Design and implementation of a vehicle interface protocol using an IEEE 1394 network

A wide variety of in-vehicle devices such as camera sensors, navigation systems, telematics and communication equipments have been incorporated into a vehicle to realize Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) applications. Because an efficient standardized network is required, ITS Data Bus (IDB) has been discussed to carry high-speed multimedia data for audio, video and other real-time ITS applications. For connecting devices in a standardized manner, the IDB network has architecture with a gateway called vehicle interface which is located between automaker’s proprietary network and the standardized IDB network. IEEE 1394 (also known as iLink or FireWire), which can transport multimedia data for consumer electronics, is a good candidate for IDB network. In this paper, we analyze the issues for existing AV/C protocol (application layer protocol over IEEE 1394) to comprise the IDB network. In addition, we designed and implemented the vehicle interface protocol as a higher layer of IEEE 1394 to address the AV/C protocol issues for realizing the whole IDB network architecture.     

A study on a quantum-inspired evolutionary algorithm based on pair swap

A quantum-inspired evolutionary algorithm (QEA) is proposed as a stochastic algorithm to perform combinatorial optimization problems. The QEA is evolutionary computation that uses quantum bits and superposition states in quantum computation. Although the QEA is a coarse-grained parallel algorithm, it involves many parameters that must be adjusted manually. This paper proposes a new method, named pair swap, which exchanges each best solution information between two individuals instead of migration in the QEA. Experimental results show that our proposed method is a simpler algorithm and can find a high quality solution in the 0-1 knapsack problem. This work was presented in part at the 12th International Symposium on Artificial Life and Robotics, Oita, Japan, January 25–27, 2007     

Compact electrostatic levitator for diffraction measurements with a two axis diffractometer and a laboratory x-ray source

A compact electrostatic levitator was developed for the structural analysis of high-temperature liquids by x-ray diffraction methods. The size of the levitator was 200 mm in diameter and 200 mm in height and can be set up on a two axis diffractometer with a laboratory x-ray source, which is very convenient in performing structural measurements of high-temperature liquids. In particular, since the laboratory x-ray source allows a great amount of user time, preliminary or challenging experiments can be performed with trial and error, which prepares and complements synchrotron x-ray experiments. The present small apparatus also provides the advantage of portability and facility of setting. To demonstrate the capability of this electrostatic levitator, the static structure factors of alumina and silicon samples in their liquid phases were successfully measured.     

Thermomechanical behavior of Ti-Ni shape memory alloy films deposited by DC magnetron sputtering

In this study, thermomechanical properties of titanium-nickel (Ti-Ni) shape memory alloy (SMA) films are investigated in order to derive constitutive relations. Ti-Ni SMA films, deposited by DC magnetron sputtering under controlled film composition, are characterized by uniaxial tensile tests. At room temperature (R.T.), Ti-Ni films having Ti contents less than 50 at% exhibit superelastic behavior, and those having Ti contents greater than 50 at% exhibit shape memory behavior. However, the Ni—53.2 at% Ti film fractured at a tensile strain of 0.8% because of an increase in brittleness with increasing Ti content. At elevated temperatures, Ti-Ni films having Ti contents of 50.2 to 52.6 at% undergo phase change from martensite to austenite. The Young's modulus of the Ti-Ni films depends on temperature at each phase, regardless of film composition. Film composition does, however, affect the measured material constants b_A, b_M, c_A, and c_M. Stress-strain curves calculated from the constructed constitutive equation closely agree with those obtained from tensile tests, for both the martensite and austenite phases. The constitutive equations are expected to find great utility in the design of Ti-Ni film-actuated microelectromechanical systems (MEMS).     

气体辅助法陶瓷薄膜的制备

Ceramics （alumina） coating on sevaral materials has been successfully achieved at room temperature by gas - assisted deposition （ GAD） technique. In the GAD process the alumina powder was accelerated by jet flow with velocity of - 1000 m/s and impaeted to a substrate, thereby a fiat and dense film was deposited up to 10 μm on the substrate without arty additional heating. The crystal structttre of the alumina in an obtained GAD films seemed as amorphous like. The crystalline phase was recovered by post nnnenling at 1 300 ℃ , however, the matrix resulted in a hollow structure.     

Simplified analysis of steady-state crack growth of piezoelectric ceramics based on the continuum damage mechanics

Summary A simplified analysis of crack growth of piezoelectric ceramics was performed by using the double cantilever beam (DCB) model. The analysis was intended for the crack growth in a steady state by using some assumptions to simplify the analysis. In the present paper, damage within piezoelectric ceramics was represented by a damage variable based on the continuum damage mechanics, and the effect of the damage on material properties was taken into account in a constitutive equation of the piezoelectric ceramics. The constitutive equation and an evolution equation of the damage variable were applied to the DCB model. Then, the crack growth in the DCB model was dealt with within the framework of the continuum damage mechanics. As a result of the analysis, a constant crack growth rate and distribution of stress, strain and damage variable in front of the crack tip were elucidated, and the effects of the applied electric field on the crack growth were discussed in particular.     

Novel screen technology for high‐contrast front‐projection display by controlling ambient‐light reflection

Abstract— One problem with front‐projection displays is that the screen contrast ratio decreases in bright ambient light. In this paper, we propose a new front‐projection display system that incorporates the control of reflection of ambient light in the screen design, providing a high contrast ratio even in a brightly lit room.     

Efficient distributed detection of conjunctions of local predicates

Global predicate detection is a fundamental problem in distributed systems and finds applications in many domains such as testing and debugging distributed programs. This paper presents an efficient distributed algorithm to detect conjunctive-form global predicates in distributed systems. The algorithm detects the first consistent global state that satisfies the predicate even if the predicate is unstable. Unlike previously proposed run-time predicate detection algorithms, our algorithm does not require the exchange of control messages during the normal computation. All the necessary information to detect predicates is piggybacked on computation messages of application programs. The algorithm is distributed because the predicate detection efforts as well as the necessary information are equally distributed among the processes. We prove the correctness of the algorithm and compare its performance with respect to message, storage and computational complexities with that of the previously proposed run-time predicate detection algorithms     

Human-like natural behavior generation based on involuntary motions for humanoid robots

Human behaviors consist of both voluntary and involuntary motions. Almost all behaviors of task-oriented robots, however, consist solely of voluntary motions. Involuntary motions are important for generating natural motions like those of humans. Thus, we propose a natural behavior generation method for humanoid robots that is a hybrid generation between voluntary and involuntary motions. The key idea of our method is to control robots with a hybrid controller that combines the functions of a communication behavior controller and body balancing controllers. We also develop a wheeled inverted pendulum type of humanoid robot, named “Robovie-III”, in order to generate involuntary motions like oscillation. By applying our method to this robot and conducting preliminary experiments, we verify its validity. Experimental results show that the robot generates both voluntary and involuntary motions.     

Progress in viewing‐angle properties of liquid‐crystal displays

Abstract— Viewing‐angle dependences of the contrast ratio and color shift of LCDs have been radically improved as evidenced by the increasing application of LCDs in high‐quality television. This paper describes the concept of optical compensation and the fundamental characteristics of the viewing‐angle property for various LC modes.