Sharif Digital Repository

An algorithm is proposed for description of error accumulation during assembly process of planar truss structures. Specifically, given the tolerances of pre-fabricated members, the uncertainty in the position of nodes is calculated in terms of variances and covariances. Twoconstituent elements of planar trusses (i.e. two-bar unit cell and redundant member) are formulated based on linear models of kinematics and deformation mechanics. Subsequently, these models are combined together in a single algorithm to construct a suitable procedure for estimation of uncertainty zone of each node. Accuracy of the developed method is verified by comparing its results with outcomes of Monte Carlo... 

We report the design, fabrication and error analysis of a sun sensor array composed of six photodiodes. The sensor estimates the direction of the sun using a linear least squares method. The performance of the sensor is deteriorated by three major sources: fabrication errors, scattered environmental light, and inexact modeling of photodiodes. Using a calibration procedure and modeling the uniform component of the environmental light, we mitigate the first two errors and significantly reduce root mean squared error from 2.63° to 0.83°. For a Field of View (FOV) of 110°, the maximum estimation error also drops from 3.8° to 1.6°. Through exact mathematical modeling of photodiodes, we...