Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons

Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Articles 1 - 30 of 75

Full-Text Articles in Physical Sciences and Mathematics

An Analysis Of Precision: Occlusion And Perspective Geometry’S Role In 6d Pose Estimation, Jeffrey Choate, Derek Worth, Scott Nykl, Clark N. Taylor, Brett J. Borghetti, Christine M. Schubert Kabban Jan 2024

An Analysis Of Precision: Occlusion And Perspective Geometry’S Role In 6d Pose Estimation, Jeffrey Choate, Derek Worth, Scott Nykl, Clark N. Taylor, Brett J. Borghetti, Christine M. Schubert Kabban

Faculty Publications

Achieving precise 6 degrees of freedom (6D) pose estimation of rigid objects from color images is a critical challenge with wide-ranging applications in robotics and close-contact aircraft operations. This study investigates key techniques in the application of YOLOv5 object detection convolutional neural network (CNN) for 6D pose localization of aircraft using only color imagery. Traditional object detection labeling methods suffer from inaccuracies due to perspective geometry and being limited to visible key points. This research demonstrates that with precise labeling, a CNN can predict object features with near-pixel accuracy, effectively learning the distinct appearance of the object due to perspective …


Garbage In ≠ Garbage Out: Exploring Gan Resilience To Image Training Set Degradations, Nicholas Crino, Bruce A. Cox, Nathan B. Gaw Jan 2024

Garbage In ≠ Garbage Out: Exploring Gan Resilience To Image Training Set Degradations, Nicholas Crino, Bruce A. Cox, Nathan B. Gaw

Faculty Publications

Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs) have received immense attention in recent years due to their ability to capture complex, high-dimensional data distributions without the need for extensive labeling. Since their conception in 2014, a wide array of GAN variants have been proposed featuring alternative architectures, optimizers, and loss functions with the goal of improving performance and training stability. This manuscript focuses on quantifying the resilience of a GAN architecture to specific modes of image degradation. We conduct systematic experimentation to empirically determine the effects of 10 fundamental image degradation modes, applied to the training image dataset, on the Fréchet inception distance …


Fast And Accurate 3d Object Reconstruction For Cargo Load Planning, Adam R. Nasi Mar 2023

Fast And Accurate 3d Object Reconstruction For Cargo Load Planning, Adam R. Nasi

Theses and Dissertations

Cargo load planning involves efficiently packing objects into aircraft subject to constraints such as space and weight distribution. Currently, this is performed manually by loadmasters. The United States Air Force is investigating ways to automate this process in order to improve airlift operational readiness while saving money. The first step in such a process would be generating 3D reconstructions of cargo objects to be used by a load planning algorithm. To that end, this thesis presents a novel method for fast, scaled, and accurate 3D reconstruction of cargo objects. This method can scan a 2.5m×3m×2m object in less than 10 …


Garbage In ≠ Garbage Out: Exploring Gan Resilience To Image Training Set Degradations, Nicholas M. Crino Mar 2023

Garbage In ≠ Garbage Out: Exploring Gan Resilience To Image Training Set Degradations, Nicholas M. Crino

Theses and Dissertations

Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs) have received increasing attention in recent years due to their ability to capture complex, high-dimensional data distributions without the need for extensive labeling. Since their conception in 2014, a wide array of GAN variants have been proposed featuring alternative architectures, optimizers, and loss functions with the goal of improving performance and training stability. While this research has yielded GAN variants robust to training set shrinkage and corruption, our research focuses on quantifying the resilience of a GAN architecture to specific modes of image degradation. We conduct systematic experimentation to determine empirically the effects of 10 fundamental …


Analysis Of Graph Layout Algorithms For Use In Command And Control Network Graphs, Matthew R. Stone Sep 2022

Analysis Of Graph Layout Algorithms For Use In Command And Control Network Graphs, Matthew R. Stone

