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Articles 1 - 30 of 33
Full-Text Articles in Engineering
Multicriteria Mission Route Planning Using A Parallel A* Search, Michael S. Gudaitis
Multicriteria Mission Route Planning Using A Parallel A* Search, Michael S. Gudaitis
Theses and Dissertations
The Mission Route Planning (MRP) Problem falls into the general class of multicriteria path search problems. Multiple criteria are evaluated to select an optimal aircraft mission route through a hostile environment. Criteria for distance travelled and radar exposure are combined into a single cost function for route evaluation. Radar calculations are performed dynamically. The A* search algorithm is applied to the MRP problem, and a parallel implementation is developed and tested. A unique combination of distributed OPEN lists with a global CLOSED list strategy produced fast execution times on the Paragon. Test cases for scenarios with 15 radars took less …
Next Generation Real-Time Systems: Investigating The Potential Of Partial-Solution Tasks, Robert E. J. Caley
Next Generation Real-Time Systems: Investigating The Potential Of Partial-Solution Tasks, Robert E. J. Caley
Theses and Dissertations
While the cyclic executive and fixed-priority scheduling strategies have been sufficient to handle traditional real- time requirements. they are insufficient for dealing with the complexities of next-generation real-time systems. New methods of intelligent control must be developed for guaranteeing on-time task completion for real-time systems that are faced with unpredictable and dynamically changing requirements. Implementing real-time processes as partial-solution tasks is one technique that may be beneficial. This type of task. when combined with intelligent control, has the potential for increasing pre-runtime schedulability, system maintainability. and runtime robustness. This research investigates the benefits of partial-solution tasks by experimentally measuring the …
Frame Selection Performance Limits For Statistical Image Reconstruction Of Adaptive Optics Compensated Images, Stephen D. Ford
Frame Selection Performance Limits For Statistical Image Reconstruction Of Adaptive Optics Compensated Images, Stephen D. Ford
Theses and Dissertations
The U.S. Air Force uses adaptive optics systems to collect images of extended objects beyond the atmosphere. These systems use wavefront sensors and deformable mirrors to compensate for atmospheric turbulence induced aberrations. Adaptive optics greatly enhance image quality; however, wavefront aberrations are not completely eliminated. Therefore, post-detection processing techniques are employed to further improve the compensated images. Typically, many short exposure images are collected, recentered to compensate for tilt, and then averaged to overcome randomness in the images and improve signal-to-noise ratio. Experience shows that some short exposure images in a data set are better than others. Frame selection exploits …
Survey And Implementation Of Commercial Manual Controllers For A Generic Telerobotics Architecture, Thomas E. Deeter
Survey And Implementation Of Commercial Manual Controllers For A Generic Telerobotics Architecture, Thomas E. Deeter
Theses and Dissertations
The purpose of this study is to determine an input device for the Air Force's generic telerobotics architecture for large aircraft maintenance and repair. One area of concern is the human to machine interface, more specifically, which manual controller should be used for the specified tasks in this architecture. We mailed a survey to 68 companies in order to compile a list of possible input devices that the telerobotics architecture could use. 32 companies responded which gave me enough data to generate a list that described the physical traits of the input devices. We then divided the required tasks into …
Image Perception Wavelet Simulation And Enhancement For The Visually Impaired, Lemuel Ray Myers Jr.
Image Perception Wavelet Simulation And Enhancement For The Visually Impaired, Lemuel Ray Myers Jr.
