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Evasion Strategies For Space Engagements With Unknown Pursuer Objectives, Stephanie L. Halsey Mar 2024

Evasion Strategies For Space Engagements With Unknown Pursuer Objectives, Stephanie L. Halsey

Theses and Dissertations

Realistic simulations provide a tool for operators to understand space tactics and also serve to inform decisions on the requirements of current spacecraft technologies. This research uses simulation to gain a better understanding of one-on-one orbital conflicts through orbital differential games and linear quadratic games. The results of this research find that a simple strategy for an evading spacecraft to successfully evade a more-capable pursuing satellite for a variety of potential goals is to thrust perpendicular to the direction of the pursuer. Specific estimation requirements to accurately determine the objective of the pursuer and successfully evade in a realistic scenario …


Influence Of Environmental Barrier Coatings On The Overall Effectiveness Of A Film Cooled Ceramic Matrix Composite Plate, Shane P. Lindsay Mar 2024

Influence Of Environmental Barrier Coatings On The Overall Effectiveness Of A Film Cooled Ceramic Matrix Composite Plate, Shane P. Lindsay

Theses and Dissertations

Silicon carbide ceramic matrix composites, a promising new potential upgrade over the conventional metals currently used for jet engine turbine blades, have a propensity to oxidize in a combustion environment. Engine manufacturers often apply environmental barrier coatings to prevent the composites from oxidizing. What is unclear, however, is how environmental barrier coatings effect underlying composite temperatures. This research examined the coatings’ effects by first characterizing the influence of environmental barrier coatings on the underlying temperature of a protected ceramic, then evaluating the significance of lateral conduction for cooling a coated ceramic, and finally comparing cooling results for coated and uncoated …


Origami Application And Attitude Control Investigation Of Space-Based Mirror System, David J. Garcia Mar 2024

Origami Application And Attitude Control Investigation Of Space-Based Mirror System, David J. Garcia

Theses and Dissertations

Imaging and inspecting Resident Space Objects (RSO) have gained increasing importance in Space Situational Awareness (SSA) missions. These missions are driven by the necessity to perform satellite repairs, refueling, de-orbiting, and orbital debris reduction. However, the challenging lighting conditions in space often hinder these tasks. To overcome this challenge, a novel concept has been proposed—deploying mirrors from servicer satellites. These mirrors would harness solar energy to illuminate dimly-lit RSOs, enabling imaging, inspection, repair, and refueling operations. In this context, servicer satellites play a pivotal role in controlling the reflected light beam and precisely positioning themselves to illuminate RSOs effectively. Notably, …


Preliminary Assessment Of Cislunar Disposal Orbits, Ryan M. Sargent Mar 2024

Preliminary Assessment Of Cislunar Disposal Orbits, Ryan M. Sargent

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis investigates the disposal of end-of-life spacecraft from key orbits with a focus on minimizing delta-v expenditure and preventing debris propagation. Simulated Lyapunov and halo orbits around the L2 Lagrange point are analyzed for disposal feasibility. Both impulsive and continuous thrust methods are explored to achieve disposal trajectories. Continuous thrust will be modeled after a Hall thruster utilizing electric propulsion. Leveraging the Circular Restricted Three Body Problem framework, low delta-v cost trajectories are computed, with a multi-level correction algorithm optimizing total delta-v via heteroclinic connections. The study assesses various delta-v amounts for Earth-Moon system escape and evaluates the potential …


Forecasting Stock Prices Using Arima Models And Technical Analysis, Muath I. Almaiman Mar 2024

Forecasting Stock Prices Using Arima Models And Technical Analysis, Muath I. Almaiman

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis explores the integration of Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average (ARIMA) models and technical analysis to forecast stock prices, with a focus on Coca-Cola's (KO) and Netflix’s (NFLX) stocks. It examines the effectiveness of combining ARIMA models, known for their predictive accuracy in time-series analysis, with technical indicators, particularly moving averages. The study evaluates whether this integrated approach can enhance the predictive capability of stocks prices beyond traditional methods. The predictive capability is evaluated using error metrics from the ARIMA models, as well as by assessing the return earned using simple rules based on the technical indicators. Utilizing data spanning …


