A Statistical Evaluation of Risk Priority Numbers in Failure Modes and Effects Analysis Applied to the Prediction of Complex Systems

Complex systems such as military aircraft and naval ships are difficult to cost effectively maintain. Frequently, large-scale maintenance of complex systems (i.e., a naval vessel) is based on the reduction of the system to its base subcomponents and the use of manufacturer-suggested, time-directed, preventative maintenance, which is augmented during the systems lifecycle with predictive maintenance which assesses the system\u27s ability to perform its mission objectives. While preventative maintenance under certain conditions can increase reliability, preventative maintenance systems are often costly, increase down time, and allow for maintenance-induced failures, which may decrease the reliability of the system (Ebeling, 1997). This maintenance scheme ignores the complexity of the system it tries to maintain. By combining the base components or subsystems into a larger system, and introducing human interaction with the system, the complexity of the system creates a unique entity that cannot be completely understood by basing predictability of the system to perform tasks on the reduction of the system to its subcomponents. This study adds to the scholarly literature by developing a model, based on the traditional failure modes and effects analysis commonly used for research and development projects, to capture the effects of the human interaction with the system. Based on the ability of personnel assigned to operate and maintain the system, the severity of the system failure on the impact on the metasystems ability to perform its mission and the likelihood of the event of the failure to occur. Findings of the research indicate that the human interaction with the system, in as far as the ability of the personnel to repair and maintain the system, is a vital component in the ability to predict likelihood of the system failure and the prioritization of the risk of system failure, may be adequately captured for analysis through use of expert opinion elicitation. The use of the expert\u27s opinions may provide additional robustness to the modeling and analysis of system behavior in the event that failure occurs

Design of a processor to support the teaching of computer systems

Teaching computer systems, including computer architecture, assembly language programming and operating system implementation, is a challenging occupation. At the University of Waikato this is made doubly true because we require all computer science and information systems students study this material at second year. The challenges of teaching difficult material to a wide range of students have driven us to find ways of making the material more accessible. The corner stone of our strategy for delivering this material is the design and implementation of a custom CPU that meets the needs of teaching. This paper describes our motivation and these needs. We present the CPU and board design and describe the implementation of the CPU in an FPGA. The paper also includes some reflections on the use of a real CPU rather than a simulation environment. We conclude with a discussion of how the CPU can be used for advanced classes in computer architecture and a description of the current status of the project

Work-in-Progress: Augmented Reality System for Vehicle Health Diagnostics and Maintenance

This paper discusses undergraduate research to develop an augmented reality (AR) system for diagnostics and maintenance of the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) employed by U.S. Army and U.S. Marine Corps. The JLTV’s diagnostic information will be accessed by attaching a Bluetooth adaptor (Ford Reference Vehicle Interface) to JLTV’s On-board diagnostics (OBD) system. The proposed AR system will be developed for mobile devices (Android and iOS tablets and phones) and it communicates with the JLTV’s OBD via Bluetooth. The AR application will contain a simplistic user interface that reads diagnostic data from the JLTV, shows vehicle sensors, and allows users to create virtual dashboards to display various information. It will also contain interactive presentation and visualization of JLTV external and internal parts and 3D animations for diagnostic and maintenance. The AR application will consist of two modes: Standalone Mode and AR Mode. Standalone Mode does not require a real vehicle and it contains interactive 3D visualizations and animations for diagnostic and maintenance. The AR Mode requires the presence of a vehicle and projects instructions and animations to the vehicle components and parts under diagnosis and maintenance. This project contains several major tasks: 1) 3D modeling of the vehicle, including all internal and external parts to be displayed in the AR application, 2) 3D printing of the vehicles that only requires the external parts that requires conversion from the file format used in Task 1 and further optimization of the model for 3D printing, 3) software development in Unity that utilizes mobile devices and Vuforia to generate the AR application for vehicle maintenance and operation, and 4) preliminary research on software and information architecture to support efficient development of AR applications. This project is most relevant to the following ABET outcomes: 1) an ability to function on multidisciplinary teams and 2) an ability to communicate effectively, and 3) an ability to use the techniques, skills, and modern engineering tools necessary for engineering practice. This paper discusses the challenges and effective approaches in designing and executing undergraduate research projects that utilizing the latest computing and information technology for military applications, such as proper project scope, open source hardware and software, emulators for large scale equipment, 3D printing to reduce development complexity and facilitate rapid application development

Lessons Learned and Best Practices for Using an Analytic Strategy Approach for the Creation of Virtual Laboratories for Distance Learning in Engineering Technology

This paper describes the use of an Analytic Strategy Approach used in the development of a Virtual Automation and Controls Lab in the Mechanical Engineering Technology Program of the Engineering Technology Department at Old Dominion University. This paper looks at the three phases, as applied to the development of a virtual lab using an analytic strategy design: (1) Formulation of the quantitative and qualitative approach to assist in decision process, (2) Quantitative and qualitative analysis of the decision alternatives - within the decision context, (3) Interpretation of the analysis results and implications for decision

