Accurate estimation of environment parameters from ultrasonic data

This paper describes a robust and accurate ultrasonic sensing system for a mobile robot. The system continuously updates a local map of the environment in which obstacles are represented by straight lines or points in a robot centered coordinate frame. The presented algorithms use a Kalman filter for the reduction of the noise in the ultrasonic data and use a systematical error correction (‘bundle correction’) to reduce the uncertainty in obstacle direction. Experiments are carried out in simulation and with a real mobile robot system. Results show that the accuracy with which line parameters can be estimated is in the order of 1 degree for the orientation and about 2 cm for the position. The effect of the bundle correction is significant and maximal when the robot approaches walls under a small angle.     

光纤传感器在海洋环境监测中的应用

海洋是个特殊的环境,为许多光纤传感器提供了一个极好的应用领域。对于海洋这个特殊的“敌对”环境,光纤传感器将面临许多挑战。 本文着重介绍应用于海水温度、浊度、盐份浓度、浮游生物和溶解物光吸收量以及环境湿度等海洋环境参数监测的光纤传感器的原理、结构和特性,展望光纤传感器在海洋环境监测方面的美好前景。     

Formation of GaAsP interface layers monitored by reflectance anisotropy spectroscopy

Reflectance anisotropy spectroscopy (RAS) has been used to study As-by-P exchange during metalorganic vapor phase epitaxy. The study focuses on the processes occurring during switching from GaAs to GaInP, especially the effect of purging PH₃ over a GaAs surface. GaAsP/GaAs superlattices of different periodicity were grown and the P-content was determined by high-resolution x-ray diffraction and correlated to the RAS spectra. From the temperature dependence of the P-content, an activation energy of 0.56 eV was estimated for the incorporation mechanism. In addition to the insights into the processes at mixed group-V heterointerfaces, our study demonstrates the reproducibility of RAS transients that thus can be used for process monitoring.     

Contributions of source and inhibitory mechanisms to age-related retroactive interference in verbal working memory.

Determining contributions of source-monitoring and inhibitory function to age-related forgetting has been an elusive goal for cognitive theorists. Five studies used a verbal working memory paradigm to examine mechanisms accounting for disproportionate retroactive interference (RI) experienced with adult aging. Participants distinguished studied target-word pairs from interfering pairs that were read aloud. Source-monitoring and inhibitory task components varied through manipulations of response requirements. RI effects were primarily due to source-monitoring failures rather than to inhibitory failures. Removing both source and inhibitory components eliminated age differences in RI. When source monitoring was emphasized, RI continued to be observed in all age groups but disproportionately for older adults. Process dissociation analyses of memory found recollection decreases and familiarity increases consistent with source failures. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Planning considerations for domestic replacement satellites

Several domestic satellite systems have been more than 10 years in operation. During this time, the world has experienced a dramatic growth in communication. While the demand for more telephony and data circuits and television channels is still on the rise, new methods of signal transmission and circuit compression have been developed which may balance or reduce the need for more satellite trunk capacity. And while whole national networks are converting to digital transmission, new transmission media like optical fibre, are finding application, and may take over some of the heavy traffic routes previously carried by satellite. On the other side, business data communication between roof-top terminals, thin route traffic to remote users, television distribution by direct satellite broadcasting are becoming more popular and satellite land mobile communication may soon be a reality. Thus the domestic satellite's role appears to be slowly changing towards thin route and mobile traffic and DBS-type distribution and perhaps even radio position determination. System planners are adapting to the new trends in satellite communication and are trying to accommodate the various service payloads on a single satellite. This article discusses some aspects of the emerging multi-purpose domestic satellite, which carries fixed and mobile services, TV direct broadcasting and radio position determination, in view of network digitalization, network expansion, circuit compression, synchronization. The discussion centres on transponder supply and demand, satellite replenishment, K_u-band vs. C-band for TV direct satellite broadcasting, choice of modulation/multiple access for mobile communication, and expected accuracy in radio position determination.     

森林火灾的气象卫星监测方法

森林火灾是造成森林资源破坏的重大灾害之一。作者根据近年来从事森林火灾卫星监刚的实践，结合国内外有关利用气象卫星监测林火的资料，介绍了林火卫星监测的原理、方法和实用效果。     

手机市场呼唤召回制度

我国移动电话用户数已跃居世界第一位,且依然蕴藏着巨大的商机。由此不但引发了日趋激烈的市场竞争,而且造成了产品质量投诉量的居高不下,其中对于存在先天设计缺陷产品的处理目前在我国尚无法可依。国际上对缺陷产品实行的召回制度同样适用于我国。这是市场经济规则的需要,也是商家诚信作风的体现。我国已融入世界经济大潮之中,目前建立手机召回制度是必要和适时的。对生产企业而言,一旦发现缺陷产品流入市场,即刻确认并将其召回是明智之举。     

运用监控系统增强矿井防灾能力

瓦斯监测系统是煤矿瓦斯管理的重要手段。同时也可用于防治矿井胶带运输系统外因火灾，从而大大提高矿井的防灾抗灾水平。     

无线数据通信网发展趋势

无线数据通信具有两大发展趋势，即低速的广域移动数据网及高速的局域无线数据网。本文介绍了其技术特点、应用情况和市场前景，分析了无线数据通信传输技术、网络结构和媒质接入控制等问题。     

A survey of nitrate and nitrite content of fruit and vegetables grown in Slovenia during 1996-2002

Monitoring of nitrate (NO₃^-) and nitrite (NO₂^-) content in agricultural products in Slovenia has been carried out since 1996. The results of monitoring over the period 1996-2002 are presented. During this time 924 samples of 14 different agricultural products (potato, lettuce, apples, carrot, silage maize, cabbage, grapes, peaches, string beans, cereals, pears, cucumbers, strawberries and tomato) were analysed. The samples were taken at the time of maturity directly from growing sites and they were analysed using segmented flow analysis. The average nitrate contents were the highest in lettuce (1074 mg kg^-1), cabbage (881 mg kg^-1), string beans (298 mg kg^-1) and carrot (264 mg kg^-1), and they were moderately high in potato (158 mg kg^-1), silage maize (122 mg kg^-1), strawberries (94 mg kg^-1), cucumbers (93 mg kg^-1) and cereals (49 mg kg^-1). Low nitrate contents (below 6 mg kg^-1) were found in fruit (grapes, peaches, apples and pears) and tomato. With the exception of cereals (8.9 mg kg^-1), apples (1.5 mg kg^-1), potato (1.2 mg kg^-1) and pears (1.0 mg kg^-1) the content of nitrites did not exceed 0.5 mg kg^-1. It may be concluded that the results of the monitoring were in most cases similar to the results of investigations obtained in other countries.