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Human Performance Modeling: Analysis Of The Effects Of Manned-Unmanned Teaming On Pilot Workload And Mission Performance, Jinan M. Andrews

Theses and Dissertations

Due to the advent of autonomous technology coupled with the extreme expense of manned aircraft, the Department of Defense (DoD) has increased interest in developing affordable, expendable Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) to become autonomous wingmen for jet fighters in mosaic warfare. Like a mosaic that forms a whole picture out of smaller pieces, battlefield commanders can utilize disaggregated capabilities, such as Manned-Unmanned Teaming (MUM-T), to operate in contested environments. With a single pilot controlling both the UAVs and manned aircraft, it may be challenging for pilots to manage all systems should the system design not be conducive to a steady …

Applications Of Unmanned Aerial Systems (Uas): A Delphi Study Projecting Future Uas Missions And Relevant Challenges, Alberto Sigala, Brent T. Langhals

Faculty Publications

Over recent decades, the world has experienced a growing demand for and reliance upon unmanned aerial systems (UAS) to perform a broad spectrum of applications to include military operations such as surveillance/reconnaissance and strike/attack. As UAS technology matures and capabilities expand, especially with respect to increased autonomy, acquisition professionals and operational decision makers must determine how best to incorporate advanced capabilities into existing and emerging mission areas. This research seeks to predict which autonomous UAS capabilities are most likely to emerge over the next 20 years as well as the key challenges for implementation for each capability. Employing the Delphi …

Novel On-Chip Optical Modulator Designs, Mohamed Mahmoud Ibrahim Ibrahim Elsayed

Theses and Dissertations

The huge increments in data traffic and communication over the past few decades have pushed the conventional electronic communication systems to their physical limits in terms of data rate, bandwidth and capacity. The continuous shrinking of feature sizes, the increase in the microelectronic integrated circuits complexity, and the increasing demand for higher speeds and data rates have all stimulated seeking new technology to replace the currently present microelectronics industry rather than improving it. Photonics is one of the most likely candidates to answer this pursuit for its compatibility with the fiber optic industry, which has shown a great success in …

Illuminator, Volume 3, Issue 6, Batten College Of Engineering & Technology, Old Dominion University

College of Engineering & Technology Newsletter

February 2020 issue of Illuminator, a monthly publication of ODU's Batten College of Engineering and Technology.

"When The Enemy Drew Our Attention": Reconsidering Prior Restraint In The Context Of Dual Use Research Of Concern, Caine Caverly

William & Mary Bill of Rights Journal

Through 2016 and 2017, a team led by Canadian virologist David Evans, and funded by an American pharmaceutical company, attempted to synthesize the previously extinct horsepox virus. After just six months and an expenditure of $100,000, the research team was able to successfully construct the virus “using only commercially available information, technology and tools.” In January of 2018, the team went on to publish their information in an American-based journal, PLOS ONE.

The publication was controversial because it included a potential “blueprint” for the synthesis of a genetic strand in the same viral family as the highly lethal, albeit eradicated, …

Close Formation Flight Missions Using Vision-Based Position Detection System, Ashok Sarath Chandra Reddy Irigireddy

Doctoral Dissertations and Master's Theses

In this thesis, a formation flight architecture is described along with the implementation and evaluation of a state-of-the-art vision-based algorithm for solving the problem of estimating and tracking a leader vehicle within a close-formation configuration. A vision-based algorithm that uses Darknet architecture and a formation flight control law to track and follow a leader with desired clearance in forward, lateral directions are developed and implemented. The architecture is run on a flight computer that handles the process in real-time while integrating navigation sensors and a stereo camera. Numerical simulations along with indoor and outdoor actual flight tests demonstrate the capabilities …

Robust Maximum Flow Network Interdiction Problem, Darshan Rajesh Chauhan

Dissertations and Theses

In this thesis, a maximum flow-based network interdiction problem considering uncertainties in arc capacities and interdiction resource consumption is solved. The problem consists of two entities with opposing objectives: the goal of the adversary is to maximize the flow of illicit drugs through the network, while the goal of the interdictor is to minimize the maximum flow by completely interdicting arcs given a specified amount of resources. Lack of complete information about the usage patterns of the transportation network by the adversary results in an uncertain estimate of arc capacity and resources required for interdiction by the interdictor. To account …