Theses and Dissertations

This research is intended to determine which styles of layout algorithm are well suited to Command and Control (C2) network graphs to replace current manual layout methods. Manual methods are time intensive and an automated layout algorithm should decrease the time spent creating network graphs. Simulations on realistic synthetically generated graphs provide information to help infer which algorithms perform better than others on this problem. Data is generated using statistics drawn from multiple real world C2 network graphs. The three algorithms tested against this data are the Spectral algorithm, the Dot algorithm, and the Fruchterman-Reingold algorithm. The results include a …


Applying Models Of Circadian Stimulus To Explore Ideal Lighting Configurations, Alexander J. Price Mar 2022

Applying Models Of Circadian Stimulus To Explore Ideal Lighting Configurations, Alexander J. Price

Theses and Dissertations

Increased levels of time are spent indoors, decreasing human interaction with nature and degrading photoentrainment, the synchronization of circadian rhythms with daylight variation. Military imagery analysts, among other professionals, are required to work in low light level environments to limit power consumption or increase contrast on display screens to improve detail detection. Insufficient exposure to light in these environments results in inadequate photoentrainment which is associated with degraded alertness and negative health effects. Recent research has shown that both the illuminance (i.e., perceived intensity) and wavelength of light affect photoentrainment. Simultaneously, modern lighting technologies have improved our ability to construct …


The Application Of Virtual Reality In Firefighting Training, Dylan A. Gagnon Mar 2022

The Application Of Virtual Reality In Firefighting Training, Dylan A. Gagnon

Theses and Dissertations

Immersive simulations such as virtual reality is becoming more prevalent for use in training environments for many professions. United States Air Force firefighters may benefit from incorporating VR technology into their training program to increase organizational commitment, job satisfaction, self-efficacy, and job performance. With implementing a new training platform, it is also important to understand the relationship between these variables and the perceived benefits and efficacy of the VR training, which has not yet been studied in previous research. This study addresses this issue by gathering data from fire departments currently fielding a VR fire training platform.


Real Time Evaluation Of Boom And Drogue Occlusion With Aar, Xiaoyang Wu Mar 2022

Real Time Evaluation Of Boom And Drogue Occlusion With Aar, Xiaoyang Wu

Theses and Dissertations

In recent years, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) have seen a rise in popularity. Various navigational algorithms have been developed as a solution to estimate a UAV’s pose relative to the refueler aircraft. The result can be used to safely automate aerial refueling (AAR) to improve UAVs’ time-on-station and ensure the success of military operations. This research aims to reach real-time performance using a GPU accelerated approach. It also conducts various experiments to quantify the effects of refueling boom/drogue occlusion and image exposure on the pose estimation pipeline in a lab setting.


A Thematic And Reference Analysis Of Touchless Technologies, Eric R. Curia Mar 2022

A Thematic And Reference Analysis Of Touchless Technologies, Eric R. Curia

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this research is to explore the utility and current state of touchless technologies. Five categories of technologies are identified as a result of collecting and reviewing literature: facial/biometric recognition, gesture recognition, touchless sensing, personal devices, and voice recognition. A thematic analysis was conducted to evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of the five categories. A reference analysis was also conducted to determine the similarities between articles in each category. Touchless sensing showed to have the most advantages and least similar references. Gesture recognition was the opposite. Comparing analyses shows more reliable technology types are more beneficial and diverse.


The Impact Of Visual Feedback And Control Configuration On Pilot-Aircraft Interface Using Head Tracking Technology, Christopher M. Arnold Mar 2022

The Impact Of Visual Feedback And Control Configuration On Pilot-Aircraft Interface Using Head Tracking Technology, Christopher M. Arnold

Theses and Dissertations

Traditional control mechanisms restrict human input on the displays in 5th generation aircraft. This research explored methods for enhancing pilot interaction with large, information dense cockpit displays; specifically, the effects of visual feedback and control button configuration when augmenting cursor control with head tracking technology. Previous studies demonstrated that head tracking can be combined with traditional cursor control to decrease selection times but can increase pilot mental and physical workload. A human subject experiment was performed to evaluate two control button configurations and three visual feedback conditions. A Fitts Law analysis was performed to create predictive models of selection time …


