Engineering Commons^™

Reflections From The Wearable Computing Conference In Toronto, Canada, Nick Rheinberger, Katina Michael, Alexander Hayes

Alexander Hayes Mr.

Could sports men and women who are monitored using wearable computers actually be playing to a global theatre to ensure the upkeep of their performance benchmarks instead of consciously watching and reacting to what is happening in the game they are playing? What are the social implications of heart rate monitors and GPS units now embedded into player clothing? What were some of the reflections from the IEEE ISTAS13 meeting on Wearable Computers in Every Day Life? What were some of the main messages that you walked away with from that conference? What made the greatest impression on us was …

Impact Of Wind Generator Control Strategies On Flicker Emission In Distribution Networks, Lasantha Meegahapola, Sarath Perera

Dr Lasantha G Meegahapola

Renewable power generators are increasingly being integrated to electricity networks to achieve future renewable energy targets in power generation. In particular, wind power generation has already reported substantial penetration levels in electricity networks. Traditionally, flicker phenomenon is considered to be one of the power quality issues in power distribution networks due to fluctuating consumer loads connected to the network. Large-scale integration of wind power generators may create significant voltage fluctuations in distribution feeders due to stochastic and intermittent nature of the wind resources. This study aims to investigate and characterize the flicker emission under different control strategies for DFIG based …

Capability Curve Based Enhanced Reactive Power Control Strategy For Stability Enhancement And Network Voltage Management, Lasantha Meegahapola, Tim Littler, Sarath Perera

Dr Lasantha G Meegahapola

Reactive power has become a vital resource in modern electricity networks due to increased penetration of distributed generation. This paper examines the extended reactive power capability of DFIGs to improve network stability and capability to manage network voltage profile during transient faults and dynamic operating conditions. A coordinated reactive power controller is designed by considering the reactive power capabilities of the rotor-side converter (RSC) and the grid-side converter (GSC) of the DFIG in order to maximise the reactive power support from DFIGs. The study has illustrated that, a significant reactive power contribution can be obtained from partially loaded DFIG wind …

Wind Turbine Controls For Farm And Offshore Operation, Zhongzhou Yang

Theses and Dissertations

Development of advanced control techniques is a critical measure for reducing the cost of energy for wind power generation, in terms of both enhancing energy capture and reducing fatigue load. There are two remarkable trends for wind energy. First, more and more large wind farms are developed in order to reduce the unit-power cost in installation, operation, maintenance and transmission. Second, offshore wind energy has received significant attention when the scarcity of land resource has appeared to be a major bottleneck for next level of wind penetration, especially for Europe and Asia. This dissertation study investigates on several wind turbine …

Techniques For Optimum Design Of Actively Controlled Structures Including Topological Considerations, Arjumand Ali

Theses and Dissertations

The design and performance of complex engineering systems often depends on several conflicting objectives which, in many cases, cannot be represented as a single measure of performance. This thesis presents a multi-objective formulation for a comprehensive treatment of the structural and topological considerations in the design of actively controlled structures.

The dissertation addresses three main problems. The first problem deals with optimum placement of actuators in actively controlled structures. The purpose of control is to reduce the vibrations when the structure is subjected to a disturbance. In order to mitigate the structural vibrations as quickly as possible, it is necessary …

No Limits To Watching?, Katina Michael, M.G. Michael

M. G. Michael

Little by little, the introduction of new body-worn technologies is transforming the way people interact with their environment and one another, and perhaps even with themselves. Social and environmental psychology studies of human-technology interaction pose as many questions as answers. We are learning as we go: 'learning by doing' through interaction and 'learning by being'. Steve Mann calls this practice existential learning; wearers become photoborgs, a type of cyborg (cybernetic organism) whose primary intent is image capture from the domains of the natural and artificial. This approach elides the distinction between the technology and the human; they coalesce into one.