Theses and Dissertations
This research delves into the area of image enhancement for the visually impaired. Binocular macular degeneration a visual impairment, affects many Americans; since this condition could not be corrected with conventional glasses the literature suggested using an enhancement system which used a pre-emphasis algorithm to enhance the input image for output to the observer. The work of Dr. Eli Peli, a pioneer in the field of image enhancement, is examine and reproduced. Since his work concentrated mainly on frequency analysis of images, the bulk of this research involves using discrete wavelet analysis to augment that work. A biorthogonal wavelet set …
Flow Visualization Of A Turbulent Shear Flow Using An Optical Wavefront Sensor, Daniel W. Jewell
Flow Visualization Of A Turbulent Shear Flow Using An Optical Wavefront Sensor, Daniel W. Jewell
Theses and Dissertations
The research reported here investigated the use of a shearing interferometer (SI) wavefront sensor to determine the effects of shear-layer turbulence on an optical wavefront. A collimated helium-neon laser beam was propagated through a plane shear-layer produced by mixing helium and nitrogen at different velocities. Since the gases have different indices of refraction, the optical wavefront was distorted by different amounts by each gas. The SI measured the wavefront slope across the sampled area of the wavefront. The shear-layer was viewed from two orthogonal directions. This document contains shadow graphs, interference patterns imaged by each of the SI's six cameras, …
Computing Norad Mean Orbital Elements From A State Vector, Dwight E. Andersen
Computing Norad Mean Orbital Elements From A State Vector, Dwight E. Andersen
Theses and Dissertations
NORAD maintains and disseminates mean orbital elements on Earth-orbiting satellites in the form of Two-Line Element Sets (TLE). Five mathematical propagator models were developed for NORAD's use to predict the position and velocity using TLEs. This study investigated two approaches, Newton's method and direct iteration, to inverting this process by iterating to obtain NORAD-compatible mean orbital elements from a position and velocity state vector and the drag term. The Newton's iteration method was developed but not tested. The less computationally intensive direct iteration method was developed, coded in FORTRAN, and tested. The initial guess and subsequent corrections in the iterative …
Multispectral Detection Of Ground Targets In Highly Correlated Backgrounds, Jason E. Thomas
Multispectral Detection Of Ground Targets In Highly Correlated Backgrounds, Jason E. Thomas
Theses and Dissertations
Multispectral detection methods attempt to discriminate targets in a dominant clutter background using multiple images of the same real-world scene taken in different narrow spectral bands in the infrared. Detection is possible due to the empirically observed phenomenon that the radiance of man-made objects, such as a tank or truck, often lies off the main spectral correlation axis of that of natural backgrounds. Radiometric measurements of several vehicles and a tree canopy background taken over three days in June. 1994 were used to examine the factors affecting multispectral detection. Results clearly showed that the processes which provide for higher spectral …
Artificially Intelligent Air Combat Simulation Agents, Daniel E. Gisselquist
Artificially Intelligent Air Combat Simulation Agents, Daniel E. Gisselquist
Theses and Dissertations
The Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA), in an effort to improve military simulations, has proposed a standard for Distributed Interactive Simulation (DIS). This network protocol will allow dissimilar applications to communicate simulation information. In the field of air combat, this will allow pilots in remote simulators to fly in a common simulation. The success of this standard is dependent on applications being able to work within that standard, as well as a large variety of Computer Generated Forces (CGFs) to complement interactive forces. CGFs are needed to help simulate the large combat scenarios that can only occur in wartime. By …
The Photo-Realistic Afit Virtual Cockpit, Milton E. Diaz
The Photo-Realistic Afit Virtual Cockpit, Milton E. Diaz
Theses and Dissertations
The Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT) has pursued research in virtual environments since 1988. This research expands the current capabilities of the AFIT Virtual Cockpit (VC) by increasing the realism of the cockpit environment and improving the pilot's command interface. Realism is improved creating console elements from texture maps and polygonal models; these elements include working dials, switches and circuit breakers. The pilot command interface is improved in part by adapting the AFIT Information Pod using a two-dimensional mouse input to the virtual three-dimensional environment. This immersive virtual environment is also improved by modifications to the Head Mounted Display …
Development Of A Mammographic Image Processing Environment Using Matlab, John L. Kelley
Development Of A Mammographic Image Processing Environment Using Matlab, John L. Kelley
Theses and Dissertations
Breast cancer is a disease that accounts for a disturbingly large number of deaths in females each year. Its prevalence is a topic of concern to all of us since it can affect our families, friends, and coworkers. Although mammographic screening is the most effective method currently available for the early detection of breast cancer, it is far from being an infallible procedure. Mammographic reading is error prone, partly because of the complexity of the task and partly because of the variability in human performance. Computers offer high reproducibility, and when used as an adjunct by the radiologist, may improve …
