Operations Research, Systems Engineering and Industrial Engineering Commons^™

Adaptive Critic Neural Network-Based Object Grasping Control Using A Three-Finger Gripper, Gustavo Galan, Jagannathan Sarangapani

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Grasping of objects has been a challenging task for robots. The complex grasping task can be defined as object contact control and manipulation subtasks. In this paper, object contact control subtask is defined as the ability to follow a trajectory accurately by the fingers of a gripper. The object manipulation subtask is defined in terms of maintaining a predefined applied force by the fingers on the object. A sophisticated controller is necessary since the process of grasping an object without a priori knowledge of the object's size, texture, softness, gripper, and contact dynamics is rather difficult. Moreover, the object has …

Neural Network Controller For Manipulation Of Micro-Scale Objects, Vijayakumar Janardhan, Pingan He, Jagannathan Sarangapani

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

A novel reinforcement learning-based neural network (RLNN) controller is presented for the manipulation and handling of micro-scale objects in a microelectromechanical system (MEMS). In MEMS, adhesive, surface tension, friction and van der Waals forces are dominant. Moreover, these forces are typically unknown. The RLNN controller consists of an action NN for compensating the unkoown system dynamics, and a critic NN to tune the weights of the action NN. Using the Lyapunov approach, the uniformly ultimate houndedness (UUB) of the closed-loop tracking error and weight estimates are shown by using a novel weight updates. Simulation results are presented to substantiate the …

Discrete-Time Neural Network Output Feedback Control Of Nonlinear Systems In Non-Strict Feedback Form, Pingan He, Jagannathan Sarangapani

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

An adaptive neural network (NN)-based output feedback controller is proposed to deliver a desired tracking performance for a class of discrete-time nonlinear systems, which is represented in non-strict feedback form. The NN backstepping approach is utilized to design the adaptive output feedback controller consisting of: 1) a NN observer to estimate the system states with the input-output data, and 2) two NNs to generate the virtual and actual control inputs, respectively. The non-causal problem in the discrete-time backstepping design is avoided by using the universal NN approximator. The persistence excitation (PE) condition is relaxed both in the NN observer and …

Decentralized Neural Network Control Of A Class Of Large-Scale Systems With Unknown Interconnection, Wenxin Liu, Jagannathan Sarangapani, Donald C. Wunsch, Mariesa Crow

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

A novel decentralized neural network (DNN) controller is proposed for a class of large-scale nonlinear systems with unknown interconnections. The objective is to design a DNN for a class of large-scale systems which do not satisfy the matching condition requirement. The NNs are used to approximate the unknown subsystem dynamics and the interconnections. The DNN is designed using the back stepping methodology with only local signals for feedback. All of the signals in the closed loop (system states and weights estimation errors) are guaranteed to be uniformly ultimately bounded and eventually converge to a compact set.

An Integrated Model For Technology Assessment And Choice For Rural Development In Developing Countries, Abdallah Chungu

Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (TJET)

Abstract

A System Thinking Approaching Maintenance, Production And Quality, E. A. M. Mjema

Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (TJET)

The concepts of system thinking and its applicability in maintenance management was analysed in this article. The author analysed various maintenance policies, which have inclination to the concept of system thinking. The maintenance policies revisited include the Integration of Maintenance (IM), Total Quality Maintenance (TQMain), Failure Mode and Effect Analysis (FMEA), and Total Productive Maintenance (TPM). All these strategies are aimed at utilising effectively the maintenance personnel by giving some of the responsibilities of maintenance to production personnel. It was found that, although the founder of these techniques did not mention the concepts of system thinking in their methods, however, …

Load Flow Solution For Three-Phase Mv Radial Distribution Connected Network Supplying Different Line Topologies, B. J. Kundy

Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (TJET)

In this paper, a load flow solution for the Medium Voltage (MV) three-phase radial distribution in delta-delta (Δ–Δ) connected network supplying different line topologies such as three phase, phase to phase and single-wire earth return (SWER) networks is presented. The general voltage related network equations are developed using Kirchhoff’s voltage and current laws. Development of a solution to the load flow analysis applying the developed general voltage related network equations is proposed in order to evaluate the network voltage profile. Various numbers of arrays are developed for the identification of the network under study. The proposed method is a new …

Adapting An Effective Interface For A Passive Solar System With A Truncated Pyramid Concentrator, Shirley M. Flinders

Morehead State Theses and Dissertations

A thesis presented to the faculty of the College of Science and Technology at Morehead State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Masters of Science by Shirley M. Flinders on December 3, 2003.

