Multisensor distributed sequential detection

A conceptual generalization of the Wald's sequential probability ratio test (SPRT) to a decentralized environment is presented. The local tests are chosen to be SPRT's, which quantize the temporally independent identically distributed (IID) observations into three levels for transmission to the fusion detector. Spatial independence among the local observations is assumed. The fusion test is also an SPRT. An analysis for the decentralized scheme is developed. Performance comparisons with the centralized and other decentralized schemes are presented     

Ultra-wideband impulse radar-an overview of the principles

Over the past decade, extensive research work has been carried out to develop the ultra-wideband (UWB) technology for radar applications, and to resolve the practical challenges in implementing an efficient UWB radar system. In this paper, we present an overview of the basic principles of UWB impulse radar. The focus is on the principles of UWB signal generation, impulse radiation, waveform design, pulse compression, range-velocity resolution (ambiguity function), array beamforming, and radar-target signature     

Effects of blade aspect ratio and taper ratio on hovering performance of cycloidal rotor with large blade pitching amplitude

In recent years, a lot of research work has been carried out on the cycloidal rotors. However, it lacks thorough understanding about the effects of the blade platform shape on the hover efficiency of the cycloidal rotor, and the knowledge of how to design the platform shape of the blades. This paper presents a numerical simulation model based on Unsteady ReynoldsAveraged Navier–Stokes equations(URANSs), which is further validated by the experimental results. The effects of blade aspect ratio and taper ratio are analyzed, which shows that the cycloidal rotors with the same chord length have quite similar performance even though the blade aspect ratio varies from a very small value to a large one. By comparing the cycloidal rotors with different taper ratios, it is found that the rotors with large blade taper ratio outperform those with small taper ratio. This is due to the fact that the blade with larger taper ratio has longer chord and hence better efficiency. The analysis results show that the unsteady aerodynamic effects due to blade pitching motion play a more important role in the efficiency than the blade platform shape. Therefore we should pay more attention to the blade airfoil and pitching motion than the blade platform shape.The main contributions of this paper include: the analysis of the effects of aspect ratio and taper ratio on the hover efficiency of cycloidal rotor based on both the experimental and numerical simulation results; the finding of the main influencing factors on the hover efficiency; the qualitative guidance on how to design the blade platform shape for cycloidal rotors.     

Estimation of sediment settling velocity in estuarine and coastal waters using optical remote sensing data

A robust method has been developed for estimating sediment settling velocity (w_s) from high resolution optical remote sensing data in estuarine, coastal and harbor waters. This method estimates settling velocity as a function of the drag coefficient (C_d), Reynolds number (Re), grain size (D₅₀), specific gravity (Δ_SG) and grain shape (in terms of the Corey Shape Factor – CSF). These parameters were derived from the particulate inherent optical properties such as backscattering (b_bp), beam attenuation (c_p), suspended sediment concentration and turbidity using Landsat 8 OLI and HICO data. Preliminary results for the Gulf of Cambay in the eastern Arabian Sea and Yangtze river estuary in the East China Sea, showed that satellite-retrieved settling velocities (m?s^?1) varied from very low values in clear oceanic waters, intermediate values in coastal waters, to very high values in river plumes and sediment-laden coastal waters. The remote sensing retrievals of sediment properties and their settling velocities were generally consistent with the field and laboratory results, which indicate that the proposed methodology will have important implications in various coastal engineering, environmental and management studies.     

Proposed UWB radar terminology

The term ultra-wideband (UWB) [which was formally defined by DARPA in 1990], for classifying an emerging technology in the field of radar and radio communications is synonymous with the following terms: baseband; video pulse; nonsinusoidal; carrierfree (carrierless); impulse; time-domain; super-resolution; ultra-high resolution; stealthy; spread spectrum; Rayleigh spectrum. The paper lists the terminologies that may be used for the emerging technology of UWB radar.