Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology

About: Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology is a education organization based out in New York, New York, United States. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Gravitational microlensing & Planetary system. The organization has 727 authors who have published 708 publications receiving 14082 citations. The organization is also known as: College of Aeronautics.

Optimization design and experimental research of eddy current sensor based on semi-analytical model

Abstract: Aiming at requirement of characteristics and real-time monitoring of fatigue crack located at the hole of metallic bolted-joint structure,a kind of eddy current array sensor based on flexible plane is proposed. A real-time scheme for fatigue crack propagation monitoring is designed. Semi-analytical model for sensor damage monitoring is constructed,and platform of real-time monitoring on fatigue crack extension based on eddy array sensor is bulit.The characteristic parameters of eddy current sensor array are optimized and the monitoring sensitivity of the sensor is determined through simulation on eddy array sensor and experimental research on fatigue crack extension.Research results indicate that the substrate layer impedes the electromagnetic coupling between exciting windings and sensing windings. The thickness of substrate layer should be as thin as possible. While the thickness scope of conductive layer of eddy array sensor is 0. 12~ 0. 18 mm,the optimal width of exciting coil is 0. 8 mm and that of sensing coil is 0. 5 mm,and the sensitivity of damage monitoring of sensor is the highest.

Microlensing Discovery of a Tight, Low Mass-ratio Planetary-mass Object around an Old, Field Brown Dwarf

Abstract: Observations of accretion disks around young brown dwarfs have led to the speculation that they may form planetary systems similar to normal stars. While there have been several detections of planetary-mass objects around brown dwarfs (2MASS 1207-3932 and 2MASS 0441-2301), these companions have relatively large mass ratios and projected separations, suggesting that they formed in a manner analogous to stellar binaries. We present the discovery of a planetary-mass object orbiting a field brown dwarf via gravitational microlensing, OGLE-2012-BLG-0358Lb. The system is a low secondary/primary mass ratio (0.080 +- 0.001), relatively tightly-separated (~0.87 AU) binary composed of a planetary-mass object with 1.9 +- 0.2 Jupiter masses orbiting a brown dwarf with a mass 0.022 M_Sun. The relatively small mass ratio and separation suggest that the companion may have formed in a protoplanetary disk around the brown dwarf host, in a manner analogous to planets.

Recognition and test method of cockpit meters based on computer vision

Abstract: Based on the theory of cockpit meters and standard recognize technique, a new recognizing technique that is based on computer vision was proposed. Some key points and the image processing methods were discussed. The homomorphic filter and self-adaption median-value filter were used to perfect the result of image, and the improved Otsu was used to obtain binary image. The improved intersect cortical model(ICM) was used to receive edge of meters, and the pointer was picked up with combining skeleton. Finally, by the max gradient search method, the exact value was obtained. The result shows that this method can quickly get the number of meters, and process the parallel data. Compared with the traditional Hough transform and the least squares fit methods, this method can quicken the recognition process of the pointer and ensure the accuracy and standard of method.

A Stable Routing Protocol for Mobile Ad Hoc Networks

Abstract: Hierarchical routing is one of the fundamental but challenging topics in mobile ad hoc network, which combine proactive/table-driven with reactive/on-demand routing protocols and take advantages of both. And as an imperative means of hierarchical routing protocol, clustering approach provides an efficient and stable hierarchical structure for mobile ad hoc networks. In this paper, we designed a stable clustering algorithm and a corresponding hierarchical routing protocol for high dynamic mobile ad hoc networks. Each cluster is consisted of a cluster-head, several cluster-gateway nodes, several cluster-guest nodes and other cluster-members. The proposed routing protocol uses proactive protocol in inter-cluster and reactive protocol in intra-cluster communication. Simulation results showed that the clustering algorithm improves its stability by increasing the node number of individual clusters and decreasing node's switch times between clusters. And the proposed routing protocol not only decreases the end-to-end delay to guarantee the validity of data but reduces the communication control expenses to increase the utility of network resource and increases the packet acceptance ratio to verify the validity of the proposed protocol.

Quadrupedal Human-Assistive Robotic Platform (Q-HARP): Design, Control, and Preliminary Testing

Abstract: With the rapid expansion of older adult populations around the world, mobility impairment is becoming an increasingly challenging issue. For the assistance of individuals with mobility impairments, there are two major types of tools in the current practice, including the passive (unpowered) walking aids (canes, walkers, rollators, etc.) and wheelchairs (powered and unpowered). Despite their extensive use, there are significant weaknesses that affect their effectiveness in daily use, especially when challenging uneven terrains are encountered. To address these issues, the authors developed a novel robotic platform intended for the assistance of mobility-challenged individuals. Unlike the existing assistive robots serving similar purposes, the proposed robot, namely, quadrupedal human-assistive robotic platform (Q-HARP), utilizes legged locomotion to provide an unprecedented potential to adapt to a wide variety of challenging terrains, many of which are common in people’s daily life (e.g., roadside curbs and the few steps leading to a front door). In this paper, the design of the robot is presented, including the overall structure of the robot and the design details of the actuated robotic leg joints. For the motion control of the robot, a joint trajectory generator is formulated, with the purpose of generating a stable walking gait to provide reliable support to its human user in the robot’s future application. The Q-HARP robot and its control system were experimentally tested, and the results demonstrated that the robot was able to provide a smooth gait during walking.