基于主成分分析和Melkman算法的选星策略

导航定位中的选星算法是一种关键技术，用于从卫星中选择合适数量和最佳几何分布的卫星以实现最佳定位精度。针对基于二维凸包算法的选星策略在三维卫星数据降维处理中忽略垂直方向高度位置信息的问题，提出了一种基于主成分分析(PCA)和二维凸包Melkman算法的选星策略。首先，通过PCA技术将三维卫星数据投影到新的二维坐标系，新的二维数据同时保留水平平面位置信息和垂直方向高度位置信息，旨在降低维度的同时最小化信息损失。在新坐标系下，数据经过预处理后，采用二维凸包Melkman算法进行选星。实验结果显示:相较于直接投影到站心坐标系下的二维凸包选星算法，提出的选星算法不仅更准确地描述卫星的位置信息，使问题研究更加完备，还在保持相近仿真耗时的前提下，实现了较大的几何精度因子(GDOP)性能提升。     

Structural design and model fabrication of cable-rib tensioned deployable parabolic cylindrical antenna

Deployable mechanisms with light weight and high storage ratio have received considerable attention for space applications. To meet the requirements of space missions, a parabolic cylindrical deployable antenna based on cable-rib tension structures is proposed and verified by a physical prototype. The parabolic cylindrical antenna adopts simple parallel four-bar mechanisms to construct the basic deployable unit, and the cylindrical direction dimension can be easily extended by modularization, which has obvious advantages in storage ratio and area density. Considering the complexity of the entire antenna structure design, including cable networks and flexible trusses, the form-finding design optimization model of a parabolic cylindrical antenna is established using the force density sensitivity method, and then the kinematics analysis of the deployable mechanism is carried out. Finally, a single-module prototype with a deployable diameter of 4 m × 2 m was designed and fabricated. The results of the ground deployment process test and surface accuracy measurements show that the antenna has good feasibility and practicability.     

Optimal crater landmark selection based on optical navigation performance factors for planetary landing

Planetary craters are natural navigation landmarks that widely exist and are easily observed. Optical navigation based on crater landmarks has become an important autonomous navigation method for planetary landing. Due to the increase in observed crater landmarks and the limitation of onboard computation, the selection of good crater landmarks has gradually become a research hotspot in the field of landmark-based optical navigation. This paper designs a fast crater landmark selection method, which not only considers the configuration observability of crater subsets but also focuses on the influence on navigation performance arising from the measurement uncertainty and the matching confidence of craters, which is different from other landmark selection methods. The factor of measurement uncertainty, which is anisotropic, correlated and nonidentically distributed, is quantified and integrated into selection based on crater pairing detection and localization error evaluation. In addition, the concept of the crater matching confidence factor is introduced, which reflects the possibility of 2D projection measurements corresponding to 3D positions. Combined with the configuration observability factor, the crater landmark selection indicator is formed. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed method is verified by Monte Carlo simulations.     

Optimum alternate material selection methodology for an aircraft skin

Weight penalty has been a challenge for design engineers of aerospace vehicles. Today’s high-efficiency combat aircraft undergoes intense stress and strain during flying missions, which require stronger and stiffer materials to retain structural integrity. Though metallic materials have been successfully used for the construction of aircraft structures and components, metals still have a low strength-to-weight ratio. This paper aims to develop an alternate optimised material selection methodolog...