Display Design To Avoid And Mitigate Limit Cycle Oscillations (Lco) On The F-16c, David J. Feibus Mar 2021

Display Design To Avoid And Mitigate Limit Cycle Oscillations (Lco) On The F-16c, David J. Feibus

Theses and Dissertations

The U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcons flying characteristics and flight envelope are dynamic and defined by its external weapon stores configuration. The employment of its munitions at certain speeds can put the F-16 into a flutter-like state in which Limit Cycle Oscillations (LCO) are induced. In LCO, a pilots fine motor control might be hindered, and the aircraft may lose combat effectiveness until flight conditions are reduced. The current research attempted to provide pilots with a predictive feedback display to avoid an LCO-susceptible configuration by increasing their situation awareness about the consequences of employing certain munitions to their flight …


Design And Test Of An Autonomy Monitoring Service To Detect Divergent Behaviors On Unmanned Aerial Systems, Loay Y. Almannaei Jun 2020

Design And Test Of An Autonomy Monitoring Service To Detect Divergent Behaviors On Unmanned Aerial Systems, Loay Y. Almannaei

Theses and Dissertations

Operation of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) support many critical missions in the United State Air Force (USAF). Monitoring abnormal behavior is one of many responsibilities of the operator during a mission. Some behaviors are hard to be detect by an operator, especially when flying one or more autonomous vehicles; as such, detections require a high level of attention and focus to flight parameters. In this research, a monitoring system and its algorithm are designed and tested for a target fixed-wing UAV. The Autonomy Monitoring Service (AMS) compares the real vehicle or simulated Vehicle with a similar simulated vehicle using Software …


The Impact Of Changing The Size Of Aircraft Radar Displays On Visual Search In The Cockpit, Justin R. Marsh Mar 2020

The Impact Of Changing The Size Of Aircraft Radar Displays On Visual Search In The Cockpit, Justin R. Marsh

Theses and Dissertations

Advances in sensor technology have enabled our fighter aircraft to find, fix, track, target, engage (F2T2E) at greater distances, providing the operator with more data within the battlefield. Modern aircraft are designed with larger displays while our legacy aircraft are being retrofitted with larger cockpit displays to enable display of the increased data. While this modification has been shown to enable improvements in human performance of many cockpit tasks, this effect is often not measured nor fully understood at a more generalizable level. This research outlines an approach to comparing human performance across two display sizes in future F-16 cockpits. …


Electronic Image Detectability Under Varying Illumination Conditions, Jeremy J. Miller Mar 2020

Electronic Image Detectability Under Varying Illumination Conditions, Jeremy J. Miller

Theses and Dissertations

Light in the built environment plays an essential role in the vision and the health of humans through non-visual receptors in the eyes. Unfortunately, image analysts and other Air Force personnel who engage in the detection of objects on softcopy displays are often required to work in very dimly-lit or dark environments as higher illumination reduces the contrast of displayed information. Literature has shown that increases in light exposure improves circadian rhythm entrainment and reduces the negative health consequences of insufficient lighting. This research examines the effects of indoor lighting to determine if increases in ambient illumination or changes to …


Improved N-Dimensional Data Visualization From Hyper-Radial Values, Todd J. Paciencia, Trevor J. Bihl, Kenneth W. Bauer Jan 2019

Improved N-Dimensional Data Visualization From Hyper-Radial Values, Todd J. Paciencia, Trevor J. Bihl, Kenneth W. Bauer

Faculty Publications

Higher-dimensional data, which is becoming common in many disciplines due to big data problems, are inherently difficult to visualize in a meaningful way. While many visualization methods exist, they are often difficult to interpret, involve multiple plots and overlaid points, or require simultaneous interpretations. This research adapts and extends hyper-radial visualization, a technique used to visualize Pareto fronts in multi-objective optimizations, to become an n-dimensional visualization tool. Hyper-radial visualization is seen to offer many advantages by presenting a low-dimensionality representation of data through easily understood calculations. First, hyper-radial visualization is extended for use with general multivariate data. Second, a method …


