Digital Commons Network^™

Evaluation Of Efficient Water Reuse Technologies For Sustainable Forward Operating Bases, Kelsie L. Crouch

Theses and Dissertations

A secure water source is essential to the resiliency and readiness of military installations and contingency operation locations, especially those located in the dry climates the US military operates in today. There are multiple issues of concern when identifying water sources, such as security, cleanliness, accessibility, and sustainability. Water resources pose a potential vulnerability to mission readiness in a remote, agile environment, such as a forward operating base (FOB). Having a secure water resource helps facilitate mission readiness in the contingency environment, offering the opportunity to be more resilient and cost-effective. Current water treatment technologies present the possibility to perform …

Zynq System-On-Chip Dma Messaging For Processor Monitoring, Daniel F. Koranek, Douglas D. Hodson, Scott R. Graham

Faculty Publications

Xilinx Zynq-7000 System-on-Chip architectures combine an ARM Cortex-A9 core with an FPGA fabric. One benefit of this hybrid architecture is that it allows fast prototyping of designs where the security of either the processing system (PS) is monitored by the programmable logic (PL) or vice versa. The choice of implementing a design in the PS or PL is driven by cost-to-benefit analysis across many factors. This effort examines the design process required to construct security monitoring designs that use both the PS and PL. For background, this effort reviews similar security monitoring projects. For the effort, a PL peripheral was …

Use Of Factors In Development Estimates: Improving The Cost Analysis Toolkit, Matthew R. Markman, Jonathan D. Ritschel, Edward D. White

Faculty Publications

Factor Estimating is a technique commonly used by defense acquisition analysts to develop cost estimations. However, previous studies developing factors for the Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD) phase of the life cycle are limited. This research expands the current toolkit for cost analysts by developing cost factors in previously unexplored areas. More specifically, over 400 cost reports are utilized to create new standard cost factors that are delineated by five categories: commodity type, contract type, contractor type, development type, and Service. The factors are developed for those elements that are common in a wide array of projects such as program …

The Afit Engineer, Volume 2, Issue 4, Graduate School Of Engineering And Management, Air Force Institute Of Technology

AFIT Documents

In this issue:

• AFMC Spark Tank Semi-finalist
• New AFIT Patents
• 2020 Graduate School Award Winners
• Airmen and Artificial Intelligence
• Nuclear Treaty Monitoring

Electromagnetic Interference Estimation Via Conditional Neural Processing, Edgar E. Gomez

Theses and Dissertations

The goal of this thesis is to determine the efficacy of employing Machine Learning (ML) to solve Joint Urgent Operational Need (JUON) CC-0575, which aims to develop a Common Operating Picture (COP) of the Global Positioning System (GPS) Electromagnetic Interference (EMI) environment. With the growing popularity of Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs), ML solutions are quickly gaining traction in businesses, academia and government. This in turn allows for problem solutions that were previously inconceivable using the classical programming paradigm. This thesis proposes a method to develop a COP of the battlefield via ANN ingestion of multiple-source signals and sensors. We conduct …

Specifying Space Defense Operator Interfaces Through The Application Of Cognitive Systems Engineering And Prototyping, Justin E. Oryschak

Theses and Dissertations

The Department of Defense needs better tools to support its operators as they strive to defend its space assets. The growing sophistication of anti-satellite weapons increasingly challenges the nation’s orbital communications and surveillance infrastructure. Operators face difficulties gathering useful information and dealing with the complexity of potential enemy actions. This research applied cognitive systems engineering and ecological interface design (EID) methodologies to create a prototype space mission management tool that enhances operator situation awareness and decision-making ability. Applied cognitive task analysis interviews were used to document space operator decision-making in their domain. Model-based systems engineering was applied to integrate work …

End-To-End Direct Digital Synthesis Simulation And Mathematical Model To Minimize Quantization Effects Of Digital Signal Generation, Pranav R. Patel, Richard K. Martin

Faculty Publications

Direct digital synthesis (DDS) architectures are becoming more prevalent as modern digital-to-analog converter (DAC) and programmable logic devices evolve to support higher bandwidths. The DDS architecture provides the benefit of digital control but at a cost of generating spurious content in the spectrum. The generated spurious content may cause intermodulation distortion preventing proper demodulation of the received signal. The distortion may also interfere with the neighboring frequency bands. This article presents the various DDS architectures and explores the DDS architecture which provides the most digital reconfigurability with the lowest spurious content. End-to-end analytical equations, numerical and mathematical models are developed …

