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The traditional method for transformer moisture diagnosis is to establish empirical equations between feature parameters extracted from frequency domain spectroscopy (FDS) and the transformer’s moisture content. However, the established empirical equation may not be applicable to a novel testing environment, resulting in an unreliable evaluation result. In this regard, it is acknowledged that FDS combined with machine learning is more suitable for estimating moisture content in a variety of test environments. Nonetheless, the accuracy of the estimation results obtained using the existing method is limited by the algorithm’s inability to generalize. To address this issue, we propose an AdaBoost algorithm-enhanced back-propagation neural network (BP_AdaBoost). This study creates a database by extracting feature parameters from the FDS that characterize the insulation states of the prepared samples. Then, using the BP_AdaBoost algorithm and the newly constructed database, the moisture estimation models are trained. Finally, the results of the estimation are discussed in terms of laboratory and field transformers. By comparing the proposed BP_AdaBoost algorithm to other intelligence algorithms, it is demonstrated that it not only performs better in generalization, but also maintains a high level of accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes a reconstruction algorithm for the geometric shapes of static overhead transmission lines that is based on the spatial coordinate data (obtained by field mapping) and the corresponding inclination data (obtained by attitude sensors). The algorithm takes the piecewise cubic Hermite interpolation function as the basic framework and corrects the aforementioned two types of data based on the “minimum energy principle” of the transmission line system. The introduction of a new energy function in modified energy method (MEM) overcame the shortcomings of conventional energy method (CEM) in fairing strategy, and the new Fairing Criterion made result curves more consistent with the mechanical properties of transmission lines. In the numerical simulation tests, the two energy methods were compared in terms of load type, horizontal span, elevation difference, and anti-disturbance ability, which showed that MEM has a higher reconstruction accuracy (average Euclidean distance is less than 1 cm) and better robustness than CEM. Meanwhile, the key parameters involved in the algorithm were discussed to guide the application in practical engineering. In addition, measurement tests under non-uniform icing were carried out in the field test station, and the results showed that the maximum relative error is less than 0.1%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Unlimited Sensing Framework (USF) was recently introduced to overcome the sensor saturation bottleneck in conventional digital acquisition systems. At its core, the USF converts a continuous-time high-dynamic-range (HDR) signal into folded, low-dynamic-range, modulo samples and allows the recovery of the HDR signal via algorithmic unfolding. In hardware, however, implementing ideal modulo folding requires careful calibration, analog design and high precision. At the interface of theory and practice, this paper explores a computational sampling strategy that relaxes strict hardware requirements via a novel, mathematically guaranteed reconstruction. We start with a generalized model for USF with two new parameters modeling hysteresis and folding transients in addition to the modulo threshold. Hysteresis accounts for mismatches between the reset threshold and the amplitude displacement at the folding time and the folding transient is a continuous transition period in the implementation of a reset. Both these effects are motivated by our hardware experiments and also occur in previous, domain-specific applications. We show that hysteresis is beneficial for USF and leverage it to derive the first recovery guarantees in the context of our generalized USF model for a certain sampling rate regime. Additionally, we show how the sampling rate requirement can be greatly reduced via a direct generalization of the proposed recovery. Our theoretical work is corroborated by hardware experiments with a hysteresis enabled, modulo ADC testbed comprising off-the-shelf electronic components. Thus, by capitalizing on a collaboration between hardware and algorithms, our paper enables an end-to-end pipeline for HDR sampling allowing more flexible hardware implementations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we propose to extend the standard Convolutional Dictionary Learning problem to a tensor representation where the activations are constrained to be “low-rank” through a Canonical Polyadic decomposition. We show that this additional constraint increases the robustness of the CDL with respect to noise and improve the interpretability of the final results. In addition, we discuss in detail the advantages of this representation and introduce two algorithms, based on ADMM or FISTA, that efficiently solve this problem. We show that by exploiting the low rank property of activations, they achieve lower complexity than the main CDL algorithms. Finally, we evaluate our approach on a wide range of experiments, highlighting the modularity and the advantages of this tensorial low-rank formulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vehicle and airborne navigation users are facing more and more complex signal interference and even spoofing. If vehicles and aircraft do not strengthen their anti-spoofing ability, their navigation performance is bound to be adversely affected. global navigation satellite system (GNSS) spoofing technology has gradually become a preferred interference method for spoofer because of its high concealment and great harm. For spoofer, user terminal increasingly adopts GNSS with inertial measurement unit (IMU): tightly-coupled GNSS/IMU, on this basis, user also configures a variety of anti-spoofing techniques to effectively deal with spoofing. Even if spoofer slowly changes user's positioning, if spoofing strategy is unreasonable, it will lead to the violation of parameter rationality of coupled filter output parameters and spoofing observation, which greatly increases the difficulty of spoofing. In view of the above problems, from the perspective of spoofer, in order to effectively counter the non cooperative target of assembling tightly-coupled GNSS/IMU by using GNSS spoofing, this paper establishes GNSS spoofing mathematical model, and proposes a slowly varying spoofing algorithm to avoid tightly-coupled GNSS/IMU with multiple anti-spoofing techniques based on the analysis of the influence mechanism of spoofing on the positioning of tightly-coupled GNSS/IMU, the algorithm proposes a measurement deviation determination method to avoid a variety of anti-spoofing techniques, which can gradually pull the positioning results of coupled system, and successfully avoid anti-spoofing techniques detection of least squares residual receiver autonomous integrity monitoring (RAIM) and parameter rationality check. The experimental results show that the algorithm can gradually change positioning of tightly-coupled GNSS/IMU within 30 s, and the north, east and down displacements basically achieve the spoofing effect, the errors with the expected offset are −0.5 m, 1.9 m and 12.7 m respectively. At the same time, the detection of the above anti-spoofing techniques is avoided. The mean value of test statistics for tightly-coupled system is reduced by 75.4% and does not exceed the alarm threshold, so as to achieve the purpose of spoofing, the effectiveness and high concealment of the spoofing algorithm are proved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes