Special issue introduction: Approaching spatial uncertainty visualization to support reasoning and decision making

While research on uncertainty and decision-making has a long history across several disciplines, recent technological developments compel researchers to rethink how to best address and advance the understanding of how humans reason and make decisions under spatial uncertainty. This introduction presents a visual summary graphic to provide an overview of each article in this special issue. Upon viewing these visual summaries, the reader will find that each of these articles covers different topics in the uncertainty visualization domain, offering complementary research in this field. Extending this body of research and finding new ways to explore how these visualizations may help or hinder the analytical and reasoning process of humans continues to be a necessary step towards designing more effective uncertainty visualizations to support reasoning and decision-making.     

Learning Routes from Visualizations for Indoor Wayfinding: Presentation Modes and Individual Differences

Abstract

Participants (N = 78) studied a visualization of a route through a complex building and walked that route in the real building without further assistance. Erroneous turns on the route as well as indicators of uncertainty such as hesitations were assessed. Three types of route visualizations were compared: (1) an allocentric, map-based visualization with the route indicated in floor maps, (2) an ordered sequence of pictures of decision points shown from the egocentric perspective, and (3) an animation showing a virtual walk of the route from the egocentric perspective. In addition to the experimental variation, gender differences, differences in visual-spatial abilities and differences in self-reported wayfinding strategies were considered as predictor variables. Wayfinding performance did not differ between allocentric (map) and egocentric (decision point pictures and animation) visualizations. However, wayfinding performance was better with animated than with static egocentric visualizations. Individual differences in the ability to encode visual-spatial information from the visualization played a critical role for route learning. Self-reported sense of direction related to egocentric wayfinding strategies also predicted wayfinding performance. Gender differences were attributable to differences in visual-spatial abilities and egocentric wayfinding strategies. Interactions between visualizations and individual differences were not found. It is concluded that animations of virtual walks are suitable to convey route information in complex buildings. Successful acquisition of route knowledge from maps is possible but might depend on the comprehensibility of the structure of the building.     

基于CDMA容量的星载多波束天线赋形分析

建立LEO-CDMA通信系统容量分析模型,给出系统容量的计算方法,从系统容量的角度出发对比分析运用遗传算法赋形得到的波束增益模型和基于二阶锥形模型的波束增益模型的系统容量。结果表明,基于二阶锥形增益模型的系统容量约为基于赋形增益模型系统容量的两倍。分析结果为多波束接收天线的系统设计及赋形方案设计提供了理论依据。     

基于不确定性分析的多传感器航迹融合算法

针对目前多传感器系统中常用的航迹融合方法精度与计算量不能兼顾,不能很好地处理不确定性,特别是对曲线航迹拐点的融合误差较大等问题,提出一种基于不确定性分析的航迹融合算法.该算法通过分析航迹融合所需的信息量,用标准熵量化每条航迹的不确定程度,从总体上删除质量较差的航迹,然后对每条参与融合的航迹进行分析,用正交多项式回归的方法剔除了测量误差较大的数据点.该算法有效的处理了传感器航迹中的不确定因素,解决了目前航迹融合方法中拐点融合误差较大的问题,以较小的计算开销达到了较高的精度,从而平衡了精度与计算量之间的矛盾.最后在多传感器多航迹的环境下讨论了其具体实现过程,仿真实验结果验证了该算法的有效性、优越性.     

Does geomagnetic storm magnitude depend on solar flare importance?

In order to predict space weather effects, solar flares are often used as precursors of magnetic storms on the Earth. In particular, possible relation between the solar flare importance and magnetic storm intensity is discussed in some papers. However, published results contradict each other. We compare the published results on the flare-storm dependence and discuss possible causes of this disagreement: (1) different intervals of observation, (2) differing statistics, and (3) different methods of identification of events and their comparison. Our analysis has shown that the fact of occurrence and the magnitude of a geomagnetic storm cannot be determined, generally, using only the solar flare importance. However, analyzing additional information on the coronal mass ejection (CME), associated with the geomagnetic storm, one can offer an algorithm for the storm magnitude prediction on the basis of flare importance.     

