T-UFF (Tracker stuff): application development for warehouse tracking

In a previous paper [1], the analysis of pump suction pressure decay utilizing the varying condensate temperature approach was first introduced. Although the paper provided power plant engineers with an accurate analytical method for determining the magnitude of feedwater pump suction pressure decay, no protective method to prevent or alleviate the pressure decay under instant turbine load rejection was mentioned. As unit size has rapidly increased in recent years, the power plant deaerator requires not only a larger storage capacity but also must be elevated higher to protect the boiler feed pumps against suction pressure decay under load rejection. Since this trend is expected to continue, the cost of supporting the power plant deaerator may soon become prohibitive. Several protective methods have been previously introduced. However, the evaluation of the methods was invariably based on the constant-condensate-temperature approach, which is not suitable for central station regenerative cycle units. This paper reevaluates those methods in general and recommends the on-off type deaerator bypass system as the most effective and economical method. The use of this protective method will not only reduce deaerator storage capacity to the absolute minimum as required solely for surge, but will also largely preclude the provision of additional static head for instant load reduction. As a result, enormous savings can be expected both from the deaerator itself and its supporting structures. The magnitude of savings in supporting structures alone may amount to more than a half million dollars for a 750 MW fossile unit. Based on the varying condensate temperature approach, mathematical equations expressing the deaerator pressure decay as well as design parameters required for designing the protective system have been derived. The paper also presents a detailed description of the recommended protective system and discusses some advantages of this system over the others. Finally, a few engineering examples are included to illustrate the application in system design.

We present a comprehensive language theoretic causality analysis framework for explaining safety property violations in the setting of concurrent reactive systems. Our framework allows us to uniformly express a number of causality notions studied in the areas of artificial intelligence and formal methods, as well as define new ones that are of potential interest in these areas. Furthermore, our formalization provides means for reasoning about the relationships between individual notions which have mostly been considered independently in prior work; and allows us to judge the appropriateness of the different definitions for various applications in system design. In particular, we consider causality analysis notions for debugging, error resilience, and liability resolution in concurrent reactive systems. Finally, we present automata-based algorithms for computing various causal sets based on our language-theoretic encoding, and derive the algorithmic complexities.

As system design is becoming more and more multifaceted, integrated, and complex, the traditional single objective optimization trends of optimal design are becoming less and less efficient and effective. Single objective optimization methods present a unique optimal solution whereas multiobjective methods present pareto front. The foremost intent is to predict a reasonable distributed pareto-optimal solution set independent of the problem instance through multiobjective scheme. Other objective of application of intended approach is to improve the worthiness of outputs of the complex engineering system design process at the conceptual design phase. The process is automated in order to provide the system designer with the leverage of the possibility of studying and analyzing a large multiple of possible solutions in a short time. This article presents Multiobjective Hyper Heuristic Optimization Scheme based on low level meta-heuristics developed for the application in engineering system design. Herein, we present a stochastic function to manage meta-heuristics (low-level) to augment surety of global optimum solution. Generic Algorithm, Simulated Annealing and Swarm Intelligence are used as low-level meta-heuristics in this study. Performance of the proposed scheme is investigated through a comprehensive empirical analysis yielding acceptable results. One of the primary motives for performing multiobjective optimization is that the current engineering systems require simultaneous optimization of conflicting and multiple. Random decision making makes the implementation of this scheme attractive and easy. Injecting feasible solutions significantly alters the search direction and also adds diversity of population resulting in accomplishment of pre-defined goals set in the proposed scheme.

This paper proposes the theoretical model to analyze the performance degradation of control systems subject to common-source digital upsets. In this paper, a multidimensional hidden Markov model (MDHMM) is used to characterize the correlated upsets and reveals the relationship between complex environments and stochastic random digital upsets injected into the control systems. These digital upsets coming from artificial complex environments are operated on distributed redundant processing controllers. Furthermore, this paper develops the theoretical analysis model for performance degradation of control systems under common-source digital interferences modeled by MDHMM. Theoretical estimations for different redundant configurations are analyzed. Then corresponding simulation verifications for a specific control system are also conducted in details and compared with the theoretical analysis results. These analyses can help to select an optimal redundant design and provide an example for control systems design. This analysis also helps to balance the performance of system, reliability of system, and costs of system design in applications.

Dynamic type-checking and object-oriented programming often go hand-in-hand; scripting languages such as Python, Ruby, and JavaScript all embrace object-oriented (OO) programming. When scripts written in such languages grow and evolve into large programs, the lack of a static type discipline reduces maintainability. A programmer may thus wish to migrate parts of such scripts to a sister language with a static type system. Unfortunately, existing type systems neither support the flexible OO composition mechanisms found in scripting languages nor accommodate sound interoperation with untyped code. In this paper, we present the design of a gradual typing system that supports sound interaction between statically- and dynamically-typed units of class-based code. The type system uses row polymorphism for classes and thus supports mixin-based OO composition. To protect migration of mixins from typed to untyped components, the system employs a novel form of contracts that partially seal classes. The design comes with a theorem that guarantees the soundness of the type system even in the presence of untyped components.

