Travel-time model of dual-command cycles in a 3D compact AS/RS with lower mid-point I/O dwell point policy

Three-dimensional compact automated storage/retrieval systems (AS/RS) have been extensively applied in warehouses, with advantages of full automation, time efficiency and high space utilisation. While previous studies that use lower mid-point input/output (I/O) dwell point policy consider single-command cycles (SC), this paper builds travel-time models of dual-command cycles (DC). The S/R crane also dwells in the lower mid-point of the rack when it is idle. We validate analytical models using simulation and use analytical models to optimise system dimensions. Numerical experiments are used to compare DC with SC. The results show that DC outperform SC in terms of cycle time of one command.     

自动化立体仓库出入库调度优化

针对自动化立体仓库的出入库调度优化问题,提出一种基于遗传算法/层次分析法(GA/AHP)的调度规则优化方法.遗传算法中的每个染色体都代表一组可用于描述具体调度方案的规则组合,并对染色体采用分段整数编码;为获得适应度函数值,利用一种集成层次分析法的决策优化方法求取相应的适应度值.优化调度仿真结果表明,该方法能有效地应用在自动化立体仓库的出入库调度规则的优化问题上.     

Simplified mechanistic models of gene regulation for analysis and design

Simplified mechanistic models of gene regulation are fundamental to systems biology and essential for synthetic biology. However, conventional simplified models typically have outputs that are not directly measurable and are based on assumptions that do not often hold under experimental conditions. To resolve these issues, we propose a ‘model reduction’ methodology and simplified kinetic models of total mRNA and total protein concentration, which link measurements, models and biochemical mechanisms. The proposed approach is based on assumptions that hold generally and include typical cases in systems and synthetic biology where conventional models do not hold. We use novel assumptions regarding the ‘speed of reactions’, which are required for the methodology to be consistent with experimental data. We also apply the methodology to propose simplified models of gene regulation in the presence of multiple protein binding sites, providing both biological insights and an illustration of the generality of the methodology. Lastly, we show that modelling total protein concentration allows us to address key questions on gene regulation, such as efficiency, burden, competition and modularity.     

自动化立体仓库出入库决策系统的开发与仿真

在对作业方式、出入库作业方式分析的基础上,开发出了自动化立体仓库的出入库决策系统.系统管理层用Visual Basic 6.0编程语言开发,可实现对系统参数的初始设置,记录和查询出入库信息,货位优化管理和堆垛机的优化调度.监控仿真层的开发选用了组态软件组态王6.5,可实现对立体仓库的输入输出作业过程的动态模拟,并对系统运行结果进行曲线分析.系统数据库平台的构建选用的是Access 2000数据库软件,该数据库平台为管理层和监控层搭建了数据桥梁.进行货位优化管理时要综合考虑分布描述指标、库存量指标、出库分发效率指标这三个指标;按照堆垛机作业路线的优先级来安排堆垛机作业指令;综合考虑货位管理、堆垛机调度和输送机的运送管理这三个问题.通过仿真试验证明了可以得到系统进行优化决策方案.     

Markovian models for deadlock analysis in automated manufacturing systems

Deadlocks constitute a major issue in the desing and operation of discrete event systems. In automated manufacturing systems, deadlocks assume even greater importance in view of the automated operation. In this paper, we show that Markov chains with absorbing states provide a natural model of manufacturing systems with deadlocks. With illustrative examples, we show that performance indices such as mean time to deadlock and mean number of finished parts before deadlock can be efficiently computed in the modelling framework of Markov chains with absorbing states. We also show that the distribution of time to deadlock can be computed by conducting a transient analysis of the Markov chain model.     

Models for automated storage and retrieval systems: a literature review

Automated Storage and Retrieval Systems (AS/RS) are warehousing systems that use mechanised devices to accomplish the repetitive tasks of storing and retrieving parts in racks. Since these systems represent a significant investment and considerable operating costs, their use must be as efficient as possible. AS/RS performance is the result of the interaction of many complex and stochastic subsystems. This reality creates a need for robust and efficient evaluation models. This article complements previous surveys on AS/RS by focusing on the particular research question addressed by each work and the associated assumptions used for the various models designed for evaluating AS/RS. Dynamic models based on simulation dominate the most recent literature; however, static approaches based on travel-time modelling have strongly contributed to the study of AS/RS. This review includes dynamic – simulation-based – models, but considers also steady-state (travel-time-based) models. We believe that this review may be of great help to researchers and industrial users in their search for the best modelling approach for a specific problem.     