Effects Of Dynamic Goals On Agent Performance, Nathan R. Ball Jun 2018

Effects Of Dynamic Goals On Agent Performance, Nathan R. Ball

Theses and Dissertations

Autonomous systems are increasingly being used for complex tasks in dynamic environments. Robust automation needs to be able to establish its current goal and determine when the goal has changed. In human-machine teams autonomous goal detection is an important component of maintaining shared situational awareness between both parties. This research investigates how different categories of goals affect autonomous change detection in a dynamic environment. In order to accomplish this goal, a set of autonomous agents were developed to perform within an environment with multiple possible goals. The agents perform the environmental task while monitoring for goal changes. The experiment tests …


Mitigating The Effects Of Cyber Attacks And Human Control In An Autonomous Intersection, Karl C. Bentjen Mar 2018

Mitigating The Effects Of Cyber Attacks And Human Control In An Autonomous Intersection, Karl C. Bentjen

Theses and Dissertations

Widespread use of fully autonomous vehicles is near. However, the desire for a human to maintain control, even if limited, of a vehicle will likely never fully subside. Protocols to safely and efficiently manage reservation-based intersections with a mixture of fully autonomous, semi-autonomous, and non-autonomous vehicles exist such as AIM, SemiAIM, and H-AIM. Missing from these protocols is persistent human control of semi-autonomous vehicles in approaching and navigating autonomous intersections without the use of traditional signals. This thesis offers a proof-of-concept of a reservation-based protocol with necessary extensions required for human control in semi-autonomous vehicles. Desired is a protocol that …


A Function-To-Task Process Model For Adaptive Automation System Design, Jason M. Bindewald, Michael E. Miller, Gilbert L. Peterson Dec 2014

A Function-To-Task Process Model For Adaptive Automation System Design, Jason M. Bindewald, Michael E. Miller, Gilbert L. Peterson

Faculty Publications

Adaptive automation systems allow the user to complete a task seamlessly with a computer performing tasks at which the human operator struggles. Unlike traditional systems that allocate functions to either the human or the machine, adaptive automation varies the allocation of functions during system operation. Creating these systems requires designers to consider issues not present during static system development. To assist in adaptive automation system design, this paper presents the concept of inherent tasks and takes advantage of this concept to create the function-to-task design process model. This process model helps the designer determine how to allocate functions to the …


A Method To Develop Neck Injury Criteria To Aid Design And Test Of Escape Systems Incorporating Helmet Mounted Displays, Jeffrey C. Parr Sep 2014

A Method To Develop Neck Injury Criteria To Aid Design And Test Of Escape Systems Incorporating Helmet Mounted Displays, Jeffrey C. Parr

Theses and Dissertations

HMDs are becoming common human-machine interface equipment in manned military flight, but introducing this equipment into the overall aircraft escape system poses new and significant system design, development, and test concerns. Although HMDs add capabilities, which improve operator performance, the increased capability is often accompanied by increased head supported mass. The increased mass can amplify the risk of pilot neck injury during ejection when compared to lighter legacy helmets. Currently no adequate USAF neck injury criteria exist to effectively guide the requirements, design, and test of escape systems for pilots with HMDs. This research effort presents a novel method to …


Eliciting A Sensemaking Process From Verbal Protocols Of Reverse Engineers, Adam R. Bryant, Robert F. Mills, Gilbert L. Peterson, Michael R. Grimaila Aug 2012

Eliciting A Sensemaking Process From Verbal Protocols Of Reverse Engineers, Adam R. Bryant, Robert F. Mills, Gilbert L. Peterson, Michael R. Grimaila

Faculty Publications

A process of sensemaking in reverse engineering was elicited from verbal protocols of reverse engineers as they investigated the assembly code of executable programs. Four participants were observed during task performance and verbal protocols were collected and analyzed from two of the participants to determine their problem-solving states and characterize likely transitions between those states. From this analysis, a high-level process of sensemaking is described which represents hypothesis generation and information-seeking behaviors in reverse engineering within a framework of goal-directed planning. Future work in validation and application of the process is discussed.


