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At least 721 records · Page 40

Digital system identification and its application to digital flight control

On-line system identification of linear discrete systems for implementation in a digital adaptive flight controller is considered by the conventional extended Kalman filter and a decoupling process in which the linear state estimation problem and the linear parameter identification problem are each treated separately and alternately. Input requirements for parameter identifiability are established using the standard conditions of observability for a time variant system. Experimental results for simulated linearized lateral aircraft motion are included along with the effect of different initialization and updating procedures for the priming trajectory used by the filter.

Kotob, S.↗

An aid to the development of Botswana's resources: Section on hydrology

The author has identified the following significant results. It is proved that FCC's can be used for a simple estimate of the total evaportranspiring area of the Okavango Delta, sufficiently accurate for preliminary inputs for the development of mathematical model of the surface hydrology of the delta. The color coded matrix has shown as interesting inverse correlation with an array on the same grid prepared by ecologists from air photography study, for percent liable to flood.

Dickson, W. L.↗

A cross impact methodology for the assessment of US telecommunications system with application to fiber optics development: Executive summary

A cross impact model of the U.S. telecommunications system was developed. For this model, it was necessary to prepare forecasts of the major segments of the telecommunications system, such as satellites, telephone, TV, CATV, radio broadcasting, etc. In addition, forecasts were prepared of the traffic generated by a variety of new or expanded services, such as electronic check clearing and point of sale electronic funds transfer. Finally, the interactions among the forecasts were estimated (the cross impacts). Both the forecasts and the cross impacts were used as inputs to the cross impact model, which could then be used to stimulate the future growth of the entire U.S. telecommunications system. By varying the inputs, technology changes or policy decisions with regard to any segment of the system could be evaluated in the context of the remainder of the system. To illustrate the operation of the model, a specific study was made of the deployment of fiber optics, throughout the telecommunications system.

Martino, J. P.↗

A cross impact methodology for the assessment of US telecommunications system with application to fiber optics development, volume 1

A cross impact model of the U.S. telecommunications system was developed. It was necessary to prepare forecasts of the major segments of the telecommunications system, such as satellites, telephone, TV, CATV, radio broadcasting, etc. In addition, forecasts were prepared of the traffic generated by a variety of new or expanded services, such as electronic check clearing and point of sale electronic funds transfer. Finally, the interactions among the forecasts were estimated (the cross impact). Both the forecasts and the cross impacts were used as inputs to the cross impact model, which could then be used to stimulate the future growth of the entire U.S. telecommunications system. By varying the inputs, technology changes or policy decisions with regard to any segment of the system could be evaluated in the context of the remainder of the system. To illustrate the operation of the model, a specific study was made of the deployment of fiber optics throughout the telecommunications system.

Martino, J. P.↗

Deep space network software cost estimation model

A parametric software cost estimation model prepared for Deep Space Network (DSN) Data Systems implementation tasks is presented. The resource estimation model incorporates principles and data from a number of existing models. The model calibrates task magnitude and difficulty, development environment, and software technology effects through prompted responses to a set of approximately 50 questions. Parameters in the model are adjusted to fit DSN software life cycle statistics. The estimation model output scales a standard DSN Work Breakdown Structure skeleton, which is then input into a PERT/CPM system, producing a detailed schedule and resource budget for the project being planned.

Tausworthe, R. C.↗

Data acquisition and analysis of range-finding systems for spacing construction

For space missions of future, completely autonomous robotic machines will be required to free astronauts from routine chores of equipment maintenance, servicing of faulty systems, etc. and to extend human capabilities in hazardous environments full of cosmic and other harmful radiations. In places of high radiation and uncontrollable ambient illuminations, T.V. camera based vision systems cannot work effectively. However, a vision system utilizing directly measured range information with a time of flight laser rangefinder, can successfully operate under these environments. Such a system will be independent of proper illumination conditions and the interfering effects of intense radiation of all kinds will be eliminated by the tuned input of the laser instrument. Processing the range data according to certain decision, stochastic estimation and heuristic schemes, the laser based vision system will recognize known objects and thus provide sufficient information to the robot's control system which can develop strategies for various objectives.

Shen, C. N.↗

Model predictions and trend analysis

Individual perturbations in atmospheric models are discussed. These are hypothetical perturbations determined by model computation in which it is assumed that one particular input or set of inputs to the model is changed while all others are held constant. The best estimates of past time dependent variations of globally averaged total ozone, and upper tropospheric and stratospheric ozone were determined along with geographical differences in the variations.

Source record↗

Software cost/resource modeling: Deep space network software cost estimation model

A parametric software cost estimation model prepared for JPL deep space network (DSN) data systems implementation tasks is presented. The resource estimation model incorporates principles and data from a number of existing models, such as those of the General Research Corporation, Doty Associates, IBM (Walston-Felix), Rome Air Force Development Center, University of Maryland, and Rayleigh-Norden-Putnam. The model calibrates task magnitude and difficulty, development environment, and software technology effects through prompted responses to a set of approximately 50 questions. Parameters in the model are adjusted to fit JPL software lifecycle statistics. The estimation model output scales a standard DSN work breakdown structure skeleton, which is then input to a PERT/CPM system, producing a detailed schedule and resource budget for the project being planned.

