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Air Force Institute of Technology

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Articles 1111 - 1140 of 1238

Full-Text Articles in Operations Research, Systems Engineering and Industrial Engineering

Patient Scheduling And Aircraft Routing For Strategic Aeromedical Evacuation, Michael J. Loftus Mar 1993

Patient Scheduling And Aircraft Routing For Strategic Aeromedical Evacuation, Michael J. Loftus

Theses and Dissertations

The objective of this study is to develop an approach that would assign patients to aeromedical evacuation aircraft and route each aircraft to a single CONUS airport. The goal is to minimize total patient wait time. A heuristic algorithm is developed which exploits the structure of the problem. The first subproblem solved is the assignment of aircraft to airports. This subproblem is solved using integer programming and the results are input into the second subproblem. The second subproblem is the patient to aircraft assignment problem. This subproblem minimizes patient wait time and is solved using network flow programming. The two …

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An Empirical Evaluation Of Five Circular Error Probable Estimation Techniques And A Method For Improving Them, William L. Tongue Mar 1993

An Empirical Evaluation Of Five Circular Error Probable Estimation Techniques And A Method For Improving Them, William L. Tongue

Theses and Dissertations

This study compared five CEP estimation techniques under the assumption that the crossrange and downrange miss distances of the sample data follow a bivariate normal distribution. The analysis determined the sensitivities of these models to changes in sample size, bias, correlation, and ellipticity in terms of three measures of effectiveness: Mean relative error (RE), variance of RE, and mean squared error (MSE) of RE. In general, it was found that sample size was the most significant parameter in determining the best CEP method. Mean RE provided a 'strong' distinction between estimators, while variance and MSE provided 'weak' distinctions between estimators. …

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Cost Constrained Improvements To The Military Retirement System, Cynthia A. Brown Mar 1993

Cost Constrained Improvements To The Military Retirement System, Cynthia A. Brown

Theses and Dissertations

This research studies possible changes to the current military retirement system. The current military retirement system refers to the system provided under the Military Reform Act of 1986, A new system is proposed which would provide the retiree with four options. Option 1 would provide a pay annuity and medical benefits to the retiree (this is the current system). Option 2 would provide a pay lump sum in place of the, annuity and would offer medical benefits. Option 3 would offer the pay annuity but give a medical lump sum amount in place of the medical benefit. Finally, option 4 …

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Enhancements To The Animated Tutor For Air Combat Simulation, David A. Legge Mar 1993

Enhancements To The Animated Tutor For Air Combat Simulation, David A. Legge

Theses and Dissertations

This study investigates the use of the Ada programming language in combat modeling. It takes an existing combat model, the Animated Tutor for Air Combat Simulation (ATACS), and re-writes it into Ada. The new model also includes enhancements to the original model. ATACS+, as it is now called, is used as a learning tool in combat modeling classes at the Air Force Institute of Technology. ATACS+ consists of a preprocessor and a model, complete with two and three-dimensional graphics and engagement status reports. Conclusion are made about Ada's suitability for combat modeling, some of the features of Ada which can …

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An Analysis Of The Ability Of Commercial Wargames To Fulfill The Education Requirements Of The Air Force Wargaming Center, Scott Goehring Mar 1993

An Analysis Of The Ability Of Commercial Wargames To Fulfill The Education Requirements Of The Air Force Wargaming Center, Scott Goehring

Theses and Dissertations

It has been the contention of some that current commercial wargames could possibly fulfill the education requirements addressed by the Air Force Wargaming Center. The Wargaming Center, lacking the opportunity to conduct a thorough, in-house analysis of these commercial wargames, requested an independent evaluation be performed. This thesis identifies potential commercial wargames and provides an analysis of those wargames to determine their ability to educate senior military officers in the application of aerospace power. In addition, this thesis establishes a set of Measures of Effectiveness (MOEs) against which future wargames can be easily evaluated. The MOEs were developed from the …

