Engineering Commons^™

Application Of Systems Engineering To Rapid Prototyping For Close Air Support, John M. Colombi, Richard G. Cobb

Faculty Publications

Twenty-first century military operations have brought forth many new challenges for the Armed Forces of the United States. One such challenge is with new operating environments, where current systems are not always effective. While it is desirable to apply a systems engineering approach to best meet critical user needs, there may be a misconception that systems engineering requires a lengthy and detailed process not nimble enough for a rapid prototyping effort. This article describes how a classic systems engineering methodology was successfully tailored to the rapid development of potential material solutions to meet a critical operational need. Key observations are …

A Service Choice Model For Optimizing Taxi Service Delivery, Shih-Fen Cheng, Xin Qu

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

Taxi service has undergone radical revamp in recent years. In particular, significant investments in communication system and GPS devices have improved quality of taxi services through better dispatches. In this paper, we propose to leverage on such infrastructure and build a service choice model that helps individual drivers in deciding whether to serve a specific taxi stand or not. We demonstrate the value of our model by applying it to a real-world scenario. We also highlight interesting new potential approaches that could significantly improve the quality of taxi services.

Sharing Mobile Multimedia Annotations To Support Inquiry-Based Learning Using Mobitop, Khasfariyati Razikin, Dion Hoe-Lian Goh, Yin-Leng Theng, Quang Minh Nguyen, Thi Nhu Quynh Kim, Ee Peng Lim, Chew-Hung Chang, Kalyani Chatterjea, Aixin Sun

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

Mobile devices used in educational settings are usually employed within a collaborative learning activity in which learning takes place in the form of social interactions between team members while performing a shared task. We introduce MobiTOP (Mobile Tagging of Objects and People), a geospatial digital library system which allows users to contribute and share multimedia annotations via mobile devices. A key feature of MobiTOP that is well suited for collaborative learning is that annotations are hierarchical, allowing annotations to be annotated by other users to an arbitrary depth. A group of student-teachers involved in an inquiry-based learning activity in geography …

Reinforcement-Learning-Based Output-Feedback Control Of Nonstrict Nonlinear Discrete-Time Systems With Application To Engine Emission Control, Peter Shih, Brian C. Kaul, Jagannathan Sarangapani, J. A. Drallmeier

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

A novel reinforcement-learning-based output adaptive neural network (NN) controller, which is also referred to as the adaptive-critic NN controller, is developed to deliver the desired tracking performance for a class of nonlinear discrete-time systems expressed in nonstrict feedback form in the presence of bounded and unknown disturbances. The adaptive-critic NN controller consists of an observer, a critic, and two action NNs. The observer estimates the states and output, and the two action NNs provide virtual and actual control inputs to the nonlinear discrete-time system. The critic approximates a certain strategic utility function, and the action NNs minimize the strategic utility …

Course Portfolio - Discrete Event Simulation, Paul Savory

Department of Industrial and Management Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

This course portfolio, written by Dr. Paul Savory, provides an overview of his Discrete Event Simulation course at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. It offers an overview of the course goals, a summary of the classroom activities for achieving them, and a detailed assessment of student learning. He highlights his introduction of the simul8 programming environment to his students. In addition to exploring his students’ learning, Dr. Savory also explores different approaches for documenting his teaching by including multimedia clips (video and audio), uses graphs, uses color, and incorporates images. The resulting portfolio is one that can be reviewed, shared, and …

Effect Of Manufacturer's Joint Fastening Techniques On Compression Strength Of Corrugated Fiberboard Boxes, Jay Singh, A. Attema, Eric Olsen, Keith Vorst

Industrial Technology and Packaging

A flat piece of corrugated fiberboard, which has been cut, slotted and scored, is often referred to as a box blank. For several box styles, in order to convert the box blank into a box, its two ends must be fastened together with tape, staples or adhesives such as water soluble glues. The location at which the two ends meet is known as the manufacturer's joint. There are several variations within the three fastening techniques mentioned with most corrugated box manufacturers following their own protocols for fastening the manufacturer's joints. This study explored the compression and tensile strengths of RSC …

