Online Supplement to ‘Myopic Allocation Policy with Asymptotically Optimal Sampling Rate’

This document is the Online Supplement to ‘Myopic Allocation Policy with Asymptotically Optimal Sampling Rate,’ to be published in the IEEE Transactions of Automatic Control in 2017.

Teste Apercetivo Temático Aeronáutico

O Teste Apercetivo Temático Aeronáutico (TAT-AERO) é um teste projetivo utilizado na Força Aérea Portuguesa (FA) na avaliação psicológica prévia ao Programa de Dessensibilização do Enjoo Aeronáutico (PDEA). A presente investigação, norteada para o estudo do TAT-AERO aplicado ao PDEA, foi desenvolvida com recurso à metodologia de investigação qualitativa assente num método hipotético-dedutivo e num desenho de pesquisa comparativo. Tendo como pergunta de partida (PP) “Que aspetos do funcionamento emocional salientam as respostas dos protocolos TAT-AERO dos alunos de pilotagem que realizaram o PDEA e dos alunos de pilotagem sem sintomatologia ligada ao enjoo aeronáutico?”, passou pela aplicação do TAT-AERO a dois grupos de alunos de pilotagem. Em concreto, a um grupo que não apresentou sintomatologia ligada ao enjoo aeronáutico e a um outro grupo que, por ter apresentado esta sintomatologia, havia realizado o PDEA. Os dados obtidos da comparação dos protocolos destes dois grupos, revelaram a existência de diferenças entre os dois grupos de alunos de pilotagem (sem sintomatologia ligada ao enjoo aeronáutico e que haviam realizado o PDEA), em concreto na forma como lidam com a temática da morte, o conflito familiar e o seu distanciamento em relação à história que relatam. Abstract: The Thematic Apperception Aeronautical Test ( TAT- AERO ) is a projective test used in Portuguese Air Force in the previous psychological evaluation to Desensitization Program for Airsickness ( PDEA ). In present investigation, guided for the study of the TAT- AERO applied to PDEA, the research was developed using the qualitative research methodology based on a hypothetical-deductive method, the research design was comparative. The investigation had the departure question (PP) " What aspects of emotional functioning stress responses of TAT- AERO protocols of pilotage students who performed the PDEA and pilot students without symptoms linked to airsickness?" The TAT-AERO was applied to a group of pilot students have shown no symptoms linked to airsickness, and the respective protocols such as the protocols of pilotage students who performed the PDEA were compared in order to assess any specific each of the groups. The data revealed that there are differences between the two groups of students (without symptoms linked to airsickness and performed the PDEA) in the way they deal with the theme of death, family conflict and distancing itself from the story reported.

Gestão Técnica Centralizada em Edifícios da Força Aérea

A investigação centra-se na aplicação da Gestão Técnica Centralizada como instrumento para a melhoria da eficiência energética dos edifícios e infraestruturas da Força Aérea Portuguesa e diminuição de pessoal afeto à sua manutenção, tendo por base, dois casos de estudo, o edifício QC12 do Centro de Formação Militar e Técnica da Força Aérea e o ECOTERMOLAB, pertencente ao Instituto de Soldadura e Qualidade. Da análise desenvolvida conclui-se que o funcionamento dos edifícios ECOTERMOLAB e QC12, com controlo por GTC, representam anualmente uma diminuição de consumo energético em 30% e 44% respetivamente e, uma redução de 50% nos recursos humanos afetos à instalação do QC12. Da viabilidade económica obtiveram-se as métricas de Valor Atual Líquido e a Taxa Interna de Rentabilidade positivos e um Período de Recuperação do Investimento, de 11,5 anos para ECOTERMOLAB e 10,7 anos para QC12. Por fim, teceram-se algumas recomendações, dirigidas à Força Aérea Portuguesa, com o intento de melhorar a eficiência energética elétrica e a redução de recursos humanos afetos. Abstract: The research is focused in the application of the Centered Technique Management as an instrument to improve the Portuguese Air Force buildings and infrastructures’ energetic efficiency and to reduce the staff in charge of its maintenance, based on two study cases, QC 12 building in The Air Force Military and Technique Training Center and ECOTERMOLAB, which belongs to Instituto de Soldadura e Qualidade (Quality and Welding Institute). From the analysis, one can conclude that the functioning of the ECOTERMOLAB and QC12 buildings, with GTC control, represents an annual consumption of less 30% and 44% respectively and a 50% reduction in the human resources of the QC 12. From the economical viability, it was possible to get the figures of the Net Present Value and the Internal Rate of Return and a Period of Return on Investment of 11,5 years for ECOTERMOLAB and 10,7 years for QC 12. Finally, some recommendations to the Portuguese Air Force were made, aiming the improvement of the electrical energetic efficiency and a reduction in human resources.

Why are some cyano-based ionic liquids better glucose solvents than water?

