Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Predicting Solar Protons: A Statistical Approach, Jonathan C. Spaulding

Theses and Dissertations

A small fraction of solar flares are accompanied by high energy (>10 MeV) protons. These events can cause degradation or failure of satellite systems and can be harmful to humans in space or in high altitude flight. For risk management purposes, the Air Force is interested in predicting these events. Several algorithms exist to do this operationally, but none predict when these events will occur with much accuracy. Here, we analyzed 3610 M1 and greater flares including 106 with proton events from the GOES sensors from 1 Jan 1986 to 31 Dec 2004 to produce new results, including a …

Wave Optics Simulation Of Optically Augmented Retroreflections For Monostatic/Bistatic Detection, John J. Tatar Iii

Theses and Dissertations

Optical devices interrogated with a laser in the appropriate band can exhibit strong, deterministic reflections of the incident beam. This characteristic could be exploited for optical target detection and identification. The distribution of reflected power is strongly dependent on the geometry of the interrogation scenario, atmospheric conditions, and the cross section of the target optical device. Previous work on laser interrogation systems in this area has focused on analytic models or testing. To the best of my knowledge, I am presenting for the first time an approach to predict reflected power for a variety of interrogation configurations, targets, and propagation …

Modeling Thermal Inactivation Of Bacillus Spores, Emily A. Knight

Theses and Dissertations

This research models and analyzes methods to damage Bacillus anthracis spores through heat treatment. AFIT researchers have developed methods to characterize the effects of heating spores to high temperatures and for short durations similar to the thermal pulse of conventional weapon detonation. This research models the current experiment and evaluates the rate of thermal diffusion throughout the spores. A micro-model of the effects of dry and wet heating on a spore is presented. Heating a spore energizes adsorbed, absorbed, and chemically bound water molecules. These energized molecules have greater mobility within the spore, as well as between the spore and …

Estimation Of Weapon Yield From Inversion Of Dose Rate Contours, Buckley E. O'Day Iii

Theses and Dissertations

This research studies the uncertainty in yield estimation from inversion of dose rate contours. The Hazard Prediction and Assessment Capability (HPAC) and a simple FORTRAN95 based Fallout Deposition Code (FDC) are used to recreate dose rate contours from historic nuclear tests. Fallout footprints from six atomic tests are recreated using balloon wind soundings and high resolution mesoscale weather reanalysis data. Dose rate contour plots are created for different yields for a single set of weather conditions. Dose rate contours are compared to determine uncertainty in yield estimation from inversion of dose rate contour plots. Results of these dose rate recreations …

Host-Based Multivariate Statistical Computer Operating Process Anomaly Intrusion Detection System (Paids), Glen R. Shilland

Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Image Processing For Multiple-Target Tracking On A Graphics Processing Unit, Michael A. Tanner

Theses and Dissertations

Multiple-target tracking (MTT) systems have been implemented on many different platforms, however these solutions are often expensive and have long development times. Such MTT implementations require custom hardware, yet offer very little flexibility with ever changing data sets and target tracking requirements. This research explores how to supplement and enhance MTT performance with an existing graphics processing unit (GPU) on a general computing platform. Typical computers are already equipped with powerful GPUs to support various games and multimedia applications. However, such GPUs are not currently being used in desktop MTT applications. This research explores if and how a GPU can …

Characterizing And Detecting Unrevealed Elements Of Network Systems, James A. Leinart

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation addresses the problem of discovering and characterizing unknown elements in network systems. Klir (1985) provides a general definition of a system as “... a set of some things and a relation among the things" (p. 4). A system, where the `things', i.e. nodes, are related through links is a network system (Klir, 1985). The nodes can represent a range of entities such as machines or people (Pearl, 2001; Wasserman & Faust, 1994). Likewise, links can represent abstract relationships such as causal influence or more visible ties such as roads (Pearl, 1988, pp. 50-51; Wasserman & Faust, 1994; Winston, …

