Statistical assessment on Non-cooperative Target Recognition using the Neyman-Pearson statistical test

Electromagnetic simulations of a X-target were performed in order to obtain its Radar Cross Section (RCS) for several positions and frequencies. The software used is the CST MWS©. A 1 : 5 scale model of the proposed aircraft was created in CATIA© V5 R19 and imported directly into the CST MWS© environment. Simulations on the X-band were made with a variable mesh size due to a considerable wavelength variation. It is intended to evaluate the Neyman-Pearson (NP) simple hypothesis test performance by analyzing its Receiver Operating Characteristics (ROCs) for two different radar detection scenarios - a Radar Absorbent Material (RAM) coated model, and a Perfect Electric Conductor (PEC) model for recognition purposes. In parallel the radar range equation is used to estimate the maximum range detection for the simulated RAM coated cases to compare their shielding effectiveness (SE) and its consequent impact on recognition. The AN/APG-68(V)9’s airborne radar specifications were used to compute these ranges and to simulate an airborne hostile interception for a Non-Cooperative Target Recognition (NCTR) environment. Statistical results showed weak recognition performances using the Neyman-Pearson (NP) statistical test. Nevertheless, good RCS reductions for most of the simulated positions were obtained reflecting in a 50:9% maximum range detection gain for the PAniCo RAM coating, abiding with experimental results taken from the reviewed literature. The best SE was verified for the PAniCo and CFC-Fe RAMs.Simulações electromagnéticas do alvo foram realizadas de modo a obter a assinatura radar (RCS) para várias posições e frequências. O software utilizado é o CST MWS©. O modelo proposto à escala 1:5 foi modelado em CATIA© V5 R19 e importado diretamente para o ambiente de trabalho CST MWS©. Foram efectuadas simulações na banda X com uma malha de tamanho variável devido à considerável variação do comprimento de onda. Pretende-se avaliar estatisticamente o teste de decisão simples de Neyman-Pearson (NP), analisando as Características de Operação do Receptor (ROCs) para dois cenários de detecção distintos - um modelo revestido com material absorvente (RAM), e outro sendo um condutor perfeito (PEC) para fins de detecção. Em paralelo, a equação de alcance para radares foi usada para estimar o alcance máximo de detecção para ambos os casos de modo a comparar a eficiência de blindagem electromagnética (SE) entre os diferentes revestimentos. As especificações do radar AN/APG-68(V)9 do F-16 foram usadas para calcular os alcances para cada material, simulando uma intercepção hostil num ambiente de reconhecimento de alvos não-cooperativos (NCTR). Os resultados mostram performances de detecção fracas usando o teste de decisão simples de Neyman-Pearson como detector e uma boa redução de RCS para todas as posições na gama de frequências selecionada. Um ganho de alcance de detecção máximo 50:9 % foi obtido para o RAM PAniCo, estando de acordo com os resultados experimentais da bibliografia estudada. Já a melhor SE foi verificada para o RAM CFC-Fe e PAniCo

