Knowledge-based bridge detection from SAR images

Automatic bridge detection is an important application of SAR images. Differed from the classical CFAR method, a new knowledge-based bridge detection approach is proposed. The method not only uses the backscattering intensity difference between targets and background but also applies the contextual information and spatial relationship between objects. According to bridges’ special characteristics and scattering properties in SAR images, the new knowledge-based method includes three processes: river segmentation, potential bridge areas detection and bridge discrimination. The application to AIRSAR data shows that the new method is not sensitive to rivers’ shape. Moreover, this method can detect bridges successfully when river segmentation is not very exact and is more robust than the radius projection method.     

Design of complex FIR filters with arbitrary magnitude and group delay responses

To design approximately linear-phase complex coefficient finite impulse response (FIR) digital filters with arbitrary magnitude and group delay responses, a novel neural network approach is studied. The approach is based on a batch back-propagation neural network algorithm by directly minimizing the real magnitude error and phase error from the linear-phase to obtain the filter’s coefficients. The approach can deal with both the real and complex coefficient FIR digital filters design problems. The main advantage of the proposed design method is the significant reduction in the group delay error. The effectiveness of the proposed method is illustrated with two optimal design examples.     

Study on the extending multi-attribute decision model of grey target

Based on the distance of interval numbers and the two-stage decision methods, this paper expands the decision model of grey target into some situation under which the decision information and target weights are the interval numbers at the same time. It also gives the optimization method of weights in the grey target. We get the optimum coordinated vector utilizing the combination assigning method, based on the local optimization of various schemes. So it can shift the weights of interval number into real number form and sequence it according to the weighted off-target distance. Finally the effectiveness and practicality of the model is proved by a real project.     

Robust fault detection and diagnosis for uncertain nonlinear systems

This paper considers robust fault detection and diagnosis for input uncertain nonlinear systems. It proposes a multi-objective fault detection criterion so that the fault residual is sensitive to the fault but insensitive to the uncertainty as much as possible. Then the paper solves the proposed criterion by maximizing the smallest singular value of the transformation from faults to fault detection residuals while minimizing the largest singular value of the transformation from input uncertainty to the fault detection residuals. This method is applied to an aircraft which has a fault in the left elevator or rudder. The simulation results show the proposed method can detect the control surface failures rapidly and efficiently.     

Robust H∞ filtering for discrete-time systems with Markovian switching and time-delays

The robust H∞ filtering problem for uncertain discrete-time Markovian jump linear systems with modedependent time-delays is investigated. Attention is focused on designing a Markovian jump linear filter that ensures robust stochastic stability while achieving a prescribed H∞ performance level of the resulting filtering error system, for all admissible uncertainties. The key features of the approach include the introduction of a new type of stochastic Lyapunov functional and some free weighting matrix variables. Sufficient conditions for the solvability of this problem are obtained in terms of a set of linear matrix inequalities. Numerical examples are provided to demonstrate the reduced conservatism of the proposed approach.     

Frequentist model averaging estimation: a review

In applications, the traditional estimation procedure generally begins with model selection. Once a specific model is selected, subsequent estimation is conducted under the selected model without consideration of the uncertainty from the selection process. This often leads to the underreporting of variability and too optimistic confidence sets. Model averaging estimation is an alternative to this procedure, which incorporates model uncertainty into the estimation process. In recent years, there has been a rising interest in model averaging from the frequentist perspective, and some important progresses have been made. In this paper, the theory and methods on frequentist model averaging estimation are surveyed. Some future research topics are also discussed.     

Uniform optimal-order estimates for finite element methods for advection-diffusion equations

This article summarizes our recent work on uniform error estimates for various finite element methods for time-dependent advection-diffusion equations.     

Design and implementation of 1 GHz high speed data acquisition system

With the development of current electronic technology, numerous high-speed data acquisition systems provide a variety of potential benefits. This article describes a high-speed data acquisition system which consists of ECL logic and TTL logic devices, samples and stores data with a 1 GHz clock. This system is accomplished easily and works stably. A performance test of this system has been undertaken and the results show that the effective number of bits (ENOB) is more than 6.5 bits.     

Robust H2 control for uncertain sampled-data systems

A new approach is proposed for robust H2 problem of uncertain sampled-data systems. Through introducing a free variable, a new Lyapunov asymptotical stability criterion with less conservativeness is established. Based on this criterion, some sufficient conditions on two classes of robust H2 problems for uncertain sampled-data control systems are presented through a set of coupled linear matrix inequalities, Finally, the less conservatism and potential of the developed results are illustrated via a numerical example.     

Directionality based fast fractional pel motion estimation for H.264

Motion estimation is an important and intensive task in video coding applications. Since the complex-ity of integer pixel search has been greatly reduced by the numerous fast ME algorithm, the computation overhead required by fractional pixel ME has become relatively significant. To reduce the complexity of the fractional pixel ME algorithm, a directionality-based fractional pixel ME algorithm is proposed. The proposed algorithm efficiently explores the neighborhood positions which with high probability to be the best matching around the minimum one and skips over other unlikely ones. Thus, the proposed algorithm can complete the search by examining only 3 points on appropriate condition instead of 17 search points in the search algorithm of reference software. The simulation results show that the proposed algorithm successfully optimizes the fractional-pixel motion search on both half and quarter-pixel accuracy and improves the processing speed with low PSNR penalty.