Comparison of Two Time Series Decomposition Methods: Least Squares and Buys-Ballot Methods

This paper discusses comparison of two time series decomposition methods: The Least Squares Estimation (LSE) and Buys-Ballot Estimation (BBE) methods. As noted by Iwueze and Nwogu (2014), there exists a research gap for the choice of appropriate model for decomposition and detection of presence of seasonal effect in a series model. Estimates of trend parameters and seasonal indices are all that are needed to fill the research gap. However, these estimates are obtainable through the Least Squares Estimation (LSE) and Buys-Ballot Estimation (BBE) methods. Hence, there is need to compare estimates of the two methods and recommend. The comparison of the two methods is done using the Accuracy Measures (Mean Error (ME)), Mean Square Error (MSE), the Mean Absolute Error (MAE), and the Mean Absolute Percentage Error (MAPE). The results from simulated series show that for the additive model;the summary statistics (ME, MSE and MAE) for the two estimation methods and for all the selected trending curves are equal in all the simulations both in magnitude and direction. For the multiplicative model, results show that when a series is dominated by trend, the estimates of the parameters by both methods become less precise and differ more widely from each other. However, if conditions for successful transformation (using the logarithmic transform in linearizing the multiplicative model to additive model) are met, both of them give similar results.

Approximate Optimal Tracking Control for Near-Surface AUVs with Wave Disturbances

This paper considers the optimal trajectory tracking control problem for near-surface autonomous underwater vehicles(AUVs) in the presence of wave disturbances. An approximate optimal tracking control(AOTC) approach is proposed. Firstly, a six-degrees-of-freedom(six-DOF) AUV model with its body-fixed coordinate system is decoupled and simplified and then a nonlinear control model of AUVs in the vertical plane is given. Also, an exosystem model of wave disturbances is constructed based on Hirom approximation formula. Secondly, the time-parameterized desired trajectory which is tracked by the AUV's system is represented by the exosystem. Then, the coupled two-point boundary value(TPBV) problem of optimal tracking control for AUVs is derived from the theory of quadratic optimal control. By using a recently developed successive approximation approach to construct sequences, the coupled TPBV problem is transformed into a problem of solving two decoupled linear differential sequences of state vectors and adjoint vectors. By iteratively solving the two equation sequences, the AOTC law is obtained, which consists of a nonlinear optimal feedback item, an expected output tracking item, a feedforward disturbances rejection item, and a nonlinear compensatory term. Furthermore, a wave disturbances observer model is designed in order to solve the physically realizable problem. Simulation is carried out by using the Remote Environmental Unit(REMUS) AUV model to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm.

An Improved Image Enhancement Algorithm

To solve the problems of noise,detail loss and poor contrast in the successive mean quantization transform（SMQT）,a new SMQT algorithm based on Otsu algorithm is proposed.In this algorithm,we integrate the optimal threshold selected by the Otsu algorithm into the SMQT algorithm,then obtain the successive mean quantization of the binary tree.By this algorithm,an enhanced image is output with a higher quality.From both subjective visual effect and objective quality evaluation,the experimental results show that the improved algorithm reduces noise,improves contrast and makes the image details more clear.