Passive acoustic method for aircraft localization

The present thesis investigates a passive acoustic method to locate maneuvering aircraft. The method is based on the acoustical Doppler effect, as a particular effect of the signals received by a mesh of spatially distributed microphones. A one-dimensional version of the ambiguity function allows for the calculation of the frequency stretch factor that occurs between the sound signals received by a pair of microphones. The mathematical expression for this frequency stretch is a function of the aircraft position and velocity, both of them being estimated by a genetic algorithm. The method requires only a minimum of seven microphones and the prior knowledge of the aircraft position and velocity at a given time. The advantages of the method are that it is suitable for all kind of aircraft, not only propeller-driven, and is not restricted to low heights above the ground. Its applicability could be, for instance, to supplement aircraft noise monitoring systems or to supervise small airports activities. This doctoral research includes the theoretical background of the method as well as the detailed description of its implementation. To assess the performance of the method, results from computer simulations are discussed. First of all, noise propagation is considered in a lossless medium, thus only geometrical spreading influences the sound emitted by the source traveling to the receivers. The accuracy of each step of the method has been evaluated and the results obtained reveal acceptable performance. Due to the large distances between microphones and the aircraft in flight, the atmospheric attenuation plays a major roll. Therefore, computer simulations have also been carried out under the assumption of an homogeneous but non lossless medium to evaluate the influence of the atmospheric absorption on the aircraft location. Under these conditions, the performance of the method with respect to the microphone distribution is discussed. Moreover, the location method has also been tested for a possible inaccuracy on the microphones synchronization. Finally, an outdoor experimental validation of the acoustic method has been carried out with a radio control airplane. The description of the experimental test is detailed in the present work as well as the results obtained.La tesi desenvolupa, implementa i valida un mètode acústic per a la localització d’aeronaus. El mètode es basa en l’efecte Doppler que es percep en els registres de diferents micròfons distribuïts al voltant d’un aeroport. La versió u-dimensional de la funció d’ambigüitat permet el còmput del factor de compressió o expansió que sorgeix entre els registres freqüencials d’ un parell de micròfons. Aquest factor Freqüencial es pot expressar matemàticament en funció de la posició i velocitat de l’aeronau, que s’estimen en aquesta tesi a partir d’algoritmes genètics. El mètode només requereix de set micròfons i el coneixement previ de la posició de l’avió en un moment donat. Els principals avantatges del mètode són que és un mètode vàlid per qualsevol tipus d’aeronau, no només per avions d’hèlix o helicòpters, i que no restringeix a vols de baixa alçada. La seva aplicació podria ser, per exemple, complementar un sistema de monitorització de soroll aeri o bé supervisar l’activitat dels aeroports petits que no disposen de sistemes de radar. Aquesta investigació inclou el desenvolupament teòric del mètode així com la descripció detallada de la seva implementació. Per tal d’avaluar l’efectivitat del mètode, es presenten i analitzen resultats obtinguts a partir de diverses simulacions. Com a primer cas, es considera que el so es propaga en un medi conservatiu, és a dir, el so que es propaga des de la font fins als receptors només es veu afectat per l’atenuació geomètrica. Sota aquest model senzill de propagació, s’ha analitzat l’accuracy de cada un dels passos del mètode i els resultats obtinguts posen de manifest una bona ... del mètode. Tenint en compte que les distàncies entre els micròfons i l’avió en vol són llargues, l’atenuació atmosfèrica influeix també en la propagació del so emès per l’avió. Per tant, el segon cas de simulacions que s’han dut a terme considera un medi de propagació homogeni i no conservatiu amb l’objectiu d’avaluar la influència de l’atenuació atmosfèrica en la localització acústica de l’aeronau. Sota aquestes condicions, també s’ha analitzat l’eficàcia del mètode en funció de la distribució de micròfons. A més, el mètode de localització s’ha posat a prova sota possibles errors en la sincronització dels set micròfons. Finalment, s’ha dut a terme una validació experimental del mètode amb una avioneta de radio control al Club Aeronàutic Egara. La descripció d’aquest test experimental es detalla en la tesis així com els resultats obtinguts que demostren la validesa satisfactòria del mètode

Aeronautical Engineering: A continuing bibliography, supplement 120

This bibliography contains abstracts for 297 reports, articles, and other documents introduced into the NASA scientific and technical information system in February 1980

LIBRA: An inexpensive geodetic network densification system

A description is given of the Libra (Locations Interposed by Ranging Aircraft) system, by which geodesy and earth strain measurements can be performed rapidly and inexpensively to several hundred auxiliary points with respect to a few fundamental control points established by any other technique, such as radio interferometry or satellite ranging. This low-cost means of extending the accuracy of space age geodesy to local surveys provides speed and spatial resolution useful, for example, for earthquake hazards estimation. Libra may be combined with an existing system, Aries (Astronomical Radio Interferometric Earth Surveying) to provide a balanced system adequate to meet the geophysical needs, and applicable to conventional surveying. The basic hardware design was outlined and specifications were defined. Then need for network densification was described. The following activities required to implement the proposed Libra system are also described: hardware development, data reduction, tropospheric calibrations, schedule of development and estimated costs

Aeronautical Engineering: A special bibliography with indexes, supplement 54

This bibliography lists 316 reports, articles, and other documents introduced into the NASA scientific and technical information system in January 1975

Aerospace Medicine and Biology: A continuing bibliography with indexes, supplement 182, July 1978

This bibliography lists 165 reports, articles, and other documents introduced into the NASA scientific and technical information system in June 1978

Aeronautical Engineering. A continuing bibliography with indexes, supplement 156

This bibliography lists 288 reports, articles and other documents introduced into the NASA scientific and technical information system in December 1982

Automated tracking of the Florida manatee (Trichechus manatus)

The electronic, physical, biological and environmental factors involved in the automated remote tracking of the Florida manatee (Trichechus manatus) are identified. The current status of the manatee as an endangered species is provided. Brief descriptions of existing tracking and position locating systems are presented to identify the state of the art in these fields. An analysis of energy media is conducted to identify those with the highest probability of success for this application. Logistic questions such as the means of attachment and position of any equipment to be placed on the manatee are also investigated. Power sources and manateeborne electronics encapsulation techniques are studied and the results of a compter generated DF network analysis are summarized

Damage identification in structural health monitoring: a brief review from its implementation to the Use of data-driven applications

The damage identification process provides relevant information about the current state of a structure under inspection, and it can be approached from two different points of view. The first approach uses data-driven algorithms, which are usually associated with the collection of data using sensors. Data are subsequently processed and analyzed. The second approach uses models to analyze information about the structure. In the latter case, the overall performance of the approach is associated with the accuracy of the model and the information that is used to define it. Although both approaches are widely used, data-driven algorithms are preferred in most cases because they afford the ability to analyze data acquired from sensors and to provide a real-time solution for decision making; however, these approaches involve high-performance processors due to the high computational cost. As a contribution to the researchers working with data-driven algorithms and applications, this work presents a brief review of data-driven algorithms for damage identification in structural health-monitoring applications. This review covers damage detection, localization, classification, extension, and prognosis, as well as the development of smart structures. The literature is systematically reviewed according to the natural steps of a structural health-monitoring system. This review also includes information on the types of sensors used as well as on the development of data-driven algorithms for damage identification.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version