Engineering Commons^™

Bacterial Chemotaxis Control Illustrates An Engineering Framework In The Creation Model, James D. Johansen

Proceedings of the International Conference on Creationism

This paper shows how biological design in bacteria chemotaxis control shows architectural design features that are found in many areas of biological life that reflect an engineering framework found in the creation model. The study highlights the bacteria chemotaxis control process utilizing the System Modeling Language (SysML) to leverage well-defined and proven engineering tools for architecting, analyzing, and refining complex systems. It first introduces SysML, and the advantages model-based systems engineering (MBSE) has for capturing system architecture and allowing for ongoing assessment of how biological system operates and the clarification of how much model detail is required to reveal a …

Project Thetis: A Low-Cost, Low-Profile Inertial Data Logger, Braidan Duffy

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis details the design, testing, calibration, and verification of a nine degree of freedom inertial measurement data logger for use with floating bodies. The instrument was conceived to address limitations of equipment used in classes within the Ocean Engineering department at Florida Institute of Technology. By meeting with several stakeholders and end users, a series of stakeholder requirements, capabilities, and component-level requirements were de- veloped that informed the design constraints. There were several hardware iterations of the board, culminating in Revision F5 which was extensively tested and proven. The design was inspected after testing concluded to determine which capabilities …

Improved Social Force Model Based On Enhancing Psych Behavioral Heterogeneity, Yandong Liu, Gaoxiang Huang, Wen Chen

Journal of System Simulation

Abstract: Simulating the evacuation behavior of people under anxiety is of great significance for solving the kinematic problems such as escape. At present, most at home and abroad studies consider the anxiety factors as the only medium of population evacuation without considering how external key factors affect anxiety factors in such emergency environments. The improved social force model is proposed, combined with Agent-based stampede risk assessment, the influence of key environmental variables on the anxiety factor is quantified. The psychological force parameters are introduced, and the impact of the anxiety factor on the actual evacuation process is applied to the …

Developing Executable Digital Models With Model-Based Systems Engineering – An Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Surveillance Scenario Example, Viviana Guadalupe Lopez

Theses and Dissertations

There is an increase in complexity in modern systems that causes inconsistencies in the iterative exchange loops of the system design process and in turn, demands greater quality of system organization and optimization techniques. A recent transition from document-centric systems engineering to Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) is being documented in literature from various industries to address these issues. This study aims to investigate how MBSE can be used as a starting point in developing digital twins (DT). Specifically, the adoption of MBSE for realizing DT has been investigated, resulting in various literature reviews that indicate the most prevalent methodologies and …

Sealion Cubesat Mission Architecture Using Model Based Systems Engineering With A Docs As Code Approach, Kevin Yi-Tzu Chiu

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Theses & Dissertations

CubeSats are a growing population within the space industry. Every year, universities launch numerous amounts of CubeSats due to their inexpensive cost of development, launch, and deployment. However, this comes with numerous challenges. As the number of university-CubeSats grow, so too do the numbers that fail. With development teams consisting mainly of students with little to no training, proper and yet easy to use tools or methods should be implemented to help ensure mission success. Especially in the critical stages of planning before and during development, a technical approach to quickly track life cycle development of a CubeSat is needed. …

Model Based Systems Engineering With A Docs-As-Code Approach For The Sealion Cubesat Project, Kevin Chiu, Sean Marquez, Sharanabasaweshwara Asundi

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Faculty Publications

The SeaLion mission architecture team sought to create a model-based systems engineering approach to assist improving CubeSat success rates as well as for the SeaLion CubeSat project to guide an implementation for the flight software. This is important because university CubeSat teams are growing in number but often have untrained students as their core personnel. This was done using a document-as-code, or docs-as-code, approach. With this the team created tools for the systems architecture with the Mach 30 Modeling Language to create an architecture that is easy to learn and use even for newly admitted team members with little to …

Integrating Model-Based Systems Engineering Industry Transformations For Workforce Development, Wilma Analisa Ankobiah

