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At least 253 records · Page 14

Reliability growth/burn-in - The allocation of testing resources

A sequential component test procedure is proposed. It is assumed that there is some knowledge of the initial failure rate parameter of each component. This knowledge is modified by the results of the first one or two tests. The remaining component test time is allocated adaptively (sequentially) to the components so as to maximize the system MTBF. In other words, the components will compete among themselves for limited test resources.

Truelove, A. J.↗

Adaptive allocation of decisionmaking responsibility between human and computer in multitask situations

As human and computer come to have overlapping decisionmaking abilities, a dynamic or adaptive allocation of responsibilities may be the best mode of human-computer interaction. It is suggested that the computer serve as a backup decisionmaker, accepting responsibility when human workload becomes excessive and relinquishing responsibility when workload becomes acceptable. A queueing theory formulation of multitask decisionmaking is used and a threshold policy for turning the computer on/off is proposed. This policy minimizes event-waiting cost subject to human workload constraints. An experiment was conducted with a balanced design of several subject runs within a computer-aided multitask flight management situation with different task demand levels. It was found that computer aiding enhanced subsystem performance as well as subjective ratings. The queueing model appears to be an adequate representation of the multitask decisionmaking situation, and to be capable of predicting system performance in terms of average waiting time and server occupancy. Server occupancy was further found to correlate highly with the subjective effort ratings.

Chu, Y.-Y.↗

Optimal control model predictions of system performance and attention allocation and their experimental validation in a display design study

The influence of different types of predictor displays in a longitudinal vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) hover task is analyzed in a theoretical study. Several cases with differing amounts of predictive and rate information are compared. The optimal control model of the human operator is used to estimate human and system performance in terms of root-mean-square (rms) values and to compute optimized attention allocation. The only part of the model which is varied to predict these data is the observation matrix. Typical cases are selected for a subsequent experimental validation. The rms values as well as eye-movement data are recorded. The results agree favorably with those of the theoretical study in terms of relative differences. Better matching is achieved by revised model input data.

Johannsen, G.↗

Estimation of within-stratum variance for sample allocation: Foreign commodity production forecasting

The problem of determining the stratum variances required for an optimum sample allocation for remotely sensed crop surveys is investigated with emphasis on an approach based on the concept of stratum variance as a function of the sampling unit size. A methodology using the existing and easily available information of historical statistics is developed for obtaining initial estimates of stratum variances. The procedure is applied to variance for wheat in the U.S. Great Plains and is evaluated based on the numerical results obtained. It is shown that the proposed technique is viable and performs satisfactorily with the use of a conservative value (smaller than the expected value) for the field size and with the use of crop statistics from the small political division level.

Chhikara, R. S.↗

Stratum variance estimation for sample allocation in crop surveys

The problem of determining stratum variances needed in achieving an optimum sample allocation for crop surveys by remote sensing is investigated by considering an approach based on the concept of stratum variance as a function of the sampling unit size. A methodology using the existing and easily available information of historical crop statistics is developed for obtaining initial estimates of tratum variances. The procedure is applied to estimate stratum variances for wheat in the U.S. Great Plains and is evaluated based on the numerical results thus obtained. It is shown that the proposed technique is viable and performs satisfactorily, with the use of a conservative value for the field size and the crop statistics from the small political subdivision level, when the estimated stratum variances were compared to those obtained using the LANDSAT data.

Perry, C. R., Jr.↗

Estimating regression coefficients from clustered samples: Sampling errors and optimum sample allocation

A number of surveys were conducted to study the relationship between the level of aircraft or traffic noise exposure experienced by people living in a particular area and their annoyance with it. These surveys generally employ a clustered sample design which affects the precision of the survey estimates. Regression analysis of annoyance on noise measures and other variables is often an important component of the survey analysis. Formulae are presented for estimating the standard errors of regression coefficients and ratio of regression coefficients that are applicable with a two- or three-stage clustered sample design. Using a simple cost function, they also determine the optimum allocation of the sample across the stages of the sample design for the estimation of a regression coefficient.

