398 research outputs found
KnowledgePro windows: The order of merit?
The producers of KnowledgePro look set with their latest release of KPWIN (KnowledgePro Windows) to fulfil Richard HaleâShaw's prophecy that it will become âone of the most powerful visual development environmentsâ (HaleâShaw 1992). Comparisons are drawn in this paper between the KPWIN family of products and other authoring tools. The conclusion is that KPWIN is worthy of being included in any courseware developer's tool set. Reasons for preferring a tool from the KnowledgePro family of products for courseware development over three main competitors â Authorware, Toolbook and Visual Basic â are explained, and the merits of KPWIN and KPWIN++ (a version that generates C++ code) are examined
Control strategy for a flexible analytical chemistry robotics system
This thesis is the result of work carried out during more than two years on a Teaching Company Scheme. Liaison took place between Rhone-Poulenc Agriculture Limited (the industrial partner), hereafter referred to as RPAL or the company, and Middlesex University (the academic partner). The aim of the Scheme was to realise the design, development, commissioning, testing and validation of an intelligent robotic system for sample analysis of trace
pesticides and metabolites in order to enable quicker product development. Due to the complexity of the project and the range of technical expertise and skills needed for its implementation, three associates participated in the
Programme. I joined as the second associate. With my degree in Industrial Engineering, I have been in overall charge of developing the computational aspects of the system, from control overview to implementation and validation.
Two distinct types of studies will be carried out with the robot based system:
⢠Routine extraction of pesticide from soil or plant material, which is compound as well as analyst dependant.
⢠Method development studies, to optimise those routine extraction processes.
Traditional strategies of control were not applicable for such system because we were dealing with the automation of a non repetitive process involving non-deterministic operations (evaporation, filtration, etc.). The resulting control system should provide a high degree of flexibility to allow workcell
reconfiguration without involving any reprogramming. Modularity is also a must if expansion and upgrading to new technologies and equipment is to involve relatively little cost and effort. In addition, all generated data has to be stored and reported following Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) standards.
As the system is both large and flexible in operation, it has proven a real challenge to develop. Software had to be written that can - among its many tasks - allow unrestricted analyst choice, optimise system performance, detect, prioritise and act upon error signals, dynamically schedule robot and
instrument operation in real time, trace samples as they pass through the system and generate results as reports stored in databases.
The system is now virtually complete, and is presently undergoing the last stages of the validation. Due to the success of this scheme, further cooperative ventures are being planned between Rhone-Poulenc and Middlesex University in both the UK and France
Intelligent spatial decision support systems
This thesis investigates the conceptual and methodological issues for the development of
Intelligent Spatial Decision Support Systems (ISDSS). These are spatial decision support
systems (SDSS) integrating intelligent systems techniques (Genetic Algorithms, Neural
Networks, Expert Systems, Fuzzy Logic and Nonlinear methods) with traditional modelling and
statistical methods for the analysis of spatial problems.
The principal aim of this work is to verify the feasibility of heterogeneous systems for
spatial decision support derived from a combination of traditional numerical techniques and
intelligent techniques in order to provide superior performance and functionality to that achieved
through the use of traditional methods alone.
This thesis is composed of four distinct sections: (i) a taxonomy covering the
employment of intelligent systems techniques in specific applications of geographical
information systems and SDSS; (ii) the development of a prototype ISDSS; (iii) application of
the prototype ISDSS to modelling the spatiotemporal dynamics of high technology industry in
the South-East of England; and (iv) the development of ISDSS architectures utilising
interapplication communication techniques.
Existing approaches for implementing modelling tools within SDSS and GIS generally
fall into one of two schemes - loose coupling or tight coupling - both of which involve a tradeoff
between generality and speed of data interchange. In addition, these schemes offer little use
of distributed processing resources.
A prototype ISDSS was developed in collaboration with KPMG Peat Marwick's High
Technology Practice as a general purpose spatiotemporal analysis tool with particular regard to
modelling high technology industry. The GeoAnalyser system furnishes the user with animation
and time plotting tools for observing spatiotemporal dynamics; such tools are typically not found
in existing SDSS or GIS. Furthermore, GeoAnalyser employs the client/server model of
distributed computing to link the front end client application with the back end modelling
component contained within the server application. GeoAnalyser demonstrates a hybrid approach
to spatial problem solving - the application utilises a nonlinear model for the temporal evolution
of spatial variables and a genetic algorithm for calibrating the model in order to establish a good
fit for the dataset under investigation.
Several novel architectures are proposed for ISDSS based on existing distributed systems
technologies. These architectures are assessed in terms of user interface, data and functional
integration. Implementation issues are also discussed.
The research contributions of this work are four-fold: (i) it lays the foundation for ISDSS
as a distinct type of system for spatial decision support by examining the user interface,
performance and methodological requirements of such systems; (ii) it explores a new approach
for linking modelling techniques and SDSS; (iii) it investigates the possibility of modelling high
technology industry; and (iv) it details novel architectures for ISDSS based on distributed
systems
Launch window analysis of satellites in high eccentricity or large circular orbits
Numerical methods and computer programs for studying the stability and evolution of orbits of large eccentricity are presented. Methods for determining launch windows and target dates are developed. Mathematical models are prepared to analyze the characteristics of specific missions
On the design and integration of education simulation games in engineering business management
Manufacturing has evolved from production-oriented to customer-oriented in the last century. The modern management approach is 'total integration' which is the integration of 'functional optimization', 'internal integration' and 'external integration'. Nowadays, Engineering and Business can no longer be viewed as two separate entities. Engineering Business Management (EBM) becomes the norm of modern manufacturing management.
In universities, simulation games have been identified as one of the best teaching media in teaching EBM concept. Hundreds of good simulation games are thus required for different subject areas and education objectives. However, game design procedure is always a 'black box' and game design philosophy of EBM games is even a 'black box' within a 'black box'. This research attempts to develop a new generic approach in designing education simulation games in Engineering Business Management. The approach is broken into two phases: micro and macro level.
In micro level, game design philosophy is studied. The appropriate levels of formats and features of EBM games are determined and the weaknesses commonly found in games are examined and rectified. The findings are confirmed and evaluated by conducting three surveys between 1992 to 1994.
In macro level, a standard interface is established for all EBM games so that functional games which are built on this platform can be integrated together to form internal management games which can be further integrated into a supply chain network by hierarchical modular structure. The hierarchical structure allows the games to cover some EBM areas that have never been mentioned by any other games before.
Two functional games, a production game and a marketing game have been built as prototypes to demonstrate the design approach. In micro level, the established design criteria minimize the chance of developing a 'bad' game. In macro level, the formation of internal management games and supply chain networks by hierarchical modular modeling opens a new platform for game design
A distributed control system for the St Andrews twin photometric telescope
Many astronomers require large amounts of observational data to solve astrophysical problems and to validate theoretical hypotheses. It is therefore imperative that both the observer and telescope work efficiently, maximising data collection whilst minimising object selection and acquisition time. One method in which this can be achieved is through telescope automation. The advent of cheap integrated process controllers enables the system designer to realise novel control system architectures which were previously prohibitive to all but the largest of sites. This thesis reviews the development of processor based control systems in the astronomical and industrial environment and compares distributed and centralised control system architecture. It describes the design and construction of one such distributed control system for the St Andrews Twin Photometric Telescope
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