Theses and Dissertations

This study explores whether MBSE industry workforce requirements are being satisfied by the academic curricula of US institutions. Using an industry survey, which is highlighted in Chapter 3, identifies the existing perception of MBSE from various industries and explores the MBSE needs of professionals, such as tools concepts and languages. It examines how industry professionals perceive MBSE, the advantages and challenges of MBSE use and the preferred MBSE tools, languages and knowledge of concepts deemed necessary to ensure project success in the respective industry sectors. Results of phase 1 industry survey will summarize the current MBSE concepts, tools and languages …

Airship Systems Design, Modeling, And Simulation For Social Impact, Daniel C. Richards

Theses and Dissertations

Although there have been oscillations in airship interest since their use in the early 1900s, technological advancements and the need for more flexible and environmentally friendly transportation modes have caused a stream of study and surge in airship development in recent years. For companies and governments to understand how airships can be incorporated into their fleets to fulfil new or existing mission types, system design space exploration is an important step in understanding airships, their uses, and their design parameters. A decision support system (DSS), Design Exploration of Lighter-Than-Air Systems (DELTAS), was developed to help stakeholders with this task. DELTAS …

Failure Mode, Effects And Criticality Analysis Of A Very Low Earth Orbit Cubesat Mission, Robb Christopher Borowicz

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Theses & Dissertations

When space programs launch vehicles into orbit, multiple failures could arise throughout the mission and corrective actions are often not an option. Applying reliability engineering approaches during the design phase focuses on analyzing risk by anticipating potential failures and mitigating uncertainties in the design. Old Dominion University, in partnership with the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, and the U.S. Air Force Institute of Technology designed and developed a 3U CubeSat mission to validate on-orbit, three space technology payloads. Mission SeaLion will fly as a secondary payload on stage two of Northrop Grumman’s Antares rocket and will be deployed in a very …

Model-Based Systems Engineering For A Small-Lift Launch Facility, Walter Mcgee Taraila, Sharanabasaweshwara Asundi

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Faculty Publications

A study of model‐based systems engineering (MBSE) applied to a small‐lift launch facility is presented. The research uses Systems Modeling Language (SysML) products and functional diagrams to document the ground systems on a launch pad servicing a small class payload (0–2 tons). With the projected growth in launch cadence of small‐lift rockets in the coming decade, there is a need to design increasingly complex launch systems with greater efficiency. The potential improvements in project communication, quality, and productivity are explored by developing a model following the ISO/IEC 15288 technical process framework and the International Council on Systems Engineering (INCOSE) Object‐Oriented …

A Dual Perspective Towards Building Resilience In Manufacturing Organizations, Steven A. Fazio

Theses and Dissertations

Modern manufacturing organizations exist in the most complex and competitive environment the world has ever known. This environment consists of demanding customers, enabling, but resource intensive Industry 4.0 technology, dynamic regulations, geopolitical perturbations, and innovative, ever-expanding global competition. Successful manufacturing organizations must excel in this environment while facing emergent disruptions generated as biproducts of complex man-made and natural systems. The research presented in this thesis provides a novel two-sided approach to the creation of resilience in the modern manufacturing organization. First, the systems engineering method is demonstrated as the qualitative framework for building literature-derived organizational resilience factors into organizational structures …

Using A Systemic Skills Model To Build An Effective 21st Century Workforce: Factors That Impact The Ability To Navigate Complex Systems, Morteza Nagahi

Theses and Dissertations

The growth of technology and the proliferation of information made modern complex systems more fragile and vulnerable. As a result, competitive advantage is no longer achieved exclusively through strategic planning but by developing an influential cadre of technical people who can efficiently manage and navigate modern complex systems. The dissertation aims to provide educators, practitioners, and organizations with a model that helps to measure individuals’ systems thinking skills, complex problem solving, personality traits, and the impacting demographic factors such as managerial and work experience, current occupation type, organizational ownership structure, and education level. The intent is to study how these …

