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Fractal Geometry Segmentation Of High Resolution Polarimetric Synthetic Aperture Radar Data, Joseph L. Brickey

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis investigated the potential of fractal dimension estimation for segmenting high resolution polarimetric synthetic aperture radar. The data used during this research were collected with the Advanced Detection Technology Sensor (ADTS) developed by Massachusetts Institute of Technology Lincoln Laboratory with Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency funding. ADTS is a fully polarimetric calibrated 35 GHz SAR with one foot impulse response. A method of applying the correlation dimension algorithm developed by Grassberger and Procaccia for estimating the dimension of time series data was implemented to estimate the correlation dimension of polarimetric SAR data. A threshold sensitivity study was performed to …

Interference Cancellation In Rf Signals Using Adaptive Array Techniques, Mark E. Brown

Theses and Dissertations

This study investigated the effectiveness of the Least Means Squared (LMS) algorithm against various types of common jammers. The LMS algorithm was implemented using the Block Oriented Systems Simulator (BOSS). The LMS algorithm was inserted at the output of a two element antenna array. The array was configured so as to have one-half wavelength spacing. A quadrature hybrid signal structure was used. The array was then tested against a barrage and sweep jammer. The barrage jammer testing consisted of varying each of the three available jammer parameters; power, frequency and angle of arrival individually. The sweep jammer testing consisted of …

Predicting The Performance Of Airborne Antennas In The Microwave Regime, David P. Carroll

Theses and Dissertations

This study investigated the application of a high-frequency model (Uniform Geometrical Theory of Diffraction) of electromagnetic sources mounted on a curved surface of a complex structure. In particular, the purpose of the study was to determine if the model could be used to predict the radiation patterns of cavity-backed spiral antennas mounted on aircraft fuselages so that the optimum locations for the antennas could be chosen during the aircraft design phase. A review of literature revealed a good deal of work in modeling communications, navigation, identification antennas (blade monopoles and aperture slots) mounted on a wide variety of aircraft fuselages …

Numerical Approximations Of The Green's Functions For A Theoretical Model Of An Aperture Fed Stacked-Patch Microstrip Antenna, Ronald E. Erwert

Theses and Dissertations

The numerical approximations of the Green's functions for a theoretical model of an aperture fed stacked patch microstrip antenna are presented. The Green's functions approximated are those developed by Nazar (AFIT Thesis GE-89D-37), Green's Functions for a Theoretical Model of an Aperture Fed Stacked-Patch Microstrip Antenna. Each complex valued Green's function was written as a function of the source-observer separation. The behavior of each Green's function was analyzed, and it was found that they could all be approximated by three separate functions. The approximating functions were either polynomials or rational functions composed of polynomials. One component could be approximated by …

Kalman Filter Tracking Of A Reflective Target Using Forward Looking Infrared Measurements And Laser Illumination, Roger J. Evans

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis investigates Kalman filter tracking of a missile hardbody, at a range of 2,000 kilometers, using forward looking infrared (FLIR) measurements and low-energy laser illumination of the missile hardbody. A missile reflectivity model provides realism in the simulation. The tracking scenario uses one filter, provided with FLIR measurements, to estimate the intensity centroid location of the missile's plume. A second, independent, filter estimates the center-of-mass of the missile hardbody. The center-of-mass measurements provided to this filter are computed from information gathered by scanning a low-energy laser along the first filter's estimate of the missile velocity vector. Single scans of …

Silicon Hybrid Wafer Scale Integration (Wsi) Used To Fabricate A Hilbert Transform Integrated Circuit Module, Daniel J. Gaughan

Theses and Dissertations

This research was performed in order to develop a superior processing schedule for fabricating Wafer-Scale Integration (WSI) circuit modules. This technology allows the design of circuitry that spans the entire surface of a silicon substrate wafer. The circuit element employed in this research was the Hilbert transform, a digital phase-shifting circuit. The transform was incorporated into a three Integrated Circuit (IC) die package that consisted of a mechanically supportive silicon wafer, three IC die, and a planarizing silicon wafer. The die were epoxied into this wafer using a Teflon block as a flat, and the combination was epoxied onto the …

