Systems Engineering Capstone Project Reports

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Systems Engineering Capstone Project Reports

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Systems Engineering (SE)

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AN INVESTIGATION OF MEDEVAC AIR CREW COGNITIVE WORKLOAD: USING IMPRINT TO ASSESS THE IMPACT OF MODEL GRANULARITY AND AUTOMATION
(Monterey, CA; Naval Postgraduate School, 2023-06) Brooks, Matthew; Chiu, Wilson; Forsythe, Austin Jr.; Keel, Lindsay E.; Shattuck, Lawrence G.; Nicholson, Matthew C.; Systems Engineering (SE)
The Army Future Vertical Lift (FVL) program is developing a new generation of helicopters. The Holistic Situational Awareness–Decision Making (HSA-DM) project supports the FVL program by investigating technologies that can aid in designing, developing, and integrating systems aimed at managing the cognitive workload of pilots. This study aims to determine how a model’s granularity and the automation of certain tasks affects the pilot and co-pilot’s cognitive workloads. Cognitive walkthroughs and interviews were conducted with five military helicopter pilots to elicit task workload values. An existing Improved Performance Research Integration Tool (IMPRINT) model from a previous study was modified by increasing its granularity, then both models were altered by automating selective tasks, resulting in four distinct models. Each model was run ten times. Average cognitive workload and workload spikes were analyzed for both the pilot and co-pilot. The average cognitive workload was highest for the pilot in the more granular model as greater model granularity contributed to higher spikes. Automation added to the more granular model resulted in the greatest reduction of pilot workload. This analysis establishes a repeatable framework for future studies.
SEABED WARFARE AND THE XLUUV
(Monterey, CA; Naval Postgraduate School, 2018-06) Carr, Christopher J.; Franco, Jahdiel; Mierzwa, Cheryl; Shattuck IV,Lewis B.; Suursoo, Melissa A.; Williams, Richard D. III; Paulo, Eugene P.; Beery, Paul T.; Systems Engineering (SE); Systems Engineering (SE); Systems Engineering (SE); Systems Engineering (SE); Systems Engineering (SE); 311-164S Team Leviathan
Seabed warfare is quickly becoming one of the most important new research areas for the U.S. Navy. Defining seabed warfare is a challenge being faced by many as research continues in this new and innovative field. The problem of developing a concept of operations for performing seabed warfare operating in both offensive and defensive environments is becoming increasingly important as the need to complete kill chains without placing high-value assets at risk rises. With the introduction of the new Extra-Large Unmanned Undersea Vehicle (XLUUV), there is an interest to determine the utility of the XLUUV in performing seabed warfare. There are many potential capabilities to unlock within the seabed warfare field. This report takes the concept of kill box, a three-dimensional area used to facilitate the integration of coordinated joint weapons fire, and applies it to a new domain: undersea. The kill box includes seabed sensors; intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) devices; and effects devices. This paper provides a concept of operations for seabed warfare in an undersea kill box with simulation results to determine the utility of the XLUUV.
VALIDATION OF ARCHITECTURE MODELS FOR COORDINATION OF UNMANNED AIR AND GROUND VEHICLES VIA EXPERIMENTATION
(Monterey, CA; Naval Postgraduate School, 2018-06) Middleton, Wyatt T.; Miller, Gregory A.; Pollman, Anthony G.; Systems Engineering (SE); Jordan, Albert L.
This thesis presents a model-based systems engineering methodology for employing architecture in system analysis (MBSE MEASA) for the cooperation of cross-domain unmanned vehicles conducting humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HA/DR). The comprehensive architecture description developed in this paper uses Systems Modeling Language (SysML), which supports the assessment of system requirements for systems engineering. It also uses the Department of Defense Architectural Framework (DoDAF) to expand on the utility of the MEASA methodology, providing an additional level of detail for analyzing collaborative cross-domain unmanned systems performance. The architecture models focus on the interaction between unmanned air vehicles (UAVs) and unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) and use the relationship of system architecture products and model-based systems engineering analysis to quantify system performance. The applied methodology highlights the feasibility of a UAV-UGV team collaboratively conducting structured, rudimentary tasks in a mission scenario. The result of this research is a validated and executable system architecture for cross-domain collaborative unmanned vehicles. The architecture serves as the conceptual template to guide future research and development of unmanned vehicles.
