Digital Commons Network^™

Transforming Aggregate Object-Oriented Formal Specifications To Code, John A. Kissack

Theses and Dissertations

The feasibility of a transformational formal-based software engineering tool has been the focus of AFIT research for several years. Until now, the main research emphasis has been placed on the individual components that would comprise such a transformational system; therefore, this research demonstrates how a representative collection of aggregate objects would be transformed from specification to code. The research focused on critical integration issues associated with a formal-based software transformation system, such as the source specification, the problem space architecture, design architecture, design transforms, and target software transforms. Software is critical in today's Air Force, yet its specification, design, and …

Target Pose Estimation From Radar Data Using Adaptive Networks, Andrew W. Learn

Theses and Dissertations

his research investigates and extends recent work by J.C. Principe at the University of Florida in target pose estimation using adaptive networks. First, Principe's technique is successfully extended to estimate both azimuth and elevation using SAR images. A network trained and tested using MSTAR data yields mean errors of less than six degrees in azimuth and five degrees in elevation. Second, the technique is applied to high-range resolution radar (HRR) signatures. Ground target (azimuth only) testing yields mean errors of less than 11 degrees for most classes. Air target testing for networks trained and tested on the same aircraft class …

Extensible Multi-Agent System For Heterogeneous Database Association Rule Mining And Unification, Christopher G. Marks

Theses and Dissertations

The Probabilities, Expert System, Knowledge, and Inference (PESKI) System uses the data mining of association rules to fill incompleteness in the knowledge of an expert system. The rules are mined from transactional data sources and then incorporated using an existing link to PESKI. One method of providing a system that will easily allow new data sources to be added is using an information gathering agent-based system. This research first develops a methodology for designing and creating a multi-agent system. It then applies this methodology to design a platform independent means of data mining data sources of any format. The use …

Transforming Cobol Legacy Software To A Generic Imperative Model, Dina L. Moraes

Theses and Dissertations

Legacy COBOL code presents challenges for organizations wishing to increase their effectiveness and improve their efficiency. The systems that utilize this code are vital to enterprise operations, yet maintenance of code is expensive. This research presents an alternative that overcomes some of the problems of legacy COBOL code through the use of software reengineering techniques. This research develops a transformation system to convert COBOL code into a generic imperative model, recapturing the initial design and deciphering the requirements implemented by the legacy code, thereby making possible the documentation of legacy systems, design restructuring, and the re-design of a new, enhanced …

A Structured Approach To Software Tool Integration, Penelope A. Noe

Theses and Dissertations

As the trend towards commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) software continues, civilian companies and government agencies alike are battling with the challenge of making multiple software packages and applications work together. Many of these companies and agencies have attempted to integrate the software tools to form a coherent system that satisfies their goals, often without the use of a step by step approach guiding the effort. Many researchers in the field of software tool integration have determined the areas that need to be addressed when tools are integrated. Some researchers have developed and expanded upon a theoretical model for integration. This model …

Incorporating Scene Mosaics As Visual Indexes Into Uav Video Imagery Databases, Timothy I. Page

Theses and Dissertations

The rise of large digital video archives has strengthened the need for more efficient ways of indexing video files an accessing the information contained in them. Reconnaissance platforms, such as the Predator UAV, are contributing thousands of hours of video footage that require analysis, storage, and retrieval. A process is proposed for converting a video stream into a series of mosaic and selected still images that provide complete coverage of the original video. The video mosaic images can be utilized as visual indexes into a video database. In addition, mosaic images contain information from an entire sequence of video frames …

Generating Executable Code From Formal Specifications Of Primitive Objects, Travis W. Tankersley

Theses and Dissertations

The concept of developing a model for producing compilable and executable code from formal software specifications has long been a goal of software engineers. Previous research at the Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT) has been focused on specification and domain analysis. An analysis model is populated using specifications written in Z. Then, a set of preliminary design transforms refines the specification in the analysis model. This research bridges the gap between analysis and design, allowing source code to be produced from formal specifications of primitive objects using transformational programming. The contribution of this thesis is to transform the analysis …

