Engineering Commons^™

Adaption And Optimization Of The Ibrahim Time Domain (Itd) Modal Parameter Identification Algorithm For Mini-Computer Use, Mary T. Cogeos

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

Conventional modal analysis is performed using FFT Analyzers with modal analysis software developed by one of many test/analysis software vendors. The analysis is performed in the frequency domain using frequency response functions. A recent advancement in modal analysis involves analyzing the measured free response of a structure in the time domain. The Ibrahim Time Domain (ITD) Algorithm is such a method which has been used and verified at government environmental test facilities. The ITD is an accurate numeric solution. Minimal operator interaction is required for proper performance of the algorithm. The results of the ITD Algorithm are far superior to …

A Gate-Array Realization Of An Algorithm For Division, Salman Y. Abbasi

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

A realization of a division algorithm suitable for high speed pipeline and realtime processors is presented. Implementation of the divide algorithm can be achieved by utilizing LSI / VLSI gate array technology. The divider performs precision, high speed 9 bit sign magnitude division. The design consist of combinational logic, where input and output data are latched into input and output registers. Data propagates through 16 divide stages. The n'th stage generates the n'th quotient bit upon receiving the updated dividend and controls from the previous stage. A simulation program is developed to verify the algorithm, and an analysis for speed …

Digital Image Processing Using Ntec Facilities, James F. Roesch

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

Digital image enhancement refers to the improvement of a given image for human interpretation. Digital image processing facilities are those in which hardware and software computing elements are combined in such a way as to enable the processing of digital images. This report describes the use of the Naval Training Equipment Center (NTEC) Computer Systems Laboratory computing facilities to enhance digital images. Described are two major hardware systems, the IKONAS RDS-3000 raster display graphics system and the VAX-11/780, and the digital image processing program (DIMPRP) written by the author. Digital image enhancement theory and practice are addressed through a discussion …

Highway Runoff And Sediment Control, Susanna H. Rehmann-Koo

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

A literature survey was conducted on the erosion and sedimentation process and techniques for control. Erosion and sediment control techniques were found to be very site specific. Several techniques are analyzed for their maintenance and operation requirements, construction costs, and effectiveness in quantity and quality control. Once technique, namely swale blocks or berms was designed and constructed to illustrate cost and effectiveness. Design aids were developed for various berm heights and highway slopes as a function of berm spacing for typical highway cross-sections to aid in the design of swale blocks. Construction costs were estimated for the berms and retention/detention …

A Comparative Study Of Computer Interfacing Techniques For Military Training Devices, Gary R. Fraas

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

This report surveys many of the interfacing techniques currently in use on emerging military training devices. The primary focus of this report is associated with the hardware aspects of computer interfacing. After a brief introduction into the various aspects of military training devices, this study presents various computer related interfacing techniques used on military training devices. Topics addressed in the study include custom designed interfaces, commercial packages, serial communications with an emphasis on RS-232, -422, -423, and -449 serial standards as well as local area networks. Then, a number of bus standards are presented and finally, interface products pertaining to …

Filter Settle Time For Signal Processing Applications, Michael T. Mccord

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

In this paper, the step modulated sine wave [u(t)Asin2πft] response of the low-pass, band-pass, and high-pass filters are evaluated. Butterworth filters from the first order on up to the ideal filter are analyzed, and expressions for the settle times developed. The longest settle time occurs for the ideal filter, with all other filters taking progressively less time to settle as the order decreases. A significant point is that the transient settle time for a filter depends on the difference in applied signal frequency and the filter cut off frequency. The set of expressions developed in this report are primarily intended …

A Model For Scattering In Dense Clouds, Richard A. Leblanc

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

Lights is almost always detected by its interaction with matter. One of these interaction phenomena is the scattering of light by small particles. A model is developed that estimates the amount of energy that is scattered towards a detector from a beam given the locations of the source, detector and particle. This collection of particles is allowed to be very dense so that a photon scattered from the beam can be scattered several times before leaving the scattering medium. By considering the single-scatter component and multiple-scatter component separately, the model retains the characteristics of both types.

