Recent elevation changes of Svalbard glaciers derived from ICESat laser altimetry

We have tested three methods for estimating 2003-2008 elevation changes of Svalbard glaciers from multi-temporal ICESat laser altimetry: (a) linear interpolation of crossover points between ascending and descending tracks, (b) projection of near repeat-tracks onto common locations using Digital Elevation Models (DEMs), and (c) least-squares fitting of rigid planes to segments of repeat-track data assuming a constant elevation change rate. The two repeat-track methods yield similar results and compare well to the more accurate, but sparsely sampled, crossover points. Most glacier regions in Svalbard have experienced low-elevation thinning combined with high-elevation balance or thickening during 2003-2008. The geodetic mass balance (excluding calving front retreat or advance) of Svalbard's 34,600 km² glaciers is estimated to be −4.3 ± 1.4 Gt y⁻¹, corresponding to an area-averaged water equivalent (w.e.) balance of −0.12 ± 0.04 m w.e. y⁻¹. The largest ice losses have occurred in the west and south, while northeastern Spitsbergen and the Austfonna ice cap have gained mass. Winter and summer elevation changes derived from the same methods indicate that the spatial gradient in mass balance is mainly due to a larger summer season thinning in the west and the south than in the northeast. Our findings are consistent with in-situ mass balance measurements from the same period, confirming that repeat-track satellite altimetry can be a valuable tool for monitoring short term elevation changes of Arctic glaciers.     

2009多国仪器仪表展览会流量仪表评估

简要介绍了2009年多国仪器仪表展览会(MICONEX2009)上流量仪表参展商概况、12大类参展流量仪表所占比例,并分析评述了展品及其亮点,如新流量测最原理的激光流量计,向小流量低流速方向延伸的超声流量计、超声热黾表和超声水表,能测量液体的MEMS(微机电系统)制的热式流量计,可代替机械式的MEMS家用/商用燃气表,高阶椭圆齿轮流量计等.     

A simple model for laser drilling

A simple mathematical model of laser drilling is proposed. Assuming axi-symmetry of the process around the axis of the laser beam, a one-dimensional formulation is obtained after cross-sectional averaging. The novelty of the approach relies on the fact that even after dimension reduction, the shape of the hole can still be described. The model is derived, implemented and validated for drilling using lasers with intensities in the GW/cm² range and microsecond pulses.     

Temperature sensor based on the Er green upconverted emission in a fluorotellurite glass

The temperature dependence of the green upconverted emission from the two thermally coupled ²H_11/2 and ⁴S_3/2 levels of the Er³⁺ ion in a fluorotellurite glass has been analyzed as a function of the optically active ion concentration in order to check its availability as a temperature sensor. The infrared-to-green upconverted emission have been observed by the naked eyes after a cw laser diode excitation at 800 nm. The fluorescence intensity ratio between the thermally coupled emitting levels as well as the temperature sensitivity has been experimentally obtained up to 540 K. A better behaviour as a temperature sensor has been obtained for the less Er³⁺ concentrated glass with a maximum sensitivity of 54 × 10⁻⁴ K⁻¹ at 540 K, one of the highest found in rare-earth doped transparent materials.     

轮胎圆度检测控制系统设计

该文介绍了一种轮胎外形轮廓检测系统的检测原理、系统组成及控制系统设计。采用两级计算机控制系统,上位机完成数据的采集、处理、显示以及计算结果和检测参数的管理,下位机由三菱Q系列PLC的高性能CPUQ02H、运动控制器172H和J3系列伺服控制系统组成,驱动三支激光传感器运动,完成精确定位并通过它们来宾现对轮胎外形轮廓的精确测量。上、下位机之间采用以太网通信,更换规格时上位机自动下传传感器位置参数到PLC。该系统通过长时间在青岛高校软控股份有限公司生产的动平衡及不圆度试验机上的应用,表明其运行稳定,测试效率高。     

Effects of different sensors, flying altitudes, and pulse repetition frequencies on forest canopy metrics and biophysical stand properties derived from small-footprint airborne laser data

