for ICE. Recording, playback, and combining at this higher rate were demonstrated. The average symbol signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of the combined data was 2.84 dB, or 0.23 dB less than the sum of the SNRs of the two imput symbol streams. This 0.23 loss from ideal combining was due to use of 4-bit quantization of the input symbol stream and imperfect scaling. A practical implementation with 8-bit quantization could achieve combining losses of under 0.05 dB over a wide dynamic range of input signal levels.

Hurd, W. J.↗

Relative performance of 8.5-GHz and 32-GHz telemetry links on the basis of total data return per pass

The performance of X-band (8.5-GHz) and 32-GHz telemetry links is compared on the basis of the total data return per DSN station pass. Differences in spacecraft transmitter efficiency, transmit circuit loss, and transmitting antenna area efficiency and pointing loss are not considered in these calculations. Thus, the performance differentials calculated in this memo are those produced by a DSN 70-m station antenna gain and clear weather receiving system noise temperature and by weather. These calculations show that, assuming mechanical compensation of the DSN 70-m antenna for 32-GHz operation, a performance advantage for 32 GHz over X-band of 8.2 dB can be achieved for at least one DSN station location. Even if only Canberra and Madrid are used, a performance advantage of 7.7 dB can be obtained for at least one DSN station location. A system using a multiple beam feed (electronic compensation) should achieve similar results.

Koerner, M. A.↗

Software development for the VLA-GDSCC telemetry array project

Software for the VLA-GDSCC Telemetry Array (VGTA) Project is being developed in a new manner. Within the Radio Frequency and Microwave Subsystems Section, most microprocessor software has been developed using Intel hardware and software development systems. The VGTA software, however, is being developed using IBM PCs running consumer-oriented software. Utility software and procedures have been generated which allow the software developed on the IBM PCs to be transferred and run on a multibus 8086 computer.

Cooper, H. W.↗

Single frequency multitransmitter telemetry

The invention relates to a single frequency multitransmitter telemetry system that will deliver a substantial amount of data at low cost. The invention consists essentially of a plurality of sensor transmitter units at different locations, with individual signal conditioning and logic, which send sampled data signals to a single receiver. The transmitters operate independently on the same frequency in a frequency shift keying modulation system and are not synchronized to the receiver. The problem of reception of data from more than one transmitter simultaneously is solved by discarding the data - when there is overlap of data from two or more transmitters, the data is discarded and when there is no overlap the data is retained. The invention utilizes a unique overlap detection technique to determine if data should be retained or discarded. When data is received from a transmitter, it goes into a shift register.

Carreno, Victor A.↗

Method and apparatus for telemetry adaptive bandwidth compression

Methods and apparatus are provided for automatic and/or manual adaptive bandwidth compression of telemetry. An adaptive sampler samples a video signal from a scanning sensor and generates a sequence of sampled fields. Each field and range rate information from the sensor are hence sequentially transmitted to and stored in a multiple and adaptive field storage means. The field storage means then, in response to an automatic or manual control signal, transfers the stored sampled field signals to a video monitor in a form for sequential or simultaneous display of a desired number of stored signal fields. The sampling ratio of the adaptive sample, the relative proportion of available communication bandwidth allocated respectively to transmitted data and video information, and the number of fields simultaneously displayed are manually or automatically selectively adjustable in functional relationship to each other and detected range rate. In one embodiment, when relatively little or no scene motion is detected, the control signal maximizes sampling ratio and causes simultaneous display of all stored fields, thus maximizing resolution and bandwidth available for data transmission. When increased scene motion is detected, the control signal is adjusted accordingly to cause display of fewer fields. If greater resolution is desired, the control signal is adjusted to increase the sampling ratio.

Graham, Olin L.↗

Application of low-power, high-rate PCM telemetry in a helicopter instrumentation system

The use of low-power, high-rate pulse code modulation (PCM) in a helicopter instrumentation system is examined. A Helicopter Instrumentation and Recording System (HIARS) was developed to obtain main rotor blade measurements and fuselage performance measurements. The HIARS consists of a low-power PCM telemeter, a digital PCM system, an optical rotor position sensor, and a PCM decommutation unit; the components and functions of these subsystems are described. Flight tests were conducted to evaluate the ability of the HIARS to measure aircraft parameters. The test data reveal that the PCM telemetry is applicable to helicopter instrumentation systems.

Thomas, Mitchel E.↗

National Space Transportation System telemetry distribution and processing, NASA-JFK Space Center/Cape Canaveral

Prelaunch, launch, mission, and landing distribution of RF and hardline uplink/downlink information between Space Shuttle Orbiter/cargo elements, tracking antennas, and control centers at JSC, KSC, MSFC, GSFC, ESMC/RCC, and Sunnyvale are presented as functional block diagrams. Typical mismatch problems encountered during spacecraft-to-project control center telemetry transmissions are listed along with new items for future support enhancement.

Jenkins, George↗

Telemetry, Tracking, and Control Working Group report

After assessing the design implications and the criteria to be used in technology selection, the technical problems that face the telemetry, tracking, and control (TTC) area were defined. For each of the problems identified, recommendations were made for needed technology developments. These recommendations are listed and ranked according to priority.

