Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Digital Commons Network

Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Articles 1 - 30 of 47

Full-Text Articles in Entire DC Network

Radar Based Navigation In Unknown Terrain, Kyle J. Kauffman Dec 2012

Radar Based Navigation In Unknown Terrain, Kyle J. Kauffman

Theses and Dissertations

There is a great need to develop non-GPS based methods for positioning and navigation in situations where GPS is not available. This research focuses on the development of an Ultra-Wideband Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexed (UWB-OFDM) radar as a navigation sensor in GPS-denied environments. A side-looking vehicle-fixed UWB-OFDM radar is mounted to a ground or aerial vehicle continuously collecting data. A set of signal processing algorithms and methods are developed which use the raw radar data to aide in calculating the vehicle position and velocity via a simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) approach. The radar processing algorithms detect strong, persistent, and …


A Nonparametric Approach To Segmentation Of Ladar Images, Eric A. Buschelman Dec 2012

A Nonparametric Approach To Segmentation Of Ladar Images, Eric A. Buschelman

Theses and Dissertations

The advent of advanced laser radar (ladar) systems that record full-waveform signal data has inspired numerous inquisitions which aspire to extract additional, previously unavailable, information about the illuminated scene from the collected data. The quality of the information, however, is often related to the limitations of the ladar camera used to collect the data. This research project uses full-waveform analysis of ladar signals, and basic principles of optics, to propose a new formulation for an accepted signal model. A new waveform model taking into account backscatter reflectance is the key to overcoming specific deficiencies of the ladar camera at hand, …


Exploitation Of Rf-Dna For Device Classification And Verification Using Grlvqi Processing, Donald R. Reising Dec 2012

Exploitation Of Rf-Dna For Device Classification And Verification Using Grlvqi Processing, Donald R. Reising

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation introduces a GRLVQI classifier into an RF-DNA fingerprinting process and demonstrates applicability for device classification and ID verification. Unlike MDA/ML processing, GRLVQI provides a measure of feature relevance that enables Dimensional Reduction Analysis (DRA) to enhance the experimental-to-operational transition potential of RF-DNA fingerprinting. Using 2D Gabor Transform RF-DNA fingerprints extracted from experimentally collected OFDM-based 802.16 WiMAX and 802.11 WiFi device emissions, average GRLVQI classification accuracy of %C greater than or equal to 90% is achieved using full and reduced dimensional feature sets at SNR greater than or equal to 10.0 dB and SNR greater than or equal to …


Modeling The Effects Of The Local Environment On A Received Gnss Signal, Marshall E. Haker Dec 2012

Modeling The Effects Of The Local Environment On A Received Gnss Signal, Marshall E. Haker

Theses and Dissertations

There is an ongoing need in the GNSS community for the development of high-fidelity simulators which generate data that replicates what can truly be expected from a challenging environment such as an urban canyon or an indoor environment. The algorithm developed for use in the research in this dissertation, the Signal Decomposition and Parameterization Algorithm (SDPA), is presented in order to respond to this need. This algorithm is designed to decompose a signal received using a GNSS recording and playback system and output parameters that can be used to reconstruct the effects on the signal of the environment local to …


Resolution Study Of A Hyperspectral Sensor Using Computed Tomography In The Process Of Noise, Samuel V. Mantravadi Sep 2012

Resolution Study Of A Hyperspectral Sensor Using Computed Tomography In The Process Of Noise, Samuel V. Mantravadi

Theses and Dissertations

Recently, a new type of hyperspectral imaging sensor has been proposed which simultaneously records both spectral data and multiple spatial dimensions. Unlike dispersive imaging spectrometers, chromo-tomographic hyperspectral imaging sensors (CTHIS) record two spatial dimensions as well as a spectral dimension using computed tomography (CT) techniques with only a finite number of spatially-spectrally diverse images. To date, the factors affecting resolution of these sensors have not been examined. This research examines factors affecting resolution, specifically the number of the focus planes needed to resolve a particular object calculated from a theoretical lower bound, determine a method of reconstructing a hyperspectral object …


