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At least 1,387 records · Page 77

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NASA NTRS1973

Investigation of techniques for correcting ERTS data for solar and atmospheric effects

The author has identified the following significant results. A technique is described by which an ERTS investigator can obtain absolute target reflectances by correcting spacecraft radiance measurements for variable target irradiance, atmospheric attenuation, and atmospheric backscatter. A simple measuring instrument and the necessary atmospheric measurements are discussed, and examples demonstrate the nature and magnitude of the atmospheric corrections. Preliminary results indicate that the radiant power measuring instrument will provide one technique for calibrating ERTS-1 data. The March 27, 1973 mission was significant in the NASA C-130 aircraft and ERTS-1 simultaneously passed over the test sites where RPMI's were being deployed to measure solar and atmospheric parameters and site reflectance.

Rogers, R. H.↗

NASA NTRS1972

Advanced wiring technique and hardware application: Airplane and space vehicle

An advanced wiring system is described which achieves the safety/reliability required for present and future airplane and space vehicle applications. Also, present wiring installation techniques and hardware are analyzed to establish existing problem areas. An advanced wiring system employing matrix interconnecting unit, plug to plug trunk bundles (FCC or ribbon cable) is outlined, and an installation study presented. A planned program to develop, lab test and flight test key features of these techniques and hardware as a part of the SST technology follow-on activities is discussed.

Ernst, H. L.↗

NASA NTRS1973

An objective technique to estimate percentage of an ERTS-1 water boundary resolution element covered by water

The author has identified the following significant results. An objective technique was developed to measure the surface area of water bodies. Nineteen water bodies in the Houston and Galveston, Texas area were selected as a basis for the technique development. The actual surface area of each body was determined from rectified and enlarged NASA aircraft photography. A clustering algorithm was used to produce classification maps of the region from ERTS-1 data. Certain classes were identified as being 100% water. Other classes were identified as being mixtures of water with land or vegetation. The number of picture elements falling on each water body and its boundary were counted. A linear regression analysis was performed to relate the total number of picture elements and boundary elements counted to the actual surface area. The standard error of the estimate was 6.7 acres. The absolute error was not a function of the actual surface area of the water body.

Erb, R. B.↗

NASA NTRS1972

Analytical evaluation of jet noise source location technique utilizing an acoustically hard baffle with aperture

An analytical investigation was conducted on the experimental technique that uses shielding by an acoustically hard baffle to determine the location of noise sources in a jet. The jet exhausts through a circular hole in the baffle and the radiated acoustic power is considered to be generated by a distributed source along the jet axis. It is found that the effect of the baffle on the radiated power can be neglected only when the size of the source is on the order of a wavelength of the emitted sound or larger. Since noise sources in a jet are compact, the experimental technique is insufficient to identify these sources.

Norum, T. D.↗

NASA NTRS1973

A technique for measuring hypersonic flow velocity profiles

A technique for measuring hypersonic flow velocity profiles is described. This technique utilizes an arc-discharge-electron-beam system to produce a luminous disturbance in the flow. The time of flight of this disturbance was measured. Experimental tests were conducted in the Langley pilot model expansion tube. The measured velocities were of the order of 6000 m/sec over a free-stream density range from 0.000196 to 0.00186 kg/cu m. The fractional error in the velocity measurements was less than 5 percent. Long arc discharge columns (0.356 m) were generated under hypersonic flow conditions in the expansion-tube modified to operate as an expansion tunnel.

Gartrell, L. R.↗

NASA NTRS1973

Atmospheric effects in ERTS-1 data, and advanced information extraction techniques

Atmospheric effects in satellite multispectral scanner data can influence results obtained with either manual image interpretation or computer information extraction techniques. The atmosphere attenuates radiation arriving from the surface and adds an extraneous path radiance component. Initial results of an investigation of atmospheric effects in ERTS data are presented. Empirical analyses of ERTS MSS data and simultaneous airborne MSS underflight data for one frame, along with theoretical calculations of atmospheric effects, are discussed. The effect of limited spatial resolution on the accuracy of information extracted from ERTS data also is important. Problems occur when individual resolution elements contain two or more materials. Results from an initial application of ERIM techniques for estimating proportions of materials within individual elements are presented and discussed. Very accurate determination of surface areas of small lakes is achieved.

