Search NASA⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search NASA

Results for “Subtraction Technique”

Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 109 records · Page 6

Computational Reduction of Specimen Noise to Enable Improved Thermography Characterization of Flaws in Graphite Polymer Composites

Flaw detection and characterization with thermographic techniques in graphite polymer composites are often limited by localized variations in the thermographic response. Variations in properties such as acceptable porosity, fiber volume content and surface polymer thickness result in variations in the thermal response that in general cause significant variations in the initial thermal response. These result in a "noise" floor that increases the difficulty of detecting and characterizing deeper flaws. A method is presented for computationally removing a significant amount of the "noise" from near surface porosity by diffusing the early time response, then subtracting it from subsequent responses. Simulations of the thermal response of a composite are utilized in defining the limitations of the technique. This method for reducing the data is shown to give considerable improvement characterizing both the size and depth of damage. Examples are shown for data acquired on specimens with fabricated delaminations and impact damage.

Winfree, William P.↗

Observations of comet Kohoutek (1973f)

The coma region Comet Kohoutek (1973f) was observed with a 40-mm proximity focused image intensifier tube and filters to isolate principal emissions. The low brightness of the comet limited the results, but it was possible to compare the intensity profiles of C2 and continuum in the coma. It appears that Comet Kohoutek was a typical comet in that it did not exhibit unusual coma structure similar to that of Comet Bennet. Photographs taken with the 42 cm Schmidt showed typical type 1, type, 2 and antitail morphology, with increased type 2 activity after perihelion passage. A technique for eliminating the type 2 (dust) component of the tail is given by means of photographic subtraction of blue and red sensitive layers of a color photograph.

Larson, S.↗

Video systems for real-time oil-spill detection

Three airborne television systems are being developed to evaluate techniques for oil-spill surveillance. These include a conventional TV camera, two cameras operating in a subtractive mode, and a field-sequential camera. False-color enhancement and wavelength and polarization filtering are also employed. The first of a series of flight tests indicates that an appropriately filtered conventional TV camera is a relatively inexpensive method of improving contrast between oil and water. False-color enhancement improves the contrast, but the problem caused by sun glint now limits the application to overcast days. Future effort will be aimed toward a one-camera system. Solving the sun-glint problem and developing the field-sequential camera into an operable system offers potential for color 'flagging' oil on water.

Millard, J. P.↗

Feasibility investigation of integrated optics Fourier transform devices

The possibility of producing an integrated optics data processing device based upon Fourier transformations or other parallel processing techniques, and the ways in which such techniques may be used to upgrade the performance of present and projected NASA systems were investigated. Activities toward this goal include; (1) production of near-diffraction-limited geodesic lenses in glass waveguides; (2) development of grinding and polishing techniques for the production of geodesic lenses in LiNbO3 waveguides; (3) development of a characterization technique for waveguide lenses; and (4) development of a theory for corrected aspheric geodesic lenses. A holographic subtraction system was devised which should be capable of rapid on-board preprocessing of a large number of parallel data channels. The principle involved is validated in three demonstrations.

Verber, C. M.↗

Automatic evaluation of interferograms

A system for the evaluation of interference patterns was developed. For digitizing and processing of the interferograms from classical and holographic interferometers a picture analysis system based upon a computer with a television digitizer was installed. Depending on the quality of the interferograms, four different picture enhancement operations may be used: Signal averaging; spatial smoothing, subtraction of the overlayed intensity function and the removal of distortion-patterns using a spatial filtering technique in the frequency spectrum of the interferograms. The extraction of fringe loci from the digitized interferograms is performed by a foating-threshold method. The fringes are numbered using a special scheme after the removal of any fringe disconnections which appeared if there was insufficient contrast in the holograms. The reconstruction of the object function from the fringe field uses least squares approximation with spline fit. Applications are given.