Among different classes of ionic liquids (ILs), those with cyano-based anions have been of special interest due to their low viscosity and enhanced solvation ability for a large variety of compounds. Experimental results from this work reveal that the solubility of glucose in some of these ionic liquids may be higher than in water – a well-known solvent with enhanced capacity to dissolve mono- and disaccharides. This raises questions on the ability of cyano groups to establish strong hydrogen bonds with carbohydrates and on the optimal number of cyano groups at the IL anion that maximizes the solubility of glucose. In addition to experimental solubility data, these questions are addressed in this study using a combination of density functional theory (DFT) and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. Through the calculation of the number of hydrogen bonds, coordination numbers, energies of interaction and radial and spatial distribution functions, it was possible to explain the experimental results and to show that the ability to favorably interact with glucose is driven by the polarity of each IL anion, with the optimal anion being dicyanamide.

Validação de uma bateria de provas de selecção de candidatos à classe de praças da força aérea

Dissertação de Mestrado apresentada ao Instituto Superior de Psicologia Aplicada para obtenção de grau de Mestre na especialidade de Psicologia Social e das Organizações.

Copies of military records from National Personnel Records Center

This document shows fees that the Veterans Administration charges for copies of military records.

Efectos de una intervención educativa en los conocimientos y prácticas de los estilos de vida saludables para la prevención del cáncer de seno en estudiantes mujeres de un colegio público de la localidad de Ciudad Bolívar en Bogotá, Colombia

Objetivo: Evaluar los efectos de una intervención educativa en la práctica del autoexamen de seno, los conocimientos y práctica de los estilos de vida saludables para la prevención del cáncer de seno en estudiantes mujeres de un colegio público de la localidad de Ciudad Bolívar en Bogotá, Colombia. Materiales y métodos: Estudio de intervención, antes y después, no controlado en un periodo de seis meses con la participación de mujeres jóvenes estudiantes entre 10 y 20 años de edad. Se contemplaron cinco momentos metodológicos ejecutados en los meses de febrero en el cual se realizó la aplicación del cuestionario auto-diligenciado; de marzo en el cual las estudiantes recibieron una sesión educativa de 90 minutos y una de 60 minutos, soportadas con material audiovisual y folletos informativos. Se realizó el seguimiento prospectivo para la toma de datos en uno, tres y seis meses post-intervención. Conclusiones: 155 estudiantes fueron encuestadas. La prevalencia de práctica del autoexamen de seno fue de 78,1% (n=121). Se evidenció un cambio significativo en el conocimiento de la técnica y la práctica del autoexamen de seno, así como aumentos significativos en los conocimientos de los principales factores de riesgo para el cáncer de mama (p<,0001). En cuanto a los estilos de vida, las estudiantes mejoraron de manera significativa la práctica regular de actividad física con más de 150 minutos semanales a los 6 meses post-intervención. Conclusión: Una intervención educativa puede mejorar los conocimientos acerca de los factores de riesgo para cáncer de mama, la práctica del autoexamen de seno y los estilos de vida en mujeres jóvenes estudiantes de una localidad de bajo nivel socio-económico en Bogotá, Colombia. Estudios experimentales de alta calidad son requeridos.

Efectos de una intervención educativa en la promoción de la actividad física, otros comportamientos saludables y los conocimientos para la prevención del cáncer de pulmón en jóvenes del colegio La Merced en Bogotá D.C., Colombia

Introducción: El cáncer de pulmón es el tipo de cáncer más mortal a nivel mundial, al cual se atribuyen una de cada cinco muertes anualmente. El objetivo de este estudio fue determinar los efectos de una intervención educativa en la promoción de la actividad física, otros comportamientos saludables y los conocimientos para la prevención del cáncer de pulmón en jóvenes estudiantes de una institución educativa pública en Bogotá, Colombia. Métodos: Estudio experimental no controlado en 243 estudiantes de sexo femenino (Edad 14±1,5 años). La intervención educativa se desarrolló en tres momentos: una sesión educativa con una duración de 60 minutos acorde a la Guía para la Comunicación Educativa en el Marco del Control del Cáncer, en Colombia. Segundo, se enviaron tres correos electrónicos con información acerca del cáncer pulmonar; finalmente se desarrollaron actividades grupales. Para la toma de datos se utilizaron el cuestionario Cáncer Awareness Measure (CAM) y el Sistema de Vigilancia de Factores de Riesgo del Comportamiento (BRFSS). La evaluación se realizó en un período de seguimiento a 1, 3 y 6 meses post-intervención. Resultados: La intervención educativa incrementó significativamente los conocimientos de las jóvenes sobre los signos de alarma del cáncer pulmonar y los principales factores de riesgo modificables, tales como el consumo de cigarrillo, la exposición al humo del mismo y el sedentarismo, al sexto mes post-intervención. Las mejoras en el cambio comportamental no lograron significancia estadística. Conclusiones: Una intervención educativa mejora los conocimientos acerca de la detección temprana y la prevención del cáncer de pulmón, así como los comportamientos saludables en jóvenes estudiantes en Bogotá, Colombia. Se requiere de estudios controlados aleatorizados.

