Computer-Assisted Interactive Documentary and Performance Arts in Illimitable Space

This major component of the research described in this thesis is 3D computer graphics, specifically the realistic physics-based softbody simulation and haptic responsive environments. Minor components include advanced human-computer interaction environments, non-linear documentary storytelling, and theatre performance. The journey of this research has been unusual because it requires a researcher with solid knowledge and background in multiple disciplines; who also has to be creative and sensitive in order to combine the possible areas into a new research direction. [...] It focuses on the advanced computer graphics and emerges from experimental cinematic works and theatrical artistic practices. Some development content and installations are completed to prove and evaluate the described concepts and to be convincing. [...] To summarize, the resulting work involves not only artistic creativity, but solving or combining technological hurdles in motion tracking, pattern recognition, force feedback control, etc., with the available documentary footage on film, video, or images, and text via a variety of devices [....] and programming, and installing all the needed interfaces such that it all works in real-time. Thus, the contribution to the knowledge advancement is in solving these interfacing problems and the real-time aspects of the interaction that have uses in film industry, fashion industry, new age interactive theatre, computer games, and web-based technologies and services for entertainment and education. It also includes building up on this experience to integrate Kinect- and haptic-based interaction, artistic scenery rendering, and other forms of control. This research work connects all the research disciplines, seemingly disjoint fields of research, such as computer graphics, documentary film, interactive media, and theatre performance together.Comment: PhD thesis copy; 272 pages, 83 figures, 6 algorithm

Experimental Investigation on the Impact of Wall Heating on Mixed Convection Turbulent Boundary Layer Flow Structure

The hydrodynamic and thermal boundary layers are known to be key regulators of the interfacial transport of mass, momentum and heat, which are crucial in a wide range of engineering and environmental applications. The boundary layers encountered in these applications are often turbulent in nature and characterized by the presence of three-dimensional motion and non-linear dissipative phenomena. The presence of heat transfer between the bulk fluid and the solid wall increases flow complexity due to the interaction of the buoyant force with flow inertia and non-linear coupling between thermo-fluid variables. As a key contributor to multiple engineering systems and environmental phenomena, advancement of the current knowledge on turbulent boundary layer dynamical behaviors is crucial. In the present study, turbulent boundary layer flow over a heated horizontal smooth wall was investigated utilizing an experimental approach. The current state-of-the-art techniques for 3D flow characterization are often limited in their broad applicability. The present knowledge is improved upon with the development of a novel technique based on volumetric illumination with a multi-color pattern. In the absence of heat transfer, the turbulent boundary layer is known to contain a wide range of dynamical phenomena whose behaviors still lack a comprehensive understanding. The present study investigated the unheated turbulent boundary layer utilizing a unique implementation of the Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) technique to characterize the three-dimensional (3D) nature of the flow and reported new findings on near-wall turbulent flow behavior. In the presence of heat transfer, once the buoyant force magnitude is sufficiently large, thermals detach and rise from the heated wall. The characteristics of thermals in a heated turbulent boundary layer was investigated in 3D utilizing PIV. A novel image processing algorithm was developed to detect thermals. The modification to the turbulent boundary layer velocity field by wall heating was studied utilizing PIV data. Results indicate that boundary layer behavior is influenced by the buoyant force via modification to the turbulent velocity field and associated velocity statistics. This study provides multiple new contributions on flow characterization techniques and the behaviors of the turbulent boundary layer in the presence and absence of heat transfer

Orbiting Rainbows: Optical Manipulation of Aerosols and the Beginnings of Future Space Construction

