3 ms·

Summarizing doesn't necessarily require complex algorithms. For example, a 64x64 pixel image can be averaged into a 16x16 image, and/or a highly compressed JPE

by tabtab 8y ago

Summarizing doesn't necessarily require complex algorithms. For example, a 64x64 pixel image can be averaged into a 16x16 image, and/or a highly compressed JPEG. And data streams can maybe average 1-second intervals into 30-second intervals. You can get a little fancier by only averaging intervals that don't vary much, using standard statistical algorithms (including "cheap" approximations to save CPU). A lot of times cameras and instruments will be pointing at empty space because they error on the side of capturing unknown petributions/objects. If you are not looking for faint moons etc., you can mostly ignore those "dark areas", at least in a "data emergency". And remember, the summarized versions are used to narrow down the set of full data sets returned. Thus, if something looks unusual in the summaries, the full set of that segment is requested from the probe. If there is a need to rush, it's a matter of narrowing down which parts of the data you want to send back in full.

dogma1138 8y ago
The instruments are turned off until they are needed they cannot be used when the space craft is spinning which is required for it to transmit data to earth which is what it does most of the time the flyby lasts minutes at the most, the data takes over a year to transmit. Also even if it didn’t need to be spun the instruments would be turned off to save power, the probe has no instruments that could detect any objects without a preplanned flyby.
- tabtab 8y ago
  I don't see how this is related to the above. It seems there's context confusion. I meant data processing (summarizing) of existing STORED data so that humans can review and decide on what to keep (fully download) and what to discard/delete so that there's enough storage for an upcoming new target. After passing a target, there's boatloads of data to send back. If a new target means there's not enough time to download it ALL before storage is needed for the new target, then decisions have to be made about what to fully send back and what to skip and/or only send summarized/compressed versions of. This has very little to do with instrument activation; it's a "between targets" process.

by tabtab 8y ago

dogma1138 8y ago

The instruments are turned off until they are needed they cannot be used when the space craft is spinning which is required for it to transmit data to earth which is what it does most of the time the flyby lasts minutes at the most, the data takes over a year to transmit. Also even if it didn’t need to be spun the instruments would be turned off to save power, the probe has no instruments that could detect any objects without a preplanned flyby.

tabtab 8y ago
I don't see how this is related to the above. It seems there's context confusion. I meant data processing (summarizing) of existing STORED data so that humans can review and decide on what to keep (fully download) and what to discard/delete so that there's enough storage for an upcoming new target. After passing a target, there's boatloads of data to send back. If a new target means there's not enough time to download it ALL before storage is needed for the new target, then decisions have to be made about what to fully send back and what to skip and/or only send summarized/compressed versions of. This has very little to do with instrument activation; it's a "between targets" process.