Digital Commons Network^™

Pulse Patency And Oxygenation Sensing System Development To Detect G-Induced Loss Of Consciousness, Herman Pretorius

Master's Theses and Capstones

A fighter pilots greatest strength is the weakness of his or her opponent. Commonly, this strength comes down to the maneuverability of the aircraft, particularly the ability to out-climb. Since the 1980's, the thrust produced by these engines have the ability to drain the pilots head of blood causing a state of unconsciousness due to the overwhelming forces of gravity for upwards of 30 seconds; often times having fatal outcomes.

This thesis explores the feasibility of detecting of blood flow by means of arterial wall expansion (pulse patency) and blood oxygenation using a microprocessor to continually monitor the signals from …

Image Pre-Processing To Improve Data Matrix Barcode Read Rates, Nathan P. Brouwer

Master's Theses and Capstones

The main goal of this study is to research image processing methods in attempts to develop a robust approach to image pre-preprocessing of Data Matrix barcode images that will improve barcode read rates in an open source fashion. This is demonstrated by element state classification to re-create the ideal binary matrix corresponding to the intended barcode layout through pattern recognition theory.

The research consisted of implementing and evaluating the effectiveness of many image processing algorithms types, as well as evaluating key features that clearly delineate different element states. The algorithms developed highlight the use of morphological erosion and region growing …

Comparing And Contrasting Manual Direct Touch Interaction With Tangible User Interfaces For Mapping Applications, Timothy G. April

Master's Theses and Capstones

Multi-touch interfaces are growing in popularity for many forms of computing devices, including mobile devices, as well as personal and shared workstations. There has been limited exploration into the use of tangible user interfaces in conjunction with multi-touch displays for extracting data from geocoded data. Specifically, it is not known if tangible user interfaces are faster, easier or more intuitive to use than existing touch based controls. We hypothesize that tangible user interfaces will be faster, more satisfying and more desirable than touch based controls for extracting data from geocoded data. We set out to explore one tangible user interface …

Theory And Evaluation Of A Wireless Capacitive Strain Sensor At Ultra High Frequencies (Uhf) For Cnc Applications, Kyle Francis Shaughnessy

Master's Theses and Capstones

A low cost, non-intrusive interdigitated comb capacitive strain sensor for wireless monitoring of CNC tool cutting forces was designed. Wireless resonant strain sensors were fabricated using the capacitive strain sensor and an inductive trace printed on a flexible film. A parallel-plate capacitance model matched experimental results of capacitive sensors tested in bending and torsion. An optimal sensor design of 12 fingers and a 2.54 mm grid length resulted in an average sensor gauge factor of 0.6910 +/- 0.0646 in bending and 0.9091 +/- 0.1406 in torsion. The wirelessly measured resonant strain sensor was measured to have an average gauge factor …

Interfacing With A Capacitance Based Strain Sensor For Use In Cnc Milling Applications, Christopher George Dean

Master's Theses and Capstones

"Smart machining" provides feedback to the machine in an attempt to avoid pushing the cutting tool beyond its capability or lifetime, potentially ruining the tool or workpiece. This thesis details the process of designing a circuit board for communication with a capacitance-based wireless strain sensor to achieve a target strain resolution of 10muepsilon, at a target measurement rate of 100 kHz. The sensor resonates at a particular frequency, which varies as a function of strain on the tool. The strain is calculated as a function of the change in the resonant frequency. The results of this research are presented in …

Intelligent Aerial Store & Foreword Packet Repeater, William P. Mcdonnell

Master's Theses and Capstones

A communication framework capable of rapid deployment and adaptive wireless support was designed and implemented using an unmanned aerial vehicle equipped with a 900 MHz, frequency- hopping transceiver configured as a store and forward packet repeater. Users with or without line of sight propagation between one another can automatically connect through the packet repeater and employ the aerial platform for extended data transfer. The airborne vehicle accommodates dynamic re-positioning in response to varying radio link conditions, thus supporting communication between highly mobile and/or line of sight-obstructed users even as the network topology evolves. Using open source and custom written software …

