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Theses and Dissertations

Air Force Institute of Technology

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Cooperative Wide Area Search Algorithm Analysis Using Sub-Region Techniques, Shawn Whitney Dec 2022

Cooperative Wide Area Search Algorithm Analysis Using Sub-Region Techniques, Shawn Whitney

Theses and Dissertations

Recent advances in small Unmmaned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) technology reinvigorates the need for additional research into Wide Area Search (WAS) algorithms for civilian and military applications. But due to the extremely large variability in UAV environments and design, Digital Engineering (DE) is utilized to reduce the time, cost, and energy required to advance this technology. DE also allows rapid design and evaluation of autonomous systems which utilize and support WAS algorithms. Modern WAS algorithms can be broadly classified into decision-based algorithms, statistical algorithms, and Artificial Intelligence (AI)/Machine Learning (ML) algorithms. This research continues on the work by Hatzinger and Gertsman …


Optimal Scheduling Of Aircraft Test And Evaluation Fleets To Balance Availability For Testing And Training, Sarah E. Hoops Dec 2022

Optimal Scheduling Of Aircraft Test And Evaluation Fleets To Balance Availability For Testing And Training, Sarah E. Hoops

Theses and Dissertations

The 96th Test Wing at Eglin Air Force Base manually schedules a fleet of approximately 26 aircraft to conduct a range of missions over a one-to-two year planning period. This study automates the scheduling process, does so in a manner that optimizes multiple planning goals related to aircraft availability for training, and provides the 96th Test Wing with a software tool for the implementation that can be used by operational analysts within the command. We formulate the scheduling problem as a multiobjective, nonlinear, binary integer math program that seeks to maximize both the lowest percent of time any aircraft is …


Investigating Supply Parts Delivery Delay From Supply Depot To King Khaled Air Base In Royal Saudi Air Force, Rashed S. Alkhathami Dec 2022

Investigating Supply Parts Delivery Delay From Supply Depot To King Khaled Air Base In Royal Saudi Air Force, Rashed S. Alkhathami

Theses and Dissertations

Aircraft supply parts is an important factor in preparing the aircraft to do its mission. Due to delayed delivery of parts or inefficient delivery process, time may be lost waiting for aircraft supply parts, causing mission delay or failure. By tackling the delivery delay causes we can insure improvement on delivery process. In order to gather data for this thesis two different tools were used, aircraft parts data and an interview. Data was gathered from the F15 maintenance and supply squadrons in the Royal Saudi Air Force. Results of this research showed diverting in the main duty of supply depot …


Project Selection In Facility And Infrastructure Maintenance Organizations, Bayram M. Kurbanov Dec 2022

Project Selection In Facility And Infrastructure Maintenance Organizations, Bayram M. Kurbanov

Theses and Dissertations

The current Air Force Civil Engineer Center (AFCEC) built infrastructure Facility Sustainment Restoration and Modernization (FSRM) portfolio management methodology results in an unbalanced project portfolio. The consequence of this unbalance is that majority of the funding goes towards buildings on the flightline and Facility Support Services activities do not get adequate funding which leads to further deterioration of those facilities. This research investigates whether decision support framework based on Value-Focused Thinking (VFT) process yields better project selection outcomes for facility and infrastructure maintenance organizations. To accomplish that, the investigation focuses on understanding current AFCEC decision support methodology, building an alternative …


A Case Study Of The Efficacy Of Model-Based Requests For Information, Kyle J. Arruda Sep 2022

A Case Study Of The Efficacy Of Model-Based Requests For Information, Kyle J. Arruda

Theses and Dissertations

The Department of Defense (DoD) has encouraged the transition to digital engineering, yet there are limited guides for how to transition and there is limited data to show where an organization like a program office can reap the most benefit from the transition. To identify areas where potential benefits may be realized, this thesis compares two Requests for Information (RFIs), one document-based and one model-based, from generation to response. A survey was developed and administered to 7 members of a single program office to grade the RFI responses. The survey was based on the 43 benefit categories identified in the …


