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Air Force Institute of Technology

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Modeling And Analysis Of Multicommodity Network Flows Via Goal Programming, Matthew A. Scott Mar 2002

Modeling And Analysis Of Multicommodity Network Flows Via Goal Programming, Matthew A. Scott

Theses and Dissertations

In this research we focused on the mobility system modeled by the AMC mobility planner's calculator (AMPCALC). We developed AMPCALC as a user-friendly tool and allow the user to easily carry out strategic airlift, air refueling and aeromedical evacuation calculations that are covered in Air Force Pamphlet 10-1403. In this study, Excel software and its macro language, Visual Basic for Application, are our two main tools. In the methodology of the thesis we examined fundamental aspects of the mobility system in AMPCALC. We discussed formulation logic of the mobility cycle. We presented ramp use optimization and tanker optimization processes. We …

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Air Vehicle Path Planning, Jeffrey M. Hebert Dec 2001

Air Vehicle Path Planning, Jeffrey M. Hebert

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation explores optimal path planning for air vehicles. An air vehicle exposed to illumination by a tracking radar is considered and the problem of determining an optimal planar trajectory connecting two prespecified points is addressed. An analytic solution yielding the trajectory minimizing the received radar energy reflected from the target is derived using the Calculus of Variations. Additionally, the related problem of an air vehicle tracked by a passive sensor is also solved. Using the insights gained from the single air vehicle radar exposure minimization problem, a hierarchical cooperative control law is formulated to determine the optimal trajectories that …

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Modeling And Analysis Of Social Networks, Robert S. Renfro Ii Dec 2001

Modeling And Analysis Of Social Networks, Robert S. Renfro Ii

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation develops new methods for the modeling and analysis of social networks. Social networks describe the complex relationships of individuals and groups in multiple overlapping contexts. Influence in a social network impacts behavior and decision making in every setting in which individuals participate. This study defines a methodology for modeling and analyzing this complex behavior using a Flow-Model representation. Multiple objectives in an influencing effort targeted at a social network are modeled using Goal Programming. Value Focused Thinking is applied to model influence and predict decisions based on the reaction of the psychological state of individuals to environmental stimuli. …

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Theater-Level Stochastic Air-To-Air Engagement Modeling Via Event Occurrence Networks Using Piecewise Polynomial Approximation, David R. Denhard Sep 2001

Theater-Level Stochastic Air-To-Air Engagement Modeling Via Event Occurrence Networks Using Piecewise Polynomial Approximation, David R. Denhard

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation investigates a stochastic network formulation termed an event occurrence network (EON). EONs are graphical representations of the superposition of several terminating counting processes. An EON arc represents the occurrence of an event from a group of (sequential) events before the occurrence of events from other event groupings. Events between groups occur independently, but events within a group occur sequentially. A set of arcs leaving a node is a set of competing events, which are probabilistically resolved by order relations. An important EON metric is the probability of being at a particular node or set of nodes at time …

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Air Force Institute Of Technology Research Report 2000, Office Of The Associate Dean For Research And Consulting, Graduate School Of Engineering And Management, Afit Apr 2001

Air Force Institute Of Technology Research Report 2000, Office Of The Associate Dean For Research And Consulting, Graduate School Of Engineering And Management, Afit

AFIT Documents

This report summarizes the research activities of the Air Force Institute of Technology’s Graduate School of Engineering and Management. It describes research interests and faculty expertise; lists student theses/dissertations; identifies research sponsors and contributions; and outlines the procedures for contacting the school. Included in the report are: faculty publications, conference presentations, consultations, and funded research projects. Research was conducted in the areas of Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering, Electrical Engineering and Electro-Optics, Computer Engineering and Computer Science, Systems and Engineering Management, Operational Sciences, and Engineering Physics.

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An Analysis Of The Computer And Network Attack Taxonomy, Richard C. Daigle Mar 2001

An Analysis Of The Computer And Network Attack Taxonomy, Richard C. Daigle

Theses and Dissertations

The Air Force's dependence on the Internet continues to increase daily. However, this increased dependence comes with risks. The popularity and potential of the Internet attracts users with illegal as well as legal intentions. Since the Air Force considers the Internet an integral component of its information Operations strategy, the Air Force must be confident that it can trust the security of this component. Therefore, reliable methods and information that helps the Air Force classify the risks associated with the Internet can help the Air Force determine the best processes to assure the security of its use of this resource. …

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The Effect Of External Safeguards On Human-Information System Trust In An Information Warfare Environment, Gregory S. Fields Mar 2001

