A multivariable MRAC scheme with application to a nonlinear aircraft model

This paper revisits the multivariable model reference adaptive control (MRAC) problem, by studying adaptive state feedback control for output tracking of multi-input multi-output (MIMO) systems. With such a control scheme, the plant-model matching conditions are much less restrictive than those for state tracking, while the controller has a simpler structure than that of an output feedback design. Such a control scheme is useful when the plant-model matching conditions for state tracking cannot be satisfied. A stable adaptive control scheme is developed based on LDS decomposition of the high-frequency gain matrix, which ensures closed-loop stability and asymptotic output tracking. A simulation study of a linearized lateral-directional dynamics model of a realistic nonlinear aircraft system model is conducted to demonstrate the scheme. This linear design based MRAC scheme is subsequently applied to a nonlinear aircraft system, and the results indicate that this linearization-based adaptive scheme can provide acceptable system performance for the nonlinear systems in a neighborhood of an operating point.     

On influences of global and local cues on the rate of synchronization of oscillator networks

Synchronization of connected oscillator networks under global and local cues is ubiquitous in both science and engineering. Over the last few decades, enormous attention has been paid to study synchronization conditions of connected oscillators in chemistry, physics, mechanics, and particularly in biology. However, the influences of global and local cues on the rate of synchronization have not been fully studied. It is widespread that synchronization is achieved in the simultaneous presence of both global and local cues, such as intercellular coupling signals and external entrainment signals in terms of biological oscillators, and inter-neighbor coupling signals between follower nodes and central guiding signals in terms of groups of mobile autonomous agents. We prove in this paper that the strength of the global cue is the only determinant of the rate of synchronization. More specifically, we prove that a stronger global cue means a faster rate of synchronization whereas a stronger local cue does not necessarily make the synchronization rate faster. Our results not only apply to the noise-free case, but also apply to the case that the oscillator natural frequencies are subject to white noise. The analysis does not require the interplay to be symmetric or balanced. Simulation results are given to illustrate the proposed results.     

Response characteristic analysis of polarization maintaining fiber ring resonator with dual-coupler for sensing application

A polarization maintaining fiber ring resonator with dual-coupler (PMDC-FRR) for sensing application is presented in this paper. Polarization maintaining directional fiber couplers and fiber loop are employed to eliminate the polarization fading in the fiber ring resonator. Three important characteristic parameters associated with the sensing application, which are the visibility of the output intensities, the free spectral range and the finesse, are discussed as functions of the coupler coefficients and the fiber loop length in detail. In addition, the critical drive voltage of the tunable laser to keep the output intensities stable is also analyzed, when the fiber ring resonator with dual-coupler is utilized as fiber sensor with phase modulation. A PMDC-FRR is designed practically in experiment with the power coupling coefficients of 0.5 and the loop length of 22 m. The experimental results provide sufficient arguments for the theoretical predicts. The theoretical and experimental analysis results will be useful to the sensing application of the PMDC-FRR.     

Model selection for the LS-SVM. Application to handwriting recognition

The support vector machine (SVM) is a powerful classifier which has been used successfully in many pattern recognition problems. It has also been shown to perform well in the handwriting recognition field. The least squares SVM (LS-SVM), like the SVM, is based on the margin-maximization principle performing structural risk minimization. However, it is easier to train than the SVM, as it requires only the solution to a convex linear problem, and not a quadratic problem as in the SVM. In this paper, we propose to conduct model selection for the LS-SVM using an empirical error criterion. Experiments on handwritten character recognition show the usefulness of this classifier and demonstrate that model selection improves the generalization performance of the LS-SVM.     

A fault tolerant RPC mechanism based on IP multicasting

This paper presents a fault tolerant Remote Procedure Call (RPC) mechanism based on Sun RPC and IP multicast protocol. The fault tolerant RPC mechanism is provided as an RPC library, called libFTRPC, whose interface is compatible with that of conventional Sun's RPC library. Thanks to this compatibility, a reliable RPC server can be developed in the same way a conventional RPC server is constructed. The service reliability is ensured by replicating the server to a group of server replicas. Coordinator-cohort replication model in conjunction with read-one/write-all policy is used to guarantee state consistency between server replicas. We also incorporate a simple and effective approach to balance loads among server replicas to improve performance for read-only requests.     

