Engineering Commons^™

Speckle Effects In Target-In-The-Loop Laser Beam Projection Systems, Mikhail Vorontsov

Electro-Optics and Photonics Faculty Publications

In target-in-the-loop laser beam projection scenarios typical of remote sensing, directed energy, and adaptive optics applications, a transmitted laser beam propagates through an optically inhomogeneous medium toward a target, scatters off the target’s rough surface, and returns back to the transceiver plane. Coherent beam scattering off the randomly rough surface results in strong speckle modulation in the transceiver plane. This speckle modulation has been a long-standing challenge that limits performance of remote sensing, active imaging, and adaptive optics techniques. Using physics-based models of laser beam scattering off a randomly rough surface, we show that received speckle-field spatial and temporal characteristics …

Recursive Non-Local Means Filter For Video Denoising, Redha A. Ali, Russell C. Hardie

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Publications

In this paper, we propose a computationally efficient algorithm for video denoising that exploits temporal and spatial redundancy. The proposed method is based on non-local means (NLM). NLM methods have been applied successfully in various image denoising applications. In the single-frame NLM method, each output pixel is formed as a weighted sum of the center pixels of neighboring patches, within a given search window.

The weights are based on the patch intensity vector distances. The process requires computing vector distances for all of the patches in the search window. Direct extension of this method from 2D to 3D, for video …

Analysis Of The Joint Impact Of Atmospheric Turbulence And Refractivity On Laser Beam Propagation, Victor A. Kulikov, Mikhail Vorontsov

Electro-Optics and Photonics Faculty Publications

A laser beam propagation model that accounts for the joint effect of atmospheric turbulence and refractivity is introduced and evaluated through numerical simulations. In the numerical analysis of laser beam propagation, refractive index inhomogeneities along the atmospheric propagation path were represented by a combination of the turbulence-induced random fluctuations described in the framework of classical Kolmogorov turbulence theory and large-scale refractive index variations caused by the presence of an inverse temperature layer. The results demonstrate that an inverse temperature layer located in the vicinity of a laser beam’s propagation path may strongly impact the laser beam statistical characteristics including the …

Design And Prototyping Of A Shape-Changing Rigid-Body Human Foot In Gait, Tanner N. Rolfe

Honors Theses

Traditional ankle-foot prostheses often replicate the physiological change in shape of the foot during gait via compliant mechanisms. In comparison, rigid-body feet tend to be simplistic and largely incapable of accurately representing the geometry of the human foot. Multi-segment rigid-body devices offer certain advantages over compliant mechanisms which may be desirable in the design of ankle-foot devices, including the ability to withstand greater loading, the ability to achieve more drastic shape-change, and the ability to be synthesized from their kinematics, allowing for realistic functionality without prior accounting of the complex internal kinetics of the foot. This work focuses on applying …

Improving Electrochemical Devices Via Increased Charge Density And Ceramic Nanoparticles, George Padavick

Honors Theses

Challenges posed by climate change in conjunction with increasing global energy demand necessitate improved energy systems in both transportation and power delivery. These systems will require more advanced energy storage than current commercially available options. To enhance energy storage capabilities, supercapacitors were investigated to discover new mechanisms, materials, and fabrication techniques for developing electrochemical devices. In particular, methods for improving electrolyte performance were explored to enhance capacitance and conductivity. The results indicate that increasing charge density in the electrolyte via higher salt concentration or higher ionic charge of the solvated ions significantly increases capacitance. Specifically, a 0.1M solution of magnesium …

Design And Prototyping Of A Shape-Changing Rigid-Body Human Foot In Gait, Tanner N. Rolfe

Honors Theses

Traditional ankle-foot prostheses often replicate the physiological change in shape of the foot during gait via compliant mechanisms. In comparison, rigid-body feet tend to be simplistic and largely incapable of accurately representing the geometry of the human foot. Multi-segment rigid-body devices offer certain advantages over compliant mechanisms which may be desirable in the design of ankle-foot devices, including the ability to withstand greater loading, the ability to achieve more drastic shape-change, and the ability to be synthesized from their kinematics, allowing for realistic functionality without prior accounting of the complex internal kinetics of the foot. This work focuses on applying …

On-Chip Training Of Memristor Crossbar Based Multi-Layer Neural Networks, Raqibul Hasan, Tarek M. Taha, Christopher Yakopcic

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Publications

Memristor crossbar arrays carry out multiply-add operations in parallel in the analog domain, and so can enable neuromorphic systems with high throughput at low energy and area consumption. On-chip training of these systems have the significant advantage of being able to get around device variability and faults. This paper presents on-chip training circuits for multi-layer neural networks implemented using a single crossbar per layer and two memristors per synapse. Using two memristors per synapse provides double the synaptic weight precision when compared to a design that uses only one memristor per synapse. Proposed on-chip training system utilizes the back propagation …

