Engineering Commons^™

A Probabilistic Model For Avcs Longitudinal Collision/Safety Analysis, Jacob Tsao, Randolph Hall

Faculty Publications

This paper develops a probabilistic model for analyzing longitudinal collision/safety between an abruptly decelerating vehicle and its immediate follower. The input parameters are the length of the gap between the two vehicles, their common speed prior to the failure, the reaction delay of the following vehicle and a bivariate distribution for the two deceleration rates. The output includes the probability of a collision and the probability distribution of the relative speed at collision time We use this model to compare the safety consequences associated with the platooning and “free-agent” longitudinal-separation rules. We also demonstrate that the free-agent rule implemented with …

Constraints On Initial Ahs Deployment And The Concept Definition Of A Shuttle Service For Ahs Debut, Jacob Tsao

Faculty Publications

Highway automation and its evolution involve a multitude of systems issues. Particularly important and difficult in defining a deployment sequence is the very first step, i.e. the first user service involving fully automated freeway driving. However, this importance and the difficulty imply that many factors may severely constrain the initial deployment. After discussing the paramount importance of initial AHS deployment, this paper points out major high-level issues and constraints. Any realistic deployment strategy must take into consideration gradual technology maturation, introduction of new driver role and diminishing conventional driver role for automated driving, high cost of early-generation automation-equipped vehicles, gradual …

Error Recovery In Intelligent Robotic Workcells, R. D. Borchelt, Sema E. Alptekin

Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering

This paper focuses on the requirements for achieving automated diagnosis and error recovery in a robotic assembly cell. Untended robust operation is the goal which is discussed, and the use of a knowledge-base oriented diagnostic/control system to support on-line error recovery is advocated. It is proposed that error recovery attempts should be made, not only based on information gathered by system sensors, but also by using additional cell-specific knowledge pertaining to recovery strategies. Recovery attempts are to be made even in the absence of complete diagnosis, in order to gather additional information. A control structure developed to implement this approach …

The Importance Of Considering Size Effect Along The Cutting Edge In Predicting The Effective Lead Angle For Turning, William J. Endres, Daniel Waldorf

Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering

The concept of an effective orthogonal cutting edge in turning is considered. The orientation of this edge in the radial-longitudinal plane, as commonly modeled through an effective lead angle, is studied. The methods of effective lead angle prediction used in numerous previously developed force models are plagued with large errors over ranges of process inputs, in particular feed rate and depth of cut. Four previously developed methods of effective lead angle prediction are reviewed and compared to a new method presented here. This new method accounts for the size effect as introduced through the variation in chip thickness along the …

A Simplified Method For The Bilinear S-Z Transformation, Dan M. Scott

Department of Industrial and Management Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

A new technique for performing the bilinear transformation of polynomials is presented. The technique is both simple to understand as well as efficient in its computer implementation. The key to the method is the way in which the successive derivatives of a particular polynomial are computed. A simple recursion formula is used which can be done either by hand, if desired, or by computer. The order of complexity of the algorithm is found to be O(n²), while storage requirements are O(n), where n is the degree of the polynomial. The new method will handle completely general …

Method For Determining Atmospheric Aerosol Optical Depth Using Solar Transmission Measurements, Felix Tendeku

Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science

A multiple wavelength radiometer instrumentation has been developed and used to measure solar irradiance in a water vapor absorption band in the near-infrared region. From these measurements the total atmospheric optical depth at each wavelength of observation is deduced using a linear least-squares fitting method. An iteration technique, based on a power law wavelength dependence of aerosol optical depth, is employed to retrieve aerosol optical depth from the total optical depth data. The technique permits simultaneous determination of precipitable water vapor amount.

Effectiveness Of A Multimedia Televised Distance Education Program For Engineering Majors, Bonnie Daily, Madison Daily

Engineering Management and Systems Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The University of Missouri‐Rolla, the state's, "technological university," has proposed a televised distance education program that would originate on the UMR campus and be delivered to community colleges and four‐year institutions within the state not now offering engineering. The program would include the use of computer‐integrated multimedia classrooms at both the home site and remote sites and would permit two‐way transmission of video, audio, and data. Student response units would also be used at both sites to permit immediate feedback from the students to the instructor. Due to the cost of this proposal, it was determined a pilot study would …

A Study Of Similarity And Analogical Decision-Making In Collaborative Design, Christopher Edward Weeks