Evaluating Performance Competencies In The Royal Saudi Air Force Engineering Directorate And Squadrons, Faisal A. Al Dawood Sep 2022

Evaluating Performance Competencies In The Royal Saudi Air Force Engineering Directorate And Squadrons, Faisal A. Al Dawood

Theses and Dissertations

The effectiveness of tasks performed by the directorate of aeronautical engineering and squadrons in RSAF directly impacts flight safety, which in turn influences the organization either positively or negatively. Therefore, improving engineers' competencies will improve the overall performance of the organization. The study refined and reconstructed a model, namely a T-shape competency model, to assess the engineers' competencies which revealed some management and competency-related deficiencies and concluded with managerial recommendations.


Orbit Determination With Event-Based Cameras To Improve Space Domain Awareness, Conor M. Wisentaner Sep 2022

Orbit Determination With Event-Based Cameras To Improve Space Domain Awareness, Conor M. Wisentaner

Theses and Dissertations

The objective of this research is to assess the utility of a COTS EBC for SDA applications by evaluating its ability to produce data for orbit updates of resident space objects. Unlike traditional frame-based imaging sensors, the pixels on an EBC activate independently when a change in brightness is detected to produce a continuous data flow on a per pixel basis. This unique functionality provides much higher temporal resolution than traditional frame-based sensors, such that an EBC can generate far more data points from a single observation than a frame-based sensor. However, current COTS EBCs have less spatial resolution than …


Learning Robust Radio Frequency Fingerprints Using Deep Convolutional Neural Networks, Jose A. Gutierrez Del Arroyo Sep 2022

Learning Robust Radio Frequency Fingerprints Using Deep Convolutional Neural Networks, Jose A. Gutierrez Del Arroyo

Theses and Dissertations

Radio Frequency Fingerprinting (RFF) techniques, which attribute uniquely identifiable signal distortions to emitters via Machine Learning (ML) classifiers, are limited by fingerprint variability under different operational conditions. First, this work studied the effect of frequency channel for typical RFF techniques. Performance characterization using the multi-class Matthews Correlation Coefficient (MCC) revealed that using frequency channels other than those used to train the models leads to deterioration in MCC to under 0.05 (random guess), indicating that single-channel models are inadequate for realistic operation. Second, this work presented a novel way of studying fingerprint variability through Fingerprint Extraction through Distortion Reconstruction (FEDR), a …


Mechanical Properties And Tension-Tension Fatigue Behavior Of A Novel Additively Manufactured Polymer Matrix Composite At Room And Elevated Temperature, Grayson M. Harber Sep 2022

Mechanical Properties And Tension-Tension Fatigue Behavior Of A Novel Additively Manufactured Polymer Matrix Composite At Room And Elevated Temperature, Grayson M. Harber

Theses and Dissertations

The tension-tension fatigue behavior of a novel additively manufactured AM carbon fiber reinforced polymer matrix composite was studied. This novel material system consists of T1100 carbon fibers, and a UV photocured resin developed by Continuous Composites and Sartomer. Tensile properties and tension-tension fatigue were investigated for the 090 fiber orientation as well as for the ±45 fiber orientation. Specimens with 0/90 fiber orientation were tested at ambient laboratory temperature 23 °C and at elevated temperature 150 °C, while the specimens with the ±45 fiber orientation were tested only at ambient laboratory temperature. Tension-tension fatigue testing was carried out with a …


Modern Approaches And Theoretical Extensions To The Multivariate Kolmogorov Smirnov Test, Gonzalo Hernando Sep 2022

Modern Approaches And Theoretical Extensions To The Multivariate Kolmogorov Smirnov Test, Gonzalo Hernando

Theses and Dissertations

Most statistical tests are fully developed for univariate data, but when inference is required for multivariate data, univariate tests risk information loss and interpretability. This research 1) derives and extends the multivariate Komolgorov Smirnov test for 2 and into m-dimensions, 2) derives small sample critical values for the KS test that are not reliant on sample size simulations or correlation between variables, 3) extends large sample estimations and current KS implementations, and 4) provides sample size and power calculations in order to enable experimental design with respect to testing for differences in distributions. Through extensive simulation, we demonstrate that our …


