Vision-based pose estimation for cooperative space objects

Imaging sensors are widely used in aerospace recently. In this paper, a vision-based approach for estimating the pose of cooperative space objects is proposed. We learn generative model for each space object based on homeomorphic manifold analysis. Conceptual manifold is used to represent pose variation of captured images of the object in visual space, and nonlinear functions mapping between conceptual manifold representation and visual inputs are learned. Given such learned model, we estimate the pose of a new image by minimizing a reconstruction error via a traversal procedure along the conceptual manifold. Experimental results on the simulated image dataset show that our approach is effective for 1D and 2D pose estimation.     

A non-earthcentric approach to life detection

The ultimate goal of a comprehensive life detection strategy is never to miss life when we encounter it. To accomplish this goal, we must define life in universal, that is, non-Earthcentric, measurable terms. Next, we must understand the nature of biosignatures observed from the measured parameters of life. And finally, we must have a clear idea of the end-member states for the search--what does life, past life, or no life look like (in terms of the measured parameters) at multiple spatial and temporal scales? If we can approach these problems both in the laboratory and in the field on Earth, then we have a chance of being able to detect life elsewhere in our solar system. What are the required limits of detection at each of those scales? What spatial, spectral, and temporal resolutions are necessary to detect life? These questions are actively being investigated in our group, and in this report, we present our strategy and approach to non-Earthcentric life detection.     

On the likelihood of non-terrestrial artifacts in the Solar System

Extraterrestrial technology may exist in the Solar System without our knowledge. This is because the vastness of space, combined with our limited searches to date, implies that any remote unpiloted exploratory probes of extraterrestrial origin would likely remain unnoticed. Here we develop a probabilistic approach to quantify our certainty (or uncertainty) of the existence of such technology in the Solar System. We discuss some possible strategies for improving this uncertainty that include analysis of moon- and Mars-orbiting satellite data as well as continued exploration of the Solar System.     

Trajectory correction maneuver design using an improved B-plane targeting method

A spacecraft for interplanetary mission is usually perturbed by some disturbance sources. The trajectory correction maneuver (TCM) is required to adjust this trajectory error, and the B-plane targeting method is widely used in this field. However, this B-plane targeting method is based on the differential correction algorithm, and a numerical Jacobian matrix is usually used for this algorithm. Therefore, our main goal in this paper is to suggest the improved B-plane targeting method to overcome the disadvantages of the conventional B-plane method which requires a numerical Jacobian matrix for the initial perturbation selection and iterations. For this improvement, an analytical Jacobian matrix is introduced instead of the numerical Jacobian matrix. Then, another B-plane approach that offers an analytical solution is suggested using the target eccentricity instead of the target time of closest approach (TCA). Using a modified Kepler's equation, the previous B-plane targeting approach can be replaced with the new method through the analytical solution.     

Beyond the principle of plentitude: a review of terrestrial planet habitability

We review recent work that directly or indirectly addresses the habitability of terrestrial (rocky) planets like the Earth. Habitability has been traditionally defined in terms of an orbital semimajor axis within a range known as the habitable zone, but it is also well known that the habitability of Earth is due to many other astrophysical, geological, and geochemical factors. We focus this review on (1) recent refinements to habitable zone calculations; (2) the formation and orbital stability of terrestrial planets; (3) the tempo and mode of geologic activity (e.g., plate tectonics) on terrestrial planets; (4) the delivery of water to terrestrial planets in the habitable zone; and (5) the acquisition and loss of terrestrial planet carbon and nitrogen, elements that constitute important atmospheric gases responsible for habitable conditions on Earth's surface as well as being the building blocks of the biosphere itself. Finally, we consider recent work on evidence for the earliest habitable environments and the appearance of life itself on our planet. Such evidence provides us with an important, if nominal, calibration point for our search for other habitable worlds.     

