Shop-floor resource virtualization layer with private cloud support

Large scale emergence of mature cloud solutions, ranging from software-as-a-service based solutions for business management, to very sophisticate private cloud solutions; offer the building blocks for constructing extremely flexible enterprise systems that can respond to environmental changes with great agility. Manufacturing enterprises need to adopt these new technologies to advance in a new era of mass customization where flexibility, scalability and agility are the differentiating factors. In this context, this paper introduces the virtualized MES and shop floor architecture as an intermediate layer in the manufacturing stack and discusses the advantages offered by this approach for manufacturing enterprises. A classification of MES and shop floor devices is presented focusing on the virtualization techniques suitable for each device type, considering the level of distributed intelligence and the virtualization overhead. Shop floor virtualization through shop floor profiles is presented and discussed underlying the flexibility of the solution. A pilot multi-agent implementation for virtual shop floor configuration based on the CoBASA reference architecture is presented and discussed. The shop floor profiles which define the virtual layout and mappings of the robotized manufacturing system are also provided in this context. The pilot implementation using six Adapt robots and a IBM CloudBurst 2.1 private cloud, is described and virtualization overhead in terms of event propagation delays is measured and presented in several scenarios of resource workload collocation on physical cloud blades     

Integrated value function construction with application to impact assessments

In this article, an integrated structure is provided for processing various forms of imprecise preference information in the context of multicriteria impact assessments. Linear programing formulations generate best‐fit value function models and associated ranking of alternatives, both when preferences are overdetermined (leading to potential inconsistencies) or when preference information is incomplete. In the latter context, the algorithm identifies a range of possible rank orders for the decision alternatives under consideration, consistent with the information provided. The approach is primarily aimed at structuring opinions of experts concerning the desirability of different actions in terms of technical aspects, intended as input into the final political decision‐making process. It is demonstrated that the approach described here can be implemented with modest levels of effort by the experts. Experience is reported with the approach in the context of soil sanitation problem in the Netherlands, in which experts expressed satisfaction with the resulting rank ordering of alternatives.     

A comprehensive R&;D Approach for Critical Infrastructure Protection

This paper provides background on requirements, capabilities and research recommendations for protecting critical infrastructure systems. These activities are needed to develop much more effective solutions to problems that can be currently addressed primarily with conservative, and/or empirical approaches. The expected contributions will have a profound effect on national and international defense and security. Although essential work must be conducted in several important areas, this paper is primarily focused on scientific and technical issues.     

An Intelligent Evacuation,Rescue and Recovery Concept

Recent terrorist incidents have demonstrated that personnel responsible for decision-making in post-attack and structural fire evacuation, rescue and recovery (ERR) activities can significantly benefit from an expert decision support system. In this paper, a concept is proposed for such an expert system that, through the use of sensor technology, can permit real-time assessment of the extent of blast and fire damage to a building, can recommend immediate actions that can be taken to mitigate the situation and prevent further deterioration, can monitor the growth and spread of fire and smoke, and can be used to aid the rescue workers and evacuees in rescue efforts and safe egress. This comprehensive system, once fully operational, can be used for training, blast damage assessment (BDA), target vulnerability assessment (TVA), pre-event emergency preparedness planning, and post-attack ERR operations. The key capabilities of this system stem from the electronic integration of two critical components: a near real-time intelligent BDA/TVA tool and on-line ERR-related optimization techniques. The implementation of this concept will support faster and more efficient evacuation of a building, ship, or other large structure in the event of military attack, fire, natural disaster, chemical attack, discovery of hazardous materials or biological agents, or other circumstances warranting quick escape.     

Degenerate Quantum Gases in Microgravity

Clouds of ultra-cold atoms and especially Bose–Einstein condensates (BEC) provide a source for coherent matter-waves in numerous earth bound experiments. Analogous to optical interferometry, matter-wave interferometers can be used for precision measurements allowing for a sensitivity orders of magnitude above their optical counterparts. However, in some respects the presence of gravitational forces in the lab limits experimental possibilities. In this article, we report about a compact and robust experiment generating Bose–Einstein condensates in the drop tower facility in Bremen, Germany. We also present the progress of building the succeeding experiment in which a two species atom interferometer will be implemented to test the weak equivalence principle with quantum matter.     

