Evaluating the transfer of technology between application domains: a critical evaluation of the human component in the system

Technology can take many forms from the development of sophisticated electronics to the application of basic procedural principles. Technology transfer can also take several forms, however, in this case, it is the transfer of technological principles between application domains that is of primary interest. This paper presents a framework (the Five ‘M’s framework) that can be used to consider the likely success of technology transfer. The framework is based upon a sociotechnical system approach. The framework is illustrated with an evaluation of the introduction of intelligent cruise control into motor vehicles. It is argued that this is a technological concept first developed as an aerospace application in the form of the autopilot. In this case, it is argued that the transfer of this technology in its current form may potentially compromise safety.     

Salt-water up-coning during extraction of fresh water from a tropical island

Rainwater can collect in a lens-shaped region within the rock of a tropical island, and may be separated from the underlying salt water by a sharp interface. This paper presents a nonlinear theory for determining the shape of this interface. The island is assumed to be saturated with rain, and provision is made for the outflow of rain-water through the sides of the island. The effect of a bore well on the shape of the interface is investigated, and the problem is solved using a spectral method. An integral-equation method is also presented for the case when the island has infinite width.     

Adhesive element modelling and weighted static shape control of composite plates with piezoelectric actuator patches

A novel finite element model is presented for static and dynamic analysis of composite plates integrated with a laminated piezoelectric layer, a host laminated composite plate and an adhesive layer between them. A new adhesive element is developed which includes both peel and shear effects in the adhesive layer based on first‐order shear deformation plate theory. The thin adhesive layer between the piezoelectric layer and the host plate is modelled by assuming that it carries constant shear and peel strains throughout its thickness. In addition, a weighted static shape control scheme for finding the optimal voltage distribution for static shape control is given. By selecting different weighting matrices, a variety of items such as displacements, slopes, curvatures, strains and even generalized forces, can be included in finding the optimal actuating voltage for static shape control. The present model is validated by comparing with those results available in the literature. The numerical results show that the weighted linear least method can give a satisfactory voltage distribution to best match the desired shape. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Generalized difference control of parallel streams temperatures

A furnace with multiple parallel passes and multiple burners is commonly seen in petroleum refineries. In order to maintain the furnace running in a safe, stable, and high-efficiency state it is necessary to control the outlet temperatures of the multiple passes to be the same. Due to the fact that the process of the oil heating in such furnace is nonlinear, multivariable, time varying, has serious coupling among passes, has frequent dynamic changes and a large time delay, traditional control methods have trouble in controlling these temperatures, and some advanced control methods, including predictive control, adaptive control, and robust control, are usually too complex for convenient use. In this paper, a control technique, called differences control technique (DsCT), is proposed to distribute the stream flowrates such that the stream temperatures are as identical as possible. The principle of the proposed technique is explained and demonstrated, and the results of its application to a real-life petroleum refinery furnace are also reported. The DsCT technique has the following advantages: it does not need complicated design procedures, the controller structure is simple, it is easy to apply, and it can be canonically applied to furnaces with different number of passes.     

Stabilization of fixed modes in expansions of LTI systems

The objective of this note is to propose a method for stabilization of structurally fixed modes in expansions of LTI dynamic systems in the scope of overlapping decentralized control design based on the expansion/contraction framework, enabling successful design for a broader class of problems than considered so far. The method is based on a judicious choice of complementary matrices in the expanded space. Numerical examples are provided to illustrate simplicity and efficiency of the proposed approach.     

微型生化分析仪样品室温度控制系统研究

结合微型生化分析仪样品室的要求,设计了一种基于单片机的微型生化分析仪样品室温度控制系统.它以AT89S51为核心,采用单总线高精度数字温度传感器DS18B20对样品室温度采样,同时利用汇编语言编写温度设定与控制程序,采用半导体制冷的方式,实现了温度在25℃、30℃、32℃和37℃四个温度值的稳定,控制精度达±0.5℃.     

论我国大学不良竞争的形成及控制

大学在办学资源、办学过程、办学质量、办学形象的竞争中出现大量的不良倾向。大学的不良竞争是由于政府主导资源配置、资源和制度供给不足、大学系统重构等因素导致。必须通过控制主体、控制手段的转变和控制对象的发展形成新的控制机制，以保证大学竞争的秩序化和规范化。     

煤炭码头带式输送机控制系统

介绍煤炭码头带式输送机联锁控制系统设计的一种方法，详细阐述了整个系统的工艺流程、启动方式以及控制原理等。这种方法可以实现带式输送机远程中控室控制，也可进行就地带式输送机机侧控制。     

Passivity‐based sliding mode control for nonlinear systems

Passivity with sliding mode control for a class of nonlinear systems with and without unknown parameters is considered in this paper. In fact, a method for deriving a nonlinear system with external disturbances to a passive system is considered. Then a passive sliding mode control is designed corresponding to a given storage function. The passivity property guarantees the system stability while sliding mode control techniques assures the robustness of the proposed controller. When the system includes unknown parameters, an appropriate updated law is obtained so that the new transformed system is passive. The passivation property of linear systems with sliding mode is also analysed. The linear and nonlinear theories are applied to a simple pendulum model and the gravity‐flow/pipeline system, respectively. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

方圆坯铸机开发新断面自动化程序的实现

文章介绍了包钢连铸机结晶器液位、喷淋水、热坯压力等主要参数实现自动控制的过程,阐述了上述参数如何根据不同铸坯断面而改变,并针对钢厂开发新断面如何实现参数的切换提出解决办法.