Propaedeutics of decision-making: Supporting managerial learning and innovation

This paper considers the DSS development process as an exercise in mutual and concurrent learning by an analyst and a

foundation of cognitive science to view the systems development process and the roles of its participants in a new context. Several strategies are proposed for developing systems so as to ensure their continued effectiveness in dynamic environments.     

Robust L2 -L∞ filtering with pole constraint in a disk via parameter-dependent Lyapunov functions

Addresses the design problems of robust L2 - L∞ filters with pole constraint in a disk for uncertain continuous-time linear systems. The uncertain parameters are assumed to belong to convex bounded domains.The aim is to determine a stable linear filter such that the filtering error system possesses a prescribed L2 - L∞ noise attenuation level and expected poles location. The filtering strategies are based on parameter-dependent Lyapunov stability results to derive new robust L2 - L∞ performance criteria and the regional pole placement con-ditions. From the proposed multi-objective performance criteria, we derive sufficient conditions for the existence of robust L2 - L∞ filters with pole constraint in a disk, and cast the filter design into a convex optimization prob-lem subject to a set of linear matrix inequality constraints. This filtering method exhibits less conservativeness than previous results in the quadratic framework. The advantages of the filter design procedures are demonstrated by means of numerical examples.     

含负折射率介质一维光子晶体的缺陷模热辐射特性

为了得到高品质的热辐射源,提出一种由附着在SiC基底上含负折射率介质的光子晶体构成的新型热辐射源,在光子晶体中插入一个缺陷层,缺陷层的禁带的波长范围被调节到与SiC吸收带的波长范围基本重合;利用传输矩阵方法分析该辐射源的热辐射特性.结果表明:该结构只能辐射与禁带的缺陷模波长相等的光波,在很窄的波长范围及特定的方向上表现非常尖锐的辐射峰.辐射峰具有较好的时间相干性和空间相干性,对入射角度偏振及光子晶体的尺度因子等不敏感,具有较高的品质因子.     

码长连续变化的QC-LDPC码的设计

该文基于有限多项式环的理论,提出了码长连续变化的准循环低密度奇偶校验(Quasi-Cyclic Low Density Parity Check, QC-LDPC)码的设计方法。当有限环基数大于某个门限值时,在此环内通过一定规则选择参数生成移位项,利用它们构造出的校验矩阵均可以达到较大的圈长(girth)值。在设计中,有限环基数为连续的整数,且基数与码长呈线性关系,因此能够在girth值不变的前提下实现码长的连续变化。该文分析并证明了该构造方法大大增加了可用的高性能QC-LDPC码数量,更好地服务于自适应链路系统。     

Measuring magnetic anisotropy with a rotatable ac electromagnet

Magnetic anisotropy of magnetic thin films was determined from a series of hysteresis loops measured via a rotatable alternate current (ac) electromagnet, the rotation angle of which could be continuously tuned at 360° with a high resolution. Co₂FeAl Heusler alloy films grown by molecular beam epitaxy were used to show the benefits of the method for measuring magnetic anisotropy.     

A compilation of patents related to mechanical metrology standards and high-precision measurement of mechanical quantities

The paper aims to provide a source of information regarding the measurement of physical quantities, specifically those related to mechanical metrology. Since there is a lack of literature reviews referencing patents as a way of gathering useful information, we performed a systematic search for patents that could solve practical problems in this field. The methodology used focused on one of the most comprehensive patent database, Orbit.com, covering about 70,000,000 documents. This text gives a quick look at the fundamentals of the measurement literature and then points out the state-of-the-art concerning patents in the area of study. Additionally, data analysis shows the trends in the last five decades of patents about the subject. In total, 5686 documents are found and we compiled 10 examples of relevant patents for the quantities Length, Temperature and Mass, making this article a source of information for both scientific and non-scientific metrology community.     

A Stokesian dynamics approach for simulation of magnetic particle suspensions

The dynamic behaviour of μm-scale ferromagnetic particles in suspension is of interest for various mineral beneficiation processes. It is, however, difficult to experimentally study such processes at the particle-level. In these instances it can be advantageous to resort to suitable particle simulation methods.Stokesian dynamics is a mesh-free numerical technique developed for suspensions of nm to mm size particles. The method inherently considers hydrodynamic interactions, but additional interaction models can be included depending on the system under investigation. We here present a Stokesian dynamics (SD) implementation, which allows for simulation of the motion of suspended magnetic particles in presence of an external magnetic field. The magnetic interaction model includes particle-field interactions as well as pairwise interactions between magnetised particles.Simulations are compared with experiments using a laboratory-scale flow cell. The method is shown to be realistic for studying ferromagnetic suspensions in mineral processing applications, and can be useful in understanding and predicting the efficiency of mineral separation processes.     

Optical fiber distributed temperature sensor using short term Fourier transform based simplified signal processing of Raman signals

A simplified technique using short term Fourier transform to reduce the errors in distributed temperature measurement with a Raman scattering based optical fiber sensor system is presented. The two main sources of errors are differential attenuation to anti-Stokes and Stokes signal by fiber and local change in Stokes due to change in temperature. The proposed technique compensates these errors and extracts correct temperature profile in spite of practical difficulties encountered in applying the theoretical concept. Moreover proposed technique is less complex, self-reliant, can tolerate variation in laser power, requires less dead zone and suits automation using embedded solution. Results of measurement carried out, using the system developed at RRCAT, Indore, for two hot zones having spatial width of 1.9 m (kept at 56 °C) and 1.5 m (kept at 78 °C), located at 47 m and 85 m respectively, show that these parameters can be recovered with significantly small errors.     

Feature extraction and soft computing methods for aerospace structure defect classification

This study concerns the effectiveness of several techniques and methods of signals processing and data interpretation for the diagnosis of aerospace structure defects. This is done by applying different known feature extraction methods, in addition to a new CBIR-based one; and some soft computing techniques including a recent HPC parallel implementation of the U-BRAIN learning algorithm on Non Destructive Testing data. The performance of the resulting detection systems are measured in terms of Accuracy, Sensitivity, Specificity, and Precision. Their effectiveness is evaluated by the Matthews correlation, the Area Under Curve (AUC), and the F-Measure. Several experiments are performed on a standard dataset of eddy current signal samples for aircraft structures. Our experimental results evidence that the key to a successful defect classifier is the feature extraction method – namely the novel CBIR-based one outperforms all the competitors – and they illustrate the greater effectiveness of the U-BRAIN algorithm and the MLP neural network among the soft computing methods in this kind of application.     

New MPPT algorithm for PV applications based on hybrid dynamical approach

This paper proposes a new Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) algorithm for photovoltaic applications using the multicellular converter as a stage of power adaptation. The proposed MPPT technique has been designed using a hybrid dynamical approach to model the photovoltaic generator. The hybrid dynamical theory has been applied taking advantage of the particular topology of the multicellular converter. Then, a hybrid automata has been established to optimize the power production. The maximization of the produced solar energy is achieved by switching between the different operative modes of the hybrid automata, which is conditioned by some invariance and transition conditions. These conditions have been validated by simulation tests under different conditions of temperature and irradiance. Moreover, the performance of the proposed algorithm has been then evaluated by comparison with standard MPPT techniques numerically and by experimental tests under varying external working conditions. The results have shown the interesting features that the hybrid MPPT technique presents in terms of performance and simplicity for real time implementation.