Sealed v/s open bids for certificates of entitlement under the vehicle quota system in Singapore

The Vehicle Quota System manages vehicle ownership in Singapore by making the procurement of a Certificate of Entitlement (COE) a prerequisite for the registration of a new vehicle. The procurement is done during uniform price auctions of quotas of COEs currently held on a twice-a-month schedule. The auction format which started out as sealed bids in May 1990 changed to open bids in July 2001. This paper uses a regression model framework to investigate if this shift in auction format has resulted in lower COE premium volatility and a better reflection of demand and supply forces. The empirical results are pertinent to transport policy analysis. A suggestion in the form of incentives for early bids is also made to improve the efficiency of the open bids auction.     

Mathematical model for takeoff simulation of a wing in proximity to the ground

Aircraft flying close to the ground benefit from enhanced efficiency owing to decreased induced drag and increased lift. In this study, a mathematical model is developed to simulate the takeoff of a wing near the ground using an Iterative Boundary Element Method (IBEM) and the finite difference scheme. Two stand-alone sub-codes and a mother code, which enables communication between the sub-codes, are developed to solve for the self-excitation of the Wing-In-Ground (WIG) effect. The aerodynamic force exerted on the wing is calculated by the first sub-code using the IBEM, and the vertical displacement of the wing is calculated by the second sub-code using the finite difference scheme. The mother code commands the two sub-codes and can solve for the aerodynamics of the wing and operating height within seconds. The developed code system is used to solve for the force, velocity, and displacement of an NACA6409 wing at a 4° Angle of Attack (AoA) which has various numerical and experimental studies in the literature. The effects of thickness and AoA are then investigated and conclusions were drawn with respect to generated results. The proposed model provides a practical method for understanding the flight dynamics and it is specifically beneficial at the pre-design stages of a WIG effect craft.     

Properties and electronic structure of iron under pressure up to 30GPa

The properties and electronic structure of Fe under pressures of 0–30GPa have been studied by first principles employing the density functional theory (DFT), the ultra-soft pseudo-potentials (USPP) and the generalized gradient approximation (GGA). The calculating results show that there is a structural transition from magnetic body-centered cubic (bcc) to nonmagnetic hexagonal-close-packed (hcp) structure for Fe around 11GPa pressure. There is a pseudogap both in the density of states (DOS) for bcc and hcp Fe. The pseudogap of bcc Fe is deeper and wider than that of hcp Fe. The elastic modulus is obtained by Voigt-Reuss-Hill averaging scheme. The results indicate that the elastic properties of bcc Fe enhance with pressure except for elastic stiffness constant C ₁₁, shear modulus G and elastic modulus E at the transition pressure, while the elastic properties of hcp Fe increase linearly with pressure. Magnetic bcc Fe is ductile, and hcp Fe becomes ductile from brittle around 25GPa.     

Security analysis of application layer protocols on wireless local area networks

This paper aims at analyzing the security issues that lie in the application layer (AL) protocols when users connect to the Internet via a wireless local area network (WLAN) through an access point. When adversaries launch deauthentication flood attacks cutting users’ connection, the connection managers will automatically research the last access point’s extended service set identifier (ESSID) and then re-establish connection. However, such re-connection can lead the users to a fake access point with the same ESSID set by attackers. As the attackers hide behind users’ access points, they can pass AL’s authentication and security schemes, e.g. secure socket layer (SSL). We have proved that they can even spy on users’ account details, passwords, data and privacy.     

Tracking control of underwater vehicle subject to uncertainties using fuzzy inverse desired trajectory compensation technique

Computed-torque controller plus fuzzy inverse desired trajectory compensation technique based on robust adaptive fuzzy observer is proposed to control underwater vehicle subject to uncertainties. A fuzzy inverse desired trajectory compensator is developed as a nonlinear filter at input trajectory level outside the control loop to address the issue of unavailable normalizing factor. A robust adaptive state observer with loose constraint on the position of the uncertainty function is proposed to evaluate the unavailable states. Numerical simulation results of regulation performance demonstrate that the observer solves the problem of strict constraint conditions on position uncertainties. Comparisons of tracking performance between the proposed control method and computed-torque controller are performed. The results confirm that compensation at the input trajectory offers better position tracking performance and easier practical implementation than other fuzzy compensation techniques at joint torque level. The proposed control approach is simulated and its efficiency is validated through the simulation of an underwater vehicle.     

