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Articles 1 - 27 of 27
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Hybrid Micro-Electro-Mechanical Tunable Filter, Edward M. Ochoa
Hybrid Micro-Electro-Mechanical Tunable Filter, Edward M. Ochoa
Theses and Dissertations
While advantages such as good thermal stability and processing-chemical compatibilities exist for common monolithic-integrated micro-electro-mechanically tunable filters (MEM-TF) and MEM-tunable vertical cavity surface emitting lasers (MT-VCSEL), they often require full processing to determine device characteristics. Alternatively, the MEM actuators and the optical parts may be fabricated separately, then subsequently bonded. This "hybrid approach" potentially increases design flexibility. Since hybrid techniques allow integration of heterogeneous material systems, "best of breed" compound optoelectronic devices may be customized to enable materials groups to be optimized for tasks they are best suited. Thus, as a first step toward a hybrid (AlxGa1- …
The Effects Of Signal And Image Compression Of Sar Data On Change Detection Algorithms, Kiran Shenoy
The Effects Of Signal And Image Compression Of Sar Data On Change Detection Algorithms, Kiran Shenoy
Theses and Dissertations
With massive amounts of SAR imagery and data being collected, the need for effective compression techniques is growing. One of the most popular applications for remote sensing is change detection, which compares two geo-registered images for changes in the scene. While lossless compression is needed for signal compression, the same is not often required for image compression. In almost every case the compression ratios are much higher in lossy compression making them more appealing when bandwidth and storage becomes an issue. This research analyzes different types of compression techniques that are adapted for SAR imagery, and tests these techniques with …
Navigation Using Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexed Signals Of Opportunity, Jamie S. Velotta
Navigation Using Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexed Signals Of Opportunity, Jamie S. Velotta
Theses and Dissertations
The global positioning system (GPS) provides high-accuracy position measurements anywhere in the world. However, a limitation of this system is that a line of sight to multiple satellites is required; therefore, it is unsuitable to use indoors or in urban canyons. Also, in the presence of radio-frequency interference or jamming, GPS may be unavailable. Alternative methods of navigation and positioning are need to either compliment GPS as a backup or for use in areas unreachable by satellites. This research analyzes a feature-based correlation approach for determining reception differences between two Orthogonal Frequency Division receivers for the purpose of TDOA calculations. …
Energy-Efficient Querying Of Wireless Sensor Networks, Christopher R. Mann
Energy-Efficient Querying Of Wireless Sensor Networks, Christopher R. Mann
Theses and Dissertations
Due to the distributed nature of information collection in wireless sensor networks and the inherent limitations of the component devices, the ability to store, locate, and retrieve data and services with minimum energy expenditure is a critical network function. Additionally, effective search protocols must scale efficiently and consume a minimum of network energy and memory reserves. A novel search protocol, the Trajectory-based Selective Broadcast Query protocol, is proposed. An analytical model of the protocol is derived, and an optimization model is formulated. Based on the results of analysis and simulation, the protocol is shown to reduce the expected total network …
Radio Frequency Mems Switch Contact Metal Selection, Ronald A. Coutu Jr., Paul E. Kladitis, Robert L. Crane, Kevin D. Leedy
Radio Frequency Mems Switch Contact Metal Selection, Ronald A. Coutu Jr., Paul E. Kladitis, Robert L. Crane, Kevin D. Leedy
AFIT Patents
A method for selecting metal alloys as the electric contact materials for microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) metal contact switches. This method includes a review of alloy experience, consideration of equilibrium binary alloy phase diagrams, obtaining thin film material properties and, based on a suitable model, predicting contact electrical resistance performance. After determination of a candidate alloy material, MEMS switches are conceptualized, fabricated and tested to validate the alloy selection methodology. Minimum average contact resistance values of 1.17 and 1.87 ohms are achieved for micro-switches with gold (Au) and gold-platinum (Au-(6.3 at %)Pt) alloy contacts. In addition, `hot-switched` life cycle test results …