Brain Disease Detection From Eegs: Comparing Spiking And Recurrent Neural Networks For Non-Stationary Time Series Classification, Hristo Stoev

Dissertations

Modeling non-stationary time series data is a difficult problem area in AI, due to the fact that the statistical properties of the data change as the time series progresses. This complicates the classification of non-stationary time series, which is a method used in the detection of brain diseases from EEGs. Various techniques have been developed in the field of deep learning for tackling this problem, with recurrent neural networks (RNN) approaches utilising Long short-term memory (LSTM) architectures achieving a high degree of success. This study implements a new, spiking neural network-based approach to time series classification for the purpose of …

Comparing Rf Fingerprinting Performance Of Hobbyist And Commercial-Grade Sdrs, Travis R. Smith

Browse all Theses and Dissertations

Radio Frequency Fingerprinting (RFF) research typically uses expensive, laboratory grade receivers which have high dynamic range, very stable oscillators, large instantaneous bandwidth, multi-rate sampling, etc. In this study, the RFF effectiveness of lower grade receivers is considered. Using software-defined radios (SDRs) of different cost and performance, a linear regression model is developed to predict RFF performance. Unlike two previous studies of SDR effectiveness that used commercial and lab-grade SDRs, the experiment here focused on hobbyist and commercial-grade SDRs (RTL-SDR, B200-mini, N210). A regression model is proposed for a generic SDR. Using a full-factorial experiment matrix, the gain, sample rate, and …

Implementing Asynchronous Linear Solvers Using Non-Uniform Distributions, Erik Jensen, Evan C. Coleman, Masha Sosonkina

Computational Modeling & Simulation Engineering Faculty Publications

Asynchronous iterative methods present a mechanism to improve the performance of algorithms for highly parallel computational platforms by removing the overhead associated with synchronization among computing elements. This paper considers a class of asynchronous iterative linear system solvers that employ randomization to determine the component update orders, specifically focusing on the effects of drawing the order from non-uniform distributions. Results from shared-memory experiments with a two-dimensional finite-difference discrete Laplacian problem show that using distributions favoring the selection of components with a larger contribution to the residual may lead to faster convergence than selecting uniformly. Multiple implementations of the randomized asynchronous …

Systemic Methodology For Cyber Offense And Defense, C. Ariel Pinto, Matthew Zurasky

Engineering Management & Systems Engineering Faculty Publications

This paper describes a systemic method towards standardization of a cyber weapon effectiveness and effectiveness prediction process to promote consistency and improve cyber weapon system evaluation accuracy – for both offensive and defensive postures. The approach included theoretical examination of existing effectiveness prediction processes for kinetic and directed energy weapons, complemented with technical and social aspects of cyber realm. The examination highlighted several paradigm-shifts needed to transition from purely kinetic-based processes and transition into the realm of combined kinetic and cyber weapons. Components of the new method for cyber weapons are cyber payload assessment, effects identification, and target assessment. The …

Cyber-Informed: Bridging Cybersecurity And Other Disciplines, Char Sample, Sin Ming Loo, Connie Justice, Eleanor Taylor, Clay Hampton

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

A recent study by Cybersecurity Ventures (Morgan 2018), predicts that 3.5 million cybersecurity jobs around the world will be unfilled by 2021. In the United States, the demand for professionals with cybersecurity expertise is outpacing all other occupations (NIST 2018). These reports, along with many others, underpin the need for increasing workforce development initiatives founded in cybersecurity principles. The workforce shortage is across all cybersecurity domains, yet problems continue to persist, as the lines between combatants and non-combatants are blurred. Combating this persistent threat, which is a 24/7 operation, requires a more aggressive and inclusive approach. Higher education institutions are …