Calibration And Characterization Of A Low-Cost Wireless Sensor For Applications In Cnc End Milling, Andrew James Harmon

Master's Theses and Capstones

Central to creating a smart machining system is the challenge of collecting detailed information about the milling process at the tool tip. This work discusses the design, static calibration, dynamic characterization, and implementation of a low-cost wireless sensor for end-milling. Our novel strain-based sensor, called the Smart Tool, is shown to perform well in a laboratory setting with accuracy and dynamic behavior comparable to that of the Kistler 3-axis force dynamometer. The Smart Tool is capable of measuring static loads with a total measurement uncertainty of less than 3 percent full scale, but has a natural frequency of approximately 630 …

An Investigation On The Resonance Observed In A Spirally Shielded Twinaxial Differential Pair, David Richard Levine

Master's Theses and Capstones

Spirally shielded twinaxial cable assemblies are extensively used in multi-gigabit-per-second digital telecommunications systems. Unlike ideally shielded Twinaxial cables, spirally shielded cables exhibit resonant behavior which limits system throughput.

This body of work illustrates a predictive method for determining resonant behavior in twinaxial cables through physical measurement of commercially available cables and analogous transmission line fixtures, full-wave and quasi-static simulations, and equivalent circuit analysis.

It will be shown that frequency dependent standing wave resonances in twinaxial cables are independent of cable length and dependent on cross-sectional feature sizes, dielectric properties, and spiral shield pitch.

Control Of A Large Scale Wind Turbine Utilizing A Fluid Drive, Matthew Foley

Master's Theses and Capstones

As wind turbines grow in size there are added strains within the mechanical structure that need to be mitigated to improve machine life. The current area of greatest concern is the premature failure of the gearbox box due to torque variations along the drive train. This thesis incorporates a fluid coupler into the turbine's drive train. Three different controllers are developed for this model with the goal of minimizing the torque variations seen by the gearbox and providing better generator speed regulation.

The result of this study shows that the addition of the fluid coupler is a major improvement to …

Design And Development Of A Debris Flow Tracking "Smart Rock", Matthew J. Harding

Master's Theses and Capstones

This thesis covers the design and development of a Smart Rock sensor package to be used in U.S. Geological Survey research of debris flow phenomena. This instrumented Rock, containing inertial sensors and pressure sensors, provides information about the movement of the flow as well as the pressures seen within the flow. The goal of the sensor package is to use this information to track the position of a particle in the flow with an accuracy of 1 m over the course of 10 s..

It is found that using an ad hoc filtering method provides the required level of accuracy. …

Investigation Of Variables For Wireless Capacitive Strain Sensing On A Cnc Mill, Justin Patrick Bray

Master's Theses and Capstones

As demand in the manufacturing sector increases, so does the need for greater process throughput and reduced component variability. These two objectives can be achieved by a process known as 'smart machining'. Smart machining utilizes sensors inside the machining environment to relay information to the machine controller. Most sensor systems adversely affect the machine dynamics, by reducing the machining envelope or reducing the machine's stiffness, or require physical connections to conditioning electronics. In this research, variables regarding a resonantly coupled wireless capacitive strain sensor were investigated. A parallel plate capacitive sensor prototype system yielded a strain sensitivity five times greater …

Climate Change Impact Reliability Of Large Electric Power Transformers In The Northeast United States, Krithikha Chinnaswamy

Master's Theses and Capstones

Global climate model simulations, when scaled to the Northeast U.S. region, indicate that New England will by 2100 experience many more days each summer of daily maximum temperatures in excess of 90°F. Given the strong correlation between summer heat waves and electric power demand, the stresses placed on the components of the electric grid by prolonged, elevated power demand is of obvious concern.

