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At least 235 records · Page 13

Renormalization group estimates of transport coefficients in the advection of a passive scalar by incompressible turbulence

The advection of a passive scalar by incompressible turbulence is considered using recursive renormalization group procedures in the differential sub grid shell thickness limit. It is shown explicitly that the higher order nonlinearities induced by the recursive renormalization group procedure preserve Galilean invariance. Differential equations, valid for the entire resolvable wave number k range, are determined for the eddy viscosity and eddy diffusivity coefficients, and it is shown that higher order nonlinearities do not contribute as k goes to 0, but have an essential role as k goes to k(sub c) the cutoff wave number separating the resolvable scales from the sub grid scales. The recursive renormalization transport coefficients and the associated eddy Prandtl number are in good agreement with the k-dependent transport coefficients derived from closure theories and experiments.

Zhou, YE↗

Controlling under-actuated robot arms using a high speed dynamics process

The invention controls an under-actuated manipulator by first obtaining predetermined active joint accelerations of the active joints and the passive joint friction forces of the passive joints, then computing articulated body qualities for each of the joints from the current positions of the links, and finally computing from the articulated body qualities and from the active joint accelerations and the passive joint forces, active joint forces of the active joints. Ultimately, the invention transmits servo commands to the active joint forces thus computed to the respective ones of the joint servos. The computation of the active joint forces is accomplished using a recursive dynamics algorithm. In this computation, an inward recursion is first carried out for each link, beginning with the outermost link in order to compute the residual link force of each link from the active joint acceleration if the corresponding joint is active, or from the known passive joint force if the corresponding joint is passive. Then, an outward recursion is carried out for each link in which the active joint force is computed from the residual link force if the corresponding joint is active or the passive joint acceleration is computed from the residual link force if the corresponding joint is passive.

Jain, Abhinandan↗

A transition matrix approach to the Davenport gryo calibration scheme

The in-flight gyro calibration scheme commonly used by NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) attitude ground support teams closely follows an original version of the Davenport algorithm developed in the late seventies. Its basic idea is to minimize the least-squares differences between attitudes gyro- propagated over the course of a maneuver and those determined using post- maneuver sensor measurements. The paper represents the scheme in a recursive form by combining necessary partials into a rectangular matrix, which is propagated in exactly the same way as a Kalman filters square transition matrix. The nontrivial structure of the propagation matrix arises from the fact that attitude errors are not included in the state vector, and therefore their derivatives with respect to estimated a parameters do not appear in the transition matrix gyro defined in the conventional way. In cases when the required accuracy can be achieved by a single iteration, representation of the Davenport gyro calibration scheme in a recursive form allows one to discard each gyro measurement immediately after it was used to propagate the attitude and state transition matrix. Another advantage of the new approach is that it utilizes the same expression for the error sensitivity matrix as that used by the Kalman filter. As a result the suggested modification of the Davenport algorithm made it possible to reuse software modules implemented in the Kalman filter estimator, where both attitude errors and gyro calibration parameters are included in the state vector. The new approach has been implemented in the ground calibration utilities used to support the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM). The paper analyzes some preliminary results of gyro calibration performed by the TRMM ground attitude support team. It is demonstrated that an effect of the second iteration on estimated values of calibration parameters is negligibly small, and therefore there is no need to store processed gyro data. This opens a promising opportunity for onboard implementation of the suggested recursive procedure by combining, it with the Kalman filter used to obtain necessary attitude solutions at the beginning and end of each maneuver.

Natanson, G. A.↗

Deciding Termination for Ancestor Match- Bounded String Rewriting Systems

Termination of a string rewriting system can be characterized by termination on suitable recursively defined languages. This kind of termination criteria has been criticized for its lack of automation. In an earlier paper we have shown how to construct an automated termination criterion if the recursion is aligned with the rewrite relation. We have demonstrated the technique with Dershowitz's forward closure criterion. In this paper we show that a different approach is suitable when the recursion is aligned with the inverse of the rewrite relation. We apply this idea to Kurth's ancestor graphs and obtain ancestor match-bounded string rewriting systems. Termination is shown to be decidable for this class. The resulting method improves upon those based on match-boundedness or inverse match-boundedness.