An Exploratory Social Network Analysis Of Military And Civilian Emergency Operation Centers Focusing On Organization Structure, Joseph D. Legradi

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this research was to explore how United States Air Force Emergency Operation Centers (EOC) compare to civilian EOCs with respect to their task-based social networks and decision making social networks. Multiple measures were explored to understand the networks, which included analyzing key metrics of the network such as closeness centrality and betweenness centrality, centralization of the network, and comparison of structural holes within the networks. These measures were then used to suggest improvements for the organizations to improve performance and more importantly, interoperability. The results of the study showed that in this data set there were several …

A Metagenomic Analysis Of Microbial Contamination In Aviation Fuels, Jerrod P. Mccomb

Theses and Dissertations

Microbial contamination in aviation fuel arises due to the impracticality of keeping fuel tanks sterile and the inevitable presence of water from condensation. Microbial contaminants in aviation fuels are a concern because of their potential to degrade the fuel, accelerate corrosion within the fuel tank, and threaten flight safety. This research aids in mitigating those problems by comprehensively characterizing the microbial communities affecting aviation fuels. Advances in molecular biological techniques have allowed for the identification of microorganisms which were not identified by the traditional culture-based methodologies used in previous studies. This study employed a molecular method known as 16S rDNA …

Quantification Of Mandatory Sustainment Requirements, Joe M. Blackman

Theses and Dissertations

To emphasize the importance of sustainment, the DoD Joint Requirements Oversight Council addressed sustained Materiel readiness and established a mandatory Key Performance Parameter (KPP) for Materiel Availability; it also established supporting Key System Attributes (KSAs) for Materiel Reliability and Ownership Cost (Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Manual (CJCSM) 3170.01C, 2007). Current guidance requires two numbers: a threshold value and an objective value (Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Manual (CJCSM) 3170.01C, 2007). No distinction is made between the approaches in establishing these values for major system acquisitions, versus smaller, modification-focused efforts for existing systems. The Joint Staff …

Demonstration And Verification Of A Broad Spectrum Anomalous Dispersion Effects Tool For Index Of Refraction And Optical Turbulence Calculations, J. Jean Cohen

Theses and Dissertations

An atmospheric optical turbulence strength model with a broad wavelength range of 355nm (ultraviolet) to 8.6m (radio frequencies) has been created at AFIT and implemented into the High Energy Laser End-to-End Operational Simulation tool (HELEEOS). This modeling and simulation tool is a first principles atmospheric propagation and characterization model. Within HELEEOS lies the High-Resolution Transmission Molecular Absorption (HITRAN) database, containing 1,734,469 spectral lines for 37 different molecules as of version 12.0 (2004). HITRAN affords HELEEOS incredible accuracy for electromagnetic (EM) propagation prediction. A full understanding of optical turbulence is needed to successfully predict EM radiation propagation, particularly within the application …

Theoretical Model Analysis Of Absorption Of A Three Level Diode Pumped Alkali Laser, Charlton D. Lewis Ii

Theses and Dissertations

This paper models the absorption phenomena of light in a three level diode pumped alkali laser system. Specifically this model calculates for a user defined set of system parameters the attenuation of the input pump beam and characteristics of the bleached wave. Using Wolfram's Mathematical 6.0 software all necessary physics for an accurate description of absorption was modeled from first principles: energy levels, cross sections, spin-orbit kinetic processes, saturation frequencies, pump attenuation, and differential transmittance, which is a representation of the bleached wave. A specific DPAL scenario was simulated, 455K system temperature, alkali concentration of 6.1 - 10¹³, …

Advanced Radiometry For High Discrimination Explosive Fireball Discrimination, Steven E. Slagle