a new decentralized data-driven load restoration (DDLR) scheme for transmission and distribution (TD) systems with high penetration of wind power. Robust DDLR models are constructed in order to handle uncertainties and ensure the feasibility of decentralized schemes. The Wasserstein metric is used to describe the ambiguity sets of probability distributions in order to build the complete DDLR model and realize computationally tractable formulation. A data-driven model-nested analytical target cascading (DATC) algorithm is developed to obtain the final load restoration result by iteratively solving small-scale mathematical models. The proposed DDLR scheme provides load restoration results with adjustable robustness, and performance efficiency is independent from the amount of data. The DDLR scheme makes full use of the available data while respecting information privacy requirements of independent operated systems, and ensures the feasibility of a decentralized load restoration strategy even in the worst-case condition. The effectiveness of the proposed method is validated using a small-scale TD system and a large-scale system with the IEEE 118-bus TS and thirty IEEE-33 DSs, showing high computational efficiency and superior restoration performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Power flow analysis is a key tool for planning, operation and control of power systems. With future hybrid Supergrids in mind, a wide variety of power flow algorithms for multi-terminal VSC AC/DC systems have been proposed. However, the nonlinear nature of these formulations represents a challenge for its use in real power systems. Whereas in the study of AC networks linear approximations are frequently utilized to speed up multi-scenario steady-state analysis, an equivalent tool has not been proposed for hybrid AC/DC grids. This paper fills that gap by formulating a linear MW-only power flow algorithm with losses for multi-terminal VSC AC/DC systems. The proposed algorithm provides a consistent estimation of converters' losses and allows modelling of all branches within the converter stations. Moreover, two novel schemes for the inclusion of DC network losses are proposed and a circuit-equivalent model of the linear power flow problem in multi-terminal VSC AC/DC systems is suggested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present an algorithm for passivity verification and enforcement of multivariate macromodels whose state-space matrices depend in closed form on a set of external or design parameters. Uniform passivity throughout the parameter space is a fundamental requirement of parameterized macromodels of physically passive structures, that must be guaranteed during model generation. Otherwise, numerical instabilities may occur, due to the ability of nonpassive models to generate energy. In this paper, we propose the first available algorithm that, starting from a generic parameter-dependent state-space model, identifies the regions in the frequency-parameter space where the model behaves locally as a nonpassive system. The approach we pursue is based on an adaptive sampling scheme in the parameter space, which iteratively constructs and perturbs the eigenvalue spectrum of suitable skew-Hamiltonian/Hamiltonian pencils, with the objective of identifying the regions where some of these eigenvalues become purely imaginary, thus pinpointing local passivity violations. The proposed scheme is able to detect all relevant violations. An outer iterative perturbation method is then applied to the model coefficients in order to remove such violations and achieve uniform passivity. Although a formal proof of global convergence is not available, the effectiveness of the proposed implementation of the passivity verification and enforcement schemes is demonstrated on several examples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For the quantitative applications of the Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership (SNPP) Advanced Technology Microwave Sounder (ATMS), the geolocation accuracy of its sensor data records must be quantified during its on-orbit operation. In this paper, a refined coastline inflection point method is used to evaluate the on-orbit geolocation accuracy of SNPP ATMS. It is disclosed that for SNPP ATMS, the static error term with scan-angle-dependent feature is a dominant part among all the geolocation error sources. A mathematical model is then developed to convert the in-track and cross-track geolocation errors to the beam pointing Euler angles defined in the spacecraft coordinate system, which can be further used to construct the correction matrix for on-orbit geolocation process. By using the correction matrix built in this paper, the geolocation error is obviously reduced both at nadir and at the edge of the scan. The total geolocation error at nadir before/after correction is 3.8/0.8 km at K-band, 5.6/0.8 km at Ka-band, 3.3/0.4 km at V-band, and 1.5/0.1 km at W-band. The geolocation bias at the edge of the scan line before/after correction is 4.6/1.3 km at K-band, 9.4/1.8 km at Ka-band, 4.4/2.4 km at V-band, and 3.2/0.8 km at W-band. After correction, the scan-angle-dependent feature in geolocation error is also largely reduced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Critical process loads need to be safeguarded against power system disturbances and erroneous operations caused by human factors. During such events, a fast synchronism-supervised transfer scheme is required to ensure continuous operation. This paper discusses the implementation of a fast motor bus transfer scheme using existing protective relays. The scheme is designed to respond to local and remote (upstream) events in the substation. This makes possible an attempt to initiate a fast transfer for events that are remote to the motor bus. On a failure to achieve a fast transfer, the scheme resorts to an in-phase transfer and, if that fails, finally a residual transfer. Real-time dynamic modeling was performed to simulate motor bus decay and reacceleration. This paper provides the results of the simulations and the response of the transfer scheme. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sensors provide insights into the industrial processes, while misleading sensor outputs may result in inappropriate decisions or even catastrophic accidents. In this article, the Bayesian estimation algorithms are developed to estimate unforeseen signals in sensor outputs without tuning. The optimal Bayesian estimation method is first derived by incorporating a Gaussian distribution specifying potential unmodeled dynamics into the measurement equation. Since its performance depends on tuning parameters, an iterative Bayesian estimation algorithm is developed using the variational inference technique. Specifically, an inverse Wishart distribution is introduced to describe the predicted covariance of abnormal signals. We then estimate it together with the other independent Gaussian distributions to conditionally approximate the joint posterior distribution, by which the effects of tuning parameters can be replaced adaptively. Testing the proposed algorithms through a simulated electromechanical brake model and a real experimental system shows that the proposed algorithm can satisfactorily estimate additive sensor faults online and services as a sensor monitor that simultaneously provides the locations and magnitudes of faulty signals without tuning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A method to find the minimized state machine cover of live and safe Petri nets (PNs) is proposed in this paper. It is required that a cover be obtained in some implementation methods of PN-based control algorithms and other applications such as data mining. Most of the known methods of