Engineering Management & Systems Engineering Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to investigate the role of similarity and analogy in design communication and propose a descriptive representation of the analogical decision-making process in the context of engineering design. It is proposed that social, cultural, and contextual knowledge are brought to bear on statements of need in the form of analogy as a means to elicit and evince potential design solutions. A goal of this study is to identify communicative behaviors, representing process variables of analogical decision-making, that can be used to describe how design information is represented, manipulated, and conveyed in a collaborative design effort. …

Teamwork In The Workplace: A Discovery Of The Work Processes One Team Used To Meet Its Goals, Thomas Andrew Hassler

Engineering Management & Systems Engineering Theses & Dissertations

A century-old disagreement in academia surrounds the question of whether individuals acting alone accomplish all work or whether workers can truly act in concert to meet management's production requirements. Total Quality Management (TQM) is a powerful force today in the industrial world, and the formation of teams to solve short-term problems is one of its fundamental techniques. This dissertation focuses on a particular TQM team with the purpose of understanding the processes it used to meet its goals. This ten-member team functioned for about one year and was assigned goals leading to improved accelerator reliability. The investigator was a member …

Integration Of Artificial Neural Networks And Simulation Modeling In A Decision Support System, Kenney Lecroy

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

A simulation based decision support system is developed for AT&T Microelectronics in Orlando. This system uses simulation modeling to capture the complex nature of semiconductor test operations. Simulation, however, is not a tool for optimization by itself. Numerous executions of the simulation model must generally be performed to narrow in on a set of proper decision parameters. As a means of alleviating this shortcoming, artificial neural networks are used in conjunction with simulation modeling to aid management in the decision making process. The integration of simulation and neural networks in a comprehensive decision support system, in effect, learns the reverse …

A Comparison Of Fam And Cmac For Nonlinear Control, Arit Thammano, Cihan H. Dagli

Engineering Management and Systems Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

This article compares a neural network-based controller, both local and global networks, with fuzzy associative memories (FAM) on a nonlinear problem. CMAC and FAM are chosen as representatives of local generalization networks. CMAC controller is trained off-line, therefore, it can response to the incoming input immediately. CMAC can interpolate its memory and give a reasonable control signal even the input has not been trained on. Backpropagation is picked as a representative of global generalization networks. All three systems are studied on a simple simulated control problem. This preliminary research will be adapted later to control the laser cutting machine. A …

The Integration Of Simulation And Reality For Education Enhancement And Training, Clarence Rasquinha, Stephen A. Raper

Engineering Management and Systems Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Quite often, when engineers are exposed to a manufacturing environment on the job for the first time, they undergo a baptism by fire. The environment forces them to deal with situations that integrate many different bodies of knowledge. Reliance on concepts acquired in the academic environment is crucial to their success. Unfortunately, lacking in most academic environments, is any experience through which some or all of these concepts are integrated. In a continuing effort to enhance educational practices in Manufucturing/Systems Engineering programs and perhaps improve the preparedness of a young engineer, the CITE (Computer Integrated Technological Enterprise) tool offers educators …

Ai-Based Generation Of Production Engineering Labor Standards, Hulya Yazici, Colin Othniel Benjamin, James Mcglaughlin

Engineering Management and Systems Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Increased automation of manufacturing is necessary to compete in today's worldwide markets. The role of artificial intelligence (AI) techniques for incorporating the automation with changing manufacturing environments needs to be investigated. Al techniques can assist in meeting the challenge of transforming shop floor production engineering data into appropriate production engineering labor standards in a timely, consistent, and cost-effective manner. Production heuristics can be incorporated into an expert system that can learn from the changing manufacturing environment. This paper presents a prototype expert system which transfers the knowledge of experienced methods engineers into a rule-based system to develop the appropriate job …

A Hierarchial Neural Network Implementation For Forecasting, B. Fulkerson, M. A. Ozbayoglu, Cihan H. Dagli

Engineering Management and Systems Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

In this paper, a hierarchical neural network architecture for forecasting time series is presented. The architecture is composed of two hierarchical levels using a maximum likelihood competitive learning algorithm. The first level of the system has three experts each using backpropagation and a gating network to partition the input space in order to map the input vectors to the output vectors. The second level of the hierarchical network has an expert using fuzzy ART for producing the correct trend coming from the first level. The experiments show that the resulting network is capable of forecasting the changes in the input …

Extending Simulation’S Advantages To Novice Model Builders: Intellisim Tutorial, Paul Savory, Gerald Mackulak, Jeff Cochran

Department of Industrial and Management Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