In this thesis a standard thermal model for large transformers is coupled with a temperature-dependent electric power demand model to predict the frequency of transformer thermal overload events during the months of June, July, and August through …

Unconstrained Noninvasive Vital Signs Monitoring For Detection Of Obstructive Sleep Apnea With Automated Prevention, Jonathan Waters

Master's Theses and Capstones

The Bioengineering Laboratory at UNH has demonstrated the usefulness of medical device interoperability through previous work that involved connecting an advanced hospital bed with blood pressure monitors over an electrical communication bus known as Controller Area Network (CAN). The medical devices utilize the software communication protocol known as CANopen for communicating relevant patient data to one another. This thesis explores the opportunity to detect a person's heartbeat and respiration while lying in a hospital bed noninvasively and unconstrained for accurately identifying an episode of obstructive sleep apnea. The design and development of this device is a CANopen compatible therapeutic automatic …

Advanced Control Of Large Scale Wind Turbines, Jacob Aho

Master's Theses and Capstones

Wind turbines have experienced an economy of scale that caused them to become larger, more expensive and provided the challenge to protect the components, particularly the failure-prone gearboxes. This thesis focused on new control systems for wind turbines in above-rated, or Region 3, wind regimes. The control goals were to regulate the generator speed and protect the gearbox by mitigating drivetrain torque variations.

This thesis included the development of a linear wind turbine model based on the National Renewable Energy Laboratory's FAST 5MW model. A magnetic continuously variable transmission (CVT) was included in the model. A multi-input linear quadratic regulator …

A Micro-Transponder For Precision Tracking Of Underwater Targets, Albert Whitaker Franzheim Iii.

Master's Theses and Capstones

A prototype micro-transponder has been designed and built to track, in real-time, the positions of objects or animals within the water column. Commercially available data storage tags, which help monitor the behavior of underwater animals, do not provide real-time interrogation and data dissemination capabilities in a form factor and acoustic frequency band acceptable for active tracking applications.

This prototype is 18.5 cm3 and weighs 43.7 g in air. It operates at an acoustic frequency of 160 kHz and uses a mixed-signal topology with low-power components and a microcontroller, which allows for firmware updates and addition of external sensors. It is …

Bio-Inspired Log-Polar Based Color Image Pattern Analysis In Multiple Frequency Channels, Xiaolu Li

Master's Theses and Capstones

The main topic addressed in this thesis is to implement color image pattern recognition based on the lateral inhibition subtraction phenomenon combined with a complex log-polar mapping in multiple spatial frequency channels. It is shown that the individual red, green and blue channels have different recognition performances when put in the context of former work done by Dragan Vidacic. It is observed that the green channel performs better than the other two channels, with the blue channel having the poorest performance. Following the application of a contrast stretching function the object recognition performance is improved in all channels. Multiple spatial …

Exploration Of A Free Space Optical Telemetry System For Formation Flying Sounding Rocket Sub-Payloads, James Gealy

Master's Theses and Capstones

The results of an exploration regarding the novel use of free-space optics (FSO) between sounding rockets and their sub-payloads are presented. This includes an evaluation of optoelectronic and optical devices against environmental and system level criteria. A preliminary test using available in-house components and bench-top equipment was also performed to determine potential distances and data rates of FSO in this environment. Using a light emitting diode with an optical power output of approximately six milliwatts, and a photomultiplier tube originally purposed for use on the Compton GRO, a pulse rate of ten kilohertz was transmitted over a distance of four-hundred …

Modeling The Signal Processing Of A Multi-Sonar System To Determine Interference Solutions, Brian O'Donnell

Master's Theses and Capstones

The quality of a multibeam echo-sounder sonar (ES) signal used in seafloor mapping is degraded by an interfering sidescan sonar (SS) signal. The ES and SS signals occur at approximately the same time, are in the same frequency band, and arrive from approximately the same direction. The ES signal is a 2 ms continuous wave pulse with a first null bandwidth of 1 kHz centered at 187.5 kHz. The interfering SS signal is an 8 ms linear frequency modulated chirp with a bandwidth of 2.5 kHz centered at 183 kHz.

