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At least 361 records · Page 20

Multispectral combination and display of ERTS-1 data

A significant problem in the use of ERTS-1 data is the extraction of information pertinent to each application and the presentation of that information in a form most suitable to users. When the information is to be displayed for visual study by an observer, the problem can be reduced to two steps: (1) Dimensionality reduction, an objective procedure which attempts to preserve most of the ERTS-1 information in a smaller number of components. (2) Display of the reduced number of components for optimum visibility by an observer. A specific dimensionality reduction technique has been applied to ERTS-1 data for several geographical areas in California and distinct types of earth resources. In the display of the reduced number of components, consideration has to be given to properties of the human visual system and the statistics of the data to be displayed. Previous work on digital image enhancement was applied to this problem to generate color composites which contain and display most of the information provided by the ERTS-1 sensors. Results of this approach were interesting, both in terms of the small mean-square caused by the dimensionality reduction, as well as for the examples of enhanced images that have been obtained.

Algazi, V. R.↗

Application of holography to flow visualization within rotating compressor blade row

Two holographic interblade row flow visualization systems were designed to determine the three-dimensional shock patterns and velocity distributions within the rotating blade row of a transonic fan rotor, utilizing the techniques of pulsed laser transmission holography. Both single- and double-exposure bright field holograms and dark field scattered-light holograms were successfully recorded. Two plastic windows were installed in the rotor tip casing and outer casing forward of the rotor to view the rotor blade passage. The viewing angle allowed detailed investigation of the leading edge shocks and shocks in the midspan damper area; limited details of the trailing edge shocks also were visible. A technique was devised for interpreting the reconstructed holograms by constructing three dimensional models that allowed identification of the major shock systems. The models compared favorably with theoretical predictions and results of the overall and blade element data. Most of the holograms were made using the rapid double-pulse technique.

Wuerker, R. F.↗

Teleoperator docking simulation

A simulation study is described of the translation, station keeping and final approach segments of the teleoperator implemented at MSFC. An effort is made to identify the teleoperator visual system design parameters which influence operator performance and to determine human factors design requirements for free flying teleoperators.

Kirkpatrick, M.↗

Spatial frequency doubling - Retinal or central

When a wide field is sinusoidally modulated both in space and in time, the spatial frequency of the pattern will appear doubled at high rates of modulation. Kelly (1966) proposed that this illusion is due to temporal integration of the nonlinear brightness response of the visual system. The anatomical locus of this temporal integrator is uncertain, and could be subcortical. Results indicate that spatial frequency doubling follows binocular disparity detection and is thus a cortical phenomenon.

Richards, W.↗

Orientational anisotropy in infant vision

Infants prefer to look at horizontal and vertical gratings rather than at oblique gratings only when they are at or near threshold spatial frequencies, as would be expected if acuity for oblique edges is lower than that for horizontal and vertical edges. That such a bias exists as early as 6 weeks of age suggests that the orientational asymmetry of the visual system depends on endogeneous maturation rather than exposure to a carpentered world.

Cohen Leehey, S.↗

Holographic flow visualization at the Langley CF4 tunnel

A holographic flow visualization system was used to obtain shadowgraph, schlieren, and interferograms of the flow field at Langley's hypersonic (Mach 6) CF4 tunnel. The dual hologram technique which was used makes it possible to vary focusing, knife-edge position, and the orientation and spacing of the interference fringes after a tunnel run. The experimental arrangement necessary to produce high quality interferograms is discussed. Typical shadowgraphs, schlieren pictures, and interferograms are presented.

Burner, A. W.↗

The use of spatial characteristics for the improvement of multispectral classification of remotely sensed data

Two techniques for the classification of multispectral remotely sensed data - the image processing technique of texture features, which is modeled after the human visual system, and the ECHO (Extraction and Classification of Homogeneous Objects) numerical technique - are examined. These two spatial analysis techniques are compared using Landsat imagery of an area of Indiana as an example, and it is found that the numerical approach is superior in classification accuracy and more efficient computationally.

Wiersma, D. J.↗

Design concepts of the Shuttle mission simulator

The Shuttle mission simulator is designed to simulate all phases of the Space Shuttle mission from the last 30 minutes of countdown to launch, ascent, operations in orbit, deorbit, reentry, and landing with full participation by astronaut trainees and the mission control center. This paper reviews the design concepts of the simulator with attention given to the simulation hardware, crew stations, instructor/operator stations, digital computers, flight computer simulation interface device, mission control center interface, visual systems, aural cue system, mathematical modeling, digital computer complex, motion system, and the payload accommodation system.

Bird, J. D.↗

When day is done and shadows fall, we miss the airport most of all

Both the effectiveness of pilot training and the safety of flight can be influenced by the distribution of texture in the visual scene, the distance to which the eyes accommodate, and the associated shifts in the apparent size and distance of objects in central and peripheral vision. Studies reviewed and original results presented indicate that these factors are involved in various misjudgments and illusions experienced by pilots: (1) when searching for other airborne traffic or targets, (2) when making approaches to airports over water at night, (3) when breaking out of low clouds on a final approach to a landing by reference to head-up or head-down displays, and (4) when practicing simulated approaches and landings or air-to-surface weapon deliveries by reference to synthetically generated visual systems.

Roscoe, S. N.↗

A binocular contribution to the production of optokinetic nystagmus in normal and stereoblind subjects

Viewing a large patterned field moving in one direction produces a regular pattern of eye movements known as optokinetic nystagmus (OKN). Fox et al. (1978) showed that the mechanism producing OKN can utilize purely binocular or 'cyclopean' input. Experiments reported confirm that finding and extend it to demonstrate that the binocularity of this mechanism is not disrupted in subjects who lack stereopsis. This result indicates that there exists more than one binocular process in the visual system.