Becker, F.↗

Foldback current-limiting for hybrid regulator

Technique utilizes operational high gain amplifier, which greatly reduces temperature sensitivity of short circuit current, to amplify and subtract voltage across current sensing resistor from regulated output voltage. Small current sensing resistor may be used to eliminate power loss problem found in conventional circuits.

Crider, C. H.↗

A barely implicit correction for flux-corrected transport

In virtue of adding one elliptic equation that must be implicitly solved, the 'barely implicit correction' method presented removes the stringent sidestep limit imposed by sound speed in the explicit methods. The barely implicit method is presently combined with a flux-corrected transport algorithm, which has been rendered fourth-order by the appropriate subtraction of corrected fluxes, in order to accurately represent the sharp gradients in subsonic flows. The multigrid MGRID technique (DeVore, 1984) is used to efficiently solve the elliptic pressure equation.

Patnaik, G.↗

Coordinated XTE Observations of Coronal Structure and Flares on the Rs CVn Binary Sigma(sup 2) CrB

This NASA grant supported my RXTE observing and data analysis during AO2. The research involved a 100 kilosecond observation of the active RS CVn binary sigma(sup 2) CrB obtained on 1997 March 11-13. This observation covered two orbits of the binary (2.5 days elapsed time) as part of a coordinated satellite and ground-based study of coronal structure and flaring within this system. Simultaneous data was obtained from the ASCA X-ray satellite and the Very Large Array radio telescope. The one month of effort funded for the PI was used to calibrate and analyze the RXTE data. Additional research effort on this project to lead to a final publication has been provided from LTSA and GSRP grants. An initial attempt was made to calibrate the RXTE data in May 1997 but the results were disappointing with poor background subtraction leading to a relatively noisy PCA light curve. Subsequently major improvements have been made in the calibration techniques for low count rate PCA data and we returned to Goddard Space Flight Center in February 1999 when we were able to produce vastly better calibrated data. The RXTE results are currently being integrated with the ASCA and VLA data and a paper should be submitted by the end of summer 1999.

Brown, Alexander↗

Image Calibration

Calibrate_Image calibrates images obtained from focal plane arrays so that the output image more accurately represents the observed scene. The function takes as input a degraded image along with a flat field image and a dark frame image produced by the focal plane array and outputs a corrected image. The three most prominent sources of image degradation are corrected for: dark current accumulation, gain non-uniformity across the focal plane array, and hot and/or dead pixels in the array. In the corrected output image the dark current is subtracted, the gain variation is equalized, and values for hot and dead pixels are estimated, using bicubic interpolation techniques.

Peay, Christopher S.↗

A comparison of model-based VQ compression with other VQ approaches

In our previous work on Model-Based Vector Quantization (MVQ), we presented some performance comparisons (both rate distortion and decompression time) with VQ and JPEG/DCT. In this paper, we compare the MVQ's rate distortion performance with Mean Removed Vector Quantization (MRVQ) and include our previous comparison with VQ. MVQ is similar to MRVQ in many ways. Both of these techniques extract means of the vectors (raster-scanned image blocks) and reduce them to mean removed residuals by subtracting block means from the elements of the vectors. In the case of MRVQ, a codebook of residual vectors is generated using a training set. For every vector from the input image, the block mean and address of the codevector from the codebook that matches the input vector closest are transmitted to the decoder. The codebook is generated using generalized Lloyd algorithm on training set of residual vectors. For MVQ the pairs consist of vector means and address of the closest matching vector from codebook generated by models based on statistical properties of the residuals and Human Visual System (HVS). In our experiments, we found that MVQ performance in rate distortion sense is almost always better than VQ and is comparable to MRVQ. Further, MVQ is much easier to use than either VQ or MRVQ, since the training and managing of explicit codebooks is not required.