Acuta Enews December 2003, Vol 32, No 12

ACUTA Newsletters

In This Issue

From the President........................ Walter L. Czerniak, Northern Illinois Univ.

Tech Talk................................. Kevin Tanzillo, Dux Public Relations

Eleanor Smith, ACUTA Business Manager, Retires

Meet ACUTAs New Business Manager, Margaret Riley

Wireless lndustry Announces Recycling lnitiative...................... CTIA

DC Update........................ Whitney Johnson, Retired, Northern Michigan univ.

ACUTA Member Sites to See

Thanks to Sponsors for '03

ACUTA: Have You Shopped the eStore Lately?

Welcome New Members

Why Toyota And Honda Topped The 2002 J.D. Power Quality Study, Susan Lightle, Kenneth Yale Rosenzweig, John Talbott

Accounting Faculty Publications

Toyota again topped the annual J. D. Power and Associates quality study released in late May of 2002. Toyota scored the highest mark ever with l 07 defects per l 00 vehicles, while Honda came in second with 113 defects. The study was based on responses of approximately 65,000 new car owners queried during their first 90-days of ownership.

These results do not surprise us, as we have been fortunate to make numerous sojourns to the Toyota plant in Georgetown, Kentucky, and observe the manufacturing processes. These trips were normally facilitated by a former Japanese student of ours, Minako Yanke, …

Development Of A Systems Engineering Model For Chemical Separation Process, Lijian Sun

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

This thesis is concerned with the efforts to develop a general-purpose systems engineering model software TRPSEMPro1 that can be used to improve productivity in the design process. Different features of TRPSEMPro will be presented in this thesis. First, Systems Engineering technology is presented, followed by the exposition of different numerical optimization technologies and DOE (Design of Experiments) study technologies. Second, the detailed software process, Object-Oriented Analysis and Design (OOA&D) for the TRPSEMPro is presented. All the design data models are expressed by using Unified Modeling Language (UML).

AMUSESimulator is another software package which has been designed and implemented in order …

Optimizing The Space Transportation Information Network: A Training Model For An Innovative Project At Nasa Glenn Research Center, Jeff Rybak

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The Space Transportation Information Network (STIN) was developed to solve the challenge of managing a geographically disparate NASA program. By its nature, this "enterprise information portal" enhances communication, saves time, and retains expertise as a form-driven knowledge management data base. However, for the Revolutionary Turbine Accelerator Project (RTA) led by the NASA Glenn Research Center, a comprehensive STIN training program, designed specifically for RTA, had never been instituted. To help optimize STIN for this population, a training intervention model was designed and developed to clarify the purpose, policy, and technical usability of STIN. As the front-end to the training development …

Acuta Enews November 2003, Vol 32, No. 11

ACUTA Newsletters

In This Issue

From ACUTA Headquarters................................. Jeri A. Semer, CAE, Executive Director

Tech Talk................................................. Kevin Tanzillo, Dux Public Relations

No Spam for Me, Please

VolP Design Recommendations................................. John Garrison, Alcate

DC Update....................... Whitney Johnson, Retired, Northern Michigan Univ.

Thanks to Exhibitors for '03

ACUTA Board Report................................... Carmine Piscopo, Providence College

Welcome New Members

ACUTA: Have You Shopped the eStore Lately?

Task Allocation Via Multi-Agent Coalition Formation: Taxonomy, Algorithms And Complexity, Hoong Chuin Lau, L. Zhang

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

Coalition formation has become a key topic in multiagent research. In this paper, we propose a preliminary classification for the coalition formation problem based on three driving factors (demands, resources and profit objectives). We divide our analysis into 5 cases. For each case, we present algorithms and complexity results. We anticipate that with future research, this classification can be extended in similar fashion to the comprehensive classification for the job scheduling problem.

Variations In Control And Display Gain In A First Control Order Compensatory Manual Tracking Task, Micah N. Morris

Master's Theses - Daytona Beach

There exist many factors that contribute to the optimal manual control of a system by a human operator (HO). Two such variables include control gain and display gain. Of particular interest to the following experiment is the contribution of these two variables to the manual tracking performance of any HO conducting a compensatory tracking task while using a first control-order tracking system. Since the optimal level of control gain required for maximal manual control of a tracking device is system dependent, it may be expected that the same holds true of display gain. Regardless, it is the purpose of the …

The Search For The Opto-Kinetic Cervical Reflex And Reduced Roll Reversals In Pilots Viewing A 3-D Perspective Display, John Carl Faust

