92,018 research outputs found
Adaptive intermittent control: A computational model explaining motor intermittency observed in human behavior
It is a fundamental question how our brain performs a given motor task in a real-time fashion with the slow sensorimotor system. Computational theory proposed an influential idea of feed-forward control, but it has mainly treated the case that the movement is ballistic (such as reaching) because the motor commands should be calculated in advance of movement execution. As a possible mechanism for operating feed-forward control in continuous motor tasks (such as target tracking), we propose a control model called "adaptive intermittent control" or "segmented control," that brain adaptively divides the continuous time axis into discrete segments and executes feed-forward control in each segment. The idea of intermittent control has been proposed in the fields of control theory, biological modeling and nonlinear dynamical system. Compared with these previous models, the key of the proposed model is that the system speculatively determines the segmentation based on the future prediction and its uncertainty. The result of computer simulation showed that the proposed model realized faithful visuo-manual tracking with realistic sensorimotor delays and with less computational costs (i.e., with fewer number of segments). Furthermore, it replicated "motor intermittency", that is, intermittent discontinuities commonly observed in human movement trajectories. We discuss that the temporally segmented control is an inevitable strategy for brain which has to achieve a given task with small computational (or cognitive) cost, using a slow control system in an uncertain variable environment, and the motor intermittency is the side-effect of this strategy
Intermittent control models of human standing: similarities and differences
Two architectures of intermittent control are compared and contrasted in the context of the single inverted pendulum model often used for describing standing in humans. The architectures are similar insofar as they use periods of open-loop control punctuated by switching events when crossing a switching surface to keep the system state trajectories close to trajectories leading to equilibrium. The architectures differ in two significant ways. Firstly, in one case, the open-loop control trajectory is generated by a system-matched hold, and in the other case, the open-loop control signal is zero. Secondly, prediction is used in one case but not the other. The former difference is examined in this paper. The zero control alternative leads to periodic oscillations associated with limit cycles; whereas the system-matched control alternative gives trajectories (including homoclinic orbits) which contain the equilibrium point and do not have oscillatory behaviour. Despite this difference in behaviour, it is further shown that behaviour can appear similar when either the system is perturbed by additive noise or the system-matched trajectory generation is perturbed. The purpose of the research is to come to a common approach for understanding the theoretical properties of the two alternatives with the twin aims of choosing which provides the best explanation of current experimental data (which may not, by itself, distinguish beween the two alternatives) and suggesting future experiments to distinguish between the two alternatives
Does the motor system need intermittent control?
Explanation of motor control is dominated by continuous neurophysiological pathways (e.g. trans-cortical, spinal) and the continuous control paradigm. Using new theoretical development, methodology and evidence, we propose intermittent control, which incorporates a serial ballistic process within the main feedback loop, provides a more general and more accurate paradigm necessary to explain attributes highly advantageous for competitive survival and performance
Intermittency and transition to chaos in the cubical lid-driven cavity flow
Transition from steady state to intermittent chaos in the cubical lid-driven
flow is investigated numerically. Fully three-dimensional stability analyses
have revealed that the flow experiences an Andronov-Poincar\'e-Hopf bifurcation
at a critical Reynolds number = 1914. As for the 2D-periodic lid-driven
cavity flows, the unstable mode originates from a centrifugal instability of
the primary vortex core. A Reynolds-Orr analysis reveals that the unstable
perturbation relies on a combination of the lift-up and anti lift-up mechanisms
to extract its energy from the base flow. Once linearly unstable, direct
numerical simulations show that the flow is driven toward a primary limit cycle
before eventually exhibiting intermittent chaotic dynamics. Though only one
eigenpair of the linearized Navier-Stokes operator is unstable, the dynamics
during the intermittencies are surprisingly well characterized by one of the
stable eigenpairs.Comment: Accepted for publication in Fluid Dynamics Researc
Intermittent turbulence and turbulent structures in a linear magnetized plasma
Strongly intermittent turbulence is observed in the shadow of a limiter in
the Large Plasma Device (LAPD) at UCLA [W. Gekelman, H. Pfister, Z. Lucky, J.
Bamber, D. Leneman, and J. Maggs, Rev. Sci. Inst. {\bfseries 62}, 2875 (1991)].
The amplitude probability distribution function (PDF) of the turbulence is
strongly skewed, with density depletion events (or ``holes'') dominant in the
high density region and density enhancement events (or ``blobs'') dominant in
the low density region. Two-dimensional cross-conditional averaging shows that
the blobs are detached, outward-propagating filamentary structures with a clear
dipolar potential while the holes appear to be part of a more extended
turbulent structure. A statistical study of the blobs reveals a typical size of
ten times the ion sound gyroradius and a typical velocity of one tenth the
sound speed.Comment: 12 pages, 4 figures, to appear in Physics of Plasma
A variational approach to probing extreme events in turbulent dynamical systems
Extreme events are ubiquitous in a wide range of dynamical systems, including
turbulent fluid flows, nonlinear waves, large scale networks and biological
systems. Here, we propose a variational framework for probing conditions that
trigger intermittent extreme events in high-dimensional nonlinear dynamical
systems. We seek the triggers as the probabilistically feasible solutions of an
appropriately constrained optimization problem, where the function to be
maximized is a system observable exhibiting intermittent extreme bursts. The
constraints are imposed to ensure the physical admissibility of the optimal
solutions, i.e., significant probability for their occurrence under the natural
flow of the dynamical system. We apply the method to a body-forced
incompressible Navier--Stokes equation, known as the Kolmogorov flow. We find
that the intermittent bursts of the energy dissipation are independent of the
external forcing and are instead caused by the spontaneous transfer of energy
from large scales to the mean flow via nonlinear triad interactions. The global
maximizer of the corresponding variational problem identifies the responsible
triad, hence providing a precursor for the occurrence of extreme dissipation
events. Specifically, monitoring the energy transfers within this triad, allows
us to develop a data-driven short-term predictor for the intermittent bursts of
energy dissipation. We assess the performance of this predictor through direct
numerical simulations.Comment: Minor revisions, generalized the constraints in Eq. (2
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Analysis of curtailment at The Geysers geothermal Field, California
Geothermal energy has traditionally been viewed as a baseload energy source, but the rapid growth of intermittent renewable energy has led to a need for more flexibility in power generation to avoid mandatory curtailment imposed by grid operators. This study of curtailment at The Geysers provides insights into the magnitude, duration, frequency, temporal and spatial distribution, and potential causes of curtailment events between 2013 and 2018. Annual levels of curtailment range during this period from 9 to 47 GW h, representing 0.15 to 0.81 % of the net generation. Most curtailments occurred at the power plants connected to a lower capacity transmission line and may result from transmission constriction. There is a clear link between negative pricing and economic curtailment, especially when solar production is higher. Economic curtailment events tend to be only a few hours and vary in magnitude up to almost 300 MW, whereas transmission-related curtailment events can be up to several weeks in duration. It is likely that curtailment of geothermal power will be an increasing concern, and could be mitigated by flexible generation strategies and increases in energy storage. It is critical to know the nature of curtailment events so that flexible generation options can be assessed properly
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