A Small-Scale 3d Imaging Platform For Algorithm Performance Evaluation, Steven A. James
A Small-Scale 3d Imaging Platform For Algorithm Performance Evaluation, Steven A. James
Theses and Dissertations
In recent years, world events have expedited the need for the design and application of rapidly deployable airborne surveillance systems in urban environments. Fast and effective use of the surveillance images requires accurate modeling of the terrain being surveyed. The process of accurately modeling buildings, landmarks, or other items of interest on the surface of the earth, within a short lead time, has proven to be a challenging task. One approach of high importance for countering this challenge and accurately reconstructing 3D objects is through the employment of airborne 3D image acquisition platforms. While developments in this arena have significantly …
Controller Design For Accurate Antenna Pointing Onboard A Spacecraft, Victor M. Barba
Controller Design For Accurate Antenna Pointing Onboard A Spacecraft, Victor M. Barba
Theses and Dissertations
Controller design for a spacecraft mounted flexible antenna is considered. The antenna plant model has a certain degree of uncertainty. Additionally, disturbances from the host spacecraft are transmitted to the antenna and need to be attenuated. The design concept explored herein entails feedforward control to slew the antenna. Feedback control is then used to compensate for plant uncertainty and to reject the disturbance signals. A tight control loop is designed to meet performance specifications while minimizing the control gains. Simulations are conducted to show that the integration of feedforward control action and feedback compensation produces better responses than the implementation …
Steganalysis Feature Improvement Using Expectation Maximization, Benjamin M. Rodriguez, Gilbert L. Peterson, Sos S. Agaian
Steganalysis Feature Improvement Using Expectation Maximization, Benjamin M. Rodriguez, Gilbert L. Peterson, Sos S. Agaian
Faculty Publications
No abstract provided.
Point Spread Function Characterization Of A Radially Displaced Scatterer Using Circular Synthetic Aperture Radar, Uttam K. Majumder
Point Spread Function Characterization Of A Radially Displaced Scatterer Using Circular Synthetic Aperture Radar, Uttam K. Majumder
Theses and Dissertations
This research effort investigated characterizing the point spread function (PSF) behavior of radially displaced point scatterers using circular synthetic aperture radar (CSAR). Thus far, research has been conducted to understand PSF of a scatterer located at the imaging scene center. An analytic closed-form solution has been derived assuming the scatterer is located at the origin of the CSAR imaging geometry. However, it is difficult to derive an analytic PSF solution for a scatterer that is radially displaced from the imaging scene center. Using the back projection image formation algorithm, PSF responses are generated at various point target locations. Consistent with …
Optical Tracking For Relative Positioning In Automated Aerial Refueling, James H. Spencer
Optical Tracking For Relative Positioning In Automated Aerial Refueling, James H. Spencer
Theses and Dissertations
An algorithm is designed to extract features from video of an air refueling tanker for use in determining the precise relative position of a receiver aircraft. The algorithm is based on receiving a known estimate of the tanker aircraft's position and attitude. The algorithm then uses a known feature model of the tanker to predict the location of those features on a video frame. A corner detector is used to extract features from the video. The measured corners are then associated with known features and tracked from frame to frame. For each frame, the associated features are used to calculate …
Optimal Sensor Threshold Control And The Weapon Operating Characteristic For Autonomous Search And Attack Munitions, Roland A. Rosario
Optimal Sensor Threshold Control And The Weapon Operating Characteristic For Autonomous Search And Attack Munitions, Roland A. Rosario
Theses and Dissertations
This Thesis considers the optimal employment of a wide area search munition in a battlespace where a target is known to be uniformly distributed among false targets which are Poisson distributed. The Poisson distribution's parameter is obtained from readily available battlespace intelligence. This work formulates and solves the optimal control problem for deriving the optimal sensor threshold schedule in order to maximize the probability of attacking the target during the battlespace sweep while constraining the probability of attacking a false target. The efficiency gained by optimally varying the sensor threshold is compared against the performance achieved with a static, optimum …