Theses and Dissertations

The high explosive fireball phenomenological model for the mid wave infrared spectrum, developed by AFIT, performs classification from spectral signatures was modified to use radiometric intensities. Five bands were sequentially fit to derive the five physical fit parameters describing the fireball's temperature, size, soot absorption coefficient within 16% and emissions from the H₂O and CO₂ concentrations within 333% of the spectral model. This was improved by changing the model's band sizes, center, and fitting methods where all five fit parameters were matched to within 17% of spectral model. This demonstrated that a combination of radiometric intensities could …

Thermal Inactivation Of Bacillus Anthracis Using Laser Irradiation Of Micro-Etched Platforms, Jeffrey B. Bacon

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this research was to determine the probability of kill for a thermal inactivation strategy for use against biological agents; specifically the resilient endospore of Bacillus anthracis (Ba). The effort focused on short durations (milliseconds to several seconds) and temperatures (300 to 1300 K) simulating the periphery effects after an explosion generated by conventional munitions. For an improved statistical counting, applied microlithography techniques were used to produce micro-etched glass platforms consisting of 532 circular sample wells, evenly spaced. Small carbon black radiators, which provide fast heating/cooling rate and confined temperature distribution, were produced by populating the etched wells …

Waste Vegetable Oil As An Alternative Fuel For Diesel Vehicles, Harvey S. Gaber

Theses and Dissertations

Alternative fuels have become a hot topic in the news as the cost of oil remains volatile. Questions of whether acquiring alternative fuels are worth the cost, logistics, and political implications are being asked. A possible solution may be currently thrown away by Wright Patterson Air Force Base’s (WPAFB) dining establishments in the form of Waste Vegetable Oil (WVO). This study researched the benefits and costs of pursuing the installation of a WVO to Straight Vegetable Oil fuel processing center and using the fuel to power some of the base’s diesel vehicles. A pilot program was fielded utilizing the Wright …

Variable Uplift From Quaternary Folding Along The Northern Coast Of East Timor, Based On U-Series Age Determinations Of Coral Terraces, Nicole L. Cox

Theses and Dissertations

Surveys of emergent terraces and U-series ages for ten sites along the coast of East Timor provide estimates of late Quaternary differential vertical strain in the most mature region of the Banda Arc-continent collision complex. Over a distance of ~180 km vertical displacement rates vary between 0.0 and 1.6 meters per 1000 years for the last 150,000 years. Two models of terrace formation (constructional and erosional) are applied to interpret terrace ages from coral ages and to estimate uplift rates. The highest uplift rates are from three sites over a distance of 15 km along the coast. Uplift rates were …

A Hybrid Templated-Based Composite Classification System, Michael A. Turnbaugh

Theses and Dissertations

An automatic target classification system contains a classifier which reads a feature as an input and outputs a class label. Typically, the feature is a vector of real numbers. Other features can be non-numeric, such as a string of symbols or alphabets. One method of improving the performance of an automatic classification system is through combining two or more independent classifiers that are complementary in nature. Complementary classifiers are observed by finding an optimal method for partitioning the problem space. For example, the individual classifiers may operate to identify specific objects. Another method may be to use classifiers that operate …

Numerical Analysis For Relevant Features In Intrusion Detection (Narfid), Jose Andres Gonzalez

Theses and Dissertations

Identification of cyber attacks and network services is a robust field of study in the machine learning community. Less effort has been focused on understanding the domain space of real network data in identifying important features for cyber attack and network service classification. Motivations for such work allow for anomaly detection systems with less requirements on data “sniffed” off the network, extraction of features from the traffic, reduced learning time of algorithms, and ideally increased classification performance of anomalous behavior. This thesis evaluates the usefulness of a good feature subset for the general classification task of identifying cyber attacks and …

Using Predictive Rendering As A Vision-Aided Technique For Autonomous Aerial Refueling, Adam D. Weaver