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Predicting The Productive Capacity Of Air Force Aerospace Ground Equipment Personnel Using Aptitude And Experience Measures, Robert S. Faneuff Mar 1993

Predicting The Productive Capacity Of Air Force Aerospace Ground Equipment Personnel Using Aptitude And Experience Measures, Robert S. Faneuff

Theses and Dissertations

This study investigated the effects of mechanical aptitude and job experience on the job performance of 204 Air Force Aerospace Group Equipment (AGE) mechanics. Job performance was expressed as productive capacity (PC), which is derived from estimated performance times on job tasks. PC measures were derived for 50 tasks typically performed by airmen in the specialty. Aptitude measures took the form of Mechanical percentile composite scores on the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB). A second-order logistic model was used to regress PC on aptitude and experience at the task level and at the overall job, or aggregate, level. Model …

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Bradley Fighting Vehicle Gunnery: An Analysis Of Engagement Strategies For The M242 25-Mm Automatic Gun, James G. Riley Mar 1993

Bradley Fighting Vehicle Gunnery: An Analysis Of Engagement Strategies For The M242 25-Mm Automatic Gun, James G. Riley

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis studies various engagement strategies for the Bradley Fighting Vehicle's 25-mm automatic gun firing APDS-T ammunition against a BMP- type target. The Army currently provides only the broadest guidance for the structure of the 25-mm point target engagement which results in the employment of an assortment of strategies throughout the Bradley community. The goal of this research was to determine if a best method exists. Bradley gunnery is a complex set commander/gunner interactions which can be difficult to represent with the analytic models commonly found in the literature. A model, based on the simulation methods used by the US …

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An Analysis Of The Generalized Lambda Distribution, Robert J. Bergevin Mar 1993

An Analysis Of The Generalized Lambda Distribution, Robert J. Bergevin

Theses and Dissertations

The Generalized Lambda Distribution (GLD) is a four parameter function that is capable of mimicking the behavior of a wide range of probability density functions (pdfs). Unfortunately, the GLD presently cannot model every possible type of pdf. Since the reasons for this limitation are unknown, this thesis examines several potential problems in an attempt to expand the range of distributions the GLD can mimic. We first present a discussion of the behavior of the algorithm that is used to search for the appropriate GLD parameter values. In particular, we examine the effect of using an unconstrained search to find the …

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An Analysis Of Tactical Airlifter Characteristics And Their Impact On Theater Airlift System Performance, John J. Koger Mar 1993

An Analysis Of Tactical Airlifter Characteristics And Their Impact On Theater Airlift System Performance, John J. Koger

Theses and Dissertations

This study used computer simulation and Response Surface Technology to determine what tactical airlifter characteristics most impact theater airlift system performance in a Southwest Asia (SWA) scenario. Some Aircraft characteristics were grouped into functional sets, while others were considered individually. After screening one characteristic, reliability, with a two-level factorial experiment, a Box-Behnken design was used to estimate second-order metamodels. A stepwise regression procedure indicated that, if attrition rates are ignored, airlift system performance is most impacted by the aircraft's size, survivability, cruise speed, and ability to operate on short fields. The SWA scenario used in this study covers a large …

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The Airlift Capabilities Estimation Prototype: A Case Study In Model Validation, Randy Mccanne Mar 1993

The Airlift Capabilities Estimation Prototype: A Case Study In Model Validation, Randy Mccanne

Theses and Dissertations

This study investigates the application of a life cycle approach to the validation of operational models. The classic waterfall life cycle from software engineering is adapted for use on mathematical models by defining four stages of model development. Each stage is discussed in detail and examples of the output from each stage are presented. In addition, techniques are investigated for applying the proposed life cycle to existing models through the recovery of life cycle stages. The methodology is applied to a linear programming model developed for planning airlift operations to demonstrate the power of the life cycle approach to validation. …

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The Battle Of Little Round Top: An Analysis Of Battle Alternatives Through Commercial Wargames, John J. Mcguiness Mar 1993

