Projects of the past
The following is a list of graduate research projects conducted by
NEAR graduate employees or in which has had some involvement.
- "Variations in Control and Display Gain in a First Control Order
Compensatory Manual Tracking Task."
Micah Morris
- The main focus of his thesis involves human tracking performance,
as defined by the adherence of a displayed cursor to a stationary target.
The task is made difficult by the incorporation of various levels of two
phenomena known as control gain and display gain. Control gain involves
the ratio of system input to output, and is easiest described as the
sensitivity of the control device, which is a mouse in the case of this
control task. Display gain is a perceptual phenomenon, which involves
the ratio of displayed output to the amount of input provided by the
control device, and it is being manipulated by varying the size of the
display. The task is also made difficult by the fact that tracking takes
place in a first control order, or what is also called a velocity, system.
In addition, disturbance is incorporated into the task, making it difficult
to keep the cursor in the target.
The findings from Micah's study may be applicable to systems such as
air-to-ground missile systems, as they involve the adherence of a moving
controlled device to a stationary target, and disturbances such as wind gusts
are a factor that the human operator must deal with. Another potential area
of application with this study is in the design of aircraft flight path displays.
Although it is not Micah's intended purpose to be able to say that his results
would allow for direct human performance prediction in such real-world systems,
he would like to be able to say that there is a strong potential for a positive
correlation between the results of his study and the results that one could expect
from a human operating systems such as this, and that they should be designed with
the consideration of the factors that he has studied.
- A Simulation Study to Investigate Runway Capacity Using TAAM
Prakash Subramanian
- This study outlines a method to evaluate runway layouts using simulation, to aid in the
airport planning and decision making process. As a sample study, the maximum throughput
capacities of proposed expansion alternatives at Philadelphia International Airport (PHL),
constrained at varying levels, are identified. The objective is to compare the ultimate airport
capacities achievable for each of the different layouts to estimate their respective efficiencies in
terms of runway system utilization. Given its capabilities for modeling at a very high level of
detail and closely representing reality in terms of applicable separation standards and air traffic
control procedures, TAAM (Total Airspace and Airport Modeller) is used to simulate each
proposed alternative. Using the methodology proposed here, the baseline and the different
alternatives were evaluated in terms of design functionality, sensitivity to technological and
procedural improvements and overall utilization of potential capacity. Results indicate that the
Diagonal concept layouts provide a better alternative, irrespective of the set of constraints on the
airport. read thesis