A Robotic Vision System, Murat Draman

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

A survey was done to summarize the state of the art and the future directions in the robotic vision field, in the industrial applications and research areas. An assembly language program, "GETIT", was written to control a MC6800 microprocessor in gathering data from an analog-to-digital converter hooked up to a camera, to find the center of a white marble placed on a black surface, and to send the coordinates to a five axis robot. A VAL language program, "VISION!", was written to receive the coordinate data from the microprocessor and to direct the robot to the specified location, to pick …

An Application Of Speech Synthesis, Edward J. Purvis

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

This paper discusses the implementation of a synthesized computer voice facility for a missile trainer. The actual facility hardware is described. Software used to control the hardware operation is presented and discussed.

A Single Fault-Tolerant Dual Channel Controller, Thomas J. Lowery

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

The advent of the VLSI technology makes it feasible to offer a once expensive system attribute called fault-tolerance to a wide variety of applications. This can be accomplished by using off-the-shelf single board computers and peripherals as the heart of the system. Custom design boards can then be added to meet the specific requirements of each application.

Graphic Display Of Geographic Spatial Data, Jill G. Ashby

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

This project developed computer graphics to display spatial and statistical data in a functional, appropriate and articulate manner. The spatial data creates mapping of Orange County focusing on traffic zones. The graphs display statistical data projecting from spatial areas presented in a simple form. The graphs produced by the system are geared towards an audience involved with transportation and planning decisions for Orange County. The graphics employ population, income, number of dwelling units, trip generation and trip production data based upon the 1980 census. The population, income, and number of dwelling unites statistics include predictions for 1985 through 2005 in …

Finite Impulse Response Filter Implementation Via Windowing Technique, Thomas J. Horrigan

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

This research report is devoted to an investigation of finite impulse response (FIR) filters and their implementation via windowing techniques. Analysis is restricted to those FIR filters that possess both a nonrecursive structure and a linear phase response. Initially an informative yet concise overview of FIR filters is presented. Some knowledge of "discrete – time" systems is assumed. Next, the concepts associated with FIR filter implementation through the utilization of window functions is developed. Analysis is performed in both the time and frequency domains. Results obtained define optimal window function criteria. The last design technique is devoted to computer aided …

Processing Of Thin Film Devices, Ramzi Delpak

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

The ability to do thin film processing has been established at UCF. This paper describes the facilities available. RF and DC sputtering was used for material deposition. The parameters for both were established experimentally, and the results are presented. Resistor and capacitor test patterns were used to test the accuracy of the system. The devices were fabricated and tested; experimental results are discussed.

Stormwater Detention Systems With Effluent Filtration, Linda M. Van De Graaff

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

The growing concern for water quality enhancement of our surface waters has led to changes in detention facility design. Providing a filter media for the effluent water to travel through before discharge into the environment has become an area of interest. Thus, detention facilities may be used for both water quality and quantity control. Different soil medias were studied for the potential of pollutant removal and infiltration rates usable in design work. Both laboratory and field experimentation were performed. A computer program was also developed to model stormwater movement through a swale detention system. This research was performed to examine …

Display To Camera Calibration Techniques, Philip Gatt

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

In today's technology, with digitally controlled optic sensing devices, there exists a need for a fast and accurate calibration procedure. Typical display devices and optic fiber bundles are plagued with inaccuracies. There are many sources of error such as delay, time constants, pixel distortion, pixel bleeding, and noise. The calibration procedure must measure these inaccuracies, and compute a set of correction factors. These correction factors are then used in real time to alter the command data, such that the intended pixels are correctly commanded. This paper discusses a calibration procedure, which employs a special matrix inverse algorithm. This algorithm, which …

Non-Iterative Finite Impulse Response Design Techniques, Carlton D. Bishop

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

A general, non-iterative design technique for low shapefactor, transversal filters is presented. This design approach uses two cosine series to specify appropriate eigenfunctions. An infinite set of such eigenfunctions are defined and the method for choosing the coefficients is discussed.

