The Small and Silent Force Multiplier: A Swarm UAV—Electronic Attack

At the last two decades, according to UAVs concepts and technological advances, there have been lots of unimagined improvements. Nowadays there are serious works and researches about the usage of UAVs in military operations at electronic warfare (EW) missions. But most of the work on UAV platforms is based upon the advantages of a single, big, expensive, and non-expendable platform. In this study, to get rid off the disadvantages of a stand alone platform a new concept is developed consisting of multiple UAVs with smaller dimensions, at a cheaper price and a wider coverage. According to clarify the study, firstly the EW and RADAR systems and then the swarm UAV concepts are explained. In this manner the current and previous works are pointed out and then the use of the swarm UAVs for EA in military operations is stated. Objectively, the swarm UAV concept’s advantages and some outstanding challenges to the intra-theater space have been put forward regarding the information mentioned above. As a result it is considered that the swarm UAV systems will be tasked important EW missions in the future operation theatres, as soon as the technical handicaps are solved.     

Selection of the optimum decomposition level using the discrete wavelet transform for automobile suspension system

Journal of Mechanical Science and Technology - This paper discusses the determination of the optimum decomposition level by using the discrete wavelet transform (DWT) method for an automobile...     

确保粮食安全和环境可持续发展的水土资源利用

主要讨论灌溉农业所面临的挑战.随着人均可用水量的不断下降,灌溉农业必须提高水资源利用效率,同时进一步采用有利于环境的经营和管理方式.灌溉界面临的压力是如何通过提高作物产量和用水效率来实现生产率的最大化.今后的发展方向是以更加高效率、有成效的方式利用水资源,而实现从"提高每滴水的粮食产量"向"少用水,多产粮"的转变,则有助于该目标的实现.为了尽可能减小外在因素的影响,将来的努力方向是在全面性和整体性上下工夫.     

A non-contact method for part-based process performance monitoring in end milling operations

Surface response to excitation (SuRE) method was originally developed for structural health monitoring (SHM) applications. SuRE was used to evaluate the performance of completed milling operations. The method generates surface waves on the plate and studies the spectrum changes at selected points to detect defects and change of compressive forces. In this study, the length, depth, and width of a slot were changed step by step. The surface of the aluminum plate was excited in the 20–400 kHz range with a piezoelectric element. A laser scanning vibrometer was used to monitor the vibrations at the predetermined grid points after the dimensions of the slot were changed methodically. The frequency spectrums of measured vibrations were calculated by using the Fast Fourier Transformation (FFT). The sums of the squares of the differences (SSD) of the spectrums were calculated to evaluate the change of the spectrums. The SuRE method was able to determine if the dimensions were changed in each case at all the selected points. The scanning laser vibrometer is not feasible to be used at the shop floor. However, the study demonstrated that a piezoelectric element attached to any of the grid points would be able to evaluate the completed machining process.     

Predicting surface quality of γ-TiAl produced by additive manufacturing process using response surface method

Electron beam melting (EBM) has been found to be a promising technology for producing complex shaped parts from gamma titanium aluminide alloys (γ-TiAl). The parts produced by this process are projected to have dimensions very close to the desired final shapes. However, the surface roughness of the parts produced by EBM is excessively rough. In many applications, it is necessary to improve the quality of manufactured parts using a convenient post process. This paper determines process parameters of end milling when it is used as a post process for the parts produced by EBM. Design of experiments has been used to study the effect of the selected input parameters of end milling (spindle speed, feed rate, depth of cut and coolant type) on the surface roughness of γ-TiAl parts. Response surface methodology is used to develop a predictive model for surface roughness. Effects of the selected milling process are investigated. This paper also optimizes the selected process parameters to minimize the value of the obtained surface roughness.     

A new design of magnetorheological fluid based braking system using genetic algorithm optimization

This paper proposes a new design for an automotive magnetorheological (MR) braking system using multiple rotary disks. We develop an analytical model to calculate the torque and validate our results using finite element analysis considering a non-linear relationship between magnetic field and magnetic flux. Using genetic algorithm, we optimize the system’s dimensions to generate maximum torque. The optimized geometry shows an improvement in output torque compared to existing systems. Moreover, our design directs higher flux onto the MR fluid and subsequently generates greater shear frictions. This design can be used in applications such as rehabilitation devices.     

Extraction,optimisation and characterisation of phenolics from Thymus vulgaris L.: phenolic content and profiles in relation to antioxidant,antidiabetic and antihypertensive properties

The objectives of this study were to examine varying extraction conditions of Thymus vulgaris L. as related to phenolic content and profiles of the extracts and their antioxidant, antihypertensive and antidiabetic properties. Phenolics were extracted under various conditions pertaining to free and bound phenolics, solvent type and combination of extraction time and temperature, and these extracts were evaluated in terms of their antioxidant activities and inhibitory activities of angiotensin‐converting enzyme (ACE), α‐glucosidase and α‐amylase. The acetone–water solvent mixture (1:1; v/v) produced the extract with the greatest phenolic content, antioxidant activity and inhibitory activities of ACE and α‐glucosidase. The optimal extraction temperature for maximum phenolic content and antioxidant activity associated with methanol extraction was 60 °C, whereas a lower temperature at 40 °C was required to maximise inhibitory activities for ACE, α‐glucosidase and α‐amylase. An inverse relationship was seen between antioxidant and glucosidase inhibitory activities vs. the ACE and α‐amylase inhibitory activities, which suggests the need for extractions to be directed to specific bioactivities of thyme extracts. Generally, the results indicate major differences in phenolic profiles among the tested extraction conditions with thymol as the predominant phenolic seen in most extractions, while gallic acid, rosmarinic acid or diosmin also predominated in other extracts. Extracts with the same predominant phenolic compound and similar phenolic content showed major disparities in their ACE, glucosidase and α‐amylase inhibitory activities, indicating that the major phenolic profiles of thyme extracts may not be necessarily related to the degree of inhibition of ACE, glucosidase and α‐amylase enzymes.