Revisiting the application of simultaneous perturbation stochastic approximation towards signal timing optimization

Simultaneous Perturbation Stochastic Approximation (SPSA) has gained favor as an efficient optimization method for calibrating computationally intensive, “black box” traffic flow simulations. Few recent studies have investigated the efficiency of SPSA for traffic signal timing optimization. It is important for this to be investigated, because significant room for improvement exists in the area of signal optimization. Some signal timing methods and products perform optimization very quickly, but deliver mediocre solutions. Other methods and products deliver high-quality solutions, but at a very slow rate. When using commercialized desktop signal timing products, engineers are often forced to choose between speed and solution quality. Real-time adaptive control products, which must optimize timings within seconds on a cycle-by-cycle basis, have limited time to reach a high-quality solution. The existing literature indicates that SPSA provides the potential for upgrading both off-line and on-line solutions alike, by delivering high-quality solutions within seconds. This article describes an extensive set of optimization tests involving SPSA and genetic algorithms (GAs). The final results suggest that GA was slightly more efficient than SPSA. Moreover, the results suggest today's signal timing solutions could be improved significantly by incorporating GA, SPSA, and “playbooks” of preoptimized starting points. However, it may take another 5–10 years before our computers become fast enough to simultaneously optimize coordination settings (i.e., cycle length, phasing sequence, and offsets) at numerous intersections, using the most powerful heuristic methods, at speeds that are compatible with real-time adaptive solutions.     

Observability in traffic networks. Plate scanning added by counting information

The paper deals with the observability problem in traffic networks, including route, origin?Cdestination and link flows, based on number plate scanning and link flow observations. A revision of the main observability concepts and methods is done using a small network. Starting with the full observability of the network based only on number plate scanning on some links, the number of scanned links is reduced and replaced by counted link flows, but keeping the full observability of all flows in the network. In this way, the cost can be substantially reduced. To this end, several methods are given and discussed, and two small and one real case of networks are used to illustrate the proposed methodologies. Finally, some conclusions and final recommendations are included.     

视频传输差错掩盖技术研究现状与发展趋势

讨论了视频差错掩盖研究的发展过程和现状.介绍了常见的空域和时域差错掩盖算法,特别是基于边缘检测的空域自适应差错掩盖算法、基于运动向量外插的时域差错掩盖算法、多步多权值块变形差错掩盖算法以及基于失真度估计的SVC质量分级自适应差错掩盖算法.分析了这些算法在不同有损传输环境下的差错掩盖性能和适用环境.预测了差错掩盖技术可能的发展趋势.     

A method to calculate and counterbalance the inertia force of slider-crank mechanisms in high-speed presses

A new method to calculate and counterbalance the inertia force of slider-crank mechanisms in high-speed mechanical presses was put forward. By analyzing the kinematic characteristics of a center-located slider-crank mechanism whose crank rotates at a constant angular velocity, the kinematic parameters of the slide, connecting rod and crank were formulated approximately. On the basis of the results above, three inertia forces and the input moment in the mechanism during its idle running were investigated and formulated by dynamic analysis. A verification experiment was performed on a slider-crank mechanism at a high-speed press machine. The forces derived from the established formulas were compared respectively with those obtained by the ADAMS software and the classical method of connecting rod mass substitution. It was experimentally found that the proposed formulas have an improved performance over related earlier techniques. By use of these results, a 1000 kN 1250 rpm four-point high-speed press machine was designed and manufactured. The slide of this press is driven by four sets of slider-crank mechanisms with symmetrical layout and opposite rotation directions to counterbalance the horizontal inertia forces. Four eccentric counterbalance blocks were designed to counterbalance the vertical force after their mass and equivalent eccentric radius were formulated. The high-speed press machine designed by the proposed counterbalance method has worked with satisfactory performance and good dynamic balance for more than four years in practical production.     

Classification of Beach Erosion Vulnerability on the Yucatan Coast

Beach erosion can have important socioeconomic and environmental consequences, particularly in tropical regions where tourism is a significant source of income. Although caused by natural processes, erosion is often aggravated by disorderly anthropogenic modification of the coast and extreme events. In Yucatan, Mexico, increasing urban development and deficient coastal management strategies as well as hurricanes have affected beach stability. This has highlighted the need for adequate coastal planning and policies that ensure the protection of key coastal ecosystems, such as beaches and sand dunes. To address this, a methodology to classify the coast according to its vulnerability is presented in this work. This methodology assumes that morphological features are indicators of beach evolution and the processes driving it and that these can be associated with different levels of vulnerability. The features considered are beach width, dune vegetation, anthropogenic pressure, and shoreline orientation, which were analyzed through aerial images and a multicriteria evaluation. It was observed that the most vulnerable areas are found near the most developed parts of the coast, where narrow beaches with little dune vegetation dominate. It is expected that this index will be of use to coastal planners and decision makers, particularly in the identification of critical zones.