Relative positioning of multiple moving platforms using GPS

To obtain subdecimeter level accuracy in relative kinematic positioning, the use of double differenced GPS carrier phase measurement with carrier phase ambiguities fixed to their correct integer values must be adopted. If multiple platforms are available in the configuration, the redundancy provided by the multiplicity of platforms can speed up the time to integer ambiguity fixing while at the same time improve the reliability of the solution. An approach to effectively construct ambiguity constraints through the multiplicity of platforms is presented herein. The use of these ambiguity constraints to position multiple moving platforms with respect to each other is then discussed. A series of simulations and field tests are designed and conducted to investigate the effects of different system parameters on this approach, with a configuration of up to 10 moving platforms. The test results show that the use of ambiguity constraints can improve the time to integer ambiguity fixing by up to 67%, relative to the case when no constraints are used. In addition, the use of ambiguity constraints is found to enhance the ability of the multiple platform system to detect wrong ambiguity fixes.     

Automated video protection, monitoring & detection

The latest generation of computer vision technology is revolutionizing concepts, applications, and products in video surveillance and CCTV. This is of prime relevance to security for large outdoor facilities such as commercial airfields, refineries, power plants, and office/industrial campuses. Most airfields, for example, have open (unfenced) perimeters, high volume heterogeneous traffic, are easily accessed on foot or by water, and exist in areas where regulations providing a safety buffer are difficult to legislate or enforce. And all airfields require 24/7 outdoor monitoring - snow, fog, rain, or shine. Likewise, most high-value facilities appealing to criminals and terrorists are in close proximity to public areas (roads, residences, city, etc.). The appeal of automated real-time surveillance is obvious $maximizing efficiency and effectiveness of security personnel and resources while increasing the probability of preventing a serious security breach. Computer vision based solutions have the potential for very discriminating detection and very low false alarms. The bottom line is that applied computer vision has the potential for the greatest return on investment (ROI), both short-term and long-term.     

Limits in tracking with extended Kalman filters

The classical linearized conversion of measurements from polar or spherical coordinates to Cartesian ones generates a bias restricting the use of this conversion to cases where the bias can be neglected. In this work, the validity limits for the classical 2D transformation from polar to Cartesian coordinates, as derived in previous work, are shown to be too restrictive and the limits for the 3D transformation from spherical to Cartesian coordinates are introduced. Furthermore, quantitative measures for the performance degradation of the commonly used extended Kalman filter (EKF) in comparison with the best linear unbiased estimation (BLUE) filter are obtained by simulating typical tracking scenarios.     

Cosmic ray physics from low to extreme energies: Status and perspectives

Since their discovery, almost one century ago, cosmic rays provide a powerful tool to investigate phenomena covering both astrophysical and fundamental physics issues. The detection of cosmic rays from low to extreme energies is potentially linked to some of the most intriguing and still unsolved questions of physics and cosmology. Among them, are the nature of the dark matter, the apparent disappearance of the antimatter, the existence of a new exotic form of matter, e.g., strangelets. At the highest energies, the sources and the mechanisms by which cosmic rays are generated and/or accelerated are still a puzzling issue for today’s astrophysicists. In order to answer these questions several experiments are planned during the next decade, from space, stratosphere or ground, to perform a multifrequency exploration of the cosmic ray spectrum.     

Optimization of multiple-impulse minimum-time rendezvous with impulse constraints using a hybrid genetic algorithm

The minimum-time multiple-impulse rendezvous with impulse constraints is investigated in this paper. Based on the Clohessy–Wiltshire (C–W) equations, an optimization model including several different kinds of impulse constraints such as the maximum impulse magnitude, the total velocity change magnitude and the time of imposing impulse for multiple-impulse minimum-time rendezvous is established. A generalized inverse matrix solution for linear equation is applied to avoid handling the terminal equality constraints. In order to obtain the global solution efficiently, a hybrid optimizer combining the advantages of a floating-coded genetic algorithm and simplex method is employed. A low-earth orbit multiple-impulse rendezvous problem is used as an example. The influence of the number of impulses, the optimization variables and the constraints on the solution is analyzed, and the different optimization algorithms are compared. Results indicate our proposed model and approach is effective in designing linearized minimum-time rendezvous trajectory with impulse constraints.     

Structure of the Venusian atmosphere from surface up to 100 km

The goal of this paper is to summarize the experimental data on the atmosphere of Venus obtained after 1985, when the VIRA (Venus International Reference Atmosphere) or COSPAR model was published. Among the most important results that have appeared since then are the following: measurements of the vertical temperature profile by the VEGA spacecraft with high precision and high altitude resolution; measurements made with balloons of the VEGA spacecraft; radio occultation measurements of Magellan, Venera-15, and Venera-16; and temperature profiles derived from the data of infrared spectrometry obtained by Venera-15. The new result as compared to VIRA is the creation of a model of the atmosphere in the altitude range 55 to 100 km dependent on local time. This model is presented in our paper in tabulated form.     

Solar and Heliospheric Modulation of Galactic Cosmic Rays

The significance of external influences on the environment of Earth and its atmosphere has become evident during recent years. Especially, on time scales of several hundred years, the cosmogenic isotope concentration during the Wolf-, Spoerer-, Maunder- and Dalton-Minimum indicates an increased cosmic ray flux. Because these grand minima of solar activity coincide with cold periods, a correlation of the Earth climate with the cosmic ray intensities is plausible. Any quantitative study of the effects of energetic particles on the atmosphere and environment of the Earth must address their transport to Earth and their interactions with the Earth’s atmosphere including their filtering by the terrestrial magnetosphere. The first problem is one of the fundamental problems in modern cosmic ray astrophysics, and corresponding studies began in the 1960s based on Parker’s cosmic ray modulation theory taking into account diffusion, convection, adiabatic deceleration, and (later) the drift of energetic particles in the global heliospheric magnetic field. It is well established that all of these processes determining the modulation of cosmic rays are depending on parameters that are varying with the solar magnetic cycle. Therefore, the galactic cosmic ray intensities close to Earth is the result of a complex modulation of the interstellar galactic spectrum within the heliosphere. The modern view of this cosmic ray modulation is summarized in our contribution.     

对高频电路原理图绘制问题的探讨

本文结合Protel 99 SE在高频PCB设计中的应用,着重探讨在电路原理图的绘制上需要重点注意的一些特殊问题,并提出解决问题的方法,尽可能地减小对高频PCB设计的影响,提高PCB设计的效率。     

利用热源温度场迭加法诊断持续点热源的强度及位置

可重复使用运载器的防热瓦故障会使航天器的局部结构产牛热源，并在结构中形成温度场。应用热源温度场迭加法的解函数，解得结构温度历程，然后据此温度的变化率趋势判断出热源位置，在此基础上依据多点测最值构造出辨识参数用于热强度识别，通过对一薄壁结构模型算例的计算仿真，证明了本文所提方法的有效性。论文工作为进一步开展热源诊断技术研究，提供了可资工程实践应用的数值算法体系以及有益的数值计算结论。