Further results on LMSS experiment in Kyoto City

In February of 1990, land mobile satellite experiments were conducted in Kyoto City, Japan, using the Engineering Test Satellite V (ETS-V). The received signal strength was recorded, as was the speed of the mobile as it traversed various downtown streets. The setting was that of a built-up urban area with medium and high rise buildings, electric utility poles, and trees lining the streets. These caused obstruction to the satellite line of sight (LOS). The signal level fluctuation due to diffraction of radio waves by the urban structures is analyzed. The results obtained from the measurements and theoretical calculation agree. The spatial frequencies due to diffraction are found to vary between 1.8 Hz to 5.3 Hz. It is concluded that this variation of received signal level will not adversely affect the receiver performance. Based on recorded signal strength, the performance of a digital land mobile satellite system (LMSS), under the above mentioned environment, is analyzed and the results presented     

Cosmological variability of fundamental physical constants

Gamow was one of the pioneers who studied the possible variability of fundamental physical constants. Some versions of modern Grand Unification theories do predict such variability. The paper is concerned with three of the constants: the fine-structure constant , the ratio of the proton massm _p to the electron massm _e, and the ratio of the neutron massm _n tom _e. It is shown on the basis of the quasar spectra analysis, that all the three constants revealed no statistically significant variation over the last 90% of the life time of the Universe. At the 2 significance level, the following upper bounds are obtained for the epoch corresponding to the cosmological redshiftsz2–3: /<1.5×10^–3, m _p/m _p<2×10^–3, and m/m<3×10^–4, where x is a possible deviation of a quantityx from its present value,m=m _p+m _n, and the nucleon masses are in units ofm _e. (According to new observational data which became known most recently, m _p/m _p<2×10^–4) In addition a possible anisotropy of the high-redshift fine splitting over the celestial sphere is checked. Within the relative statistical error 3 < 1% the values of turned out to be the same in various quadrants of the celestial sphere, which corresponds to their equality in causally disconnected areas. However, at the 2 level a tentative anisotropy of estimated / values is found in directions that approximately coincide with the direction of the relic microwave background anisotropy.The revealed constraints serve as criteria for selection of those theoretical models which predict variation of ,m _p orm _n with the cosmological time.     

恒幅及飞行模拟载荷下厚度对裂纹增长的影响

不同厚度试样的疲劳裂纹扩展试验及断口微观分析表明,恒幅加载低应力比飞行模拟载荷条件下具有明显的厚度影响。考查了模型对厚度影响的预测能力。Newman的模型具有预测厚度影响的潜力,广义改进的wellenborg模型不含有厚度影响的考虑,即使通过调整约束系数α的方法也不能计及厚度的影响。厚度对裂纹增长影响的物理原因及模型化有待于进一步研究。     

Adaptive detection threshold optimization for tracking in clutter

The adaptive optimization of detection thresholds for tracking in clutter is investigated for the probabilistic data association (PDA) filter. Earlier work on this problem by T.E. Fortmann et al. (1985) involved an approximate steady-state analysis of the state error covariance and is only suitable for time-invariant systems. Furthermore, the method requires numerous assumptions and approximations about the error covariance update equation, and uses a cumbersome graphical optimization algorithm. In this work we propose two adaptive schemes for threshold optimization, namely prior and posterior optimization algorithms which minimize the mean-square state estimation error over detection thresholds which depend on data up to the previous and current time-step, respectively. These algorithm are suitable for real-time implementation in time-varying systems. Some simulation results are presented     

Censoring sensors: a low-communication-rate scheme for distributeddetection

We consider a new scheme for distributed detection based on a “censoring” or “send/no-send” idea. The sensors are assumed to “censor” their observations so that each sensor sends to the fusion center only “informative” observations, and leaves those deemed “uninformative” untransmitted. The main result of this work is that with conditionally independent sensor data and under a communication rate constraint, in order to minimize the probability of error, transmission should occur if and only if the local likelihood ratio value observed by the sensor does not fall in a certain single interval. Similar results are derived from Neymarr-Pearson and distance-measure viewpoints. We also discuss simplifications for the most interesting case that the fusion center threshold is high and the communication constraint is severe. We compare censoring with the more common binary-transmission framework and observe its considerable decrease in communication needs. Finally, we explore the use of feedback to achieve optimal performance with very little communication     

