-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------AERO 428
ELECTROMAGNETIC SENSING FOR SPACE-BORNE IMAGING
SPRING 2015
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Electromagnetic Sensing for Space-Borne Imaging
1.
Introduction:
Course Description and Learning Goals
2.
Course Outline:
Class Schedule, and Lecture Topics
3.
Course output:
Mid-term exam: March 6, 2015.
Final Presentation April 22, 2015.
Final Report due April 29, 2015
4.
Project:
Design
systems
to
embody
several
applications of the Power Star concept and
the Solar-Microwave Fabric
Instructor:
Prof. D. C. Hyland
Course Textbooks:
Primary: Space Mission Analysis and Design, 3rd Edition by Wiley J.
Larson and James R. Wertz
Secondary:
Two-Dimensional Imaging, by R. N. Bracewell, Prentice-Hall, 1995.
Principles of Optics, 7th Edition, by M. Born and E. Wolf, Cambridge
University Press, 1999.
Prerequisites: Aero 421, 351, 306
Meeting Times and Location: MWF 8:00 – 8:50 am, HRBB 204
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------AERO 428
ELECTROMAGNETIC SENSING FOR SPACE-BORNE IMAGING
SPRING 2015
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INTRODUCTION
1. Course Description
In this course, we have studied IR and Visible imaging systems that can be used to
obtain high resolution imaging of space objects. This semester, as we did last year, we
add a new, but very relevant interest: microwave transmission and reception systems;
specifically, the Power Star concept for space solar power satellite design and the core
invention – Solar-Microwave Fabric. Last year’s class initiated feasibility studies of the
Power Star. The Spring 2015 class is challenged to perform preliminary designs of
several applications of the Solar-Microwave Fabric. These applications include not only
the Power Star, but also ground-based power systems for inaccessible locations, and
directed-energy defense systems. For a quick summary of these technologies, see the
message in the last two pages of this syllabus by S. Paul Boike, our private investment
consultant. As Mr. Boike makes clear, your participation in this class will put you on
the ground floor of one of the hottest technology innovations in existence today.
In the initial lectures (meeting every Monday, Wednesday and Friday), students
will be instructed in the needed background on optics, and microwave systems. After a
mid-term examination, students will be organized into technical specialty teams to
address the space system design challenge.
Learning Objectives
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
6)
7)
Introduce students to working in teams, including useful rules-of-thumb for
understanding people dynamics.
Teach students to use/create trade-off diagrams to make engineering decisions.
Teach communication skills, both in writing and in presentations.
Introduce non-technical design drivers (cost, safety, public policy…).
Familiarize students with technical issues concerning space-borne optical and
power transmission systems.
Introduce students to realistic review and design procedures as practiced by
NASA and the Air Force.
Introduce students to venture capital management
ADA statement
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a federal anti-discrimination statute that
provides comprehensive civil rights protection for persons with disabilities. Among other
things, this legislation requires that all students with disabilities be guaranteed a
learning environment that provides for reasonable accommodation of their disabilities. If
you believe you have a disability requiring an accommodation, please contact Disability
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------AERO 428
ELECTROMAGNETIC SENSING FOR SPACE-BORNE IMAGING
SPRING 2015
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Services, in Cain Hall, Room B118, or call 979-845-1637. For additional information,
visit http://disability.tamu.edu.
2. COURSE OUTLINE
The course consists of two phases.
Phase I is composed primarily of lectures, homework, and group exercises in class. Due
to the need for instruction in much new material, this phase covers the first several weeks
of the semester. Lecture topics will include [tentative lecture date]:
1. Introduction to Course and the Design Challenge [1/21];
2. Design Challenge: Solar-Microwave Fabric (SMF) and Power Star [1/23];
3. Review of Maxwell’s equations, EM wave propagation [1/26];
4. Geometric optics approximation: Analysis of microwave antennas [1/28];
5. Fourier optics: Kirchoff integral, Huygens-Fresnel principle [1/30];
6. Introduction to sparse aperture systems [2/9];
7. Antenna transmission and reception patterns [2/11];
8. Introduction to phased arrays [2/16];
9. Microwave transmission technology [2/18];
10. Retrodirective phased arrays [2/23];
11. Microwave rectenna design [2/25];
12. Applications of SMF [3/2]
Reading assignments would be given out during class. Homework assignments will be
given out each week concerning the previous week’s material. The assignments are given
out each Thursday in class and are due the following Thursday in accordance with the
following schedule:
HW #1
HW #2
HW #3
HW #4
Out[1/30],
Out[2/6],
Out[2/13],
Out[2/20],
Due [2/6]
Due [2/13]
Due [2/20]
Due [2/27]
At the outset, the class will be organized into Research Teams whose main purpose is to
help ones peers learn the lecture material and collaborate on solution of the homework
problems. Each Friday when an assignment is given out, one of the research teams will be
asked to give a short presentation of the team’s solution to one of the previous week’s
homework problem. We will meet three time a week during this phase – Monday,
Wednesday and Friday. An examination would be given at the end of Phase I, on March
6. Before Spring Break, the class will be organized into Technical Specialty Teams and a
Study Manager and Assistant Study Manager will be elected.
