Energy-Efficient Optimal Guaranteed Cost Intermittent-Switch Control of a Direct Expansion Air Conditioning System

To improve the energy efficiency of a direct expansion air conditioning(DX A/C) system while guaranteeing occupancy comfort, a hierarchical controller for a DX A/C system with uncertain parameters is proposed. The control strategy consists of an open loop optimization controller and a closed-loop guaranteed cost periodically intermittent-switch controller(GCPISC). The error dynamics system of the closed-loop control is modelled based on the GCPISC principle. The difference,compared to the previous DX A/C system control methods, is that the controller designed in this paper performs control at discrete times. For the ease of designing the controller, a series of matrix inequalities are derived to be the sufficient conditions of the lower-layer closed-loop GCPISC controller. In this way, the DX A/C system output is derived to follow the optimal references obtained through the upper-layer open loop controller in exponential time, and the energy efficiency of the system is improved. Moreover, a static optimization problem is addressed for obtaining an optimal GCPISC law to ensure a minimum upper bound on the DX A/C system performance considering energy efficiency and output tracking error. The advantages of the designed hierarchical controller for a DX A/C system with uncertain parameters are demonstrated through some simulation results.

Simulation on venting process and valve opening control method for gas trunk pipelines

Determining the venting time of a gas trunk pipeline segment provides an important basis for formulating an emergency plan in the advent of unexpected accidents.As the natural gas venting process corresponds to the transient flow,it is necessary to establish a transient hydraulic-thermal simulation model in order to determine the venting time.In this paper,based on two kinds of venting scenarios in which there is only one venting point in the venting system of a gas trunk pipeline segment—namely,where the venting point is either at one of the two ends or at the junction of two gas trunk pipeline segments—transient hydraulic-thermal simulation models are established.The models consist of gas flow governing equations,the gas state equation,gas physical property equations,initial conditions,and appropriate boundary conditions.The implicit central difference method is used to discretize the gas flow partial differential equations,and the trust-region-dogleg algorithm is used to solve the equations corresponding to each time step,in order to dynamically simulate the whole venting process.The judgment condition for the end of the venting process is that the average pressure of gas trunk pipeline segment is less than 0.11 MPa(actual pressure).Comparing the simulation results of the proposed model with those of the OLGA software and real operational data,we find that the venting time error is less than 10%.On this basis,a venting valve opening control principle is proposed,which prevents the venting noise from exceeded the specified noise value(85 d B)in the venting design of domestic gas pipeline projects.The established calculation model for venting time(dynamic simulation model)for a gas trunk pipeline segment and the proposed opening control principle of venting valve provide reference for the optimal operation of gas pipeline venting systems.

Open Architecture of Single-processor Real-time Robot Control System Based on Windows NT

This paper introduces the architecture and implementation of an industrial robot control system based on Windows NT. This robot control system, which is based on a single-processor structure, can run on general industrial computers. Owing to using Windows NT's real-time extension RTX, the control system can achieve good realtime performance and friendly user interface in one general-purpose operating system. A three layer hierarchical architecture of control software is proposed to make the system more scalable and flexible. Furthermore a communication and configuration system is implemented to enable modules to communicate with each other, which make the control system scalable and flexible.

Development of a PC-based Open Architecture Software-CNC System

As a key te..hnology in the field of advanced manufacturing, an open architecture controller is studied. In order to develop an open architecture software-CNC system on personal computer （PC） according to open modular architecture controllers （OMAC）. First, the software and hardware platform is chosen and software realization methodology for the CNC system is determined. Second, static modeling methods of an open architecture controller inclusive of object-oriented （OO） programming technology, dynamic link library （DLL） technology and system modules partition are investigated. Third, the dynamical behavioral modeling and the data flow representation of open architecture controller are discussed, which are both described in hierarchy fmite state machine （FSM） model. Fourth, a reusable software module model is established to develop software function module library. Finally, a 3-axis milling machine tool test-bed, named for HIT-CNC, is successfully designed by means of the constructed software function module library and the system configuring method. The experimental results show that, besides increasing the degree of reusability and openness, application of above-mentioned method- ology leads to significant decrease of development time as well as maintenance cost.

OPEN ARCHITECTURE CNC SYSTEM HITCNC AND KEY TECHNOLOGY

Aiming at the characteristics of modularity and reconfigurable in open architecture computer numerical control （CNC） system, the open architecture CNC system, Harbin Institute of Tech- nology computer numerical control （HITCNC）, is researched and manufactured based on the interface standards. The system＇s external interfaces are coincident with the corresponding international standards, and the internal interfaces follow the open modular architecture controller （OMAC） agreement. In the research and manufacturing process, object-oriented technology is used to ensure the openness of the HITCNC, and static programming is applied in the CNC system according to the idea of modularization disassembly. The HITCNC also actualizes real-time and unreal-time modules adopting real-time dynamical linked library （RTDLL） and component object model （COM）. Finite state ma- chine （FSM） is adopted to do dynamically modeling of HITCNC. The complete separation between the software and the hardware is achieved in the HITCNC by applying the SoftSERCANS technique. The application of the above key techniques decreases the programming workload greatly, and uses software programs replacing hardware functions, which offers plenty technique ensures for the openness of HITCNC. Finally, based on the HITCNC, a three-dimensional milling system is established. On the system, series experiments are done to validate the expandability and interchangeability of HITCNC. The results of the experiments show that the established open architecture CNC system HITCNC is correct and feasible, and has good openness.