Simulation Of The Scattered Em Field Of A Rotating Conducting Cylinder Using Static Data, Esmail M. M. Abuhdima, Robert Penno

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Publications

The effect of the rotation of a very good conducting cylinder on the backscattered field will be investigated where the incident wave is considered as a plane wave in both polarizations (E-wave and H-wave). Previous work has explained that rotation or vibration of the object may induce phase changes of the scattered signal. Modulation during rotation or vibration is referred to as micro-Doppler effect. Also, the effect of the rotation of a conducting cylinder was investigated by many researchers in the past using the Galilean transformation. These analyses conclude that the effect of rotation does not exist in the case …

Agenda: Second International Workshop On Thin Films For Electronics, Electro-Optics, Energy And Sensors (Tfe3s), University Of Dayton Research Institute

Electro-Optics and Photonics Faculty Publications

University of Dayton’s Center of Excellence for Thin Film Research and Surface Engineering (CETRASE) is delighted to organize its second international workshop at the University of Dayton’s Research Institute (UDRI) campus in Dayton, Ohio, USA. The purpose of the new workshop is to exchange technical knowledge and boost technical and educational collaboration activities within the thin film research community through our CETRASE and the UDRI.

Using Phase For Radar Scatterer Classification, Linda J. Moore, Brian D. Rigling, Robert Penno, Edmund G. Zelnio

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Publications

Traditional synthetic aperture radar (SAR) systems tend to discard phase information of formed complex radar imagery prior to automatic target recognition (ATR). This practice has historically been driven by available hardware storage, processing capabilities, and data link capacity. Recent advances in high performance computing (HPC) have enabled extremely dense storage and processing solutions. Therefore, previous motives for discarding radar phase information in ATR applications have been mitigated. First, we characterize the value of phase in one-dimensional (1-D) radar range profiles with respect to the ability to correctly estimate target features, which are currently employed in ATR algorithms for target discrimination. …

Compiled Research & Materials, Appendix F: Valuable Solar Resources, Andrew Tarutani, Laura Kunas, Conor Mcgrail, Colin Joern, Madalyn Beban

Sustainability and Energy

This document lists several URLs that may offer valuable information as it pertains to solar energy and solar initiatives across the U.S.

Compiled Research & Materials, Appendix H: Tiny Homes Ideas, Andrew Tarutani, Laura Kunas, Madalyn Beban, Conor Mcgrail, Colin Joern

Sustainability and Energy

This document explains some of the ideas developed by the team that relate to the implementation of a tiny homes neighborhood.

Compiled Research & Materials, Appendix I: Tiny Homes Survey, Andrew Tarutani

Sustainability and Energy

This document represents a survey that could be used to gauge student interest for a tiny homes neighborhood.

Compiled Research & Materials, Appendix G: Tiny Homes Consideration, Andrew Tarutani, Laura Kunas, Conor Mcgrail, Colin Joern, Madalyn Beban

Sustainability and Energy

This document reviews several considerations identified by the team that relate to the concept of a tiny homes neighborhood.

Compiled Research & Materials, Appendix L: Solar America Initiative, S. Grover

Sustainability and Energy

This National Renewable Energy Laboratory resource details the benefits of the Solar America Initiative.

Compiled Research & Materials, Appendix K: Economic Impact Potential Of Solar Photovoltaics In Illinois, Illinois State University. Center For Renewable Energy

Sustainability and Energy

This 2013 study reviews the potential for economic impact of solar photovoltaics in the state of Illinois.

Compiled Research & Materials, Appendix Q: Energysage Interview, Andrew Tarutani, Conor Mcgrail, Colin Joern, Madalyn Beban, Laura Kunas

Sustainability and Energy

This document reviews several of the topics discussed in an informational interview with a representative with EnergySage.

Compiled Research & Materials, Appendix N: Keybank Interview, Andrew Tarutani, Laura Kunas, Madalyn Beban, Colin Joern, Conor Mcgrail

Sustainability and Energy

This document reviews several of the topics discussed in an informational interview with KeyBank regarding financing options for solar projects.

Compiled Research & Materials, Appendix O: Energywize Interview, Andrew Tarutani, Madalyn Beban, Laura Kunas, Colin Joern, Conor Mcgrail

Sustainability and Energy

This document reviews several of the topics discussed in an informational interview with Wendell Ott of EnergyWize.

Compiled Research & Materials, Appendix P: Current Solar Pricing, Andrew Tarutani, Laura Kunas, Madalyn Beban, Colin Joern, Conor Mcgrail

Sustainability and Energy

This document reviews the current state of solar costs as defined in an informational interview with Wendell Ott of EnergyWize.

