Tradeoffs in incremental changes towards pedestrian-friendly environments: Physical activity and pollution exposure

A microsimulation of individuals’ activities is used in the context of a risk analysis framework to assess the impacts of hypothesized changes to the built environment on personal energy expenditure and on inhalation of air pollutants. Uncertainty is assessed using Monte Carlo simulations and sensitivity analyzes. We find both simulated individuals that augment and others that reduce their energy expenditure and inhalation dose of pollutants, with median increases displaying larger magnitudes than the decreases. Up to 75% of the population has significant increases in energy expenditure and pollutant inhalation. We also find, however, high uncertainty associated with the estimates. Results differ considerably depending on the travel mode choice model used in the simulation.     

Multi-path planning algorithm based on fitness sharing and species evolution

A new algorithm is proposed for underwater vehicles multi-path planning. This algorithm is based on fitness sharing genetic algorithm, clustering and evolution of multiple populations, which can keep the diversity of the solution path, and decrease the operating time because of the independent evolution of each subpopulation. The multi-path planning algorithm is demonstrated by a number of two-dimensional path planning problems. The results show that the multi-path planning algorithm has the following characteristics: high searching capability, rapid convergence and high reliability.     

Broaching prediction in the light of an enhanced mathematical model,with higher-order terms taken into account

 We have attempted to develop a more consistent mathematical model for capsizing associated with surf-riding in following and quartering waves by taking most of the second-order terms of the waves into account. The wave effects on the hull maneuvring coefficients were estimated, together with the hydrodynamic lift due to wave fluid velocity, and the change in added mass due to relative wave elevations. The wave effects on the hydrodynamic derivatives with respect to rudder angles were estimated by using the Mathematical Modelling Group (MMG) model. Then captive ship model experiments were conducted, and these showed reasonably good agreements between the experiments and the calculations for the wave effects on the hull and the rudder maneuvring forces. It was also found that the wave effects on restoring moments are much smaller than the Froude–Krylov prediction, and the minimum restoring arm appears on a wave downslope but not on a wave crest amidship. Thus, an experimental formula of the lift force due to the heel angle of the ship is provided for numerical modelling. Numerical simulations were then carried out with these second-order terms of waves, and the results were compared with the results of free-running model experiments. An improved prediction accuracy for ship motions in following and quartering seas was demonstrated. Although the boundaries of the ship motion modes were also obtained with both the original model and the present one, the second-order terms for waves are not so crucial for predicting the capsizing boundaries themselves. Received: June 20, 2002 / Accepted: October 10, 2002 Acknowledgments. This research was supported by a Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan (No. 13555270). The authors thank Prof. N. Rakhmanin of the Krylov Ship Research Institute for providing the Russian literature, as well as Mr. H. Murata of NHK (Japan Broadcasting Corporation) for translating it into Japanese. Address correspondence to: N. Umeda (e-mail: umeda@naoe.eng.osaka-u.ac.jp)     

Modeling of Double Lane Change Maneuver of Vehicles

Lane change maneuver is one of most riskiest driving tasks. In order to increase the safety level of the vehicles during this maneuver, design of lane change assist systems which are based on dynamics behavior of driver-vehicle unit is necessary. Therefore, modeling of the maneuver is the first step to design the driver assistance system. In this paper, a novel method for modeling of lateral motion of vehicles in the standard double-lane-change (DLC) maneuver is proposed. A neuro-fuzzy model is suggested consisting of both the vehicle orientation and its lateral position. The inputs of the model are the current orientation, lateral position and steering wheel angle, while the predicted lateral position and orientation of the vehicle are the outputs. The efficiency of the proposed method is verified using both simulation results and experimental tests. The simulation and experimental maneuvers are performed in different velocities. It is shown that the proposed method can effectively reduce the undesirable effects of environmental disturbances and is significantly more accurate in comparisons with the results in the recent available papers. This method can be used to personalize the advanced driver assistance systems.     