Visually supported reasoning under uncertain conditions: Effects of domain expertise on air traffic risk assessment

This article investigates the impact that domain expertise has on risk assessment when analyzing uncertain geographical and sensor data. The differences between novice and expert air traffic operators were examined taking into account the performance of identifying and classifying threatening targets, the time needed to carry out such classifications, and the confidence reported for each decision. The results show that confidence was significantly higher for the expert group. This was supported by the after-test questionnaire because none of the novice participants reported being more confident with the visualizations of uncertainty provided. No significant differences regarding time and performance were found between the groups, even if experts needed, on average, more time to make a decision. Based on the collected logs, the experienced participants more often accessed the detailed information for each object presented by the tool tip. Both the time taken and the data accessed might indicate that experts had better situation awareness. Finally, the experts reported higher workload values related to performance.     

高超声速边界层转捩高速纹影显示

为建立适用于激波风洞边界层转捩测量的高速纹影显示技术，在Ma10条件下，采用高速纹影显示技术，研究了半锥角7°钝锥边界层中第二模态不稳定波的演变特性。试验在中国空气动力研究与发展中心超高速空气动力研究所(HAI)的FD-14激波风洞上进行。试验来流单位雷诺数为4.9×10 6 m -1 、1.6×10 7m -1 ，模型攻角0°，头部钝度有0.2 mm、0.5 mm和2 mm三种。通过对纹影图像灰度进行功率谱密度(PSD)分析得到了第二模态不稳定波的波长，对不稳定波纹影图像进行互相关分析计算了不稳定波的传播速度。基于纹影显示结果计算的第二模态波主频与PCB压力传感器测量结果符合较好，证明了纹影测量的可靠性。     

白谱法在电离层扰动研究中的应用

将电离层扰动从其背景中分离出来一直是电离层扰动研究的核心与难点.文章综述白谱法在电离层扰动研究方面取得的进展,主要有:1)白谱法比常规电离层扰动提取方法能更好地描述磁暴期间电离层的扰动,利用白谱法构建的电离层天气单站指数Js、全球指数Jp和区域指数Jr与Dst指数之间存在极好的关联性,可以直接利用Dst来对Jp进行预报...     

J2摄动下脉冲推力星下点轨迹调整解析算法

针对快速响应对地成像任务,在轨卫星可通过轨道机动实现星下点轨迹调整。研究了J2摄动下小椭圆轨道的脉冲推力星下点轨迹调整的解析算法。首先给出脉冲推力下小椭圆轨道参数变化模型和滑行段星下点轨迹运动模型;然后通过分析得到影响星下点轨迹的四个轨道要素,进一步推导了平近点角增量近似公式,并得到它与速度增量的线性关系表达式;最后推导了J2摄动下星下点轨迹调整需要的脉冲的三种解析方法。仿真结果表明,三种解析算法运算速度快,地面位置误差小于7km。     

可视化智能融合导航系统研究

以提高导航系统的精度、可靠性、智能化和可视化程度为目标，利用智能工程的思想与方法将信息融合、人工智能和可视化技术综合应用于多传感器组合导航系统中，提出了面向２１世纪控制与导航技术的新一代导航系统概念——可视化智能融合导航系统，并对其功能、组成及关键技术进行了研究。     

Human Path Integration by Optic Flow

Path integration or 'dead reckoning' is the ability to keep track of relative position using self-motion signals that convey information about speed and direction of movement. Most animal species, including humans, exhibit some degree of path integration capability and neurophysiological studies have demonstrated that self-motion signals are sufficient to update internal representations of both position and orientation. In the present study, human subjects were required to monitor their position or orientation on the basis of unstructured optic flowfields. Trials were conducted at different speeds to examine the accuracy of path integration and rates of random error accumulation, and at two different head azimuths to prevent a confounding strategy of position updating based primarily on tracking changes in the angular declination of distant landmarks with respect to the horizon. Participants integrated the speed of visual motion to update accurately a representation of their position and orientation within the environment. Consistent with the characteristics of real-world path integration, errors accumulated linearly with the magnitude of position and orientation estimation. We conclude that coherent optic flowfields provide a sufficient basis for humans to keep track of their position and orientation relative to remembered landmarks.     

