ITC/USA 2015 Conference Proceedings / The Fifty-First Annual International Telemetering Conference and Technical Exhibition / October 26-29, 2015 / Bally's Hotel & Convention Center, Las Vegas, NV / The performance of telemetry systems may be strongly affected by diverse sources of perturbations. Among them, multipath channels and transmission noise are the most critical. While the effects due to the multipath channels can be attenuated thanks to equalization, the effects of the noise are limited if forward error correction is used. This paper first proves that the combination of blind equalization and forward error correction can strongly improve bit error rates. The other objective of the paper is to show that reasonably powerful codes like Reed-Solomon codes are sufficient to enable quasi-error free transmissions in a large majority of propagation channel scenarios.

International Telemetering Conference Proceedings / October 21, 2002 / Town & Country Hotel and Conference Center, San Diego, California / FPGAs are increasingly being employed for building real-time signal processing systems. They have been used extensively for implementing the PHY in software radio architectures. This paper provides a technology and market perspective on the use FPGAs for signal processing and demonstrates FPGA DSP using an adaptive channel equalizer case study.

International Telemetering Conference Proceedings / October 22-25, 2001 / Riviera Hotel and Convention Center, Las Vegas, Nevada / This paper will present measured data in an adjacent channel interference (ACI) environment for both filtered continuous phase frequency shift keying (CPFSK) and Feher’s patented quadrature phase shift keying (FQPSK-B) [1]. The quantity measured was bit error probability (BEP) versus signal energy per bit to noise power spectral density ratio (E(b)/N(o)). The interferers were either CPFSK or FQPSK-B signals. The results presented in this paper will be for bit rates of 5 Mb/s, one interferer 20 dB larger than desired signal, various channel spacings, and two different telemetry receivers. The ACI test effort will collect data sets at several bit rates and with one and two interferers. The results will be useful to system designers and range operators as they attempt to maximize the number of Mb/s that can be simultaneously transmitted in the telemetry bands.

International Telemetering Conference Proceedings / October 23-26, 2000 / Town & Country Hotel and Conference Center, San Diego, California / Automatic spectrum management and monitoring systems are very useful to manage frequencies at test ranges and assure interference-free transmission of telemetry signals. Spectrum management systems assign telemetry frequencies using database information on available and occupied channels and analysis tools which can determine whether a data link will support telemetry. Modern, DSP-based spectrum monitoring systems, in fixed or mobile configurations, automate the process of performing spectrum occupancy to verify clear channels and identify and locate sources of interference; they are integrated with and utilize the management system database. Such systems are important to assure reliable communications channels for telemetry.

