This research examines standardizing a method for the
rapid/semi-automated identification of microbial contaminates. It
introduces a method suited to test for food/water contamination, serology, urinalysis and saliva testing for any >1 micron
sized molecule that can be effectively bound to an identifying marker with exclusivity. This optical biosensor method
seeks to integrate the semi-manual distribution of a collected sample onto a "transparent" substrate array of binding sites
that will then be applied to a standard optical data disk and run for analysis. The detection of most microbe species is
possible in this platform because the relative scale is greater than the resolution of the standard-scale digital information
on a standard CD or DVD.
This paper explains the critical first stage in the advance of this detection concept. This work has concentrated on
developing the necessary software component needed to perform highly sensitive small-scale recognition using the
standard optical disk as a detection platform. Physical testing has made significant progress in demonstrating the ability
to utilize a standard optical drive for the purposes of micro-scale detection through the exploitation of CIRC error
correction. Testing has also shown a definable trend in the optimum scale and geometry of micro-arrayed attachment
sites for the technology's concept to reach achievement.
An increase in demand for computing power in academia has necessitated the need for high performance machines.
Computing power of a single processor has been steadily increasing, but lags behind the demand for fast simulations.
Since a single processor has hard limits to its performance, a cluster of computers can have the ability to multiply the
performance of a single computer with the proper software. Cluster computing has therefore become a much sought after
technology. Typical desktop computers could be used for cluster computing, but are not intended for constant full speed
operation and take up more space than rack mount servers. Specialty computers that are designed to be used in clusters
meet high availability and space requirements, but can be costly. A market segment exists where custom built desktop
computers can be arranged in a rack mount situation, gaining the space saving of traditional rack mount computers while
remaining cost effective. To explore these possibilities, an experiment was performed to develop a computing cluster
using desktop components for the purpose of decreasing computation time of advanced simulations. This study indicates
that small-scale cluster can be built from off-the-shelf components which multiplies the performance of a single desktop
machine, while minimizing occupied space and still remaining cost effective.
Project Oculus, an ongoing research platform for deploying airborne sensors on a C-130 aircraft, is currently in its pre-flight testing phase. The sensor platform is divided into two systems that rest on standard 463L pallets; a sensor deployment pallet and an operator station. The sensor pallet consists of a deployment arm and a pod, which can contain various sensors. The operator station houses power control equipment, data acquisition, and operators who control the sensors.
Oculus is designed to fly on a C-130 aircraft, which has very high internal audible noise. Although Oculus' operator station contains noise-deadening material, a headset intercommunication system needs to be designed. This system must comply with different headset standards, communicate with the C-130 intercom, and be expandable to accommodate various audio sources like radios and satellites receivers.
Throughout the years, intercom systems and headsets have evolved from the original standard consisting of an impedance rating of a speaker and a microphone. Early intercom systems were highly limited in functionality and quality due to simple electronics and common grounding. Advances in electronics allowed for the evolution of headset standards and intercom equipment, which permitted a multitude of new configurations and improved sound quality. With these advances, multiple headset standards and intercom interfaces have become popular among the military and civilian aviation.
Due to the different standards for headsets, impedance matching plays a major role in the design of an intercom system. Oculus is a multi-mission platform and therefore must be designed to support a variety of standards including civilian and military headsets. This paper outlines the intercom units and parts considered for use in Oculus, and a design criteria for an extendable intercom system for Oculus.
This paper presents a test of a vision system's capability to measure consistently the color of blotches and other distinctly colored regions on a flat surface. The system consists of an off-the-shelf color camera, a color-corrected halogen illumination source, and a personal computer equipped with a frame grabber. Correction algorithms to compensate for spatial variations in illumination and sensitivity differences between pixels and the RGB channels are employed along with a calibration procedure to assure consistent measurements of the differently colored regions over a number of samples. A custom conversion of RGB to XYZ color space based on a linear-least squares fit within a certain portion of the color space was also explored to determine its suitability.
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