Engineering Commons^™

A Descriptive Study Of The Remote Operation And Automation Of The Vhf/Uhf System For Tracking And Controlling Kysay-1 At Morehead State University, Marc B. Beck

Morehead State Theses and Dissertations

A thesis presented to the faculty of the College of Science and Technology at Morehead State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Science by Marc B. Beck on July 27, 2009.

Acuta Enews July 2009, Vol 38, No. 7

ACUTA Newsletters

In This Issue

From ACUTA Headquarters: IRS/Cell Phone Issues Heat Up............ Jeri Semer, CAE, Exec. Dir

Bring the Conference or UC Summit to Your Desktop

Tech Talk: Preventing Data Leaks Is Better than Plugging............... Kevin Tanzillo, Dux PR

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

Info Links............... Randy Hayes, Univ. of Northern Iowa

Board Report, June.......... George Denbow, The Univ. of Texas at Austin

"Financial Crisis Activity in Washington" Newsletter for ACUTA Members

Conficker and Swine Flue Viruses Cross Paths........... Brian Allen, Washington Univ. in St. Louis

In Memory: Tim World

Welcome New Members

Check It Out: RFIs/RFPs, Job …

Drop Impact Reliability Of Edge-Bonded Lead-Free Chip Scale Packages, Andrew Farris, Jianbiao Pan, Albert Liddicoat, Michael Krist, Nicholas Vickers, Brian J. Toleno, Dan Maslyk, Dongkai Shangguan, Jasbir Bath, Dennis Willie, David A. Geiger

Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering

This paper presents the drop test reliability results for edge-bonded 0.5 mm pitch lead-free chip scale packages (CSPs) on a standard JEDEC drop reliability test board. The test boards were subjected to drop tests at several impact pulses, including a peak acceleration of 900 Gs with a pulse duration of 0.7 ms, a peak acceleration of 1500 Gs with a pulse duration of 0.5 ms, and a peak acceleration of 2900 Gs with a pulse duration of 0.3 ms. A high-speed dynamic resistance measurement system was used to monitor the failure of the solder joints. Two edge-bond materials used in …

Simulation Modeling Of Electronic Health Records Adoption In The U.S. Healthcare System, Nadiye O. Erdil, C. Robert Emerson

Engineering and Applied Science Education Faculty Publications

Increasing the efficiency of the healthcare system in the United States is an important subject due to rapidly rising costs. Among many propositions to improve the operation of the system, adoption of Electronic Health Records is widely discussed. This study uses a system dynamics methodology to develop a simulation model of the adoption process that will allow for the exploration of policies. This paper presents the development and the preliminary findings of this model.

Magnetic Stabilization Of Nadir-Pointing Small Satellites, Chau T. Ton

Master's Theses - Daytona Beach

Since magnetic control systems are relatively lightweight, require low power and are inexpensive, they are attractive for small, inexpensive satellites in low Earth orbits. In this thesis we present averaging-based feedback control laws that achieve three-axis stabilized nadir-pointing attitude. Two types of nonlinear feedback control laws are proposed: full-state feedback and passivity-based feedback. Full-state feedback uses the attitude and angular velocity measurements to regulate the spacecrafts dynamics. Passivity-based feedback uses the attitude measurement and doesn’t require the rate sensors. The control laws are tested using two magnetic field models: the tilted dipole model and the International Geomagnetic Reference Field (IGRF) …

An Agent-Based Commodity Trading Simulation, Shih-Fen Cheng, Yee Pin Lim

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

In this paper, an event-centric commodity trading simulation powered by the multiagent framework is presented. The purpose of this simulation platform is for training novice traders. The simulation is progressed by announcing news events that affect various aspects of the commodity supply chain. Upon receiving these events, market agents that play the roles of producers, consumers, and speculators would adjust their views on the market and act accordingly. Their actions would be based on their roles and also their private information, and collectively they shape the market dynamics. This simulation has been effectively deployed for several training sessions. We will …

