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Air Force Institute of Technology

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Articles 1711 - 1740 of 2678

Full-Text Articles in Physical Sciences and Mathematics

Improving Tcp Performance By Estimating Errors In A Long Delay, High Error Rate Environment, Stephanie E. Carroll Jul 2004

Improving Tcp Performance By Estimating Errors In A Long Delay, High Error Rate Environment, Stephanie E. Carroll

Theses and Dissertations

Interest in finding methods of improving TCP performance over satellite and wireless networks is high. This has been an active area of research within the networking community. This research develops an algorithm, CETEN-R for TCP to determine if a particular packet is lost due to congestion or corruption and react accordingly. An analysis of the performance of CETEN-R under a variety of conditions is studied and then compared to TCP Reno and TCP New Reno. When delay is high and the error rate is high CETEN-R showed a 77.5% increase in goodput over TCP New Reno and a 33.8% increase …


Using Time-Resolved Photoluminescence To Measure The Excitation And Temperature Dependence Of Carrier Relaxation In Mid-Wave Infrared Semiconductors, Kevin Cumblidge Jun 2004

Using Time-Resolved Photoluminescence To Measure The Excitation And Temperature Dependence Of Carrier Relaxation In Mid-Wave Infrared Semiconductors, Kevin Cumblidge

Theses and Dissertations

Research in the field of mid-wave infrared (MWIR) semiconductor photonic devices has led to applications in a variety of disciplines including atmospheric monitoring, optical communications, non-invasive glucose testing for diabetics, and infrared (IR) countermeasures. One of the limiting factors for improving the modulation rates of MWIR devices is the carrier relaxation time. This is the time required for energetic carriers to cool to the edge of their respective bands in a bulk semiconductor material, or to the bottom of a well through inter- and intra-sub-band scattering in a quantum well (QW) structure. From these lower energy states, they can then …


Comparative Study On The Use Of Coherent Radar-Derived Electric Fields Vs. Statistical Electric Fields For The Initialization Of A High-Latitude Ionospheric Model, Christopher M. Hogue Jun 2004

Comparative Study On The Use Of Coherent Radar-Derived Electric Fields Vs. Statistical Electric Fields For The Initialization Of A High-Latitude Ionospheric Model, Christopher M. Hogue

Theses and Dissertations

The structure and time development of the magnetosphere-ionosphere system have significant impacts on the Air Force and its mission. Specifically, an accurate knowledge of ionospheric plasma densities is important for the operation of many Air Force systems. This research analyzes plasma density structure development through comparing two distinct electric field models. The two models compared here are a commonly used statistical model created by Heppner and Maynard 1987, and a more recently developed model using real-time coherent radar measurements from the SuperDARN radar network. Ionospheric simulations were run using Utah State University s Time-Dependent Ionospheric Model (TDIM) with the two …


Derivation Of A Self-Consistent Auroral Oval Model Using The Auroral Boundary Index, Keith A. Anderson Jun 2004

Derivation Of A Self-Consistent Auroral Oval Model Using The Auroral Boundary Index, Keith A. Anderson

Theses and Dissertations

The position and intensity of the auroral oval has many implications for the Air Force from determining the effects of incoming electron flux on DoD systems to modeling the ionosphere to exploit current HF communications capabilities. The auroral morphology is a good indicator of the level at which space weather and its near-Earth consequences are occurring, and thus it is important to develop an auroral prediction model. However, since no purely physics-based models exist to describe the temporal and spatial evolution of the auroral zone, space weather practitioners and researchers are forced to produce statistical representations, “organized” by some relevant …


Estimating Equatorial F-Region Daytime Vertical E X B Drift Velocities From Ground-Based Magnetometer Measurements In The Philippine Longitude Sector, Shauna M. Kinkela Jun 2004

Estimating Equatorial F-Region Daytime Vertical E X B Drift Velocities From Ground-Based Magnetometer Measurements In The Philippine Longitude Sector, Shauna M. Kinkela

