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Full-Text Articles in Engineering

A Reconfigurable Superscalar Architecture, Christopher B. Mayer Dec 1997

A Reconfigurable Superscalar Architecture, Christopher B. Mayer

Theses and Dissertations

The invention of the Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) has led to a number of interesting developments. One is the idea of providing custom hardware support for applications running on a computer. These reconfigurable computers have been shown to decrease the execution time for some applications. Based on past results, attention has subsequently turned to using reconfigurable computing in general-purpose computers (e.g. desktop and workstation environments). This thesis develops a design for just such a computer. The design, FPGADLX, is based on a hypothetical superscalar computer running the DLX instruction set and is generic enough in principle to be adapted …


A Wire Antenna Designed For Space Wave Radiation Over The Earth Using A Genetic Algorithm, Brian S. Sandlin Dec 1997

A Wire Antenna Designed For Space Wave Radiation Over The Earth Using A Genetic Algorithm, Brian S. Sandlin

Theses and Dissertations

A wire antenna is designed for optimal performance at low elevation angles in the presence of a lossy half-space. A simple genetic algorithm (GA) and GENOCOP III software are each integrated with Numerical Electromagnetics Code Version 4.1 (NEC4.1) to optimize a wire antenna geometry for multiple objectives: power gain, azimuthal symmetry, and input impedance. The performance of the two versions of the integrated GA are compared. Several of the resulting antennas are analyzed, and an antenna is proposed for use in a Remote Intrusion Monitoring System (RIMS). Simulations suggest that the proposed antenna, which is well-matched, offers a significant increase …


Applications Of Unsupervised Clustering Algorithms To Aircraft Identification Using High Range Resolution Radar, Dzung Tri Pham Dec 1997

Applications Of Unsupervised Clustering Algorithms To Aircraft Identification Using High Range Resolution Radar, Dzung Tri Pham

Theses and Dissertations

Identification of aircraft from high range resolution (HRR) radar range profiles requires a database of information capturing the variability of the individual range profiles as a function of viewing aspect. This database can be a collection of individual signatures or a collection of average signatures distributed over the region of viewing aspect of interest. An efficient database is one which captures the intrinsic variability of the HRR signatures without either excessive redundancy typical of single-signature databases, or without the loss of information common when averaging arbitrary groups of signatures. The identification of 'natural' clustering of similar HRR signatures provides a …


A Single Chip Low Power Implementation Of An Asynchronous Fft Algorithm For Space Applications, Bruce W. Hunt Dec 1997

A Single Chip Low Power Implementation Of An Asynchronous Fft Algorithm For Space Applications, Bruce W. Hunt

Theses and Dissertations

A fully asynchronous fixed point FFT processor is introduced for low power space applications. The architecture is based on an algorithm developed by Suter and Stevens specifically for a low power implementation. The novelty of this architecture lies in its high localization of components and pipelining with no need to share a global memory. High throughput is attained using large numbers of small, local components working in parallel. A derivation of the algorithm from the discrete Fourier transform is presented followed by a discussion of circuit design parameters specifically, those relevant to space applications. The generic architecture is explained with …


Analytic Transfer Function Of The Forward Propagation Of Diffuse Photon Density Waves In Turbid Media With An Embedded Spherical Inhomogeneity, Deborah L. Lasocki Dec 1997

Analytic Transfer Function Of The Forward Propagation Of Diffuse Photon Density Waves In Turbid Media With An Embedded Spherical Inhomogeneity, Deborah L. Lasocki

Theses and Dissertations

Diffusing photons can be used to detect and localize optical inhomogeneities embedded in turbid media such as clouds, fog, paint and human tissue. This thesis shows that a transfer function derived from an analytic solution of the Helmholtz equation can completely characterize in three dimensions the perturbations in the forward propagation phenomena caused by a spherical defect object in a multiple-scattering medium. Two models of the forward propagation behavior of diffuse photon density waves in homogeneous, infinite, turbid media that contains a spherical inhomogeneity are examined. The first model is an exact analytic solution based on a modal expansion in …