Cost-Benefit Analysis Of The Saudi Land Bridge Project, Faris J. Alotaibi Sep 2022

Cost-Benefit Analysis Of The Saudi Land Bridge Project, Faris J. Alotaibi

Theses and Dissertations

Projects are the backbone of economic thrive of nations, especially infrastructure projects. It’s counted as the base layer of allowing economic trade between beneficiaries. Railway projects have always been a huge element in increasing trade operations between Saudi Arabia and the rest of the world, by providing an efficient and environmentally friendly way that is capable of hauling large loads of exports all the way to the seaports and from there to the rest of the world. The Saudi land bridge project will cost about $11 billion and will provide a new link between the existent railway in the eastern …


A Methodological Framework For Parametric Combat Analysis, Dustin L. Hayhurst Sr. Sep 2022

A Methodological Framework For Parametric Combat Analysis, Dustin L. Hayhurst Sr.

Theses and Dissertations

This work presents a taxonomic structure for understanding the tension between certain factors of stability for game-theoretic outcomes such as Nash optimality, Pareto optimality, and balance optimality and then applies such game-theoretic concepts to the advancement of strategic thought on spacepower. This work successfully adapts and applies combat modeling theory to the evaluation of cislunar space conflict. This work provides evidence that the reliability characteristics of small spacecraft share similarities to the reliability characteristics of large spacecraft. Using these novel foundational concepts, this dissertation develops and presents a parametric methodological framework capable of analyzing the efficacy of heterogeneous force compositions …


Value Focused Thinking Analysis Of C-Band Australia Radar Operations, Samuel Ray Grothman Sep 2022

Value Focused Thinking Analysis Of C-Band Australia Radar Operations, Samuel Ray Grothman

Theses and Dissertations

The radars used for Space Domain Awareness (SDA) are inherently all-weather, day/night sensors capable of around the clock operations. Despite this fact, some radars are operated for fewer than their maximum operating capabilities. The decision-making process for selecting the operating hours of a sensor has historically been based on only a few factors or just one. This research uses the techniques in Value Focused Thinking to develop an evaluation process to score possible alternatives and find the alternative with the most value for the decision maker. By investigating the value that is added by operating an SDA radar, it is …


Using Blockchain To Track Dod Funding And Auditing, Prithvi Prasanna Sep 2022

Using Blockchain To Track Dod Funding And Auditing, Prithvi Prasanna

Theses and Dissertations

The Department of Defense (DoD) currently faces a significant problem when it comes to auditing and tracking financial transactions. The DoD has failed every audit since 2017 although it is gradually improving its auditable rating year after year. Concurrently, Blockchain is an emerging technology that has typically been used for cryptocurrencies but has slowly been adapted by private enterprises for their auditing and invoicing problems. This study investigates the value proposition of blockchain technology to improve DoD financial tracking and auditing. To test the hypothesis that blockchain is the optimal option for the DoD, this paper employs an industry blockchain …


High Power Microwave Operational Exposure Detection Using Thermoacoustic Wave Generation In Lossy Dielectric Polymers, James J. Frey Sep 2022

High Power Microwave Operational Exposure Detection Using Thermoacoustic Wave Generation In Lossy Dielectric Polymers, James J. Frey

Theses and Dissertations

A feasibility analysis for the use of microwave-induced thermoacoustic (TA) wave generation in lossy dielectric media to detect pulsed high power microwave directed energy weapons in force health protection applications was conducted based on a series of empirical and computational investigations. A potential target volume material, carbon-loaded polytetrafluoroethylene, was identified for further study based on anticipated complex dielectric properties, with laboratory measurements of select electromagnetic (EM), thermal, and elastic material properties of relevance to the TA effect conducted to determine parameter values. A planar geometry TA-based signal chain model using thin film piezoelectric sensors was developed for both finite element …