Housing Preferences And Vertical Expansion Potential In Riyadh City, Nasser R. Alrashed Mar 2024

Housing Preferences And Vertical Expansion Potential In Riyadh City, Nasser R. Alrashed

Theses and Dissertations

This research investigates the demand for apartment living in Riyadh's northern area and assesses its implications for vertical urban development, aligning with Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030. Employing a quantitative methodology, a structured survey was distributed to a diverse cross-section of Riyadh's population, focusing on housing preferences and perceptions of vertical living. Key findings indicate a significant demand for apartments, primarily from young to middle-aged, smaller households in low to middle-income brackets. Notably, a substantial portion of respondents showed a preference for high-rise living, suggesting a readiness for vertical expansion to manage the city's growing population. The study concludes that Riyadh's …


Enhancing The Resilience Of Space Systems Against Ransomware Attacks, Petersen F. Hansen Mar 2024

Enhancing The Resilience Of Space Systems Against Ransomware Attacks, Petersen F. Hansen

Theses and Dissertations

As their relevance has increased in recent years, space systems have become nearly essential in modern life. They are integral in the operation of navigational systems, military operations, and have ushered in a new domain of scientific inquiry. Technological advances have enabled the miniaturization of components and increased the accessibility of satellites as they find new applications in the form of Cube Satellites. However, even as these advancements have brought satellites to new heights, their interconnectedness leaves them open to new cyber threats. Ransomware attacks are one of the most prominent and disruptive cyber threats to terrestrial systems, and while …


Characterization Of An Omega Type Bi-Anisotropic Material, Moriel Gindi Mar 2024

Characterization Of An Omega Type Bi-Anisotropic Material, Moriel Gindi

Theses and Dissertations

A theory is presented for the extraction of the complete set of material parameters for a bi-anisotropic sample consisting of conductive omega-type particles governed by the mm21′ point-group symmetry. A rectangular-to-square wave-guide can be used to obtain the required measurements by allowing three distinct orientations of the material. The focus of this work is to develop the appropriate theory detailing the derivation of how the material parameters are extracted from the measurements in an analytical methodology that is similar in manner to the well-known Nicolson-Ross-Weir (NRW) algorithm.


Measuring The Presentation Of Supporting Content For A Set Of Learning Objectives Throughout The States Of An Educational Game Tree, Michael L. Hastriter Jr. Mar 2024

Measuring The Presentation Of Supporting Content For A Set Of Learning Objectives Throughout The States Of An Educational Game Tree, Michael L. Hastriter Jr.

Theses and Dissertations

In an era of evolving warfare, the Department of Defense (DoD) recognizes the value of serious games as immersive tools for teaching critical concepts. This thesis introduces a pioneering framework tailored to enhance learning objectives through the presentation of educational game content. This addresses the unique needs of the DoD and other educators who use games by providing measurements to assess educational games. This researches investigates how instructors might assess games as potential teaching tools. It establishes a five-phase process, providing a framework to assess educational games against predefined learning objectives and informing future game development. This thesis demonstrates games …


Design Considerations For The Use Of The Julia Programming Language In Future Quantum Networking Simulation Software, Takashi Joubert Mar 2024

Design Considerations For The Use Of The Julia Programming Language In Future Quantum Networking Simulation Software, Takashi Joubert

Theses and Dissertations

Given the prevalence of Python-based packages in the existing quantum network simulation ecosystem, we attempt to assess what might be realistically gained by switching to Julia. We focus our experimental activities on three areas: 1) surveying the characteristics of Julia as they tie into robust framework development, 2) presenting benchmarks that compare Julia and Python with respect to elements of possible simulation workloads, and 3) producing a tangible lightweight Julia architecture for modeling components in a manner similar to SeQUeNCe. Our analysis suggests that while Julia does o.er performance advantages over Python over certain workloads, knowing the reasons for why …