Malila, W. A.↗

NASA NTRS1973

Significant techniques in the processing and interpretation of ERTS-1 data

The discipline oriented investigations underway at the Johnson Space Center (JSC) using ERTS-1 data provide an appropriate framework for the systematic evaluation of the various elements comprising a prototype multispectral data processing and analysis system. In particular such a system may be thought of as the integration of: (1) a preprocessing subsystem; (2) a spectral clustering subsystem, (3) a correlation and classification subsystem; (4) mensuration subsystem; and (5) an information management subsystem. Specific elements of this system are already operational at JSC. It is in the context of this system that technique development and application is being pursued at JSC. Aircraft, ERTS and EREP data will be utilized to refine the subsystem elements for each of the data acquisition systems or system combinations that are optimally suited for a specific Earth Resources application. The techniques reported are those that have been developed to date during the utilization of ERTS-1 data in this processing and analysis system.

Cousin, S. B.↗

NASA NTRS1973

An interative solution of an integral equation for radiative transfer by using variational technique

An effective iterative technique is introduced to solve a nonlinear integral equation frequently associated with radiative transfer problems. The problem is formulated in such a way that each step of an iterative sequence requires the solution of a linear integral equation. The advantage of a previously introduced variational technique which utilizes a stepwise constant trial function is exploited to cope with the nonlinear problem. The method is simple and straightforward. Rapid convergence is obtained by employing a linear interpolation of the iterative solutions. Using absorption coefficients of the Milne-Eddington type, which are applicable to some planetary atmospheric radiation problems. Solutions are found in terms of temperature and radiative flux. These solutions are presented numerically and show excellent agreement with other numerical solutions.

Yoshikawa, K. K.↗

NASA NTRS1973

Cluster Seeking Techniques in Pattern Recognition

A cluster seeking technique is defined as a method of dividing data into subsets, called clusters. These clusters contain data points that are similar to each other and different from the elements of other clusters. Various cluster seeking techniques were broken down into seven categories: (1) probabilistic, (2) signal detection, (3) clustering, (4) clumping, (5) eigenvalue, (6) minimal mode seeking, and (7) miscellaneous. Each category is described and one or more algorithms of that type are presented.

Barr, B. J.↗

NASA NTRS1973

Application of phase-change technique to thin sections with heating on both surfaces

A numerical digital computer program was developed to calculate the heat-transfer coefficients for both sides of a one-dimensional finite slab subject to the boundary conditions ascribed to the phase-change coating heat-transfer technique. In a typical tunnel test situation where a thin wing was exposed to heating on both sides, the data reduction procedures for a semi-infinite slab gave heat-transfer coefficients as much as 375 percent too high on the side with the lowest heating. The results from the one-dimensional finite-slab procedure are presented in the form of correction factors to the solution for a semi-infinite slab in terms of parameters normally used with the phase-change heat-transfer technique. These correlations are not restricted to slab thickness or thermophysical properties and are easily used to obtain accurate data on thin model sections.

Hunt, J. L.↗

NASA NTRS1973

A technique for interpretation of multispectral remote sensor data

The author has identified the following significant results. The U.S. Army Engineer Waterways Experiment Station is engaged in a study to detect from ERTS-1 satellite data alterations to the absorption and scattering properties caused by movement of suspended particles and solutes in selected areas of the Chesapeake Bay and to correlate the data to determine the feasibility of delineating flow patterns, flushing action of the estuary, and sediment and pollutant dispersion. As a part of this study, ADP techniques have been developed that permit automatic interpretation of data from any multispectral remote sensor with computer systems which have limited memory capacity and computing speed. The multispectral remote sensor is considered as a reflectance spectrophotometer. The data which define the spectral reflectance characteristics of a scene are scanned pixel by pixel. Each pixel whose spectral reflectance matches a reference spectrum is identified, and the results are shown in a map that identifies the locations where spectrum matches were detected and spectrum that was matched. The interpretation technique is described and an example of interpreted data from ERTS-1 is presented.