Atmospheric Turbulence Scintillation Effects On Wavefront Tilt Estimation, James A. Louthain Dec 1997

Atmospheric Turbulence Scintillation Effects On Wavefront Tilt Estimation, James A. Louthain

Theses and Dissertations

A new atmospheric turbulence screen generator is developed for use in performance calculations of adaptive optics systems valid over a wide range of atmospheric turbulence parameters. The screen generator accounts for diffraction effects caused by weak turbulence and incorporates the phase, amplitude, and cross statistics of the perturbed optical field. The wavefront's phase and amplitude perturbations are taken from the correlation functions developed by Lee and Harp and the cross correlation of the phase and amplitude derived in this thesis. The screen generator uses a modal representation to perform a Fourier series expansion of the wavefront phase and amplitude over …


Fpga Processor Implementation For The Forward Kinematics Of The Umdh, Steven M. Parmley Dec 1997

Fpga Processor Implementation For The Forward Kinematics Of The Umdh, Steven M. Parmley

Theses and Dissertations

The focus of this research was on the implementation of a forward kinematic algorithm for the Utah MIT Dexterous Hand (UMDH). Specifically, the algorithm was synthesized from mathematical models onto a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) processor. This approach is different from the classical, general purpose microprocessor design where all robotic controller functions including forward Kinematics are executed serially from a compiled programming language such as C. The compiled code and subsequent real time operating system must be stored on some form of nonvolatile memory, typically magnetic media such as a fixed or hard disk drive, along with other computer …


Modeling And Simulation Support For Parallel Algorithms In A High-Speed Network, Dustin E. Yates Dec 1997

Modeling And Simulation Support For Parallel Algorithms In A High-Speed Network, Dustin E. Yates

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis investigates the ability of a simulation model to compare and contrast parallel processing algorithms in a high-speed network. The model extends existing modeling, analysis, and comparison of parallel algorithms by providing graphics based components that facilitate the measurement of system resources. Simulation components are based on the Myrinet local area network standard. The models provide seven different topologies to contrast the performance of five variations of Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) algorithms. Furthermore, the models were implemented using a commercially developed product that facilitates the testing of additional topologies and the investigation of hardware variations. Accurate comparisons are statistically …


A Mammographic Registration Method Based On Optical Flow And Multiresolution Computing, Kevin A. Lee Dec 1997

A Mammographic Registration Method Based On Optical Flow And Multiresolution Computing, Kevin A. Lee

Theses and Dissertations

Mammography is a potent weapon in the fight against Breast Cancer, due in large part to its widespread availability and low cost. Despite the fact that mammography can detect small lesions as early as two years before they become palpable on physical exam, between 10 and 30 percent of cancerous lesions go undetected during evaluation by the radiologist. One approach to improving detection rates involves comparing mammograms of the same breast from successive years. Since most forms of breast cancer develop slowly, multiple view techniques might be able to detect subtle changes indicative of cancerous growth. This thesis proposes a …


Atmospheric Induced Errors In Space-Time Adaptive Processing, Vinod D. Naga Dec 1997

Atmospheric Induced Errors In Space-Time Adaptive Processing, Vinod D. Naga

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis examines the effects of atmospheric turbulence-induced phase perturbations on the performance of ground-based Space-Time Adaptive Processing (STAP) systems. Both Fully Adaptive Joint Domain Optimum and Partially Adaptive Factored-Time Space processing methods are examined. This thesis concentrates on the turbulence effects on STAP applied to ground-based arrays. This thesis further focuses on the capability of STAP to resolve targets at low elevation angles in the presence of turbulence. Only clutter interference and receiver noise are considered. Turbulence effects on the EM phase-front are calculated for turbulence strength Cn(2) values ranging from 5.0 x 10(exp -14) m-2/3 to 5.0 x …