Embedology And Neural Estimation For Time Series Prediction, Robert E. Garza
Embedology And Neural Estimation For Time Series Prediction, Robert E. Garza
Theses and Dissertations
Time series prediction has widespread application, ranging from predicting the stock market to trying to predict future locations of scud missiles. Recent work by Sauer and Casdagli has developed into the embedology theorem, which sets forth the procedures for state space manipulation and reconstruction for time series prediction. This includes embedding the time series into a higher dimensional space in order to form an attractor, a structure defined by the embedded vectors. Embedology is combined with neural technologies in an effort to create a more accurate prediction algorithm. These algorithms consist of embedology, neural networks, Euclidean space nearest neighbors, and …
How Effective Has The Air Force Been In Eliminating Its Dependence On Ozone Depleting Chemicals?, L. Susan Willard
How Effective Has The Air Force Been In Eliminating Its Dependence On Ozone Depleting Chemicals?, L. Susan Willard
Theses and Dissertations
This research was undertaken to determine how effectively the Air Force had eliminated its dependence on Ozone Depleting Chemicals. The research was limited to analyzing the impact of ODCs on major acquisition programs. Results indicated existing variables which may be impeding full implementation. Also identified were lessons learned which could be applied to future environmental legislation with potential impact on acquisition programs. In- depth telephonic interviews were conducted with Program Directors responsible for the development and fielding of major Air Force acquisition programs. Analysis revealed that ODCs substantially impacted the acquisition programs to the extent that many programs had classified …
Modeling Trihalomethane Formation Potential From Wastewater Chlorination, Carol A. Mccormick
Modeling Trihalomethane Formation Potential From Wastewater Chlorination, Carol A. Mccormick
Theses and Dissertations
The deletion of federally mandated fecal coliform limits has led many states to review and modify their wastewater disinfection requirements. One issue in analyzing wastewater disinfection is the discharge of potentially carcinogenic halogenated organics formed during the chlorination process. This research investigates the formation of one class of the halogenated organics, the trihalomethanes. The applicability of using drinking water trihalomethane formation models for use with wastewater effluent is examined. Three models are compared for predictive capability by using measured trihalomethane values from previous research data. The results show that a previously developed model is applicable for use based on assumptions …
Optimal Pulsed Pumping For Aquifer Remediation When Contaminant Transport Is Affected By Rate-Limited Sorption: A Calculus Of Variation Approach, Richard T. Hartman
Optimal Pulsed Pumping For Aquifer Remediation When Contaminant Transport Is Affected By Rate-Limited Sorption: A Calculus Of Variation Approach, Richard T. Hartman
Theses and Dissertations
The remediation of groundwater contamination continues to persist as a social and economic problem due to increased governmental regulations and public health concerns. Additionally, the geochemistry of the aquifer and the contaminant transport within the aquifer complicates the remediation process to restore contaminated aquifers to conditions compatible with health-based standards. Currently, the preferred method for aquifer cleanup pump-and-treat has several limitations including, the persistence of sorbed chemicals on soil matrix and the long term operation and maintenance expense. The impetus of this research was to demonstrate that a calculus of variations approach could be applied to a pulsed pumping aquifer …
Simulation Of Hydrologic Influences On Wetland Ecosystem Succession, Robert A. Pompilio
Simulation Of Hydrologic Influences On Wetland Ecosystem Succession, Robert A. Pompilio
Theses and Dissertations
This research focuses on the development of a simulation model to determine the effects of hydrological influences on a wetland ecosystem. The model allows perturbations to the inputs of various wetland data which in turn, influences the successional development of the ecosystem. This research consisted of converting a grassland ecosystem model to one which simulates wetland conditions. The critical factor in determining the success of wetland creation is the hydrology of the system. There are four of the areas of the original model which are affected by the hydrology. The model measures the health or success of the ecosystem through …
A Numerical Analysis Of Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics, David A. Fulk
A Numerical Analysis Of Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics, David A. Fulk
Theses and Dissertations
This dissertation studies the numerical method of Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics SPH as a technique for solving systems of conservation equations. The research starts with a detailed consistency analysis of the method. Higher dimensions and non-smooth functions are considered in addition to the smooth one dimensional case. A stability analysis is then performed. Using a linear technique, an instability is found. Solutions are proposed to resolve the instability. Also a total variation stability analysis is performed leading to a monotone form of SPH. The concepts of consistency and stability are then used in a convergence proof. This proof uses lemmas derived …
Modeling Of Ground Water Aquifer Remediation By Pulsed Pumping When Contaminant Transport Is Affected By Physical, Non-Equilibrium Sorption And Desorption, Jeffrey L. Caspers