低速巡飞弹非匹配干扰观测控制器设计

针对低速巡飞弹倾斜转弯控制系统的非线性、强耦合、不确定的特征,研究了一种基于干扰观测器的自适应反演控制方法。将参数摄动、外界干扰和执行机构的响应偏差分别等效进成系统的匹配干扰和非匹配干扰,并设计在有限时间内估计误差收敛的非线性干扰观测器进行估计。利用反演控制的思想,在虚拟控制量中抵消非匹配干扰,在实际控制量中抵消匹配干扰。利用李雅普诺夫理论设计自适应调节律补偿干扰观测器的估计误差,改进控制系统的瞬态性能。仿真结果表明,干扰观测器估计误差在有限时间内收敛到一定区间,系统能够有效地克服干扰的影响,快速准确地跟踪滚转角、攻角、侧滑角参考指令。     

星地遥感数据压缩的差分编码方法研究

为了提高星地传输的工作效率,文章以信息论为理论基础,提出一种差分编码方法用于星地遥感数据的传输。同时,鉴于地表覆盖本身的不确定度与应用需求的不同,提出了分区预测差分编码与保持立体测量精度的差分编码。这两种压缩策略可进一步显著提高差分编码的压缩比。     

可抛展开系统单级延伸喷管研究

介绍了一种最新设计的轻质单级延伸喷管，它具有独特的可抛展开系统。给出了它的工作原理及其展开特性计算方法。该延伸喷管展开后，其展开系统全部被抛掉，仅乘下被弹簧锁片锁紧的延伸锥。这种延伸喷管无论展开前还是展开后，其质量都比现有的四作动筒式延伸喷管更轻，尤其是展开后，减轻更多，从而使飞行器的有效载荷射程有更大的增加。     

BPSK调制器发射时延的一种高精度标定方法

在高精度卫星测控、导航定位等领域，系统设备的绝对时延是影响精度的主要因素之一。示波器方案是目前能够测量BPSK调制器调制信号输入端到射频信号输出端的时延的唯一方法。文章提出采用宽带数字存储示波器结合包络检测信号处理技术，以提高调制器时延测量的精度，标准不确定度可优于50ps，避免了手工测试的主观不确定性。该方法也可推广用于变频器时延的精确测量。     

空间绳系机器人超近距视觉伺服控制方法

针对空间绳系机器人超近距视觉伺服中相对位姿无法测量的问题,在建立机器人视觉系统非线性量测模型的基础上,提出一种基于直线跟踪的混合视觉伺服控制方法,利用帆板支架边缘线图像特征跟踪相对位姿,利用基座具有较大误差的量测信息保证控制系统的稳定性。仿真试验结果表明：在仅能获得帆板支架边缘线图像信息的情况下,设计的超近距逼近控制方法能够保证空间绳系机器人稳定到达目标卫星的帆板支架处,并满足捕获条件。     

参数不确定空间机械臂系统的自适应鲁棒性联合控制

本文讨论载体位置与姿态均不受控制的自由浮动空间机械臂系统的控制问题，基于增广变量法，提出当机械臂与载荷参数不确定时自由浮动空间机械臂追踪惯性空间期望轨迹的自适应棒性联合控制方法。通过仿真运算，证实了方法的有效性。     

网络化飞行器执行机构故障自适应容错控制

针对存在随机短时延和外部干扰的网络化飞行器执行机构故障问题,提出了一种自适应容错控制方法。首先利用扩张状态观测器(Extended State Observer, ESO)对系统不确定性进行估计,并构建了自抗扰控制器对不确定性进行补偿。在此基础上,设计了一种基于跟踪误差的自适应容错控制方法。当执行机构发生未知故障后执行机构指令能自适应逼近设计值,使得重构的控制系统精确跟踪参考模型。最后利用Lyapunov函数方法证明了闭环控制系统的有界稳定。数值仿真校验了所提方法的有效性。     

柔性锥-杆式对接机构碰撞过程仿真研究

以中小型航天器普遍采用的锥-杆式对接机构为研究对象,提出一种柔性对接锥作为缓冲系统的方案,用柔性锥变形吸收撞击能量作为缓冲。用有限元法对碰撞过程进行仿真,讨论了柔性对接锥作为缓冲系统的性能对对接过程的影响。仿真结果表明:与普通对接锥相比,柔性锥能减小碰撞力峰值50%多。