Ultra sensitive in-situ acoustic characterization system for HDD head disc interface defectoscopy

An ultra sensitive drive level acoustic characterization system has been developed for in-situ Head Disc Interface defectoscopy. Multimode acoustic emission (AE) sensor installed on the drive cover is designed for tracking air bearing (AB) and slider modes. Monitored modal changes at the AB and slider bandwidth correlate to the weak head disc interface (HDI) interactions such as lubricant modulation and particles induced defects. Two or three orders of magnitude increase in sensitivity can be achieved by a combination of advanced sensors, data acquisition hardware and digital signal processing algorithms. Continuous and Discrete Wavelet Transform and Joint Time-Frequency analyses are implemented for the AB modal data mining process. Performance of the newly developed technology is demonstrated on a normally operating hard disc drive (HDD).     

Passive acoustic monitoring of head disc interface interactions

A hard disc drive (HDD) recording head thermal protrusion is monitored by the passive acoustic characterization technique where adaptive discrete wavelet (ADW) filtering has been introduced to declare the contact. A phenomenological model is built to demonstrate detectability of the passive acoustic monitoring. The model is based on the mechanical impedance approach where impedances of head disc interface (HDI) and acoustic emission (AE) sensor are compared for matching over air bearing/head gimble assembly frequency bandwidth. A synthesized HDI response signal derived from the HDI mechanical impedance function is compared to the real AE signal obtained during the thermal protrusion based contact detection. A methodology of HDD level AE signal characterization presented in this work consists of the ADW filtering technique where the fifth order DB7 wavelet base function is used in AE signal decomposition. The signal decomposition order is selected by the AE signal entropy minimization.     

Developing control and integration software for flexible manufacturing systems

The slow growth of computer-integrated manufacturing is attributed to the complexity of designing and implementing their control and integration software. This article expands on a methodology for designing and implementing this software that was introduced in [16]. The goal of this methodology is to build flexible and resuable control and integration software for computer-integrated manufacturing systems. It hinges upon the concepts of software/hardware components, their assemblages, a distributed common language environment, formal models, and generic controllers. Major sources of flexibility are obtained by decoupling process plan models from the model of the factory floor and by using a generic controller. Reusability is achieved by building selfcontained software/hardware components with general, possibly parametrized, interfaces. The interplay between simulated and actual hardware internals of software/hardware components is used as the basis of a testing strategy that performs off-line simulation followed by on-line testing.The methodology has been applied in designing and implementing the control and integration software of an actual Prismatic Machining Cell. The article also reports on the details of this implementation.The names of the authors appear in alphabetical order.     

制造业自动化的企业集成系统研究展望

为了适应信息和通信技术的新发展,适应制造业企业实现从高度的数据驱动环境向协作型信息/知识驱动环境的转变,实现企业信息化的高级阶段——企业集成系统,提出了企业知识共享、最佳实践的共用、开放源/基于网络的应用程序等集成企业的概念,进而引出了网络化企业的执行和互操作性问题。分析了制造业系统中的企业集成和互操作性是应对这些新环境下的挑战的关键概念。研究结果表明,语义集成将是大型企业和动态企业内部处理异构性的重要方法。     

Low cost integration of additive and subtractive processes for hybrid layered manufacturing

While CNC machining (subtractive method) is the only option when it comes to high quality components, it demands greater human intervention to generate the CNC programs, making it a slow and costly route. On the other hand, Rapid Prototyping (additive method) is able to convert the design into the physical objects without any human intervention. But its total automation comes with compromises in the qualities of geometry and material. A hybrid layered manufacturing process presented here combines the best features of both these approaches. In this process the near-net shape of the object is first built using weld-deposition; the near-net shape is then finish machined subsequently. Time and cost saving of this process can be attributed to reduction in NC programming effort and elimination of rough machining. It is envisioned as a low cost retrofitment to any existing CNC machine for making metallic objects without disturbing its original functionalities. Near-net shape building and finish machining happening at the same station is the unique feature of this process. A customized software generates the NC program for near-net shape building. The intricate details of integrating arc welding unit with a CNC milling machine are presented in this paper.     

