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At least 253 records · Page 14

The MSS control point location error filter for LANDSAT-D

The filter produces the maximum likelihood estimates for average values of the spacecraft position and attitude errors during a single scene. The quality of the filter performance is characterized by the maximal cross and along track residual errors for which probability distributions can be calculated analytically for a given pattern of control points. The filter with an automatic selection of the best set of estimates provides geodetic correction at 90% of pixels with residual errors less than 40 m for four or more control points and the mean squared measurement errors of the order of 20-25 m. The same accuracy can be preserved for eight or more control points and measurement errors of 30-35 m.

Levine, I.↗

Stochastic control system parameter identifiability

The parameter identification problem of general discrete time, nonlinear, multiple input/multiple output dynamic systems with Gaussian white distributed measurement errors is considered. The knowledge of the system parameterization was assumed to be known. Concepts of local parameter identifiability and local constrained maximum likelihood parameter identifiability were established. A set of sufficient conditions for the existence of a region of parameter identifiability was derived. A computation procedure employing interval arithmetic was provided for finding the regions of parameter identifiability. If the vector of the true parameters is locally constrained maximum likelihood (CML) identifiable, then with probability one, the vector of true parameters is a unique maximal point of the maximum likelihood function in the region of parameter identifiability and the constrained maximum likelihood estimation sequence will converge to the vector of true parameters.

Lee, C. H.↗

Flight-determined correction terms for angle of attack and sideslip

The effects of local flow, upwash, and sidewash on angle of attack and sideslip (measured with boom-mounted vanes) were determined for subsonic, transonic, and supersonic flight using a maximum likelihood estimator. The correction terms accounting for these effects were determined using a series of maneuvers flown at a large number of flight conditions in both augmented and unaugmented control modes. The correction terms provide improved angle-of-attack and sideslip values for use in the estimation of stability and control derivatives. In addition to detailing the procedure used to determine these correction terms, this paper discusses various effects, such as those related to Mach number, on the correction terms. The use of maneuvers flown in augmented and unaugmented control modes is also discussed.

Shafer, M. F.↗

Off-nadir antenna bias correction using Amazon rain forest sigma deg data

The radar response from the Amazon rain forest was studied to determine the suitability of this region for use as a standard target to calibrate a scatterometer like that proposed for the National Ocean Satellite System (NOSS). Backscattering observations made by the SEASAT-1 scatterometer system show the Amazon rain forest to be a homogeneous, azimuthally-isotropic, radar target which is insensitive to polarization. The variation with angle of incidence may be adequately modeled as sigma deg (dB) = alpha theta + beta with typical values for the incidence-angle coefficient from 0.07 dB deg to 0.15 dB/deg. A small diurnal effect occurs, with measurements at sunrise being 0.5 dB to 1 dB higher than the rest of the day. Maximum likelihood estimation algorithms are presented which permit determination of relative bias and true pointing angle for each beam. Specific implementation of these algorithms for the proposed NOSS scatterometer system is also discussed.

Birrer, I. J.↗

Off-nadir antenna bias correction using Amazon rain sigma(0) data

The radar response from the Amazon rain forest was studied to determine the suitability of this region for use as a standard target to calibrate a scatterometer like that proposed for the National Oceanic Satellite System (NOSS). Backscattering observations made by the SEASAT Scatterometer System (SASS) showed the Amazon rain forest to be a homogeneous, azimuthally-isotropic, radar target which was insensitive to polarization. The variation with angle of incidence was adequately modeled as scattering coefficient (dB) = a theta b with typical values for the incidence-angle coefficient from 0.07 to 0.15 dB/deg. A small diurnal effect occurs, with measurements at sunrise being 0.5 dB to 1 dB higher than the rest of the day. Maximum-likelihood estimation algorithms presented here permit determination of relative bias and true pointing angle for each beam. Specific implementation of these algorithms for the proposed NOSS scatterometer system is also discussed.

Birrer, I. J.↗

Identification and control of spacecraft

Information on the identification and control of spacecraft is given. Maximum likelihood estimation, identification accuracy issues, steady state identifiability analysis and stochastic error with process noise are among the topics addressed.