Virtual reality (VR) applications for surgical planning and mentoring are currently becoming more widespread. Within these fields of applications, haptic systems are crucial to help the understanding of the feedback provided by the tissue during the interaction with the surgical tool. The accuracy of the VR scenario is related to many aspects, among them the ability of the haptic device to provide the force feedback and thus the adoption of proper characterization and modeling of the soft tissue behavior during deformation. This paper presents the current development concerning a VR environment to be equipped with a force feedback haptic device to simulate and experience clamping in colorectal surgery. The reaction at the clamp handle is provided starting from a FEA of the contact between the surgical tool and the tissue, coupled with the kinematic analysis of the mechanism. Connecting the virtual scenario to a microcontroller board, the reaction force is applied to the the haptic device, shaped as a clamping tool handle, so that the user may experience the tissue impedence during clamping. By simulations made through Simscape, a concept is evaluated according to some simulation paths that involve common scenarios of the virtual reality experience (such as collision, partial or total clamping operation). The novelty of the research regards the system design oriented to increase the accuracy of the soft tissue material behaviour through a preliminary off-line dedicated FEA investigation. Through Simulink simulations, the system design is verified so that the VR system set-up may be carried out. The results highlighted: (a) a good correspondence among the theoretical study of the reference kinematism that the haptic device must reproduce; (b) the implementation of a bilinear material model, derived off-line from FEA, is suitable to capture hyperelastic and geometric non-linearities of the soft tissue; (c) the feasibility of the open loop haptic control in accordance to the explored kinematism. The final goal of the research is to propose a system design approach able to tune the VR experince for teaching and mentoring through a in-house set-up easy to be tailored.

The acquisition of problem-solving and programming skills in the era of knowledge society seems to be particularly important. Due to the intrinsic difficulty of acquiring such skills various educational tools have been developed. Unfortunately, most of these tools are not utilized. In this paper we present the programming microworlds Karel and objectKarel that support the procedural-imperative and Object-Oriented Programming (OOP) techniques and can be used for supporting the teaching and learning of programming in various learning contexts and audiences. The paper focuses on presenting the pedagogical features that are common to both environments and mainly on presenting the potential uses of these environments.KeywordsKnowledge SocietyProgramming SkillPedagogical FeatureEducational SoftwareProgramming ConceptThese keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.

Toward flexible and persistent UAV service: Multi-period and multi-objective system design with task assignment for disaster management

As location-aware IoT (Internet of Things) devices intend to spread across almost every application, IoT devices are going to require different GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) receiver design requirements. To deliver on IoT opportunities, system architects and designers need to look carefully at every aspect of system design and architecture to be able to enable the full potential of the IoT era. IoT devices are equipped with different connectivity sensors that can provide a reliable integrated location-awareness solution. IoT devices are mainly relying on GNSS chip to deliver a service when no other RF signal is available. Hence, GNSS chip is expected to maintain a robust and reliable performance even in harsh environment. The harsh environment includes multipath environment, NLOS (Non-Line of Sight) GNSS signal reception, weak GNSS signal power reception, superimposed motion (e.g., arm swing, floating platform fluctuation …etc.), operation under freezing temperature, and interference. The targeted low-cost system design along with the expected harsh operational environment derived us to face exceptional GNSS signal reception condition. This paper discusses lessons learned, and challenges faced signal acquisition, reacquisition, and tracking for several IoT applications. Different operational modes are also explored to accommodate various use cases scenarios for several IoT applications. These different power consumption operational modes allow the GNSS chip to achieve an Ultra-low power consumption which indeed required for IoT applications. This paper provides an overview about the addressed GNSS chip fabricated in a 28nm FD-SOI process. We demonstrate a system performance and power consumption comparison of this chip along with other state-of-the-art GNSS chip. We compare the positioning performance for this device alongside another state-of-the-art GNSS modules and Novatel’s tightly coupled GNSS/INS (Inertial Navigation System) reference solution at numerous scenarios ranging from walking, running, and driving at several sites under different environment.

