INTELLIGENT COMPUTER INTEGRATED MANUFACTURING (I-CIM): Research Perspectives

Abstract

Manufacturing automation has progressed through various stages from simple data transfer to the intelligence-intensive systems. The future of CIM relies heavily on intelligence-intensive systems because manufacturing is no longer confined to one local site and manufacturing systems have become complex because of their global nature. In this article, the authors study the future manufacturing environment as a collaborative effort. The essential characteristics-the requirements for integration from a process and communication perspective-are identified as are steps in the process requiring further study. Finally, Intelligent-Computer Integrated Manufacturing (I-CIM) scenarios are presented for specific problems.     

Detection and classification of latent defects and diseases on raw French fries with multispectral imaging

This paper describes an application of both multispectral imaging and red/green/blue (RGB) colour imaging for the discrimination between different defect and diseases on raw French fries. Four different potato cultivars generally used for French fries production are selected from which fries are cut. Both multispectral images and RGB colour images are classified with parametric and non‐parametric classifiers. The effect of applying different preprocessing techniques on the spectra was also investigated. The best classification results in terms of accuracy, yield and purity are obtained with a modified version of standard normal variate (snv_mod) preprocessing for different classifiers and potato cultivars. The classification results of the multispectral images are compared with RGB images. The results show that the support vector classifier gives the best classification performance for the snv_mod preprocessed multispectral images and k‐nearest neighbours classifier gives the best classification performance for raw RGB images. The detection of the latent greening defect in French fries with the exploration of multispectral images shows the additional value of multispectral imaging for French fries. A comparison between the multispectral images and the RGB colour images confirms this since this type of defect is not visible in the colour images. Copyright © 2005 Society of Chemical Industry     

Weibull-based methodology for condition assessment of cast iron water mains and its application

A qualitative and quantitative understanding of how cast iron water distribution pipes fail in service would facilitate a targeted approach to the management of rehabilitation in the water industry. This paper proposes a technique for assessing the condition of pipes, based on strength characteristics obtained from small samples; this offers an alternative way of estimating the likelihood of failure to current methodologies based on pit‐depth measurements. Examination of recovered pipe samples indicates that the strength of the cast iron pipe reduces over time as a result of corrosion, although other time‐dependent processes, such as fatigue, may also contribute to this degradation. Taken with previous work, this paper suggests that the variation in strength of small samples removed from cast iron water distribution pipes can be characterized using Weibull methods. It is argued that the Weibull modulus provides a useful indicator of the condition of the pipe. Using scaling arguments, inherent in the Weibull methodology, it is then possible to use data from small samples to predict the likely strength characteristics of water distribution pipes in the ground, which is reasoned to be a good measure of the potential performance of the pipe in service. The Weibull approach is applied to a number of different data sets obtained from testing samples extracted from a range of pipes, which have seen service at various locations in the Thames Water region. One of these data sets was from locations where failure had occurred in service. It is shown that the use of Weibull analysis can identify pipes in the network that have degraded the most significantly. A methodology is suggested whereby this information taken with other performance indicators can be used to identify the local regions where rehabilitation is required most urgently. Alternatively, it can be used to identify those regions of the network, which are in good condition and unlikely to need repair or replacement work.     

Production data based similarity coefficient for machine-component grouping decisions in the design of a cellular manufacturing system

This paper presents a similarity coefficient based approach to the problem of machine-component grouping. The proposed method incorporates relevant production data such as part type production volume, routing sequence and unit operation time in the early stages of grouping decisions for cellular manufacturing. The algorithm also suggests a methodology for evaluating alternative solutions from different algorithms on a quantitative basis using a modified version of an existing coefficient. The modified quantitative measure is a comprehensive indicator for the goodness of a grouping solution. The algorithm then identifies bottleneck machines and corresponding cell candidates for their duplication using percentage utilization in each cell as a criterion. Finally, additional constraints can be applied to determine the best grouping solution among alternative solutions generated by the algorithm. A software package has been developed to verify the implementation.     

Effect of concentration of ATH on mechanical properties of polypropylene/aluminium trihydrate (PP/ATH) composite

Aluminium trihydrate (ATH) is being extensively added to polypropylene (PP) to make a fire retardant composite. Blends of PP/ATH composite are more fire resistant as compared to pure PP. Percentage proportion of both the constituents in the final composite depends upon the application. Improvement in the fire retardant properties of such composites have been studied and published in literature but effects on mechanical strength have not been addressed. The effect of concentration of ATH on the strength of PP/ATH composite was presented. The tensile, flexural and fracture properties were studied and discussed. Experimental tests, ASTM analytical formulae and finite element approach were used. It has been found that increase in ATH has an inverse effect on the mechanical strength.     

ATH浓度对PP/ATH复合材料力学性能的影响(英文)

ATH被广泛添加到聚丙烯(PP)中用于制成阻燃复合材料。PP/ATH复合材料比纯PP材料更具防火性。材料中成分的比例最终取决于应用要求。已有文献对这种复合材料的阻燃性能的提高进行了研究,但对机械强度的影响还没有涉及。本文研究了ATH浓度对PP/ATH复合材料的影响,利用实验测试、ASTM分析公式和有限元方法研究了材料的拉伸、弯曲和断裂特性。研究结果表明:增加ATH对材料的机械强度有不利的影响。     

Equilibrial of AI-N and Nb-N in Molten Iron

ＥｑｕｉｌｉｂｒｉａｏｆＡＩ－ＮａｎｄＮｂ－ＮｉｎＭｏｌｔｅｎＩｒｏｎＣＨＥＮＸｉａｏＹｉ，ＨＡＭＱｉＹｏｎｇ，ＳＯＭＧＢｏａｎｄＷＡＨＧＲｏｎｇＺｈｕＥｑｕｉｌｉｂｒｉａｏｆＡＩ－ＮａｎｄＮｂ－ＮｉｎＭｏｌｔｅｎＩｒｏｎ￥ＣＨＥＮＸｉａｏＹｉ，ＨＡ...