Geser, Alfons↗

Data Structure and Parallel Decomposition Considerations on a Fibonacci Grid

The Fibonacci grid, proposed by Swinbank and Purser (see companion abstract), provides attractive properties for global numerical atmospheric prediction by offering an optimally homogeneous, geometrically regular, and approximately isotropic discretization, with only the polar regions requiring special numerical treatment. It is a mathematical idealization, applied to the sphere, of the multi-spiral patterns often found in botanical structures, such as in pine cones and sunflower heads. Computationally, it is natural to organize the domain, into zones, in each of which the same pair, or triple, of "Fibonacci spirals" dominate. But the further subdivision of such zones into "tiles" of a shape and size suitable for distribution to the processors of a massively parallel computer requires very careful consideration if the subsequent spatial computations along the respective spirals, especially those computations (such as compact differencing schemes) that involve recursion, can be implemented in an efficient "load-balanced "manner without requiring excessive amounts of inter-processor communications. In this paper we show how certain "number theoretic" properties of the Fibonacci sequence (whose numbers prescribe the multiplicity of successive spirals) may be exploited in the decomposition of grid zones into tidy arrangements of triangular grid tiles, each tile possessing one side approximately parallel to the constant-latitude zone boundary. We also describe how the spatially recursive processes may be decomposed across such a tiling, and the directionality of the recursions reversed on alternate grid lines, to ensure a very high degree of load balancing throughout the execution of the computations required for one time step of a global model.

Michalakes, John↗

Stable and verifiable state estimation methods and systems with spacecraft applications

The stability of a recursive estimator process (e.g., a Kalman filter is assured for long time periods by periodically resetting an error covariance P(t.sub.n) of the system to a predetermined reset value P.sub.r. The recursive process is thus repetitively forced to start from a selected covariance and continue for a time period that is short compared to the system's total operational time period. The time period in which the process must maintain its numerical stability is significantly reduced as is the demand on the system's numerical stability. The process stability for an extended operational time period T.sub.o is verified by performing the resetting step at the end of at least one reset time period T.sub.r whose duration is less than the operational time period T.sub.o and then confirming stability of the process over the reset time period T.sub.r. Because the recursive process starts from a selected covariance at the beginning of each reset time period T.sub.r, confirming stability of the process over at least one reset time period substantially confirms stability over the longer operational time period T.sub.o.

Li, Rongsheng↗

Image Segmentation Analysis for NASA Earth Science Applications

NASA collects large volumes of imagery data from satellite-based Earth remote sensing sensors. Nearly all of the computerized image analysis of this data is performed pixel-by-pixel, in which an algorithm is applied directly to individual image pixels. While this analysis approach is satisfactory in many cases, it is usually not fully effective in extracting the full information content from the high spatial resolution image data that s now becoming increasingly available from these sensors. The field of object-based image analysis (OBIA) has arisen in recent years to address the need to move beyond pixel-based analysis. The Recursive Hierarchical Segmentation (RHSEG) software developed by the author is being used to facilitate moving from pixel-based image analysis to OBIA. The key unique aspect of RHSEG is that it tightly intertwines region growing segmentation, which produces spatially connected region objects, with region object classification, which groups sets of region objects together into region classes. No other practical, operational image segmentation approach has this tight integration of region growing object finding with region classification This integration is made possible by the recursive, divide-and-conquer implementation utilized by RHSEG, in which the input image data is recursively subdivided until the image data sections are small enough to successfully mitigat the combinatorial explosion caused by the need to compute the dissimilarity between each pair of image pixels. RHSEG's tight integration of region growing object finding and region classification is what enables the high spatial fidelity of the image segmentations produced by RHSEG. This presentation will provide an overview of the RHSEG algorithm and describe how it is currently being used to support OBIA or Earth Science applications such as snow/ice mapping and finding archaeological sites from remotely sensed data.

Tilton, James C.↗

Power series representation of partial derivatives required in orbit determination.

A program to integrate the equations of motion by series in powers of the time step can be easily modified to furnish the elements of the matrizant in power series of the time step. In particular, if the series representing the motion are obtained recursively, differentiation of the recurrence relations will provide immediately a recursive scheme for computing the coefficient in the power series for the elements of the matrizant.

Schanzle, A. F.↗

Estimation of correlation functions by stochastic approximation.

Consideration of the autocorrelation function of a zero-mean stationary random process. The techniques are applicable to processes with nonzero mean provided the mean is estimated first and subtracted. Two recursive techniques are proposed, both of which are based on the method of stochastic approximation and assume a functional form for the correlation function that depends on a number of parameters that are recursively estimated from successive records. One technique uses a standard point estimator of the correlation function to provide estimates of the parameters that minimize the mean-square error between the point estimates and the parametric function. The other technique provides estimates of the parameters that maximize a likelihood function relating the parameters of the function to the random process. Examples are presented.

Habibi, A.↗

Digital processing of radiographic images

Some techniques are presented and the software documentation for the digital enhancement of radiographs. Both image handling and image processing operations are considered. The image handling operations dealt with are: (1) conversion of format of data from packed to unpacked and vice versa; (2) automatic extraction of image data arrays; (3) transposition and 90 deg rotations of large data arrays; (4) translation of data arrays for registration; and (5) reduction of the dimensions of data arrays by integral factors. Both the frequency and the spatial domain approaches are presented for the design and implementation of the image processing operation. It is shown that spatial domain recursive implementation of filters is much faster than nonrecursive implementations using fast fourier transforms (FFT) for the cases of interest in this work. The recursive implementation of a class of matched filters for enhancing image signal to noise ratio is described. Test patterns are used to illustrate the filtering operations. The application of the techniques to radiographic images of metallic structures is demonstrated through several examples.

