The applications of lower power satellites for direct television broadcasting

The use of 12 GHz satellites for TV broadcasting directly to individual homes and small communities has been the subject of analysis and design study by groups in many countries. Implementation of the concept has been slow to follow because of the high satellite transmitter powers of from 100 to 450 W that have usually been determined to be necessary. Accumulated experience in Canada with 12 GHz operation and the evolution of technology are leading to changes in the concept of direct broadcasting such that lower power satellites may be capable of meeting the requirements.

Hermes, the Canadian/U.S. 12/14 GHz Communications Technology Satellite, has been in use for over 3 years in a program of experiments and measurements. This program has included an extensive six month experiment in direct broadcasting to 7 small communities. Experience with Hermes has shown that the signal strength is stable over long periods of time and that in Canada, significant precipitation attenuation at 12 GHz is of relatively short duration and typically occurs only during certain seasons. Operation with low propagation margins is feasible if some picture degradation and some outages at these times are acceptable. The frequency and duration of occurrence of outages can be controlled by the Earth station G/T which is cost sensitive. An individual may choose to use a low cost system with a small antenna and accept a degraded picture and outages at some times. A small community may choose to pay more for a larger antenna and lower noise receiver to achieve better performance.

Developments in technology are reducing the noise figure of mass-producible receivers from more than 6 dB to as low as 4 dB. Another technology contribution is the use of reduced bandwidth and other signal processing techniques in low-cost receivers. While use of such techniques may introduce distortions that would be unacceptable in rebroadcasting systems, there is little impact for individual and community reception. Use of both technologies reduce the required satellite EIRP or ground terminal G/T.

A field trial was begun in April 1979 to test these concepts for use in television program delivery. One hundred Earth stations capable of being tuned across a 500 MHz band and having antennas with diameters of either 1.2 m or 1.8 m are being installed for a test in Canada to receive TV signals from the 20 W transponders of ANIK-B (peak EIRP of 51 dBw) on an experimental basis. The acceptability of the video signals and the technical performance of the low-cost terminals in the bands of non-technical users are being evaluated.

The paper will summarize the concept of TV broadcasting with lower power satellites and describe the results to date of the ANIK-B field trials.     

Modal control of the planar motion of a long flexible beam in orbit

Attitude control techniques for the pointing and stabilization of very large, inherently flexible spacecraft systems are investigated. The attitude dynamics and control of a long, homogeneous flexible beam whose center of mass is assumed to follow a circular orbit is analyzed. In this study, first order effects of gravity-gradient are included, whereas external perturbations and related orbital station keeping maneuvers are neglected. A mathematical model which describes the system deflections within the orbital plane has been developed by treating the beam as having a maximum of three discretized mass particles connected by massless, elastic structural elements. The uncontrolled dynamics of this system are simulated and, in addition, the effects of the control devices are considered. The concept of distributed modal control, which provides a means for controlling a system mode independently of all other modes, is examined. The effect of varying the number of modes in the model as well as the number and location of the control devices are also considered.     

Low-velocity detonations in cast and pressed high explosives

A model of low velocity detonations in charges of cast and pressed high explosives confined in metal tubes with thin walls is suggested. An analytical solution is obtained and velocities and pressures of stationary LVD waves are calculated as functions of the parameters of the wall confinement. The fraction of the total chemical energy transferred to maintain the shock wave and the average rate of reaction in the wave are estimated and the dynamics of transient predetonation processes are analysed. An explanation of the causes of the secondary shock wave formation in the transition from deflagration to normal detonations is suggested and the delay of this secondary wave is calculated and compared with experimental data.     