A Job-Shop Scheduling Model Using Genetic Algorithm And Giffler Thompson Approach, Nikhil Deepak Bumb

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Theses & Dissertations

The major objective of this thesis topic is to study the challenging research subject of job shop scheduling with the intent of optimizing the makespan. The job - shop scheduling problem is one of the hardest combinatorial optimization problems. The main aim of scheduling is an efficient allocation of shared resources like machines, operators or both over time for competing activities.

This research focuses on developing a model for optimizing job shop scheduling problem using genetic algorithm and the Giffler Thompson (priority dispatching rule) technique. Considering different parameters, the model comes up with an appropriate way to schedule the tasks …

Energy-Efficient, Flow-Specific Medium Access Using Preamble Sampling, T. Owens Walker Iii, Murali Tummala, John Mceachen

United States Navy: Publications

Current wireless sensor network applications face challenging power constraints that demand low duty cycles. In this paper, we propose an energy-efficient, flow-specific medium access scheme that is capable of achieving low duty cycles while taking advantage of the performance improvements available through a flow-specific medium access approach. The scheme is based on an adaptive sleep and wake cycle that responds to changes in both contention and non-contention traffic loads through the use of preamble sampling. A preamble sampling probability parameter is introduced to manage the trade-off between energy efficiency and network throughput and delay performance. A performance analysis is conducted …

Model For Virtual Physical Layer Communication Over Deployed Wireless Sensor Networks, Thomas Childers, Yow Thiam Poh, John Mceachen, Murali Tummala

United States Navy: Publications

A method for file transfer utilizing forward error correction (FEC) to pass traffic over deployed wireless sensor networks is studied. The entire wireless sensor network is modeled as an error-prone virtual physical link. Previous work in the area of terminal communication across the sensor network is expanded upon to include file transfer in order to provide a more capable channel and a basis for testing the performance obtained through erasure coding. The results of the FEC implementation are examined using multiple sensor network configurations. While the error correction method proved effective, larger topologies presented congestion issues due to the sensors’ …

Enabling Rfid Technology In Irish Hospitals, Khaled Ismail, Amr Arisha

Conference papers

Hospitals represent a significant part of healthcare systems and account for no less than 60% of the entire healthcare service in most of developed countries. Therefore, improving service in hospitals is an important element to the process of healthcare reform. Better use of resources, more consistent quality, and a higher service level are the keys to rationalise the huge expenditure in healthcare systems due to higher growth in demand. Even though massive spending has been directed towards hospital improvement in Ireland, services provided in Irish hospitals are ranked relatively low comparing to the other European countries. Growth of population, aging, …

Risk Assessment Model For Emergency Departments In Dublin Hospitals, Michael Thorwarth, Amr Arisha

Conference papers

The internal dynamics of emergency departments (ED) in Irish hospitals represent complex non-linear stochastic systems with an environment of uncertainty, variability and limited resources. Planning and managing such systems pose overwhelming demands. To improve operations, patient service, resource planning, and real-time reaction to unexpected events, sophisticated tools to efficiently achieve these goals must be applied.

Advanced solution techniques (e.g. simulation and optimisation) have been successfully applied in manufacturing operations to improve the delivery, cost-effectiveness and service quality. Yet, random arrival of patients, limited resources and multitasking are challenges in EDs that add more complexity to this critical area. This study …

Optimisation Methods In Supply Chain Applications: A Review, Amr Arisha, Waleed Abo Hamad

Conference papers

The competitiveness and dynamic nature of today’s marketplace is due to rapid advances in information technology, short product life cycles and the continuing trend in global outsourcing. Managing the resulting supply chain networks effectively is a complex and challenging task which is imputable to high level of uncertainty in supply-demand, conflict objectives, vagueness of information, numerous decision variables and constraints. With such level of complexity in the environment, supply chain optimisation has a potential to make a significant contribution to resolve the challenges. In this paper, a literature review – based on more than one hundred peer-reviewed articles – of …

Acuta Enews September 2009, Vol. 38, No. 9

ACUTA Newsletters

In This Issue

From ACUTA Headquarters: Higher Ed Weighs in with IRS on Celt Phones ....Jeri Semer, CAE, Exec. Dir

What Will You Learn in Portland?