Greene, C. S.↗

On the determination of airplane model structure form flight data

A procedure based on a modified stepwise regression and several selection criteria is presented for the determination of airplane model structure from flight data. The aerodynamic force and moment coefficients in an airplane model are expresed either as polynomials in output and input variables or as a combination of splines. The procedure is demonstrated in three examples by attempting to determine a local, extended and global model. Some of the resulting models are verified by using the maximum likelihood estimation or by examining model prediction capabilities.

Klein, V.↗

Investigation of the effect of vehicle, angle-of-attack, and trim elevon position on lateral-directional aerodynamic parameters of the Shuttle Orbiter

This paper discusses the lateral-directional stability and control coefficients extracted from onboard measurements made during reentry of flights two to eight of the Space Shuttle Orbiters. Maximum likelihood estimation is applied to data derived from accelerometer and rate gyro measurements and trajectory, meteorological and control surface data to estimate these lateral-directional parameters. Comparison of estimated coefficients across the seven flights and two shuttle vehicles is made. The effect of the angle-of-attack, and trim elevon deflection on estimated values of the stability and control derivatives is also studied.

Schiess, J. R.↗

Shuttle-attached Antenna Flight Experiment Definition Study (FEDS)

The control algorithms, techniques, and hardware which would be required to support whether flight experiments of large space structures control are assessed for a 55-meter diameter wrap-rib reflector with a three degree-of-freedom gimbal. Strowman requirements were established for geometry, mass property, and elastic mode identification as well as for control and slewing. A five-body simulation of the Shuttle and test article was built with the ALLFLEX computer program. A maximum likelihood estimator, the flight experiment timeline, and the LSS control development test plan are discussed.

Hannan, G. J.↗

Validation of the ERBE scanner scene identification methodology: Analysis with Nimbus-7 ERB data

Maximum Likelihood Estimation (MLE) procedure for scene identification currently being utilized in the ERBE scanner data processing stream is applied to the Nimbus-7 ERB Scanner data for the month of June 1979. The Earth radiation budget parameters derived using MLE method show very good agreement with the values provided using sorting into angular bins (SAB) method. Results of the fields on different spatial scales are presented. A satellite zenith angle study indicates that the MLE procedure considerably improves the scene selection over the method of bispectral thresholds applied in the Nimbus-7 ERB data processing. Agreement with SAB results improved further when the observations were cut off at 75% in satellite zenith. Sampling constraints, however require that the cut-off angle should not be lower than 70%. Quantitative details about the reliability of the scene identification are also presented.

Vermury, S.↗

High dynamic, low volume GPS receiver

A new GPS receiver concept and design are presented to meet the high dynamic and low volume requirements for range applications in missiles and drones. The receiver has the potential to satisfy all range requirements with one basic receiver, which has significant potential economic benefit over the alternate approach of using a family of receivers, each tailored for specific applications. The main new concept is to use approximate maximum likelihood estimates of pseudo range and range-rate, rather than tracking with carrier phase locked loops and code delay locked loops. Preliminary analysis indicates that receivers accelerating at 50 g or more can track with position errors due to acceleration of approximately 0.2 m/g, or 10 m at 50 g. Implementation is almost entirely digital to meet the low volume requirements.

Hurd, W. J.↗

On the identification of a highly augmented airplane

The results of applying linear least squares and maximum likelihood estimation procedures to flight data from the AFTI/F-16 airplane are presented. Data from two flight control system modes are analyzed. It is shown that though a simple aerodynamic model structure is adequate for the simple mode, a more complicated model is necessary to adequately describe the highly augmented mode. The effect of augmentation of roll control is shown to be visible in the control parameters.

Batterson, J. G.↗

Statistical methods for astronomical data with upper limits. I - Univariate distributions

The statistical treatment of univariate censored data is discussed. A heuristic derivation of the Kaplan-Meier maximum-likelihood estimator from first principles is presented which results in an expression amenable to analytic error analysis. Methods for comparing two or more censored samples are given along with simple computational examples, stressing the fact that most astronomical problems involve upper limits while the standard mathematical methods require lower limits. The application of univariate survival analysis to six data sets in the recent astrophysical literature is described, and various aspects of the use of survival analysis in astronomy, such as the limitations of various two-sample tests and the role of parametric modelling, are discussed.