System identification of nonlinear state-space models

This paper is concerned with the parameter estimation of a general class of nonlinear dynamic systems in state-space form. More specifically, a Maximum Likelihood (ML) framework is employed and an Expectation Maximisation (EM) algorithm is derived to compute these ML estimates. The Expectation (E) step involves solving a nonlinear state estimation problem, where the smoothed estimates of the states are required. This problem lends itself perfectly to the particle smoother, which provides arbitrarily good estimates. The maximisation (M) step is solved using standard techniques from numerical optimisation theory. Simulation examples demonstrate the efficacy of our proposed solution.     

Cubature Kalman smoothers

The cubature Kalman filter (CKF) is a relatively new addition to derivative-free approximate Bayesian filters built under the Gaussian assumption. This paper extends the CKF theory to address nonlinear smoothing problems; the resulting state estimator is named the fixed-interval cubature Kalman smoother (FI-CKS). Moreover, the FI-CKS is reformulated to propagate the square-root error covariances. Although algebraically equivalent to the FI-CKS, the square-root variant ensures reliable implementation when committed to embedded systems with fixed precision or when the inference problem itself is ill-conditioned. Finally, to validate the formulation, the square-root FI-CKS is applied to track a ballistic target on reentry.     

Learning automata based dynamic guard channel algorithms

In this paper, we first propose two learning automata based decentralized dynamic guard channel algorithms for cellular mobile networks. These algorithms use learning automata to adjust the number of guard channels to be assigned to cells of network. Then, we introduce a new model for nonstationary environments under which the proposed algorithms work and study their steady state behavior when they use L_R-I learning algorithm. It is also shown that a learning automaton operating under the proposed nonstationary environment equalizes its penalty strengths. Computer simulations have been conducted to show the effectiveness of the proposed algorithms. The simulation results show that the performances of the proposed algorithms are close to the performance of guard channel algorithm that knows all the traffic parameters.     

Exploring cache performance in multithreaded processors

Multithreading is a well known technique to hide latency in a non-blocking cache architecture. By switching execution from one thread to another, the CPU can perform useful work, while waiting for pending requests to be processed by the main memory. In this paper we examine the effects of varying the associativity and block size on cache performance in a reduced locality of reference environment, due to multithreading. We find that for associativity equal to the number of threads, the cache produces very low miss rate even for small sizes. Also by taking into account the increase in cycle time due to larger cache size or associativity we find that the optimum cache configuration for best processor performance is 16Kbytes direct mapped. Finally, with a constant main memory bandwidth, increasing the block size to more than 32 bytes, reduces the miss rate, but degrades processor performance.     

Metamodeling development for reliability-based design optimization of automotive body structure

Metamodels are commonly used in reliability-based design optimization (RBDO) due to the enormously expensive computation cost of numerical simulations. However, for large-scale design optimization of automotive body structure, with the increasing number of design variable and enhanced nonlinearity degree of structural performance, polynomial response surface which is commonly used for vehicle design optimization often suffers exponentially increased computation burden and serious loss of approximation accuracy. In this paper, support vector regression, along with other four complex metamodeling techniques including moving least square, artificial neural network, radial basis function and Kriging, is investigated for approximating frontal crashworthiness performance which is one of the most highly nonlinear performances. It aims at testing support vector regression and providing advanced metamodeling technique for RBDO of automotive body structure. Approximation results are compared in both accuracy and computational efficiency. Based on the frontal crashworthiness example, it is found that support vector regression and moving least square are preferable techniques to approximate structural performances with good accuracy. But support vector regression is recommended for its computational efficiency and better approximation potential. Moreover, the ensemble of support vector regression, moving least square, Kriging and artificial neural network is an effective alternative and is proved, in the RBDO example for the lightweight design of front body structure, to outperform any other single metamodel. The remarkable predominance indicates that the ensemble of support vector regression, moving least square, Kriging and artificial neural network holds great potential in approximating highly nonlinear performances for RBDO of automotive body structure.