The Battle Of Little Round Top: An Analysis Of Battle Alternatives Through Commercial Wargames, John J. Mcguiness

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis examines the problem of whether one can use commercial wargames as a tool for historical research. The research examines two wargames dealing with the battle of Little Round Top: Gettysburg: The Turning Point and Thunder at the Crossroads. This research emphasized the need to analyze the wargame's structure prior to playing the game. This will avoid a possible mistake of drawing a conclusion about a particular driver in the battle which may not be from the historical situation but rather an inevitable outcome produced by the model's basic assumptions. Additionally, quantitative measures of time lines, casualty rates, and …

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Modified Anderson-Darling And Cramer-Von Mises Goodness-Of-Fit Tests For The Normal Distribution, David A. Gwinn Sr. Mar 1993

Modified Anderson-Darling And Cramer-Von Mises Goodness-Of-Fit Tests For The Normal Distribution, David A. Gwinn Sr.

Theses and Dissertations

New techniques for calculating goodness-of-fit statistics for normal distributions with parameters estimated from the sample are investigated. Samples are generated for a Normal(0,1) distribution. Critical values are calculated for five modifications to the Anderson-Darling statistic and five modifications to the Cramer-Von Mises statistic. An extensive power study is done to test the power of the new statistics versus the power of the unmodified statistics. Powers of six of the new statistics show minimal to no improvement, two of the new statistics show a marked decrease in power, and two of the new statistics show an overall increase in power over …

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Spartan Ii: An Instructional High Resolution Land Combat Model, Edwin H. Harris Jr. Mar 1993

Spartan Ii: An Instructional High Resolution Land Combat Model, Edwin H. Harris Jr.

Theses and Dissertations

This project improved SPARTAN, a high resolution land combat model demonstrator. SPARTAN was originally developed as a hands-on trainer for land combat modeling students because there were no models specifically designed to teach the analysts how the models function. SPARTAN is built to demonstrate the techniques used in the current generation of US Army high resolution models. Like the original, the model is primarily a small scale attrition (both direct and indirect fire) model. The model represents 12 soldiers involved in the following processes: target search, target selection, direct fire engagement, indirect fire engagement, movement, reaction to fire, obstacle breaching, …

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A Statistical Analysis Of Terrorism And Instability In Latin America, Juan A. Hurtado Mar 1993

A Statistical Analysis Of Terrorism And Instability In Latin America, Juan A. Hurtado

Theses and Dissertations

In this research the effect of socioeconomic factors on terrorism and government instability in Latin America are studied. A commonly held opinion is that terrorism and instability are caused by repressive conditions. The objective of this research was to generate a methodology to forecast terrorism and instability given certain socioeconomic indicators. This methodology was generated for individual countries, two groups of countries, and a composite developing country. A set of 28 socioeconomic factors were evaluated and reduced based on correlation analysis. Patterns of terrorism and instability were investigated through data analysis and factor analysis. Multiple regression was used to develop …

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Including Maximum Sustained Wind Speed In A Time Series Model To Forecast Hurricane Movement, Timothy B. Mott Mar 1993

Including Maximum Sustained Wind Speed In A Time Series Model To Forecast Hurricane Movement, Timothy B. Mott

Theses and Dissertations

Techniques for applying time series fundamentals to forecasting hurricane movement are thoroughly examined in this research. The objectives are: (1) to modify Dr. Thomas Curry's threshold autoregressive time series model to improve its ability to forecast hurricane movement, (2) to forecast the maximum sustained wind speed for a hurricane, and (3) to identify if wind speed should be included as an explanatory variable to aid in forecasting hurricane movement. Eleven different models to predict the latitude, longitude and maximum sustained wind speed are compared and contrasted with Curry's bivariate time series model. The results showed the modifications allow significant forecasting …

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A Generalized Simulation Model For A Typical Medical Treatment Facility Obstetrical Unit, Annette M. Stephens Mar 1993

