Digital Modulations Using The Universal Software Radio Peripheral,
2011
California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo
Digital Modulations Using The Universal Software Radio Peripheral, Daniel Keith Artis
Electrical Engineering
Software defined radios (SDRs) are versatile systems that integrate hardware and software to create a reprogrammable wireless system. Due to the versatility and hardware requirements of a SDR, they are typically expensive and not always affordable for educational institutions. GNU Radio is a free software package that allows users to do signal processing on any computer using python and C++. Using the Universal Software Radio Peripheral (USRP) board in conjunction with a standard personal computer (PC), a RF daughterboard, and the GNU Radio software, we can create a software defined radio that can transmit, receive, and process signals. Because the …
Laser Cursor,
2011
California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo
Laser Cursor, Michael Liman
Electrical Engineering
A user controls a cursor on a computer screen using a laser pointer. A camera picks up the laser pointer’s position and sends the data to the computer to move the cursor in the correct position.
Smooth Ternary Signaling For Deep-Submicron(Dsm) Buses,
2011
California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo
Smooth Ternary Signaling For Deep-Submicron(Dsm) Buses, Robert Endicott Hanson, Ryan Ian Fullerton
Electrical Engineering
This project demonstrates the error mitigating effects of using a three-level “smooth ternary” signal on a Deep-Submicron(DSM) bus with large inter-wire capacitance. An RC circuit used to simulate and exaggerate (for easier testing) the charging and discharging of the DSM bus. An encoder stage translates binary input data into a three-level signal before sending it to the bus. A decoder stage then translates the three-level signal back to binary that is ideally identical to the original signal. Our results show that the three-level signal has much cleaner transitions than a traditional binary signal. A few glitches that appeared when decoding …
Development Of A Cubesat Instrument For Microgravity Particle Damper Performance Analysis,
2011
California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
Development Of A Cubesat Instrument For Microgravity Particle Damper Performance Analysis, John Trevor Abel
Master's Theses
Spacecraft pointing accuracy and structural longevity requirements often necessitate auxiliary vibration dissipation mechanisms. However, temperature sensitivity and material degradation limit the effectiveness of traditional damping techniques in space. Robust particle damping technology offers a potential solution, driving the need for microgravity characterization. A 1U cubesat satellite presents a low cost, low risk platform for the acquisition of data needed for this evaluation, but severely restricts available mass, volume, power and bandwidth resources. This paper details the development of an instrument subject to these constraints that is capable of capturing high resolution frequency response measurements of highly nonlinear particle damper dynamics.
Project 308: Augmented Reality Mario Kart,
2011
California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo
Project 308: Augmented Reality Mario Kart, Joseph Abad, David Allender, Joryl Calizo, Ryan Gaspar, Gavin Lee
Computer Engineering
Mario Kart is a popular go-kart racing game developed by Nintendo. The premise of the game is simple: drive a go-kart along a racetrack and reach the finish line before the other players. What makes this game unique, however, is the inclusion of weapons, traps, and other projectiles that a player can use to gain an advantage in the race. We have taken on the challenge of not only recreating this amazing game, but using the art of Augmented Reality to fully immerse the player in the full experience. Rather than play the game on a television screen with a …
Wireless Communications And Cognitive Radio Transmissions Under Quality Of Service Constraints And Channel Uncertainty,
2011
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Wireless Communications And Cognitive Radio Transmissions Under Quality Of Service Constraints And Channel Uncertainty, Sami Akin
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research
In this thesis, we study wireless communications and cognitive radio transmissions under quality of service (QoS) constraints and channel uncertainty. Initially, we focus on a time-varying Rayleigh fading channel and assume that no prior channel knowledge is available at the transmitter and the receiver. We investigate the performance of pilot-assisted wireless transmission strategies. In particular, we analyze different channel estimation techniques, including single-pilot minimum mean-square-error (MMSE) estimation, and causal and noncausal Wiener filters, and analyze efficient resource allocation strategies. Subsequently, we study the training-based transmission and reception schemes over a priori unknown, Rayleigh fading relay channels in which the fading …
Investigation Of Vertical Handoff Techniques In Integrated Wlan/Cellular Networks And Performance Analysis Of Horizon Handoff In Wimax Networks,
2011
Morehead State University
Investigation Of Vertical Handoff Techniques In Integrated Wlan/Cellular Networks And Performance Analysis Of Horizon Handoff In Wimax Networks, Elaheh Arabmakki
Morehead State Theses and Dissertations
A thesis presented to the faculty of the College of Science and Technology at Morehead State University in partial fulfillment of the requirement for the Degree of Master of Science by Elaheh Arabmakki May 9, 2011.
