%0 PDF %T Characterizing the Potential of Active Aircraft Diversion Technologies for Remotely Redirecting an Aircraft. %A Komatsu, Janet. %8 2017-04-18 %R http://localhost/files/9306t949s %X Abstract: Since the 1930s, airplane hijackings have been used by terrorist organizations to further their own agendas, often staking civilian lives in the process. Adversarial (but not necessarily hostile) unmanned aerial vehicle intrusions into sensitive military or political areas have also threatened otherwise peaceful U.S. defense operations. In these scenarios, non-lethal active aircraft diversion (AAD) technologies can be used as an anti-terrorism and defense solution. Laser-based AAD technologies utilize a high powered laser aimed at a target aircraft's wings to force an aircraft to turn or oscillate. Given this technology, the goal of this thesis is to characterize the ability to divert an aircraft for three specific pilot cases: no pilot, pilot with limited visibility, and pilot with full capability. Simulations indicate that the laser-based diversion has great potential for diverting an unpiloted aircraft originally flying straight and level. Human-in-the-loop (HITL) simulations with certified pilots show that lasers can also enable a limited diversion capability for aircraft navigated by pilots with limited visibility. Furthermore, HITL simulations demonstrate potential for enhanced (not necessarily laser-based) AAD diversion on fully capable pilots when large control forces (hundreds of bounds) are available for diversion.; Thesis (M.S.)--Tufts University, 2011.; Submitted to the Dept. of Mechanical Engineering.; Advisor: Jason Rife.; Committee: Dan Hannon, and Valencia Joyner.; Keyword: Mechanical Engineering. %[ 2022-10-12 %9 Text %~ Tufts Digital Library %W Institution