Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®
Articles 1 - 22 of 22
Full-Text Articles in Engineering
Evaluation Of Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Flight Parameters That Impact Stockpile Volume Computations, Nicole Marie Hastings
Evaluation Of Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Flight Parameters That Impact Stockpile Volume Computations, Nicole Marie Hastings
Theses and Dissertations
Stockpile volumes are monitored by their companies as the product (i.e., aggregate, soil) is moved in and out of the facilities to ensure minimal product loss. Companies are mandated to report product movement to the government to ensure that the aggregate and soil is going where it is supposed to go. Many tools are used to monitor stockpile volumes including truck scales (to weigh incoming and outgoing trucks), light detection and ranging (LiDAR), Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) equipment, and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) photogrammetry. These processes give a good estimate of stockpile volumes. Errors in these estimates typically come …
Hardware And Software Improvements To A Low-Cost Holographic Video Monitor, Andrew August Henrie
Hardware And Software Improvements To A Low-Cost Holographic Video Monitor, Andrew August Henrie
Theses and Dissertations
The "Mark V" Holographic Video Monitor ("HoloMonitor") is a continuation of effort and accomplishments to produce a low-cost device capable of reproducing true full-color horizontal-parallax-only computer-generated holograms at typical video frame-rates. While other devices around the world may have greater capabilities, these devices are currently confined to laboratory settings due to their sheer complexity and expense. The aim of this project is to provide researchers and "tinkerers" with a device capable of recreating holographic effects in full color, respectable resolution, in real time, and at a comparatively low cost. The "Mark V" HoloMonitor is a closer representation of a consumer …
Improved Leaky-Mode Waveguide Spatial Light Modulators For Three Dimensional Displays, Scott Alexander Gneiting
Improved Leaky-Mode Waveguide Spatial Light Modulators For Three Dimensional Displays, Scott Alexander Gneiting
Theses and Dissertations
This thesis improves on the design of the leaky-mode spatial light modulator, LMW-SLM, presented by Dr. Smalley[1]. Improvements include: input coupling gratings, a pulsed laser input, output coupling gratings, and a 3D printed adjustable module for the stabilization of critical alignments. First, input coupling gratings reduce the cost of the LMW-SLM from $500 to around $2, a drop in cost of over two orders of magnitude. This enables multiple modulators to be used in a single display and allows for an inexpensive modular design to be created. Second, a pulsed laser input allows for image creation without the use of …
High-Speed Programmable Fpga Configuration Memory Access Using Jtag, Ammon Bradley Gruwell
High-Speed Programmable Fpga Configuration Memory Access Using Jtag, Ammon Bradley Gruwell
Theses and Dissertations
Over the past couple of decades Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) have become increasingly useful in a variety of domains. This is due to their low cost and flexibility compared to custom ASICs. This increasing interest in FPGAs has driven the need for tools that both qualify and improve the reliability of FPGAs for applications where the reconfigurability of FPGAs makes them vulnerable to radiation upsets such as in aerospace environments. Such tools ideally work with a wide variety of devices, are highly programmable but simple to use, and perform tasks at relatively high speeds. Of the various FPGA configuration …
Configuration Scrubbing Architectures For High-Reliability Fpga Systems, Aaron Gerald Stoddard
Configuration Scrubbing Architectures For High-Reliability Fpga Systems, Aaron Gerald Stoddard
Theses and Dissertations
Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) are being used more frequently in space applications because of their reconfigurability and intensive processing capabilities. FPGAs in environments like space are susceptible to ionizing radiation which can cause Single Event Upsets (SEUs) in the FPGA's configuration memory. These upsets may cause the programmed user design on the FPGA to deviate from its normal behavior. Space missions cannot afford to allow important data processing applications to become corrupted due to these radiation upsets.Configuration scrubbing is an upset mitigation technique that detects and corrects upsets in an FPGA's configuration memory. Configuration scrubbing periodically monitors an FPGA's …
A Variable-Stiffness Compliant Mechanism For Stiffness-Controlled Haptic Interfaces, Jeffrey C. Hawks
A Variable-Stiffness Compliant Mechanism For Stiffness-Controlled Haptic Interfaces, Jeffrey C. Hawks
Theses and Dissertations