No Limits To Watching?, Katina Michael, M.G. Michael

Professor Katina Michael

Little by little, the introduction of new body-worn technologies is transforming the way people interact with their environment and one another, and perhaps even with themselves. Social and environmental psychology studies of human-technology interaction pose as many questions as answers. We are learning as we go: 'learning by doing' through interaction and 'learning by being'. Steve Mann calls this practice existential learning; wearers become photoborgs, a type of cyborg (cybernetic organism) whose primary intent is image capture from the domains of the natural and artificial. This approach elides the distinction between the technology and the human; they coalesce into one.

A Control System For Space Solar Power, Jeremy Straub

Jeremy Straub

This poster presents an algorithm for the implementation of a control system that accepts power requests and makes distribution assignments to maximize the performance of the overall space solar power (SSP) system and meet service level agreements (SLAs). This complex process involves projecting service-customer demand into the future, projecting power availability on each servicing spacecraft and implementing corrective measures should actual craft performance not meet with planning expectations. The control system is implemented as a planning problem with some deterministic elements (craft position and generation) and some probabilistically predicted elements (interference, drag and malfunctions). A heuristic solver is proposed that …

Dynamic Channel Allocation For Mobile Cellular Systems Using A Control Theoretical Approach, Yaya Wei, Chuang Lin, Raad Raad, Fengyuan Ren

Dr Raad Raad

The guard channel scheme in wireless mobile networks has attracted and is still drawing research interest owing to easy implementation and flexible control. Dynamic guard channel schemes have already been proposed in the literature to adapt to varying traffic load. This paper presents a novel control-theoretic approach to dynamically reserve guard channels called PI-Guard Channel (PI-GC) controller that maintains the handoff blocking probability (HBP) to a predefined value; while it still improves the channel resource utilization.

Session Based Differentiated Quality Of Service Admission Control For Web Servers, Yaya Wei, Chuang Lin, Fengyuan Ren, Eryk Dutkeiwicz, Raad Raad

Dr Raad Raad

Recent advance-session based admission control (SBAC) has resulted in protecting the server from entering a regime in which latencies are excessive or session throughput collapses due to dropped requests and aborted sessions. The goal of this work is to introduce differentiated QoS to SBAC. We propose a two-threshold SBAC scheme (QSBAC). It can provide high throughput for preferred clients especially in overload situation. Furthermore, to adapt to varying traffic loads, a dynamic QSBAC (DQSBAC) scheme is also proposed. The experimental results show that comparing with SBAC scheme, both QSBAC scheme and DQSBAC scheme can sustain higher session throughput for preferred …

Crane Shaking Platform Design, Bixing Yan, Andrea Vacca

The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Symposium

Most of the control methodology of Mobile hydraulic crane is not as energy efficient as people think or want, and the desire to innovate novel, energy-efficient control strategy is the target of most hydraulic experts. To develop or test the control method under real road and off-road conditions, a platform that could simulate the movement and vibration of the crane truck is desired. To design and build the multi-operation platform, a design process includes brain storming, design selection, FEA (Fundamental Element Analysis), mechanical sizing, hydraulic sizing and Bill of Material is required and preferred. After going through all the steps …

Inertial Sensing For Human Motor Control Symmetry In Injury Rehabilitation, Matthew Field, David Stirling, Montserrat Ros, Zengxi Stephen Pan, Fazel Naghdy

zengxi pan

This paper proposes a series of methods for representing changes in human motion during injury rehabilitation using Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS) inertial sensors. Tracking the changes over a recovery period requires methods for evaluating the similarity of movement in an impaired state against a non-impaired state. We investigate the use of motion analyses such as the centre of mass (COM) tipping distance, the variance of joint velocity eigenvalues and the cumulative state changes of Gaussian mixture models (GMM) for monitoring the symmetry between the left and right sides of body during rehabilitation exercises. The methods are tested on an injured athlete …

Autonomous Blimp Control Using Reinforcement Learning, Yiwei Liu, Zengxi Pan, David Stirling, Fazel Naghdy

zengxi pan

This paper presents a new approach for navigation control of an autonomous blimp using an intelligent reinforcement learning algorithm. Compared to the traditional model based control methods, this control strategy does not require a dynamic model of the blimp, which provides huge advantage in many practical situations where the blimp system model is either hard to acquire or too complicated to apply. As the blimp will acquire a range of the pilot skills through a learning and rewarding mechanism during actual navigation trials, it can automatically account for the environmental changes during the navigation. The simulation data generated from a …