New Pressure Sensitive Device To Measure And Predict Package Drops, Sher Paul Singh, Jay Singh, Young Paek

Industrial Technology and Packaging

Pressurex^®, a tactile pressure sensor film which is manufactured by Sensor Product Inc. (East Hanova, NJ, USA), is one of the emerging materials that is convenient for measurements of the strength of pressure and pressure distribution profile between two contacting surfaces without any instrumentation. It immediately reveals impact distribution and magnitude based on intensity and dispersion of color. The intensity of this color is proportional to the amount of force applied allowing the user to actually quantify the stress characteristics across the impact surface. The objective of this paper was to examine free fall drop test results using …

Packaging Trends For Bottled Water, N. Noble, L. Paul, C. Mcminimee, M. Mallett, Jay Singh

Industrial Technology and Packaging

The Journal of Applied Packaging Research(JAPR) is an international forum for the dissemination of research papers, review articles, tutorials and news about innovative or emerging technologies for the packaging industry. In an effort to introduce research conducted by packaging students to the academics and industry professionals and to provide an outlet for these future stewards of the packaging industry to experience the world of publishing, JAPR, occasionally includes such work in its issues.

Bottled water is drinking water packaged generally in plastic bottles and regulated by national and local agencies. The Beverage Marketing Corporation defines the bottled water market …

A Study Of Decision Analysis Methods In Aerospace Technology Assessments, Sharon Monica Jones

Engineering Management & Systems Engineering Theses & Dissertations

Managers of aerospace technology programs and projects are faced with the challenge of making technology portfolio decisions under conditions of limited data, rapidly changing macro level factors and organizational uncertainties. To help make these technology investment decisions, some aerospace managers and analysts have used techniques from the field of decision analysis. In addition, there have been a limited number of research studies of real decision problems.

This dissertation presents the results of a non-experimental examination of the use of decision analysis methods for the assessment of aerospace technology portfolios. A web-based survey instrument was developed based on the results of …

Reconciling Discontinuities And Disruptions: The Construction Of An Integrated Typology, David Jeffery Kern

Engineering Management & Systems Engineering Theses & Dissertations

Radical innovations are often characterized by a rapid shift from one dominant design to another. The theories of discontinuous and disruptive innovation present two important and independent explanations for why these shifts occur. This research tests the usefulness of combining these two theories into a single integrated typology. First, a typology is constructed that classifies shifts in dominant designs according to the theories of discontinuous and disruptive innovation. Next, the usefulness of this typology is tested with a taxonomy derived from 100 randomly selected shifts in dominant designs from across a broad range of industries. This research reconciles the theories …

An Analytical Framework And Model Formulation For Measuring Risk In Engineering Enterprise Systems: A Capability Portfolio Perspective, Paul Raphael Garvey

Engineering Management & Systems Engineering Theses & Dissertations

This work formulates an analytical framework and computational model for assessing risk in engineering enterprise systems. It addresses the engineering management problem of how to represent, model, and measure risk in large-scale, complex systems engineered to function in enterprise-wide environments.

The research in this dissertation extends current practice in the management of risk for traditional systems and creates new constructs and protocols for the management of risk in engineering large-scale, complex, and highly networked enterprise systems. This work advances engineering management theory and analytic practice as applied to the measurement and management of risk for enterprise systems engineered within capability …

Developing A Philosophical Profile Of The Individual For Complex Problem-Solving Through Agent-Based Modeling, Ipek Bozkurt

Engineering Management & Systems Engineering Theses & Dissertations

Research that focuses on the emotional, mental, behavioral and cognitive capabilities of individuals has been abundant within disciplines such as psychology, sociology, and anthropology, among others. The main argument made in this dissertation, however, is that a different perspective is necessary in order to gain insight about individuals when facing the complex problems that are presented within engineering and management disciplines. This is done by developing the Philosophical Profile of the Individual (PPI) that uses epistemology, ontology and teleology as underlying dimensions of philosophical predispositions. The epistemology dimension considers whether an individual is an Empiricist or a Rationalist, the ontology …