The Effect Of External Safeguards On Human-Information System Trust In An Information Warfare Environment, Gregory S. Fields

Theses and Dissertations

This research looks at how human trust in an information system is influenced by external safeguards in an Information Warfare (1W) domain. Information systems are relied upon in command and control environments to provide fast and reliable information to the decision-makers. The degree of reliance placed in these systems by the decision-makers suggests a significant level of trust. Understanding this trust relationship and what effects it is the focus of this study. A model is proposed that predicts behavior associated with human trust in information systems. It is hypothesized that a decision-maker's belief in the effectiveness of external safeguards will …

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Quality Initiatives In The Air Force Development Of Reusable Launch Vehicles, Charles S. Galbreath Mar 2001

Quality Initiatives In The Air Force Development Of Reusable Launch Vehicles, Charles S. Galbreath

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis identifies useful tools and techniques available to aid the Air Force development of a reusable launch vehicle (RLV). These tools are identified by comparing traits found within the Lean Aerospace Initiative, Six Sigma and systems engineering. While identified specifically for the RLV effort, these tools and techniques will be of use to many development programs. Historical perspectives of both RLV development efforts within the Air Force and origins of modern quality teachings are provided to establish a common foundation of knowledge, upon which, further analysis can be conducted. This thesis, also, summarizes the current RLV effort within the …

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Analysis Of The Effect Of Centralizing Management Of Mobility Readiness Spares Package Assets, Ian R. Hester Mar 2001

Analysis Of The Effect Of Centralizing Management Of Mobility Readiness Spares Package Assets, Ian R. Hester

Theses and Dissertations

Air Force supply doctrine requires the management of large numbers of spare parts in Mobility Readiness Spares Packages (MRSPs). The MRSPs are designed to support deployed aircraft for the first 30 days of a conflict, and can be quite large. When units from several bases deploy to the same operating location, they each bring their full MRSP. This results in a large logistics footprint that may be reduced by taking a system-level approach. This thesis examined the impact of centralized MRSP management on kit size and cost. The Aircraft Sustainability Model (ASM) computer program was used to evaluate MRSPs for …

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The Affect Of Varying Arousal Methods Upon Vigilance And Error Detection In An Automated Command And Control Environment, Brent T. Langhals Mar 2001

The Affect Of Varying Arousal Methods Upon Vigilance And Error Detection In An Automated Command And Control Environment, Brent T. Langhals

Theses and Dissertations

This study focused on improving vigilance performance through developing methods to arouse subjects to the possibility of errors in a data manipulation information warfare attack. The study suggests that by continuously applying arousal stimuli, subjects would retain initially high vigilance levels thereby avoiding the vigilance decrement phenomenon and improving error detection. The research focused on which methods were the most effective as well the impact of age upon the arousability of the subjects. Further the implications of vigilance and vigilance decrement for correct detections as well as productivity were explored. The study used a simulation experiment to provide a vigilance …

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Models For Data Source Tracking With Xml, Teoman Yoruk Mar 2001

Models For Data Source Tracking With Xml, Teoman Yoruk

Theses and Dissertations

The Air Force Research arch Laboratory, Sensors Directorate Electronic Warfare Simulation Branch (APRL/SNZW) is responsible for developing and maintaining real-world and hypothetical scenarios for an array of threat engagement simulation systems. The general for scenario creation involves mapping from real-world databases and operations plans to specific fields in the input files represent the scenario. As part of the AFRL/SNZW's overall initiative for the development of a Concurrent Engineering Real-Time database CORrelation tool (CERCORT), as important to the scenario files themselves is the capability to trace hack to the source of data for the scenario fields. Acquiring this capability consequently results …

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Effects Of Alternative Performance Criteria Upon Composition Of Air Transportable Spare Parts Kits, Murat V. Buyukacar Mar 2001

Effects Of Alternative Performance Criteria Upon Composition Of Air Transportable Spare Parts Kits, Murat V. Buyukacar

Theses and Dissertations

Airlift capacity is a definitive factor in the success of large-scale military operations. History proves that the demand for airlift soon exceeds its capacity during simultaneous deployment of forces. Therefore good solutions to the airlift capacity problem are important. This thesis contributes to the resolution of this problem by seeking ways to reduce readiness spare parts packages (RSPs) deployed for Air Force squadrons through addition of airlift criteria into the RSP selection process. We find that item cost, weight, and volume are three important criteria for RSP computations. We then offer a method for implementing these three criteria in the …

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Analysis And Evaluation Of The Macroscopic Organizational Structure Of Red Horse, Lance D. Clark Mar 2001