Canopy height distributions were created from small-footprint airborne laser scanner (ALS) data collected over 40 field sample plots with size 1000 m² located in mature conifer forest. ALS data were collected with two different instruments, i.e., the ALTM 1233 and ALTM 3100 laser scanners (Optech Inc.). The ALTM 1233 data were acquired at a flying altitude of 1200 m and a pulse repetition frequency (PRF) of 33 kHz. Three different acquisitions were carried out with ALTM 3100, i.e., (1) a flying altitude of 1100 m and a PRF of 50 kHz, (2) a flying altitude of 1100 m and a PRF of 100 kHz, and (3) a flying altitude of 2000 m and a PRF of 50 kHz. Height percentiles, mean and maximum height values, coefficients of variation of the heights, and canopy density at different height intervals above the ground were derived from the four different ALS datasets and for single + first and last echoes of the ALS data separately. The ALS-derived height- and density variables were assessed in pair-wise comparisons to evaluate the effects of (a) instrument, (b) flying altitude, and (c) PRF. A systematic shift in height values of up to 0.3 m between sensors when the first echoes were compared was demonstrated. Also the density-related variables differed significantly between the two instruments. Comparisons of flying altitudes and PRFs revealed upwards shifted canopy height distributions for the highest flying altitude (2000 m) and the lowest PRF (50 kHz). The distribution of echoes on different echo categories, i.e., single and multiple (first and last) echoes, differed significantly between acquisitions. The proportion of multiple echoes decreased with increasing flying altitude and PRF. Different echo categories have different properties since it is likely that single echoes tend to occur in the densest parts of the tree crowns, i.e., near the apex where the concentration of biological matter is highest and distance to the ground is largest. To assess the influence of instrument, flying altitude, and PRF on biophysical properties derived from ALS data, regression analysis was carried out to relate ALS-derived metrics to mean tree height (h_L) and timber volume (V). Cross validation revealed only minor differences in precision for the different ALS acquisitions, but systematic differences between acquisitions of up to 2.5% for h_L and 10.7% for V were found when comparing data from different acquisitions.     

A new process for fabricating tip-shaped polymer microstructure array with patterned metallic coatings

In this paper, we present a new process for fabricating tip-shaped polymer microstructure array coated by patterned metal layer. This new process involves three techniques including: micro-molding, patterned metal layer transfer, and electrochemical-based sacrificial layer. As we know, it is very difficult to remove the extra photoresist (PR) in the concave areas in traditional micro-fabrication technology, which hinders patterning metal layers on three-dimensional (3D) microstructures. The electrochemical-based sacrificial layer technique can effectively resolve this problem, which is verified by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) characterization. Comparative study between the 3D metal-coated polyimide microstructures fabricated with and without the electrochemical-based sacrificial layer step is also performed and SEM images proved the effect of the presented process. The applicability of the developed process is also demonstrated with the successful fabrication of a pyramid-shaped polyimide microelectrodes array for neural stimulation.     

Study of symmetric microstructures for CMOS multilayer residual stress

This study presents a fabrication-based approach to improve the curl-up effect in complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) multilayer large-area planar structures. Control of the residual stress of CMOS multilayer microstructures is necessary for development of microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) sensors such as accelerometers and micromirrors. In this work, 3D symmetric geometry can be used to overcome effectively the residual stresses in CMOS multilayer microstructures. To demonstrate this concept, a symmetric multilayer flat-plane is fabricated and release-etched using an isotropic plasma etching process. The isotropic etch characteristics and lateral undercut can be controlled using a chamber pressure of 0.47 ± 0.2 Torr. A flat-plane structure with an area of 500 μm × 500 μm is fabricated using multilayer materials, including four metal and three silicon dioxide layers. Based on this approach, the measured results show the residual stress effect can be minimized in CMOS multilayer microstructures, and furthermore the curl-up effect of flat-plane is less than 2 μm across the 500 μm × 500 μm area.     

Self-localization and obstacle avoidance for a mobile robot

This article presents a fast self-localization method based on ZigBee wireless sensor network and laser sensor, an obstacle avoidance algorithm based on ultrasonic sensors for a mobile robot. The positioning system and positioning theory of ZigBee which can obtain a rough global localization of the mobile robot are introduced. To realize accurate local positioning, a laser sensor is used to extract the features from environment, then the environmental features and global reference map can be matched. From the matched environmental features, the position and orientation of the mobile robot can be obtained. To enable the mobile robot to avoid obstacle in real-time, a heuristic fuzzy neural network is developed by using heuristic fuzzy rules and the Kohonen clustering network. The experiment results show the effectiveness of the proposed method.     

基于DSP的壁纸印刷花纹涂层厚度在线检测

在壁纸生产过程中,尤其是在花纹印刷过程中,有效地在线测量花纹涂层厚度,对于减少壁纸生产的次品率和提高生产效率至关重要。本课题针对壁纸印刷花纹涂层厚度在线检测问题进行了研究,利用激光传感器测厚原理,基于TI公司生产的TMS320F2812DSP芯片为硬件核心处理器,完成了花纹涂层厚度的非接触在线测量。