Performance Analysis of IPv6 Transition Mechanisms over MPLS

 Exhaustion of current version of Internet Protocol version 4 (IPv4) addresses initiated development of next-generation Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6). IPv6 is acknowledged to provide more address space, better address design, and greater security; however, IPv6 and IPv4 are not fully compatible. For the two protocols to coexist, various IPv6 transition mechanisms have been developed. This research will analyze a series of IPv6 transition mechanisms over the Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) backbone using a simulation tool (OPNET) and will evaluate and compare their performances. The analysis will include comparing the end-to-end delay, jitter, and throughput performance metrics using tunneling mechanisms, specifically Manual Tunnel, Generic Routing Encapsulation (GRE) Tunnel, Automatic IPv4-Compatible Tunnel, and 6to4 Tunnel between Customer Edge (CE)-to-CE routers and between Provider Edge (PE)-to-PE routers. The results are then compared against 6PE, Native IPv6, and Dual Stack, all using the MPLS backbone. The traffic generated for this comparison are database access, email, File Transfer, File Print, Telnet, Video Conferencing over IP, Voice over IP, Web Browsing, and Remote Login. A statistical analysis is performed to compare the performance metrics of these mechanisms to evaluate any statistically-significant differences among them. The main objective of this research is to rank the aforementioned IPv6 transition mechanism and identify the superior mechanism(s) that offer lowest delay, lowest jitter, and highest throughput

Reducing Human/Pilot Errors in Aviation Using Augmented Cognition and Automation Systems in Aircraft Cockpit

Human errors cause the majority of aviation accidents. Augmented cognition and automation systems enhance pilot performance by evaluating system limitations and flight precision and performance. This study examines the human-machine interface in cockpit design using the tenets of augmented cognition and automation systems theory in terms of task allocation, attentional resources, and situational awareness. The study compares how these principles apply to and interact with each other and with a human/pilot in a closed-loop system. We present a method for integrating augmented cognition systems into airplane flight management systems. We demonstrate systems enhancement with an experiment in which test pilots flew two simulated flights, once without and once with an augmented cognition system. We measured pilot and airplane performance, pilots’ situational awareness, workload management, pilots’ use of cockpit checklists, and flight precision along four axes: (1) altitude, (2) course, (3) radial/bearing and heading, and (4) airspeed

Mitigating Cognitive Biases in Risk Identification: Practitioner Checklist for the Aerospace Sector

This research contributes an operational checklist for mitigating cognitive biases in the aerospace sector risk management process. The Risk Identification and Evaluation Bias Reduction Checklist includes steps for grounding the risk identification and evaluation activities in past project experiences, through historical data, and the importance of incorporating multiple methods and perspectives to guard against optimism and a singular project instantiation focused view. The authors developed a survey to elicit subject matter expert (SME) judgment on the value of the checklist to support its use in government and industry as a risk management tool. The survey also provided insights on bias mitigation strategies and lessons learned. This checklist addresses the deficiency in the literature in providing operational steps for the practitioner for bias reduction in risk management in the aerospace sector

The Prince William Sound Risk Assessment

After the grounding of the Exxon Valdez, and its subsequent oil spill, all parties with interests in Prince William Sound (PWS) were eager to prevent another major pollution event. While they implemented several measures to reduce the risk of an oil spill, the stakeholders disagreed about the effectiveness of these measures and the potential effectiveness of further proposed measures. They formed a steering committee to represent all the major stakeholders in the oil industry, in the government, in local industry and among the local citizens. The steering committee hired a consultant team, who created a detailed model of the PWS system, integrating system simulation, data analysis, and expert judgment. The model was capable of assessing the current risk of accidents involving oil tankers operating in the Prince William Sound and of evaluating measures aimed at reducing this risk. The risk model showed that actions taken prior to the study had reduced the risk of oil spill by 75 percent and identified measures estimated to reduce the accident frequency by an additional 68 percent, including improving the safety management systems of the oil companies and stationing an enhanced capability tug, called the Gulf Service, at Hinchinbrook Entrance. In all, various stakeholders made multi-million dollar investments to reduce the risk of further oil spills based on the results of the risk assessment

Pragmatics and Accessibility in Referential Communication

[Abstract embargoed

US Space Acquisition Policy: A Decline in Leadership

Proceedings Paper (for Acquisition Research Program)System complexity is only one aspect affecting US space acquisition today. There is a large body of literature that suggests US space acquisition is over budget, behind schedule, and delivering underperforming systems. The GAO seems to attribute a number of factors to contributing to this situation. However, three primary factors include an over-reliance on immature technology, managing requirements to build the ''grand design'' and the health of the space industrial base. Addressing these factors will be critical so that the US can maintain its technology superiority and leadership in space. This is especially critical as countries such as Russia and China continue to mount significant challenges to our dominance in space. A loss of US leadership in space could very well translate into a loss of prosperity and national security.Naval Postgraduate School Acquisition Research ProgramApproved for public release; distribution is unlimited