In this research a variable-stiffness compliant mechanism was developed to generate variable force-displacement profiles at the mechanisms coupler point. The mechanism is based on a compliant Roberts straight-line mechanism, and the stiffness is varied by changing the effective length of the compliant links with an actuated slider. The variable-stiffness mechanism was used in a one-degree-of-freedom haptic interface to demonstrate the effectiveness of varying the stiffness of a compliant mechanism. Unlike traditional haptic interfaces, in which the force is controlled using motors and rigid links, the haptic interface developed in this work displays haptic stiffness via the variable-stiffness compliant mechanism. The …
Single Event Mitigation For Aurora Protocol Based Mgt Fpga Designs In Space Environments, Alexander Stanley Harding
Single Event Mitigation For Aurora Protocol Based Mgt Fpga Designs In Space Environments, Alexander Stanley Harding
Theses and Dissertations
This work has extended an existing Aurora protocol for high-speed serial I/O between FPGAs to provide greater fault recovery in the presence of high-energy radiation. To improve on the Aurora protocol, additional resets that affect larger portions of the system were used. Detection for additional error modes that occurred but were not detected by the Aurora protocol was designed. Radiation testing was performed on the Aurora protocol with the additional mitigation hardware. The test gathered large amounts of data on the various error modes of the Aurora protocol and how the additional mitigation circuitry affected the system. The test results …
Understanding Design Requirements For Building Reliable, Space-Based Fpga Mgt Systems Based On Radiation Test Results, Kevin M. Ellsworth
Understanding Design Requirements For Building Reliable, Space-Based Fpga Mgt Systems Based On Radiation Test Results, Kevin M. Ellsworth
Theses and Dissertations
Space-based computing applications often demand reliable, high-bandwidth communication systems. FPGAs with Mulit-Gigabit Transceivers (MGTs) provide an effective platform for such systems, but it is important that system designers understand the possible susceptibilities MGTs present to the system. Previous work has provided a foundation for understanding the susceptibility of raw FPGA MGTs but has fallen short of testing MGTs as part of a larger system. This work focuses on answering the questions MGT system designers need to know in order to build a reliable space-based MGT system. Two radiation tests were performed with a test architecture built on the Aurora protocol. …
Modeling And Testing Of Dna Motion For Nanoinjection, Regis Agenor David
Modeling And Testing Of Dna Motion For Nanoinjection, Regis Agenor David
Theses and Dissertations
A new technique, called nanoinjection, is being developed to insert foreign DNA into a living cell. Such DNA transfection is commonly used to create transgenic organisms vital to the study of genetics, immunology, and many other biological sciences. In nanoinjection, DNA, which has a net negative charge, is electrically attracted to a micromachined lance. The lance then pierces the cell membranes, and the voltage on the lance is reversed, repelling the DNA into the cell. It is shown that DNA motion is strongly correlated to ion transport through a process called electrophoresis. Gel electrophoresis is used to move DNA using …
An Onboard Vision System For Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Guidance, Barrett Bruce Edwards
An Onboard Vision System For Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Guidance, Barrett Bruce Edwards
Theses and Dissertations
The viability of small Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) as a stable platform for specific application use has been significantly advanced in recent years. Initial focus of lightweight UAV development was to create a craft capable of stable and controllable flight. This is largely a solved problem. Currently, the field has progressed to the point that unmanned aircraft can be carried in a backpack, launched by hand, weigh only a few pounds and be capable of navigating through unrestricted airspace. The most basic use of a UAV is to visually observe the environment and use that information to influence decision making. …
Impact Of Large Gravity Loads On Buckling Restrained Braced Frame Performance, Mark Thurgood Matthews
Impact Of Large Gravity Loads On Buckling Restrained Braced Frame Performance, Mark Thurgood Matthews
Theses and Dissertations
The Buckling Restrained Braced Frame (BRBF) is used in steel structures as a lateral load resisting system for seismic events. In typical design procedure the impact of gravity loads acting on BRBFs is neglected and the beams and columns of the structure are designed to resist all gravity loads. In actuality BRBFs are supporting portions of gravity loads acting on the structure which may be changing the overall performance of BRBFs. The purpose of this study is to determine the impact of large gravity loads on BRBF performance. This is done using finite element analysis to test two different structures …
Multi-Physics Modeling And Calibration For Self-Sensing Of Thermomechanical In-Plane Microactuators, Kendall B. Teichert
