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At least 271 records · Page 15

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NASA NTRS1993

Antenna pattern control using impedance surfaces

A hybrid numerical technique is developed for electrically large pyramidal horn antennas radiating in free space. A stepped-waveguide method is used to analyze the interior surfaces of the horn transition. The Electric Field Integral Equation (EFIE) is employed on the outer surfaces of the pyramidal horn including the radiating aperture. Meanwhile, the Magnetic Field Integral Equation (MFIE) is used on the aperture to relate the aperture fields and those in the horn transition. The resultant hybrid field integral equation (HFIE) is solved numerically by the method of moments. This formulation is both accurate and numerically stable so that high-gain microwave pyramidal horns can be analyzed rigorously. Far-field radiation patterns, both computed and measured, are presented for three electrically-large x-band horn antennas. The comparisons demonstrate that this method is accurate enough to predict the fine pattern structure at wide angles and in the back region. Computed far-field patterns and aperture field distribution of two smaller x-band horns are also presented along with a discussion on the validity of the approximate aperture field distributions routinely used in the analysis and design of pyramidal horns.

Balanis, Constantine A.↗

NASA NTRS1991

Behaviour of a few mode fiber modal pattern under stress

A numerical model was developed to calculate the interference pattern at the end of a multimode weakly guiding optical fiber under stress. Whenever an optical fiber is under stress, the modal phase in the interference term of the intensity formula changes. Plots of the simulated output of a stressed fiber are presented. For multimode fibers, very complicated patterns result. Under stress, lobes in the pattern are generated, displaced and power is exchanged among them.

Egalon, Claudio O.↗

NASA NTRS1993

Tectonic patterns and regional stresses near Venusian coronae

A stress analysis of tectonic patterns near Venusian coronae is reported. Combined local corona stresses and uniform regional stresses are used to predict patterns of surface tectonic features. The patterns are compared to those of coronae on Magellan images to determine the regional stress and elastic lithospheric thickness about the coronae. Regional stresses of 0.1-0.6 kbar and elastic lithospheric thicknesses of 10 +/- 5 km are estimated for three specific coronae.

Cyr, K. E.↗

NASA NTRS1993

Dynamic two-dimensional beam-pattern steering technique

A dynamic two-dimensional laser-beam-pattern steering technique using photorefractive holograms in conjunction with electrically addressed spatial light modulators is proposed and investigated. The experimental results demonstrate the dynamic steering of random combinations of basis beam patterns. The proposed method has the advantages of random beam-pattern combination, good beam intensity uniformity, and higher diffraction efficiency compared with conventional methods.

Zhou, Shaomin↗

NASA NTRS1991

Automated pattern eduction from turbulent flow diagnostics

The development of an automated technique for the eduction of 3-D spatial patterns in vector or scalar diagnostics was completed. The method is based on an iterative convolution between a trial pattern and the data field. It was applied to the analysis of low Reynolds number turbulent channel flow and homogeneous shear flow. The results yielded new information on the dominant flow structures in these flows, particularly with respect to the spatial relationships between various forms of organized motion. A particular application of the pattern eduction method, which is tentatively referred to as an 'adaptive wavelet transformation', is proposed with the objective of investigating the way turbulence structure changes with scale. Preliminary results using data from homogeneous turbulent shear flow simulations are presented. At the low Reynolds numbers of the simulations, there is no evidence of scale similarity. The small scales appear to be associated with the edges of the larger scale vortical structures.

Stretch, Derek D.↗

NASA NTRS1947

The Streamline Pattern in the Vicinity of an Oblique Airfoil

A method for determining the streamwise flow pattern of a nonviscous incompressible fluid about an oblique airfoil from the corresponding flow pattern about the airfoil in normal position is presented and illustrated in two examples. The method can be extended to account approximately for compressibility effects by applying the Prandtl-Glauert correction factor to the flow pattern that is normal to the leading edge of the airfoil. The method is expected to be useful in determining the shape of a fuselage or nacelle having a minimum of interference with the flow over a swept-back wing.

