Analysis of CGSDS file delivery protocol: immediate NAK mode

We analyze the immediate negative acknowledgment (NAK) mode of the consultative committee for space data systems (CCSDS) file delivery protocol for the single-hop file transfer operation. We propose a timer setting rule that minimizes the expected time taken to transfer a file under the constraint that the throughput efficiency is maximized. Then, we derive the expected file delivery time and compare it with that of the deferred NAK mode. The main contribution is the closed-form expression for evaluating the performance metrics.     

Laminar dust flames in a reduced-gravity environment

The propagation of laminar dust flames in suspensions of iron in gaseous oxidizers was studied in a low-gravity environment onboard a parabolic flight aircraft. The reduction of buoyancy-induced convective flows and particle settling permitted the measurement of fundamental combustion parameters, such as the burning velocity and the flame quenching distance over a wide range of particle sizes and in different gaseous mixtures. Experimentally measured flame speeds and quenching distances were found in good agreement with theoretical predictions of a simplified analytical model that assumes particles burning in a diffusive mode. However, the comparison of flame speeds in oxygen–argon and oxygen–helium iron suspensions indicates the possibility that fine micron-sized particles burn in the kinetic mode. Furthermore, when the particle spacing is large compared to the scale of the reaction zone, a theoretical analysis suggests the existence of a new so-called discrete flame propagation regime. Discrete flames are strongly dependent on particle density fluctuations and demonstrate directed percolation behavior near flame propagation limits. The experimental observation of discrete flames in particle suspensions will require low levels of gravity over extended periods available only on orbital platforms.     

Reactions to receipt of a message from extraterrestrial intelligence: a cross-cultural empirical study

If we ever receive a message from extraterrestrial intelligence (ETI), the societal impact may be significant. To date, several authors have speculated on factors that may predict people’s reactions, but there have been no systematic empirical studies on the range of responses. One obstacle to conducting such studies is that there has been no questionnaire to assess such reactions. In the current study we have designed a psychometrically sound set of scales to assess six beliefs: (1) that extraterrestrial life exists, (2) that ETI would be benevolent and that we should respond to a message, (3) that ETI would be malevolent, (4) that message receipt would be unsettling, (5) that message receipt would be religiously significant and (6) that experts should determine the content of a reply. We report on the construction and use of these new scales, drawing on data gathered from American and Chinese undergraduate students. Respondents also completed measures of alienation, optimism, anthropocentrism and religiosity. This allowed us to predict beliefs about ETI based on personal characteristics and beliefs of the respondents.     

On mapping a tracking algorithm onto parallel processors

The problem of mapping the tasks of a multitarget tracking algorithm onto parallel computing architectures to maximize speedup is considered. An asymptotically optimal mapping algorithm is developed and applied to study the effects of task granularity and processor architectures on the speedup. From the simulation results, it is concluded that task granularity and the parallelization of clustering and global hypotheses formation stages of the tracking algorithm are major determinants of speedup     

Phase and Frequency Transfer Analysis of N Mutually Synchronized Oscillators

A mathematical model and a theory for the phase and frequency transfer between N mutually synchronized oscillators is presented. Mathematical equations are given for evaluating the phase and frequency transfer accuracy achievable. The Fokker-Planck technique is applied and an approximation solution is obtained for the phase difference process between a pair of network oscillators. The case of the three-nodal network is analyzed and it is shown that path delays and network coupling give mean bias error variations and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) fluctuations in the phase difference process. The analysis is then extended to an N-nodal network to show that the SNR fluctuations tend to stabilize while the mean bias error variations are averaged between nodes as N becomes larger.     

Analysis and Design of a Standardized Control Module for Switching Regulators

Three basic switching regulators: buck, boost, and buck/boost, employing a multiloop standardized control module (SCM) were characterized by a common small signal block diagram. Employing the unified model, regulator performances such as stability, audiosusceptibility, output impedance, and step load transient are analyzed and key performance indexes are expressed in simple analytical forms. More importantly, the performance characteristics of all three regulators are shown to enjoy common properties due to the unique SCM control scheme which nullifies the positive zero and provides adaptive compensation to the moving poles of the boost and buck/boost converters. This allows a simple unified design procedure to be devised for selecting the key SCM control parameters for an arbitrarily given power stage configuration and parameter values, such that all regulator performance specifications can be met and optimized concurrently in a single design attempt.     

High-frequency AC power distribution in Space Station

A utility-type, 20-kHz, AC power distribution system for the space station employing resonant power-conversion techniques is presented. The system converts raw DC voltage from photovoltaic cells or three-phase, low-frequency AC voltage from a solar dynamic generator into a regulated, 20-G kHz AC voltage for distribution among various loads. Operations of the components of the system such as driver inverter, DC receiver, bidirectional receiver, and three-phase AC receiver are discussed. EASY5 computer modeling and simulations were performed to study the local and global performance of the system. Simulation results show that the system has fast response and good transient behavior. The AC bus voltage is effectively regulated using the phase-control scheme, which is demonstrated with both line and load variations. The feasibility of paralleling the outputs of driver modules is illustrated with the driver modules synchronized and sharing a common feedback loop. A high-frequency, sinusoidal AC voltage is generated in the three-phase, AC input case, when the driver modules are phased 120° away from one another and their outputs are connected in series     

Optimal FIR filters for time-varying state-space models

An optimal FIR (finite impulse response) filter and smoother is introduced for the time-varying state-space model. The suggested filter has an FIR structure and utilizes finite observation. It is shown that the impulse response of the optimal FIR filter can be obtained by a simple Riccati-type matrix differential equation. Especially for time-invariant systems, this FIR filter reduces to previously known simple forms. For implementation, a recursive form of the optimal FIR filter and smoother is derived by using adjoint variables, and computational algorithms are suggested. It is also shown by sensitivity analysis that the proposed optimal FIR filter alleviates potential divergence characteristics of the standard Kalman filter     

Control design and closed-loop analysis of a switched-capacitorDC-to-DC converter

The theoretical and practical details involved in the control design and closed-loop analysis of a step-down switched-capacitor (SC) DC-to-DC converter are presented. The state-space averaging technique is applied to extract the small-signal dynamics of the power stage, and a graphical loop gain method is used to design the feedback compensation and analyze the closed-loop performance of an SC converter. The results of the control design and closed-loop analysis are substantiated by experiments using a prototype SC converter     

Astrometric search for unseen stellar and sub-stellar companions to nearby stars and the possibility of their detection

Unseen companions to nearby stars are found astrometrically through perturbations in the proper motion from photographs taken with long-focus telescopes. The number of known unseen astrometric companions to nearby stars with photocentric orbits has grown by thirty percent in the last few years. Individual cases are discussed and optimum epochs given for resolution of the components. Orbital analysis of the photocentric positions on the photographic plates provides all information for accurate mass determination of the components except for m and angular separation, , of the two components which must come from another technique. There are potentially thirty low luminosity stars including some likely sub-stellar objects whose masses could be instantly found with the observations of these additional two parameters.A list of the stars known within five parsecs as of 1978 July is given and the status of unseen companions to these stars is discussed on the basis of long interval astrometric coverage.