Parameter Estimation of Sigmoid Superpositions: Dynamical System Approach

Superposition of sigmoid function over a finite time interval is shown to be equivalent to the linear combination of the solutions of a linearly parameterized system of logistic differential equations. Due to the linearity with respect to the parameters of the system, it is possible to design an effective procedure for parameter adjustment. Stability properties of this procedure are analyzed. Strategies shown in earlier studies to facilitate learning such as randomization of a learning sequence and adding specially designed disturbances during the learning phase are requirements for guaranteeing convergence in the learning scheme proposed.Comment: 30 pages, 7 figure

H∞ control for networked systems with random communication delays

Copyright [2006] IEEE. This material is posted here with permission of the IEEE. Such permission of the IEEE does not in any way imply IEEE endorsement of any of Brunel University's products or services. Internal or personal use of this material is permitted. However, permission to reprint/republish this material for advertising or promotional purposes or for creating new collective works for resale or redistribution must be obtained from the IEEE by writing to [email protected]. By choosing to view this document, you agree to all provisions of the copyright laws protecting it.This note is concerned with a new controller design problem for networked systems with random communication delays. Two kinds of random delays are simultaneously considered: i) from the controller to the plant, and ii) from the sensor to the controller, via a limited bandwidth communication channel. The random delays are modeled as a linear function of the stochastic variable satisfying Bernoulli random binary distribution. The observer-based controller is designed to exponentially stabilize the networked system in the sense of mean square, and also achieve the prescribed H∞ disturbance attenuation level. The addressed controller design problem is transformed to an auxiliary convex optimization problem, which can be solved by a linear matrix inequality (LMI) approach. An illustrative example is provided to show the applicability of the proposed method

Growth and Water Relations of Mountain Big Sagebrush on Reclaimed Mine Soils in Southwestern Wyoming

Mined-land reclamation practices in shrub-steppe ecosystems can be augmented by planting seedlings of locally dominant shrubs, e.g., mountain big sagebrush. Dispersion pattern could affect sagebrush performance by influencing amounts of windborne snow, soil and litter which accumulate around shrubs and by influencing water withdrawal by roots. Mountain big sagebrush seedlings were planted in plots on a reclaimed coal strip mine in two dispersion patterns: singly and in clumps of four at the same overall density. Performance of mountain big sagebrush was monitored during two growing seasons. Measures included plant survival, end-of-growing season aboveground biomass, leaf water potential components, soil water potential, twig and ephemeral leaf survival and reproductive allocation. Most measures of performance were similar for single and clumped plants. However, single plants had a greater twig elongation rate than clumped plants, and roots of plants in clumps removed less soil water to 50 cm than roots of single plants. In order for shrub dispersion pattern to affect plant performance via differential snow, soil or litter accumulation, the plants would have to respond to the added resources, probably water and nitrogen. An experiment was conducted to test if a small extra increment of water and nitrogen would affect mountain big sagebrush plants. The same plant performance indices listed above were monitored. The added water and nitrogen, either alone or in combination, had no effect except on reproduction. In 1983, there was a significant water* fertilizer interaction observed for some of the reproductive metrics, while in 1984 there was a significant water effect. While a significant main effect of nitrogen was expected under the prevailing wet conditions, the large reservoir of soil nitrogen evidently provided sufficient nitrogen. Reproduction was more sensitive to added water and nitrogen resources than was vegetative growth. The nearly equal performance of mountain big sagebrush in the two dispersion patterns may have resulted from several factors. Water availability to the experimental shrubs was very high throughout the study due to abnormally heavy precipitation and to removal of weeds from the plots. During drier years, dispersion pattern may have greater influence on the shrubs