Watkins, Charles E↗

NASA NTRS1994

Using Distributed Targets To Determine SAR Antenna Patterns

Improved method of determining radiation pattern of synthetic-aperture radar (SAR) antenna with respect to elevation-angle coordinate (angle of roll about flight path) devised. Essence of method is solving radar equation in such way as to enable extraction of antenna pattern from SAR images of uniform distributed targets. Needed because radiation pattern in flight can differ from that observed in laboratory test of antenna. Computations include subtraction of noise, test for uniformity, and least-squares estimate.

Freeman, Anthony↗

NASA NTRS1993

Quantitative EEG patterns of differential in-flight workload

Four test pilots were instrumented for in-flight EEG recordings using a custom portable recording system. Each flew six, two minute tracking tasks in the Calspan NT-33 experimental trainer at Edwards AFB. With the canopy blacked out, pilots used a HUD display to chase a simulated aircraft through a random flight course. Three configurations of flight controls altered the flight characteristics to achieve low, moderate, and high workload, as determined by normative Cooper-Harper ratings. The test protocol was administered by a command pilot in the back seat. Corresponding EEG and tracking data were compared off-line. Tracking performance was measured as deviation from the target aircraft and combined with control difficulty to achieve an estimate of 'cognitive workload'. Trended patterns of parietal EEG activity at 8-12 Hz were sorted according to this classification. In all cases, high workload produced a significantly greater suppression of 8-12 Hz activity than low workload. Further, a clear differentiation of EEG trend patterns was obtained in 80 percent of the cases. High workload produced a sustained suppression of 8-12 Hz activity, while moderate workload resulted in an initial suppression followed by a gradual increment. Low workload was associated with a modulated pattern lacking any periods of marked or sustained suppression. These findings suggest that quantitative analysis of appropriate EEG measures may provide an objective and reliable in-flight index of cognitive effort that could facilitate workload assessment.

Sterman, M. B.↗

NASA NTRS1993

A pattern recognition system for locating small volvanoes in Magellan SAR images of Venus

The Magellan data set constitutes an example of the large volumes of data that today's instruments can collect, providing more detail of Venus than was previously available from Pioneer Venus, Venera 15/16, or ground-based radar observations put together. However, data analysis technology has not kept pace with data collection and storage technology. Due to the sheer size of the data, complete and comprehensive scientific analysis of such large volumes of image data is no longer feasible without the use of computational aids. Our progress towards developing a pattern recognition system for aiding in the detection and cataloging of small-scale natural features in large collections of images is reported. Combining classical image processing, machine learning, and a graphical user interface, the detection of the 'small-shield' volcanoes (less than 15km in diameter) that constitute the most abundant visible geologic feature in the more that 30,000 synthetic aperture radar (SAR) images of the surface of Venus are initially targeted. Our eventual goal is to provide a general, trainable tool for locating small-scale features where scientists specify what to look for simply by providing examples and attributes of interest to measure. This contrasts with the traditional approach of developing problem specific programs for detecting Specific patterns. The approach and initial results in the specific context of locating small volcanoes is reported. It is estimated, based on extrapolating from previous studies and knowledge of the underlying geologic processes, that there should be on the order of 10(exp 5) to 10(exp 6) of these volcanoes visible in the Magellan data. Identifying and studying these volcanoes is fundamental to a proper understanding of the geologic evolution of Venus. However, locating and parameterizing them in a manual manner is forbiddingly time-consuming. Hence, the development of techniques to partially automate this task were undertaken. The primary constraints for this particular problem are that the method must be reasonably robust and fast. Unlike most geological features, the small volcanoes of Venus can be ascribed to a basic process that produces features with a short list of readily defined characteristics differing significantly from other surface features on Venus. For pattern recognition purposes the relevant criteria include (1) a circular planimetric outline, (2) known diameter frequency distribution from preliminary studies, (3) a limited number of basic morphological shapes, and (4) the common occurrence of a single, circular summit pit at the center of the edifice.

Burl, M. C.↗

NASA NTRS1993

Regional mantle upwelling on Venus: The Beta-Atla-Themis anomaly and correlation with global tectonic patterns

The morphology and global distribution of volcanic centers and their association with other geological characteristics offers significant insight into the global patterns of geology, tectonic style, thermal state, and interior dynamics of Venus. Magellan data permit the detailed geological interpretation necessary to address questions about interior dynamics of Venus particularly as they reflect relatively physical, chemical, and thermal conditions of the interior. This paper focuses on the distribution of anomalous concentrations of volcanic centers on Venus and regional patterns of tectonic deformation as it may relate to the identification of global internal anomalies, including mantle dynamic, petrological, or thermal patterns.

