Digital Commons Network^™

Design And Implementation Of Tools To Increase User Control And Knowledge Elicitation In A Virtual Battlespace, Jim J. Rohrer

Theses and Dissertations

AFIT's Synthetic BattleBridge is an immersive command observatory for viewing large-area activity within a virtual environment. Three basic areas for improvement are addressed: (1) an improved, immersive, user interface, (2) direct control of atmospheric effects, and (3) improved knowledge elicitation by means of remote viewers, a new space scope, and an enhanced RADAR scope. These requirements are analyzed and implemented. Some functionality was lost but the results show a general improvement of environmental control and knowledge elicitation.

Extracting Parallelism At Compile-Time Through Dependence Analysis & Cloning Techniques In An Object-Based Paradigm, Binoy Ravindran

Theses

The construct of Abstract Data Type (ADT) modules and Abstract Data Object (ADO) modules supported by most object-based languages are a great source for developing reusable code. To improve the run time performance of such object-based programs, we consider the asynchronous remote procedure call (ARPC) model of parallel execution, in which concurrency is achieved by having the caller and the callee (which are module instances) running on different processors. Frequently, an ADT module is needed simultaneously by other modules, thus causing contention. To resolve this, we clone the module instance in demand and distribute the copies across different processors, so …

Electronic Document Distribution: Design Of The Anonymous Ftp Langley Technical Report Server, Michael L. Nelson, Gretchen L. Gottlich

Computer Science Faculty Publications

An experimental electronic dissemination project, the Langley Technical Report Server (LTRS), has been undertaken to determine the feasibility of delivering Langley technical reports directly to the desktops of researchers worldwide. During the first six months, over 4700 accesses occurred and over 2400 technical reports were distributed. This usage indicates the high level of interest that researchers have in performing literature searches and retrieving technical reports at their desktops. The initial system was developed with existing resources and technology. The reports are stored as files on an inexpensive UNIX workstation and are accessible over the Internet. This project will serve as …

A Distributed Interactive Simulation Based Remote Debriefing Tool For Red Flag Missions, Michael T. Gardner

Theses and Dissertations

Air Force leaders, recognizing the need for improved training following the Vietnam War, implemented the Red Flag exercises at Nellis AFB. At the heart of this training is the Red Flag Measurement and Debriefing System RFMDS and its capability to accurately reconstruct the elements of an intense exercise fought over the deserts of Nevada. This thesis uses the technology of distributed interactive simulation DIS to transmit aircraft telemetry onto computer networks, allowing the monitoring and analysis of live Red Flag missions at any site with compatible communications equipment and thesis software. The use of standard DIS protocols enables simulators to …

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.

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 …

Developing Realistic Behaviors In Adversarial Agents For Air Combat Simulation, George S. Hluck

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis describes an initial effort into creating a rule-based, reactive system for air combat simulation. This program uses the object-oriented extension of the expert system tool known as the C Language Integrated Production System CLIPS. This effort rose out of the need for creating and integrating semi-autonomous forces for the Distributed Interactive System DIS. This thesis describes the basic maneuvers a pilot uses in present air-to-air combat. The methodology includes the design decisions, knowledge-base development, phase architecture, and maneuver architecture development. The actual implementation of the selected architecture is described. This thesis also discusses the results of experimental runs …

Developing Realistic Cooperative Behaviors For Autonomous Agents In Air Combat Simulation, Dean P. Hipwell

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis investigated, developed and implemented cooperative decision-making behaviors in an air combat simulation by using a knowledge-based system. Knowledge-based systems were well suited for this task because of built- in features such as inference engines and rule-based constructs. This thesis addresses the specific problem of generating autonomous forces for inclusion in the Advanced Research Projects Agency Distributed Interactive Simulation program. Existing autonomous forces implementations lacked flexibility, realistic behaviors, real-time planning and other features. The simulation system in this thesis addresses the problem of realistic behavior by modeling pilot decision processes rather than aircraft platforms. The system is based on …

Performance Measurement Of Three Commercial Object-Oriented Database Management Systems, Timothy J. Halloran

Theses and Dissertations

The goal of this thesis was to study the performance of three commercial object-oriented database management systems. The commercial systems studied included Itasca, sold by Itasca Systems Incorporated Matisse, sold by Intellitic International and ObjectStore, sold by Object Design Incorporated. To examine performance of these database management systems two benchmarks were run the OO1 benchmark and a new AFIT Simulation benchmark. The OO1 benchmark was designed, implemented, and run on all three database management systems. ObjectStore was our top performer on all configurations of the OO1 benchmark. The AFIT Simulation benchmark was designed, implemented, and run on the ObjectStore database …

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.

Real Time Texture Analysis From The Parallel Computation Of Fractal Dimension, Halford I. Hayes Jr.

Computer Science Theses & Dissertations

The discrimination of texture features in an image has many important applications: from detection of man-made objects from a surrounding natural background to identification of cancerous from healthy tissue in X-ray imagery. The fractal structure in an image has been used with success to identify these features but requires unacceptable processing time if executed sequentially.