Multi-Physics Modeling And Calibration For Self-Sensing Of Thermomechanical In-Plane Microactuators, Kendall B. Teichert
Theses and Dissertations
As technology advances and engineering capabilities improve, more research has focused on microscopic possibilities. Microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) is one area that has received much attention recently. Within MEMS much research has focused on sensing and actuation. This thesis presents work on a particular actuator of interest, the thermomechanical in-plane microactuator (TIM). Recent work has shown the possibility of a novel approach of sensing mechanical outputs of the TIM without ancillary sensors. This sensing approach exploits the piezoresistive property of silicon. However, to implement this approach a full model of the TIM would need to be obtained to describe the physics …
Real-Time Implementation Of Vision Algorithm For Control, Stabilization, And Target Tracking For A Hovering Micro-Uav, Beau J. Tippetts
Real-Time Implementation Of Vision Algorithm For Control, Stabilization, And Target Tracking For A Hovering Micro-Uav, Beau J. Tippetts
Theses and Dissertations
A lightweight, powerful, yet efficient quad-rotor platform was designed and constructed to obtain experimental results of completely autonomous control of a hovering micro-UAV using a complete on-board vision system. The on-board vision and control system is composed of a Helios FPGA board, an Autonomous Vehicle Toolkit daughterboard, and a Kestrel Autopilot. The resulting platform is referred to as the Helio-copter. An efficient algorithm to detect, correlate, and track features in a scene and estimate attitude information was implemented with a combination of hardware and software on the FPGA, and real-time performance was obtained. The algorithms implemented include a Harris feature …
Stabilization And Control Of A Quad-Rotor Micro-Uav Using Vision Sensors, Spencer G. Fowers
Stabilization And Control Of A Quad-Rotor Micro-Uav Using Vision Sensors, Spencer G. Fowers
Theses and Dissertations
Quad-rotor micro-UAVs have become an important tool in the field of indoor UAV research. Indoor flight poses problems not experienced in outdoor applications. The ability to be location- and movement-aware is paramount because of the close proximity of obstacles (walls, doorways, desks). The Helio-copter, an indoor quad-rotor platform that utilizes a compact FPGA board called Helios has been developed in the Robotic Vision Lab at Brigham Young University. Helios allows researchers to perform on-board vision processing and feature tracking without the aid of a ground station or wireless transmission. Using this on-board feature tracking system a drift stabilization control system …
Development Of A Miniature Vtol Tail-Sitter Unmanned Aerial Vehicle, Jeffrey V. Hogge
Development Of A Miniature Vtol Tail-Sitter Unmanned Aerial Vehicle, Jeffrey V. Hogge
Theses and Dissertations
The design, analysis, construction and flight testing of a miniature Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) tail-sitter Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) prototype is presented in detail. Classic aircraft design methods were combined with numerical analysis to estimate the aircraft performance and flight characteristics. The numerical analysis employed a propeller blade-element theory coupled with momentum equations to predict the influence of a propeller slipstream on the freestream flow field, then the aircraft was analyzed using 3-D vortex lifting-line theory to model finite wings immersed in the flow field. Four prototypes were designed, built, and tested and the evolution of these prototypes is …
Mexico Engineering Study Abroad: Assessing The Effectiveness Of International Experiences On Teaching Global Engineering Skills, Joshua Benjamin Draper
Mexico Engineering Study Abroad: Assessing The Effectiveness Of International Experiences On Teaching Global Engineering Skills, Joshua Benjamin Draper
Theses and Dissertations
Globalization is a rapidly increasing trend in many industries, including civil engineering. This paper defines the skills engineers will need in an increasingly international industry. It also describes an engineering study abroad program designed to teach some of those skills to students and presents a survey used as an assessment tool to evaluate the effectiveness of the program. The program, called Mexico Engineering Study Abroad (MESA), is taught at Brigham Young University (BYU) in Provo, UT. MESA is a project-based extended field trip format class that couples hydrologic modeling with cultural awareness as students work together with Mexican students on …
Three Enabling Technologies For Vision-Based, Forest-Fire Perimeter Surveillance Using Multiple Unmanned Aerial Systems, Ryan S. Holt
Three Enabling Technologies For Vision-Based, Forest-Fire Perimeter Surveillance Using Multiple Unmanned Aerial Systems, Ryan S. Holt
Theses and Dissertations
