A Pulsewidth-Modulated Dc-to-Dc Converter That Utilizes a Small Number of Components

In general, circuit reliability can be enhanced by either incorporating redundancy or by minimizing a circuits component count. Conventional nonregulating converters generally require two active devices, whereas in regulating converters or switching regulators as many as 10 transistors, either integrated or discrete, is not uncommon. A regulating dc-to-dc converter which provides useful regulation and which can be constructed with either two or three transistors is described.     

Effect of Observation Errors on Satellite Attitude Estimation

A study of the effect of observation errors on the best least squares estimate of satellite attitude based on two sets of direction measurements, where one set contains two independent measurements which are corrupted by zero-mean normally distributed additive errors, is summarized. Using Monte-Carlo techniques, the statistics of the estimated rotation of the satellite, from a known reference, were obtained. It was found that one of the parameterizations of the rotation, namely, the vector z, is best suited for estimation, since ?z is normally distributed with zero mean and its standard deviation is independent of the two direction measurements.     

A Test of the Effect of Satellite Spin on Two-Way Doppler Range-Rate Measurements

Analysis indicates that the rotation of a satellite can cause an error in the range-rate measurements of a two-way Doppler tracking system. The error is proportional to the rotation rate, and the constant of proportionality depends on the polarization of the satellite transponder antennas. Measurements made by ground-based simulation confirmed the analytical prediction.     

Theory of Operation of an Elastically Supported Tuned Gyroscope

Detailed derivation of the transfer function for a multigimbal, elastically supported, tuned gyro is presented and comparison made between its characteristics and those of a classical two-axis, free-rotor gyro. Knowledge of the gyro transfer function is necessary for the purpose of servo analysis of the system in which the gyro is used; also, the transfer function is a basis of evaluation of errors caused by angular inputs that occur at twice spin frequency.     

Tracking of DABS-Equipped Aircraft

The Discrete Address Beacon System (DABS) is scheduled to replace the Air Traffic Control Beacon System (ATCRBS) as the prime sensing tool for air traffic control in the 1980's. The design of DABS requires knowledge of the tracking accuracy obtainable as a function of various system parameters. In particular, the potential value of air-to-ground telemetry of turn-rate data and its effect on intermittent positive control (IPC) must be assessed. The design of DABS tracking algorithms is discussed, and the results obtained with a Kalman tracker simulation are given. The major finding is that turn-rate telemetry of moderate accuracy can improve tracking by a factor of 6 to 10.     

Postdetection Integration Loss for Logarithmic Detectors

The effect of a logarithmic receiver on the detection performance of a radar has been determined by Green by numerical computations for up to 100 pulses integrated. It was further suggested that the loss in decibels as compared to a square-law detector would appear to be proportional to the logarithm of the number of pulses integrated. In this correspondence we show that this ?conjecture? is false, and that the additional loss when N becomes very large approaches a constant value of 2.2 dB.     

Landmark Navigation Rule, a New Navigation Device

Two new methods of landmark navigation were recently presented. The landmarks are assumed to be within sight of the navigator but with unknown positions. Both methods require computations which are time consuming when a computer is not available. This correspondence presents the concept of a new navigation device called ?landmark navigation rule? which eliminates all the computation effort required in both new methods. The device is simple in construction, lightweight, and consumes no power.     

National and Regional Grids

The title of this paper provides a point of departure for the broadest possible discussion of electric power transmission and presents an opportunity to comment on some misconceptions regarding power systems. The subject of transmission is discussed in terms of 1) the grid concept, 2) its system function, and 3) its probable future development and some of the problems facing such development.     

Report on the Geneva Space Telecommunications Conference? Broadcasting Aspects

The growth of the Intelsat Global Commercial Communications Satellite System, which provides the facilities used to exchange television programs among many countries of the world, is described. Service was initiated between North America and Western Europe in 1965. Currently, some 48 separate geographic areas throughout the world are interconnected by the Intelsat System. The unique air-transportable Earth terminal, developed by the General Electric Company, at the request of the television networks, to meet the special requirements for providing live television coverage in color of the Apollo recoveries at sea, will also be described.     

A Hybrid Navigation Concept Using a Spinning Satellite?Borne Interferometer and Self?Contained Equipment

This paper analyzes a hybrid navigation concept that uses signals from a radio interferometer mounted on a spinning geostationary satellite, preliminary position estimates from self-contained equipment, and stored a priori information on the past performance of this equipment. The craft-borne processor, optimum in the maximum a posteriori (MAP) sense, is designed to estimate position coordinates using only the incoming radio signals, although improved estimates result if the other two items are available. An error analysis starts with the derivation of an estimation error covariance matrix, whose elements depend on additive receiver noise and the physical parameters of the system. A minimum 1? estimation error in position is obtained by trading off these parameters. The effects of other major error sources, such as tropospheric phase fluctuations, multipath, and craft altitude uncertainty, are added to the estimation error to give a total 1? position error on the order of 3.7 to 5.6 km.