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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.

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At least 685 records · Page 38
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1990

Artificial neural network classification using a minimal training set - Comparison to conventional supervised classification

Recent research has shown an artificial neural network (ANN) to be capable of pattern recognition and the classification of image data. This paper examines the potential for the application of neural network computing to satellite image processing. A second objective is to provide a preliminary comparison and ANN classification. An artificial neural network can be trained to do land-cover classification of satellite imagery using selected sites representative of each class in a manner similar to conventional supervised classification. One of the major problems associated with recognition and classifications of pattern from remotely sensed data is the time and cost of developing a set of training sites. This reseach compares the use of an ANN back propagation classification procedure with a conventional supervised maximum likelihood classification procedure using a minimal training set. When using a minimal training set, the neural network is able to provide a land-cover classification superior to the classification derived from the conventional classification procedure. This research is the foundation for developing application parameters for further prototyping of software and hardware implementations for artificial neural networks in satellite image and geographic information processing.

Hepner, George F.↗
NASA NTRS1990

Multiple-symbol differential detection of MPSK

A differential detection technique for MPSK (multiple-phase shift keying), which uses a multiple-symbol observation interval, is presented, and its performance is analyzed and simulated. The technique makes use of maximum-likelihood sequence estimation of the transmitted phases rather than symbol-by-symbol detection as in conventional differential detection. Thus, the performance of this multiple-symbol detection scheme fills the gap between conventional (two-symbol observation) differentially coherent detection of MPSK and ideal coherent of MPSK with differential encoding. The amount of improvement gained over conventional differential detection depends on the number of phases M and the number of additional symbol intervals added to the observation. What is particularly interesting is that substantial performance improvement can be obtained for only one or two additional symbol intervals of observation. The analysis and simulation results presented are for uncoded MPSK.

Divsalar, Dariush↗
NASA NTRS1989

Signal and data processing of small targets 1989; Proceedings of the Meeting, Orlando, FL, Mar. 27-29, 1989

The present conference on digital signal processing, association and filtering techniques, and multiple-sensor/multiple-tracking techniques, discusses single-frame velocity estimation, efficient target extraction for laser radar imagery, precision target tracking for small extended objects, IR clutter partitioning for matched filter design, the maximum-likelihood approach to gamma circumvention, position estimation for optical point targets using staring detector arrays, and a multiple-scan signal processing technique for area-moving target indication. Also discussed are a proportional integral estimator, the prediction of track purity in tracking performance evaluations, synchronization and fault-tolerance in a distributed tracker, the benefits of soft sensors and probabilistic fusion, and testing track initiation algorithms fusing two-dimensional tracks.

Drummond, Oliver E.↗
NASA NTRS1990

Distributed parameter estimation for large beam-like structures for general inputs

In this paper, maximum likelihood estimation for distributed parameter models of large flexible structures has been formulated. Distributed parameter models involve far fewer unknown parameters than independent modal characteristics of finite element models. The closed-form solutions for the partial differential equations with general forced inputs have been derived. The closed-form expressions of the sensitivity functions lead to highly efficient algorithms for analyzing ground or on-orbit test results. Numerical simulations with impulse and step inputs to the NASA Mini-MAST trust have been demonstrated. The estimations of modal properties involve its longitudinal elongation modes, lateral bending modes and torsional modes. The results show that distributed parameter models are promising in the parameter estimation of large flexible structures.

Shen, Ji-Yao↗
NASA NTRS1990

X-ray spectra of compact extragalactic radio sources

A comparison is conducted of the 0.1-3.5 keV mean power law energy spectral indices (alpha) measured by the Einstein Observatory IPC for (1) 19 low polarization, flat radio spectrum (FRS) core-dominant QSOs; (2) 12 highly polarized QSOs (HPQs); and (3) 24 radio-selected BL Lac objects. Individual spectral fits are presented for several sources for which results are unavailable elsewhere. A maximum-likelihood analysis was used to ascertain the mean power-law index and the standard deviation for each class, under the assumption of a Gaussian intrinsic distribution. The distributions for HPQ and FRS QSOs are similar, in contrast with a small sample of the X-ray-selected BL Lac objects. Implications of these findings for synchrotron self-Compton models are considered.

Worrall, D. M.↗
NASA NTRS1989

Truncation effects in Viterbi decoding

Practical Viterbi decoders often fall significantly short of full maximum likelihood decoding performance because of survivor truncation effects. In the present work the authors study the tradeoff between truncation length and performance loss for the two most common variations of Viterbi's algorithm: best-state decoding (BSD) and fixed-state decoding (FSD). It is found that FSD survivors should be about twice as long as BSD survivors for comparable performance.