Networked Simulation And It's Development Trend, Duan Hong, Xiaogang Qiu

Journal of System Simulation

Abstract: Carrying out simulating whenever and wherever possible as well as the large-scale trend of simulation lead to the demand of networked simulation.. Through the changes of range, from model interconnection, experimental collaboration and domain simulation collaboration, three layers of meanings of networked simulation are analyzed; The characteristics of networked simulation are summarized from five aspects, pattern, application, target, focus, and morphology. The idea that the networked simulation will bring changes to the simulation application of the activity scope and method, resource construction, resource verification, organizational structure, and so on is proposed. By sorting out the development process …

Risks To Student Achievement In Higher Education, Angela Atwell, Bettina Mrusek, James Solti, Keith Wilson

Publications

A university system sets out to deliver educational experiences that meet set goals such as the achievement of learning outcomes for individual courses and program outcomes for degree programs. There are many factors that impact the successful achievement of student learning outcomes and there-fore successful program design and implementation. If courses are not effec-tively designed with assessments properly aligned to learning outcomes, student achievement is challenging to measure. If faculty do not consistently adhere to college and/or university policies regarding submission of assignments, student behavior and perceptions of expectations in future courses may be skewed. In addition, students may, for …

Evaluating The Impact Of Culture On Customer Satisfaction For Fms Projects, Yaquari A. Adams Ii

Theses and Dissertations

The cost, time, and quality pillars of the iron triangle in project management are often considered the most important factors for managers to consider when striving to achieve project success. However, recent literature suggests customer satisfaction and end-user benefit are the most important elements to prioritize during project development. This research analyzes the Air Force Security Assistance Center Construction Division and Foreign Military Sales (FMS) joint construction operations in relation to two Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK) knowledge areas, project stakeholder management and project risk management. Project stakeholder management is addressed by identifying the relationship between cultural competency and …

A Fuzzy Framework For The Air Force Mission Dependency Index, Devin M. Depalmer

Theses and Dissertations

AFIMSC completed an MDI modernization to support better risk-based decision-making by utilizing tactical mission-owner knowledge to quantify the relationship between facilities and the missions they enable. The resulting facility-mission risk scores leave room for improvement for better use of their intended purposes due to (1) the vulnerability of cognitive biases affecting survey responses due to the use of a traditional risk matrix (2) the lack of resolution between scores from risk ties and (3) the failure to include information from the operational and strategic organizational hierarchy level. This research addresses these concerns through the novel implementation of a fuzzy logic …

Exploring The Limits Of Strategic Thought: Evaluating How Different Communication Modalities Affect The Nature Of Strategic Decision-Making Using Cognitive Hierarchy, Stephen D. Donnel

Theses and Dissertations

This research examines and quantifies the degree to which both information communication modality and the situational complexity affect individuals' ability to process the provided information and determine an effective strategy. Human subject testing herein consists of benign benevolent intervention involving the presentation of a series of strategic situations. For each situation, a participant attempts to identify their best response for a two-player, normal-form game with complete information. In each such game, players seek to maximize their own utility while considering their own actions, their opponent's actions, and each player's respective preferences over outcomes resulting from the possible combinations of actions. …

Model Based Systems Engineering For A Venture Class Launch Facility, Walter Mcgee Taraila

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Theses & Dissertations

A study of Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) applied to a small-lift launch facility is presented. The research uses Systems Modeling Language (SysML) products and functional diagrams to document the structure, controls, electrical power, hydraulic, safety mechanisms, software, and fluid ground systems on a launch pad. The research is motivated by the need to design complex systems with an unambiguous understanding that improves communication, quality, productivity, and reduces risk. A model is developed following the ISO/IEC-15288 technical process framework. The stakeholder requirements are defined and analyzed to provide traceability to individual systems and subsystems. An architectural design is realized and implemented …

