Computer Engineering Commons^™

Wright State University College Of Engineering And Computer Science Bits And Pcs Newsletter, Volume 9, Number 10, December 1993, College Of Engineering And Computer Science, Wright State University

BITs and PCs Newsletter

A ten page newsletter created by the Wright State University College of Engineering and Computer Science that addresses the current affairs of the college.

A Method For Populating The Knowledge Base Of Aptas, A Domain-Oriented Application Composition System, Raleigh A. Sandy Iii

Theses and Dissertations

A formal process is described for populating the knowledge base of the Automatic Programming Technologies for Avionics Software APTAS system. This process was developed using a general knowledge base population process that applies to many knowledge-based software engineering systems. This general process is also described. The formal process for APTAS was demonstrated by storing new information from the radar tracking domain into the knowledge base of APTAS. Several procedures some automatic and some manual were implemented to support the formal process.

Using Discovery-Based Learning To Prove The Behavior Of An Autonomous Agent, David N. Mezera

Theses and Dissertations

Computer-generated autonomous agents in simulation often behave predictably and unrealistically. These characteristics make them easy to spot and exploit by human participants in the simulation, when we would prefer the behavior of the agent to be indistinguishable from human behavior. An improvement in behavior might be possible by enlarging the library of responses, giving the agent a richer assortment of tactics to employ during a combat scenario. Machine learning offers an exciting alternative to constructing additional responses by hand by instead allowing the system to improve its own performance with experience. This thesis presents NOSTRUM, a discovery-based learning DBL system …

Local Area Network Implementation At The 4950th Test Wing: A Study Of The Relationship Between Individual Factors And The Effectiveness Of A Local Area Network, Doyle F. Cone, David J. Donahoo

Theses and Dissertations

This research investigated the individual factors which directly impacted the effectiveness of the 4950th Test Wing local area network (LAN). Areas of interest included the relationships between demographic and user attitude factors and LAN effectiveness. A literature review provided the basis for: 1) operationally defining effectiveness as a subjective measure of user satisfaction; 2) identifying specific factors which impact information system effectiveness; and 3) developing a research instrument to measure user attitudes and user satisfaction. A questionnaire was administered to 342 LAN users 173 were returned (a response rate of 51 percent). Sixteen factors (eight demographic factors and eight attitude …

Virtual Memory Management And Virtual Bus Overloading On Multiple Channel Architectures, John N. Armitstead

Theses and Dissertations

Today's computational environment requires the processing capabilities available only through parallel architectures. The bottleneck that limits the potential of parallel processing is communication between processors, memories, and other hardware devices. A proposed multiple channel architecture (MCA) utilizes tunable semiconductor lasers and fiber optic cables that serve as the communication medium between processor, memory, and I/O nodes. A memory management unit (MMU) was completely described and implemented in a multiprocessor simulator. A permutation-based interleaving (PBI) scheme was utilized to reduce the chance of memory access collisions. Virtual bus utilization, number of collisions, and message traffic patterns were studied under various amounts …

Interactive Control Of A Parallel Simulation From A Remote Graphics Workstation, Douglas C. Looney

Theses and Dissertations

Modern military commanders are faced with an overwhelming amount of intelligence data concerning the disposition of engaging forces, The sheer volume of data produced for a single planning scenario is an obstacle to the user as well as the computer. Today’s commander requires a real-time, three- dimensional representation of the battlefield in order to assimilate the data for the management of a conflict. Parallel computation is required to complete the processing of this information in a timely manner. A network protocol is required to link the interface with the parallel simulation. The of this study is to improve user interaction …

An Object-Oriented Database Interface For Ada, Anthony D. Moyers

Theses and Dissertations

Object data management ODM is currently at the forefront of research and development efforts in the database community. In order to take advantage of ODM technology, the Department of Defense DoD needs to ensure that these systems are accessible to Ada programmers. The Air Force Institute of Technology AFIT is conducting research towards the development of an Ada ODM interface to existing ODM systems. The design goals are portability, transparency, and completeness for Ada programmers. Portability means that the ODM system can be changed without affecting any existing application programs. Transparency means that Ada programmers can use the interface without …