Crumpler, L. S.↗

NASA NTRS1993

Test pattern generation for ILA sequential circuits

An efficient method of generating test patterns for sequential machines implemented using one-dimensional, unilateral, iterative logic arrays (ILA's) of BTS pass transistor networks is presented. Based on a transistor level fault model, the method affords a unique opportunity for real-time fault detection with improved fault coverage. The resulting test sets are shown to be equivalent to those obtained using conventional gate level models, thus eliminating the need for additional test patterns. The proposed method advances the simplicity and ease of the test pattern generation for a special class of sequential circuitry.

Feng, YU↗

NASA NTRS1993

A pattern jitter free AFC scheme for mobile satellite systems

This paper describes a scheme for pattern jitter free automatic frequency control (AFC) with a wide frequency acquisition range. In this scheme, equalizing signals fed to the frequency discriminator allow pattern jitter free performance to be achieved for all roll-off factors. In order to define the acquisition range, frequency discrimination characateristics are analyzed on a newly derived frequency domain model. As a result, it is shown that a sufficiently wide acquisition range over a given system symbol rate can be achieved independent of symbol timing errors. Additionally, computer simulation demonstrates that frequency jitter performance improves in proportion to E(sub b)/N(sub 0) because pattern-dependent jitter is suppressed in the discriminator output. These results show significant promise for applciation to mobile satellite systems, which feature relatively low symbol rate transmission with an approximately 0.4-0.7 roll-off factor.

Yoshida, Shousei↗

NASA NTRS1993

Space Station UCS antenna pattern computation and measurement

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the interference to the Space Station Ultrahigh Frequency (UHF) Communication Subsystem (UCS) antenna radiation pattern due to its environment - Space Station. A hybrid Computational Electromagnetics (CEM) technique was applied in this study. The antenna was modeled using the Method of Moments (MOM) and the radiation patterns were computed using the Uniform Geometrical Theory of Diffraction (GTD) in which the effects of the reflected and diffracted fields from surfaces, edges, and vertices of the Space Station structures were included. In order to validate the CEM techniques, and to provide confidence in the computer-generated results, a comparison with experimental measurements was made for a 1/15 scale Space Station mockup. Based on the results accomplished, good agreement on experimental and computed results was obtained. The computed results using the CEM techniques for the Space Station UCS antenna pattern predictions have been validated.

Hwu, Shian U.↗

NASA NTRS1994

Computation of reflected and transmitted horn radiation patterns for a dichroic plate

A previous dichroic plate analysis has assumed that an ideal uniform plane wave illuminates the dichroic plate at a single angle of incidence. In fact, a horn radiates energy at the dichroic plate and illuminates it at many different angles. To model the horn and dichroic plate system, the horn pattern is represented as a group of plane waves traveling in different directions. The details of this analysis are presented this article. The calculated and measured reflected radiation patterns show good agreement. The noise temperature predicted from the horn pattern model is shown to be more accurate than that from a simple plane-wave model.

Chen, J. C.↗

NASA NTRS1994

The design and implementation of EPL: An event pattern language for active databases

The growing demand for intelligent information systems requires closer coupling of rule-based reasoning engines, such as CLIPS, with advanced data base management systems (DBMS). For instance, several commercial DBMS now support the notion of triggers that monitor events and transactions occurring in the database and fire induced actions, which perform a variety of critical functions, including safeguarding the integrity of data, monitoring access, and recording volatile information needed by administrators, analysts, and expert systems to perform assorted tasks; examples of these tasks include security enforcement, market studies, knowledge discovery, and link analysis. At UCLA, we designed and implemented the event pattern language (EPL) which is capable of detecting and acting upon complex patterns of events which are temporally related to each other. For instance, a plant manager should be notified when a certain pattern of overheating repeats itself over time in a chemical process; likewise, proper notification is required when a suspicious sequence of bank transactions is executed within a certain time limit. The EPL prototype is built in CLIPS to operate on top of Sybase, a commercial relational DBMS, where actions can be triggered by events such as simple database updates, insertions, and deletions. The rule-based syntax of EPL allows the sequences of goals in rules to be interpreted as sequences of temporal events; each goal can correspond to either (1) a simple event, or (2) a (possibly negated) event/condition predicate, or (3) a complex event defined as the disjunction and repetition of other events. Various extensions have been added to CLIPS in order to tailor the interface with Sybase and its open client/server architecture.

