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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.

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At least 181 records · Page 10

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NASA NTRS1972

An input adaptive, pursuit tracking model of the human opertor

Developed and evaluated is a simple model of the input adaptive behavior of the human operator (HO) in a pursuit tracking task in which the plant controlled consists of a pure gain. If it is assumed that the HO is approximately an optimal predictor using only position and velocity information, then there is a simple method of computing the values of the model parameters in terms of the autocorrelation function of the input signal. Experimental evidence indicates that the ability of the HO to use velocity information decreases with increasing signal velocity indicating that a biased estimator of the velocity weighting should be used. A suitable approximation is derived which has rapid convergence and low variance. The model thus derived is compared to actual subject transfer functions and is found to be in close agreement. In addition to tracking random processes the model can adapt to and track deterministic signals, such as sine waves, up to approximately the frequency at which human operators begin to track precognitively.

Ware, J. R.↗

NASA NTRS1972

Application of frequency discrimination technique to the analysis of electroencephalographic signals

A frequency discrimination technique is realized by an inexpensive frequency discriminator for direct on-line measurement of the entrainment phenomenon in EEG as entrained by the frequency of a sensory stimulus. The use of this device for detecting the presence or absence of the stimulus effect and the measurement of the time delays in the entrainment is demonstrated. The EEG signal is first filtered by a narrow-band filter with center frequency about the alpha-rhythm of the individual. It is then reasonable to consider the alpha signal as narrow-band random process with the alpha frequency f sub alpha as the mean frequency of the spectral band.

Lai, D. C.↗

NASA NTRS1973

A high frequency correction to the Kirchhoff approximation, with application to rough surface EM wave scattering

A high frequency correction to the Kirchhoff approximation is developed for application to rough surface scattering. An approximate solution to the magnetic field integral equation for perfect conductivity and plane wave excitation yields a perturbed surface current expressed as a linear function of the second derivatives of surface height. The corrected surface current vector is substituted into the far field Stratton-Chu integral and average backscattered powers for the four polarization combinations are computed on the assumption that the surface is describable as a stationary Gaussian random process. The strength of this scattering solution is that it can account for height curvature correlation without requiring small height and slope.

Jackson, F. C.↗

NASA NTRS1973

Nonstationary ascent wind analysis.

A statistical approach for computing launch vehicle response to inflight winds is presented. In the response analysis the zonal component of the ascent wind velocity is modeled as a nonstationary random process. Model parameters are computed by processing available measured wind data. Pertinent pitch plane response statistics are computed and their value in constructing fatigue load spectra for a reusable launch vehicle is demonstrated. A method for using the response statistics to estimate structural reliability is also discussed. The accuracy and the cost saving potential of the probabilistic structural dynamics approach are assessed by performing comparisons with digital simulation results.

Howell, L. J.↗

NASA NTRS1973

On optimal nonlinear estimation. I - Continuous observation.

A generalization of Bucy's (1965) representation theorem is obtained under very weak hypotheses. The generalized theorem is shown to play the same role in the case of general optimal estimation for an arbitrary random process as does the Bucy theorem in the case of optimal filtering for a diffusion process. At least for the models considered, the possibility is pointed out to reduce all sequential estimation problems to the problem of filtering. Hence, filtering theory is seen to represent the core of estimation theory, and is believed to define the direction in which future research should be focused.

Lo, J. T.↗

NASA NTRS1974

Random vibrations of linear viscoelastic beams with lumped masses

A method is presented of determining the mean square transversal deflection of an isotropic and homogeneous linear viscoelastic beam having a certain number of lengthwise distributed lumped masses. It is assumed that the beam is acted upon by a stationary random process uniformly distributed along the beam. The method is useful in vibration level control by means of additional lumped masses.