Manohar, Mareboyana↗

Characterizing Oscillatory Bursts in Single-Trial EEG Data

Oscillatory bursts in numerous bands ranging from low (theta) to high frequencies (e.g., gamma) undoubtedly play an important role in cortical dynamics. Largely because of the inadequacy of existing analytic techniques. however, oscillatory bursts and their role in cortical processing remains poorly understood. To study oscillatory bursts effectively one must be able to isolate them and characterize them in the single trial. We describe a series of straightforward analysis techniques that produce useful indices of burst characteristics. First, stimulus-evoked responses are estimated using Differentially Variable Component Analysis (dVCA), and are subtracted from the single-trial. The single-trial characteristics of the evoked responses are stored to identify possible correlations with burst activity. Time-frequency (T-F), or wavelet, analyses are then applied to the single trial residuals. While T-F plots have been used in recent studies to identify and isolate bursts, we go further by fitting each burst in the T-F plot with a two-dimensional Gaussian. This provides a set of burst characteristics, such as, center time. burst duration, center frequency. frequency dispersion. and amplitude, all of which contribute to the accurate characterization of the individual burst. The burst phase can also be estimated. Burst characteristics can be quantified with several standard techniques (e.g.. histogramming and clustering), as well as Bayesian techniques (e.g., blocking) to allow a more parametric description analysis of the characteristics of oscillatory bursts, and the relationships of specific parameters to cortical excitability and stimulus integration.

Knuth, K. H.↗

High-Resolution Forest Canopy Height Estimation in an African Blue Carbon Ecosystem

Mangrove forests are one of the most productive and carbon dense ecosystems that are only found at tidally inundated coastal areas. Forest canopy height is an important measure for modeling carbon and biomass dynamics, as well as land cover change. By taking advantage of the flat terrain and dense canopy cover, the present study derived digital surface models (DSMs) using stereophotogrammetric techniques on high-resolution spaceborne imagery (HRSI) for southern Mozambique. A mean-weighted ground surface elevation factor was subtracted from the HRSI DSM to accurately estimate the canopy height in mangrove forests in southern Mozambique. The mean and H100 tree height measured in both the field and with the digital canopy model provided the most accurate results with a vertical error of 1.18-1.84 m, respectively. Distinct patterns were identified in the HRSI canopy height map that could not be discerned from coarse shuttle radar topography mission canopy maps even though the mode and distribution of canopy heights were similar over the same area. Through further investigation, HRSI DSMs have the potential of providing a new type of three-dimensional dataset that could serve as calibration/validation data for other DSMs generated from spaceborne datasets with much larger global coverage. HSRI DSMs could be used in lieu of Lidar acquisitions for canopy height and forest biomass estimation, and be combined with passive optical data to improve land cover classifications.

HRSI↗

An improved exploratory search technique for pure integer linear programming problems

The development is documented of a heuristic method for the solution of pure integer linear programming problems. The procedure draws its methodology from the ideas of Hooke and Jeeves type 1 and 2 exploratory searches, greedy procedures, and neighborhood searches. It uses an efficient rounding method to obtain its first feasible integer point from the optimal continuous solution obtained via the simplex method. Since this method is based entirely on simple addition or subtraction of one to each variable of a point in n-space and the subsequent comparison of candidate solutions to a given set of constraints, it facilitates significant complexity improvements over existing techniques. It also obtains the same optimal solution found by the branch-and-bound technique in 44 of 45 small to moderate size test problems. Two example problems are worked in detail to show the inner workings of the method. Furthermore, using an established weighted scheme for comparing computational effort involved in an algorithm, a comparison of this algorithm is made to the more established and rigorous branch-and-bound method. A computer implementation of the procedure, in PC compatible Pascal, is also presented and discussed.

Fogle, F. R.↗

Flip-flop resolving time test circuit

Integrated circuit (IC) flip-flop resolving time parameters are measured by wafer probing, without need of dicing or bonding, throught the incorporation of test structures on an IC together with the flip-flop to be measured. Several delays that are fabricated as part of the test circuit, including a voltage-controlled delay with a resolution of a few picosecs, are calibrated as part of the test procedure by integrating them into, and out of, the delay path of a ring oscillator. Each of the delay values is calculated by subtracting the period of the ring oscillator with the delay omitted from the period with the delay included. The delay measurement technique is sufficiently general for other applications. The technique is illustrated for the case of the flip-flop parameters of a 5-micron feature size NMOS circuit.

