Radio Sensor for Monitoring of UMTS Mobile Terminals

Relatively simple and low-cost radio sensor for monitoring of 3rd generation (3G) UMTS mobile terminals (i.e., phones) has been designed and practically tested. The main purpose of this sensor is to serve as an extending module that can be installed into systems used for monitoring of standard 2nd generation (2G) GSM and DCS mobile phones in highly guarded buildings and areas. Since the transmitted powers of UMTS mobile terminals can be very low in relation to GSM and DCS specifications, the new UMTS sensor is based on a highly sensitive receiver and additional signal processing. The radio sensor was practically tested in several scenarios representing worst-case mobile terminal - base station relations. The measured detection ranges attain values from approx. 11 m inside of rooms to more than 30 m in corridors, which seems to be sufficient for the expected application. Results of all performed tests correspond fairly well with the presented theoretical descriptions. An extended version of the radio sensor can be used for monitoring of mobile terminals of all existing voice or data formats

Noise Parameters of CW Radar Sensors Used in Active Defense Systems

Active defense represents an innovative way of protecting military vehicles. It is based on the employment of a set of radar sensors which detect an approaching threat missile and activate a suitable counter-measure. Since the radar sensors are supposed to detect flying missiles very fast and, at the same time, distinguish them from stationary or slow-moving objects, CW Doppler radar sensors can be employed with a benefit. The submitted article deals with a complex noise analysis of this type of sensors. The analysis considers the noise of linear and quasi-linear RF components, phase-noise of the local oscillator as well as the noise of low-frequency circuits. Since the incidence of the phase-noise depends strongly upon the time delay between the reference and the cross-talked signals, a new method of measuring noise parameters utilizing a reflecting wall has been developed and verified. The achieved results confirm potentially high influence of the phase-noise on the noise parameters of the mentioned type of radar sensors. Obtained results can be used for the analysis of noise parameters of the similar but even more complex sensors

A Novel Approach to Face Recognition using Image Segmentation based on SPCA-KNN Method

In this paper we propose a novel method for face recognition using hybrid SPCA-KNN (SIFT-PCA-KNN) approach. The proposed method consists of three parts. The first part is based on preprocessing face images using Graph Based algorithm and SIFT (Scale Invariant Feature Transform) descriptor. Graph Based topology is used for matching two face images. In the second part eigen values and eigen vectors are extracted from each input face images. The goal is to extract the important information from the face data, to represent it as a set of new orthogonal variables called principal components. In the final part a nearest neighbor classifier is designed for classifying the face images based on the SPCA-KNN algorithm. The algorithm has been tested on 100 different subjects (15 images for each class). The experimental result shows that the proposed method has a positive effect on overall face recognition performance and outperforms other examined methods

Errors in Measurement of Microwave Interferograms Using Antenna Matrix

New antenna matrices for both scalar and vector measurement of microwave interferograms for the frequency 2.45 GHz were developed and used for an analysis of sources of measurement errors. Influence of mutual coupling between individual antennas in an antenna matrix on a measurement of microwave interferograms, particularly on a measurement of interferogram minimum values, was studied. Simulations and measurements of interferograms, proposal of a new calibration procedure and correction method are presented. Influence of differences in radiation patterns of individual antennas of an antenna matrix on a measurement of microwave interferograms was studied as well

Physical modeling of ice-sheet-induced salt movements using the example of northern Germany

