1,598 research outputs found
Piezoelectric Rotary Tube Motor
A custom rotary SQUIGGLE(Registered TradeMark) motor has been developed that sets new benchmarks for small motor size, high position resolution, and high torque without gear reduction. Its capabilities cannot be achieved with conventional electromagnetic motors. It consists of piezoelectric plates mounted on a square flexible tube. The plates are actuated via voltage waveforms 90 out of phase at the resonant frequency of the device to create rotary motion. The motors were incorporated into a two-axis postioner that was designed for fiber-fed spectroscopy for ground-based and space-based projects. The positioner enables large-scale celestial object surveys to take place in a practical amount of time
Mining the ESO WFI and INT WFC archives for known Near Earth Asteroids. Mega-Precovery software
The ESO/MPG WFI and the INT WFC wide field archives comprising 330,000 images
were mined to search for serendipitous encounters of known Near Earth Asteroids
(NEAs) and Potentially Hazardous Asteroids (PHAs). A total of 152 asteroids (44
PHAs and 108 other NEAs) were identified using the PRECOVERY software, their
astrometry being measured on 761 images and sent to the Minor Planet Centre.
Both recoveries and precoveries were reported, including prolonged orbital arcs
for 18 precovered objects and 10 recoveries. We analyze all new opposition data
by comparing the orbits fitted before and after including our contributions. We
conclude the paper presenting Mega-Precovery, a new online service focused on
data mining of many instrument archives simultaneously for one or a few given
asteroids. A total of 28 instrument archives have been made available for
mining using this tool, adding together about 2.5 million images forming the
Mega-Archive.Comment: Accepted for publication in Astronomische Nachrichten (Sep 2012
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Efficient and proper Generalised Linear Models with power link functions
The generalised linear model is a flexible predictive model for observational data that is widely used in practice as it extends linear regression models to non-Gaussian data. In this paper we introduce the concept of a properly defined generalised linear model by requiring the conditional mean of the response variable to be properly mapped through the chosen link function and the log-likelihood function to be concave. We provide a comprehensive classification of proper generalised linear models for the Tweedie family and its popular subclasses under different link function specifications. Our main theoretical findings show that most Tweedie generalised linear models are not proper for canonical and log link functions, and identify a rich class of proper Tweedie generalised linear models with power link functions. Using self-concordant log-likelihoods and linearisation techniques, we provide novel algorithms for estimating several special cases of proper and not proper Tweedie generalised linear models with power link functions. The effectivenes of our methods is determined through an extensive numerical comparison of our estimates and those obtained using three built-in packages, MATLAB f itglm, R glm2 and Python sm.GLM libraries, which are all implemented based on the standard Iteratively Reweighted Least Squares method. Overall, we find that our algorithms consistently outperform these benchmarks in terms of both accuracy and efficiency, the largest improvements being documented for high-dimensional settings
Acoustic Processing of Fluidic Samples for Planetary Exploration
The search for life on other planetary bodies is driven by our quest to determine if Earth is unique with respect to harboring life. In order to answer this question, instrumentation with suitable sensitivity is required to measure biosignatures. In addition to accurate measurements by in-situ instruments, specialized sample acquisition and sample handling hardware is required to maximize the scientific information obtained from an acquired sample. This paper discusses a class of compact sample processing instrumentation using solid-state mechanisms that use acoustic waves to process samples prior to delivery to the instrument. Some of the acoustic sample processes that can be used to aid in preparation of liquid and liquid/solid mixtures include: mixing, milling, cavitating, lysing, heating, streaming, stirring, lofting, concentrating, segregating, and filtering. We will review these acoustic processes and show how they are generated using electromechanical systems. In addition to processing, these transduction systems could also use acoustics to interrogate physical properties such as the state of the sample, the acoustic velocity, and its attenuation. In order to generate these processes and sensing capabilities at these