A Generalized Simulation Model For A Typical Medical Treatment Facility Obstetrical Unit, Annette M. Stephens

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this research was to develop a decision support tool for users at Air Force Medical Treatment Facility obstetrical (OB) units. The immediate needs of the generalized simulation model contained in this research provide obstetrical wards with the capability to identify unit effectiveness as well as the ability to predict future performance. As a result of this model, decision-makers will now have access to information on system performance as well as insight into the effects of changing conditions. This model was formulated with the flexibility to be adapted to OB wards at regional and local hospitals throughout the …

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A Comparison Of Variable Selection Criteria For Multiple Linear Regression: A Second Simulation Study, David P. Woollard Mar 1993

A Comparison Of Variable Selection Criteria For Multiple Linear Regression: A Second Simulation Study, David P. Woollard

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis implements a variable selection method proposed by Alan J. Miller, and makes an extension of Ross J. Hansen's 1988 thesis research by comparing the methods he examined: Minimum MSE, Minimum Sp, and Minimum Cp with Miller's method. Response Surface methodology is employed with two performance measures: the percentage of correct variables in a model and the Theoretical Mean Squared Error of Prediction (TMSEP). Each technique is applied on generated data with known multicollinearities, variances, random predictors, and sample sizes. Both performance measures are computed for models selected under each technique. A full factorial design using each performance measure …

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Modified Goodness-Of-Fit Tests For The Weibull Distribution, Erol Yucel Mar 1993

Modified Goodness-Of-Fit Tests For The Weibull Distribution, Erol Yucel

Theses and Dissertations

This research will produce a new modified Anderson-Darling and W* goodness of fit statistics for the three parameter Weibull Distribution when all parameters unknown and estimated by Maximum Likelihood-Minimum Distance combination. The critical values for each statistic, sample size and a levels 0. 20, 0.15, 0.10, 0.05 and 0.01 are produced. The Monte Carlo Simulation used 5000 repetitions for sample sizes of 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 40, and 50 with the Weibull shape equals to 3, scale equals to 4 and location equals to 10. The power study is made for the same sizes as above with the hypothesized …

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Estimating Test Range Capacity, Paul A. Mcdaniel Mar 1993

Estimating Test Range Capacity, Paul A. Mcdaniel

Theses and Dissertations

The main focus of this thesis effort was to develop a means to estimate the capacity of the test range complex at Eglin AFB, Florida. For the purposes of this study, test range capacity was defined as the maximum number of missions, of a given set, that could possibly be supported by range resources on any given day. In trying to determine this number, the complexities of the overall multi-resource constrained scheduling problem dictated a more practical approach be taken in modeling the allocation process of range resources to test missions. Therefore, a series of three single-resource, 0-1 integer programming …

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A Fuzzy Logic Optimal Control Law Solution To The Cmmca Tracking Problem, Randy E. Nelson Mar 1993

A Fuzzy Logic Optimal Control Law Solution To The Cmmca Tracking Problem, Randy E. Nelson

Theses and Dissertations

The Air Force uses the C-18 Cruise Missile Mission Control Aircraft (CMMCA) to radar track cruise missiles (CM) during test flights. Because of the complexity of the CM flight profiles, maintaining radar coverage at all times is very difficult. This thesis attempted to apply optimal control theory to construct a simulation providing 100% radar coverage. The simulation was divided into ten second intervals, and fuzzy logic was used at the start of each interval to determine the set point, i.e., that point in space where the CMMCA should be in ten seconds. The set point calculation's fuzzy logic balanced CMMCA …

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A Modified Anderson Darling Goodness-Of-Fit Test For The Gamma Distribution With Unknown Scale And Location Parameters, Tamer Ozmen Mar 1993

A Modified Anderson Darling Goodness-Of-Fit Test For The Gamma Distribution With Unknown Scale And Location Parameters, Tamer Ozmen

