Development and performance evaluation of tropospheric scintillation model on Ku-band satellite link over Akure,Nigeria

Existing amplitude scintillation prediction models often perform less satisfactorily when deployed outside the regions where they were formulated. This necessitates the need to evaluate the performance of scintillation models developed in one region using data data from other regions while documenting their relative errors. Due to its variation with elevation angle, frequency, other link parameters and meteorological factors, we employed three years (January 2016 to December 2018) of concurrently measured satellite radio beacons and tropospheric weather parameters to develop a location-based amplitude scintillation prediction model over the Earth-space path of Akure (7.17^oN, 5.18^oE), South-western Nigeria. The satellite beacon measurement used Tektronix Y400 NetTek Analyzer at 1 s integration time while meteorological parameters, namely; temperature, pressure and relative humidity were measured using Davis Vantage Vue weather station at 1 min integration time. Comparative study of the model’s performance with nine (9) existing scintillation prediction models indicates that the best and worst performing models, in terms of root mean square error (RMSE), are the Statistical Temperature and Refractivity (STN) and direct physical and statistical prediction (DPSP) models with values 11.48 and 51.03 respectively. Also, worst month analysis indicates that April, with respective enhancement and fade values of 0.88 and 0.90 dB for 0.01% exceedance, is the overall worst calendar month for amplitude scintillation.     

Orbit-attitude-vibration coupled dynamics of tethered solar power satellite

A new orbit-attitude-vibration coupled dynamic model of the tethered solar power satellite (Tethered SPS) is established based on absolute nodal coordinate formulation. The Hamilton’s equation of the system is derived by introducing generalized momentum through Legendre transformation. The correctness of the proposed model is verified by an example. The dynamic characteristics of the Tethered SPS are studied using the symplectic Runge-Kutta method. Simulation results show that the orbital radius and the total energy of the system are well preserved. The attitude of the system is unstable when the mass of the bus system is small. However, the attitude stability is dependent on some other parameters of the system, which requires further studies. It is also found that the average tether force/deformation can be roughly estimated by simplifying the solar panel as a particle. The proposed model can be used to study the orbit-attitude-vibration coupled dynamics and control problems.     

Estimating the spin axis orientation of the Echostar-2 box-wing geosynchronous satellite

For the first time, the spin axis orientation of an inactive box-wing geosynchronous satellite has been estimated from ground-based optical photometric observations of Echostar-2’s specular reflections. Recent photometric light curves obtained of Echostar-2 over four years suggest that unusually bright and brief specular reflections were occurring twice within an observed spin period. These bright and brief specular reflections suggested two satellite surfaces with surface normals separated by approximately 180°. The geometry between the satellite, the Sun, and the observing location at the time of each of the brightest observed reflections, was used to estimate Echostar-2’s equatorial spin axis orientation coordinates. When considering prograde and retrograde rotation, Echostar-2’s spin axis orientation was estimated to have been located within 30° of either equatorial coordinate pole. Echostar-2’s spin axis was observed to have moved approximately 180° in right ascension, within a time span of six months, suggesting a roughly one year spin axis precession period about the satellite’s angular momentum vector.     

Implementation of tactical maneuvers with maneuver libraries

This study creates and combines the general maneuver libraries for fixed-wing aircraft to implement tactical maneuvers. First, the generalized maneuver libraries are established by analyzing the characteristics of tactical maneuvers required in battlefields. The 7th order polynomial is applied to both the creation of the maneuver libraries and the generation of the trajectories or flight paths for modal inputs. To track the desired trajectory, we design the Attitude Command Attitude Hold (ACAH) system and the Rate Command Rate Hold (RCRH) system using Model Following Controller (MFC). Moreover, the Line-of-Sight (LOS) guidance law is designed. In particular, the CONDUIT® is employed to optimize the gains so that the control systems meet the aircraft Handling Qualities (HQ) criteria. Finally, flight simulations are performed for the longitudinal loop, immelmann-turn, and climb-slalom-descent maneuvers to verify that tactical aggressive maneuvers are realizable via the combination of maneuver libraries. This study can contribute to the development of flight techniques for aircraft tactical maneuvers and to the revision of air force operational manuals.     

PDM技术及其在直升机研制中的作用

本文首先分析了当前直升机在运用CAD/CAE/CAM技术进行研制中存在的一些问题,接着提供了解决的方法,介绍了PDM的概念、构成、主要功能。最后简述了PDM技术在直升机研制中的作用,以及企业在实施PDM当中应注意的一些问题。     

飞机燃油油量测量及姿态误差修正方法

提出了一种基于 CAD技术的航空燃油油量实时测量方法。采用三维实体造型技术 ,建立了某飞机机翼油箱模型 ,利用油量传感器的输出值及飞机姿态信息 ,对燃油油量进行实时测量及姿态误差修正。     

美国对其GPS采取的国策

从兼顾美国经济利益和国家安全目标、GPS及其增强系统的管理、国家安全及对外政策四个方面综合考察了美国对其GPS所采取的最新国策。     

CBERS-1卫星IRMSS数据在城市绿地系统规划的应用

文章以CBERS -1卫星长沙幅IRMSS数据作为基础资料 ,利用PCI遥感图像处理软件对数据进行了预处理和应用实验。实验证明CBERS -1卫星的IRMSS数据图像信息丰富 ,可解译程度较高 ,能满足大中城市中等比例尺城市绿地系统规划遥感调查的要求     

三轴稳定遥感卫星姿控系统故障情况下的系统重构

论述三轴对地稳定遥感卫星姿控系统中部分轮子或部分陀螺故障情况下的姿控系统重构。文中论述了只在俯仰通道有一偏置动量轮正常工作，而滚动和偏航通道轮子故障条件下的系统重构。另外还论述了偏航陀螺故障，姿控系统其它部件正常情况下，控制系统采用Whecon原理与PIM控制相结合的设计。以上两种系统重构拟用于实际系统中，经过数学仿真验证，姿控系统在故障情况下能够完成基本任务。     

改进的次时间最优控制

本文在[1][2]基础上进一步探讨了次时间最优控制的改进问题,深入地阐明了次时间最优控制的某些特性后,提出了一个新的改进的设计方法。按照这种方法设计控制系统,不但实用而且可以大幅度提高次时间最优控制的最优性。并用实例比较了各种方法,证明了本文提出的方法的优越性。本文提出的方法应用于工程设计,对于提高系统的最优性是非常有效的。