Robotics in the factory of the future: AI in manufacturing: The NBS AMRF as an intelligent machine

Within its Automated Manufacturing Research Facility (AMRF), the U.S. National Bureau of Standards (NBS) is addressing research issues in interface standards for the fully automated factory of the future for the production of small batches of discrete parts. Consisting of robots, machine tools and computers, the AMRF is being integrated using a real-time, sensory-feedback, data-driven hierarchical control architecture. As such, the AMRF is a research tool for investigating the manufacturing enterprise as a system of intelligent machines. This paper: (1) describes the AMRF in terms of its real-time control system architecture; (2) notes the role of symbolic languages, knowledge-representation, sensory-processing and other aspects of artificial intelligence in its development; and (3) speculates on further application of AI in future intelligent manufacturing systems similar in form to the AMRF.     

Structured Parallel Architecture for Displacement MIMO Kalman Equalizer in CDMA Systems

A reduced complexity MIMO Kalman equalizer architecture is proposed in this brief by jointly considering the displacement structure and the block-Toeplitz structure. Numerical matrix-matrix multiplications with O(F³) complexity are eliminated by simple data loading process, where F is the spreading factor. Finally, an iterative Conjugate-Gradient based algorithm is proposed to avoid the inverse of the Hermitian symmetric innovation covariance matrix in Kalman gain processor. The proposed architecture not only reduces the numerical complexity from O(F²) to O(Flog₂F) per chip, but also facilitates the parallel and pipelined VLSI implementation in real-time processing     

Stochastic modelling of temperatures for a full-scale occupied building zone subject to natural random influences

Buildings are usually subject to a variety of stochastic influences. Though the deterministic approach to building thermal modelling is widespread, it cannot easily model the effects of such influences, and a different approach might be better. In this study, stochastic models are derived which describe the thermal behaviour of a full-scale room exposed to the naturally occurring disturbances of climate (temperature, solar irradiance, infiltration), occupancy and appliance usage. A Box-Jenkins time series analysis technique is employed, and univariate stochastic models are fitted to the internal and external air temperature series. The models are validated by comparing the observed temperature with values forecasted ahead (in steps of 1 h) by the models, over a 36-h period; agreement was found to be good. It is concluded that the stochastic modelling approach can be applied successfully to the thermal analysis of a building's behaviour, thereby affording a method which accounts for random influences in a compact model format. The technique has particular relevance to advanced model-based control implemented via ‘intelligent’ digital controllers and building energy management systems, and its application in this respect is discussed.     

Influence of Neotyphodium coenophialum on copper concentration in tall fescue

Poor performance of livestock that graze tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) has been associated with the endophyte fungus Neotyphodium coenophialum [Morgan-Jones and Gams] Glenn, Bacon, and Hanlin). Recent evidence suggests lowered Cu status and a depression of Cu-related immune function in steers that graze endophyte-infected (E+) tall fescue. Greenhouse and field studies investigated relationships between the endophyte and Cu concentrations in tall fescue. Seventeen infected 'Kenhy' clones were divided, and one plant of each pair was treated three times with Benomyl to remove the endophyte (E-). Plants were watered with nutrient solution in a greenhouse for 6 mo before sampling. Copper concentrations were greater (P < .001) in E- than in E+ clones (3.4 vs 2.8 microg/g; SE, .06). In the second greenhouse experiment, genetically similar E+ and E- 'Kentucky'-31 (KY-31) and 'Georgia Jessup' were grown from seed and fertilized with nutrient solution to produce mature plants. Copper concentrations were higher (P < .05) in E- than in E+ tall fescue (8.6 vs 7.6 microg/g; SE, .3). In a field plot experiment in Texas, E+ and E- KY-31 were grown with 0, 50, and 100% replacement of potential evapotranspiration. By September, Cu concentrations were higher (P < .05) in E- than in E+ tall fescue (7.3 vs 6.6 microg/g; SE, .2). In pasture experiments, KY-31 E+ (> 70% infection level) and E- (< 5% infection level) tall fescue were grown in Virginia at two locations with three rates of N fertilizer. Copper concentrations were higher (P < .05) in E- than in E+ tall fescue (4.8 vs 4.5 microg/g; SE, .1) and increased (P < .01) linearly in response to N. Our data demonstrate that the presence of the endophyte is associated with lower Cu concentrations in tall fescue, which may contribute to lowered Cu status in animals and thus contribute to the etiology of fescue toxicity.     

Do you have an internet acceptable use policy?

No longer is the question if the Internet will be used in the classroom but when the Internet will be used in the classroom. Superimposing this technology on procedural teaching methods in the highly regulated and structured environment known as public education is akin to managing chaos. The confusion experienced by educators at all levels is not unlike similar sentiments expressed by other professionals having survived rapid organizational changes in the business world over the period of the past five to seven years. With this in mind, an attempt to define educators' proactive responsibilities in preparation for these changes led to an extensive review of literature and a survey by one of the authors. A necessary first step in embracing technological changes in education is the development of an Internet Acceptable Use Policy. A policy shell is provided that can be used to formulate individual school policy.     

Dressing of filigree fine-grained metal bonded grinding wheels

Metal bonded grinding tools offer a remarkable potential for micro grinding because of their favorable wear behavior. However, metal bonded grinding tools, especially dicing blades, are hard to dress by conventional dressing methods. Electro contact discharge dressing, which is presented in this paper, is a numerically controlled dressing process offering the possibility to create the geometry and topography of the grinding wheel simultaneously at negligible dressing forces. The power of an electric circuit thermally removes the metal bond of the grinding wheel during the dressing process. The quality of the created profiles and the influence of the dressing parameters on the specific material removal rate of the grinding tool as well as the wear of the electrode are investigated at fine-grained grinding wheels.