Using Abet Assessment Requirements As A Catalyst For Change: Enhancing And Streamlining The Engineering Management Undergraduate Program At Missouri S&T, Stephen A. Raper, Susan L. Murray, Christa Moll Weisbrook, William Daughton

Engineering Management and Systems Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The Engineering Management (EM) undergraduate degree program at Missouri University of Science & Technology (formerly University of Missouri-Rolla) was the first program of its kind. The program started over 40 years ago and it is one of only five ABET accredited undergraduate EM programs [1]. The initial degree program included a senior year of management courses in conjunction with three years of courses in common engineering disciplines such as mechanical, electrical, and civil engineering. In the 1990s the program underwent a major restructure and students combined core engineering management classes with an emphasis area inside the department. Industrial, manufacturing, packaging, …

A Model For Coordination And Management Of Resources For Multiple Sections Of An Active Learning Style Freshman Course, Jean Nocito-Gobel, Amy Thompson, Carl Barratt, Michael Collura

Engineering and Applied Science Education Faculty Publications

NOTE: The first page of text has been automatically extracted and included below in lieu of an abstract.

Much research in recent years has verified that an active learning style approach to freshman engineering design courses adds value to undergraduate engineering programs and improves retention rates. Many universities have established First Year Programs to coordinate the activities and classes for first year students. However, not all universities have the funds to establish programs separate from disciplinary programs. How can faculty that are not assigned to a First Year Program efficiently manage multiple sections of a hands-on course with limited resources? …

---

Go to article

Rfid Tag Readability Issues With Palletized Loads Of Consumer Goods, Jay Singh, Eric Olsen, Keith Vorst, K. Tripp

Industrial Technology and Packaging

Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) is an automatic identification technology, relying on storing and remotely retrieving data using devices called RFID tags. This technology is being used in enterprise supply chain management-related applications to improve the efficiency of inventory tracking and management. However, this technology has not been able to realize its promised potential because of several factors, such as lack of congruous worldwide standards, privacy issues and less than perfect read rates in supply chain applications. This research aimed to evaluate the readability issues commonly faced by tagged cases of palletized consumer products. The variables studied in this research were …

What New Faculty Need To Know, But Don't Know To Ask, Susan L. Murray, Elizabeth A. Cudney, Suzanna Long, Katie Grantham

Engineering Management and Systems Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

A smooth transition to life at an academic institution and the surrounding community is essential to the professional careers of new faculty members. The transition begins during the hiring process and startup package negotiations. Once at an institution, aspects of academia including teaching, proposal writing, and the tenure process inevitably generate issues and concerns for new faculty members. Research has shown that mentoring new faculty members early in their academic career can have significant impact on professional success. This is especially true at a research-based institution where the demands of funded scholarship add an extra level of complexity. A survey …

Development Of Gis-Based Chemical Distribution Maps From Sprayer Performance Data, Joe D. Luck, Santosh Pitla, Rodrigo S. Zandonadi, Scott A. Shearer

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Presentations and White Papers

Pesticide application is an essential practice on farms in Kentucky where glyphosate resistant crops and no-till farming strategies are becoming more popular. Off-rate pesticide application errors are the result of incorrect concentrations applied to an area of the field and may result from velocity changes along the spray boom while the sprayer is turning, pressure changes across the width of the spray boom, and changes in effective boom height due to undulating terrain. In an attempt to estimate potential errors resulting from sprayer turning movements, a method was developed to compare the differences in application areas between control sections across …

Cut Crop Edge Detection Using A Laser Sensor, Santosh Pitla, Joe D. Luck, Scott A. Shearer

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Presentations and White Papers

