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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.
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Slow scan TV systems for planetary exploration, discussing sampled vidicon operation, digital encoding, data storage, signal to noise ratio, future design trends, etc
Linear algorithms for determining spacecraft relative orbital state using angle data with digital computer
Kalman filter simulation for estimating aircraft position and velocity from airborne digital computer data in zero-zero landing system
Book on nonlinear modulation based on optimum estimation theory covering phase synchronization, analog data transmission, digital and analog systems performance, Markov processes, etc
The quality control monitoring system, using accounting and quality control data bases, made it possible to perform an in-depth analysis. Results show that the percentage of useable data files for experimenter analysis was 97.7%; only 0.4% of the data sequences supplied to the experimenter exhibited missing data. The 50 percentile probability delay values (referenced to station record data) indicate that the analog tapes arrived within 11 days, the data were digitized within 4.2 weeks, and the experimenter tapes were delivered in 8.95 weeks or less.
Network of electric field measuring stations has been developed to assess lightning hazard of charged clouds. Sensor data are digitized and transmitted to central processing area for display.
During the spring equinox of 1970, scintillating signals at VHF (136.4 MHz) were observed at Lima, Peru. The transmission originated from ATS 3 and was observed through a pair of antennas spaced 1200 feet apart on an east-west baseline. The empirical data were digitized, reduced, and analyzed. The results include amplitude probability density and distribution functions, time autocorrelation functions, cross correlation functions for the spaced antennas, and appropriate spectral density functions. Results show estimates of the statistics of the ground diffraction pattern to gain insight into gross ionospheric irregularity size, and irregularity velocity in the antenna planes.
Transform coding and block quantization techniques are applied to multispectral aircraft scanner data, and digitized satellite imagery. The multispectral source is defined and an appropriate mathematical model proposed. The Karhunen-Loeve, Fourier, and Hadamard encoders are considered and are compared to the rate distortion function for the equivalent Gaussian source and to the performance of the single sample PCM encoder.
Progress is reported on the development of a computing facility that provides automatic processing of remote sensing data on earth resources. Preliminary work on digital signal processing algorithms and the writing of corresponding programs for the design of digital filters is outlined.
A cooperative ERTS-1 investigation involving U. S. Geological Survey, National Park Service, and Environmental Research Institure of Michigan (ERIM) personnel has as its goal the preparation of terrain classification maps for the entire Yellowstone National Park. Excellent coverage of the park was obtained on 6 August 1972 (frame 1015-17404). Preliminary terrain classification maps have been prepared at ERIM by applying multispectral pattern recognition techniques to ERTS-MSS digital taped data. The color coded terrain maps are presented and discussed. The discussion includes qualitative and quantitative accuracy estimates and discussion of processing techniques.
A systematic approach to the enhancement of images has been developed. This approach exploits two principal features involved in the observation of images: the properties of human vision and the statistics of the images being observed. The rationale of the enhancement procedure is as follows: in the observation of some features of interest in an image, the range of objective luminance-chrominance values being displayed is generally limited and does not use the whole perceptual range of vision of the observer. The purpose of the enhancement technique is to expand and distort in a systematic way the grey scale values of each of the multispectral bands making up a color composite, to enhance the average visibility of the features being observed.
The single-breath cardiac output measurement technique of Kim et al. (1966) has been modified for use in obtaining cardiac output measurements during exercise-stress tests on Apollo astronauts. The modifications involve the use of a respiratory mass spectrometer for data acquisition and a digital computer program for data analysis. The variation of the modified method for triplicate steady-state cardiac output measurements was plus or minus 1 liter/min. The combined physiological and methodological variation seen during a set of three exercise tests on a series of subjects was 1 to 2.5 liter/min. Comparison of the modified method with the direct Fick technique showed that although the single-breath values were consistently low, the scatter of data was small and the correlation between the two methods was high. Possible reasons for the low single-breath cardiac output values are discussed.
