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Air Force Institute of Technology

2004

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Articles 31 - 60 of 141

Full-Text Articles in Engineering

Comparative Study On The Use Of Coherent Radar-Derived Electric Fields Vs. Statistical Electric Fields For The Initialization Of A High-Latitude Ionospheric Model, Christopher M. Hogue Jun 2004

Comparative Study On The Use Of Coherent Radar-Derived Electric Fields Vs. Statistical Electric Fields For The Initialization Of A High-Latitude Ionospheric Model, Christopher M. Hogue

Theses and Dissertations

The structure and time development of the magnetosphere-ionosphere system have significant impacts on the Air Force and its mission. Specifically, an accurate knowledge of ionospheric plasma densities is important for the operation of many Air Force systems. This research analyzes plasma density structure development through comparing two distinct electric field models. The two models compared here are a commonly used statistical model created by Heppner and Maynard 1987, and a more recently developed model using real-time coherent radar measurements from the SuperDARN radar network. Ionospheric simulations were run using Utah State University s Time-Dependent Ionospheric Model (TDIM) with the two …

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Extending The Aircraft Availability Model To A Constrained Depot Environment Using Activity-Based Costing And The Theory Of Constraints, Gerardo H. Acosta Voegeli Jun 2004

Extending The Aircraft Availability Model To A Constrained Depot Environment Using Activity-Based Costing And The Theory Of Constraints, Gerardo H. Acosta Voegeli

Theses and Dissertations

The Aircraft Availability Model (AAM) assists managers in the selection of an optimal list of items to repair in order to attain the best aircraft availability rate. The model considers procurement or repair costs for the components as if the costs were unit variable as a price, instead of a repair cost representing a mix of both fixed and variable cost. This research used the AAM in conjunction with Activity Based-Costing (ABC) and The Theory of Constraints (TOC) methodologies to investigate the relationships between price, product mix, Aircraft Availability (AA) and total cost. This approach explicitly recognizes that the Air …

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Implementing Institute Of Electrical And Electronics Engineers (Ieee) 802.11 Standard Medium Access Control Protocol For Wireless Local Area Networks (Lans) On A Laboratory Hardware Prototype, Joshua D. Green Jun 2004

Implementing Institute Of Electrical And Electronics Engineers (Ieee) 802.11 Standard Medium Access Control Protocol For Wireless Local Area Networks (Lans) On A Laboratory Hardware Prototype, Joshua D. Green

Theses and Dissertations

Wireless Local Area Networks (LANs) are extremely convenient, flexible, and easy to deploy. All LANs in which multiple hosts must access the same medium use a Medium Access Control (MAC) protocol to coordinate channel access. The MAC is part of the Data Link Layer of the Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) Reference Model. One MAC protocol in extensive use today is the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 standard. Since IEEE 802.11 devices are so prevalent in today s world, many researcher are exploring modifications and enhancements to the protocol. There are several well developed analytical and simulation models …

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Utilizing Near-Field Measurements To Characterize Far-Field Radar Signatures, John R. Watkins Jun 2004

Utilizing Near-Field Measurements To Characterize Far-Field Radar Signatures, John R. Watkins

Theses and Dissertations

The increased need for stealth aircraft requires an on-site Far-Field (FF) Radar Cross-Section (RCS) measurement process. Conducting these measurements in on-site Near-Field (NF) monostatic facilities results in significant savings for manufacturers and acquisition programs. However, NF measurements are not directly extended to a FF RCS. Therefore, a large target Near-Field to Far-Field Transformation (NFFFT) is needed for RCS measurements. One approach requires an Inverse Synthetic Aperture Radar (ISAR) process to create accurate scattering maps. The focus of this work is the development of accurate NF scattering maps generated by a monostatic ISAR process. As a first look, the process is …

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A Study Of A Skirtless Hovercraft Design, Edward A. Kelleher May 2004

A Study Of A Skirtless Hovercraft Design, Edward A. Kelleher

Theses and Dissertations

Initial study into three possible skirtless hovercraft designs. The designs utilize Coanda nozzles and a Coanda wing surface to generate lift and create a pressure cushion below the craft. The pressure cushion is to be maintained by an air curtain created by flow spill from the Coanda wing surface. Three proposed skirtless hovercraft designs were analyzed via computational fluid dynamics to ascertain their lift generation capabilities. The three designs were adaptations from William Walter's hybricraft primer and his patent for a fan driven lift generation device. Each design featured Coanda nozzles, or nozzles that utilize the Coanda effect, to redirect …