High-order finite elements reduced models for modal analysis of stiffened panels

A method is presented to build reduced (equivalent) models of stiffened panels made of thin-walled composite materials. The technique is developed to be used in the modal analysis of panels and wing boxes, allowing finite element modelling and analysis using a single-type, three-dimensional orthotropic p-element. The use of a single element guarantees speed and flexibility in the (re)modelling of the structure and reduces the modelling and analysis errors connected to finite element analysis in preliminary-design/multidisciplinary-optimization environments. The method is tested on two types of representative wing boxes. Different approaches for the equivalencing are tested and compared to each other. The results show that the equivalent models give results within few percent from those obtained running a full model, saving as much as one order of magnitude in the number of degrees of freedom employed.     

On intrinsic priors for nonnested models

Model selection problems involving nonnested models are considered. Bayes factor based solution to these problems needs prior distributions for the parameters in the alternative models. When the prior information on these parameters is vague default priors are available but, unfortunately, these priors are usually imporper which yields a calibration problem that makes the Bayes factor to be defined up to a multiplicative constant. Intrinsic priors have been introduced for solving this difficulty. While these priors are well established for nested models, their construction for nonnested models is still an open problem. In this latter setting this paper studies the system of functional equations that defines the intrinsic priors. It is shown that the solutions to these equations are obtained from the solutions to a single homogeneous linear functional equation. The Bayes factors associated with these solutions are analyzed. Some illustrative examples are provided and, in particular, location, scale, and location-scale models are considered.     

Automatic creation of Markov models for reliability assessment of safety instrumented systems

After the release of new international functional safety standards like IEC 61508, people care more for the safety and availability of safety instrumented systems. Markov analysis is a powerful and flexible technique to assess the reliability measurements of safety instrumented systems, but it is fallible and time-consuming to create Markov models manually. This paper presents a new technique to automatically create Markov models for reliability assessment of safety instrumented systems. Many safety related factors, such as failure modes, self-diagnostic, restorations, common cause and voting, are included in Markov models. A framework is generated first based on voting, failure modes and self-diagnostic. Then, repairs and common-cause failures are incorporated into the framework to build a complete Markov model. Eventual simplification of Markov models can be done by state merging. Examples given in this paper show how explosively the size of Markov model increases as the system becomes a little more complicated as well as the advancement of automatic creation of Markov models.     

Integrated analytical models for flexible manufacturing systems

Product form queueing networks (pfqn) and generalized stochastic Petri nets (gspn) have emerged as the principal performance modelling tools for flexible manufacturing systems (fms). In this paper, we present integratedpfqn-gspn models, which combine the computational efficiency ofpfqn and representational power ofgspn by employing the principle of flow-equivalence. We show thatfms that include nonproduct form characteristics such as dynamic routing and synchronization can be evaluated efficiently and accurately using the integrated models.     

Chain models of physical behavior for engineering analysis and design

The relationship between geometry (form) and physical behavior (function) dominates many engineering activities. The lack of uniform and rigorous computational models for this relationship has resulted in a plethora of inconsistent (and thus usually incompatible) computer-aided design (CAD) tools and systems, causing unreasonable overhead in time, effort, and cost, and limiting the extent to which CAD tools are used in practice. It seems clear that formalization of the relationship between form and function is a prerequisite to taking full advantage of computers in automating design and analysis of engineering systems.We present a unified computational model of physical behavior that explicitly links geometric and physical representations. The proposed approach characterizes physical systems in terms of their algebraic-topological properties:cell complexes, chains, and operations on them.     

Multi-class queueing models for performance analysis of computer systems

Queueing models, networks of queues in particular, have been found especially useful for estimating the performance of computer systems. Networks of queues with multiple customer classes provide a flexible framework for modelling computer systems, where a rich set of analytical results and techniques are available. When because of the complexity of the system being modelled the analytical results cannot be applied directly, they often point to fairly accurate approximation schemes. In this paper, we present a brief survey of some of the important results and techniques from the theory of multi-class queueing networks. We also present a case study to illustrate how these results and techniques are used in a real-life situation where many of the modelling constraints are violated.     