Control of aircraft for inspection of linear infrastructure

Inspection aircraft equipped with cameras and other sensors are routinely used for asset location, inspection, monitoring and hazard identification of oil-gas pipelines, roads, bridges and power transmission grids. This paper is concerned with automated flight of fixed-wing inspection aircraft to track approximately linear infrastructure. We propose a guidance law approach that seeks to maintain aircraft trajectories with desirable position and orientation properties relative to the infrastructure under inspection. Furthermore, this paper also proposes the use of an adaptive maneuver selection approach, in which maneuver primitives are adaptively selected to improve the aircraft’s attitude behaviour. We employ an integrated design methodology particularly suited for an automated inspection aircraft. Simulation studies using full nonlinear semi-coupled six degree-of-freedom equations of motion are used to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed guidance and adaptive maneuver selection approaches in realistic flight conditions. Experimental flight test results are given to demonstrate the performance of the design.

Development of an autonomous helicopter for aerial powerline inspections

Autonomous mini-helicopters have been seen as a viable option for aerial-based powerline inspections, however there are numerous research and engineering challenges in developing a system capable of achieving this task in a dependable manner. We have developed an autonomous helicopter as a research platform which will allow us to demonstrate proof-of-concept capabilities for powerline inspections. Through numerous development cycles and from flight test experience we have gained insights into the key challenges in this area. We discuss these insights, describe the helicopter platform and present our research progress in the area of obstacle avoidance for mini-helicopters.

Detection versus false alarm characterisation of a vision-based airborne dim-target collision detection system

This paper presents a preliminary flight test based detection range versus false alarm performance characterisation of a morphological-hidden Markov model filtering approach to vision-based airborne dim-target collision detection. On the basis of compelling in-flight collision scenario data, we calculate system operating characteristic (SOC) curves that concisely illustrate the detection range versus false alarm rate performance design trade-offs. These preliminary SOC curves provide a more complete dim-target detection performance description than previous studies (due to the experimental difficulties involved, previous studies have been limited to very short flight data sample sets and hence have not been able to quantify false alarm behaviour). The preliminary investigation here is based on data collected from 4 controlled collision encounters and supporting non-target flight data. This study suggests head-on detection ranges of approximately 2.22 km under blue sky background conditions (1.26 km in cluttered background conditions), whilst experiencing false alarms at a rate less than 1.7 false alarms/hour (ie. less than once every 36 minutes). Further data collection is currently in progress.

Experimental validation of an unpowered unmanned aerial system : application to forced landing scenarios

The ability to perform autonomous emergency (forced) landings is one of the key technology enablers identified for UAS. This paper presents the flight test results of forced landings involving a UAS, in a controlled environment, and which was conducted to ascertain the performances of previously developed (and published) path planning and guidance algorithms. These novel 3-D nonlinear algorithms have been designed to control the vehicle in both the lateral and longitudinal planes of motion. These algorithms have hitherto been verified in simulation. A modified Boomerang 60 RC aircraft is used as the flight test platform, with associated onboard and ground support equipment sourced Off-the-Shelf or developed in-house at the Australian Research Centre for Aerospace Automation(ARCAA). HITL simulations were conducted prior to the flight tests and displayed good landing performance, however, due to certain identified interfacing errors, the flight results differed from that obtained in simulation. This paper details the lessons learnt and presents a plausible solution for the way forward.

Quadcopter see and avoid using a fuzzy controller

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) industry is a fast growing sector. Nowadays, the market offers numerous possibilities for off-the-shelf UAVs such as quadrotors or fixed-wings. Until UAVs demonstrate advance capabilities such as autonomous collision avoidance they will be segregated and restricted to flight in controlled environments. This work presents a visual fuzzy servoing system for obstacle avoidance using UAVs. To accomplish this task we used the visual information from the front camera. Images are processed off-board and the result send to the Fuzzy Logic controller which then send commands to modify the orientation of the aircraft. Results from flight test are presented with a commercial off-the-shelf platform.

Field-of-view, detection range, and false alarm trade-offs in vision-based aircraft detection

This paper presents a survey of previously presented vision based aircraft detection flight test, and then presents new flight test results examining the impact of camera field-of view choice on the detection range and false alarm rate characteristics of a vision-based aircraft detection technique. Using data collected from approaching aircraft, we examine the impact of camera fieldof-view choice and confirm that, when aiming for similar levels of detection confidence, an improvement in detection range can be obtained by choosing a smaller effective field-of-view (in terms of degrees per pixel).

Fusion of morphological images for airborne target detection

Several track-before-detection approaches for image based aircraft detection have recently been examined in an important automated aircraft collision detection application. A particularly popular approach is a two stage processing paradigm which involves: a morphological spatial filter stage (which aims to emphasize the visual characteristics of targets) followed by a temporal or track filter stage (which aims to emphasize the temporal characteristics of targets). In this paper, we proposed new spot detection techniques for this two stage processing paradigm that fuse together raw and morphological images or fuse together various different morphological images (we call these approaches morphological reinforcement). On the basis of flight test data, the proposed morphological reinforcement operations are shown to offer superior signal to-noise characteristics when compared to standard spatial filter options (such as the close-minus-open and adaptive contour morphological operations). However, system operation characterised curves, which examine detection verses false alarm characteristics after both processing stages, illustrate that system performance is very data dependent.