含不确定性的绳系卫星姿态的鲁棒最优控制

针对绳长变化的旋转二体绳系卫星姿态跟踪控制问题,提出了一种分布式鲁棒最优控制方法。首先针对单体绳系卫星姿态模型,在假设模型精确和不存在干扰的条件下,设计基于HamiltonJacobiBellman方程的最优控制器;进一步考虑到实际系统存在参数不确定性和干扰,采用自适应方法和鲁棒误差积分方法隐式学习参数不确定性和有界干扰,与最优控制器结合设计鲁棒最优控制器,并应用Lyapunov稳定性定理证明其闭环系统的渐近稳定性。其次,根据绳系卫星系统的运动同步性,将单体绳系卫星姿态控制器设计扩展至二体绳系卫星系统,设计二体绳系卫星姿态系统的分布式鲁棒最优控制器。最后在Matlab/Simulink平台上进行仿真验证,结果表明了所设计控制器的可行性与有效性。     

带挠性附件的航天器系统动力学特性研究

本文研究了带挠性附件的航天器系统动力学特性。带挠性附件的航天器系统建模为刚性主体带挠性附件（挠性附件的末端带有刚性质量），根据拟坐标下的Ｌａｇｒａｎｇｅ定理建立了主刚体姿态运动与挠性附件振动相互耦合的动力学状态方程。针对一类带挠性附件的航天器系统编制了有关计算软件，利用该软件以ＳＣＯＬＥ模型（ＳＣＯＬＥ是ＳｐａｃｅｃｒａｆｔＣｏｎｔｒｏｌＬａｂｏｒａｔｏ－ｒｙＥｘｐｅｒｉｍｅｎｔ的缩写，其系统构形可参见文献［２］［３］）为例进行动力学分析，我们得到了与ＮＡＳＡ有关报告几乎完全一样的结果。本项研究为一类带挠性附件的航天器控制系统设计提供了一种合适的动力学理论模型。     

D／A变换静态误差的机助分析

12位以下D/A变换的静态误差(包括线性误差和微分线性误差等)主要取决于其电阻网络的精度。根据要求的静态误差限制值来确定网络电阻的容差,或者由已知电阻网络来预测和分析D/A变换的静态误差,是D/A变换研制工作中的一项重要工作。本文提出用蒙特卡洛法来进行这项计算机辅助分析,并以10位D/A变换为例说明仿真过程。文中提供的方法和给出的结果可供有关工程技术人员参考和引用。     

星敏感器测量模型及其在卫星姿态确定系统中的应用

星敏感器是卫星高精度姿态测量的重要部件，如何正确建立其测量误差模型是影响姿态确定精度的关键因素。本文推导出星敏感器三轴姿态测量误差的方差计算公式，对测量误差的性质进行研究，揭示了在星敏感器三轴测量中，光轴测量精度劣于根据另两轴测量所确定的光轴指向精度。在此基础上提出了新的星敏感器测量模型，给出改进的姿态滤波器观测方程，减小了观测误差，由此可以进一步提高姿态确定的精度。本文方法不仅适用于通常使用的双星敏感器姿态确定系统，也可独立地应用于只带单个星敏感器的姿态确定系统。     

Exploring Regional Variation in Spatial Language Using Spatially Stratified Web-Sampled Route Direction Documents

Spatial language, such as route directions, can be analyzed to shed light on how humans communicate and conceptualize spatial knowledge. This article details a computational linguistic approach using route directions to study regional variations in spatial language. We developed a web-sourcing approach to collect human-generated route direction documents on a geographical scale. Specifically, we built the Spatially strAtified Route Direction (SARD) Corpus through automated scraping, classifying, and georeferencing of route directions. Based on semantic categories of cardinal and relative direction terms, the analysis of the SARD Corpus reveals significant differences and patterns on both national (United States, United Kingdom, and Australia) and regional (contiguous U.S. states) levels. Combining computational linguistics and georeferencing approaches offers the potential for extending classic spatial linguistic studies.     

