A computer network with SCADA and case tools for on-line process control in greenhouses.

Climate control computers in greenhouses are used to control heating and ventilation, supply water and dilute and dispense nutrients. They integrate models into optimally controlled systems. This paper describes how information technology, as in use in other sectors of industry, is applied to greenhouse control. The introduction of modern software and hardware concepts in horticulture adds power and extra oppurtunities to climate contol in greenhouses.     

Statistical study of inverted-V events: A comparison between experiment and theory

We present a detailed study of the distribution and of the internal structure of the inverted-V electron precipitation commonly detected in the 500 – 2000 km altitude range aboard the AUREOL-3 satellite. These structured precipitations are statistically observed inside the auroral oval with a maximum occurence in the nightside sector. They correspond to primary electron fluxes peaked at energies generally below 10 keV. It is shown that, as predicted by kinetic theories, most inverted-V structures present a clear relationship between the field-aligned current density carried by the 1 – 20 keV primary electrons and the potential drop inferred from particle distribution functions. Furthermore the study demonstrates the existence of strong electron heating, related to the energy gain, when the current density exceeds some threshold of about 1 – 5 μA(m)^?2.     

Wireless power transmission: the key to solar power satellites

Maturing of the enabling technologies has provided much of the infrastructure to support the development of a commercial Solar Power Satellite program. Solar Space Industries was formed to accomplish this goal. The basis of their development plan is to build a Ground Test Installation that will duplicate, in small scale on the Earth, all aspects of the power generating and power transmission systems except for the space environment and the range and size of the energy beam. Space operations issues will be separated from the power generation fixation and verified by testing. Doing the developmental testing on the ground instead of in space will result in a low cost program that can be accomplished in a very short time. The concept is to build a Ground Test Installation that couples an existing 100 kW terrestrial solar cell array to a phased-array wireless power transmitter based on a subarray. Power will be transmitted over a 1-¼ mile range to a receiving antenna and then fed into a commercial utility power grid. The objective is to demonstrate the complete function of the Solar Power Satellites, with the primary issue being the validation of practical wireless power transmission. The key features to demonstrate are: beam control, stability, steering, efficiency, reliability, cost, and safety     

Landsat-4 orbit determination using TDRSS

This paper presents the results of a study to compare the orbit determination accuracy for a Tracking and Data Relay Satellite (TDRS) System (TDRSS)-user spacecraft, Landsat-4, obtained using a Prototype Filter Smoother (PFS), with the accuracy of an established batch-least-squares system, the Goddard Trajectory Determination System (GTDS). The results of Landsat-4 orbit determination provide useful experience for the Earth Observing System (EOS) series of satellites. The filtered and smoothed PFS orbit solutions were compared with the definitive GTDS orbit solutions for Landsat-4; the root-mean-square (RMS) solution difference was 6.6 meters.     

Application of ISFETs in closed-loop systems for greenhouses.

In horticulture, growing in artificial substrates such as rockwool is more and more considered to be a sound alternative to growing in soil. This development enables the opportunity to create closed-loop systems which lower the waste of raw materials and reduce pollution of the environment. Applying closed-loop systems needs precise knowledge of the composition of the recirculating nutrient solution. This paper presents basic principles of a measuring system, which can monitor continuously the concentration of nutrients in water. The system is based on ion-selective field effect transistors (ISFETs). By appropriate calibration, a high accuracy is achieved for pH and potassium measurements in the nutrient solution. An accuracy of better than 10% (mMol/l) has been achieved.     

A methodology to determine the sociopolitical forces influencing lunar development policies

The rate of progress in any particular program is primarily dependent on the annual resources committed for the specific program. Soon after the turn of the century, the question of returning to the Moon will probably be raised again among political decision makers. At that time the positive and negative arguments will have to be weighed again. A simple method to analyse the relevant force-field was developed comprising the following steps: (1) Definition of positive and negative forces; (2) cross-impact analysis between the individual forces producing relative weights; (3) probability analysis of the current relevance of the individual forces; (4) estimating resulting negative and positive partial force-fields as functions for selected years between 1960 and 2030; and (5) determination of the strength of the resulting force influencing a decision. An example is presented.     