Theses and Dissertations

A new modified Anderson-Darling goodness-of-fit test is introduced for the three-parameter Gamma distribution when the location parameter is found by minimum distance estimation and scale parameter by maximum likelihood estimation. Monte Carlo simulation studies were performed to calculate the critical values for A-D test when A-D statistic is minimized. These critical values are then used for testing whether a set of observations follows a Gamma distribution when the scale and location parameters axe unspecified and are estimated from the sample. Functional relationship between the critical values of A-D is also examined for each shape parameter by the variables, sample size …

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A Modified Chi-Squared Goodness-Of-Fit Test For The Three-Parameter Gamma Distribution With Unknown Parameters, Thomas J. Sterle Mar 1993

A Modified Chi-Squared Goodness-Of-Fit Test For The Three-Parameter Gamma Distribution With Unknown Parameters, Thomas J. Sterle

Theses and Dissertations

A modified chi-squared goodness-of-fit test was created for the gamma distribution in the case where all three parameters must be estimated from the sample. Critical values are generated using a Monte Carlo simulation procedure with 5000 repetitions each. Random samples of 8 different sizes were drawn from gamma distributions with shape parameters 1, 1.5, 2., and 2.5. The shape, scale, and location parameters were then estimated from each sample, using an iterative technique combining the maximum likelihood and minimum distance methods, enabling, computation of the chi-squared statistics and critical values. The same process is used to generate random samples, parameter …

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A New Goodness-Of-Fit Test For The Weibull Distribution Based On Spacings, Mark C. Coppa Mar 1993

A New Goodness-Of-Fit Test For The Weibull Distribution Based On Spacings, Mark C. Coppa

Theses and Dissertations

The critical values for a new goodness-of-fit test based on spacings are generated for the Weibull distribution when the shape parameter is known. The critical values are used for testing whether a set of observations follow a Weibull distribution when the scale and location parameters are unknown. A Monte Carlo simulation with 10,000 iterations is used to generate the critical values for sample sizes 5(5)35 at shape parameters k equal to 0.5(0.5)1.5 and for sample sizes 5(5)20 at shape parameters k = 2.0(1.0)4.0. A Monte Carlo power study of the Z* test statistic using 5000 iterations is accomplished using nine …

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An Assessment Of Software Safety As Applied To The Department Of Defense Software Development Process, Peter W. Colan, Robert W. Prouhet Dec 1992

An Assessment Of Software Safety As Applied To The Department Of Defense Software Development Process, Peter W. Colan, Robert W. Prouhet

Theses and Dissertations

This research analyzed the relationships between the DOD software development process, system safety requirements, and current structured software safety analysis techniques. The current state of software safety was assessed within the aerospace industry and DOD, and a training program for DOD System Safety Managers was developed. A telephone survey was conducted to gather information on current software safety analysis techniques and methodologies. Personal interviews were conducted with Aeronautical System Center System Safety Managers to gather data on job perception and perceived training needs. The results of the study indicate that the DOD guidance and policy documents needed to implement and …

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An Analysis Of Usspacecom's Space Surveillance Network (Ssn) Sensor Tasking Methodology, Jeff M. Berger, Joseph B. Moles, David G. Wisley Dec 1992

An Analysis Of Usspacecom's Space Surveillance Network (Ssn) Sensor Tasking Methodology, Jeff M. Berger, Joseph B. Moles, David G. Wisley

Theses and Dissertations

This study provides the basis for the development of a cost/benefit assessment model to determine the effects of alterations to the Space Surveillance Network (SSN) on orbital element (OE) set accuracy. It provides a review of current methods used by NORAD and the SSN to gather and process observations, an alternative to the current Gabbard classification method, and the development of a model to determine the effects of observation rate and correction interval on OE set accuracy. The proposed classification scheme is based on satellite J2 perturbations. Specifically, classes were established based on mean motion, eccentricity, and inclination Since J2 …

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The Efficacy Of Group Decision Support Systems: A Field Experiment To Evaluate Impacts On Air Force Decision Makers, Benjamin C. Huff Dec 1992