frequencies, a transduction mechanism is required to produce stress waves from electrical signals and vice versa. One commonly used technique is to use piezoelectric transducers that generate a stress that is linearly proportional to the voltage across the transducer and a voltage that is proportional to the stress on a transducer’s face. A variety of transducer modes are available to excite the sample, including thickness, transverse, radial, and shear extensional, and these can be used to build composite resonance structures including ultrasonic horns, tuning forks, bimorph, and unimorph benders to increase stress generated in the sample. We discuss how to model the acoustic interactions with the sample and the sample chamber in order to produce the required stress waves and illustrate the use of network models of piezoelectric transducers to accomplish this modeling. We demonstrate how to build up these models using Mason’s equivalent circuit for a piezoelectric and network models for acoustic layers in a design. Finally, to illustrate this acoustic processing ability, we will discuss a few systems that we have developed for sample handling systems for other planetary bodies like Mars and ocean worlds Enceladus and Europa
739 observed NEAs and new 2-4m survey statistics within the EURONEAR network
We report follow-up observations of 477 program Near-Earth Asteroids (NEAs)
using nine telescopes of the EURONEAR network having apertures between 0.3 and
4.2 m. Adding these NEAs to our previous results we now count 739 program NEAs
followed-up by the EURONEAR network since 2006. The targets were selected using
EURONEAR planning tools focusing on high priority objects. Analyzing the
resulting orbital improvements suggests astrometric follow-up is most important
days to weeks after discovery, with recovery at a new opposition also valuable.
Additionally we observed 40 survey fields spanning three nights covering 11 sq.
degrees near opposition, using the Wide Field Camera on the 2.5m Isaac Newton
Telescope (INT), resulting in 104 discovered main belt asteroids (MBAs) and
another 626 unknown one-night objects. These fields, plus program NEA fields
from the INT and from the wide field MOSAIC II camera on the Blanco 4m
telescope, generated around 12,000 observations of 2,000 minor planets (mostly
MBAs) observed in 34 square degrees. We identify Near Earth Object (NEO)
candidates among the unknown (single night) objects using three selection
criteria. Testing these criteria on the (known) program NEAs shows the best
selection methods are our epsilon-miu model which checks solar elongation and
sky motion and the MPC's NEO rating tool. Our new data show that on average 0.5
NEO candidates per square degree should be observable in a 2m-class survey (in
agreement with past results), while an average of 2.7 NEO candidates per square
degree should be observable in a 4m-class survey (although our Blanco
statistics were affected by clouds). At opposition just over 100 MBAs (1.6
unknown to every 1 known) per square degree are detectable to R=22 in a 2m
survey based on the INT data, while our two best ecliptic Blanco fields away
from opposition lead to 135 MBAs (2 unknown to every 1 known) to R=23.Comment: Published in Planetary and Space Sciences (Sep 2013
Dimensional synthesis of a spherical parallel manipulator based on the evaluation of global performance indexes
In this work, the dimensional synthesis of a spherical Parallel Manipulator (PM) with a -1S kinematic chain is presented. The goal of the synthesis is to find a set of parameters that defines the PM with the best performance in terms of workspace capabilities, dexterity and isotropy. The PM is parametrized in terms of a reference element, and a non-directed search of these parameters is carried out. First, the inverse kinematics and instantaneous kinematics of the mechanism are presented. The latter is found using the screw theory formulation. An algorithm that explores a bounded set of parameters and determines the corresponding value of global indexes is presented. The concepts of a novel global performance index and a compound index are introduced. Simulation results are shown and discussed. The best PMs found in terms of each performance index evaluated are locally analyzed in terms of its workspace and local dexterity. The relationship between the performance of the PM and its parameters is discussed, and a prototype with the best performance in terms of the compound index is presented and analyzed
Calibration of the Logarithmic-Periodic Dipole Antenna (LPDA) Radio Stations at the Pierre Auger Observatory using an Octocopter
An in-situ calibration of a logarithmic periodic dipole antenna with a
frequency coverage of 30 MHz to 80 MHz is performed. Such antennas are part of
a radio station system used for detection of cosmic ray induced air showers at
