AN APPROACH BASED ON ASYNCHRONOUS SAMPLING AND FAST HARTLEY TRANSFORMS FOR EVALUATING HARMONICS OF PERIODIC SIGNALS WITH NEGLIGIBLE LEAKAGE

Abstract An algorithm based on Fast Hartley Transform (FHT) that uses a digital voltmeter for measuring the harmonic parameters of low-frequency signals with negligible leakage is presented. The algorithm was compared favorably in speed with a previous one based on discrete Fourier transforms

Detecting and locating electronic devices using their unintended electromagnetic emissions

Electronically-initiated explosives can have unintended electromagnetic emissions which propagate through walls and sealed containers. These emissions, if properly characterized, enable the prompt and accurate detection of explosive threats. The following dissertation develops and evaluates techniques for detecting and locating common electronic initiators. The unintended emissions of radio receivers and microcontrollers are analyzed. These emissions are low-power radio signals that result from the device\u27s normal operation. In the first section, it is demonstrated that arbitrary signals can be injected into a radio receiver\u27s unintended emissions using a relatively weak stimulation signal. This effect is called stimulated emissions. The performance of stimulated emissions is compared to passive detection techniques. The novel technique offers a 5 to 10 dB sensitivity improvement over passive methods for detecting radio receivers. The second section develops a radar-like technique for accurately locating radio receivers. The radar utilizes the stimulated emissions technique with wideband signals. A radar-like system is designed and implemented in hardware. Its accuracy tested in a noisy, multipath-rich, indoor environment. The proposed radar can locate superheterodyne radio receivers with a root mean square position error less than 5 meters when the SNR is 15 dB or above. In the third section, an analytic model is developed for the unintended emissions of microcontrollers. It is demonstrated that these emissions consist of a periodic train of impulses. Measurements of an 8051 microcontroller validate this model. The model is used to evaluate the noise performance of several existing algorithms. Results indicate that the pitch estimation techniques have a 4 dB sensitivity improvement over epoch folding algorithms --Abstract, page iii

A method of voltage tracking for power system applications

An algorithm that is capable of estimating the parameters of non-stationary sinusoids in real-time lends application to various branches of engineering. Non-stationary sinusoids are sinusoidal signals with time-varying parameters. In this dissertation, a nonlinear filter is applied to power system applications to test its performance. The filter has a structure which renders it fully adaptive to tracking time variations in the parameters of the targeted sinusoid, including its phase and frequency. Mathematical properties of the differential equations which govern the proposed filter are presented. The performance of the proposed filter in the field of power systems is demonstrated with the aid of computer simulations and practical experimentations. The filter is applied to synchronous generator excitation control, voltage dip mitigation as well as the real-time estimation of symmetrical components. The parameter settings of the filter are tested and optimized for each of the applications. This dissertation demonstrates the simulation and experimental results of the filter when applied to the various power system applications. AFRIKAANS : 'n Filter wat bevoeglik is met die beraming van die parameters van beweeglike sinusoïdale in ware-tyd, kan bruikbaar aangewend word in verskeie takke van ingenieurswese. Beweeglike sinuskrommes is sinusoïdale seine met tyd-wisselende parameters. In hierdie verhandeling word `n nie-liniêre filter aangewend in verskeie kragstelseltoepassings om die werksverrigting van die filter te toets. Die filter het 'n struktuur wat dit toelaat om wisselende tydvariasies in die parameters van die teikensinusoïdaal op te spoor, insluitende die fase en frekwensie. Wiskundige eienskappe van die differensiaalvergelykings wat die voorgestelde filter beheer is ondersoek. Die werksverrigting van die voorgestelde filter in die veld van kragstelsels is gedemonstreer met die hulp van rekenaarsimulasies asook praktiese eksperimente. Die filter is toegepas tot opgewekte, sinkrone eksitasie-beheer, spanningsverlaging versagting, asook die ware tyd estimasie van simmetriese komponente. Die parameter verstellings van die filter is getoets en geoptimeer vir elk van die toepassings. Hierdie verhandeling demonstreer die simulering en eksperimentele resultate van die filter wat aangewend is vir verskeie kragstelseltoepassings. CopyrightDissertation (MSc)--University of Pretoria, 2010.Electrical, Electronic and Computer Engineeringunrestricte

Design study for LANDSAT-D attitude control system

The gimballed Ku-band antenna system for communication with TDRS was studied. By means of an error analysis it was demonstrated that the antenna cannot be open loop pointed to TDRS by an onboard programmer, but that an autotrack system was required. After some tradeoffs, a two-axis, azimuth-elevation type gimbal configuration was recommended for the antenna. It is shown that gimbal lock only occurs when LANDSAT-D is over water where a temporary loss of the communication link to TDRS is of no consequence. A preliminary gimbal control system design is also presented. A digital computer program was written that computes antenna gimbal angle profiles, assesses percent antenna beam interference with the solar array, and determines whether the spacecraft is over land or water, a lighted earth or a dark earth, and whether the spacecraft is in eclipse