Prototypical implementation of location-aware services based on a middleware architecture for super-distributed RFID tag infrastructures

We provide evidence of the feasibility and effectiveness of a middleware architecture for mobile devices (MoDs), which employs dense distributions of small computerized entities for providing fault-tolerant location-aware services. We do so by describing exemplary implementations based on radio frequency identification as an enabling technology. Firstly, we present prototypical implementations of the hardware abstraction layer and of selected core middleware services. The latter enable a MoD to store and retrieve data and position information in physical places in a fault-tolerant manner, and to identify places based on a location abstraction which is robust against failure of individual tags. Secondly, we investigate the feasibility of some higher-level services and applications by developing and evaluating prototypical systems for tracing and tracking, self-positioning, and collaborative map-making.

Low retaining force optical viewport seal

We report on the experimental realization of an ultrahigh vacuum (UHV) indium sealing between a conflat knife edge and an optical window. The sealing requires a very low clamping force and thus allows for the use of very thin and fragile windows.     

Muscular capabilities and workload of flight attendants for pushing and pulling trolleys aboard aircraft

Increasingly in the recent years, passengers’ services are extended into the ascent and descent flight phases on short distance flights. Trolleys containing the required meal and beverage items are used for these service operations and pushed or pulled along the aisles of the aircraft. Flight attendants reported about increased musculo-skeletal disorders and had been complaining about high physical workload from handling trolleys. In order to ensure acceptable load levels for pushing or pulling operations of trolleys, the physical capabilities of the collective “flight attendants” had been investigated by means of force measurements at maximum voluntary contraction (MVC) level and associated relevant anthropometrical and biometrical data. CEN and ISO standards as well as international and national German methods were used to derive recommended force limits for pushing/pulling operations with respect to the physical capabilities of the target group “flight attendants”. Comparing these recommended limits with the force requirements per shift under various conditions of trolley handlings (inclination of the floor, type and weight of trolley, mode of handling, frequency of operation) showed that especially for higher floor inclinations and trolley weights, flight attendants work (substantially) above recommended limits. It became also apparent that the handling of half-size trolleys is unexpectedly high demanding due to high vertical force components, caused by the unfavorable location of their center of gravity.

Relevance to industry

On short-distance flights, passengers’ services are performed by means of trolleys from the ascent to the descent flight phases. Flight attendants had been complaining about high physical workload. This study offers recommendations on maximum force limits for the handling of trolleys with respect to the muscular capacities and work situations of flight attendants on short-distance flights.     

Physical workload of flight attendants when pushing and pulling trolleys aboard aircraft

The musculoskeletal loads from moving trolleys aboard aircraft were assessed by observation of trolley handling on planes and by physical workload analyses of pushing and pulling of trolleys in a laboratory set up. Trolley handling by a total of 15 female flight attendants was observed on 10 short- and medium-distance flights in different types of aircraft. About 25 selected flight attendants (22 females; 3 males) of five German airlines took part in the laboratory study, which comprised three-dimensional (3D) measurements of posture and hand forces during pushing and pulling of trolleys in a variety of configurations. From the on-flight observations performed, between 150 and 250 trolley movements can be projected for a work shift. The greatest physical workload is to be expected at the beginning of service: The trolleys are fully laden then, and the cabin floor can still be inclined up to 8°, as the aircraft is still climbing, particularly on short-distance flights. The laboratory investigation revealed that the musculoskeletal workload from pushing and pulling depends essentially on the trolley load and on the gradient of the cabin floor. In addition, the degree of stressing depends significantly on the trolley type, mode of handling and personal dexterity. The up/down force component perpendicular to the direction of motion often achieved considerable amplitudes-in some cases equal to or exceeding the force in the direction of movement. The posture analysis demonstrated that pulling forced the flight attendants to adopt ergonomically unfavourable postures such as pronounced flexion of the back, particularly among female subjects. The highest values for flexion of the back occurred while pulling the half-size trolley. The results demonstrate that female flight attendants are likely to overload themselves if they frequently have to move heavily laden trolleys unaided on an inclined cabin floor.

Relevance to industry

On short distance flights, flight attendants have been complaining increasingly of high physical workload from manoeuvring trolleys. On the basis of the presented data airline companies may improve the trolley handling skills of their flight attendances by practical trainings and may ergonomically optimize the general service procedures aboard aircrafts.     

Model checking multi-agent systems with logic based Petri nets

We introduce a class of Petri nets, simple logic Petri nets (SLPN), that are based on logical expressions. We show how this type of nets can be efficiently mapped into logic programs with negation: the corresponding answer sets describe interleaved executions of the underlying nets (Theorem 1). The absence of an answer set indicates a deadlock situation. We also show how to correctly model and specify AgentSpeak agents and multi-agent systems with SLPN’s (Theorem 2). Both theorems allow us to solve the task of model checking AgentSpeak multi-agent systems by computing answer sets of the obtained logic program with any ASP system.     

Distributed Symbolic Bounded Property Checking

In this paper we describe an algorithm for distributed, BDD-based bounded property checking and its implementation in the verification tool SymC. The distributed algorithm verifies larger models and returns results faster than the sequential version.The core algorithm distributes partitions of the state set to computation nodes after reaching a threshold size. The nodes proceed with image computation on the nodes asynchronously. The main scalability problem of this scheme is the overlap of state set partitions. We present static and dynamic overlap reduction techniques.     

Tree-systems of morphisms

Starting from the idea of determinism in membrane systems, we introduce a language generating device consisting of morphisms placed in the nodes of a tree. Initial strings are given in the leaves; by iteratively applying the morphisms to them, we produce new strings, which are collected in the root of the tree. Such a device is called a tree-system of morphisms (in short, a T system). We investigate here the power of T systems, both in the extended (a terminal alphabet is considered and only strings over it are accepted) and non-extended case, mainly in comparison with classes of languages in Lindenmayer hierarchy. Received: 8 February 2001 / 18 September 2001     

Stakeholder orientated sustainable land management: The Ruhr Area as a role model for urban areas

The concept of sustainable land management (SLM) can help create a balance between the different demands of economy, society and nature. SLM means to actively develop land based on a knowledge-based procedure. It should aim on long term enhancements. The basis of SLM is the interests and the goals of the stakeholders. It is the result of a bargaining process between different institutions by creating win-win-situations or adequate conflict solutions to reach a consensus. The Ruhr Area is Germany’s biggest metropolitan area. Land management regarding economic, social and environmental issues, which has a long tradition in this area, goes back to 1920. Being the centre of the heavy industry in Germany for more than 150 years, the Ruhr Area today is a green metropolis. The ecological, social and economical change of this industrial region can serve as a role model for SLM in urban areas all over the world.