Fault-accommodation with intelligent sensors

Optimal sensor fault-accommodation is considered for faults modelled by an increase in measurement noise. This noise is taken to be bounded and its probabilistic properties unknown. It is assumed that intelligent (e.g. self-validating) instrumentation is in use and estimates of the noise bounds are available. The fault-tolerant controller is designed to optimize a noise rejection and a nominal reference tracking index and leads to a mixed norm minimization problem (l₁/l₂). We exploit known results and a particular feedback configuration to show that it is possible to optimize simultaneously without a trade-off the two performance indices. The results are applied to systems where the presence of auxiliary measurements allows for an optimal fault-accommodation strategy. Using properties of the optimal solution, we define a factorization for the optimal controller alternative to the Youla parametrization, leading to an algorithm which is optimal, transparent and efficient.     

Tracking trajectories of the cart-pendulum system

The problem of tracking a periodic trajectory of the well-known cart-pendulum system is solved. After a change of coordinates and a change of feedback, the equations of this system are nonlinear but feedforward. This property is extensively used to carry out for this system the design of uniformly asymptotically stabilizing time-varying state feedbacks by using the forwarding approach.     

A time aggregation approach to Markov decision processes

We propose a time aggregation approach for the solution of infinite horizon average cost Markov decision processes via policy iteration. In this approach, policy update is only carried out when the process visits a subset of the state space. As in state aggregation, this approach leads to a reduced state space, which may lead to a substantial reduction in computational and storage requirements, especially for problems with certain structural properties. However, in contrast to state aggregation, which generally results in an approximate model due to the loss of Markov property, time aggregation suffers no loss of accuracy, because the Markov property is preserved. Single sample path-based estimation algorithms are developed that allow the time aggregation approach to be implemented on-line for practical systems. Some numerical and simulation examples are presented to illustrate the ideas and potential computational savings.     

Algorithm for finding all k nearest neighbors

A very simple algorithm for computing all k nearest neighbors in 2-D is presented. The method does not rely on complicated forms of tessellation, it only requires simple data binning for fast range searching. Its applications range from scattered data interpolation to reverse engineering.     

Scaffolded writing and rewriting in the discipline: A web-based reciprocal peer review system

This paper describes how SWoRD (scaffolded writing and rewriting in the discipline), a web-based reciprocal peer review system, supports writing practice, particularly for large content courses in which writing is considered critical but not feasibly included. To help students gain content knowledge as well as writing and reviewing skills, SWoRD supports the whole cycle of writing, reviews, back-reviews, and rewriting by scaffolding the journal publication process as its authentic practice model. In addition, SWoRD includes algorithms that compute individual reviewer’s review accuracy, which is in turn used to support the various drawbacks of reciprocal peer reviews (e.g., variation in motivation or ability of reviewers). Finally, this paper describes an empirical evaluation showing that the SWoRD approach is effective in improving writing quality in content classes.     

Corrosion fatigue of extruded magnesium alloys

Corrosion fatigue tests were carried out on extruded AZ31 (3% Al, 1% Zn, 0.3% Mn, Mg—the rest), AM50 (5% Al, 0.4% Mn, Mg—the rest) and ZK60 (5% Zn, 0.5% Zr, Mg—the rest) Mg alloys in air, NaCl-based and borate solutions. N_sol/N_air ratios (the relative fatigue life) were used for the analysis of the corrosion fatigue behavior of Mg alloys in various environments, where N_sol and N_air are the numbers of cycles to failure in the solution and in air, respectively. Extruded ZK60 alloy reveals very high fatigue and corrosion fatigue properties in comparison with other alloys. However, it has the lowest relative fatigue life (N_sol/N_air 10⁻³–10⁻²) or the highest sensitivity to the action of NaCl-based solutions in comparison with that of AM50 and AZ31 alloys (N_sol/N_air 10⁻²–10⁻¹). Under the same stress, the corrosion fatigue life of extruded alloys is significantly longer than that of die-cast alloys (N_sol for extruded AM50 in NaCl is two to three times longer than that of die-cast AM50).     

Sexualities, technologies, and the teaching of writing: A critical overview

In this introduction to a special issue of Computers and Composition, the authors critically review current literature on computer-assisted writing pedagogies that grapple with issues of sexuality. Although this body of work is small, it points to provocative ways to develop our students’ critical and rhetorical sensibilities about the constructions of sexuality in our culture. Further, such work innovatively addresses the place of networked communication technologies in the interrogation of such constructions. The authors conclude with both an introduction of the work in this special issue that addresses the intersection of sexuality studies and computer-assisted writing studies and with a call for additional work in this field.