Engineering Commons^™

Bootstrap Statistics, Greg Hutto

Operations Management Presentations

Bootstrap Statistics is an intuitive approach to learning statistics because of its simplicity, freedom from assumptions and wide applicability. This webinar will refresh your knowledge of statistics and give you intuitive tools to apply concepts. We will deduce robust methods to build point estimates, interval estimates and assert differences or similarities. If time permits, we’ll even evaluate statistical power! And we’ll do it all with only one major assumption and no curtain of math or normal theory clouding our procedures. The webinar will be accompanied by three papers, tool references, slides and a sample data set with solutions.

Hybrid Vehicle-Drone Routing Problem For Pick-Up And Delivery Services Mathematical Formulation And Solution Methodology, Aline Karak

Civil and Environmental Engineering Theses and Dissertations

The fast growth of online retail and associated increasing demand for same-day delivery have pushed online retail and delivery companies to develop new paradigms to provide faster, cheaper, and greener delivery services. Considering drones’ recent technological advancements over the past decade, they are increasingly ready to replace conventional truck-based delivery services, especially for the last mile of the trip. Drones have significantly improved in terms of their travel ranges, load-carrying capacity, positioning accuracy, durability, and battery charging rates. Substituting delivery vehicles with drones could result in $50M of annual cost savings for major U.S. service providers.

The first objective of …

Application Of Theory Of Constraints (Toc) In Managing Project Information Constraints, Ferdinand Z. Prantl

EMSE Doctoral Projects

The scope of this doctoral project is the non-traditional application of Drum-Buffer-Rope (DBR) from the area of Theory of Constraints (ToC) in mitigating disruption in distribution facilities during phased upgrades caused by information constraint. The relevance of this project is that industrial equipment upgrades pose a significant risk of disrupting the operation of automated distribution facilities. It is partly due to a very high expected availability rate, as well as tight coupling with other upstream and downstream elements of the larger supply chain network. As a consequence of disruption in this scenario, losses incurred not only within the facility being …

Incorporating A Reverse Logistics Scheme In A Vehicle Routing Problem With Cross-Docking Network: A Modelling Approach, Audrey Tedja Widjaja, Aldy Gunawan, Panca Jodiawan, Vincent F. Yu

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

Reverse logistics has been implemented by various companies because of its ability to gain more profit and maintain the competitiveness of the company. However, extensive studies on the vehicle routing problem with cross-docking (VRPCD) only considered the forward flow instead of the reverse flow. Motivated by the ability of a VRPCD network to minimize the distribution cost in the forward flow, this research incorporates the reverse logistics scheme in a VRPCD network, namely the VRP with reverse cross-docking (VRP-RCD). We propose a VRP-RCD mathematical model for a four-level supply chain network that involves suppliers, cross-dock, customers, and outlets. The main …

Applications Of Image Processing Techniques And Spatial Data Analytics For Pressure Mapping Analysis, Joan Yamil Martinez

Dissertations

The technological advancements in sensors, monitoring systems, and tracking devices are changing how we study our environment; big data sets are becoming more and more prevalent due to the increase of information gathered with ease. One system benefiting from these technological improvements is pressure mapping technology, an easy-to-use and cost-effective solution for assessing contact pressure distributions.

Pressure mapping systems generally produce data sets of very large volume, especially when used for continuous tracking and monitoring, and are widely used for research in fields of ergonomics, sports, industries, and health disciplines. Pressure mapping systems are particularly important in the study of …

Applying Control Abstraction To The Design Of Human–Agent Teams, Clifford D. Johnson, Michael E. Miller, Christina F. Rusnock, David R. Jacques

Faculty Publications

Levels of Automation (LOA) provide a method for describing authority granted to automated system elements to make individual decisions. However, these levels are technology-centric and provide little insight into overall system operation. The current research discusses an alternate classification scheme, referred to as the Level of Human Control Abstraction (LHCA). LHCA is an operator-centric framework that classifies a system’s state based on the required operator inputs. The framework consists of five levels, each requiring less granularity of human control: Direct, Augmented, Parametric, Goal-Oriented, and Mission-Capable. An analysis was conducted of several existing systems. This analysis illustrates the presence of each …