Statistical Image Recovery From Laser Speckle Patterns With Polarization Diversity, Donald B. Dixon Sep 2010

Statistical Image Recovery From Laser Speckle Patterns With Polarization Diversity, Donald B. Dixon

Theses and Dissertations

This research extends the theory and understanding of the laser speckle imaging technique. This non-traditional imaging technique may be employed to improve space situational awareness and image deep space objects from a ground-based sensor system. The use of this technique is motivated by the ability to overcome aperture size limitations and the distortion effects from Earth’s atmosphere. Laser speckle imaging is a lensless, coherent method for forming two-dimensional images from their autocorrelation functions. Phase retrieval from autocorrelation data is an ill-posed problem where multiple solutions exist. This research introduces polarization diversity as a method for obtaining additional information so the …


Accelerating Malware Detection Via A Graphics Processing Unit, Nicholas S. Kovach Sep 2010

Accelerating Malware Detection Via A Graphics Processing Unit, Nicholas S. Kovach

Theses and Dissertations

Real-time malware analysis requires processing large amounts of data storage to look for suspicious files. This is a time consuming process that (requires a large amount of processing power) often affecting other applications running on a personal computer. This research investigates the viability of using Graphic Processing Units (GPUs), present in many personal computers, to distribute the workload normally processed by the standard Central Processing Unit (CPU). Three experiments are conducted using an industry standard GPU, the NVIDIA GeForce 9500 GT card. The goal of the first experiment is to find the optimal number of threads per block for calculating …


Performance Of Scattering Matrix Decomposition And Color Spaces For Synthetic Aperture Radar Imagery, Manuel E. Arriagada Mar 2010

Performance Of Scattering Matrix Decomposition And Color Spaces For Synthetic Aperture Radar Imagery, Manuel E. Arriagada

Theses and Dissertations

Polarimetrc Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) has been shown to be a powerful tool in remote sensing because uses up to four simultaneous measurements giving additional degrees of freedom for processing. Typically, polarization decomposition techniques are applied to the polarization-dependent data to form colorful imagery that is easy for operators systems to interpret. Yet, the presumption is that the SAR system operates with maximum bandwidth which requires extensive processing for near- or real-time application. In this research, color space selection is investigated when processing sparse polarimetric SAR data as in the case of the publicly available \Gotcha Volumetric SAR Data Set, …


Exploitation Of Geographic Information Systems For Vehicular Destination Prediction, Richard T. Muster Mar 2009

Exploitation Of Geographic Information Systems For Vehicular Destination Prediction, Richard T. Muster

Theses and Dissertations

Much of the recent successes in the Iraqi theater have been achieved with the aid of technology so advanced that celebrated journalist Bob Woodward recently compared it to the Manhattan Project of WWII. Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) platforms have emerged as the rising star of Air Force operational capabilities as they are enablers in the quest to track and disrupt terrorist and insurgent forces. This thesis argues that ISR systems have been severely under-exploited. The proposals herein seek to improve the machine-human interface of current ISR systems such that a predictive battle-space awareness may be achieved, leading to shorter …


A Framework For Analyzing Biometric Template Aging And Renewal Prediction, John W. Carls Mar 2009

A Framework For Analyzing Biometric Template Aging And Renewal Prediction, John W. Carls

Theses and Dissertations

Biometric technology and systems are modernizing identity capabilities. With maturing biometrics in full, rapid development, a higher accuracy of identity verification is required. An improvement to the security of biometric-based verification systems is provided through higher accuracy; ultimately reducing fraud, theft, and loss of resources from unauthorized personnel. With trivial biometric systems, a higher acceptance threshold to obtain higher accuracy rates increase false rejection rates and user unacceptability. However, maintaining the higher accuracy rate enhances the security of the system. An area of biometrics with a paucity of research is template aging and renewal prediction, specifically in regards to facial …