This paper presents the derivation of the recursive algorithms necessary for real-time digital detection of M-ary known signals that are subject to independent multiplicative and additive Gaussian noises. The motivating application is minimum probability of error detection of digital data-link messages aboard civil aircraft in the earth reflection multipath environment. For each known signal, the detector contains one Kalman filter and one probability computer. The filters estimate the multipath disturbance. The estimates and the received signal drive the probability computers. Outputs of all the computers are compared in amplitude to give the signal decision. The practicality and usefulness of the detector are extensively discussed.
Optical signal processing can be performed in either digital or analog systems. Digital computers and coherent optical systems are discussed as they are used in optical signal processing. Topics include: image restoration; phase-object visualization; image contrast reversal; optical computation; image multiplexing; and fabrication of spatial filters. Digital optical data processing deals with restoration of images degraded by signal-dependent noise. When the input data of an image restoration system are the numbers of photoelectrons received from various areas of a photosensitive surface, the data are Poisson distributed with mean values proportional to the illuminance of the incoherently radiating object and background light. Optical signal processing using coherent optical systems is also discussed. Following a brief review of the pertinent details of Ronchi's diffraction grating interferometer, moire effect, carrier-frequency photography, and achromatic holography, two new shearing interferometers based on them are presented. Both interferometers can produce variable shear.
The author has identified the following significant results. A multiband classification scheme was applied to ERTS-1 MSS digital tape data in a portion of the Yukon Flats area. Primary analytic objectives of mapping the extent of recent wildfire burns and mature forest were realized illustrating application to moose and caribou biology. Additionally, the analysis indicated the presence of new lakes as well as disappearance of lakes present in 1956. Because this is an important waterfowl production area, similar analyses may have significant application potential to waterfowl biology for rapid updating of habitat information. Further field confirmation of this finding is required.
Spectroradiometric data on the bidirectional reflectance function was collected for a cotton canopy as a function of observer zenith angle, observer angle, and solar zenith angle. The area under study was about 40 miles from the Gulf of Mexico and the prevailing winds blew inland such that cloud formation increased during the day. The standard reflectance panel was constructed of plywood that had been spray painted with a flat white latex paint. Physical and optical plant parameters were measured. A time lapse mechanism was constructed to operate a 16 mm movie camera such that single frames could be exposed at intervals of one per second up to one per hour. Data were digitized from a strip chart recorder and reflectance panel measurements.
The author has identified the following significant results. Mapping of 1970 and 1972 land use from high-flight photography has been completed for all test sites: San Francisco, Washington, Phoenix, Tucson, Boston, New Haven, Cedar Rapids, and Pontiac. Area analysis of 1970 and 1972 land use has been completed for each of the mandatory urban areas. All 44 sections of the 1970 land use maps of the San Francisco test site have been officially released through USGS Open File at 1:62,500. Five thousand copies of the Washington one-sheet color 1970 land use map, census tract map, and point line identification map are being printed by USGS Publication Division. ERTS-1 imagery for each of the eight test sites is being received and analyzed. Color infrared photo enlargements at 1:100,000 of ERTS-1 MSS images of Phoenix taken on October 16, 1972 and May 2, 1973 are being analyzed to determine to what level land use and land use changes can be identified and to what extent the ERTS-1 imagery can be used in updating the 1970 aircraft photo-derived land use data base. Work is proceeding on the analysis of ERTS-1 imagery by computer manipulation of ERTS-1 MSS data in digital format. ERTS-1 CCT maps at 1:24,000 are being analyzed for two dates over Washington and Phoenix. Anniversary tape sets have been received at Purdue LARS for some additional urban test sites.
The frequencies of four Q-branch lines of H2 and five Q-branch lines of D2 were measured as a function of density, and their shifts were observed to be in the linear region. The individual slopes and extrapolated zero density frequency of each line was determined. Hydrogen was measured for polarizability using the integrated intensity of the Q1(0) and S1(1), H2 absorption line. A highly automated technique for determining the response function of the spectrometer using digitally recorded data is presented. For the Q1(0) and Q1(1) lines of H2 the halfwidths were measured as a function of electric field intensity at constant pressure, and again at several densities and compared to previously measured widths. Technical and operational details of equipment built for this experiment, and for the five-meter Littrow spectrometer used, are described. Modifications of the spectrometer optics to accept the Stark cell are discussed.