A task-based metric for telerobotic performance assessment

A methodology is described for developing a task complexity index based on combining the six basic motion primitives (three translation, three orientation) with force control and accuracy requirements. The result of this development is a set of complexity values that can be assigned to the high-level task primitives derived from a relatively shallow top-down mission analysis. These values are then averaged to arrive at total average mission complexities, such as for the mission of exchanging the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) battery modules. Application of this metric to a candidate set of NASA Flight Telerobotic Servicer evaluation tasks is discussed using the HST battery module mission for an in-depth example

Deep Reconditioning Testing for near Earth Orbits

The problems and benefits of deep reconditioning to near Earth orbit missions with high cycle life and shallow discharge depth requirements is discussed. A simple battery level approach to deep reconditioning of nickel cadmium batteries in near Earth orbit is considered. A test plan was developed to perform deep reconditioning in direct comparison with an alternative trickle charge approach. The results demonstrate that the deep reconditioning procedure described for near Earth orbit application is inferior to the alternative of trickle charging

Producing the Deuteron in Stars: Anthropic Limits on Fundamental Constants

Stellar nucleosynthesis proceeds via the deuteron (D), but only a small change in the fundamental constants of nature is required to unbind it. Here, we investigate the effect of altering the binding energy of the deuteron on proton burning in stars. We find that the most definitive boundary in parameter space that divides probably life-permitting universes from probably life-prohibiting ones is between a bound and unbound deuteron. Due to neutrino losses, a ball of gas will undergo rapid cooling or stabilization by electron degeneracy pressure before it can form a stable, nuclear reaction-sustaining star. We also consider a less-bound deuteron, which changes the energetics of the $pp$ and $pep$ reactions. The transition to endothermic $pp$ and $pep$ reactions, and the resulting beta-decay instability of the deuteron, do not seem to present catastrophic problems for life.Comment: 19 pages, 5 figures. Accepted to JCAP. Revised to match the published version; corrected to better take into account free neutron

HI 21cm observations of the PG1216+069 sub-DLy-alpha absorber field at z=0.00632

The Westerbork Synthesis Radio Telescope finds a weak 21cm line emission feature at the coordinates (RA-Dec-velocity) of the sub-Damped Lyman-alpha absorber observed at z_abs=0.00632 in the spectrum of PG1216+069. The emission feature, WSRT-J121921+0639, lies within 30" of the quasar sightline, is detected at 99.8% (3 sigma) confidence level, has M_HI between 5 and 15x10^6 M_solar, and has velocity spread between 20 and 60 km/s. Other HI emitters in the field include VCC297 at a projected distance of 86/h_75 kpc and a previously unreported HI cloud, WSRT-J121919+0624 at 112/h_75 kpc with M_HI ~ 3x10^8 M_solar. The optically identified, foreground galaxy that is closest to the quasar sightline appears to be VCC339 (~L*/25) at 29/h_75 kpc and velocity offset 292 km/s . A low surface brightness galaxy with the HI mass of the sub-DLA absorber WSRT-J121921+0639 would likely have m_B ~ 17, and its diffuse optical emission would need to compete with the light of both the background QSO and a brighter foreground star ~10" from the QSO sight line.Comment: 10 pages, 2 figures, accepted for publication in ApJLet

Carrier-interference ratios for frequency sharing between frequency-modulated amplitude-modulated-vestigial-sideband television systems

For just perceptible interference, an FM television signal interfering with another FM television signal must have an average signal power that is 26 to 37 db less than the wanted signal power. For an AM-VSB television signal interfering with an FM television signal, the AM-VSB television's sync peak average power must be 18 to 31 db below the FM television signal's average power. Also, when an FM television signal interferes with an AM-VSB signal, the average signal power of the FM signal should be 56 to 59 db below the sync peak average power of the AM-VSB television signal. The range of power ratios occur as a result of different TV scenes used in the tests and different FM-signal frequency deviations used. All tests were performed using 525 line, system M, color-television signals

An overview of the development of remote sensing techniques for the screwworm eradication program

The current status of remote sensing techniques developed for the screwworm eradication program of the Mexican-American Screwworm Eradication Commission was reported. A review of the type of data and equipment used in the program is presented. Future applications of remote sensing techniques are considered

Implications of a DK Molecule at 2.32 GeV

We discuss the implications of a possible quasinuclear DK bound state at 2.32 GeV. Evidence for such a state was recently reported in D_s^+pi^o by the BaBar Collaboration. We first note that a conventional quark model c-sbar assignment is implausible, and then consider other options involving multiquark systems. An I=0 c sbar n nbar baryonium assignment is one possibility. We instead favor a DK meson molecule assignment, which can account for the mass and quantum numbers of this state. The higher-mass scalar c-sbar state expected at 2.48 GeV is predicted to have a very large DK coupling, which would encourage formation of an I=0 DK molecule. Isospin mixing is expected in hadron molecules, and a dominantly I=0 DK state with some I=1 admixture could explain both the narrow total width of the 2.32 GeV state as well as the observed decay to D_s^+ pi^o. Additional measurements that can be used to test this and related scenarios are discussed.Comment: 6 pages, 1 figur

On a q-analogue of the multiple gamma functions

A $q$-analogue of the multiple gamma functions is introduced, and is shown to satisfy the generalized Bohr-Morellup theorem. Furthermore we give some expressions of these function.Comment: 8 pages, AMS-Late