Modeling Of Ground Water Aquifer Remediation By Pulsed Pumping When Contaminant Transport Is Affected By Physical, Non-Equilibrium Sorption And Desorption, Jeffrey L. Caspers
Theses and Dissertations
This research postulates and demonstrates a modification incorporating rate-limited sorption effects in the USGS SUTRA code for cleanup of a hypothetical sandy aquifer by pump-and-treat remediation methods. Contaminant transport is assumed to be affected by advection, dispersion, and rate-limited sorption/desorption. Sorption is assumed to be either equilibrium or rate-limited, with the rate-limitation described by either a first-order law, or by Fickian diffusion of contaminant through a spherical immobile pore region. Solutions are arrived at by split operator methods for the transport and one-dimensional Galerkin solutions for the solute concentration equations. The resulting model is tested against an analytical Laplace transform …
Spatio-Temporal Pattern Recognition Using Hidden Markov Models, Kenneth H. Fielding
Spatio-Temporal Pattern Recognition Using Hidden Markov Models, Kenneth H. Fielding
Theses and Dissertations
A new spatio-temporal method for identifying 3D objects found in 2D image sequences is presented. The Hidden Markov Model technique is used as a spatio-temporal classification algorithm to identify 3D objects by the temporal changes in observed shape features. A new information theoretic argument is developed that proves identifying objects based on image sequences can lead to higher classification accuracies than single look methods. A new distance measure is proposed that analyzes the performance of Hidden Markov Models in a multi-class pattern recognition problem. A three class problem identifying moving light display objects provides experimental verification of the sequence processing …
A Diffraction-Based Model Of Anisoplanatism Effects In Adaptive Optic Systems, Steven E. Troxel
A Diffraction-Based Model Of Anisoplanatism Effects In Adaptive Optic Systems, Steven E. Troxel
Theses and Dissertations
This dissertation presents a new model for computing the angle dependent performance measures of an adaptive-optics system. By incorporating diffraction caused by the index-of-refraction variations of the atmosphere, the phase and amplitude fluctuations of the propagating wave are computed. New theory is presented, that uses the diffraction-based propagation model to yield optical transfer function (OTF) expressions that are more accurate as compared to current theory that neglects diffraction. An evaluation method for calculating the OTF is presented that utilizes a layered atmospheric model and normalized OTF expressions. The diffraction model is also used to present the first OTF signal-to-noise ratio …
Noise Reduction For Speech Enhancement Using Non-Linear Wavelet Processing, Hassan Dehmani
Noise Reduction For Speech Enhancement Using Non-Linear Wavelet Processing, Hassan Dehmani
Theses and Dissertations
The problem of speech enhancement presents many obstacles in the speech processing field. This thesis develops several speech de-noising systems that can be used in the time, fourier, and wavelet domains. We present two thresholding techniques soft and hard. The application of these thresholding techniques to noisy speech data is discussed. The combination of both wavelets and the Fourier domains with noisy phase restoration proves to yield the best results in terms of intelligibility. Informal listening tests were conducted in order to compare the effects and differences between the speech de-noising systems.
The Excitation Mechanism Of Praseodymium-Doped Semiconductors, Paul L. Thee
The Excitation Mechanism Of Praseodymium-Doped Semiconductors, Paul L. Thee
Theses and Dissertations
This study on praseodymium Pr luminescence in AlxGa1-xAs was conducted to enhance the understanding of the excitation mechanism. Pr was implanted at 390 keV with doses from 5 x 1012 to 5 x 1013 sq cm into AlxGa1-xAs x0.0 to 0.50 wafers which were annealed using the rapid thermal annealing RTA method. Low temperature photoluminescence PL was conducted using an Ar-ion laser and Ge detector. PL emissions of Pr from all hosts include peaks near 1.3 and 1.6 µm which are assigned to the intra-4f transitions of 1G4 yielding 3H5 …
Multirate Time-Frequency Distributions, John R. O'Hair
Multirate Time-Frequency Distributions, John R. O'Hair
Theses and Dissertations
Multirate systems, which find application in the design and analysis of filter banks, are demonstrated to also be useful as a computational paradigm. It is shown that any problem which can be expressed a set of vector-vector, matrix-vector or matrix-matrix operations can be recast using multirate. This means all of numerical linear algebra can be recast using multirate as the underlying computational paradigm. As a non-trivial example, the multirate computational paradigm is applied to the problem of Generalized Discrete Time- Frequency Distributions GDTFD to create a new family of fast algorithms. The first of this new class of distributions is …
Application Of Sequential Quadratic Programming To Large-Scale Structural Design Problems, Mark A. Abramson
Application Of Sequential Quadratic Programming To Large-Scale Structural Design Problems, Mark A. Abramson
Theses and Dissertations
Large-scale structural optimization problems are often difficult to solve with reasonable efficiency and accuracy. Such problems are often characterized by constraint functions which are not explicitly defined. Constraint and gradient functions are usually expensive to evaluate. An optimization approach which uses the NLPQL sequential quadratic programming algorithm of Schittkowski, integrated with the Automated Structural Optimization System ASTROS is tested. The traditional solution approach involves the formulation and solution of an explicitly defined approximate problem during each iteration. This approach is replaced by a simpler approach in which the approximate problem is eliminated. In the simpler approach, each finite element analysis …