its computation have at least exponential time and space complexity; this is true not only for the methods which guarantee a minimal cover is obtained but also for some methods of finding approximate solutions. The proposed algorithm is an approximation algorithm and has polynomial computational complexity. The experimental verification shows a very high efficiency of the presented technique. The proposed method is especially valuable in the case of large systems where a solution is obtained hundreds of times quicker than by other methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Establishing causal relations between random variables from observational data is perhaps the most important challenge in today’s science. In remote sensing and geosciences, this is of special relevance to better understand the earth’s system and the complex interactions between the governing processes. In this paper, we focus on an observational causal inference, and thus, we try to estimate the correct direction of causation using a finite set of empirical data. In addition, we focus on the more complex bivariate scenario that requires strong assumptions and no conditional independence tests can be used. In particular, we explore the framework of (nondeterministic) additive noise models, which relies on the principle of independence between the cause and the generating mechanism. A practical algorithmic instantiation of such principle only requires: 1) two regression models in the forward and backward directions and 2) the estimation of statistical independence between the obtained residuals and the observations. The direction leading to more independent residuals is decided to be the cause. We instead propose a criterion that uses the sensitivity (derivative) of the dependence estimator, the sensitivity criterion allows to identify samples most affecting the dependence measure, and hence, the criterion is robust to spurious detections. We illustrate the performance in a collection of 28 geoscience causal inference problems, a database of radiative transfer models simulations and machine learning emulators in vegetation parameter modeling involving 182 problems, and assessing the impact of different regression models in a carbon cycle problem. The criterion achieves the state-of-the-art detection rates in all cases, and it is generally robust to noise sources and distortions. The presented approach confirms the validity in observational bivariate problems in the earth sciences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a hybrid phased locked loop (HPLL) algorithm for high power master-slave configured (MSC) centralized inverters for large photovoltaic power plants. Proposed PLL technique is a combination of double second order general integral (DSOGI) PLL and enhanced PLL (EPLL) with a zero crossing detector, which enables faster synchronization of slave inverters and enables early export of power into the grid. ${{3}}{\hbox{-}}\phi $ PLL structures such as synchronous reference frame (SRF), double decoupled SRF (DDSRF), EPLL, DSOGI, and DSOGI with frequency locked loop (FLL) are discussed, and a comparative analysis with the proposed PLL technique is presented. The proposed PLL technique is superior as compared with existing PLL techniques in master-slave configurations where it can provide faster synchronization, dynamic interleaving of the hardware timers generating carrier waves for master-slave converters, and low voltage ride through (LVRT) capability. The proposed PLL technique along with the existing techniques is simulated and compared in MATLAB/SIMULINK and digitally implemented in TMS320F2812 based discrete signal controller. The performance of the proposed HPLL technique is experimentally validated with unbalanced and distorted grid signals. Experimental results of proposed HPLL show faster grid synchronization in MSC-based grid-connected inverter, LVRT capability, and dynamic interleaving of MSC inverters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Terahertz (THz) band communication is envisioned as a key technology to satisfy the increasing demand for ultrabroadband wireless systems, thanks to its ultrabroad bandwidth. Tailored for the unique properties of pulse-based communications in the THz band, two timing acquisition algorithms are proposed and analyzed thoroughly in this paper. First, a low-sampling-rate (LSR) synchronization algorithm is proposed, by extending the theory of sampling signals with finite rate of innovation in the communication context and exploiting the properties of the annihilating filter. The simulation results show that the timing accuracy at an order of ten picoseconds is achievable. In particular, the LSR algorithm has high performance with uniform sampling at $1/20$ of the Nyquist rate when the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) is high (i.e., greater than 18 dB). Complementary to this, a maximum likelihood (ML) approach for timing acquisition is developed, which searches for the timing offsets by adopting a two-step acquisition procedure based on the ML criterion. The simulation results show that the ML-based algorithm is well suitable in the low SNR case with a half-reduced search space. For further evaluation, the error performance and the resulting bit-error-rate sensitivity to the timing errors in the LSR and the ML algorithms are both analytically and numerically studied. This paper provides very different and promising angles to efficiently and reliably solve the timing acquisition problem for pulse-based THz band wireless systems. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

In this paper, a novel algorithm “firework optimization” (FO) is introduced, as well as its hybridization with generating set search (GSS). FO is an exploration algorithm, which intends to explore a vast region within the search space in order to determine regions that may contain a regional optimum. As the regions with potential are defined, GSS, the exploitation algorithm is applied to determine whether regions determined by FO contain a local or a global optimum. The validity of FO and GSS hybridization algorithm is verified using Branin and Six-Hump Camel test functions, and the hybridization algorithm is applied to an interior permanent magnet synchronous motor, in order to minimize torque ripple. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Serial lines and assembly systems are two of the most fundamental production system structures used in practical manufacturing environments. While serial lines have been studied extensively in production systems literature and practice, assembly systems have received much less attention. Among existing results on assembly systems, most are focused on steady state performance evaluation, system properties, and improvement. On the other hand, transient behavior of such systems remains largely unexplored. In the framework of assembly systems with Bernoulli machines and finite buffers, this paper develops a mathematical model for transient analysis and derives closed-form formulas to calculate the real-time production rate, consumption rates, work-in-process, and probabilities of machine starvation and blockage, during transients. Then, an improved computationally efficient algorithm for transient performance evaluation in Bernoulli serial lines is proposed. Based on the improved algorithm, an effective and efficient method for transient performance evaluation in Bernoulli assembly systems is derived. Finally, the method is extended to complex assembly system structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a method for determination of heat transfer coefficients for finite-element method housing model of medium-voltage switchgear cell. Suggested method is based on the particle swarm optimization