Finite Fatigue Life Prediction Of Additively Manufactured Aircraft Engine Turbine Blade With Respect To Internal Defect Size And Location, Daniel G. Miller Sep 2022

Finite Fatigue Life Prediction Of Additively Manufactured Aircraft Engine Turbine Blade With Respect To Internal Defect Size And Location, Daniel G. Miller

Theses and Dissertations

Current fatigue life modeling techniques with respect to defects emphasize the dependence on the defect size with respect to fatigue life, but does not account for the effects of where a defect might be located. This research outlines a process to include defect location into the model analysis for a more precise prediction of the number of cycles to failure and where the finial failure could occur within a component. The focus is on a turbine blade structure using IN718 subjected to a pure vibratory load. The basic model predicts component life using a stress map from the frequency analysis …


Orthogonal Arrays And Legendre Pairs, Kristopher N. Kilpatrick Sep 2022

Orthogonal Arrays And Legendre Pairs, Kristopher N. Kilpatrick

Theses and Dissertations

Well-designed experiments greatly improve test and evaluation. Efficient experiments reduce the cost and time of running tests while improving the quality of the information obtained. Orthogonal Arrays (OAs) and Hadamard matrices are used as designed experiments to glean as much information as possible about a process with limited resources. However, constructing OAs and Hadamard matrices in general is a very difficult problem. Finding Legendre pairs (LPs) results in the construction of Hadamard matrices. This research studies the classification problem of OAs and the existence problem of LPs. In doing so, it makes two contributions to the discipline. First, it improves …


Additive Manufacturing Of Molybdenum For High Temperature Structural Applications, Megan L. Bustin Sep 2022

Additive Manufacturing Of Molybdenum For High Temperature Structural Applications, Megan L. Bustin

Theses and Dissertations

This research considered additive manufactured (AM) molybdenum (Mo) and the effect of three variables on microstructure, mechanical properties, and the relationship between the two. Test temperature, laser speed, and shield gas or build atmosphere were varied, and samples tested and analyzed using a three-point bending test, chemical composition, and optical and scanning electron microscopy. The relationship among variables and results using a Design of Experiments was limited compared to the inclusion of every tested sample. Most effects were expected: samples tested at room temperature were brittle without statistical significance; increasing laser speed resulted in decreased ductility and strain, smaller grain …


Quantum Error Detection Without Using Ancilla Qubits, Nicolas Guerrero Sep 2022

Quantum Error Detection Without Using Ancilla Qubits, Nicolas Guerrero

Theses and Dissertations

Quantum computers are beset by errors from a variety of sources. Although quantum error correction and detection codes have been developed since the 1990s, these codes require mid-circuit measurements in order to operate. In order to avoid these measurements we have developed a new error detection code that only requires state collapses at the end of the circuit, which we call no ancilla error detection (NAED). We investigate some of the mathematics behind NAED such as which codes can detect which errors. We then run NAED on three separate types of circuits: Greenberger–Horne–Zeilinger circuits, phase dependent circuits, and a quantum …


Improving Country Conflict And Peace Modeling: Datasets, Imputations, And Hierarchical Clustering, Benjamin D. Leiby Sep 2022

Improving Country Conflict And Peace Modeling: Datasets, Imputations, And Hierarchical Clustering, Benjamin D. Leiby

Theses and Dissertations

Many disparate datasets exist that provide country attributes covering political, economic, and social aspects. Unfortunately, this data often does not include all countries nor is the data complete for those countries included, as measured by the dataset’s missingness. This research addresses these dataset shortfalls in predicting country instability by considering country attributes in all aspects as well as in greater thresholds of missingness. First, a structured summary of past research is presented framed by a developed casual taxonomy and functional ontology. Additionally, a novel imputation technique for very large datasets is presented to account for moderate missingness in the expanded …


Analysis Of Graph Layout Algorithms For Use In Command And Control Network Graphs, Matthew R. Stone Sep 2022

Analysis Of Graph Layout Algorithms For Use In Command And Control Network Graphs, Matthew R. Stone