Network Reduction Using Error Prediction, Michael V. Gilsdorf

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis investigates gradient descent learning algorithms for multi-layer feed forward neural networks. A technique is developed which uses error prediction to reduce the number of weights/nodes in a network. The research begins by studying the first and second order back-prop training algorithms along with their convergence properties. A network is reduced by making an estimate of the amount of error which would occur when a weight(s) is removed. This error estimate is then used to determine if a particular weight is essential to the operation of the network. If not, it is removed and the network retrained. The process …

Gabor Filters And Neural Networks For Segmentation Of Synthetic Aperture Radar Imagery, Albert P. L'Homme

Theses and Dissertations

This research investigates Gabor filters and artificial networks for autonomous segmentation of 1 foot by 1 foot) high resolution polarimetric synthetic aperture radar (SAR). Processing involved frequency correlation between the SAR imagery and biologically motivated Gabor functions. Methods for selecting the Gabor tuning parameters from the endless choices of frequency, rotation, standard deviation and bandwidth are discussed. Using these parameters, resulting Gabor correlation images were reduced in speckle, and more detailed. This research used cosine Gabor functions and operated on single polarization HH magnitude data. Following selection of the appropriate Gabor features, multiple Gabor representations were generated and converted for …

Design And Fabrication Of An Implantable Cortical Semiconductor Integrated Circuit Electrode Array, Pierre K. Lefevre

Theses and Dissertations

This research furthered the processing steps of the AFIT 16 by 16 implantable cortical semiconductor integrated circuit electrode array, or brain chip. The areas of interest include the brain chip electron ics, metallization, ionic permeation, and implantation. The electronics and metallization are heavily covered. A high speed, single clock divide-by-two circuit was modified with a reset transistor and cascaded to form a ripple counter. This device had stable operation at specific source voltage and clock voltage and frequency. A 7-stage inverter with 10 unmodified divide-by-two circuits cascaded operated between 1.7 and 8 volts, and between 39 Khz and 1 Mhz, …

Analysis Of Visual Illusions Using Gabor Filters, Richard A. Oberndorf

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis has demonstrated the correctness of using spatial filters in the analysis of various visual illusions; the specific form of filter has been derived from a Gabor equation model of simple cell response on the visual cortex. The Gabor Low Pass Filter (GLPF) applied to these anomalies was derived from proposals made that simple cell response on the visual cortex may be modeled by a set of equations originally proposed by Gabor in the 1940's. Based upon the extension of these equations into two dimensions, a GLPF process was applied to computer-generated black and white illusions (the Kanizsa Triangle, …

Pulsed Compression For Aerosol Ranging With Coherent Pulse-Doppler Lidar Systems, Jerry L. Rogers

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis provides a thorough review of conventional matched filter radar theory as it applies to aerosol sensing lidar. Basic matched-filter radar theory and the complex, dense aerosol target model eventually lead to a general derivation of the matched-filter radar receiver response to a dense aerosol target environment. The matched-filter response is obtained in terms of a two dimensional convolution of the target scattering function and the radar ambiguity function. The range and radial velocity resolution of various radar signals were compared using the matched-filter radar receiver and scattering function models. Pulse compression radar signals were compared to the simple …

The Radar Range Equation For The Detection Of Steady Targets In Weibull Clutter, Leon C. Rountree

Theses and Dissertations

In this thesis, the detection characteristics of a steady target immersed in radar clutter characterized by returns statistically modeled according to a Weibull probability density function are developed. A detector model is developed by modifying an envelope detection scheme used to detect deterministic signals in Gaussian noise. By examining the statistics of the detector output under alternate hypotheses, an expression for the probability of detection (P sub d) is developed in terms of the probability of false alarm (P sub fa), the signal-to-clutter ratio (SCR), and the Weibull skewness parameter (b), which is a function of the type of terrain …