algorithm. For that purpose, a real test model of partition wall has been created as well as an equivalent numerical FE model. Since the preciseness of thermal model is dependent on the preciseness of thermal coefficients, the goal of the optimization procedure is to assure even better match between the measured and the FE model calculated temperature values. Because of the fact that the temperature field is a consequence of eddy currents that appear in metal parts of switchgear devices, this paper deals with a coupled problem. Nonlinear calculation of magnetic field is also considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diagnosis by comparison is a realistic approach to detect faults of multiprocessor systems. This paper considers a pessimistic diagnostic strategy for hypercube-like multiprocessor systems under the comparison model. The pessimistic strategy is a diagnostic process whereby all faulty nodes can be correctly identified and at most one fault-free node may be misjudged as a faulty node. We propose a pessimistic diagnosis algorithm based on the largest component in the faulty system. For a system with N = 2n nodes and n ≥ 5 , when the number of faulty nodes is bounded by 2n − 2 , the algorithm can correctly identify all nodes except at most one node left undiagnosed. The time complexity of the algorithm is O(Nlog2N). [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This paper deals with signal reconstruction for multichannel high-resolution wide-swath synthetic aperture radar (HRWS-SAR) systems. One of the commonly used algorithms for processing HRWS-SAR data is Krieger's digital beamforming (DBF) algorithm. This algorithm works quite well for cases with uniform space–time sampling as well as moderately nonuniform sampling. However, for cases with highly nonuniform sampling, Krieger's DBF algorithm in its original form suffers from a severe degradation in the signal-to-noise ratio, and for cases with coinciding sampling, this algorithm even fails to function. In this paper, we will solve these problems such that an improved DBF (IDBF) algorithm is developed. The key of the IDBF algorithm consists of two procedures: The first one implements an operation called ambiguity-index screening, which is based on two novel quantities, termed the equivalent sampling spacing and the effective reconstructed Doppler bandwidth; and the other key procedure implements a Doppler-spectrum weighting based on a newly defined parameter that is termed the maximum-to-minimum ratio of the noise spectrum. Simulation results show that the newly proposed IDBF algorithm shares a pronounced improvement in the imaging performance over Krieger's DBF algorithm. Moreover, simulation results also demonstrate that the IDBF algorithm exhibits a more robust and consistent overall performance than several other existing reconstruction algorithms. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The distributed power control algorithms available in this paper assume perfect estimation of interference power at the receivers and often, the availability of perfect local channel state information (CSI). However, perfect estimation of interference power or acquisition of channel information is impractical. In this paper, we consider a generic class of distributed power control algorithms and analyze the resulting performance loss when faced with errors in CSI and/or interference level estimation. We approximate such power control algorithms with linearized state space dynamics wherein the errors in the estimation of received interference or the CSI, can be modeled as additive observation noise. Based on the proposed model, we derive lower bounds on the norm of the errors in the transmit power vector and receive signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio (SINR) vector. Our analysis suggests that when the target SINR vector approaches the Pareto-optimal bound, the errors in the transmit vectors could grow without bound. As a consequence, to maintain a performance loss within an acceptable range, either much longer estimation times or lower target SINRs are required. Our numerical results confirm the validity of our analysis and the validity of the proposed bounds. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This paper deals with the stability problem of selected induction motor speed estimators in the case of the regenerating mode operation. Two effective solutions are taken into consideration: adaptive full-order observer and model reference adaptive system-type estimator based on the current flux model and stator current estimation. The two estimation algorithms are compared in detail, namely their mathematical models, theoretical stability analysis, unstable operation areas, and stability improvement methods. The speed adaptation mechanism is extended with an additional shift angle in both cases. The theoretical analysis and simulation test results are validated by wide experimental tests. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Monolithic 3-D ICs (M3-D ICs) offer extremely high vertical interconnection density, significantly improving the power-performance envelope when compared to conventional 2-D ICs. However, process limitations lead to one tier having either degraded transistors or interconnects. This paper models the amount of degradation that can be expected at current and future nodes (45, 22, and 10 nm), develops a process development kit using these models to enable evaluation, and presents a block-level M3-D IC RTL-to-GDSII flow that is capable of mitigating some of this degradation. Experimental results indicate that at lower technology nodes, M3-D ICs offer more benefits. Results also indicate that the impact of transistor degradation is diminished at lower technology nodes while the impact of interconnect degradation becomes worse. Overall, perfect M3-D ICs close more than half the gap in the power-performance envelope between 2-D ICs and the “ideal” block-level design. While degraded tiers reduce the benefit of M3-D ICs, our degradation-aware floorplanner gives back up to 17% of the loss, and helps to obtain significant overall benefits compared to 2-D ICs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper introduces a mathematical model that incorporates the pertinent optical and physiological properties of skin reflections with the objective to increase our understanding of the algorithmic principles behind remote photoplethysmography (rPPG). The model is used to explain the different choices that were made in existing rPPG methods for pulse extraction. The understanding that comes from the model can be used to design robust or application-specific rPPG solutions. We illustrate this by designing an alternative rPPG method, where a projection plane orthogonal to the skin tone is used for pulse extraction. A large benchmark on the various discussed rPPG methods shows that their relative merits can indeed be understood from the proposed model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Advanced persistent threats (APTs) are a major threat to cyber-security, causing significant financial and privacy losses each year. In this paper, cumulative prospect theory (CPT) is applied to study the interactions between a cyber system and an APT attacker when each of them makes subjective decisions to choose their scan interval and attack interval, respectively. Both the probability distortion effect and the framing effect are applied to model the deviation of subjective decisions of end-users from the objective decisions governed by expected utility theory, under uncertain attack durations in a pure-strategy game and scan interval in a mixed-strategy game. The CPT-based APT detection game incorporates both the probability weighting distortion and the framing effect