Severe motor disability affects functional cortical integration in the context of brain-computer interface (BCI) use

The purpose of this study was to investigate cortical interaction between brain regions in people with and without severe motor disability during brain-computer interface (BCI) operation through coherence analysis. Eighteen subjects, including six patients with cerebral palsy (CP) and three patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), participated. The results showed (1) the existence of BCI performance difference caused by severe motor disability; (2) different coherence patterns between participants with and without severe motor disability during BCI operation and (3) effects of motor disability on cortical connections varying in the brain regions for the different frequency bands, indicating reduced cortical differentiation and specialisation. Participants with severe neuromuscular impairments, as compared with the able-bodied group, recruited more cortical regions to compensate for the difficulties caused by their motor disability, reflecting a less efficient operating strategy for the BCI task. This study demonstrated that coherence analysis can be applied to examine the ways cortical networks cooperate with each other during BCI tasks. PRACTITIONER SUMMARY: Few studies have investigated the electrophysiological underpinnings of differences in BCI performance. This study contributes by assessing neuronal synchrony among brain regions. Our findings revealed that severe motor disability causes more cortical areas to be recruited to perform the BCI task, indicating reduced cortical differentiation and specialisation.     

Towards lean service bus architecture for industrial integration infrastructure and pull manufacturing strategies

The Lean Manufacturing approach requires advanced and efficient manufacturing technologies in order to meet customer demands. Manufacturing companies have increased their productivity and efficiency over time by implementing new strategies, business processes and IT solutions. Best practices also allow companies to achieve on-demand manufacturing through the integration of pull flow production strategy. In order to achieve agility to meet business needs, a key for success is a flexible integration of different information system components to enable the flow of exchanged data and information. To insure the agility of an enterprise’s organization, ISA S-95 standard can be used to determine which information has to be exchanged between system components. We propose an Industrial System Integration Architecture, a Lean Enterprise Service Bus which relies on Lean Manufacturing constraints based on semantic aspects with respect to the ISA S-95 standard. This architecture aims at enhancing the interoperability between the production system and the global enterprise information system in terms of business and manufacturing requirements and establishes semantic interoperability to achieve an industrial semantic.     

An integrated scheduler for manufacturing planning and control (INSCH)

The most basic problem in a manufacturing process is to create valid scheduling system which determines the sequence of jobs to be processed at each of the series of machine centers. An integrated scheduler (INSCH) is developed for small job shop manufacturing systems while considering high machine utilization, low work-in-process, and reduced job lateness.

As an and to understand the interaction of live jobs with the shop, sequence scheduler is developed to complement production scheduler such as Gantt bar chart. INSCH can achieve better performance than simple static models as shown in an example. It is desirable for INSCH to be applied to small job shop manufacturing companies using micro personal computer with relevant modifications discussed.     

Brain-computer interface (BCI) and ergonomics

This paper describes an experiment in which the performance of cane walkers with the traditional straight long cane and a redesigned cane, the curved cane, was compared. The curved cane has a curve where the tip touches the ground. Participants were 18 experienced cane walkers who were totally blind. The aspects of cane walking that were investigated included obstacle detection, drop-off (slope) detection and walking speed. The performance with both canes was investigated in two different ways: (1) by means of constructed courses in which objective measures of cane walking were derived; and (2) by means of more qualitative measures based on the participants' experiences with the curved cane during a 3-week try-out period. Results showed that obstacle-detection was significantly better with the curved cane, whereas drop-off detection and walking speed were comparable for the two canes. The participants' experiences mirrored these results.     

A system architecture for holonic manufacturing planning and control (EtoPlan)

In this paper, we present the system architecture of a flexible manufacturing planning and control system, named EtoPlan. The concept is based on the holonic control approach of building multiple and temporary hierarchies (holarchies). This paper describes the system architecture for flexible planning and control of activities and (groups of) Resources in a manufacture-to-order environment. The system architecture consists of generic control modules that can be applied on different hierarchical levels and for different kinds of manufacturing activities. The main function of the Resource Controller is the Determine Applicability function.     

Brain-machine interface （BMI） and cyborg intelligence

Brain-machine interfaces （BMIs） aim at building a direct communication pathway between the brain and an external device, and represent an area of re- search where significant progress has been made during the past decade. Based on BMIs, mind infor- mation can be read out by neural signals to control machine actuators, and machine-coded sensory in- formation can be delivered to specific areas in the brain. BMI techniques provide the opportunity to integrate machine intelligence with biological intel- ligence at multiple levels to develop a more powerful intelligent system, thereby creating a new field called ＇cyborg intelligence＇.     