Phase II – Beginning two weeks before Spring Break (3/16-3/20) and continuing
immediately after Spring Break - is the conceptual design phase for the design challenge
using the technical research done in Phase I. The groups organized at the end of Phase I
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ELECTROMAGNETIC SENSING FOR SPACE-BORNE IMAGING
SPRING 2015
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------will have more than seven weeks to create a conceptual design and a Final Presentation.
Special lectures can be given and/or groups can use class time to work together. Weekly
meetings will be held for the class management team to brief the instructor on the project
status. The instructor will hold office hours and will serve an active role in working with
students. The Final Report describing the conceptual design will be due on April 29,
2014.
Grading Scheme
Phase I (50%)
Homework
Homework Presentations
Midterm Exam
20%
5%
25%
Phase II (50%)
Final Review
Final Report
25%
25%
TOTAL
100%
SPECIAL ASSIGNMENTS
Faculty Advisors: Our role is to interpret/defend/enforce the
provisions of the Design Challenge. We serve as the “customers” and evaluate
designs.
Project Manager: The PM has oversight and ultimate responsibility for the entire project.
The PM’s responsibilities include:
- Assuming the leadership role and managing the program
- Being knowledgeable of all aspects of the project and possessing ultimate
authority to solve disputes (technical and otherwise)
- Setting agenda for and conducting class sections in Phase II of the course
- Being responsible for the report, model, and final presentation
- Acting as the Master of Ceremonies for the final presentation
Assistant Project Manager: The APM assists the PM in carrying out his/her task, but
specifically:
- Chairs Systems Engineering Team
- Serves as the liaison between the technical groups and the PM
- Is responsible for all “public relations” aspects of the project
- Takes care of details needed to run the project such as disk space, email aliases,
logistics for the final presentation (e.g., refreshments, invitations, etc.).
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ELECTROMAGNETIC SENSING FOR SPACE-BORNE IMAGING
SPRING 2015
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Technical Group Leader: The TGL is in charge of a small group which specializes in a
particular subsystem of the overall design. The TGL’s roles are to:
- Assign appropriate tasks to team members
- Report team progress to the program management team
- Represent group on Systems Engineering Team
- Take responsibility for the team’s portion of the final presentation, and report
- Present the results of trade studies of technical issues to the class and
management team
- Work with management and other team leaders to resolve technical issues.
Technical Group Member: A TGM’s goals are to:
- Work to increase the group’s preparedness in the field of specialization
- Support the group by doing research and/or making inquiries
- Making trade studies of technical issues
- Report results to the TGL periodically
- Carry out liaison activities with other groups
- Define and carry out individual contributions to the Final Report and
Presentation
Report-Writing Committee: The RWC’s role is to prepare the final report that describes
the vehicle design according to the guidelines provided in the specimen contract. The
RWC consists of one member from each technical group, the PM, and the APM. The PM
will Chair this committee.
Final Presentation Team: The FPT consists of all TGL’s, the PM, and the APM. The
purpose of the Final Presentation is to present material that is in the final report.