Theses and Dissertations

Ionospheric disturbances can severely impact Department of Defense (DoD) systems, such as radar. satellite. and navigation technologies. Forecasting disturbances and describing the Earth's ionosphere, in turn, relies upon innovative computer-based models that gather input parameters from ground and space-borne observations and empirical models for ionospheric drivers. Equatorial E x B drift velocities are significant input parameters that go into many ionospheric models, because they help describe vertical plasma motions near the magnetic equator. Previous work by Anderson, et al 2002 has demonstrated the ability to derive Peruvian longitude sector, daytime vertical E x B drifts from ground-based magnetometer data. The …


Cognitive Robot Mapping With Polylines And An Absolute Space Representation, Kennard R. Laviers, Gilbert L. Peterson Apr 2004

Cognitive Robot Mapping With Polylines And An Absolute Space Representation, Kennard R. Laviers, Gilbert L. Peterson

Faculty Publications

Robot mapping even today is one of the most challenging problems in robot programming. Most successful methods use some form of occupancy grid to represent a mapped region. This approach becomes problematic if the robot is mapping a large environment, the map quickly becomes too large for processing and storage. Rather than storing the map as an occupancy grid, our robot (equipped with sonars) sees the world as a series of connected spaces. These spaces are initially mapped as an occupancy grid in a room by room fashion. As the robot leaves a space, denoted by passing through a doorway, …


The United States Marine Corps Data Collaboration Requirements: Retrieving And Integrating Data From Multiple Databases, Pamela J. Cole Mar 2004

The United States Marine Corps Data Collaboration Requirements: Retrieving And Integrating Data From Multiple Databases, Pamela J. Cole

Theses and Dissertations

The goal of this research is to develop an information sharing and database integration model and suggest a framework to fully satisfy the United States Marine Corps collaboration requirements as well as its information sharing and database integration needs. This research is exploratory; it focuses on only one initiative: the IT-21 initiative. The IT-21 initiative dictates The Technology for the United States Navy and Marine Corps, 2000-2035: Becoming a 21st Century Force. The IT-21 initiative states that Navy and Marine Corps information infrastructure will be based largely on commercial systems and services, and the Department of the Navy must ensure …


An Exploratory Analysis Of Factors Affecting Participation In Air Force Knowledge Now Communities Of Practice, David C. Fitzgerald Mar 2004

An Exploratory Analysis Of Factors Affecting Participation In Air Force Knowledge Now Communities Of Practice, David C. Fitzgerald

Theses and Dissertations

As the AF continues to lose its knowledge base through retirements and downsizing, the need to get maximum use from the remaining knowledge base becomes increasingly important. In their efforts to help the Department of Defense and the Air Force Chief Information Officer (AFCIO) meet their knowledge management goals, Air Force Material Command (AFMC) has been working to implement the use of communities of practice. A primary goal of AFMC/DRW , the AF Knowledge Now program office, and the office of the AFCIO is to increase effectiveness and participation within communities of practice. The goal of this research is to …


Evolution Of Control Programs For A Swarm Of Autonomous Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, Kevin M. Milam Mar 2004

Evolution Of Control Programs For A Swarm Of Autonomous Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, Kevin M. Milam

Theses and Dissertations

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are rapidly becoming a critical military asset. In the future, advances in miniaturization are going to drive the development of insect size UAVs. New approaches to controlling these swarms are required. The goal of this research is to develop a controller to direct a swarm of UAVs in accomplishing a given mission. While previous efforts have largely been limited to a two-dimensional model, a three-dimensional model has been developed for this project. Models of UAV capabilities including sensors, actuators and communications are presented. Genetic programming uses the principles of Darwinian evolution to generate computer programs to …


Development Approaches Coupled With Verification And Validation Methodologies For Agent-Based Mission-Level Analytical Combat Simulations, Lance E. Champagne Mar 2004

Development Approaches Coupled With Verification And Validation Methodologies For Agent-Based Mission-Level Analytical Combat Simulations, Lance E. Champagne

Theses and Dissertations

This research investigated the applicability of agent-based combat simulations to real-world combat operations. An agent-based simulation of the Allied offensive search for German U-Boats in the Bay of Biscay during World War II was constructed, extending the state-of-the-art in agent-based combat simulations, bridging the gap between the current level of agent-like combat simulations and the concept of agent-based simulations found in the broader literature. The proposed simulation advances agent-based combat simulations to “validateable” mission-level military operations. Simulation validation is a complex task with numerous, diverse techniques available and levels of validation differing significantly among simulations and applications. This research presents …