Towards The Mitigation Of Correlation Effects In The Analysis Of Hyperspectral Imagery With Extension To Robust Parameter Design, Jason P. Williams Sep 2012

Towards The Mitigation Of Correlation Effects In The Analysis Of Hyperspectral Imagery With Extension To Robust Parameter Design, Jason P. Williams

Theses and Dissertations

Standard anomaly detectors and classifiers assume data to be uncorrelated and homogeneous, which is not inherent in Hyperspectral Imagery (HSI). To address the detection difficulty, a new method termed Iterative Linear RX (ILRX) uses a line of pixels which shows an advantage over RX, in that it mitigates some of the effects of correlation due to spatial proximity; while the iterative adaptation from Iterative Linear RX (IRX) simultaneously eliminates outliers. In this research, the application of classification algorithms using anomaly detectors to remove potential anomalies from mean vector and covariance matrix estimates and addressing non-homogeneity through cluster analysis, both of …


Ground Vehicle Navigation Using Magnetic Field Variation, Jeremiah A. Shockley Sep 2012

Ground Vehicle Navigation Using Magnetic Field Variation, Jeremiah A. Shockley

Theses and Dissertations

The Earth's magnetic field has been the bedrock of navigation for centuries. The latest research highlights the uniqueness of magnetic field measurements based on position due to large scale variations as well as localized perturbations. These observable changes in the Earth's magnetic field as a function of position provide distinct information which can be used for navigation. This dissertation describes ground vehicle navigation exploiting variation in Earth's magnetic field using a self-contained navigation system consisting of only a magnetometer and magnetic field maps. In order to achieve navigation, effective calibration enables repeatable magnetic field measurements from different vehicles and facilitates …


Cross Hallway Detection And Indoor Localization Using Flash Laser Detection And Ranging, Istvan M. Prileszky Jun 2012

Cross Hallway Detection And Indoor Localization Using Flash Laser Detection And Ranging, Istvan M. Prileszky

Theses and Dissertations

A flash LADAR is investigated as a source of navigation information to support cross-hallway detection and relative localization. To accomplish this, a dynamic, flexible simulation was developed that simulated the LADAR and the noise of a LADAR system. Using simulated LADAR data, algorithms were developed that were shown to be effective at detecting cross hallways in simulated ideal environments and in simulated environments with noise. Relative position was determined in the same situations. A SwissRanger SR4000 flash LADAR was then used to collect real data and to verify algorithm performance in real environments. Hallway detection was shown to be possible …


An Application Of Con-Resistant Trust To Improve The Reliability Of Special Protection Systems Within The Smart Grid, Crystal M. Shipman Jun 2012

An Application Of Con-Resistant Trust To Improve The Reliability Of Special Protection Systems Within The Smart Grid, Crystal M. Shipman

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis explores an application of a con-resistant trust mechanism to improve the performance of communications-based special protection systems to further enhance their effectiveness and resiliency. New initiatives in the energy sector are paving the way for the emergent communications-based smart grid technology. Smart grids incorporate modern technologies in an effort to be more reliable and efficient. However, with the benefits of this new technology comes added risk. This research utilizes a con-resistant trust mechanism as a method to quickly identify malicious or malfunctioning protection system nodes in order to mitigate the resulting instabilities in the smart grid. The feasibility …


Multi-Observation Continuous Density Hidden Markov Models For Anomaly Detection In Full Motion Video, Matthew P. Ross Jun 2012

Multi-Observation Continuous Density Hidden Markov Models For Anomaly Detection In Full Motion Video, Matthew P. Ross

Theses and Dissertations

An increase in sensors on the battlefield produces an abundance of collected data that overwhelms the processing capability of the DoD. Automated Visual Surveillance (AVS) seeks to use machines to better exploit increased sensor data, such as by highlighting anomalies. In this thesis, we apply AVS to overhead Full Motion Video (FMV). We seek to automate the classification of soldiers in a simulated combat scenario into their agent types. To this end, we use Multi-Dimensional Continuous Density Hidden Markov Models (MOCDHMMs), a form of HMM which models a training dataset more precisely than simple HMMs. MOCDHMMs are theoretically developed but …