The Efficacy Of Group Decision Support Systems: A Field Experiment To Evaluate Impacts On Air Force Decision Makers, Benjamin C. Huff

Theses and Dissertations

The research contributed to the study of Group Decision Support Systems (GDSS) in field experiments involving real managers making real decisions. This research was conducted by the Air Force Institute of Technology with the Air Force Armstrong Laboratory to evaluate the efficacy of using GDSS technology in an Air Force decision making environment. This study compared facilitated GDSS, facilitated manual, and unfacilitated manual decision making processes. This study focused on performance and secondary outcomes resulting from GDSS effects versus process structure effects. The research evaluated two performance outcomes: GDSS efficiency in terms of decision speed and effectiveness in terms of …

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Integrated Blade Inspection System (Ibis) Upgrade Study, Tony J. Deliberato, Steven W. Perkins, Steven K. Saplin, John G. Snyder, Gregory J. Toussaint Dec 1992

Integrated Blade Inspection System (Ibis) Upgrade Study, Tony J. Deliberato, Steven W. Perkins, Steven K. Saplin, John G. Snyder, Gregory J. Toussaint

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this design study was to identify ways to improve the Integrated Blade Inspection System. The Air Force requires inspection of jet engine compressor and turbine blades to locate defects and prevent engine failure. The current inspection process uses fluorescent penetrant as an aid to identify cracked blades. A systems engineering design process was applied to evaluate the current inspection techniques and to develop alternative methods to satisfy the Air Force requirements. Three different inspection systems were developed and compared to the current process: manual, semi-automated, and fully automated inspection. This study made several noteworthy contributions: development of …

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Analysis Of Whole-Sky Imager Data To Determine The Validity Of Pcflos Models, Richard W. Boltz, George R. Kather Dec 1992

Analysis Of Whole-Sky Imager Data To Determine The Validity Of Pcflos Models, Richard W. Boltz, George R. Kather

Theses and Dissertations

Models used to predict the probability of a cloud-free line-of-sight (PCFLOS) from the ground to space have existed since the 1960s. Unfortunately, an adequate data set has not been available to check the validity of these models until the deployment of the Whole-Sky Imager (WSI) system in 1989. Now that a three-year database has been collected from the WSI system, it is possible to validate, or refute, the existing models. This study investigates the most generally accepted models. Specifically, we investigate three questions: (1) Is the Lund and Shank-lin PCFLOS model assumption of azimuthal independence valid; (2) Does the Lund …

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Correlation Based Target Location And Identification, Richard A. Wenzel Dec 1992

Correlation Based Target Location And Identification, Richard A. Wenzel

Theses and Dissertations

Correlation was investigated as a technique for locating and identifying visible light terrain board images of tanks, airplanes, and trucks. A correlator was built which utilizes the Fast Fourier Transform. The 180 images in the image set were correlated in both the raw form and after pre-processing via energy normalization and local energy normalization. The correlation of the raw images led to development of quantitative and heuristic rules for possible inclusion in a rule based expert system. The correlation of the local energy normalized images resulted in a 100 percent target location rate and can be used as a baseline …

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Retinal Modeling: Segmenting Motion From Spatio-Temporal Inputs Using Neural Networks, David E. Swanson Dec 1992

Retinal Modeling: Segmenting Motion From Spatio-Temporal Inputs Using Neural Networks, David E. Swanson

Theses and Dissertations

We applied two first-order, linear, time-varying, differential equations to the task of segmenting motion from sequences of images. The equations are modified Grossberg formulas for long-term and short-term memory models characterizing the neurotransmitter and cell-activity levels of a synapse and neuron. We described how a two layered, sensory, neural network can be built using the equations to simulate the amacrine neurons of the retina. The model is defined using adaptive input nodes (adaptive model) and is compared to a similar model without these nodes (O and G model). By replicating the basic amacrine neuron model to form both one- and …

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