NASA Risk Management Handbook

The purpose of this handbook is to provide guidance for implementing the Risk Management (RM) requirements of NASA Procedural Requirements (NPR) document NPR 8000.4A, Agency Risk Management Procedural Requirements [1], with a specific focus on programs and projects, and applying to each level of the NASA organizational hierarchy as requirements flow down. This handbook supports RM application within the NASA systems engineering process, and is a complement to the guidance contained in NASA/SP-2007-6105, NASA Systems Engineering Handbook [2]. Specifically, this handbook provides guidance that is applicable to the common technical processes of Technical Risk Management and Decision Analysis established by NPR 7123.1A, NASA Systems Engineering Process and Requirements [3]. These processes are part of the \Systems Engineering Engine. (Figure 1) that is used to drive the development of the system and associated work products to satisfy stakeholder expectations in all mission execution domains, including safety, technical, cost, and schedule. Like NPR 7123.1A, NPR 8000.4A is a discipline-oriented NPR that intersects with product-oriented NPRs such as NPR 7120.5D, NASA Space Flight Program and Project Management Requirements [4]; NPR 7120.7, NASA Information Technology and Institutional Infrastructure Program and Project Management Requirements [5]; and NPR 7120.8, NASA Research and Technology Program and Project Management Requirements [6]. In much the same way that the NASA Systems Engineering Handbook is intended to provide guidance on the implementation of NPR 7123.1A, this handbook is intended to provide guidance on the implementation of NPR 8000.4A. 1.2 Scope and Depth This handbook provides guidance for conducting RM in the context of NASA program and project life cycles, which produce derived requirements in accordance with existing systems engineering practices that flow down through the NASA organizational hierarchy. The guidance in this handbook is not meant to be prescriptive. Instead, it is meant to be general enough, and contain a sufficient diversity of examples, to enable the reader to adapt the methods as needed to the particular risk management issues that he or she faces. The handbook highlights major issues to consider when managing programs and projects in the presence of potentially significant uncertainty, so that the user is better able to recognize and avoid pitfalls that might otherwise be experienced

Low-G fluid transfer technology study

Technology gaps and system characteristics critical to cryogenic and noncryogenic in-orbit fluid transfer were identified. Four different supply systems were conceptually designed as space shuttle payloads. These were; (1) space tug supply - LH2, LO2, N2H4, He - linear acceleration for liquid acquisition with supply module and tug separated from shuttle, (2) tug supply using orbiter drag, (3) orbiter supply - N2O4,MMH,He, H2,O2 - surface tension screens, (4) multiple receivers supply 0 solar electric propulsion stage, Hg, diaphragm - HEAO B, HEe, paddle fluid rotation-satellite control section, N2H4, screens. It was found that screens had the best overall potential for low weight and simplicity, however, thermal problems with cryogenics still need final resolution

Joint ACCESS: high-speed assault connector (HSAC) for joint expeditionary logistics

Includes suppmentary materialThe current notion of seabasing requires that three Battalion Landing Teams (BLT) of a 2025 Joint Expeditionary Brigade (JEB) need to be able to transit from the Sea Base to the objective within a 10 hour period. Of the three BLTs, two of them must be transported by surface craft a distance of no more than 200nm in sea state 4 or less. The two surface bound BLTs need to be loaded onto the transporting craft and delivered to shore, whether it is a port facility or austere beachhead. There is no current or future system of connectors to meet all the time-distance, sea state, and interface flexibility requirements for this aspect of seabasing. To meet these requirements a High Speed Assault Connector (HSAC) is needed which either augments current or replaces existing connector platforms to deliver and support the required forces ashore. The Joint ACCESS is a HSAC that brings the necessary speed, payload capacity, interface capability, and mission flexibility needed to fill the Sea Base to shore transportation gap. With a maximum speed of 43kts and payload capacity of 800LT, 12 Joint ACCESS trimarans can transit 200nm and fully offload in 7 hours. Its beachable design uses a floating bow ramp to reach out to austere beaches, while its combat system suite provides self defense in addition to robust offensive capabilities.http://web.archive.org/web/20050218202650/http://www.nps.navy.mil/tsse/files/2004.htmApproved for public release; distribution is unlimited

Final report of the EURISOL Design Study (2005-2009) A Design Study for a European Isotope-Separation-On-Line Radioactive Ion Beam Facility

European Commission Contract N°515768 RIDS Published by GANI

A two-stage fixed wing space transportation system. Volume 2 - Preliminary design Final report

Preliminary design for two stage fixed wing reusable space transportation system - Vol.