Deviation Of Time-Resolved Luminescence Dynamics In Mwir Semiconductor Materials From Carrier Recombination Theory Predictions, Peter M. Johnson Mar 2004

Deviation Of Time-Resolved Luminescence Dynamics In Mwir Semiconductor Materials From Carrier Recombination Theory Predictions, Peter M. Johnson

Theses and Dissertations

Time resolved luminescence spectroscopy was used to characterize luminescence decay curves for a bulk InAs sample and an InAsSb type-I quantum-well sample over the first 3ns following excitation. The luminescence decay curves were then converted to carrier densities and used to find recombination coefficients that provided the least-squared-error solution of the rate equation describing carrier recombination. Recombination coefficients describing Shockley Read-Hall (ASRH) radiative (Brad) and Auger (CAug) recombination were determined at two different temperatures and four excitation powers, then analyzed for consistency and physical significance. For all of the resulting least …


An Exploration Of Cultural Factors Affecting Use Of Communities Of Practice, Peter L. Hinrichsen Mar 2004

An Exploration Of Cultural Factors Affecting Use Of Communities Of Practice, Peter L. Hinrichsen

Theses and Dissertations

On-line communities of practice are potentially powerful social learning networks that can improve organizational performance. Unfortunately, administrators of on-line communities of practice report that community members do not take full advantage of this potential. This study used Shaw and Tuggle's (2003) factors of knowledge management (KM) culture affecting organizational acceptance of a knowledge management initiative to explore this issue. It was hypothesized that respondents whose communities of practice possessed higher average community use per member would rate KM culture variables higher than respondents whose communities possessed a lower average community use. An analysis of survey data collected from Air Force …


Exploring Content Management Issues In Air Force On-Line Communities Of Practice: A Multiple Case Study Approach, Jaime A. Rodriguez Mar 2004

Exploring Content Management Issues In Air Force On-Line Communities Of Practice: A Multiple Case Study Approach, Jaime A. Rodriguez

Theses and Dissertations

The practice of content management attempts regardless of platform to ensure that pertinent information is current, relevant, and presented in a usable manner. The Air Force Communities of Practice (CoPs) are hosted by AFMC/DRW, The purpose of these CoPs is to facilitate and promote an environment of capturing and sharing knowledge among members of a particular field task or common practice. As the host for these CoPs AFMC/DRW desires to increase CoP participation efficiency and effectiveness. Addressing existing or potential content management issues will help do so. This multiple-case study research observed and interviewed managers and members of eight active …


An Analysis Of Electromagnetic Interference (Emi) Of Ultra Wideband(Uwb) And Ieee 802.11a Wireless Local Area Network (Wlan) Employing Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (Ofdm), Juan Lopez Jr. Mar 2004

An Analysis Of Electromagnetic Interference (Emi) Of Ultra Wideband(Uwb) And Ieee 802.11a Wireless Local Area Network (Wlan) Employing Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (Ofdm), Juan Lopez Jr.

Theses and Dissertations

Military communications require the rapid deployment of mobile, high-bandwidth systems. These systems must provide anytime, anywhere capabilities with minimal interference to existing military, private, and commercial communications. Ultra Wideband (UWB) technology is being advanced as the next generation radio technology and has the potential to revolutionize indoor wireless communications. The ability of UWB to mitigate multipath fading, provide high-throughput data rates (e.g., greater than 100 Mbps), provide excellent signal penetration (e.g., through walls), and low implementation costs makes it an ideal technology for a wide range of private and public sector applications. Preliminary UWB studies conducted by The Institute for …


Comparison Of A Conceptual Model And Objective Indicators Of Extratropical Transition In The Western North Pacific, Gregory D. Fox Mar 2004

Comparison Of A Conceptual Model And Objective Indicators Of Extratropical Transition In The Western North Pacific, Gregory D. Fox