遥感卫星全视场成像质量仿真方法研究

基于卫星工具包(STK)和MATLAB软件,提出了一种对卫星全视场成像进行物理建模分析的交互仿真方法。以一颗运行在650km高度的太阳同步轨道、具有侧摆能力的遥感卫星为例,对相机在运动中的全视场积分时间偏差和全视场偏流角修正残差进行了仿真分析。仿真结果表明,文章提出的方法能够较精确地对相机在轨全视场的成像质量进行分析,从而可用于在轨成像性能预估。该仿真方法还能以卫星工程数据作为输入,用于卫星星上算法验证、在轨误差分析补偿等方面,为保障卫星在轨成像质量发挥作用。     

Multiple model Kalman filter for attitude determination of precision pointing spacecraft

This paper proposes a novel multiple model estimator for the satellite attitude determination system composed of gyroscopes and star sensors. The main objective is to calibrate the low frequency error of the star sensor and improve the attitude determination accuracy. In the proposed approach, first, the specific frequencies of the low frequency error is extracted according to the frequency spectrum of the estimate of the gyroscope drift obtained from a standard Kalman filter; then, a bank of Kalman filters based on multiple models is implemented to identify the amplitudes of the error signals with the specific frequencies, such that a reference model is obtained to compensate for the effects of the low frequency error. Simulation results indicate that the proposed approach outperforms the existing calibration approach based on the state augmentation technique.     

On early cognitive mapping

In this paper we examine the nature of theearly cognitive map – the beginnings of acognitive map formed from one's earlyimpressions of the environment one is in. Twodistinct paradigms have emerged from ourstudies of what information is initially identified in a cognitive map. The first, which weterm a space-based approach, emphasises makingexplicit the spatial extent of the currentlocal environment. The second emphasises makingexplicit the relationships between objects inthe local environment and we call this anobject-based approach. For both paradigms weexamine the psychological literature to findsupport for the approach and the roboticists'attempts at implementing the idea. We arguethat a space-based approach is the moreappropriate way to compute an early cognitivemap. In particular, we find that Siegel andWhite's (1975) object-based hypothesis, whichstates that the developmental progression of acognitive map is from landmark to route tosurvey map, is not supported. The space-basedparadigm underpins our own work in this areaand we outline our own space-based theory forcomputing an early cognitive map.     

External Cue Effects on Memory for Spatial Location within a Rotated Task Field

Abstract

We propose a mathematical model of the Path Integration (PI) process. Its core assumption is that orientations of a path are summarized by circular probability distributions. We compare our model with classical, deterministic models of PI and find that, although they are indistinguishable in terms of information encoded, the probabilistic model is more parsimonious when considering navigation strategies. We show how sensory events can enrich the probability distributions memorized, resulting in a continuum of navigation strategies, from PI to stimulus-triggered response. We analyze the combination of circular probability distributions (e.g., multicue fusion), and demonstrate that, contrary to the linear case, adding orientation cues does not always increase reliability of estimates. We discuss experimental predictions entailed by our model.     

运用线性回归进行制导精度折合

同一仪表的工具误差,对不同弹道的影响(如落点偏差)是不同的。本文避开传统的分离误差系数方法,而运用线性回归方法,依据试验弹道的遥、外测参数直接折合出仪表误差造成的正常弹道落点偏差,以提供对型号弹进行精度鉴定的可靠验前信息。在折合方法中利用AIC(Akaike Information Criterion)准则选择自变元及消去变换法实施运算。给出了对典型弹的数字仿真结果、数例说明该方法有较高的折合精度。     

