Digital Commons Network^™

A Survey Of Microcomputers In Training Devices, Kenneth P. Kelly

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

This report surveys the use of microcomputers in existing and emerging training devices, with an emphasis on military training devices. Other major purposes of this report are to familiarize the training device designer with the capabilities of the microcomputer and present the designer with the set of issues to consider in determining if a microcomputer could be used in his particular trainer. After providing a description of training devices, this study addresses the definition and capabilities of current microcomputers. Current applications of training devices that utilize both single and multiple, or distributed, microprocessors are given. Next, an overview of the …

Design Considerations For A Digital Audio Equalizer, Timothy Young

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

The objective of this thesis is to consider a method for designing a digital audio equalizer. The primary design criteria is minimum audible frequency response error between a digital and a "reference" analog equalizer throughout the entire audio frequency range from 20 Hz to 20 Khz. The first step is to obtain a set of analog filters that suitably represent the reference equalization. From these filters, digital filter coefficients are generated using the bilinear transformation. Then, the digital filters are combined with anti-aliasing and D/A reconstruction filters and a zero-order hold to complete the design. Analysis of methods to minimize …

Simulation Of High Resolution Range And Separation Profiles Using A Stepped Frequency Radar Pulse, Howard. Fain

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

Single frequency pulse, linear frequency pulse, and stepped frequency pulse are a few of the radar pulse waveforms used to obtain target range information. Using a basic single frequency pulse limits the radar's range resolution by the pulse width, has excessive energy requirements, and is more vulnerable to jamming. With the use of frequency modulation the radar's range resolution can be greatly enhanced. This report deals with some of the issues involved in using stepped frequency pulse trains to obtain high resolution target range and range autocorrelation profiles. Radar returns from stepped frequency pulse trains may be coherently processed to …

Ipcl1- An Interactive Process Control Language, Richard A. Erlandson

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

This report documents a Process Control Language. It was written to provide an easy-to-use, user-friendly language to control a manufacturing-type process. It is not assumed the user is proficient or even familiar with any computer languages. The user should be able to grasp the simple set of commands available and begin writing user programs in a short period of time. Emphasis has been placed on error messages to inform the user of the type of error and enough information to correct it. The language was written in PDP-11 assembly language and run on a 11/34 computer in the Microcomputer Laboratory …

Fate Of Heavy Metals From Highway Runoff In Stormwater Management Systems, Harvey H. Harper

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

The movement and fate of heavy metal inputs (Cd, Zn, Mn, Cu, Al, Fe, Pb, Ni and Cr) from highway runoff were investigated in a three-year study on 1.3 hectare retention facility near the Maitland Interchange on Interstate 4, north of Orlando, Florida. Physical characteristics of the retention pond and surrounding watershed were defined and field instrumentation was installed. Stormwater samples were collected over a one-year period, representing a wide range of intensities and antecedent dry periods. Stormwater characteristics were compared with average retention pond water quality to determine removal efficiencies for heavy metals within the pond. A total of …

Fiber Optic Fluid Level Sensor, Navid Ghandeharioun

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

A fiber optic fluid level sensor based on light transmission attenuation due to bending losses is designed, built and tested.

Fibers formed with reverse curvatures of decreasing radii will induce and increasing amount of lower order mode light loss to the cladding as the light propagates along the step index multimode fiber. The sensor is arranged in the fluid in a vertical position such that the light travels along the fiber from the bottom or low fluid point to the top or full point. As the fluid covers increasing lengths of the exposed fiber, it strips even more power from …

Evaluation Of Percolation Ponds For Design And Operation, David A. Baar

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

Land application of domestic wastewater effluent by rapid rate infiltration (i.e., percolation ponds) is a very successful and cost-effective method for wastewater management. Municipal percolation pond systems have been successfully operated in the United States for about 100 years. The disposal concept depends on a relatively high rate of secondary wastewater effluent infiltration into the soil by rapid percolation, either vertically or horizontally, away from the application surface area. This study was accomplished to determine infiltration rates at two working percolation pond systems and the variability of these rates, to compare the operating results with the initial design, and to …

Survey Of Fiber Optic Connectors And Cables, John B. Ostlund

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

Today the world of fiber optics is bigger than ever. What is available to the engineer and the technician is now only apparent to the well informed. Not all engineers and technicians have a background or an education in the field of fiber optics. This report is intended to be an informative preliminary guide to those readers whose interest lies in the field of fiber optics.