An off-the-shelf low cost laser sensor was tested and evaluated both in laboratory and field conditions. The sensor identified the angular and straight edges of the laboratory test surface and replicated the straight edge profile with an error of 4%. In field conditions, the sensor identified three types of cut crop edges (wheat, alfalfa and corn) and replicated distinct shapes (triangle, curved and rectangular edges). The sensor was tested at two sensor path offset distances and three tractor/sensor speeds (3.2, 6.4 and 9.6 km/h). In all test runs the sensor detected the cut-crop edges. Standard deviations and RMSE values in …

Guidance Directrix Generation Using Laser Sensors, Santosh Pitla, Joe D. Luck, Scott A. Shearer

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Presentations and White Papers

A sensor array consisting of two laser sensors was utilized to determine the guidance directrix (offset distance-d, heading angle-ø) that are required as reference inputs for an automated guidance system. The sensor array was evaluated in both laboratory and field conditions. Under laboratory conditions the sensor array replicated the physical profile of the target surface with a 4% error in determining the heading angle. Field tests were conducted in two types of crops; corn and alfalfa. The sensor array identified the cut-crop edge profile ahead of the tractor and replicated distinct shapes of the cut-crop edge. RMSE values in determining …

Optimizing Replenishment Order Quantities In Uncoordinated Supply Chains, Atipol Kanchanapiboon

Dissertations

Many modern supply chains can be described as a series of uncoordinated suppliers. That is each supplier establishes their individual inventory and production policies on both the input and output sides. In these supply links there is minimal coordination between suppliers, and typically only prices and delivery guarantees are contracted. As a consequence, the inventory behavior and associated costs do not exhibit standard patterns. This makes it difficult to model and optimize these chains using classical inventory models. The common approach, therefore, for evaluating uncoordinated supply chains is to use Supply Chain Analytics software. These retrieve operational data from Enterprise …

Performance Analysis Of Coal-Fired Boiler And Natural Gas Fired Boiler At Morehead State University, Devender Banne

Morehead State Theses and Dissertations

A thesis presented to the faculty of the College of Science & Technology at Morehead State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Science by Devender Banne on May 4, 2009.

Acuta Enews May 2009, Vol 38, No. 5

ACUTA Newsletters

In This Issue

Report from Annual Conference in Altanta

See the Conference on Your Desktop

Tech talk: Revisiting the iPhone in an Ever-careful way............ Kevin Tanzillo, Dux PR

From ACUTA Headquarters: What's New with Social Networking at ACUTA?... Jeri Semer, CAE, Exec. Dir.

DC update .........Dave Ostrom, Washington state University (retired)

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

Board Report, April............ Riny Ledgerwood, San Diego state University

Free Cabling Resource Guide

Another Great Conference, More Terrific Prizes!

Welcome New Members

Check lt Out: RFls/RFPs, Job Postings, Press Releases, Special. Deals!

Annual Conference Photo Supplement

Distribution Tridimensionnelle De La Lumière Dans Une Strucutre De Tête D’Adulte Dérivée D’Un Acte Irm: Approche Par La Méthode De Monte Carlo, Chemseddine Mansouri, Jean-Pierre L'Huillier, Nasser H. Kashou

Biomedical, Industrial & Human Factors Engineering Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Constraint-Based Dynamic Programming For Decentralized Pomdps With Structured Interactions, Akshat Kumar, Shlomo Zilberstein

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

Decentralized partially observable MDPs (DEC-POMDPs) provide a rich framework for modeling decision making by a team of agents. Despite rapid progress in this area, the limited scalability of solution techniques has restricted the applicability of the model. To overcome this computational barrier, research has focused on restricted classes of DEC-POMDPs, which are easier to solve yet rich enough to capture many practical problems. We present CBDP, an efficient and scalable point-based dynamic programming algorithm for one such model called ND-POMDP (Network Distributed POMDP). Specifically, CBDP provides magnitudes of speedup in the policy computation and generates better quality solution for all …