Master's Theses - Daytona Beach

Pilots using conventional instrumentation can suffer spatial disorientation (SD) when unexpectedly forced to transition from visual flight to instrument flight during roll maneuvers. This simulator study was conducted to see if a 3-D perspective display could prevent this form of spatial disorientation by eliciting the opto-kinetic cervical reflex (OKCR), an instinctive postural response that humans use to maintain awareness of their spatial orientation. The current research found evidence of the OKCR in pilots viewing both a 3-D perspective display and an electronic attitude indicator. Pilots viewing a standard moving-horizon attitude indicator produced little or no OKCR response. However, pilots still …

Acuta Enews October 2003, Vol. 32, No. 10

ACUTA Newsletters

In This Issue

From the President.................... Walter L. Czerniak, President

Fire Safety: Should Cables Have a Warning Label?.......................... Frank Bisbee &, Diane Santarelli

ACUTA Board Report....................... Jeri semer, ACUTA Executive Director

Tech Talk.................. Kevin Tanzillo, Dux Public Relations

DC Update Whitney Johnson, Retired, Northern Michigan Univ.

ACUTA: Help Yourself to a Buffet of Benefits!

Welcome New Members

Copious Electronic Text On Small Screen Interfaces: A New Method Of Displaying Text On Cell Phones, William Fitzpatrick

Master's Theses - Daytona Beach

A modified form of RSVP (rapid serial visual presentation) was presented to 15 male and 15 female undergraduate and graduate students from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. The participants read 9 short passages electronically presented as 2, 4, or 6 lines of text in rapid sequence on a simulated cell phone display interface, at three speeds. Comprehension of text passages was examined in an attempt to find an ideal method of presenting lengthy text on a small screen interface. The results indicated that as participants were exposed to greater speeds and an increasing number of lines their comprehension of the passages decreased. …

Multi-Agent Coalition Via Autonomous Price Negotiation In A Real-Time Web Environment, Hoong Chuin Lau, Wei Sian Lim

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

In e-marketplaces, customers specify job requests in real-time and agents form coalitions to service them. This paper proposes a protocol for self-interested agents to negotiate prices in forming successful coalitions. We propose and experiment with two negotiation schemes: one allows information sharing while the other does not.

Use Of Hierarchical Decision Modeling For Site Selection Of A Major League Baseball Stadium In Portland, Priya Ajgaonkar, Aroonrat Auysakul, Edward Cespedes, Ryan Jefferis, Seiji Shinriki

Engineering and Technology Management Student Projects

This paper proposes a hierarchical decision model to select a site from various potential sites for a major league baseball stadium in Portland, Oregon. A short background on MLB in Portland, with all the related factors, is provided. Next this paper describes Hierarchical Decision Modeling using pair wise comparisons and the process of using this as a decision making tool. A detailed description of the HDM developed is then provided. This model includes determination of the number of levels of the HDM and their relationship with each other. It describes all the elements of each level and the process of …

Acuta Enews September 2003, Vol. 32, No. 9

ACUTA Newsletters

In This Issue

32nd Annual Conference Highlights

ACUTA Members' Needs and Preferences................ Jeri Semer, CAE, Executive Director

ACUTA Board Report Carmine Piscopo, Providence College

Provisioning: lt Really Has Nothing To Do with Vitttes................. Kevin Tarzillo, Dux Public Relations

New Additions to Telecommunications Relay Services (2).................. Dave Ostrom, Washington State Univ

Winners, Winners, Winners!

DC Update................ Whitney Johnson, Retired, Northern Michigan Univ

ACUTA Member Sites to See

Welcome Mew Members

Development Of A Systems Engineering Model Of The Chemical Separations Process: Quarterly Progress Report 5/16/03- 8/15/03, Yitung Chen, Randy Clarksean, Darrell Pepper

Separations Campaign (TRP)

Two activities are proposed in this Phase I task: the development of a systems engineering model and the refinement of the Argonne code AMUSE (Argonne Model for Universal Solvent Extraction). The detailed systems engineering model is the start of an integrated approach to the analysis of the materials separations associated with the AAA Program. A second portion of the project is to streamline and improve an integral part of the overall systems model, which is the software package AMUSE. AMUSE analyzes the UREX process and other related solvent extraction processes and defines many of the process streams that are integral …

Development Of A Systems Engineering Model Of The Chemical Separations Process, Yitung Chen, Sean Hsieh, Randy Clarksean, Darrell Pepper

Separations Campaign (TRP)

The AFCI program is developing technology for the transmutation of nuclear waste to address many of the long-term disposal issues. An integral part of this program is the proposed chemical separations scheme.