The advantages of fiber optic systems are discussed and compared to conventional systems. Although a fiber optic system includes transmitters and receivers, this report concentrates primarily on fiber optic connectors and cables. It also …

Design Of A Gold Code Generator For Use In Code Division Multiple Access Communication System, Mark W. Young

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

A Gold code sequence generator suitable for use in a code division multiple access spread spectrum communication application is designed. A dual, single return shift register configuration is used to generate Gold code sequences. The code sequences are generated by the mod-2 addition of two linear maximal length pseudo-random noise codes, each of which corresponds to a sixth-order primitive polynomial. A computer model of the design is used to generate all 65 possible members of the Gold code sequence family. A tabulation of all sequences and their initial condition “keys” is provided, along with a designation as to which code …

A High Level Programming Language And Graphics Simulator For The Heathkit Et-18 Hero Robot, Kenneth J. Sizemore

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

As modern industrial robots are used more in industry, the need for qualified programmers and operators will increase. Inexpensive robots are available for use as training systems, but these robots typically lack the high level tools, such as high level, languages and graphics simulators, that are available for the industrial robots. A high level programming language and a graphics simulator were developed for one of these training robots, the Heath ET-18 Hero Robot. The programs were designed to be executed on an IBM Personal Computer. The software was developed as part of an overall system which also includes a compiler …

Fiber Optic Temperature Sensors For A Large Electric Power Generator, Daniel A. Lester

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

Fiber optic temperature sensors are excellent candidates for monitoring the temperature along the stator windings of a large electric power generator. Unlike thermocouple thermometers, they are immune to the effects of strong magnetic fields which are present in all power generators. Several different point and line sensors have been evaluated in their ability to resolve temperature and temperature distribution (respectively), as well as their compatibility with the generator environment. The sensor must function inside the generator for long periods of time (up to 25 years) without benefit of recalibration. This constraint has required us to devise methods by which the …

A Logic Simulator Interface, John D. Lofgren

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

A software interface between a firmware documentation system and a logic simulator named TEGAS-5¹ is described. The interface accepts PALASM² inputs for PAL files. The output is an ASCII file which defines the firmware parts in TEGAS-5 format. Modules are written in FORTRAN and command routines are written in DCL on VAX 11/780 machines. No system calls are required, so portability is maintained. Limitations include the inability to load two different programs in identical firmware parts on the same design, but this can be overcome.

¹GE/Calma Corporation trademark

²MMI Corporation trademark

An Evaluation Of Wheelchair Restraint Systems Used In The Transportation Of Disabled Persons, Robin L. Drespel

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

There has been a significant effort to provide disabled persons with increased independence and mobility. The federal government requires that transportation facilities be made accessible to the disabled, and the number of handicapped persons using these facilities is expected to increase significantly in the future. Restraint systems have been required for passenger cars since the 1960s, and considerable effort has been dedicated to increasing public awareness of the benefits of seat belt usage. Little effort has been devoted to the development of restraint systems for individuals who must use wheelchairs as vehicle seats. A survey was conducted in the Central …

A Computer Program To Design Reinforcement For Concrete Beams Subjected To Torsion, James E. Schwarz

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

A concrete beam is rarely subjected to pure torsion loading. However, in many design applications a beam is subjected to torsional loads in addition to bending and shear loading. The American Concrete Institute has developed a specification for the design of beams subjected to torsion. These specifications are found in ACI 318-83. In this research report, a computer program is presented, using these specifications, which will aid engineers in the design of reinforcement for concrete beams subjected to torsional loading. The provisions of the ACI 318-83 specification and their implementation into the computer program are presented. A sample problem is …

Evaluation Of A Binary Spatial Light Modulator Correlator Using Time-Domain Polarity Coincidence Correlation Theory, Thomas J. Posluszny

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

Time-domain Polarity Coincidence Correlators (PCC) have been studied for the possible extension of these theories to the spatial-domain in the context of an optical PCC. The existing body of knowledge has been found to be inadequate for direct application to the spatial-domain. However, by remodeling the type of clipper or hardlimiter used in the development of the existing theory from a signum (bipolar) clipper to a binary (unipolar) clipper, a new expression for the output signal-to-noise ratio of an optical PCC is developed. This modification is necessary to account for the unipolar nature of light intensity. Both the existing time-domain …