This paper focused on the adsorption behavior of Fe (III) in aqueous solution on melamine. The effects of experimental conditions including dosage of melamine, reaction time and reaction temperature were investigated. The results showed that nearly 99% Fe (III) was adsorbed under the optimal conditions: melamine dosage (mole ratio) at n(C3H6N6)/n(Fe) = 3.5:1, reaction time of 60 min and reaction temperature of 90 °C. The optimal processing factors were obtained from response surface methodology and the effects of processing parameters on the removal efficiency of Fe (III) followed the order: mole ratio (n(C3N6H6):n(Fe)) > reaction temperature > reaction time. The adsorption kinetics behavior was fitted well with the pseudo-second-order model. The thermodynamic study showed that the adsorption process was unspontaneous and endothermic. The value of free energy change and standard enthalpy change disclosed that the mechanism of adsorption onto melamine was physisorption. The results will be useful for further applications of system design in the treatment of practical waste effluents.

Simulation of swine herd population dynamics

With its Unified Modeling Language UML standard Object Management Group (OMG) made modelling of system design popular. By introducing the Model Driven Architecture OMG provided the means to define dedicated modelling languages for different application domains and system design methodologies. Agent-based system design gained significant interest in the 1990s. Different approaches for the modeling of agent-based systems have been proposed and more recently metamodels for these approaches have been published. A standard is currently in progress by the OMG: the Agent Metamodel and Profile (AMP). The objective of AMP is to provide a metamodel and profile for extending UML with core capabilities to enable agents and agent-based software. This article is limited to providing that background information on how AMP fits into the OMG’s approach to the core metamodel that is being considered for the AMP.

The traditional rural landscape expression method has limitations such as unintuitive expression effect, and the characteristics of virtual reality technology can just make up for these defects. The purpose of this paper is to study the design of rural landscape simulation system based on virtual reality technology. On the basis of understanding the limitations of traditional expression methods of rural landscape landscaping and the increasingly close integration of virtual reality technology with various industries, the virtual reality technology and rural landscape simulation are combined, and the virtual reality modeling tools that can be used for rural landscape simulation and The application platform conducts research and screening, and draws on the form of virtual roaming to propose the general process of applying virtual reality technology to rural landscape simulation. Through the production and comparison of experimental cases, the advantages and applications of virtual reality technology-assisted rural landscape simulation system design were discussed by means of questionnaires. The experimental results show that the respondents’ evaluation of the display effect of the rural landscape simulation system of virtual reality technology exceeds 4.3 points, and the respondents are satisfied with the effect of the rural landscape simulation system.

Technology transformation from Revolution 4.0 to Society 5.0, where technology is increasingly integrated with human life. Education is the key in developing innovative human resources. In the era of Society 5.0, with the rapid development of technology, it is necessary to transform from manual to digital learning resources. Based on the importance of this, the purpose of this research is to digitize historical sources in a Qr Code-based museology laboratory and test their effectiveness. The use of learning resources, especially in the form of a museology laboratory with a Qr Code, is an innovative way to enhance history learning. In this study, the method used was the Research and Development (R&D) ADDIE model. This model has 5 stages consisting of analyzing, designing, developing, implementing and evaluating. The focus of the research object was conducted at the Department of History, Faculty of Social Sciences, State University of Malang, East Java Province. The trial results show that it is very effective in 86% points to improve the quality of history learning. Through the results of technology and education collaboration in the Society 5.0 era, practical implementation emerged in the form of a Qr Code-based E-Museum

Neurofeedback is a kind of biofeedback, which teaches self-control of brain functions to subjects by measuring brain waves and providing a feedback signal. Neurofeedback usually provides the audio and or video feedback. Positive or negative feedback is produced for desirable or undesirable brain activities, respectively. In this review, we provided clinical and technical information about the following issues: (1) Various neurofeedback treatment protocols i.e. alpha, beta, alpha/theta, delta, gamma, and theta; (2) Different EEG electrode placements i.e. standard recording channels in the frontal, temporal, central, and occipital lobes; (3) Electrode montages (unipolar, bipolar); (4) Types of neurofeedback i.e. frequency, power, slow cortical potential, functional magnetic resonance imaging, and so on; (5) Clinical applications of neurofeedback i.e. treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, anxiety, depression, epilepsy, insomnia, drug addiction, schizophrenia, learning disabilities, dyslexia and dyscalculia, autistic spectrum disorders and so on as well as other applications such as pain management, and the improvement of musical and athletic performance; and (6) Neurofeedback softwares. To date, many studies have been conducted on the neurofeedback therapy and its effectiveness on the treatment of many diseases. Neurofeedback, like other treatments, has its own pros and cons. Although it is a non-invasive procedure, its validity has been questioned in terms of conclusive scientific evidence. For example, it is expensive, time-consuming and its benefits are not long-lasting. Also, it might take months to show the desired improvements. Nevertheless, neurofeedback is known as a complementary and alternative treatment of many brain dysfunctions. However, current research does not support conclusive results about its efficacy.