The presence and properties of the interfering SS signal are …

Design And Application Of A Wireless Torque Sensor For Cnc Milling, Jeffrey Scott Nichols

Master's Theses and Capstones

A Smart Machining System for Computer Numerical Control (CNC) Milling continually adjusts the cutting process parameters to optimize for cutting tool life and material removal rate. The system depends on sensors to gather information from the machine during cutting, but commercially available sensors detract from the effectiveness of the cutting system by lowering the system stiffness. This research focuses on the development of the electronics for a Smart Tool Holder (STH) and potential applications such as measurement of mechanical cutting power and suppression of chatter. The STH is a standard milling tool holder modified to hold a torque strain gauge …

Apco Project 25 Wireless Data Services Over Land Mobile Radio Channel For Smaller Law Enforcement Agencies, Ivan Elhart

Master's Theses and Capstones

Digital data messages are very important in modern communication systems and advanced mobile data technologies have opened the door to a wide range of applications and services in the public safety environment. Still, the availability of mobile data services among public safety agencies is hampered by two issues of the implementation of data communication: the reliability of commercial data services and the high cost of the equipment needed to support mixed voice and data transmissions over private land mobile radio channels.

This thesis describes the design and development of an inexpensive Software Defined APCO Project 25 Data Base Station that …

Implementation Of A Dive Computer, Andras Fekete

Master's Theses and Capstones

Diving, whether it is a recreational sport or an occupation, can pose numerous safety concerns. Two of the principle concerns are drowning and decompression sickness. Drowning can be caused by many factors, one of them being: running out of air. This thesis is concerned with implementing a dive computer with real time dive planning capability. This allows for more freedom for the diver, without incurring additional risk of decompression sickness. In this thesis, I plan to present my algorithm which is differs from other dive computers in the way it calculates multiple ascent routes, allowing divers to alter their precomputed …

Bathymetric Uncertainty Model For The L-3 Klein 5410 Sidescan Sonar, Marc Stanton Moser

Master's Theses and Capstones

The L-3 Klein 5410 sidescan sonar system acquires acoustic backscatter imagery and bathymetry data. A bathymetry uncertainty model was developed for this sonar to predict its performance against hydrographic standards set by the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO). Elements of the model not specific to this sonar were adapted from existing uncertainty models, and the remainder was calculated by comparing the 5410 bathymetry with a reference surface obtained from multibeam echosounder data. The sonar's angular uncertainty was solved for different bottom types with best results obtained over sandy bottoms, where, after removal of some system biases, the bathymetry met standards for …

The Influence Of Personal Navigation Devices On Drivers' Visual Attention On The Road Ahead And Driving Performance, Nemanja Memarovic

Master's Theses and Capstones

Nowadays, personal navigation devices (PNDs) that provide GPS-based directions are widespread in vehicles. These devices typically display the real-time location of the vehicle on a map and play spoken prompts when drivers need to turn. While such devices are less distracting than paper directions, their graphical display may distract users from their primary task of driving. This thesis investigates the influence of two PNDs on driving performance and visual attention. In the experiments conducted with a high fidelity driving simulator, we found that drivers using a navigation system with a graphical display indeed spent less time looking at the road …

Measuring The Elf Response Of An Acupuncture Meridian Compared To A Control Channel, Keith Spaulding

Master's Theses and Capstones

Acupuncture meridians are said to possess unique electrical characteristics; a characteristic of interest when analyzing systems is frequency response. The Extremely Low Frequency (ELF) response of the Large Intestine (LI) meridian was found by applying a Gaussian pulse signal to LI4 and detecting the signal at LI11; a Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) analysis is performed on this signal with a Power Spectral Density (PSD) measuring total power in the 2 -- 100 Hz region. This total power is compared to the total power measurement at a control point by applying the same Gaussian pulse on a control channel; this protocol …

The Reduction Of Broadband Crosstalk Interference Between Multiple Conductors In A Backplane Interconnect And Its Performance Impact On Gigabit Digital Communication Signals, Prescott Brandon Atkinson

Master's Theses and Capstones

Crosstalk interference from signal transmission between transmission line conductors limits channel throughput as amplitude distortion in an experimental backplane connector. Shared return conductor microstrip connectors arranged in stacks have resonant frequencies that are determined largely by cavity dimensions of the return conductor geometries. If an input waveform to the connector excites these resonant frequencies, the resonant energy will couple to other signal conductors in the connector and will result in crosstalk interference. Lossy materials can be used to reduce the resonant crosstalk interference in connectors.

