151,768 research outputs found
Control theoretic models of pointing
This article presents an empirical comparison of four models from manual control theory on their ability to model targeting behaviour by human users using a mouse: McRuer’s Crossover, Costello’s Surge, second-order lag (2OL), and the Bang-bang model. Such dynamic models are generative, estimating not only movement time, but also pointer position, velocity, and acceleration on a moment-to-moment basis. We describe an experimental framework for acquiring pointing actions and automatically fitting the parameters of mathematical models to the empirical data. We present the use of time-series, phase space, and Hooke plot visualisations of the experimental data, to gain insight into human pointing dynamics. We find that the identified control models can generate a range of dynamic behaviours that captures aspects of human pointing behaviour to varying degrees. Conditions with a low index of difficulty (ID) showed poorer fit because their unconstrained nature leads naturally to more behavioural variability. We report on characteristics of human surge behaviour (the initial, ballistic sub-movement) in pointing, as well as differences in a number of controller performance measures, including overshoot, settling time, peak time, and rise time. We describe trade-offs among the models. We conclude that control theory offers a promising complement to Fitts’ law based approaches in HCI, with models providing representations and predictions of human pointing dynamics, which can improve our understanding of pointing and inform design
A Survey of the Spacecraft Line-Of-Sight Jitter Problem
Predicting, managing, controlling, and testing spacecraft Line-of-Sight (LoS) jit- ter due to on-board internal disturbance sources is a challenging multi- disciplinary systems engineering problem, especially for those observatories hosting extremely sensitive optical sensor payloads with stringent requirements on allowable LoS jitter. Some specific spacecraft jitter engineering challenges will be introduced and described in this survey paper. Illustrative examples of missions where dynamic interactions have to be addressed to satisfy demanding payload instrument LoS jitter requirements will be provided. Some lessons learned and a set of recommended rules of thumb are also presented to provide guidance for analysts on where to initiate and how to approach a new spacecraft jitter design problem. These experience-based spacecraft jitter lessons learned and rules of thumb are provided in the hope they can be leveraged on new space system development projects to help overcome unfamiliarity with previously identified jitter technical pitfalls and challenges
WFIRST Coronagraph Technology Requirements: Status Update and Systems Engineering Approach
The coronagraphic instrument (CGI) on the Wide-Field Infrared Survey
Telescope (WFIRST) will demonstrate technologies and methods for high-contrast
direct imaging and spectroscopy of exoplanet systems in reflected light,
including polarimetry of circumstellar disks. The WFIRST management and CGI
engineering and science investigation teams have developed requirements for the
instrument, motivated by the objectives and technology development needs of
potential future flagship exoplanet characterization missions such as the NASA
Habitable Exoplanet Imaging Mission (HabEx) and the Large UV/Optical/IR
Surveyor (LUVOIR). The requirements have been refined to support
recommendations from the WFIRST Independent External Technical/Management/Cost
Review (WIETR) that the WFIRST CGI be classified as a technology demonstration
instrument instead of a science instrument. This paper provides a description
of how the CGI requirements flow from the top of the overall WFIRST mission
structure through the Level 2 requirements, where the focus here is on
capturing the detailed context and rationales for the CGI Level 2 requirements.
The WFIRST requirements flow starts with the top Program Level Requirements
Appendix (PLRA), which contains both high-level mission objectives as well as
the CGI-specific baseline technical and data requirements (BTR and BDR,
respectively)... We also present the process and collaborative tools used in
the L2 requirements development and management, including the collection and
organization of science inputs, an open-source approach to managing the
requirements database, and automating documentation. The tools created for the
CGI L2 requirements have the potential to improve the design and planning of
other projects, streamlining requirement management and maintenance. [Abstract
Abbreviated]Comment: 16 pages, 4 figure
A Suborbital Payload for Soft X-ray Spectroscopy of Extended Sources
We present a suborbital rocket payload capable of performing soft X-ray
spectroscopy on extended sources. The payload can reach resolutions of
~100(lambda/dlambda) over sources as large as 3.25 degrees in diameter in the
17-107 angstrom bandpass. This permits analysis of the overall energy balance
of nearby supernova remnants and the detailed nature of the diffuse soft X-ray
background. The main components of the instrument are: wire grid collimators,
off-plane grating arrays and gaseous electron multiplier detectors. This
payload is adaptable to longer duration orbital rockets given its comparatively
simple pointing and telemetry requirements and an abundance of potential
science targets.Comment: Accepted to Experimental Astronomy, 12 pages plus 1 table and 17
figure
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