of the subjective attacker and security agent of the cyber system, rather than discrete decision weights, as in earlier prospect theoretic study of APT detection. The Nash equilibria of the APT detection game are derived, showing that a subjective attacker becomes risk-seeking if the frame of reference for evaluating the utility is large, and becomes risk-averse if the frame of reference for evaluating the utility is small. A policy hill-climbing (PHC) based detection scheme is proposed to increase the policy uncertainty to fool the attacker in the dynamic game, and a “hotbooting” technique that exploits experiences in similar scenarios to initialize the quality values is developed to accelerate the learning speed of PHC-based detection. A practical example of a mobile network is presented to evaluate the performance of the proposed detection strategy. Simulation results show that the proposed strategy can improve detection performance with a higher data protection level and utilities of the cloud in the presence of an attacker compared with a standard Q-learning strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An automated transfer line balancing problem is investigated in this paper. The line produces a complex part at a high volume, such as cylinder heads, and incorporates identical machines that can be operated under different cutting conditions. The selection of cutting conditions significantly influences productivity and the cost of the transfer line. The production of cylinder heads requires machining different operations within a given takt time and satisfying precedence, inclusion, and exclusion relationships. The operations are located on different faces of the cylinder head and are processed by different cutting tools. The line balancing problem is studied to identify the optimal cutting conditions, number of machines and tools, and machining sequence of operations. The objective is to design a balanced transfer line at a minimum machining and tooling cost, and also with minimum nonproductive time. The problem is represented by a goal-programming model and solved for small transfer line configurations through linearization. An improved cuckoo search algorithm via Levy flight is developed to solve large-scale instances. Results of the cuckoo algorithm are promising since it reached optimal and close-to-optimal solutions to small problems and surpassed the results of a random local search approach for instances of medium and large problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multiobjective evolutionary algorithm based on decomposition (MOEA/D) decomposes a multiobjective optimization problem into a set of scalar optimization subproblems and optimizes them in a collaborative manner. Subproblems and solutions are two sets of agents that naturally exist in MOEA/D. The selection of promising solutions for subproblems can be regarded as a matching between subproblems and solutions. Stable matching, proposed in economics, can effectively resolve conflicts of interests among selfish agents in the market. In this paper, we advocate the use of a simple and effective stable matching (STM) model to coordinate the selection process in MOEA/D. In this model, subproblem agents can express their preferences over the solution agents, and vice versa. The stable outcome produced by the STM model matches each subproblem with one single solution, and it tradeoffs convergence and diversity of the evolutionary search. Comprehensive experiments have shown the effectiveness and competitiveness of our MOEA/D algorithm with the STM model. We have also demonstrated that user-preference information can be readily used in our proposed algorithm to find a region that decision makers are interested in. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we investigate the use of first-order reliability methods to quantify the uncertainty in the remaining useful life (RUL) estimate of components used in engineering applications. The prediction of RUL is affected by several sources of uncertainty, and it is important to systematically quantify their combined effect on the RUL prediction in order to aid risk assessment, risk mitigation, and decision-making. While sampling-based algorithms have been conventionally used for quantifying the uncertainty in RUL, analytical approaches are computationally cheaper, and sometimes they are better suited for online decision-making. Exact analytical algorithms may not be available for practical engineering applications, but effective approximations can be made using first-order reliability methods. This paper describes three first-order reliability-based methods for RUL uncertainty quantification: first-order second moment method (FOSM), the first-order reliability method (FORM), and the inverse first-order reliability method (inverse-FORM). The inverse-FORM methodology is particularly useful in the context of online health monitoring, and this method is illustrated using the power system of an unmanned aerial vehicle, where the goal is to predict the end of discharge of a lithium-ion battery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wheeled mobile robots (WMRs) are often used for maintenance of round pipes or ducts, which can typically be represented as a cylindrical workspace. Working in round pipes or ducts, kinematic models of WMRs are different from those applying on a plane and thus pose significant challenges in terms of kinematic analysis and motion control. To address these challenges, the kinematic properties of WMRs in a cylindrical workspace are analyzed in this paper. First, we discuss the kinematic properties of a single wheel in a cylindrical workspace. Then, we analyze the geometric constraints of WMRs in round pipes or ducts with analytical geometry. Based on these analyses, kinematic properties of WMRs in cylindrical workspaces are discussed with screw theory. A control law based on biaxial clinometer information is proposed, and it enables the robot to move horizontally in round pipes or ducts. Finally, the motion of a single wheel purely rolling in a cylindrical workspace is simulated. Experiments using a car-like mobile robot moving in round ducts are carried out to show the feasibility of the proposed algorithm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Security is a key problem for the transmission, interchange, and storage process of multimedia systems and applications. In 2018, Li et al. proposed in-depth security analysis on an image encryption algorithm based on a first-order time-delay system (IEATD) and gave a specific chosen-plaintext attack on it. Moreover, an enhanced version called as IEACD was designed to fix the reported security defects. This article analyzes the essential structures of the two algorithms and evaluates their real security performances: 1) no efficient nonlinear operations are adopted to assure the sensibility of keystream; 2) the equivalent secret key of IEATD can be efficiently recovered from one known plain-image and the corresponding cipher-image; and 3) IEACD can still be efficiently cracked with a chosen-plaintext attack. Both rigorous theoretical analyses and detailed experimental results are provided to demonstrate effectiveness of the advanced cryptanalytic methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We introduce a novel edge tracing algorithm using Gaussian process regression. Our edge-based segmentation algorithm models an edge of interest using Gaussian process regression and iteratively searches the image for edge pixels in a recursive Bayesian scheme. This procedure combines local edge information from the image gradient and global structural information from posterior curves, sampled from the model’s posterior predictive distribution, to sequentially build and refine an