使用信息矩阵滤波的跟踪融合的性能评估

在多传感器环境下，每个传感器探测多个目标，接着产生相应的跟踪。这些跟踪可能互不相同，经过融合后，传感器生成有关目标的更精确的运动信息和属性信息。目前已有两种方法可以达到上述目的，一种是测量值融合法，一种是状态矢量融合法。众所周知，测量值融合计算法通常最优，但计算费时，而状态矢量融合算法计算省力却是次优。之所以如此，是因为从两个传感器中获得的待融合状态级估值，由于通常存在被跟踪目标的过程噪声，通常并非条件独立。值得注意的是，状态矢量融合已有三种计算法：加权协方差法、信息矩阵法和伪测量法。本文仅限于讨论状态矢量融合中信息矩阵形式的性能评估。利用信息矩阵计算法已经推导出稳态融合协方差的闭式分析解并作为一种性能的度量方法。注意，推导出的结果基于两个传感器同步工作且没有误关联的假设，或是在研究时考虑了融合测量值。并且我们将推导出的结果用蒙特卡罗仿真进行了比较，过去曾有许多作者利用蒙特卡罗仿真来预测融合系统的性能。这些结果有助于更加深入地了解跟踪融合的作用原理，并大大简化了对融合性能的评估。此外，有了这样的解，简化了对各种不同工作条件下设计融合系统的折衷研究。     

On the possibility of Earth-type habitable planets in the 55 Cancri system

We discuss the possibility of Earth-type planets in the planetary system of 55 Cancri, a nearby G8 V star, which is host to two, possibly three, giant planets. We argue that Earth-type planets around 55 Cancri are in principle possible. Several conditions are necessary. First, Earth-type planets must have formed despite the existence of the close-in giant planet(s). In addition, they must be orbitally stable in the region of habitability considering that the stellar habitable zone is relatively close to the star compared to the Sun because of 55 Cancri's low luminosity and may therefore be affected by the close-in giant planet(s). We estimate the likelihood of Earth-type planets around 55 Cancri based on the integrated system approach previously considered, which provides a way of assessing the long-term possibility of photosynthetic biomass production under geodynamic conditions.     

Subfreezing activity of microorganisms and the potential habitability of Mars' polar regions

The availability of water-ice at the surface in the Mars polar cap and within the top meter of the high-latitude regolith raises the question of whether liquid water can exist there under some circumstances and possibly support the existence of biota. We examine the minimum temperatures at which liquid water can exist at ice grain-dust grain and ice grain-ice grain contacts, the minimum subfreezing temperatures at which terrestrial organisms can grow or multiply, and the maximum temperatures that can occur in martian high-latitude and polar regions, to see if there is overlap. Liquid water can exist at grain contacts above about -20 degrees C. Measurements of growth in organisms isolated from Siberian permafrost indicate growth at -10 degrees C and metabolism at -20 degrees C. Mars polar and high-latitude temperatures rise above -20 degrees C at obliquities greater than ~40 degrees, and under some conditions rise above 0 degrees C. Thus, the environment in the Mars polar regions has overlapped habitable conditions within relatively recent epochs, and Mars appears to be on the edge of being habitable at present. The easy accessibility of the polar surface layer relative to the deep subsurface make these viable locations to search for evidence of life.     

未来机载雷达可靠性和寿命周期成本的研究

目前还没有对未来机载雷达系统的可靠性和维修性的要求充分量化，但已经认识到需要对现有可靠性和可用性的标准进行较大的改进。     

Microbial survival rates of Escherichia coli and Deinococcus radiodurans under low temperature, low pressure, and UV-Irradiation conditions, and their relevance to possible Martian life

Viability rates were determined for microbial populations of Escherichia coli and Deinococcus radiodurans under the environmental stresses of low temperature (-35 degrees C), low-pressure conditions (83.3 kPa), and ultraviolet (UV) irradiation (37 W/m(2)). During the stress tests the organisms were suspended in saltwater soil and freshwater soil media, at variable burial depths, and in seawater. Microbial populations of both organisms were most susceptible to dehydration stress associated with low-pressure conditions, and to UV irradiation. However, suspension in a liquid water medium and burial at larger depths (5 cm) improved survival rates markedly. Our results indicate that planetary surfaces that possess little to no atmosphere and have low water availability do not constitute a favorable environment for terrestrial microorganisms.     