Decoupled self-tuning PI controller for an idling stop system applied to scooters

This paper is aimed to propose a decoupled self-tuning proportional plus integral (PI) controller with simple law for an idling stop system applied to scooters. An integrated starter generator (ISG) of the idling stop system is designed with a high efficiency permanent magnet synchronous motor (PMSM). The PMSM used as an ISG must have a high torque characteristic to ensure that the engine can be accelerated up to firing speed. A conventional and useful control algorithm named PI control is unable to handle motor current very well for dynamic load, parametric variation, and external disturbance, especially in a vehicle application. Therefore, a robust algorithm for current control in an ISG is proposed. The decoupled selftuning PI controller based on the Lyapunov stability theorem is utilized to guarantee the control performance. Numerical simulations demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed control algorithm. Experimental results show that the engine of a 150 cm3 scooter can be cranked to reach firing speed by a ISG within 0.1?0.2 second. The proposed method is simple, robust, as well as stable for idling stop system, and can be effectively implemented.     

Efficient estimation of extreme non-linear roll motions using the first-order reliability method (FORM)

In on-board decision support systems, efficient procedures are needed for real-time estimation of the maximum ship responses to be expected within the next few hours, given online information on the sea state and user-defined ranges of possible headings and speeds. For linear responses, standard frequency domain methods can be applied. For non-linear responses, as exhibited by the roll motion, standard methods such as direct time domain simulations are not feasible due to the required computational time. However, the statistical distribution of non-linear ship responses can be estimated very accurately using the first-order reliability method (FORM), which is well known from structural reliability problems. To illustrate the proposed procedure, the roll motion was modelled by a simplified non-linear procedure taking into account non-linear hydrodynamic damping, time-varying restoring and wave excitation moments, and the heave acceleration. Resonance excitation, parametric roll, and forced roll were all included in the model, albeit with some simplifications. The result is the mean out-crossing rate of the roll angle together with the most probable wave scenarios (critical wave episodes), leading to user-specified specific maximum roll angles. The procedure is computationally very effective and can thus be applied to real-time determination of ship-specific combinations of heading and speed to be avoided in the actual sea state.     

Design Optimization of a Rear Independent Suspension for the Korean Light Tactical Vehicle

Steering and suspension handle the direction of a vehicle according to the driver’s intentions and control the disturbance from the road surface while supporting the vehicle body. The static and dynamic characteristics of two systems are critical factors for the ride comfort and the directional stability. In the layout stage, the hard points of steering and suspension systems are determined. In the next design stage, the detailed design of the system, including gearboxes, springs, shock absorbers, and control links, is carried out. While the optimal hard points of a suspension are determined at the precedent design, interference with other peripheral components should be carefully examined in the detailed design process. In the case of the design point change should be made to avoid the interference, subsequent position and shape changes of the link mechanism are required. Therefore, there is a need to examine the optimization of suspension compliance characteristics with chassis design changes and the durability performance of the modified design. This study proposes an integrated analysis method for the design optimization and the durability evaluation of such optimized design specifications of the rear independent suspension for a military vehicle.     

Underwater sonar image recognition based on gray-spatial histograms

A new gray-spatial histogram is proposed, which incorporates spatial information with gray compositions without sacrificing the robustness of traditional gray histograms. The purpose is to consider the representation role of gray compositions and spatial information simultaneously. Each entry in the gray-spatial histogram is the gray frequency and corresponding position information of images. In the experiments of sonar image recognition, the results show that the gray-spatial histogram is effective in practical use.     

Measuring and sustaining the UK maritime skills base: A review

Numerous factors over the past three decades have contributed to a major decline in the number of seagoing staff in the United Kingdom. These include shipping companies opting for other flags, as well as the profession itself becoming less and less attractive for school leavers. This decrease in numbers is not only significant for shipping companies, but also for the allied services which used to get supported from seafarers coming ashore in search of a new career. It is now recognised that changes in the maritime skills base will affect both the seagoing as well as the shore side of the industry.     

PACDIN statement of methods

PAntograph–Catenary Dynamic Interaction (PACDIN) is a code developed by the vehicle technology research centre (CITV) of the Universitat Politècnica de València in collaboration with the railway company Talgo S.L. The model of the catenary is a finite element model using absolute nodal coordinates. It is based on a general formulation that can be applied for analysing a wide range of catenary configurations, including stitch wire, transitions or non-straight path tracks. The formulation is fully non-linear and includes large deformations, dropper slackening and contact interaction. The model is linearised when deformations are small, as in the case of the benchmark dynamic analysis. The results of the PACDIN code show a good agreement with the average results of other benchmark codes.