An Efficient Gps Position Determination Algorithm, Carlos R. Colon

Theses and Dissertations

The use of detect, or closed-form solutions of the trilateration equations used to obtain the position fix in GPS receivers is investigated. The paper is concerned with the development of an efficient new position determination algorithm that uses the closed-form solution of the trilateration equations and works in the presence of pseudorange measurement noise and for an arbitrary number of satellites. in addition, an initial position guess is not required and good estimation performance is achieved even under high GDOP conditions. A two step GPS position determination algorithm which 1) entails the solution of a linear regression problem and, 2) …

Trade-Off Analysis Of Communications Capabilities Of Inter-Satellite Links, Andrew J. Feltman

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis designs, develops, and uses software Graphical User Interfaces (GUIs) to analyze the communications capabilities of Radio Frequency (RF) Inter-Satellite Links (ISLs). The GUIs are geared towards analyzing the proposed ISLs of the Discoverer II program, but are general enough to permit analysis of any free-space RF ISLs. Discoverer II is a demonstration program of low-earth orbiting satellites and is primarily focused on satellite-based sensor technology. This thesis shows RF ISLs can meet the program requirement to broadcast the sensor data back to CONUS in near-real-time. The GUIs operate in real-time and explore trade-offs in the communications capability by …

Computation Of Scattering From Bodies Of Revolution Using An Entire-Domain Basis Implementation Of The Moment Method, Arthur P. Ford Iv

Theses and Dissertations

Research into improved calibration targets for measurement of radar cross-section has created a need for the ability to accurately compute the scattering from perfectly conducting bodies of revolution. Common computational techniques use Moment Method codes that employ subdomain basis functions to expand the unknown current density. This approach has its shortcomings. Large numbers of basis functions are required, and increasing the number of basis functions to improve accuracy after an initial computation requires re-computation of previous results and lost processing time. This research involves using basis functions that have as their domain the entire length of the surface. Entire-domain basis …

Graphical User Interface And Microprocessor Control Enhancement Of A Pseudorandom Code Generator, John M. Kos

Theses and Dissertations

Modern digital communication techniques often require the generation of pseudorandom numbers or sequences. The ability to quickly and easily produce various codes such as maximal length codes, Gold codes, Jet Propulsion Laboratory ranging codes, syncopated codes, and non-linear codes in a laboratory environment is essential. This thesis addresses the issue of providing automated computer control to previously built, manually controlled hardware incorporating the Stanford Telecom STEL-1032 Pseudo-Random Number (PRN) Coder. By incorporating a microcontroller into existing hardware, the STEL-1032 can now be conveniently controlled from a MATLAB Graphical User Interface (GUI). The user can quickly create, save, and recall various …

A Constructive Induction Approach To Computer Immunology, Kelley J. Cardinale, Hugh M. O'Donnell

Theses and Dissertations

With the increasing birth rate of new viruses and the rise in interconnectivity and interoperability among computers, the burden of detecting and destroying computer viruses is severe. This research integrated four domains: computer virus detection, human immunology, computer immunology and an automated form of machine learning called constructive induction. First, a Computer Health System, based on the public health system, was defined to improve the 'global' approach to computer virus protection. Second, a computer immune model, based on the human immune system, was defined to improve the 'local' approach to virus detection. Third, the detection component of this computer immune …

Structural Emergence And The Collaborative Behavior Of Autonomous Nano-Satellites, Daniel J. Petrovich

Theses and Dissertations

The collaborative behavior of nano-satellites in a zero-gravity environment is explored, and satellite characteristics are proposed that maximize constellation robustness and minimize manufacturing costs. Behavioral algorithms are proposed to facilitate both swarming and structural formation and are validated using the Structural Emergence Simulator (STEMS) Graphical User Interface (GUl). A payload of multiple satellites is placed in a zero-gravity environment and released to re-configure autonomously into a pre-designed structure. Data transmission between satellites is not permitted during the swarming phase of the structure formation mission. A binary behavior algorithm is invented that produces a direction and magnitude solution to the satellite …

Gps Signal Offset Detection And Noise Strength Estimation In A Parallel Kalman Filter Algorithm, Barry J. Vanek

Theses and Dissertations

Measurements from Global Positioning System (GPS) satellites are subject to corruption by signal interference and induced offsets. This thesis presents two independent algorithms to ensure the navigation system remains uncorrupted by these possible GPS failures. The first is a parameter estimation algorithm that estimates the measurement noise variance of each satellite. A redundant measurement differencing (RMD) technique provides direct observability of the differenced white measurement noise samples. The variance of the noise process is estimated and provided to the second algorithm, a parallel Kalman filter structure, which then adapts to changes in the real-world measurement noise strength. The parallel Kalman …