Pathfinding Interplanetary Bus Capability For The Cal Poly Cubesat Laboratory Through The Development Of A Phobos-Deimos Mission Concept, Alyssa M. Ralph

Master's Theses

With the rise of CubeSats and the demonstration of their many space applications, there is interest in interplanetary CubeSats to act for example as scientific investigations or communications relays. In line with the increasing demand for this class of small satellites, the Cal Poly CubeSat Lab (CPCL) seeks to develop a bus that could support an interplanetary science payload. To facilitate this, a mission concept to conduct science of the moons of Mars, Phobos and Deimos, is investigated by determining the mission needs for a CubeSat in a Phobos-Deimos cycler orbit through the development of a baseline design to meet …

A System Architecture For Phased Development Of Remote Suas Operation, Eric Ashley

Master's Theses

Current airspace regulations require the remote pilot-in-command of an unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) to maintain visual line of sight with the vehicle for situational awareness. The future of UAS will not have these constraints as technology improves and regulations are changed. An operational model for the future of UAS is proposed where a remote operator will monitor remote vehicles with the capability to intervene if needed. One challenge facing this future operational concept is the ability for a flight data system to effectively communicate flight status to the remote operator. A system architecture has been developed to facilitate the implementation …

Iot And Digitization Will Reconnect System Engineering And Science, John Blyler

Systems Science Friday Noon Seminar Series

The fully connected world is quickly becoming a reality. Architects and developers of this new world must understand both the hardware and software basics of IoT and IIoT systems as well as the proven way to deal with the complexities of the integration of sensors, processors, wireless connectivity, edge to cloud networks, data partitioning and processing, AI, machine language, digital threads and twins, and much more. Such complexity can only be handled with a systems-of-systems (SoS) engineering approach.

But while systems engineering may hold many of the solutions to IoT challenges, systems engineering must evolve from its traditional role. Some …

Development Of A New Instrument To Assess The Performance Of Systems Engineers, Niamat Ullah Ibne Hossain, Morteza Nagahi, Raed Jaradat, Charles Keating

Engineering Management & Systems Engineering Faculty Publications

Complex systems continue to confound the capabilities of systems engineers to deal with and navigate a new generation of problems. Thus, there is an emerging need to develop a cadre of effective systems engineers capable of efficiently addressing complex systems problems. This paper introduces a new system engineering instrument that assesses the performance of systems engineers. The instrument is based on the set of performance indicators examining six fundamental system engineering attributes. This instrument would provide a baseline to understand the current state of the systems engineering skills for a systems engineer and indicate developmental areas to enhance those skills. …

The Role Of Stakeholders After Development Of The Baseline Scheduled Maintenance Program, Danita Baghdasarin

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

The principles of systems engineering can be applied to various aviation systems. This position paper emphasizes the importance of stakeholder collaboration in the various stages of the system life cycle, where the system is the aircraft scheduled maintenance program and the stakeholders are the constituents of the Industry Steering Committee (ISC): regulatory authorities, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), and operators. The author discusses accidents with maintenance-related contributing factors, and highlights opportunities to improve coordination among stakeholders in order to ensure safe and effective maintenance.

Framework For Improving Complex System Performance, Charles B. Keating, Polinpapilinho F. Katina, Ra'ed Jaradat, Joseph M. Bradley, Richard Hodge

Engineering Management & Systems Engineering Faculty Publications

This paper introduces a framework for improvement of complex system performance. Complex systems are besieged with conditions marked by increasing uncertainty, emergence, and ambiguity. Additionally, demands for increased productivity, resource efficiencies, and performance improvement make new approaches paramount for modern systems engineers. In response, a framework to improve complex system performance is developed. Following an introduction, the paper pursues four objectives: (1) introduction of Complex System Governance (CSG) as a foundation to describe essential system functions, (2) suggest system `pathologies' as an explanation for deep system performance issues, (3) exploration of system performance improvement as a function of `requisite variety' …

