Practicability study on the suitability of artificial,neural networks for the approximation of unknown steering torques

For steer-by-wire systems, the steering feedback must be generated artificially due to the system characteristics. Classical control concepts require operating-point driven optimisations as well as increased calibration efforts in order to adequately simulate the steering torque in all driving states. Artificial neural networks (ANNs) are an innovative control concept; they are capable of learning arbitrary non-linear correlations without complex knowledge of physical dependencies. The present study investigates the suitability of neural networks for approximating unknown steering torques. To ensure robust processing of arbitrary data, network training with a sufficient volume of training data is required, that represents the relation between the input and target values in a wide range. The data were recorded in the course of various test drives. In this research, a variety of network topologies were trained, analysed and evaluated. Though the fundamental suitability of ANNs for the present control task was demonstrated.     

Design and power flow analysis for multi-speed automatic transmission with hybrid gear trains

A design approach for multi-speed automatic transmission with hybrid gear trains is proposed. The approach can be used to design automatic transmissions composed of planetary gear trains, fixed-axis gear trains or hybrid gear trains and the shifts follow the “one controlled part changing rule”. This approach consists of four parts: determining graphical configuration of the system using hypergraphs, analyzing power flow formulation, obtaining shifts configurations by shift searching algorithm, and determining physical configuration. A nine forward speed automatic transmission is analyzed to highlight the capacities of the proposed approach. The results have shown that the suggested approach is much clearer and less time consuming than the methods currently used.     

A new efficient EDI system for container cargo logistics

There have been many efforts to develop a logistics information system in the Korean logistics industry. In spite of these efforts, there are many points which need improvement in the Logistics Information System, of which function is the electronic data communication without added value. This paper aims to describe some of the main problems and the successful factors which are being found in the evolution of the present EDI systems for clearing import/export container cargoes, with special reference to Singapore, Korea, and Japan. Following this, leaving legal issues aside, to suggest workable guidelines for designing a new efficient EDI system for container cargo logistics. As a result of the review, the following successful factors are drawn: (a) the planning, requirement analysis and design of EDI are critical, as it provides a framework for its implementation; (b) as the data of customs clearance are an integral part of a logistics EDI system, the inclusion of customs in the system design is essential; (c) the sharing system of cargo data as the framework of the logistics EDI is efficient for data interchange; (d) the EDI software for the user has been developed and provided by an EDI network operating company; and (e) to facilitate communication between trading partners and the transport sector, it is necessary to adopt a global message standard, such as EDIFACT.     

Overview of intelligent ship route optimization methods北大核心CSCD

智能船舶航线优化在学术界和工业界均受到越来越多的关注。针对智能船舶航线优化问题,从航线设计方法和航线优化算法这2个层面,分别阐述各种设计方法和优化算法的特点。结合近5年来的最新研究成果,在分析国内外智能船舶航线优化技术发展现状的基础上,将航线设计方法归纳为3种,即基于气象数据的航线优化、基于油耗模型的航线优化以及基于航线库或航路点库的航线优化,剖析其技术内涵及应用情况;深入分析改进的等时线法、动态规划法、图形搜索算法、智能算法、人工智能和机器学习算法的特性及不足,总结归纳将各类算法应用于智能船舶航线优化时存在的主要问题。最后,简要展望智能船舶航线优化的发展趋势,为未来在该领域的研究提供一定的思路。     

The public administrator: Regulating for maritime transport efficiency

One role often fulfilled by public administrators is to regulate private enterprise in the public interest. The academic literature has not developed this area fully because public administration is not always tasked with this function. Nevertheless, when regulation forms a part of the responsibilities of the public administrator, it is among the most important. An essential foundation for effective regulation is a complete understanding of the implications and impact of regulatory action. In the absence of regulation, entrepreneurial awareness is applied in the private sector exclusively to satisfying consumer wants. In a regulated market, the entrepreneur’s focus is shifted toward regulatory imperatives. Regulation offers non-market opportunities for entrepreneurial innovation, as well as imposing new market constraints. This paper examines regulation of the maritime industry by the US federal government as an example.     