Nearly all issues related to risks to future generations arising from long-term disposal of such spent nuclear fuel is attributable to about 2% of its content. Such 2% is made up primarily of plutonium, neptunium, americium, and curium (the transuranic elements) and long-lived isotopes of iodine and technetium created as products from the fission process in power reactors. When transuranics are removed from discharged fuel destined for disposal, …

Acuta Enews August 2003, Vol. 32, No. 8

ACUTA Newsletters

In This Issue

Key Words for the Coming Months.................Walter Czerniak, Northern Illinois University

Wi or Wi Not? Taking Wireless to the Max..................... Kevin Tanzillo, Dux Public Relations

New Additions to Telecommunications Relay Service................. Dave Ostrom, Washington State Univ.

DC Update..................... Whitney Johnson, Retired, Northern Michigan Univ.

Board Report................... John Bradley, Rensselaer Polytechnic lnstitute

Welcome New Members

Evaluation Of The Distribution Of Taguchi's Signal-To-Noise Ratio And The Effectiveness Of The Signal-To-Noise Ratio For Detecting Changes In The Mean And/Or Variance, Jinsuk Lee

Masters Theses

The concept of parameter design developed by Taguchi to achieve robust engineering is widely promoted in industry as a means to design a product whose output is largely immune to noise in the system. Taguchi has used the signal-to-noise (S/N) ratio to summarize measures over the noise factor settings at the parameter design and to allow control of the experiment.

The objectives of this investigation are: 1) to infer distributions of S/N ratios (lower-the-better S/N, higher-the-better S/N, and nominal-the-best SIN), and 2) to determine the effectiveness of the S/N ratio as a means for identifying changes in the mean and …

A Generic Object-Oriented Tabu Search Framework, Hoong Chuin Lau, Wee Chong Wan, Xiaomin Jia

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

Presently, most tabu search designers devise their applications without considering the potential of design and code reuse, which consequently prolong the development of subsequent applications. In this paper, we propose a software solution known as Tabu Search Framework (TSF), which is a generic C++ software framework for tabu search implementation. The framework excels in code recycling through the use of a welldesigned set of generic abstract classes that clearly define their collaborative roles in the algorithm. Additionally, the framework incorporates a centralized process and control mechanism that enhances the search with intelligence. This results in a generic framework that is …

Design And Development Of A Low-Cost High Range Resolution X-Band Radar, Paul C. Cantu

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) is one of the main tools for microwave remote sensing because of its multi-dimensional high resolution characteristics and the capability to operate in nearly all weather conditions, day and night. The University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) initiated the design and development of a low-cost airborne SAR in January 2001 to support our Airborne Remote Sensing Program. The objectives of this project are separated into various evolutionary stages. This thesis will focus on the initial phase of design and construction of an X-band high range resolution radar (HRR) using basic RF /microwave and digital components. The following stages …

Solving Multi-Objective Multi-Constrained Optimization Problems Using Hybrid Ants System And Tabu Search, Hoong Chuin Lau, Min Kwang Lim, Wee Chong Wan, Hui Wang, Xiaotao Wu

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

Many real-world optimization problems today are multi-objective multi-constraint generalizations of NP-hard problems. A classic case we study in this paper is the Inventory Routing Problem with Time Windows (IRPTW). IRPTW considers inventory costs across multiple instances of Vehicle Routing Problem with Time Windows (VRPTW). The latter is in turn extended with time-windows constraints from the Vehicle Routing Problem (VRP), which is extended with optimal fleet size objective from the single-objective Traveling Salesman Problem (TSP). While single-objective problems like TSP are solved effectively using meta-heuristics, it is not obvious how to cope with the increasing complexity systematically as the problem is …

Value Stream Improvements Using Kanban For The X-Workcell, Jason Noble

Morehead State Theses and Dissertations

A thesis presented to the faculty of the College of Science and Technology at Morehead State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Science by Jason Noble on August 26, 2003.

Acuta Enews July 2003, Vol. 32, No. 7

ACUTA Newsletters

In This Issue

ACUTA Elects New Board of Directors

Congratulations to Milestone Members............................ Jeri Semer, CAE, Executive Director

lnfiniBand Aims to lmprove Data Center Performance........................ Kevin Tanzillo, Dux Public Relations

Comm. College Leverages lT Resources................. Christine J. Holley, lnteractive lntelligence, lnc.

Be a State/ Province Coordinator!............. Harvey Buchanan, Chair, ACUTA Membership Committee

ACUTA Board Report............................ John Bradley, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

DC Update.................... Whitney Johnson, Retired, Northern Michigan Univ.

Welcome New Members

Publications Committee Needs a Few Good Members