Our objective is to investigate the conditions to manipulate and maintain the shape of an orbiting cloud of dust-like matter so that it can function as an ultra-lightweight surface with useful and adaptable electromagnetic characteristics, for instance, in the optical, RF, or microwave bands. Inspired by the light scattering and focusing properties of distributed optical assemblies in Nature, such as rainbows and aerosols, and by recent laboratory successes in optical trapping and manipulation, we propose a unique combination of space optics and autonomous robotic system technology, to enable a new vision of space system architecture with applications to ultra-lightweight space optics and, ultimately, in-situ space system fabrication. Typically, the cost of an optical system is driven by the size and mass of the primary aperture. The ideal system is a cloud of spatially disordered dust-like objects that can be optically manipulated: it is highly reconfigurable, fault-tolerant, and allows very large aperture sizes at low cost. See Figure 1 for a scenario of application of this concept. The solution that we propose is to construct an optical system in space in which the nonlinear optical properties of a cloud of micron-sized particles are shaped into a specific surface by light pressure, allowing it to form a very large and lightweight aperture of an optical system, hence reducing overall mass and cost. Other potential advantages offered by the cloud properties as optical system involve possible combination of properties (combined transmit/receive), variable focal length, combined refractive and reflective lens designs, and hyper-spectral imaging. A cloud of highly reflective particles of micron-size acting coherently in a specific electromagnetic band, just like an aerosol in suspension in the atmosphere, would reflect the Sun's light much like a rainbow. The only difference with an atmospheric or industrial aerosol is the absence of the supporting fluid medium. This new concept is based on recent understandings in the physics of optical manipulation of small particles in the laboratory and the engineering of distributed ensembles of spacecraft clouds to shape an orbiting cloud of micron-sized objects. In the same way that optical tweezers have revolutionized micro- and nano-manipulation of objects, our breakthrough concept will enable new large scale NASA mission applications and develop new technology in the areas of Astrophysical Imaging Systems and Remote Sensing because the cloud can operate as an adaptive optical imaging sensor. While achieving the feasibility of constructing one single aperture out of the cloud is the main topic of this work, it is clear that multiple orbiting aerosol lenses could also combine their power to synthesize a much larger aperture in space to enable challenging goals such as exoplanet detection. Furthermore, this effort could establish feasibility of key issues related to material properties, remote manipulation, and autonomy characteristics of cloud in orbit. There are several types of endeavors (science missions) that could be enabled by this type of approach, i.e. it can enable new astrophysical imaging systems, exoplanet search, large apertures allow for unprecedented high resolution to discern continents and important features of other planets, hyperspectral imaging, adaptive systems, spectroscopy imaging through limb, and stable optical systems from Lagrange-points. Future micro-miniaturization might hold promise of a further extension of our dust aperture concept to other more exciting smart dust concepts with other associated capabilities

Research Naval Postgraduate School, v.12, no.3, October 2002

NPS Research is published by the Research and Sponsored Programs, Office of the Vice President and Dean of Research, in accordance with NAVSOP-35. Views and opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the Department of the Navy.Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited

Annual meeting of the Lunar Exploration Analysis Group : October 22–24, 2012, Greenbelt, Maryland

The focus of this meeting will be a discussion of the ongoing contributions of the Apollo program to solar system exploration and options and opportunities for the next decade of lunar science and exploration. This meeting will include presentations and discussions on science objectives, robotic and human exploration strategies and technologies, critical required technology development commercial opportunities, education and outreach, and the Moon as a necessary stepping stone to the rest of the solar system.Sponsor: National Aeronautics and Space AdministrationConveners: Charles Shearer, University of New Mexico, Jeffrey Plescia, The John Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory, Clive Neal, University of Notre Dame, Stephen Mackwell, Lunar and Planetary Institute.PARTIAL CONTENTS: Volatile Extraction and In Situ Resource Utilization for the Moon Applied to Near Earth Objects / E. H. Cardiff--A Revisit to Apollo Magnetic Field Records for Sounding of the Lunar Interior / P. J. Chi--LunarCube: Payload Development for Enhanced Yet Low Cost Lunar Exploration / P. E. Clark, R. MacDowall, R. Cox, A. Vasant, S. Schaire, and B. Malphrus--Frontier: Towards Onboard Intelligence for More Capable Next Generation Space Assets / P. E. Clark, M. L. Rilee, and S. A. Curtis--Near Real-Time Prospecting for Lunar Volatiles: Demonstrating RESOLVE Science in the Field / A. Colaprete, R. Elphic, J. Heldmann, K. Ennico, G. Mattes, and J. Sanders--Gateways to the Solar System: Innovative Advanced Magnet Lab Mass Driver Launch Platforms at L1 and L--R. Cox, P. Clark, A. Vasant, and R. Meinke--Modal Evaluation of Fluid Volume in Spacecraft Propellant Tanks / K. M. Crosby, R. Werlink, S. Mathe, and K. Lubick--Ground Data Systems for Real Time Lunar Science / M. C. Deans, T. Smith, D. S. Lees, E. B. Scharff, T. E. Cohen, and D. S. S. Lim

Mini Input Sensor Boards

The objective of this MQP was to use analog and other design techniques to build a circuit using one of Analog Device\u27s new Integrated Circuits. After much thought, research, and collaboration, the project chosen was the Mini PCB Input Sensor and Display Circuits . This project has two parts: the first being a small, inexpensive, and portable circuit designed to be distributed to high school seniors who attend WPI\u27s ECE undergraduate recruitment open houses. The second phase is a more complex version of the portable circuit, and would allow the user to connect to a PC via USB and display the output of the various sensors on a computer monitor

