Spatiotemporal information coupling in network navigation

Network navigation, encompassing both spatial and temporal cooperation to locate mobile agents, is a key enabler for numerous emerging location-based applications. In such cooperative networks, the positional information obtained by each agent is a complex compound due to the interaction among its neighbors. This information coupling may result in poor performance: algorithms that discard information coupling are often inaccurate, and algorithms that keep track of all the neighbors’ interactions are often inefficient. In this paper, we develop a principled framework to characterize the information coupling present in network navigation. Specifically, we derive the equivalent Fisher information matrix for individual agents as the sum of effective information from each neighbor and the coupled information induced by the neighbors’ interaction. We further characterize how coupled information decays with the network distance in representative case studies. The results of this work can offer guidelines for the development of distributed techniques that adequately account for information coupling, and hence enable accurate and efficient network navigation.RYC-2016-1938

A Risk Analysis and the Insurance Policies for the Cruise Ships in the Arctic

Master's thesis in Offshore TechnologyThe need of human to explore new areas, the climate change and the growing worldwide demand have led to an increasing popularity of the Arctic region the last years. Cruise industry is continuously evolving in this area, creating an important need for more research on the Arctic Ocean. In this thesis report, the main characteristics of the Arctic region and the cruise ship industry trends for high north voyages are presented. The International Code for Ships Operating in Polar Waters (The Polar Code) was implemented on January 2017. An overview of the relevant chapters of the existing regulatory framework, The Polar Code and SOLAS, is given. The challenges associated with the cruise ship voyages in the Arctic and the hazards surrounding and evacuation in the Arctic environment are identified through the participation in a real scale Search and Rescue Exercise (SARex 2) conducted in waters north of Svalbard. A risk analysis is prepared, where the identification and the weighting of the hazards, as well as different risk mitigation approaches are presented in order to reduce their probability of occurrence and/ or the severity of their consequences. The expected utility theory is used to stress the importance of the insurance and to define the proper level of investment between safety measures and insurance. The Arctic cruise insurance policies that, in our opinion, should be followed are mentioned and the limitations on obtaining insurance coverage on the Arctic are identified. Following, the main cost drivers of an insurance premium for the Arctic cruise ship industry are given. The hazards, the insurance policies and the gaps are discussed through the findings from the literature review, the risk analysis and the search and rescue exercise. The thesis also highlights the contribution of the author to the SARex 2 project report through a preliminary hazard analysis and actively participating in the all the stages of the exercise. Keywords: Arctic, Risk Analysis, Preliminary Hazard Analysis, Arctic Cruise, SARex 2, Full-scale exercise, Insurance, Arctic Cruise Insurance, Cost Drivers, Insurance Premiu

Mechatronic Systems

Mechatronics, the synergistic blend of mechanics, electronics, and computer science, has evolved over the past twenty five years, leading to a novel stage of engineering design. By integrating the best design practices with the most advanced technologies, mechatronics aims at realizing high-quality products, guaranteeing at the same time a substantial reduction of time and costs of manufacturing. Mechatronic systems are manifold and range from machine components, motion generators, and power producing machines to more complex devices, such as robotic systems and transportation vehicles. With its twenty chapters, which collect contributions from many researchers worldwide, this book provides an excellent survey of recent work in the field of mechatronics with applications in various fields, like robotics, medical and assistive technology, human-machine interaction, unmanned vehicles, manufacturing, and education. We would like to thank all the authors who have invested a great deal of time to write such interesting chapters, which we are sure will be valuable to the readers. Chapters 1 to 6 deal with applications of mechatronics for the development of robotic systems. Medical and assistive technologies and human-machine interaction systems are the topic of chapters 7 to 13.Chapters 14 and 15 concern mechatronic systems for autonomous vehicles. Chapters 16-19 deal with mechatronics in manufacturing contexts. Chapter 20 concludes the book, describing a method for the installation of mechatronics education in schools

The geodesy of Mercury with the missions MESSENGER and BepiColombo

The work is organized in six chapters. Chapter 1 introduces briefly the exploration of Mercury highlighting the generic characteristics of the planet and its research with space probes. Chapter 2 is focused on the orbit determination for the geodesy of Mercury. We present here the overall description of radio science experiments, showing the measurements and the geodetic models, and the codes of the orbit determination for interplanetary spacecraft. Chapter 3 describes the MESSENGER mission and radio science experiment. Here, we report on the analysis of the radio tracking data showing the orbit reconstruction and the estimated model of the Hermean gravity field and ephemeris. Chapter 4 is about the mission BepiColombo and the Mercury Orbiter Radio science Experiment. We carried out a new set of numerical simulations that provides attainable accuracies in the gravity field estimation. Chapter 5 summarizes the consequences of the estimated Hermean gravity field on the geodesy of the planet and the orbit evolution of the BepiColombo spacecraft. Chapter 6 gives conclusions about our work

The geodesy of Mercury with the missions MESSENGER and BepiColombo

The work is organized in six chapters. Chapter 1 introduces briefly the exploration of Mercury highlighting the generic characteristics of the planet and its research with space probes. Chapter 2 is focused on the orbit determination for the geodesy of Mercury. We present here the overall description of radio science experiments, showing the measurements and the geodetic models, and the codes of the orbit determination for interplanetary spacecraft. Chapter 3 describes the MESSENGER mission and radio science experiment. Here, we report on the analysis of the radio tracking data showing the orbit reconstruction and the estimated model of the Hermean gravity field and ephemeris. Chapter 4 is about the mission BepiColombo and the Mercury Orbiter Radio science Experiment. We carried out a new set of numerical simulations that provides attainable accuracies in the gravity field estimation. Chapter 5 summarizes the consequences of the estimated Hermean gravity field on the geodesy of the planet and the orbit evolution of the BepiColombo spacecraft. Chapter 6 gives conclusions about our work