The paradigm of data parallelism is presented as the best method for applying massively parallel processing to the computation of fractal dimension of an image. With this methodology, and sufficient numbers of processors, this computation can reach real time speeds necessary for many applications. A …

Ua66/3/2 Computer Science Alumni Newsletter, Vol. 8, Wku Computer Science

WKU Administration Documents

Newsletter created by WKU Computer Science for alumni of the program. This issue includes list of faculty research and scholarly activity and results of alumni survey.

Object-Oriented Analysis, Design, And Implementation Of The Saber Wargame, David S. Douglass

Theses and Dissertations

Saber is a two-sided, air and land war game that simulates decisions made of commanders at the theater-level. It is being developed by the Air Force Institute of Technology for the Air Force Wargaming center at Maxwell AFB, Alabama. Saber models conventional, chemical, and nuclear warfare between aggregated air and land forces. It also portrays the effects of logistics, satellites, weather, terrain, and intelligence which add to the realism of the Saber war game. The Saber war game has three main components, the preprocessor. which is responsible for scenario development and pregame activities, the simulation. the guts of the war …

Solution To A Multicriteria Aircraft Routing Problem Utilizing Parallel Search Techniques, James J. Grimm Iii

Theses and Dissertations

Pilots select routes based on factors such as threats, fuel, time on target, distance, and refueling points. This is a time consuming task. This thesis presents the software engineering synthesis of a software tool, based on a parallelized A* search algorithm, to select routes. For simplicity only threats and distance are used. A centralized open list is used with one processor managing the list while the other processors perform the node expansions. This decomposition result in a dynamically load balanced system. A number of parameters are changed to study their impact on the execution time. The use of a branch …

Management Of Simnet And Dis Entities In Synthetic Environments, Steven M. Sheasby

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis describes the techniques used to create an object manager utilized by an application program during a distributed interactive simulation. This work is currently utilized by a number of AFIT synthetic environment applications for use during a SIMNET exercise. An extensive review of distributed interactive simulations is presented. A discussion of the current distributed simulation protocol, SIMNET, is presented along with the future protocol standard, DIS. Finally, a brief discussion on dead reckoning and its importance during an exercise is presented. An analysis of the SIMNET and DIS protocols provided the basis for the creation of a series of …

Etann Hardware Implementation For Radar Emitter Identification, James B. Calvin Jr.

Theses and Dissertations

This study investigated classification of 30 radar emitters with 16 signal features using Intel's 80170NX chip, the Electronically Trainable Analog Neural Network (ETANN). Software tools were developed to characterize the ETANN sigmoidal transfer function for use in a custom simulator, known as Neural Graphics. Neural Graphics operates on a Silicon Graphics workstation. The Intel Neural Network Training System simulators were used in early experiments, but were found to be inefficient in training on data used in this research. Using a modified Neural Graphics simulator, single chip and multi-chip experiments were performed to provide benchmark results prior to performing chip-in-loop training. …

An Enhanced User Interface For The Saber Wargame, Donald R. Moore

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis is part of an on-going effort by the Air Force Institute of Technology to develop a computer-based, theater-level wargame for the Air Force Wargaming Center at Maxwell AFB, AL. The wargame, Saber, is intended to augment the education the students receive at the Air War College and the Air Command and Staff College in the employment of air and ground power. This thesis documents the integrated design and implementation of the two components of the Saber user interface: the pre-processor and the post-processor. Although previous thesis students designed and implemented substantial portions of the user interface, a fully …

A Comparison Of Text And Graphics As Effective User Interfaces In A Proposed Advanced Train Control System, Kenneth A. Organes

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This study tested the effectiveness of three screen interface formats for use in a proposed on-board computer to be used as part of an advanced train control system. One of the three formats contained only graphic depictions of the data, one contained only textual representations and the third had a mixture of graphic and textual data.

Twenty-eight subjects with varying railroad experience were recruited for the experiment. They were divided into three groups, each of which was presented with a simulation using one of the three interface types. The simulations depicted possible engine, track and train conditions that might be …

Ccis Networking - December 1991, Nova University

CCIS Networking / SCIS Networking magazines

No abstract provided.

Design And Implementation Of A Graphical User Interface And Database Management System For The Saber Wargame, Andrew M. Horton

Theses and Dissertations

Saber is a theater level, multi-sided, airpower employment computerized wargame that can be programmed to simulate any combat scenario. The model simulates theater level combat between air and land forces, and takes into account the effects of logistics, resupply, and both theater nuclear and chemical warfare. The major objective of the Saber model is to provide a suitable educational platform to allow users to apply basic, tactical employment concepts to multiple combat units, each having a specialized mission, and incorporating every branch of the armed services. This thesis documents a graphical user interface and data management system that has been …

A Case Study In Software Reuse: The Rntds Architecture, Barry J. Stevens

Computer Science Theses & Dissertations

It has been asserted that the most significant gains in software productivity will come from increased levels of software reuse. Some economic models for predicting savings through software reuse exist, but none are based on actual project experience. This paper surveys those models and presents the results of a case study, the Restructured Naval Tactical Data Systems (RNTDS) architecture, in the light of those models. According to the models, software reuse via the RNTDS architecture has enabled the production of fourteen major computer programs at five to twenty-one percent of the cost to create them without software reuse. Organizational characteristics …