The Effective Use Of Animation In Simulation Model Validation, Christopher L. Swider
The Effective Use Of Animation In Simulation Model Validation, Christopher L. Swider
Theses and Dissertations
This study examined two animation displays moving icons, bar graphs at two presentation speeds to determine how each of these factors affected the animations ability to communicate violations of model assumptions. Subjects viewed animation displays individually and in combination at each presentation speed. Eight problem scenarios were presented to evaluate each animations ability to communicate violations of different assumptions. Each animations communication ability was measured subjectively and objectively. Subjective measures in the form of pairwise comparisons were used to calculate normalized preference ratings for each animation. objective measures included problem identification accuracy and problem time. Subjective results indicated that moving …
An Air Mission Planning Algorithm For A Theater Level Combat Model, Brian J. Griggs
An Air Mission Planning Algorithm For A Theater Level Combat Model, Brian J. Griggs
Theses and Dissertations
This thesis describes the development of an air mission planning algorithm for the Joint Staffs Future Theater Level Model FTLM. The overall problem scope was to develop an algorithm to handle major factors bearing on the combat mission planning problem while providing hook-ups for the FTLM architecture. Other aspects of the problem included finding the appropriate level of detail, developing a fast solving technique, and attempting to use existing data. The problem was handled by using some ideas from existing aircraft allocation algorithms and by adding some new techniques. The proposed air mission planning algorithm supplies the optimum degree of …
Assessing The Vulnerability Of Multi-Commodity Networks With Failing Components, Alan R. Robinson
Assessing The Vulnerability Of Multi-Commodity Networks With Failing Components, Alan R. Robinson
Theses and Dissertations
This research proposes an analytical approach for assessing flow disturbance, or compromise, based on limited sampling of arc flow information in multi-commodity, or multiple origin-destination O-D, networks with failing arcs. There were three objectives established for this research. The first objective was to bound the expected flow, given the arcs fail with certain probabilities, which was accomplished by reviewing current approaches for single-commodity networks and extending the results to the multi-commodity case. The second objective was to determine the best placement of flow monitors to obtain the most accurate estimates of O-D pair volumes. This was accomplished using a multi-criteria …
A Fortran Based Learning System Using Multilayer Back-Propagation Neural Network Techniques, Gregory L. Reinhart
A Fortran Based Learning System Using Multilayer Back-Propagation Neural Network Techniques, Gregory L. Reinhart
Theses and Dissertations
An interactive computer system which allows the researcher to build an optimal neural network structure quickly, is developed and validated. This system assumes a single hidden layer perceptron structure and uses the back- propagation training technique. The software enables the researcher to quickly define a neural network structure, train the neural network, interrupt training at any point to analyze the status of the current network, re-start training at the interrupted point if desired, and analyze the final network using two- dimensional graphs, three-dimensional graphs, confusion matrices and saliency metrics. A technique for training, testing, and validating various network structures and …
Proactive Monitoring Of Performance In Stochastic Communication Networks, John C. C. Van Hove
Proactive Monitoring Of Performance In Stochastic Communication Networks, John C. C. Van Hove
Theses and Dissertations
This research proposes several models for placing bounds on the expected values of some dynamic performance measures for computer communication networks with failing components. These models provide an understanding of expected network performance that is useful in the process of proactive performance monitoring and also in defining level of service agreements with network users. There were three objectives for this research. The first objective was to extend some existing models of steady-state stochastic network performance to a dynamic network flow representation in order to capture the dynamic nature of proactive monitoring. The second objective was to convert the extended absolute …
Feasibility Analysis For Predicting A Kinetic Kill Zone For Aircraft Homing Missile Defense, Mark E. Ennis
Feasibility Analysis For Predicting A Kinetic Kill Zone For Aircraft Homing Missile Defense, Mark E. Ennis
Theses and Dissertations
An extended Kalman filter is used to predict a kinetic kill zone for use in aircraft self defense versus homing missiles. The analysis is limited to an in-the-plane analysis and focuses on finding the model parameters which have the largest impact on the predicted kill zone. No attempt is made to optimize the design of the filter model itself. The analysis computes the kill zone relative to an assumed aircraft trajectory using strictly filter computed statistics. No Monte-Carlo simulations are used throughout the thesis. The filter assumed to be on the evading aircraft, uses an onboard laser radar (ladar) to …