Mceliece, Robert J.↗
NASA NTRS1990

Combating speckle in SAR images - Vector filtering and sequential classification based on a multiplicative noise model

An adaptive vector linear minimum mean-squared error (LMMSE) filter for multichannel images with multiplicative noise is presented. It is shown theoretically that the mean-squared error in the filter output is reduced by making use of the correlation between image bands. The vector and conventional scalar LMMSE filters are applied to a three-band SIR-B SAR, and their performance is compared. Based on a mutliplicative noise model, the per-pel maximum likelihood classifier was derived. The authors extend this to the design of sequential and robust classifiers. These classifiers are also applied to the three-band SIR-B SAR image.

Lin, Qian↗
NASA NTRS1990

Modulation and coding for satellite and space communications

Several modulation and coding advances supported by NASA are summarized. To support long-constraint-length convolutional code, a VLSI maximum-likelihood decoder, utilizing parallel processing techniques, which is being developed to decode convolutional codes of constraint length 15 and a code rate as low as 1/6 is discussed. A VLSI high-speed 8-b Reed-Solomon decoder which is being developed for advanced tracking and data relay satellite (ATDRS) applications is discussed. A 300-Mb/s modem with continuous phase modulation (CPM) and codings which is being developed for ATDRS is discussed. Trellis-coded modulation (TCM) techniques are discussed for satellite-based mobile communication applications.

Yuen, Joseph H.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Computing Confidence Limits

Confidence Limits Program (CLP) calculates upper and lower confidence limits associated with observed outcome of N independent trials with M occurrences of event of interest. Calculates probability of event of interest for confidence levels of 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95, 96, 97, 98, and 99 percent. Provides graphical presentation of all limits and how they relate to maximum-likelihood value. Written in IBM PC BASIC.

Biggs, Robert E.↗
NASA NTRS1990

Calculation of Weibull strength parameters, Batdorf flaw density constants and related statistical quantities using PC-CARES

This manual describes the operation and theory of the PC-CARES (Personal Computer-Ceramic Analysis and Reliability Evaluation of Structures) computer program for the IBM PC and compatibles running PC-DOS/MS-DOR OR IBM/MS-OS/2 (version 1.1 or higher) operating systems. The primary purpose of this code is to estimate Weibull material strength parameters, the Batdorf crack density coefficient, and other related statistical quantities. Included in the manual is the description of the calculation of shape and scale parameters of the two-parameter Weibull distribution using the least-squares analysis and maximum likelihood methods for volume- and surface-flaw-induced fracture in ceramics with complete and censored samples. The methods for detecting outliers and for calculating the Kolmogorov-Smirnov and the Anderson-Darling goodness-of-fit statistics and 90 percent confidence bands about the Weibull line, as well as the techniques for calculating the Batdorf flaw-density constants are also described.

Szatmary, Steven A.↗
NASA NTRS1991

A method for classification of multisource data using interval-valued probabilities and its application to HIRIS data

A method of classifying multisource data in remote sensing is presented. The proposed method considers each data source as an information source providing a body of evidence, represents statistical evidence by interval-valued probabilities, and uses Dempster's rule to integrate information based on multiple data source. The method is applied to the problems of ground-cover classification of multispectral data combined with digital terrain data such as elevation, slope, and aspect. Then this method is applied to simulated 201-band High Resolution Imaging Spectrometer (HIRIS) data by dividing the dimensionally huge data source into smaller and more manageable pieces based on the global statistical correlation information. It produces higher classification accuracy than the Maximum Likelihood (ML) classification method when the Hughes phenomenon is apparent.

Kim, H.↗
NASA NTRS1991

An overview of the essential differences and similarities of system identification techniques

Information is given in the form of outlines, graphs, tables and charts. Topics include system identification, Bayesian statistical decision theory, Maximum Likelihood Estimation, identification methods, structural mode identification using a stochastic realization algorithm, and identification results regarding membrane simulations and X-29 flutter flight test data.

Mehra, Raman K.↗
NASA NTRS1991

The pulse-pair algorithm as a robust estimator of turbulent weather spectral parameters using airborne pulse Doppler radar

The pulse pair method for spectrum parameter estimation is commonly used in pulse Doppler weather radar signal processing since it is economical to implement and can be shown to be a maximum likelihood estimator. With the use of airborne weather radar for windshear detection, the turbulent weather and strong ground clutter return spectrum differs from that assumed in its derivation, so the performance robustness of the pulse pair technique must be understood. Here, the effect of radar system pulse to pulse phase jitter and signal spectrum skew on the pulse pair algorithm performance is discussed. Phase jitter effect may be significant when the weather return signal to clutter ratio is very low and clutter rejection filtering is attempted. The analysis can be used to develop design specifications for airborne radar system phase stability. It is also shown that the weather return spectrum skew can cause a significant bias in the pulse pair mean windspeed estimates, and that the poly pulse pair algorithm can reduce this bias. It is suggested that use of a spectrum mode estimator may be more appropriate in characterizing the windspeed within a radar range resolution cell for detection of hazardous windspeed gradients.