Image Processing For Multiple-Target Tracking On A Graphics Processing Unit, Michael A. Tanner Mar 2009

Image Processing For Multiple-Target Tracking On A Graphics Processing Unit, Michael A. Tanner

Theses and Dissertations

Multiple-target tracking (MTT) systems have been implemented on many different platforms, however these solutions are often expensive and have long development times. Such MTT implementations require custom hardware, yet offer very little flexibility with ever changing data sets and target tracking requirements. This research explores how to supplement and enhance MTT performance with an existing graphics processing unit (GPU) on a general computing platform. Typical computers are already equipped with powerful GPUs to support various games and multimedia applications. However, such GPUs are not currently being used in desktop MTT applications. This research explores if and how a GPU can …


Architecting Human Operator Trust In Automation To Improve System Effectiveness In Multiple Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (Uav), Eric A. Cring, Adam G. Lenfestey Mar 2009

Architecting Human Operator Trust In Automation To Improve System Effectiveness In Multiple Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (Uav), Eric A. Cring, Adam G. Lenfestey

Theses and Dissertations

Current Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) designs require multiple operators for each vehicle, partly due to imperfect automation matched with the complex operational environment. This study examines the effectiveness of future UAS automation by explicitly addressing the human/machine trust relationship during system architecting. A pedigreed engineering model of trust between human and machine was developed and applied to a laboratory-developed micro-UAS for Special Operations. This unprecedented investigation answered three primary questions. Can previous research be used to create a useful trust model for systems engineering? How can trust be considered explicitly within the DoD Architecture Framework? Can the utility of architecting …


Web Usability Guidelines For Air Force Knowledge Now Web Site, Gary A. Felax Mar 2005

Web Usability Guidelines For Air Force Knowledge Now Web Site, Gary A. Felax

Theses and Dissertations

The Department of Defense Net-Centric Data Strategies number one key attribute is to ensure data is visible, available, and usable when and where needed to accelerate decision-making. The Internet provides opportunities for quick and efficient disseminating of information to the public, distributing information throughout the Air Force, and accessing information from a variety of sources. In 2002, the Air Force CIO designated the Air Force Knowledge Now (AFKN) as the center of excellence for Knowledge Management. The site is a one-stop resource, providing access to a great depth and breadth of information. This study seeks to determine how usable and …


Accelerating Missile Threat Engagement Simulations Using Personal Computer Graphics Cards, Sean E. Jeffers Mar 2005

Accelerating Missile Threat Engagement Simulations Using Personal Computer Graphics Cards, Sean E. Jeffers

Theses and Dissertations

The 453rd Electronic Warfare Squadron supports on-going military operations by providing battlefield commanders with aircraft ingress and egress routes that minimize the risk of shoulder or ground-fired missile attacks on our aircraft. To determine these routes, the 453rd simulates engagements between ground-to-air missiles and allied aircraft to determine the probability of a successful attack. The simulations are computationally expensive, often requiring two-hours for a single 10-second missile engagement. Hundreds of simulations are needed to perform a complete risk assessment which includes evaluating the effectiveness of countermeasures such as flares, chaff, jammers, and missile warning systems. Thus, the need for faster …


Antecedents And Outcomes Of End User Computing Competence, David A. Case Mar 2003

Antecedents And Outcomes Of End User Computing Competence, David A. Case

Theses and Dissertations

The tremendous proliferation of end user computing (EUC) in the workplace over the past few decades is cause for concern in public and private organizations. Computer use has moved from individuals working with "dumb" terminals in centralized networks to individuals operating personal computers, just as powerful as yesterday's mainframe. The end user has had to evolve and will continue evolving as well; from someone with low level technical skills to someone with a high level of technical knowledge and information managerial skills. Because EUC continues growing more sophisticated, end users must not only maintain a level of competence, but prepare …