Investigation Of Manual Material Handling On Musculoskeletal Disorder At Computer Numerical Control Workstation, Abdullah Nor Suliani

Student Works (2020-2029)

Manual Material Handling (MMH) tasks have been recognized among the major source of work-related musculoskeletal disorder (WMSD) in automotive industry and they are commonly practiced at Computer Numerical Control (CNC) workstation. At this workstation, workers act as a material transfer device in the process of loading and unloading products from pallets to machines. The physical interaction of workers to machine is not self-chosen and workers are forced to follow the pace of running CNC machine. The worst situation happens when workers are required to operate more than one machine concurrently. The mismatch interaction between workers and machine exposes workers to …

Validation Risk Across Hierarchical Models, John B. Young

Computational Modeling & Simulation Engineering Theses & Dissertations

Modeling and simulation are applied in a great many methods across a variety of topics. Model developers and users alike have a professional duty to understand the complexities of the tools and methods they are used. Oftentimes, models that have been independently constructed and executed are used to inform one another for an analytic purpose and the compatibility of the models is not always addressed. In the literature, great attention has been paid to model validation. When using models constructively with one another, analysts must understand the bounds of model validity and ensure that the combination of models does not …

Engineering Management Competencies: A Framework For Present And Future Engineering Environments, Christopher Vaughn Barrett

Engineering Management & Systems Engineering Theses & Dissertations

Managing and directing engineering requires engineering management competencies. Although perspectives may differ concerning competencies for engineering management, identifying competencies can direct and improve management. The purpose of this research is to develop a framework of competencies for engineering managers using an inductive research design. Development of this engineering management competency framework involves an exploration of three primary research questions. The first question is ‘What are the current competencies for engineering managers?’ The response to this question provides a basis for the current state of competencies for engineering managers. The second research question, ‘What are future engineering management competencies based on …

Dod Mission Engineering And Integration Explorative-Exploitative Architecture For Technology Innovation, Jose L. Bricio-Neto

Engineering Management & Systems Engineering Theses & Dissertations

The ability of U.S. Department of Defense to achieve timely innovation in support of U.S. National Defense and Military Strategies continues to increase in significance. The growing challenges in U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) technological innovation in a context of global security and rapid pace of global competitiveness continue to reveal many shortcomings in current weapon systems development and acquisition practice. As the pace of technological innovation is accelerating, the DoD faces the challenge that the same disruptive technological advances are also being made available to or developed by its adversaries. Based on literature review, no innovation system theory exists …

Effects Of Transparency And Haze On Trust And Performance During A Full Motion Video Analysis Task, Sarah C. Leibner

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

Automation is pervasive across all task domains, but its adoption poses unique challenges within the intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) domain. When users are unable to establish optimal levels of trust in the automation, task accuracy, speed, and automation usage suffer (Chung & Wark, 2016). Degraded visual environments (DVEs) are a particular problem in ISR; however, their specific effects on trust and task performance are still open to investigation (Narayanaswami, Gandhe, & Mehra, 2010). Research suggests that transparency of automation is necessary for users to accurately calibrate trust levels (Lyons et al., 2017). Chen et al. (2014) proposed three levels …

Game Theory Approaches For Transportation Problems, Mahdi Takalloo

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation considers three separate game theory problems in transportation. In the first problem, a combinatorial auction market has been proposed for fractional ownership of autonomous vehicles. The proposed combinatorial auction has two unique features. First, the items are continuous time slots defined by bidders and second, the spatial information of bidders has been incorporated so that sharing becomes a viable plan. A conflict-based formulation of the winner determination problem has been proposed, for which an effective solution approach based on a heuristic and a maximal-clique based relaxation has been presented. The second part of the dissertation examines a pessimistic …

Lightning Prediction For Space Launch Using Machine Learning Based Off Of Electric Field Mills And Lightning Detection And Ranging Data, Anson Cheng