Comparing Multiple Turbulence Restoration Algorithms Performance On Noisy Anisoplanatic Imagery, Michael Armand Rucci, Russell C. Hardie, Alexander J. Dapore

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Publications

In this paper, we compare the performance of multiple turbulence mitigation algorithms to restore imagery degraded by atmospheric turbulence and camera noise. In order to quantify and compare algorithm performance, imaging scenes were simulated by applying noise and varying levels of turbulence. For the simulation, a Monte-Carlo wave optics approach is used to simulate the spatially and temporally varying turbulence in an image sequence. A Poisson-Gaussian noise mixture model is then used to add noise to the observed turbulence image set. These degraded image sets are processed with three separate restoration algorithms: Lucky Look imaging, bispectral speckle imaging, and a …

Compiled Research & Materials, Andrew Tarutani, Madalyn Beban, Laura Kunas, Colin Joern, Conor Mcgrail

Sustainability and Energy

This document outlines the research conducted and progress made over the Spring 2017 semester. It details the team's efforts to pursue implementation of a solar co-op in the McPherson Town neighborhood along with an innovative tiny homes neighborhood on the University of Dayton's campus.

Compiled Research & Materials, Appendix M: Mcpherson Town Interview, Andrew Tarutani, Laura Kunas, Madalyn Beban, Conor Mcgrail, Colin Joern

Sustainability and Energy

This document reviews several of the topics discussed in an informational interview with McPherson Town neighborhood president Phil Leppla.

Compiled Research & Materials, Appendix J: Solar For Economic Development Toolkit, National Association Of Regional Councils

Sustainability and Energy

This report was prepared as an account of work sponsored by an agency of the United States Government. Neither the United States Government nor any agency thereof, nor any of their employees, makes any warranty, express or implied, or assumes any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, apparatus, product, or process disclosed, or represents that its use would not infringe privately owned rights. Reference herein to any specific commercial product, process, or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise does not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the …

On The Simulation And Mitigation Of Anisoplanatic Optical Turbulence For Long Range Imaging, Russell C. Hardie, Daniel A. Lemaster

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Publications

We describe a numerical wave propagation method for simulating long range imaging of an extended scene under anisoplanatic conditions. Our approach computes an array of point spread functions (PSFs) for a 2D grid on the object plane. The PSFs are then used in a spatially varying weighted sum operation, with an ideal image, to produce a simulated image with realistic optical turbulence degradation. To validate the simulation we compare simulated outputs with the theoretical anisoplanatic tilt correlation and differential tilt variance. This is in addition to comparing the long- and short-exposure PSFs, and isoplanatic angle. Our validation analysis shows an …

Next Steps For Mentoring Program, Patrick Gray

Sustainability and Connectivity

This file provides a jump-off position for students in the fall 2017 semester who want to continue work toward a mentoring program.

Evaluation Of Protection Of Frp Wrap On Bridge Piers From Corrosive Effects Of Snow And Ice Chemicals, Lizzie Miller

Honors Theses

Highway bridge components, such as decks and piers, are structures that are often exposed to chlorine-heavy chemicals. Corrosion of rebar, one of the main contributors to structural deficiencies in highway bridges, is largely caused by chloride contamination from exposure to deicing salts and chemicals. Current forms of external protection to highway bridge piers include paint coatings, shells, and wraps. This thesis will focus on the protective capabilities that Fiber Reinforced Polymer (FRP) wraps could provide to bridge piers. ASTM C666 was utilized to recreate environmental conditions, during which concrete samples were exposed to calcium chloride. ASTM C1760-12 was utilized to …

Sustainability Survey, Dayton Regional Green Nonmember Businesses, 2017, Zachary Siefker, Theresa Isemann, Andrew Eckrich

Sustainability and Connectivity

This document is a sustainability and sharing survey intended for businesses that are not already Dayton Regional Green members. This survey includes questions similar to what is in DRG3's survey. It asks questions regarding mentoring, sharing, local sourcing, energy, waste streams, and sustainability.

Hackathon 2017 Project: Resource-Sharing Website, Zachary Siefker, Theresa Isemann, Andrew Eckrich

Sustainability and Connectivity

Our team was given the opportunity to pitch a concept to students attending UD’s Hackathon event on Febraury 22, 2017. One group took on the project and created the framework for a website that could be used for business connectivity and sharing. This document spells out the major takeaways from the project.

Team Meeting Minutes, January-April 2017, Zachary Siefker, Theresa Isemann, Andrew Eckrich

Sustainability and Connectivity

This document provides notes from meetings with several Dayton-area community leaders. Several ideas that make Dayton more community-oriented and material-efficient are discussed.