Survey Of Airflow Around A Heated Manikin As A Simulated Aeromedical Evacuation Patient On A Litter With Computational Fluid Dynamics Models, George P. Lemmer

Theses and Dissertations

Aeromedical Evacuations remain the predominant method used to transport patients from forward deployed areas of operations to secure locations with more robust medical infrastructure. Transportation of chemical warfare casualties and infectious patients require additional attention to prevent cross contamination. Specific airflow characteristics paired with environmental control system settings are a gap in scholarly literature. Based on the available literature computational fluid dynamics models were created to simulate the airflow around a patient represented by human geometry using commercially available software. In order to compare simulated and experimental results a heated manikin was placed in the MURPHEE aerosol exposure chamber and …

Agility Measurement For Large Organizations, Jeremy R. Geiger

Theses and Dissertations

There is an ongoing demand for organizations to become more agile in order to prosper amongst their competitors. Many organizations, including the United States Department of Defense (DoD), have declared a renewed focus towards organizational agility. This research begins by providing a suitable and formal definition of organizational agility (OA) by exploring and analyzing relevant scholarly literature on the subject. Existing methods to measure OA are examined and summarized, and their current limitations are highlighted. Previous studies to find characteristics associated with organizational agility are examined and the Q-sort method was employed to discover, analyze and eliminate redundant items from …

Development Of A Semi-Quantitative Methodology For Evaluation Of Whole-Body Chemical, Biological, Radiological, And Nuclear Decontamination Using An Ultraviolet Fluorescent Aerosol, Emily M. Titus

Theses and Dissertations

This work describes a literature review which was conducted on publicly available literature on chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) decontamination to understand the body of knowledge and gaps in this body of knowledge, including the assumption that disrobing after a CBRN incident will remove 90% of contamination. Also included is a description of the design and characterization of an aerosol test chamber which was constructed for use in this research. Finally, the bulk of this work describes the development of a semi-quantitative methodology for visualizing contamination. This method uses an ultraviolet fluorescent aerosol (to simulate contamination by a chemical …

Direct Digital Synthesis: A Flexible Architecture For Advanced Signals Research For Future Satellite Navigation Payloads, Pranav R. Patel

Theses and Dissertations

In legacy Global Positioning System (GPS) Satellite Navigation (SatNav) payloads, the architecture does not provide the flexibility to adapt to changing circumstances and environments. GPS SatNav payloads have largely remained unchanged since the system became fully operational in April 1995. Since then, the use of GPS has become ubiquitous in our day-to-day lives. GPS availability is now a basic assumption for distributed infrastructure; it has become inextricably tied to our national power grids, cellular networks, and global financial systems. Emerging advancements of easy to use radio technologies, such as software-defined radios (SDRs), have greatly lowered the difficulty of discovery and …

Monte Carlo Tree Search Applied To A Modified Pursuit/Evasion Scotland Yard Game With Rendezvous Spaceflight Operation Applications, Joshua A. Daughtery

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis takes the Scotland Yard board game and modifies its rules to mimic important aspects of space in order to facilitate the creation of artificial intelligence for space asset pursuit/evasion scenarios. Space has become a physical warfighting domain. To combat threats, an understanding of the tactics, techniques, and procedures must be captured and studied. Games and simulations are effective tools to capture data lacking historical context. Artificial intelligence and machine learning models can use simulations to develop proper defensive and offensive tactics, techniques, and procedures capable of protecting systems against potential threats. Monte Carlo Tree Search is a bandit-based …

Battlespace Next™: Developing A Serious Game To Explore Multi-Domain Operations, Nathaniel Flack, Alan C. Lin, Gilbert L. Peterson, Mark G. Reith

Faculty Publications

Changes in the geopolitical landscape and increasing technological complexity have prompted the U.S. Military to coin the terms Multi-Domain Operations (MDO) and Joint All-Domain Command and Control (JADC2) as over-arching strategy to frame the complexity of warfare across both traditional and emerging warfighting domains. Teaching new concepts associated with these terms requires both innovation as well as distinct education and training tools in order to realize the cultural change advocated by senior military leaders. Battlespace Next™ (BSN) is a serious game designed to teach concepts integral to MDO and initiate discussion on military strategy while conserving time, money, and manpower. …

Air Force Institute Of Technology Research Report 2019, Graduate School Of Engineering And Management, Air Force Institute Of Technology