Analysis And Evaluation Of The Macroscopic Organizational Structure Of Red Horse, Lance D. Clark

Theses and Dissertations

The primary contingency engineering capability within the United States Air Force is provided by Rapid Engineer Deployable, Heavy Operations Readiness Squadron, Engineer (RED HORSE). This thesis examines the macroscopic organizational structure of RED HORSE; that is, the manner in which RED HORSE resources (personnel and equipment) are organized collectively, above the unit (squadron or flight) level. It builds on the findings of the Air Combat Command - sponsored RED HORSE 2010 Strategic Study, and focuses on issues of geographic location and chain of command above the unit level, as the study found these two topics were found to be vital …

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An Analysis Of The Interaction Between The J3 And J4 War Planning Staffs During The Phases Of Crisis Action Planning, Michael J. Colvard Mar 2001

An Analysis Of The Interaction Between The J3 And J4 War Planning Staffs During The Phases Of Crisis Action Planning, Michael J. Colvard

Theses and Dissertations

A principal operational concept of Joint Vision 2020 is that of Focused Logistics, which promotes a merger of information and logistics technologies. The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency's Advanced Logistics Project (ALP) supports this concept of Focused Logistics and seeks to leverage information technologies to obtain control over the logistics pipeline. The current campaign planning process is limited by the information made available to the decision-makers. In order for ALP to assist the decision-maker in selecting a single optimal deployment plan, the founding assumptions of alternatives considered must be valid. Logistical issues are major constraints in the war planning process. …

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An Analysis Of Civil Engineer Officer Contingency Training, Rusty J. Vaira Mar 2001

An Analysis Of Civil Engineer Officer Contingency Training, Rusty J. Vaira

Theses and Dissertations

The primary objective of this research was to investigate the current overall civil engineer officer contingency training program and determine if civil engineer officers think it is adequately preparing them to perform in a contingency environment. In accomplishing this objective, this research explored the perceptions that officers have about the contingency training that is available through three primary training programs (Home Station Training, Silver Flag training, and Civil Engineer and Services School training). The overall intent of the author was to gauge how the officers feel about their contingency training and offer some suggestions on how to improve the training. …

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An Evaluation Of Information Technology (It) Outsourcing Determinants Within The Department Of Defense (Dod), Alexander J. Barelka Mar 2001

An Evaluation Of Information Technology (It) Outsourcing Determinants Within The Department Of Defense (Dod), Alexander J. Barelka

Theses and Dissertations

Each year the Department of Defense (DoD) spends billions of dollars on information technology (IT) outsourcing. However, little formal or academic guidance has appeared that explains how, why, or even when this occurs. This study presents and evaluates several determinants that may impact a decision to outsource information technology systems in the Department of Defense. It begins with the development of a conceptual model, which was created using semi-structured interviews and an extensive literature search. This model was then matured into an analytic version by using the Delphi method, which is an accepted methodology to use when insufficient or no …

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A Process For Vectoring Offensive Information Warfare As A Primary Weapon Option Within The United States Air Force, Sheila G. Bennett Mar 2001

A Process For Vectoring Offensive Information Warfare As A Primary Weapon Option Within The United States Air Force, Sheila G. Bennett

Theses and Dissertations

Consistently and comprehensively using Information Operations (IO) capabilities as primary weapon option within the Air Force is the next step to operationalizing IO within the Air Force. Doctrine and official guidance has set the variables of mission and concepts of operations, organizational structure, and IW players in place. The missing variable to operationalizing IO and probably the most difficult is the 'how' or process of the equation. This research will introduce a useable process that can be incorporated within the Air Force for integrating offensive IW activities into the current and given environment. The process is the basis for further …

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Malicious Hackers: A Framework For Analysis And Case Study, Laura J. Kleen Mar 2001

Malicious Hackers: A Framework For Analysis And Case Study, Laura J. Kleen

Theses and Dissertations

Recent years have seen an increase in the number and severity of Information Operations (IO) attacks upon DoD resources. At a higher level, the US as a whole has come under cyber attack by individuals and groups seeking thrills, monetary gain, publicity for their causes, and myriad other goals. This effort develops a first cut model of individual hacker mentality that can be utilized to improve threat assessment, mitigate Information Assurance (IA) vulnerabilities, and improve risk assessment. Further, it is a first step toward automated characterization of Information Warfare (IW) attacks based upon hacker types. All hackers are not the …

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Modeling Information Assurance, Joseph E. Beauregard Mar 2001