Theses and Dissertations

Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral Air Station, FL, where the Air Force conducts space launches, are in an area of frequent lightning strikes, which is main obstacle in meeting launch goals. The 45th Weather Squadron (45th WS) ensures that any weather safety requirements are met during pre-launch and actual space launch. Using only summer months from three years’ worth of lightning detection and ranging (LDAR) and electric field mill (EFM) data from KSC, several feedforward neural networks are constructed. Separate models are built for each EFM and trained by adjusting parameters to forecast lightning 30 minutes out in the …

Multivariate Analysis Of Human Performance Strong Lab Data, Kayla N. Tinucci

Theses and Dissertations

This study uses multivariate analysis methods to find relationships between nutrition and wellness and nutrition and performance. The nutrition, daily wellness, and weight and bodyfat data are from a study performed by the STRONG lab in the 711th Human Performance Wing. Electronically collected nutrition data along with survey data for 19 individuals over a 12-week study period are examined with a focus on health, fitness, and nutrition. Factor analysis and linear regression are performed and inferences are drawn regarding what effects calories and macronutrient intake have on subjects perceived wellness, weight, and body fat percentage. These insights are discussed in …

Ground Weather Radar Signal Characterization Through Application Of Convolutional Neural Networks, Stephen M. Lee

Theses and Dissertations

The 45th Weather Squadron supports the space launch efforts out of the Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral Air Force Station for the Department of Defense, NASA, and commercial customers through weather assessments. Their assessment of the Lightning Launch Commit Criteria (LLCC) for avoidance of natural and rocket triggered lightning to launch vehicles is critical in approving space shuttle and rocket launches. The LLCC includes standards for cloud formations, which requires proper cloud identification and characterization methods. Accurate reflectivity measurements for ground weather radar are important to meet the LLCC for rocket triggered lightning. Current linear interpolation methods for ground …

A Metamodel Recommendation System Using Meta-Learning, Megan K. Woods

Theses and Dissertations

The importance and value of statistical predictions increase as data grows in availability and quantity. Metamodels, or surrogate models, provide the ability to rapidly approximate and predict information. However, selection of the appropriate metamodel for a given dataset is often arduous, and the choice of the wrong metamodel could lead to considerably inaccurate results. This research proposes and tests the framework for a metamodel recommendation system. The implementation allows for virtually any dataset and preprocesses data, calculates meta-features, evaluates the performance of various metamodels, and learns how the data behaves via meta-learning, thus preparing and bettering itself for future recommendations. …

Database Analysis To Improve U.S. Transportation Command Forecasting Processes, Maxwell C. Thompson

Theses and Dissertations

The United States Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM) facilitates air, land, and sea transportation for the DOD. On a periodic basis, a myriad of different agencies within USTRANSCOM project future workload to facilitate resource planning, budgeting, and reimbursable rate identification. Within USTRANSCOM, there are a variety of databases and metrics utilized for workload forecasts; neither a standard nor a preferred technique is prescribed. Currently, USTRANSCOM faces challenges in producing accurate workload forecasts [1]. These challenges can lead to unreliable budget requests and, ultimately, hinder the effectiveness and efficiency of USTRANSCOM [1]. For the purpose of routine aircraft movements of cargo and personnel, …

Mc80: Quantifying Effect Of Fleet Health On Sortie Execution In F-16 Fleet, Kyle R. Gladney

Theses and Dissertations

By order of the Secretary of Defense, all of the US Air Force's F-16 units were tasked to improve their fleet health to a Mission Capability (MC) rate of 80 percent, as part of a Department of Defense-wide push to make its Critical Aviation Platforms, and the units that employ them, more ready and lethal. This study uses historical fleet health and sortie execution data captured from LIMS-EV (Weapon System Viewer, 2020) to create a multiple regression model that quantifies the value of increased fleet health, defined as either MC rate or Aircraft Availability (AA) rate, in terms of increasing …

System Methodology Of Digital Transformation In Military Manufacturing Industry, Daolin Yu, Wenhai Zhu, Qing Xiao, Guoqiang Shi

