Design of a practical tracking algorithm with radar measurements

The extended Kalman filter (EKF) has been widely used as a nonlinear filtering method for radar tracking problems. However, it has been found that if cross-range measurement errors of the target position are large, the performance of the conventional EKF degrades considerably due to nonnegligible nonlinear effects. A new filtering algorithm for improving the tracking performance with radar measurements is developed based on the fact that correct evaluation of the measurement error covariance is possible in the Cartesian coordinate system. The proposed algorithm may be viewed as a modification of the EKF in which the variance of the range measurement errors is evaluated in an adaptive manner. The filter structure facilitates the incorporation of the sequential measurement processing scheme, and this makes the resulting algorithm favorable to both estimation accuracy and computational efficiency. Computer simulation results show that the proposed method offers superior performance in comparison to previous methods. Moreover, our developed algorithm provides some useful insight into the radar tracking problem     

The Search Coil Magnetometer for THEMIS

THEMIS instruments incorporate a tri-axial Search Coil Magnetometer (SCM) designed to measure the magnetic components of waves associated with substorm breakup and expansion. The three search coil antennas cover the same frequency bandwidth, from 0.1 Hz to 4 kHz, in the ULF/ELF frequency range. They extend, with appropriate Noise Equivalent Magnetic Induction (NEMI) and sufficient overlap, the measurements of the fluxgate magnetometers. The NEMI of the searchcoil antennas and associated pre-amplifiers is smaller than 0.76 pT $/\sqrt{\mathrm{Hz}}$ at 10 Hz. The analog signals produced by the searchcoils and associated preamplifiers are digitized and processed inside the Digital Field Box (DFB) and the Instrument Data Processing Unit (IDPU), together with data from the Electric Field Instrument (EFI). Searchcoil telemetry includes waveform transmission, FFT processed data, and data from a filter bank. The frequency range covered depends on the available telemetry. The searchcoils and their three axis structures have been precisely calibrated in a calibration facility, and the calibration of the transfer function is checked on board, usually once per orbit. The tri-axial searchcoils implemented on the five THEMIS spacecraft are working nominally.     

求解常微分方程组的小波技术

研究发展一种新的求解常微分方程的数值方法—快速小波配置法 (FWCM) ,该方法与传统的时间推进或频率区间方法完全不同。快速小波配置法是将任意函数展开为小波基函数 ,用快速离散小波转换技术 (DWT) ,有效地构造常微分方程的近似解。计算过程中 ,在小波展开层次和自变量区间两个不同方面采用了多层自适应和多区间自适应处理技术 ,提高了计算过程的稳定性和收敛性 ,并且具有均匀的误差分布。特别是在常微分方程的长时间解方面 ,与Runge-Kutta方法比较 ,具有稳定的长时间性态。     

应用LDV对压水反应堆棒束间流场的研究

在50年代,对于反应堆棒束周围的速度分布与湍流强度分布就有人进行过试验研究,但几乎所有的人都是借助于传统的探头,其探头对流场往往会造成剧烈的扰动。本文介绍了用作者研制成的具有高分辨率的偏振差动式激光测速仪(简称 PLDV)测量压水热核反应堆中棒束间的平均速度场分布、湍流强度、自相关函数和功率谱的试验研究,初步结果表明,在平行于棒束轴向棒束间流动参数,其测量结果是准确、合理的,测量系统可靠,其试验方法也是正确的。     

基于多模态滑模的快速非奇异终端滑模控制

根据多模态滑模概念,提出了一种快速非奇异终端滑模控制方法(FNTSM,Fast Nonsingular Terminal Sliding Mode),实现了非奇异终端滑模控制的全局快速收敛.多模态滑模通过设计分段切换函数,实现多个滑动模态.FNTSM的切换函数由线性滑模的切换函数和非奇异终端滑模的切换函数连接而成.当系统状态远离平衡点时,系统运行于线性滑动模态;当系统状态靠近平衡点时,系统运行于非奇异终端滑动模态.设计了切换型控制律,保证了系统的到达时间和滑动时间都是有限的.数值仿真表明:FNTSM控制与非奇异终端滑模控制、线性滑模控制相比具有快速性优点.      

Slow Solar Wind: Observations and Modeling

While it is certain that the fast solar wind originates from coronal holes, where and how the slow solar wind (SSW) is formed remains an outstanding question in solar physics even in the post-SOHO era. The quest for the SSW origin forms a major objective for the planned future missions such as the Solar Orbiter and Solar Probe Plus. Nonetheless, results from spacecraft data, combined with theoretical modeling, have helped to investigate many aspects of the SSW. Fundamental physical properties of the coronal plasma have been derived from spectroscopic and imaging remote-sensing data and in situ data, and these results have provided crucial insights for a deeper understanding of the origin and acceleration of the SSW. Advanced models of the SSW in coronal streamers and other structures have been developed using 3D MHD and multi-fluid equations.However, the following questions remain open: What are the source regions and their contributions to the SSW? What is the role of the magnetic topology in the corona for the origin, acceleration and energy deposition of the SSW? What are the possible acceleration and heating mechanisms for the SSW? The aim of this review is to present insights on the SSW origin and formation gathered from the discussions at the International Space Science Institute (ISSI) by the Team entitled “Slow solar wind sources and acceleration mechanisms in the corona” held in Bern (Switzerland) in March 2014 and 2015.     

An LS-TLS-based sequential identification algorithm: Application toan accelerometer

Total least squares (TLS) parameter estimation is an alternative to least squares (LS) estimation when there are errors in both data matrix and observation vector. Especially, when some of the columns, not all, of the data matrix A are free of error, we call it a mixed LS-TLS problem. Accordingly, a sequential algorithm for solving a mixed LS-TLS problem is proposed here. The proposed algorithm employs an efficient algorithm to locate the minimum eigenpair, instead of singular value decomposition (SVD) which is computationally exacting. The proposed algorithm is applied to an accelerometer model to identify error parameters which are very important in inertial navigation systems (INS)     

Book reviews

The general significance of streamers of the solar corona is discussed in the frame of our knowledge of the solar wind phenomenon and the large-scale solar magnetic structure. Thermodynamical and geometric parameters of streamers observed and measured at total solar eclipses are reviewed. Both the low part (in the form of a helmet with a cusp) and the external part (in the form of a stalk extended at many solar radii) are considered. The modelling of streamers starts with the analysis of effects produced by the solar wind flow on a magnetic structure. Facts and arguments are presented in favor of a model with a current sheet and reconnection processes going on along the axis of the streamer, especially in the non-collisional part of the radially extended streamer. Further development of the Pneuman and Kopp (1971) model is discussed, including difficulties occurring in the interpretation of a stationary solution. An empirical model satisfying observations is presented. Future researchs on streamers were discussed with emphasis on observations to be done with the space-borne coronagraphs on the SOHO spacecraft.