Tech Talk: Wake Up, Little Computer ................Kevin Tanzillo, Dux PR

DC Update ...........Dave Ostrom, Washington State University (retired)

lnfo Links ............. Randy Hayes, Univ. of Northern lowa

"Financial Crisis Activity in Washington" Newsletter for ACUTA Members

How People use Smartphones Harvard Business Publishing

Bring the Summit on UC or Annual Conference to Your Desktop

The analog Line ls Dead? Not Yet .Gory Audin, Delphi, lnc.

Welcome New Members

Check lt Out: Press Releases, Job …

Detecting Automotive Exhaust Gas Based On Fuzzy Inference System, Li. Shujin, Ming Bai, Quan Wang, Bo Chen, Xiaobing Zhao, Ting Yang, Zhaoxia Wang

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

This paper proposes a method of detecting automotive exhaust gas based on fuzzy logic inference after analyzing the principle of the infrared automobile exhaust gas analyzer and the influence of the environmental temperature on analyzer. This paper analyses the measurement error caused by environmental temperature, and then makes a non-linear error correction of temperature for the infrared sensor using fuzzy inference. The results of simulation have clearly demonstrated that the proposed fuzzy compensation scheme is better than the non-fuzzy method.

Font Size: Make Font Size Smaller Make Font Size Default Make Font Size Larger Exploiting Coordination Locales In Distributed Pomdps Via Social Model Shaping, Pradeep Varakantham, Jun Young Kwak, Matthew Taylor, Janusz Marecki, Paul Scerri, Milind Tambe

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

Distributed POMDPs provide an expressive framework for modeling multiagent collaboration problems, but NEXPComplete complexity hinders their scalability and application in real-world domains. This paper introduces a subclass of distributed POMDPs, and TREMOR, an algorithm to solve such distributed POMDPs. The primary novelty of TREMOR is that agents plan individually with a single agent POMDP solver and use social model shaping to implicitly coordinate with other agents. Experiments demonstrate that TREMOR can provide solutions orders of magnitude faster than existing algorithms while achieving comparable, or even superior, solution quality.

Optical Acquisition And Polar Decomposition Of The Full-Field Deformation Gradient Tensor Within A Fracture Callus, Wangdo Kim, Sean S. Kohles

Mechanical and Materials Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

Tracking tissue deformation is often hampered by material inhomogeneity, so local measurements tend to be insufficient thus lending to the necessity of full-field optical measurements. This study presents a novel approach to factoring heterogeneous deformation of soft and hard tissues in a fracture callus by introducing an anisotropic metric derived from the deformation gradient tensor (F). The deformation gradient tensor contains all the information available in a Green-Lagrange strain tensor, plus the rigid-body rotational components. A recent study [Bottlang et al., J. Biomech. 41(3), 2008] produced full-field strains within ovine fracture calluses acquired through the application of electronic speckle pattern …

Unmanned Aircraft System Propulsion Systems Technology Survey, Christopher Griffis, Timothy Wilson, Jeffrey Schneider, Peter Pierpont

Publications

This technology survey is an investigation of various propulsion systems used in Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS). Discussed are existing and near-future propulsion mechanisms of UAS, such as reciprocating piston engines, Wankel rotary engines, gas turbine engines, rocket-powered systems, electric motors, and battery-based systems. Also discussed are systems that use proton exchange membrane fuel cells, photovoltaics, ultracapacitors, and propellers. Each system is described in reference to a larger conceptual framework, with instances and profiles of existing UAS employing the system being described. Advantages and disadvantages of each type of propulsion system are identified along with associated technical issues and their respective …