Dinca, F.↗

NASA NTRS1973

Diagnostics of sources of disturbances and distribution of vibrations over the width of a tape in tape-feed mechanisms

Disturbances created by certain assemblies and components of tape-feed mechanisms (TFM) and acting on a moving magnetic tape are studied. The method, based on elements of digital logic, is established by stress-strain diagrams of the longitudinal deformations and vibrations across the width of a magnetic tape. Experimental studies were carried out for determination of the functional relationships of longitudinal deformations in a section of magnetic tape to the magnitude of roller play, tension vibrations rate of movement, and elasticity of magnetic tapes. A block diagram of the measurements is shown. Appropriate digital computer algorithms and programs were proposed for statistical analysis of the data obtained. Estimates of the mathematical expectation, dispersion, intercorrelation function, energy spectral density, and distribution pattern of the random process values were calculated.

Kenstavichyus, A. B. B.↗

NASA NTRS1973

The role of statistical measurements in experimental research

A quantitative model of a research object is formulated that contains the probability characteristics of random processes. The model is subsequently used in acoustical metrology for prognosis of previously unknown properties of the object, for solutions of reciprocal problems, etc.

Olshevskiy, V. V.↗

NASA NTRS1973

Interpretation of the results of statistical measurements

For random processes, the calculated probability characteristic, and the measured statistical estimate are used in a quality functional, which defines the difference between the two functions. Based on the assumption that the statistical measurement procedure is organized so that the parameters for a selected model are optimized, it is shown that the interpretation of experimental research is a search for a basic probability model.

Olshevskiy, V. V.↗

NASA NTRS1974

An implicit sampling theorem for bounded bandlimited functions

A rigorous proof of the 'strong bias tone' scheme is embodied in the implicit sampling theorem. The representation of signals that are sample functions of possible nonstationary random processes being of principal interest, the proof could not directly invoke results from classical analysis, which depend on the existence of the Fourier transform of the function under consideration; rather, it is based on Zakai's (1965) theorem on the series expansion of functions, band-limited under a suitably extended definition. A practical circuit that restores an approximate version of the signal from its sine-wave-crossings is presented and possible improvements to it are discussed.

Bar-David, I.↗

NASA NTRS1975

ITOS VHRR on-board data compression study

Data compression methods for ITOS VHRR data were studied for a tape recorder record-and playback application. A playback period of 9 minutes was assumed with a nominal 18 minute record period for a 2-to-1 compression ratio. Both analog and digital methods were considered with the conclusion that digital methods should be used. Two system designs were prepared. One is a PCM system and the other is an entropy-coded predictive-quantization, sometimes called entropy-coded DPCM or just DPCM, system. Both systems use data management principles to transmit only the necessary data. Both systems use a medium capacity standard tape recorder from specifications provided by the technical officer. The 10 to the 9th power bit capacity of the recorder is the basic limitation on the compression ratio. Both systems achieve the minimum desired 2 to 1 compression ratio. A slower playback rate can be used with the DPCM system due to a higher compression factor for better link performance at a given CNR in terms of bandwidth utilization and error rate. The report is divided into two parts. The first part summarizes the theoretical conclusions of the second part and presents the system diagrams. The second part is a detailed analysis based upon an empirically derived random process model arrived at from specifications and measured data provided by the technical officer.

Gray, R. M.↗

NASA NTRS1975

On-board data management study for EOPAP

The requirements, implementation techniques, and mission analysis associated with on-board data management for EOPAP were studied. SEASAT-A was used as a baseline, and the storage requirements, data rates, and information extraction requirements were investigated for each of the following proposed SEASAT sensors: a short pulse 13.9 GHz radar, a long pulse 13.9 GHz radar, a synthetic aperture radar, a multispectral passive microwave radiometer facility, and an infrared/visible very high resolution radiometer (VHRR). Rate distortion theory was applied to determine theoretical minimum data rates and compared with the rates required by practical techniques. It was concluded that practical techniques can be used which approach the theoretically optimum based upon an empirically determined source random process model. The results of the preceding investigations were used to recommend an on-board data management system for (1) data compression through information extraction, optimal noiseless coding, source coding with distortion, data buffering, and data selection under command or as a function of data activity, (2) for command handling, (3) for spacecraft operation and control, and (4) for experiment operation and monitoring.