The potential benefits that discrete-event simulation offers are impeded by the high level of expertise necessary to successfully conduct a sound simulation study. As a solution, this paper introduces IntelliSIM, an intelligent simulation environment. Using this environment makes simulation more accessible to users by reducing the need for extensive experience or training. One of IntelliSIM’s key features for accomplishing this is a tutorial and training module that quickly acquaints a novice simulation user with IntelliSIM’s features and the process of performing a simulation study. This paper discusses this tutorial by explaining how IntelliSIM develops a simulation model, thus illustrating how …

The Science Of Simulation Modeling, Paul Savory, Gerald Mackulak

Department of Industrial and Management Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

Many people refer to simulation model building as an “intuitive art”. This implies that modeling can only be done by a select group of highly trained creative people and thus isolates many from considering simulation as a usable tool. Model building is a science that is learned through education, training and experience. In this paper, we discuss the role of science in performing a simulation study. We illustrate the teaching of the science of simulation by discussing the simulation curriculum at Arizona State University.

Ascertaining Important Features For Industrial Simulation Environments, Gerald Mackulak, Jeffery Cichran, Paul Savory

Department of Industrial and Management Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

Recent years have witnessed the development and commercial release of multiple simulation tools, environments, and intelligent simulators. Each release seems to contain additional advanced features designed to simplify simulation use and increase the productivity of model builders. But to date, no one has addressed feature definition from the viewpoint of a simulation practitioner. This paper discusses our efforts to identify and prioritize simulation features deemed most desirable from the practitioner viewpoint. A series of three questionnaires were developed and administered to a group of qualified simulation practitioners. With results that are of interest to simulation users, researchers, and simulation software …

The Application Of Markov State Probabilities In Developing Artificially Intelligent Managerial Strategies: A Case Study Based On Major League Baseball, Arnold Vincent Arconati

Doctoral Dissertations

"Baseball is a very large industry that influences the lives and financial assets of millions of people.

Many baseball analysts estimate that even the best Major League player can increase his team's expected number of yearly wins by only 3 or 4 games. In 1993 Bobby Bonilla, a New York Mets National League outfielder, earned $5,200,000 more than the average Major League player earned. The Mets apparently believed that expenditure of this money was worth his expected additional victories. If the strategy of an Artificially Intelligent baseball manager could produce 4 more team victories than the corresponding human baseball manager, …

Materials Recovery Facilities In The United States Virgin Islands: A Regional Facilities Location Model Study, Lloyd O. Prince Jr.

Engineering Management & Systems Engineering Theses & Dissertations

Continental municipalities have derived many benefits from the economies of scale associated with a regional approach to facilities location and management planning. Centralized solid waste processing facilities is an example. Island communities, however, surrounded by miles of ocean, are constrained to a fragmented approach to the facilities location solution. This research was conducted to determine if the regional paradigm suggested in the literature is applicable to a set of island communities connected by an ocean transportation infrastructure. A linear programming (LP) model, constraints and data requirements were developed and applied to a network of islands. A series of hypothetical material …

Manufacturing Curriculum Issues Of Two-Year Mechanical Engineering Technology Program In Taiwan, R.O.C., Chuan-Chun Wu

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The purpose of this study was to evaluate current practices and possible changes in the mechanical engineering technology manufacturing curriculum in Taiwan's two-year junior technical colleges. The study was based on survey responses from three populations: (a) graduates of mechanical engineering (manufacturing division) programs in two-year junior technical colleges, (b) their manufacturing supervisors, and (c) their company chief executive officers (CEOs). The survey was designed to develop responses for following:

1. Determine the degree of importance of courses in the current Taiwanese two-year curriculum in manufacturing, in the opinion of the three groups surveyed.

2. Determine what the future curriculum …

A Check Parameter Method For Use In Designing Relays, H Kadete

Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (TJET)

Low quality magnetic steel available locally has been successfully used as core material for a relay. New design principles as well as construction procedure used in development of a prototype are presented. Then the new approach is assessed and found to deliver acceptable accuracy.

Improvement Of Solar Salt Works Performance, J Katima

Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (TJET)

Coal, asphalt, black oil paint, naphthol green b and alkali blue 6b were testedfor improvement Of solar energy utilisation in solar salt manufacture. It was found that the use of alkali blue 6b dye dissolved in raw seawater improves efficiency by 3.6 percent. Both modifications could increase solar salt works with a coal coated surface than one employing raw seawater dyed with alkali blue 6b.