Genetic Algorithms Applied To A Mission Routing Problem, James B. Olsan

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis applies genetic algorithms to a mission routing problem. The mission routing problem involves determining an aircraft’s best route between a staging base and a target. The goal is to minimize the route distance and the exposure to radar. Potential routes are mapped to a 3-dimensional mesh where the nodes correspond to checkpoints in the route and the arcs correspond to partial paths of the route. Each arc is weighted with respect to distance and exposure to radar. A genetic algorithm is a probabilistic search technique loosely based on theories of biological evolution. Genetic crossover and survival of the …

Design Of A Parallel Discrete Event Simulation Coprocessor, Jacob L. Berlin

Theses and Dissertations

A Parallel Discrete Event Simulation Coprocessor was designed to off- load the synchronization overhead from the processors executing the application. In a multiprocessor architecture, one coprocessor executes the synchronization routines for each host processor. Speedup can be achieved when the host processor executes the application and the coprocessor concurrently executes synchronization routines. The coprocessor uses a programmable microcode control store to guarantee flexibility in the synchronization routines. The coprocessor uses an Extreme Search Associative Memory to support fast Next Event Queue NEQ management. This associative memory uses bit-serial word-parallel search logic to provide 01 insert and retrieval time of events …

Script-Based Qos Specifications For Multimedia Presentations, Richard Staehli, Jonathan Walpole

Computer Science Faculty Publications and Presentations

Multimedia presentations can convey information not only by the sequence of events but by their timing. The correctness of such presentations thus depends on the timing of events as well as their sequence and content. This paper introduces a formal specification language for playback of real-time presentations. The main contribution of this language is a quality of service (QOS) specification that relaxes resolution and synchronization requirements for playback. Our definitions give a precise meaning to the correctness of a presentation. This specification language will form the basis for a QOS interface for reservation of operating system resources.

Partitioning Structural Vhdl Circuits For Parallel Execution On Hypercubes, Kevin L. Kapp

Theses and Dissertations

Distributing simulations among multiple processors is one approach to reducing VHDL simulation time for large VLSI circuit designs. However, parallel simulation introduces the problem of how to partition the logic gates and system behaviors among the available processors in order to obtain maximum speedup. This research investigates deliberate partitioning algorithms that account for the complex inter-dependency structure of the circuit behaviors. Once an initial partition has been obtained, a border annealing algorithm is used to iteratively improve the partition. In addition, methods of measuring the cost of a partition and relating it to the resulting simulation performance are investigated. Structural …

Simple High-Quality Lossy Image Coding Scheme, Shaolin Bi, Khalid Sayood

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering: Faculty Publications

A simple yet efficient image data compression method is presented. This method is based on coding only those segments of the image that are perceptually significant to the reconstruction of the image. Sequences of image pixels whose gray-level differences from the pixels of the previous row exceed two prespecified thresholds are considered significant. These pixels are coded using a differential pulse code modulation scheme that uses a 15-level recursively indexed nonuniform quantizer for the first pixel in a segment and a 7-level recursively indexed nonuniform quantizer for all other pixels in the segment. The quantizer outputs are Huffman coded. Simulation …

Wright State University College Of Engineering And Computer Science Bits And Pcs Newsletter, Volume 9, Number 9, November 1993, College Of Engineering And Computer Science, Wright State University

BITs and PCs Newsletter

A fourteen page newsletter created by the Wright State University College of Engineering and Computer Science that addresses the current affairs of the college.

Wright State University College Of Engineering And Computer Science Bits And Pcs Newsletter, Volume 9, Number 8, October 1993, College Of Engineering And Computer Science, Wright State University

BITs and PCs Newsletter

A ten page newsletter created by the Wright State University College of Engineering and Computer Science that addresses the current affairs of the college.