Journal of System Simulation

Abstract: Focusing on the lack of the understanding and the solutions to the digital transformation of the military manufacturing enterprises and service providers, the background of the digital transformation in the military manufacturing industry is analyzed. By studying the advanced manufacturing models, the core competitiveness, the value chains and the production (productivity) factors, the (generalization) goals of the digital transformation in the military manufacturing industry are identified, and some urgent problems and the suggestions to solve the complex system problems are provided. The digital transformation in the military manufacturing industry is a long-term strategic action and should be continuously optimized …

Wind Power Generation Hardware-In-Loop Simulation System Based On Rapid Control Prototype Technology, Aihua Wu, Buhui Zhao, Jingfeng Mao, Haiqun Shen, Xudong Zhang

Journal of System Simulation

Abstract: In order to improve the efficiency and effectiveness in the design and testing process of the wind power generation MPPT controller, a rapid control prototype (RCP) system based on the LabVIEW FPGA platform is proposed. The real-time simulation model of wind speed, wind turbine and PMSG, as well as MPPT rapid control prototyping are designed by using PXI-FPGA architecture on the LabVIEW RT real-time operation platform. The power converter, the real-time simulation model and the MPPT rapid control prototyping are connected together to construct a hardware-in-loop (HIL) test system. The simulation results on the gradient wind speed condition and …

Emergency Evacuation Simulation For Dense Passenger Flow In A Rail Transit Transfer Station, Xu Hui, Tian Cheng, Wang Yong

Journal of System Simulation

Abstract: The rail transit is one of the important modes of the public transportation, and its safety operation is crucial. Based on the passenger volume and structure features that have been obtained through the field investigation in Chongqing Lianglukou railway station in China, a multi-level rail transit transfer station simulation model is built to analyze the evacuation process of pedestrians in the consideration of explosion and other emergencies by the software AnyLogic. The evacuation routes and evacuation time of passengers during emergency evacuation in a rail transit transfer station are studied. The research aims at verifying the emergency evacuation capacity …

Spatial Structure Optimization Of Natural Forest Based On Bee Colony-Particle Swarm Algorithm, Dongsheng Qing, Xiaofang Zhang, Jianjun Li, Guo Rui, Qiaoling Deng

Journal of System Simulation

Abstract: The natural forest spatial structure contains the spatial location information of the forest, which affects the growth, competition and stability of the forest development. Its optimization is a multi-objective programming problem. A bee colony particle swarm optimization (ABC-PSO) hybrid algorithm is proposed, which improves the initial particle generation mechanism, the number of follow bees and the circulation mechanism. The algorithm is applied to the multi-objective optimization of the spatial structure of natural forest. An optimization model which takes account of the tree distribution grid, tree size segmentation and tree competition is established. The simulation results show that the bee …

An Estimation Of Distribution Algorithm Based On Multiple Elites Sampling And Individuals Differential Search, Yu Fei, Ruifeng Wu, Wei Bo, Yinglong Zhang, Xuewen Xia

Journal of System Simulation

Abstract: An estimation distribution algorithm based on the multiple elites sampling and the individuals differential search (EDA-M/D) is proposed. In EDA-M/D, the elites carry out the sampling to generate the offspring independently and enhance the exploration. Meanwhile, the variance of the population distributionis selected to control the sampling radius. Thus, the target of the population can be gradually transited from exploration to exploitation. If the elite population stagnates, the nonentities will choose the mean value of the elites distribution μ and the population historical best solution as the two exemplars to execute a differential search operator, and then help the …

Multi-Uav 3d Formation Path Planning Based On Improved Artificial Potential Field, Haiyun Chen, Huazhou Chen, Liu Qiang

Journal of System Simulation

Abstract: Focusing on the GNRON (goal nonreachable with obstacles nearby), the local minima and chattering of the traditional artificial potential field method, the potential field functions are improved and analyzed to guarantee the goal is the global minimum. In the dynamic potential field, a mechanism of judging whether to fall into local minima is introduced, a method of “moving along the orientation of 90° of goal direction” is used to jump out of the local minima, and the path planning of multi-UAV formation, the synergistic obstacle avoidance and collision prevention are achieved. The path is optimized by applying the regression …

