Finite‐Time Guaranteed Cost Control of Caputo Fractional‐Order Neural Networks

In this paper, we investigate the problem of finite‐time guaranteed cost control of uncertain fractional‐order neural networks. Firstly, a new cost function is defined. Then, by using linear matrix inequalities (LMIs) approach, some new sufficient conditions for the design of a state feedback controller which makes the closed‐loop systems finite‐time stable and guarantees an adequate cost level of performance are derived. These conditions are in the form of linear matrix inequalities, which therefore can be efficiently solved by using existing convex algorithms. Finally, two numerical examples are given to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed method.     

Optimizing an ANN model with genetic algorithm (GA) predicting load-settlement behaviours of eco-friendly raft-pile foundation (ERP) system

Engineering with Computers - Eco-friendly raft-pile foundation (ERP) system is one of the most recent developed types of pile foundations that the original materials can be provided from local...     

Prediction of ultimate bearing capacity through various novel evolutionary and neural network models

Engineering with Computers - In the current study, various evolutionary artificial intelligence and machine learning models namely, optimized artificial neural network (ANN), genetic algorithm...     

A Consensus Protocol over Noisy Two‐Layered Networks with Cooperative and Antagonistic Interactions

This study is concerned with the consensus problems of multi‐agent systems with cooperative and antagonistic noisy interactions described by two‐layered network. That is, each agent is simultaneously influenced by the force of attraction and repulsion between each neighboring agents in cooperative and antagonistic layers. A distributed algorithm for achieving the consensus in a probabilistic sense is proposed and its sufficient conditions are clarified. The conditions tell us rigorous stopping rules which enable us to know the number of iterations that achieves consensus within a prespecified accuracy and probability. Some applications of consensus problems with cooperative and antagonistic interactions are shown through numerical examples.     

Multivariable Adaptive Control of the Rewinding Process of a Roll-to-roll System Governed by Hyperbolic Partial Differential Equations

In this paper, an active control scheme for the rewinding process of a roll-to-roll (R2R) system is investigated. The control objectives are to suppress the transverse vibration of the moving web, to track the desired velocity profile, and to keep the desired radius value of a rewind roller. The bearing coefficient in the rewind shaft is unknown and the rotating elements in the drive motor are various. The moving web is modeled as an axially moving beam system governed by hyperbolic partial differential equations (PDEs). The control scheme utilizes two control inputs: a control force exerted from a hydraulic actuator equipped with a damper, and a control torque applied to the rewind roller. Two adaptation laws are derived to estimate the unknown bearing coefficient and the bound of variations of the rotating elements. The Lyapunov method is employed to prove the robust stability of the rewind section, specifically the uniform and ultimate boundedness of all of the signals. The effectiveness of the proposed control schemes was verified by numerical simulations.     

The binomial decomposition of OWA functions,the 2‐additive and 3‐additive cases in n dimensions

In the context of the binomial decomposition of ordered weighted averaging (OWA) functions, we investigate the constraints associated with the 2‐additive and 3‐additive cases in n dimensions. The 2‐additive case depends on one coefficient whose feasible region does not depend on the dimension n. On the other hand, the feasible region of the 3‐additive case depends on two coefficients and is explicitly dependent on the dimension n. This feasible region is a convex polygon with n vertices and n edges, which is strictly expanding in the dimension n. The orness of the OWA functions within the feasible region is linear in the two coefficients, and the vertices associated with maximum and minimum orness are identified. Finally, we discuss the 3‐additive binomial decomposition in the asymptotic infinite dimensional limit.     

RAW Image Reconstruction Using a Self-contained sRGB–JPEG Image with Small Memory Overhead

Most camera images are saved as 8-bit standard RGB (sRGB) compressed JPEGs. Even when JPEG compression is set to its highest quality, the encoded sRGB image has been significantly processed in terms of color and tone manipulation. This makes sRGB–JPEG images undesirable for many computer vision tasks that assume a direct relationship between pixel values and incoming light. For such applications, the RAW image format is preferred, as RAW represents a minimally processed, sensor-specific RGB image that is linear with respect to scene radiance. The drawback with RAW images, however, is that they require large amounts of storage and are not well-supported by many imaging applications. To address this issue, we present a method to encode the necessary data within an sRGB–JPEG image to reconstruct a high-quality RAW image. Our approach requires no calibration of the camera’s colorimetric properties and can reconstruct the original RAW to within 0.5% error with a small memory overhead for the additional data (e.g., 128 KB). More importantly, our output is a fully self-contained 100% compliant sRGB–JPEG file that can be used as-is, not affecting any existing image workflow—the RAW image data can be extracted when needed, or ignored otherwise. We detail our approach and show its effectiveness against competing strategies.     

New look on relay selection strategies for full-duplex multiple-relay NOMA over Nakagami-m fading channels

Wireless Networks - By removing the orthogonal use of radio-resources, non-orthogonal multiple access (NOMA) has been introduced to improve the spectral efficiency of fifth generation (5G) and...     

Atomically Smooth Graphene-Based Hybrid Template for the Epitaxial Growth of Organic Semiconductor Crystals

Atomically thin 2D materials are good templates to grow organic semiconductor thin films with desirable features. However, the 2D materials typically exhibit surface roughness and spatial charge inhomogeneity due to nonuniform doping, which can affect the uniform assembly of organic thin films on the 2D materials. A hybrid template is presented for preparation of highly crystalline small-molecule organic semiconductor thin film that is fabricated by transferring graphene onto a highly ordered self-assembled monolayer. This hybrid graphene template has low surface roughness and spatially uniform doping, and it yields highly crystalline fullerene thin films with grain sizes >300 nm, which is the largest reported grain size for C₆₀ thin films on 2D materials. A graphene/fullerene/pentacene phototransistor fabricated directly on the hybrid template has five times higher photoresponsivity than a phototransistor fabricated on a conventional graphene template supported by a SiO₂ wafer.     

Lithium Phosphonate Functionalized Polymer Coating for High-Energy Li[Ni0.8Co0.1Mn0.1]O2 with Superior Performance at Ambient and Elevated Temperatures

High-energy Ni-rich lithium transition metal oxides such as Li[Ni_0.8Co_0.1Mn_0.1]O₂ (NCM₈₁₁) are appealing positive electrode materials for next-generation lithium batteries. However, the high sensitivity toward moist air during storage and the high reactivity with common organic electrolytes, especially at elevated temperatures, are hindering their commercial use. Herein, an effective strategy is reported to overcome these issues by coating the NCM₈₁₁ particles with a lithium phosphonate functionalized poly(aryl ether sulfone). The application of this coating allows for a substantial reduction of lithium-based surface impurities (e.g., LiOH, Li₂CO₃) and, generally, the suppression of detrimental side reactions upon both storage and cycling. As a result, the coated NCM₈₁₁-based cathodes reveal superior Coulombic efficiency and cycling stability at ambient and, particularly, at elevated temperatures up to 60 ° C (a temperature at which the non-coated NCM₈₁₁ electrodes rapidly fail) owing to the formation of a stable cathode electrolyte interphase with enhanced Li⁺ transport kinetics and the well-retained layered crystal structure. These results render the herein presented coating strategy generally applicable for high-performance lithium battery cathodes.