Campbell, Richard↗

The use of transputers in processing telemetry data

Parallelism will be an essential ingredient of high performance systems of the future. The Inmos transputer is a high performance single-chip computer whose architecture facilitates the construction of parallel processing systems. Occam is a high level language developed for use with the Inmos transputer. This paper describes a project to evaluate the feasibility of using the transputer to implement real time processing of telemetry data.

Delgado, Hugo M., Jr.↗

Telemetry formats for the Space Station RF links

This paper discusses the formats that have been proposed for the manned Space Station space/ground RF link. In addition to discussing the specific RF formats, the paper seeks to discuss the requirements that have caused the proposed format to exist in its current form. The paper begins by briefly discussing the historical basis for telemetry formats within NASA, and then discusses the unique requirements that the Space Station imposes, compared to traditional space probes. The paper next treats the overall requirements that must be satisfied by the Space Station communications system. Finally the paper discusses the details of the RF format and its proposed operational usage.

Marker, Walter↗

Development and implementation of standards-based telemetry systems

The paper is concerned with the problem of appropriate data handling standards that allow the interchange of individual elements in a noninterfering manner and accomodate increasing performance needs without requiring total system replacement. An example is presented where an implementation (in software) is replaced by a new technology (VLSI circuitry), and it is shown how this approach can point the way to the next generation of telemetry handling systems.

Connell, Edward B.↗

Telemetry interference incorrectly interpreted as evidence for lightning and present-day volcanism at Venus

Spike-like responses to interruptions in the data recorded by the Pioneer Venus Orbiter electric field detector, identified as broadband whistler noise by Singh and Russell (1986), are analyzed. It is shown that these spikes are nonphysical artifacts of the processing of interruptions in telemetry data, and that they are readily distinguishable from other nonartificial noise apppearing in the measurements. It is suggested that key portions of the results of Singh and Russell are compromised by the inclusion of the artificial data. It is concluded that the present electric field data set provides no evidence for inferring the presence of either lighning or present-day volcanism at Venus.

Taylor, Harry A., Jr.↗

Controlling basins of attraction in a neural network-based telemetry monitor

The size of the basins of attraction around fixed points in recurrent neural nets (NNs) can be modified by a training process. Controlling these attractive regions by presenting training data with various amount of noise added to the prototype signal vectors is discussed. Application of this technique to signal processing results in a classification system whose sensitivity can be controlled. This new technique is applied to the classification of temporal sequences in telemetry data.

Bell, Benjamin↗

SHARP: A multi-mission AI system for spacecraft telemetry monitoring and diagnosis

The Spacecraft Health Automated Reasoning Prototype (SHARP) is a system designed to demonstrate automated health and status analysis for multi-mission spacecraft and ground data systems operations. Telecommunications link analysis of the Voyager II spacecraft is the initial focus for the SHARP system demonstration which will occur during Voyager's encounter with the planet Neptune in August, 1989, in parallel with real-time Voyager operations. The SHARP system combines conventional computer science methodologies with artificial intelligence techniques to produce an effective method for detecting and analyzing potential spacecraft and ground systems problems. The system performs real-time analysis of spacecraft and other related telemetry, and is also capable of examining data in historical context. A brief introduction is given to the spacecraft and ground systems monitoring process at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. The current method of operation for monitoring the Voyager Telecommunications subsystem is described, and the difficulties associated with the existing technology are highlighted. The approach taken in the SHARP system to overcome the current limitations is also described, as well as both the conventional and artificial intelligence solutions developed in SHARP.

Lawson, Denise L.↗

Generic telemetry processing

The Space Flight Operations Center (SFOC) is a generic suite of ground data systems software. One main subsystem of SFOC is the Telemetry Input Subsystem (TIS). Utilizing techniques for the abstract representation of data, the TIS has provided a flexible software base that can be used as a baseline for multiple spacecraft missions.

Pettit, Richard L., Jr.↗

Selecting Modulation Indices For Telemetry And Ranging

Report describes algorithm for selection of optimum modulation indices in system for communication between ground station and spacecraft, in which ranging channel operated simultaneously with data (command and telemetry) channel. Provides for optimum division of power among data, ranging, and carrier channels and reduces degradation of performance by undesired interferences among signals.

Nguyen, Tien M.↗

SHARP: A multi-mission artificial intelligence system for spacecraft telemetry monitoring and diagnosis

The Spacecraft Health Automated Reasoning Prototype (SHARP) is a system designed to demonstrate automated health and status analysis for multi-mission spacecraft and ground data systems operations. Telecommunications link analysis of the Voyager 2 spacecraft is the initial focus for the SHARP system demonstration which will occur during Voyager's encounter with the planet Neptune in August, 1989, in parallel with real time Voyager operations. The SHARP system combines conventional computer science methodologies with artificial intelligence techniques to produce an effective method for detecting and analyzing potential spacecraft and ground systems problems. The system performs real time analysis of spacecraft and other related telemetry, and is also capable of examining data in historical context. A brief introduction is given to the spacecraft and ground systems monitoring process at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. The current method of operation for monitoring the Voyager Telecommunications subsystem is described, and the difficulties associated with the existing technology are highlighted. The approach taken in the SHARP system to overcome the current limitations is also described, as well as both the conventional and artificial intelligence solutions developed in SHARP.

Lawson, Denise L.↗