智能天线结构模糊自适应变形控制实验研究

基于dSPACE半物理仿真系统和所研制的压电作动器,设计并构建了智能天线结构实验平台,进行了结构变形控制实验研究。实验中采用常规PID作为基本控制方法,并在此基础上设计了一种模糊自适应PID控制器,将两种方法对应的不同控制效果进行了对比。结果表明:在所给的实验条件下,基于压电材料可实现对智能天线结构变形的控制,作动器控制变形量最大可达166μm;两种控制方法均可对结构变形进行控制,模糊自适应方法的绝对位置控制精度达到±0.5μm;应用模糊自适应PID控制方法对结构进行变形控制,较之常规PID控制方法能够降低系统响应的超调量,缩短稳定时间,提高控制精度,得到更好的控制过程。     

Transport Characteristics of Macroparticles in Dusty Plasma Induced by Solar Radiation under Microgravity Conditions

The transport characteristics of macroparticles, charged by the solar radiation under microgravity conditions, were investigated by analyzing the videorecords of experiments carried out onboard the Mirorbital station. The temperature, distributions of velocities, charge, friction coefficient, and diffusion coefficient were obtained for bronze particles.     

The Solution of Some Problems of Optimizing the Processes of a Flexible Correction of Motion of Satellite Systems: I

The first of a series of problems of the optimization of correction of satellite systems, moving over near-circular orbits, is considered. The correction is accomplished by means of low-thrust engines and is supposed to be flexible, where only the parameters of the relative motion of satellites must be corrected. The problem has a large dimension, but is invariant with respect to renumbering of satellites. This allows us to decompose the problem, i.e., to find new variables, linearly dependent on old ones, in which the problem breaks down into a series of independent subproblems of low dimension. The decomposition is accomplished by means of the technique [1] based on the theory of linear representations of groups.     

Numerical Simulation of Impact Loading on Solid Propellant Within an Orthotropic Shell

The strain–stress state of the solid propellant rocket engines (SPREs) is simulated under impact. The effect of orientation of elastic and strength properties of orthotropic organoplastic shell material on the strain–stress state of the solid propellant is investigated. Normal and oblique impact of single steel cylinder projectiles, both simultaneous and at different times of multiple, converging steel spheric particles with SPRE are investigated in this study. The investigation is conducted numerically. The numerical modeling was carried out in a three-dimensional formulation by the method of finite elements for the continuous approach of the mechanics of a deformable solid. The destruction of the anisotropic material is described by the tensor-polynomial criterion of the fourth degree, which takes into account the influence of hydrostatic pressure.     

基于双目视觉的返回舱着陆横向速度测量

通过分析返回舱在着陆时所具有的水平速度也可能对着陆安全构成威胁的事实，论述了为返回舱增加横向缓冲装置的必要性，由此提出亟需解决的问题——在返回舱着陆下降过程中测量其水平运动速度。提出了全新概念的以视觉图像为唯一信息来源的返回舱水平速度测量方法，仅以双目摄像机系统作为传感器，避免了对返回舱原有传感器系统的改造。通过对着陆区域地面图像的采集和在线处理，利用双目交会测量原理得到返回舱当前的大地坐标和姿态。仿真实验证明，方法简单易行，测量结果可靠。     

推进剂功能组分作用机理研究——(Ⅱ)丁羟/铝粉体系

在丁羟 /铝粉组成的实验体系中 ,通过测定药浆流变性的变化 ,研究了一些功能组分在推进剂中的作用机理。结果表明 ,醇胺络合物TEA·BF3 是推进剂中铝粉的偶联剂 ,在其它功能组分存在的条件下 ,仍能竞争吸附于铝粉颗粒表面。实验发现 ,在Al/HTPB/IPDI体系药浆中 ,TEA·BF3 与MAPO间存在明显的协同效应 ,使药浆流变性能显著恶化。文中对其它一些功能组分在药浆中的作用机理也进行了分析探讨。     

On the dynamics of a novel manipulator with slewing and deployable links

Using a novel space platform-based manipulator with slewing and deployable links, the paper addresses two issues of considerable importance: (a) How important is it to model flexibility of the system? (b) How many modes are needed to adequately represent the elastic character? Results suggest that the fundamental mode is able to capture physics of the response quite accurately. Due to its massive character, the platform dynamics is virtually unaffected, even by severe maneuvers of the manipulator. Hence, treating the platform as rigid would save the computational cost without affecting the accuracy. Although the link flexibility does affect the manipulator's tip vibration, the joint and platform vibrations remain negligible. The revolute joint flexibility appears to be an important parameter affecting both the joint as well as tip responses. The information should prove useful in the design of this new class of manipulators.