Guidelines for the monitoring of Rosalia alpina

Rosalia alpina (Linnaeus, 1758) is a large longhorn beetle (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) which is protected by the Habitats Directive and which typically inhabits beech forests characterised by the presence of mature, dead (or moribund) and sun-exposed trees. A revision of the current knowledge on systematics, ecology and conservation of R. alpina is reported. The research was carried out as part of the LIFE MIPP project which aims to find a standard monitoring method for saproxylic beetles protected in Europe. For monitoring this species, different methods were tested and compared in two areas of the Apennines, utilising wild trees, logs and tripods (artificially built with beech woods), all potentially suitable for the reproduction of the species. Even if all methods succeeded in the survey of the target species, these results showed that the use of wild trees outperformed other methods. Indeed, the use of wild trees allowed more adults to be observed and required less intensive labour. However, monitoring the rosalia longicorn on wild trees has the main disadvantage that they can hardly be considered “standard sampling units”, as each tree may be differently attractive to adults. Our results demonstrated that the most important factors influencing the attraction of single trunks were wood volume, sun-exposure and decay stage. Based on the results obtained during the project LIFE MIPP, as well as on a literature review, a standard monitoring method for R. alpina was developed

Design of controllers based on active disturbance rejection control (ADRC) and its integration with model predictive control (MPC)

