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NASA NTRS1985

Performance evaluation and geologic utility of LANDSAT-4 thematic mapper data

The overall objective of the project was to evaluate LANDSAT-4 Thematic Mapper (TM) data in the context of geologic applications. This involved a quantitative assessment of the data quality including the spatial and spectral characteristics realized by the instrument. Three test sites were selected for the study: (1) Silver Bell, Arizona; (2) Death Valley, California; and (3) Wind River/Bighorn Basin area, Wyoming. Conclusions include: (1) Artificial and natural targets can be used to atmospherically calibrate TM data and investigate scanner radiometry, atmospheric parameters, and construction of atmospheric Modulation Transfer Functions (MTF's), (2) No significant radiometric degradation occurs in TM data as a result of SCROUNGE processing; however, the data exhibit narrow digital number (DN) distributiosn suggesting that the configuration of the instrument is not optimal for each science applications, (30 Increased spatial resolution, 1:24,000 enlargement capability, and good geometric fidelity of TM data allow accurate photogeologic/geomorphic mapping, including relative age dating of alluvial fans, measurement of structural and bedding attitudes, and construction of such things as structural cross sections and stratigraphic columns. (4) TM bands 5 and 7 are particularly useful for geologic applications because they span a region of the spectrum not previously sampled by multispectral scanner data and are important for characterizing clay and carbonate materials.

Paylor, E. D.↗

NASA NTRS1986

Structureborne noise in aircraft: Modal tests

As part of an investigation to develop measurement techniques for structureborne noise, three modal surveys have been conducted on an OV-10A aircraft and the results have been presented. The purpose of the modal surveys was to identify suitable locations for mounting accelerometer and strain gages in subsequent tests in which transfer functions relating wing vibration to interior noise were to be determined. These surveys are as follows:(1) wing/fuselage modal survey utilizing one shaker under the right wing; (2) complete wing modal survey utilizing two shakers, one under each wing; and (3) fuselage side panel modal survey utilizing a small instrumented hammer. The predominant frequencies and damping ratios for each analysis were listed in tables. The primary mode shapes at the lower frequencies and at frequencies near the expected engine driving frequencies have been shown for each survey.

Clevenson, S. A.↗

NASA NTRS1986

Analysis of nystagmus response to a pseudorandom velocity input

Space motion sickness was not reported during the first Apollo missions; however, since Apollo 8 through the current Shuttle and Skylab missions, approximately 50% of the crewmembers have experienced instances of space motion sickness. Space motion sickness, renamed space adaptation syndrome, occurs primarily during the initial period of a mission until habilation takes place. One of NASA's efforts to resolve the space adaptation syndrome is to model the individual's vestibular response for basis knowledge and as a possible predictor of an individual's susceptibility to the disorder. This report describes a method to analyse the vestibular system when subjected to a pseudorandom angular velocity input. A sum of sinusoids (pseudorandom) input lends itself to analysis by linear frequency methods. Resultant horizontal ocular movements were digitized, filtered and transformed into the frequency domain. Programs were developed and evaluated to obtain the (1) auto spectra of input stimulus and resultant ocular resonse, (2) cross spectra, (3) the estimated vestibular-ocular system transfer function gain and phase, and (4) coherence function between stimulus and response functions.

Lessard, C. S.↗

NASA NTRS1986

Monte Carlo turbulence simulation using rational approximations to von Karman spectra

Turbulence simulation is computationally much simpler using rational spectra, but turbulence falls off as f exp -5/3 in frequency ranges of interest to aircraft response and as predicted by von Karman's model. Rational approximations to von Karman spectra should satisfy three requirements: (1) the rational spectra should provide a good approximation to the von Karman spectra in the frequency range of interest; (2) for stability, the resulting rational transfer function should have all its poles in the left half-plane; and (3) at high frequencies, the rational spectra must fall off as an integer power of frequency, and since the -2 power is closest to the -5/3 power, the rational approximation should roll off as the -2 power at high frequencies. Rational approximations to von Karman spectra that satisfy these three criteria are presented, along with spectra from simulated turbulence. Agreement between the spectra of the simulated turbulence and von Karman spectra is excellent.

Campbell, C. W.↗

NASA NTRS1984

The spatial structure of terrain - A process signal in satellite digital images

Pattern recognition procedures applied to Landsat imagery carry an implicit assumption that the digital data are independently distributed. That assumption is incorrect over virtually any terrain. Deviations from independence occur because slopes follow a systematic pattern of variation arising from the slope-forming processes. That pattern can be identified using the stochastic process methodology of Box and Jenkins.Angles of adjacent slopes are autocorrelated and the bidirectional reflectance function transfers these systematic slope changes to the sensor. Imagery becomes autocorrelated through this transfer. Autocorrelation in the imagery can be removed through direct calculation from a digital elevation model or by use of stochastic process methodology. The latter has the advantage that the residuals are white noise; and it is applicable in any area, even where a D.E.M. is unavailable. The stochastic process signal can be used to study terrain processes.

