Continuous Time-Delay Estimation From Sampled Measurements

An algorithm for continuous time-delay estimation from sampled output data and known input of finite energy is presented. The continuous time-delay modeling allows for the estimation of subsample delays. The proposed estimation algorithm consists of two steps. First, the continuous Laguerre spectrum of the output signal is estimated from discrete-time (sampled) noisy measurements. Second, an estimate of the delay value is obtained in Laguerre domain given a continuous-time description of the input. The second step of the algorithm is shown to be intrinsically biased, the bias sources are established, and the bias itself is modeled. The proposed delay estimation approach is compared in a Monte-Carlo simulation with state-of-the-art methods implemented in time, frequency, and Laguerre domain demonstrating comparable or higher accuracy for the considered case

Automatic simultaneous measurement of phase velocity and thickness in composite plates using iterative deconvolution

A new method for the automatic and simultaneous measurement of phase velocity and thickness for thin composite plates was developed based on Ping He's method, without any need of a priori knowledge of the material parameters. Two composites were analyzed: a block of clean epoxy and a thin specimen of glass-fiber reinforced plastic produced by resin transfer molding. The proposed method combines cross-correlation functions and iterative deconvolution for accurate measurement of times of flight and gating. The new method has demonstrated to be more accurate than conventional Ping He's method, and can be implemented automatically thus saving processing time and increasing accuracy.This research was funded by a Project IN-SMART, Grant no. VP1-3.1SMM-10-V-02-012 and by the Spanish Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovacion (TEC2011-23403).Rodriguez Martinez, A.; Svilainis, L.; Dumbrava, V.; Chaziachmetovas, A.; Salazar Afanador, A. (2014). Automatic simultaneous measurement of phase velocity and thickness in composite plates using iterative deconvolution. NDT and E International. 66:117-127. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ndteint.2014.06.001S1171276

A Linear Subspace Approach to Burst Communication Signal Processing

This dissertation focuses on the topic of burst signal communications in a high interference environment. It derives new signal processing algorithms from a mathematical linear subspace approach instead of the common stationary or cyclostationary approach. The research developed new algorithms that have well-known optimality criteria associated with them. The investigation demonstrated a unique class of multisensor filters having a lower mean square error than all other known filters, a maximum likelihood time difference of arrival estimator that outperformed previously optimal estimators, and a signal presence detector having a selectivity unparalleled in burst interference environments. It was further shown that these improvements resulted in a greater ability to communicate, to locate electronic transmitters, and to mitigate the effects of a growing interference environment

Model-based Filtering of Interfering Signals in Ultrasonic Time Delay Estimations

In dieser Arbeit werden modellbasierte algorithmische Ansätze zur Interferenz-invarianten Zeitverschiebungsschätzung vorgestellt, die speziell für die Schätzung kleiner Zeitverschiebungsdifferenzen mit einer notwendigen Auflösung, die deutlich unterhalb der Abtastzeit liegt, geeignet sind. Daher lassen sich die Verfahren besonders gut auf die Laufzeit-basierte Ultraschalldurchflussmessung anwenden, da hier das Problem der Interferenzsignale besonders ausgeprägt ist. Das Hauptaugenmerk liegt auf der Frage, wie mehrere Messungen mit unterschiedlichen Zeitverschiebungen oder Prozessparametern zur Unterdrückung der Interferenzsignale in Ultraschalldurchflussmessungen verwendet werden können, wobei eine gute Robustheit gegenüber additivem weißen Gauß\u27schen Rauschen und eine hohe Auflösung erhalten bleiben sollen. Zu diesem Zweck wird ein Signalmodell angenommen, welches aus stationären Interferenzsignalen, die nicht von wechselnden Zeitverschiebungen abhängig sind, und aus Zielsignalen, die den Messeffekt enthalten, besteht. Zunächst wird das Signalmodell einer Ultraschalldurchflussmessung und sein dynamisches Verhalten bei Temperatur- oder Zeitverschiebungsschwankungen untersucht. Ziel ist es, valide Simulationsdatensätze zu erzeugen, mit denen die entwickelten Methoden sowohl unter der Prämisse, dass die Daten perfekt zum Signalmodell passen, als auch unter der Prämisse, dass Modellfehler vorliegen, getestet werden können. Dabei werden die Eigenschaften der Signalmodellkomponenten, wie Bandbreite, Stationarität und Temperaturabhängigkeit, identifiziert. Zu diesem Zweck wird eine neue Methode zur Modellierung der Temperaturabhängigkeit der Interferenzsignale vorgestellt. Nach der Charakterisierung des gesamten Messsystems wird das Signalmodell -- angepasst an die Ultraschalldurchflussmessung -- als Grundlage für zwei neue Methoden verwendet, deren Ziel es ist, die Auswirkungen der Interferenzsignale zu reduzieren. Die erste vorgeschlagene Technik erweitert die auf der Signaldynamik basierenden Ansätze in der Literatur, indem sie die Voraussetzungen für die erforderliche Varianz der Zeitverschiebungen abschwächt. Zu diesem Zweck wird eine neue Darstellung von mehreren Messsignalen als Punktwolken eingeführt. Die Punktwolken werden dann mithilfe der Hauptkomponentenanalyse und B-Splines verarbeitet, was entweder zu Interferenz-invarianten Zeitverschiebungsschätzungen oder geschätzten Interferenzsignalen führt. In diesem Zusammenhang wird eine neuartige gemeinsame B-Spline- und Registrierungsschätzung entwickelt, um die Robustheit zu erhöhen. Der zweite Ansatz besteht in einer regressionsbasierten Schätzung der Zeitverschiebungsdifferenzen durch das Erlernen angepasster Signalunterräume. Diese Unterräume werden effizient durch die Analytische Wavelet Packet Transformation berechnet, bevor die resultierenden Koeffizienten in Merkmale transformiert werden, die gut mit den Zeitverschiebungssdifferenzen korrelieren. Darüber hinaus wird ein neuartiger, unbeaufsichtigter Unterraum-Trainingsansatz vorgeschlagen und mit den konventionellen Filter- und Wrapper-basierten Merkmalsauswahlmethoden verglichen. Schließlich werden beide Methoden in einem experimentellen Ultraschalldurchflussmesssystem mit einem hohen Maß an vorhandenen Interferenzsignalen getestet, wobei sich zeigt, dass sie in den meisten Fällen den Methoden aus der Literatur überlegen sind. Die Qualität der Methoden wird anhand der Genauigkeit der Zeitverschiebungsschätzung bewertet, da die Grundwahrheit für die Interferenzsignale nicht zuverlässig bestimmt werden kann. Anhand verschiedener Datensätze werden die Abhängigkeiten von den Hyperparametern, den Prozessbedingungen und, im Falle der regressionsbasierten Methode, dem Trainingsdatensatz analysiert