FINE SCALE MAPPING OF LAURENTIAN MIXED FOREST NATURAL HABITAT COMMUNITIES USING MULTISPECTRAL NAIP AND UAV DATASETS COMBINED WITH MACHINE LEARNING METHODS

Natural habitat communities are an important element of any forest ecosystem. Mapping and monitoring Laurentian Mixed Forest natural communities using high spatial resolution imagery is vital for management and conservation purposes. This study developed integrated spatial, spectral and Machine Learning (ML) approaches for mapping complex vegetation communities. The study utilized ultra-high and high spatial resolution National Agriculture Imagery Program (NAIP) and Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) datasets, and Digital Elevation Model (DEM). Complex natural vegetation community habitats in the Laurentian Mixed Forest of the Upper Midwest. A detailed workflow is presented to effectively process UAV imageries in a dense forest environment where the acquisition of ground control points (GCPs) is extremely difficult. Statistical feature selection methods such as Joint Mutual Information Maximization (JMIM) which is not that widely used in the natural resource field and variable importance (varImp) were used to discriminate spectrally similar habitat communities. A comprehensive approach to training set delineation was implemented including the use of Principal Components Analysis (PCA), Independent Components Analysis (ICA), soils data, and expert image interpretation. The developed approach resulted in robust training sets to delineate and accurately map natural community habitats. Three ML algorithms were implemented Random Forest (RF), Support Vector Machine (SVM), and Averaged Neural Network (avNNet). RF outperformed SVM and avNNet. Overall RF accuracies across the three study sites ranged from 79.45-87.74% for NAIP and 87.31-93.74% for the UAV datasets. Different ancillary datasets including spectral enhancement and image transformation techniques (PCA and ICA), GLCM-Texture, spectral indices, and topography features (elevation, slope, and aspect) were evaluated using the JMIM and varImp feature selection methods, overall accuracy assessment, and kappa calculations. The robustness of the workflow was evaluated with three study sites which are geomorphologically unique and contain different natural habitat communities. This integrated approach is recommended for accurate natural habitat community classification in ecologically complex landscapes

Simulation and Experimental Predictionss for the Structural Response of Satellites

This research investigated the structural response of satellites and space rated payloads. Throughout the work, SolidWorks Simulation was utilized to subject the aforementioned systems to both experimental test loads as well as program specific flight environments. While the methods presented within this document were exclusively employed with the SolidWorks Simulation software, all finite element analysis (FEA) techniques and computer aided design (CAD) best practices discussed are valid for a variety of commercially available CAD packages. Primarily, the programs under investigation were the Low earth Orbiting Navigation Experiment for Spacecraft Testing Autonomous Rendezvous and docking (LONESTAR) and Space-based Telescopes for Actionable Refinement of Ephemeris (STARE) programs. Both investigations studied satellite responses due to free and forced vibrations as well as various thermal environments and loading. Additionally, where experimental data was available, simulation solutions were validated against CAD generated values and evaluates for accuracy. Ultimately, the natural frequency and random vibration responses of four systems are presented as part of this research and the sensitivity of these results, due to various modeling variables, is discussed. The transient and steady state thermal profiles of two satellite flight configurations are also presented in an effort to predict on orbit thermal conditions. The CAD tool was evaluated and deemed appropriate for investigative studies within the laboratory

The impact of National Institute for Health and Care Excellence Clinical Guideline 168 on the management of superficial venous disease

INTRODUCTION In 2013, NICE published new guidance (CG168) for the management of lower limb venous disease; these guidelines sought to improve access to secondary care and recognised newer endovenous treatment modalities sufficiently robust to recommend. No formal study had evaluated the effect of the introduction of Guideline CG168 on venous disease management; this prompted the research project embodying this thesis. METHODS The management of venous disease was investigated locally at a secondary care level with primary care management being studied via the Health Improvement Network Database. RESULTS Local secondary care has improved significantly since the introduction of CG168, demonstrating an increased use of endovenous treatments at earlier stage of venous disease. A significantly higher number of patients are being referred for specialist review with leg ulceration. An improvement in referral and management of varicose veins in the community setting was noted, however the increase in referral for leg ulceration was more modest, with patients often not referred at all for secondary care assessment. CONCLUSION Whilst current data presented here suggests enhanced management of superficial venous disease, nationwide primary care improvements have been less marked. Further efforts will be required to continue to publicise the importance of NICE Guideline CG168 in order to extend its beneficial effects on patient care