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A Value Focused Thinking Model For The Development And Selection Of Electrical Energy Source Alternatives At Military Installations, Gregory T. Schanding Mar 2004

A Value Focused Thinking Model For The Development And Selection Of Electrical Energy Source Alternatives At Military Installations, Gregory T. Schanding

Theses and Dissertations

Electrical power on military installations is vital for mission accomplishment. Most installations obtain electrical power from a local commercial utility. Although commercial power service has a very low interruption rate, the threat of a sustained power outage resulting from a terrorist act or a natural disaster is of concern. The military should posture itself to prevent such power outages and prepare to mitigate the adverse effects associated with the loss of power. This thesis presents a Value Focused Thinking approach to the development of a decision analysis model to assist a decision maker at a military installation in the generation …

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The Predictive Validity Of The Afit Graduate Management Program Admission Requirements: A Reassessment And Extension, Sarah E. Woods Mar 2004

The Predictive Validity Of The Afit Graduate Management Program Admission Requirements: A Reassessment And Extension, Sarah E. Woods

Theses and Dissertations

This research is based on the Air Force and AFIT balancing mission requirements of personnel needed for duty and training airmen in advanced studies. Currently, over 50% of AFIT students do not meet AFIT entrance requirements. The purpose of this research was to examine criteria to determine its predictability of graduate success, as measured by graduate GPA, as well as determine whether performance is different for students who require criteria to be waived. Current AFIT eligibility criteria include undergraduate GPA, GRE test scores, or GMAT test scores. Other variables examined in this study include: GRE-Analytical test scores; rank/grade; prior enlistment; …

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Analysis And Forecasting Of U.S. Navy Operating And Support (O&S) Costs For Rotary Aircraft, Christopher J. Wilkes Mar 2004

Analysis And Forecasting Of U.S. Navy Operating And Support (O&S) Costs For Rotary Aircraft, Christopher J. Wilkes

Theses and Dissertations

This research explores forecasting techniques to estimate the Cost per Flying Hour (CPFH) for Navy rotary aircraft. Three separate forecasting techniques were evaluated to better predict the CPFH for better estimating and budgeting by the U.S. Navy. The process begins by empirically analyzing Operating & Support cost categories for each helicopter. Trends were examined in CPFH. For forecasting purposes, actual CPFH figures were compiled from 1997 to 2003 for the CH-46D, the CH-53D, the MH-53E, the SH-60F, the UH-1N, and the UH-3H helicopters. The forecasting techniques explored were the 3-year moving average, the single exponential smoothing method, and Holt's linear …

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Coplanar Air Launch With Gravity-Turn Launch Trajectories, David W. Callaway Mar 2004

Coplanar Air Launch With Gravity-Turn Launch Trajectories, David W. Callaway

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine the feasibility of launching a vehicle based on the Boeing AirLaunch System in a coplanar, direct to rendezvous trajectory with gravity-turn. The focus of the research was to model the launch trajectory and determine the ability to reach different coplanar orbits. The launch trajectory was modeled using two-dimensional equations of motion and a boundary value problem was posed and solved for the gravity-turn trajectory. Trajectories were then created in an attempt to reach different altitudes through coasting and transfer orbits. Finally a specific orbital altitude was chosen and the trajectories were analyzed …

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Analytical Results For A Single-Unit System Subject To Markovian Wear And Shocks, Daniel E. Finkelstein Mar 2004

Analytical Results For A Single-Unit System Subject To Markovian Wear And Shocks, Daniel E. Finkelstein

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis develops and analyzers a mathematical model for the reliability measures of a single-unit system subject to continuous wear due to its operating environment and randomly occurring shocks that inflict a random amount of damage to the unit. Assuming a Markovian operating environment and shock arrival mechanism, Laplace-Stieltjes transform expressions are obtained for the failure time distribution and all of its moments. Moreover, an analytical expression is derived for the long-run availability of the single-unit system when it is subject to an inspect-and-replace maintenance policy. The analytical results are illustrated, and their results compared with those of Monte Carlo-simulated …

