Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Delaware, 2008. / Principal faculty advisor: Benigno E. Aguirre, Dept. of Sociology & Criminal Justice. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.S. in Defense Analysis)--Naval Postgraduate School, Dec. 2004. / Thesis Advisor(s): Erik Jansen. Includes bibliographical references (p. 91-93). Also available online.

Thesis (M.Arch.)--University of Hong Kong, 1996. / Includes special report study entitled : Skin and skeleton of a hangar. Includes bibliographical references. Also available in print.

Thesis (M.S.) University of Missouri-Columbia, 2006. / The entire dissertation/thesis text is included in the research.pdf file; the official abstract appears in the short.pdf file (which also appears in the research.pdf); a non-technical general description, or public abstract, appears in the public.pdf file. Title from title screen of research.pdf file (viewed on August 29, 2007) Includes bibliographical references.

在世界各地，自然或人為災難隨時可能發生。災難回應作為災難處理的重要環節顯得尤為重要，隨著科學技術的進步和提高，人們希望通過使用各種科學手段來提高災難的回應效率。機器人技術作為21世紀高科技結合的產物被廣泛應用於這一領域。一般情況下，設計者會採用功能集成的思想對機器人進行設計，他們的主要設計思想是根據自己對環境的理解和認知得到機器人的設計需求，然後針對設計需求，通過功能集成和疊加的方式來完成對機器人的設計，採用這種方式機器人一旦設計完畢，其功能也隨之確立並不可更改，這種設計思想是基於環境狀況的，即一旦災難現場的環境不符合預先的設定，機器人的執行能力將大幅下降，同時功能疊加的設計方式會產生功能與功能之間相互約束，影響其專業性。 / 本文介紹了一種基於分散式設計思想的全新設計理念，並且根據這一理念設計了一套基於任務需求的救援機器人系統。機器人系統不會根據設計者對災難現場的預先理解和認知而被一體化設計，相反根據"如何到達"和"如何操作"把機器人系統拆分成移動單元和操作單元兩個環節，針對每個環節分別設計了符合現場需求的通用移動模組和任務執行模組，救援人員可以根據災難現場的即時任務需求而迅速搭建出有針對性的機器人系統任務解決方案，和傳統的機器人系統相比，具適應性廣、靈活性高、針對性強等特點。 / 在本論文中，對三種通用的移動平臺和兩種通用的模組化關節以及一個快速連接器分別進行了結構設計、理論分析及樣機設計，並採用基本的通用模組，根據即時的任務需求構建出有針對性的多個機器人系統。實驗表明該機器人系統可以提供對災難環境有針對性的系統解決方案，具有一定容錯性、經濟性及災難環境的適應性。文章的創新點如下，首次針對于救援機器人提出分散式的設計思想，並以該思想為基礎設計了基於通用模組的救援機器人系統，針對不同任務對移動性能的不同要求設計了三種移動平臺，為滿足不同的救援操作要求設計了兩種模組化關節以及快速連接器。同時，文中為實際的地震救援任務提出了一套救援機器人系統解決方案。 / Natural and man-made disasters nowadays still present a large amount of risk. Disaster response is an important phase of disaster management, and the enhancement of its effectiveness and accountability has attracted an increasing amount of attention. Robots can help rescuers in doing this task because of its wide range of applications. In general, the rescue robot concept assumes one or more targeted tasks while design, and one or a set of robot(s) is/are designed by integrating different functions to accomplish those tasks. Once the design of a robot is finished, its function cannot be changed. However, this kind of design is environment-dependent, as once a disaster environment changes, the execution performance of the robot will reduce. Furthermore the function-integrated design concept may cause internal constraints between functions, and fail to provide a targeted solution for different disaster environments. / This dissertation introduces a novel design concept, based on which a requirement-oriented rescue robot system is developed. This design concept adopts a distributed strategy, according to which tasks are no longer seen as a whole but divided into two parts: traversability and operation. Several functional modules are designed to meet the different requirements of the two parts separately, and the entire robot system can be assembled using different functional modules according to the real-time requirements of the disaster environment. Compared with the traditional rescue robot system, this system can provide a more targeted solution for different disaster situations, and is more adaptable and flexible. / This dissertation details the basic functional modules, including three kinds of mobile bases for traversability and two sets of modular joints for operation, and analyzes a quick connector that makes the connection easier and more convenient. Several possible combinations of the rescue robot system are displayed to show how to construct a rescue robot system according to different requirements. This kind of rescue robot system can provide targeted solutions to different disaster tasks. Robustness is also enhanced, as the replacement of the functional modules is flexible and easy to overhaul. Furthermore, the functional modules can be decomposed and reused to make the robot system more economical. This dissertation makes several contributions. It presents a systematic solution for rescue robot, develops three mobile bases for high traversability and two kinds of modular joints and a quick connector for rescue operation. Furthermore, it also develops a rescue robot system for missions in earthquake. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Yang, Yong. / Thesis (Ph.D.) Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2014. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 226-236). / Abstracts also in Chinese.

