Digital Commons Network^™

Paris: A Parallel Rsa-Prime Inspection Tool, Joseph R. White

Master's Theses

Modern-day computer security relies heavily on cryptography as a means to protect the data that we have become increasingly reliant on. As the Internet becomes more ubiquitous, methods of security must be better than ever. Validation tools can be leveraged to help increase our confidence and accountability for methods we employ to secure our systems.

Security validation, however, can be difficult and time-consuming. As our computational ability increases, calculations that were once considered “hard” due to length of computation, can now be done in minutes. We are constantly increasing the size of our keys and attempting to make computations harder …

Uav Formation Flight Utilizing A Low Cost, Open Source Configuration, Christian W. Lopez

Master's Theses

The control of multiple unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in a swarm or cooperative team scenario has been a topic of great interest for well over a decade, growing steadily with the advancements in UAV technologies. In the academic community, a majority of the studies conducted rely on simulation to test developed control strategies, with only a few institutions known to have nurtured the infrastructure required to propel multiple UAV control studies beyond simulation and into experimental testing. With the Cal Poly UAV FLOC Project, such an infrastructure was created, paving the way for future experimentation with multiple UAV control systems. …

Fatigue Testing And Data Analysis Of Welded Steel Cruciform Joints, Alina Shrestha

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

In this study, ABS Publication 115, “Guidance on Fatigue Assessment of Offshore Structures” is briefly reviewed. Emphasis is on the S-N curves based fatigue assessment approach of non-tubular joints, and both size and environment effects are also considered. Further, fatigue tests are performed to study the fatigue strength of load-carrying and non-load-carrying steel cruciform joints that represent typical joint types in marine structures. The experimental results are then compared against ABS fatigue assessment methods, based on nominal stress approach, which demonstrates a need for better fatigue evaluation parameter. A good fatigue parameter by definition should be consistent and should correlate …

A Mathematical Model For Quantifying System Evolvability Using Excess And Modularity, Morgan Wesley Parry Tackett

Theses and Dissertations

An important factor in system longevity is service-phase evolvability, which is defined as the ability of a system to physically transform from one configuration to a more desirable configuration while in service. These transformations may or may not be known during the design process, and may or may not be reversible. A study of 210 engineered systems was performed and found that system excess and modularity allow a system to evolve while in service. Building on these observations, this thesis introduces mathematical relationships that map a system's excess and modularity to that system's ability to evolve. These relationships are derived …

The Production And Characterization Of A Multi-Functional Fiber-Based Composite For Use In Protective Clothing, Jessica Green

All Dissertations

A fiber-based composite comprised of two functional components which work concurrently to adsorb toxic organic compounds was developed and characterized for use in chemical threat protective clothing. The first functional component, the sorptive layer, consists of a carded nonwoven loaded with adsorptive particles. In this layer, Capillary-Channeled PolymerTM (C-CPTM) fibers were used instead of traditional round fibers since the grooved nature of the C-CPTM fibers enables increased adsorptive particle loading. The species of adsorptive particles investigated, zeolite and modified PS, are considered as a replacement for more commonly used activated carbon spheres. The second functional component, the flow restrictive layer, …

A Cognitive Approach To Vision For A Mobile Robot, Paul Benjamin, Christopher Funk, Damian M. Lyons

Faculty Publications

We describe a cognitive vision system for a mobile robot. This system works in a manner similar to the human vision system, using saccadic, vergence and pursuit movements to extract information from visual input. At each fixation, the system builds a 3D model of a small region, combining information about distance, shape, texture and motion. These 3D models are embedded within an overall 3D model of the robot's environment. This approach turns the computer vision problem into a search problem, with the goal of constructing a physically realistic model of the entire environment. At each step, the vision system selects …

52nd Conference On Senior Engineering Design, College Of Engineering And Applied Sciences

Senior Engineering Design Conference

The 52nd Conference on Senior Engineering Design Projects was held on April 16,, 2013 at the College of Engineering and applied Sciences on the Parkview Campus of Western Michigan University. The college sponsors the conference to showcase the work of its graduating seniors, who are required to complete a capstone project that puts into practice what they have learned. Many of the projects are sponsored by business and industry.

The Influence Of Social Networking Technology In An Engineering Organization, Derrick Marcus Tepaske

EMSE Doctoral Projects

Computer facilitated Social Networking (SN) is becoming more prevalent in our society, both in our personal and professional lives. As its use grows, there is a desire to determine how it will impact an organization. If it can positively impact an organization then it is an initiative that could be embraced and leveraged for any number of business related activities from marketing to engineering. This project develops and implements a social networking treatment for an engineering organization in order to determine how it impacts the responsiveness and performance of the organization. The treatment includes an online tool, a training package, …

Communication Technology In The Military, Jordan Diehl

Senior Seminars

No abstract provided.

