Power anomaly effects and costs in low-voltage mobile power systems

Electric power anomalies or disturbances can disrupt the normal operation of equipment, accelerate aging, or even cause outright failures thus resulting in increased costs of maintenance and reduced system reliability. Past research on the effects caused by power anomalies has been mostly focused on industrial, commercial, or residential systems, or on power distribution equipment. A literature survey reveals that there is no comprehensive review related to low-voltage (LV) power systems and utilization equipment applicable to military combat vehicles, such as aircraft and ships. This paper summarizes the results of a new literature survey that focused on the causes, effects, and mitigation methods for power anomalies typical of LV mobile power systems. Electric power anomaly cost data collected from the literature are also presented, from which the costs of anomalies to the national defense are estimated using some simple rationales.     

Comparing the improved Di Giovanni/Radicella model with sounding-based electron density profiles and with the IRI model

The Di Giovanni/Radicella model (DGR) /1/ determines a bottom side electron densty profile alone from the set of routinely scaled ionogram parameters foE, foF1, foF2 and M(3000)F2 and the total electron content; the smoothed sunspot number R12 appears in the calculation. Present designations are DGR2/2/ and DRR3 /3/ [see Appendix]; they are valid in the northern hemisphere. DGR is compared with electron density profiles derived from ionograms obtained at Juliusruh (54.6°N, 13.4°E), and with the (URSI-based) IRI90 at different conditiones. Experimental total electron content (TEC) data are compared to both models. At the considered station, the profiles obtained by both models are reasonably in agreement amongst themselves and with the experimental data.

The TEC derived from the DGR3 model is in good agreement with experimental TEC, whereas, at high solar activity, IRI90 gives too high TEC values, especially during daytime.     

Comparison of mesopause region meteor radar winds,medium frequency radar winds and low frequency drifts over Germany

During 2004 and 2005 measurements of mesospheric/lower thermospheric (80–100 km) winds have been carried out in Germany using three different ground-based systems, namely a meteor radar (36.2 MHz) at the Collm Observatory (51.3°N, 13°E), a MF radar (3.18 MHz) at Juliusruh (54.6°N, 13.4°E) and the LF D1 measurements using a transmitter (177 kHz) at Zehlendorf near Berlin and receivers at Collm with the reflection point at 52.1°N, 13.2°E. This provides the possibility of comparing the results of different radar systems in nearly the same measuring volume. Meteor radar winds are generally stronger than the winds observed by MF and especially by LF radars. This difference is small near 80 km but increases with height. The difference between meteor radar and medium frequency radar winds is larger during winter than during summer, which might indicate an indirect influence of gravity waves on spaced antenna measurements.     

The Plasma and Suprathermal Ion Composition (PLASTIC) Investigation on the STEREO Observatories

The Plasma and Suprathermal Ion Composition (PLASTIC) investigation provides the in situ solar wind and low energy heliospheric ion measurements for the NASA Solar Terrestrial Relations Observatory Mission, which consists of two spacecraft (STEREO-A, STEREO-B). PLASTIC-A and PLASTIC-B are identical. Each PLASTIC is a time-of-flight/energy mass spectrometer designed to determine the elemental composition, ionic charge states, and bulk flow parameters of major solar wind ions in the mass range from hydrogen to iron. PLASTIC has nearly complete angular coverage in the ecliptic plane and an energy range from ～0.3 to 80 keV/e, from which the distribution functions of suprathermal ions, including those ions created in pick-up and local shock acceleration processes, are also provided.     

The GOES-16 Spacecraft Science Magnetometer

Space Science Reviews - The Modular Multispectral Imaging Array (MMIA) is a suite of optical sensors mounted on an external platform of the European Space Agency’s Columbus Module on the...     

Improvement of the solar-cycle variation of IRI lower ionosphere models by means of radio wave propagation data

Data on day-time and night-time radio wave absorption in the frequency range 50 to 2614 kHz, obtained in long-term observational programmes in Central Europe, are compared with corresponding absorption values calculated from electron density profiles of the International Reference Ionosphere (IRI-1979) using the full-wave method.Discrepancies between calculated and observed absorption values were found for the diurnal and the solar-cycle variation, the amplitudes of the solar-cycle variation of absorption being considerably larger than the observed variation.A modification of the solar-activity dependence of the D-region electron density parameters is derived, which provides an improvement of the solar-cycle variation as well as the diurnal variation of the IRI electron density profiles.     

Correlation of Multiple-Site Track Data

Tactical air defense systems often require the interchange of target tracking data between two radar sites. This paper presents a systematic and effective procedure, employing correlation gates, for associating , or correlating, track information from one site with that from the other. Using the correlation equation, gate sizes are selected, based on remote and local tracking accuracies, target separation, the number of track coordinates investigated, and the number of successive correlation attempts made, to maximize the selected measure of correlation accuracy. The modeling of physical encounters is discussed and a representative situation is selected for analysis. A variety of correlation procedures are compared in terms of correlation accuracy and ease of implementation.     

Contents of Volume 2

Volume Contents

Contents of Volume 2     

Real-Time Tracking Filter Evaluation and Selection for Tactical Applications

Five important tracking filters that are often candidates for implementation in systems that must track maneuvering vehicles are compared in terms of tracking accuracy and computer requirements for tactical applications. A rationale for selecting among these filters, which include a Kalman filter, a simplified Kalman filter, an ?-? filter, a Wiener filter, and a two-point extrapolator, is illustrated by two examples taken from the authors' recent experience.     

InSight Mars Lander Robotics Instrument Deployment System

The InSight Mars Lander is equipped with an Instrument Deployment System (IDS) and science payload with accompanying auxiliary peripherals mounted on the Lander. The InSight science payload includes a seismometer (SEIS) and Wind and Thermal Shield (WTS), heat flow probe (Heat Flow and Physical Properties Package, HP³) and a precision tracking system (RISE) to measure the size and state of the core, mantle and crust of Mars. The InSight flight system is a close copy of the Mars Phoenix Lander and comprises a Lander, cruise stage, heatshield and backshell. The IDS comprises an Instrument Deployment Arm (IDA), scoop, five finger “claw” grapple, motor controller, arm-mounted Instrument Deployment Camera (IDC), lander-mounted Instrument Context Camera (ICC), and control software. IDS is responsible for the first precision robotic instrument placement and release of SEIS and HP³ on a planetary surface that will enable scientists to perform the first comprehensive surface-based geophysical investigation of Mars’ interior structure. This paper describes the design and operations of the Instrument Deployment Systems (IDS), a critical subsystem of the InSight Mars Lander necessary to achieve the primary scientific goals of the mission including robotic arm geology and physical properties (soil mechanics) investigations at the Landing site. In addition, we present test results of flight IDS Verification and Validation activities including thermal characterization and InSight 2017 Assembly, Test, and Launch Operations (ATLO), Deployment Scenario Test at Lockheed Martin, Denver, where all the flight payloads were successfully deployed with a balloon gravity offload fixture to compensate for Mars to Earth gravity.