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Low Temperature Hall Measurements Of Neutron Irradiated Silicon Carbide, Angelo M. Bonavita Mar 2004

Low Temperature Hall Measurements Of Neutron Irradiated Silicon Carbide, Angelo M. Bonavita

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this research was to search for evidence of low temperature annealing from neutron irradiated 4H-silicon carbide. No features suggesting annealing were found below a temperature of 340K. Temperature dependant Hall effect measurements were taken over a range of 100K to 340K recording resistivity, carrier densities, and mobility. Resistivity was noted to increase with irradiations, and carrier densities appeared to decrease, while mobility appeared minimally affected by neutron irradiation. This suggests the creation of active acceptor defects decreasing carrier concentrations. N-type samples measured were 5mm x 5mm square with Nickel contacts, and irradiated to 1010 and 10 …

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Purchasing And Supply Chain Management Costing: An Air Transport Perspective Derived Through Commercial Air Cargo Firms, Kurt Ettrich Mar 2004

Purchasing And Supply Chain Management Costing: An Air Transport Perspective Derived Through Commercial Air Cargo Firms, Kurt Ettrich

Theses and Dissertations

The Air Force has struggled to completely understand the costs associated with its operations. The issue of understanding cost is complex, involving many perspectives, methods and techniques. When examined from a broad standpoint, total supply chain costs can include a firm's costs plus upstream and downstream costs. This perspective takes vendors, suppliers and end customers into consideration. From this broad standpoint, the Air Force does not know its total supply chain cost. Since the Air Force's supply chain is too broad to be a focus of this study, a smaller segment was chosen for a closer look. Specifically, air cargo …

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Evaluating The Navigation Potential Of The National Television System Committee Broadcast Signal, Ryan J. Eggert Mar 2004

Evaluating The Navigation Potential Of The National Television System Committee Broadcast Signal, Ryan J. Eggert

Theses and Dissertations

The accuracy and worldwide availability of the Global Positioning System (GPS) make it the dominant system for navigation and precise positioning. Unfortunately, many situations arise in which GPS may not be adequate, e.g., urban navigation. This research evaluates the navigation potential of the National Television System Committee (NTSC) broadcast signal using a time-difference-of-arrival (TDOA) algorithm. TDOA measurements are made using NTSC broadcast signals collected from low and high multipath environments. These measurements are then used to evaluate the severity and dynamic effects of NTSC broadcast multipath signals. Three data reduction algorithms were developed--one that modifies the classical cross-correlation TDOA approach, …

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Deviation Of Time-Resolved Luminescence Dynamics In Mwir Semiconductor Materials From Carrier Recombination Theory Predictions, Peter M. Johnson Mar 2004

Deviation Of Time-Resolved Luminescence Dynamics In Mwir Semiconductor Materials From Carrier Recombination Theory Predictions, Peter M. Johnson

Theses and Dissertations

Time resolved luminescence spectroscopy was used to characterize luminescence decay curves for a bulk InAs sample and an InAsSb type-I quantum-well sample over the first 3ns following excitation. The luminescence decay curves were then converted to carrier densities and used to find recombination coefficients that provided the least-squared-error solution of the rate equation describing carrier recombination. Recombination coefficients describing Shockley Read-Hall (ASRH) radiative (Brad) and Auger (CAug) recombination were determined at two different temperatures and four excitation powers, then analyzed for consistency and physical significance. For all of the resulting least …

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Monotonic, Creep-Rupture, And Fatigue Behavior Of Carbon Fiber Reinforced Silicon Carbide (C/Sic) At An Elevated Temperature, John M. Engesser Mar 2004

Monotonic, Creep-Rupture, And Fatigue Behavior Of Carbon Fiber Reinforced Silicon Carbide (C/Sic) At An Elevated Temperature, John M. Engesser

Theses and Dissertations

The main objective of this research effort was to examine the impact that cyclic loading frequency has on the life of a C/SiC composite at an elevated temperature of 550°C. Cyclic loading of C/SiC was investigated at frequencies of 375 Hz, 10 Hz, 1 Hz, and 0.1 Hz. Creep-Rupture tests and tests that were combinations of creep-rupture and fatigue were also accomplished. A monotonic tensile test was performed at 550°C and compared to a room temperature monotonic test. This study showed that an elevated temperature of 550°C has very little effect on the Ultimate Tensile Strength (UTS) of C/SiC. The …

