SEARCH · Engineering Papers

Results for “slater determinant”

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.

SourceResearch connectionFrom yearThrough year

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

At least 73 records · Page 4

All sources NASA NTRS DOE OSTI

NASA NTRS1972

Determination of the inflight OTF of orbital earth resources sensors

There are no author-identified significant results in this report. A technique has been investigated that is particularly applicable to evaluation of earth-orbiting multispectral sensors. In all programs employing such sensors, simultaneous underflight photography from aircraft is made during passes of the spacecraft. To evaluate the spacecraft imagery, the two sets of photographs are scanned and digitized with a microdensitometer. The data are then Fourier analyzed, and the spatial frequency spectra is calculated. The spatial frequencies in the underflight trace are scaled to those in the spacecraft trace, and the ratio of the spectra gives the in-flight optical transfer function (OTF) for the orbiting sensor. The method has been applied to an Apollo 9 frame and the sensor OTF has been calculated. The results are good enough to encourage use of the technique and to indicate the accuracies required of the various measurements involved in determining in-flight sensor OTF by this method. A technique for determining correct scan registration and scaling between the two sets of imagery and a promising approach to noise reduction, in the form of weighted averaging of OTF's, are discussed.

Slater, P. N.↗

NASA NTRS1983

Spectroradiometric calibration of the thematic mapper and multispectral scanner system

The results obtained for the absolute calibration of TM bands 2, 3, and 4 are presented. The results are based on TM image data collected simultaneously with ground and atmospheric data at White Sands, New Mexico. Also discussed are the results of a moments analysis to determine the equivalent bandpasses, effective central wavelengths and normalized responses of the TM and MSS spectral bands; the calibration of the BaSO, plate used at White Sands; and future plans.

Slater, P. N.↗

NASA NTRS2007

Constraint, Intelligence, and Control Hierarchy in Virtual Environments

This paper seeks to deal directly with the question of what makes virtual actors and objects that are experienced in virtual environments seem real. (The term virtual reality, while more common in public usage, is an oxymoron; therefore virtual environment is the preferred term in this paper). Reality is difficult topic, treated for centuries in those sub-fields of philosophy called ontology- "of or relating to being or existence" and epistemology- "the study of the method and grounds of knowledge, especially with reference to its limits and validity" (both from Webster s, 1965). Advances in recent decades in the technologies of computers, sensors and graphics software have permitted human users to feel present or experience immersion in computer-generated virtual environments. This has motivated a keen interest in probing this phenomenon of presence and immersion not only philosophically but also psychologically and physiologically in terms of the parameters of the senses and sensory stimulation that correlate with the experience (Ellis, 1991). The pages of the journal Presence: Teleoperators and Virtual Environments have seen much discussion of what makes virtual environments seem real (see, e.g., Slater, 1999; Slater et al. 1994; Sheridan, 1992, 2000). Stephen Ellis, when organizing the meeting that motivated this paper, suggested to invited authors that "We may adopt as an organizing principle for the meeting that the genesis of apparently intelligent interaction arises from an upwelling of constraints determined by a hierarchy of lower levels of behavioral interaction. "My first reaction was "huh?" and my second was "yeah, that seems to make sense." Accordingly the paper seeks to explain from the author s viewpoint, why Ellis s hypothesis makes sense. What is the connection of "presence" or "immersion" of an observer in a virtual environment, to "constraints" and what types of constraints. What of "intelligent interaction," and is it the intelligence of the observer or the intelligence of the environment (whatever the latter may mean) that is salient? And finally, what might be relevant about "upwelling" of constraints as determined by a hierarchy of levels of interaction?

Sheridan, Thomas B.↗

NASA NTRS1991

A ratioing radiometer for use with a solar diffuser

The use of an on-board solar diffuser has been proposed to monitor the in-flight calibration of satellite sensors. This paper presents the preliminary specifications and design for a ratioing radiometer, to be used to determine the change in radiance of the solar diffuser. The issues involved in spectral channel selection are discussed and the effects of stray light are presented. An error analysis showing the benefit of the ratioing radiometer is included.

Palmer, James M.↗

DOE OSTI2025

Evaluating opportunity for distributed wind energy in rural and agricultural areas

Wind energy is among the most mature renewable energy technologies, accounting for 11% of the current US electricity generation in 2024, with the lowest average levelized cost. While it is known that substantial opportunity exists for further development, a key question has been where wind energy is best suited compared to other technologies. This study leverages an immense dataset of parcel-resolved technoeconomic potential for the contiguous United States, focusing on distributed wind (DW) energy—a configuration where one or more turbines, typically 30–60 m in height are used to satisfy nearby energy needs. The analysis is conducted at multiple spatial scales and considers land use, crop land, census, and incentive program data to determine the most opportune areas for market development. The results show that rural, agricultural and residential areas are most suited to DW. Connection type (in front of, or behind the meter) and regulations determine the best application, while siting constraints, economics, demand and the wind resource determines the optimal size of turbine.

