Feasibility analysis study of battlefield distributed simulation - developmental (BDS-D) Version 1.0 system testbed extension : Fidelity and verification validation and accreditation

Issued as Report, Project E-16-M96 (subproject: A-9606)Report has title: Feasibility analysis study of battlefield distributed simulation - developmental (BDS-D) Version 1.0 system testbed extension : Fidelity and verification validation and accreditatio

Programmable Control of Ultrasound Swarmbots through Reinforcement Learning

Powered by acoustics, existing therapeutic and diagnostic procedures will become less invasive and new methods will become available that have never been available before. Acoustically driven microrobot navigation based on microbubbles is a promising approach for targeted drug delivery. Previous studies have used acoustic techniques to manipulate microbubbles in vitro and in vivo for the delivery of drugs using minimally invasive procedures. Even though many advanced capabilities and sophisticated control have been achieved for acoustically powered microrobots, there remain many challenges that remain to be solved. In order to develop the next generation of intelligent micro/nanorobots, it is highly desirable to conduct accurate identification of the micro-nanorobots and to control their dynamic motion autonomously. Here we use reinforcement learning control strategies to learn the microrobot dynamics and manipulate them through acoustic forces. The result demonstrated for the first time autonomous acoustic navigation of microbubbles in a microfluidic environment. Taking advantage of the benefit of the second radiation force, microbubbles swarm to form a large swarm, which is then driven along the desired trajectory. More than 100 thousand images were used for the training to study the unexpected dynamics of microbubbles. As a result of this work, the microrobots are validated to be controlled, illustrating a good level of robustness and providing computational intelligence to the microrobots, which enables them to navigate independently in an unstructured environment without requiring outside assistance

Methodology development for evaluation of selective-fidelity rotorcraft simulation

This paper addressed the initial step toward the goal of establishing performance and handling qualities acceptance criteria for realtime rotorcraft simulators through a planned research effort to quantify the system capabilities of 'selective fidelity' simulators. Within this framework the simulator is then classified based on the required task. The simulator is evaluated by separating the various subsystems (visual, motion, etc.) and applying corresponding fidelity constants based on the specific task. This methodology not only provides an assessment technique, but also provides a technique to determine the required levels of subsystem fidelity for a specific task

Aviation technology research plan rotary wing program development and evaluation of performance

Issued as Progress reports [nos. 1-2], and Final report, Project no. E-16-M08Final report has title: Aviation technology research plan rotary wing program development and evaluation of performanceFinal report has co-author: J.V.R. Prasa

Entity-Centric Abstraction and Modeling Framework for Transportation Architectures

A comprehensive framework for representing transpportation architectures is presented. After discussing a series of preceding perspectives and formulations, the intellectual underpinning of the novel framework using an entity-centric abstraction of transportation is described. The entities include endogenous and exogenous factors and functional expressions are offered that relate these and their evolution. The end result is a Transportation Architecture Field which permits analysis of future concepts under the holistic perspective. A simulation model which stems from the framework is presented and exercised producing results which quantify improvements in air transportation due to advanced aircraft technologies. Finally, a modeling hypothesis and its accompanying criteria are proposed to test further use of the framework for evaluating new transportation solutions

Do surfaces with mixed hydrophilic and hydrophobic areas enhance pool boiling?

We demonstrate that smooth and flat surfaces combining hydrophilic and hydrophobic patterns improve pool boiling performance. Compared to a hydrophilic surface with 7 degree wetting angle, the measured critical heat flux and heat transfer coefficients of the enhanced surfaces are up to respectively 65 and 100% higher. Different networks combining hydrophilic and hydrophobic regions are characterized. While all tested networks enhance the heat transfer coefficient, large enhancements of critical heat flux are typically found for hydrophilic networks featuring hydrophobic islands. Hydrophilic networks indeed are shown to prevent the formation of an insulating vapor layer.Comment: accepted August 10 in Applied Physics letter

GT MENTOR: A High School Education Program in Systems Engineering and Additive Manufacturing

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is sponsoring the MENTOR program as the outreach part of its Adaptive Vehicle Make suite of programs. Georgia Tech has been awarded a contract to involve up to 1000 high schools after 4 years in a series of prize challenges. A web-based collaborative design-manufacturing infrastructure will be developed that integrates CAD, CAE, design-for-manufacturing, and CAM software tools with a network of 3D printers and other manufacturing resources. In distributed teams, students will design, fabricate, and construct electro-mechanical systems (e.g., ground vehicle robots) to perform complex tasks. Many parts they design will be fabricated on 3D printers that are located in high schools or nearby sites. A project objective is to have students learn about collaborative design, advanced manufacturing, and new product development practices and to become excited about pursuing technology-based careers

An Application of Artificial Intelligence for Computer-Aided Design and Manufacturing

Presented at the International Conference on Computational Engineering Science: Supercomputing in Multidisciplinary Analysis and Design, Mauna Lani, HI, July 30 - August3, 1995.The knowledge required to integrate aircraft manufacturing characteristics and constraints into the structural design process is beyond the proficiency of a single engineer. Concurrent Engineering (CE) enables the integration of design with manufacturing to permit trades based not only on product performance, but also on other criteria not easily evaluated, such as producibility and support. A decision support system, or Knowledge-Based System, that can direct manufacturing issues during the preliminary design process would be an invaluable tool for system designers. The objective of this technical paper is to clearly describe the development of a Knowledge-Based System (KBS) for the determination of manufacturing processes for selected airframe structural components for the wing of the High Speed Civil Transport (HSCT). The KBS evolving with this research will be utilized within an integrated design environment along with existing tools to demonstrate its functionality as a design tool. The system will empower engineers to design the strongest, lightest possible wing structure at the least cost that meets the load-carrying requirements for a specified aircraft range. The paper outlines the knowledge- and rule-base development required to build the KBS. The interfaces and relations to CAD packages, external synthesis and analysis codes, as well as links to cost estimating software and methods are discussed

IPPD Through Robust Design Simulation for an Affordable Short Haul Civil Tiltrotor

Presented at the 53rd Annual Forum of the American Helicopter Society, Virginia Beach, VA, April 29 - May 1, 1997.Beyond the Bell/Boeing 609, the next step in civil tiltrotor evolution will most likely be a larger capacity vehicle (~ 40 passenger class) similar to NASA? vision of a Short Haul Civil Tiltrotor (SHCT). This vehicle will be designed, built and operated in an era being shaped by today? increased emphasis on affordability. This paper discusses the authors?views on the subject and outlines the steps taken to develop a new methodology which will allow a true assessment of the affordability of such a SHCT. Affordability will not be defined by cost metrics alone. Instead, it will be based on the concept of value and tradeoffs between cost and mission effectiveness; measured by maintainability, reliability, safety, etc. In addition, the motivation for this shift in design philosophy and the resulting need for knowledge to be brought forward in the proposed methodology is reviewed. Furthermore, this shift in knowledge calls for a paradigm shift in the design evolution process based on the realization that decisions made during the early design phases are not deterministic in nature and should therefore be handled probabilistically. The approach taken acknowledges this need and defines a suitable probabilistic design environment. The fundamental building blocks of this method are also outlined and discussed including key concepts, tools, techniques, and the approach taken to implement this process