Thesis (MEng)--Stellenbosch University, 2015. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: In the present study, two-phase natural circulation flow in a multi-parallel channel system was investigated using experimental and numerical modelling. The investigation was carried out under different power excitations and various system operations (open system, closed system and heat pipe mode). The multichannel system was equipped at the upper end with a condenser enclosed within a steam drum, while the lower portion of each channel was heated to heat the system. For the numerical modelling, transient one-dimensional conservation equations were derived from first principle for both single- and two-phase fluids and used to computer program the system’s discretised simulation model. Temperatures and mass flow rates of the fluid responses as a result of different power excitations and operations were obtained for both the experimental and numerical modelling. It was observed from the results that the fluid experiences a start-up transient before accomplishing steady-state conditions. It was further noted that the transient duration varies with power excitations and system operation modes and hence with the stability of the system. A rise in power proved not to necessarily increase the fluid mass flow rate, but invited oscillations with higher amplitudes, depending on the system’s mode of operation. Type I instability and low-quality steam oscillations were witnessed at low power and open system operation mode (system open to the atmosphere). Type II instabilities and flashing instability were observed to be associated with medium and high-power excitations for the open system mode of operation. The fluid flow became more stable and less oscillatory at all power excitations for the closed system operation mode (system not open to the atmosphere). However, a sub-cooling effect was evident at higher power, where the two-phase fluid temperatures oscillated in a sinusoidal manner. However, the mass flow rates oscillated with high amplitudes in the forward direction in some channels and assumed a unidirectional flow in other channels. In general, steady-state conditions were obtained earlier when the system was operated as a closed system. For the heat pipe mode of operation, the system transient response in all channels exhibited a geysering instability followed by flashing-induced boiling. In-phase (flow in channels exhibiting the same behaviour) and out-of-phase (flow in channels exhibiting contradictory conduct) behaviour between adjacent channels were observed at all power excitations and system operation modes. Flow reversal in heated channels of a natural circulation system were proven to exists even under equal power excitations. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: In hierdie studie is tweefasige natuurlike sirkulasievloei in ’n parallelle multikanaalstelsel ondersoek deur middel van eksperimentele en numeriese modellering. Die ondersoek is onder verskillende kragopwekkings en verskeie stelselwerkings (oop stelsel, toe stelsel en hittepypmodus). Die multikanaalstelsel is aan die bopunt met ’n kondensor binne ’n stoomdrom toegerus, terwyl die laer gedeelte van elke kanaal verhit is om die stelsel te verhit. Vir die numeriese modellering, is oorgangseendimensionele behoundsvergelykings vanaf die eerste beginsel vir beide een- en tweefasige vloeistowwe afgelei en dit is gebruik om die stelsel se gediskretiseerde simulasiemodel vir ’n rekenaar te programmeer. Temperature en massavloeitempo’s van die vloeistofrespons as gevolg van verskillende kragopwekkings en -werkings is vir beide die eksperimentele en die numeriese modellering verkry. Dit is in die resultate waargeneem dat die vloeistof ’n aansitoorgang ervaar voor dit vloeiewewigstoestande bereik. Daar is verder waargeneem dat die duur van die oorgang wissel volgens kragopwekkings en stelselwerkingsmodusse en dus op grond van die stabiliteit van die stelsel. ’n Toename in krag het nie noodwendig die vloeitempo van die vloeistofmassa verhoog nie, maar het aanleiding gegee tot ossillasies met groter amplitudes, afhangende van die stelsel se metode van werking. Tipe I-onstabiliteit en stoom-ossillasies van ’n lae intensiteit is teen lae krag en oop stelselwerkingsmodus waargeneem (stelsel oop aan die atmosfeer). Tipe II-onstabiliteit en flitsingsonstabiliteit (flashing instability) is met medium- en hoë kragopwekkings vir die oop stelsel modus van werking waargeneem. Die vloeistofvloei het meer stabiel en minder ossillerend geraak by alle kragopwekkings in die geslote stelsel van werking (stelsel nie oop na die atmosfeer nie). ’n Subverkoelingseffek was egter teen hoër krag duidelik, waar die tweefasige vloeistof se temperature sinusvormig geossilleer het. Die massavloeitempo’s het egter met hoë amplitudes in die vorentoe rigting in sommige kanale gevloei en eenrigtingvloei in ander kanale vertoon. Oor die algemeen is vloei-ewewigstoestande vroeër verkry toe die stelsel as ’n geslote stelsel bedryf is. Vir die hittepypmodus van werking het die stelsel se oorgangsweergawe in alle kanale ’n geysering onstabiliteit getoon, gevolg deur flitsinggeïnduseerde (flashing induced) kook. Gelykfasige gedrag (vloei in kanale vertoon dieselfde gedrag) en ongelykfasige gedrag (vloei in kanale vertoon teenstrydige gedrag) tussen langsliggende kanale is met al die kragopwekkings en stelselwerkingsmodusse waargeneem. Vloei-omkering in die verhitte kanale van ’n natuurlike sirkulasiestelsel is bewys om selfs onder gelyke kragopwekkings te bestaan.

Understanding speech in noisy environments is a challenge for normal-hearing and impaired-hearing listeners alike. However, it has been shown that speech intelligibility can be improved in these situations using a strategy called the ideal binary mask. Because this approach requires knowledge of the speech and noise signals separately though, it is ill-suited for practical applications. To address this, many algorithms are being designed to approximate the ideal binary mask strategy. Inevitably though, these algorithms make errors, and the implications of these errors are not well-understood. The main contributions of this thesis are to introduce a new framework for investigating binary masking algorithms and to present listener studies that use this framework to illustrate how certain types of algorithm errors can affect speech recognition outcomes with both normal-hearing listeners and cochlear implant recipients.

ITC/USA 2011 Conference Proceedings / The Forty-Seventh Annual International Telemetering Conference and Technical Exhibition / October 24-27, 2011 / Bally's Las Vegas, Las Vegas, Nevada / Transmitter mobility and multipath propagation make the telemetry channel both time and frequency selective, which results in telemetry link errors, sometimes in crucial flight phases. Only part of these impairments are compensated by various diversity techniques, but a fast converging adaptive channel equalization is probably the best suited and most cost effective solution. This paper first presents an analysis of mobile multipath propagation in telemetry based on recorded operational signals, both at the transmitter and at the receiver sides. Then it provides performance evaluation of a novel blind equalizer, assessed by offline processing of the recorded signals. The paper focuses on typical environments at a flight test centre, which exhibit critical multipath channel characteristics, namely during parking, taxiway and flight. The channel analysis exploits the recorded signals as well as the time frequency response of the novel equalizer filter. Performance evaluation shows that the equalizer outperforms state of the art Constant Modulus Algorithm (CMA). In particular, it is shown to significantly increase the telemetry link availability even in severe conditions, sometimes from nearly 0% to almost 100%, whereas the CMA fails to improve the signal quality as soon as the channel varies in time.

