Engineering Education and Research Using MATLAB

MATLAB is a software package used primarily in the field of engineering for signal processing, numerical data analysis, modeling, programming, simulation, and computer graphic visualization. In the last few years, it has become widely accepted as an efficient tool, and, therefore, its use has significantly increased in scientific communities and academic institutions. This book consists of 20 chapters presenting research works using MATLAB tools. Chapters include techniques for programming and developing Graphical User Interfaces (GUIs), dynamic systems, electric machines, signal and image processing, power electronics, mixed signal circuits, genetic programming, digital watermarking, control systems, time-series regression modeling, and artificial neural networks

NASA space station automation: AI-based technology review

Research and Development projects in automation for the Space Station are discussed. Artificial Intelligence (AI) based automation technologies are planned to enhance crew safety through reduced need for EVA, increase crew productivity through the reduction of routine operations, increase space station autonomy, and augment space station capability through the use of teleoperation and robotics. AI technology will also be developed for the servicing of satellites at the Space Station, system monitoring and diagnosis, space manufacturing, and the assembly of large space structures

Enterprise collaborative portal for business process modelling

The business processes of manufacturing enterprises have to be dynamic, especially when highly customised products are manufactured or different projects run simultaneously. Another trend in contemporary manufacturing is the necessity for co-operation between geographically dispersed teams. This research presents a new method for modelling business processes enabling co-ordination of dynamic workflows. This thesis focuses first on Business Process Modelling (BPM) techniques and outlines the limitations of the existing methodologies. Similarly, an overview of Enterprise Collaborative Portals (ECP) is conducted and a method for collaborative authoring of dynamic workflows is discussed. Next, the thesis introduces the concept of business process models with feedback based on the Product/process (P/p) methodology. An extension to this methodology, validated through a case study, is developed to overcome some of its limitations. The performance of the proposed extension is analysed and compared with that of the Unified Modelling Language (UML) and its advantages are highlighted. The case study used to demonstrate the capabilities of the proposed approach involves the development of a golf training device prototype using Rapid Prototyping technology. The proposed process modelling methodology is validated in PTC Windchill EIMS, which also serves as a platform for the implementation of the enterprise collaborative portal. The thesis also proposes a benchmarking method for business processes based on the work of Spendolini and the extended P/p methodology. Benchmarking factors are identified and the proposed benchmarking methodology is validated with an example. The benefits of the proposed benchmarking methodology are outlined. Finally, a method for modelling business processes enabling co-ordination of dynamic workflows is presented. The same case study is used to illustrate the algorithm for collaborative authoring of the business process model. As a platform for the implementation of the proposed method, an object-oriented architecture is adopted

Small scale software engineering

This thesis was submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy and awarded by Brunel University.In computing, the Software Crisis has arisen because software projects cannot meet their planned timescales, functional capabilities, reliability levels and budgets. This thesis reduces the general problem down to the Small Scale Software Engineering goal of improving the quality and tractability of the designs of individual programs. It is demonstrated that the application of eight abstractions (set, sequence, hierarchy, h-reduction, integration, induction, enumeration, generation) can lead to a reduction in the size and complexity of and an increase in the quality of software designs when expressed via Dimensional Design, a new representational technique which uses the three spatial dimensions to represent set, sequence and hierarchy, whilst special symbols and axioms encode the other abstractions. Dimensional Designs are trees of symbols whose edges perceptually encode the relationships between the nodal symbols. They are easy to draw and manipulate both manually and mechanically. Details are given of real software projects already undertaken using Dimensional Design. Its tool kit, DD/ROOTS, produces high quality, machine drawn, detailed design documentation plus novel quality control information. A run time monitor records and animates execution, measures CPU time and takes snapshots etc; all these results are represented according to Dimensional Design principles to maintain conceptual integrity with the design. These techniques are illustrated by the development of a non-trivial example program. Dimensional Design is axiomatised, compared to existing techniques and evaluated against the stated problem. It has advantages over existing techniques, mainly its clarity of expression and ease of manipulation of individual abstractions due to its graphical basis

Combining SOA and BPM Technologies for Cross-System Process Automation

This paper summarizes the results of an industry case study that introduced a cross-system business process automation solution based on a combination of SOA and BPM standard technologies (i.e., BPMN, BPEL, WSDL). Besides discussing major weaknesses of the existing, custom-built, solution and comparing them against experiences with the developed prototype, the paper presents a course of action for transforming the current solution into the proposed solution. This includes a general approach, consisting of four distinct steps, as well as specific action items that are to be performed for every step. The discussion also covers language and tool support and challenges arising from the transformation

Roll compaction of pharmaceutical excipients and prediction using intelligent software

Roll compaction is a dry granulation method. In the pharmaceutical industry it assists in binding tablet ingredients together to form a larger mass. This is conducted to ease subsequent processing, decrease dust, improve flowability, improve material distribution, more suitable for moisture and heat sensitive materials than wet granulation methods, minimises operating space and suited for a continuous manufacturing set-up. In pharmaceutical roll compaction various types of powder material mixtures are compacted into ribbon that are subsequently milled and tableted. The aim of this research is to investigate the use of intelligent software (FormRules and INForm software) for predicting the effects of the roll compaction process and formulation characteristics on final ribbon quality. Firstly, the tablet formulations were characterised in terms of their particle size distribution, densities, compressibility, compactibility, effective angle of friction and angle of wall friction. These tablet formulations were then roll compacted. The tablet formulation characteristics and roll compaction results formed 64 datasets, which were then used in FormRules and INForm software training. FormRules software highlighted the key input variables (i.e. tablet formulations, characteristics and roll compaction process parameters). Next these key input variables were used as input variables in the model development training of INForm. The INForm software produced models which were successful in predicting experimental results. The predicted nip angle values of the INForm models were found to be within 5%, which was more accurate to those derived from Johanson’s model prediction. The Johanson’s model was not successful in predicting nip angle above the roll speed of 1 rpm due to air entrainment. It also over-predicted the experimental nip angle of DCPA and MCC by 200%, while the approximation using Johanson’s pressure profile under-predicted the experimental nip angle of DCPA by 5-20% and MCC by 20%