Tausworthe, R. J.↗

Io escape and ionization of atmospheric gases

Exploratory model calculations for the Io atomic oxygen cloud have provided two-dimensional sky-plane intensities for the 6300 A, 1304 A and 880 A lines, where volume excitation and ionization rates are determined by impact collisions with Io plasma torus electrons. Comparison of model results with observations at 6300 A suggests an isotropic oxygen flux from Io of about 1.5x109 atoms 1 sq cm/sec. The effects of including a neutral sulfur cloud and also of including charge exchange reactions between plasma torus ions and neutral OI and SI were evaluated to be significant and were roughly estimated to increase the required oxygen flux to 1.2 x 10 to the 10th atoms/sq cm/sec. In addition, increases in the estimates for the ion loading, cloud mass loss, plasma mass loading and ion energy input rates were also made. Model calculations for an Io sulfur cloud, excluding charge exchange reactions but assuming an SI flux of 7.5 x 10 to the 8th atoms/sq cm/sec (i.e., half of the oxygen flux), were also performed and provided sky plane intensities for a number of visible and IR emission lines.

Smyth, W. H.↗

STS-8 bet results

The final Best Estimate Trajectory (BET) products, i.e., the reconstructed trajectory, the Extended BET, AEROBET and MMLE input files, generated for the eighth NASA Space Shuttle flight are documented. The reconstructed trajectory (inertial BET) for this Challenger flight, the first night landing is discussed. State (position, velocity, and attitude) plus three accelerometer scale factors were determined from fitting the Guam S-band data, seven C-band passes, and pseudo Doppler and altimeter during rollout on Runway 22. The anchor epoch utilized for the batch weighted-least-squares determination was Sept. 5, 1983 7h1m50s.0 (25310 GMT seconds). The spacecraft altitude at epoch is approx. 617 kft. IMU2 data were selected for the reconstruction.

Findlay, J. T.↗

Energy yields in the prebiotic synthesis of hydrogen cyanide and formaldehyde

Prebiotic experiments are usually reported in terms of carbon yields, i.e., the yield of product based on the total carbon in the system. These experiments usually involve a large input of energy and are designed to maximize the yields of product. However, large inputs of energy result in multiple activation of the reactants and products. A more realistic prebiotic experiment is to remove the products of the activation step so they are not exposed a second time to the energy source. This is equivalent to transporting the products synthesized in the primitive atmosphere to the ocean, and thereby protecting them from destruction by atmospheric energy sources. Experiments of this type, using lower inputs of energy, give energy yields (moles of products/joule) which can be used to estimate the relative importance of the different energy sources on the primitive earth. Simulated prebiotic atmospheres containing either CH4, CO or CO2 with N2, H2O and variable amounts of H2 were subjected to a high frequency Tesla coil. Samples of the aqueous phase were taken at various time intervals from 1 hr to 7 days, and the energy yields were obtained by extrapolation to zero time. The samples were analyzed for HCN with the cyanide electrode and for H2CO by chromotropic acid. The spark energy was estimated by calorimetry. The temperature rise in an insulated discharge flask was compared with the temperature rise from a resistance heater in the same flask. These results will be compared with calculated production rates of HCN and H2CO from lightning and a number of photochemical processes on the primitive Earth.

Stribling, R.↗

Improving stability margins in discrete-time LQG controllers

Some of the problems are discussed which are encountered in the design of discrete-time stochastic controllers for problems that may adequately be described by the Linear Quadratic Gaussian (LQG) assumptions; namely, the problems of obtaining acceptable relative stability, robustness, and disturbance rejection properties. A dynamic compensator is proposed to replace the optimal full state feedback regulator gains at steady state, provided that all states are measurable. The compensator increases the stability margins at the plant input, which may possibly be inadequate in practical applications. Though the optimal regulator has desirable properties the observer based controller as implemented with a Kalman filter, in a noisy environment, has inadequate stability margins. The proposed compensator is designed to match the return difference matrix at the plant input to that of the optimal regulator while maintaining the optimality of the state estimates as directed by the measurement noise characteristics.

Oranc, B. Tarik↗

Period Modulation For Telemetry

In innovative telemetry scheme, time between pulses of light transmitted along optical fiber represents measured quantity. In period modulator, time varied by varying control-input voltage, which serves as critical voltage of relaxation oscillator. Demodulator is simple state estimator, no discriminator or phase-locked loop needed. Applicable to radio or wire transmission. Pulses proportional to temperature, pressure, voltage, or other variable monitored remotely.