A Computer Graphics Head-Up Display For Air-To-Air And Air-To-Ground Flight Simulation, Daryl R. Mair

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

A computer graphics simulation of an aircraft Head-Up Display was designed using an RDS-3000 Ikonas Graphics Processor and a PDP-11/34 host computer system. The software control and display modules were accomplished using Ikonas microcode and Digital Equipment Corporation Fortran IV-PLUS. The Head-Up Display system consists of the basic flight data, which includes aerodynamic flight information, Roll/Pitch Ladder, and the Velocity Vector or Flight Path Marker. The system was designed for flexibility in modifications and evaluation of various weapons delivery systems. These will be adapted to specific needs by research scientists and engineers at the Visual Technology Research Simulator in Orlando, …

Suitability Of The Tms320 Digital Signal Processor In Digital Signal Processing Applications Requiring Multiple-Precision, Randall L. Walker

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

The TMS320 single-chip digital signal processor, produced by Texas Instruments, shows promise for a long life-cycle not only because it fills a technical need in the digital signal processing field; but because it also represents an excellent early design. Furthermore, Texas Instruments has provided thorough software and development support. However, this chip was not designed to support digital signal processing applications which require multiple-precision operations. In this paper, algorithms were developed and expressed in macros that provide the capability of modeling systems requiring multiple-precision operations. Finally, a performance envelope showing the system complexity versus sampling bandwidth limitations is provided to …

An Automated System For University Placement Center Interview Scheduling And Database Management, John C. Debo

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

As the University of Central Florida grows, the number of students using the placement center increases and the number of prospective employers conducting interviews also increases rapidly. The present system for scheduling interviews and maintaining records on students and employers is time and paperwork intensive, and is falling behind the load.

The system described in this paper is designed to do most of the interaction with students seeking interviews to aid the staff in scheduling the employers' interviewing days, and to do most of the record keeping of eligible students and prospective employers.

The several program modules are written in …

Dipstk-A Process Control Language, Charles C. Strange

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

Process control languages are generally complex and machine-oriented. Their use requires a high degree of skill, not only in process control knowledge, but also in the programming. On one extreme, control programs are written in assembler language. This is a time-consuming process and the high investment is tailored to a specific application. The resulting programs are difficult to communicate between the programmer and the user. On the other extreme, recent attempts have used high-level languages, i.e., FORTRAN, but these still require assembly-level supplements. In general, only the programmers know what the program does. Thus, a void exists between the programmer …

Survey Of Texture And Shading Techniques For Visual Flight Simulation, Walter R. Steiner

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

Shading and texturing are two techniques that flight simulators can take advantage of to increase scene realism. Shading imitates the effects of light reflecting from a surface. Texture refers to superimposing a pattern on a surface to give the illusion of extra detail and realism.

In this report, several techniques for shading and texturing are evaluated with respect to their applicability to visual flight simulators.

The image quality produced by shading and texturing is a function of computation cost. The Phong model is found to produce the most realistic shading, but is too computationally expensive. The Gouraud shading model improves …

Analysis And Modification Of An Electro-Oculometer, Munir. Ahmed

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

This paper describes an electro-oculometer and analyzes the electronic circuits required to process the signal. This electro-oculometer is a passive, two-channel device which detects the eye orientation using commercially available electrodes attached near the eyes. The electro-oculometer is composed of a special amplifier followed by a parabolic filter. The amplifier has high common mode rejection ratio, low drift, and low input bias current. Both DC and AC analyses of the electro-oculometer have been performed. The common mode rejection ratio (CMRR) of the input stage of the device is computed both at low and high frequencies. The experimental data were then …

A Projectile Subsystem In A Flight Simulation System, Robert F. Hodson

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

An overview of a flight simulation system is presented with a discussion of the system components and the interaction between functional units. The functions of each unit in the visual system are described. Specifically, the projectile subsystem portion of the visual system is presented in detail. A projectile subsystem executive structure is presented with capability of controlling projectile activation and deletion. Mathematical models for missiles with linear projected impact and proportional guidance are discussed. Ballistic projectile models with and without wind and drag considerations are developed. The mathematical equations for position and attitude calculations are given. Design considerations and implementation …

Uhf Frequency Synthesizer, Christopher W. Shenefelt

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

This thesis describes the design, implementation and testing of a UHF frequency synthesizer. The synthesizer is designed to provide a sine wave output programmable from 400 MHz to 500 MHz in 0.1 MHz increments. The synthesis technique utilized is Digital Coherent Indirect Synthesis. This technique uses phase locking to provide a range of stable output frequencies all derived from a single crystal reference. Component design and system level analysis are presented in detail.

