One of the US Department of Energy, Pittsburgh Research Center (PRC) mine safety and health research programs is developing technology that will allow remote-controlled operation of mechanized equipment normally used ...
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One of the US Department of Energy, Pittsburgh Research Center (PRC) mine safety and health research programs is developing technology that will allow remote-controlled operation of mechanized equipment normally used in underground room-and-pillar coal mining, thereby permitting workers to be located away from the hazardous coal extraction area (the face). As part of this program, advanced machine navigation and control technologies are being developed for underground room-and-pillar and highwall coal mining that can be applied to commercially available mining equipment. These technologies use off-the-shelf components and a flexible control software architecture to minimize the effort required to adapt them to mining equipment. An accurate reliable navigation system that can provide the mining machine's heading and location at all times is a critical requirement for a remote-controlled mining system. After much research involving several different types of navigation sensors, the Honeywell Ring Laser Gyro Inertial Navigation System was selected as showing the most promise. It has been installed on a continuous mining machine at PRCs surface test facility. This paper describes the system being employed on a mining machine while final accuracy and performance testing continues.
This paper presents the signal processing method of laser images used for detection of small collinear obstacles in helicopter airborne applications. It is very difficult, if not almost impossible, for a regular passi...
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This paper presents the signal processing method of laser images used for detection of small collinear obstacles in helicopter airborne applications. It is very difficult, if not almost impossible, for a regular passive imaging sensor based on CCD detectors to detect such small, remote objects. It was proved in the literature that the fusion of range and intensity data is needed for such a task. The paper presents a new and improved algorithm for real time image processing which enable detection of small tiny objects from sparse data, from a fast moving platform.
FMCW sensors are gaining more importance-in a wide variety of applications for measuring target range and relative velocity. In order to improve resolution of the sensor for measuring between two close, adjacent targe...
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FMCW sensors are gaining more importance-in a wide variety of applications for measuring target range and relative velocity. In order to improve resolution of the sensor for measuring between two close, adjacent targets, one has to widen the bandwidth and to improve the linearity of the transmit chirp. In addition, improving the linearity increases the signal to noise ratio, and thus, the receiver sensitivity. In this paper we present a new analog, closed loop system, which pins the higher order VCO nonlinearity resulting in an overall linearity of 0.1%. The system is compact, cheap to implement, and free from spurious signals. Our theoretical analysis also identifies the important parameters which influence the linearity and sensitivity of the receiver.
FMCW millimeter wave sensors are very useful for both military and civilian applications, due to their low cost, simplicity and low transmitted power. In this paper we present a novel approach to the realization of li...
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FMCW millimeter wave sensors are very useful for both military and civilian applications, due to their low cost, simplicity and low transmitted power. In this paper we present a novel approach to the realization of linear FMCW chirp at a frequency of 94 GHz based on a DDS (Direct Digital Synthesizer). This is a much superior method compared to the common approach using a VCO with a linearization loop, the linearity of which is limited. Our approach enables realization of a relatively low cost, small size sensor with an extremely good linearity. We demonstrated an excellent range resolution of better than 0.5 meter at a range of 1 kilometer.
We have designed a real-time co-operating system (RTCOS) for simultaneously supporting real-time and non-real-time activities on a workstation with two or more processors. The RTCOS is the software equivalent of a cop...
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We have designed a real-time co-operating system (RTCOS) for simultaneously supporting real-time and non-real-time activities on a workstation with two or more processors. The RTCOS is the software equivalent of a coprocessor, with a software architecture analogous to the hardware architecture that has been used in many workstations and personal computers. We discuss our first software prototype of the RTCOS, which co-exists with Solaris 2.4 on a four-processor Sun SPARCstation 20. We summarize the feasibility of our approach through an experimental characterization of Solaris 2.4. We address the technical issues involved and present the details of our design. The RTCOS is targeted towards real-time applications in the sensor-based control, process control, signal processing, multimedia, and manufacturing domains.
The process of developing and testing chassis systems control algorithms has improved significantly from earlier methods. Previously, ideas were implemented in assembly language targeted for a fixed-point processor fo...
