Master of Sciences, Case Western Reserve University, 2023, EECS - Computer and Information Sciences

Action entropy active sensing represents huge leaps forward in the field of active sensing. Previous papers have found that while action entropy increases the accuracy of the simulation, it also increases the time required to calculate sensing actions. The time cost can be reduced by implementing parallel processing that splits the computations over multiple cores. This can be done on a local machine and via implementation of the cloud. This paper focuses on implementing a detection and recovery mechanism for a potential cloud crash. The communication is facilitated through Docker and OpenVPN, using the ROS client-service architecture. This paper adjusts the methodology of the existing model to make it more robust to failures. The simulation results indicate that the time to recovery is feasible, and that this new structure increases the reliability of the existing model

Committee: Vincenzo Liberatore (Advisor) Subjects: Computer Science; Robotics

Doctor of Philosophy, The Ohio State University, 2020, City and Regional Planning

This dissertation presents a comprehensive analytical framework for examining urban green infrastructure and its urban planning implications. Comprised of four essays, this research investigates the concepts, measurement, modeling and implications of urban green spaces and vegetation (UGSV). Leveraging the increasing variety and precision of geospatial big data and techniques, this research characterizes the heterogeneity of UGSV in terms of physical form and functions to inform the effective environmental design of UGSV. The first and second essays present methods for the assessment of spatial patterns of UGSV and their socioeconomic accessibility using various green measures. Remote sensing, GIS and pattern recognition techniques are used to measure UGSV over large geographic areas with fine thematic resolution. The third and fourth essays deal with planning applications, focusing on the relationship between UGSV, sustainable mobility and microclimate moderation. The results imply that urban and suburban neighborhoods experience significant disparities in terms of socioenvironmental benefits provided by UGSV, and the assessment of how and where the inequity occurs varies with green measures and applications. UGSV relates closely to the long-term sustainability of active travel and thermal environment, while the benefits are likely to be spatially and socially limited to certain groups, requiring targeted planning interventions. This dissertation highlights the importance of a multidisciplinary understanding of `greenness' in urban areas, suggesting that divergent understandings in different fields should be integrated to formulate a coherent strategy for green infrastructure planning.

Committee: Jean-Michel Guldmann (Advisor); Gulsah Akar (Advisor); Desheng Liu (Committee Member) Subjects: Urban Planning

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), University of Dayton, 2018, Electro-Optics

As an optical beam propagates over near-horizontal paths the beam will be scattered, absorbed or distorted due to the motion and characteristics of atmospheric components. The main characteristic of the atmosphere that results in significant distortion to the propagating optical beam is atmospheric turbulence. Solar heating causes convective currents and random changes of the refractive index. In addition to the atmospheric turbulence, refractivity will change the beam's trajectory as it propagates through the atmosphere. Mirages are a well-known example of visible light refraction due to the atmosphere. In this study we will consider turbulence-induced negative effects on optical beam wavefront phase and introduce a novel sensor for optical field and/or wavefront phase reconstruction. Since the optical field amplitude, equivalent to the square root of intensity, is directly measurable, the wavefront phase is the most challenging to accurately measure as it must be indirectly reconstructed from one or more intensity measurements. Considerable efforts have been made to reconstruct the wavefront phaseand subsequently mitigate the wavefront phase error for applications such as adaptive optics (AO). However, the operational range of current wavefront sensors (WFSs) is limited to weak and moderate turbulence conditions. A multi-aperture complex field (MACF) sensor based on an array of densely packed Zernike-type phase contrast filters is introduced and analyzed using wave-optics numerical simulations. The MACF sensor doesn't require a coherent reference wave for complex field (wavefront phase and amplitude) reconstruction from the measurements that are performed using pupil and output-plane photo-arrays. It is shown in this study that for solely wavefront phase retrieval only a single output-plane photo-array can be utilized. Different MACF sensor optical configurations and phase retrieval algorithms are considered and optimized to improve computational efficiency a (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Mikhail Vorontsov (Committee Chair); Partha Banerjee (Committee Member); Thomas Weyrauch (Committee Member) Subjects: Engineering; Optics

PhD, University of Cincinnati, 2015, Arts and Sciences: Chemistry

Materials at nanoscale are finding manifold applications in the various fields like sensing, plasmonics, therapeutics, to mention a few. Large amount of development has taken place regarding synthesis and exploring the novel applications of the various types of nanomaterials like organic, inorganic and hybrid of both. Yet, it is believed that the full potential of different nanomaterials is yet to be fully established stimulating researchers to explore more in the field of nanotechnology. Building on the same premise, in the following studies we have developed the nanomaterials in the class of optically active nanoparticles. First part of the study we have successfully designed, synthesized, and characterized Ag-Fe3O4 nanocomposite substrate for potential applications in quantitative Surface Enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS) measurements. Quantitative SERS-based detection of dopamine was performed successfully. In subsequent study, facile, single-step synthesis of polyethyleneimine (PEI) coated lanthanide based NaYF4 (Yb, Er) nanoparticles was developed and their application as potential photodynamic therapy agent was studied using excitations by light in near infra-red and visible region. In the following and last study, synthesis and characterization of the conjugated polymer nanoparticles was attempted successfully. Functionalization of the conjugated nanoparticles, which is a bottleneck for their potential applications, was successfully performed by encapsulating them in the silica nanoparticles, surface of which was then functionalized by amine group. Three types of optically active nanoparticles were developed for potential applications in sensing, therapeutics and imaging.