Salt structures and their surroundings can play an important role in the energy transition related to a number of storage and energy applications. Thus, it is important to assess the current and future stability of salt bodies in their specific geological settings. We investigate the influence of ice sheet loading and unloading on subsurface salt structures using physical models based on the geological setting of northern Germany, which was repeatedly glaciated by the Scandinavian Ice Sheet during the Pleistocene. Apparent spatial correlations between subsurface salt structures in northern Germany and Weichselian ice marginal positions have been observed before, and the topic is a matter of ongoing debate. Recently described geomorphological features – termed surface cracks – have been interpreted as a direct result of ice-sheet-induced salt movement resulting in surface expansion. The spatial clustering and orientation of these surface cracks has not been well understood so far, owing to only a limited number of available studies dealing with the related salt tectonic processes. Thus, we use four increasingly complex physical models to test the basic loading and unloading principle, to analyze flow patterns within the salt source layer and within salt structures, and to examine the influence of the shape and orientation of the salt structures with respect to a lobate ice margin in a three-dimensional laboratory environment. Three salt structures of the northern German basin were selected as examples that were replicated in the laboratory. Salt structures were initially grown by differential loading and buried before loading. The ice load was simulated by a weight that was temporarily placed on a portion of the surface of the models. The replicated salt structures were either completely covered by the load, partly covered by the load, or situated outside the load extent. In all scenarios, a dynamic response of the system to the load could be observed; while the load was applied, the structures outside the load margin started to rise, with a decreasing tendency with distance from the load margin, and, at the same time, the structures under the load subsided. After the load was removed, a flow reversal set in, and previously loaded structures started to rise, whereas the structures outside the former load margin began to subside. The vertical displacements during the unloading stage were not as strong as during the load stage, and thus the system did not return to its pre-glaciation status. Modeled salt domes that were located at distance from the load margin showed a comparably weak reaction. A more extreme response was shown by modeled salt pillows whose margins varied from sub-parallel to sub-perpendicular to the load margin and were partly covered by the load. Under these conditions, the structures showed a strong reaction in terms of strain and vertical displacement. The observed strain patterns at the surface were influenced by the shape of the load margin and the shape of the salt structure at depth, resulting in complex deformation patterns. These physical modeling results provide more evidence for a possible interplay between ice sheets and subsurface salt structures, highlighting the significance of three-dimensional effects in dynamic geological settings. Our results lead to a better understanding of spatial patterns of the surface cracks that were mapped at the surface above salt structures and offer further room for interpretation of the influence of salt movements on the present-day landscape

ASTRONOMICAL GLASS PLATE NEGATIVES: MONITORING OF EMULSION LAYER DETERIORATION

One of the techniques for making photographic negatives most used in the history of photography were gelatin glass plates. This technique was used not only in the artistic field but also and mainly in the scientific field. The main period when glass plate negatives were used in astronomy was between 1890–1980. There are over 7 million of these negatives all over the word and they carry valuable historical scientific data. However, during the long-term storage of this material, deterioration of the emulsion (picture) layer and/or the support (glass) layer has occurred. In this paper we report on our preliminary results from an analysis of the yellowing of the emulsion layer and of gold micro-spots. Both phenomena worsen the readability of the information in the photograph, and it is necessary to prevent their formation, which is why we need to know as much as possible about their origin

TRL-based Measurement of Embedded Circuits in Microwave Printed Circuit Boards Including Frequency Conversion

The paper deals with the measurement of individual components or circuits embedded in more complex radio frequency (RF) or microwave printed circuit board (PCBs). Since no standard RF measurement enables the direct parallel connection of an analyzer to the boards being tested, individual components are often measured by destructively cutting manufactured boards and by attaching the RF connectors to the concerned parts. This article shows that this problem, thanks to suitable calibration standards that have been designed and manufactured, can be solved by vector measurements and a TRL calibration process. The measurements also work when the boards to be measured include frequency conversion. The applicability of the developed method has been verified by practical measurements and its accuracy influenced by variations of the parameters of the surrounding circuits has been investigated by an uncertainty analysis

Gully Erosion of Coastal Plain Sediments of SE Nigeria - Final Summary Technical Report

Coastal plain sediments of SE Nigeria are prone to rapid and extensive gullying. Gully advances of 157m in length, 50m in width, and 5m in depth per year have been measured, and have cut through road, isolated villages, disrupted water supplies, and caused major landslides. The gullying rates have increased in recent years because of increased population pressures and resultant vegetative cover denudation and poor drainage channelization. Studies were carried out in nine different sites over four different gully-prone formations. The gully-prone areas are underlain by lateritic coastal sands of very specific geotechnical properties, such as similar grain size distribution, uniformity, and dispersivity. Correlations indicate that the gully advance and dispersion rate is governed mostly be the sands' grain size distribution and uniformity. The Ca0, K20, Mn0 and Mg0 content of the weak lateritic cements also have a significant statistical relationship to the gullying process

A Novel System for Non-Invasive Method of Animal Tracking and Classification in Designated Area Using Intelligent Camera System

This paper proposed a novel system for non-invasive method of animal tracking and classification in designated area. The system is based on intelligent devices with cameras, which are situated in a designated area and a main computing unit (MCU) acting as a system master. Intelligent devices track animals and then send data to MCU to evaluation. The main purpose of this system is detection and classification of moving animals in a designated area and then creation of migration corridors of wild animals. In the intelligent devices, background subtraction method and CAMShift algorithm are used to detect and track animals in the scene. Then, visual descriptors are used to create representation of unknown objects. In order to achieve the best accuracy in classification, key frame extraction method is used to filtrate an object from detection module. Afterwards, Support Vector Machine is used to classify unknown moving animals