28,145 research outputs found
Array signal processing for maximum likelihood direction-of-arrival estimation
Emitter Direction-of-Arrival (DOA) estimation is a fundamental problem in a variety of applications including radar, sonar, and wireless communications. The research has received considerable attention in literature and numerous methods have been proposed. Maximum Likelihood (ML) is a nearly optimal technique producing superior estimates compared to other methods especially in unfavourable conditions, and thus is of significant practical interest. This paper discusses in details the techniques for ML DOA estimation in either white Gaussian noise or unknown noise environment. Their performances are analysed and compared, and evaluated against the theoretical lower bounds
Fast, scalable, Bayesian spike identification for multi-electrode arrays
We present an algorithm to identify individual neural spikes observed on
high-density multi-electrode arrays (MEAs). Our method can distinguish large
numbers of distinct neural units, even when spikes overlap, and accounts for
intrinsic variability of spikes from each unit. As MEAs grow larger, it is
important to find spike-identification methods that are scalable, that is, the
computational cost of spike fitting should scale well with the number of units
observed. Our algorithm accomplishes this goal, and is fast, because it
exploits the spatial locality of each unit and the basic biophysics of
extracellular signal propagation. Human intervention is minimized and
streamlined via a graphical interface. We illustrate our method on data from a
mammalian retina preparation and document its performance on simulated data
consisting of spikes added to experimentally measured background noise. The
algorithm is highly accurate
Scanamorphos: a map-making software for Herschel and similar scanning bolometer arrays
Scanamorphos is one of the public softwares available to post-process scan
observations performed with the Herschel photometer arrays. This
post-processing mainly consists in subtracting the total low-frequency noise
(both its thermal and non-thermal components), masking high-frequency artefacts
such as cosmic ray hits, and projecting the data onto a map. Although it was
developed for Herschel, it is also applicable with minimal adjustment to scan
observations made with some other imaging arrays subjected to low-frequency
noise, provided they entail sufficient redundancy; it was successfully applied
to P-Artemis, an instrument operating on the APEX telescope. Contrary to
matrix-inversion softwares and high-pass filters, Scanamorphos does not assume
any particular noise model, and does not apply any Fourier-space filtering to
the data, but is an empirical tool using purely the redundancy built in the
observations -- taking advantage of the fact that each portion of the sky is
sampled at multiple times by multiple bolometers. It is an interactive software
in the sense that the user is allowed to optionally visualize and control
results at each intermediate step, but the processing is fully automated. This
paper describes the principles and algorithm of Scanamorphos and presents
several examples of application.Comment: This is the final version as accepted by PASP (on July 27, 2013). A
copy with much better-quality figures is available on
http://www2.iap.fr/users/roussel/herschel
Source bearing and steering-vector estimation using partially calibrated arrays
The problem of source direction-of-arrival (DOA) estimation using a sensor array is addressed, where some of the sensors are perfectly calibrated, while others are uncalibrated. An algorithm is proposed for estimating the source directions in addition to the estimation of unknown array parameters such as sensor gains and phases, as a way of performing array self-calibration. The cost function is an extension of the maximum likelihood (ML) criteria that were originally developed for DOA estimation with a perfectly calibrated array. A particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm is used to explore the high-dimensional problem space and find the global minimum of the cost function. The design of the PSO is a combination of the problem-independent kernel and some newly introduced problem-specific features such as search space mapping, particle velocity control, and particle position clipping. This architecture plus properly selected parameters make the PSO highly flexible and reusable, while being sufficiently specific and effective in the current application. Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed technique may produce more accurate estimates of the source bearings and unknown array parameters in a cheaper way as compared with other popular methods, with the root-mean-squared error (RMSE) approaching and asymptotically attaining the Cramer Rao bound (CRB) even in unfavorable conditions
Using CMOS Sensors in a Cellphone for Gamma Detection and Classification
The CMOS camera found in many cellphones is sensitive to ionized electrons.
Gamma rays penetrate into the phone and produce ionized electrons that are then
detected by the camera. Thermal noise and other noise needs to be removed on
the phone, which requires an algorithm that has relatively low memory and
computational requirements. The continuous high-delta algorithm described fits
those requirements. Only a small fraction of the energy of even the electron is
deposited in the camera sensor, so direct methods of measuring the energy
cannot be used. The fraction of groups of lit up pixels that are lines is
correlated with the energy of the gamma rays. This correlation under certain
conditions allows limited low resolution energy resolution to be performed
The reproduction of the response of an aircraft panel to turbulent boundary layer excitation in laboratory conditions
One important topic in the aeronautic and aerospace industries is the reproduction of random pressure field, with prescribed spatial correlation characteristics, in laboratory conditions. In particular, the random-wall pressure fluctuations induced by a Turbulent Boundary Layer (TBL) excitation are a major concern for cabin noise problem, as this
excitation has been identified as the dominant contribution in cruise conditions. As in-flight measurements require
costly and time-consuming measurement campaigns, the laboratory reproduction has attracted considerable attention
in recent years. Some work has already been carried out for the laboratory simulation of the excitation pressure field
for several random fields. It has been found that TBL reproduction is very demanding in terms of number of loudspeakers per correlation length, and it should require a dense and non-uniform arrangement of acoustic sources due to
the different spanwise and streamwise correlation lengths involved. The present study addresses the problem of directly simulating the vibroacoustic response of an aircraft skin panel using a near-field array of suitably driven loudspeakers. It is compared with the use of an array of shakers and piezoelectric actuators. It is shown how the
wavenumber filtering capabilities of the panel reduces the number of sources required, thus dramatically enlarging
the frequency range over which the TBL vibro-acoustic response is reproduced with accuracy. Direct reconstruction
of the TBL-induced panel response is found to be feasible over the hydrodynamic coincidence frequency range using
a limited number of actuators driven by optimal signals. It is shown that piezoelectric actuators, which have more
practical implementation than shakers, provide a more effective reproduction of the TBL response than near-field
loudspeakers
The Infrared Spectrograph on the Spitzer Space Telescope
The Infrared Spectrograph (IRS) is one of three science instruments on the
Spitzer Space Telescope. The IRS comprises four separate spectrograph modules
covering the wavelength range from 5.3 to 38micron with spectral resolutions, R
\~90 and 600, and it was optimized to take full advantage of the very low
background in the space environment. The IRS is performing at or better than
the pre-launch predictions. An autonomous target acquisition capability enables
the IRS to locate the mid-infrared centroid of a source, providing the
information so that the spacecraft can accurately offset that centroid to a
selected slit. This feature is particularly useful when taking spectra of
sources with poorly known coordinates. An automated data reduction pipeline has
been developed at the Spitzer Science Center.Comment: Accepted in ApJ Sup. Spitzer Special Issue, 6 pages, 4 figure
- …