Theses and Dissertations

The primary purpose of this research is to provide guidance to forecasters from the Joint (Air Force/Navy) Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) in Pearl Harbor to use in differentiating between the stages of extratropical transition (ET) of tropical cyclones (TCs). Not only is ET relevant to the Department of Defense, since JTWC stops providing TC warnings once they have undergone ET, but it is also applicable to the meteorological community since there currently "is no commonly accepted definition of ET" (Jones et al 2003). This research compares the results of a conceptual model of ET using subjective satellite analysis with the …


Forecasting Advective Sea Fog With The Use Of Classification And Regression Tree Analyses For Kunsan Air Base, Danielle M. Lewis Mar 2004

Forecasting Advective Sea Fog With The Use Of Classification And Regression Tree Analyses For Kunsan Air Base, Danielle M. Lewis

Theses and Dissertations

Advective sea fog frequently plagues Kunsan Air Base (AB), Republic of Korea, in the spring and summer seasons. It is responsible for a variety of impacts on military operations, the greatest being to aviation. To date, there are no suitable methods developed for forecasting advective sea fog at Kunsan, primarily due to a lack of understanding of sea fog formation under various synoptic situations over the Yellow Sea. This work explored the feasibility of predicting sea fog development with a 24-hour forecast lead time. Before exploratory data analysis was performed, a geographical introduction to the region was provided along with …


Automating Security Protocol Analysis, Stephen W. Mancini Mar 2004

Automating Security Protocol Analysis, Stephen W. Mancini

Theses and Dissertations

When Roger Needham and Michael Schroeder first introduced a seemingly secure protocol 24, it took over 18 years to discover that even with the most secure encryption, the conversations using this protocol were still subject to penetration. To date, there is still no one protocol that is accepted for universal use. Because of this, analysis of the protocol outside the encryption is becoming more important. Recent work by Joshua Guttman and others 9 have identified several properties that good protocols often exhibit. Termed Authentication Tests, these properties have been very useful in examining protocols. The purpose of this research is …


Optical Characterization And Modeling Of Compositionally Matched Indium Arsenide-Antimonide Bulk And Multiple Quantum Well Semiconductors, Scott C. Phillips Mar 2004

Optical Characterization And Modeling Of Compositionally Matched Indium Arsenide-Antimonide Bulk And Multiple Quantum Well Semiconductors, Scott C. Phillips

Theses and Dissertations

Indium arsenide-antimonide (InAsSb) semiconductors have been determined to emit in the 3-5 micrometer range, the window of interest for countermeasures against infrared electro-optical threats. This experiment set out to cross the bulk to quantum well characterization barrier by optically characterizing two sets of compositionally matched type I quantum well and bulk well material samples. Absorption measurements determined the band gap energy of the bulk samples and the first allowed subband transition for the quantum wells. By collecting absorption spectra at different temperatures, the trend of the energy transitions was described by fitting a Varshni equation to them. The expected result …


Verification Of Meteorological Data Reports From The Rq-4a Global Hawk Unmanned Aerial Vehicle, Steven M. Callis Mar 2004

Verification Of Meteorological Data Reports From The Rq-4a Global Hawk Unmanned Aerial Vehicle, Steven M. Callis

Theses and Dissertations

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have onboard sensors that continuously record weather data during their missions. This information is extremely valuable to both the meteorological and UAV communities with numerous potential benefits, which include improved weather forecast products and additional weather intelligence for military planners. The value of any dataset is directly related to its accuracy and this research determined the accuracy of weather data obtained from a particular UAV, the RQ-4A Global Hawk. This was accomplished through statistical analysis and comparisons with upper-air data and Atmospheric Slant Path Analysis Model (ASPAM) profiles of the atmosphere. Recommendations are provided for the …


Verification Of The Mountain Wave Forecast Model's Stratospheric Turbulence Forecasts Using Sounding Data And Pilot Reports, Scott M. Miller Mar 2004

Verification Of The Mountain Wave Forecast Model's Stratospheric Turbulence Forecasts Using Sounding Data And Pilot Reports, Scott M. Miller

Theses and Dissertations

Since stratospheric turbulence (Stratoturb) is becoming an increased concern to the Air Force, the threat of damage to aircraft must be addressed. Therefore, the Air Force Weather Agency (AFWA) requests an accurate Stratoturb forecast model. In 2002, The Mountain Wave Forecast Model (MWFM) was modified in order to develop a Stratoturb forecast tool. Turbulence forecasts generated twice daily by the MWFM for locations over East Asia over a period of thirty days were compared to output from the Rawindsonde Observation (RAOB) program to determine if the model agreed with the program output. Although the results were promising, verification by aircraft …


Developing A Forecast Tool For Cloud-To-Ground Lightning In The North Central And Northeastern United States, Manuel I. Folsom Jr. Mar 2004

Developing A Forecast Tool For Cloud-To-Ground Lightning In The North Central And Northeastern United States, Manuel I. Folsom Jr.

