Fuzzy sets in urban design

Urban design review has traditionally been fraught with allegations of subjectivity. While reviewers strive to ensure projects that are in the best interests of the community, the mechanisms for and language of evaluation are often arbitrary and inconsistent. With any evaluation process, the more objective and standardized the assessment instruments are, the more assurance is afforded by the community. The proposed ‘urban design assessment model’ is one mechanism based on the mathematical concepts of fuzzy set theory that attempts to address this problem, while assuming a role as a tool to complement rather than supplant existing mechanisms of review. The paper is presented in four parts. The first part is the introduction to the paper. The second part briefly explains the term ‘urban design’ and the different approaches to urban design review. The third part describes the proposed urban design assessment model. This section also discusses the basic concept of the fuzzy set and explains the model through an example. In the fourth part, the conclusion of the paper, the strengths and weaknesses of the proposed model are examined     

Process communication within a distributed multimicrocomputer system

Loosely coupled multicomputer systems involve new problems in the design of interprocess communication mechanisms. These mechanisms are based on the assumption that there is no shared main memory. A concept of a communication mechanism which satisfies the above mentioned aspect is discussed. The essential features are the asynchronity of the sending operation and the disjunctivity of the receiving operation. Considering the aim of using no central element, a concept was chosen which offers the properties of direct and indirect allocation strategies. Strongly related to the introduced communication mechanism is the concept of a loosely coupled multimicrocomputer system. Each single computer is separated into a communication and processing section. A survey of this system concludes the paper.     

Odyssey: A knowledge-based assistant

We describe an investigation into the representation and use of task domain knowledge to assist with the acquisition of data in an office information system. In particular, a demonstration system called Odyssey is described which assists with the filling out of a collection of electronic forms in the preparation for a business trip. The system uses knowledge about trip planning to maintain consistency of the acquired data, infer additional values and data base records, reformat field entries on the forms, correct spelling errors, etc. We discuss the ‘frame oriented’ style of programming used to design and implement Odyssey that combines ‘frame-structured’ knowledge representation and ‘object oriented’ programming. We focus on the problems involved with allowing the user at any time to enter or change information in any of the forms. A dependency maintenance facility is described that deals with those problems by allowing the application of domain knowledge to data whenever it enters the data base, and the removal of derived results whenever the data used in the derivation is removed or changed.     

油脂管理系统的设计与实现

为了适应生产发展的需要 ,提高管理水平 ,增强企业效益 ,介绍了油脂系统的硬件结构设计和软件设计 ,对系统设计中遇到的用户权限管理、条形码票据打印、串口数据采集、图像实时捕捉和存折打印等主要技术问题进行了详细的论述。该系统的结构设计和关键技术的实现对相关的项目工程均有一定的借鉴意义。     

A heuristic particle swarm optimizer for optimization of pin connected structures

This paper presents a heuristic particle swarm optimizer (HPSO) for optimum design of pin connected structures. The algorithm is based on the particle swarm optimizer with passive congregation (PSOPC) and a harmony search (HS) scheme. The HPSO algorithm handles the problem-specific constraints using a ‘fly-back mechanism’ method, and the harmony search scheme deals with the variable constraints. The method is verified and compared with the PSO and PSOPC algorithms used for the designs of five planar and spatial truss structures. The results show that the HPSO algorithm can effectively accelerate the convergence rate and can more quickly reach the optimum design than the two other algorithms.     

Explorations in evolutionary design of online auction market mechanisms

This paper describes the use of a genetic algorithm (GA) to find optimal parameter-values for trading agents that operate in virtual online auction ‘e-marketplaces’, where the rules of those marketplaces are also under simultaneous control of the GA. The aim is to use the GA to automatically design new mechanisms for agent-based e-marketplaces that are more efficient than online markets designed by (or populated by) humans. The space of possible auction-types explored by the GA includes the continuous double auction (CDA) mechanism (as used in most of the world’s financial exchanges), and also two purely one-sided mechanisms. Surprisingly, the GA did not always settle on the CDA as an optimum. Instead, novel hybrid auction mechanisms were evolved, which are unlike any existing market mechanisms. In this paper we show that, when the market supply and demand schedules undergo sudden ‘shock’ changes partway through the evaluation process, two-sided hybrid market mechanisms can evolve which may be unlike any human-designed auction and yet may also be significantly more efficient than any human designed market mechanism.     

Bending of beams of arbitrary cross sections - optimal design by analytical formulae

The paper deals with the conceptual design of a beam under bending. The common problem of designing a beam in a state of pure bending is discussed in the framework of Pareto-optimality theory. The analytical formulation of the Pareto-optimal set is derived by using a procedure based on the reformulation of the Fritz John Pareto-optimality conditions. The shape of the cross section of the beam is defined by a number of design variables pertaining to the optimization process by means of efficiency factors. Such efficiency factors are able to describe the bending properties of any beam cross section and can be used to derive analytical formulae. Design performance is determined by the combination of cross section shape, material and process. Simple expressions for the Pareto-optimal set of a beam of arbitrary cross section shape under bending are derived. This expression can be used at the very early stage of the design to choose a possible cross section shape and material for the beam among optimal solutions.     