Quasi-conductor and magnetic absorber materials were used to reduce the resonant crosstalk in an experimental …

Effects Of Different Push-To-Talk Solutions On Driving Performance, Oskar Palinko

Master's Theses and Capstones

Police officers have been using the Project54 system in their vehicles for a number of years. They have also started using the handheld version of Project54 outside their vehicles recently. There is a need to connect these two instances of the system into a continuous user interface. On the other hand, research has shown that the PTT button location affects driving performance. This thesis investigates the difference between the old, fixed PTT button and a new wireless PTT glove, that could be used in and outside of the car. The thesis describes the design of the glove and the driving …

An Architecture And Technology For Ambient Intelligence Node, Tomasz M. Jankowski

Master's Theses and Capstones

The era of separate networks is over. The existing technology leaders are preparing a big change in recreation of environment around us. There are several faces for this change. Names like Ambient Intelligence, Ambient Network, IP Multimedia Subsystem and others were created all over the Globe. Regardless of which name is used the new network will combine three main functional principles---it will be: contextual aware, ubiquitous access and intelligent interfaces unified network.

Within this thesis two major aspects are defined. First, the definition of the Ambient Intelligence Environment concept is presented. Secondly the architecture vectors for the technology are named. …

High Voltage Bias Waveform Generator For An Rf Mems Microswitch, James A. Brandt

Master's Theses and Capstones

An integrated high voltage bias driver for a Radio Frequency Micro-Electro-Mechanical System (RF MEMS) microswitch is proposed. The design and implementation in a 0.7mum integrated circuit process with high and low voltage transistors is shown along with tested results. High voltage Double-Diffused Metal Oxide Semiconductor (DMOS) transistors in combination with low voltage digital logic provide a non-linear solution that achieves rise and fall times of 1mus while keeping power use to a minimum. System design and tradeoffs are presented for alternate approaches and combinations as well as future integration with Direct Current--Direct Current (DC-DC) voltage conversion and an internally generated …

A Measurement Based Comparison Of Full-Wave And Quasi-Static Methods For Baseband Modeling Of Plated Through Hole Via Structures, Marc Cartier

Master's Theses and Capstones

As signaling rates increase, the usable bandwidth of modern telecommunication and storage systems is bounded by parasitic elements within the signal path. To improve data throughput, system designers use cascaded combinations of equivalent circuit models obtained through component level simulation and measurement to evaluate the communications channel. The analytical methods used to create these models have frequency dependent limitations and restrict applications. To this end, a measurement based comparison of quasi-static and full-wave simulation methodologies was performed on plated through hole via structures in a printed circuit board over a frequency range of 0.1GHz to 20GHz.

Test fixtures and calibration …

The Evaluation Of The Instrumentation Of An Acoustic Measurement Buoy Designed To Monitor The Underwater Acoustic Environment During Pile Driving Activity, David P. Moceri

Master's Theses and Capstones

Driving large support piles in brackish estuaries results in permanent damage, and possibly death to marine mammals and fragile infant fish spawned in these areas. The damage is a result of excessive acoustic intensities produced by the pile driving activity. To monitor this 'noise', students in the Undergraduate Ocean Research Projects: TECH 797 2005-2006 (Risso et al. 2006), working with Dr. Ken Baldwin as their advisor, proposed the concept of using an 'Acoustic Measurement Buoy'. Their project was funded by the National Sea Grant College Program, NOAA, and Department of Commerce.

Their problem statement was "To develop a portable, robust, …