The ability to gather and process information regarding the condition of forest fires is essential to cost-effective, safe, and efficient fire fighting. Advances in sensory and autopilot technology have made miniature unmanned aerial systems (UASs) an important tool in the acquisition of information. This thesis addresses some of the challenges faced when employing UASs for forest-fire perimeter surveillance; namely, perimeter tracking, cooperative perimeter surveillance, and path planning. Solutions to the first two issues are presented and a method for understanding path planning within the context of a forest-fire environment is demonstrated. Both simulation and hardware results are provided for each …
Multi-Stable Compliant Rolling-Contact Elements, Peter Andrew Halverson
Multi-Stable Compliant Rolling-Contact Elements, Peter Andrew Halverson
Theses and Dissertations
The purpose of this research is the development of design concepts and models of large-angle, compliant, multistable, revolute joints. This research presents evidence of the capability of these models and concepts by presenting a case study in which the miniaturization of revolute joints are examined. Previous attempts at multistable revolute joints can be categorized into two categories: compliant and non-compliant mechanisms. Non-compliant multistable revolute joints are typified by a combination of pin-in-slot joints, springs, and detents. Due to factors inherit in design, noncompliant joints often succumb to friction, wear, and undesirable motion, that leads to a decline in performance. Compliant …
Applications Of Search Theory To Coordinated Searching By Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, Steven R. Hansen
Applications Of Search Theory To Coordinated Searching By Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, Steven R. Hansen
Theses and Dissertations
Concepts in optimal search theory have been used in human-based aerial search since World War II. This thesis addresses the technical and theoretical issues necessary to apply this crucial theory to search path planning for Small Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (SUAVs). A typical search often requires that more than one target be located. Accordingly, a method is presented to locate multiple targets in three dimensions, as well as to differentiate between them. However, significant error can be present when locating targets from an airborne platform, and the idea of target quality is also introduced as a way to describe the reliability …
Statnamic Lateral Loading Testing Of Full-Scale 15 And 9 Group Piles In Clay, Rick Davon Broderick
Statnamic Lateral Loading Testing Of Full-Scale 15 And 9 Group Piles In Clay, Rick Davon Broderick
Theses and Dissertations
Studies of seismic and impact loading on foundation piles is an important and a focused interest in the engineering world today. Because of seismic and other natural events are unpredictable, uncontrollable and potentially unsafe it is a vital study to understand the behavior and relationship structures in motion have on there foundation. Statnamic Loading has become a popular method of studying this relationship in a controlled environment. Two groups of 9 and 15 driven hollow pipe piles were tested in saturated clay at the Salt Lake City Airport in July of 2002. The 9-pile group (3x3 configuration) was separated at …
Design And Fabrication Of Rotationally Tristable Compliant Mechanisms, Tyler M. Pendleton
Design And Fabrication Of Rotationally Tristable Compliant Mechanisms, Tyler M. Pendleton
Theses and Dissertations
The purpose of this research is to develop the tools necessary to create tristable compliant mechanisms; the work presents the creation of models and concepts for design and a demonstration of the feasibility of the designs through the fabrication of tristable compliant mechanism prototypes on the macro scale. Prior methods to achieve tristable mechanisms rely on detents, friction, or power input; disadvantages to these methods include a high number of parts, the necessity for lubrication, and wear. A compliant tristable mechanism accomplishes tristability through strain energy storage. These mechanisms would be preferable because of increased performance and cost savings due …
The Development Of An Accelerated Testing Facility For The Study Of Deposits In Land-Based Gas Turbine Engines, Jared Wilfred Jensen
The Development Of An Accelerated Testing Facility For The Study Of Deposits In Land-Based Gas Turbine Engines, Jared Wilfred Jensen
Theses and Dissertations
Turbine engine efficiency modeling depends on many parameters related to fluid dynamics and heat transfer. Many of these parameters change dynamically once the engine enters service and begins to experience surface degradation. This thesis presents a validation of the design and operation of an accelerated testing facility for the study of foreign deposit layers typical to the operation of land-based gas turbines. It also reports on the use of this facility in an effort to characterize the change in thermal resistance on the surface of turbine blades as deposits accumulate. The facility was designed to produce turbine deposits in a …