Thesis (M.S.)--Brigham Young University. Dept. of Computer Science, 2007. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 113-119).

<p> </p> <p>A search and rescue (SAR) operation requires a rapid, accurate, and effective response to provide the missing person the best chance of being rescued. Personnel from the local area are likely to be closest to the location of the missing person, be familiar with the area, but they may not be adequately trained, experienced, or equipped with the best tools to effectively locate, identify, and retrieve the missing person. Thus, most SAR operations rely on a mix of trained personnel and volunteers. Among the trained personnel, there is a wide variance in proficiency, experience, and access to technology, leading to some emergency response agencies being better prepared than others. Volunteers, on the other hand, could be very helpful, but are largely untrained and inexperienced, reducing their inherent likelihood of success. The primary challenge to successful SAR operations is the lack of consistently trained, adequately equipped, and diversely experienced personnel. Despite the lack of desired resources, SAR operations must be completed rapidly and emergency responders often turn to volunteers. In response to this challenge, the use of unmanned aerial systems, UAS, in small volunteer teams was proposed. Available, off-the-shelf UAS technology can be used to simplify training with the help of affordable advanced technology, and thereby enable rapid, accurate, and effective SAR operations.  </p> <p>The following research was executed in the form of three independent, but related, studies. The first study focused on the efficiency of a UAS-equipped SAR operation; the second study focused on the accuracy of a UAS and image analysis software-enabled SAR operation; and the third study tested the ability of novice volunteers to learn and apply the new technologies (UAS plus image analysis) efficiently and effectively. The goal of these studies was to determine whether affordable commercial, off-the-shelf technologies could be used to enhance the efficiency and effectivity of SAR operations. The experimental methodology used specifically designed simulations of SAR operational scenarios. Two operational tactics were tested: (a) Equip the SAR team with UAS and (b) equip the SAR team with UAS and image analysis software. The specific scenarios selected were similar in complexity, but different enough to minimize the transfer of learning from the first study to the second study.  Finally, the reference times for manual SAR operations were compared against UAS and computerized image analysis software-assisted methods. The results of the proposed studies determined whether off-the-shelf UAS and image analysis technologies could be used to enable rapid, accurate, and effective SAR operations. </p>

There is a tremendous volume of data being generated in today’s world. As organizations around the globe realize the increased importance of their data as being a valuable asset in gaining a competitive edge in a fast-paced and a dynamic business world, more and more attention is being paid to the quality of the data. Advances in the fields of data mining, predictive modeling, text mining, web mining, business intelligence, health care analytics, etc. all depend on clean, accurate data. That one cannot effectively mine data, which is dirty, comes as no surprise. This research is an exploratory study of different domain data sets, addressing the data quality issues specific to each domain, identifying the challenges faced and arriving at techniques or methodologies for measuring and improving the data quality. The primary focus of the research is on the SAR or Search and Rescue dataset, identifying key issues related to data quality therein and developing an algorithm for improving the data quality. SAR missions which are routinely conducted all over the world show a trend of increasing mission costs. Retrospective studies of historic SAR data not only allow for a detailed analysis and understanding of SAR incidents and patterns, but also form the basis for generating probability maps, analytical data models, etc., which allow for an efficient use of valuable SAR resources and their distribution. One of the challenges with regards to the SAR dataset is that the collection process is not perfect. Often, the LKP or the Last Known Position is not known or cannot be arrived at. The goal is to fully or partially geocode the LKP for as many data points as possible, identify those data points where the LKP cannot be geocoded at all, and further highlight the underlying data quality issues. The SAR Algorithm has been developed, which makes use of partial or incomplete information, cleans and validates the data, and further extracts address information from relevant fields to successfully geocode the data. The algorithm improves the geocoding accuracy and has been validated by a set of approaches.