Malware Detection And Signature Propagation: A Study On Anti-Virus Platforms, Aaron J. Morath Mar 2024

Malware Detection And Signature Propagation: A Study On Anti-Virus Platforms, Aaron J. Morath

Theses and Dissertations

The early detection of malware across DoD networks is paramount when considering which AV engine to employ. This study explores malware detection latency across various AV providers over a 30-day period using VirusTotal’s platform. The analysis reveals an initial surge in detections, reaching approximately 60% within 24 hours. From days 3 to 20, detections steadily increase by 1-3 instances per day, peaking at 74% on the 20th day, followed by a slight decline. The research also highlights a significant difference in false positive rates between packed and non-packed non-malicious samples, emphasizing the impact of packing on AV engine scans. While …


Optimization Of Bluetooth Auracast Broadcast Audio Transmissions Via Signal Modeling, Lauren J. Puseman Mar 2024

Optimization Of Bluetooth Auracast Broadcast Audio Transmissions Via Signal Modeling, Lauren J. Puseman

Theses and Dissertations

Since 1994, Bluetooth has been used as a Personal Area Network (PAN) to transfer data between devices within a short range. After thirty years of progressive improvement in functionality, security, range, and power efficiency, the Bluetooth Special Interest Group has released a new feature called Auracast, which allows users to tune into nearby public audio streams and receive the feed directly to their wireless headphones or hearing aids. Soon, venues such as convention centers, museums, public forums, and sporting arenas can implement Auracast to better suit their needs. In addition to these public benefits, the Department of Defense can take …


A Machine Learning Approach For Multipath Characterization And Mitigation Using Chipshape Observations, Sean A. L. Quiterio Mar 2024

A Machine Learning Approach For Multipath Characterization And Mitigation Using Chipshape Observations, Sean A. L. Quiterio

Theses and Dissertations

Multipath continues to be a significant error source in satellite navigation. Recent solutions with Neural Networks (NN) model the effects of multipath on the autocorrelation function to predict errors in the Delay Lock Loop (DLL). Chipshape correlation provides a detailed look into the spreading code transitions in the time domain. It is useful in applications such as Signal Quality Monitoring (SQM) and is much more sensitive to multipath than autocorrelation. This research proposes NN models that each predict pseudorange or carrier range errors due to multipath by monitoring the chipshape correlation output. For a simulation with 50 MHz precorrelation bandwidth …


Reconstruction Of Radar Range Profiles Using Dropped Channel Polarimetric Compressive Sensing, Nat Thomason Mar 2024

Reconstruction Of Radar Range Profiles Using Dropped Channel Polarimetric Compressive Sensing, Nat Thomason

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis documents the design, construction and testing of a bench-top level measurement system and verifies previously established Dropped Channel Polarimetric Synthetic Aperture Radar Compressive Sensing (DCPCS) simulation results. Compressive Sensing is a mathematical technique which can capture and represent compressible signals at sampling rates significantly below the Nyquist rate. DCPCS is a technique which enhances Compressive Sensing techniques using known physical antenna crosstalk values. The DCPCS technique enables reconstruction of fully polarimetric signals whilst only measuring part of the signal, reducing data capture requirements.


Global Empirical Model Of Sporadic-E Occurrence Rates, Eli V. Parsch Mar 2024

Global Empirical Model Of Sporadic-E Occurrence Rates, Eli V. Parsch

Theses and Dissertations

Encompassing the Earth, the ionosphere presents unique challenges to modern communication, navigation, and surveillance technologies. Intense ionization enhancements known as sporadic-E (Es), can degrade and disrupt signals in unpredictable ways. Much work has been done to understand this phenomenon and more recent efforts have attempted to model its behavior and impacts. However, there have been limited efforts at modeling global Es occurrence rates (OR) at high time resolutions. This study develops a global empirical model of blanketing sporadic-E (fbEs) occurrence rates using a Karhunen-Lo´eve Expansion (KLE) of global fbEs OR climatologies built with Global Positioning System radio occultations (GPS-RO) and …