Kalton, G.↗

Language for Allocation and Network Scheduling

Programing Language for Allocation and Network Scheduling, Plans, handles many scheduling requirements of Space Shuttle program. Also generalized, high-level tree manipulation language.

Willoughby, J. K.↗

Iterative-deepening heuristic search for optimal and semi-optimal resource allocation

It is demonstrated that when iterative-deepening A asterisk (IDA asterisk) is applied to one type of resource allocation problem, it uses far less storage than A asterisk, but opens far more nodes and thus has unacceptable time complexity. This is shown to be due, at least in part, to the low-valued effective branching factor that is a characteristic of problems with real-valued cost functions. The semi-optimal, epsilon-admissible IDA asterisk sub epsilon search algorithm that the authors described was shown to open fewer nodes than both A asterisk and IDA asterisk with storage complexity proportional to the depth of the search tree.

Bridges, Susan M.↗

DAISY-DAMP: A distributed AI system for the dynamic allocation and management of power

One of the critical parameters that must be addressed when designing a loosely coupled Distributed AI SYstem (DAISY) has to do with the degree to which authority is centralized or decentralized. The decision to implement the Dynamic Allocation and Management of Power (DAMP) system as a network of cooperating agents mandated this study. The DAISY-DAMP problem is described; the component agents of the system are characterized; and the communication protocols system elucidated. The motivations and advantages in designing the system with authority decentralized is discussed. Progress in the area of Speech Act theory is proposed as playing a role in constructing decentralized systems.

Hall, Steven B.↗

Optimal service allocation among two heterogeneous traffic types with no queueing

Two communication traffic streams with Poisson statistics arrive at a network node. These are to be transmitted across a channel with a total bandwidth capacity of C slots. Messages not accepted at the node are assumed to be lost. Under the assumptions of exponential service time distributions, the problem of dynamic allocation of available channel bandwidth among the two traffic types is studied in order to minimize a weighted sum of blocking probabilities. Modeling the system as a two-dimensional Markov chain is studied to minimize a weighted sum of blocking probabilities. Modeling the system as a two-dimensional Markov chain, it is shown by an application of dynamic programming principles that the optimal policy has the form of a 'switching curve'.

Lambadaris, I.↗

Vector excitation coding with dynamic bit allocation

Vector excitation coding (VXC) has shown promise for digital transmission of fairly high communications quality speech at low bit rates, but current version of the algorithm still suffer from audible degradations, particularly at 4.8 kb/s. The authors examine the technique of dynamic bit allocation (DBA) to improve the performance of VXC for a given bit rate. The approach is based on the observation that the minimum bit rate needed to code adequately both the long-term and short-term predictors in VXC varies dynamically with time. Therefore, in frames where fewer bits suffice for the predictors, the unneeded bits can be reallocated to other coder parameter sets such as excitation vectors. By dynamically distributing available bits among the different coder parameter sets while keeping the total number of bits in each frame fixed, it is possible to improve overall coder performance without increasing bit rate.

Yong, Mei↗

Optimal Allocation Of Tasks In Hypercube Computers

Uniform tasks distributed uniformly or else assigned to one processor. Investigation in theory of scheduling yielded optimal scheme for allocation of tasks among digital data processors in hypercube ensemble. Applies to tasks that require equal time to execute, performed in any order, and between any two of which equal amounts of communication required. Reduces overall processing time for given set of computational tasks.

Salama, Moktar A.↗

Dynamically allocating sets of fine-grained processors to running computations

Researchers explore an approach to using general purpose parallel computers which involves mapping hardware resources onto computations instead of mapping computations onto hardware. Problems such as processor allocation, task scheduling and load balancing, which have traditionally proven to be challenging, change significantly under this approach and may become amenable to new attacks. Researchers describe the implementation of this approach used by the FFP Machine whose computation and communication resources are repeatedly partitioned into disjoint groups that match the needs of available tasks from moment to moment. Several consequences of this system are examined.