Coating and drying processes for functional films in polymer solar cells - from laboratory to pilot scale

Polymer solar cells can be produced by a continuous low cost coating and drying process. This work details a specialized experimental set-up to enable large scale roll to roll processing. Material properties such as surface energy, surface tension, and viscosity are presented and modelled. The impact of coating method, as well as process parameters (e.g. coating speed, shear rate, solvent composition) on process stability and film properties, is discussed

The matrix revisited: A critical assessment of virtual reality technologies for modeling, simulation, and training

A convergence of affordable hardware, current events, and decades of research have advanced virtual reality (VR) from the research lab into the commercial marketplace. Since its inception in the 1960s, and over the next three decades, the technology was portrayed as a rarely used, high-end novelty for special applications. Despite the high cost, applications have expanded into defense, education, manufacturing, and medicine. The promise of VR for entertainment arose in the early 1990\u27s and by 2016 several consumer VR platforms were released. With VR now accessible in the home and the isolationist lifestyle adopted due to the COVID-19 global pandemic, VR is now viewed as a potential tool to enhance remote education. Drawing upon over 17 years of experience across numerous VR applications, this dissertation examines the optimal use of VR technologies in the areas of visualization, simulation, training, education, art, and entertainment. It will be demonstrated that VR is well suited for education and training applications, with modest advantages in simulation. Using this context, the case is made that VR can play a pivotal role in the future of education and training in a globally connected world

Passive solar desing strategies for buildings: A case study on improvement of an existing residential building's thermal performance by passive solar design tools

Thesis (Master)--İzmir Institute of Technology, Architecture, İzmir, 2003Includes bibliographical references (leaves: 137-140)Text in English; Abstract: Turkish and Englishxi, 140 leavesThis thesis investigates the potentials of the use of Passive Solar Design strategies in existing low-rise residential buildings in the context of energy-efficient building design. Among the ways of developing energy-efficient building design, there are mainly active and passive systems to consider and the thesis focuses on passive ones which require integration of architectural characteristics and energy-efficiency strategies, which can likely be cost-effective and thermally comfortable as a result of that integration.In order to achieve the objective of the study, a methodology has been developed. Fist a thorough literature survey is conducted. Then examples related to subject are investigated. Finally an existing residential building is selected and analysed as the case study. Current thermal performance and improved thermal performance of this building are analysed by the help of a software called Energy-10. Results of both original and improved projects are interpreted accordingly.In buildings, Passive Solar Design strategies can provide fundamental comfort conditions related to heating, cooling for thermal and natural lighting for visual comfort or help building.s conventional mechanical systems achieve these conditions requiring less amount of energy. Some of the Passive Solar Desgin strategies are seem in traditional architecture from harsh cold to hot humid climate, they have been in harmony with their environment and provide comfort conditions adjusting the outdoor climatic features by climatic design strategies and they are called as climate-responsive buildings. Solar orientation, solar apertures, thermal mass, solar chimneys, wind captures, lattice brise-soleils or mushrabiyas are the Passive Solar Design elements which have been used in traditional buildings, now abandoned, running by means of natural air currents.To achieve a low-energy building, thermal insulation ought to be considered as the main energy-efficiency feature. Turkish thermal insulation standarts .TS 825. is deficient for designing low-energy buildings and there is no regulations that make the designers feel the desire to utilize low-energy concepts for their designs. Besides, the building.s morphological organisation should be involved with respect to climatic and environmental data. One of the most important criterion in designing an energy-efficient building is incoprating properties of microclimate of the site that the building is to be placed. Using environmental (climatic, geographic, etc.) data well in building designs can lead to energy efficiency. Solar geometry, latitude, altitude, wind patterns, vegetation, hills and neighbor buildings are the determinants of microclimate of a site.The findings of the study indicate that with the energy-efficiency design strategies by passive solar components having the additional cost of about 9% of the total building cost, it is possible to save the total annual energy used in this specific residential building by 18%. There are three types of energy need for the space conditioning and visual comfort (i. e., heating, cooling and lighting), the maximum energy saving is achieved in heating energy use by 61% decrease, lighting energy use is also decreased by 40%. However, in cooling energy need, there is an increase of 34%. This amount is overshadowed by passive solar gains in other energy savings (i. e., heating and lighting) and when the cooling strategies of the building (i. e., natural ventilation and stack effect ventilation) are considered, the building might be said to perform well in terms of thermaly in annual operation