Parameter matchin and optimization for a hydraulic power-assistant system

A hydraulic power-assist system is a hydraulic regeneration system that can significantly improve fuel economy when installed on a conventional bus operating in urban traffic. This paper presents a methodology for matching a new hydraulic power-assist system (HPA) to a conventional bus. The HPA and the conventional bus were modeled using the AMESim environment. The HPA was optimized using a simulation-based orthogonal design method with two indexes, the fuel economy and the acceleration performance. According to the simulation results, the volume of the accumulator was the primary factor affecting fuel economy, and the gear ratio of the transfer case was the primary factor influencing the acceleration performance. As a result, tradeoffs between the two indexes are required for a practical operational scenario. Experimental results demonstrated that the optimal HPA installed on a conventional bus was able to satisfy the acceleration performance requirement of the vehicle and also reduced fuel consumption by 25 percent.     

Robust lane markings detection and road geometry computation

Detection of lane markings based on a camera sensor can be a low-cost solution to lane departure and curve-over-speed warnings. A number of methods and implementations have been reported in the literature. However, reliable detection is still an issue because of cast shadows, worn and occluded markings, variable ambient lighting conditions, for example. We focus on increasing detection reliability in two ways. First, we employed an image feature other than the commonly used edges: ridges, which we claim addresses this problem better. Second, we adapted RANSAC, a generic robust estimation method, to fit a parametric model of a pair of lane lines to the image features, based on both ridgeness and ridge orientation. In addition, the model was fitted for the left and right lane lines simultaneously to enforce a consistent result. Four measures of interest for driver assistance applications were directly computed from the fitted parametric model at each frame: lane width, lane curvature, and vehicle yaw angle and lateral offset with regard the lane medial axis. We qualitatively assessed our method in video sequences captured on several road types and under very different lighting conditions. We also quantitatively assessed it on synthetic but realistic video sequences for which road geometry and vehicle trajectory ground truth are known.     

多种交通方式下的城市空间分配

从集计角度分析了运行多种交通方式的城市交通系统。利用目前已受关注的宏观基本图（简称MFD）,描述城市交通的整体特性。以旧金山某区为例,使用现有数据,通过仿真论证如何应用MFD监管真实交通网络。然后讨论了同一路网中不同交通方式间如何相互作用,以及如何将这些作用纳入包含多种交通方式路网的MFD。研究得到的两个主要结论是：1）证实了已有研究猜想——对市区拥挤区域限行,可提高包括被限行者在肉的所有出行者的机动性;2）公交方式提供专用道路空间可提高所有交通方式的可达性。     

Rail infrastructure,ITS and access charges

This paper presents an overview of the principles and technologies relating to railway infrastructure. Specifically this paper includes rail–wheel contact, inspection and maintenance of rail. Intelligent transport systems (ITS) and their applications for the purposes of the railway transport in Europe are discussed. The potential, levels of development, technological and operational characteristics of the European Railway Traffic Management System (ERTMS) are presented. Finally, a discussion on methodologies, principles and current practices for access charging in Europe is provided.     

Numerical prediction of the modal response of flexible cylinders in cross-flow with a current dependent form of damping

A quadratic eigenvalue problem (QEP) was posed in order to study the dynamics of flexible cylinders in cross-flow, simulating slender offshore structures such as risers, catenaries or tendons. The Euler–Bernoulli equation was used to model the structure assuming a fluid loading model, and yielding a quadratic eigenvalue problem that included a form of damping dependent not only on the structural damping itself, but also on the free stream velocity and the fluid force coefficients. We solved the QEP using the finite element method. We also derived a simplified analytical solution in this work for comparison with the QEP, however this solution does not consider changes in tension along the length of the cylinder as the QEP does. In our study, the QEP solutions were first validated against the simplified analytical solution, and also against a well-known experimental dataset obtained in 2003, in which a flexible circular cylinder model was used to model the dynamics of a riser undergoing multi-mode vortex-induced vibrations.