Chemically Stabilized Oil-In-Water Emulsion Separation Using A Custom Aquaporin-Based Polyethersulfone (Pes) Forward Osmosis Membrane System, Annmarie Ricchino

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

The stability of oil-in-water emulsions is enhanced by the presence of surfactants in the water, thereby increasing difficulty of remediation. In this study, mineral oil and a standard bilge mix (SBM) were used as model oils for forward osmosis (FO) performance evaluation and two different high-concentration feed solutions (FS) were tested: 10,000 and 100,000 ppm oil/surfactant (9:1 Oil/Surfactant, wt %). It was hypothesized that the charge-charge interactions between the surfactant portion of the micelles and the membrane would play an important role in membrane fouling. Therefore, the effects of both an anionic surfactant (sodium dodecyl sulfate [SDS]) and a nonionic …

The Gamification Framework Of Military Flight Simulator For Effective Learning And Training Environment, Daeho Noh

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

The purpose of this thesis is to develop a framework for the gamification of flight simulators to provide an active learning and training environment for military jet pilots. Currently, with the development of visual displays and computer processing capabilities, the modern simulator has made great progress in visual and auditory terms that is incomparable to the past. In addition, functions that were previously implemented through supercomputers and complex hardware devices are now available through desktop computers at an affordable cost. Despite these advances, the simulators so far are thought to have been negligent in building an active learning and training …

A Four-Port Dc-Dc Converter For A Hybrid Wind/Solar Energy System, Jiahong Ning

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

With the increasing demand for clean and hybrid energy in the last decades, more and more attentions are paid to the renewable energy, e.g., wind and solar energy. According to the International Energy Agency, solar power was growing-fastest source in the world. In a hybrid wind/solar system, power converters play an important role in in power management and the voltage regulation. Gradually, power systems have undergone a paradigm shift from centralized generation to distributed generation. Smart grid, which is a combination of power systems and communication networks, was proposed to allow power systems to fit the future system challenge. However, …

Exploring Delphi Method Generated Synthetic Natural Environment (Sne) Visual Aesthetic Quality (Vaq) Factor Forecasts And Preferences Through Conjoint Analysis Of End User Assessments, Thomas Kehr

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

Traditional techniques used for verification, validation, and accreditation (VV&A) of Synthetic Natural Environments for military applications are time consuming, subjective, and often costly. Due to varying levels of common visual factors, Synthetic Natural Environments (SNE) vary widely in appearance and use case. Early identification of these factors in the SNE life cycle may improve its Visual Aesthetic Quality (VAQ) while reducing VV&A issues downstream and informing future development. This research explores supplementing existing VV&A techniques with the Delphi Method during the conceptualization phase of an interoperable SNE development in order to identify the level of importance of SNE VAQ factors …

Cyber-Assets At Risk (Car): The Cost Of Personally Identifiable Information Data Breaches, Omer Ilker Poyraz, Sarah Bouazzaoui, Omer Keskin, Michael Mcshane, Ariel Pinto

Engineering Management & Systems Engineering Faculty Publications

Severe financial consequences of data breaches enforce organizations to reconsider their cybersecurity investment. Although attack frequency and trends seem similar per industry, the impact of a data breach may exponentially increase depending on the type of information and the amount of the stolen data. Also, governments develop and improve laws and regulations to protect the privacy of individuals. Therefore, a failure of data security may yield severe penalties and class-action lawsuits, which can significantly increase the expenses than before. The monetary impact of a data breach is a new field of study that requires more sophisticated research and analysis. There …

The Hsp90 Inhibitor, Auy-922, Ameliorates The Development Of Nitrogen Mustard-Induced Pulmonary Fibrosis And Lung Dysfunction In Mice, Pavel Solopov, Ruben M.L. Colunga Biancatelli, Margarita Marinova, Christiana Dimitropoulou, John D. Catravas