An Epistemological Inquiry Into The Incorporation Of Emergency Management Concept In The Homeland Security With A Post-Disaster Security Centric Focus, Mehmet Secilmis

Engineering Management & Systems Engineering Theses & Dissertations

The historical roots of the Emergency Management concept in the U.S. date back to 19th century. As disasters occurred, policies relating to disaster response have been developed, and many statuary provisions, including several Federal Disaster Relief Acts, conceptually established the framework of Emergency Management. In 1979, with the foundation of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), disaster relief efforts were finally institutionalized, and the federal government acknowledged that Emergency Management included mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery activities as abbreviated 'MPRR.'

However, after 2000, the U.S. experienced two milestone events - the September 11 terrorist attacks in 2001 and Hurricane Katrina …

Field Experience As The Centerpiece Of An Integrated Model For Stem Teacher Preparation, Leigh A. Van Den Kieboom, Jill Mcnew-Birren, Ellen Eckman, M. Barbara Silver-Thorn

Biomedical Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

The purpose of this study was to provide a descriptive account of one pathway for preparing high-quality STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) teachers for work in high-need urban schools. In this account, we discuss the supports that STEM majors need in learning how to think about the content that they know well, through an educational perspective that focuses on teaching and learning. We also describe the approach that we use that integrates content knowledge, pedagogical content knowledge, and three extensive teaching co-op experiences to facilitate the transition from successful STEM undergraduate students to effective teachers of STEM content. We …

An Advanced Computational Approach To System Of Systems Analysis & Architecting Using Agent-Based Behavioral Model, Cihan H. Dagli, Nil Ergin, David Lee Enke, Abhijit Gosavi, Ruwen Qin, John Colombi, George Rebovich, Kristin Giammarco, Paulette Acheson, Khaled Haris, Louis Pape Ii

Engineering Management and Systems Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

A major challenge to the successful planning and evolution of an acknowledged System of Systems (SoS) is the current lack of understanding of the impact that the presence or absence of a set of constituent systems has on the overall SoS capability. Since the candidate elements of a SoS are fully functioning, stand-alone Systems in their own right, they have goals and objectives of their own to satisfy, some of which may compete with those of the overarching SoS. These system-level concerns drive decisions to participate (or not) in the SoS. Individual systems typically must be requested to join the …

Mechanics Of Blast Loading On Post-Mortem Human And Surrogate Heads In The Study Of Traumatic Brain Injury (Tbi) Using Experimental And Computational Approaches, Shailesh Govind Ganpule

Department of Engineering Mechanics: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Blast induced neurotrauma (BINT) has been designated as the “signature injury” to warfighters in the recent military conflicts. The occurrence of traumatic brain injury (TBI) in blasts is controversial in the medical and scientific communities because the manifesting symptoms occur without visible injuries. Whether the primary blast waves alone can cause mechanical insult that is comparable to existing traumatic brain injury thresholds is still an open question, and this work is aimed to address this issue.

In the first part of this dissertation, mechanics of primary blast loading on Realistic Explosive Dummy (RED) head with and without helmets is studied …

Urgent Aeromedical Evacuation Network Capacity Planning, Scott C. Finkbeiner

Theses and Dissertations

Aeromedical Evacuation (AE) has been steadily utilized during Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. AE is a global enterprise. The current structure of AE is facing changes as forces scale down from operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. AE will, however, continue to be important in its domestic use in the continental USA (CONUS). Current practice is to pull aircraft (e.g. C-17, C-130 or KC-135) from their normal operations to meet Urgent and Priority patient needs when local alternatives are infeasible. An alternative to the current system would be having a centralized "bed-down" location for AE operations that would house …

Development Of Peptide Nanotube-Modified Biosensors For Gas-Phase Organophosphate Detection, Peter A . Baker

Theses and Dissertations

Vapor-phase detection of the model organophosphate malathion was achieved using enzymes encapsulated in peptide nanotubes and attached to gold screen-printed electrodes. Malathion was chosen as the model for this experiment because its binding mechanism with acetylcholinesterase (AChE) is identical to its more potent counterparts (such as sarin or VX), but it has an extremely low human toxicity, which makes it both practical and easy to use. The peptide nanotubes had horseradish peroxidase encapsulated inside and were coated with both acetylthiocholine (ASCh) and AChE on the outside. ASCh hydrolysis, which produces thiocholine, was catalyzed by the AChE. The thiocholine was then …

The Future Of Mobile Information And Communication Technology In Austere Environments: A Command And Control Technology Integration Perspective, James W. Harker