Controller area network (CAN) for computer integrated manufacturing systems

Communication acts a central role in computer-integrated manufacturing (CIM). The choice of communication system widely determines the capability and productivity of a factory as a whole. Moreover, in the implementation of CIM systems, the costs associated with the interconnection of the individual CIM components are very important. In CIM, communication is largely used to control programmable manufacturing equipment. Here, the time requirements are high, and error-free data transmission is a necessity. Fieldbuses are special form of local area network dedicated to applications in the field of data acquisition and the control of sensors and actuators in machines or on the factory floor. Many fieldbus standards exist in the market today. Each of them has been invented at different periods by different companies and for different purposes. Controller area network (CAN) is one of the most popular fieldbuses. The highest advantages of CAN are its low cost, abundance of silicon technology, and reliability in networking multiple real-time systems. CAN is a multimaster bus topology and has shown to be very efficient medium for error detection and fault tolerance. CAN's technical specifications are defined in the ISO/OSI network layer spans just two layer of the model. CAN specifies, in many innovative ways, the physical signaling over the media, data formats, timing, error recovery, protocols and arbitration. It does not define the media itself and its connectors, and also the upper layers (usually software) of the model.     

Information process flow analysis (IPFA) for reengineering manufacturing systems

Automated manufacturing lines, aircraft, unclear power plants, and similar real-time intelligent or embedded systems contain three control elements: (1) embedded computers, (2) humans-in-the-loop, and (3) certain machines, i.e., mechanically, electrically, or electronically operated devices. Embedded system control elements are interconnected through accurate, precisely-timed, closed-loop information systems to provide high quality products and/or services from their parent systems, and in some cases to ensure human safety. Highly-reliable controlling computers and associated software embedded in time- and safety-critical systems that compensate for possible human and/or machine error are especially difficult to design and develop, or “forward engineer”. Reengineering embedded control elements in old systems is even more troublesome, especially when they require re-manufacturing, e.g., nuclear power plant refueling, aircraft avionics system upgrading, or manufacturing plant retooling.

This paper describes how industrial engineers can assist in reengineering worn out, error prone, or obsolescent real-time manufacturing systems (embedded systems) by helping computer systems and communication engineers ensure that critical information control loops, both feed forward and feed back, are complete and efficient. Two conceptual models, the Embedded Computer System (ECS) physical model and the Object Transformation Process Model (OTPM) are used to guide a modified process flow analysis (PFA) of existing large-scale, complex embedded systems that takes into account process-supporting information. This modified PFA is called an Information Process Flow Analysis (IPFA).     

Future directions and research issues for ergonomics and advanced manufacturing technology (AMT)

In recent years, great progress has been made in the development of computer-based technologies that support the manufacturing industries. Those concerned with advanced manufacturing technology (AMT) are becoming increasingly aware of the fundamental importance of human organisational issues for the successful development, implementation, operation and maintenance of AMT. The discipline of industrial ergonomics and occupational occupational psychology, therefore, have a significant contribution to make in this field. This paper introduces the special issue, Ergonomics Matters in AMT, and presents a discussion of some of the future directions of AMT and the likely implications for ergonomics research.     

双线圈式油水双液位检测新方法

提出了一种检测单一油罐中油水双液位的新方法,设计了一种新结构的传感器。这种液位传感器能通过检测电感和电容来评价油液位和油水界面的高度。为了实现多传感功能,传感器由2个线圈同时紧密缠绕在相同塑料管外壁设计而成。根据油水界面的液位与2个线圈连在一起所得到单一线圈的电感、油液位与2个线圈间电容的相互关系,油水界面液位和油液位能被同时估算出来。     

Modelling and simulation of flexible manufacturing systems (FMS)

Designs of flexible manufacturing systems (FMS) must be inspected using model experiments based on appropriate simulation software (SS). Problems connected with the development of SS will be discussed. Morover, a special modelling and simulation system suitable for FMS will be presented.     

Editorial:Brain-machine interface(BMI) and cyborg intelligence

正Brain-machine interfaces(BMIs)aim at building a direct communication pathway between the brain and an external device,and represent an area of research where significant progress has been made during the past decade.Based on BMIs,mind information can be read out by neural signals to control     

Efficiency Optimization Control of an IPMSM Drive System for Electric Vehicles (EVs)

International Journal of Control, Automation and Systems - Electric vehicles are a key technology to decarbonize the transport sector where interior permanent magnet synchronous motors (IPMSMs) are...     

Development and integration of a concurrently executing interactive user interface for the I-STAT protable clinical analyzer: A case study in real-time systems integration

A novel real-time scheduler was developed to implement an interactive user interface for an existing state-of-the-art, hand-held blood analyzer. A software-timer-based scheduler was designed and implemented and guaranteed schedulability analysis performed to ensure that all hard execution deadlines could be met at run time. An execution bandwidth preservation mechanism that increases the robustness and predictability of the scheduler is presented. The paper is a case study that describes the design and development process from a point of view that emphasizes the importance of the systems integration issues that were encountered.     

非典型电力负荷（交-交变频器驱动负荷）的无功和谐波及对策

介绍了非典型电力负荷（交-交变频器驱动负荷）的无功和谐波及对策。