M. Tech. Computer System Engineering / Autonomous robots are extensively used equipment in industries and in our daily lives; they assist in manufacturing and production but are used for exploration in dangerous or unknown environments. However for a successful exploration, manufacturing and production, navigation plays an important role. Road detection is a vital factor that assists autonomous robots in perfect navigation. Different methods using camera-vision technique have been developed by various researchers with outstanding results, but their systems are still vulnerable to environmental risks. The frequent weather change in various countries such as South Africa, Nigeria and Zimbabwe where shadow, light intensity and other environmental noises occur on daily basis, can cause autonomous robot to encounter failure in navigation. Therefore, the main research question is: How to enhance the road region detection system to enable an effective and efficient maneuvering of the robot in any weather condition.

Thesis (MScEng (Electrical and Electronic Engineering))--University of Stellenbosch, 2011. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Search and Rescue is an essential service provided by States and Militaries to search for, locate and rescue survivors of accidents and incidents. Civil Search and Rescue utilizes a system of well-trained professionals or volunteers, an effective Search and Rescue organization, supported by industry and other providers of infrastructure and assets. The service is rendered to save the lives of civilian individuals in imminent danger of losing their lives. Military (Combat) Search and Rescue is provided by militaries to save the lives of military practitioners in a similar predicament. In addition, Search and Rescue is performed over land and over the sea. All forms of Search and Rescue rely on capable, specialized assets for efficiency en affectivity. Assets are specified and chosen on the grounds of various factors, amongst others operating environment, operational profile, performance and special abilities. This thesis has determined the need for a Search and Rescue asset, capable of performing effective and efficient Search and Rescue over the entire national maritime Search and Rescue Region, up to the Region extremities. An analysis was performed to prove this deficit, and quantify the key performance and special equipment requirements for such an asset. An analysis was also performed which proves that an Unmanned Aircraft System should be an ideal choice to meet this need. Finally, an Unmanned Aircraft System concept was specified that could potentially meet this need. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Soek en Redding is ‘n essentiële diens wat deur State en militêre organisasies gebied word om oorlewendes van ongelukke en insidente te soek, op te spoor en na veiligheid te bring. Siviele Soek en Redding maak gebruik van ‘n stelsel van goedopgeleide professionele persone, sowel as vrywilligers, asook ‘n effektiewe Soek en Reddingsorganisasie, ondersteun deur die industrie en ander voorsieners van infrastruktuur en toerusting. Derglike dienste word daargestel om die lewens van siviele persone, wie se lewens in gevaar is, te red. Militêre Soek en Redding word deur militêre organisasies daargetel om die lewens van militêre persone, wie in gevaar is, te red. Soek en Redding word oor land sowel as oor die see uitgevoer. Alle vorms van Soek en Redding maak staat op die beskikbaarheid van gespesialiseerde toerusting met gespesialiseerde gebruiksaanwending, vir maksimale effektiwiteit en doeltreffendheid. Toerusting word gekies op grond van verskeie faktore, onder meer die gebruiksomgewing, operasionele profiele, verlangde prestasie en spesiale vermoëns. Hierdie tesis het die behoefte aan ‘n gespesialiseerde Soek en Redding platform, wat die vermoë het om effektiewe en doeltreffende Soek en Redding uit te voer oor die hele nationale Soek en Redding Gebied, tot en met die ekstreme daarvan, vasgestel. ‘n Analise is uitgevoer om hierdie tekortkoming uit te wys, asook om die sleutel prestasie- en gespesialiseerde toerustingbehoeftes vir so ‘n platform te kwantifiseer. ‘n Verdere analise is uitgevoer om te bewys dat ‘n Onbemande Vliegtuig die beste opsie sou wees vir ‘n platform om aan hierdie behoeftes te voldoen. Ten slotte is ‘n konsep vir ‘n Onbemande Vliegtuig Stelsel voorgetsel wat potensieël hierdie behoefte sou kon vervul.