[ES] Actualmente existen numerosas y variadas contribuciones basadas en el ADRC. Por un lado, algunos trabajos abordan la metodología ADRC. Sin embargo, son pocos los que ofrecen una explicación exhaustiva de su diseño y aplicación, dirigida a aquellos investigadores que están empezando a explorar esta estrategia de control. Por otro lado, la sintonización del ADRC y el control compuesto basado en ADRC son áreas de investigación abiertas. Una de las discusiones que se mantiene activa en la literatura está relacionada con la forma de seleccionar los parámetros principales del ADRC de modo que se alcance la estabilidad de lazo cerrado con un rechazo de perturbaciones y robustez apropiadas, especialmente cuando el ADRC se emplea para controlar procesos aproximados mediante representaciones más sencillas como el modelo de primer orden más retardo (FOPDT). Asimismo, la estimación activa de la incertidumbre y las perturbaciones ha hecho atractiva la idea de integrar la topología ADRC con técnicas de control avanzado, por ejemplo, con el control predictivo basado en modelo (MPC). El mayor desafío que surge al realizar esta combinación radica en cómo formular el lazo de control para que el mecanismo de rechazo de perturbaciones del ADRC transforme el comportamiento del sistema controlado en el de una planta deseada simplificada, relajando así el requisito de un modelo detallado y considerando directamente las restricciones en las variables del lazo. Esta tesis presenta tres contribuciones al conocimiento del ADRC para abordar los desafíos expuestos anteriormente. La primera de ellas es una guía para el diseño y aplicación de controladores lineales mediante el control convencional por rechazo activo de perturbaciones. Esta guía ofrece, a modo de tutorial, una revisión de la fundamentación teórica del ADRC y condensa en un algoritmo los pasos para el diseño de estos controladores con el propósito de facilitar su implementación de acuerdo con la formulación del problema en el marco de la estimación y rechazo de perturbaciones y la selección empírica de sus ganancias. La segunda contribución de esta disertación es un conjunto de reglas de sintonía para el cálculo de los tres parámetros distintivos del ADRC con los que se diseñan las ganancias del observador de estados y de la ley de control. Estas reglas permiten sintonizar el ADRC para el control de un proceso aproximado mediante un modelo FOPDT y ofrecen al diseñador diferentes conjuntos de parámetros de acuerdo con un nivel de robustez deseado. Esta contribución se basa en el desarrollo de procedimientos de diseño de optimización multiobjetivo enfocados al control de un grupo de plantas FOPDT nominales. Los resultados de dichos procedimientos se ajustaron a las fórmulas de sintonía proporcionadas. La tercera contribución es una nueva arquitectura de control que combina el mecanismo de rechazo de perturbaciones del ADRC y la estrategia de horizonte deslizante del MPC. En este lazo, una ley de control predictivo gobierna una planta de primer orden más integrador que se induce sobre proceso real sujeto a restricciones. Lo anterior es posible compensando el desajuste entre las plantas real y deseada e incorporando el término de compensación del ADRC en la formulación de las restricciones del controlador predictivo. El bucle pretende proporcionar una solución para controlar sistemas con restricciones para los que no se ha identificado un modelo nominal. Esta disertación está dirigida tanto a los investigadores interesados en explorar el control por rechazo activo de perturbaciones como a aquellos que consideran a esta tecnología como una de sus líneas de investigación principales. Las contribuciones sirven a quienes se inician en el estudio del ADRC, a los diseñadores de controladores que buscan implementar el ADRC lineal considerando el rechazo de perturbaciones de procesos FOPDT y a los investigadores abiertos a la discusión de los beneficios potenciales de de combinar el ADRC con el MPC.[CAT] Actualment existeixen nombroses i variades contribucions basades en l'ADRC. D'una banda, alguns treballs aborden la metodologia ADRC. No obstant això, són pocs els que ofereixen una explicació exhaustiva del seu disseny i aplicació, dirigida a aquells investigadors que estan començant a explorar aquesta estratègia de control. D'altra banda, la sintonització de l'ADRC i el control compost basat en ADRC són àrees d'investigació obertes. Una de les discussions que es manté activa en la literatura està relacionada amb la manera de seleccionar els paràmetres principals de l'ADRC de manera que s'aconseguisca l'estabilitat de llaç tancat amb un rebuig de pertorbacions i robustesa apropiades, especialment quan l'ADRC s'empra per a controlar processos aproximats mitjançant representacions més senzilles com el model de primer ordre més retard (FOPDT). Així mateix, l'estimació activa de la incertesa i les pertorbacions ha fet atractiva la idea d'integrar la topologia ADRC amb tècniques de control avançat, per exemple, amb el control predictiu basat en model (MPC). El major desafiament que sorgeix en realitzar aquesta combinació radica en com formular el llaç de control perquè el mecanisme de rebuig de pertorbacions de l'ADRC transforme el comportament del sistema controlat en el d'una planta desitjada simplificada, relaxant així el requisit d'un model detallat i considerant directament les restriccions en les variables del llaç. Aquesta tesi presenta tres contribucions al coneixement de l'ADRC per a abordar els desafiaments exposats anteriorment. La primera d'elles és una guia per al disseny i aplicació de controladors lineals mitjançant el control convencional per rebuig actiu de pertorbacions. Aquesta guia ofereix, a manera de tutorial, una revisió de la fonamentació teòrica de l'ADRC i condensa en un algorisme els passos per al disseny d'aquests controladors amb el propòsit de facilitar la seua implementació d'acord amb la formulació del problema en el marc de l'estimació i rebuig de pertorbacions i la selecció empírica dels seus guanys. La segona contribució d'aquesta dissertació és un conjunt de regles de sintonia per al càlcul dels tres paràmetres distintius de l'ADRC amb els quals es dissenyen els guanys de l'observador d'estats i de la llei de control. Aquestes regles permeten sintonitzar l'ADRC per al control d'un procés aproximat mitjançant un model FOPDT i ofereixen al dissenyador diferents conjunts de paràmetres