Implementation Of Branch-Point-Tolerant Wavefront Reconstructor For Strong Turbulence Compensation, Michael J. Steinbock Jun 2012

Implementation Of Branch-Point-Tolerant Wavefront Reconstructor For Strong Turbulence Compensation, Michael J. Steinbock

Theses and Dissertations

Branch points arise in optical transmissions due to strong atmospheric turbulence, long propagation paths, or a combination of both. Unfortunately, these conditions are very often present in desired operational scenarios for laser weapon systems, optical communication, and covert imaging, which suffer greatly when traditional adaptive optics systems either cannot sense branch points or implement non-optimal methods for sensing and correcting branch points. Previous research by Pellizzari presented a thorough analysis of various novel branch point tolerant reconstructors in the absence of noise. In this research a realistic model of the Air Force Institute of Technology's adaptive optics system is developed …


Empirical Analysis Of Optical Attenuator Performance In Quantum Key Distribution Systems Using A Particle Model, Thomas C. Adams Mar 2012

Empirical Analysis Of Optical Attenuator Performance In Quantum Key Distribution Systems Using A Particle Model, Thomas C. Adams

Theses and Dissertations

Quantum key distribution networks currently represent an active area of development and software modeling to address the security of future communications. One of the components used in quantum key distribution implementations is an optical attenuator. Its role in the system is necessary to reach the single photon per bit necessary to maintain theoretically perfect secrecy. How the photon pulse is modeled has a significant impact on the accuracy and performance of quantum channel components like the optical attenuator. Classical physics describe light using Maxwell's wave equations for electromagnetism. Quantum physics has demonstrated light also behaves as discrete particles referred to …


Optimum Concentration Ratio Analysis Using Dynamic Thermal Model For Concentrated Photovoltaic System, John T. Avrett Mar 2012

Optimum Concentration Ratio Analysis Using Dynamic Thermal Model For Concentrated Photovoltaic System, John T. Avrett

Theses and Dissertations

Concentrated photovoltaic (PV) technology represents a growing market in the field of terrestrial solar energy production. As the demand for renewable energy technologies increases, further importance is placed upon the modeling, design, and simulation of these systems. Given the U.S. Air Force cultural shift towards energy awareness and conservation, several concentrated PV systems have been installed on Air Force installations across the country. However, there has been a dearth of research within the Air Force devoted to understanding these systems in order to possibly improve the existing technologies. This research presents a new model for a simple concentrated PV system. …


Rsa Power Analysis Obfuscation: A Dynamic Fpga Architecture, John W. Barron Mar 2012

Rsa Power Analysis Obfuscation: A Dynamic Fpga Architecture, John W. Barron

Theses and Dissertations

The modular exponentiation operation used in popular public key encryption schemes, such as RSA, has been the focus of many side channel analysis (SCA) attacks in recent years. Current SCA attack countermeasures are largely static. Given sufficient signal-to-noise ratio and a number of power traces, static countermeasures can be defeated, as they merely attempt to hide the power consumption of the system under attack. This research develops a dynamic countermeasure which constantly varies the timing and power consumption of each operation, making correlation between traces more difficult than for static countermeasures. By randomizing the radix of encoding for Booth multiplication …


Spectral Detection Of Human Skin In Vis-Swir Hyperspectral Imagery Without Radiometric Calibration, Andrew P. Beisley Mar 2012

Spectral Detection Of Human Skin In Vis-Swir Hyperspectral Imagery Without Radiometric Calibration, Andrew P. Beisley

Theses and Dissertations

Many spectral detection algorithms require precise ground truth measurements that are hand-selected in the image to apply radiometric calibration, converting image pixels into estimated reflectance vectors. That process is impractical for mobile, real-time hyperspectral target detection systems, which cannot empirically derive a pixel-to-reflectance relationship from objects in the image. Implementing automatic target recognition on high-speed snapshot hyperspectral cameras requires the ability to spectrally detect targets without performing radiometric calibration. This thesis demonstrates human skin detection on hyperspectral data collected at a high frame rate without using calibration panels, even as the illumination in the scene changes. Compared to an established …