A suitable platform for storm penetration, risk analysis for the SPA-10 aircraft modification

The article of record as published may be found at http://dx.doi.org/10.4271/2016-01-2043The SPA-10 project, sponsored by U.S. National Science Foundation, is to acquire and qualify a replacement for the retired T-28 “storm penetration” aircraft previously used to acquire meteorological data to enable understanding and modelling of mid-continent thunderstorms. The National Science Foundation selected the Fairchild A-10 (bailed from the U.S. Air Force) as the platform to be adapted to perform the storm penetration mission to altitudes of eleven kilometers, and funded Naval Postgraduate School’s Center for Interdisciplinary Remotely-Piloted Aircraft Studies (CIRPAS) as prime contractor. An expert panel conducted a review of the SPA-10 project in 2014 and recommended a risk analysis addressing hazards to the aircraft and pilots, such as icing, hail, turbulence and lightning. This paper presents the results of the risk analysis performed in response to this need, including recommended mitigations. In general the A-10 aircraft systems and structure were shown to be robust and suitable, reinforced by an operational plan for incremental exposure to the full force of the storm. A key challenge was obtaining the necessary information to resolve the expert panel’s concerns for a military aircraft designed in the 1970’s, with significant upgrades since, for a radically different mission. The support and assistance of the USAF and the engine manufacturer, General Electric was critical to this endeavor. The participation of the operator of the previous storm penetration T-28 aircraft, the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, was a crucial source for understanding the mission and operational environment.U.S. National Science Foundatio

Nonparametric Statistical Analysis of the Reliability of a Naval Aviation Propulsion System

The article of record as published may be located at http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1559-3584.2009.00195.xThis paper reports the results of applying lifetime (or reliability database) statistical analysis methods to engine removal data recorded over the initial 8 years’ service of the General Electric F414-GE-400 turbofan engines propelling the F/A-18 E/F Super Hornet in service with the US Navy, with the intent of better understanding the reasons for engine removal and their impact on engine time on wing (TOW), and to gain an insight into the reliability of the modules and components from which the engine is assembled. It was found that ‘‘coloring’’ the engine removals into three classes of reasons for removal enabled lifetime data analysis revealing interesting and useful features of in-service engine reliability. Nonparametric statistical analysis provided actionable information on engine removal probability as a function of TOW and removal cause that should be applicable to planning flight operations, line maintenance, and support logistics. The analysis of engine removals due to hot section distress appears to disconfirm the presumption of independence between the three classes of removal. Opportunistic maintenance of modules made accessible due to engine removals to service other modules may significantly affect the observed engine removal distribution of the module of interest, i.e., competing risk masks the underlying module hazard functions

Positive Deviance Approach for Identifying Next-Generation System Engineering Best Practices

AbstractSystems Engineering practices, methods, and processes are rapidly evolving to keep pace with the accelerated advances occurring in complex systems development. Often, Systems Engineering curricula reflect methods and processes proven over time and as such don’t necessarily convey the changes occurring at the forefront of complex system development. This paper explores an alternative approach - Positive Deviance - for researching and identifying next-generation Systems Engineering best practices at this knowledge horizon. Positive Deviance has over two decades of proven use in social sciences disciplines as a means of identifying behavioral patterns. The intent of this paper is to demonstrate a method for maintaining a continuously refreshed repertoire of leading edge best practices to supplement traditional training curricula in Systems Engineering. This paper presents a proposed model (DISCO Model) for the integration of the Positive Deviance approach into current knowledge elicitation processes used to capture Systems Engineering best practices. This paper focuses on providing an exploratory discussion of useful steps and guidelines that prospective educators could use to capture next-generation Systems Engineering best practices for inclusion in their training and education curricula

Mathematical reliability: an expository perspective

In this volume consideration was given to more advanced theoretical approaches and novel applications of reliability to ensure that topics having a futuristic impact were specifically included. Topics like finance, forensics, information, and orthopedics, as well as the more traditional reliability topics were purposefully undertaken to make this collection different from the existing books in reliability. The entries have been categorized into seven parts, each emphasizing a theme that seems poised for the future development of reliability as an academic discipline with relevance. The seven parts are networks and systems; recurrent events; information and design; failure rate function and burn-in; software reliability and random environments; reliability in composites and orthopedics, and reliability in finance and forensics. Embedded within the above are some of the other currently active topics such as causality, cascading, exchangeability, expert testimony, hierarchical modeling, optimization and survival analysis. These topics, when linked with utility theory, constitute the science base of risk analysis