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Simulating A Chromotomographic Sensor For Hyperspectral Imaging In The Infrared, Anthony J. Dearinger Mar 2004

Simulating A Chromotomographic Sensor For Hyperspectral Imaging In The Infrared, Anthony J. Dearinger

Theses and Dissertations

Hyperspectral imaging systems passively sense radiant electromagnetic energy from a remote scene to form a three dimension profile of the remote scene. The data contained in this profile describes real images of the remote scene for a certain number of spectral wavelength bands across a finite spectral range of electromagnetic radiation. Typical grating type hyperspectral imaging systems collect spectral electromagnetic radiation in the visible and near infrared spectral range, by incrementally scanning across the spatial extent of the remote scene. The legacy of low optical throughput because of the optical scanning techniques employed in these systems means adapting these systems …

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An Analysis Of The Potential For Using Over-The-Horizon Radar Systems For Space Surveillance, Matthew J. Colbert Mar 2004

An Analysis Of The Potential For Using Over-The-Horizon Radar Systems For Space Surveillance, Matthew J. Colbert

Theses and Dissertations

The Australian Defence Force is investigating the development of a space surveillance system. While several dedicated facilities for space surveillance are in operation around the world, Australia s Over-The-Horizon Radar (OTHR) network has some potential for this role. The OTHR operates in the HF band and is constrained by the propagation effects of the ionosphere. A spherically stratified ionospheric model and a model for a nominal OTHR antenna are developed that allow calculation of path propagation, power distribution, and clutter returns. A software-based radar receiver processing system is modeled to determine detection probabilities and the minimum detectable radar cross-section of …

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An Experimental Design For Measuring In Situ Radiation Damage To A Piezoelectric Transducer, Michael R. Severson Mar 2004

An Experimental Design For Measuring In Situ Radiation Damage To A Piezoelectric Transducer, Michael R. Severson

Theses and Dissertations

An experiment was conducted investigating the use of an acoustic pulse waveguide to collect response measurements from three piezoelectric acoustic emission (AE) transducers while the transducers were exposed to an active nuclear reactor neutron flux ranging from 1 x 1011 to 2.4 x 1012 neutrons per sq cms. Material, mechanical, and radiation studies were performed to determine a practical design for the construction of the experiment. Discreet frequency pulses generated by an Arbitrary Waveform Generator were transmitted by an aluminum waveguide to the core of the Ohio State University Research Reactor (OSURR). Three AF transducers coupled to the …

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A Linear Subspace Approach To Burst Communication Signal Processing, Daniel E. Gisselquist Mar 2004

A Linear Subspace Approach To Burst Communication Signal Processing, Daniel E. Gisselquist

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation focuses on the topic of burst signal communications in a high interference environment. It derives new signal processing algorithms from a mathematical linear subspace approach instead of the common stationary or cyclostationary approach. The research developed new algorithms that have well-known optimality criteria associated with them. The investigation demonstrated a unique class of multisensor filters having a lower mean square error than all other known filters, a maximum likelihood time difference of arrival estimator that outperformed previously optimal estimators, and a signal presence detector having a selectivity unparalleled in burst interference environments. It was further shown that these …

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Experimental Investigation Into The Aerodynamic Performance Of Both Rigid And Flexible Wing Structured Micro-Air-Vehicles, Anthony M. Deluca Mar 2004

Experimental Investigation Into The Aerodynamic Performance Of Both Rigid And Flexible Wing Structured Micro-Air-Vehicles, Anthony M. Deluca

Theses and Dissertations

The Air Force Research Lab, Munitions Directorate, Eglin Air Force Base, Florida has designed a man-portable carbon-fiber Micro-Air-Vehicle (MA V) used for on-the-spot surveillance by Special Operations Forces (SOF) for enemy reconnaissance as well as post-strike Battle Damage Assessment (BDA).The main goals of this experiment are: 1) characterize the flow quality of the new AFIT 3' x 3' wind tunnel and 2) determine the aerodynamic performance characteristics of the 24" span, 6" chord flexible and rigid wing MA V s. The turbulent intensity of the wind tunnel was approximately 2%. Both MA Vs had an average lift slope within 3.5% …

