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At least 829 records · Page 46

A Decade of Neural Networks: Practical Applications and Prospects

The Jet Propulsion Laboratory Neural Network Workshop, sponsored by NASA and DOD, brings together sponsoring agencies, active researchers, and the user community to formulate a vision for the next decade of neural network research and application prospects. While the speed and computing power of microprocessors continue to grow at an ever-increasing pace, the demand to intelligently and adaptively deal with the complex, fuzzy, and often ill-defined world around us remains to a large extent unaddressed. Powerful, highly parallel computing paradigms such as neural networks promise to have a major impact in addressing these needs. Papers in the workshop proceedings highlight benefits of neural networks in real-world applications compared to conventional computing techniques. Topics include fault diagnosis, pattern recognition, and multiparameter optimization.

Kemeny, Sabrina E.↗

Transmission diagnostic research at NASA Lewis Research Center

The NASA Lewis Research Center and the U.S. Army Research Laboratory are involved in a joint research program to advance the technology of aerospace transmissions. Within the last six years, a transmission diagnostics research team was formed to address current and future technology barriers in transmission diagnostics. The diagnostics team conducted a survey to determine critical needs of the diagnostics community. Survey results indicated that experimental verification of gear and bearing fault detection methods and damage magnitude assessment were considered the two most critical research areas of a highly reliable health and usage monitoring system. A plan was implemented by the diagnostics team to address these key research areas, by in-house research and university grants. A variety of transmission fault detection methods were applied to experimentally obtained fatigue data. Failure modes of the fatigue tests include a variety of gear pitting failures, tooth wear, tooth fracture, and bearing spalling failures. Accomplishments to date include verification of several specific gear diagnostic methods, verification of a new pattern recognition method to determine failure, and development of a new method to model gear tooth damage. This paper presents the results of these accomplishments in transmission diagnostics research at NASA Lewis Research Center.

Zakrajsek, J. J.↗

Multi-layer holographic bifurcative neural network system for real-time adaptive EOS data analysis

Optical data processing techniques have the inherent advantage of high data throughout, low weight and low power requirements. These features are particularly desirable for onboard spacecraft in-situ real-time data analysis and data compression applications. the proposed multi-layer optical holographic neural net pattern recognition technique will utilize the nonlinear photorefractive devices for real-time adaptive learning to classify input data content and recognize unexpected features. Information can be stored either in analog or digital form in a nonlinear photofractive device. The recording can be accomplished in time scales ranging from milliseconds to microseconds. When a system consisting of these devices is organized in a multi-layer structure, a feedforward neural net with bifurcating data classification capability is formed. The interdisciplinary research will involve the collaboration with top digital computer architecture experts at the University of Southern California.

Liu, Hua-Kuang↗

Fault Diagnosis of Power Systems Using Intelligent Systems

The power system operator's need for a reliable power delivery system calls for a real-time or near-real-time Al-based fault diagnosis tool. Such a tool will allow NASA ground controllers to re-establish a normal or near-normal degraded operating state of the EPS (a DC power system) for Space Station Alpha by isolating the faulted branches and loads of the system. And after isolation, re-energizing those branches and loads that have been found not to have any faults in them. A proposed solution involves using the Fault Diagnosis Intelligent System (FDIS) to perform near-real time fault diagnosis of Alpha's EPS by downloading power transient telemetry at fault-time from onboard data loggers. The FDIS uses an ANN clustering algorithm augmented with a wavelet transform feature extractor. This combination enables this system to perform pattern recognition of the power transient signatures to diagnose the fault type and its location down to the orbital replaceable unit. FDIS has been tested using a simulation of the LeRC Testbed Space Station Freedom configuration including the topology from the DDCU's to the electrical loads attached to the TPDU's. FDIS will work in conjunction with the Power Management Load Scheduler to determine what the state of the system was at the time of the fault condition. This information is used to activate the appropriate diagnostic section, and to refine if necessary the solution obtained. In the latter case, if the FDIS reports back that it is equally likely that the faulty device as 'start tracker #1' and 'time generation unit,' then based on a priori knowledge of the system's state, the refined solution would be 'star tracker #1' located in cabinet ITAS2. It is concluded from the present studies that artificial intelligence diagnostic abilities are improved with the addition of the wavelet transform, and that when such a system such as FDIS is coupled to the Power Management Load Scheduler, a faulty device can be located and isolated from the rest of the system. The benefit of these studies provides NASA with the ability to quickly restore the operating status of a space station from a critical state to a safe degraded mode, thereby saving costs in experimentation rescheduling, fault diagnostics, and prevention of loss-of-life.

