Comparison of GPS TEC variations with IRI-2007 TEC prediction at equatorial latitudes during a low solar activity (2009–2011) phase over the Kenyan region

This work presents an analysis of the Total Electron Content (TEC) derived from the International GNSS Service (IGS) receivers at Malindi (mal2: 2.9^oS, 40.1^oE, dip −26.813^o), Kasarani (rcmn: 36.89^oE, 1.2^oS, dip −23.970^o), Eldoret (moiu: 35.3^oE, 0.3^oN, dip −21.037^o) and GPS-SCINDA (36.8^oE, 1.3^oS, dip −24.117^o) receiver located in Nairobi for the period 2009–2011. The diurnal, monthly and seasonal variations of the GPS derived TEC (GPS-TEC) and effects of space weather on TEC are compared with TEC from the 2007 International Reference Ionosphere model (IRI-TEC) using the NeQuick option for the topside electron density. The diurnal peaks in GPS-TEC is maximum during equinoctial months (March, April, October) and in December and minimum in June solstice months (May, June, July). The variability in GPS-TEC is minimal in all seasons between 0:00 and 04:00 UT and maximum near noon between 10:00 and 14:00 UT. Significant variability in TEC at post sunset hours after 16:00 UT (19:00 LT) has been noted in all the seasons except in June solstice. The TEC variability of the post sunset hours is associated with the occurrence of the ionization anomaly crest which enhances nighttime TEC over this region. A comparison between the GPS-TEC and IRI-TEC indicates that both the model and observation depicts a similar trend in the monthly and seasonal variations. However seasonal averages show that IRI-TEC values are higher than the GPS-TEC. The IRI-TEC also depicts a double peak in diurnal values unlike the GPS-TEC. This overestimation which is primarily during daytime hours could be due to the model overestimation of the equatorial anomaly effect on levels of ionospheric ionization over the low latitude regions. The IRI-TEC also does not show any response to geomagnetic activity, despite the STORM option being selected in the model; the IRI model generally remains smooth and underestimates TEC during a storm. The GPS-TEC variability indicated by standard deviation seasonal averages has been presented as a basis for extending the IRI-model to accommodate TEC-variability.     

Crop parameters estimation by fuzzy inference system using X-band scatterometer data

Learning fuzzy rule based systems with microwave remote sensing can lead to very useful applications in solving several problems in the field of agriculture. Fuzzy logic provides a simple way to arrive at a definite conclusion based upon imprecise, ambiguous, vague, noisy or missing input information. In the present paper, a subtractive based fuzzy inference system is introduced to estimate the potato crop parameters like biomass, leaf area index, plant height and soil moisture. Scattering coefficient for HH- and VV-polarizations were used as an input in the Fuzzy network. The plant height, biomass, and leaf area index of potato crop and soil moisture measured at its various growth stages were used as the target variables during the training and validation of the network. The estimated values of crop/soil parameters by this methodology are much closer to the experimental values. The present work confirms the estimation abilities of fuzzy subtractive clustering in potato crop parameters estimation. This technique may be useful for the other crops cultivated over regional or continental level.     

An overview of RADOM results for earth and moon radiation environment on Chandrayaan-1 satellite

The RADiatiOn Monitor (RADOM) is a miniature dosimeter-spectrometer that flew onboard the Chandrayaan-1 lunar mission in order to monitor the local radiation environment. Primary objective of the RADOM experiment was to measure the total absorbed dose, flux of surrounding energetic particles and spectrum of the deposited energy from high energy particles both en-route and in lunar orbit. RADOM was the first experiment to be switched on after the launch of Chandrayaan-1 and was operational until the end of the mission. This paper summarizes the observations carried out by RADOM during the entire life time (22 October 2008–31 August 2009) of the Chandrayaan-1 mission and compares the measurement by RADOM with the radiation belt models such as AP-8, AE-8 and CRRESS.     

Gaseous cavity at the base of an underwater projectile

The problem of the behavior of the gaseous cavity which is formed at the base of an underwater launched projectile is treated using different approaches. Asymptotic analysis is used to yield expressions for similarity parameters and a simplified hydrodynamic model of the initial stretching phase. A laboratory facility is described, in which launches can be simulated and analyzed by means of pressure measurements and high speed visualizations. Complete calculations are also performed using a numerical “Volume of Fluid” model solving the unsteady Navier-Stokes equations. Results from the three approaches are presented and compared during the cavity stretching phase. Finally, the thermodynamic aspects of the problem are examined.     

Vertical test integration

Today, most every weapon system is electronics intensive. Digital computers are at the core of military aircraft, ship, and vehicle weapons systems. Indeed, each weapon system's performance is largely determined by its digital computers and other electronics. This electronics dependency is necessary in order to provide the speed, functional compliance, and accuracy to achieve the required weapon system performance. Historically, test systems required for the various maintenance levels and also at the manufacturing site have each been uniquely developed, employed, and sustained for only one area of weapon system electronics support. There are a number of reasons for this situation including different organizations responsible for the levels of support, different funding sources, timing limitations, and technical feasibility. In recent years, however, commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) advances in measurement and stimulation hardware, personal computers, Windows operating systems, flexible test programming languages, and more, have made it technically feasible to develop a family of test systems that provide common weapon system electronics support at all levels. Some use the phrase Vertical Test Integration to describe this concept of factory/field/depot integration     

On the Optimum Stabilization of a Satellite

The problem of stabilizing a tumbling satellite prior to attitude control is discussed. The method of Hamilton-Jacobi theory is used to derive an explicit closed-loop control law for the problem.     

距离信息对DDFRC算法定位误差的影响与分析

在固定单站无源定位算法中,基于角度(Direct of Arrival)、角度变化率(Direct of Arrival Rate-of-Change)、多普勒频率(Doppler Frequency)和多普勒频率变化率(Doppler Frequency Rate-of-Change)4个观测信息实现定位(即DDFRC定位)算法仅通过单次观测即可实现对目标辐射源的定位。文中通过转移观测的卡尔曼滤波对定位结果进行平滑,较原有算法拥有更好的跟踪效果。同时,对定位误差进行了定量分析,并将距离信息引入算法的仿真分析之中,详细讨论了各个观测量误差在不同距离时对算法定位性能的影响,根据仿真结果,结合定位误差的定量分析对算法性能做出评价。通过仿真分析,得到了定位算法对不同距离下各参数的精度要求,从而为在实际系统中使用该定位算法提供了参考。