Simulation Analysis On Flexible Track Drilling Machine Based On Adams, Yanchao Zhang, Ting Wang, Danlong Song

Journal of System Simulation

Abstract: The three-dimensional model of the flexible track drilling machine is designed by the virtual prototyping technology. The model is imported into ADAMS (Automatic Dynamic Analysis of Mechanical Systems) software to carry out the kinematics and dynamic simulation analysis of its virtual prototype, and the rationality and feasibility of the system design are evaluated. Through the comparative analysis, the reasonable driving velocity and acceleration parameters of the hole making system are given. According to the analysis of the dynamic characteristics of the systems, the asymmetric driving problems in the system are found and the corresponding improvement scheme is put forward. …

Speech Control Scheme Design And Simulation For Uav Based On Hmm And Rnn, Zhou Nan, Jianliang Ai

Journal of System Simulation

Abstract: In order to simplify the operation and avoid the misoperation of UAVs, Based on Hidden Markov Model and Recurrent Neural Networks, a speech control scheme for UAVs is designed. In this scheme, HMM is used to train and recognize the speech command samples of UAVs. HMM is used to pick out the error commands, RNN is used to train the sets of UAVs commands, and the next command based on the training result is predicted. It is determined whether to execute or not by calculating the correlation between commands recognized by HMM and predicted by RNN. The simulation results …

Model Of Initial Spare Parts Configuration And Ordering Policy Optimization Based On Inventory State, Songshi Shao, Minzhi Ruan, Zhihua Zhang

Journal of System Simulation

Abstract: Rational planning of spare parts configuration project is an effective approach to improve the equipment availability and reduce the life cycle cost (LCC). First of all, the spare parts demand rate forecast model is constructed. According to the systemic analysis method, the spare parts support effectiveness evaluation targets system is built, and then, the initial spare parts configuration optimization method is researched. Aim to the consumption for partial repairable spare parts, the expected backorders function of the approximate Laplace demand distribution is given. Combining the (s-1, s) and (R, Q) inventory policy, the ordering model is established under the …

Analysis Of Aeroengine Vibration Signal, Pi Jun, Jiaze Chang, Guangcai Liu

Journal of System Simulation

Abstract: Aiming at the analysis of the vibration characteristics of aeroengine rotor, an improved blind source separation algorithm based on cumulant independent component analysis (ICA) is proposed. The new algorithm is used to separate the rotor vibration signal and identify the rotor fault types. The effectiveness of this algorithm is verified by the aeroengine rotor vibration signal simulation. Comparing with the existing algorithms based on second-order cumulants and high-order cumulants, the new method improves the performance index and the signal similarity coefficient. This algorithm is used to separate the vibration signal collected by the engine rotor platform and the rotor …

Research On Building Mechanism Model Simulation In Energy-Saving Control, Bai Yang, Decheng Yuan, Li Ling

Journal of System Simulation

Abstract: In the existing building system, the energy consumption is huge, the control system is complex, and the electricity cost is high. In order to reduce the cost of electricity, the mechanism model of the building is established for simulation. The accuracy of the model is verified by simulation to confirm the model applicability to the building system. Comparing the constant electricity price with the time-varying electricity price, the system under the model predictive control can response to the price change of electricity with time and can achieve the cost control and energy-saving.

Research On Evolution Model Of Online Public Opinion Based On Temporal Network, Li Feng, Wei Ying

Journal of System Simulation

Abstract: With the in-depth study on the social medias, the social networks of online platforms are recognized gradually as the time-varying temporal networks. In order to compare and analyze the information diffusion process and the result, the analysis method of computer simulations is adopted, a temporal network is generated, and the SIR model is used as the online public opinion diffusion model. The simulation results based on multi-agent approach show that the uncertainty of information diffusion on the social platforms comes from the complicated structure of the temporal networks and the SIR model. In addition, the misunderstanding of the social …