observation set of edge pixels. This accumulation of pixels converges the distribution to the edge of interest. Hyperparameters can be tuned by the user at initialisation and optimised given the refined observation set. This tunable approach does not require any prior training and is not restricted to any particular type of imaging domain. Due to the model’s uncertainty quantification, the algorithm is robust to artefacts and occlusions which degrade the quality and continuity of edges in images. Our approach also has the ability to efficiently trace edges in image sequences by using previous-image edge traces as a priori information for consecutive images. Various applications to medical imaging and satellite imaging are used to validate the technique and comparisons are made with two commonly used edge tracing algorithms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Active noise control (ANC) systems are widely used to cancel unwanted noise. However, for high-level noise, the residual error signal cannot be fully eliminated because of the nonlinearity of the secondary path, resulting in the diverging of the adaptive filter. In this letter, we propose a secondary path-decoupled ANC (SPD-ANC) algorithm based on deep learning. Specifically, the secondary path decoupled module consisting of two time-domain convolutional recurrent networks, one for modeling the nonlinear secondary path and the other for modeling the reverse process, is employed to calculate the secondary path-decoupled (SPD) error signal. The control signal is then generated by an adaptive filter that is optimized towards minimizing the SPD error signal. Simulation results indicate that the proposed method outperforms the conventional ANC methods under different conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A hybrid ac/dc microgrid (MG) has the advantages of both ac and dc subgrids, and the operator should perform an accurate power flow analysis to ensure the MG's operational economy and reliability. This article proposes a Newton—Raphson (NR)-based sequential power flow algorithm for the hybrid ac/dc MG. First, the MG's islanded operation mode and the three-phase unbalance feature of ac subgrids are considered, and the droop control for distributed generations participating in the voltage and frequency regulation is modeled. Then, a sequential algorithmic framework is proposed to handle the coupling between ac and dc subgrids. Within this framework, the power flow of ac and dc subgrids is solved separately and iteratively with modified NR subalgorithms. The accuracy of the proposed sequential algorithm is validated in comparison with the results from MATLAB/Simulink, and the advantage of employing this algorithm is confirmed compared with an equivalence approach. The case studies demonstrated that the proposed algorithm can significantly improve the result accuracy with acceptable computational time. Finally, the convergence performance of the proposed algorithm is verified in the cases of varying ac and dc subgrid loading. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The problem of state estimation for unobservable distribution systems is considered. A deep learning approach to Bayesian state estimation is proposed for real-time applications. The proposed technique consists of distribution learning of stochastic power injection, a Monte Carlo technique for the training of a deep neural network for state estimation, and a Bayesian bad-data detection and filtering algorithm. Structural characteristics of the deep neural networks are investigated. Simulations illustrate the accuracy of Bayesian state estimation for unobservable systems and demonstrate the benefit of employing a deep neural network. Numerical results show the robustness of Bayesian state estimation against modeling and estimation errors and the presence of bad and missing data. Comparing with pseudo-measurement techniques, direct Bayesian state estimation via deep learning neural network outperforms existing benchmarks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the use of a model-predictive control strategy to control a direct matrix converter. The proposed control method combines the features of the classical model-predictive control and the space vector modulation technique into a modulated model-predictive control. This new solution maintains all the characteristics of model-predictive control (such as fast transient response, multiobjective control using only one feedback loop, easy inclusion of nonlinearities and constraints of the system, and the flexibility to include other system requirements in the controller), adding the advantages of working at fixed switching frequency and improving the quality of the controlled waveforms. Simulation and experimental results employing the control method to a direct matrix converter are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This paper investigates the data-based optimal control for a class of networked industrial processes with a double-layer architecture. Without knowing the dynamics of subsystems at the device layer, the index prediction function is constructed via the input/output signals, and radial basis function neural networks. The tuning laws for the index prediction function are obtained through the optimal control strategy. Then, by treating the network-induced phenomenon as random round-trip time delay and introducing the predictive algorithm, the compensation scheme is designed at the operation layer to dynamically decompose the setpoints. Finally, two simulation examples are given to further illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed compensation strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we study the problem of mining frequent sequences under the rigorous differential privacy model. We explore the possibility of designing a differentially private frequent sequence mining (FSM) algorithm which can achieve both high data utility and a high degree of privacy. We found, in differentially private FSM, the amount of required noise is proportionate to the number of candidate sequences. If we could effectively prune those unpromising candidate sequences, the utility and privacy tradeoff can be significantly improved. To this end, by leveraging a sampling-based candidate pruning technique, we propose PFS $^2$, a novel differentially private FSM algorithm. It is the first algorithm that supports the general gap-constrained FSM in the context of differential privacy. The gap constraints in FSM can be used to limit the mining results to a controlled set of frequent sequences. In our PFS$^2$ algorithm, the core is to utilize sample databases to prune the candidate sequences generated based on the downward closure property. In particular, we use the noisy local support of candidate sequences in the sample databases to estimate which candidate sequences are potentially frequent. To improve the accuracy of such private estimations, a gap-aware sequence shrinking method is proposed to enforce the length constraint on the sample databases. Moreover, to calibrate the amount of noise required by differential privacy, a gap-aware sensitivity computation method is proposed to obtain the sensitivity of the local support computations with different gap constraints. Furthermore, to decrease the probability of misestimating frequent sequences as infrequent, a threshold relaxation method is proposed to relax the user-specified threshold for the sample databases. Through formal privacy analysis, we show that our PFS $^2$ algorithm is $\epsilon$ -differentially private. Extensive experiments on real datasets illustrate that our PFS$^2$ algorithm can privately find frequent sequences with high accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