Motion Segmentation For Humanoid Control Planning, Matthew Field, David A. Stirling, Fazel Naghdy, Zengxi Pan

zengxi pan

The discovery of major management behaviours from human motion data and uncovering their underlying components is investigated. A range of methods for segmenting major shifts in multidimensional time series are compared in inducing plausible behaviours from motion data. These behaviours are considered as supersets of motion primitives that define a repertoire of manoeuvres available to the human. The resulting multilayered symbolic model is used as a framework for humanoid imitation and control. It is hoped that with appropriate matching and scaling of degrees of freedom, models can be tested by extracting a trajectory for a simulation of the Nao soccer …

Control Of Autonomous Airship, Yiwei Liu, Zengxi Pan, David A. Stirling, Fazel Naghdy

zengxi pan

Scientific research and development on the control of autonomous airship have shown a significant growth in recent years. New applications appear in the areas such as freight carrier, advertising, monitoring, surveillance, transportation, military and scientific research. The control of Autonomous airship is a very important problem for the aerial robots research. In this paper, the previous research on the control of autonomous blimp is reviewed, Several popular control methods are categorized and discussed in detail. Then an intelligent navigation control method, reinforcement learning control, is introduced in the autonomous blimp which was used for 2007 UAV Outback Challenge. The future …

Q-Learning Algorithm For Navigation Control Of Autonomous Blimp, Yiwei Liu, Zengxi Pan, David A. Stirling, Fazel Naghdy

zengxi pan

In this research, an autonomous control system for blimp navigation was developed using reinforcement learning algorithm. The aim of this research is to provide a blimp the capability to approach a goal position autonomously in an environment, where the dynamical models of the blimp and the environment are unknown. Webots™ Robotics Simulator (WRS) was used to simulate and evaluate the control strategy obtained through a one-step Q-learning method. The simulation data generated via WRS were then processed and analysed within MATLAB. The simulation results showed that the control policy acquired from Q-learning is much more effective compared to the traditional …

Characterization Of Two-Dimensional Oculomotor Control During Goal-Directed Eye Movements In Humans, Vincent Dang

Master's Theses (2009 -)

Oculomotor control is a subset of sensorimotor control that allows humans to make extremely accurate eye movements for ADL. Impairments to oculomotor control can increase the impact of sensorimotor control deficits, especially in neurodegenerative diseases such as MS. Here, a two-dimensional computational control system of saccades and smooth-pursuit eye movements was compiled from literature to systematically characterize oculomotor control in eight visually-healthy humans as a precursor to studying the relationship between oculomotor and sensorimotor control in patient populations. Subjects visually tracked a single dot on a 41 x 30.5 cm monitor in a dark room while eye positions were recorded …

Advanced Control Strategies For Mobile Hydraulic Applications, Davide Cristofori

Open Access Dissertations

Mobile hydraulic machines are affected by numerous undesired dynamics, mainly discontinuous motion and vibrations. Over the years, many methods have been developed to limit the extent of those undesired dynamics and improve controllability and safety of operation of the machine. However, in most of the cases, today's methods do not significantly differ from those developed in a time when electronic controllers were slower and less reliable than they are today.