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Detonation Branching In A Pde With Liquid Hydrocarbon Fuel, Kristin L. Panzenhagen Mar 2004

Detonation Branching In A Pde With Liquid Hydrocarbon Fuel, Kristin L. Panzenhagen

Theses and Dissertations

A pulse detonation engine (PDE) capitalizes on the large mass flux and pressure rise associated with detonations to create thrust, which is proportional to PDE cycle frequency. This research showed that using a branched detonation as an ignition source, as opposed to standard spark ignition, deposits more energy into the thrust tube head. The increase in energy decreases ignition delay and detonation to deflagration transition (DDT) time. This allows a theoretical 85% cycle frequency increase that is accompanied by an 85% increase in thrust. The increase in energy also reduces the need for a DDT enhancement device, thereby increasing thrust …

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An Analysis Of Electromagnetic Interference (Emi) Of Ultra Wideband(Uwb) And Ieee 802.11a Wireless Local Area Network (Wlan) Employing Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (Ofdm), Juan Lopez Jr. Mar 2004

An Analysis Of Electromagnetic Interference (Emi) Of Ultra Wideband(Uwb) And Ieee 802.11a Wireless Local Area Network (Wlan) Employing Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (Ofdm), Juan Lopez Jr.

Theses and Dissertations

Military communications require the rapid deployment of mobile, high-bandwidth systems. These systems must provide anytime, anywhere capabilities with minimal interference to existing military, private, and commercial communications. Ultra Wideband (UWB) technology is being advanced as the next generation radio technology and has the potential to revolutionize indoor wireless communications. The ability of UWB to mitigate multipath fading, provide high-throughput data rates (e.g., greater than 100 Mbps), provide excellent signal penetration (e.g., through walls), and low implementation costs makes it an ideal technology for a wide range of private and public sector applications. Preliminary UWB studies conducted by The Institute for …

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Multiple Access Interference Characterization For Direct-Sequence Spread-Spectrum Communications Using Chip Waveform Shaping, Matthew G. Glen Mar 2004

Multiple Access Interference Characterization For Direct-Sequence Spread-Spectrum Communications Using Chip Waveform Shaping, Matthew G. Glen

Theses and Dissertations

This research characterizes MAI effects on DS/SSMA system performance through simulation in Matlab , and explores the impact of multiple access code selection, chip waveform shaping, and multiple access code length on BER for both synchronous and asynchronous multiple access networks. In addition, the simulated DS/SSMA model permits rapid research into the effects of additional factors on BER. Prior to experimental testing, model validation is conducted through single user trials and by comparison with existing research for similar system designs. For synchronous and asynchronous networks, Gold coding improves BER by 7.5 and 4.0 dB, respectively, relative to aperiodic random spreading …

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Investigating The Optimal Management Strategy For A Healthcare Facility Maintenance Program, Daria J. Gaillard Mar 2004

Investigating The Optimal Management Strategy For A Healthcare Facility Maintenance Program, Daria J. Gaillard

Theses and Dissertations

Reacting to the need to transform and the increasing pressure to outsource all non-core activities, Air Force Material Command Surgeon General discontinued its previous use of full service contracts with original equipment manufacturers and adopted a relatively new maintenance outsourcing strategy: strategic partnering with an equipment management firm. The objective of this study is to create a decision-model for selecting the optimal management strategy for a healthcare organization's facility maintenance program. This study used personal interviews with facility management personnel from MAJCOMs to collect and analyze data. This study offers a re-conceptualized framework for viewing and understanding the various maintenance …

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Keys To Successful Implementation And Sustainment Of Managed Maintenance For Healthcare Facilities, Elizabeth A. Waggoner Mar 2004

Keys To Successful Implementation And Sustainment Of Managed Maintenance For Healthcare Facilities, Elizabeth A. Waggoner

