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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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At least 19 records

Space shuttle propulsion parameter estimation using optimal estimation techniques

The first twelve system state variables are presented with the necessary mathematical developments for incorporating them into the filter/smoother algorithm. Other state variables, i.e., aerodynamic coefficients can be easily incorporated into the estimation algorithm, representing uncertain parameters, but for initial checkout purposes are treated as known quantities. An approach for incorporating the NASA propulsion predictive model results into the optimal estimation algorithm was identified. This approach utilizes numerical derivatives and nominal predictions within the algorithm with global iterations of the algorithm. The iterative process is terminated when the quality of the estimates provided no longer significantly improves.

Source record↗

Space Shuttle propulsion parameter estimation using optimal estimation techniques

This fourth monthly progress report again contains corrections and additions to the previously submitted reports. The additions include a simplified SRB model that is directly incorporated into the estimation algorithm and provides the required partial derivatives. The resulting partial derivatives are analytical rather than numerical as would be the case using the SOBER routines. The filter and smoother routine developments have continued. These routines are being checked out.

Source record↗

Space Shuttle propulsion parameter estimation using optimal estimation techniques

The fifth monthly progress report includes corrections and additions to the previously submitted reports. The addition of the SRB propellant thickness as a state variable is included with the associated partial derivatives. During this reporting period, preliminary results of the estimation program checkout was presented to NASA technical personnel.

Source record↗

Space Shuttle propulsion parameter estimation using optimal estimation techniques, volume 1

The mathematical developments and their computer program implementation for the Space Shuttle propulsion parameter estimation project are summarized. The estimation approach chosen is the extended Kalman filtering with a modified Bryson-Frazier smoother. Its use here is motivated by the objective of obtaining better estimates than those available from filtering and to eliminate the lag associated with filtering. The estimation technique uses as the dynamical process the six degree equations-of-motion resulting in twelve state vector elements. In addition to these are mass and solid propellant burn depth as the ""system'' state elements. The ""parameter'' state elements can include aerodynamic coefficient, inertia, center-of-gravity, atmospheric wind, etc. deviations from referenced values. Propulsion parameter state elements have been included not as options just discussed but as the main parameter states to be estimated. The mathematical developments were completed for all these parameters. Since the systems dynamics and measurement processes are non-linear functions of the states, the mathematical developments are taken up almost entirely by the linearization of these equations as required by the estimation algorithms.

Source record↗

Satellite tracking by combined optimal estimation and control techniques.

Combined optimal estimation and control techniques are applied for the first time to satellite tracking systems. Both radio antenna and optical tracking systems of NASA are considered. The optimal estimation is accomplished using an extended Kalman filter resulting in an estimated state of the satellite and of the tracking system. This estimated state constitutes an input to the optimal controller. The optimal controller treats a linearized system with a quadratic performance index. The maximum principle is applied and a steady-state approximation to the resulting Riccati equation is obtained. A computer program, RATS, implementing this algorithm is described. A feasibility study of real-time implementation, tracking simulations, and parameter sensitivity studies are also reported.

Dressler, R. M.↗

Novel multireceiver communication systems configurations based on optimal estimation theory

A novel multireceiver configuration for carrier arraying and/or signal arraying is presented. The proposed configuration is obtained by formulating the carrier and/or signal arraying problem as an optimal estimation problem, and it consists of two stages. The first stage optimally estimates various phase processes received at different receivers with coupled phase-locked loops wherein the individual loops acquire and track their respective receivers' phase processes but are aided by each other in an optimal manner via LF error signals. The proposed configuration results in the minimization of the the effective radio loss at the combiner output, and thus maximization of energy per bit to noise power spectral density ratio is achieved. A novel adaptive algorithm for the estimator of the signal model parameters when these are not known a priori is also presented.

Kumar, Rajendra↗

A novel multireceiver communications system configuration based on optimal estimation theory

A multireceiver configuration for the purpose of carrier arraying and/or signal arraying is presented. Such a problem arises for example, in the NASA Deep Space Network where the same data-modulated signal from a spacecraft is received by a number of geographically separated antennas and the data detection must be efficiently performed on the basis of the various received signals. The proposed configuration is arrived at by formulating the carrier and/or signal arraying problem as an optimal estimation problem. Two specific solutions are proposed. The first solution is to simultaneously and optimally estimate the various phase processes received at different receivers with coupled phase locked loops (PLLs) wherein the individual PLLs acquire and track their respective receivers' phase processes, but are aided by each other in an optimal manner. However, when the phase processes are relatively weakly correlated, and for the case of relatively high values of symbol energy-to-noise spectral density ratio, a novel configuration for combining the data modulated, loop-output signals is proposed. The scheme can be extended to the case of low symbol energy-to-noise case by performing the combining/detection process over a multisymbol period. Such a configuration results in the minimization of the effective radio loss at the combiner output, and thus a maximization of energy per bit to noise-power spectral density ration is achieved.