Design Of Experiments As A Means Of Lean Value Delivery To The Flight Test Enterprise, Aaron A. Tucker, Cihan H. Dagli

Engineering Management and Systems Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Modern flight test tends to be a complex, expensive undertaking, so any increases in efficiency would result in considerable savings. Lean thinking is an effective method to identify value and eliminate waste and is particularly effective when applied to the entire flight test enterprise. Design of experiments is a statistical methodology that results in highly efficient flight test where only the samples needed are collected and analyzed. the application of design of experiments to flight test's value stream can result in a significant increase in lean value to the stakeholders and a reduction of waste. Design of experiments uses objective, …

Synthesis, Interdiction, And Protection Of Layered Networks, Kevin T. Kennedy

Theses and Dissertations

This research developed the foundation, theory, and framework for a set of analysis techniques to assist decision makers in analyzing questions regarding the synthesis, interdiction, and protection of infrastructure networks. This includes extension of traditional network interdiction to directly model nodal interdiction; new techniques to identify potential targets in social networks based on extensions of shortest path network interdiction; extension of traditional network interdiction to include layered network formulations; and develops models/techniques to design robust layered networks while considering trade-offs with cost. These approaches identify the maximum protection/disruption possible across layered networks with limited resources, find the most robust layered …

Changes In Structural Health Monitoring System Capability Due To Aircraft Environmental Factors, Jeffrey D. Kuhn

Theses and Dissertations

Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) promises to decrease the maintenance cost and increase the availability of aging aircraft fleets by fundamentally changing the way structural inspections are performed. But this promise can only be realized through the consistent and predictable performance of a SHM system throughout the entire remaining life of an aircraft. In a sensor-based SHM system, sensor signal changes are analyzed and interpreted to identify structural flaws. But aircraft environmental factors such as temperature fluctuations, cyclic strain and exposure to various aircraft fluids also have the potential to change SHM sensor signals, raising questions about long term SHM system …

Water Purification In Haiti : An Engineers Without Borders Project, Melissa Valoura

Theses

The objective of this thesis was to present the necessary steps to help a town in Haiti develop an organization focused on improving their water quality. It goes through the technology needed to create the organization and explains the procedures for implementing a charitable project in a foreign country. A narrative of the student project in Milot, Haiti, where students from the New Jersey Institute of Technology's Engineers Without Borders Chapter implemented a water purification project, explains the course of action that was taken and gives an example of a successful project. A summary of Haiti and its history paints …

Kc-135 Simulator Systems Engineering Case Study, Air Force Center For Systems Engineering, Macaulay-Brown, Inc., Don Chrislaghi, Richard Dyer, Free Jay

AFIT Documents

No abstract provided.

Learning Without Default: A Study Of One-Class Classification And The Low-Default Portfolio Problem, Kenneth Kennedy, Brian Mac Namee, Sarah Jane Delany

Conference papers

This paper asks at what level of class imbalance one-class classifiers outperform two-class classifiers in credit scoring problems in which class imbalance, referred to as the low-default portfolio problem, is a serious issue. The question is answered by comparing the performance of a variety of one-class and two-class classifiers on a selection of credit scoring datasets as the class imbalance is manipulated. We also include random oversampling as this is one of the most common approaches to addressing class imbalance. This study analyses the suitability and performance of recognised two-class classifiers and one-class classifiers. Based on our study we conclude …

Global Hawk Systems Engineering Case Study, Air Force Center For Systems Engineering, Bill Kinzig

AFIT Documents

No abstract provided.