Trade-Offs In A 1 Tbps Mimo Communication System Between An Airship And An Array Of Ground Receive Antennas, Adam R. Brueggen Mar 2012

Trade-Offs In A 1 Tbps Mimo Communication System Between An Airship And An Array Of Ground Receive Antennas, Adam R. Brueggen

Theses and Dissertations

As demand for higher data-rate wireless communications increases, so will the interest in multiple-input and multiple-output (MIMO) systems. In a single transmitter, single receiver communication system, there is a fundamental limit to the data-rate capacity of the system proportional to the systems bandwidth. Since increasing the bandwidth is expensive and limited, another option is increasing the system's capacity by adding multiple antennas at the transmitter and receiver to create a MIMO communication system. With a T transmitter, R receiver MIMO communication system, TR channels are created which allow extremely high data-rates. MIMO systems are attractive because they are extremely robust …


Ofdm-Based Signal Exploitation Using Quadrature Mirror Filter Bank (Qmfb) Processing, Felipe E. Garrido Mar 2012

Ofdm-Based Signal Exploitation Using Quadrature Mirror Filter Bank (Qmfb) Processing, Felipe E. Garrido

Theses and Dissertations

By performing QMFB processing with a given signal it is possible to obtain Frequency-Time (F-T) outputs that represent signal features such as bandwidth (W), center frequency (fc), signal duration (Ts), modulation type (AM, FM, BPSK, QAM, etc), frequency content and time allocation. Because of its unique structure, two widely used signals based on Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) were chosen as signals of interest for demonstration. The general implementation of the QMFB process is described along with the basic structure of OFDM signals related to the physical layer perspective of 802.11a Wi-Fi and 802.16e WiMAX frame structures are described. The …


Development Of A Radar-Frequency Metamaterial Measurement And Characterization Apparatus, Stephen I. Faris Mar 2012

Development Of A Radar-Frequency Metamaterial Measurement And Characterization Apparatus, Stephen I. Faris

Theses and Dissertations

The overall purpose of this research was to design, build, and test an apparatus for the measurement and characterization of radar-frequency metamaterial performance in the S-band through Ku-band (2-18 GHz). Measurement and characterization is vital to metamaterial taxonomy and ultimately vital to metamaterial definitions. Thus, the current lack of clarity in metamaterial definitions has served as the primary motivation for pursuing a method for taxonomy and thus, this apparatus. The technical goal of this thesis was to aid in the understanding of a metamaterial's radar-frequency response by developing an apparatus that would take simple, yet significant measurements of a metamaterial's …


Magnetic Field Generation And B-Dot Sensor Characterization In The High Frequency Band, Ryan L. Hardin Mar 2012

Magnetic Field Generation And B-Dot Sensor Characterization In The High Frequency Band, Ryan L. Hardin

Theses and Dissertations

Designing a high frequency (HF) magnetic field direction finding (DF) array for use onboard a military aircraft is the challenge that drives the effort of the research presented. The frequency range of interest, 2-32 MHz, has a maximum wavelength (150 meters) that exceeds the maximum length of any platform in the USAF inventory. The large wavelengths in the HF range make it difficult to accurately estimate from which direction a magnetic field is emitting. Accurate DF estimates are necessary for search and rescue operations and geolocating RF emitters of interest. The primary goal of this research is to characterize the …


Air-To-Air Missile Enhanced Scoring With Kalman Smoothing, Jonathon S. Gipson Mar 2012

Air-To-Air Missile Enhanced Scoring With Kalman Smoothing, Jonathon S. Gipson

Theses and Dissertations

A correct estimate of a missile's flight path is essential to USAF test and evaluation efforts. The USAF air-to-air Weapons System Evaluation Program (WSEP) targets unmanned aerial drones in hundreds of live-fire missile tests each year. The current QF-4 drone inventory is expected to be depleted by 2015. The QF-16 Full Scale Aerial Target (FSAT) contract has been awarded to convert usable early model F-16s into remote-controlled drones. The QF-16 will provide a highly-maneuverable, realistic testing environment for 5th generation fighters. To accomplish their mission, WSEP requires a scoring system capable of estimating the trajectory of a missile relative to …