Distributed Constraint Optimization With Structured Resource Constraints, Akshat Kumar, Boi Faltings, Adrian Petcu

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

Distributed constraint optimization (DCOP) provides a framework for coordinated decision making by a team of agents. Often, during the decision making, capacity constraints on agents' resource consumption must be taken into account. To address such scenarios, an extension of DCOP-Resource Constrained DCOP - has been proposed. However, certain type of resources have an additional structure associated with them and exploiting it can result in more efficient algorithms than possible with a general framework. An example of these are distribution networks, where the flow of a commodity from sources to sinks is limited by the flow capacity of edges. We present …

Dynamic Programming Approximations For Partially Observable Stochastic Games, Akshat Kumar, Shlomo Zilberstein

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

Partially observable stochastic games (POSGs) provide a rich mathematical framework for planning under uncertainty by a group of agents. However, this modeling advantage comes with a price, namely a high computational cost. Solving POSGs optimally quickly becomes intractable after a few decision cycles. Our main contribution is to provide bounded approximation techniques, which enable us to scale POSG algorithms by several orders of magnitude. We study both the POSG model and its cooperative counterpart, DEC-POMDP. Experiments on a number of problems confirm the scalability of our approach while still providing useful policies.

An Agent-Based Commodity Trading Simulation, Shih-Fen Cheng, Yee Pin Lim, Chao-Chi Liu

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

In recent years, the study of trading in electronic markets has received significant amount of attention, particularly in the areas of artificial intelligence and electronic commerce. With increasingly sophisticated technologies being applied in analyzing information and making decisions, fully autonomous software agents are expected to take up significant roles in many important fields. This trend is most obvious in the financial domain, where speed of reaction is highly valued and significant investments have been made in information and communication technologies.Despite the successes of automated trading in many important classes of financial markets, commodity trading has lagged behind, mainly because of …

High-Rate Channel Catfish Fingerling Production In The Partitioned Aquaculture System, Tim Wells

All Theses

The objective of this 4-year research project was to evaluate the performance of channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) fingerling production in the Partitioned Aquaculture System (PAS). The goal was to demonstrate production of 80-gram minimum sized fingerlings in a single growing season, allowing for 100% market-size fish production after one additional season in the grow-out PAS.
A series of 2-inch airlift pumps fed by a single 3-hp low-head blower was found to be capable of supplying sufficient water flow-rate (in 2005, 2006, and 2007) of gpm per container to 9 cohorts. A series of 0.75-hp axial flow pumps (in 2005, 2006, …

Design Of A Multi-Echelon Global Supply Chain Network With Microsoftå¨ Excel Premium Solver Plataform, Wilder Ferreira

All Theses

I designed a global supply chain distribution model of one single product, with the objective of minimizing the costs of transportation, handling materials, duties and tariffs, production, and fixed infrastructure. The distribution network has a combination of manufacturing facilities (fixed and to-be-determined), warehouses (to-be-determined), distribution centers (to-be-determined), and customer zones at fixed locations. This network design is similar to the mathematical mixed-integer linear model from Tsiakis, Shah and Pantelides (2001). This model has been implemented in Microsoft Excel, using the Standard Simplex method from Frontline, Inc. This model optimizes the number of facilities worldwide (multi-echelon) along with the flow of …

Development Of The Integrated Censored Robust-Tolerance Engineering Design Systems Via Improved Response Surface Modeling, Abdul-Baasit Shaibu

All Dissertations

In this dissertation, we intend to integrate censoring into robust-tolerance engineering using improved dual response surface modeling. This is perhaps the first attempt in the quality control literature. In the literature, response surface models have largely been restricted to second order (or quadratic) models and robust-tolerance designs have been restricted to situations involving complete observations. We intend to show that higher order response surface models can be more powerful in terms of prediction ability, and are therefore more reliable than the preferred quadratic models in the general context of robust design. We will also consider formulating robust and tolerance designs …