Theses and Dissertations

This research is intended to determine which styles of layout algorithm are well suited to Command and Control (C2) network graphs to replace current manual layout methods. Manual methods are time intensive and an automated layout algorithm should decrease the time spent creating network graphs. Simulations on realistic synthetically generated graphs provide information to help infer which algorithms perform better than others on this problem. Data is generated using statistics drawn from multiple real world C2 network graphs. The three algorithms tested against this data are the Spectral algorithm, the Dot algorithm, and the Fruchterman-Reingold algorithm. The results include a …


Statistical Inference On Desirability Function Optimal Points To Evaluate Multi-Objective Response Surfaces, Peter A. Calhoun Sep 2022

Statistical Inference On Desirability Function Optimal Points To Evaluate Multi-Objective Response Surfaces, Peter A. Calhoun

Theses and Dissertations

A shortfall of the Derringer and Suich (1980) desirability function is lack of inferential methods to quantify uncertainty. Most articles for addressing uncertainty usually involve robust methods, providing a point estimate that is less affected by variation. Few articles address confidence intervals or bands but not specifically for the Derringer and Suich method. This research provides two valuable contributions to the field of response surface methodology. The first contribution is evaluating the effect of correlation and plane angles on Derringer and Suich optimal solutions. The second contribution proposes and compares 8 inferential methods--both univariate and multivariate--for creating confidence intervals on …


Optimizing Optical Switching Of Non-Linear Optimizing Optical Switching Of Non-Linear Hyperbolic Metamaterials, James A. Ethridge Sep 2022

Optimizing Optical Switching Of Non-Linear Optimizing Optical Switching Of Non-Linear Hyperbolic Metamaterials, James A. Ethridge

Theses and Dissertations

Modern optical materials are engineered to be used as optical devices in specific applications, such as optical computing. For optical computing, efficient forms of a particular device, the optical switch, still have not been successfully demonstrated. This problem is addressed in this research through the use of designed optical metamaterials, specifically, hyperbolic metamaterials, which offer the possibility of large non-linear properties with a low switching intensity. One-dimensional layered hyperbolic metamaterials composed of alternating layers of metal and dielectric were used here, with ITO as the metal and SiO2 as the dielectric. The non-linear behavior of the ITO/SiO2 layered …


Enabling Rapid Chemical Analysis Of Plutonium Alloys Via Machine Learning-Enhanced Atomic Spectroscopy Techniques, Ashwin P. Rao Sep 2022

Enabling Rapid Chemical Analysis Of Plutonium Alloys Via Machine Learning-Enhanced Atomic Spectroscopy Techniques, Ashwin P. Rao

Theses and Dissertations

Analytical atomic spectroscopy methods have the potential to provide solutions for rapid, high fidelity chemical analysis of plutonium alloys. Implementing these methods with advanced analytical techniques can help reduce the chemical analysis time needed for plutonium pit production, directly enabling the 80 pit-per-year by 2030 manufacturing goal outlined in the 2018 Nuclear Posture Review. Two commercial, handheld elemental analyzers were validated for potential in situ analysis of Pu. A handheld XRF device was able to detect gallium in a Pu surrogate matrix with a detection limit of 0.002 wt% and a mean error of 8%. A handheld LIBS device was …


Multichannel Blind Deconvolution Of Circularly Polarized Imagery, Patrick B. Cunningham Sep 2022

Multichannel Blind Deconvolution Of Circularly Polarized Imagery, Patrick B. Cunningham

Theses and Dissertations

Current methods can be used to recreate an expected Stokes polarization vector from measured light for characterization purposes. However, this only applies to three of the Stokes parameters, that is, the linear polarization components. Circular polarization is not currently being utilized for object characterization because the mathematical complexity is greater than for that of linear polarization. This research will analyze a way to expand existing algorithms to include circular polarization and enable the complete reconstruction of the Stokes vector from the measured light into a blind deconvolution algorithm for Stokes estimation and image reconstruction.