Radar System Classification Using Neural Networks, David M. Cameron

Theses and Dissertations

This study investigated methods of improving the accuracy of neural networks in the classification of large numbers of classes. A literature search revealed that neural networks have been successful in the radar classification problem, and that many complex problems have been solved using systems of multiple neural networks. The experiments conducted were based on 32 classes of radar system data. The neural networks were modelled using a program called the Neural Graphics Analysis System. It was found that the accuracy of the individual neural networks could be increased by controlling the number of hidden nodes, the relative numbers of training …

An Animated Graphical Postprocessor For The Saber Wargame, Gary W. Klabunde

Theses and Dissertations

One of the most cost effective ways to learn and home the skills necessary to conduct and win a war is through the use of realistic computer simulations of conflict, or wargames. The Saber wargame was developed for just this purpose. Saber is a multisided, theater-level simulation developed by the Air Force Institute of Technology for the Air Force Wargaming Center. It models conventional, nuclear, and chemical warfare between aggregated air and ground forces. To aid in the realism, the effects of logistics, satellites, weather, and intelligence are represented. Saber provides an avenue for senior level joint service officers to …

A Hybrid Approach To Battlefield Parallel Discrete Event Simulation, Steven R. Soderholm

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis describes a method of parallelizing a battlefield discrete event simulation. The method combines elements of conservative time synchronization together with elements of optimistic computation and local rollback on a message passing hardware architecture. The battle simulation features aircraft moving in a battle area and launching missiles at enemy aircraft. Aircraft are randomly grouped into logical process (LPs), and a single LP is assigned to each processor. Aircraft state information is replicated across all LPs. Only the LP with the minimum next event time can execute safely. While one LP is executing safely all other LPs are precomputing their …

Transfer Of 4gl Application From Ingres To Oracle, Adnan Altunisik

Theses and Dissertations

This paper documents the transfer of 4GL applications from INGRES to ORACLE. As a result of a fast and conceptual change in computer languages, 4GLs were developed and evolved. These are programming support tools whose goal is, basically, to make the programs more efficient by reducing the number of instructions. Both ORACLE and INGRES database systems use 4GLs to develop applications. Their 4GL environments and their facilities for application development are investigated and explained in depth in this effort. The TWX application, which was originally implemented in INGRES by using its 4GL, is designed and reimplemented in ORACLE. This is …

An Automated Red Player For The Theater Warfare Exercise, Karl W. Kabanek

Theses and Dissertations

The Theater Warfare Exercise (TWX) is a two-sided, theater-level, decision-making exercise created, maintained and used by the personnel at the Air Force Wargaming Center. It is used to allow military officers to practice the decision-making process needed for the wartime employment of air power. An automated player was designed and a prototype implemented for the red (enemy) player using an expert system shell. The automated red player uses the TWX database that contains the data on the different units used in exercise. From the data the automated red player builds mission packages for the various types of missions required in …

Real-Time Flight Simulation And The Head-Mounted Display - An Inexpensive Approach To Military Pilot Training, Philip A. Platt

Theses and Dissertations

The integration of the low-cost head-mounted display (HMD), an inexpensive graphics workstation-based flight simulator, and a communications network was investigated to determine if the prototype of an inexpensive multi- aircraft Virtual Flight Simulator could be built. Previous research efforts have coupled HMD technology and flight simulation; however, the cost of these systems has been high. This thesis effort emphasized the use of joystick devices to emulate pilot control, the implementation of a fully enclosed virtual flight simulator, and the utilization of low-cost NTSC-based television technology to produce a prototype. The virtual flight simulator also contained a basic set of instruments …

In The Image Of Man: Reflections On Artificial Intelligence, Noreen L. Herzfeld

Theology Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Training For The Airland Battle With Modeling And Simulation On The Microcomputer, David Dean Holmes

Masters Theses

"This paper describes a methodology for modifying a combat training simulation model to include a comprehensive data structure and computer software, to allow the model to be implemented on a microcomputer. It begins by developing a topology for combat simulation models and proceeds to define a data structure suitable for describing military units and facilitating the varied aspects of the simulation. An eclectic approach to the development of the model and the implementing software is followed throughout. Appropriate aspects of a number of models are incorporated into a single model suitable for training military commanders and their staffs. PASCAL, a …

Toacs : An Interactive Computer Graphic Display Model Of A Theaterwide On-Line Air Combat Simulation, Herman William Blick

Masters Theses

"On-line interactive graphics is a very effective research tool for examining the concepts, components and design parameters of theater warfare involving multiple aircraft. The aim of the present research is to design an on-line computer system which utilizes interactive graphic displays to develop a dynamic, two-sided mathematical model of theaterwide tactical fighter combat operations. The model, called TOACS, is very useful in simulating and evaluating airborne defense systems and the problems common to this type of simulation — such as the formulation of battle strategy for the commitment and guidance of interceptors against threat aircraft -- as well as those …