Mine Safety Detection System (MSDS)
(Monterey, California. Naval Postgraduate School, 2012-09) Ballard, B.; Degnan, T.; Kipp, M.; Johnson, J.; Miller, D.; Minto, M.; Green, John M.; Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Systems Engineering (SE); Burns, Daniel
The search, detection, identification and assessment components of the U.S. Navys organic modular in-stride Mine Countermeasure (MCM) Concept of Operations (CONOPS) have been evaluated for their effectiveness as part of a hypothetical exercise in response to the existence of sea mines placed in the sea lanes of the Strait of Hormuz. The current MCM CONOPS has been shown to be capable of supporting the mine search and detection effort component allocation needs by utilizing two Airborne Mine Countermeasure (AMCM) deployed systems. This adequacy assessment is tenuous. The CONOPS relies heavily upon the Sikorsky MH- 60/S as the sole platform from which the systems operate. This reliance is further compounded by the fact both AMCM systems are not simultaneously compatible on board the MH-60/S. As such, resource availability will challenge the MCM CONOPS as well as the other missions for which the MH-60/S is intended. Additionally, the AMCM CONOPS systems are dependent upon the presence of warfighters in the helicopters above the minefield and as integral participants in the efforts to identify sea mines and to assess their threat level. Model Based System Engineering (MBSE) techniques have been combined with research and stakeholder inputs in an analysis that supports these assertions.m
ARMY CONTRACTING TRAINING AND TASK EXECUTION ANALYSIS
(Monterey, CA; Naval Postgraduate School, 2019-12) Hall, LaToya C.; Kennedy, Johnathan S.; Phillips, Ricardo F., Jr.; Powers, Thomas L.; Sylve, Lesa B.; Dillard, John T.; Semmens, Robert; Systems Engineering (SE); Systems Engineering (SE); Systems Engineering (SE); Systems Engineering (SE); Systems Engineering (SE)
Since 1992, the General Accountability Office placed the DoD contract management on the high-risk list due to the workforce’s lack of training, experience, and education. Their report found that budget constraints in the mid-1990s forced the DoD to reduce the acquisition workforce. The DoD began rebuilding its acquisition workforce in 2009. The Army founded the Army Contract Command (ACC) in 2008 to address issues in the contracting workforce. The ACC developed the 51C Proficiency Guide Assessment in 2010 and replaced the training guidance in 2019 with the 51C Job Aid. The purpose of this research was to identify the training requirements in each contracting environment including home-station, short-duration deployments, and long-duration deployments. This study used 22 of the 29 contract training tasks from the Job Aid and contracting data from the ACC Business Analyst Division to analyze the differences in tasks experienced between contracting environments. We captured the differences in each environment by accounting for the frequency of tasks performed in the environment. We concluded that the tasks performed in each contracting environment with varying frequency. The tasks contracting personnel executed in home-station were significantly different than the tasks they performed in deployment. Our study suggests that Army contracting should consider developing separate training plans that address tasks required to perform in each contracting environment.
PREDICTING WAVE-INDUCED LOADS IN COMPLEX SEAWAYS ON SHALLOWLY SUBMERGED VESSELS
(Monterey, CA; Naval Postgraduate School, 2018-06) Whitmer, Andrew R.; Klamo, Joseph; Systems Engineering (SE); Papoulias, Fotis A.
This thesis analyzes the validity of using linear superposition to accurately predict the forces and moments on a shallowly submerged vessel in a complex seaway. Linear superposition implies that the forces and moments due to the complex seaway are simply the summation of the forces and moments of the single regular waves that combine to create the complex seaway. The forces and moments are measured on a UUV-shaped model in the tow tank with wave making capability at the Naval Postgraduate School with the aid of various data collection processes. First, the forces and moments due to single regular waves are studied. Single regular wave results are then combined to predict what complex waveform loads would be and the accuracy is assessed. The results show that linear superposition is a valid assumption over the wave heights and frequencies tested, especially for wavelengths greater than the length of the submerged body when the submerged depth is twice the diameter of the body.
Advanced Restricted Area Entry Control System (ARAECS)
(Monterey, California: Naval Postgraduate School, 2014-06) Appleton, Robert; Casillas, Jose; Scales, Gregory; Green, Robert; Niehoff, Mellissa; Fitzgerald, David; Ouellette, David; Green, John M.; Burns, Dan; Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Systems Engineering (SE)
The Navy requires a capability for effective and efficient entry control for restricted areas that house critical assets. This thesis describes an Advanced Restricted Area Entry Control System (ARAECS) to meet this requirement. System requirements were obtained from existing governing documentation as well as stakeholder inputs. A functional architecture was developed and then modeled using the Imagine That Inc. ExtendSim tool. Factors affecting ARAECS operation were binned into physical, technology, Concept of Operations (CONOPS), and noise. An Overall Measure of Effectiveness was developed and a Design of Experiments (DOE) was conducted to measure the affects of these factors on ARAECS performance. The two main drivers were minimizing security violations while also maximizing personnel and vehicle throughput. Based on the modeling, an architecture was selected that best met system objectives—this architecture relied on the ability to pre-screen 40% of the workforce based on security clearance and thus subject them to reduced random screening. The architecture was documented using the Vitech CORE tool, and use cases were developed and documented. A test and evaluation plan was developed and discussed. Risk was then examined, including technical, schedule, and cost risks.