Bond, A. D.↗

Backlund transformation for solutions of the Korteweg-de Vries equation

We present a Backlund transformation operating on solutions of the Korteweg-de Vries equation. It provides a unifying approach to the theory of solitary waves (solutions). Recursive application of the transformation to any solution of the Korteweg-de Vries equation generates a hierarchy of solutions for which an algebraic recursion relation is obtained. Every such hierarchy (one of which is the known family of pure multisoliton solutions) thus admits a nonlinear superposition principle.

Wahlquist, H. D.↗

Programs for computing abscissas and weights for classical and nonclassical Gaussian quadrature formulas

Computer programs for computing Gaussian quadrature abscissas and weights are described. For the classical case the programs use Laguerre iteration to compute abscissas as zeros of orthogonal polynomials. The polynomials are evaluated from known recursion coefficients. The nonclassical case is handled similarly except that the recursion coefficients are computed by numerical integration. A sample problem, with input and output, is presented to illustrate the use of the programs. It computes the quadrature abscissas and weights associated with the weight function over the interval (0,1) for quadrature orders from 16 to 96 in increments of 8.

Desmarais, R. N.↗

Weight minimization of structures for fixed flutter speed via an optimality criterion

A rigorous optimality criterion is derived and a hybrid weight-reduction algorithm developed for the weight minimization of lifting surfaces with a constraint on flutter speed. The weight-reduction algorithm incorporates a simple recursion formula derived from the optimality criterion. Monotonic weight reduction is accomplished by dynamically adjusting a parameter in the recursion formula so as to achieve a predetermined weight decrease. The algorithm thus combines the simplicity of optimality-criterion methods with the convergence characteristics of mathematical-programming methods. The imposition of the flutter constraint is simplified by forcing to zero the imaginary part of the flutter eigenvalue, with the airspeed fixed. Four examples are discussed. The results suggest that significant improvements in efficiency are possible, in comparison with techniques based purely on mathematical programming.

Segenreich, S. A.↗

Computer simulation results of attitude estimation of earth orbiting satellites

Computer simulation results of attitude estimation of Earth-orbiting satellites (including Space Telescope) subjected to environmental disturbances and noises are presented. Decomposed linear recursive filter and Kalman filter were used as estimation tools. Six programs were developed for this simulation, and all were written in the basic language and were run on HP 9830A and HP 9866A computers. Simulation results show that a decomposed linear recursive filter is accurate in estimation and fast in response time. Furthermore, for higher order systems, this filter has computational advantages (i.e., less integration errors and roundoff errors) over a Kalman filter.

Kou, S. R.↗

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.↗

Command profile for Galileo scan platform control

A recursive command profile is developed for the control of a two-degree-of-freedom scan platform mounted on a flexible structure. Perfect sensors and actuators are assumed for development and testing, and structural vibrations are minimized by actuator torque commands following a smooth torque-time profile. The integral of the smooth torque profile, the rate profile, is recursively generated by a piecewise constant second derivation, and the torque applied by the closk actuator is divided into three components. Results show that the smooth platform motion in response to the command profiles is what the Galileo control systems needs to avoid stator structural vibrations. Position, rate and acceleration profiles are also presented, and the resulting motion of the scan platform in response to command profiles is illustrated.

Man, G. K.↗

Adaptive identification for the dynamics of large space structures

A new approach for identifying the dynamics of large space structures using noisy measurements is presented. In this approach, a modal system description is avoided and, hence, the a priori specification of model order. Instead, the system's order is recursively determined on-line, along with its parameters, using recursive lattice filters which are widely used in adaptive signal processing. The order determination is carried out based on statistical hypothesis testing theory. The approach is illustrated for the problem of identifying the structural dynamic characteristics of a free-free beam. Results on the effectiveness and accuracy of the identification scheme with respect to noise levels, sampling rates, and data window sizes are presented

Sundararajan, N.↗

Identification and stochastic control of helicopter dynamic modes

A general treatment of parameter identification and stochastic control for use on helicopter dynamic systems is presented. Rotor dynamic models, including specific applications to rotor blade flapping and the helicopter ground resonance problem are emphasized. Dynamic systems which are governed by periodic coefficients as well as constant coefficient models are addressed. The dynamic systems are modeled by linear state variable equations which are used in the identification and stochastic control formulation. The pure identification problem as well as the stochastic control problem which includes combined identification and control for dynamic systems is addressed. The stochastic control problem includes the effect of parameter uncertainty on the solution and the concept of learning and how this is affected by the control's duel effect. The identification formulation requires algorithms suitable for on line use and thus recursive identification algorithms are considered. The applications presented use the recursive extended kalman filter for parameter identification which has excellent convergence for systems without process noise.

Molusis, J. A.↗