A Modular Mixed Signal Vlsi Design Approach For Digital Radar Applications, Brian M. Brakus
A Modular Mixed Signal Vlsi Design Approach For Digital Radar Applications, Brian M. Brakus
Theses and Dissertations
This study explores the idea of building a library of VHDL configurable components for use in digital radar applications. Configurable components allows a designer to choose which components he or she needs and configures those components for a specific application. By doing this, design time for ASICs and FPGAs is shortened because the components are already designed and tested. This idea is demonstrated with a configurable dynamic pipelinable fast fourier transform. Many FFT implementations exist, but this implementation is both configurable and dynamic. Pre-synthesis customization allows the FFT to be tailored to almost any DSP application, and the dynamic property …
Investigation Of Gate Current In Neutron Irradiated AlXGa1-XN/Gan Heterogeneous Field Effect Transistors Using Voltage And Temperature Dependence, Thomas E. Gray
Theses and Dissertations
The gate current of Al27Ga73N/GaN heterogeneous field effect transistors (HFETs) is investigated using current-voltage (IV) and current-temperature (IT) measurement demonstrating that trap assisted tunneling (TAT) is the primary current mechanism. A thermionic trap assisted tunneling (TTT) model is used with variables of Schottky barrier height, trap energy, donor density and trap density. This results in a sigma of 1.38x10-8 A for IT data measured between 85K and 290K and for IV data measured between 0.0 V and -4.0 V. High energy (>0.5 MeV) neutron irradiation confirms an increase of gate current with fluence. An …
Characterizationn Of Polumer-Based Mems Pyroelectic Infrared Detector, Mark E. Allard
Characterizationn Of Polumer-Based Mems Pyroelectic Infrared Detector, Mark E. Allard
Theses and Dissertations
AFRL/MLPJE had developed a novel thermal sensing material termed protein-impregnated-polymer (PIP). Thus far, a proof-of-concept has been demonstrated using a macro-sized pixel (0.64 mm2) as a bolometric detector. In an effort to better characterize this novel thermal sensing material, experimental data was used to determine figures of merit (FOMs) comparative to off-the-shelf thermal detectors. Microelectromechanical (MEMS) pixels were designed and used as the support structure for an inkjet-deposited droplet of the PIP. During the material characterization, two observations were made: PIP is a pyroelectric material, and the polymer (polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)) without the protein was found to be …
Multi-Dimensional Classification Algorithm For Automatic Modulation Recognition, Ouail Albairat
Multi-Dimensional Classification Algorithm For Automatic Modulation Recognition, Ouail Albairat
Theses and Dissertations
This thesis proposes an approach for modulation classification using existing features in a more efficient way. The Multi-Dimensional Classification Algorithm (MDCA) treats features extracted from signals of interest as elements with irrelevant identities, hence eliminating any dependence of the classifier on any particular feature. This design enables the use of any number of features, and the MDCA algorithm provides the capability to classify modulations in higher dimensions. The use of multiple features requires an equal number of data dimensions, and thus classification in as high a dimensional space as possible can improve final classification results. Finally, the MDCA algorithm uses …
Assessment Of Optical Turbulence Profiles Derived From Probabilistic Climatology, Brett W. Wisdom
Assessment Of Optical Turbulence Profiles Derived From Probabilistic Climatology, Brett W. Wisdom
Theses and Dissertations
This research effort assesses the performance of the High Energy Laser End-to-End Operational Simulation (HELEEOS) Climatological C2n optical turbulence model. Path-integrated C2n values of two HELEEOS optical turbulence pro les at 3 distinct operational altitudes are compared to values determined from measured thermosonde data. HELEEOS desert and mid-latitude sites are selected from the Extreme and Percentile Environmental Reference Tables (ExPERT) database for comparison to the thermosonde data. Statistical equivalence of the two datasets is determined through a Design of Experiments (DOE) factorial test to within 80% confidence. The HELEEOS profiles are shown to be equivalent to …
Thermally Activated, Variable Blazed Grating For Coherent Beam Steering, Matthew T. Johnson
Thermally Activated, Variable Blazed Grating For Coherent Beam Steering, Matthew T. Johnson
Theses and Dissertations
