APS March Meeting 2021
Volume 66, Number 1
Monday–Friday, March 15–19, 2021;
Virtual; Time Zone: Central Daylight Time, USA
Wednesday, March 17, 2021
11:30AM - 12:06PM
Live
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M58.00001: Subterranean Visualization Through Multi-Sensor Fusion*
Invited Speaker:
Joe Morris
We depend upon the subsurface for much of the energy and raw material that enables civilization. Groundwater sources often supply water for agricultural, drinking, and industrial use. However, we remain relatively blind in the subsurface environment. Geological formations can be strongly heterogeneous at all length scales, making it difficult to locate resources. Furthermore, the performance of subsurface engineering is difficult to monitor due to our blindness. I will describe challenges associated with engineered geothermal systems (EGS) and hydraulic fracturing in shale formations. In both instances, our optimization of an engineered system is impeded by gaps in understanding of the fundamental processes and our inability to monitor and visualize system performance. I will present sensors that help us image the subsurface. Of note is the recent growth of fiber optic measurements. Leveraging interferometry applied to light pulses sent down a fiber, we infer the state of the fiber along its entire length. However, each sensor technology has strengths and weaknesses. By combining multiple sensors, we can best avoid blind spots. I will discuss examples of multi-sensor fusion in petroleum and EGS field projects where concurrent measurements of velocity, acoustic, chemical, thermal, and resistive properties enable determination of system performance. Today, such projects rely on large teams of scientists and engineers to collect and interpret data and make engineering decisions. Increasing automation through machine learning is showing promise for decreasing the lag between measurement and decision making. I will close by describing a new initiative that seeks to develop a comprehensive platform for integrating data and providing a virtual environment for exploring the subsurface. |
Wednesday, March 17, 2021
12:06PM - 12:42PM
Live
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M58.00002: The Role of Physics in Overhead Imaging
Invited Speaker:
Jonathan Edwards
Basic physics has profound implications for overhead imaging. This presentation will examine illustrative surveillance concepts for defense applications using unmanned and space-based platforms. We focus on two topics where physics plays a crucial role: 1) wide-area drone surveillance, and 2) low-earth orbit (LEO) imaging. To accommodate drone limitations, sensor concepts minimizing size and weight while maximizing scene coverage and resolution are preferred. One intriguing concept uses composite focal plane arrays (CFPA). CPFAs apply multiple discrete FPAs on a flat surface behind a single optical path. For this technology, we discuss trade-offs for field-of-view and resolution and describe a number of engineering challenges addressed for a realizable system. Given CFPA ‘big-data’ acquisition, physical principles are invoked to facilitate a key capability – automated object tracking. Here, traditional kinematics permits the tracking of moving entities from a moving platform over a large area. Cheaper and frequent rocket launches have resulted in a burgeoning ‘small satellite’ market. This has motivated desire for small earth-observing payloads. We discuss critical trade-space drivers including LEO’s high velocity and stringent platform volume bounds. The space environment also presents challenges for analysis using traditional electronics. We discuss the trade-off of cost and reliability that defines LEO operation by examining the impact of the physical radiation environment. |
Wednesday, March 17, 2021
12:42PM - 1:18PM
Live
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M58.00003: The Global Environmental Monitoring System (GEMS) CubeSat Microwave Radiometer Constellation for Weather and Climate Intelligence
Invited Speaker:
Michael A Hurowitz
The need for persistent microwave imaging spectrometry of the Earth within 100-200 GHz and with sub-hourly temporal resolution for severe weather monitoring had been identified in 1978 by Staelin et al. in a NASA-sponsored study [1]. The clear need presented in this study has driven the laboratory-level development of large geostationary filled-and synthetic-aperture microwave sounders throughout the past period of more than four decades. However, the recent demonstration of small CubeSat-based imaging microwave spectrometers in this frequency range suggests a new pathway to achieving these goals. The successful launch in April 2019 and subsequent demonstration of the Global Earth Monitoring System (GEMS) GEMS-1 In-orbit Demonstration (IOD) mission using a 118-GHz imaging microwave spectrometer supports this goal. Importantly, however, it enables a scalable constellation framework with the capability to provide temporal Nyquist-sampled microwave imagery of the Earth’s troposphere and lower stratosphere.
GEMS-1 IOD was developed by Orbital Micro Systems in partnership with the University of Colorado’s Center for Environmental Technology and the UK Space Applications Catapult. The GEMS-1 IOD sensor is currently the highest spatial resolution microwave temperature sounding sensor on orbit. The GEMS-1 sensor design, its on-orbit performance, and the pathway to an evolved GEMS constellation capable of meeting and exceeding the severe weather observation requirements set forth over 40 years ago will be discussed.
[1] “High Resolution Passive Microwave Satellites”, D.H. Staelin and P.W. Rosenkranz (eds.), Applications Review Panel Final Report for NASA, MIT Research Laboratory for Electronics, 14 April 1978. |
Wednesday, March 17, 2021
1:18PM - 1:54PM
Live
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M58.00004: Invited Talk for Christy Fernandez-Cull- How Self-Driving Cars See, Perceive, and Navigate
Invited Speaker:
Christy Fernandez-Cull
TBD |
Wednesday, March 17, 2021
1:54PM - 2:30PM
Live
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M58.00005: AR/VR Display Systems
Invited Speaker:
Douglas Lanman
TBD
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