Wolfe, J. M.↗

Pilot/vehicle model analysis of visual and motion cue requirements in flight simulation

The optimal control model for pilot/vehicle analysis is used to explore the effects of a CGI visual system and motion system dynamics on helicopter hover simulation fidelity. This is accomplished by expanding the perceptual aspects of the model to include motion sensing and by relating CGI parameters to information processing parameters of the model. Simulator fidelity is examined by comparing predicted performance and workload for flight with that predicted for various simulator configuration. The results of the analysis suggest that simulator deficiencies or a reasonable nature (by current standards) can result in substantial performance and/or workload infidelity. Both CGI and motion system effects are significant for this task. There is also a distinct interaction between the two sources of pilot cues. In particular, the presence of motion reduces the sensitivity to CGI limitations.

Lancraft, R.↗

Simulator certification methods and the vertical motion simulator

The vertical motion simulator (VMS) is designed to simulate a variety of experimental helicopter and STOL/VTOL aircraft as well as other kinds of aircraft with special pitch and Z axis characteristics. The VMS includes a large motion base with extensive vertical and lateral travel capabilities, a computer generated image visual system, and a high speed CDC 7600 computer system, which performs aero model calculations. Guidelines on how to measure and evaluate VMS performance were developed. A survey of simulation users was conducted to ascertain they evaluated and certified simulators for use. The results are presented.

Showalter, T. W.↗

Group 1: Scenario design and development issues

All LOFT scenarios and flight segments should be designed on the basis of a detailed statement of specific objectives. These objectives must state what kind of situation is to be addressed and why. The origin, routing, and destination of a particular scenario should be dictated by the specific objectives for that scenario or leg. Other factors to be considered are the desired weather, climate, etc. Simulator visual system, as well as other capabilities and limitations must be considered at a very early stage of scenario design. The simulator navigation area must be apropriate and must coincide with current Jeppeson charts. Much of the realism of LOFT is destroyed if the crew is unable to use current manuals and other materials.

Sherwin, P.↗

Helicopter simulation validation using flight data

A joint NASA/Army effort to perform a systematic ground-based piloted simulation validation assessment is described. The best available mathematical model for the subject helicopter (UH-60A Black Hawk) was programmed for real-time operation. Flight data were obtained to validate the math model, and to develop models for the pilot control strategy while performing mission-type tasks. The validated math model is to be combined with motion and visual systems to perform ground based simulation. Comparisons of the control strategy obtained in flight with that obtained on the simulator are to be used as the basis for assessing the fidelity of the results obtained in the simulator.

Key, D. L.↗

A look at motion in the frequency domain

A moving image can be specified by a contrast distribution, c(x,y,t), over the dimensions of space x,y, and time t. Alternatively, it can be specified by the distribution C(u,v,w) over spatial frequency u,v and temporal frequency w. The frequency representation of a moving image is shown to have a characteristic form. This permits two useful observations. The first is that the apparent smoothness of time-sampled moving images (apparent motion) can be explained by the filtering action of the human visual system. This leads to the following formula for the required update rate for time-sampled displays. W(c)=W(l)+ru(l) where w(c) is the required update rate in Hz, W(l) is the limit of human temporal resolution in Hz, r is the velocity of the moving image in degrees/sec, and u(l) is the limit of human spatial resolution in cycles/deg. The second observation is that it is possible to construct a linear sensor that responds to images moving in a particular direction. The sensor is derived and its properties are discussed.

Watson, A. B.↗

Spectral consequences of photoreceptor sampling in the rhesus retina

Optical transforms were used to compute the power spectra of rhesus cones treated as arrays of image sampling points. Spectra were obtained for the central fovea, parafovea, periphery, and far periphery. All were consistent with a novel spatial sampling principle that introduces minimal noise for spatial frequencies below the Nyquist limits implied by local receptor densities, while frequencies above the nominal Nyquist limits are not converted into conspicuous moiree patterns, but instead are scattered into broadband noise. This sampling scheme allows the visual system to escape aliasing distortion despite a large mismatch between retinal image bandwidth and the Nyquist limits implied by extrafoveal cone densities.

Yellott, J. I., Jr.↗

Reaction times to weak test lights

Maloney and Wandell (1984) describe a model of the response of a single visual channel to weak test lights. The initial channel response is a linearly filtered version of the stimulus. The filter output is randomly sampled over time. Each time a sample occurs there is some probability increasing with the magnitude of the sampled response - that a discrete detection event is generated. Maloney and Wandell derive the statistics of the detection events. In this paper a test is conducted of the hypothesis that the reaction time responses to the presence of a weak test light are initiated at the first detection event. This makes it possible to extend the application of the model to lights that are slightly above threshold, but still within the linear operating range of the visual system. A parameter-free prediction of the model proposed by Maloney and Wandell for lights detected by this statistic is tested. The data are in agreement with the prediction.

Wandell, B. A.↗

The peripheral visual cue assessment facility at Ames Research Center

The Peripheral Visual Cue Assessment Facility was established to study various responses to controlled dynamic stimuli that could be considered as visual analogs of some real world counterparts such as the horizon. Careful stimulus control permits specific responses to be traced to specific stimulus dynamics. The ability of the visual system to assess various kinds of stimulus motion is examined. A major emphasis is placed upon the peripheral vision field, which plays an important role in a pilot's assessment of where he is in space, where he is going, how fast he is travelling, and what angular and linear rates of movement is taking place. The facility was designed to be able to carry out carefully controlled psychophysical vision research over a wide angular range.

Haines, R. F.↗