Planetary protection on international waters: An onboard protocol for capsule retrieval and biosafety control in sample return mission

Planetary protection has been recognized as one of the most important issues in sample return missions that may host certain living forms and biotic signatures in a returned sample. This paper proposes an initiative of sample capsule retrieval and onboard biosafety protocol in international waters for future biological and organic constituent missions to bring samples from possible habitable bodies in the solar system. We suggest the advantages of international waters being outside of national jurisdiction and active regions of human and traffic affairs on the condition that we accept the Outer Space Treaty. The scheme of onboard biological quarantine definitely reduces the potential risk of back-contamination of extraterrestrial materials to the Earth.     

Influence of time variable geopotential models on precise orbits of altimetry satellites,global and regional mean sea level trends

During the last decade a significant progress has been reached in the investigation of the gravity field of the Earth. Besides static, also time variable geopotential models have been recently created. In this paper we investigate the impact of the recent time variable geopotential models on altimetry satellite orbits and such altimetry products based on these orbits, as global and regional mean sea level trends. We show that the modeling of time variable gravity improves the orbit solutions, at least for the GRACE period where time variable gravity is sufficiently accurately observed by this mission. Our analysis includes six geopotential models jointly developed by GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences and Space Geodesy Research Group (CNES/GRGS) Toulouse: the stationary model EIGEN-GL04S, a stationary version of EIGEN-6S (EIGEN-6S_stat), a corrected version of EIGEN-6S and three enhanced versions of EIGEN-6S called EIGEN-6S2, EIGEN-6S2A and EIGEN-6S2B. By “stationary” we mean “containing periodic parameters such as annual and semi-annual variations, but no secular (drift) terms”. We computed precise orbits for the radar altimetry satellites ERS-1, ERS-2, TOPEX/Poseidon, and Envisat over 20 years between 1991 and 2011. The orbit, single-mission and multi-mission altimetry crossover analyses show that the time variable models EIGEN-6S_corrected, EIGEN-6S2 and its two precursors EIGEN-6S2A/B perform notably better than the stationary models for the GRACE period from 2003 onwards. Thus, using EIGEN-6S2 and EIGEN-6S2A/B we have got 3.6% smaller root mean square fits of satellite laser ranging observations for Envisat, as when using EIGEN-GL04S. However, for the pre-GRACE period 1991–2003, the stationary geopotential models EIGEN-GL04S and EIGEN-6S_stat as well as EIGEN-6S2 having no drift terms for degree 3–50 at this time interval perform superior compared to EIGEN-6S_correct and EIGEN-6S2A/B which contain drifts for this period. We found, that the time variable geopotential models have a low (0.1–0.2 mm/yr) impact on our results for the global mean sea level trend. However, we found strong East/West differences up to 3 mm/yr in the regional mean sea level trends when using orbits of all four satellites based on time variable and stationary geopotential models. We show that these differences are related to the relative drifts of the centers-of-origin between the orbit solutions based on the time variable and stationary geopotential models. From the results of our detailed study, we conclude that the final version of the time variable gravity field model EIGEN-6S2 performs best for the four satellites tested. This model provides the most reliable and mission-consistent sea level estimates for the whole time period from 1992 to 2010. This model is of maximum spherical harmonic degree and order 260 and contains time series for drifts as well as annual and semiannual variations of the spherical harmonic coefficients for degree 2–50.     

Quantum dosimetry and online visualization of X-ray and charged particle radiation in commercial aircraft at operational flight altitudes with the pixel detector Timepix

We investigate the application of the hybrid semiconductor pixel detector Timepix for precise characterization, quantum sensitivity dosimetry and visualization of the charged particle radiation and X-ray field inside commercial aircraft at operational flight altitudes. The quantum counting capability and granularity of Timepix provides the composition and spectral-characteristics of the X-ray and charged-particle field with high sensitivity, wide dynamic range, high spatial resolution and particle type resolving power. For energetic charged particles the direction of trajectory and linear energy transfer can be measured. The detector is operated by the integrated readout interface FITPix for power, control and data acquisition together with the software package Pixelman for online visualization and real-time data processing. The compact and portable radiation camera can be deployed remotely being controlled simply by a laptop computer. The device performs continuous monitoring and accurate time-dependent measurements in wide dynamic range of particle fluxes, deposited energy, absorbed dose and equivalent dose rates. Results are presented for in-flight measurements at altitudes up to 12 km in various flights selected in the period 2006–2013.     

Predictive Modeling and Parameter Optimization of Cutting Forces During Orbital Drilling

To optimize cutting control parameters and provide scientific evidence for controlling cutting forces,cutting force modeling and cutting control parameter optimization are researched with one tool adopted to orbital drill holes in aluminum alloy 6061.Firstly,four cutting control parameters(tool rotation speed,tool revolution speed,axial feeding pitch and tool revolution radius)and affecting cutting forces are identified after orbital drilling kinematics analysis.Secondly,hybrid level orthogonal experiment method is utilized in modeling experiment.By nonlinear regression analysis,two quadratic prediction models for axial and radial forces are established,where the above four control parameters are used as input variables.Then,model accuracy and cutting control parameters are analyzed.Upon axial and radial forces models,two optimal combinations of cutting control parameters are obtained for processing a13mm hole,corresponding to the minimum axial force and the radial force respectively.Finally,each optimal combination is applied in verification experiment.The verification experiment results of cutting force are in good agreement with prediction model,which confirms accracy of the research method in practical production.     