AFIT Documents

This Research Report presents the FY19 research statistics and contributions of the Graduate School of Engineering and Management (EN) at AFIT. AFIT research interests and faculty expertise cover a broad spectrum of technical areas related to USAF needs, as reflected by the range of topics addressed in the faculty and student publications listed in this report. In most cases, the research work reported herein is directly sponsored by one or more USAF or DOD agencies. AFIT welcomes the opportunity to conduct research on additional topics of interest to the USAF, DOD, and other federal organizations when adequate manpower and financial …

Applying Data Organizational Techniques To Enhance Air Force Learning, Jacob A. Orner

Theses and Dissertations

The USAF and the DoD use traditional schoolhouses to educate and train personnel. The physical aspects of these schoolhouses limit throughput. A method to increase throughput is to shift towards an asynchronous learning environment where students move through content at individually. This research introduces a methodology for transforming a set of unstructured documents into an organized TM students can use to orient themselves in a domain. The research identifies learning paths within the TM to create a directed KSAT. We apply this methodology in four case studies, each an education or training course. Using a graph comparison metric and the …

Developing A Serious Game To Explore Joint All Domain Command And Control, Nathaniel W. Flack

Theses and Dissertations

Changes in the geopolitical landscape and increasing technological complexity have prompted the U.S. Military to coin Multi-Domain Operations (MDO) and Joint All-Domain Command and Control as terms to describe an over-arching strategy that frames the complexity of warfare across both traditional and emerging warfighting domains. Teaching new and advanced concepts associated with these terms requires both innovation as well as distinct education and training tools in order to realize the cultural change advocated by senior military leaders. BSN, a Collectible Card Game, was developed to teach concepts integral to MDO and initiate discussion on military strategy.

Maximizing Accuracy Through Stereo Vision Camera Positioning For Automated Aerial Refueling, Kirill A. Sarantsev

Theses and Dissertations

Aerial refueling is a key component of the U.S. Air Force strategic arsenal. When two aircraft interact in an aerial refueling operation, the accuracy of relative navigation estimates are critical for the safety, accuracy and success of the mission. Automated Aerial Refueling (AAR) looks to improve the refueling process by creating a more effective system and allowing for Unmanned Aerial Vehicle(s) (UAV) support. This paper considers a cooperative aerial refueling scenario where stereo cameras are used on the tanker to direct a \boom" (a large, long structure through which the fuel will ow) into a port on the receiver aircraft. …

The Afit Engineer, Volume 2, Quarter 1, Graduate School Of Engineering And Management, Air Force Institute Of Technology

AFIT Documents

In this issue:

• STEM Award Winners
• Model Fabrication Shop
• External sponsor funding
• Wetland display model
• and more...

Academic Year 2019-2020 Faculty Excellence Showcase, Afit Graduate School Of Engineering & Management, Graduate School Of Engineering And Management, Air Force Institute Of Technology

AFIT Documents

An excerpt from the Dean's Message:

There is no place like the Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT). There is no academic group like AFIT’s Graduate School of Engineering and Management. Although we run an educational institution similar to many other institutions of higher learning, we are different and unique because of our defense-focused graduate-research-based academic programs. Our programs are designed to be relevant and responsive to national defense needs. Our programs are aligned with the prevailing priorities of the US Air Force and the US Department of Defense. Our faculty team has the requisite critical mass of service-tested faculty …

Development Of A Drone-Mounted Wireless Attack Platform, Nathan V. Barker

Theses and Dissertations

The commercial drone market has grown rapidly due to the increasing utility and capabilities of drones. This new found popularity has made it possible for inexpensive drones capable of impressive carry capacities and flight times to reach the consumer market. These new features also offer an invaluable resource to wireless hackers. Capitalizing on their mobility, a wireless hacker can equip a drone with hacking tools to surpass physical security (e.g. fences) with relative ease and reach wireless networks. This research seeks to experimentally evaluate the ability of a drone-mounted wireless attack platform equipped with a directional antenna to conduct wireless …

Recognizing Potential Cyberspace Warriors Through The Use Of Suspicion Propensity Index, Meghan G. Strang

Theses and Dissertations

The Air Force currently suffers from excessively high attrition rates in the cyberspace career. The field is currently aiming to develop an entrance examination for the career, striving to improve personnel selection and decrease these high attrition rates. The attribute of suspicion is a key focus of the preliminary examination development, theorizing that it is a potential indicator present among competent cyber operators. This research makes use of the Suspicion Propensity Index (SPI), a reliable measure of one’s tendency to be suspicious, along with the highly cited Mayer’s trust questionnaire in order to compare the attributes that appear in successful …

Verifying And Improving A Flight Reference System's Performance, Loren E. Myers

Theses and Dissertations

The 746th Test Squadron (746 TS) at Holloman AFB, NM operates the Ultra High Accuracy Reference System (UHARS) as part of its mission positioning and navigation test. This research presents a method for verifying the performance of a flight reference system using a Delta-Position velocity derived from radio navigation positioning measurements. The algorithm presented may utilize Global Positioning System (GPS) or the Locata ground based positioning system. In the latter case, Locata provides a velocity truth independent from GPS. The accuracy of Locata and GPS are assessed and UHARS velocity measurements are characterized both in nominal and GPS denied applications.