The total filter response is specified as the product of two individual frequency responses. The impulse response of each is then determined by applying the superposition of appropriate eigenfunctions. The criteria for choosing the appropriate eigenfunctions is discussed.

A synthesis procedure for designing surface acoustic wave filters is presented. The effects of truncating the impulse response are also explored. A …

The Frequency Response Computation Of H(Z) Models That Include Digital Error Effects, Carol R. Smith

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

Pulse responses are not suitable for evaluating H(z) frequency responses that include digital errors. Digital error effects, however, are conveniently included in H(z) frequency response calculations based on the step response. A non-real time algorithm for computing the frequency response of a real time digital filters based on the filter step response is developed and verified through an example.

Wastewater Characterization And Treatability For Aneastern Coal Slurry, Mark J. Flint

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

A complete wastewater characterization study was performed on an eastern Kentucky coal slurry after a 10-day circulation period in a 40 foot (12.2 m) pilot-scale pipeline. The resulting wastewater was settled and decanted for additional lime and alum treatability studies. Easter coal slurries were characterized by high TDS, conductivity, sulfates and iron. Significant concentrations of a number of trace metals were also found; however, organics were very low. Wastewater quality varied considerably among several experiments and was presumed to be influenced by different properties of the coal and the addition of a corrosion inhibitor. The major treatment concern was removal …

A 'User-Friendly' Robot Operator Training Aid, Donald A. Washburn

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

There will be an increasing demand for robot operators, since more companies are using robots in production and material handling. In order to train these would-be operators, a 'user-friendly' robot operator training aid was developed. This aid helps the trainee learn how to program a robot using on-line programming, and the trainee also obtains valuable hands-on experience. Since this training aid is user-friendly and has safety features, it requires little or no previous experience with robots or computers and minimal supervision. With this training, the would-be operators will acquire a basic understanding of how they can apply this experience to …

Gain Control Of A Time-Varying Signal Using A Multiplaying Dac, Yassin Movassaghi

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

The design of a high speed circuit accepting a bipolar analog signal with a 3 db bandwidth of 20 MHZ and an eight bit unipolar gain control signal is presented in this thesis. The system produces the product of these two signals at a rate of one digital byte every 25 nsec. At the heart of the system are two multiplying digital to analog converters (DACs) operating in parallel. The circuit design was based on a statistically validated model for a multiplying DAC. This circuit could be used for controlling the intensity of each picture element (i.e. pixel) for many …

Transformation Of Nitrogen In Highway Runoff Management Systems, Robert D. Tolbert

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

The operation and maintenance of highways contributes a variety of pollutants to surface and subsurface waters. Solids, heavy metals, nutrients, oil and grease, pesticides and bacteria can all be associated with highway runoff. Although the full extent of the effect of all of these runoff constituents upon the quality of surrounding waters is not well defined, this study will mainly concentrate on nutrient contaminants (essentially nitrogen). The last decade has seen increasing efforts in research and development to abate contaminant discharges from highway runoff using a number of treatment facilities such as retention/detention basins, swales and wetland systems. An evaluation …

Biotoxicity Of Highway Runoff Metals To Gambusia, John M. Bateman

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

A research study was conducted to examine the relationship between speciation of heavy metals (Zn, Cd, Pb, Cu) and their biotoxicity. Therefore, static bioassay experiments were designed to determine LC-50 values for those metals on mosquitofish, Gambusia affinis. The standard bioassay scheme consisted of twelve 16-liter all-glass aquaria that provided duplicates of five different metal concentrations and a control for each run. Deionized tap water and filtered retention/detention water from Maitland Pond were used for bioassays. The effects of various physiochemical parameters such as pH, alkalinity, hardness and organic complexation on metal toxicity were determined. Also, synergistic and antagonistic effects …