Golden Opportunities For White Collar Productivity Improvements In Quality Assurance, Jane M. Algee

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

The efficient processing of defective or nonconforming hardware and paperwork is important to both defense contractors and the government. Management's concern of excessive costs in this area initiated an investigation into the actual activities, personnel, and computer systems involved in such processing. Applicable military specifications and an assortment of corporate and divisional procedures were reviewed to obtain baseline data. Additional information was sought through personal interviews and visits to the manufacturing areas. The activity flow was documented in block diagrams and time estimates and labor requirements were applied. The detailed labor estimates were input to a LOTUS123 spreadsheet and used …

Using N.2 To Model A Microprocessor System, Benjamin J. Patz

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

Due to the complexity of designing digital systems using VLSI parts, a tool for aiding in system level design specification and verification is needed. Functional level modeling languages and simulators provide that tool. An example of such a tool is the N.2 package of software produced by Endot Inc. and soon to be running on a VAX computer at the University of Central Florida. An overview of the N.2 system is presented in this paper with emphasis on the modeling language of N.2, ISP’. A Small Instruction set Computer (SIC), originally specified in HAPL, is designed with this software using …

Computerized Displacement Data Analysis In Laser Speckle Photography, Bijan Chitsaz

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

Laser speckle photography is an experimental technique which provides a non-contract means for direct measurement of in-plane displacements of objects subjected to different loading conditions. It requires a camera system to record two images of the object that are illuminated with laser light on a high resolution film. The double-exposure film (specklegram) is a permanent record of the displacement information of the object. Point-by-point analysis of the specklegram will yield the displacement data, but requires considerable time to complete the data reduction. An automated data analysis system is developed and described in this report. He-Ne laser and computer-controlled translation stages …

Thmfp Reduction In Potable Water Using Granular Activated Carbon With And Without Pre-Ozonation, Rebecca M. Ciliax

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

This study investigated the effectiveness of using granular activated carbon (GAC) to reduce trihalomethane formation potential (TIIMFP) in potable water . The City of Melbourne , Florida was chosen as a study site due to excessive levels of THM's in the finished water (greater than the 0.1 mg/1 standard). A pilot plant s tudy lasting 473 days included two GAC column systems : one receiving unozonated water, the other ozonated water. The water used in these experiments was obtained from Lake Washington, a highly colored surface water source which supplies Melbourne . The water applied to the GAC columns was …

Stability Of Steel Structures, Abbas K. Hosseini

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

In the design of an elastic structure, a major consideration is the overall stability of the system under axial load or a combination of an axial load and bending moment. In first-order analysis the effects of axial forces on the stiffness formulation and their influence on deformations of the members are usually neglected. If the axial forces are sufficiently large, a better indication of the distribution of the forces and moments in the structure is obtained by using a second-order analysis. In this type of analysis the moment equilibrium equations are based on the deformed shape of the structure. The …

Interfacing A Quadriplegic To A Computer Using The Electro-Ocumeter, Paul J. Godfrey

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this is to design an electro-oculometer system that paper will enable quadriplegics and other persons with severe physical disablities to use a computer. An electro-oculometer is a device that measures the position of a person's eyes. The vertical and horizontal movements of the eyes can be used to control an object on a computer screen. This, in turn, allows the user to operate a computer by eye motion alone. The requirements of the electro-oculometer system are specified and then a block diagram of the system is developed. Each block is then designed and component values are given. …

Experimental Software Package For Linear Programming, Deborah S. Fogal

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

A software package for linear programming has been developed using the revised simplex and dual simplex algorithms. The design of the program incorporates an experimental change in the dual simplex algorithm. If the entered problem is not primal feasible, a modified dual simplex algorithm is used. The traditional dual simplex method requires an initial dual feasible basis and maintains feasibility throughout its application. The experimental change is to ignore this criteria of dual feasibility. The objective then becomes to obtain primal feasibility. Once this is attained, the revised simplex algorithm is applied to obtain optimality, if this has not been …