Hybrid Tri-Objective Optimization Of F-15 Fleet Modernization Scheduling, Richard S. Danaher

Theses and Dissertations

The F-15 weapons system is vital to the Air Forces efforts to obtain air supremacy during conflict. Originally produced almost 50 years ago, technological advancement through systems modifications is necessary to ensure the Eagles lethality and survivability against next-generation adversarial threats. The F-15 Systems Program Office faces challenges to plan aircraft inductions for five fleet modernization programs. Optimal induction schedules are developed using binary-integer linear programming models. Diverse constraints such as manpower, equipment, modification kit availability, minimum operational flight levels, and integration of scheduled depot maintenance reveal that no feasible schedule exists. Two competing objectives representing the value of fully …

Microturbine Turbojets: Experimental Evaluation Of Commercially Available Engines, Richard A. Depaola Iii

Theses and Dissertations

This research assessed the performance of commercial microturbine turbojets and was the first industry-wide investigation into this class of engine by AFRL's SERL. Four commercial engines of the same thrust class were evaluated for overall and component-level performance. In addition to providing an evaluation of existing systems, the maximum performance for a commercial turbojet was predicted based on component evaluations. This analysis indicated that a commercial turbojet could have comparable thrust performance to a similarly sized military-grade engine, but it is unlikely that commercial engines can achieve the SFC of military engines without upgrading the compressors found in commercial microturbines.

The Effect Of Aeration Rate And Free-Floating Carrier Media On The Emission Of Bacillus Globigii In Bioaerosols, Andrew J. Owens

Theses and Dissertations

Aerosols produced by turbulent mechanical mixing and bubble aeration at Waste Water Treatment Plants (WWTPs) become bioaerosols with the entrainment of biological materials. Bioaerosols become a public health risk when human pathogens are present. This study evaluated bioaerosols containing Bacillus globigii (BG) spores, and the effects that aeration rate and the addition of Free-Floating Carrier Media (FFCM) had on the amount of BG spores collected following aerosolization. A series of laboratory-scale experiments investigated two different sizes of floating polystyrene spheres as FFCM and four different aeration rates. When the differences in compared aeration rates were sufficiently large, a positive correlation …

Analysis Of Additively Manufactured Rings Under Compression Loading For Use In A Vacuum Lighter Than Air Vehicle Structure, Kevin D. Greenoe

Theses and Dissertations

A Vacuum Lighter Than Air Vehicle (VLTAV) utilizes a lightweight structure paired with an internal vacuum to achieve buoyancy; this allows it to float through-out a given atmosphere. The pressure differential between the internal vacuum andexternal atmosphere places the vehicle under intense loading. A specific structure under investigation is the celestial icosahedron, which features nine intersecting rings that have an outer diameter of 0.2032m and circular cross-sectionalthickness of 5.08mm.The celestials rings are positioned in three different orientations and are analyzed both experimentally and analytically.

Cyber Risk Assessment And Scoring Model For Small Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, Dillon M. Pettit

Theses and Dissertations

The commercial-off-the-shelf small Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) market is expanding rapidly in response to interest from hobbyists, commercial businesses, and military operators. The core commercial mission set directly relates to many current military requirements and strategies, with a priority on short range, low cost, real time aerial imaging, and limited modular payloads. These small vehicles present small radar cross sections, low heat signatures, and carry a variety of sensors and payloads. As with many new technologies, security seems secondary to the goal of reaching the market as soon as innovation is viable. Research indicates a growth in exploits and vulnerabilities …

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 …

Research In Defense Logistics: Where Are We And Where Are We Going?, George A. Zsidisin, Amanda Bresler, Benjamin T. Hazen, Keith F. Schneider, Taylor H. Wilkerson

Faculty Publications

The purpose of this paper is to provide insight on high-interest areas of research in defense-related logistics and supply chain management and opportunities for advancing theory and practice in this domain.