Multiassignment for tracking a large number of overlapping objects[and application to fibroblast cells]

In this paper we present a new technique for data association using multiassignment for tracking a large number of closely spaced (and overlapping) objects. The algorithm is illustrated on a biomedical problem, namely the tracking of a group of fibroblast (tissue) cells from an image sequence, which motivated this work. Because of their proximity to one another and due to the difficulties in segmenting the images accurately from a poor-quality image sequence, the cells are effectively closely spaced objects (CSOs). The algorithm presents a novel dichotomous, iterated approach to multiassignment using successive one-to-one assignments of decreasing size with modified costs. The cost functions, which are adjusted depending on the “depth” of the current assignment level and on the tracking results, are derived. The resulting assignments are used to form, maintain and terminate tracks with a modified version of the probabilistic data association (PDA) filter, which can handle the contention for a single measurement among multiple tracks in addition to the association of multiple measurements to a single track. Estimation results are given and compared with those of the standard 2D one-to-one assignment algorithm. It is shown that iterated multiassignment results in superior measurement-to-track association. The algorithms presented can be used for other general tracking problems, including dense air traffic surveillance and control     

Direction finding with a four-element Adcock-Butler matrix antennaarray

The conventional analog Adcock-Butler matrix (ABM) antenna array direction finder suffers from systemic errors, component matching problems, and bandwidth limitations. Three digital bearing estimators are developed as candidates to replace the analog signal processing portion of the ABM. Using the same antenna array, they perform all signal processing in the frequency domain, thereby benefitting from the computational efficiency of the fast Fourier transform (FFT) algorithm. The first estimator requires two analog-to-digital converters (A-D) and three antenna elements. It multiplies the difference between the discrete Fourier transforms (DFTs) of the output signals from two antenna elements with that from a third antenna element. At each frequency component, the phase of this product is a function of the bearing. A weighted least squares (LS) fit through all the phase components then gives a bearing estimate. The second estimator is similar to the first but uses three A-D and all four antenna elements. The output signal from the additional antenna element provides an independent estimate of the weights for the LS fit, giving an improvement in accuracy. The third estimator applies the physical constraint existing between the time-difference-of-arrival (TDOA) of a signal intercepted by two perpendicular sets of antenna elements. This yields a better estimator than simple averaging of the bearing from each set of antenna elements. The simulation studies used sinusoids and broadband signals to corroborate the theoretical treatment and demonstrate the accuracy achievable with these estimators. All three direction finders have superior performance in comparison with the analog ABM     

An Experimental Study of the Effect of Vibrations on Supercritical Fluid Transfer Processes under Microgravity Conditions

On the basis of the data obtained in experiments onboard the Mirorbital complex (OC) in March and April 1999 with the ALICE-2 instrument, the influence of vibrations on heat propagation from a point-like source in the hexafluoride sulfur (SF₆) under supercritical parameters is analyzed. The appearance of two different heat propagation regimes is found: along and across the direction of vibrations. Upon the occurrence of the second-type regime, the heating region first stretches in the direction perpendicular to the direction of vibrations and then propagates at a rate typical for the undisturbed case. The temperature relaxation process is analyzed, which takes place near the heater after its turn-off. The relaxation rate grows as the intensity of vibrations increases and the initial temperature tends to the critical one. The determining dimensionless parameters of the problem are suggested.     

空间温室灯组件的自适应控制

到目前为止,基于发光二极管(Light Emitting Diodes-based,LED)的照明器被广泛用于除自然光之外的温室植物照明,以及没有自然光的植物工厂.优化人工光照参数,如日光照积分和不同光谱成分的比值,可以显著降低生物生命支持系统(Biological Life Support Systems,BLSS)...