Application of Fuzzy Moving Sliding Surface Approach for Container Cranes

International Journal of Control, Automation and Systems - In this paper, we consider the fuzzy moving sliding surface anti-sway control problem for container cranes. We first introduce the dynamic...     

Visualization of vortex core polarity in NiFe nanodots by tilted Fresnel images

We illustrate an approach which allows determining the out-of-plane component of the vortex core (polarity) in NiFe nanodots using Fresnel imaging in Lorentz electron microscopy. Using tilted Fresnel images, contribution of the polarity is introduced into the Fresnel image. However, this contribution is relatively small and a difference image from two symmetrically tilted Fresnel images must be used to eliminate the strong contribution from the in-plane curling magnetization and non-magnetic contrast. The sense of the polarity appears as a bipolar white-black contrast in the difference image on the tilt axis. A vortex core with a diameter of 16.5±2.5 nm is experimentally measured. Image tilting, displacement and geometrical distortion may disturb the difference image, and hence subtraction of the difference image must be aligned by cross-correlation. The method is also justified by a study of the observed contrast characteristic due to misalignment. The method is confirmed to be superior to similar approach with direct interpretation of information and more information subtracted.     

An EM approach to mineral analysis using natural gamma rays

We describe here a method for the analysis of materials on a conveyor belt using the natural gamma spectra collected with a BGO (Bismuth Germanate) gamma ray detector. This detector collects gamma ray emissions from the Potassium (K), Uranium (U), and Thorium (Th) atoms in the materials. Based on these data, and using a Poisson model for the data generation, a statistical model is proposed and an approximate maximum likelihood (ML) technique based on the expectation-maximization (EM) algorithm is then used to estimate the amount of each of the three elements in the material. The statistical model is further refined to incorporate parameters of drift in the detector and an estimation technique for this is developed and tested against real data. The Cramér–Rao lower bounds for the estimators are calculated.     

Multimodal focus attention and stress detection and feedback in an augmented driver simulator

This paper presents a driver simulator, which takes into account the information about the user’s state of mind (level of attention, fatigue state, stress state). The user’s state of mind analysis is based on video data and biological signals. Facial movements such as eyes blinking, yawning, head rotations, etc., are detected on video data: they are used in order to evaluate the fatigue and the attention level of the driver. The user’s electrocardiogram and galvanic skin response are recorded and analyzed in order to evaluate the stress level of the driver. A driver simulator software is modified so that the system is able to appropriately react to these critical situations of fatigue and stress: some audio and visual messages are sent to the driver, wheel vibrations are generated and the driver is supposed to react to the alert messages. A multi-threaded system is proposed to support multi-messages sent by the different modalities. Strategies for data fusion and fission are also provided. Some of these components are integrated within the first prototype of OpenInterface: the multimodal similar platform.     

Fiber-optic array algebraic processing architectures

A high-accuracy fiber-optic array processor (FOAP) based on the algorithm of digital multiplication by analog convolution is proposed. The FOAP architecture is a local regularly interconnected processor that utilizes an array of identical all-optical elemental-processing lattice units, namely, an optical splitter, an optical combiner, and a binary programmable fiber-optic transversal filter. Various FOAP matrix multipliers are proposed for nonnegative and twos-complement binary arithmetic matrix-vector, matrix-matrix, triple-matrix, and high-order matrix operations. The overall performances of the FOAP matrix multipliers are compared with the time-integrating and space-integrating architectures and with the digital multipliers. Extension of the digital-multiplication-by-analog-convolution algorithm is also considered.     

Bio-Inspired Artificial Fast-Adaptive and Slow-Adaptive Mechanoreceptors With Synapse-Like Functions

Development of artificial mechanoreceptors capable of sensing and pre-processing external mechanical stimuli is a crucial step toward constructing neuromorphic perception systems that can learn and store information. Here, bio-inspired artificial fast-adaptive (FA) and slow-adaptive (SA) mechanoreceptors with synapse-like functions are demonstrated for tactile perception. These mechanoreceptors integrate self-powered piezoelectric pressure sensors with synaptic electrolyte-gated field-effect transistors (EGFETs) featuring a reduced graphene oxide channel. The FA pressure sensor is based on a piezoelectric poly(vinylidene fluoride-trifluoroethylene) (P(VDF-TrFE)) thin film, while the SA pressure sensor is enabled by a piezoelectric ionogel with the piezoelectric-ionic coupling effect based on P(VDF-TrFE) and an ionic liquid. Changes in post-synaptic current are achieved through the synaptic effect of the EGFET by regulating the amplitude, number, duration, and frequency of tactile stimuli (pre-synaptic pulses). These devices have great potential to serve as artificial biological mechanoreceptors for future artificial neuromorphic perception systems.     

Bacteria-Responsive Self-Assembly of Antimicrobial Peptide Nanonets for Trap-and-Kill of Antibiotic-Resistant Strains

Bacterial trapping using nanonets is a ubiquitous immune defense mechanism against infectious microbes. These nanonets can entrap microbial cells, effectively arresting their dissemination and rendering them more vulnerable to locally secreted microbicides. Inspired by this evolutionarily conserved anti-infective strategy, a series of 15 to 16 residue-long synthetic β-hairpin peptides is herein constructed with the ability to self-assemble into nanonets in response to the presence of bacteria, enabling spatiotemporal control over microbial killing. Using amyloid-specific K114 assay and confocal microscopy, the membrane components lipoteichoic acid and lipopolysaccharide are shown to play a major role in determining the amyloid-nucleating capacity as triggered by Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria respectively. These nanonets displayed both trapping and killing functionalities, hence offering a direct improvement from the trap-only biomimetics in literature. By substituting a single turn residue of the non-amyloidogenic BTT1 peptide, the nanonet-forming BTT1-3A analog is produced with comparable antimicrobial potency. With the same sequence manipulation approach, BTT2-4A analog modified from BTT2 peptide showed improved antimicrobial potency against colistin-resistant clinical isolates. The peptide nanonets also demonstrated robust stability against proteolytic degradation, and promising in vivo efficacy and biosafety profile. Overall, these bacteria-responsive peptide nanonets are promising clinical anti-infective alternatives for circumventing antibiotic resistance.     

Short packet communication in underlay cognitive network assisted by an intelligent reflecting surface

We propose short packet communication in an underlay cognitive radio network assisted by an intelligent reflecting surface (IRS) composed of multiple reconfigurable reflectors. This scheme, called the IRS protocol, operates in only one time slot (TS) using the IRS. The IRS adjusts its phases to give zero received cumulative phase at the secondary destination, thereby enhancing the end-to-end signal-to-noise ratio. The transmitting power of the secondary source is optimized to simultaneously satisfy the multi-interference constraints, hardware limitations, and performance improvement. Simulation and analysis results of the average block error rates (BLERs) show that the performance can be enhanced by installing more reconfigurable reflectors, increasing the blocklength, lowering the number of required primary receivers, or sending fewer information bits. Moreover, the proposed IRS protocol always outperforms underlay relaying protocols using two TSs for data transmission, and achieves the best average BLER at identical transmission distances between the secondary source and secondary destination. The theoretical analyses are confirmed by Monte Carlo simulations.