Declarative Representations Of Multiagent Systems, Munindar P. Singh, Michael N. Huhns, Larry M. Stevens

Faculty Publications

This paper explores the specification and semantics of multiagent problem-solving systems, focusing on the representations that agents have of each other. It provides a declarative representation for such systems. Several procedural solutions to a well-known test-bed problem are considered, and the requirements they impose on different agents are identified. A study of these requirements yields a representational scheme based on temporal logic for specifying the acting, perceiving, communicating, and reasoning abilities of computational agents. A formal semantics is provided for this scheme. The resulting representation is highly declarative, and useful for describing systems of agents solving problems reactively.

Gyroless Line-Of-Sight Stabilization For Pointing And Tracking Systems, Marcelo C. Aigrain

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering: Faculty Publications

A new platform stabilization approach is described where miature, low-cost, linear accelerometers are used (instead of gyroscopes) for line-of-sight (LOS) stabilization. This is accomplished by placing the accelerometers at strategic locations and combining their outputs so that angular motion is determined from linear acceleration measurements. The control system uses the sensed angular accelerations to generate movement commands for the gimbal servomotors in the stabilization platform. This counterrotates the imaging device to stabilize its LOS. The use of accelerometers allows the servo system to operate in an acceleration control mode, which is more desirable than position or velocity control modes, typical …

Wright State University College Of Engineering And Computer Science Bits And Pcs Newsletter, Volume 9, Number 7, September 1993, College Of Engineering And Computer Science, Wright State University

BITs and PCs Newsletter

A ten page newsletter created by the Wright State University College of Engineering and Computer Science that addresses the current affairs of the college.

Electronic Simulation Of The Temporal Characteristics Of Photon Memory Echoes And Some Related Applications, Yuwen Kuo, Monish Ranjan Chatterjee

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Publications

The characteristics of nonlinear photon memory echoes are investigated by means of SPICE simulations using equivalent resonator ensembles. By developing implicit nonlinear circuit models in the memory echo domain, the triple product formalism of electronic holography, involving correlation and convolution, is tested for the storage and recall of arbitrary signals and/or data bit streams in both time-inverted and nontime-inverted modes. Furthermore, a few specific optical data processing applications are also simulated in which the mixed binary multiplication of two or more binary bit streams is achieved.

Higher order products, optical pattern recognition, and other possible applications are also discussed. It …

Networking Your Cd-Roms: A Texas Tale, Margaret Sylvia

Faculty Publications

Installation of a CD-ROM network at St. Mary's University Academic Library created a revolution in the way students and faculty do research.

Variable Structure End Point Control Of A Flexible Manipulator, Shailaja Chenumalla, Sahjendra N. Singh

Electrical & Computer Engineering Faculty Research

We treat the question of control and stabilization of the elastic multibody system developed in the Phillips Laboratory, Edwards Air Force Base, California. The controlled output is judiciously chosen such that the zero dynamics are stable or almost stable. A variable structure control (VSC) law is derived for the end point trajectory control. Although, the VSC law accomplishes precise end point tracking, elastic modes are excited during the maneuver of the arm. A Linear stabilizer is designed for the final capture of the terminal state.

Three Points Of Great Height On Elliptic Curves, Andrew Bremner, Duncan A. Buell

Faculty Publications

We give three elliptic curves whose generators have great height, demonstrating along the way a moderately efficient method for finding such points.

Fault Tolerant And Integrated Token Ring Network, Thomas Christopher Gilbar

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis is a study of communication protocols (token ring, FDDI, and ISDN), microcontrollers (68HC 1EVB), and fault tolerance schemes. One of the major weaknesses of the token ring network is that if a single station fails, the entire system fails. A scheme involving a combination of hardware and timer interrupts in the software has been designed and implemented which deals with this risk. Software and protocols have been designed and applied to the network to reduce the chance of bit faults in communications. ISDN frame format proved to be exceptional in its capacity to carry echoed data and a …

Wright State University College Of Engineering And Computer Science Bits And Pcs Newsletter, Volume 9, Number 6, June 1993, College Of Engineering And Computer Science, Wright State University

BITs and PCs Newsletter

A ten page newsletter created by the Wright State University College of Engineering and Computer Science that addresses the current affairs of the college.