On algebraic compilers and planetary fly-by orbits

This paper reports on two major technology events of great significance in the field of Astronautics which were conceived and developed at the MIT Instrumentation Laboratory during the decade of the fifties. It is a personal memoir by the author on two important topics which should be a part of the written history of our field.Part one details the conception and development by Dr J. Halcombe Laning, Jr of “George”, the world's first algebraic compiler for use on Project Whirlwind—MIT's first experimental all-digital computer. This was indeed challenging since Whirlwind at that time had but 1024 sixteen-bit words. Dr Laning began work in the summer of 1952 and the first version of the George compiler was finished in March of 1953.In the early fifties many people were debating the feasibility of a system for translating algebraic formulae into computer programs which would allow the engineer to avoid the all too painstaking and error-prone task of writing programs using basic computer code. But Hal Laning was the first to do it.In part two of this paper, the author explores the early concepts of energy exchange between a spacecraft and a planet during a close encounter of these two celestial objects. The fact that this energy transfer could be exploited for useful purposes in the development of interplanetary orbits was first documented in an MIT Instrumentation Laboratory report published in April of 1958. The topic has been the subject of recent papers at several IAF congresses, but they failed to recognize the early work at MIT. As a part of this important history, the author describes his own work to develop a round-trip orbit to Mars using the planet Venus for a gravity assist to shorten the flight time from three years to one and a quarter years. The first orbit of this type was obtained by the author on 26 January 1961. To the author's knowledge, no one has even suggested that practical three-dimensional multiple fly-by orbits had been constructed at an earlier date.     

Plant responses to reduced air pressure: advanced techniques and results.

Knowledge on air pressure impacts on plant processes and growth is essential for understanding responses to altitude and for comprehending the way of action of aerial gasses in general, and is of potential importance for life support systems in space. Our research on reduced air pressure was extended by help of a new set-up comprising two constantly ventilated chambers (283 L each), allowing pressure gradients of +/-100 kPa. They provide favourable general growth conditions while maintaining all those factors constant or at desired levels which modify the action of air pressure, e.g., water vapour pressure deficit and air mass flow over the plants. Besides plant growth parameters, transpiration and CO2 gas exchange are determined continuously. Results are presented on young tomato plants grown hydroponically, which had been treated with various combinations of air pressure (400-700-1000 hPa), CO2 concentration and wind intensity for seven days. At the lowest pressure transpiration was enhanced considerably, and the plants became sturdier. On the other hand growth was retarded to a certain extent, attributable to secondary air pressure effects. Therefore, even greater limitations of plant productivity are expected after more extended periods of low pressure treatment.     

Hemispheric differences in the earth radiation budget derived from Nimbus-7 related to climate studies

Earth Radiation Budget (ERB) data from Nimbus-7 over the period November 1978 – June 1980 has consistently shown strong hemispheric differences when analyzed over different temporal and spatial scales. Hemispheric variations in time latitude cross sections of net and emitted radiation were found to be caused by changes in the Earth-Sun distance and continental effects.Maps of annual range for the entire Earth calculated from monthly averages showed areas of high and low variability of the different ERB parameters. The ERB of these regional areas were examined and most of the variability was found to lay in the large amplitude of the annual solar cycle. Variations in the global annual cycle of albedo /1/ are studied with respect to differences in latitudinal averaged albedo. The anomaly in the annual cycle of global averaged albedo was found to be caused by tropical albedo changes.     

Increasing Frequency Spectrum Utilization in Mobile Systems

In mobile radio communication systems, one of the most significant problems is to use the radio frequency spectrum as efficiently as possible, because the radio frequency spectrum is finite. This paper classifies a variety of techniques for increasing frequency spectrum utilization. Next, it is clarified that our proposed ``new channel assignment algorithm' is more efficient than other algorithms through simulation analysis.