Robust Adaptive Neural Control for a Class of Time‐Varying Delay Systems with Backlash‐like Hysteresis Input

This paper proposes a robust adaptive dynamic surface control (DSC) scheme for a class of time‐varying delay systems with backlash‐like hysteresis input. The main features of the proposed DSC method are that 1) by using a transformation function, the prescribed transient performance of the tracking error can be guaranteed; 2) by estimating the norm of the unknown weighted vector of the neural network, the computational burden can be greatly reduced; 3) by using the DSC method, the explosion of complexity problem is eliminated. It is proved that the proposed scheme guarantees all the closed‐loop signals being uniformly ultimately bounded. The simulation results show the validity of the proposed control scheme.     

Network Characterizations for Excluding Braess’s Paradox

Braess’s paradox exposes a counterintuitive phenomenon that when travelers selfishly choose their routes in a network, removing links can improve the overall network performance. Under the model of nonatomic selfish routing, we characterize the topologies of k-commodity undirected and directed networks in which Braess’s paradox never occurs. Our results strengthen Milchtaich’s series-parallel characterization (Milchtaich, Games Econom. Behav. 57(2), 321–346 (2006)) for the single-commodity undirected case.     

Adaptive Fuzzy PD+ Control for Attitude Maneuver of Rigid Spacecraft

In this paper, an adaptive fuzzy PD+ controller is proposed for the attitude maneuver of rigid spacecraft. The novel controller adjusts the gains of the PD+ attitude controller online according to attitude errors and angular velocity errors during the maneuver procedure. Therefore, quick response and avoidance of actuator saturation can be achieved simultaneously. Furthermore, the adaptation mechanism is designed, based on Lyapunov theory, to guarantee the stability of the closed‐loop system. To achieve good performance of the closed‐loop system under the constraint of actuator saturation, controller parameter optimization is developed on the basis of a genetic algorithm. Simulation results show that the transient performance and robustness against parametric uncertainty and environmental disturbance of the adaptive fuzzy PD+ controller are better than those of a constant PD+ controller.     

Trajectory Control of Snake‐Like Robots in Natural Oscillation

A class of body movement patterns called natural oscillation has been revealed to mimic the gaits observed in many animals. In this paper, we introduce an additional higher level control loop that is capable of manipulating a robot's motion orientation. With such a new orientation turning functionality, a snake‐like robot is able to achieve trajectory tracking while maintaining its body in a natural oscillation gait. The effectiveness of the control design is illustrated by some case studies with various trajectories.     

A Model of Green Acceptance and Intentions to Use Bike-Sharing: YouBike Users in Taiwan

With the emphasis on sustainability in transportation, bike-sharing systems are gaining popularity. This paper investigates the attitudes of users of a bike-sharing system with the aim of identifying their priorities, thus allowing local governments to focus their efforts most effectively on enhancing users’ intentions to use such systems. The relationships among green perceived usefulness (the extent to which individuals believe that a bike-sharing system will improve the environmental performance of some part of their life within a specific context), user attitude and perceived ease of use with green intentions, and the mediation effect of user attitude towards bike-sharing are explored. The focus of the study is on how to enhance green intentions via perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use and user attitude of the green technology acceptance model (green TAM) (Davis 1989). The two-step approach of structural equation modeling was applied to analyze the empirical results, which indicated that green perceived usefulness and user attitude have positive influences on the green intentions of 262 users and 262 non-users from ten sampled bike-sharing sites around the central administrative districts of Taipei. However, user attitude has the highest mediation effect on green intentions, and perceived ease of use does not have a significant effect on intentions for either users or non-users. Therefore, governmental institutions can strive to improve the attitudes of bike-sharing users and non-users, their green perceived usefulness, and perceived ease of use to strengthen their intentions to use this mode of sustainable transportation.     

Four-state quantum key distribution exploiting maximum mutual information measurement strategy

We propose a four-state quantum key distribution (QKD) scheme using generalized measurement of nonorthogonal states, the maximum mutual information measurement strategy. Then, we analyze the eavesdropping process in intercept–resend and photon number splitting attack scenes. Our analysis shows that in the intercept–resend and photon number splitting attack eavesdropping scenes, our scheme is more secure than BB84 protocol and has higher key generation rate which may be applied to high-density QKD.     

One-step implementation of a Toffoli gate of separated superconducting qubits via quantum Zeno dynamics

Based on the quantum Zeno dynamics, a scheme is presented to implement a Toffoli gate of three separated superconducting qubits (SQs) by one step. Three separated SQs are connected by two resonators. The scheme is insensitive to the resonator decay because the Zeno subspace does not include the state of the resonators being excited. Numerical simulations indicate that the scheme is robust to the fluctuation of the parameters and the Toffoli gate can be implemented with high fidelity.     

Generation of GHZ states with invariant-based shortcuts

A scheme is proposed to generate three-atom GHZ states by applying the inversely engineered control method on the basis of Lewis–Riesenfeld invariants. In the proposal, three atoms that have different configurations are trapped in a bimodal cavity. Numerical simulations indicate that our protocol has an obvious improvement of speed for the generation of GHZ states. Moreover, the present scheme is robust against both parameter fluctuations and dissipation.