Momoh, James A.↗

Feature Extraction Based on Decision Boundaries

In this paper, a novel approach to feature extraction for classification is proposed based directly on the decision boundaries. We note that feature extraction is equivalent to retaining informative features or eliminating redundant features; thus, the terms 'discriminantly information feature' and 'discriminantly redundant feature' are first defined relative to feature extraction for classification. Next, it is shown how discriminantly redundant features and discriminantly informative features are related to decision boundaries. A novel characteristic of the proposed method arises by noting that usually only a portion of the decision boundary is effective in discriminating between classes, and the concept of the effective decision boundary is therefore introduced. Next, a procedure to extract discriminantly informative features based on a decision boundary is proposed. The proposed feature extraction algorithm has several desirable properties: (1) It predicts the minimum number of features necessary to achieve the same classification accuracy as in the original space for a given pattern recognition problem; and (2) it finds the necessary feature vectors. The proposed algorithm does not deteriorate under the circumstances of equal class means or equal class covariances as some previous algorithms do. Experiments show that the performance of the proposed algorithm compares favorably with those of previous algorithms.

Lee, Chulhee↗

Health Monitoring System for Composite Structures

An automated system was developed to monitor the health status of composites. It uses the vibration characteristics of composites to identify a component's damage condition. The vibration responses are characterized by a set of signal features defined in the time, frequency and spatial domains. The identification of these changes in the vibration characteristics corresponding to different health conditions was performed using pattern recognition principles. This allows efficient data reduction and interpretation of vast amounts of information. Test components were manufactured from isogrid panels to evaluate performance of the monitoring system. The components were damaged by impact to simulate different health conditions. Free vibration response was induced by a tap test on the test components. The monitoring system was trained using these free vibration responses to identify three different health conditions. They are undamaged vs. damaged, damage location and damage zone size. High reliability in identifying the correct component health condition was achieved by the monitoring system.

Tang, S. S.↗

Defining X-Ray Diffraction Parameters for the Design and Operation of a Planetary-Surface Rock Analyzer

Our joint research effort was aimed at developing techniques for X-ray diffractometry that was being investigated by NASA as possible flight instrumentation for the exploration of Mars. SJSU would provide the use of in-house X-ray facilities for calibration of the instrumentation , and would provide technical expertise regarding interpretation of data acquired during both laboratory testing, and during field testing of instruments on the Marsokhod rover at Ames. Accomplishments are: (1) quantification of X-ray signals from rock surfaces using San Jose State University (SJSU) diffractometer; (2) development of criteria for fingerprinting rock samples using pattern recognition of diffraction spectra, and augmentation of diffraction data with X-ray fluorescence information; (3) calibration of NASA instrumentation using SJSU-generator data; and (4) assistance in the development, lab testing, and field deployment of the NASA instrument on the Russian Marsokhod roving vehicle designed for martian exploration.

Metzger, Ellen P.↗

Hidden Markov Models for Fault Detection in Dynamic Systems

Continuous monitoring of complex dynamic systems is an increasingly important issue in diverse areas such as nuclear plant safety, production line reliability, and medical health monitoring systems. Recent advances in both sensor technology and computational capabilities have made on-line permanent monitoring much more feasible than it was in the past. In this paper it is shown that a pattern recognition system combined with a finite-state hidden Markov model provides a particularly useful method for modelling temporal context in continuous monitoring. The parameters of the Markov model are derived from gross failure statistics such as the mean time between failures. The model is validated on a real-world fault diagnosis problem and it is shown that Markov modelling in this context offers significant practical benefits.

Smyth, Padhraic↗

Improvements for Image Compression Using Adaptive Principal Component Extraction (APEX)

The issues of image compression and pattern classification have been a primary focus of researchers among a variety of fields including signal and image processing, pattern recognition, data classification, etc. These issues depend on finding an efficient representation of the source data. In this paper we collate our earlier results where we introduced the application of the. Hilbe.rt scan to a principal component algorithm (PCA) with Adaptive Principal Component Extraction (APEX) neural network model. We apply these technique to medical imaging, particularly image representation and compression. We apply the Hilbert scan to the APEX algorithm to improve results