Ultrastructural study of iron oxide precipitates: implications for the search for biosignatures in the Meridiani hematite concretions, Mars

Two terrestrial environments that have been proposed as analogs for the iron oxide precipitation in the Meridiani Planum region of Mars include the Rio Tinto precipitates and southern Utah marble concretions. Samples of two typical Utah iron oxide concretions and iron oxide precipitates in contact with biofilms from Rio Tinto have been studied to determine whether evidence could be found for biomediation in the precipitation process and to identify likely locations for fossil microorganisms. Scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray, and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) were used to search for biosignatures in the Utah marbles. The precipitation of iron oxides resembles known biosignatures, though organic compounds could not be confirmed with GC-MS analysis. In contrast, textural variations induced by biological activity are abundant in the modern Rio Tinto samples. Although no compelling evidence of direct or indirect biomediation was found in the Utah marbles, the ultrastructure of the iron oxide cement in the concretion suggests an inward growth during concretion precipitation from an initially spherical redox front. No indication for growth from a physical nucleus was found.     

With a grain of salt: what halite has to offer to discussions on the origin of life

This experimental study investigated how the dynamics of the crystallization of the evaporite mineral halite could affect the accumulation and preservation of organic macromolecules present in the crystallizing solution. Halite was grown under controlled conditions in the presence of polymer nanoparticles that acted as an analog to protocellular material. Optical microscopy, atomic force microscopy, and laser scanning confocal fluorescence microscopy were used to trace the localization of the nanoparticles during and after growth of halite crystals. The present study revealed that the organic nanoparticles were not regularly incorporated within the halite, but were very concentrated on its surfaces. Their distribution was controlled dominantly by the morphologic surface features of the mineral rather than by specific molecular interactions with an atomic plane of the mineral. This means that the distribution of organic molecules was controlled by surfaces like those of halite's evaporitic growth forms. The experiments with halite also demonstrated that a mineral need not continuously incorporate organic molecules during its crystallization to preserve those molecules: After rejection by (non-incorporation into) the crystallizing halite, the organic nanoparticles increased in concentration in the evaporating brine. They ultimately either adsorbed in rectilinear patterns onto the hopper-enhanced surfaces and along discontinuities within the crystals, or they were encapsulated within fluid inclusions. Of additional importance in origin-of-life considerations is the fact that halite in the natural environment rapidly can change its role from that of a protective repository (in the absence of water) to that of a source of organic particles (as soon as water is present) when the mineral dissolves.     

NASCOM网络管理结构的重建

Nascom地面通信系统的研制始于1958年的先驱计划。低速率系统(速率低于9.6kbps)的开发遵循现有标准。但高速系统没有可比较的标准,因此使用专用协议和定制硬件开发。 自地面保障系统建成后,技术又取得了巨大的进步。有了计算机硬件、软件和高速通信标准,而且现有工作站的性能超出了地面系统研制中使用的主机性能。 Nascom正处于改进其保障系统以及提供更多服务的过程中。信息交换系统(MSS),通信地址处理器(CAP)以及多路复用/分路器(MDM)自动控制系统(MACS)是几例使用X—windows,Motifus及简易网络管理协议(SNMP)等标准开发出的Nascom系统。而且,地球观测系统(EOS)通信(ECOM)计划把标准作为整个网络的组成部分来强调。向标准发展在改进操作质量的同时缩减了研制、维护和互操作费用。 已经制定了将Nascom网络和系统综合到公共网络管理结构中的设施和资源管理器(FARM)计划。结构中最大限度地采用标准和实现计算机自动化将带来成本不断下降,操作效率不断提高。第一步总是得出Nascom总的需求,并确定全部现有管理系统共有的功能。确定这些公共功能可在管理结构中实现过程的再利用并促进整个Nascom网络更多地采用自动化。 MSS、CAP、MACS和Ecom计划通过降低成本和提高质量。表明了商业成品(COTS)和标准的潜在价     

应用于航天的专家系统外壳

从地面对航天器上复杂的、紧密耦合的系统进行控制是一项非常复杂的任务。在起飞期间,操作员不停地监视着输入的系统数据,并作出各种判断以保证发射成功。在大多数系统中,操作员从嵌入地面控制计算机的软件中获取这些原始数据。如果数据超过了某一固定门限,则软件触发一个警告。然而,紧密耦合的子系统经常会引发几个警告并同时发声,信息大量涌向操作员,延误操作员的反应时间,导致慌乱、疏忽和系统失败。