Prestructuring Neural Networks Via Extended Dependency Analysis With Application To Pattern Classification, George G. Lendaris, Thaddeus T. Shannon, Martin Zwick

Complex Systems Faculty Publications and Presentations

We consider the problem of matching domain-specific statistical structure to neural-network (NN) architecture. In past work we have considered this problem in the function approximation context; here we consider the pattern classification context. General Systems Methodology tools for finding problem-domain structure suffer exponential scaling of computation with respect to the number of variables considered. Therefore we introduce the use of Extended Dependency Analysis (EDA), which scales only polynomially in the number of variables, for the desired analysis. Based on EDA, we demonstrate a number of NN pre-structuring techniques applicable for building neural classifiers. An example is provided in which EDA …

Can Kiva Accurately Simulate A Gas Turbine Combustor?, John R. Rice

Department of Computer Science Technical Reports

No abstract provided.

Visualizing Three-Dimensional Configuration Spaces For Mechanical Design, Elisha Sacks, Charles Pisula, Leo Joskowicz

Department of Computer Science Technical Reports

No abstract provided.

Least Squares Approximation Of Bezier Coefficients Provides Best Degree Reduction In The L 2-Norm, J. Peters, U Reif

Department of Computer Science Technical Reports

No abstract provided.

The Practitioner From Within: Revisiting The Virtues, Frances Grodzinsky

School of Computer Science & Engineering Faculty Publications

Traditionally the study of computer ethics involves taking students who are not philosophically trained, exposing them to action-guiding theories, presenting them with the codes of ethics of several companies and professional organizations and asking them to make ethical decisions in scenario-based cases. This approach is deliberately action-based and focuses on doing. "What would you do?" is the traditional question we ask our students. While this pedagogical methodology forces them to examine situations and argue from a particular point of view, it does little to influence their character. They see the utilitarian or deontologist as someone other than themselves. There seems …

Texture Analysis Of Sar Sea Ice Imagery Using Gray Level Co-Occurrence Matrices, Leen-Kiat Soh, Costas Tsatsoulis

School of Computing: Faculty Publications

This paper presents a preliminary study for mapping sea ice patterns (texture) with 100-m ERS-1 synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imagery. We used gray-level co-occurrence matrices (GLCM) to quantitatively evaluate textural parameters and representations and to determine which parameter values and representations are best for mapping sea ice texture. We conducted experiments on the quantization levels of the image and the displacement and orientation values of the GLCM by examining the effects textural descriptors such as entropy have in the representation of different sea ice textures. We showed that a complete gray-level representation of the image is not necessary for texture …

Segmentation Of Satellite Imagery Of Natural Scenes Using Data Mining, Leen-Kiat Soh, Costas Tsatsoulis

School of Computing: Faculty Publications

In this paper, we describe a segmentation technique that integrates traditional image processing algorithms with techniques adapted from knowledge discovery in databases (KDD) and data mining to analyze and segment unstructured satellite images of natural scenes. We have divided our segmentation task into three major steps. First, an initial segmentation is achieved using dynamic local thresholding, producing a set of regions. Then, spectral, spatial, and textural features for each region are generated from the thresholded image. Finally, given these features as attributes, an unsupervised machine learning methodology called conceptual clustering is used to cluster the regions found in the image …

The Window Distribution Of Idealized Tcp Congestion Avoidance With Variable Packet Loss, Archan Misra, Teunis J. Ott

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

This paper analyzes the stationary behavior of the TCP congestion window performing ideal congestion avoidance when the packet loss probability is not constant, but varies as a function of the window size. By neglecting the detailed window behavior during fast recovery, we are able to derive a Markov process that is then approximated by a continuous-time, continuous state space process. The stationary distribution of this process is analyzed and derived numerically and then extrapolated to obtain the stationary distribution of the TCP window. This numerical analysis enables us to predict the behavior of the TCP congestion window when interacting with …

An Interactive Tool For Refining Software Specifications From A Formal Domain Model, Gary L. Anderson