Theses and Dissertations

The information and communications technology (ICT) field is undergoing a period of tremendous and rapid change. As ICT develops more rapidly, the United States Air Force needs to remain responsive and adaptive to maintain military advantages. The need to integrate ICT developments sooner than our adversaries prompted an assessment of guidelines evaluating how well the AF is doctrinally positioned from a Command and Control perspective to support integration of emerging ICT. A Delphi Study was commissioned by the 689th CCW to forecast the future of mobile Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in austere environments. Using the ICT forecast data as …

An Evaluation Of The Organizational Structure Of Air Force Emergency Operations Centers Using Social Network Analysis And Design Structure Matrices, John W. Marshall

Theses and Dissertations

The terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001 demonstrated that the United States' emergency response capability, while robust, was disorganized in that organizations were not prepared or equipped to coordinate response actions across multiple agencies at a national level. This research investigates whether NIMS and the AFIMS structure is optimal for Air Force emergency managers, or whether, while maintaining NIMS compliance, there is a more effective way for the Air Force to organize its emergency management and response forces. Specifically this research focuses on the organization of the EOC and investigates whether shifting from the current structure of the ESFs to …

Biodegradation Of An Organophosphate Chemical Warfare Agent Simulant By Activated Sludge With Varying Solid Retention Times, Allen K. Janeczko

Theses and Dissertations

This study examined the fate of malathion, a surrogate compound for VX studies, in bench-scale sequencing batch bioreactors being operated under varied solid retention times (SRTs) to simulate the activated sludge process in wastewater treatment facilities. Results show that a constant influent of the malathion will largely be removed. However, the heterotrophic bacteria undergo a stress response which temporarily inhibits malathion removal, the extent of which increases with increasing SRTs. After this stress response takes place, the activated sludge is able to resume a high degree of malathion removal, even with increased influent concentration; however, this is done so at …

Using Geographic Information Systems To Evaluate Energy Initiatives In Austere Environments, D. Jason Murley

Theses and Dissertations

Organizations that operate in austere environments at the end of long logistics chains face significant energy challenges which often represent financial and security vulnerabilities. Reducing fuel consumption in these operations causes a proportional fuel reduction throughout the supply system as the need for transportation of fuel is reduced. Accordingly, the total fuel reduction across the supply system should be considered to capture the fully burdened cost savings when conducting economic analysis of energy reduction initiatives. This research examined the energy savings potential of improving the thermal properties of expeditionary shelters, and then evaluated these measures using a fully burdened cost …

Identifying System Patterns To Resolve Challenges In The Test And Evaluation Operation, Daniel K. Mutunga

Theses and Dissertations

This research focuses on identification and description of patterns used in Test and Evaluation (T&E) operations. Patterns are defined as named and well-known problem/solution pairs that can be applied in new contexts, with advice on how to apply it in a novel situations and discussion of its trade-offs, implementations, and variations. They have a well established and used in software engineering, but have only recently been considered for systems engineering. In the Department of Defense (DOD), T&E is required for all acquisitions prior to transitioning into operations. As identified and described in this thesis, each of the patterns fits in …

Development Of Autonomous Optimal Cooperative Control In Relay Rover Configured Small Unmanned Aerial Systems, Timothy J. Shuck

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis documents the research effort to develop, integrate and implement the system hardware and the software necessary to validate the Air Force Institute of Technology's theoretical advances in small unmanned aerial systems (SUAS) cooperative control. The end state objective of the research effort was to flight test an autonomous control algorithm on a communication relay unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) that was actively relaying data to and from a rover UAV. The relay UAV is one part of a SUAS designed to utilize cooperative control to extend the effective line-of-sight operating range for a rover UAV. An algorithm is integrated …

Fate Of Malathion In An Activated Sludge Municipal Wastewater Treatment System, Edward B. Walters

Theses and Dissertations

Organophosphate compounds are used as pesticides and in chemical warfare agents such as nerve agents. VX (O-ethyl S-[2-(diisopropylamino)ethyl] methylphosphonothioate) is one of the most toxic and environmentally persistent of these nerve agents. This research examined the fate of malathion, a pesticide and surrogate of VX (O-ethyl S-[2-(diisopropylamino)ethyl] methylphosphonothioate), in bench-scale activated sludge (AS) sequencing batch reactors. Sorption kinetics and sorption equilibrium isotherm experiments indicate that sorption to AS biomass was not a statistically important removal mechanism. However, approximately 90% of the initial 4.25 mg L-1 malathion concentration degraded primarily via heterotrophic activity.