Characterization Of An Air-To-Air Optical Heterodyne Communication System, Rebecca N. Seeger

Theses and Dissertations

The primary goal of this research was to determine the feasibility of air-to-air optical communications systems using coherent detection in a turbulent environment. Secondary goals were to determine (1) the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) degradation due to turbulence and (2) the effect of varying the wavelength (1.5, 830, 904 nm), altitude (5000-12500 m), path length (40-160 km) and aperture side length (1-15 cm) on the turbulence affected SNR. The research was conducted under the following assumptions: (1) ideal transmitter and receiver, (2) equally sized, uniformly weighted, square transmitter and receiver apertures, (3) ideal tracking by the receiver, and (4) zero losses …

An Evaluation Of An Ada Implementation Of The Rete Algorithm For Embedded Flight Processors, F. Jesse Fanning

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this thesis was to design and develop an expert system shell in Ada, and to evaluate the shell's execution and size performance to determine its suitability for real-time operation on the MIL-STD-1750A embedded flight processor. The expert system shell uses the CLIPS/Ada inference engine, a forward-chaining Ada implementation of Rete. The expert system shell design is presented along with an overview of the target environment--the MIL-STD-1750A VHSIC Avionic Modular Processor (VAMP) running under the Ada Avionics Real-Time Software (AARTS) Operating System. Theoretical and empirical complexity analyses of the inference engine are presented and discussed in view of …

Characterization Of Radar Signals Using Neural Networks, Daniel R. Zahirniak

Theses and Dissertations

Recent work concerning artificial neural networks has focused on decreasing network training times. Kernel Classifier networks, using radial basis functions (RBFs) as the kernel function, can be trained quickly with little performance degradation. Short training times are critical for systems which must adapt to changing environments. The function of Kernel Classifier networks is based on the principle that multivariate functions can be approximated via linear combinations of RBFs. RBFs can also perform probability density estimations, making classifications approximating a Baye's optimal descriminant. Methods used to set the RBF centers included matching the training data, Kohonen Training, K-Means Clustering and placement …

Model-Based Reasoning In The Detection Of Satellite Anomalies, Ralph W. Dries

Theses and Dissertations

Automatic fault detection and recovery would be a mandatory requirement for a satellite where some degree of autonomy is required. This thesis reviews some AI techniques used for the detection of satellite anomalies, and concludes that the model-based reasoning paradigm is best suited for automated on-board fault detection because it can cope with situations not necessarily programmed into the knowledge base. Using the Scheme language and its SCOOPS object oriented extension, development of software is described that models the pitch control channel in the attitude and velocity control subsystem of a typical geo-stationary communications satellite. This model is used by …

Deep Level Characterization Studies In Gaas, Gordhan R. Barevadia

Electrical & Computer Engineering Theses & Dissertations

The goal of this research was to investigate deep levels in different types of GaAs, a material for high power optically controlled bulk semiconductor switches. For low resistivity semiconductors, such as silicon doped GaAs material (p =0.054 Ω cm), deep level transient spectroscopy (DLTS) was used to characterize deep levels. Three deep levels (EL6, EL3, and EL2) have been detected in this material. For high resistivity semiconductors (p > 10⁴ Ω cm), difficulty of electrical carrier injection and of making a junction does not permit the use of DLTS technique. Therefore, an experimental set-up of the photo-induced current transient spectroscopy …

Landmark-Based Shape Recognition By A Modified Hopfield Neural Network, Kuowei Li

Theses

In this thesis, we introduce a new thethod to achieve partial shape recognition by means of a modified Hopfield neural network. To recognize partially visible object, we represent each object by a set of "landmarks." The landmarks of an object are points of interest relative to the object that have important shape attributes. Given a scene consisting of partially occluded objects, a model object in the scene is hypothesized by matching the landmarks of the model with those in the scene. A measure of similarity between two landmarks, one from a model and the other from the scene, is needed …

