Rule-based production planning in flexible manufacturing systems

Production planning in flexible manufacturing may require the solution of a large-scale discrete-event dynamic stochastic optimization problem, due to the complexity of the system to be optimized, and to the occurrence of discrete events (new orders and hard failures). The production planning problem is here approached for a multistage multipart-type manufacturing shop, where each work cell can share its processing time among the different types of parts. The solution of this problem is obtained by an open-loop-feedback control strategy, updated each time a new event occurs. At each event time, two coupled problems are solved: 1) a product-order scheduling problem, conditioned on estimated values of the production capacities of all component work cells; and 2) a production-capacity planning problem, conditioned on predefined sequences of the product orders to be processed. In particular, the article aims at defining a production planning procedure that integrates both analytical tools, derived from mathematical programming, and knowledge-based rules, coming from experience. The objective is to formulate a hybrid (knowledge-based/analytical) planning architecture, and to analyze its use for multicell multipart-type manufacturing systems.     

A routine for solving sparse systems in structural analysis

A computer subprogram for the direct in-core solution of large symmetric systems of linear algebraic equations is presented. The procedure employs a sparse matrix technique and allows for symmetrical pivoting and reordering to improve numerical stability and reduce core allocation. The work is especially oriented to problems deriving from minimum or stationary principles in structural analysis. A FORTRAN print-out of the complete package is given in the Appendix.     

Hydrogen storage performance of methyl-substituted mesoporous silica with tailored textural characteristics

Journal of Porous Materials - The present study reports a systematic analysis of morphology and hydrogen sorption capacity of mesoporous organic-inorganic silica prepared by varying the silica...     

Maximizing Convergence Speed for Second Order Consensus in Leaderless Multi-Agent Systems

The paper deals with the consensus problem in a leaderless network of agents that have to reach a common velocity while forming a uniformly spaced string. Moreover, the final common velocity (reference velocity) is determined by the agents in a distributed and leaderless way. Then, the consensus protocol parameters are optimized for networks characterized by a communication topology described by a class of directed graphs having a directed spanning tree, in order to maximize the convergence rate and avoid oscillations. The advantages of the optimized consensus protocol are enlightened by some simulation results and comparison with a protocol proposed in the related literature. The presented protocol can be applied to coordinate agents such as mobile robots, automated guided vehicles (AGVs) and autonomous vehicles that have to move with the same velocity and a common inter-space gap.      

Modelling of photonic bandgap devices by the leaky mode propagation method

Main modelling approaches used for investigating the Photonic bandgap (PBG) devices are reviewed. In particular, the model based on Leaky Mode Propagation (LMP) method is described. A complete analysis of the propagation characteristics, including the determination of modal propagation constants, electromagnetic field harmonics and total field distribution, transmission and reflection coefficients, total forward and backward power flow in the structure, guided and radiated power, and total losses, can be carried out by a computer program based on the LMP approach. The numerical results have been validated by comparisons with those obtained by using other more complex and expensive models. The new model shows some significant advantages in terms of very low computational time, absence of any a priori theoretical assumptions and approximations, capability of simulating the actual physical behaviour of the device and fast determination of the bandgap position.Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Analytical modelling of multilayer structure electronic devices for electrothermal layout optimisation

In this paper, an analytical model for the electrothermal solution to the non‐linear 3‐D heat flow equation for multilayer structure electronic devices is proposed. Compared with previous models presented in literature, it is general and can be easily applied to a large variety of integrated devices, provided that their structure can be represented as an arbitrary number of superimposed layers with a 2‐D embedded thermal source, so as to include the effect of the package. The proposed method is independent of the specific physical properties of the layers, hence GaAs MESFETs and HEMTs as well as silicon and silicon‐on‐insulator MOSFETs and heterostructure LASERs can be analysed. Moreover, it takes into account the dependence of the thermal conductivity of all the layers on the temperature; the heat equation is solved coupled with the device current–voltage relation in order to give physical consistence to the experimental evidence that a temperature increase causes a degradation of the electrical performances and that the electrical power is not uniformly distributed. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Evaluating energy security performance from 1990 to 2010 for eighteen countries

This study provides an index for evaluating national energy security policies and performance among the United States, European Union, Australia, New Zealand, China, India, Japan, South Korea, and the ten countries comprising the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Drawn from research interviews, a survey instrument, and a focused workshop, the article first argues that energy security ought to be comprised of five dimensions related to availability, affordability, technology development, sustainability, and regulation. The article then breaks these dimensions down into 20 components and correlates them with 20 metrics that constitute a comprehensive energy security index. We find that the top three performers of our index for all data points and times are Japan, Brunei, and the United States and the worst performers Vietnam, India, and Myanmar. Malaysia, Australia, and Brunei saw their energy security improve the most from 1990 to 2010 whereas Laos, Cambodia, and Myanmar saw it decline the most. The article concludes by calling for more research on various aspects of our index and its results.     

Influence of space allowance and housing conditions on the welfare, immune response and production performance of dairy ewes

The experiment used 45 Comisana ewes, divided into 3 groups of 15. The aim was to determine the effects of two different stocking densities and two different housing conditions on welfare, and on production performance of dairy ewes. The stocking densities tested were: high stocking density (1 x 5 m2/ewe, HD group) and low stocking density (3 m2/ewe, LD group); the two housing conditions tested were: ewes housed indoors (LD group, 3 m2/ewe) and ewes allowed to use an outdoor area (LDP group, 3 m2/ewe divided into 1 x 5 m2/ewe indoors and 1 x 5 m2/ewe outdoors). At the beginning of the experiment, and then every 2 months, the cell-mediated immune status of sheep was evaluated. One month after the beginning of the experiment, and 20 d later, the ewes were injected with chicken egg albumin (OVA) to assess their humoural immune responses. Starting from the beginning of the experiment and then monthly, behavioural activities of ewes were monitored using 15-min scans. After lamb weaning, milk yield from individual ewes was measured and milk composition analysed weekly. Housing conditions (low density reared ewes indoors v. low density reared ewes with free access to an outdoor area) affected cell-mediated response, which was higher in LDP than in LD ewes. Concentrations of anti-OVA IgG were mainly influenced by space allowance, with higher antibody titres in LD than in HD ewes throughout the experiment. Both housing conditions and space allowance affected sheep behavioural activities: a greater proportion of LDP ewes displayed standing and drinking behaviours than LD ewes, and a greater proportion of LD ewes was observed walking than HD ewes. Ewes allowed access to the outdoor area had a higher protein content and lower somatic cell count in their milk, whereas reduced space allowance led to a reduction in milk yield and an increase in somatic cell count of milk. Results indicate that both increased space allowance and availability of outdoor area can improve the welfare and production performance of the lactating ewe.