Modeling Cyber Situational Awareness Through Data Fusion, Evan L. Raulerson

Theses and Dissertations

Cyber attacks are compromising networks faster than administrators can respond. Network defenders are unable to become oriented with these attacks, determine the potential impacts, and assess the damages in a timely manner. Since the observations of network sensors are normally disjointed, analysis of the data is overwhelming and time is not spent efficiently. Automation in defending cyber networks requires a level of reasoning for adequate response. Current automated systems are mostly limited to scripted responses. Better defense tools are required. This research develops a framework that aggregates data from heterogeneous network sensors. The collected data is correlated into a single …

Automatic Modulation Classification Of Common Communication And Pulse Compression Radar Waveforms Using Cyclic Features, John A . Hadjis

Theses and Dissertations

This research develops a feature-based MAP classification system and applies it to classify several common pulse compression radar and communication modulations. All signal parameters are treated as unknown to the classifier system except SNR and the signal carrier frequency. The features are derived from estimated duty cycle, cyclic spectral correlation, and cyclic cumulants. The modulations considered in this research are BPSK, QPSK, 16-QAM, 64-QAM, 8-PSK, and 16-PSK communication modulations, as well as Barker coded, Barker coded, Barker coded, Frank coded, Px49 coded, and LFM pulse compression modulations. Simulations show that average correct signal modulation type classification %C 90% is achieved …

Experimental Characterization Of The Structural Dynamics And Aero-Structural Sensitivity Of A Hawkmoth Wing Toward The Development Of Design Rules For Flapping Wing Micro Air Vehicles, Aaron G. Norris

Theses and Dissertations

A case is made for why the structures discipline must take on a more central role in the research and design of flapping-wing micro-air-vehicles, especially if research trends continue toward bio-inspired, insect-sized flexible wing designs. In making the case, the eigenstructure of the wing emerges as a key structural metric for consideration. But with virtually no structural dynamic data available for actual insect wings, both engineered and computational wing models that have been inspired by biological analogs have no structural truth models to which they can be anchored. An experimental framework is therefore developed herein for performing system identification testing …

High Frequency Magnetic Field Direction Finding Using Mgl-S8a B-Dot Sensors, Michael D. Archer

Theses and Dissertations

Aircraft based direction finding (DF) in the high frequency (HF) band is difficult due to the aircraft's size with respect to wavelength and limited azimuthal resolution. A B-dot sensor is useful for detection of the time varying magnetic field and offers improved integration into an aircraft. What the B-dot sensor gains in integration it gives up in sensitivity because it is designed for frequencies above 5 GHz. Design of an airborne HFDF array using Bdot sensors is based in maximizing the physical extent of the array and eliminating multiple main beams. The goals of this research are to complete a …

Cognitive Augmentation For Network Defense, James E. Emge

Theses and Dissertations

Traditionally, when a task is considered for automation it is a binary decision, either the task was completely automated or it remains manual. LOA is a departure from the tradition use of automation in cyber defense. When a task is automated, it removes the human administrator from the performance of the task, compromising their SA of the state of the network. When the administrator loses SA of the network performance and its current state, failure recovery time becomes much longer. This is because the administrators must orient themselves to the current state of the network at the time of failure …

Needed Actions Within Defense Acquisitions Based On A Forecast Of Future Mobile Information And Communications Technologies Deployed In Austere Environments, Andrew T. Soine

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this research was twofold. First, it developed a forecast of future mobile information and communications technologies (ICT) suitable for use by military forces in austere environments in 5-10, 10-20, and beyond 20 years. Secondly, it explored whether or not current acquisitions practices will be adequate to meet the needs of warfighters who depend on mobile ICT. These questions were explored by conducting utilization of the Delphi technique. Eight panelists from within the private sector conducted three rounds of iterative feedback. This research resulted in a technology forecast for the three timeframes aforementioned, and the potential impacts to …

Aerial Networking For The Implementation Of Cooperative Control On Small Unmanned Aerial Systems, Scott A . Songer

Theses and Dissertations

The employment of Small Unmanned Aerial Systems (SUAS) for reconnaissance and surveillance missions is a vital capability of the United States military. Cooperative control algorithms for SUAS can enable tactical multi-vehicle configurations for communications extension, intelligent navigation, and a multitude of other applications. Past research at AFIT has designed and simulated a cooperative rover-relay algorithm for extended communications and has investigated its implementation through various modem configurations. This research explores aerial networking options for implementing cooperative control and applies them to an actual SUAS. Using Commercial Off-The-Shelf (COTS) hardware, a system was designed and flight tested to implement the rover-relay …

Power Requirements For Bi-Harmonic Amplitude And Bias Modulation Control Of A Flapping Wing Micro Air Vehicle, Justin R. Carl

Theses and Dissertations

Flapping wing micro air vehicles (FWMAV) have been a growing field in the research of micro air vehicles, but little emphasis has been placed on control theory. Research is ongoing on how to power FWMAVs where mass is a major area of concern. However, there is little research on the power requirements for the controllers to manipulate the wings of a FWMAV. A novel control theory, BABM, allows two actuators to produce forces and moments in five of the FWMAV's six DOF. Several FWMAV prototypes were constructed and tested on a six-component balance. Data was collected for varying control parameters …