An Application of Artificial Neural Networks to Estimate the Performance of High-Energy Laser Weapons in Maritime Environments

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

 

Reformulate title: An application of Artificial Neural Networks to estimate the performance of high energy laser 2 weapons in the maritime environment.

Build an article based on the journal's guidelines.

·        Abstract:

Reformulate the abstract and add data about results

Line 22: "...artificial neural networks..." should be capitalize each word. Check article.

·        Introduction

The novelty of this paper is not very clear.

Divide the information to mention the artificial intelligence technique. Add a paragraph about using a modern machine learning method that includes neural networks. Add description of ANN and the concept of neurons will help to understand the results.

·        Material and Methods

Build a section research methodology. Add section structure of Artificial Neural Network. Describe training set: inputs, outputs, activation function, number of training cases, learning algorithm in training set, etc. Describe the network analysis software.

Line 253 – 257or 267-269. It should be in section methods. Move to the Artificial Neural Networks in methods section.

·        Results and discussion

Line 185: What does ML mean? Authors should describe acronyms before use them.

Build a section of results and discussion. Add section Artificial Neural Networks where authors will describe the results of ANN. Include information about RMSE when describing neural network training.

Addition of the discussion paragraph is well appreciated. Paragraph "Future work" authors need add to section in discuss.

More references are needed to support the discussion carried out in the result section. Compare the current solutions that are already available with the use of artificial neural networks.

Add section conclusion. Correlate information with the main purpose of the research.

Figure 1-6 are unclear. Use a resolution of 600dpi. Charts, scheme, diagrams should be made using vector graphics, not raster graphics. It must be correct.

·        Line 228: What is the "Hunagel-Valley model"? Please, explain it.

Author Response

Please see the attachments!

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 2 Report

 

A very interesting manuscript proposing a rather novel application of Artificial Neural Networks. Specifically, the paper proposes a new approach for weaponized LASER performance estimation in real-time. This ANN application predicts the atmospheric optical turbulence strength and thus LASER performance estimation (due to the role of turbulence in laser strength).

 

The manuscript has a very good structure, adequate introduction, and theoretical background for the “Atmospheric Effects to Laser Beam Propagation in Maritime Environment”, the setup of an experimental site to collect data. The ANN is well described and the authors correctly separated the data set into training and test set.

Only two comments

1. Would like to see more details for the training epochs of the ANN and the stopping rules used during training and if feasible, time for training on the computing platform (please describe: CPU, and computer clock frequency) and

 

2. Would also like to see more details for the software (probably the authors have not used neural chips) platform used for training and testing the ANN (Matlab for example?)

Author Response

Please see the attachment.

Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Round 2

Reviewer 1 Report

The text on figures, charts, scheme, diagrams should use font of the journal guidelines. It must be correct it.
In results cannot be methodology. Please change "Research Methodology" to “Results of Artificial Neural Networks"
Line 145 correct it: maritime/coastal
Line 205 correct it: design/scenario
Line 209: correct it: horizontal/ vertical
Figures 6,7,8 need to be corrected in order to publish this article. They are still unclear.

Still a little discussion. Correlate Machine Learning, Artificial Neural Networks to new ideas and comparison with your research problem. Add references

Author Response

1) The text on figures, charts, scheme, diagrams should use font of the journal guidelines. It must be correct it.

Ans. Done, where possible!

2) In results cannot be methodology. Please change "Research Methodology" to “Results of Artificial Neural Networks".

Ans. Done

3) Line 145 correct it: maritime/coastal
Line 205 correct it: design/scenario
Line 209: correct it: horizontal/ vertical

Ans. Done

4) Figures 6,7,8 need to be corrected in order to publish this article. They are still unclear.

As mentioned in the text, Fig. 6 is a ppt file and Figs. 7 and 8 a Matlab file. Therefore, unfortunately no further improvement can be done. However, they all seem pretty clear!

5) Still a little discussion. Correlate Machine Learning, Artificial Neural Networks to new ideas and comparison with your research problem. Add references.

Ans. Done