Kumar, R.↗

Optimal estimation for the satellite attitude using star tracker measurements

An optimal estimation scheme is presented, which determines the satellite attitude using the gyro readings and the star tracker measurements of a commonly used satellite attitude measuring unit. The scheme is mainly based on the exponential Fourier densities that have the desirable closure property under conditioning. By updating a finite and fixed number of parameters, the conditional probability density, which is an exponential Fourier density, is recursively determined. Simulation results indicate that the scheme is more accurate and robust than extended Kalman filtering. It is believed that this approach is applicable to many other attitude measuring units. As no linearization and approximation are necessary in the approach, it is ideal for systems involving high levels of randomness and/or low levels of observability and systems for which accuracy is of overriding importance.

Lo, J. T.-H.↗

Optimal estimation of undersea acoustic transponder locations

Using principles from multilateration and optimal estimation theories an approach is derived for estimating the relative positions of three or more submerged and anchored acoustic transponders. The procedure is not constrained to processing range data collected at special points or on special trajectories. While the data normally collected over transponders and between transponder pairs can be processed, simultaneous ranges from anywhere on the surface to three or more transponders can also be processed. Simulated examples involving four stations in different geometries with different range collection schemes demonstrate the effectiveness of the procedure.

Carta, D. G.↗

Optimal Estimation of Clock Values and Trends from Finite Data

We show how to solve two problems of optimal linear estimation from a finite set of phase data. Clock noise is modeled as a stochastic process with stationary dth increments. The covariance properties of such a process are contained in the generalized autocovariance function (GACV). We set up two principles for optimal estimation: with the help of the GACV, these principles lead to a set of linear equations for the regression coefficients and some auxiliary parameters. The mean square errors of the estimators are easily calculated. The method can be used to check the results of other methods and to find good suboptimal estimators based on a small subset of the available data.

stationary increments↗

An Optimal-Estimation-Based Aerosol Retrieval Algorithm Using OMI Near-UV Observations

An optimal-estimation(OE)-based aerosol retrieval algorithm using the OMI (Ozone Monitoring Instrument) near-ultraviolet observation was developed in this study. The OE-based algorithm has the merit of providing useful estimates of errors simultaneously with the inversion products. Furthermore, instead of using the traditional lookup tables for inversion, it performs online radiative transfer calculations with the VLIDORT (linearized pseudo-spherical vector discrete ordinate radiative transfer code) to eliminate interpolation errors and improve stability. The measurements and inversion products of the Distributed Regional Aerosol Gridded Observation Network campaign in northeast Asia (DRAGON NE-Asia 2012) were used to validate the retrieved aerosol optical thickness (AOT) and single scattering albedo (SSA). The retrieved AOT and SSA at 388 nm have a correlation with the Aerosol Robotic Network (AERONET) products that is comparable to or better than the correlation with the operational product during the campaign. The OEbased estimated error represented the variance of actual biases of AOT at 388 nm between the retrieval and AERONET measurements better than the operational error estimates. The forward model parameter errors were analyzed separately for both AOT and SSA retrievals. The surface reflectance at 388 nm, the imaginary part of the refractive index at 354 nm, and the number fine-mode fraction (FMF) were found to be the most important parameters affecting the retrieval accuracy of AOT, while FMF was the most important parameter for the SSA retrieval. The additional information provided with the retrievals, including the estimated error and degrees of freedom, is expected to be valuable for relevant studies. Detailed advantages of using the OE method were described and discussed in this paper.

Air Pollution↗

Retrieval of Ice Cloud Properties Using an Optimal Estimation Algorithm and MODIS Infrared Observations: 2. Retrieval Evaluation

An infrared-based optimal estimation (OE-IR) algorithm for retrieving ice cloud properties is evaluated. Specifically, the implementation of the algorithm with MODerate resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) observations is assessed in comparison with the operational retrieval products from MODIS on the Aqua satellite (MYD06), Cloud-Aerosol Lidar with Orthogonal Polarization (CALIOP), and the Imaging Infrared Radiometer (IIR); the latter two instruments fly on the Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observation (CALIPSO) satellite in the Afternoon Constellation (A-Train) with Aqua. The results show that OE-IR cloud optical thickness (tau) and effective radius (r(sub eff)) retrievals perform best for ice clouds having 0.5 < tau< 7 and r(sub eff) < 50microns. For global ice clouds, the averaged retrieval uncertainties of tau and r(sub eff) are 19% and 33%, respectively. For optically thick ice clouds with tau larger than 10, however, the tau and r(sub eff) retrieval uncertainties can exceed 30% and 50%, respectively. For ice cloud top height (h), the averaged global uncertainty is 0.48km. Relatively large h uncertainty (e.g., > 1km) occurs for tau < 0.5. Analysis of 1month of the OE-IR retrievals shows large tau and r(sub eff) uncertainties in storm track regions and the southern oceans where convective clouds are frequently observed, as well as in high-latitude regions where temperature differences between the surface and cloud top are more ambiguous. Generally, comparisons between the OE-IR and the operational products show consistent tau and h retrievals. However, obvious differences between the OE-IR and the MODIS Collection 6 r(sub eff) are found.