In this paper we propose a modified Elliptic Net algorithm to compute pairings. By reducing the number of the intermediate variables which should be updated in the iteration loop of the Elliptic Net algorithm, we speed up the computation of pairings. Experimental results show that the proposed method is more efficient than the original Elliptic Net algorithm on Barreto-Naehrig (BN) curves which are the best choice for implementing pairings at 128-bit security level. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

IC3 is one of the most successful algorithms for hardware model checking. Since its invention in 2010, several variants of the original algorithm have been published, proposing optimizations and/or alternative procedures for many different steps of the algorithm. In this paper, we present a thorough empirical comparison of a large set of optimizations and procedures for the steps of IC3, considering “high-level” variants/extensions to the basic algorithm, as well as “low-level” optimizations/configuration settings. We implemented each of them in the same tool, optimizing the implementations to the best of our knowledge. This enabled for a flexible experimentation in a controlled environment, and to gain new insights about their most important differences and commonalities, as well as about their performance characteristics. We conducted the experiments using as benchmarks the problems used in the last four editions of the hardware model checking competition. The analysis helped us to identify several settings leading to significant improvements with respect to a basic implementation of IC3. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a closed-form noniterative transformation of the Maxwell-Garnett mixing rule for biphased mixtures to the triple-pole Debye relaxation formula. For the first time, it is formally proven that such a transformation is complete for conductive constituent materials. In other words, the Maxwell-Garnett representation of any biphased mixture of any conductive materials always has its formal equivalent in the Debye form with three poles at most. For specific aspect ratios of ellipsoidal inclusions, the number of poles reduces to one or two, which is formally proven herein, while in previous studies, a single-pole Debye model was arbitrarily assumed. The proposed transformation provides Debye parameters as an explicit function of a mixture composition, which is competitive to alternative techniques based on laborious curve-fitting algorithms. The newly proposed approach is of particular importance to time-domain modeling of dilute mixtures, where the Maxwell-Garnett mixing rule is usually approximated with available dispersive models. Computational examples given in this paper show advantages of the presented method over previous Maxwell-Garnett to Debye conversion algorithms, in terms of accuracy, robustness, and computational cost. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Warp code (and its framework of associated tools) was initially developed for particle-in-cell simulations of space-charge-dominated ion beams in accelerators, for heavy-ion-driven inertial fusion energy, and related experiments. It has found a broad range of applications, including nonneutral plasmas in traps, stray electron clouds in accelerators, laser-based acceleration, and the focusing of ion beams produced when short-pulse lasers irradiate foil targets. We summarize novel methods used in Warp, including: time-stepping conducive to diagnosis and particle injection; an interactive Python-Fortran-C structure that enables scripted and interactive user steering of runs; a variety of geometries (3-D $x$ , $y$ , $z$ ; 2-D $r$ , $z$ ; 2-D $x$ , $y$ ); electrostatic and electromagnetic field solvers; a cut-cell representation for internal boundaries; the use of warped coordinates for bent beam lines; adaptive mesh refinement, including a capability for time-dependent space-charge-limited flow from curved surfaces; models for accelerator lattice elements (magnetic or electrostatic quadrupole lenses, accelerating gaps, etc.) at user-selectable levels of detail; models for particle interactions with gas and walls; moment/envelope models that support sophisticated particle loading; a drift-Lorentz mover for rapid tracking through regions of strong and weak magnetic field; a Lorentz-boosted frame formulation with a Lorentz-invariant modification of the Boris mover; an electromagnetic solver with tunable dispersion and stride-based digital filtering; and a pseudospectral electromagnetic solver. Warp has proven useful for a wide range of applications, described very briefly herein. It is available as an open-source code under a BSD license. This paper describes material presented during the Prof. Charles K. (Ned) Birdsall Memorial Session of the 2013 IEEE Pulsed Power and Plasma Science Conference. In addition to our overview of the computational methods used in Warp, we summarize a few aspects of Ned's contributions to plasma simulation and to the careers of those he mentored. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This paper presents a context-aware computer aided inbetweening (CACAI) technique that interpolates planar strokes to generate inbetween frames from a given set of key frames. The inbetweening is context-aware in the sense that not only the stroke’s shape but also the context (i.e., the neighborhood of a stroke) in which a stroke appears are taken into account for the stroke correspondence and interpolation. Given a pair of successive key frames, the CACAI automatically constructs the stroke correspondence between them by exploiting the context coherence between the corresponding strokes. Meanwhile, the construction algorithm is able to incorporate the user’s interaction with ease and allows the user more effective control over the correspondence process than existing stroke matching techniques. With a one-to-one stroke correspondence, the CACAI interpolates the shape and context between the corresponding strokes for the generation of intermediate frames. In the interpolation sequence, both the shape of individual strokes and the spatial layout between them are well retained such that the feature characteristics and visual appearance of the objects in the key frames can be fully preserved even when complex motions are involved in these objects. We have developed a prototype system to demonstrate the ease of use and effectiveness of the CACAI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper develops data-driven Type-2 Takagi–Sugeno (T–S) fuzzy modeling and control for bilateral teleoperation with dynamic uncertainties and time-varying delays. The Type-2 T–S fuzzy model identified based on input–output data samples describes the nonlinear teleoperation system by a weighted sum of a group of linear local models, which offers a platform to design robust control algorithms by means of mature linear theories. The fuzzy-model-based four-channel control laws are proposed to guarantee the motion synchronization and enhance the operator's force perception for the environment when the time-varying delays and large dynamic uncertainties, especially the gravity of a heavy end effector of the slave, exist. Markov processes are applied to model the time delays. The stability of the closed-loop system is proved by using the Lyapunov–Krasovskii functions. All the conditions are expressed as linear-matrix inequalities (LMI). By using the MATLAB LMI toolbox, the optimized control gains for each of the fuzzy rules are derived to achieve the optimal performance. Finally, experiments based on an experimental platform consisting of two haptic devices prove the superiority of the proposed strategy through comparison with previous work. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