17 WIND ENERGY↗

NASA NTRS1986

X-ray imaging of a filament eruption with the Solar Maximum Mission satellite

Soft X-ray observations of a filament located near NOAA AR 4640 were obtained with the Flat Crystal Spectrometer (FCS) on board the Solar Maximum Mission satellite on April 3-12, 1985. On April 7 the filament partially lifted off. At the same time and location an enhancement was imaged in soft X-rays. A total of 16 h of FCS observations, including 25 raster images, were made of the filament prior to the eruption, and over 40 h of observations, including 57 raster images, were made following the eruption. Careful alignment of H-alpha images taken during the same period has made possible the calculation of the integrated soft X-ray emission around the filament channel before, during, and after the eruption. Kitt Peak magnetograms have also been examined for this period to determine the corresponding magnetic field structure. A time history of the eruption in X-ray and optical wavelengths, and the development of the magnetic-field structure are presented. Evidence is seen for X-ray brightening in preexisting magnetic-field loops over the filament.

Slater, G. L.↗

NASA NTRS1980

A model for helicopter guidance on spiral trajectories

A point mass model is developed for helicopter guidance on spiral trajectories. A fully coupled set of state equations is developed and perturbation equations suitable for 3-D and 4-D guidance are derived and shown to be amenable to conventional state variable feedback methods. Control variables are chosen to be the magnitude and orientation of the net rotor thrust. Using these variables reference controls for nonlevel accelerating trajectories are easily determined. The effects of constant wind are shown to require significant feedforward correction to some of the reference controls and to the time. Although not easily measured themselves, the controls variables chosen are shown to be easily related to the physical variables available in the cockpit.

Mendenhall, S.↗

NASA NTRS1982

Gain optimization with nonlinear controls

An algorithm has been developed for the analysis and design of controls for nonlinear systems. The technical approach is to use statistical linearization to model the nonlinear dynamics of a system. A covariance analysis is performed to determine the behavior of the dynamical system and a quadratic cost function. Expressions for the cost function and its derivatives are determined so that numerical optimization techniques can be applied to determine optimal feedback laws. The primary application for this report is centered about the design of controls for nominally linear systems but where the controls are saturated or limited by fixed constraints. The analysis is general however and numerical computation requires only that the specific nonlinearity be considered in the analysis.

Slater, G. L.↗

NASA NTRS1983

In-flight absolute radiometric calibration of the thematic mapper

The TM multispectral scanner system was calibrated in an absolute manner before launch. To determine the temporal changes of the absolute radiometric calibration of the entire system, spectroradiometric measurements of the ground and the atmosphere were made simultaneously with TM collections over White Sands, New Mexico. By entering the measured values in an atmospheric radiative transfer program, the radiance levels of the in four of the spectral bands of the TM were determined. Tables show values for the reflectance of snow at White Sands measured by a modular 8 channel radiometer, and values for exoatmospheric irradiance within the TM passbands, calculated for the Earth-Sun distance using a solar radiometer.

Castle, K. R.↗

NASA NTRS1973

Study of an instrument for sensing errors in a telescope wavefront

Partial results are presented of theoretical and experimental investigations of different focal plane sensor configurations for determining the error in a telescope wavefront. The coarse range sensor and fine range sensors are used in the experimentation. The design of a wavefront error simulator is presented along with the Hartmann test, the shearing polarization interferometer, the Zernike test, and the Zernike polarization test.

Golden, L. J.↗

NASA NTRS1984

Gain optimization with non-linear controls

An algorithm has been developed for the analysis and design of controls for non-linear systems. The technical approach is to use statistical linearization to model the non-linear dynamics of a system by a quasi-Gaussian model. A covariance analysis is performed to determine the behavior of the dynamical system and a quadratic cost function. Expressions for the cost function and its derivatives are determined so that numerical optimization techniques can be applied to determine optimal feedback laws. The primary application for this paper is centered about the design of controls for nominally linear systems but where the controls are saturated or limited by fixed constraints. The analysis is general, however, and numerical computation requires only that the specific non-linearity be considered in the analysis.

