Publications

Refine Results

(Filters Applied) Clear All

MLS Multipath Studies, Phase 3 Final Report, Volume III: Application of Models to MLS Assessment Issues, Part 1

Published in:
MIT Lincoln Laboratory Report ATC-88,III,PT-1

Summary

This report presents work done during phase 3 of the US national Microwave Landing System (MLS) program toward developing a computer simulation model of the MLS multipath effects, the experimental validation ot the model, and the application of the model to investigate multipath performance of ICAO proposals for the new approach and landing guidance system. The first two volumes of the report presented an overview of the simulation effort as well as describing in detail the propagation and MLS technique mathematical models and their validation by comparison with experimental data. In this volume, we describe the results of comparative simulations for the various MLS techniques in various scenarios and analyze in detail certain multipath performance features which were found to be significant in the scenario simulations. Simulation results are presented for several scenarios, and shadowing of the MLS azimuth by taxiing and overflying aircraft is analyzed. The remainder of the report focuses on multipath performance factors specific to various individual techniques. These include: (1) the effects of angle data outlier tests and filtering in the TRSB receivers, (2) the effects on the DMLS system due to receiver AGC, receiver motion-induced Doppler shifts, and the use of commutated reference systems, and (3) acquisition/validation algorithms for all three techniques. The report concludes with a summary and suggestions for future work. Part I of this volume consists of Chapters I through IV; Part II contains Chapters V through VIII and the Appendices.
READ LESS

Summary

This report presents work done during phase 3 of the US national Microwave Landing System (MLS) program toward developing a computer simulation model of the MLS multipath effects, the experimental validation ot the model, and the application of the model to investigate multipath performance of ICAO proposals for the new...

READ MORE

Coordinated radar and aircraft observations of turbulence

Author:
Published in:
MIT Lincoln Laboratory Report ATC-108

Summary

Interim results of a program to measure and correlate radar- and aircraft-sensed turbulence in rainstorms are presented. The dissipation factor of a turbulence air mass can be measured by an aircraft and a weather radar. Comparisons are made between precipitation reflectivity and spectral width measurements as indicators of turbulence. The instrumentation and data processing procedures are described. Examples of turbulence observations made with a storm-penetrating aircraft and the weather radar are given. The relationship between the radar observations and the physical properties of the turbulence atmosphere are derived. The relationship of radar spectral width (variance) to turbulence intensity is discussed.
READ LESS

Summary

Interim results of a program to measure and correlate radar- and aircraft-sensed turbulence in rainstorms are presented. The dissipation factor of a turbulence air mass can be measured by an aircraft and a weather radar. Comparisons are made between precipitation reflectivity and spectral width measurements as indicators of turbulence. The...

READ MORE

Recursive two-dimensional signal reconstruction from linear system input and output magnitudes

Published in:
Proc. IEEE, Vol. 69, No. 5, May 1981, pp. 667-668.

Summary

A recursive algorithm is presented for reconstructing a two-dimensional complex signal from its magnitude and the magnitude of the output of a known linear shift-invariant system whose input is the desired signal. The recursion has a simple geometric interpretation, and is easily extended to causal, shift-varying systems.
READ LESS

Summary

A recursive algorithm is presented for reconstructing a two-dimensional complex signal from its magnitude and the magnitude of the output of a known linear shift-invariant system whose input is the desired signal. The recursion has a simple geometric interpretation, and is easily extended to causal, shift-varying systems.

READ MORE

On best approximation by truncated series

Author:
Published in:
J. Approx. Theory, Vol. 32, May 1981, pp. 82-84.

Summary

Let T, be the Chebyshev polynomial of the first kind of degree k.
READ LESS

Summary

Let T, be the Chebyshev polynomial of the first kind of degree k.

READ MORE

An improved technique for altitude tracking of aircraft

Author:
Published in:
MIT Lincoln Laboratory Report ATC-105

Summary

When simple linear recursive tracking techniques are applied to quantized altitude reports, certain errors in estimation of altitude and altitude rate can be attributed to the response of the tracker to transitions between quantization levels. These errors can be reduced by use of an estimation technique which explicitly recognizes the quantized nature of the inputs. Smoothing of the level occupancy time (i.e., the time spent at each quantization level) can be used to control the response to redundant samples taken at the same quantization level. Further improvement is achieved by consistency tests which use particular properties of quantized data to detect changes in rate. This document presents a theoretical analysis of tracker repsonse to quantized inputs. A tracking algorithm is synthesized using these techniques and simulation results using various altitude profiles are presented.
READ LESS

Summary

When simple linear recursive tracking techniques are applied to quantized altitude reports, certain errors in estimation of altitude and altitude rate can be attributed to the response of the tracker to transitions between quantization levels. These errors can be reduced by use of an estimation technique which explicitly recognizes the...

