Quantitative feedback theory with applications in welding

Two different control systems were developed using quantitative feedback theory for weld quality improvement. The first application to be discussed was designed for the resistance pinch welding process and uses electrode displacement and force as feedback parameters. A correlation between weld quality and electrode displacement is established for constant electrode force. The system is capable of producing repeatable welds of consistent quality, with wide variations in weld parameters. This is the first time feedback control has been successfully applied to pinch welding. The second example presented in this paper was developed for penetration control of the gas-tungsten-arc welding process. The feedback signal is obtained by measuring the amount of light emitted from the back side of the weld. Welds of constant penetration have been demonstrated in tests with travel speeds varying from 1.5 to 6 inches per minute and with 200 per cent changes in part thickness.     

Multi-input,multi-output flight control system design for the YF-16 using nonlinear QFT and pilot compensation

Nonlinear quantitative feedback theory (QFT) and pilot compensation techniques are used to design a 2 × 2 flight control system for the YF-16 aircraft over a large range of plant uncertainty. The design is based on numerical input-output time histories generated with a FORTRAN implemented nonlinear simulation of the YF-16. The first step of the design process is the generation of a set of equivalent linear time-invariant (LTI) plant models to represent the actual nonlinear plant. It has been proven that the solution to the equivalent plant problem is guaranteed to solve the original nonlinear problem. Standard QFT techniques are then used in the design synthesis based on the equivalent plant models. A detailed mathematical development of the method used to develop these equivalent LTI plant models is provided. After this inner-loop design, pilot compensation is developed to reduce the pilot's workload. This outer-loop design is also based on a set of equivalent LTI plant models. This is accomplished by modelling the pilot with parameters that result in good handling qualities ratings, and developing the necessary compensation to force the desired system responses.     

Flexible, dry-released process for aluminum electrostatic actuators

We present an all-aluminum MEMS process (Al-MEMS) for the fabrication of large-gap electrostatic actuators with process steps that are compatible with the future use of underlying, pre-fabricated CMOS control circuitry. The process is purely additive above the substrate as opposed to processes that depend on etching pits into the silicon, and thereby permits a high degree of design freedom. Multilayer aluminum metallization is used with organic sacrificial layers to build up the actuator structures. Oxygen-based dry etching is used to remove the sacrificial layers. While this approach has been previously used by other investigators to fabricate optical modulators and displays, the specific process presented herein has been optimized for driving mechanical actuators with relatively large travels. The process is also intended to provide flexibility for design and future enhancements. For example, the gap height between the actuator and the underlying electrode(s) can be set using an adjustable polyimide sacrificial layer and aluminum “post” deposition step. Several Al-MEMS electrostatic structures designed for use as mechanical actuators are presented as well as some measured actuation characteristics     

MEETING THE IT CHALLENGES OF BUSINESS The Changing Mandate for MBAs

What is the implication for business when information technology (IT) changes in the workplace without a commensurate change in the composition of business programs educating tomorrow's employees? A survey of MBA graduates forms the basis of this article on the IT skills needed in the marketplace.     

REENGINEERING DONE RIGHT Intermediate Solutions That Are Cost-Effective

Effective systems development techniques attract a lot of attention, but little has been done to effectively address systems maintenance. This article describes an effective, proven approach to resurrecting existing systems and Increasing their useful life, using a system that employs both software tools and a rigorous methodology.     

Base-type languages: Program design by upper semantic approximation

Translated from Kibernetika i Sistemnyi Analiz, No. 4, pp. 140–155, July–August 1994.     

Generalized chebyshev inequality and its application to survivability analysis of complex systems

Conclusions The generalized Chebyshev inequalities are of independent value in mathematical analysis, probability theory, and other fields. Survivability analysis of elements and systems requires specification of functional probability characteristics-distributions of the current durability point. Probabilistic calculation of survivability of complex systems can be carried out using logical-probabilistic methods [22, 28], because the probabilistic-physical meaning of the distribution of current durability point at the point x is the failure probability of an element (a system) given the deterministic level x of the next shock. The methodology of reliability theory can be updated by focusing on a physical stochastic process, instead of time to failure, as the cause of failure. In conclusion, I would like to thank I. A. Ibragimov for discussion of results and some useful comments. Translated from Kibernetika i Sistemnyi Analiz, No. 2, pp. 159–166, March–April, 1994.