Delivering Value for Money to Government through Efficient and Effective Public Transit Service Continuity: Some Thoughts

Abstract

This paper documents some thoughts on the reform agenda in public transit that is occurring throughout the world. The specific focus is on a growing commitment to competitive regulation through competitive tendering, and the efforts by a few governments (notably in Australia) to take control of the tangible assets used by private operators as a mechanism to exercise the opportunity, if so taken, to put services out to competitive tender. The paper reviews the theoretical arguments and empirical evidence on contracting regimes and asset ownership, and the role that government and the operator might play in a setting in which building trusting and collaborative partnerships has merit in delivering services that are in the main funded from the public purse.     

Use of diesel engine and surface-piercing propeller to achieve fuel savings for inshore fishing boats

Fishing is a major local industry in Malaysia, particularly in rural areas. However, the rapidly increasing price of fuel is seriously affecting the industry’s viability. At present, outboard petrol engines are the preferred choice for use in small-scale fishing boats because they deliver the advantages of high speed and low weight, they are easy to install, and they use minimal space. Petrol outboard engines are known to consume a greater amount of fuel than inboard diesel engines, but installing diesel engines with conventional submerged propellers in existing small-scale fishing boats is not economically viable because major hullform modifications and extra expenditure are required to achieve this. This study describes a proposal to enable reductions in fuel consumption by introducing the combined use of a diesel engine and surface-piercing propeller (SPP). An analysis of fuel consumption reduction is presented, together with an economic feasibility study. Resulting data reveal that the use of the proposed modifications would save 23.31 liters of fuel per trip (40.75 %) compared to outboard motors, equaling annual savings of RM 3962 per year.     

Effect of ship bow overhang on water shipping for ship advancing in regular head waves

This paper presents the results of an experimental investigation dealing with the effect of bow overhang extensions on the quantity of shipping water over the foredeck in case of ships advancing in regular head waves. To perform this investigation, a series of free-running tests was conducted in regular waves using an experimental model of a multipurpose cargo ship to quantify the amount of shipping water. The tests were performed on five bow overhang variants with several combinations of wavelength and ship speed conditions. It was observed that the quantity of shipping water was affected by some parameters such as wavelength, ship speed, and bow shape in terms of an overhang extension. The results show the significant influence of an overhang extension, which is associated with the bow flare shape, on the occurrence of water shipping. These results involve the combined incoming regular waves and model speed.     

A mathematical model for acceleration phase of aerodynamically alleviated catamarans and minimizing the time needed to reach final speed

Racing catamarans use aerodynamic alleviation concept which in existing extreme ground effect significantly enhances the performance. Beside design measures, controlling strategies may be employed as convenient solutions to improve the performance and address concerns regarding poor stability in these crafts. Being of substantial importance for a racing catamaran to reach the final speed as soon as possible, this study attempts to find the optimal form of changing the drive angle (as control variable) to minimize its acceleration time. In this regard, a mathematical model is developed for forward acceleration phase of these catamarans based on empirical and theoretical methods. Then the formulation and solution algorithm for the time-optimal problem are described according to an indirect method. Results for a representative racing craft have been presented in uncontrolled and controlled conditions. Problem in controlled condition has been solved without and with a predefined constraint regarding stability margin. Optimal controlling of the drive angle without stability constraint during the acceleration results in 40 % reduction in time required to reach the speed of 110 kn and 14 % reduction in resistance at this speed in comparison to the uncontrolled case. Addition of the stability constraint changes optimal solution for drive angle and causes craft trim angle follow a decreasing trend at higher speeds.