Theses and Dissertations

This work examines the process for refining a software specification from a formal object-oriented domain model. This process was implemented with interactive software to demonstrate the feasibility and benefits of automating what has been a tedious and often error-prone manual task. The refinement process operates within the framework of a larger Knowledge-Based Software Engineering system. A generic object-oriented representation is used to store a domain model, which allows the specification tool to access, select, and manipulate the required objects to form a customized specification. The specification is also stored as an object-oriented model, which in turn can be accessed by …

Analysis Of The Applicability Of Video Segmentation To Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Surveillance Video, Bradley L. Pyburn

Theses and Dissertations

The focus of this research is to determine if applying edge detection segmentation (proposed by Ramin Zabih, Justin Miller, and Kevin Mai) to Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) video footage can provide meaningful segments for database storage and retrieval. The edge detection segmentation algorithm is applied to fifty-four UAV video sequences containing visual effects such as abrupt camera changes, camera zooms, motion (rapid and gradual), and cloud cover while varying the frame rate from 5 fps to 30 fps. An analysis of the results is performed to compare actual versus expected outcomes, similar sequences, and scenes with motion, along with explaining …

Continuation-Passing Style Versus Direct Style: Choosing An Intermediate Representation For Higher-Order Applicative Languages, Paul Andrew Seale

Dissertations and Theses

This study analyzes the use of a continuation-passing style (CPS) intermediate representation versus a direct style intermediate representation in the compilation of a higher-order applicative language. The translator used accepts a program written in an ML-like language as input, and outputs a C program acceptable to a standard C compiler. The effects of the translator's simplification and higher-order function removal transformations on the intermediate language are the primary focus of the analysis. The machine code programs generated from both representations are also analyzed.

Initially, the programs under the direct style representation performed better than those that underwent the CPS transformation. …

Structure-Function Relationships In The Pulmonary Arterial Tree, Christopher A. Dawson, Gary S. Krenz, Kelly Lynn Karau, Steven Thomas Haworth, Christopher C. Hanger, John H. Linehan

Mathematics, Statistics and Computer Science Faculty Research and Publications

Knowledge of the relationship between structure and function of the normal pulmonary arterial tree is necessary for understanding normal pulmonary hemodynamics and the functional consequences of the vascular remodeling that accompanies pulmonary vascular diseases. In an effort to provide a means for relating the measurable vascular geometry and vessel mechanics data to the mean pressure-flow relationship and longitudinal pressure profile, we present a mathematical model of the pulmonary arterial tree. The model is based on the observation that the normal pulmonary arterial tree is a bifurcating tree in which the parent-to-daughter diameter ratios at a bifurcation and vessel distensibility are …

Record Matching To Improve Data Quality, Vassilios S. Verykios, Ahmed K. Elmagarmid, Elias N. Houstis

Department of Computer Science Technical Reports

No abstract provided.

Gas Turbine Engine Compressor- Combustor Dynamics Simulation Design, Sanford Fleeter, Elias N. Houstis, John R. Rice, Chem Zhou

Department of Computer Science Technical Reports

No abstract provided.

Parallelization For Image Processing Algorithms Based Chain And Mid-Crack Codes, Wai-Tak Wong

Dissertations

Freeman chain code is a widely-used description for a contour image. Another mid-crack code algorithm was proposed as a more precise method for image representation. We have developed a coding algorithm which is suitable to generate either chain code description or mid-crack code description by switching between two different tables. Since there is a strong urge to use parallel processing in image related problems, a parallel coding algorithm is implemented. This algorithm is developed on a pyramid architecture and a N cube architecture. Using link-list data structure and neighbor identification, the algorithm gains efficiency because no sorting or neighborhood pairing …

Iceberg Database System For The Graduate Advisors Of Computer And Information Science Department Of New Jersey Institute Of Technology, Tao Lin

Theses

Iceberg system is a departmental database system. It is built for the graduate advisors of the CIS department. It stores the graduate student's information, such as background, bridge requirement and transcript. The graduate advisors can process the student's records using the graphic user interface of Iceberg system.

Iceberg system is an example of the powerful Java language. We use the latest Java technologies to build a flexible system, which is easily extended. The system consists of Iceberg client, Iceberg server and Oracle data source. The Iceberg client is a web-based applet, which can be easily accessed using a browser. The …