Middleton, David↗

Resource Allocation Planning Helper (RALPH): Lessons learned

The current task of Resource Allocation Process includes the planning and apportionment of JPL's Ground Data System composed of the Deep Space Network and Mission Control and Computing Center facilities. The addition of the data driven, rule based planning system, RALPH, has expanded the planning horizon from 8 weeks to 10 years and has resulted in large labor savings. Use of the system has also resulted in important improvements in science return through enhanced resource utilization. In addition, RALPH has been instrumental in supporting rapid turn around for an increased volume of special what if studies. The status of RALPH is briefly reviewed and important lessons learned from the creation of an highly functional design team are focused on through an evolutionary design and implementation period in which an AI shell was selected, prototyped, and ultimately abandoned, and through the fundamental changes to the very process that spawned the tool kit. Principal topics include proper integration of software tools within the planning environment, transition from prototype to delivered to delivered software, changes in the planning methodology as a result of evolving software capabilities and creation of the ability to develop and process generic requirements to allow planning flexibility.

Durham, Ralph↗

Performance-based workload assessment: Allocation strategy and added task sensitivity

The preliminary results of a research program investigating the use of added tasks to evaluate mental workload are reviewed. The focus of the first studies was a reappraisal of the traditional secondary task logic that encouraged the use of low-priority instructions for the added task. It was believed that such low-priority tasks would encourage subjects to split their available resources among the two tasks. The primary task would be assigned all the resources it needed, and any remaining reserve capacity would be assigned to the secondary task. If the model were correct, this approach was expected to combine sensitivity to primary task difficulty with unintrusiveness to primary task performance. The first studies of the current project demonstrated that a high-priority added task, although intrusive, could be more sensitive than the traditional low-priority secondary task. These results suggested that a more appropriate model of the attentional effects associated with added task performance might be based on capacity switching, rather than the traditional optimal allocation model.

Vidulich, Michael A.↗

Resource allocation using constraint propagation

The concept of constraint propagation was discussed. Performance increases are possible with careful application of these constraint mechanisms. The degree of performance increase is related to the interdependence of the different activities resource usage. Although this method of applying constraints to activities and resources is often beneficial, it is obvious that this is no panacea cure for the computational woes that are experienced by dynamic resource allocation and scheduling problems. A combined effort for execution optimization in all areas of the system during development and the selection of the appropriate development environment is still the best method of producing an efficient system.

Rogers, John S.↗

Research in software allocation for advanced manned mission communications and tracking systems

An assessment of the planned processing hardware and software/firmware for the Communications and Tracking System of the Space Station Freedom (SSF) was performed. The intent of the assessment was to determine the optimum distribution of software/firmware in the processing hardware for maximum throughput with minimum required memory. As a product of the assessment process an assessment methodology was to be developed that could be used for similar assessments of future manned spacecraft system designs. The assessment process was hampered by changing requirements for the Space Station. As a result, the initial objective of determining the optimum software/firmware allocation was not fulfilled, but several useful conclusions and recommendations resulted from the assessment. It was concluded that the assessment process would not be completely successful for a system with changing requirements. It was also concluded that memory requirements and hardware requirements were being modified to fit as a consequence of the change process, and although throughput could not be quantitized, potential problem areas could be identified. Finally, inherent flexibility of the system design was essential for the success of a system design with changing requirements. Recommendations resulting from the assessment included development of common software for some embedded controller functions, reduction of embedded processor requirements by hardwiring some Orbital Replacement Units (ORUs) to make better use of processor capabilities, and improvement in communications between software development personnel to enhance the integration process. Lastly, a critical observation was made regarding the software integration tasks did not appear to be addressed in the design process to the degree necessary for successful satisfaction of the system requirements.

Warnagiris, Tom↗