Building A Gateway For The Cd-Rom Network: A Step Toward The Virtual Library With The Virtual Microsystems V-Server, Margaret Sylvia

Faculty Publications

Describes one college library's experience with a gateway for dial-in access to its CD-ROM network to increase access to automated index searching for students off-campus. Hardware and software choices are discussed in terms of access, reliability, affordability, and ease of use. Installation problems are discussed, and an appendix lists product information.

Tolerance Specification Of Robot Kinematic Parameters Using An Experimental Design Technique, Y.H. Andrew Liou, Paul P. Lin, Richard R. Lindeke, Hsiang-Dih Chiang

Mechanical Engineering Faculty Publications

This paper presents the tolerance specification of robot kinematic parameters using the Taguchi method. The concept of employing inner and outer orthogonal arrays to identify the significant parameters and select the optimal tolerance range for each parameter is proposed. The performance measure based on signal-to-noise ratios (S/N) using the Taguchi method is validated by Monte Carlo simulations. Finally, a step-by-step tolerance specification methodology is developed and illustrated with a planar two-link manipulator and a five-degree-of-freedom Rhino robot.

A Decision Criteria To Select An Associative-Memory Organization That Minimizes The Execution Time Of A Mix Of Associative-Search Operations, David W. Banton

Theses and Dissertations

The dissertation develops a decision criteria to select an associative-memory organization that minimizes the execution time of a mix of associative-search operations and a decision criteria to estimate the layout dimensions of each organization for a specified memory size. The dissertation reclassifies Feng's associative-search operations into three hardware-influenced categories: bit-position independent (BPI), record-content independent (RCI); bit-position dependent (BPD), RCI; and BPD, record-content dependent (RCD). It develops a relationship between the categories and three associative-memory organizations: the CAM, the bit-serial word-parallel associative memory (BSWPAM) , and the extreme-search associative memory (ESAM). A version of the CAM, three versions of the BSWPAM, …

Wright State University College Of Engineering And Computer Science Bits And Pcs Newsletter, Volume 9, Number 5, May 1993, College Of Engineering And Computer Science, Wright State University

BITs and PCs Newsletter

An eight page newsletter created by the Wright State University College of Engineering and Computer Science that addresses the current affairs of the college.

The Application Of Neural Networks To Optimal Robot Trajectory Planning, Daniel J. Simon

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Publications

Interpolation of minimum jerk robot joint trajectories through an arbitrary number of knots is realized using a hardwired neural network. Minimum jerk joint trajectories are desirable for their similarity to human joint movements and their amenability to accurate tracking. The resultant trajectories are numerical rather than analytic functions of time. This application formulates the interpolation problem as a constrained quadratic minimization problem over a continuous joint angle domain and a discrete time domain. Time is discretized according to the robot controller rate. The neuron outputs define the joint angles (one neuron for each discrete value of time) and the Lagrange …

Suboptimal Robot Joint Interpolation Within User-Specified Knot Tolerances, Daniel J. Simon, Can Isik

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Publications

Approximation of a desired robot path can be accomplished by interpolating a curve through a sequence of joint-space knots. A smooth interpolated trajectory can be realized by using trigonometric splines. But, sometimes the joint trajectory is not required to exactly pass through the given knots. The knots may rather be centers of tolerances near which the trajectory is required to pass. In this article, we optimize trigonometric splines through a given set of knots subject to user-specified knot tolerances. The contribution of this article is the straightforward way in which intermediate constraints (i.e., knot angles) are incorporated into the parameter …

Ua66/3/3 Acm/Upe Awards Banquet, Association For Computing Machinery, Upsilon Pi Epsilon

Student Organizations

ACM/UPE awards and initiation banquet program.