Craig, R. G.↗

NASA NTRS1986

Spatial variations of ocean wave directional spectra from the Seasat synthetic aperture radar

Seasat synthetic aperture radar ocean wave spectra for a 900-km pass are analyzed and interpreted in the context of both their probable generation sources and their surface current and bathymetric modifiers. Systematic vector wavenumber variations of several times the standard error of determination (about 1.5 percent in magnitude and 0.9 deg in direction) occur along the entire 900-km pass. The large-scale spatial variation of a 200-m swell system can be accurately accounted for as a result of dispersion from a distant storm. The more local variations are qualitatively well correlated in position with known currents and bathymetry but show systematic biases that appear partly due to an environmentally dependent instrument transfer function in the regions of high current and highest sea state. There is also substantial evidence that a large angular deviation in the center of the pass is the result of a mesoscale eddy just to the east.

Beal, R. C.↗

NASA NTRS1985

Further results on rate 1/N convolutional code constructions with minimum required SNR criterion

New good (K, 1/N) convolutional codes for 8 or = to K or = to 13 and 2 or = to N or = to 8 were found and tabulated which require minimum signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) for given desired bit error rates (BER) with Viterbi decoding. The transfer function bound was used for the BER evaluations. These low-rate codes are expected to have a number of applications, especially for systems having large bandwidth-bit time products such as deep space and spread spectrum communication systems.

Lee, P. J.↗

NASA NTRS1985

Measurement of Thematic Mapper data quality

Thematic Mapper data from Landsat-4 and Landsat-5 were examined for band-to-band registration, absolute geodetic registration, periodic noise and spatial resolution. Between focal planes, appreciable misregistrations existed in early data products but were corrected in later data products. The analysis of absolute geodetic registration used only system-corrected data because ground control point-corrected data were unavailable. Geodetic registration errors averaged only 9.7 pixels, less than expected for system-corrected data. Periodic noise at four spatial frequencies was observed in Landsat-5 Thematic Mapper data by using Fourier analysis on small areas over water. Magnitudes of periodic noise components were consistent within a scene. The modulation transfer function was determined for two Landsat-4 scenes. The effective instantaneous field of view was 40.8 meters in one case, and 48.6 meters in the other.

Wrigley, R. C.↗

NASA NTRS1986

Loss of fine-scale surface texture in Viking Orbiter images and implications for the inferred distribution of debris mantles

A numerical, self-consistent model is defined for filtering out the effects of haze which cause a loss of fine-scale features in Viking Orbiter imagery of the Mars surface. Increased definition is necessary if the visual data is to serve for identifying terrain features which indicate the presence of volatiles such as ice. Crater images are used to calculate the change in atmospheric optical properties that accounts for alterations in the discriminability of crater features. Modulation transfer functions are developed for the image obscuration contributions of the atmosphere and the camera lens, thereby quantifying the smallest crater (6-7 pixels) that can be seen. The radiance of the viewed scene is modeled, and an atmospheric obscuration parameter is obtained as a function of the ratio of the atmospheric and surface obscuration contributions to the radiance at the detector. The contribution of the surface alone can then be identified. The model is applied in calculations of the total number of observed craters for comparisons with the expected number of craters, and to assess the potential for using the Viking cameras to characterize the geomorphic properties of various regions of the Mars surface.

Kahn, R.↗

NASA NTRS1985

Shortwave infrared 512 x 2 line sensor for earth resources applications

As part of the NASA remote-sensing Multispectral Linear Array Program, an edge-buttable 512 x 2 IRCCD line image sensor with 30-micron Pd2Si Schottky-barrier detectors is developed for operation with passive cooling at 120 K in the 1.1-2.5 micron short infrared band. On-chip CCD multiplexers provide one video output for each 512 detector band. The monolithic silicon line imager performance at a 4-ms optical integration time includes a signal-to-noise ratio of 241 for irradiance of 7.2 microwatts/sq cm at 1.65 microns wavelength, a 5000 dynamic range, a modulation transfer function, greater than 60 percent at the Nyquist frequency, and an 18-milliwatt imager chip total power dissipation. Blemish-free images with three percent nonuniformity under illumination and nonlinearity of 1.25 percent are obtained. A five SWIR imager hybrid focal plane was constructed, demonstrating the feasibility of arrays with only a two-detector loss at each joint.

Tower, J. R.↗

NASA NTRS1985

Operational MTF for Landsat Thematic Mapper

The Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM) represents significant improvements in spatial, spectral, and radiometric resolution over the older Multispectral Scanner System (MSS). For the last three years, NASA has conducted the Landsat Image Data Quality Analysis (LIDQA) program to quantify the performance of the TM on the Landsat-4 and 5 spacecraft. As part of this program, analysis of the TM imagery to extract the overall system modulation transfer function (MTF) has been performed. In this paper, the San Mateo Bridge in San Francisco is described as a target for calculation of the line spread function and MTF. The analysis of two TM scenes, one from 12/31/82 and one from 8/12/83, yielded effective-instantaneous-field-of-views (EIFOVs) of 40.8 meters and 48.6 meters, respectively. These values are compared with the 33.8 meter EIFOV predicted by component modelling of the TM sensor, and the differences discussed.