A model of habitability within the Milky Way galaxy

We present a model of the galactic habitable zone (GHZ), described in terms of the spatial and temporal dimensions of the Galaxy that may favor the development of complex life. The Milky Way galaxy was modeled using a computational approach by populating stars and their planetary systems on an individual basis by employing Monte Carlo methods. We began with well-established properties of the disk of the Milky Way, such as the stellar number density distribution, the initial mass function, the star formation history, and the metallicity gradient as a function of radial position and time. We varied some of these properties and created four models to test the sensitivity of our assumptions. To assess habitability on the galactic scale, we modeled supernova rates, planet formation, and the time required for complex life to evolve. Our study has improved on other literature on the GHZ by populating stars on an individual basis and modeling Type II supernova (SNII) and Type Ia supernova (SNIa) sterilizations by selecting their progenitors from within this preexisting stellar population. Furthermore, we considered habitability on tidally locked and non-tidally locked planets separately and studied habitability as a function of height above and below the galactic midplane. In the model that most accurately reproduces the properties of the Galaxy, the results indicate that an individual SNIa is ～5.6× more lethal than an individual SNII on average. In addition, we predict that ～1.2% of all stars host a planet that may have been capable of supporting complex life at some point in the history of the Galaxy. Of those stars with a habitable planet, ～75% of planets are predicted to be in a tidally locked configuration with their host star. The majority of these planets that may support complex life are found toward the inner Galaxy, distributed within, and significantly above and below, the galactic midplane.     

Geometry-free linear combinations for Galileo

Global navigation satellites of the European Galileo system transmit code signals on four carriers in the L1, E5a, E5b and E6 band.New geometry-free linear combinations are presented that eliminate the geometry terms (user to satellite ranges and orbital errors), the clock errors of the user and satellites and the tropospheric delay. The remaining parameters of these carrier phase combinations include integer ambiguities, ionospheric delays, carrier phase multipath and phase noise. The weighting coefficients are designed such that the integer nature of ambiguities is maintained. The use of four frequency combinations is highly recommended due to a noise reduction of up to 14.4 dB and an ionospheric reduction of up to 25.6 dB compared to two frequency geometry-free combinations.Moreover, a modified Least-squares Ambiguity Decorrelation Adjustment (LAMBDA) algorithm is suggested, which differs in two points from the traditional approach: the baseline is replaced by the ionospheric delay and the correlation is caused by linear combinations instead of double differences. For correct ambiguity resolution, the ionospheric delay can be determined with millimeter accuracy. This is quite beneficial as the ionosphere represents the largest source of error for absolute positioning.     

An algorithm for estimation and separation of ephemeris and clock errors in SBAS

The estimation and separation of ephemeris and clock errors is an integral part of a SBAS (Space Based Augmentation System). Generally, the global solution is based on the full state approach for satellite errors (ephemeris and clock) and station errors, using a large least square estimator; or the other way is to sequentially estimate the ephemeris and clock through a Kalman filter, using a complex model of the satellite dynamics. In this paper, the estimation and separation of ephemeris and clock errors is addressed through a unique approach of combining both the methods. The algorithm employs measurements, which are pre-processed for various errors and known biases. A single difference technique is used to separately estimate the ephemeris and clock components. The ephemeris Kalman filter uses a priori information of ephemeris errors along with measurements through a minimum variance estimator to provide ephemeris error estimate. A similar approach is adopted in the clock error estimation process, to provide clock and clock rate estimates. The algorithm results are presented using simulated data for known errors in ephemeris/clock and subsequent retrieval. This algorithm estimates these errors as corrections to the broadcast Global Positioning System (GPS) navigation data, required by a SBAS user for accuracy improvement.     

基于模糊干扰观测器的空天飞行器轨迹线性化控制

针对一类多输人多输出非线性不确定系统，提出了基于模糊干扰观测器（FDO）的轨迹线性化控制（TLC）方法并应用于空天飞行器（ASV）飞行控制系统设计。利用模糊系统具有以任意精度逼近非线性函数的能力设计FDO对未知干扰和不确定进行估计，并通过鲁棒控制项来提高系统的性能。采用Lyapunov方法本文证明了闭环系统跟踪误差和干扰观测误差一致最终有界。最后利用所提出的控制方案设计了ASV飞行控制系统，仿真结果表明了控制方案的有效性和鲁棒性。     

惯性测量组合误差系数的时变分析与建模

为了提高惯性测量组合误差系数的标定精度,对惯性测量组合一次通电条件下多次测量的误差系数通过平滑滤波和最小二乘拟合等方法进行分析处理,建立了时漂误差模型。结合某惯性测量组合的相关计算结果,证明了时漂系数更能反映误差系数一次通电条件下的变化规律。