Ziyad, Nigel A.↗

Gamma-Ray Burst Class Properties

Guided by the Supervised pattern recognition algorithm C4.5, we examine the three gamma-ray burst classes identified by Mukherjee et al. C4.5 provides strong statistical support for this classification. However, with C4.5 and our knowledge of the BATSE instrument, we demonstrate that Class 3 (intermediate fluence, intermediate duration, soft) does not have to be a distinct source population: statistical/systematic errors in measuring burst attributes combined with the well-known hardness/intensity correlation can cause low peak flux Class I (high fluence, long, intermediate hardness) bursts to take on Class 3 characteristics naturally. Based on our hypothesis that the third class is not a distinct one, we provide rules so that future events can be placed in either Class I or Class 2 (low fluence, short, hard). Using classified bursts from the BATSE 4B Catalog, we plot log(N>P) vs. log(P) curves and study spectral features of each class. We find that the two classes are relatively distinct on the basis of spectral parameters, alpha, Beta, and E(sub peak) alone. Although this does not indicate a better basis for classification, it does suggest that different physical conditions exist for Class I and Class 2 bursts. In the process of studying burst class characteristics, we identify a new bias that affects measurement of burst fluences and durations. Using a simple model of how burst duration can be underestimated, we generally characterize how this fluence duration bias affects BATSE measurements, and demonstrate the type of effect it can have on the BATSE fluence vs. peak flux diagram.

Hakkila, Jon↗

X-Ray Fingerprinting Techniques for Recognizing A Hydrological Role in the Formation of Minerals on the Surface of Mars

Previous work has demonstrated the ability of a miniaturized XRD-XRF instrument to perform in-situ analyses without sample preparation or acquisition. Deployment of this instrument on a Martian rover will allow a large number of rapid qualitative analyses, which will maximize the diversity of samples studied and selected for possible return. As a first step in designing a decision tree for recognizing minerals in complex mixtures, d spacings were plotted against intensity for several mineral groups comprising rock and soil types inferred for the surface of Mars (weathered basalt, playa and hydrothermal deposits, clay-rich soils). In all groups, d spacings cluster in a range from about 1-4 angstroms, which can under certain circumstances obscure patterns for individual phases. However, within the silicate family, minerals containing either bound OH- or molecules of H20 (clays, micas, amphiboles, zeolites) are characterized by a shift of peaks to higher d spacings. Large d spacings (greater than about 7 angstroms) thus act as a first-order filter for distinguishing hydrous from anhydrous silicates. The ability to quickly verify the presence of silicates that have interacted with water has important implications for using mineral chemistry and structure to help decipher the hydrologic and atmospheric history of Mars. This represents a beginning for developing more sophisticated methods of pattern recognition. These will combine XRD and XRF analyses with optical data to rapidly7 discern environmentally diagnostic assemblages without the necessity of identifying every peak individual mineral phase.

Metzger, Ellen P.↗

Preliminary Results from a New Analysis Method for EGRET Data

In order to extend the life of EGRET, the gas in the spark chamber was allowed to deteriorate more than was originally planned for the nominal two year Compton Observatory mission. Gamma ray events are lost because the pattern recognition analysis rules are not optimized for the poorer quality data. By changing the rules used by the data analysts, we can recover a significant fraction of the lost events, allowing improved statistics for detection and study of sources. Preliminary results from the Crab, Geminga, and BL Lacertae indicate the feasibility of this analysis.

Thompson, D. J.↗

Optimal Fisher Discriminant Ratio for an Arbitrary Spatial Light Modulator

Optimizing the Fisher ratio is well established in statistical pattern recognition as a means of discriminating between classes. I show how to optimize that ratio for optical correlation intensity by choice of filter on an arbitrary spatial light modulator (SLM). I include the case of additive noise of known power spectral density.

Juday, Richard D.↗

Gamma-Ray Burst Class Properties

Guided by the supervised pattern recognition algorithm C4.5 developed by Quinlan in 1986, we examine the three gamma-ray burst classes identified by Mukherjee et al. in 1998. C4.5 provides strong statistical support for this classification. However, with C4.5 and our knowledge of the Burst and Transient Source Experiment (BATSE) instrument, we demonstrate that class 3 (intermediate fluence, intermediate duration, soft) does not have to be a distinct source population: statistical/systematic errors in measuring burst attributes combined with the well-known hardness/intensity correlation can cause low peak flux class 1 (high fluence, long, intermediate hardness) bursts to take on class 3 characteristics naturally. Based on our hypothesis that the third class is not a distinct one, we provide rules so that future events can be placed in either class 1 or class 2 (low fluence, short, hard). We find that the two classes are relatively distinct on the basis of Band's work in 1993 on spectral parameters alpha, beta, and E (sub peak) alone. Although this does not indicate a better basis for classification, it does suggest that different physical conditions exist for class 1 and class 2 bursts. In the process of studying burst class characteristics, we identify a new bias affecting burst fluence and duration measurements. Using a simple model of how burst duration can be underestimated, we show how this fluence duration bias can affect BATSE measurements and demonstrate the type of effect it can have on the BATSE fluence versus peak flux diagram.