Schowengerdt, R.↗

NASA NTRS1986

An Eigensystem Realization Algorithm in Frequency Domain for modal parameter identification

This paper demonstrates the close conceptual relationships between time domain and frequency domain approaches to identification of modal parameters for linear systems. A frequency domain eigensystem realization algorithm, via transfer functions, is developed using a known procedure formulated for a time domain eigensystem realization algorithm, via free decay measurement data. An important feature is the capability of windowing to concentrate analysis on the frequency range of interest. The procedure of overlap averaging is used to produce smoother spectra to reduce the effect of noise on identified modal parameters. Examples from simulation and experiments are given to illustrate the validity of formulations derived in the paper.

Juang, J.-N.↗

NASA NTRS1986

A recursive solution for a fading memory filter derived from Kalman filter theory

A simple recursive solution for a class of fading memory tracking filters is presented. A fading memory filter provides estimates of filter states based on past measurements, similar to a traditional Kalman filter. Unlike a Kalman filter, an exponentially decaying weight is applied to older measurements, discounting their effect on present state estimates. It is shown that Kalman filters and fading memory filters are closely related solutions to a general least squares estimator problem. Closed form filter transfer functions are derived for a time invariant, steady state, fading memory filter. These can be applied in loop filter implementation of the Deep Space Network (DSN) Advanced Receiver carrier phase locked loop (PLL).

Statman, J. I.↗

NASA NTRS1986

An estimator-predictor approach to PLL loop filter design

An approach to the design of digital phase locked loops (DPLLs), using estimation theory concepts in the selection of a loop filter, is presented. The key concept is that the DPLL closed-loop transfer function is decomposed into an estimator and a predictor. The estimator provides recursive estimates of phase, frequency, and higher order derivatives, while the predictor compensates for the transport lag inherent in the loop. This decomposition results in a straightforward loop filter design procedure, enabling use of techniques from optimal and sub-optimal estimation theory. A design example for a particular choice of estimator is presented, followed by analysis of the associated bandwidth, gain margin, and steady state errors caused by unmodeled dynamics. This approach is under consideration for the design of the Deep Space Network (DSN) Advanced Receiver Carrier DPLL.

Statman, J. I.↗

NASA NTRS1985

Preliminary results of a quantitative comparison of the spectral signatures of Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM) and Modular Optoelectronic Multispectral Scanner (MOMS).

Operationally acquired Thematic Mapper and experimental MOMS-01 data are evaluated quantitatively concerning the systems spectral response and performance for geoscientific applications. Results show the two instruments to be similar in the spectral bands compared. Although the MOMS scanner has a smaller IFOV, it has a lower modulation transfer function performance for small, low contrast features as compared to Thematic Mapper. This deficiency does not only occur when MOMS was switched to the low gain mode. It is due to the CD arrays used (ITEK CCPD 1728).

Bodechtel, J.↗

NASA NTRS1987

Space station interior noise analysis program

Documentation is provided for a microcomputer program which was developed to evaluate the effect of the vibroacoustic environment on speech communication inside a space station. The program, entitled Space Station Interior Noise Analysis Program (SSINAP), combines a Statistical Energy Analysis (SEA) prediction of sound and vibration levels within the space station with a speech intelligibility model based on the Modulation Transfer Function and the Speech Transmission Index (MTF/STI). The SEA model provides an effective analysis tool for predicting the acoustic environment based on proposed space station design. The MTF/STI model provides a method for evaluating speech communication in the relatively reverberant and potentially noisy environments that are likely to occur in space stations. The combinations of these two models provides a powerful analysis tool for optimizing the acoustic design of space stations from the point of view of speech communications. The mathematical algorithms used in SSINAP are presented to implement the SEA and MTF/STI models. An appendix provides an explanation of the operation of the program along with details of the program structure and code.

Stusnick, E.↗

NASA NTRS1987

Vibration isolation for line of sight performance improvement

Diagrams of the Reaction Wheel Assembly (RWA) are presented along with charts and graphs illustrating jitter error model, induced vibration tests, radial displacement transfer function, and axial displacement power spectra density. The RWA isolator specification requirements are listed.

Rodden, J. J.↗

NASA NTRS1987

Demonstration of frequency-sweep testing technique using a Bell 214-ST helicopter

A demonstration of frequency-sweep testing using a Bell-214ST single-rotor helicopter was completed in support of the Army's development of an updated MIL-H-8501A, and an LHX (ADS-33) handling-qualities specification. Hover and level-flight (V sub a = 0 knots and V sub a = 90 knots) tests were conducted in 3 flight hours by Army test pilots at the Army Aviation Engineering Flight Activity (AEFA) at Edwards AFB, Calif. Bandwidth and phase-delay parameters were determined from the flight-extracted frequency responses as required by the proposed specifications. Transfer function modeling and verification demonstrates the validity of the frequency-response concept for characterizing closed-loop flight dynamics of single-rotor helicopters -- even in hover. This report documents the frequency-sweep flight-testing technique and data-analysis procedures. Special emphasis is given to piloting and analysis considerations which are important for demonstrating frequency-domain specification compliance.

Tischler, Mark B.↗