The ability to perform non-mechanical optical beam steering is of critical importance in laser communication and remote sensing; it is as vital as a phased-array antenna is for RADAR. Directed energy transmission and direction-selective reception increase performance and produce tactical advantage in DoD applications. However, specific geometric features of non-mechanical beam steering devices must be designed in proportion to the wavelength of the monochromatic light to be steered. Also, the ability to handle higher energies by reducing the energy per unit requires large areas of uniform properties on the micrometer scale. These challenges have been addressed in the past using …
Material Characterization Improvement In High Temperature Rectangle Waveguide Measurements, Eric A. Buschelman
Material Characterization Improvement In High Temperature Rectangle Waveguide Measurements, Eric A. Buschelman
Theses and Dissertations
This research presents a method by which electromagnetic characterization of materials in a partially filled waveguide can be accurately performed. Higher order modes are excited by the geometry, which are not accounted for in most algorithms. A correction must consider the power transmitted by higher-order modes. Modal solutions, using reference plane independence, for a single top air gap between the material sample and the waveguide wall, are also presented. Characterization is performed on samples of acrylic and rubberized magnetic radar absorbing material. Calculation of the complex permittivity and permeability of shielding material, within 10% of the true value, was achieved …
Sub-Surface Navigation Using Very-Low Frequency Electromagnetic Waves, Alan L. Harner
Sub-Surface Navigation Using Very-Low Frequency Electromagnetic Waves, Alan L. Harner
Theses and Dissertations
This research proposes two schemes utilizing very-low frequency (VLF) electromagnetic waves to navigate underground. The first scheme consists of using above-ground beacon transmitters to broadcast VLF signals to an underground mobile receiver which uses methods such as triangulation and trilateration to obtain a position solution. The second scheme consists of using above-ground reference receivers along with an underground mobile receiver to form time-difference- of-arrival measurements of incoming VLF signals of opportunity, such as lightning strike emissions, to calculate a position solution. The objective of this thesis is to develop positioning algorithms and use simulations as a tool to characterize the …
Biological Cell Identification By Integrating Micro-Fluidics, Electrical Impedance Spectroscopy And Stochastic Estimation, Karl R. Schwenn
Biological Cell Identification By Integrating Micro-Fluidics, Electrical Impedance Spectroscopy And Stochastic Estimation, Karl R. Schwenn
Theses and Dissertations
The integration of micro-fluidics, electrical impedance spectroscopy and stochastic estimation will lead to a device with enhanced detection capabilities. The goal of this thesis was to build a micro-fluidic electrical impedance measurement device that can be used in combination with a stochastic estimator to accurately identify living cells. A microdevice capable of making impedance measurements on individual living cells was designed and built using a series of standard microelectronic fabrication techniques. A microchannel was patterned in SU-8 photoresist between two gold microelectrodes on a two inch Pyrex 7740 wafer. The design process, the fabrication techniques for the microchannel, the fluid …
Automatic Target Recognition User Interface Tool, David A. Kerns
Automatic Target Recognition User Interface Tool, David A. Kerns
Theses and Dissertations
A computer tool to aid in selecting the best Automatic Target Recognition (ATR) algorithm is developed. The program considers many quantifiers, accepts user-defined parameters, allows for changes in the operational environment and presents results in a meaningful way. It is written for Microsoft Excel. An ATR algorithm assigns a class label to a recognized target. General designations can include "Friend" and "Foe." The error of designating "Friend" as "Foe" as well as "Foe" as "Friend" comes with a high cost. Studying each algorithm's error can minimize this cost. Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curves provide only information on the probabilities given …
Nonlinear Time-Variant Response In An Avalanche Photodiode Array Based Laser Detection And Ranging System, Michael D. Seal
Nonlinear Time-Variant Response In An Avalanche Photodiode Array Based Laser Detection And Ranging System, Michael D. Seal
Theses and Dissertations