Generalized renewal process for analysis of repairable systems with limited failure experience

Repairable systems can be brought to one of possible states following a repair. These states are: ‘as good as new’, ‘as bad as old’, ‘better than old but worse than new’, ‘better than new’, and ‘worse than old’. The probabilistic models traditionally used to estimate the expected number of failures account for the first two states, but they do not properly apply to the last three, which are more realistic in practice. In this paper, a robust solution to a probabilistic model that is applicable to all of the five after repair states, called generalized renewal process (GRP), is presented. This research demonstrates that the GRP offers a general approach to modeling repairable systems and discusses application of the classical maximum likelihood and Bayesian approaches to estimation of the GRP parameters. This paper also presents a review of the traditional approaches to the analysis of repairable systems as well as some applications of the GRP and shows that they are subsets of the GRP approach. It is shown that the proposed GRP solution accurately describes the failure data, even when a small amount of failure data is available.Recent emphasis in the use of performance-based analysis in operation and regulation of complex engineering systems (such as those in space and process industries) require use of sound models for predicting failures based on the past performance of the systems. The GRP solution in this paper is a promising and efficient approach for such performance-based applications.     

Statistical models for the analysis of water distribution system pipe break data

The deterioration of pipes leading to pipe breaks and leaks in urban water distribution systems is of concern to water utilities throughout the world. Pipe breaks and leaks may result in reduction in the water-carrying capacity of the pipes and contamination of water in the distribution systems. Water utilities incur large expenses in the replacement and rehabilitation of water mains, making it critical to evaluate the current and future condition of the system for maintenance decision-making. This paper compares different statistical regression models proposed in the literature for estimating the reliability of pipes in a water distribution system on the basis of short time histories. The goals of these models are to estimate the likelihood of pipe breaks in the future and determine the parameters that most affect the likelihood of pipe breaks. The data set used for the analysis comes from a major US city, and these data include approximately 85,000 pipe segments with nearly 2500 breaks from 2000 through 2005. The results show that the set of statistical models previously proposed for this problem do not provide good estimates with the test data set. However, logistic generalized linear models do provide good estimates of pipe reliability and can be useful for water utilities in planning pipe inspection and maintenance.     

3D heterostructures and systems for novel MEMS/NEMS

Abstract

In this review, we consider the application of solid micro- and nanostructures of various shapes as building blocks for micro-electro-mechanical or nano-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS/NEMS). We provide examples of practical applications of structures created by MEMS/NEMS fabrication. Novel devices are briefly described, such as a high-power electrostatic nanoactuator, a fast-response tubular anemometer for measuring gas and liquid flows, a nanoprinter, a nanosyringe and optical MEMS/NEMS. The prospects are described for achieving NEMS with tunable quantum properties.     

Bayesian spatial and ecological models for small-area accident and injury analysis

In this article, recently developed Bayesian spatial and ecological regression models are applied to analyse small-area variation in accident and injury. This study serves to demonstrate how Bayesian modelling techniques can be implemented to assess potential risk factors measured at group (e.g. area) level. Presented here is a unified modelling framework that enables thorough investigations into associations between injury rates and regional characteristics, residual variation and spatial autocorrelation. Using hospital separation data for 83 local health areas in British Columbia (BC), Canada, in 1990–1999, we explore and examine ecological/contextual determinants of motor vehicle accident injury (MVAI) among male children and youth aged 0–24 and for those of six age groups (<1, 1–4, 5–9, 10–14, 15–19 and 20–24). Eighteen local health area characteristics are studied. They include a broad spectrum of socio-economic indicators, residential environment indicators (roads and parks), medical services availability and utilisation, population health, proportion of recent immigrants, crime rates, rates of speeding charge and rates of seatbelt violation. Our study indicates a large regional variation in MVAI in males aged 0–24 in British Columbia, Canada, in 1990–1999, and that adjusting for appropriate risk factors eliminates nearly all the variation observed. Socio-economic influence on MVAI was profoundly apparent in young males of all ages with the injury being more common in communities of lower socio-economic status. High adult male crime rates were significantly associated with high injury rates of boys aged 1–14. Seatbelt violations and excess speeding charges were found to be positively associated with the injury rates of young men aged 20–24. This and similar ecological studies shed light on reasons for regional variations in accident occurrence as well as in the resulting injuries and hospital utilisation. Thereby they are potentially useful in identifying priority areas for injury/accident prevention and in informing regional health planning and policy development.     

Maximum-likelihood mixture factor analysis model and its application for process monitoring

In the present paper, a mixture form of the factor analysis model is developed under the maximum-likelihood framework. In this new model structure, different noise levels of process variables have been considered. Afterward, the developed mixture factor analysis model is utilized for process monitoring. To enhance the monitoring performance, a soft combination strategy is then proposed to integrate different local monitoring results into a single monitoring chart, which is based on the Bayesian inference method. To test the modeling and monitoring performance of the proposed mixture factor analysis method, a numerical example and the Tennessee Eastman (TE) benchmark case studies are provided.