IMS10-image-based milling toolpaths with tool engagement control for complex geometry

This paper presents a NC toolpath generation strategy with tool engagement control for arbitrarily complex discrete part geometry, which reduces machining time and tool wear and can be used in high speed machining. The toolpath computation is based on image models for design part, raw stock and cutting tool, and involves pixel-based simulation of the milling process. Simulation results and comparison with existing methods are presented.     

Dysprosium‐Doped (Ba,Sr)TiO3 Thin Films on Nickel Foilsfor Capacitor Applications

The substitution in (Ba_0.70Sr_0.30)TiO₃ thin films by the rare‐earth element dysprosium prepared at 1000°C by chemical solution deposition on nickel foils was investigated. The relatively large thermal budget applied (via annealing temperature) is shown to enhance the solubility of the Dy³⁺doping ion into the crystal lattice of the perovskite films. Preference for B‐site occupancy of this amphoteric cation was further promoted by the addition of BaO excess (1 mol%), which results in slightly larger grains in the films as observed by scanning electron microscopy. Despite this Ba‐rich composition, the presence of secondary phases in the thin films was not detected by X‐ray diffraction. Transmission electron microscopy revealed no evidence for local segregation of Dy at grain boundaries, neither the formation of NiO at the interface between the film and the metal foil was observed. The substitution of Ti⁴⁺ by Dy³⁺ leads to the formation of strong electron acceptors in the system, which balance the number of ionized oxygen vacancies arisen from the reductive crystallization atmosphere used during processing. As a consequence, the dielectric loss (tan σ) and leakage conduction measured in the resulting thin‐film capacitors were significantly reduced with respect to nominally undoped samples. The improvement of this capacitor feature, combined with the relatively high permittivities obtained in the films (490–530), shows the effectiveness of dysprosium doping within a thin‐film fabrication method for potential application into the multilayer ceramic capacitor technology.     

Analysis of some available heat transfer coefficients applicable to solar chimney power plant collectors

A solar chimney power plant consists of a translucent collector which heats the air near the ground and guides it into the base of a chimney at its centre. The buoyant air rises in the chimney and electricity is generated through one or more turbines in or near the base of the chimney. Various studies about solar chimney power plant performance have been published. Different calculation approaches with a variety of considerations have been applied to calculate chimney power plant performance. In particular, two comprehensive studies are relevant, namely those of (Bernardes, M.A.d. S., Voß, A., Weinrebe, G., 2003. Thermal and technical analyses of solar chimneys. Solar Energy 75, 511-524; Pretorius, J.P., Kröger, D.G., 2006b. Solar chimney power plant performance. Transactions of the ASME 128, 302-311). The paper compares the methods used to calculate the heat fluxes in the collector, and their effects on solar chimney performance. Reasons for the discrepancies between the predictions of the two models are given. In general the Pretorius model produces higher heat transfer coefficients and higher heat rate fluxes for both the roof and for the ground surfaces. The two approaches lead to very similar air temperature rises in the collector and thus, similar produced power.     

Electrical and optical properties of chemical solution deposited barium hafnate titanate thin films

We have investigated the electrical and optical properties of Ba(Hf_xTi_1 − x)O₃ (x = 0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4) (BHT) thin films deposited on platinized silicon and fused quartz substrates. Analyses of the X-ray diffraction patterns reveal that with the increase in Hf contents there is a systematic increase of the lattice constants of BHT films. Irrespective of the measurement frequencies the dielectric constants was found to be systematically decreased, whereas their frequency dispersion was found to be reduced with increasing Hf contents. The leakage current data measured using a metal-insulator–metal configuration reveal that the Schottky emission is the dominant leakage current mechanism in these films. BHT films, deposited on transparent fused quartz substrates, were also characterized in terms of their optical properties. For this purpose the transmittance of the undoped as well as Hf doped barium titanate thin films was measured as a function of wavelength in the range of 290 nm to 800 nm. The transmission spectra were analysed to estimate the wavelength dependence of the refractive indices/extinction coefficients as well as the variation of optical band gap of these films. With the increase of Hf contents, a systematic increase of the band gap [from 3.65 eV (undoped film) to 4.15 eV (40 at.% Hf doped barium titanate film)] was observed. The reduction of the leakage current with increasing hafnium substitution is discussed on the basis of an increasing Schottky barrier height and due to a simultaneous increase in the band gap of the material.