Theses and Dissertations

Cloud-to-ground (CG) lightning is a hazard to the Air Force for both air and ground operations Forecasting CG lightning is a necessary and extremely important requirement for Air Force meteorologists and forecasters. The 15th Operational Weather Squadron requested a forecast tool capable of predicting CG lightning within a 25 and 10 nautical mile radius of the 13 military locations in their area of responsibility. To fulfill their request, forecast decision tools were created using a Classification and Regression Tree (CART) data analysis program. Four decision trees were produced for each location using the period of record from March through September, …


Dust Storm Forecasting For Al Udeid Ab, Qatar: An Empirical Analysis, Kevin S. Bartlett Mar 2004

Dust Storm Forecasting For Al Udeid Ab, Qatar: An Empirical Analysis, Kevin S. Bartlett

Theses and Dissertations

Dust storms are extreme weather events that have strong winds laden with visibility reducing and operations limiting dust, The Central Command Air Forces (CENTAF) 28th Operational Weather Squadron (OWS) is ultimately responsible for forecasting weather in the vast, data denied region of Southwest Asia in support of daily military and humanitarian operations. As a result, the 28th OWS requests a simplified forecasting tool to help predict mesoscale dust events that affect coalition operations at Al Udeid AB, Qatar. This research satisfies the 28th OWS request through an extensive statistical analysis of observational data depicting seasonal dust events over the past …


A Statistically-Based Method For Predicting Fog And Stratus Dissipation, Louis L. Lussier Iii Mar 2004

A Statistically-Based Method For Predicting Fog And Stratus Dissipation, Louis L. Lussier Iii

Theses and Dissertations

The method is a success in producing forecasts for ceiling and visibility criteria that had never previously been examined. It is suggested that the 15 OWS incorporate this methodology into their operational forecasting routine. Ceiling forecasts at Dover AFB and McGuire AFB show improvements over conditional climatology ranging from 1-51% with an average improvement of 19.2% when verified against an independent data set. McGuire AFB visibility forecasts show an average improvement over conditional climatology of 3%. These findings are of particular importance to the Air Force in general and specifically to the 15th Operational Weather Squadron (15 OWS) who produces …


Feasibility Of Using Classification Analyses To Determine Tropical Cyclone Rapid Intensification, Jonathan W. Leffler Mar 2004

Feasibility Of Using Classification Analyses To Determine Tropical Cyclone Rapid Intensification, Jonathan W. Leffler

Theses and Dissertations

Tropical cyclone intensity techniques developed by Dvorak have thus far been regarded by tropical meteorologists as the best identification and forecast schemes available using satellite imagery. However, in recent years, several ideologies have arisen which discuss alternative means of determining typhoon rapid intensification or weakening in the Pacific. These theories include examining channel outflow patterns, potential vorticity superposition and anomalies, tropical upper tropospheric trough interactions, environmental influences, and upper tropospheric flow transitions. It is now possible to data mine these atmospheric parameters thought partly responsible for typhoon rapid intensification and weakening to validate their usefulness in the forecast process. Using …


Swarm Based Implementation Of A Virtual Distributed Database System In A Sensor Network, Wen C. Lee Mar 2004

Swarm Based Implementation Of A Virtual Distributed Database System In A Sensor Network, Wen C. Lee

Theses and Dissertations

The deployment of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in recent military operations has had success in carrying out surveillance and combat missions in sensitive areas. An area of intense research on UAVs has been on controlling a group of small-sized UAVs to carry out reconnaissance missions normally undertaken by large UAVs such as Predator or Global Hawk. A control strategy for coordinating the UAV movements of such a group of UAVs adopts the bio-inspired swarm model to produce autonomous group behavior. This research proposes establishing a distributed database system on a group of swarming UAVs, providing for data storage during a …