Kirkham, Harold↗

LAI inversion from optical reflectance using a neural network trained with a multiple scattering model

The inversion of the leaf area index (LAI) canopy parameter from optical spectral reflectance measurements is obtained using a backpropagation artificial neural network trained using input-output pairs generated by a multiple scattering reflectance model. The problem of LAI estimation over sparse canopies (LAI < 1.0) with varying soil reflectance backgrounds is particularly difficult. Standard multiple regression methods applied to canopies within a single homogeneous soil type yield good results but perform unacceptably when applied across soil boundaries, resulting in absolute percentage errors of >1000 percent for low LAI. Minimization methods applied to merit functions constructed from differences between measured reflectances and predicted reflectances using multiple-scattering models are unacceptably sensitive to a good initial guess for the desired parameter. In contrast, the neural network reported generally yields absolute percentage errors of <30 percent when weighting coefficients trained on one soil type were applied to predicted canopy reflectance at a different soil background.

Smith, James A.↗

Time-delay control of a magnetic levitated linear positioning system

In this paper, a high accuracy linear positioning system with a linear force actuator and magnetic levitation is proposed. By locating a permanently magnetized rod inside a current-carrying solenoid, the axial force is achieved by the boundary effect of magnet poles and utilized to power the linear motion, while the force for levitation is governed by Ampere's Law supplied with the same solenoid. With the levitation in a radial direction, there is hardly any friction between the rod and the solenoid. The high speed motion can hence be achieved. Besides, the axial force acting on the rod is a smooth function of rod position, so the system can provide nanometer resolution linear positioning to the molecule size. Since the force-position relation is highly nonlinear, and the mathematical model is derived according to some assumptions, such as the equivalent solenoid of the permanently magnetized rod, so there exists unknown dynamics in practical application. Thus 'robustness' is an important issue in controller design. Meanwhile the load effect reacts directly on the servo system without transmission elements, so the capability of 'disturbance rejection; is also required. With the above consideration, a time-delay control scheme is chosen and applied. By comparing the input-output relation and the mathematical model, the time-delay controller calculates an estimation of unmodeled dynamics and disturbances and then composes the desired compensation into the system. Effectiveness of the linear positioning system and control scheme are illustrated with simulation results.

Tarn, J. H.↗

Advances in Experiment Design for High Performance Aircraft

A general overview and summary of recent advances in experiment design for high performance aircraft is presented, along with results from flight tests. General theoretical background is included, with some discussion of various approaches to maneuver design. Flight test examples from the F-18 High Alpha Research Vehicle (HARV) are used to illustrate applications of the theory. Input forms are compared using Cramer-Rao bounds for the standard errors of estimated model parameters. Directions for future research in experiment design for high performance aircraft are identified.

Morelli, Engene A.↗

Advances in Experiment Design for High Performance Aircraft

A general overview and summary of recent advances in experiment design for high performance aircraft is presented, along with results from flight tests. General theoretical background is included, with some discussion of various approaches to maneuver design. Flight test examples from the F-18 High Alpha Research Vehicle (HARV) are used to illustrate applications of the theory. Input forms are compared using Cramer-Rao bounds for the standard errors of estimated model parameters. Directions for future research in experiment design for high performance aircraft are identified.

Morelli, Eugene A.↗

The Global Precipitation Patterns Associated with Short-Term Extratropical Climate Fluctuations

Two globally-complete, observation-only precipitation datasets have recently been developed for the Global Precipitation Climatology Project (GPCP). Both depend heavily on a variety of satellite input, as well as gauge data over land. The first, Version 2x79, provides monthly estimates on a 2.5 deg. x 2.5 deg. lat/long grid for the period 1979 through late 1999 (by the time of the conference). The second, the One-Degree Daily (1DD), provides daily estimates on a 1 deg. x l deg. grid for the period 1997 through late 1999 (by the time of the conference). Both are in beta test preparatory to release as official GPCP products. These datasets provide a unique perspective on the hydrological effects of the various atmospheric flow anomalies that have been identified by meteorologists. In this paper we discuss the regional precipitation effects that result from persistent extratropical flow anomalies. We will focus on the Pacific-North America (PNA) and North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) patterns. Each characteristically becomes established on synoptic time scales, but then persists for periods that can exceed a month. The onset phase of each appears to have systematic mobile features, while the mature phase tend to be more stationary. Accordingly, composites of monthly data for outstanding positive and negative events (separately) contained in the 20-year record reveal the climatological structure of the precipitation during the mature phase. The climatological anomalies of the positive, negative, and (positive-negative) composites show the expected storm-track-related shifts in precipitation, and provide the advantage of putting the known precipitation effects over land in the context of the total pattern over land and ocean. As well, this global perspective points out some unexpected areas of correlation. Day-by-day composites of daily data anchored to the onset date demonstrate the systematic features during the onset. Although the 1DD has a fairly short record, some preliminary results are shown and compared to previous work with numerical weather prediction models.

Huffman, George J.↗