Towards forecasting and mitigating ionospheric scintillation effects on GNSS

The effect of the ionosphere on the signals of Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS), such as the Global Positionig System (GPS) and the proposed European Galileo, is dependent on the ionospheric electron density, given by its Total Electron Content (TEC). Ionospheric time-varying density irregularities may cause scintillations, which are fluctuations in phase and amplitude of the signals. Scintillations occur more often at equatorial and high latitudes. They can degrade navigation and positioning accuracy and may cause loss of signal tracking, disrupting safety-critical applications, such as marine navigation and civil aviation. This paper addresses the results of initial research carried out on two fronts that are relevant to GNSS users if they are to counter ionospheric scintillations, i.e. forecasting and mitigating their effects. On the forecasting front, the dynamics of scintillation occurrence were analysed during the severe ionospheric storm that took place on the evening of 30 October 2003, using data from a network of GPS Ionospheric Scintillation and TEC Monitor (GISTM) receivers set up in Northern Europe. Previous results [1] indicated that GPS scintillations in that region can originate from ionospheric plasma structures from the American sector. In this paper we describe experiments that enabled confirmation of those findings. On the mitigation front we used the variance of the output error of the GPS receiver DLL (Delay Locked Loop) to modify the least squares stochastic model applied by an ordinary receiver to compute position. This error was modelled according to [2], as a function of the S4 amplitude scintillation index measured by the GISTM receivers. An improvement of up to 21% in relative positioning accuracy was achieved with this technnique.

Otimização da distância de extração de madeira com forwarder

The activities and management operations of wood harvesting do not have good computational tools available to help the forest technicians with the task of cost reduction. In many cases, machines of high investment are used in wood harvesting without adequate operation planning; consequently, the cost per hour of these machines, which is high, could be reduced. Using technological resources such as the Geographic Information Systems (GIS) integrated with the Global Positioning System (GPS), which are the basis of precision harvesting. In this research, a technological tool capable of calculating and optimizing the average skidding distance of the forwarder was developed. It was used in stands of different sizes and formats through mathematical techniques and available functionalities in the Geographic Information System GRASS. The developed tool, called optimized model, divides the stand in small parts in relation to shorter skidding distances. The main variable considered was the alignment of plantation. The model was tested in eucalypt stands located in the State of São Paulo. Sixteen stands were randomly selected: eight with a rectangular polygon form, and eight with irregular polygon form. The main variables were collected in these stands. Results showed that the optimized model developed, is efficient and flexible. It was possible to divide the stands in small parts resulting in smaller skidding medium distances. The stands with irregular form had shorter skidding medium distances than the rectangular stands.

Permanent Magnet Hall Thruster for satellite orbit raising with low power energy consumption

Electric propulsion is now a succeful method for primary propulsion of deep space long duration missions and for geosyncronous satellite attitude control. Closed Drift Thruster, so called Hall Thruster or SPT (Stationary Plasma Thruster), was primarily conceived in USSR (the ancient Soviet Union) and, since then, it has been developed by space agencies, space research institutes and industries in several countries such as France, USA, Israel, Russian Federation and Brazil. In this work we present the main features of the Permanent Magnet Hall Thruster (PMHT) developed at the Plasma Laboratory of the University of Brasilia. The idea of using an array of permanent magnets, instead of an electromagnet, to produce a radial magnetic field inside the plasma channel of the thruster is very significant. It allows the development of a Hall Thruster with power consumption low enough to be used in small and medium size satellites. Description of a new vacuum chamber used to test the second prototype of the PMHT (PHALL II) will be given. PHALL II has an aluminum plasma chamber and is smaller with 15 cm diameter and will contain rare earth magnets. We will show plasma density and temperature space profiles inside and outside the thruster channel. Ion temperature measurements based on Doppler broadening of spectral lines and ion energy measurements are also shown. Based on the measured plasma parameters we constructed an aptitude figure of the PMHT. It contains the specific impulse, total thrust, propellant flow rate and power consumption necessary for orbit raising of satellites. Based on previous studies of geosyncronous satellite orbit positioning we perform numerical simulations of satellite orbit raising from an altitude of 700 km to 36000 km using a PMHT operating in the 100 mN - 500 mN thrust range. In order to perform these calculations integration techniques were used. The main simulation paraters were orbit raising time, fuel mass, total satellite mass, thrust and exaust velocity. We conclude comparing our results with results obtainned with known space missions performed with Hall Thrusters. © 2008 by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Inc.

Planejamento agrícola e implantação de sistema de cultivo de cana-de-açúcar com auxílio de técnicas geoestatísticas

Sugarcane is one of the most important crops of the Brazilian agribusiness and this importance justifies the use of techniques that allow the implementation of cultivation systems capable of reducing the variability of soil characteristics and the establishment of efficient agricultural planning. The aim of the present work was the planning and implementation of cultivation systems for sugarcane using geostatistical techniques, in the Pereira Barreto region, SP. An area of 505 ha was mapped using the global positioning system (GPS) and a Digital Elevation Model was elaborated (MDE). Soil samples were collected for 0-0.25 m depth, in each 7 ha, for their chemical attributes and texture characterization. Data were analyzed by descriptive statistics and geostatistics. The determination of the spatial distribution of soil granulometric and chemical attributes allowed the allocation of the studied sugarcane varieties according to soil fertility and clay content. The kriging maps of soil granulometric and chemical attributes brought useful information to the establishment of production environments with different soil and crop managements. The identification of different environments by means of geostatistical techniques allowed the precise planning of the sugarcane cultivation, as well as the adequacy of fertilization practices and the allocation of suitable sugarcane varieties adapted to the conditions imposed by differences in the soil attributes.