Study Of Cost Overrun And Delays Of Department Of Defense (Dod)'S Space Acquisition Program, Nazareen Sikkandar Basha, Benjamin J. Kwasa, Christina Bloebaum

Engineering Management and Systems Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Defense and Aerospace Systems Acquisition projects, just like any other Large-Scale Complex Engineered Systems (LSCES) experience delays and cost overrun during the acquisition process. Cost overrun and delays in LSCES are due, in part, to high complexity, size of the project, involvement of various stakeholders, organizations, political disruptions, changes in requirements and scope. These uncertainties, due to the exogenous factors, have cost the federal government billions of dollars and delays in completion of the programs. Cost estimation of federal programs is usually based on previous generations of systems produced and almost all the time the costs are underestimated. Underestimation of …

The Impact Of Functional Modeling On Engineering Students' Mental Models, Jacob T. Nelson

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

The ability to understand complexity and think holistically about systems is an increasingly important part of engineering design. This is embodied in the concept of systems thinking, a concept studied primarily in the fields of systems dynamics and systems engineering. Systems thinking ability is built off mental models, a loosely-defined construct people form to make predictions about their surroundings. Methods to evaluate systems thinking and underlying mental models rely primarily on self-evaluative methods such as questionnaires, or detailed simulations of systems or processes; however these methods fail to directly capture students’ design tendencies. This work presents a visual instrument used …

Human-Intelligence And Machine-Intelligence Decision Governance Formal Ontology, Faisal Mahmud

Engineering Management & Systems Engineering Theses & Dissertations

Since the beginning of the human race, decision making and rational thinking played a pivotal role for mankind to either exist and succeed or fail and become extinct. Self-awareness, cognitive thinking, creativity, and emotional magnitude allowed us to advance civilization and to take further steps toward achieving previously unreachable goals. From the invention of wheels to rockets and telegraph to satellite, all technological ventures went through many upgrades and updates. Recently, increasing computer CPU power and memory capacity contributed to smarter and faster computing appliances that, in turn, have accelerated the integration into and use of artificial intelligence (AI) in …

Establishing Rules For Self-Organizing Systems-Of-Systems, David M. Curry, Cihan H. Dagli

Engineering Management and Systems Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Self-organizing systems-of-systems offer the possibility of autonomously adapting to new circumstances and tasking. This could significantly benefit large endeavors such as smart cities and national defense by increasing the probability that new situations are expediently handled. Complex self-organizing behaviors can be produced by a large set of individual agents all following the same simple set of rules. While biological rule sets have application in achieving human goals, other rules sets may be necessary as these goals are not necessarily mirrored in nature. To this end, a set of system, rather than biologically, inspired rules is introduced and an agent-based model …

Designing Fixed-Base Operations Utilizing Systems Engineering Principles, Ross L. Stephenson Jr., David A. Carroll

Journal of Aviation Technology and Engineering

There are currently over 3,200 fixed-base operations (FBOs) conducting business in the United States attempting to meet the demands of FAA Part 91, Part 135, and a limited number of Part 121 operations. With the US economy slowly climbing out of the trough during 2013, the utilization of fixed-base operations has become more attractive and economical to the corporate business and the affluent recreational traveler. Despite the increased flight activities utilizing the services of fixed-base operators, keen competition, rising fuel cost, and the economies of scale recognized by large FBO franchises significantly erode the profitability and sustainability of smaller FBOs. …

Combining Max-Min And Max-Max Approaches For Robust Sos Architecting, Hadi Farhangi, Dincer Konur, Cihan H. Dagli

Engineering Management and Systems Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

A System of Systems (SoS) architecting problem requires creating a selection of systems in order to provide a set of capabilities. SoS architecting finds many applications in military/defense projects. In this paper, we study a multi-objective SoS architecting problem, where the cost of the architecture is minimized while its performance is maximized. The cost of the architecture is the summation of the costs of the systems to be included in the SoS. Similarly, the performance of the architecture is defined as the sum of the performance of the capabilities, where the performance of a capability is the sum of the …