Affine Dependence Classification for Communications Minimization

This paper introduces results on placement and communications minimization for systems of affine recurrence equations. We show how to classify the dependences according to the number and nature of communications they may result in. We give both communication-free conditions and conditions for an efficient use of broadcast or neighbor-to-neighbor communication primitives. Since the dependences of a problem can generally not be all communication-free, we finally introduce a heuristic to globally minimize the communications based on the classification of dependences.     

线性时变系统的区间稳定性与鲁棒稳定性

本文应用向量比较定理研究线性时变系统的区间稳定性和具非线性时变摄动的线性时变系统的鲁棒稳定性，所得的新结果包含文献的一些主要结果作为特例，本文的研究方法说明向量比较方法是分析区间稳定性和鲁棒稳定性的一种自然而有力的工具。     

Issues in nonlinear stochastic grey box identification

Grey box identification refers to the practice of identifying dynamical systems in model structures exploiting partial prior information. This contribution reviews a method for stochastic grey box identification and surveys experiences and lessons of applying it to a number of industrial processes. Issues to be addressed include advantages and costs of introducing stochastics into the model, the question of what contribution must be expected from the model designer as opposed to what can be formalized in computer algorithms, and an outlook on future plans to resolve present shortcomings.     

机床工具产品色彩造型初探

本文针对我国机床工具产品色彩设计的现状,结合具体实例,对色彩造型的实质做了初步的探讨。分析了色彩造型和色彩装饰两种设计观和实践效果;以色彩与形状关系及作用的论证为引,论述色彩造型的三大功能作用。并提出可供机床工具产品色彩设计参考的具体设计方法和手段。     

Distributed memory systems for simulating artificial neural networks

In executing tasks involving intelligent information processing, the human brain performs better than the digital computer. The human brain derives its power from a large number [O(10¹¹)] of neurons which are interconnected by a dense interconnection network [O(10⁵) connections per neuron]. Artificial neural network (ANN) paradigms adopt the structure of the brain to try to emulate the intelligent information processing methods of the brain. ANN techniques are being employed to solve problems in areas such as pattern recognition, and robotic processing. Simulation of ANNs involves implementation of large number of neurons and a massive interconnection network. In this paper, we discuss various simulation models of ANNs and their implementation on distributed memory systems. Our investigations reveal that communication-efficient networks of distributed memory systems perform better than other topologies in implementing ANNs.     

ADS expert

ADS Expert is an integrated system that (a) provides suggestions about suitable optimization algorithms for a particular structural optimization problem, (b) it offers explanations and guide lines, in the form of hypertext, that refer to the optimization strategy, optimizer and one dimensional search method, (c) it produces the required gradients for the objective function and the constraints using symbolic differentiation, (d) establishes a direct linking with ADS routines and (e) it monitors the evolution of the optimization process. The system can be used as an educational tool for structural optimization and as an efficient integrated system for small to medium size optimization problems for which the objective function and the constraints are given in the form of explicit functions of the design variables. The system is a Windows application and runs quite satisfactorily on PCs.     

Software for dynamic reconfigurable order picking systems

This paper describes an approach, conceptual framework, and software architecture for dynamic reconfiguration of the order picking system. The research and development project was sponsored by the Material Handling Research Center (MHRC), a National Science Foundation sponsored Cooperative Industry/University Research Center. The storage configuration is assumed to be an in-the-aisle order picking system in which stockkeeping units (SKUs) can occupy variable capacity storage locations and stock-splitting is allowed among zones (clusters). The product mix may include multiple product families with different life cycles, correlated demand within families and commonality of demand across families.     

An efficient heuristic for scheduling batches of parts in a flexible flow system

Flexible manufacturing systems (FMSs) are a class of automated systems that can be used to improve productivity in batch manufacturing. Four stages of decision making have been defined for an FMS—the design, planning, scheduling, and control stages. This research focuses on the planning stage, and specifically in the area of scheduling batches of parts through the system.The literature to date on the FMS planning stage has mostly focused on the machine grouping, tool loading, and parttype selection problems. Our research carries the literature a step further by addressing the problem of scheduling batches of parts. Due to the use of serial-access material-handling systems in many FMSs, the batch-scheduling problem is modeled for a flexible flow system (FFS). This model explicitly accounts for setup times between batches that are dependent on their processing sequence.A heuristic procedure is developed for this batch-scheduling problem—the Maximum Savings (MS) heuristic. The MS heuristic is based upon the savings in time associated with a particular sequence and selecting the one with the maximum savings. It uses a two-phase method, with the savings being calculated in phase I, while a branch-and-bound procedure is employed to seek the best heuristic solution in phase II. Extensive computational results are provided for a wide variety of problems. The results show that the MS heuristic provides good-quality solutions.     

Investigation of texture effect on visual colour difference evaluation

The texture effect on visual colour difference evaluation was investigated in this study. Five colour centers were selected and textured colour pairs were generated using scanned textile woven fabrics and colour‐mapping technique. The textured and solid colour pairs were then displayed on a characterized cathode ray tube (CRT) monitor for colour difference evaluation. The colour difference values for the pairs with texture patterns are equal to 5.0 CIELAB units in lightness direction. The texture level was represented by the half‐width of histogram, which is called texture strength in this study. High correlation was found between texture strength and visual colour difference for textured colour pairs, which indicates that an increasing of 10 units of texture strength in luminance would cause a decreasing of 0.25 units visual difference for the five colour centers. The ratio of visual difference between textured and solid colour pairs also indicates a high parametric effect of texture. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Col Res Appl, 30, 341–347, 2005; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/col.