Landmark-Based Partial Shape Recognition By A Two-Stage Bam Neural Network, Xianjun Liu

Theses

In this thesis, we develop a Bitfirectional Associative Memory (BAM) based neural network to achieve partial shape recognition. To recognize objects which are partially occluded, we represent each object by a set of landmarks. The landmarks of an object are points of interest relative to the object that have important shape attributes. To achieve recognition, feature values (landmark values) of each model object are trained and stored in the network. Each memory cell is trained to store landmark values of a model object for all possible positions. Given a scene which may consist of several objects, landmarks in the scene …

Decomposing Non-Product Form Queuing Lattices Through Simulated Annealing, Jr-Chin Lin

Theses

A random, heuristic search called Simulated Annealing is adapted to decompose the state transition lattice of Non-Product Form Queuing Models. Simulated Annealing Algorithm has been successfully applied to a number of optimization problem such as The Traveling Salesman Problem, Graph Partionning, Physical Computer Design, VLSI Chip Design, Image Processing,... etc. It has the advantage over other gradient descent techniques to solve the combinatorial problems. The solution can escape from local minimum by adding Boltzmann Distribution Factor to the algorithm. Most lattice of non-product form queuing models can be decomposed into Solvable Subsets through this algorithm, and solvable subset is the …

Microengineered Thermal Conductivity Vacuum Pressure Sensor, Sanjay Talreja

Theses

This thesis details the first designs for microengineered vacuum pressure gauges based on silicon microelectronic technology. A monolithic polysilicon air-bridge structure (supported at both ends), within a Wheatstone bridge circuit, is used as a pressure sensor. The device utilizes the change of the thermal conductivity of a gas with ambient gas pressure. The doubly supported beam functions as a temperature sensitive resistor with a negative temperature coefficient of resistivity. Thermal change of resistance monitored as a measure of ambient pressure constitutes the basis of operation for this sensor. The sensor operates over the pressure ranging from 1 Torr to 10 …

Reflection And Transmission Through Achiral-Chiral Interface, Jia-Feng Wang

Theses

Electromagnetic wave propagation through an achiral-chiral interface is analyzed via Maxwell's equations using the appropriate boundary conditions. Experimental data for reflected power from achiral-chiral interface was found to be in qualitative agreement with the analytical results. In addition, coupled mode equations for chiral cladding waveguides were derived and solved for weak coupling. The experimental results of chiral cladding waveguides show that an average of about 0.2° per cm in polarization rotation occurred. These waveguides were fabricated by using spin-coating deposition. The sense of the rotation was found to be independent of the handness of the cladding chirality, which was predicted …

Modeling And Analysis Of Electrical Properties Of Polycrystalline Silicon Films, Yunsheng Wang

Theses

In recent years, investigations on polysilicon grain structures have shown that all polysilicon films by LPCVD which are most used in today's integrated circuits are columnar in structure. In this work, a square columnar grain structure has been considered to model electrical properties of polycrystalline silicon films instead of all previous one-dimensional grain structure models. By solving Poisson's equation with certain boundary conditions, we find that the barrier height at the corners of the grain is lower than that in the one-dimensional case. Assuming the trapping state energy level as constant, we also find that this level has a value …

Design And Simulation Of Submicron Microelectronic Vacuum Triodes, Hou-Jun Wang

Theses

This thesis presents the first design and detailed Simulation of submicron vacuum microelectronic triodes static characteristics. In this thesis a new 5-electrode active device is emphasized.

These devices have potentially important advantages over semiconductor devices. They can be used in extreme environments. The picosecond transit time for internal electron ballistics provide optimism for very fast devices applications. It appears reasonable to fabricate these devices using standard VLSI processing equipment. Further, the micron dimension makes " vacuum microelectronic chips" a reasonable goal.