Exploration Of Spatial Diversity In Multi-Antenna Wireless Communication Systems,
2011
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Exploration Of Spatial Diversity In Multi-Antenna Wireless Communication Systems, Shichuan Ma
Department of Computer Electronics and Engineering: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research
With increasing demand on wireless internet and personal multimedia, the data rate of wireless communications is expected to increase dramatically. Future wireless networks face challenges of supporting data rates higher than one gigabits per second. Among various technologies, multi-antennas, also known as multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO), are undoubtedly the most promising to enable higher data rates. By employing the extra degrees of freedom in the spatial domain, multi-antenna techniques enhance the wireless communication systems through array gain, spatial diversity, and spatial multiplexing. Although multi-antenna systems have been utilized for more than ten years, a thorough analysis of various aspects of multi-antenna …
Mechatronics Application To Solar Tracking,
2011
Purdue University
Mechatronics Application To Solar Tracking, Danny L. Rodriguez Jr
Purdue Polytechnic Directed Projects
The purpose of this was to design and implement a two-axis solar tracking system utilizing the National Instruments C-Rio real time controller. In order to accomplish this a prototype was modeled in CAD. This prototype used two 12 V DC motors to change a solar panel's rotation and tilt based on feedback data from three cadmium sulfide photoresistors. This configuration was chosen for its ability to create both a left-right rotational and an up/down tilt differential. In Addition this approach uses National Instruments Labview to control a solar tracking system. Using Labview add uniqueness to this project by adding a …
Computational Genomic Signatures And Metagenomics,
2011
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Computational Genomic Signatures And Metagenomics, Ozkan U. Nalbantoglu
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research
Mathematical characterizations of biological sequences form one of the main elements of bioinformatics. In this work, a class of DNA sequence characterization, namely computational genomics signatures, which capture global features of these sequences is used to address emerging computational biology challenges. Because of the species specificity and pervasiveness of genome signatures, it is possible to use these signatures to characterize and identify a genome or a taxonomic unit using a short genome fragment from that source. However, the identification accuracy is generally poor when the sequence model and the sequence distance measure are not selected carefully. We show that the …
Solving The Vehicle Re-Identification Problem By Using Neural Networks,
2011
Old Dominion University
Solving The Vehicle Re-Identification Problem By Using Neural Networks, Tanweer Rashid
Computational Modeling & Simulation Engineering Theses & Dissertations
Vehicle re-identification is the process by which vehicle attributes measured at one point on a road network are compared to vehicle attributes measured at another point in an effort to match vehicles without using any unique identifiers such as license plate numbers. A match is made if the two measurements are estimated to belong to the same vehicle. Vehicle attributes can be sensor readings such as loop induction signatures, or they can also be actual vehicle characteristics such as length, weight, number of axles, etc. This research makes use of vehicle length, travel time, axle spacing and axle weights for …
Direction Finding With Mutually Orthogonal Antennas,
2011
Air Force Institute of Technology
Direction Finding With Mutually Orthogonal Antennas, David F. Chick
Theses and Dissertations
Estimating the direction-of-arrival of incident electromagnetic plane waves (a.k.a. direction finding or DF) has typically been accomplished in the past using arrays of spatially separated antennas. The spatial separation produces a delay in each antenna's measured voltage due to the finite propagation time as the wave strikes each antenna in succession. In this thesis, we approach the problem differently by using three antennas that have been oriented in orthogonal directions but are co-located at the origin of a coordinate system. Being co-located, this mutually orthogonal arrangement of antennas cannot detect the propagation phase delay and must rely solely on the …
Blind Deconvolution Method Of Image Deblurring Using Convergence Of Variance,
2011
Air Force Institute of Technology
Blind Deconvolution Method Of Image Deblurring Using Convergence Of Variance, Quentin D. Macmanus
Theses and Dissertations
Images are used for both aerial and space imagery applications, including target detection and tracking. The current problem concerning objects in geosynchronous orbit is that they are dim and hard to resolve because of their distance. This work will further the combined effort of AFIT and AFRL to provide enhanced space situational awareness (SSA) and space surveillance. SSA is critical in a time when many countries possess the technology to put satellites into orbit. Enhanced imaging technology improves the Air Force's ability to see if foreign satellites or other space hardware are operating in the vicinity of our own assets …
Signals Of Opportunity Navigation Using Wi-Fi Signals,
2011
Air Force Institute of Technology
Signals Of Opportunity Navigation Using Wi-Fi Signals, Wilfred E. Noel
Theses and Dissertations