Target Classification Of Canonical Scatterers Using Classical Estimation And Dictionary Based Techniques, G. Barry Hammond Ii Mar 2012

Target Classification Of Canonical Scatterers Using Classical Estimation And Dictionary Based Techniques, G. Barry Hammond Ii

Theses and Dissertations

This research effort will utilize a hierarchical dictionary-based approach for canonical shape classification within measured synthetic aperture radar (SAR) phase history data. This primary goal of this research is to develop an efficient framework for dictionary based SAR feature extraction using modi ed 3-D radar scattering models. Previous work in this area relies on maximum likelihood (ML) estimation and similar approaches to extract shapes using 2-D signal models. We include characterizations of shape model redundancies caused by similar shape scattering responses. Simulated SAR collection methods, including frequency, elevation aspect, and polarization diversities, are modeled to show reductions in inter-atom correlation. …


The Effects Of Cognitive Jamming On Wireless Sensor Networks Used For Geolocation, Michael A. Huffman Mar 2012

The Effects Of Cognitive Jamming On Wireless Sensor Networks Used For Geolocation, Michael A. Huffman

Theses and Dissertations

The increased use of Wireless Sensor Networks (WSN) for geolocation has led to an increased reliance on this technology. Jamming, protecting jamming, and detecting jamming in a WSN are areas of study that have greatly increased in interest. This research uses simulations and data collected from hardware experiments to test the effects of jamming on a WSN. Hardware jamming was tested using a Universal Software Radio Peripheral (USRP) Version 2 to assess the effects of jamming on a cooperative network of Java Sun SPOTs. The research combines simulations and data collected from the hardware experiments to see the effects of …


Augmenting The Global Positioning System With Foreign Navigation Systems And Alternative Sensors, Christopher B. Killion Mar 2012

Augmenting The Global Positioning System With Foreign Navigation Systems And Alternative Sensors, Christopher B. Killion

Theses and Dissertations

The United States Global Positioning System (GPS), with its great accuracy, receives extensive use by civilians and military organizations throughout the world. However, in areas with limited or partially obstructed views of the sky, such as amongst tall buildings or imposing geographic features, a position solution can be difficult or impossible to obtain as the limited view of the sky decreases the number of visible satellites. Augmenting the GPS constellation by receiving signals from foreign satellite navigation systems as well as using measurements from inertial and barometric sensors can increase the availability of a position solution in a degraded reception …


Binary Classification Of An Unknown Object Through Atmospheric Turbulence Using A Polarimetric Blind-Deconvolution Algorithm Augmented With Adaptive Degree Of Linear Polarization Priors, Mu J. Kim Mar 2012

Binary Classification Of An Unknown Object Through Atmospheric Turbulence Using A Polarimetric Blind-Deconvolution Algorithm Augmented With Adaptive Degree Of Linear Polarization Priors, Mu J. Kim

Theses and Dissertations

This research develops an enhanced material-classification algorithm to discriminate between metals and dielectrics using passive polarimetric imagery degraded by atmospheric turbulence. To improve the performance of the existing technique for near-normal collection geometries, the proposed algorithm adaptively updates the degree of linear polarization (DoLP) priors as more information becomes available about the scene. Three adaptive approaches are presented. The higher-order super-Gaussian method fits the distribution of DoLP estimates with a sum of two super-Gaussian functions to update the priors. The Gaussian method computes the classification threshold value, from which the priors are updated, by fitting the distribution of DoLP estimates …


Improvements To Optical Communication Capabilities Achieved Through The Optical Injection Of Semiconductor Lasers, Timothy P. Locke Mar 2012

Improvements To Optical Communication Capabilities Achieved Through The Optical Injection Of Semiconductor Lasers, Timothy P. Locke

Theses and Dissertations

Optically injection locked lasers have shown significant improvement in the modulation capabilities of directly modulated lasers. This research creates a direct-modulated optical communications system to investigate the bit-rate distance improvements achievable using optically injected Fabry-Pérot laser diodes. The injection strength and detuning frequency of the injection signal was varied to determine their impact on the optical communication link's characteristics. This research measured a 25 fold increase in bit-rate distance product using optical injection locking as compared to the injected laser's free-running capability. A 57 fold increase was measured in the bit-rate distance product when signal power is considered in a …


