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At least 343 records · Page 19

The International DORIS Service contribution to ITRF2020

For the realization of the 2020 International Terrestrial Reference Frame (ITRF2020), the International DORIS Service delivered to the International Earth Rotation and Reference Systems Service (IERS) a set of 1456 weekly solution files from 1993.0 to 2021.0 including station coordinates and Earth orientation parameters (EOPs). The data come from fourteen DORIS satellites: TOPEX/Poseidon, SPOT-2, SPOT-3, SPOT-4, SPOT-5, Envisat, Jason-1, Jason-2, Cryosat-2, Saral, HY-2A, Jason-3, Sentinel-3A and Sentinel-3B. In their processing, the four analysis centers which contributed to the DORIS combined solution used the latest time variable gravity models, the new mean pole and diurnal-subdiurnal tidal EOP models recommended by IERS. In addition, all the analysis centers included in their processing precise SPOT-5 solar panel angle values and quaternions for, at least, the Jason satellites. Furthermore, a new Alcatel phase center variation model was implemented for the ITRF2020 processing. The main objective of this study is to present the combination process and to analyze the impact of the new modeling on the performance of the new combined solution. Comparisons with the IDS contribution to ITRF2014 show that i) the application of the new phase center variations for the Alcatel DORIS ground antennas in the data processing combined with the gradual replacement over time of the Alcatel by Starec antennas implies a scale drift from 1993.0 to 2002.5 and ii) thanks to a better modeling of the surface forces on the satellites, the new combined solution shows smaller annual and 118-day signals in the geocenter. A new DORIS terrestrial reference frame was computed to evaluate the intrinsic quality of the new combined solution. That evaluation shows that over almost the full time span the intrinsic IDS scale values lie in a range of ±5 mm. After mid-2008, the new DORIS reference frame has an internal position consistency in North-East-Up better than 7.5 mm.

DORIS↗

The NIST Real-Time Control System (RCS): A Reference Model Architecture for Computational Intelligence

The Real-time Control System (RCS) developed at NIST and elsewhere over the past two decades defines a reference model architecture for design and analysis of complex intelligent control systems. The RCS architecture consists of a hierarchically layered set of functional processing modules connected by a network of communication pathways. The primary distinguishing feature of the layers is the bandwidth of the control loops. The characteristic bandwidth of each level is determined by the spatial and temporal integration window of filters, the temporal frequency of signals and events, the spatial frequency of patterns, and the planning horizon and granularity of the planners that operate at each level. At each level, tasks are decomposed into sequential subtasks, to be performed by cooperating sets of subordinate agents. At each level, signals from sensors are filtered and correlated with spatial and temporal features that are relevant to the control function being implemented at that level.

Albus, James S.↗

Determination of quadric equation coefficients describing three-dimensional surfaces, their constraint and skewed planes, and view point areas

Mathematical model and a digital computer BLITZ language programming technique computes coefficients of quadric equations describing cylinders, paraboloids, ellipsoids, or planes with any orientation to a reference system, coordinates of a vector, and coefficients of quadric surfaces which limit the surface of three-dimensional space.

Paoletti, C. J.↗

Comments on the accuracy of Baker-Nunn observations

Many factors influence the accuracy with which the satellite positions may be derived from Baker-Nunn observations. Some of these factors are more important than others. In an accuracy study of satellite tracking methods there are invariably two distinct aspects to be investigated: the accuracy with which the satellite position can be referred to the reference system used - the stellar framework in the case of the optical observations, and the accuracy of the instant of observation. It is generally desirable to keep time as an independent variable so that any uncertainty in measuring the time of observation will be reflected in the positional accuracy.

Lambeck, K.↗

Comments on the figure of the moon from Apollo landmark tracking.

The selenographic positions of the observed lunar features are solved for, or estimated directly from, angular measurements made from the orbiting spacecraft (Apollo missions 8, 10, 11, 12, 14, and 15) to the landmark, using least-squares techniques. It appears that the radius values derived from the Apollo landmark data provide some proof of the existence of a displacement between the center of figure and center of mass of the moon along the earth-moon line. In addition, all three components of the estimated crater locations should be useful toward establishing a selenodetic reference system for interpreting or reducing earth-based observation data.

Wollenhaupt, W. R.↗

Progress in strapdown technology

An overview is presented of typical inertial grade instrumentation available to mechanize precision strapdown attitude reference systems as well as a novel scheme of redundancy management, if two degree of freedom instruments are used. The instrumentation is divided between conventional and unconventional sensors with some assessment of their readiness included.

Hung, J. C.↗

Diurnal polar motion

An analytical theory is developed to describe diurnal polar motion in the earth which arises as a forced response due to lunisolar torques and tidal deformation. Doodson's expansion of the tide generating potential is used to represent the lunisolar torques. Both the magnitudes and the rates of change of perturbations in the earth's inertia tensor are included in the dynamical equations for the polar motion so as to account for rotational and tidal deformation. It is found that in a deformable earth with Love's number k = 0.29, the angular momentum vector departs by as much as 20 cm from the rotation axis rather than remaining within 1 or 2 cm as it would in a rigid earth. This 20 cm separation is significant in the interpretation of submeter polar motion observations because it necessitates an additional coordinate transformation in order to remove what would otherwise be a 20 cm error source in the conversion between inertial and terrestrial reference systems.

Mcclure, P.↗

Optical analysis of a compound quasi-microscope for planetary landers

A quasi-microscope concept, consisting of facsimile camera augmented with an auxiliary lens as a magnifier, was introduced and analyzed. The performance achievable with this concept was primarily limited by a trade-off between resolution and object field; this approach leads to a limiting resolution of 20 microns when used with the Viking lander camera (which has an angular resolution of 0.04 deg). An optical system is analyzed which includes a field lens between camera and auxiliary lens to overcome this limitation. It is found that this system, referred to as a compound quasi-microscope, can provide improved resolution (to about 2 microns ) and a larger object field. However, this improvement is at the expense of increased complexity, special camera design requirements, and tighter tolerances on the distances between optical components.

Wall, S. D.↗

ASRDI oxygen technology survey. Volume 6: Flow measurement instrumentation

A summary is provided of information available on liquid and gaseous oxygen flowmetering including an evaluation of commercial meters. The instrument types, physical principles of measurement, and performance characteristics are described. Problems concerning flow measurements of less than plus or minus two percent uncertainty are reviewed. Recommendations concerning work on flow reference systems, the use of surrogate fluids, and standard tests for oxygen flow measurements are also presented.

Mann, D. B.↗