Modeling Information Assurance, Joseph E. Beauregard

Theses and Dissertations

The ever-increasing speed of information systems allows decision-makers around the world to gather, process, and disseminate information almost instantaneously. However, with this benefit there comes a price. Information is valuable and therefore a target to those who do not have it or wish to destroy it. The Internet has allowed information to flow freely, but it has also made information vulnerable to many forms of corruption. The U. S. military controls much of the world's most sensitive information, and since it cannot sacrifice losing the speed at which this information is currently processed and disseminated, it must find a way …

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The Effects Of Budgetary Constraints, Multiple Strategy Selection, And Rationality On Equilibrium Attainment In An Information Warfare Simulation, Steven W. Tait Mar 2001

The Effects Of Budgetary Constraints, Multiple Strategy Selection, And Rationality On Equilibrium Attainment In An Information Warfare Simulation, Steven W. Tait

Theses and Dissertations

Information warfare (IW) has developed into a significant threat to the national security of the United States. Our critical infrastructures, linked together by information systems, are increasingly vulnerable to information attack. This study seeks to understand some of those factors which affect the ability of an individual to make accurate decisions in an IW environment. The study used game theory to analyze the behavior of decision-makers within an IW simulation. The IW game model is based on a set of games known as infinitely repeated games of incomplete information. It uses the Bayesian Nash equilibrium concept to determine the strategy …

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Brac To The Future: An Analysis Of Past Savings From Base Closings, Charles S. Tapp Ii Mar 2001

Brac To The Future: An Analysis Of Past Savings From Base Closings, Charles S. Tapp Ii

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis uses regression to analyze the savings resulting from the previous four rounds of BRAC in terms of their effect on each of the Air Force budget appropriations. For each appropriation, while the number of major installations initially appears to be a significant determinant in explaining the change in the budget, the number of bases becomes insignificant if a surrogate for Air Force mission requirements is included as the explanatory variable. We tested three surrogate measures for mission requirements: number of flying hours, number of aircraft, and number of active duty personnel. In each case, we found the number …

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Core Competency Identification: Prescriptions For Air Force Major Commands To Follow, Richard E. Wells Mar 2001

Core Competency Identification: Prescriptions For Air Force Major Commands To Follow, Richard E. Wells

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this research was to produce a set of prescriptions that will facilitate the process of identifying a USAF command's set of core competencies. Theoretical approaches to outsourcing show the need for an organization to identify its own set of core competencies; however, there seems to be no set way for this identification process to be accomplished. This research will provide critical information to approach this important task. USAF commands that can identify their core competencies (and subsequently act on them) will become leaders in the Department of Defense (DoD), with the potential to reshape the DoD through …

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The Effect Of Contextual-Based Training On Artifact-Based Deception Detection, Elizabeth A. Autrey Mar 2001

The Effect Of Contextual-Based Training On Artifact-Based Deception Detection, Elizabeth A. Autrey

Theses and Dissertations

Air Force dependence on information technology (IT) creates vulnerabilities that it cannot ignore. With global availability of commercial IT and the Internet, the Air Force does not necessarily have the high technological advantage over potential adversaries that it once had. Furthermore, it is possible to directly and covertly manipulate information within information systems, or artifacts, without notice. This directly affects decision makers since the availability and integrity of information is critical. Air Force physical and network security measures taken to protect its information do not guarantee detection of direct information manipulation. This leaves it to information artifact users to detect …

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A Semantic Interface To Scenario Component Reuse In Dod Simulation Systems, Lawrence A. Breighner Mar 2001

A Semantic Interface To Scenario Component Reuse In Dod Simulation Systems, Lawrence A. Breighner

Theses and Dissertations

The Department of Defense utilizes various simulation systems to model employment of forces and weapons systems in operational environments. The data files that model these environments and weapons systems are extremely large and complex, and require many person-hours to develop. Compounding the problem, these data files are distributed across multiple systems in a heterogeneous environment. Currently, there is no automated means of identifying and retrieving reusable portions of these files for reuse in a new scenario under development. This work develops a multi-agent system that catalogs the files, and provides the user with a means of identifying and retrieving reusable …

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A Radial Basis Function Neural Network Approach To Two-Color Infrared Missile Detection, Kin-Weng Chan Mar 2001

A Radial Basis Function Neural Network Approach To Two-Color Infrared Missile Detection, Kin-Weng Chan

Theses and Dissertations

Multicolor infrared imaging missile-warning systems require real-time detection techniques that can process the wide instantaneous field of regard of focal plane array sensors with a low false alarm rate. Current technology applies classical statistical methods to this problem and ignores neural network techniques. Thus the research reported here is novel in that it investigates the use of radial basis function (RBF) neural networks to detect sub-pixel missile signatures. An RBF neural network is designed and trained to detect targets in two-color infrared imagery using a recently developed regression tree algorithm. Features are calculated for 3 by 3 pixel sub-images in …