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ELECTROMAGNETIC SENSING FOR SPACE-BORNE IMAGING
SPRING 2015
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MEASUREMENT OF PERFORMANCE
Course grades will be based primarily on the team performance as evidenced by activities
throughout the term and the final team report. In addition, near the end of the term team
members will be asked to evaluate other team members. These evaluations will be used
for fine-tuning of the individual grades. Also, team leaders will evaluate the management
team and the management team will evaluate team leaders. No persons will receive a
major lowering of their grade as a result of these evaluations without an opportunity to
defend their performance. Quantitative evaluations (1 - 10) will be required in six
categories:
ATTITUDE
Outstanding in enthusiasm
Very interested and industrious
Average in diligence and interest
Somewhat indifferent
Totally uninterested
WORKING WITH OTHERS
Exceptionally well accepted
Works well in the group setting
Gets along satisfactorily
Works mostly alone, does not communicate
DEPENDABILITY
Can be relied upon to follow through
Above average in dependability
Usually dependable
Sometimes neglectful or careless
Unreliable, can't be counted on to follow through
QUANTITY OF WORK
Worked above and beyond the call of duty
Put out a full day's effort each week
Did reasonable amount of work
Did less work than expected
Did hardly anything at all
QUALITY OF WORK
Excellent, usable work
Very good
Average
Below average, much not pertinent to project
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ELECTROMAGNETIC SENSING FOR SPACE-BORNE IMAGING
SPRING 2015
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Poor
ATTENDANCE AND PUNCTUALITY
Always present and on time
Just an occasional and excused absence
Average in attendance
Often not there when needed, frequently absent or late
Unreachable
Note: All activities should be consistent with the Aggie
Honor Code:
“An Aggie does not lie, cheat, or steal or tolerate those
who do”
Please refer to the Honor Council Rules and Procedures
on the web at http:/www.tamu.edu/aggiehonor.
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ELECTROMAGNETIC SENSING FOR SPACE-BORNE IMAGING
SPRING 2015
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Design Project:
Power Star and Solar-Microwave Fabric
A Revolutionary Concept for Space Solar Power
Also contributed at the International Conference
on SBSP, Kobe, Japan, April 2014
So new it’s scarcely noticed, So old it’s
almost forgotten
1
Message from AIC-SVC CEO and Investment Management Group:
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
The most promising method for supplying electrical power to niche markets such
as developing-world locations and forward military bases (where costs can exceed $25
per kilowatt-hr.), is Space Solar Power. This involves Solar Power Satellites (SPS) in
geostationary orbit that collect solar power and transmit to ground-based collection and
distribution stations. For several decades now, many people have been trying to devise
SPS designs that are feasible and not too costly. Unfortunately, all previous SPS
concepts:
• Involve gigantic, complex, articulated structures
• Contain numerous, perhaps 1000s, of moving parts
• Require numerous launches
• Require on-orbit fabrication/construction, usually robotic
• Involve serious dynamic stability issues
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ELECTROMAGNETIC SENSING FOR SPACE-BORNE IMAGING
SPRING 2015
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------As a result, the cost to field just the first revenue system is prohibitive
In contrast the Power StarTM concept introduced by Dr. Hyland combines
very new (printed solar cells and patch antennas) and very old technologies (Echo
satellite technology) to obtain:
• The simplest possible structure (a spherical balloon)
• No moving parts (except electrons and photons!)
• One launch vehicle (A one-km system can fit into several existing
vehicles)
• No on-orbit construction
• Inherent dynamic stability and robustness
Consequently, this is now the most promising idea – by far! We can now envision the
production of a first-revenue system in one launch. This closes the business case!!
Dr. Hyland first presented the Power Star concept and the related invention of the
Solar-Microwave Fabric at the international conference on SPS at Kobe, Japan last April.
Dr. Hyland also spoke at a press conference held in conjunction with the 2014
International Astronautical Congress in Toronto, Sept. 29, 2014. A recent article in
Aerospace America followed from this. Ever since the first announcement, my
management group and I have been working with Dr. Hyland to enlist private
venture capital for his projects. So far we have been offered $150 million for a fiveyear effort to develop and produce the first Power Star satellite. Further, we are
canvassing ten additional investment groups!!
I understand that Dr. Hyland, to his credit, wants to share his ideas with his A&M
students. I know that he involved his class last spring in starting the first feasibility
studies, because I served as a reviewer for the final presentation. This spring, we will be
performing detailed planning for our first big project, as part of investor mandated duediligence. By joining Dr. Hyland in this course and contributing not only to Power Star
but also to the many ground-based applications of Solar-Microwave Fabric, you can be
part of our team! I cannot exaggerate the benefits to you that will result from your
participation in the hottest, most advanced, and most feasible solar power
innovation so far conceived!
Very best wishes,
S. P. Boike, CEO and President,
American Industrial Consultants and Solutions Vehicles Company
Long Beach, California
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ELECTROMAGNETIC SENSING FOR SPACE-BORNE IMAGING
SPRING 2015
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