d'acord amb un nivell de robustesa desitjat. Aquesta contribució es basa en el desenvolupament de procediments de disseny d'optimització multiobjectiu enfocats al control d'un grup de plantes FOPDT nominals. Els resultats d'aquests procediments es van ajustar a les fórmules de sintonia proporcionades. La tercera contribució és una nova arquitectura de control que combina el mecanisme de rebuig de pertorbacions de l'ADRC i l'estratègia d'horitzó lliscant del MPC. En aquest llaç, una llei de control predictiu governa una planta de primer ordre més integrador que s'indueix sobre procés real subjecte a restriccions. L'anterior és possible compensant el desajustament entre les plantes real i desitjada i incorporant el terme de compensació de l'ADRC en la formulació de les restriccions del controlador predictiu. El bucle pretén proporcionar una solució per a controlar sistemes amb restriccions per als quals no s'ha identificat un model nominal. Aquesta dissertació està dirigida tant als investigadors interessats a explorar el control per rebuig actiu de pertorbacions com a aquells que consideren a aquesta tecnologia com una de les seues línies d'investigació principals. Les contribucions serveixen als qui s'inicien en l'estudi de l'ADRC, als dissenyadors de controladors que cerquen implementar l'ADRC lineal considerant el rebuig de pertorbacions de processos FOPDT i als investigadors oberts a la discussió dels beneficis potencials de de combinar l'ADRC amb el MPC.[EN] Numerous and varied contributions based on the ADRC are currently available. On the one hand, some works address the ADRC methodology. Still, only some offer a comprehensive explanation of its design and application aimed at those researchers who are starting to explore this control strategy. On the other hand, the ADRC tuning and the ADRC-based composite control are open research areas. One of the discussions that remain active in the literature is related to how to select the LADRC main parameters so that closed-loop stability is achieved with appropriate disturbance rejection and robustness, mainly when the ADRC is used to control processes approximated by more straightforward representations such as the first-order plus delay (FOPDT) model. Likewise, the active estimation of uncertainty and disturbances has made integrating the ADRC topology with advanced control techniques, like Model-Based Predictive Control (MPC), attractive. The major challenge in realising this combination lies in how to formulate the control loop so that the ADRC disturbance rejection mechanism transforms the behaviour of the controlled system into that of a simplified desired plant, thus relaxing the requirement for a detailed model while directly considering the constraints on the loop variables. This thesis presents three contributions to ADRC knowledge to address the challenges mentioned above. The first is a guide for designing and applying linear controllers using conventional active disturbance rejection control. This guide offers a review of the theoretical foundation of the ADRC. It condenses in an algorithm the steps for designing these control loops to facilitate their implementation according to the problem formulation in the disturbance estimation and rejection framework and the empirical selection of their gains. The second contribution of this dissertation is a set of tuning rules for computing the three distinctive parameters of the ADRC with which the state observer and control law gains are designed. These rules allow tuning the ADRC to control an approximate process using a first-order plus delay model and offer different sets of parameters according to a desired level of robustness. This contribution is based on developing multi-objective optimisation design procedures focused on controlling a group of nominal FOPDT plants. The results of these procedures were fitted to the tuning formulae provided. The third contribution is a new control architecture that combines the disturbance rejection mechanism of the ADRC and the receding horizon strategy of the MPC. In this loop, a predictive control law governs a first-order plus integrator plant enforced on the real process subject to constraints. The above is possible by compensating for the mismatch between the real and desired plants and incorporating the ADRC compensation term in the constraints formulation of the predictive controller. The loop is intended to provide a solution to control constrained systems for which no nominal model has been identified. This dissertation addresses researchers interested in exploring active disturbance rejection control and those considering this technology as one of their main lines of research. The contributions of this dissertation serve those new to the study of ADRC, controller designers seeking to implement linear ADRC by considering the disturbance rejection response of processes approximated using first-order plus delay models, and researchers open to discussing the potential benefits of combining ADRC with advanced techniques such as MPC.Martínez Carvajal, BV. (2023). Design of controllers based on active disturbance rejection control (ADRC) and its integration with model predictive control (MPC) [Tesis doctoral]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/19658

The Victorian Naturalist

v.114 (1997

Correlations between aesthetic preferences of river and landscape characters

Some landscape characters put great influences on the aesthetic preferences of a river. Finding out these characters will provide for river landscape design and management with explicit keystones. In this paper, 23 sample areas of rivers were selected in Xuzhou, China, and 15 landscape characters of rivers were identified. The photos taken at the sample areas were as stimuli, and undergraduate students were respondents. The results demonstrate that the aesthetic preferences of photos judged one-by-one and judged together receive similar results; the preference scores of deflective views are significantly higher than the ones of opposite views; for urban rivers, “river accessibility” and “number of colours” are reliably positive predictors to aesthetic preferences, “wood diversity index” and “plants on water” are negative ones; for rural rivers, “coverage of riparian vegetation”, “perspective” and “wood diversity index” are reliably positive predictors to aesthetic preferences. First published online: 14 Dec 201