Thesis (M.S. in Operations Research)--Naval Postgraduate School, June 2009. / Thesis Advisor(s): Brown, Gerald ; Carlyle, Matthew. "June 2009." Description based on title screen as viewed on July 13, 2009. Author(s) subject terms: optimization, math programming, helicopter planning, assault support. Includes bibliographical references (p. 41). Also available in print.

Thesis (M.B.A.)--Naval Postgraduate School, March 2004. / "MBA professional report"--Cover. Joint authors: Jacek W. Brzezinski, John C. Calhoun, Mark T. Stiner. Thesis advisor(s): Thomas Crouch, Keith Snider. Includes bibliographical references (p. 89-93). Also available online.

Thesis (M.S. in Computer Science)--Naval Postgraduate School, 2004. / Thesis Advisor(s): Rudolph Darken, Joseph A. Sullivan. Includes bibliographical references (p. 91-93). Also available online.

Thesis (M.S. in Joint Campaign Planning and Strategy)--Joint Forces Staff College, Joint Advanced Warfighting School, 2005. / "13 May 05." Electronic version of original print document. Includes bibliographical references (p. [65-67]).

Project report (M. Eng.)--Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 1990. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 144-148). Also available via the Internet.

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The results of this research indicate that continuous, variable rotor speed control is a viable solution to increased helicopter maneuverability and agility. Of the rotor speed control laws investigated, the RCDR and T (RC) types seem the most promising. In particular, these control laws demonstrated a 31% improvement in time-to-turn 180 degrees, a 38% improvement in turn penetration distance, a 42% improvement in turn cross track distance, and a pointing margin advantage of nearly 94 degrees. In addition, the rotor speed control law parameters could be optimized such that the helicopter exited a maximum performance decelerating turn at or above its power bucket speed, affording the helicopter a distinct maneuvering advantage. It was also shown that different rotor speed control laws would most likely be required for the air combat and ground attack mission scenarios. The author feels that successful variable rotor speed control can be achieved through an appropriate marriage of FADEC engine control and high performance flight control systems. But numerous questions remain relative to the successful integration of this technology to existing and/or future helicopter designs, (addressed in the Recommendations for Future Research section). Nevertheless, this technology shows considerable promise and it is hoped that this study will be a stepping stone to future investigations in this area. / Master of Engineering

The requirement for low-level navigation flight conducted between 200 and 500 feet above ground level is something unique to the military helicopter pilot. Each novice helicopter pilot is introduced to this skill early and in a limited number of flights or flight hours. A low situational awareness (SA)is historically noted among the novice pilots during their first few flights within this flight regime. To that end, this thesis continues with the work conducted earlier to develop a trainer that places the pilot in an immersive and familiar cockpit environment for training through the use of chromakeyed technology as employed in the Virtual Environment Helicopter System (VEHELO). The pilot will then be able to learn and exercise required piloting tasks and multi-place aircraft communications as authentically and as meticulously as in actual flight. The focus of this thesis is to continue validation of the ChrAVE/VEHELO system. This will be accomplished by comparison of data obtained from data collected by pilots flying the ChrAVE and flying the actual aircraft during initial navigational training flights. Additionally this thesis will attempt to show that the latest version of the system has a previously unrecognized ability to improve pilot performance. The system is capable of teaching novice pilots the important skill of Crew Resource Management (CRM) and the appropriate communication skills. The original Chromakey Augmented Virtual Environment (ChrAVE) helicopter flight simulation system was developed to substantiate the feasibility of having embedded trainers for helicopters. Both the ChrAVE and VEHELO are comprised of commercial off the shelf (COTS) equipment in a mobile wheeled box. To determine the effectiveness of the ChrAVE as an instructional tool, the opinions of pilots and pilot instructors will be collected for analysis. The subject pilots will be tasked with numerous realistic piloting tasks. Empirical data will be collected and evaluated according to the low-level navigation performance thresholds set forth by Marine Medium Helicopter Training Squadron 164 (HMMT- 164) which is the CH-46E Model Manager. / US Marine Corps (USMC) author.

Thesis (M.S. in Computer Science)--Naval Postgraduate School, June 2004. / Thesis advisor(s): Rudolph Darken, Joseph A. Sullivan. Includes bibliographical references (p. 103-104). Also available online.