http://hdl.handle.net/2104/4771 Sat, 18 May 2013 14:41:21 GMT 2013-05-18T14:41:21Z http://hdl.handle.net/2104/8601 Side lobe modulation of radar antenna pattern utilizing an auxiliary array. Wang, Loria LayShay. In the area of electronic countermeasures, disabling the ability of an individual to “listen” to the transmitted waveform is of great interest. Most often, an individual can intercept the transmitted radar signal through the side lobes of the transmitted radiation pattern. Reducing these transmitter side lobes may eliminate the ability of unauthorized listeners to intercept a transmitted signal. Most traditional radar systems utilize antennas that do not possess the capability of shaping the transmitted radiation pattern. Instead of replacing the existing radar antenna with large adaptive arrays, the combination of the existing system with an auxiliary low cost array will extend the system capability to include techniques such as side lobe modulation, cancellation, and adaptive beam forming. Wed, 15 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/2104/8601 2013-05-15T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2104/8600 Accelerating path planning algorithms with high level synthesis tools and FPGAs. Trower, John W. Accelerating path planning algorithms with field programmable gate arrays (FPGA) allows the designer to achieve significant performance increases over using a traditional central processing unit (CPU). Converting an algorithm to run on an FPGA is a complicated and time consuming process. This thesis develops and verifies a design framework that demonstrates how to design a path planning algorithm in a high level language, then convert the algorithm into hardware description languages using high level synthesis tools. This design framework will be used to demonstrate the acceleration of a genetic algorithm. Wed, 15 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/2104/8600 2013-05-15T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2104/8585 Adaptive load impedance optimization for power amplifiers in reconfigurable radar transmitters. Martin, Joshua Lee. A fundamental tradeoff exists in radar transmitter design between linearity and efficiency due to the signal amplification. These transmitters are driven into saturation in order to increase efficiency, but may potentially violate regulatory spectral mask limitations. An adaptive method for optimizing linearity and efficiency for power amplifiers in radar transmitters is presented. This approach uses intelligent search techniques with load-pull measurements for power-added efficiency (PAE) and adjacent channel power ratio (ACPR) to dynamically maximize the PAE while meeting spectral requirements. Using load-tuning, an algorithm performs a steepest ascent search for the PAE optimum load reflection coefficient, followed by a steepest descent search for ACPR. The steepest descent search, when begun at the PAE optimum, approximates the Pareto optimal frontier between the two objectives. This trace enables PAE to be maximized for an imposed limit on ACPR, optimizing the performance of adaptive radar transmitters under spectral mask constraints. Wed, 15 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/2104/8585 2013-05-15T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2104/8545 Development and implementation of a Multi-Agent Control System for the Rankine Cycler Laboratory Teaching System. Gomes, Jason. One challenge faced by the engineering discipline in the near future is increased electric power demand coupled with greater efficiency requirements for power generation stations. Development of more robust control systems capable of supporting larger power plants with more adaptable control schemes is one solution to the problem. A Multi-Agent Control System is a type of coordinated control scheme capable of multiple parallel operations using several elements, or agents, communicating over a network. This thesis discusses the development and implementation of a Multi-Agent Control System on a small laboratory power generation plant. Thu, 29 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/2104/8545 2012-11-29T00:00:00Z