Linux-based Platform for Open Architecture Controller and Its Modular Developing Method

Linux-based Platform for Open Architecture Controller ( POAC ), a new open architecture controller and its modular developing method are discussed. POAC divides the application software of controller into the developing system and the application system. In the developing system, PAOC abstracts a series of function modules with unified data interface and function interface. In the application system, POAC defines the model of the architecture module, realizing the interoperability and interchangeability between the architecture modules. The modular developing method entities the users to make up an application system with some architecture modules, which consist of a set of function modules. The modular developing method decreases the developing time from the standard of controller architecture to the product.

The Modeling Strategies for Open Software Architecture of Robot Controller

Although the modeling technologies for open robot controllers have been discussed widely, not much literature is devoted to the actual general modeling principles and strategies. The reason is that many researches focus on specific application fields. This paper accommodates for this lacuna and provides some general modeling principles and strategies. At last, the actual new modeling method Hierarchical Object Oriented Petri net (HOONet) which has been proved to be an effective modeling methodology, is used to illustrate the modeling strategies.

Controlling Chaotic Cscillations with Input-Output Linearization

In this paper, the nonlinear control of chaotic oscillations was investigated by using the input output linearization control method. The chaotic attitude of a kind of spacecraft was discussed. It is demonstrated that the input output linearization control law is the nonlinear version of the parametric open plus closed loop control law.

Load Distribution of Base Stations in User-Centric Heterogeneous UDN

In ultra-dense networks(UDN),multiple association can be regarded as a user-centric pattern in which a user can be served by multiple base stations(BSs).The data rate and quality of service can be improved.However,BSs in user-centric paradigm are required to serve more users due to this multiple association scheme.The improvement of system performance may be limited by the improving load of BSs.In this letter,we develope an analytical framework for the load distribution of BSs in heterogeneous user-centric UDN.Based on open loop power control(OLPC),a user-centric scheme is considered in which the clustered serving BSs can provide given signal to interference plus noise ratio(SINR)for any typical user.As for any BS in different tiers,by leveraging stochastic geometry,we derive the Probability Mass Function(PMF)of the number of the served users,the Cumulative Distribution Function(CDF)of total power consumption,and the CDF bounds of downlink sum data rate.The accuracy of the theoretical analysis is validated by numerical simulations,and the effect the system parameters on the load of BSs is also presented.

Risk management in open cut coal mines

There are a number of geotechnical systems used at open cut operations of Anglo American's Metallurgical Coal business unit in Australia. These systems are mainly mine site specific, based on geological information and used as hazard plans. They are qualitative and reliant upon the experienced judgement of site based engineers and the general workforce. They are not suitable for calculating the associated risks of geological structures and mining responses. A uniform risk rating system that can be used to provide an unbiased, standard and quantifiable assessment of the risk from highwall and lowwall failures is therefore developed using the experience gained with such systems in Anglo American's South African operations. This system is a semi-quantitative risk rating system and takes into account the relative differences in the importance of hazards as experienced at each mine site as a result of different combinations of geotechnical factors and mining conditions. It is based on critical geotechnical and other parameters that have been identified by site mining engineers, geologists and geotechnical engineers. The primary advantage of this risk rating system is that all open cut mines in the Anglo American's Metallurgical Coal operations use a near identical system, which enables the user to compare the risk after each blast and with other mines. The system can be adjusted to meet local mine specific requirements. The implementation of this system, a computer program that automatically calculates the risks and recommends predetermined controls, has been made as practical and as easy to use as possible. This program can be used by personnel from other mining disciplines not directly related to geotechnical engineering.

Temperature Insensitive Open Loop Attenuation Control of a Liquid Crystal Based VOA

A patent pending open-loop liquid crystal based variable optical attenuator is introduced. The temperature dependent performance is compensated through electric monitoring and adjustment utilizing liquid crystal's opto-electronic properties.

Acoustic Scattering Cross Sections of Smart Obstacles: A Case Study

Acoustic scattering cross sections of smart furtive obstacles are studied and discussed.A smart furtive obstacle is an obstacle that,when hit by an incoming field,avoids detection through the use of a pressure current acting on its boundary.A highly parallelizable algorithm for computing the acoustic scattering cross section of smart obstacles is developed.As a case study,this algorithm is applied to the(acoustic)scattering cross section of a"smart"(furtive)simplified version of the NASA space shuttle when hit by incoming time-harmonic plane waves,the wavelengths of which are small compared to the characteristic dimensions of the shuttle.The solution to this numerically challenging scattering problem requires the solution of systems of linear equations with many unknowns and equations.Due to the sparsity of these systems of equations,they can be stored and solved using affordable computing resources.A cross section analysis of the simplified NASA space shuttle highlights three findings:i)the smart furtive obstacle reduces the magnitude of its cross section compared to the cross section of a corresponding"passive"obstacle;ii)several wave propagation directions fail to satisfactorily respond to the smart strategy of the obstacle;iii)satisfactory furtive effects along all directions may only be obtained by using a pressure current of considerable magnitude.Numerical experiments and virtual reality applications can be found at the website:http://www.ceri.uniroma1.it/ceri/zirilli/w7.