Gamma Protection Factor For A Surrogate Armored Vehicle Exposed To The Us Army Fast Burst Reactor, Ian J. Poropat Mar 2024

Gamma Protection Factor For A Surrogate Armored Vehicle Exposed To The Us Army Fast Burst Reactor, Ian J. Poropat

Theses and Dissertations

This work measures the Gamma Protection Factor (GPF) of a steel cube, which is meant to serve as a surrogate for armored vehicles. The GPF is measured at the White Sands Missile Range Fast Burst Reactor (FBR) and is modeled using MCNP® v6.2 transport simulation software. When exposed to the FBR, the GPF is found to depend roughly linearly on the distance between the reactor core and steel cube. The GPF is determined to be 1.176 ± 0.00067 at 9.21 m, 1.098 ± 0.0011 at 26.16 m, and 1.033 ± 0.00082 at 42.92 m. MCNP® estimates the GPF for the …


Investigation Of High-Latitude Gnss Radio Occulation Sporadic-E And Auroral-E Measurements, Kyle D. Roberts Mar 2024

Investigation Of High-Latitude Gnss Radio Occulation Sporadic-E And Auroral-E Measurements, Kyle D. Roberts

Theses and Dissertations

Abnormal sporadic-E (Es) occurrences were found in the high latitude regions during a recent climatology study by (Hodos, 2022), that calculated sporadic-E occurrence rates derived from a data set of GPS radio occultation (GPS-RO) and ionosondes. In this study, sporadic-E GNSS-RO techniques are shown to falsely attribute sporadic-E events to auroral-E (Ea) events. A comparative study is conducted on GPS-RO measurement techniques to find false occurrence rates for various RO techniques using a single ionosonde site in Gakona, Alaska. Phase-based RO techniques were found to be more likely to falsely attribute sporadic-E as auroral-E, while amplitude …


Modeling Lightning Flashes In Dissimilar Non-Homogeneous Clouds, Scott R. Wolff Mar 2024

Modeling Lightning Flashes In Dissimilar Non-Homogeneous Clouds, Scott R. Wolff

Theses and Dissertations

A new methodology for near-infrared lightning radiative transfer through clouds is presented. High-resolution weather modeling is used to generate realistic three-dimensional non-homogeneous clouds, which are then used as environments for a Monte Carlo simulation of photon multiple scattering from approximations of lightning flashes. Resultant emissions from the cloud tops are in line with previous studies and satellite observations.


Quantum Circuit Reduction Using Three Layer Transposition, Christian L. Grauberger Mar 2024

Quantum Circuit Reduction Using Three Layer Transposition, Christian L. Grauberger

Theses and Dissertations

The potential of quantum computing to revolutionize critical military applications has led the US Department of Defense to recognize it as a keen interest. However, the practical implementation of these theoretical applications on physical quantum devices is currently limited by inherent reliability and accuracy issues in quantum hardware. To mitigate errors stemming from these limitations, the incorporation of software-based solutions is imperative. Quantum circuit optimization stands out as a primary method of increasing the accuracy of quantum computations. One of the key components of this approach is circuit reduction, whereby circuits are condensed to realize the same computation using fewer …


Enhancing Port Efficiency And Lead Time Reduction Through Predictive Analysis: A Case Study Of Container Management At Khalifa Bin Salman Port, Abdulaziz A. Aljalahma Mar 2024

Enhancing Port Efficiency And Lead Time Reduction Through Predictive Analysis: A Case Study Of Container Management At Khalifa Bin Salman Port, Abdulaziz A. Aljalahma

