Graphical user interface for improved laser eye surgery

This thesis develops a system for laser eye surgery that is a significant improvement over existing technology. The new system uses image matching and MEMS micromirrors to introduce feedback control, automation and record keeping to the laser surgery process, eliminating the unwanted effects of eye movement during surgery and introducing a wide range of other benefits. It is expected that this improvement can be implemented as an addition to existing systems as well as a foundation for new tools, perhaps even remote, internet enabled ones. The basic components of the new system are described and demonstrated, including image matching between reference and real-time images through well-known algorithms, application of matching information to generate control voltages to lock positioning and firing LASER onto selected locations on the eye using electrostatically controlled micromirrors, and characterization of the micromirrors for this application. This thesis focuses particularly on the development of a prototype graphical user interface that integrates image capture, image matching, mirror control, and user interaction into a single unit

Cybersecurity through Real-Time Distributed Control Systems

Critical infrastructure sites and facilities are becoming increasingly dependent on interconnected physical and cyber-based real-time distributed control systems (RTDCSs). A mounting cybersecurity threat results from the nature of these ubiquitous and sometimes unrestrained communications interconnections. Much work is under way in numerous organizations to characterize the cyber threat, determine means to minimize risk, and develop mitigation strategies to address potential consequences. While it seems natural that a simple application of cyber-protection methods derived from corporate business information technology (IT) domain would lead to an acceptable solution, the reality is that the characteristics of RTDCSs make many of those methods inadequate and unsatisfactory or even harmful. A solution lies in developing a defense-in-depth approach that ranges from protection at communications interconnect levels ultimately to the control system s functional characteristics that are designed to maintain control in the face of malicious intrusion. This paper summarizes the nature of RTDCSs from a cybersecurity perspec tive and discusses issues, vulnerabilities, candidate mitigation approaches, and metrics

Small- and Medium-Sized Commercial Building Monitoring and Controls Needs: A Scoping Study

Buildings consume over 40% of the total energy consumption in the U.S. A significant portion of the energy consumed in buildings is wasted because of the lack of controls or the inability to use existing building automation systems (BASs) properly. Much of the waste occurs because of our inability to manage and controls buildings efficiently. Over 90% of the buildings are either small-size (100,000 sf). Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) were asked by the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Building Technologies Program (BTP) to identify monitoring and control needs for small- and medium-sized commercial buildings and recommend possible solutions. This study documents the needs and solutions for small- and medium-sized buildings