Throughput Performance Evaluation And Analysis Of Unmodified Bluetooth Devices, Steven J. Taylor Mar 2004

Throughput Performance Evaluation And Analysis Of Unmodified Bluetooth Devices, Steven J. Taylor

Theses and Dissertations

The Air Force relies on the application of new technologies to support and execute its mission. As new technologies develop, the integration of that technology is studied to determine the costs and benefits it may provide to the war fighter. One such emergent technology is the Bluetooth wireless protocol, used to connect a small number of devices over a short distance. The short distance is a feature that makes using the protocol desirable. However short, there is still a vulnerability to interception. This research identifies ranges at which several commercially available Bluetooth devices are usable. Various combinations of both distance …


Atmospheric Simulation Using A Liquid Crystal Wavefront Controlling Device, Matthew R. Brooks Mar 2004

Atmospheric Simulation Using A Liquid Crystal Wavefront Controlling Device, Matthew R. Brooks

Theses and Dissertations

Test and evaluation of laser warning devices is important due to the increased use of laser devices in aerial applications. In this thesis, an atmospheric aberrating system is developed to enable in-lab testing of laser warning devices. This system employs laser light at 632.8nm from a Helium-Neon source and a spatial light modulator (SLM) to cause phase changes using a birefringent liquid crystal material. Before the system can be used, the SLM phase response must be quantified to ensure proper manipulation of index of refraction. Additionally, diffraction from the SLM and real-world system scaling are addressed. Once completed, the atmospheric …


An Evaluation Of Formic Acid As An Electron Donor For Palladium (Pd) Catalyzed Destruction Of Nitroaromatic Compounds, Mark R. Stevens Mar 2004

An Evaluation Of Formic Acid As An Electron Donor For Palladium (Pd) Catalyzed Destruction Of Nitroaromatic Compounds, Mark R. Stevens

Theses and Dissertations

The Department of Defense is responsible for over 2,000 hazardous waste sites containing nitroaromatic compounds (NACs) such as 2,4,6-TNT, 2,4- and 2,6-DNT that resulted from the production and use of munitions throughout the nation and world, NACs are typically persistent in natural environments, though they can be oxidized or reduced under engineered conditions, NACs and their reduction products are toxic chemicals and suspected human carcinogens, Both TNT and 2,4-DNT are listed as priority pollutants by the U,S EPA, This study investigates the effectiveness of using a palladium (Pd) catalyst in concert with formic acid as an electron donor to reduce …


Intelligent Query Answering Through Rule Learning And Generalization, James M. Carsten Mar 2004

Intelligent Query Answering Through Rule Learning And Generalization, James M. Carsten

Theses and Dissertations

The Department of Defense (DoD) relies heavily on information systems to complete a myriad of tasks, from day-to-day personnel actions to mission critical imagery retrieval, intelligence analysis, and mission planning. The astronomical growth in size and performance of data storage systems leads to problems in processing the amount of data returned on any given query. Typical relational database systems return a set of unordered records. This approach is acceptable in small information systems, but in large systems, such as military image retrieval systems with more than 1 million records, it requires considerable time (often hours to days) to sort through …


Aerobic Biodegradation Of Alternative Fuel Oxygenates In Unsaturated Soil Columns, Kevin A. Mares Mar 2004

Aerobic Biodegradation Of Alternative Fuel Oxygenates In Unsaturated Soil Columns, Kevin A. Mares

Theses and Dissertations

Groundwater contamination problems caused by methyl-tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) in subsurface waters have prompted the search for a gasoline oxygenate replacement. In order to avoid the problems encountered with MTBE, it is prudent to evaluate the fate and transport in the subsurface of proposed replacements, such as ethanol. In this study, ethanol transport and degradation in unsaturated soil was investigated using a series of eight soil columns. This preliminary study was to see if the soil column system components functioned properly, how similarly the eight soil columns performed, and if soil oxygen concentration affected degradation of ethanol. Tracer tests, using …