Theses and Dissertations

Khalifa bin Salman Port (KBSP), a key pillar in Bahrain's maritime infrastructure, is the focal point of this study, highlighting the significant role of predictive analytics in optimizing port operations. This thesis analyzes container throughput data from 2017 to 2022, provided by Bahrain's Ministry of Transportation database. This data forms the basis for forecasting the 2023 throughput. The study thoroughly compares these predictions with the actual 2023 data, assessing the predictive model's accuracy. The findings underscore the importance of predictive analytics in strategic decision-making for port management, focusing on enhancing operational efficiency and reducing lead times. This research offers a …


Optimizing Deployment Kit, Introducing Acceptance Threshold, Saleh A. Alshuhri Mar 2024

Optimizing Deployment Kit, Introducing Acceptance Threshold, Saleh A. Alshuhri

Theses and Dissertations

This article addresses the optimization of a specialized deployment kit crucial for air force operations, emphasizing the need for rapid and efficient aircraft deployment. Through a comprehensive analysis of historical data, the study aims to streamline the kit's contents without compromising effectiveness. The research suggests a potential reduction of 7.8%, with an impressive 60.5% decrease if a minimal 5% threshold is deemed acceptable. While the primary focus is on air force deployment, the broader implications extend to military entities, such as armies and navies, highlighting the applicability of the findings in enhancing deployment efficiency across various defense sectors.


Electric Vehicle Support Equipment Deployment At Military Installations: A Mixed-Integer Linear Programming Approach, Katelyn M. Barton Mar 2024

Electric Vehicle Support Equipment Deployment At Military Installations: A Mixed-Integer Linear Programming Approach, Katelyn M. Barton

Theses and Dissertations

This research provides insights into a mixed integer linear programming model that finds the ideal number and type of Electric Vehicle Support Equipment (EVSE) required to meet U.S. military installations’ electric energy demands. Executive Order No. 14057 (2021) requires federal agencies to transition to electric non-tactical vehicles by 2035. This research determines minimum cost solutions to implement the transition incorporating real-world constraints, including the weekly vehicle mileage demand, EVSE cost, charging time, and EVSE capacity. This study contributes to the broader effort of the U.S. military to combat climate change and enhances the understanding of efficient EVSE deployment strategies in …


Modeling & Engineering Of Usmepcom Business Intelligence Data, Merrick A. Bedford Mar 2024

Modeling & Engineering Of Usmepcom Business Intelligence Data, Merrick A. Bedford

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis investigates the USMEPCOM’s issue of modeling and engineering Business Intelligence data centralized around the MEPS of Excellence (MOE) program. MEPS around the US conduct military personnel in-processing and in doing so have a vested interest in the standardization and application of the data associated with such processes. There are currently 65 MEPS stations and one RPS that handle military personnel onboarding paperwork and make determinations for military eligibility. This topic is important due to the MEPS cloud data processing system modernization efforts requiring data processing adaptation to ensure relevant and meaningful usage of current data.


Examining The Effect Of Contractor Logistics Support On The Reliability Of Military Aircraft, Rodrigo S. Campos De Moura Mar 2024

Examining The Effect Of Contractor Logistics Support On The Reliability Of Military Aircraft, Rodrigo S. Campos De Moura

Theses and Dissertations

This study utilizes survival analysis for examining the effect of Contractor Logistics Support (CLS) on the reliability of military aircraft before and after implementing CLS. The provider of CLS in this study is the original equipment manufacturer that designed and produced the target aircraft of this study, the Embraer A-29 Super Tucano.


Federated Medical Scoring Systems, Jacob F. Bryant Mar 2024

Federated Medical Scoring Systems, Jacob F. Bryant

Theses and Dissertations

Federated Learning (FL) is a recent framework of machine learning implementation that trains models on a distributed network of clients as opposed to housing and analyzing this data centrally. This has data communication and practical data privacy advantages, the latter of which is particularly attractive to the medical community where patient privacy is closely safeguarded. We apply FL to a family of sparse linear integer models called Medical Scoring Systems (MSSs). We create a novel methodology for creating these MSSs in a simulated federated environment that involves an lo constrained Logistic Regression (LR), loss-surface examination, and rounding procedure. We tested …