Baxa, Ernest G., Jr.↗
NASA NTRS1991

High-speed laser anemometry based on spectrally resolved Rayleigh scattering

Laser anemometry in unseeded flows based on the measurement of the spectrum of Rayleigh scattered laser light is reviewed. The use of molecular scattering avoids the well known problems (particle lag, biasing effects, seed generation, seed injection) of seeded flows. The fundamental limits on velocity measurement accuracy are determined using maximum likelihood methods. Measurement of the Rayleigh spectrum with scanning Fabry-Perot interferometers is analyzed and accuracy limits are established for both single pass and multipass configurations. Multipass configurations have much higher selectivity and are needed for measurements where there is a large amount of excess noise caused by stray laser light. It is shown that Rayleigh scattering is particularly useful for supersonic and hypersonic flows. The results of the analysis are compared with measurements obtained with a Rayleigh scattering diagnostic developed for study of the exhaust plume of a small hydrogen-oxygen rocket, where the velocities are in the range of 1000 to 5000 m/sec.

Seasholtz, Richard G.↗
NASA NTRS1991

XSPEC: An x ray spectral fitting package. Version 2 of the user's guide

The user guide for XSPEC, a command driven, interactive, X-ray spectral fitting program is presented. It is designed to be completely detector independent so it can be used for any X-ray spectral instrument. An overview of the program commands and a walk through of an XSPEC session is presented. Individual commands and descriptions of the spectral models are given. For the more experienced user details of some of the programs associated with XSPEC, the command parser, and the addition of models to XSPEC are included. The PLT plotting package used by XSPEC is described together with the maximum likelihood option for users possessing X-ray spectra with small numbers of counts per bin. Details on the various files used by XSPEC and on the general file structure are also given.

Shafer, R. A.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Coding gains and error rates from the Big Viterbi Decoder

A prototype hardware Big Viterbi Decoder (BVD) was completed for an experiment with the Galileo Spacecraft. Searches for new convolutional codes, studies of Viterbi decoder hardware designs and architectures, mathematical formulations, and decompositions of the deBruijn graph into identical and hierarchical subgraphs, and very large scale integration (VLSI) chip design are just a few examples of tasks completed for this project. The BVD bit error rates (BER), measured from hardware and software simulations, are plotted as a function of bit signal to noise ratio E sub b/N sub 0 on the additive white Gaussian noise channel. Using the constraint length 15, rate 1/4, experimental convolutional code for the Galileo mission, the BVD gains 1.5 dB over the NASA standard (7,1/2) Maximum Likelihood Convolution Decoder (MCD) at a BER of 0.005. At this BER, the same gain results when the (255,233) NASA standard Reed-Solomon decoder is used, which yields a word error rate of 2.1 x 10(exp -8) and a BER of 1.4 x 10(exp -9). The (15, 1/6) code to be used by the Cometary Rendezvous Asteroid Flyby (CRAF)/Cassini Missions yields 1.7 dB of coding gain. These gains are measured with respect to symbols input to the BVD and increase with decreasing BER. Also, 8-bit input symbol quantization makes the BVD resistant to demodulated signal-level variations which may cause higher bandwidth than the NASA (7,1/2) code, these gains are offset by about 0.1 dB of expected additional receiver losses. Coding gains of several decibels are possible by compressing all spacecraft data.

Onyszchuk, I. M.↗
NASA NTRS1990

Application of beamform to sound propagation in the atmosphere

The feasibility of applying beam-former technology (i.e., the technique that uses the combined signal from an array of sensors as a spatial filter to locate sound sources) in atmospheric acoustics is examined. Special attention is given to the microphone array, data collection, and signal processing technology as well as to an array processing algorithm. It is shown that this algorithm, which incorporates the maximum-likelihood method, is operational. Also discussed is a postprocessing algorithm for eliminating the ghosting sidelobes that arise from the moving sources.

Gerhold, Carl H.↗
NASA NTRS1989

Use of robust estimators in parametric classifiers

The parametric approach to density estimation and classifier design is a well studied subject. The parametric approach is desirable because basically it reduces the problem of classifier design to that of estimating a few parameters for each of the pattern classes. The class parameters are usually estimated using maximum-likelihood (ML) estimators. ML estimators are, however, very sensitive to the presence of outliers. Several robust estimators of mean and covariance matrix and their effect on the probability of error in classification are examined. Comments are made about alpha-ranked (alpha-trimmed) estimators.

Safavian, S. Rasoul↗