Slater, G. L.↗

NASA NTRS1988

High-resolution detectors for imaging and spectroscopy at ultraviolet and soft X-ray wavelengths

The Multi-Anode Microchannel Arrays (MAMAs) are a family of pulse-counting imaging array detectors designed specifically for astrophysical investigations in space. The MAMAs have a number of unique performance characteristics which make them particularly suitable for imaging and spectroscopy at ultraviolet and soft X-ray wavelengths. First, they employ 'solar blind' photocathodes eliminating the 'red leak' problem associated with solid state arrays such as the CCDs. Second, they operate with zero readout noise, yielding photon-statistics limited signals. Third, they utilize a random readout technique and can determine both the location of a detected photon and also its arrival time to an accuracy of the order of 100 ns. This paper gives an overview of the construction, mode of operation, and performance characteristics of the MAMA detectors and describes the current status of the development program.

Timothy, J. G.↗

NASA NTRS1995

Inference of 3-dimensional structure underlying large-scale coronal events observed by Yohkoh and Ulysses

The Yohkoh/SXT images provide full-disk coverage of the solar corona, usually extending before and after one of the large-scale eruptive events that occur in the polar crown These produce large arcades of X-ray loops, often with a cusp-shaped coronal extension, and are known to be associated with coronal mass ejections. The Yohkoh prototype of such events occurred 12 Nov. 1991. This allows us to determine heights from the apparent rotation rates of these structures. In comparison v with magnetic-field extrapolations from Wilcox Solar Observatory. use use this tool to infer the three dimensional structure of the corona in particular cases: 24 Jan. 1992, 24 Feb. 1993, 14 Apr. 1994, and 13 Nov. 1994. The last event is a long-duration flare event.

Slater, G. L.↗

NASA NTRS1979

Analysis of integral controls in linear quadratic regulator design

The application of linear optimal control to the design of systems with integral control action on specified outputs is considered. Using integral terms in a quadratic performance index, an asymptotic analysis is used to determine the effect of variable quadratic weights on the eigenvalues and eigenvectors of the closed loop system. It is shown that for small integral terms the placement of integrator poles and gain calculation can be effectively decoupled from placement of the primary system eigenvalues. This technique is applied to the design of integral controls for a STOL aircraft outer loop guidance system.

Slater, G. L.↗

NASA NTRS1984

Perturbation analysis of optimal integral controls

Slater, G. L.↗

NASA NTRS1984

In-flight Absolute Radiometric Calibration of the Thematic Mapper

The Thematic Mapper (TM) multispectral scanner system was placed into Earth orbit on July 16, 1982, as part of NASA's LANDSAT 4 payload. To determine temporal changes of the absolute radiometric calibration of the entire system in flight, spectroradiometric measurements of the ground and the atmosphere are made simultaneously with TM image acquisitions over the White Sands, New Mexico area. By entering the measured values into an atmospheric radiative transfer program, the radiance levels at the entrance pupil of the TM in four of the TM spectral bands are determined. These levels are compared to the output digital counts from the detectors that sampled the radiometrically measured ground area, thus providing an absolute radiometric calibration of the entire TM system utilizing those detectors. By reference to an adjacent, larger uniform area, the calibration is extended to all 16 detectors in each of the three bands.

Castle, K. R.↗

NASA NTRS1984

In-flight absolute radiometric calibration of the thematic mapper

In order to determine temporal changes of the absolute radiometric calibration of the entire TM system in flight spectroradiometric measurements of the ground and the atmosphere were made simultaneously with TM image collections over the White Sands, New Mexico area. By entering the measured values in an atmospheric radiative transfer program, the radiance levels in four of the spectral bands of the TM were determined, band 1:0.45 to 0.52 micrometers, band 2:0.53 to 0.61 micrometers band 3:0.62 to 0.70 micrometers and 4:0.78 to 0.91 micrometers. These levels were compared to the output digital counts from the detectors that sampled the radiometrically measured ground area, thus providing an absolute radiometric calibration of the entire TM system utilizing those detectors.

Castle, K. R.↗

NASA NTRS1984

On-line determination of optimal flight paths for helicopters

A procedure for computing fuel optimal fixed range trajectories is developed for helicopters. The algorithm uses a simplified dynamic model and a climb-cruise-descent assumption which simplifies the variational problem to an algebraic minimization. Development of the performance model is discussed extensively and representative results for the S-61 and S-76 helicopters are presented. The results show that the model and optimization algorithm are small enough and simple enough to be incorporated into an on-line optimization algorithm.

Slater, G. L.↗