Feigelson, E. D.↗

The measurement of aircraft performance and stability and control after flight through natural icing conditions

The effects of airframe icing on the performance and stability and control of a twin-engine commuter-class aircraft were measured by the NASA Lewis Research Center. This work consisted of clear air tests with artificial ice shapes attached to the horizontal tail, and natural icing flight tests in measured icing clouds. The clear air tests employed static longitudinal flight test methods to determine degradation in stability margins for four simulated ice shapes. The natural icing flight tests employed a data acquisition system, which was provided under contract to NASA by Kohlman Systems Research Incorporated. This system used a performance modeling method and modified maximum likelihood estimation (MMLE) technique to determine aircraft performance degradation and stability and control. Flight test results with artificial ice shapes showed that longitudinal, stick-fixed, static margins are reduced on the order of 5 percent with flaps up. Natural icing tests with the KSR system corroborated these results and showed degradation in the elevator control derivatives on the order of 8 to 16 percent depending on wing flap configuration. Performance analyses showed the individual contributions of major airframe components to the overall degration in lift and drag.

Ranaudo, R. J.↗

Longitudinal stability and control derivatives obtained from flight data of a PA-30 aircraft

In order to obtain reliable and accurate values of the stability and control derivatives, the Dryden Fligh Research Center (DFRC) developed a technique for extracting the derivatives from flight data. This technique is implemented by a set of FORTRAN computer programs that is based on a modified maximum likelihood estimator that uses the Newton-Raphson algorithm to perform the required minimization of the derivatives. Data was obtained with a PA-30, light twin-engine general aviation aircraft in zero, half, and full flap configuration in level unaccelerated flight with the landing gear retracted. The derivatives were plotted as functions of angle of attack using various graphical arrangements to show variations of wind tunnel and flight determined values at zero flap settings. Also, data was displayed to show the effects of flap deflection and thrust variation on the longitudinal stability derivatives. The angle of attack and angle of sideslip were measured. The dynamic pressure, velocity, and altitude were calculated, using a FORTRAN computer program, from the static and dynamic pressures. The control deflections of the stabilator, ailerons, and rudder also were recorded along with left throttle position, engine rpm, and manifold pressure.

Turley, D. R.↗

Lateral stability and control derivatives extracted from five early flights of the space shuttle Columbia

Flight data taken from the first five flights (STS-2, 3, 4, 5 and 9) of the Space Transportation System Shuttle Columbia during entry are analyzed to determine the Shuttle lateral aerodynamic characteristics. Maximum likelihood estimation is applied to data derived from accelerometer and rate gyro measurements and trajectory, meteorological and control surface data to estimate lateral-directional stability and control derivatives. The estimated parameters are compared across the five flights and to preflight predicted values.

Schiess, J. R.↗

GPS high dynamic receiver tracking demonstration results

Demonstration results are presented for a high dynamic GPS receiver. The receiver tested is a breadboard unit capable of tracking one simulated satellite signal in pseudorange and range rate. The receiver makes approximate maximum likelihood estimates of pseudorange and range rate each 20 ms, and tracks these observables using a third order filter with a time constant of 0.14 s. Carrier phase is not tracked, which eliminates the typical failure mode of loss of carrier lock associated with PLLs at high dynamics. The receiver tracks with pseudorange lag errors of under 0.06 m when subjected to simulated 50 g turns with 40 g/s peak jerk. Pseudorange errors due to receiver noise alone are approximately 0.6 m rms at a carrier power to noise spectral density ratio of 34 dB-Hz. The tracking threshold SNR is approximately 28 dB-Hz, which provides 12 dB margin relative to the 40 dB-Hz that occurs with minimum specified satellite signal strength, 3.5 dB system noise figure, and 0 dBi antenna gain.

Hurd, W. J.↗

Aerodynamic flight testing of the Space Shuttle Orbiter

The flight testing techniques and analyses used to verify the stability and control characteristics of the Space Shuttle Orbiter are examined. The pods of the reaction control system jets, the elevon panels, bodyflap, rudder, and automatic flight control system, which provide pitch, yaw, and roll control and thermal protection for the Orbiter, are described. The control maneuvers of the Shuttle are analyzed using the modified maximum likelihood estimator. Approach and landing and flight test data are applied to the study of the instrumentation, and to the evaluation of the stability and control characteristics of the Orbiter.

Barton, R. L.↗