This dissertation addresses this aspect and presents a unique control method designed to be applicable to all mobile hydraulic machines controlled by proportional directional valves. In particular, the proposed control …

Modelling Trilayer Conjugated Polymer Actuators For Their Sensorless Position Control, Chuc Nguyen, Gursel Alici, G Wallace

Chuc Huu Nguyen

In this paper, we present a new model to describe the displacement response of a trilayer conjugated polymer actuator that can operate in dry environments. The proposed model based on the working principle of conjugated polymer actuators includes diffusion impedances combined with double layer capacitors and charge transfer resistors. The parameters of the model are estimated by using a nonlinear least square estimation method by comparing simulation and experimental results. The proposed model is very useful in predicting the impedance as well as the displacement response of the polymer actuators accurately. Based on the proposed model, an inversion-based controller not …

Adaptive Sliding Mode Control Of Tri-Layer Conjugated Polymer Actuators, Xiangjiang Wang, Gursel Alici, Chuc Nguyen

Chuc Huu Nguyen

This paper proposes an adaptive sliding mode control methodology to enhance the positioning ability of conducting polymer actuators typified by tri-layer conjugated polymer actuators. This is motivated by the search for an effective control strategy to command such actuators to a desired configuration in the presence of parametric uncertainties and unmodeled disturbances. After analyzing the stability of the adaptive sliding mode control system, experiments were conducted to demonstrate its satisfactory tracking ability, based on a series of experimental results. Implementation of the control law requires a valid model of the conducting polymer actuator and boundaries of the uncertainties and disturbances. …

Social Implications Of Wearable Computing And Augmediated Reality In Every Day Life (Ieee Symposium On Technology And Society, Istas13), Katina Michael

Associate Professor Katina Michael

It was in July 2012 that Steve Mann and I corresponded on the possibility of hosting a conference on wearable computing in Toronto, Canada. Steve had just returned home from a family holiday to France and publicly blogged about an unfortunate incident that had happened to him while away. On 17th July 2012 he posted: “Physical assault by McDonald’s for wearing Digital Eye Glass”. We both knew the timing was right for such an event that was not just a technical engineering or applied orientation on the theme of smart worlds, but an event that would grapple with the dichotomies …

The Control Of Time-Dependent Buckling Patterns In Thin Confined Elastomer Film, Brad Winton, Mihail Ionescu, S X. Dou

Shi Xue Dou

Low energy metal ion implantation has been used to combine an easy “bottom-up” way of creating and tuning different topographic structures on submicron to micrometer scales with the embedding of a metallic element-rich functionalized layer at the surface for a variety of scientific and technological applications. The self-organizing and complex patterns of functionalized topographic structures are highly dependent on the implanted metal ion species, variations in the geometric confinement of the buckled areas on the larger unmodified elastomer film, and the boundary conditions of the buckled regions. Systematic investigations of these dependencies have been carried out via optical and atomic …

The Comparison Between Nanostructure Control And Other Modifications To Improve The Electrochemical Performance Of Sno, Yong-Mook Kang, Min-Sik Park, Hua-Kun Liu, S. X. Dou

Shi Xue Dou

With an advent of the ubiquitous era, the demand for rechargeable batteries with a higher energy density is getting more and more critical. It is because applications are emerging such as electric vehicles and various types of portable electronic devices. Carbonaceous materials are commonly adopted as the anode material for commercial lithium-ion secondary batteries because it can reversibly intercalate or de-intercalate Li ion. However, low capacity of carbon has become a limiting factor in wider applications, and high capacity alternative to carbonaceous material has thus been sought for. Even if tin and silicon have been considered as one of the …

Structural Control Of D-F Interaction In The Cefe1−Xruxaso System System, Cao Wang, Hao Jiang, Yongkang Luo, Chunmu Feng, Wenxian Li, Zhu-An Xu, Guanghan Cao, Jung Ho Kim, S. X. Dou

Shi Xue Dou

The isovalent substitution effect of Ru in CeFe1−xRuxAsO (0 ≤ x ≤ 1) has been systematically studied by powder X-ray diffraction, electrical resistivity, magnetization, and specific heat measurements. The antiferromagnetic (AFM) ordering of both d and 4f electrons are suppressed upon Ru doping, followed by Pauli paramagnetism (d electrons) and local moment paramagnetism (4f electrons) with strong ferromagnetic fluctuation, respectively. Neither superconductivity above 2K nor pronounced Kondo screening are observed in the substitution phase diagram. Combined with published results of the cerium-based quaternary compounds CeMXO(M =Fe, Ru; X =P, As), our data suggest that the end member CeRuAsO is on …

Architectural Engineering Earthquake Shake Table, Garrett Gudgel, John Whitmer, Brandan Williams

Mechanical Engineering

The Architectural Engineering Department at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, owns and operates a single-axis earthquake shake table that previously was only capable of basic wave motion. After implementing a computer based interface to the existing system, Mechanical Engineering student seniors were able to create control algorithms that can take existing or user created acceleration data from earthquakes as well as any user defined position data to be accurately run on the earthquake shake table.