Model-based Filtering of Interfering Signals in Ultrasonic Time Delay Estimations

This work presents model-based algorithmic approaches for interference-invariant time delay estimation, which are specifically suited for the estimation of small time delay differences with a necessary resolution well below the sampling time. Therefore, the methods can be applied particularly well for transit-time ultrasonic flow measurements, since the problem of interfering signals is especially prominent in this application

The LWA1 Radio Telescope

LWA1 is a new radio telescope operating in the frequency range 10-88 MHz, located in central New Mexico. The telescope consists of 258 pairs of dipole-type antennas whose outputs are individually digitized and formed into beams. Simultaneously, signals from all dipoles can be recorded using one of the instrument's "all dipoles" modes, facilitating all-sky imaging. Notable features of the instrument include high intrinsic sensitivity (about 6 kJy zenith system equivalent flux density), large instantaneous bandwidth (up to 78 MHz), and 4 independently-steerable beams utilizing digital "true time delay" beamforming. This paper summarizes the design of LWA1 and its performance as determined in commissioning experiments. We describe the method currently in use for array calibration, and report on measurements of sensitivity and beamwidth.Comment: 9 pages, 14 figures, accepted by IEEE Trans. Antennas & Propagation. Various minor changes from previous versio

Building efficient stated choice design for departure time choices using the scheduling model: Theoretical considerations and practical implementations

Modelling departure time is an important step in forecasting traffic demand. The purpose of this research is to contribute to the data collection field when studying departure time choices. Differently from the majority of the previous studies we used an efficient stated preference (SP) experiment. The objective in an efficient design is to construct a stated preference experiment which minimizes the standard errors of the estimated parameter in the model. Thus, the benefits of using an efficient design are more robust parameter estimates and/or that it allows using smaller sample sizes. However, building experimental designs for the departure time is challenging for two main reasons: 1) interdependence among attributes, and 2) realism in the choice tasks. To ensure realism, we customized the choice task based on the trips described by each individual in a trip diary and on the departure time needed in order to be at work at their preferred arrival time. However, with efficient designs it is not possible to customize the SP for each individual, unless the real trips are known before optimizing the SP design. To overcome this challenge, six different designs were constructed based on predefined travel times (10, 20, 30, 40, 50, and 60 minutes). Respondents were presented with the design which was closest to their reported travel time in the trip diary. The design was simulated using almost 20.000 observations, and was adjusted until the design was stable and the prior parameters could be recuperated

Building efficient stated choice design for departure time choices using the scheduling model: Theoretical considerations and practical implementations

Modelling departure time is an important step in forecasting traffic demand. The purpose of this research is to contribute to the data collection field when studying departure time choices. Differently from the majority of the previous studies we used an efficient stated preference (SP) experiment. The objective in an efficient design is to construct a stated preference experiment which minimizes the standard errors of the estimated parameter in the model. Thus, the benefits of using an efficient design are more robust parameter estimates and/or that it allows using smaller sample sizes. However, building experimental designs for the departure time is challenging for two main reasons: 1) interdependence among attributes, and 2) realism in the choice tasks. To ensure realism, we customized the choice task based on the trips described by each individual in a trip diary and on the departure time needed in order to be at work at their preferred arrival time. However, with efficient designs it is not possible to customize the SP for each individual, unless the real trips are known before optimizing the SP design. To overcome this challenge, six different designs were constructed based on predefined travel times (10, 20, 30, 40, 50, and 60 minutes). Respondents were presented with the design which was closest to their reported travel time in the trip diary. The design was simulated using almost 20.000 observations, and was adjusted until the design was stable and the prior parameters could be recuperated