USMA Digital Commons (United States Military Academy, West Point)
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Deriving a Solution to Venezuela: Civil-Military Relations Can Help
Get PDFHow does one define “healthy” civil-military relations? The simplest definition would suggest a nation’s military is subordinate to its ruling body. In other words, the guys with all the guns listens to those without any. So how then would we evaluate this relationship in a country like Venezuela
Educating Future Multidisciplinary Cybersecurity Teams
Get PDFWe present a vision and the curricular foundations needed for the multidisciplinary cybersecurity teams of the future, which are made up of diverse cybersecurity experts, each contributing unique abilities and perspectives that emerged from their own discipline-centric methodological approaches. Examples demonstrating the effectiveness of current and emerging multidisciplinary cybersecurity teams are included
Designing a Raspberry Pi sensor network for remote observation of wildlife
No full textScientists and the military need unobtrusive methods of observing wildlife. In this poster, we assess the feasibility of a Raspberry Pi sensor network for wildlife detection and monitoring. While technology for wildlife observation such as camera traps exist, they are expensive and/or require human intervention to collect the data. An inexpensive sensor network that can take pictures of wildlife with negligible human intervention will enable scientists and military personnel to discretely detect the presence of endangered wildlife. Each raspberry pi sensor node collects data for transmission to a remote user via an android app interface. In order to improve battery efficiency, the system features an adaptable network with four distinct sleep modes. We also explore increasing the range and durability of the network by integrating a mesh network
Rapid Restoration of Deteriorated Prestressed Concrete Bridges Using Mechanically Fastened Fiber Reinforced Polymer
No full textThis presentation introduces a methodology to rapidly address deteriorated prestressed concrete bridge superstructures using prestressed mechanically-fastened fiberreinforced polymer (MF-FRP). Currently, departments of transportation (DOTs) must post load restrictions or closures on bridges with deteriorated prestressed concrete superstructures that can no longer carry original design loads. These posted restrictions and closures result in detours that increase travel time and vehicle operating costs for detoured vehicles, impacting commerce, public transportation, and emergency services. Often, load restrictions and closures must remain in place for several years to allow for budgeting, design, and contracting cycles prior to scheduling and completion of permanent repairs or superstructure replacement which must occur to remove posted restrictions. Therefore, a methodology which is capable of restoring prestress losses and strength reduction in mild to moderately deteriorated prestressed concrete bridge superstructures such that the useful service life of the bridge can be extended for 3 to 5 years while a permanent solution is planned and budgeted is desired. Further, a retrofit solution that can be installed rapidly by DOT maintenance personnel, can immediately restore traffic upon installation, and can be easily inspected and maintained is necessary for successful implementation into existing DOT policies and procedures
Row Row Row Your Bot – Trust Me or Not: Investigating the Performance of Human-Robot Teams
No full textIn this work we present the latest results in Project Aquaticus manned-unmanned teaming looking at the interactions of robot autonomy, human-robot trust, robot reliability, and participant executive attention capability. Project Aquaticus enables manned-unmanned teaming research in the marine domain. It creates exciting and stressful environments for participants based on playing games of capture the flag on the water. For these experiments, a participant was teamed up with an autonomous robot teammate. For consistency, they played against a team composed of two autonomous robots. The independent variables included autonomous teammate reliability, autonomous teammate autonomy level, and task load based on opponent tactics. Forty-eight Cadets at the United State military Academy, West Point, NY played Project Aquaticus simulations using our simulation engine and a game controller. Participants performed executive attention tasks and then played four rounds of capture the flag with several questionnaires interspersed including the NASA TLX and Schaefer trust scale. We present the adaptations to the autonomous robot teammate and opponent AI for the reliability and autonomy level of the autonomous robot teammate and the scenarios performed by the opposing team. We also present the general findings of team performance based on reliability, autonomy level, and scenario difficulty
Dean\u27s Significant Activities Report 11-29-2019
Get PDFThe Dean’s Weekly Significant Activities Report lists all activities conducted within the Departments, Centers & Staff. The Report is provided to the Dean and Directorate personnel for situational awareness.https://digitalcommons.usmalibrary.org/sigact/1019/thumbnail.jp
Predictive Mathematical Models of Weight Loss.
No full textPURPOSE OF REVIEW: Validated thermodynamic energy balance models that predict weight change are ever more in use today. Delivery of model predictions using web-based applets and/or smart phones has transformed these models into viable clinical tools. Here, we provide the general framework for thermodynamic energy balance model derivation and highlight differences between thermodynamic energy balance models using four representatives.
RECENT FINDINGS: Energy balance models have been used to successfully improve dietary adherence, estimate the magnitude of food waste, and predict dropout from clinical weight loss trials. They are also being used to generate hypotheses in nutrition experiments. Applications of thermodynamic energy balance weight change prediction models range from clinical applications to modify behavior to deriving epidemiological conclusions. Novel future applications involve using these models to design experiments and provide support for treatment recommendations
Unforgiven: Russian Intelligence Vengeance as Political Theater and Strategic Messaging
No full textThe poisoning of former Russian intelligence officer and MI6 agent Sergei Skripal highlights the enduring Russian ardor for poisoning enemies of the state as a warning to others who contemplate disloyalty. Beyond treating the event itself, we explore Russian conceptions of theatrical murder as a peculiar element of state power. We historicize this development and inquire whether assassination as political theater and strategic messaging is a tool embraced in particular by Vladimir Putin or rather emblematic of the Russian state. We explore why and how Putin opted to strike at the moment he did to seek vengeance against Skripal, concluding that a confluence of structural and human factors at the intersection of British government policies with Russian domestic politics led Putin to his decision. We conclude with the implications of these findings for western governments
Military Statecraft and the Use of Multinational Exercises in World Politics
Get PDFHow do major powers use militaries to cope with diverse threats in a complex environment of costly conventional war, emerging power competition, as well as the persistent challenge of violent non-state actors? I argue that multinational military exercises provide a tool for major powers to reduce the unpredictability of non-state threats as well as to weaken other powers through balancing and regime-promotion. The number of multinational exercises has increased substantially since the Cold War, which is puzzling given the end of superpower rivalry and incentives to enjoy the peace dividend. Textual analysis and regressions of over a thousand multinational military exercises from 1980-2016 reveal that major powers reacted to an increase in strategic uncertainty by implementing exercises as a means to combat ambiguous non-state threats. Yet as major power competition becomes more intense, I expect major powers to leverage these same types of exercises to undermine one another
Validation of Laser Power Beaming Applications with Enlarged Laser Beam Diameters Minimizing Hazardous Operation
No full textSuccessful implementation of laser power beaming for the wireless transfer of electrical power will enable diverse applications, including extended operation time of remote ground vehicles, aerial drones and remote sensors. However, the required lasers are a cause of concern for the safe operation of such laser power beaming systems. Tissue damage to eyes and skin from direct beam exposure as well as the general burning hazards from these class 4 lasers need be addressed. In an attempt resolve these risks and validate LPB applications with readily available components, laboratory tests of this wireless power transfer method were performed. It was demonstrated that a 10-watt 976nm continuous wave laser utilized in conjunction with monocrystalline silicon photovoltaics successfully powered a small remote-controlled vehicle and an Arduino temperature sensor respectively in the lab while skin hazards from direct beam exposure were eliminated with an enlarged laser beam diameter of 9 cm. Component configurations that allowed for battery charging were also demonstrated