Devices are characterized for static parameters including electron trajectories, electric field contours, and voltage potential contours. The field emission …

A Quantization Noise Feedback Technique In Pyramid Image Coding, Zhili Lin

Theses

In communication, we frequently encounter the problem about the trans-mission rate and quantization noise. That is, small quantization noise or high fidelity definitely increases transmission rate, or large quantization noise or low fidelity might require low transmission rate. In our research, we developed a quantization noise feedback technique, with which quantization noise can be reduced greatly at a given transmission rate. We applied this technique in pyramid image coding environment. An error analysis in frequency domain was carried out. Error estimation for pyramid image coding with and without quantization noise feedback was made. Finally, plenty of computer simulation confirms our …

Max/Min : A Novel Rank Order Based Filter Family, Raafat E. Kamel

Theses

In the early development of signal and image processing, linear filters were the primary tools. Their mathematical simplicity made them easy to design and implement. They also offered satisfactory performance in many applications. However, they show poor performance in other cases, such as image processing.

Nonlinear filtering offered a solution to these problems. Nonlinear filtering has undergone a lot development for a long time. Among the first known nonlinear filters was the median filter, which was proposed by Tukey. Median filter preserves signal or image details better compared to a linear filter. Later other nonlinear filters were developed, including median …

Optical Processors For Smart Structures, Barry G. Grossman, Howard Hou, Ramzi H. Nassar

Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Faculty Publications

For underwater fiber-optic sensor arrays containing hundreds of sensors as well as smart aerospace structures and skins using fiber-optic strain sensor arrays, the output of the sensors are optical signals that are a function of the measurand. We are also employing optical signals to energize smart-structure actuators (shape-memory alloys). An all-optical processor would thus seem to be logical choice for the processor since we must simultaneously process, in real time, multiple optical input (sensor) signals and generate multiple output (actuator) signals. In addition, with an all-optical processor, there would be no reduction in processor performance due to converting between optical …

Comparative Analysis Of Single And Double Dwell Acquisition Schemes, Gurinder Singh Ahluwalia

Theses

Single and double dwell pseudonoise (PN) acquisition systems are described, explained and analyzed. These systems are designed to synchronize a locally generated PN signal with a received PN signal of unknown phase in the presence of noise. The mean, variance and an approximate probability distribution function (PDF) of the acquisition time for the single and double dwell PN acquisition schemes is developed. Intuitively, the double dwell acquisition system should be superior to the single dwell system because of the ability to quickly dismiss incorrect cells and further verify probable hits. It is shown analytically that this is in fact true …

Hardware Algorithms For Computing Transcendental Functions, Xin-Pei Gong

Theses

The COordinate Rotation Digital Computer(CORDIC) is a special-purpose digital computer for real-time airborne computation. In this computer, a unique computing technique is employed which is especially suitable for solving the trigonometric relationships. A new computing technique based on the CORDIC algorithm is developed to reduce the number of iterations by one half for each input angle. This improvement is accomplished. by scanning multiple bits of the input angle(in our case, two) at a time. The CORDIC equations are rewritten accordingly and a hardware implementation structure is also presented. The results of the software simulation of the new algorithm are as …

Decomposing Non-Product Form Queuing Lattices Through Genetic Algorithm, Wei Han

Theses

In this paper, a Genetic Algorithm technique is adapted to decompose the state transition lattice of a class of non-product form queueing models. Genetic Algorithms are search algorithms based upon the mechanics of natural genetics. They combine a survival-of-the-fittest among string structures with a structured, yet randomized, information exchange to form a search algorithm with some of the innovative flair of human search. While randomized, genetic algorithms are no simple random walk. They efficiently exploit historical information to speculate on new search points with improved performance. Here genetic algorithms is applied to a non-product queueing lattices optimization problem. Only the …