Hakkila, Jon↗

Three-Dimensional Stereoscopic Tracking Velocimetry and Experimental/Numerical Comparison of Directional Solidification

Measurement of three-dimensional (3-D) three-component velocity fields is of great importance in both ground and space experiments for understanding materials processing and fluid physics. The experiments in these fields most likely inhibit the application of conventional planar probes for observing 3-D phenomena. Here, we present the investigation results of stereoscopic tracking velocimetry (STV) for measuring 3-D velocity fields, which include diagnostic technology development, experimental velocity measurement, and comparison with analytical and numerical computation. STV is advantageous in system simplicity for building compact hardware and in software efficiency for continual near-real-time monitoring. It has great freedom in illuminating and observing volumetric fields from arbitrary directions. STV is based on stereoscopic observation of particles-Seeded in a flow by CCD sensors. In the approach, part of the individual particle images that provide data points is likely to be lost or cause errors when their images overlap and crisscross each other especially under a high particle density. In order to maximize the valid recovery of data points, neural networks are implemented for these two important processes. For the step of particle overlap decomposition, the back propagation neural network is utilized because of its ability in pattern recognition with pertinent particle image feature parameters. For the step of particle tracking, the Hopfield neural network is employed to find appropriate particle tracks based on global optimization. Our investigation indicates that the neural networks are very efficient and useful for stereoscopically tracking particles. As an initial assessment of the diagnostic technology performance, laminar water jets with and without pulsation are measured. The jet tip velocity profiles are in good agreement with analytical predictions. Finally, for testing in material processing applications, a simple directional solidification apparatus is built for experimenting with a metal analog of succinonitrile. Its 3-D velocity field at the liquid phase is then measured to be compared with those from numerical computation. Our theoretical, numerical, and experimental investigations have proven STV to be a viable candidate for reliably measuring 3-D flow velocities. With current activities are focused on further improving the processing efficiency, overall accuracy, and automation, the eventual efforts of broad experimental applications and concurrent numerical modeling validation will be vital to many areas in fluid flow and materials processing.

Lee, David↗

Simultaneous Retrieval of Temperature, Water Vapor and Ozone Atmospheric Profiles from IASI: Compression, De-noising, First Guess Retrieval and Inversion Algorithms

A fast temperature water vapor and ozone atmospheric profile retrieval algorithm is developed for the high spectral resolution Infrared Atmospheric Sounding Interferometer (IASI) space-borne instrument. Compression and de-noising of IASI observations are performed using Principal Component Analysis. This preprocessing methodology also allows, for a fast pattern recognition in a climatological data set to obtain a first guess. Then, a neural network using first guess information is developed to retrieve simultaneously temperature, water vapor and ozone atmospheric profiles. The performance of the resulting fast and accurate inverse model is evaluated with a large diversified data set of radiosondes atmospheres including rare events.

Aires, F.↗

Linear and Order Statistics Combiners for Pattern Classification

Several researchers have experimentally shown that substantial improvements can be obtained in difficult pattern recognition problems by combining or integrating the outputs of multiple classifiers. This chapter provides an analytical framework to quantify the improvements in classification results due to combining. The results apply to both linear combiners and order statistics combiners. We first show that to a first order approximation, the error rate obtained over and above the Bayes error rate, is directly proportional to the variance of the actual decision boundaries around the Bayes optimum boundary. Combining classifiers in output space reduces this variance, and hence reduces the 'added' error. If N unbiased classifiers are combined by simple averaging. the added error rate can be reduced by a factor of N if the individual errors in approximating the decision boundaries are uncorrelated. Expressions are then derived for linear combiners which are biased or correlated, and the effect of output correlations on ensemble performance is quantified. For order statistics based non-linear combiners, we derive expressions that indicate how much the median, the maximum and in general the i-th order statistic can improve classifier performance. The analysis presented here facilitates the understanding of the relationships among error rates, classifier boundary distributions, and combining in output space. Experimental results on several public domain data sets are provided to illustrate the benefits of combining and to support the analytical results.

Tumer, Kagan↗

Digital Images and Human Vision

Processing of digital images destined for visual consumption raises many interesting questions regarding human visual sensitivity. This talk will survey some of these questions, including some that have been answered and some that have not. There will be an emphasis upon visual masking, and a distinction will be drawn between masking due to contrast gain control processes, and due to processes such as hypothesis testing, pattern recognition, and visual search.

Watson, Andrew B.↗