Closed Loop Control Of A Cylindrical Tube Type Ionic Polymer Metal Composite (Ipmc), Benjamin Mead

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The goal of this research is to provide a framework for the integration of tube type, cylindrical Ionic Polymer Metal-Composite (IPMC) into conventional devices. IPMCs are one of the most widely used types of electro-active polymer actuator, due to their low electric driving potential and large deformation range. For this research a tube type IPMC was investigated. This IPMC has a circular cross section with four separate electrodes on its surface and a hole through the middle. The four electrodes allow for biaxial bending and accurate control of the tip location. One of the main advantages of using this type …

Control Of Biodegradation Of A Mg Alloy In Simulated Body Fluid, Yafei Zhang, Maria Forsyth, Bruce Hinton, Gordon G. Wallace

Gordon Wallace

Mg alloy AZ31 is an attractive candidate for coronary artery stents, as it possesses excellent biocompatibility in human body and good mechanical properties. However, AZ31 magnesium alloys generally have poor corrosion resistance in the body environment. This paper reports on the early stages of an investigation into the corrosion mechanism and the morphology of corrosion of AZ31 in simulated body fluid (SBF), The investigation will also consider ways of improving corrosion resistance of this alloy in SBF through the use of ionic liquids. The results to date have shown that AZ31 suffers severe localized pitting corrosion in SBF. The pits …

A New Adaptive Fuzzy-Hybrid Control Strategy Of Semi-Active Suspension With Magneto-Rheological Damper, Pipit Wahyu Nugroho, H Du, W H. Li, G Alici

Gursel Alici

This paper presents the design and analysis of a new adaptive fuzzy (AF) logic and hybrid (skyhook plus groundhook) control technique applied to a semi-active suspension system of a quarter car mode. The hybrid control is applied because of its very good performance in ride comfort and road handling. Meanwhile, Fuzzy adaptive system is suitable for analysis of stability with non-linear performances. The adaptive fuzzy algorithm is used to approximate the estimated mass of the variable damping in the Hybrid loop. This model is adopting a Takagi-Sugeno configuration with a back propagation learning method typically used in a neural network …

A New Adaptive Fuzzy-Hybrid Control Strategy Of Semi-Active Suspension With Magneto-Rheological Damper, Pipit Wahyu Nugroho, H Du, W H. Li, G Alici

Professor Weihua Li

This paper presents the design and analysis of a new adaptive fuzzy (AF) logic and hybrid (skyhook plus groundhook) control technique applied to a semi-active suspension system of a quarter car mode. The hybrid control is applied because of its very good performance in ride comfort and road handling. Meanwhile, Fuzzy adaptive system is suitable for analysis of stability with non-linear performances. The adaptive fuzzy algorithm is used to approximate the estimated mass of the variable damping in the Hybrid loop. This model is adopting a Takagi-Sugeno configuration with a back propagation learning method typically used in a neural network …

Integrated Seat And Suspension Control For A Quarter Car With Driver Model, Haiping Du, Weihua Li, Nong Zhang

Professor Weihua Li

In this paper, an integrated vehicle seat and sus pension control strategy for a quarter car with driver model is proposed to improve suspension performance on driver ride comfort. An integrated seat and suspension model that includes a quarter-car suspension, a seat suspension, and a 4-degree-of freedom (DOM) driver body model is presented first. This in1 tegrated model provides a platform to evaluate ride comfort 1performance in terms of driver head acceleration responses under typical road disturbances and to develop an integrated control of seat and car suspensions. Based on the integrated model, an H∞ state feedback controller is designed …