This research effort identifies and models the nonlinear time-variant behavior exhibited by an avalanche photodiode (APD) array based Laser Ranging and Detection (LADAR) system. Based on the original Linear Time-Invariant (LTI) model, the evolution of error in the LADAR signal is examined sequentially from the outgoing pulse through signal digitization. This error evolution shows that the LTI model does not contain a mechanism for causing the observed signal deviations or the failure to meet the Cramer-Rao lower bound for range accuracy. A nonlinear time-variant model is developed based on the interactions of the avalanche photodiodes in the array with the …
Passive Geolocation Of Low Power Emitters In Urban Environments Using Tdoa, Myrna B. Montminy
Passive Geolocation Of Low Power Emitters In Urban Environments Using Tdoa, Myrna B. Montminy
Theses and Dissertations
Low-power devices are commonly used by the enemy to control Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), and as communications nodes for command and control. Quickly locating the source of these signals is difficult, especially in an urban environment where buildings and towers can cause interference. This research presents a geolocation system that combines several geolocation and error mitigation methods to locate an emitter in an urban environment. The proposed geolocation system uses a Time Difference of Arrival (TDOA) technique to estimate the location of the emitter of interest. Using sensors at known locations, TDOA estimates are obtained by cross-correlating the signal received …
Selecting Electricity Generation Sources In Remote Locations, Kelly E. Kwan
Selecting Electricity Generation Sources In Remote Locations, Kelly E. Kwan
Theses and Dissertations
The purpose of this research was to investigate the impact of using a decision analysis technique for the selection of an electrical generation system for remote locations. Specifically, this thesis sought to answer five research questions addressing the types of energy sources used in remote locations, the decision-making processes used to identify these sources, the types of constraints incorporated in such a process, other valued factors, and their level of importance in relation to each other. The research questions were answered through a comprehensive literature review and the 10-Step Value-Focused Thinking Process on a specific case study in the National …
Using Relocatable Bitstreams For Fault Tolerance, David P. Montminy
Using Relocatable Bitstreams For Fault Tolerance, David P. Montminy
Theses and Dissertations
This research develops a method for relocating reconfigurable modules on the Virtex-II (Pro) family of Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs). A bitstream translation program is developed which correctly changes the location of a partial bitstream that implements a module on the FPGA. To take advantage of relocatable modules, three fault-tolerance circuit designs are developed and tested. This circuit can operate through a fault by efficiently removing the faulty module and replacing it with a relocated module without faults. The FPGA can recover from faults at a known location, without the need for external intervention using an embedded fault recovery system. …
Stochastic Estimation And Control Of Queues Within A Computer Network, Nathan C. Stuckey
Stochastic Estimation And Control Of Queues Within A Computer Network, Nathan C. Stuckey
Theses and Dissertations
An extended Kalman filter is used to estimate size and packet arrival rate of network queues. These estimates are used by a LQG steady state linear perturbation PI controller to regulate queue size within a computer network. This paper presents the derivation of the transient queue behavior for a system with Poisson traffic and exponential service times. This result is then validated for ideal traffic using a network simulated in OPNET. A more complex OPNET model is then used to test the adequacy of the transient queue size model when non-Poisson traffic is combined. The extended Kalman filter theory is …
Modeling, Simulation, And Estimation Of Optical Turbulence, Byron P. Formwalt
Modeling, Simulation, And Estimation Of Optical Turbulence, Byron P. Formwalt
Theses and Dissertations
This dissertation documents three new contributions to simulation and modeling of optical turbulence. The first contribution is the formalization, optimization, and validation of a modeling technique called successively conditioned rendering (SCR). The SCR technique is empirically validated by comparing the statistical error of random phase screens generated with the technique. The second contribution is the derivation of the covariance delineation theorem, which provides theoretical bounds on the error associated with SCR. It is shown empirically that the theoretical bound may be used to predict relative algorithm performance. Therefore, the covariance delineation theorem is a powerful tool for optimizing SCR algorithms. …