cloud optics↗

Optimal estimation and attitude control of a solar electric propulsion spacecraft

Established procedures of linear, quadratic, Gaussian optimal estimation and control are developed and interpreted for their application to the problem of attitude control of spacecraft with dynamically significant elastic appendages. Results are presented both in general terms and for specific application to a solar electric spacecraft. Comparisons are made between alternative coordinate systems, and a realistic range of design parameters is considered. For single axis control, system evaluation is accomplished by simulation of a fifteenth-order spacecraft plant with alternative second-order, fourth-order, and sixth-order constant gain estimators. Results point out the importance of modeling errors.

Larson, V.↗

Optimal Estimation Of Range And Doppler Centroid In ScanSAR

Algorithm processes synthetic-aperture-radar (SAR) returns into optimal estimates of ranges, pointing angles, and Doppler centroids. Derives radar-beam-pointing angles partly from SAR data. Exploits information available in overlapping regions between adjacent image bursts or, equivalently, between adjacent radar beams corresponding to adjacent image bursts. Range or Doppler centroid obtained from estimate of range or Doppler value at which intensity in one image burst equals that in adjacent burst.

Jin, Michael Y.↗

Optimal Estimation Inversion of Ionospheric Electron Density from GNSS-POD Limb Measurements: Part I-Algorithm and Morphology

GNSS-LEO radio links from Precise Orbital Determination (POD) and Radio Occultation (RO) antennas have been used increasingly in characterizing the global 3D distribution and variability of ionospheric electron density (N e ). In this study, we developed an optimal estimation (OE) method to retrieve N e profiles from the slant total electron content (hTEC) measurements acquired by the GNSS-POD links at negative elevation angles (ε < 0°). Although both OE and onion-peeling (OP) methods use the Abel weighting function in the N e inversion, they are significantly different in terms of performance in the lower ionosphere. The new OE results can overcome the large N e oscillations, sometimes negative values, seen in the OP retrievals in the E-region ionosphere. In the companion paper in this Special Issue, the HmF2 and NmF2 from the OE retrieval are validated against ground-based ionosondes and radar observations, showing generally good agreements in NmF2 from all sites. Nighttime hmF2 measurements tend to agree better than the daytime when the ionosonde heights tend to be slightly lower. The OE algorithm has been applied to all GNSS-POD data acquired from the COSMIC-1 (2006–2019), COSMIC-2 (2019–present), and Spire (2019–present) constellations, showing a consistent ionospheric N e morphology. The unprecedented spatiotemporal sampling of the ionosphere from these constellations now allows a detailed analysis of the frequency–wavenumber spectra for the N e variability at different heights. In the lower ionosphere (~150 km), we found significant spectral power in DE1, DW6, DW4, SW5, and SE4 wave components, in addition to well-known DW1, SW2, and DE3 waves. In the upper ionosphere (~450 km), additional wave components are still present, including DE4, DW4, DW6, SE4, and SW4. The co-existence of eastward- and westward-propagating wave4 components implies the presence of a stationary wave4 (SPW4), as suggested by other earlier studies. Further improvements to the OE method are proposed, including a tomographic inversion technique that leverages the asymmetric sampling about the tangent point associated with GNSS-LEO links.

GNSS constellation↗

Cirrus Heterogeneity Effects on Cloud Optical Properties Retrieved with an Optimal Estimation Method from MODIS VIS to TIR Channels.

This study presents preliminary results on the effect of cirrus heterogeneities on top-of-atmosphere (TOA) simulated radiances or reflectances for MODIS channels centered at 0.86, 2.21, 8.56, 11.01 and 12.03 micrometers , and on cloud optical properties retrieved with a research-level optimal estimation method (OEM). Synthetic cirrus cloud fields are generated using a 3D cloud generator (3DCLOUD) and radiances/reflectances are simulated using a 3D radiative transfer code (3DMCPOL). We find significant differences between the heterogeneity effects on either visible and near-infrared (VNIR) or thermal infrared (TIR) radiances. However, when both wavelength ranges are combined, heterogeneity effects are dominated by the VNIR horizontal radiative transport effect. As a result, small optical thicknesses are overestimated and large ones are underestimated. Retrieved effective diameter are found to be slightly affected, contrarily to retrievals using TIR channels only.

MODIS↗