Rosenberger, F.↗

A rational interpolation method to compute frequency response

A rational interpolation method for approximating a frequency response is presented. The method is based on a product formulation of finite differences, thereby avoiding the numerical problems incurred by near-equal-valued subtraction. Also, resonant pole and zero cancellation schemes are developed that increase the accuracy and efficiency of the interpolation method. Selection techniques of interpolation points are also discussed.

Kenney, Charles↗

Spatially resolved methane band photometry of Saturn. I - Absolute reflectivity and center-to-limb variations in the 6190-, 7250-, and 8900-A bands

Spatially resolved measurements of Saturn's absolute reflectivity in methane bands at 6190, 7250, and 8900 A and in nearby continuum regions are presented. Images were obtained through narrow-band interference filters with a 500 x 500-pixel charge-coupled device. Band/continuum ratios were measured to high accuracy by referencing to the ring brightness in each image. Several data processing techniques enhanced the quality of the observations. These are the use of the ring symmetry to find center position and orientation, accurate subtraction of ring light, and constrained image deconvolution. Uncertainty in the continuum absolute reflectivity is within 10%. Uncertainties in band/continuum ratios are from one to several percent. The Equatorial Zone was much brighter than any other latitude in the strong 8900 band image. Northern midlatitudes were brighter than southern midlatitudes. The latter observation indicates fewer high-altitude aerosols in the south, a possible result of atmospheric dynamics or seasonal sublimation of NH3 crystals. The data are tabulated and presented in a form suitable for quantitative scattering model analyses.

West, R. A.↗

Raman Gas Species Measurements in Hydrocarbon-Fueled Rocket Engine Injector Flows

Propellent injector development at MSFC (Marshall Space Flight Center) includes experimental analysis using optical techniques, such as Raman, fluorescence, or Mie scattering. For the application of spontaneous Raman scattering to hydrocarbon-fueled flows a technique needs to be developed to remove the interfering polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon fluorescence from the relatively weak Raman signals. A current application of such a technique is to the analysis of the mixing and combustion performance of multijet, impinging-jet candidate fuel injectors for the baseline Mars ascent engine, which will burn methane and liquid oxygen produced in-situ on Mars to reduce the propellent mass transported to Mars for future manned Mars missions. The present technique takes advantage of the strongly polarized nature of Raman scattering. It is shown to be discernable from unpolarized fluorescence interference by subtracting one polarized image from another. Both of these polarized images are obtained from a single laser pulse by using a polarization-separating calcite rhomb mounted in the imaging spectrograph. A demonstration in a propane-air flame is presented.

Wehrmeyer, Joseph A.↗

Raman Gas Species Measurements in Hydrocarbon-Fueled Rocket Engine Injector Flows

Rocket engine propellent injector development at NASA-Marshall includes experimental analysis using optical techniques, such as Raman, fluorescence, or Mie scattering. For the application of spontaneous Raman scattering to hydrocarbon-fueled flows a technique needs to be developed to remove the interfering polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon fluorescence from the relatively weak Raman signals. A current application of such a technique is to the analysis of the mixing and combustion performance of multijet, impinging-jet candidate fuel injectors for the baseline Mars ascent engine, which will burn methane and liquid oxygen produced in-situ on Mars to reduce the propellent mass transported to Mars for future manned Mars missions. The Raman technique takes advantage of the strongly polarized nature of Raman scattering. It is shown to be discernable from unpolarized fluorescence interference by subtracting one polarized image from another. Both of these polarized images are obtained from a single laser pulse by using a polarization-separating calcite rhomb mounted in the imaging spectrograph. A demonstration in a propane-air flame is presented, as well as a high pressure demonstration in the NASA-Marshall Modular Combustion Test Artice, using the liquid methane-liquid oxygen propellant system

Wehrmeyer, Joseph↗