Theses and Dissertations

This research effort seeks to characterize a vision-aided approach for an Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) to autonomously determine relative position to another aircraft in a formation, specifically to address the autonomous aerial refueling problem. A system consisting of a monocular digital camera coupled with inertial sensors onboard the UAS is analyzed for feasibility of using this vision-aided approach. A three-dimensional rendering of the tanker aircraft is used to generate predicted images of the tanker as seen by the receiver aircraft. A rigorous error model is developed to model the relative dynamics between an INS-equipped receiver and the tanker aircraft. A …

Characterizing The Statistical Properties And Global Distribution Of Dansgaard-Oeschger Events, Andrea Michelle Thomas

Theses and Dissertations

Ice core records from Greenland have shown times of rapid warming during the most recent glacial period, called Dansgaard-Oeschger (D-O) events. D-O events are important to our understanding of both past climate systems and modern climate volatility. In this paper, we present new approaches for statistically evaluating the existence of cyclicity in D-O events and the possible lagged correlation between the Greenland and Antarctica temperature records. Specifically, we consider permutation testing and bootstrapping methodologies for assessing the cyclicity of D-O events and the correlation between the Greenland and Antarctica records. We find that there is not enough evidence to conclude …

Ohio River Denial As A Transportation Corridor And Its Economic Impacts On The Energy Industry, Caglar Utku Guler

Theses and Dissertations

What if the Ohio River is disrupted or denied partially or completely as a transportation corridor? A disruption may be either a natural or man-made disaster or a planned outage on the river’s lock and dam structures. Recent history is full of water transport disruption events having significant economic effects on the waterside industries. To assess coal-based economic impacts, we developed a network flow model to represent waterside coal-fired power plants situated along the Ohio River, their respective coal supplying mines, and the various transportation modes that connect them. We show that significant transportation-centric insights can be derived by using …

“Humanoid Robot” “Programming Of Movement Patterns” “Humanoid - Bioloid”, Faton Bekteshi

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis was developed in collaboration with Univ.Prof.Dipl.-Ing.Dr.Dr.h.c.mult. Peter Kopacek and Msc. Artan Dermaku and boosted the creation of the Humanoid Robotics Laboratory of UBT, at University for Business and Technology in Prishtina. ( http://www.ubt-uni.net/ ).

The main objective of the Humanoid Robot, for the time being, is to develop a

humanoid robot able to make complex motions like walking, running and jumping through real-time feedback control techniques.

This exposition presents a Linear Quadratic Regulator (LQR) controller for the simulation and control of the humanoid robot. Also our objective during programming the robot was to make him able improving military …

Evaluation Of Performance Of A Maximum Likelihood Estimator For Tracking Purposes In The Presence Of Speckle Noise, Adrian Brett Monz

Theses and Dissertations

In many cases, optical tracking systems do not have cooperative beacons avail- able. This is particularly true for the case involving tracking a laser illuminated target such as a missile seeker head, where the object of interest is an extended source. Furthermore the extended source is often observed in the presence of noise such as shot and speckle noise as well as atmospheric turbulence which further degrades the signal. This research effort presents the evaluation of an existing algorithm based on the maximum-likelihood technique for tilt estimation in the presence of extended sources and speckle noise, with particular application to …

Satellite-Based Fusion Of Image/Inertial Sensors For Precise Geolocation, Neil R. Jesse

Theses and Dissertations

The ability to produce high-resolution images of the Earth’s surface from space has flourished in recent years with the continuous development and improvement of satellite-based imaging sensors. Earth-imaging satellites often rely on complex onboard navigation systems, with dependence on Global Positioning System (GPS) tracking and/or continuous post-capture georegistration, to accurately geolocate ground targets of interest to either commercial and military customers. Consequently, these satellite systems are often massive, expensive, and susceptible to poor or unavailable target tracking capabilities in GPS-denied environments. Previous research has demonstrated that a tightly-coupled image-aided inertial navigation system (INS), using existing onboard imaging sensors, can provide …