ITC/USA 2011 Conference Proceedings / The Forty-Seventh Annual International Telemetering Conference and Technical Exhibition / October 24-27, 2011 / Bally's Las Vegas, Las Vegas, Nevada / The introduction of network elements into telemetry systems brings a level of complexity that makes performance analysis difficult, if not impossible. Packet simulation is a well understood tool that enables performance prediction for network designs or for operational forecasting. Packet simulators must however be customized to incorporate aeronautical radio channels and other effects unique to the telemetry application. This paper presents a method for developing a Markov Model simulation for aeronautical channels for use in packet network simulators such as OPNET modeler. It shows how the Hidden Markov Model (HMM) and the Markov Model (MM) can be used together to first extract the channel behavior of an OFDM transmission for an aeronautical channel, and then effortlessly replicate the statistical behavior during simulations in OPENT Modeler. Results demonstrate how a simple Markov Model can capture the behavior of very complex combinations of channel and modulation conditions.

Due to wealth of advantages offered by short range ultra wideband (UWB) technology, such as capacity improvement, fading reduction and localization, it has gathered a considerable attention. Distinct UWB qualities also pose many system design challenges like difficulties in using digital processing, complex channel estimation and different propagation characteristics. The main objective of the thesis is to develop and evaluate efficient modulation and detection schemes for impulse radio (IR) UWB with a focus on wireless sensor networks characterized by low cost and low power consumption. The content of the thesis comprises of five parts. In Part I, a coherent RAKE and non-coherent energy detector (ED) and transmitted reference (TR) receivers are examined and their bit-error-rate (BER) performance is evaluated using channels measured in an industrial environment. In specific, selective RAKE (SRake) and partial RAKE (PRake) for both maximal ratio combining (MRC) and equal gain combining (EGC) are compared. Based on the analysis and simulation results, it is concluded the SRake with EGC is to be preferred, whereas the best complexity/performance trade-off is provided by the ED based receivers. Part II presents several signaling and detection schemes; the proposed schemes are recursive TR (R-TR), dual-doublet TR (DDTR), doublet-shift TR (DSTR) and binary pulse position modulation (BPPM)/DSTR. Analysis and simulations verify that the proposed schemes may be preferred over the conventional TR in terms of BER, energy efficiency and/or implementation complexity. Part III presents a non-coherent kurtosis detector (KD) and a fourth-order detector (FD), which can discriminate between Gaussian noise and non-Gaussian IR-UWB signals by directly estimating the fourth-order moment of the received signal. Empirical evaluations and simulations using channel measurements conducted in a corridor, an office and a laboratory environment verify that performance of the proposed FD receiver is slightly better than the ED in the low SNR region and its performance improves as the SNR increases. Part IV presents a robust weighted ED (WED) in which the weighting coefficients are estimated adaptively based on the received stochastic data. Simulation results confirm that performance of the proposed weight estimation method is close to that of a data-aided (DA) scheme. Finally, Part V focuses on a multi-user scenario and develops a weighted code-multiplexed TR (WCM-TR) receiver employing the robust adaptive weight estimation scheme. Secondly, a BPPM/CM-TR UWB system is presented to mitigate inter-frame interference (IFI) and multi-user interference (MUI) from other asynchronous users. The BPPM/CM-TR system is 3 dB energy-efficient and improves the BER performance by mitigating MUI/IFI in the high SNR region, while for the low SNR case and single-user scenario, a dual-mode BPPM/CM-TR system is suggested

During fetal development, the lung is filled with fluid that is secreted by an active Cltransport promoting lung growth. The basolateral Na+,K+,2Cl- cotransporter (NKCC1) participates in Cl- secretion. The apical Cl- channels responsible for secretion are unknown but studies suggest an involvement of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR). CFTR is developmentally regulated with a high expression in early fetal development and a decline in late gestation. Perinatal lung transition is triggered by hormones that stimulate alveolar Na+ channels resulting in fluid absorption. Little is known on how hormones affect pulmonary Cl- channels. Since the rise of fetal cortisol levels correlates with the decrease in fetal CFTR expression, a causal relation may be assumed. The aim of this study was to analyze the influence of glucocorticoids on pulmonary Cl- channels. Alveolar cells from fetal and adult rats, A549 cells, bronchial Calu-3 and 16HBE14o- cells, and primary rat airway cells were studied with real-time quantitative PCR and Ussing chambers. In fetal and adult alveolar cells, glucocorticoids strongly reduced Cftr expression and channel activity, which was prevented by mifepristone. In bronchial and primary airway cells CFTR mRNA expression was also reduced, whereas channel activity was increased which was prevented by LY-294002 in Calu-3 cells. Therefore, glucocorticoids strongly reduce CFTR expression while their effect on CFTR activity depends on the physiological function of the cells. Another apical Cl- channel, anoctamin 1 showed a glucocorticoid-induced reduction of mRNA expression in alveolar cells and an increase in bronchial cells. Furthermore, voltage-gated chloride channel 5 and anoctamine 6 mRNA expression were increased in alveolar cells. NKCC1 expression was reduced by glucocorticoids in alveolar and bronchial cells alike. The results demonstrate that glucocorticoids differentially modulate pulmonary Clchannels and are likely causing the decline of CFTR during late gestation in preparation for perinatal lung transition.