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Full-Text Articles in Engineering

Low-Input-Voltage, Low-Power Boost Converter Design Issues, Jonathan W. Kimball, Theresa L. Flowers, Patrick L. Chapman Sep 2004

Low-Input-Voltage, Low-Power Boost Converter Design Issues, Jonathan W. Kimball, Theresa L. Flowers, Patrick L. Chapman

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Issues associated with boost converter design and performance are investigated when a low input voltage is used. Low-input-voltage sources include single fuel cells, single solar cells, and thermoelectric devices. The primary context is interfacing single micro fuel cells to portable electronic loads, such as mobile phones. Efficiency and circuit startup are the two most difficult issues for a low-cost design. It is shown in theory and experiment that the boost converter has a voltage collapse point. A simple startup technique is proposed that is appropriate for some applications.


A Three-Dimensional Fdtd Subgridding Algorithm Based On Interpolation Of Current Density, Kai Xiao, David Pommerenke, James L. Drewniak Aug 2004

A Three-Dimensional Fdtd Subgridding Algorithm Based On Interpolation Of Current Density, Kai Xiao, David Pommerenke, James L. Drewniak

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

A three-dimensional subgridding algorithm for the finite difference time domain (FDTD) method is proposed in this paper. The method is based on interpolation of electric and magnetic current densities. The coarse-fine mesh ratio can be either 1:2 or 1:3. Results of a test model utilizing a lossless cavity excited with a dipole show no tendency of instability after 500000 time steps. The reflection in time domain at the subgridding interface was calculated to test the accuracy of the subgridding algorithm.


The Robustness Of Resource Allocation In Parallel And Distributed Computing Systems, Shoukat Ali, Howard Jay Siegel, A. A. Maciejewski Jan 2004

The Robustness Of Resource Allocation In Parallel And Distributed Computing Systems, Shoukat Ali, Howard Jay Siegel, A. A. Maciejewski

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

This paper gives an overview of the material to be discussed in the invited keynote presentation by H. J. Siegel. Performing computing and communication tasks on parallel and distributed systems involves the coordinated use of different types of machines, networks, interfaces, and other resources. Decisions about how best to allocate resources are often based on estimated values of task and system parameters, due to uncertainties in the system environment. An important research problem is the development of resource management strategies that can guarantee a particular system performance given such uncertainties. We have designed a methodology for deriving the degree of …


Development And Implementation Of New Nonlinear Control Concepts For A Ua, Vijayakumar Janardhan, Derek Schmitz, S. N. Balakrishnan Jan 2004

Development And Implementation Of New Nonlinear Control Concepts For A Ua, Vijayakumar Janardhan, Derek Schmitz, S. N. Balakrishnan

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

A reconfigurable flight control method is developed to be implemented on an Unmanned Aircraft (UA), a thirty percent scale model of the Cessna 150. This paper presents the details of the UAV platform, system identification, reconfigurable controller design, development, and implementation on the UA to analyze the performance metrics. A Crossbow Inertial Measurement Unit provides the roll, pitch and yaw accelerations and rates along with the roll and pitch. The 100400 mini-air data boom from spaceage control provides the airspeed, altitude, angle of attack and the side slip angles. System identification is accomplished by commanding preprogrammed inputs to the control …


Measuring The Robustness Of A Resource Allocation, Shoukat Ali, A. A. Maciejewski, Howard Jay Siegel, Jong-Kook Kim Jan 2004

Measuring The Robustness Of A Resource Allocation, Shoukat Ali, A. A. Maciejewski, Howard Jay Siegel, Jong-Kook Kim

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Parallel and distributed systems may operate in an environment that undergoes unpredictable changes causing certain system performance features to degrade. Such systems need robustness to guarantee limited degradation despite fluctuations in the behavior of its component parts or environment. This research investigates the robustness of an allocation of resources to tasks in parallel and distributed systems. The main contributions are 1) a mathematical description of a metric for the robustness of a resource allocation with respect to desired system performance features against multiple perturbations in multiple system and environmental conditions, and 2) a procedure for deriving a robustness metric for …