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The process of developing and testing chassis systems control algorithms has improved significantly from earlier methods. Previously, ideas were implemented in assembly language targeted for a fixed-point processor for real-time implementation in a vehicle controller. In this paper an example is presented that illustrates the use of rapid prototyping tools in the development of chassis control algorithms. The development of a new brake algorithm using a Simulink block diagram model is described. The multiprocessor development system employs a microprocessor-based brake controller acting as the master with a DSP-based dSPACE Autobox serving as a slave processor. The base braking algorithm resides in the microprocessor-based controller allowing utilization of all of the original brake system inputs and outputs. The advanced braking algorithm resides in the dSPACE Autobox. sensor inputs are read by the brake controller and passed to the Autobox over a high speed optical CAN bus. The Autobox performs the necessary computations and sends the results back to the brake controller which adjusts the outputs accordingly. The development control system architecture is described in detail in the paper. The advantages of rapid prototyping over previous methods are also outlined with estimated savings in development time given.
In this paper we describe our approach to the design of proximity sensor arrays. Each sensing element of the proximity sensor array is a composite sensor, i.e. a sensor which is composed of an in-air ultrasonic rangef...
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In this paper we describe our approach to the design of proximity sensor arrays. Each sensing element of the proximity sensor array is a composite sensor, i.e. a sensor which is composed of an in-air ultrasonic rangefinder and an infrared detector. This sensor arrangement is capable, in principle, to achieve a perception of the explored objects that is not necessarily limited to their geometrical properties (size, shape and location relative to the sensor);possibly, the perception can be extended to other relevant features. In this paper, we show that, in principle, a sort of perception of the surface reflectance (the color) is achievable. The concept of the proposed sensor array spans a wide range of potential applications in flexible industrial automation, service robotics and autonomous mobility. The system herein described, in particular, is intended for providing an advanced wheelchair with the navigational capabilities required for improving the driving skills of disabled users.
This paper presents an overview of the design and potential applications of a 360-degree scanning, multi-spectral intrusion detection sensor. This moderate-resolution, true panoramic imaging sensor is intended for ext...
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This paper presents an overview of the design and potential applications of a 360-degree scanning, multi-spectral intrusion detection sensor. This moderate-resolution, true panoramic imaging sensor is intended for exterior use at ranges from 50 to 1500 meters. This advanced Exterior sensor (AES) simultaneously uses three sensing technologies (infrared, visible, and radar) along with advanced data processing methods to provide low false-alarm intrusion detection, tracking, and immediate visual assessment. The images from the infrared and visible detector sets and the radar range data are updated as the sensors rotate once per second. The radar provides range data with one-meter resolution. This sensor has been designed for easy use and rapid deployment to cover wide areas beyond or in place of typical perimeters, and tactical applications around fixed or temporary high-value assets. AES prototypes are in development. applications discussed in this paper include replacements, augmentations, or new installations at fixed sites where topological features, atmospheric conditions, environmental restrictions, ecological regulations, and archaeological features limit the use of conventional security components and systems.
Many tasks that can be fulfilled by millimeter wave sensors are in principle the solution to 2-D or 3-D imaging problems. After a recapitulation of the basics of obtaining 3-D resolution in spatial frequency domain th...
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ISBN:
(纸本)078032594X
Many tasks that can be fulfilled by millimeter wave sensors are in principle the solution to 2-D or 3-D imaging problems. After a recapitulation of the basics of obtaining 3-D resolution in spatial frequency domain the various methods of obtaining longitudinal resolution such as pulse, pulsed FM, FMCW and PN modulation are discussed as well as principles to achieve lateral resolution in one or two dimensions. The corresponding methods of mechanical beam scanning, phased array antennas, wavefront reconstruction or digital beam forming are reviewed with respect to sensorapplications. advanced methods of using a transmitter antenna diversity to efficiently use a given array of a limited number of receiver antennas are described according to this scheme. Most of the principles are underlined by examples of systems which have been realized at TUM. All systems parameters related to spatial resolution can be efficiently characterized and compared in spatial frequency domain.
A smart-pixel cellular neural networks with hardware annealing capability, digitally programmable synaptic weights, and multisensor parallel interface has been under development for advanced space sensorapplications....
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A smart-pixel cellular neural networks with hardware annealing capability, digitally programmable synaptic weights, and multisensor parallel interface has been under development for advanced space sensorapplications. The smart-pixel CNN architecture is a programmable multi-dimensional array of optoelectronic neurons which are locally connected with their local neurons and associated active-pixel sensors. Integration of the neuroprocessor in each processor node of a scalable multiprocessor system offers orders-of-magnitude computing performance enhancements for on-board real-time intelligent multisensor processing and control tasks of advanced small satellites. The smart-pixel CNN operation theory, architecture, design and implementation, and system applications are investigated in details. The VLSI implementation feasibility was illustrated by a prototype smart-pixel 5×5-neuroprocessor array chip of active dimensions 1380 μm × 746 μm in a 2-μm CMOS technology.
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