READ MORE

Radar Beacon Transponder (RBX) installation and siting criteria

Published in:
MIT Lincoln Laboratory Report ATC-106

Summary

The Radar BEacon Transponder (RBX) is a ground-based facility used in conjunction with other elements of the Active Beacon Collision Avoidance System (BCAS) to control the threat detection sensitivity level of BCAS aircraft and to convey displayed Resolution Advisories from the BCAS aircraft to the local ATC terminal facility. This paper describes the mechanisms of specular multipath reflection and signal shadowing and discussed their impact on the RBX link power budget. Criteria for choice of RBX antenna height and location are presented.
READ LESS

Summary

The Radar BEacon Transponder (RBX) is a ground-based facility used in conjunction with other elements of the Active Beacon Collision Avoidance System (BCAS) to control the threat detection sensitivity level of BCAS aircraft and to convey displayed Resolution Advisories from the BCAS aircraft to the local ATC terminal facility. This...

READ MORE

The effects of microphones and facemasks on LPC vocoder performance

Author:
Published in:
Proc. of IEEE Int. Conf. on Acoustics, Speech & Signal Processing, 30 March - 1 April 1981.

Summary

The effects of oxygen facemasks and noise cancelling microphones on LPC vocoder performance were analyzed and evaluated. Likely sources of potential vocoder performance degradation included the non-ideal frequency response characteristics of the microphone and the possible presence of additional resonances in the speech waveform due to the addition of the facemask cavity. Examination of vowel spectra revealed that spurious resonances do not occur in the vocoder frequency band for speech generated using the facemask and microphone. Also observed was a vowel-dependent reduction in the bandwidths of the upper formants, a result which can be predicted from acoustic theory. Finally, it is shown that the low frequency emphasis associated with small enclosures is not relevant when using a pressure gradient (noise cancelling) microphone. Diagnostic Rhyme Tests involving three subjects indicated that the presence of the oxygen facemask and noise cancelling microphone did not result in a significant increase in the LPC vocoder processing loss.
READ LESS

Summary

The effects of oxygen facemasks and noise cancelling microphones on LPC vocoder performance were analyzed and evaluated. Likely sources of potential vocoder performance degradation included the non-ideal frequency response characteristics of the microphone and the possible presence of additional resonances in the speech waveform due to the addition of the...

READ MORE

Radar Beacon Transponder (RBX) functional description

Published in:
MIT Lincoln Laboratory Report ATC-104

Summary

The Radar Beacon Transponder (RBX) is a ground-based transponder used to control the threat-detection sensitivity level of BCAS aircraft operating in high density terminal airspace. THe RBX is also used to deliver displayed resolution advisories from BCAS to the ATC facility. The normal DABS interrogation waveforms and message formats are used for communication between the RBX and BCAS aircraft. The appropriate BCAS sensitivity level is selected by comparing the BCAS aircraft position with an internally stored sensitivity level map of the surrounding airspace volume. This document provides a functional description of the RBX and shows that reliable performance is achievable in the presence of interference from ATCRBS and BCAS air-to-air interrogations.
READ LESS

Summary

The Radar Beacon Transponder (RBX) is a ground-based transponder used to control the threat-detection sensitivity level of BCAS aircraft operating in high density terminal airspace. THe RBX is also used to deliver displayed resolution advisories from BCAS to the ATC facility. The normal DABS interrogation waveforms and message formats are...

READ MORE

Electronic flight rules: an alternative separation assurance concept

Published in:
MIT Lincoln Laboratory Report ATC-93

Summary

This report presents results of a study of alternative concepts for tactically separating aircraft in low altitude en route airspace. It describes a concept designated Electronic Flight Rules (EFR) which allows aircraft to fly under instrument meteorological conditions in a manner that retains most of the freedom and flexibility of VFR flight. Feasibility considerations, potential benefits, applicable technologies, and alternative system configurations are evaluated.
READ LESS

Summary

This report presents results of a study of alternative concepts for tactically separating aircraft in low altitude en route airspace. It describes a concept designated Electronic Flight Rules (EFR) which allows aircraft to fly under instrument meteorological conditions in a manner that retains most of the freedom and flexibility of...

READ MORE

Active Beacon Collision Avoidance System (BCAS) functional overview

Published in:
MIT Lincoln Laboratory Report ATC-102

Summary

The Active Beacon Collision Avoidance System (BCAS) is a beacon-based airborne collision avoidance system that provides for cooperative threat resolution between BCAS and conflicting aircraft and coordination with the ground ATC control function through the DABS data link. All beacon-equipped aircraft in the vicinity of the BCAS are detected. ATCRBS-equipped aircraft are interrogated using a special Mode C interrogation. DABS aircraft are initially detected passively. Those aircraft that represent a possible threat are discretely interrogated to maintain a range/altitude track. This document provides a functional overview of BCAS including operational features, a description of the avionics package, and examples of surveillance data obtained with experimental BCAS equipment. The results show that reliable surveillance performance is achieved in low and medium density airspace.
READ LESS

Summary

The Active Beacon Collision Avoidance System (BCAS) is a beacon-based airborne collision avoidance system that provides for cooperative threat resolution between BCAS and conflicting aircraft and coordination with the ground ATC control function through the DABS data link. All beacon-equipped aircraft in the vicinity of the BCAS are detected. ATCRBS-equipped...

READ MORE