Committee: Peng Zhang Ph.D. (Committee Chair); Joseph Caruso Ph.D. (Committee Member); William Connick Ph.D. (Committee Member) Subjects: Nanotechnology

Doctor of Philosophy, The Ohio State University, 2013, Electrical and Computer Engineering

Automobile safety system has received tremendous attention in the past few years. Radar used in such system must be capable of detecting not only other vehicles but also pedestrian. Automobile radar working at 24GHz has been used in blind-spot detection (BSD) and automatic cruise control (ACC) system to track the distance and relative speed of on-road object. However, existing radars are limited to short detection range (30m) and low spatial resolution, making them less useful for pedestrian detection. A new frequency band 76-77GHz, recently designated by the Federal Communication Commission (FCC), the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) in Europe, and the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) in Japan for vehicular radar. At such high frequencies, a longer detection range (100m-150m) and better resolution can be achieved. As such, it will enable more reliable detection of pedestrians in front of vehicles with lower false alarm rate. In on-road environment, multiple radar reflections may be generated from clutters like trees, trash cans, road surface, curbs and other vehicles. Therefore, it is necessary to identify unique pedestrian radar signatures in the 76-77GHz band to help discriminate them from clutters. Experimental characterization of radar response of human targets at such high frequencies is not trivial and often inaccurate due to extremely short wavelength which makes radar measurement very sensitive to uncertainties associated with body position, orientation, and breathing motion. The variations produced by these uncertainties severely affect the reliability of the radar features extracted from measurement. In addition, the almost infinite combination of clothes, accessories and body postures significantly increase the time and resource required by this approach. In this dissertation, analysing pedestrian radar signatures in the 76-77GHz band via numerical simulations is proposed to overcome the issues with measurements. (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Chi-Chih Chen (Advisor); John Volakis (Advisor); Baker Christopher (Committee Member); Olli Tuovinen (Committee Member) Subjects: Electrical Engineering; Electromagnetism

Master of Science in Engineering (MSEgr), Wright State University, 2012, Electrical Engineering

Ground and marine based acoustic arrays are currently employed in a variety of military and civilian applications for the purpose of locating and identifying sources of interest. An airborne acoustic array could perform an identical role, while providing the ability to cover a larger area and pursue a target. In order to implement such a system, steps must be taken to attenuate environmental noise that interferes with the signal of interest. In this thesis, we discuss the noise sources present in an airborne environment, present currently available methods for mitigation of these sources, and propose the use of adaptive noise cancellation techniques for removal of unwanted wind and engine noise. The least mean squares, affine projection, and extended recursive least squares algorithms are tested on recordings made aboard an airplane in-flight, and the results are presented. The algorithms provide upwards of 37dB of noise cancellation, and are able to filter the noise from a chirp with a signal to noise ratio of -20db with minimal mean square error. The experiment demonstrates that adaptive noise cancellation techniques are an effective method of suppressing unwanted acoustic noise in an airborne environment, but due to the complexity of the environment more sophisticated algorithms may be warranted.

Committee: Brian Rigling PhD (Committee Chair); Kefu Xue PhD (Committee Member); Fred Garber PhD (Committee Member) Subjects: Acoustics; Aerospace Engineering; Applied Mathematics; Electrical Engineering; Engineering; Remote Sensing

MS, University of Cincinnati, 2006, Engineering : Mechanical Engineering

The United States economy is heavily dependent upon a vast network of pipeline systems to transport and distribute the nation's energy resources. As this network of pipelines continues to age, monitoring and maintaining its structural integrity remains essential to the nation's energy interests. Numerous pipeline accidents over the past several years have resulted in hundreds of fatalities and billions of dollars in property damages. These accidents show that the current monitoring methods are not sufficient and leave a considerable margin for improvement. To avoid such catastrophes, more thorough methods are needed. As a solution, the research of this thesis proposes a structural health monitoring (SHM) system for pipeline networks. By implementing a SHM system with pipelines, their structural integrity can be continuously monitored, reducing the overall risks and costs associated with current methods. The proposed SHM system relies upon the deployment of macro fiber composite (MFC) patches for the sensor array. Because MFC patches are flexible and resilient, they can be permanently mounted to the curved surface of a pipeline's main body. From this location, the MFC patches are used to monitor the structural integrity of the entire pipeline. Two damage detection techniques, guided wave and impedance methods, were implemented as part of the proposed SHM system. However, both techniques utilize the same MFC patches. This dual use of the MFC patches enables the proposed SHM system to require only a single sensor array. The presented Lamb wave methods demonstrated the ability to correctly identify and locate the presence of damage in the main body of the pipeline system, including simulated cracks and actual corrosion damage. The presented impedance methods demonstrated the ability to correctly identify and locate the presence of damage in the flanged joints of the pipeline system, including the loosening of bolts on the flanges. In addition to damage to the actual pip (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Dr. Randall Allemang (Advisor) Subjects: Engineering, Mechanical