Theses and Dissertations

Health care providers are faced with two critical issues in today's evolving marketplace: lowering operational costs and achieving more efficient, cost-effective methods to deliver high quality patient care. The rising costs of healthcare and decreasing budgets have placed additional strain on the United States Air Force Medical Service to aggressively lower its facilities' costs. With fewer funds and less personnel, the Air Force medical service is re-evaluating its current maintenance outsourcing implementation practices and reexamining how these strategies might be implemented and sustained more successfully. This research offers some of the foundational needs for designing, implementing and sustaining any type …

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Fretting Fatigue Behavior Of The Titanium Alloy Ti-6al-4v Under Seawater Conditions, Lewis C. Lietch Mar 2004

Fretting Fatigue Behavior Of The Titanium Alloy Ti-6al-4v Under Seawater Conditions, Lewis C. Lietch

Theses and Dissertations

The fretting fatigue behavior of Ti-6A1-4V was investigated in laboratory air and under a controlled environment consisting of synthetic seawater. Fretting fatigue tests were performed for both low and high cycle fatigue regimes. Finite element analysis was utilized to model and analyze the experimental data. The applied stress range and the Modified Shear Stress Range were evaluated as potential fatigue parameters. The results found from this study can be summarized as: (1) seawater had a deleterious effect on fretting fatigue life in the low cycle fatigue regime but improved life in the high cycle fatigue regime, (2) although the Q/P …

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Ion Based Pressure Sensor For Pulse Detonation Engines, Jeffrey S. Zdenek Mar 2004

Ion Based Pressure Sensor For Pulse Detonation Engines, Jeffrey S. Zdenek

Theses and Dissertations

A high speed, durable, ion probe based pressure sensor is being investigated for use in pulse detonation engines. Traditional pressure sensors are ill suited for the high temperature and vibratory environment encountered in such engines. An alternative transient pressure sensing method is investigated for pressures behind a hydrocarbon flame. These flames generate ions that are quenched by collisions as a function of pressure. An experiment was devised to correlate the ion decay rate with the pressure using an ion probe well suited for the flow. A correlation has been established showing the ion decay rate is a function of pressure. …

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Discovering The Merit Of The Wavelet Transform For Object Classification, Matthew D. Eyster Mar 2004

Discovering The Merit Of The Wavelet Transform For Object Classification, Matthew D. Eyster

Theses and Dissertations

Vision is the primary sense by which most biological systems collect information about their environment. Computer vision is a branch of artificial intelligence concerned with endowing machines with the ability to understand images. Object recognition is a key part of machine vision with far reaching benefits ranging from target recognition, surveillance systems, to automation systems. Extraction of salient features from an image is one of the key steps in object recognition. Typically, geometric primitives are extracted from an image using local analysis. However, the wavelet transform provides a global approach with good locality. Additionally, the directional and multiresolution properties may …

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Interference Suppression In Multiple Access Communications Using M-Ary Phase Shift Keying Generated Via Spectral Encoding, Abel S. Nunez Mar 2004

Interference Suppression In Multiple Access Communications Using M-Ary Phase Shift Keying Generated Via Spectral Encoding, Abel S. Nunez

Theses and Dissertations

A conceptual transform domain communication system (TDCS) is shown capable of operating successfully using M-Ary phase shift keying (MPSK) data modulation in a multiple access environment. Using spectral encoding, the conceptual TDCS provides an effective means for mitigating interference affects while achieving multiple access communications. The use of transform domain processing with MPSK data modulation (TD-MPSK) provides higher spectral efficiency relative to other modulation techniques (antipodal signaling and cyclic shift keying) considered previously for TDCS applications. The proposed TD-MPSK technique uses spectral encoding for both data and multiple access phase modulations. Demodulation of the spectrally encoded TD-MPSK communication symbols is …

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Data Sorting And Orbit Determination Of Tethered Satellite Systems, Mark J. Faulstich Mar 2004

Data Sorting And Orbit Determination Of Tethered Satellite Systems, Mark J. Faulstich

Theses and Dissertations

Tethered satellite system end masses do not obey the normal laws of motion developed for determining their orbits. In addition, tethered satellite systems cause unique problems for satellite tracking because there are potentially two or more objects which may be tracked. This thesis provides insight into these issues by developing a method of sorting out observation data of tethered satellite systems into their appropriate end mass and providing an estimate on the center of mass orbit of the tethered satellite system. The method used to accomplish both of these tasks is optimization of an estimated simulated orbit. This orbit estimate …

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