Bioelectrics Publications

Increased levels of heat shock protein 90 (HSP90) have been recently implicated in the pathogenesis of pulmonary fibrosis and the use of HSP90 inhibitors constitutes a potential therapeutic approach. Similarly, acute exposure to nitrogen mustard (NM) is related to the development of chronic lung injury driven by TNF-α, TGF-β, ERK and HSP90. Thus, we developed a murine model of NM-induced pulmonary fibrosis by instilling C57BI/6J mice with 0.625 mg/kg mechlorethamine hydrochloride. After 24 h, mice began receiving AUY-922, a second generation HSP90 inhibitor, at 1 mg/kg 2 times per week or 2 mg/kg 3 times per week, for either 10 …

Modern Techniques For Discovering Digital Steganography, Michael Hegarty, Anthony Keane

Conference papers

Digital steganography can be difficult to detect and as such is an ideal way of engaging in covert communications across the Internet. This research paper is a work-in-progress report on instances of steganography that were identified on websites on the Internet including some from the DarkWeb using the application of new methods of deep learning algorithms. This approach to the identification of Least Significant Bit (LSB) Steganography using Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN) has demonstrated some efficiency for image classification. The CNN algorithm was trained using datasets of images with known steganography and then applied to datasets with images to identify …

Modeling Site Specific Urban Propagation Using A Variable Terrain Radiowave Parabolic Equation - Vertical Plane Launch (Vtrpe-Vpl) Hybrid Technique, Pierre Cadette

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

The development of efficient algorithms for calculating propagation loss in site specific urban environments has been an active area of research for many years. This dissertation demonstrates that, for particular scenarios, a hybrid approach that combines the Variable Terrain Radiowave Parabolic Equation (VTRPE) and Vertical Plane Launch (VPL) models can be used to produce accurate results for a downrange region of interest. The hybrid approach consists of leveraging the 2-D parabolic equation method in the initial propagation region, where backscatter and out of plane energy can be neglected, then transitioning to the more computationally intensive 3-D ray launching method for …

Applied Laser Absorption Spectroscopy For Sensing In Detonative Flows, Kyle Thurmond

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

A great deal of interest lies in detonative combustion due to its destructive potential and the theoretical thermodynamic advantages over traditional deflagration devices used for propulsion and energy. High energy materials and explosives combustion products and temperature must be characterized to gain greater insight into the energy release mechanisms, allowing for more tailored deployment. Predictive models for detonations employ various types of state equations, and temperature can be used as a check on the equation validity. However, the extreme environment of explosives is incredibly challenging to evaluate temperature. Additionally, these reactions are extremely fast, taking place over microseconds, and have …

Methodology For Quantifying Resiliency Of Transportation Systems, Hannah Rose Russell

Doctoral Dissertations and Master's Theses

The National Science Foundation’s definition of resiliency is “the ability to prepare and plan for, absorb, recover from, or more successfully adapt to actual or potential adverse events” (National Science Foundation, 2016). While this definition is informative and useful, it lacks a quantitative reference. There is a need for a method of quantifying resilience to better plan and prepare for system wide disruptions. The research effort described herein provides a quantifiable measures of system resiliency, consistent with NSF’s definition. Fundamentally, a system disruption can be partitioned into five distinctive states: the stable pre-event state, the absorption state, the disrupted state, …

Emulsion Characterization Study For Improved Bilgewater Treatment And Management, Daniela Diaz Hernandez

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

The need for proper management of bilgewater to meet discharge regulations (e.g., 15 ppm oil) has revealed the necessity to expand the current understanding of bilgewater emulsions. This study proposed to evaluate emulsion stability under various environmental conditions and to identify governing parameters for emulsion formation. The stabilizing properties of eight-commercial cleaners and two-neat surfactants were evaluated. In situ characterization techniques were used for monitoring emulsion stability. Additionally, a needle-type pH microsensor and fluorescence spectroscopy were used for analyzing mass transfer at the oil-water interface. Water quality of extracted bilgewater showed to highly vary between vessels (e.g., conductivity: 1.74 -- …

Resource Ecologies, Political Economies And The Ethics Of Audio Technologies In The Anthropocene, Eliot Bates

