Application of neural networks to South African GPS TEC modelling

The propagation of radio signals in the Earth’s atmosphere is dominantly affected by the ionosphere due to its dispersive nature. Global Positioning System (GPS) data provides relevant information that leads to the derivation of total electron content (TEC) which can be considered as the ionosphere’s measure of ionisation. This paper presents part of a feasibility study for the development of a Neural Network (NN) based model for the prediction of South African GPS derived TEC. The South African GPS receiver network is operated and maintained by the Chief Directorate Surveys and Mapping (CDSM) in Cape Town, South Africa. Vertical total electron content (VTEC) was calculated for four GPS receiver stations using the Adjusted Spherical Harmonic (ASHA) model. Factors that influence TEC were then identified and used to derive input parameters for the NN. The well established factors used are seasonal variation, diurnal variation, solar activity and magnetic activity. Comparison of diurnal predicted TEC values from both the NN model and the International Reference Ionosphere (IRI-2001) with GPS TEC revealed that the IRI provides more accurate predictions than the NN model during the spring equinoxes. However, on average the NN model predicts GPS TEC more accurately than the IRI model over the GPS locations considered within South Africa.     

Didactic satellite based on Android platform for space operation demonstration and development

Space technology plays a pivotal role in society development. It offers new methods for telemetry, monitoring and control. However, this sector requires training, research and skills development but the lack of instruments, materials and budgets affects the ambiguity to understand satellite technology. The objective of this paper is to describe a demonstration prototype of a smart phone device for space operations study. Therefore, the first task was carried out to give a demonstration for spatial imagery and attitude determination missions through a wireless communication. The smart phone’s Bluetooth was used to achieve this goal inclusive of a new method to enable real time transmission. In addition, an algorithm around a quaternion based Kalman filter was included in order to detect the reliability of the prototype's orientation. The second task was carried out to provide a demonstration for the attitude control mission using the smart phone’s orientation sensor, including a new method for an autonomous guided mode. As a result, the acquisition platform showed real time measurement with good accuracy for orientation detection and image transmission. In addition, the prototype kept the balance during the demonstration based on the attitude control method.     

Outer space,Geneva and the Conference on Disarmament: Future directions

Global dependence on the space sector is increasing rapidly. However, the growing challenges outer space poses to international security have not, as yet, been effectively addressed in the United Nations Conference on Disarmament (CD) or in other multilateral fora. This paper briefly reviews the current state of affairs of international security and outer space and explores the challenges the international community faces in building international agreements for improved space security and global stability. It examines some of the hurdles that are faced in tackling space security issues are and provides some thinking on ways to overcome them. The paper concludes that there is a potential role for the disarmament community and the CD in particular. As potential conflicts in outer space emerge, having invested bodies and communities such as the CD and a strong cadre of disarmament diplomats and NGOs to act as an informed hub on space and disarmament issues is essential.     

机会数字阵雷达概念与应用技术分析

机会数字阵雷达是以平台隐身性设计为核心,以数字阵列雷达为基础,兼具多功能、多模式的"一体化"新概念雷达系统.本文在对国外有关概念雏形描述理解基础之上,对其定义和涵义进行了深入透析,详细论述了"机会"一词的几层涵义.分析了机会数字阵雷达不同于传统相控阵雷达的技术特性和应用潜力,以及机会数字阵雷达所面临的技术难题,如3-D空间单元"机会性"分布优化选取和波束综合,信号传输与同步以及多自由度的系统资源优化管理等问题,并给出了初步的解决方案和仿真结果.     

布拉格光栅植入角度对在复合材料中传感检测特性影响

植入到复合材料内部的布拉格光栅可用于监测复合材料内部应力应变及温度变化,但是现有研究里对于光栅植入过程中对光栅传感检测特性造成的影响却未见报道。在植入过程中,植入光栅与碳纤维存在的夹角将会产生内应力,这会对光栅传感检测效果产生影响。为了研究其影响规律,通过将光栅植入到准各向同性复合材料的不同层中,研究光纤与相邻预浸带中碳纤维之间的夹角对温度与应力检测特性影响。研究结果表明:光栅植入角度会对其温度和应变传感检测特性造成较大影响,当光栅与相邻预浸带碳纤维存在夹角时,光栅拉伸应变测量值与应变片测量值出现偏差,发生啁啾现象;同时光栅与相邻预浸带碳纤维的夹角越大,光栅温度检测曲线线性拟合度越差。     