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Weapon System Environmental Life Cycle Cost Methodologies And Models, William H. Kale Iii Mar 2001

Weapon System Environmental Life Cycle Cost Methodologies And Models, William H. Kale Iii

Theses and Dissertations

Major Defense Acquisition Programs (MDAP) cost billions of dollars and have 30 to 50 year life spans. Numerous (federal, state, etc.) laws, Environmental Protection Agency regulations, and Executive Orders have driven DoD to develop and implement significant environmental policies within the past ten to fifteen years. Congressional mandate now requires each MDAP to evaluate its environmental life cycle cost (ELCC) to minimize these costs. This research focuses on the current methodologies and models used to predict and calculate the ELCC of a MDAP. This thesis analyzed the difficulties associated with using ELCC methodologies and models and examined several case studies …

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Forecasting Readiness: Using Regression To Predict The Mission Capability Of Air Force F-16 Fighter Aircraft, Steven A. Oliver Mar 2001

Forecasting Readiness: Using Regression To Predict The Mission Capability Of Air Force F-16 Fighter Aircraft, Steven A. Oliver

Theses and Dissertations

According to many, the readiness of America's forces deteriorated in the 1990s. In the Air Force, the combat readiness of its fighter aircraft has declined. One of its indicators of combat readiness, the mission capable rate, is used to identify the percentage of aircraft unable to perform their missions. From FY94-FY98, the aggregate total not mission capable rate for maintenance steadily increased from 14% to 18.2% while total not mission capable rate for supply increased from 5.5% to 17.5% between FY86 and FY00. The USAF uses the funding/Availability Multi-Method Allocator for Spares model to forecast these rates for its aircraft. …

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Using A Distributed Object-Oriented Database Management System In Support Of A High-Speed Network Intrusion Detection System Data Repository, Phillip W. Polk Mar 2001

Using A Distributed Object-Oriented Database Management System In Support Of A High-Speed Network Intrusion Detection System Data Repository, Phillip W. Polk

Theses and Dissertations

The Air Force has multiple initiatives to develop data repositories for high-speed network intrusion detection systems (IDS). All of the developed systems utilize a relational database management system (RDBMS) as the primary data storage mechanism. The purpose of this thesis is to replace the RDBMS in one such system developed by AFRL, the Automated Intrusion Detection Environment (AIDE), with a distributed object-oriented database management system (DOODBMS) and observe a number of areas: its performance against the RDBMS in terms of IDS event insertion and retrieval, the distributed aspects of the new system, and the resulting object-oriented architecture. The resulting system, …

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Air Force Institute Of Technology Research Report 1999, Office Of The Associate Dean For Research And Consulting, Graduate School Of Engineering And Management, Afit May 2000

Air Force Institute Of Technology Research Report 1999, Office Of The Associate Dean For Research And Consulting, Graduate School Of Engineering And Management, Afit

AFIT Documents

This report summarizes the research activities of the Air Force Institute of Technology’s Graduate School of Engineering and Management. It describes research interests and faculty expertise; lists student theses/dissertations; identifies research sponsors and contributions; and outlines the procedures for contacting the school. Included in the report are: faculty publications, conference presentations, consultations, and funded research projects. Research was conducted in the areas of Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering, Electrical Engineering and Electro-Optics, Computer Engineering and Computer Science, Systems and Engineering Management, Operational Sciences, and Engineering Physics.

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Unmanned Research Vehicle (Urv): Development, Implementation, & Flight Test Of A Mimo Digital Flight Control System Designed Using Quantitative Feedback Theory, Constantine H. Houpis, Steven J. Rasmussen Apr 2000

Unmanned Research Vehicle (Urv): Development, Implementation, & Flight Test Of A Mimo Digital Flight Control System Designed Using Quantitative Feedback Theory, Constantine H. Houpis, Steven J. Rasmussen

Faculty Publications

The Quantitative Feedback Theory (QFT) design technique, which has the ability to bridge the gap between theory and the real-world control design problem, is utilized in the design of a MIMO digital flight control system for an unmanned research vehicle (URV) that is presented in this paper. The design illustrates how the real-world knowledge of the plant to be controlled and the desired performance specifications can be utilized in trying to achieve a successful robust design for a nonlinear control problem. This paper presents some of the issues involved in developing, implementing, and flight testing a flight control system (FCS) …

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