Green Infrastructure Training for Veterans

The Environmental Protection Agency launched a Strategic Agenda to Protect Waters and Build More Livable Communities through Green Infrastructure in April of 2011. This initiative supports local communities in using green infrastructure to manage rain water while creating co-benefits of green space, which makes communities more attractive and livable. (EPA) In the fall of 2014 the Environmental Protection Agency along with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Department of Defense, U.S. Department of Energy, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, U.S. Department of the Interior and U.S. Department of Transportation signed a federal letter of support for green infrastructure recognizing it as an important tool for building resilience to climate change impacts such as increased heavy rainfall and heat island effect. Each agency committed to taking specific action to promote green infrastructure including but not limited to: creating alliances, providing community assistance, funding, training, development of metrics to assess performance of green infrastructure, and promotion best practices. (Federal) The City of XXXX, the Green Infrastructure Center, Inc., and X University have collaborated on a National Fish and Wildlife Federation Grant titled Developing a Green Infrastructure Plan and Network for the X River Network . As part of the project X University will provide a training program to prepare Veterans for the green jobs of the future. Green infrastructure projects can provide business and employment opportunities for veterans. This project includes a 20 hour educational course for veterans to educate them about the green infrastructure industry, business and employment opportunities in green infrastructure and green infrastructure storm water management techniques. Hands-on training will be incorporated in the course work. This program will develop a base level certification that will qualify recipients for more advanced and specialized programs. This green infrastructure training certificate will be coordinated with other green infrastructure education certifications and programs in a stackable manner to provide a transparent track for career advancement, which will benefit employers and the green infrastructure industry. This paper will highlight pre- and post training survey results and provide insight into the progress of the veterans transitioning to this employment area

Direct Detection of Products from the Pyrolysis of 2-Phenethyl Phenyl Ether

The pyrolysis of 2-phenethyl phenyl ether (PPE, C_6H_5C_2H_4OC_6H_5) in a hyperthermal nozzle (300-1350 °C) was studied to determine the importance of concerted and homolytic unimolecular decomposition pathways. Short residence times (<100 μs) and low concentrations in this reactor allowed the direct detection of the initial reaction products from thermolysis. Reactants, radicals, and most products were detected with photoionization (10.5 eV) time-of-flight mass spectrometry (PIMS). Detection of phenoxy radical, cyclopentadienyl radical, benzyl radical, and benzene suggest the formation of product by the homolytic scission of the C_6H_5C_2H_4-OC_6H_5 and C_6H_5CH_2-CH_2OC_6H_5 bonds. The detection of phenol and styrene suggests decomposition by a concerted reaction mechanism. Phenyl ethyl ether (PEE, C_6H_5OC_2H_5) pyrolysis was also studied using PIMS and using cryogenic matrix-isolated infrared spectroscopy (matrix-IR). The results for PEE also indicate the presence of both homolytic bond breaking and concerted decomposition reactions. Quantum mechanical calculations using CBS-QB3 were conducted, and the results were used with transition state theory (TST) to estimate the rate constants for the different reaction pathways. The results are consistent with the experimental measurements and suggest that the concerted retro-ene and Maccoll reactions are dominant at low temperatures (below 1000 °C), whereas the contribution of the C_6H_5C_2H_4-OC_6H_5 homolytic bond scission reaction increases at higher temperatures (above 1000 °C)

NSF S-STEM Project Update: A Pathway to Completion for Pursuing Engineering and Engineering Technology Degrees

This poster showcases the progress of students who are receiving scholarships from the National Science Foundation S-STEM project: A Pathway to Completion for Pursuing Engineering and Engineering Technology Degrees. Thus far, 20 academically high-achieving students who demonstrate financial need have participated in the project. Thirty-six scholarships have been awarded to date, in which a maximum of twelve scholarships are awarded per semester; some students have received scholarships multiple times. Students are from electrical engineering, computer engineering, mechanical engineering, civil engineering, civil engineering technology, and modeling and simulation majors. As part of this S-STEM project, students also receive academic support, mentorship related to the development of professional workforce skills, career search skills, and opportunities to participate in industry-related field trips. Role models, many of whom are practicing engineers with STEM degrees and are military veterans, serve as presenters and share their personal career pathways and answer students’ questions in the required one-hour weekly seminar. Although the students participating in this project meet the strenuous academic criteria set by the project (3.0/4.0), many of the students struggle financially, due to having expended their G.I. benefits, which can impede their academic performance and graduation. While many student success programs focus on freshman and sophomore students, what makes this project unique is its focus on enabling student success at the junior and senior years. This project provides a portfolio of different activities for the more mature student, e.g. financial aid through scholarships, community-based learning opportunities, and academic success strategies that enable stronger retention and student completion rates. Project activities are tailored to veterans and adult learners as this group of students is particularly vulnerable given their need to simultaneously juggle academic, family, and financial obligations

Active Duty Training For Support of Navy\u27s Additive Manufacturing Strategy

Additive manufacturing has recently gained the attention of multiple stakeholders, including those in the advanced manufacturing industry, research and government labs, academia, and the Navy community. Various efforts within the Navy focus on studying the best way for parts to be built and repaired for marine and naval vessels. Rapid manufacturing of spare components is particularly important for sailors, especially while deployed on warships, as they often do not have timely access to spare parts from the supply chain. For that purpose, a multidisciplinary team of engineering and education faculty have developed a series of workshops to train on-duty sailors in designing, testing, reverse engineering, and printing parts needed for their daily operations. The workshop has modules focused on rapid prototyping, reverse engineering, computer aided design, material testing, product data management, and product lifecycle management. The Office of Naval Research Workforce Development program funds this program