Giuffrida, G.↗

NASA NTRS1995

Dynamics and pattern of a managed coniferous forest landscape in Oregon

We examined the process of fragmentation in a managed forest landscape by comparing rates and patterns of disturbance (primarily clear-cutting) and regrowth between 1972 and 1988 using Landsat imagery. A 2589-km(exp 2) managed forest landscape in western Oregon was classified into two forest types, closed-canopy conifer forest (CF) (typically, greater than 60% conifer cover) and other forest and nonforest types (OT) (typically, less than 40 yr old or deciduous forest). The percentage of CF declined from 71 to 58% between 1972 and 1988. Declines were greatest on private land, least in wilderness, and intermediate in public nonwilderness. High elevations (greater than 914 m) maintained a greater percentage of CF than lower elevations (less than 914 m). The percentage of the area at the edge of the two cover types increased on all ownerships and in both elevational zones, whereas the amount of interior habitat (defined as CF at least 100 m from OT) decreased on all ownerships and elevational zones. By 1988 public lands contained approximately 45% interior habitat while private lands had 12% interior habitat. Mean interior patch area declined from 160 to 62 ha. The annual rate of disturbance (primarily clear-cutting) for the entire area including the wilderness was 1.19%, which corresponds to a cutting rotation of 84 yr. The forest landscape was not in a steady state or regulated condition which is not projected to occur for at least 40 yr under current forest plans. Variability in cutting rates within ownerships was higher on private land than on nonreserve public land. However, despite the use of dispersed cutting patterns on public land, spatial patterns of cutting and remnant forest patches were nonuniform across the entire public ownership. Large remaining patches (less than 5000 ha) of contiguous interior forest were restricted to public lands designated for uses other than timber production such as wilderness areas and research natural areas.

Spies, Thomas A.↗

NASA NTRS1993

Interference patterns in the Spacelab 2 plasma wave data: Lower hybrid waves driven by pickup ions

During the Spacelab 2 mission the University of Iowa's Plasma Diagnostics Package (PDP) was released from the shuttle to explore the plasma environment around the shuttle. Wideband spectrograms were obtained from the PDP at frequencies from 0 to 30 kHz and distances up to 400 m from the shuttle. The wideband data frequently showed antenna interference patterns when the PDP was on the downstream side of the shuttle. Analysis of these interference patterns allows a determination of the wavelength, the plasma rest frame frequency, the direction of propagation, the power spectrum, and in some cases the location of the source. We concentrate our analysis on interference patterns due to lower hybrid waves: waves which have rest frame frequencies near the lower hybrid frequency and propagate perpendicular to the magnetic field. The waves have an almost flat dispersion relation with frequencies just above the lower hybrid frequency and relatively short wavelengths (1 - 4 m). The observed lower hybrid waves depend strongly on the position of the PDP relative to the shuttle and the magnetic field direction. Our results confirm previous suggestions that the lower hybrid waves are generated primarily in the vicinity of the shuttle and that they are driven by a charge exchange interaction between the ambient ionosphere and a H2O cloud around the shuttle.

Feng, Wei↗

NASA NTRS1995

On-orbit measurement of TOPEX/Poseidon altimeter antenna pattern

The NASA and CNES altimeters on the TOPEX/Poseidon satellite share a 1.5-m antenna. Early data from the NASA altimeter suggested that the beam was broader than measured preflight. An altimeter transponder was modified to output a relative measurement of received power. The instrument is briefly described. The instrument was deployed on the TOPEX ground track at the coast near Los Angeles, California. Measurements from three of these deployments are presented to show the on-orbit antenna pattern. The measured pattern is effectively broader than preflight in the central region, particularly the part of the pattern which corresponds to the tail of the altimeter waveform where the attitude is determined. This result is consistent with the general shape of both the TOPEX and Poseidon waveforms. As the TOPEX corrections which depend on values from the tail of the waveform have been compensated for deviations from the preflight measurements, no appreciable effect on the final data is expected.

Callahan, Philip S.↗