On Intrinsic Dimensionality Of Data Sets And Neural Networks, Ori Chachmo Mar 2024

On Intrinsic Dimensionality Of Data Sets And Neural Networks, Ori Chachmo

Theses and Dissertations

The concept of Intrinsic Dimensionality (ID) is of special interest in the field of Neural Networks (NNs) since it promotes both (a) a deeper understanding of the underlying mechanisms, and (b) embraces parsimonious modeling (that is, building the right-sized model for the task) with associated benefits to processing speed and storage requirements. This thesis explores the concept of ID via two separate, but related, questions. First, we study the potential of NN ID prediction by exploiting easily obtained quantities measured on the data. We then explore NN ID as an independent concept by comparing the results of different methods for …


Reinforcement Learning For Team Based Air Combat Maneuvering Decisions With Directed Energy Weaponry, Joshua D. Combs Mar 2024

Reinforcement Learning For Team Based Air Combat Maneuvering Decisions With Directed Energy Weaponry, Joshua D. Combs

Theses and Dissertations

Leveraging the Advanced Framework for Simulation, Integration, and Modeling (AFSIM) we investigate the use of reinforcement learning (RL) techniques for imbuing AUCAV agents with high-quality behaviors for the within-visual-range air combat maneuvering problem (ACMP). We formulate the 2v2 WVR ACMP as a Markov decision process wherein friendly AUCAVs are equipped with DEW capabilities and operate with 6 degrees of freedom. We utilize the Double Deep Q-Network RL algorithm, which centrally trains two friendly AUCAVs and employ a phased learning approach, initially exposing the AUCAVs to a dense reward environment for early training, followed by a sparse reward environment to encourage …


An Integer Programming Model To Optimize Us Army Deployment Cycle And Maximize Unit Availability, Grant R. Engel Mar 2024

An Integer Programming Model To Optimize Us Army Deployment Cycle And Maximize Unit Availability, Grant R. Engel

Theses and Dissertations

The goal of this paper is to determine an optimal cycle length, in months, that minimizes costs and maximizes availability for deploying units in the United States (US) Army. The US Army must be cost efficient while maintaining the flexibility required to adapt to dynamic mission demand. The current practice is to deploy units for a length between the range of 6 to 12 months; however, this varies from unit to unit and the best policy is not clear. We address these issues by forming a mathematical programming model with unique characteristics that distinguish it from others of similar design. …


A Multi-Objective Approach To Optimal Deployment Policies For Wireless Sensor Networks Using Drop Points, Noah E. Fox Mar 2024

A Multi-Objective Approach To Optimal Deployment Policies For Wireless Sensor Networks Using Drop Points, Noah E. Fox

Theses and Dissertations

This research addresses the development of deployment policies for aerially dropped sensors in a wireless sensor network (WSN). Multi-objective genetic algorithm (GA) and simulated annealing meta-heuristic techniques, along with Monte Carlo simulation are used to identify policies with the aim of maximizing coverage and minimizing the number of sensors deployed. The policies developed from these techniques are then compared against uniform sensor distribution, as well as initial deployment policies that focus sensors in the center and edge of the region, as well as evenly deployed over the region. A total of 29 non-dominated policies were identified from the GA and …


An Analysis Of China’S Perceived Geographic Locations Of Interest By Use Of Value Informed Facility Location Models, Layton C. Hedge Mar 2024

An Analysis Of China’S Perceived Geographic Locations Of Interest By Use Of Value Informed Facility Location Models, Layton C. Hedge

Theses and Dissertations

This research examines China and derives insights specific to it and the First Island Chain and the Second Island Chain. In doing so, this research demonstrates a methodology to examine other competitors and their geostrategic interests. In the first phase of analysis, it develops a value hierarchy to depict objectives within subregions of the area of interest and considers four alternative weightings of the value hierarchy. In the second phase of analysis, it applies four location-covering models to assess how the competitor would emplace a range of limited resources to deter and/or control points of interest. Results indicate that land-based …