As the technology nodes scale down to sub-22 nm, double patterning lithography has been considered as a practical solution for layout manufacturing. Compared with litho-etch-litho-etch, self-aligned double patterning (SADP) has better overlay control. To have a better SADP layout decomposability of routing patterns, we consider SADP during detailed routing stage. Two major types of SADP processes are considered: 1) spacer-is-dielectric type and 2) spacer-is-metal type. Different from previous works, the idea of color preassignment is adopted for SADP-aware detailed routing. An elegant graph model is proposed to capture both routing and SADP manufacturing cost. They greatly simplify the problem to maintain SADP design rules in detailed routing. We apply a negotiated congestion based rip-up and reroute scheme to achieve better routability while maintaining SADP design rules. Compared with other state-of-the-art academic works, our approach does not produce any side overlay error and no SADP design rules violation is reported. Meanwhile, a better solution in terms of total wirelength, routability, and runtime is achieved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We propose a generalized Sparse Representation-based Classification (SRC) algorithm for open set recognition where not all classes presented during testing are known during training. The SRC algorithm uses class reconstruction errors for classification. As most of the discriminative information for open set recognition is hidden in the tail part of the matched and sum of non-matched reconstruction error distributions, we model the tail of those two error distributions using the statistical Extreme Value Theory (EVT). Then we simplify the open set recognition problem into a set of hypothesis testing problems. The confidence scores corresponding to the tail distributions of a novel test sample are then fused to determine its identity. The effectiveness of the proposed method is demonstrated using four publicly available image and object classification datasets and it is shown that this method can perform significantly better than many competitive open set recognition algorithms. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Pooling plays an important role in generating a discriminative video representation. In this paper, we propose a new semantic pooling approach for challenging event analysis tasks (e.g., event detection, recognition, and recounting) in long untrimmed Internet videos, especially when only a few shots/segments are relevant to the event of interest while many other shots are irrelevant or even misleading. The commonly adopted pooling strategies aggregate the shots indifferently in one way or another, resulting in a great loss of information. Instead, in this work we first define a novel notion of semantic saliency that assesses the relevance of each shot with the event of interest. We then prioritize the shots according to their saliency scores since shots that are semantically more salient are expected to contribute more to the final event analysis. Next, we propose a new isotonic regularizer that is able to exploit the constructed semantic ordering information. The resulting nearly-isotonic support vector machine classifier exhibits higher discriminative power in event analysis tasks. Computationally, we develop an efficient implementation using the proximal gradient algorithm, and we prove new and closed-form proximal steps. We conduct extensive experiments on three real-world video datasets and achieve promising improvements. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This paper presents a comprehensive study of the computation of square roots over finite extension fields. We propose two novel algorithms for computing square roots over even field extensions of the form \BBF{q^2}, with q = p^n, p an odd prime and n \geq 1. Both algorithms have an associate computational cost roughly equivalent to one exponentiation in \BBF{q^2}. The first algorithm is devoted to the case when q \equiv 1\, mod\, 4, whereas the second one handles the case when q \equiv 3\, mod\,4. Numerical comparisons show that the two algorithms presented in this paper are competitive and in some cases more efficient than the square root methods previously known. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes the design of robust repetitive control with time-varying sampling periods. First, it develops a new frequency domain method to design a low-order, stable, robust, and causal IIR repetitive compensator using an optimization method to achieve fast convergence and high tracking accuracy. As such, a new stable and causal repetitive controller can be implemented independently to reduce the design complexity. The comprehensive analysis and comparison study are presented. Then, this paper extends the method to design a robust repetitive controller, which compensates time-varying periodic signals in a known range. A complete series of experiments is successfully carried out to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed algorithms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Roll-to-roll (R2R) printing systems provide a continuous process of thin, flexible material (called web) through printing cylinders, where the required patterns are printed on the web. Tension fluctuation caused by the upstream register control quantity may lead to the downstream register errors. Thus, it is a challenge to develop a register control algorithm to remove the couplings among the angular velocity, tension fluctuation, and register error. In this article, the register error is defined as the marks position misalignment between the first and the current printing unit. Based on the definition, a mathematical model of registration is derived. Based on the model, a fully decoupled proportional-derivative (FDPD) control algorithm is proposed to completely remove the coupling between the upstream register control quantity and the downstream register error. Simulations and experiments are carried out to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed control algorithm. Compared with the other compensation control methods, FDPD is a complete decoupling control method, which can control the register errors of all downstream printing units (more than seven printing units) within $\pm 0.05$ mm, even if the upstream printing unit has a 3 mm register error. Decoupling formula included in the FDPD control is a first-order compensation formula, which is easy to implement in the actual industry. Furthermore, the proposed FDPD can deal with the situation where two adjacent gravure cylinders have different web lengths, which is not taken into account by other control methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fault localization is one of the most important issues for the modular multilevel converters (MMC) consisting of lots of switches. This article proposes a switch open-circuit fault localization strategy for the MMC, where a sliding-time window (STW) based features extraction algorithm (FEA) is proposed to extract the features of the MMC based on the feature relationship between neighboring STWs. Based on the extracted features, the fault in the MMC can be easily located with the 2-D convolutional neural networks. The proposed STW-FEA-based fault localization strategy can constructs concise low-data-volume features samples for the MMC in both time domain and frequency domain, and accordingly it can locate the fault with short time and high accuracy for the MMC. In addition, it does not require the creation of complex mathematical models and manual setting of empirical thresholds. Simulation and experiment are conducted, and the results confirm the effectiveness of the proposed strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]