the Engineering Radio Array of the Pierre Auger Observatory, the so-called
Auger Engineering Radio Array (AERA). The directional and frequency
characteristics of the broadband antenna are investigated using a remotely
piloted aircraft (RPA) carrying a small transmitting antenna. The antenna
sensitivity is described by the vector effective length relating the measured
voltage with the electric-field components perpendicular to the incoming signal
direction. The horizontal and meridional components are determined with an
overall uncertainty of 7.4^{+0.9}_{-0.3} % and 10.3^{+2.8}_{-1.7} %
respectively. The measurement is used to correct a simulated response of the
frequency and directional response of the antenna. In addition, the influence
of the ground conductivity and permittivity on the antenna response is
simulated. Both have a negligible influence given the ground conditions
measured at the detector site. The overall uncertainties of the vector
effective length components result in an uncertainty of 8.8^{+2.1}_{-1.3} % in
the square root of the energy fluence for incoming signal directions with
zenith angles smaller than 60{\deg}.Comment: Published version. Updated online abstract only. Manuscript is
unchanged with respect to v2. 39 pages, 15 figures, 2 table
EURONEAR - Recovery, Follow-up and Discovery of NEAs and MBAs using Large Field 1-2m Telescopes
We report on the follow-up and recovery of 100 program NEAs, PHAs and VIs
using the ESO/MPG 2.2m, Swope 1m and INT 2.5m telescopes equipped with large
field cameras. The 127 fields observed during 11 nights covered 29 square
degrees. Using these data, we present the incidental survey work which includes
558 known MBAs and 628 unknown moving objects mostly consistent with MBAs from
which 58 objects became official discoveries. We planned the runs using six
criteria and four servers which focus mostly on faint and poorly observed
objects in need of confirmation, follow-up and recovery. We followed 62 faint
NEAs within one month after discovery and we recovered 10 faint NEAs having big
uncertainties at their second or later opposition. Using the INT we eliminated
4 PHA candidates and VIs. We observed in total 1,286 moving objects and we
reported more than 10,000 positions. All data were reduced by the members of
our network in a team effort, and reported promptly to the MPC. The positions
of the program NEAs were published in 27 MPC and MPEC references and used to
improve their orbits. The O-C residuals for known MBAs and program NEAs are
smallest for the ESO/MPG and Swope and about four times larger for the INT
whose field is more distorted. The incidental survey allowed us to study
statistics of the MBA and NEA populations observable today with 1--2m
facilities. We calculate preliminary orbits for all unknown objects,
classifying them as official discoveries, later identifications and unknown
outstanding objects. The orbital elements a, e, i calculated by FIND_ORB
software for the official discoveries and later identified objects are very
similar with the published elements which take into account longer
observational arcs; thus preliminary orbits were used in statistics for the
whole unknown dataset. (CONTINUED)Comment: Accepted in Planetary and Space Science (Aug 2011
Multi-resolution anisotropy studies of ultrahigh-energy cosmic rays detected at the Pierre Auger Observatory
We report a multi-resolution search for anisotropies in the arrival
directions of cosmic rays detected at the Pierre Auger Observatory with local
zenith angles up to and energies in excess of 4 EeV ( eV). This search is conducted by measuring the angular power spectrum
and performing a needlet wavelet analysis in two independent energy ranges.
Both analyses are complementary since the angular power spectrum achieves a
better performance in identifying large-scale patterns while the needlet
wavelet analysis, considering the parameters used in this work, presents a
higher efficiency in detecting smaller-scale anisotropies, potentially
providing directional information on any observed anisotropies. No deviation
from isotropy is observed on any angular scale in the energy range between 4
and 8 EeV. Above 8 EeV, an indication for a dipole moment is captured; while no
other deviation from isotropy is observed for moments beyond the dipole one.
The corresponding -values obtained after accounting for searches blindly
performed at several angular scales, are in the case of
the angular power spectrum, and in the case of the needlet
analysis. While these results are consistent with previous reports making use
of the same data set, they provide extensions of the previous works through the
thorough scans of the angular scales.Comment: Published version. Added journal reference and DOI. Added Report
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