Critical Evaluation Of The Effects Of Changes Made To Roughing Filters Of Mpira-Balaka Plant On Its Treatment And Operational Performance, C Zulu

Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (TJET)

Mpira Balaka, a full scale rural water supply project was constructed in Ntcheu, Malawi, in 1988 utilising Slow Sand Filtration (SSF) as the main treatment process and roughing filtration as the pretreatment method,following the promo- tion of this technology by various international institutions. During the rainy seasons, the treatment plant for Mpira Balaka failed to cope with the high raw water turbidity, resulting into very short filter run times and hence also to unavoidable distribution Of very turbid water to the rural communi- ties as a result Of by-passing the filters. Of the fifty or so existing rural projects in …

Acuta Enews December 1993, Vol. 22, No. 12

ACUTA Newsletters

In This Issue

Board Report

President's message

Telecom talks $$$ at UNM

US West to test high speed transmission

Big MAN on campus

Student toll fraud

Synthetic Battlebridge: Information Visualization And User Interface Design Applications In A Large Virtual Reality Environment, Kirk G. Wilson

Theses and Dissertations

With shrinking budgets and fewer personnel, future military training will rely heavily on simulated environments. The goal for this training is to reduce cost while maintaining readiness and unparalleled capability for all levels of military command. This thesis effort, the Synthetic Battle Bridge SBB , provides a real-time simulated environment for military commanders to observe on-going computer simulations of varying participation levels and helps them wring the most from a simulation. The SBB, designed for higher ranking personnel with little time to spend learning how to run the system, must exhibit three capabilities ease-of-use, long-term retention, and adaptability. Based on …

Guidelines For Ensuring Software Supportability In Systems Developed Under The Integrated Weapon System Management Concept, Forrest F. Butts Iii, Anthony C. Johndro

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis studied the software maintenance planning and practices of the pilot Integrated Weapon System Management IWSM programs. Before IWSM, a System Program Office SPO acquired an Air Force weapon system then passed it to an Air Logistics Center ALC for follow-on support. The ALC was forced to maintain the software despite its questionable maintainability. The SPO de- emphasized maintainability because maintenance was an ALC responsibility and building maintainable software increased development costs and lengthened schedules. The IWSM philosophy closes the gap between development and maintenance. A System Program Director SPD, who oversees both system development and maintenance, has an …

Measuring User Satisfaction Of The Electronic Mail System At Air Force Materiel Command Headquarters As An Indicator Of The System's Effectiveness, Randall R. Bradford

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the electronic mail system at the Air Force Materiel Command Headquarters. User satisfaction was measured as an indicator of the systems effectiveness. In order to provide an objective measurement of system effectiveness, the following research questions were addressed: (1) What is system effectiveness in relation to this particular electronic mail system, and how should it be measured? (2) What measurement instruments can be adapted, modified, or created to measure effectiveness as it is defined for problem? (3) If a measurement instrument is administered what do the results of the …

Development Of A Systematic Approach To The Implementation Of A Computer Integrated Manufacturing (Cim) For Small To Medium Sized Companies, G. Steven Trimmer

Masters Theses

CIM technology is rapidly becoming an essential part of businesses of all types and sizes. The impact on the culture of the enterprise is possibly of even greater complexity. Most existing implementations have been done by large businesses large teams of specialized talent.

The unique scope of this work is to simplify the implementation of CIM for small companies. The basic research derived from the WMU/IBM CIM Management Center, a fully functioning CIM facility that provides hands on experience to students and regional businesses.

The cultural references concerning CIM are derived from reading and personal experiences with industry while setting …

Integration And Enhancement Of The Saber Wargame, Karl S. Mathias

Theses and Dissertations

The Saber wargame is a theater-level air/land battle wargame written in Ada that is being developed for the Air Force Wargaming Center at Maxwell AFB, AL. This thesis documents how the user interface and simulation engine were integrated. Integration was accomplished by developing a portable object-oriented database system (OODBMS) interface. The interface was implemented in Ada and tied to an OODBMS also written in Ada. Using the interface, both subsystems were able to work from a consistent database and exchange information. The user interface was enhanced by converting it from the Software Technology for Adaptable Reliable Systems Ada/X Window System …

Automating Satellite Range Scheduling, S. Michael Schalck

Theses and Dissertations

The objective of this study was to develop a computer based satellite range scheduling SRS algorithm to create a 24 hour satellite support schedule. The algorithms goal was to schedule as many satellite support requests as possible. An iterative heuristic approach was used to schedule satellite support requests in three successive sub problems. The first sub problem involves scheduling low altitude satellite support requests using a mixed integer programming approach. The next two sub problems each involve scheduling 12 hour blocks of medium and high altitude satellite support requests, again using a mixed integer programming approach. Fourteen 24 hour schedules …