Adaptive Control Of Woofer-Tweeter Adaptive Optics, Jimmie J. Perez

Theses and Dissertations

Adaptive optics applies advanced sensing and control to improve the ability of optical systems to collect images through a turbulent atmosphere. The results of this research effort demonstrate that the combination of two recent approaches improves the performance of adaptive optics in directed energy and laser communication scenarios. The first approach is adaptive control, which offers improved performance over fixed-gain controllers in the presence of rapidly changing turbulence. The second approach incorporated into the study is a dual-mirror system. The two mirrors are a high-bandwidth, low-actuator-stroke (tweeter) mirror and a low-bandwidth, large actuator-stroke (woofer) mirror. The woofer-tweeter combination allows for …

Automated Virtual Machine Introspection For Host-Based Intrusion Detection, Brett A. Pagel

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis examines techniques to automate configuration of an intrusion detection system utilizing hardware-assisted virtualization. These techniques are used to detect the version of a running guest operating system, automatically configure version-specific operating system information needed by the introspection library, and to locate and monitor important operating system data structures. This research simplifies introspection library configuration and is a step toward operating system independent introspection. An operating system detection algorithm and Windows virtual machine system service dispatch table monitor are implemented using the Xen hypervisor and a modified version of the XenAccess library. All detection and monitoring is implemented from …

Polymer Microfluidic Devices For Bioanalysis, Xuefei Sun

Theses and Dissertations

Polymeric microchips have received increasing attention in chemical analysis because polymers have attractive properties, such as low cost, ease of fabrication, biocompatibility and high flexibility. However, commercial polymers usually exhibit analyte adsorption on their surfaces, which can interfere with microfluidic transport in, for example, chemical separations such as chromatography or electrophoresis. Usually, surface modification is required to eliminate this problem. To perform stable and durable surface modification, a new polymer, poly(methyl methacrylate-co-glycidyl methacrylate) (PGMAMMA) was prepared for microchip fabrication, which provides epoxy groups on the surface. Whole surface atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) and in-channel ATRP approaches were employed to …

An Fpga-Based System For Tracking Digital Information Transmitted Via Peer-To-Peer Protocols, Karl R. Schrader

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis addresses the problem of identifying and tracking digital information that is shared using peer-to-peer file transfer and Voice over IP (VoIP) protocols. The goal of the research is to develop a system for detecting and tracking the illicit dissemination of sensitive government information using file sharing applications within a target network, and tracking terrorist cells or criminal organizations that are covertly communicating using VoIP applications. A digital forensic tool is developed using an FPGA-based embedded software application. The tool is designed to process file transfers using the BitTorrent peer-to-peer protocol and VoIP phone calls made using the Session …

A Unified Approach To Gpu-Accelerated Aerial Video Enhancement Techniques, Stephen Thayn Cluff

Theses and Dissertations

Video from aerial surveillance can provide a rich source of data for analysts. From the time-critical perspective of wilderness search and rescue operations, information extracted from aerial videos can mean the difference between a successful search and an unsuccessful search. When using low-cost, payload-limited mini-UAVs, as opposed to more expensive platforms, several challenges arise, including jittery video, narrow fields of view, low resolution, and limited time on screen for key features. These challenges make it difficult for analysts to extract key information in a timely manner. Traditional approaches may address some of these issues, but no existing system effectively addresses …

Tailoring Local Conductivity By The Formation Of Ag Nanoclusters In Sio2 Xerogel Films, Ricky Caperton

Theses and Dissertations

Porous silicon dioxide thin films were produced via dip-coating and doped with Ag+ by adding AgNO3 to the dipping solution. Nanoparticles were formed within the pores of these films by UV exposure. Nanoparticle formation was confirmed by UV-visible spectroscopy and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). Conductive Atomic Force Microscopy (CAFM) showed that the conductivity of the films decreased upon exposure to UV. This decrease in the conductivity is most likely due to the clustering of charge carriers. Initially, Ag+ ions are attached to negatively charged pore walls in a dense packing network. Upon UV exposure (125 mW @ 266 nm), the …