Since GPS is generally limited to areas with clear sky view, additional methods of navigation are currently being explored. This thesis explores navigation using Signals of Opportunity(SoOP). The signals chosen for evaluation in this thesis are the common Internet IEEE 802.11a/g signals, or Wi-Fi. This thesis presents SoOP navigation based on cross-correlations of received data from multiple Wi-Fi stations. It shows the effectiveness of the methods using collected Wi-Fi signals in a real-world environment. By using simple statistical representations of collected data in large groups, or windows, cross-correlation calculations can produce timing offsets between simulated stations. The timing offsets, or …
A Simple Non-Destructive Method For Characterizing Non-Dispersive, Low-Loss Dielectrics,
2011
Air Force Institute of Technology
A Simple Non-Destructive Method For Characterizing Non-Dispersive, Low-Loss Dielectrics, Thomas S. Olney
Theses and Dissertations
It is shown how permittivity can be extracted via time domain reflection data from a perfect electric conductor (PEC) backed planar sample of a low-loss, non-dispersive dielectric using two rectangular Ku-band waveguide aperture probes with attached PEC flange plates of the same geometry but different dimensions. Of critical importance is being able to identify the reflection from the edge of the flange plate in the parallel plate region created by the plate and the PEC backing of the sample. A signal processing method that takes advantage of physical insight into the geometry and superposition is developed for identifying this edge …
Simultaneous Range/Velocity Detection With An Ultra-Wideband Random Noise Radar Through Fully Digital Cross-Correlation In The Time Domain,
2011
Air Force Institute of Technology
Simultaneous Range/Velocity Detection With An Ultra-Wideband Random Noise Radar Through Fully Digital Cross-Correlation In The Time Domain, James R. Lievsay
Theses and Dissertations
This research effort examines the theory, application, and results of applying two-dimensional cross-correlation in the time domain to ultra-wideband (UWB) random noise waveforms for simultaneous range and velocity estimation. When applying common Doppler processing techniques to random noise waveforms for the purpose of velocity estimation, the velocity resolution degrades as the signal bandwidth or the target speed increase. To mitigate the degradation, the Doppler approximation is not utilized, and instead, wideband signal processing theory is applied in the time domain. The results show that by accurately interpolating each sample in the digitized reference signal, a target's velocity and range can …
Effects Of Cyclic Prefix Jamming Versus Noise Jamming In Ofdm Signals,
2011
Air Force Institute of Technology
Effects Of Cyclic Prefix Jamming Versus Noise Jamming In Ofdm Signals, Amber L. Scott
Theses and Dissertations
Signal jamming of an orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) signal is simulated in MATLAB. Two different means of jamming are used to see, which is a more efficient way to disrupt a signal using the same signal power. The first way is a basic additive white Gaussian noise (AWGN) jammer that equally jams the entire signal. The second way is an AWGN jammer that targets only the cyclic prefix (CP) of the signal. These two methods of jamming are simulated using different channel models and unknowns to get varying results. The three channel models used in the simulations are the no …
Bistatic 3d Electromagnetic Scattering From A Right-Angle Dihedral At Arbitrary Orientation And Position,
2011
Air Force Institute of Technology
Bistatic 3d Electromagnetic Scattering From A Right-Angle Dihedral At Arbitrary Orientation And Position, Andreas Z. Tempelis
Theses and Dissertations
A method is created to extend a bistatic 3D electromagnetic scattering solution for a dihedral at a given orientation and position to the case of arbitrary orientation and position. Results produced using this method are compared to shooting and bouncing rays (SBR) and method of moments (MoM) predictions, as well as measured data for applicable cases. The model in this thesis shows excellent agreement in magnitude and phase with SBR predictions. It also shows good agreement in magnitude with MoM predictions. Small phase differences between model and MoM data occur due to differences in the underlying scattering solution and the …
Characterization Of Noise Technology Radar Signal Detectability Using A Non-Cooperative Receiver,
2011
Air Force Institute of Technology
Characterization Of Noise Technology Radar Signal Detectability Using A Non-Cooperative Receiver, Daniel V. Atienza
Theses and Dissertations
As Noise Technology Radar (NTR) systems emerge, there is a need for non-cooperative, non-matched filter detection and exploitation. This work is based on that need and AFIT's Noise Network (NoNET) radar system. These signals are associated with Low Probability of Detection/ Intercept (LPD/LPI) signals. Quadrature Mirror Filter Banks (QMFB) has been effectively used for non-cooperatively detecting structured LPD/LPI signals and extracting various waveform characteristics. However, the QMFB process performance with unstructured NTR signals was challenging and motivated a need for a transformed QMFB. This transform was based on AFIT research by Gronholz and Mims (G-M), who used a multi-channel receiver …
Electric Guitar Amplifier With Digital Effects,
2011
California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo
Electric Guitar Amplifier With Digital Effects, Shawn Garrett
Computer Engineering
During the course of this project, the research and development of an electric guitar amplifier was undertaken. This amplifier is divided into three distinct sections. The power distribution circuitry provides the proper voltages to safely operate all necessary components. The DSP and digital effects stage provides processing and allows the user to add digital effects to the original guitar sound. The amplification stage increases the power of the input signal to drive a loudspeaker. Due to several setbacks throughout the course of this project, the overall amplifier was not completed. All three of the sections were developed to working functionality, …