升温速率对聚丙烯腈纤维预氧化反应的影响及诱导期的研究

用差示扫描量热仪(DSC)研究了聚丙烯腈/衣糠酸共聚物纤维在氧化性气氛(空气)和非氧化性气氛(氩气)下环化反应和氧化反应受升温速率的影响,分析了这两种反应之间的相互作用和反应机理;结合傅里叶红外光谱(FTIR)对DSC回收样品的分析研究了环化反应的诱导期.结果表明,环化反应的引发存在一定的诱导期,升温速率越快,诱导期越...     

飞机燃油测量传感器优化布局技术

实时、准确地测量出飞机各油箱的剩余油量,对飞机飞行安全十分重要.为了提高飞机燃油的测量精度,设计了一种基于粒子群算法(PSO)的燃油测量传感器优化布局方法.首先,引入燃油实体的概念,建立了某机翼复杂、带隔断多腔油箱CAD模型及箱内燃油实体模型;其次,基于Unigraphics NX(UG)二次开发,完成了飞机不同姿态下、复杂不规则多腔油箱燃油体积的解算;再次,提出了飞机油箱最大燃油可测区(LMR)的概念,并以此作为优化目标进行传感器优化布局;最后,引入可设置边界距离因子(BDF),解决了传感器布局时与油箱壁距离过近的问题.结果表明,该方法实现了多根燃油传感器的布局,可以不受油箱形状和大小的限制,有效避开了油箱内部的干涉区域,保证不同飞行姿态下油量测量的连续性,并使得飞机燃油的可测范围达到较高水平.      

伪多源采样复域FastICA冲击定位算法

使用传感器阵列对材料结构冲击损伤进行定位,有助于及时发现损伤及潜在威胁,保障结构安全性。采用盲源分离(BSS)对传感器阵列信号进行预处理,提出单通道伪多源采样方法,利用每个传感器的分时段信息构建该传感器多源观测信号作为复域FastICA算法的输入,分离出每个传感器观测到的带有相位信息的冲击信号;结合阈值时延定位方法求解平面冲击事件的坐标。理论推导和数值仿真验证了本文设计的联合冲击定位算法的有效性。冲击定位平台上的实验结果表明,联合冲击定位算法可以从冲击-振动混合信号中分离出冲击信号,提高阵列传感器冲击定位的时延分析准确性。同时对传感器数量少于源信号的欠定BSS问题提供了一种解决方案。      

防空导弹直接力与气动力复合控制系统设计

以大气层内拦截导弹侧向直接力和气动力的复合控制系统为研究对象，首先分析了侧向喷流与来流的干扰现象，建立了通过于扰放大因子来描述的侧喷与来流的干扰模型和侧向直接力与气动力的复合控制模型，将复合控制系统分解为直接力于系统和气动力于系统，并分别针对侧向直接力和气动力的特点设计了直接力控制于系统和气动力控制于系统，仿真分析了两个子系统的性能及复合系统的性能。     

多太阳能无人机覆盖路径优化方法

为解决传统电动无人机在覆盖作业时存在的续航时间短的问题,提出应用多架太阳能无人机进行覆盖作业。首先,在建立了应用于覆盖作业的太阳能无人机的能量模型的基础上,提出了能量流动效率这一指标来评价太阳能无人机在作业过程中对能量的利用率。其次,针对边界存在障碍物的凹多边形区域和内部含障碍物的多边形区域,以总作业完成时间最短为优化目标,提出基于无向图搜索方法的覆盖路径优化模型,定义约束方程限制无人机按照一定规则访问无向图中的节点,通过混合整数线性规划的方法求解每架无人机的最优飞行路径。再次,考虑无人机转弯时的姿态变化对能量流动效率的影响,将总作业完成时间最短和总能量流动效率最高同时作为优化目标,建立双目标优化方程,在首先以作业时间最短为优化目标进行求解的基础上,通过有限遍历的方式选择使能流效率和作业时间相对最优的覆盖飞行方向及飞行路径。大量仿真实验表明,所提的优化模型选取不同的优化目标,应用于不同形状的待覆盖区域,适用性广,在工程上应用范围广、可行性强。