VIABILITY OF MEDIUM-SIZED UNMANNED SURFACE VEHICLES TO PROTECT SURFACE ACTION GROUPS AGAINST ANTI-SHIP CRUISE MISSILES
(Monterey, CA; Naval Postgraduate School, 2019-06) Clark, Alex J.; Deascentis, Nathaniel E.; Hammen, Joel M.; Logan, Jonathan P.; Nelson, Layna; Pullen, Kimberly T.; Robertson, Darren B.; Miller, Gregory A.; Dillard, John T.; Systems Engineering (SE); Systems Engineering (SE); Systems Engineering (SE); Systems Engineering (SE); Systems Engineering (SE); Systems Engineering (SE); Systems Engineering (SE)
This report describes equipping medium-sized unmanned surface vehicles and integrating them with surface action groups to improve defense against anti-ship cruise missile threats. Requirements for air search radar, electronic warfare, soft-kill deception countermeasure, surface-to-air missile, and close-in weapons systems are generated and allocated to physical components. Requirements for supporting subsystems, such as an integrated combat system and communications, electrical power, cooling, hydraulics, positioning, navigation, and timing systems, are also identified. The unmanned surface vehicle's ability to extend sensor and weapons coverage for the surface action group is explored via modeling and simulation. The report presents quantitative analysis that employing unmanned surface vehicles equipped with systems to detect anti-ship cruise missile threats and soft-kill and hard-kill threat response options offers surface action groups a defensive advantage against those threats.
THERMODYNAMIC SYSTEM ANALYSIS OF A LIQUID AIR ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEM
(Monterey, CA; Naval Postgraduate School, 2018-06) Howe, Todd A.; Pollman, Anthony G.; Systems Engineering (SE); Paulo, Eugene P.
Renewable energy generation is intermittent, necessitating energy storage subsystems to provide electricity during periods of reduced or no power generation. Liquid air energy storage (LAES) systems, with their high energy density and scalability, are a promising method to store energy for intermittent systems. This thesis presents two independent papers for use in the systems engineering process during the conceptualization and requirements stage of designing and development a LAES system. The first paper is a closed-form method of calculating the compressor work for a modified simple Linde-Hampson system and liquid yield of a binary mixture of nitrogen and oxygen using only their respective pure fluid tables. This tool provides a methodology to check holistically a vast amount of different potential binary mixtures for use in a LAES system. The second paper is an energy and exergy analysis of a LAES system in order to map the trade space and identify optimum operating ranges. Additionally, this paper provides insight in to potential measures of performance and effectiveness of the LAES system. Finally, this thesis presents a valuable Excel add-in tool used to download fluid chemistry tables from the National Institute of Standards and Technology website.
MODELING ENERGY STORAGE REQUIREMENTS FOR HIGH-ENERGY LASERS ON NAVY SHIPS
(Monterey, CA; Naval Postgraduate School, 2018-06) Michnewich, Daniel A.; Blau, Joseph A.; Johnson, Bonnie W.; Systems Engineering (SE); Pollman, Anthony G.
The Navy requires a weapon system that effectively counters swarms of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), anti-ship cruise missiles (ASCMs) and small boats to improve the ship’s self-defense capability. The Navy is studying the efficacy of laser weapon systems against these threat classes as a complement to existing kinetic weapons. While laser weapon systems provide several benefits to Navy ships, they are susceptible to environmental effects and have greater power requirements than available. Therefore, it is necessary to assess energy storage systems to meet these power requirements. This study determined the size of the energy storage system to defeat enemy swarms that threaten the safety of U.S. Navy ships. The study utilized Atmospheric Naval Postgraduate School Code for High Energy Laser Optical Propagation (ANCHOR) and a discrete event model to analytically determine the dwell time a laser weapon system requires for hard kills on ASCM, UAV and fast attack craft/fast inshore attack craft (FAC/FIAC) threats in a variety of operational conditions. This research varied the types of threats and the environmental effects of visibility and air/sea temperature to determine their impact on laser performance. Finally, this study conducted a brief comparison of three different types of energy storage systems that support the results of the model.