CIF:Medium:Assessment and modeling of temporal variation in perceived audio and video quality using direct brainwave measurement
Sponsoring Agency: National Science Foundation
Time Duration: 2011-2015
Collaborators: Dr. Jim Kroger (Psychology, NMSU), Dr. Joerg Kliewer (ECE, NJIT)
Summary
: We apply here state-of-the-art electroencephalograph (EEG) technology for the purpose of assessing the perceived quality of audio, video, and combined audiovisual signals with the resulting
data being used to create better computer-based models of subjective quality. In particular, the proposed
research focuses on signals whose quality varies with time. By identifying features in the EEG waveforms
that correspond directly to perceived audio and video quality variations, we believe that it will be possible to assess and validate quality on time scales as small as tens of milliseconds.
Proximity Operations for Near Earth Asteroid Exploration
Sponsoring Agency: NASA EPSCOR
Time Duration: 2011-2014
Collaborators: Dr. Amit Sayal (MAE, NMSU), Dr. Dan Scheers (Univ. of Colorado), Dr. Dan Klinglesmith (NM Tech), Dr. Eric Butcher (Univ. of AZ)
Summary: This project is a multi-disciplinary effort that leverages the engineering and scientific talent within New Mexico to develop new methods and technologies needed to conduct proximity operations at Near Earth Asteroids (NEAs). Both robotic and human (or combined) exploration missions are targeted in this research. Recently there has been much interest in sending robotic precursor missions to NEAs for scientific study and to prepare for a possible manned mission. Increased understanding of these small irregularly-shaped bodies is essential to any NEA deflection strategy implemented for planetary protection. In the future, NEAs could serve as fueling stations, mining sites, or remote observatories. Interest in asteroid exploration is demonstrated by recent, current, and proposed missions such as NEAR Shoemaker, Hayabusa, DAWN, OSIRIS REx, and BASiX. Other objectives of this proposal are to build the infrastructure needed for New Mexico to become nationally competitive for funding in the fields of astrodynamics, Guidance, Navigation, and Control (GNC), telemetry and space communications, orbital mechanics and orbit determination, spacecraft attitude dynamics and estimation, and asteroid observation and modeling; to develop partnerships with NASA research assets, federal laboratories, and industry; to contribute to the state¿s research infrastructure, science and technology capabilities, and economic development; and to improve the environment for STEM education in New Mexico. The project goals are tied to NASA¿s Exploration Systems Mission Directorate (ESMD) and Science Mission Directorate (SMD) along with recent efforts to develop new technologies and capabilities for future missions to NEAs. Our NASA center partner is the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. This investigation will be supported with numerical modeling, including the use of JPL software using models of asteroids which are likely mission destinations, as well as astronomical observations of select asteroids to obtain data for use in the modeling and simulations.
Pulse Complexity Based LIDAR Scene Modeling for Sparse Reconstruction and Super-Resolution
Sponsoring Agency: National Geospatial Intelligence Agency (NGA)
Time Duration: 2012-2014
Collaborators: Dr. David Voelz (ECE, NMSU)
Summary: This research focusses on the processing of data captured by ‘3rd generation’ LIDAR systems for which the temporal envelope of each laser return pulse is sampled and stored. One particularly useful model considers pulse envelopes to be finite rate of innovations (FRI) processes, dramatically reducing the dimensionality of the mathematical space containing a pulse while still preserving the critical information. Specifically, this representation preserves the structure in the waveform that corresponds to the different reflecting surfaces illuminated by the laser spot. Furthermore, the dimensionality reduction results directly in a compressed representation of the waveform, making storage and transmission of the acquired data more efficient. Even better, however, is that each free coefficient of this low-dimensional model corresponds directly to a specific reflecting feature within the laser spot.