Williamson, A. N.↗

NASA NTRS1972

Techniques for Forecasting Air Passenger Traffic

The basic techniques of forecasting the air passenger traffic are outlined. These techniques can be broadly classified into four categories: judgmental, time-series analysis, market analysis and analytical. The differences between these methods exist, in part, due to the degree of formalization of the forecasting procedure. Emphasis is placed on describing the analytical method.

Taneja, N.↗

NASA NTRS1972

An improved design technique for parameter adaptive control systems.

A parameter adaptive control technique is developed utilizing Liapunov's Direct Method. The design approach represents an improvement over previous methods in that only one derivative network is required for controller implementation. Furthermore, the technique may be applied to plants with right half plane zeros while maintaining a bounded control input.

Gilbart, J. W.↗

NASA NTRS1972

Application of frequency discrimination technique to the analysis of electroencephalographic signals.

A frequency discrimination technique is described which has proved to be effective in measuring the entrainment phenomenon in EEG signals. The validity of a narrow-band-process model used to characterize the signals is demonstrated. The technique (realized by an inexpensive device described elsewhere) is shown to provide a means of studying the synchronization phenomenon as related to alertness.

Lai, D. C.↗

NASA NTRS1972

Spacecraft techniques for lunar research.

The most significant findings about the Moon obtained by spacecraft so far, have resulted from measurements of gravity, electromagnetic properties, seismicity, mechanical properties, geologic features, composition, ages, and the lunar environment. A number of major lunar questions remain to be answered. Other properties, measurable with spacecraft, which may provide data critical to answering these questions include geometrical shape, motions, and heat flow. In this paper specific measurements that should provide critical data for each of these questions are identified, with some candidate techniques. Among the suggested techniques that have not yet been used are very long baseline interferometry (Earth-Moon baseline), gravity gradiometry, elemental analysis by neutron interactions, and remotely-controlled on-moon microscopy.

Jaffe, L. D.↗

NASA NTRS1972

An evaluation of pyrolytic techniques with regard to the Apollo 11, 12 and 14 lunar samples analyses.

The first technique involved pyrolysis at 700 C under an inert atmosphere in a flowing He system at normal pressure. The products were collected at liquid nitrogen temperature and then allowed to pass instantaneously into a combined capillary gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer. The second technique consisted of a vacuum pyrolysis where the sample was first degassed at 150 C and then pyrolized at 500 C and 1000 C consecutively. The products were again collected at liquid nitrogen temperature and then they were directly introduced to the ion source of the mass spectrometer through a modified gas inlet system. The experiments have shown the importance of taking into account the factors that influence pyrolytic degradation and/or the synthesis of products. Pyrolysis of Apollo 14 lunar fines and scrapings from an astronaut's glove gave different products by mass spectroscopy and showed different looking flaky materials upon scanning electron microscopy.

Nagy, B.↗

NASA NTRS1973

Intelligibility improvement of analog communication systems using an amplitude control technique.

An amplitude control technique has been employed for use with analog voice communication systems, which improves low-level phoneme reception and eliminates the received noise between words and syllables. Tests were conducted on a narrow-band frequency-modulation simplex voice communication channel employing the amplitude control technique. Presented for both the modified rhyme word tests and the phonetically balanced word tests are a series of graphical plots of the tests' score distribution, mean, and standard deviation as a function of received carrier-to-noise power density ratio. At low received carrier-to-noise power density ratios, a significant improvement in the intelligibility was obtained. A voice intelligibility improvement of more than 2 dB was obtained for the modified rhyme test words, and a voice intelligibility improvement in excess of 4 dB was obtained for the phonetically balanced word tests.

Wishna, S.↗

NASA NTRS1972

Progress in nonlinear finite element analysis using asymptotic solution techniques.

The existence of standard forms of finite element equations for nonlinear analysis is observed. These are noted to provide a sufficiently special circumstance to admit the construction of asymptotic solution techniques. Although efforts in this direction have been made only recently, a number of distinct approaches to asymptotic solution techniques for finite element analysis have been put forward and are examined herein. Consideration is given to the differences and similarities of the approaches and the resulting methods of solution. Special characteristics regarding applicability, accuracy and efficiency are delineated.

Mallett, R. H.↗