Uhf Antenna Design For Afit Random Noise Radar, Matthew T. Ludwig Mar 2012

Uhf Antenna Design For Afit Random Noise Radar, Matthew T. Ludwig

Theses and Dissertations

The design of a small ultra-high frequency (UHF) antenna for an ultra-wideband (UWB) random noise radar (RNR) system was undertaken to improve system bandwidth and reduce overall system size. The Vivaldi dipole antenna class showed the greatest potential for high performance in this specific application. After extensive computer simulation, three designs were built using two printed circuit board antenna construction methods. The antipodal chopped Vivaldi dipole antenna, built with a milling machine, achieved a wider bandwidth and more uniform spectral performance characteristics. Though current results show improvement over the current log-periodic antenna (LPA) used on the system, greater performance could …


Ladar Range Image Interpolation Exploiting Pulse Width Expansion, Jeramy W. Motes Mar 2012

Ladar Range Image Interpolation Exploiting Pulse Width Expansion, Jeramy W. Motes

Theses and Dissertations

Laser Detection and Ranging (LADAR) systems produce both a range image and an intensity image by measuring the intensity of light reflected off a surface target. When the transmitted LADAR pulse strikes a sloped surface, the returned pulse is expanded temporally. This characteristic of the reflected laser pulse enables the possibility of estimating the gradient of a surface. This study estimates the gradient of the surface of an object from a modeled LADAR return pulse that includes accurate probabilistic noise models. The range and surface gradient estimations are incorporated into a novel interpolator that facilitates an effective three dimensional (3D) …


Timing Variations In A Magnetic Pulse Compression Circuit, Jeremy S. Oliver Mar 2012

Timing Variations In A Magnetic Pulse Compression Circuit, Jeremy S. Oliver

Theses and Dissertations

The magnetic pulse compression (MPC) circuit uses saturable core inductors and capacitors to compress the width of a pulse. This substantially increases the peak power of the initially applied pulse. The saturable inductor exhibits a hysteresis curve behavior. One particular problem with these MPC circuits is timing variances in the pulse rate of the system. This work models the unique characteristics and signatures of the timing variations of magnetic switches and pulse compressors. The hysteresis curve of the saturable inductor was created by using a nonlinear inductor and a nonlinear resistor in parallel as a substitute for saturable inductors. The …


Covariance Analysis Of Vision Aided Navigation By Bootstrapping, Andrew L. Relyea Mar 2012

Covariance Analysis Of Vision Aided Navigation By Bootstrapping, Andrew L. Relyea

Theses and Dissertations

Inertial Navigation System (INS) aiding using bearing measurements taken over time of stationary ground features is investigated. A cross country flight, in two and three dimensional space, is considered, as well as a vertical drop in three dimensional space. The objective is to quantify the temporal development of the uncertainty in the navigation states of an aircraft INS which is aided by taking bearing measurements of ground objects which have been geolocated using ownship position. It is shown that during wings level flight at constant speed and a fixed altitude, an aircraft that tracks ground objects and over time sequentially …


Near Earth Object Detection Using A Poisson Statistical Model For Detection On Images Modeled From The Panoramic Survey Telescope And Rapid Response System, Curtis J. R. Peterson Mar 2012

Near Earth Object Detection Using A Poisson Statistical Model For Detection On Images Modeled From The Panoramic Survey Telescope And Rapid Response System, Curtis J. R. Peterson

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this research effort is to develop, simulate, and test a new algorithm to detect Near Earth Objects (NEOs) using a Likelihood Ratio Test (LRT) based on a Poisson statistical model for the arrival of photons. One detection algorithm currently in use is based on a Gaussian approximation of the arrival of photons, and is compared to the proposed Poisson model. The research includes three key components. The first is a quantitative analysis of the performance of both algorithms. The second is a system model for simulating detection statistics. The last component is a collection of measured data …