A Microcomputer Controlled Contouring Machine, Kripaker K. Punja

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

An Apple microcomputer and a three axis milling machine are the basis for a CAD/CAM system with the capability of drilling and contour milling operations. The milling machine axes are driven by three stepper motors under the control of the Apple microcomputer and the ISAAC data acquisition module. An interactive part design program using high resolution color graphics has been developed. It employs lines, circles and points to define the geometry for the part. The design is entered at the CRT and stored as a CAM database on the user disc. Once the design is complete it is postprocessed and …

Investigation And Evaluation Of Random Number Generators For Digital Implementation, Ylberto V. Ruiz

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

The continuous improvement in the speed of digital components in conjunction with reduction of size has brought about a revolutionary age of microprocessors. Mathematical functions, which at one time could only be implemented by complex analog circuitry, can now be easily implemented via microprocessors and high density digital components. Principles of random number generation must be understood in order to implement pseudo-random algorithms in a digital random frequency generator (DRFG) design. Chapter 1 is a discussion of several types of random number algorithms which have been used in the past and outlines the deficiencies and advantages associated with each individual …

Computer Simulation Of Cross Correlators For Correlated Inputs, Linda J. Coulter

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

Cross correlator systems, analog and clipped input channels, with correlated random narrow band Gaussian noise as inputs are computer simulated. The performance of each system is evaluated on the basis of the output signal-to-noise ratio. The output SNR of each system is compared with theoretical asymptotic approximations computed as a function of the SNR of the input channels. The output of the simulation compares within 3 dB of the asymptotic approximations for the analog correlator for all values of the correlation coefficient tested and for the systems with clipped input channels with uncorrelated inputs. For the systems with clipped input …

Digital Hearing Aids, Somsak Deawsurintr

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

This paper describes the design of a hearing aid using digital techniques. The Amplitude Compression Amplifier and Digital Filter are discussed. General review of different filter types are presented as background for the design of Digital Filters. The design procedure for Digital Filters and the software program for the Intel-2920 signal processor are created. Finally, the program is tested by simulation via the 2920-Simulator.

The Use Of Computers In Construction Management, Joella S. Francois

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

A study on the use of computers for the management of construction projects has been conducted. The findings of this study will be presented here and will consist of: 1. An examination of the different utilization of computers in the field of construction management. 2. An analysis of the methodology of some well known computer software packages used by many construction companies. 3. A complete documentation of computer codes that have been developed a. to illustrate the use of computer graphics for an effective utilization of some construction management techniques such as the bar chart b. to solve the problem …

A Non-Contact Technique For Direct Strain Measurement Using Laser Speckle Spectral Density, Reza M. Sheikhrezai

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

When an optically rough surface is illuminated by laser, a grainy pattern is produced at a distance away from the surface, which is known as laser speckle pattern. This pattern is random in intensity with its grains separated by an average amount controlled by the intermediate optical system or the diameter of the illuminated area of the surface in absence of an optical system. It has been shown that the grain spacing of such pattern may be correlated to yield a singly-peaked power spectral density of an intensity ensemble which is found by spatial ensemble averages. This correlation holds only …

Millimeter Wave Scattering From A Rough Surface, Charles H. Hargraves

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

This thesis presents an introduction to rough surface scattering and describes techniques that were used during the course of this project to measure and characterize electromagnetic scattering from a rough surface. An analytical model is described that accurately predicts the statistics of the measured scattering data. The CW measurement process that was used is described and scattering measurement results are presented. Calculated and measured statistical moments are compared in order to show agreement of measurements with various statistical scattering models. Recommendations for additional work in the area of measurement and analytical modeling of rough surface scattering are given.

The Combination Of Artificial Intelligence And Robotics For A Mobile Robot Application, Leslie D. Interrante

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

The combination of artificial intelligence and robotics led to more flexibility and powerful mobile robot applications. The robot and its environment were simulated with a microcomputer to gather statistical information. An application was demonstrated in the laboratory with a mobile robot. The robot recognized an obstacle in its path and generated the necessary changes in its environment so that it could successfully complete a required task.