A Computer-Based Approach To Material And Process Selection Using Sustainability And Ecological Criteria, Manocher Djassemi

Industrial Technology and Packaging

Decision on selecting a material or process for a particular product is a common task in product engineering and facility planning. Such decision may have a significant impact on entire product life cycle including raw material acquisition, product manufacture, use, disposal, and environment. Traditional factors for decision making are economical, functional and aesthetical properties of the product. However, the issues of sustainability and environmental impact of materials and manufacturing processes have gained a growing attention in recent decade by general population as well as academicians and industrial practitioners. The objective of this study is to explore a software tool for …

Acuta Enews August 2009, Vol. 38, No. 8

ACUTA Newsletters

In This Issue

From the President..................Harvey "Buck" Buchanan, Florida State Univ., ACUTA President

Tech Talk: Technology and the Death of the Vacation............... Kevin Tanzillo, Dux PR

DC Update...................... Dove Ostrom, Washington State Univ. (retired)

ACUTA Online Learning Community Opportunity

Financial Crisis Activity in Washington Newsetter

Deadline for Video Relay & lP Relay Service Users

lnfo Links ................. Randy Hayes, Univ. of Northern lowa

Board Report.......................George Denbow, Univ. of Texas-Austin, ACUTA Secretary/Treasurer

Catt for Presentations: Blaze New Traits in 2010

Getting the lCT Staff on the Same UC Page.........................Gary Audin, Delphi, Inc.

Welcome New Members

Check lt Out: Press Releases...Job Postings...RFls/RFPs...Special …

Multilayer Image Inpainting Approach Based On Neural Networks, Quan Wang, Zhaoxia Wang, Che Sau Chang, Ting Yang

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

This paper describes an image inpainting approach based on the self-organizing map for dividing an image into several layers, assigning each damaged pixel to one layer, and then restoring these damaged pixels by the information of their respective layer. These inpainted layers are then fused together to provide the final inpainting results. This approach takes advantage of the neural network's ability of imitating human's brain to separate objects of an image into different layers for inpainting. The approach is promising as clearly demonstrated by the results in this paper.

Setting Discrete Bid Levels Adaptively In Repeated Auctions, Jilian Zhang, Hoong Chuin Lau, Jialie Shen

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

The success of an auction design often hinges on its ability to set parameters such as reserve price and bid levels that will maximize an objective function such as the auctioneer revenue. Works on designing adaptive auction mechanisms have emerged recently, and the challenge is in learning different auction parameters by observing the bidding in previous auctions. In this paper, we propose a non-parametric method for determining discrete bid levels dynamically so as to maximize the auctioneer revenue. First, we propose a non-parametric kernel method for estimating the probabilities of closing price with past auction data. Then a greedy strategy …

Effects Of Meeting Spaces On The Performance Of A Concept Selection Task By Engineering Design Teams, Necmettin Ozkan

All Theses

Given the increasing importance of collaboration and the resulting use of virtual tools, this research investigates the performance of engineering design teams using a concept selection task in three meeting spaces, face-to-face, 2D online and 3D virtual. Cisco's WebEx and Sun Microsystems' Wonderland were used as the 2D online meeting space and the 3D virtual environment, respectively. Twenty-four two-person design teams were formed and randomly assigned to the meeting spaces. Eight teams performed a cell-phone concept selection task in each meeting space. Four dependent variables were measured: task completion time, team satisfaction, self-evaluated quality and expert-evaluated quality. Following data collection, …

Biohydrogen Production From Cull Peach Medium By Hyperthermophilic Bacterium Thermotoga Neapolitana, Abhiney Jain

All Theses

ABSTRACT
Thermotoga neapolitana is a marine hyperthermophilic bacterium that ferments various sugars to hydrogen and acetate. In this study, cull peaches were used as carbon source in a defined medium for biohydrogen production and produced 18 % to 25% hydrogen in the headspace. The hydrogen production varied from 6.4-7.7 mmol H2/g peach (dry weight). The hydrogen concentration did not increase after 20 hours of incubation. The final pH decreased to 4.9 after 20 hours. Unautoclaved peach medium can be used for hydrogen production. The hydrogen production did not increase with the increase in peach concentration from 50 g/L to 100 …