Publications and Research

Understanding how recorded and amplified stage musics contribute towards producing the Anthropocene necessitates attending to complex transnational flows of material, capital and labor, and how they coalesce into technological objects. This is complicated by the wide array of sites, practices and knowledges involved during various stages of the production process, from initial resource extraction, to smelting, component manufacturing, technology assembly, and distribution. To develop a suitable technological ethics, and to understand what happens to environments and to human, animal and plant lifeworlds, requires one to resist abstraction and undertake a global accounting of resource ecologies with recourse to planetary-scale political …

Hydrogel Microphone, Li Tan, Yang Gao, Qin Zhou, Yongmei Chen

Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering: Faculty Publications

A device includes a capacitive sensor having a hydrogel structure that includes a first surface and a second surface. A first electrode is provided at the first surface of the hydrogel structure, the first electrode including a network of conductive nanoparticles extending into the hydrogel structure. A second electrode is provided at the second surface of the hydrogel structure.

Correlation Coefficients Of Pythagorean Hesitant Fuzzy Sets And Their Applicationto Radar Lpi Performance Evaluation, Cheng Xiu Yang, Qianzhe Wang, Weidong Peng, Shaoting Pei

Turkish Journal of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences

Evaluating low probability of intercept (LPI) performance is the first step to design parameters and arrange radar resources. In the evaluation process it is hard to rely on the intercept receiver?s working scenarios and operating parameters. On the other hand, indicators that affect the LPI performance of radiating side are difficult to consider comprehensively. Thus, building an effective evaluation system is crucial. This research considers the natural parameters of radar extracted from a radiating scenario. Subsequently, a number of criteria are selected, including spatial, time, frequency domain, polarization status, energy status, and waveform features. A multidomain radar LPI performance evaluation …

Applications Of Drones In Atmospheric Chemistry, Travis J. Schuyler

Theses and Dissertations--Chemistry

The emission of greenhouse gases (GHGs) has changed the composition of the atmosphere during the Anthropocene. A major technical and scientific challenge is quantifying the resulting fugitive trace gas fluxes under variable meteorological conditions. Accurately documenting the sources and magnitude of GHGs emission is an important undertaking for discriminating contributions of different processes to radiative forcing. Therefore, the adverse environmental and health effects of undetected gas leaks motivates new methods of detecting, characterizing, and quantifying plumes of fugitive trace gases. Currently, there is no mobile platform able to quantify trace gases at altitudes(UASs), or drones, can be deployed on-site in …

Adaptive Filtration Of The Uav Movement Parameters Based On The Aoa-Measurement Sensor Networks, Igor Tovkach, Serhii Zhuk

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

Currently, the urgent task is to assess the small-sized maneuvering UAVs movement parameters. The location of an unknown UAV as a radio source can be determined using AoA measurements of the wireless sensor network. To describe the movement of a maneuvering UAV, a model is used in the form of a dynamic system with switching in discrete time. The values of switching variable determine type of UAV movement. To synthesize trajectory filtering algorithms, the Markov property of the extended process is used, which includes a vector of UAV movement parameters and a switching variable. The optimal trajectory filtering algorithm describes …

Integrating Resilience Into Military Infrastructure Mission Assurance Assessments And Decision Making, John Richards

Doctoral Dissertations

“This research created the Mission Assurance Resilience Matrix, a decision framework that integrates existing infrastructure assessment methods with emerging resilience research to model resilience under uncertainty as part of a detailed infrastructure management system. This framework enables military decision makers to easily visualize deficiencies in infrastructure resilience and assess where to most efficiently allocate resources. This research further extends results by including modules on training and education as a component of the scope of work.