框架结构CAD系统

本系统是以ＰＡＮＤＡ－３Ｄ造型软件为平台开发的一套用于框架结构设计的高效率专用系统。框架结构由型材零件焊接而成。用户以零件的轴线来设计框架结构的空间布置、选择所用型材,然后系统可自动建立型材零件间的装配关系、生成整个框架结构的焊接装置实体模型。该系统已成功地应用在某飞机工业公司新型飞机的装配型架框架的设计中。     

Improving power network stability and unit stress with adaptive generator control

The ‘steady state stability’ of the French power transmission system has been greatly improved by supplying additional signals to the voltage regulator. The control system parameters, including the additional signals, have been chosen in order to cover all the possible operating conditions and network configurations. These additional signals lead to an increase in the ‘steady state stability’ domain even with a regulator having constant parameters. Better results have been obtained using the model reference adaptive control method with an adjustable regulator. A method based on the ‘hyperstability’ approach has been used for the design of the adaptive control system because of its efficiency. Moreover, the adaptive control of generator excitation, using voltage, speed and active power as input signals, reduces the oscillations of the H.P. turbine valves when the generator is affected by network perturbations. Therefore, the wear of the units, in particular of nuclear units, could be reduced. The principles of this new type regulator are discussed and experimental results are presented.     

Modelling of quality in physical system theory: an extended framework

Quality is a vital concept that has important bearing on the functioning of any system. In order to control the quality effectively, it has to be systematically planned. Further, the quality in the system has a significant impact on the cost. The cost and flow dimensions of any manufacturing or socioeconomic system can be very well modelled and analysed in the framework of physical system theory (PST), which is based on the concept of a linear graph and deals with two categories of variables; an ‘across’ variable and a ‘through’ variable. The “across’ variables are governed by the law of compatibility, whereas the ‘through’ variables are governed by the law of continuity. The quality variables are not governed by the strict definitions of the “across’ and ‘through’ variables and the constraints imposed on them. Hence, in order to utilize the PST framework for modelling the quality variables in addition to the cost and flow variables, we attempt to develop an extended framework with quality as a third category of variables. An overview of the PST concepts is provided and the need for an extended framework is discussed. Then, the extended framework of the PST is presented with the modelling of basic processes, i.e. transformation, transportation and storage, in the developed framework with additional quality equations and functions. The proposed framework is illustrated with the simple example of a manufacturing system with three stages of production.     

A Sequential Element Rejection and Admission (SERA) method for compliant mechanisms design

A Sequential Element Rejection and Admission (SERA) method to design compliant mechanisms with topology optimization techniques is presented in this work. This procedure allows material to flow between two different material models: ‘real’ and ‘virtual’. The method works with two separate criteria for the rejection and admission of elements to efficiently achieve the optimum design. The SERA method overcomes the problems encountered by the ESO method when used to design compliant mechanisms. Three benchmark problems are presented to show the validity and robustness of the SERA method to design complaint mechanisms, regardless of the design parameters chosen.     

Real-time human action recognition based on depth motion maps

This paper deals with the design and the implementation of an image recognition system based on FPGA devices. It explores an n-tuple methodology using node ‘grouping’ and the possible advantages offered by this little-known technique. The paper is based on the implementation of this concept by an FPGA device. A novel approach to the organization of the neural networks data in the n-tuple memory is introduced. The system was tested on a real-world recognition task—the recognition of road signs. The test results are presented and discussed. It is concluded that the designed system may be a powerful part of more complex equipment for the solution of many recognition issues.     

基于VHDL高级综合的条码阅读预处理器的FPGA设计

文中定义了条码阅读处理器的功能，给出其ＶＨＤＬ语言的行为源描述，讨论了在ＶＨＤＬ高级综合系统ＨＬＳ／ＢＩＴ的支持下面向ＦＰＧＡ，从算法级行为描述开始，自顶向下地进行条码阅读预处理器的设计过程，从中可见，ＶＨＤＬ高级综合和ＦＰＧＡ的结合，是一种简化设计复杂度，提高设计时效的ＡＳＩＣ的简便方法。     

On using flexure‐hinge five‐bar linkages to develop novel walking mechanisms and small‐scale grippers for microrobots

This paper presents the micromotion analysis of five‐bar linkages and demonstrates the approximate linearity of motion transmission of five‐bar mechanisms within a micromotion range. A novel walking mechanism used for a microrobot and a small‐scale gripper with a high transmission ratio are introduced, based on the flexure‐hinge five‐bar mechanism analysis. Results of numerical simulation show the validity of design and analysis on the introduced mechanisms and the feasibility of corresponding thoughts. The presented micromotion‐based robot mechanisms are devoid of friction and fitting errors, and particularly suitable for microrobot applications. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Algorithms for Building Annular Structures with Minimalist Robots Inspired by Brood Sorting in Ant Colonies

This study shows that a task as complicated as multi-object ‘ant-like annular sorting’ can be accomplished with ‘minimalist’ solutions employing simple mechanisms and minimal hardware. It provides an alternative to ‘patch sorting’ for multi-object sorting. Three different mechanisms, based on hypotheses about the behaviour of Leptothorax ants are investigated and comparisons are made. Mechanism I employs a simple clustering algorithm, with objects of different sizes. The mechanism explores the idea that it is the size difference of the object that promotes segregation. Mechanism II is an extension to our earlier two-object segregation mechanism. We test the ability of this mechanism to segregate an increased number of object types. Mechanism III uses a combined leaky integrator, which allows a greater segregation of object types while retaining the compactness of the structure. Its performance is improved by optimizing the mechanism's parameters using a genetic algorithm. We compare the three mechanisms in terms of sorting performance. Comparisons between the results of these sorting mechanisms and the behaviour of ants should facilitate further insights into both biological and robotic research and make a contribution to the further development of swarm robotics.