Development of a suitable model for characterizing photovoltaic arrays with shaded solar cells

The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of non-uniform solar irradiation distribution on energy output of different interconnected configurations in photovoltaic (PV) arrays. In order to find which configuration is less susceptible to mismatch effects, a PV module model is developed. This model can take into consideration the effects of bypass diodes and the variation of the equivalent circuit parameters with respect to operating conditions. The proposed model can provide sufficient degree of precision as well as solar cell-based analysis in analyzing large scale PV arrays without increasing the computational effort. In order to produce more reliable and robust simulations, improved and extended algorithms are presented. Some results are discussed in detail and some recommendations are extracted by testing several shading scenarios.     

Robust control of variable speed autonomous underwater vehicle

Set point tracking control of autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) via robust model predictive control (RMPC) is considered. Input-constrained RMPC with integral action, which has been developed in our previous work, is used to control the AUV in this study. In order to derive a RMPC control rule, non-linear dynamics of AUV with six degree of freedom is linearized at certain operating points. So, horizontal and vertical plane dynamics of system are represented by linear models which have polytopic uncertainties. Since the derived control rule will be used in real time, the computation time should be reduced. To overcome this computational time problem and get rid of trial–error step of Algorithm 1, a new algorithm is proposed here. The simulations are carried out using the control rule based on this algorithm and these results are presented.     

To watch from distance: an interactive film model based on Brechtian film theory

With the emergence of new media, interactive film projects have mainly struggled to resolve the contradiction between dramatic structures and interaction. Dramatic film presents identification with the main character, where the viewer is constantly oppressed by the narrative, and therefore lost in illusion. In this context, when we bring on the scene interaction, the drama apparently starts to lose its power.

In this article, a new interactive film model based on Brechtian film theory is proposed. This model presents a new way of spatiotemporal construction where different audiovisual combinations can be viewed successively, and this way the viewer can actively construct his/her own story. Theoretical framework of the Brechtian interactive film model is supported by an interactive film application, named Academia. The main feature of the model is that, while interaction is very simple, the continuity of the narrative is preserved and the film requiring an intellectual level of interpretation.     

Affiliated marketing

In information-intensive environments some firms may be sending their customers to other firms’ or affiliates’ websites in order to generate additional sales for their affiliates. Although this may provide a choice for the customers, from a firm’s point of view such strategies have the potential to cannibalize own sales. Hence, when customers purchase from other firms’ websites, the firm may loose its own customers. This study analyzes the optimality of such strategies using an analytical framework. The findings show that a firm may increase its prices and profit when its own customers purchase from other firm websites. An analysis of customer surplus and total welfare show that such strategies may have adverse effects. The results show that customer surplus and total welfare may decrease as a result of affiliations.     

EKF Based Attitude Estimation and Stabilization of a Quadrotor UAV Using Vanishing Points in Catadioptric Images

In recent years, Unmanned Air Vehicles (UAVs) have become more and more important. These vehicles are employed in many applications from military operations to civilian tasks. Under situations where global positioning system (GPS) and inertial navigation system (INS) do not function, or as an additional sensor, computer vision can be used. Having 360° view, catadioptric cameras might be very useful as they can be used as measurement units, obstacle avoidance sensors or navigation planners. Although many innovative research has been done about this camera, employment of such cameras in UAVs is very new. In this paper, we present the use of catadioptric systems in UAVs to estimate vehicle attitude using parallel lines that exist on many structures in an urban environment. After explanation of the algorithm, the UAV modeling and control will be presented. In order to increase the estimation and control speed an Extended Kalman Filter (EKF) and multi-threading are used and speeds up to 40 fps are obtained. Various simulations have been done to present the effectiveness of the estimation algorithms as well as the UAV controllers. A custom test stand has been designed to perform successful experiments on the UAV. Finally, we will present the experiments and the results of the estimation and control algorithms on a real model helicopter. EKF based attitude estimation and stabilization using catadioptric images has found to be a reliable alternative to other sensor usage.     

Soft groups and normalistic soft groups

Soft set theory, proposed by Molodtsov, has been regarded as an effective mathematical tool to deal with uncertainties. In this paper, first we correct some of the problematic cases in a previous paper by Akta? and Çag˜man [H. Akta?, N. Çag˜man, Soft sets and soft groups, Inf. Sci. 177 (2007) 2726-2735]. Moreover, we introduce the concepts of normalistic soft group and normalistic soft group homomorphism, study their several related properties, and investigate some structures that are preserved under normalistic soft group homomorphisms.     

An expert system for automated recognition of patients with obstructive sleep apnea using electrocardiogram recordings

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a highly prevalent sleep disorder. The traditional diagnosis methods of the disorder are cumbersome and expensive. The ability to automatically identify OSA from electrocardiogram (ECG) recordings is important for clinical diagnosis and treatment. In this study, we proposed an expert system based on discrete wavelet transform (DWT), fast-Fourier transform (FFT) and least squares support vector machine (LS-SVM) for the automatic recognition of patients with OSA from nocturnal ECG recordings. Thirty ECG recordings collected from normal subjects and subjects with sleep apnea, each of approximately 8 h in duration, were used throughout the study. The proposed OSA recognition system comprises three stages. In the first stage, an algorithm based on DWT was used to analyze ECG recordings for the detection of heart rate variability (HRV) and ECG-derived respiration (EDR) changes. In the second stage, an FFT based power spectral density (PSD) method was used for feature extraction from HRV and EDR changes. Then, a hill-climbing feature selection algorithm was used to identify the best features that improve classification performance. In the third stage, the obtained features were used as input patterns of the LS-SVM classifier. Using the cross-validation method, the accuracy of the developed system was found to be 100% for using a subset of selected combination of HRV and EDR features. The results confirmed that the proposed expert system has potential for recognition of patients with suspected OSA by using ECG recordings.     

Fuzzy axiomatic design extension for managing model selection paradigm in decision science

The model selection paradigm is one of the focused themes within decision science. This paper addresses the consistent solution of model selection issue on the basis of the fuzzy axiomatic design (FAD) methodology. Moreover, the developed FAD–based model selection interface (FAD–MSI) is performed over the critical ship management processes in order to assign suitable (multiple criteria decision-making) MCDM techniques even if commonly utilized hybrid approaches. The outcomes of this study encourage the maritime practitioners for the further researches towards analytical modelling of ship management processes.