Development Of A Security-Focused Multi-Channel Communication Protocol And Associated Quality Of Secure Service (Qoss) Metrics, Paul M. Simon Sep 2022

Development Of A Security-Focused Multi-Channel Communication Protocol And Associated Quality Of Secure Service (Qoss) Metrics, Paul M. Simon

Theses and Dissertations

The threat of eavesdropping, and the challenge of recognizing and correcting for corrupted or suppressed information in communication systems is a consistent challenge. Effectively managing protection mechanisms requires an ability to accurately gauge the likelihood or severity of a threat, and adapt the security features available in a system to mitigate the threat. This research focuses on the design and development of a security-focused communication protocol at the session-layer based on a re-prioritized communication architecture model and associated metrics. From a probabilistic model that considers data leakage and data corruption as surrogates for breaches of confidentiality and integrity, a set …


Retention Prediction And Policy Optimization For United States Air Force Personnel Management, Joseph C. Hoecherl Sep 2022

Retention Prediction And Policy Optimization For United States Air Force Personnel Management, Joseph C. Hoecherl

Theses and Dissertations

Effective personnel management policies in the United States Air Force (USAF) require methods to predict the number of personnel who will remain in the USAF as well as to replenish personnel with different skillsets over time as they depart. To improve retention predictions, we develop and test traditional random forest models and feedforward neural networks as well as partially autoregressive forms of both, outperforming the benchmark on a test dataset by 62.8% and 34.8% for the neural network and the partially autoregressive neural network, respectively. We formulate the workforce replenishment problem as a Markov decision process for active duty enlisted …


Efficiency Quantification For Pulsed-Source Digital Holographic Wavefront Sensing, Steven A. Owens Sep 2022

Efficiency Quantification For Pulsed-Source Digital Holographic Wavefront Sensing, Steven A. Owens

Theses and Dissertations

The efficiencies of a digital holography (DH) system in the pulsed configuration and the off-axis image plane recording geometry are analyzed. First, the system efficiencies of an infrared-wavelength DH system in a homodyne-pulsed configuration are measured and compared to those of a visible-wavelength DH system in a homodyne-continuous-wave (CW) configuration. The total-system, excess-reference-noise, shot-noise-limit, and mixing efficiencies of the pulsed-source system were found to be consistent with those of the CW-source system. This indicated no new efficiencies were necessary to characterize pulsed-source systems when no temporal delay exists between the pulses. The consistency of efficiencies also showed infrared DH systems …


Analytic Case Study Using Unsupervised Event Detection In Multivariate Time Series Data, Jeremy M. Wightman Sep 2022

Analytic Case Study Using Unsupervised Event Detection In Multivariate Time Series Data, Jeremy M. Wightman

Theses and Dissertations

Analysis of cyber-physical systems (CPS) has emerged as a critical domain for providing US Air Force and Space Force leadership decision advantage in air, space, and cyberspace. Legacy methods have been outpaced by evolving battlespaces and global peer-level challengers. Automation provides one way to decrease the time that analysis currently takes. This thesis presents an event detection automation system (EDAS) which utilizes deep learning models, distance metrics, and static thresholding to detect events. The EDAS automation is evaluated with case study of CPS domain experts in two parts. Part 1 uses the current methods for CPS analysis with a qualitative …


Root-Cause Analysis Of Rsaf Maintenance-Related Flight Safety Mishaps, Heaf H. Alqahtani Sep 2022

Root-Cause Analysis Of Rsaf Maintenance-Related Flight Safety Mishaps, Heaf H. Alqahtani

Theses and Dissertations

Poor maintenance is a major factor in many aviation mishaps. This is due to the fact that some maintenance activities are carried out improperly or overlooked as a result of human error. It is important to acknowledge that maintenance mistakes are a visible sign of deeper organizational issues. Therefore, adequate solutions to maintenance issues must consider organizational influences. Despite efforts to reduce the accident rate within the Royal Saudi Air Force (RSAF), the RSAF suffers from an increasing trend in mishaps attributed to maintenance. Therefore, safety data was analyzed to examine trends. Additionally, the Human Factors Analysis and Classification System …