Ajustamento de redes gps em conformidade com as exigências da lei 10.267/2001

In the Brazil, several have been the applications of GPS and with the introduction of the Law 10.267/2001 that among other dispositions, it treats of the georeferencing of the rural parcels. However, most of the commercial softwares of processing and adjustment of GPS data doesn't allow that the users may evaluate their results in a reliable way. For example, the constraints are normally used as absolute, which provides results with very optimists precisions. The adoption of additional analyses and the implementation of softwares can reduce these kinds of problems. Thus, it was developed a software for adjustment of GPS networks, aiming to assist in a reliable way the requirements of the Law 10.267/2001. In this context, in this work it is analyzed the adjustments of GPS networks, utilizing absolute and relative constraints. In the case of the last one, the adjustments were accomplished considering and not considering the correlations among the coordinate positions.

Influence of implant positioning in extraction sockets on osseointegration: Histomorphometric analyses in dogs

Aim: To evaluate the influence of implant positioning into extraction sockets on osseointegration. Material and methods: Implants were installed immediately into extraction sockets in the mandibles of six Labrador dogs. In the control sites, the implants were positioned in the center of the alveolus, while in the test sites, the implants were positioned 0.8 mm deeper and more lingually. After 4 months of healing, the resorptive patterns of the alveolar crest were evaluated histomorphometrically. Results: All implants were integrated in mineralized bone, mainly composed of mature lamellar bone. The alveolar crest underwent resorption at the control as well as at the test sites. After 4 months of healing, at the buccal aspects of the control and test sites, the location of the implant rough/smooth limit to the alveolar crest was 2±0.9 mm and 0.6±0.9 mm, respectively (P<0.05). At the lingual aspect, the bony crest was located 0.4 mm apically and 0.2 mm coronally to the implant rough/smooth limit at the control and test sites, respectively (NS). Conclusions: From a clinical point of view, implants installed into extraction sockets should be positioned approximately 1 mm deeper than the level of the buccal alveolar crest and in a lingual position in relation to the center of the alveolus in order to reduce or eliminate the exposure above the alveolar crest of the endosseous (rough) portion of the implant. © 2009 John Wiley & Sons A/S.

Geração de dados GPS de pseudodistância para uma estação virtual: Métodos, implementação e análise dos resultados

This paper aims to evaluate the quality of the pseudorange observables generated for a Virtual Reference Station (VRS). In order to generate the VRS data three different approaches were implemented and tested. In the first one, raw data from the reference station network were used while in the second it was based on double difference reference station corrections. Finally, in the third approach atmospheric models (ionosphere and troposphere) were used to create the VRS data. Sao Paulo State Network stations were used in all experiments. The VRS data were generated in a reference station position of known coordinates (real file). In order to validate the approaches, the VRS data were compared with the real data file. The results were quite similar, reaching the decimeter or centimeter level, depending on the approach applied.

Determination of onboard coplanar orbital maneuvers with orbits determined using GPS

In the present paper a study is made in order to find an algorithm that can calculate coplanar orbital maneuvers for an artificial satellite. The idea is to find a method that is fast enough to be combined with onboard orbit determination using GPS data collected from a receiver that is located in the satellite. After a search in the literature, three algorithms are selected to be tested. Preliminary studies show that one of them (the so called Minimum Delta-V Lambert Problem) has several advantages over the two others, both in terms of accuracy and time required for processing. So, this algorithm is implemented and tested numerically combined with the orbit determination procedure. Some adjustments are performed in this algorithm in the present paper to allow its use in real-time onboard applications. Considering the whole maneuver, first of all a simplified and compact algorithm is used to estimate in real-time and onboard the artificial satellite orbit using the GPS measurements. By using the estimated orbit as the initial one and the information of the final desired orbit (from the specification of the mission) as the final one, a coplanar bi-impulsive maneuver is calculated. This maneuver searches for the minimum fuel consumption. Two kinds of maneuvers are performed, one varying only the semi major axis and the other varying the semi major axis and the eccentricity of the orbit, simultaneously. The possibilities of restrictions in the locations to apply the impulses are included, as well as the possibility to control the relation between the processing time and the solution accuracy. Those are the two main reasons to recommend this method for use in the proposed application.

DGPS em Rede: desenvolvimento e implantação via internet utilizando a Rede GNSS do Estado de São Paulo

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Avaliação de uma metodologia de baixo custo para o cadastro de propriedades em áreas de expansão e vazios urbanos

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Investigações sobre o impacto da modernização do GNSS no Posicionamento

Pós-graduação em Ciências Cartográficas - FCT

Influência da ionosfera no posicionamento GPS: estimativas dos resíduos no contexto de duplas diferenças e eliminação dos efeitos de 2ª e 3ª ordem

Pós-graduação em Ciências Cartográficas - FCT

Influência da injunção da base na fototriangulação de imagens obtidas com uma unidade de mapeamento móvel

Pós-graduação em Ciências Cartográficas - FCT

Geração automática de estereomodelos a partir de imagens digitais georreferenciadas

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Efeito de multicaminho de alta frequência no posicionamento relativo GPS estático: detecção e atenuação utilizando wavelets

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)