Davisson, L. D.↗

NASA NTRS1975

An investigation of turbulent transport in the extreme lower atmosphere

A model in which the Lagrangian autocorrelation is expressed by a domain integral over a set of usual Eulerian autocorrelations acquired concurrently at all points within a turbulence box is proposed along with a method for ascertaining the statistical stationarity of turbulent velocity by creating an equivalent ensemble to investigate the flow in the extreme lower atmosphere. Simultaneous measurements of turbulent velocity on a turbulence line along the wake axis were carried out utilizing a longitudinal array of five hot-wire anemometers remotely operated. The stationarity test revealed that the turbulent velocity is approximated as a realization of a weakly self-stationary random process. Based on the Lagrangian autocorrelation it is found that: (1) large diffusion time predominated; (2) ratios of Lagrangian to Eulerian time and spatial scales were smaller than unity; and, (3) short and long diffusion time scales and diffusion spatial scales were constrained within their Eulerian counterparts.

Koper, C. A., Jr.↗

NASA NTRS1975

Separation of man-made and natural patterns in high-altitude imagery of agricultural areas

A nonstationary linear digital filter is designed and implemented which extracts the natural features from high-altitude imagery of agricultural areas. Essentially, from an original image a new image is created which displays information related to soil properties, drainage patterns, crop disease, and other natural phenomena, and contains no information about crop type or row spacing. A model is developed to express the recorded brightness in a narrow-band image in terms of man-made and natural contributions and which describes statistically the spatial properties of each. The form of the minimum mean-square error linear filter for estimation of the natural component of the scene is derived and a suboptimal filter is implemented. Nonstationarity of the two-dimensional random processes contained in the model requires a unique technique for deriving the optimum filter. Finally, the filter depends on knowledge of field boundaries. An algorithm for boundary location is proposed, discussed, and implemented.

Samulon, A. S.↗

NASA NTRS1974

On the quadratic sampled-data regulator with unstable random disturbances

This paper is concerned with the design of a digital controller, optimizing a quadratic cost function, for a linear system subjected to plant disturbance. The disturbance is viewed as a Gaussian random process generated by a linear system which may be unstable. It is shown that the optimal control consists of the sum of two terms: the optimal control when no disturbance is present and a term depending on the estimates of the disturbance. Necessary and sufficient conditions for the convergence of the gain matrices is given.

Halyo, N.↗

NASA NTRS1976

Response of space shuttle insulation panels to acoustic noise pressure

The response of reusable space shuttle insulation panels to random acoustic pressure fields are studied. The basic analytical approach in formulating the governing equations of motion uses a Rayleigh-Ritz technique. The input pressure field is modeled as a stationary Gaussian random process for which the cross-spectral density function is known empirically from experimental measurements. The response calculations are performed in both frequency and time domain.

Vaicaitis, R.↗

NASA NTRS1976

Consequences of using nonlinear particle trajectories to compute spatial diffusion coefficients

The propagation of charged particles through interstellar and interplanetary space has often been described as a random process in which the particles are scattered by ambient electromagnetic turbulence. In general, this changes both the magnitude and direction of the particles' momentum. Some situations for which scattering in direction (pitch angle) is of primary interest were studied. A perturbed orbit, resonant scattering theory for pitch-angle diffusion in magnetostatic turbulence was slightly generalized and then utilized to compute the diffusion coefficient for spatial propagation parallel to the mean magnetic field, Kappa. All divergences inherent in the quasilinear formalism when the power spectrum of the fluctuation field falls off as K to the minus Q power (Q less than 2) were removed. Various methods of computing Kappa were compared and limits on the validity of the theory discussed. For Q less than 1 or 2, the various methods give roughly comparable values of Kappa, but use of perturbed orbits systematically results in a somewhat smaller Kappa than can be obtained from quasilinear theory.

Goldstein, M. L.↗

NASA NTRS1975

Computation of transform domain covariance matrices

It is often of interest in applications to compute the covariance matrix of a random process transformed by a fast unitary transform. Here, the recursive definition of fast unitary transforms is used to derive recursive relations for the covariance matrices of the transformed process. These relations lead to fast methods of computation of covariance matrices and to substantial reductions of the number of arithmetic operations required.

Fino, B. J.↗