Sidelooking laser altimeter for a flight simulator

An improved laser altimeter for a flight simulator which allows measurement of the height of the simulator probe above the terrain directly below the probe tip is described. A laser beam is directed from the probe at an angle theta to the horizontal to produce a beam spot on the terrain. The angle theta that the laser beam makes with the horizontal is varied so as to bring the beam spot into coincidence with a plumb line coaxial with the longitudinal axis of the probe. A television altimeter camera observes the beam spot and has a raster line aligned with the plumb line. Spot detector circuit coupled to the output of the TV camera monitors the position of the beam spot relative to the plumb line

Clutchless multiple drive source for output shaft

A first shaft is connected to a source of rotational power and has a gear fixedly mounted on the shaft. A second gear is fixedly mounted on a gear shaft that is parallel to the first shaft. A third gear, also fixedly mounted on gear shaft, meshes with a fourth gear fixedly mounted on the output shaft. The first input shaft and output shaft are rotatably mounted through a housing that is itself rotatable with respect to a support. Both shafts are coaxial and in end-to-end relationship. A second input shaft is connected to a second source of rotational power. A fifth gear, fixedly mounted on second input shaft, meshes with a sixth gear, which is fixedly mounted on rotatable housing and in coaxial relationship with first input shaft. In operation, the first drive source and gear train provide rotational power in a first direction to drive the output shaft in a given direction of rotation. The second source of rotational power may be operated either to decrease the rate of rotation imparted to the output shaft by the first source of rotational power, or to increase that rate of rotation, depending on which direction the housing is rotated by the second source of rotational power

NASA-SETI microwave observing project: Targeted Search Element (TSE)

The Targeted Search Element (TSE) performs one of two complimentary search strategies of the NASA-SETI Microwave Observing Project (MOP): the targeted search. The principle objective of the targeted search strategy is to scan the microwave window between the frequencies of one and three gigahertz for narrowband microwave emissions eminating from the direction of 773 specifically targeted stars. The scanning process is accomplished at a minimum resolution of one or two Hertz at very high sensitivity. Detectable signals will be of a continuous wave or pulsed form and may also drift in frequency. The TSE will possess extensive radio frequency interference (RFI) mitigation and verification capability as the majority of signals detected by the TSE will be of local origin. Any signal passing through RFI classification and classifiable as an extraterrestrial intelligence (ETI) candidate will be further validated at non-MOP observatories using established protocol. The targeted search will be conducted using the capability provided by the TSE. The TSE provides six Targeted Search Systems (TSS) which independently or cooperatively perform automated collection, analysis, storage, and archive of signal data. Data is collected in 10 megahertz chunks and signal processing is performed at a rate of 160 megabits per second. Signal data is obtained utilizing the largest radio telescopes available for the Targeted Search such as those at Arecibo and Nancay or at the dedicated NASA-SETI facility. This latter facility will allow continuous collection of data. The TSE also provides for TSS utilization planning, logistics, remote operation, and for off-line data analysis and permanent archive of both the Targeted Search and Sky Survey data

A single axis study of flight simulator kinematics by difference techniques

The kinematic parameters of position, velocity, and acceleration of a flight simulator may be calculated by knowing the distance between two or more points on an axis and the time the simulator takes to traverse the space between each set of points. These parameters are calculated through the use of difference techniques. Given the true kinematic response of the simulator to computer generated commands, the entire motion system loop may be calibrated, and system operability verified

Fiber optic data bus using Frequency Division Multiplexing (FDM) and an asymmetric coupler

A fiber optic data bus, using frequency division multiplexing (FDM) is discussed. The use of FDM is motivated by the need to avoid central control of the bus operation. A major difficulty of such a data bus is introduced by the couplers. An efficient low loss access coupler with an asymmetric structure is presented, and manufacturing processes for the coupler are proposed

Young people's participation in the development of a self-care intervention--a multi-site formative research study.

The poor outcomes of young people with chronic health conditions indicate that current services and self-care programmes are not meeting the needs of young people. How young people self-manage their condition impacts on long-term health outcomes, but there is little published evidence that details the development of self-care programmes and their most effective components. This article reports on an innovative formative research study, the purpose of which was to develop a self-care intervention prototype. Participants were 87 young people, aged 12-17, and seven young adult facilitators, aged 18-25, with type 1 diabetes or asthma. Each contributed to talking groups exploring themes that young people wanted to be addressed within a self-care programme. Instead of being focused on 'illness', young people's main concerns were directed toward 'life as an adolescent', while at the same time building sustainable daily routines of self-care. Overall, this article illustrates the process of initiating and implementing a developmental approach focused on young people, while also demonstrating the tailored self-care intervention that the process developed. This approach can be used to involve young people in the design and development of other conditions that rely on self-care interventions

Describing results of 4000 hours of multi environment model verification test Final report

Investigating categorization and formulation of stress and strength factors for semiconductor diodes to provide improved failure rate prediction from mathematical model

Interpretation of the OGLE Q2237+0305 microlensing light-curve

The four bright images of the gravitationally lensed quasar Q2237+0305 are being monitored from the ground (eg. OGLE collaboration, Apache Point Observatory) in the hope of observing a high magnification event (HME). Over the past three seasons (1997-1999) the OGLE collaboration has produced microlensing light-curves with unprecedented coverage. These demonstrate smooth, independent (therefore microlensing) variability between the images (Wozniak et al. 2000a,b; OGLE web page). We have retrospectively compared probability functions for high-magnification event parameters with several observed light-curve features. We conclude that the 1999 image C peak was due to the source having passed outside of a cusp rather than to a caustic crossing. In addition, we find that the image C light-curve shows evidence for a caustic crossing between the 1997 and 1998 observing seasons involving the appearance of new critical images. Our models predict that the next image C event is most likely to arrive 500 days following the 1999 peak, but with a large uncertainty (100-2000 days). Finally, given the image A light-curve derivative at the end of the 1999 observing season, our modelling suggests that a caustic crossing will occur between the 1999 and 2000 observing seasons, implying a minimum for the image A light-curve ~1-1.5 magnitudes fainter than the November 1999 level.Comment: 11 pages, 15 figures. Accepted for publication in M.N.R.A.