The X-TRACK/ALES multi-mission processing system: New advances in altimetry towards the coast

In the context of the ESA Climate Change Initiative project, a new coastal sea level altimetry product has been developed in order to support advances in coastal sea level variability studies. Measurements from Jason-1,2&3 missions have been retracked with the Adaptive Leading Edge Subwaveform (ALES) Retracker and then ingested in the X-TRACK software with the best possible set of altimetry corrections. These two coastal altimetry processing approaches, previously successfully validated and applied to coastal sea level research, are combined here for the first time in order to derive a 16-year-long (June 2002 to May 2018), high-resolution (20-Hz), along-track sea level dataset in six regions: Northeast Atlantic, Mediterranean Sea, West Africa, North Indian Ocean, Southeast Asia and Australia. The study demonstrates that this new coastal sea level product called X-TRACK/ALES is able to extend the spatial coverage of sea level altimetry data ~3.5 km in the land direction, when compared to the X-TRACK 1-Hz dataset. We also observe a large improvement in coastal sea level data availability from Jason-1 to Jason-3, with data at 3.6 km, 1.9 km and 0.9 km to the coast on average, for Jason-1, Jason-2 and Jason-3, respectively. When combining measurements from Jason-1 to Jason-3, we reach a distance of 1.2–4 km to the coast. When compared to tide gauge data, the accuracy of the new altimetry near-shore sea level estimations also improves. In terms of correlations with a large set of independent tide gauge observations selected in the six regions, we obtain an average value of 0.77. We also show that it is now possible to derive from the X-TRACK/ALES product an estimation of the ocean current variability up to 5 km to the coast. This new altimetry dataset, freely available, will provide a valuable contribution of altimetry in coastal marine research community.     

Application of novel force control strategies to enhance robotic abrasive belt grinding quality of aero-engine blades

Robotic belt grinding has emerged as a finishing process in recent years for machining components with high surface finish and flexibility.The surface machining consistency, however,is difficult to be guaranteed in such a process.To overcome this problem, a method of hybrid force-position control combined with PI/PD control is proposed to be applied in robotic abrasive belt grinding of complex geometries.Voltage signals are firstly obtained and transformed to force information with signal conditioning methods.Secondly, zero drift and gravity compensation algorithms are presented to calibrate the F/T transducer which is installed on the robot end-effector.Next, a force control strategy combining hybrid force-position control with PI/PD control is introduced to be employed in robotic abrasive belt grinding operations where the force control law is applied to the Z direction of the tool frame and the positon control law is used in the X direction of the tool frame.Then, the accuracy of the F/T transducer and the robotic force control system is analyzed to ensure the stability and reliability of force control in the robotic grinding process.Finally, two typical cases on robotic belt grinding of a test workpiece and an aero-engine blade are conducted to validate the practicality and effectiveness of the force control technology proposed.     

运动激波对氦气泡变形过程影响的仿真研究

使用水平集方法(Level Set Method)研究超声速气流中氦气泡的变形问题。通过比较全局重构和局部重构两种方法重新初始化符号距离函数(SDF)的效果,发现局部重构更省时,所得结果与实验结果更吻合,而全局重构存在控制误差的优化问题。在此基础上分析了激波强度和角度对气泡变形过程的影响,发现激波强度越大,气泡在相同的位移条件下变形得越明显,并且在相同激波强度下,斜激波对气泡界面变形的作用效果更为明显。     

基于航空货运网络结构的城市层级分析

航空货运网络是影响城市层级结构的重要因素之一,对其进行量化分析具有十分重要的理论和现实意义。根据2002—2008年中国航空货运数据库构建的中国航空货运网络,运用复杂网络分析的测度方法,以城市航空货运量比例为依据,将中国航空货运网络分成初始层级网络、中级层级网络和核心层级网络3个层次。基于航空货运网络视角,将中国通航城市分成核心、中级和边缘城市3类层级。通过对平均路径长度、聚类系数、度分布、密度等网络特征的分析,证明了3个层级城市所在的网络都具有小世界和无标度特性,研究表明中国城市层级结构具有金字塔特性,分布严重不均匀,值得关注。     

求解最小费用最大流问题的一种方法

介绍了最大流问题的多解，提出了通过调整圈来求解最小费用最大流的方法。     

关于飞机结构疲劳载荷谱低载截除水平选取的探讨

低载截除作为飞机结构疲劳载荷谱简化的重要内容之一，可以大幅节省疲劳试验的时间与成本，然而目前对于低载截除水平的选取尚无公认的标准方法。本文对文献中已有的低载截除水平进行广泛地搜集，将低载截除水平划分为基于材料疲劳极限与基于谱最大载荷的两种选取方式，探究两种选取方式之间的联系，建立低载截除水平关系模型。结果表明：两种低载截除水平选取方式本质上是一致的，基于谱最大载荷的选取方式结合了飞机载荷与结构材料的特点，是对基于材料疲劳极限选取方式的延伸，所建立的低载截除水平关系模型能够为实际工程中疲劳载荷谱简化时低载截除水平的确定提供参考。