There are three significant contributions of this research. The first identifies the gaps of how and where modeling under uncertainty, infrastructure systems management, and resilient …

ระบบควบคุมเกมแอคชั่นแนวยิงมุมมองบุคคลที่หนึ่งที่ผสานระบบต่อประสานระหว่างสมองกับคอมพิวเตอร์เข้าไปด้วย, ศุภชัย เต็งตระกูล

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

เทคโนโลยีการต่อประสานระหว่างสมองกับคอมพิวเตอร์ (Brain Computer Interface: BCI) ที่ใช้สัญญาณ Electroencephalogram (EEG) เป็นเทคโนโลยี BCI ที่เหมาะกับการนำมาใช้ควบคุมเกมที่สุดเพราะความสะดวกและปลอดภัยต่อผู้ใช้ แต่แม้ว่าจะมีการศึกษาประเด็นนี้กันมานานหลายปี การออกแบบเกม BCI ก็ยังไม่สามารถก้าวข้ามจุดอ่อนพื้นฐานของสัญญาณ EEG ได้ ส่งผลให้ตัวเกมที่ออกมาขาดระบบการเล่นที่น่าสนใจเมื่อเทียบกับเกมอื่นในท้องตลาด งานวิจัยชิ้นนี้จึงเสนอระบบควบคุมแบบใหม่ที่นำระบบ BCI ที่ใช้วิธีการจำแนก Steady-State Visually Evoked Potential (SSVEP) ที่ดีที่สุดในปัจจุบันอย่าง Riemannian มารวมกับอุปกรณ์ควบคุมอีก 3 อย่าง ได้แก่ คีย์บอร์ด (Keyboard) เมาส์ (Mouse) และเครื่องตรวจจับตำแหน่งการมอง (Eye Tracker) นอกจากนั้นงานวิจัยชิ้นนี้ยังเสนอเกมแอคชั่นแนวยิงมุมมองบุคคลที่หนึ่ง (Action First-person Shooter: Action FPS) ที่ถูกพัฒนามาให้ทำงานร่วมกับระบบควบคุมดังกล่าวเพื่อสร้างประสบการณ์การเล่นเกมด้วยระบบ BCI ที่ดียิ่งขึ้น โดยตัวเกมจะมี 3 ฟีเจอร์ (Features) สำคัญ ได้แก่ การชะลอเวลา การไฮไลต์ตัวกระตุ้น SSVEP ที่ถูกมองอยู่ และการออกคำสั่ง SSVEP ให้โดยอัตโนมัติเมื่อผู้เล่นไม่สามารถใช้ได้แลกกับการไม่ได้รับของรางวัลบางอย่าง จากผลการทดสอบของผู้ร่วมทดสอบ 10 คนพบว่า ผู้ร่วมทดสอบทุกคนสามารถใช้คำสั่งผ่านเครื่องตรวจจับตำแหน่งการมองได้ดีในช่วงแรก แต่เมื่อเวลาผ่านไปกลับใช้คำสั่งได้ไม่ดีเท่าเดิม ส่วนการใช้คำสั่งผ่าน SSVEP ผลที่ออกมาแตกต่างกันอย่างมากในแต่ละคำสั่ง คำสั่งที่ผู้ร่วมทดสอบใช้สำเร็จด้วยตัวเองมากที่สุดมีโอกาสใช้สำเร็จอยู่ที่ 71% ส่วนคำสั่งที่ผู้ร่วมทดสอบใช้สำเร็จด้วยตัวเองน้อยที่สุดมีโอกาสเพียง 49% เท่านั้น โดยรวมแล้วระบบควบคุมนี้ถือว่ามีความสามารถเพียงพอที่จะนำไปใช้ควบคุมเกมแนว FPS ได้ แต่ยังต้องปรับปรุงเรื่องความคงที่ของประสิทธิภาพของระบบ BCI และทางเลือกเกี่ยวกับการควบคุมด้วยเครื่องตรวจจับตำแหน่งการมอง และถึงแม้ว่าปัญหาเหล่านี้จะส่งผลให้ผู้ร่วมทดสอบไม่ได้รับความสะดวกสบายในการเล่นอยู่บ้าง แต่ผู้ร่วมทดสอบ 90% ก็ยังคงสนุกกับตัวเกมอยู่ เนื่องจากฟีเจอร์ของตัวเกมมีส่วนช่วยให้ผู้ร่วมทดสอบรู้สึกว่ายังสามารถควบคุมเกมได้