Real-time control of industrial robots in multiple microcomputers

Imperial Users onl

Aerospace energy systems laboratory: Requirements and design approach

The NASA Ames-Dryden Flight Research Facility at Edwards, California, operates a mixed fleet of research aircraft employing nickel-cadmium (NiCd) batteries in a variety of flight-critical applications. Dryden's Battery Systems Laboratory (BSL), a computerized facility for battery maintenance servicing, has developed over two decades into one of the most advanced facilities of its kind in the world. Recently a major BSL upgrade was initiated with the goal of modernization to provide flexibility in meeting the needs of future advanced projects. The new facility will be called the Aerospace Energy Systems Laboratory (AESL) and will employ distributed processing linked to a centralized data base. AESL will be both a multistation servicing facility and a research laboratory for the advancement of energy storage system maintenance techniques. This paper describes the baseline requirements for the AESL and the design approach being taken for its mechanization

MINDS: A microcomputer interactive data system for 8086-based controllers

A microcomputer interactive data system (MINDS) software package for the 8086 family of microcomputers is described. To enhance program understandability and ease of code maintenance, the software is written in PL/M-86, Intel Corporation's high-level system implementation language. The MINDS software is intended to run in residence with real-time digital control software to provide displays of steady-state and transient data. In addition, the MINDS package provides classic monitor capabilities along with extended provisions for debugging an executing control system. The software uses the CP/M-86 operating system developed by Digital Research, Inc., to provide program load capabilities along with a uniform file structure for data and table storage. Finally, a library of input and output subroutines to be used with consoles equipped with PL/M-86 and assembly language is described

TODAY - March 08, 1989

Inside this issue: - Taskforce on University\u27s future appointed- \u27Wholeness\u27 to be theme of Faith Festival on March 18- University Research Committee accepting project proposals- Trans-European Division president to visit LLU- LLU president to speak at brown bag luncheon- La Sierra\u27s Olympians celebrating 20 years as sports acrobatics team- Allied Health will facilitate opening of college in Manipal- TODAY at LLUMC-- Neonatal intensive care unit moves to southwest wing-- Medical Center administrators sponsor get-acquainted meetings with employees-- Order deadline extended for Cancer Society\u27s Daffodil Days-- \u27Disarming Diabetes\u27 self-management class set for March 20-23- Theologians meet at Campus Hill Church to discuss Adventism\u27s unique points- Church leaders attend three-day \u27Worshipfest\u27 at La Sierra- North Pacific Union Conference liaison on campus March 13 - 16- Homecoming \u2789 to be held March 9 to 12 at La Sierra- FACULTY NOTES- Medical sonography students win first- and second-place awards- Andrews University professor will present church piano workshop- Michael and Lindy Chamberlain speak to overflow audience- School of Dentistry hosts visitors from Brazil and China- Dr. Goldberger speaks at \u27Critical Thinking* meetings February 15- Brandstater Gallery features Kiki Sammarcelli- La Sierra blood drive nets over 100 donors- IN BRIEF- Dentistry plans summer missions- Doctoral candidate speaks on health needs of Cambodian refugees- FOCUS ON RESEARCH- Conference on gerontology scheduled for March 20- Annual phonathon for dental hygiene raises $10,070 in pledgeshttps://scholarsrepository.llu.edu/today/1157/thumbnail.jp

A comparison of two microcomputer continuous simulation languages

Until the early 1980s, most digital simulation models of reasonably complex systems required the use of a mainframe for a solution to be obtained in a timely manner. Recently, the declining prices of computer memory, operating systems, and modern hardware have supported the implementation of large simulation packages on smaller machines. Today, tremendous improvements in the performance of microcomputers have provided the simulationist with a completely personalized, less expensive computing environment. Operating within a microcomputer environment, the simulationist must choose a suitable computer language. Often, user familiarity dictates the selection of a language, while other factors such as ease of use, portability between hardware, speed, and adaptability to simulation tasks, should also be considered. Furthermore, other languages may exist that are particularly well suited for simulation in a microcomputer environment. This work will provide an initial database on the performance of two continuous simulation languages that will assist the practicing simulationist in his choice of which language and hardware resources to employ

Design of microprocessor-based hardware for number theoretic transform implementation

Number Theoretic Transforms (NTTs) are defined in a finite ring of integers Z (_M), where M is the modulus. All the arithmetic operations are carried out modulo M. NTTs are similar in structure to DFTs, hence fast FFT type algorithms may be used to compute NTTs efficiently. A major advantage of the NTT is that it can be used to compute error free convolutions, unlike the FFT it is not subject to round off and truncation errors. In 1976 Winograd proposed a set of short length DFT algorithms using a fewer number of multiplications and approximately the same number of additions as the Cooley-Tukey FFT algorithm. This saving is accomplished at the expense of increased algorithm complexity. These short length DFT algorithms may be combined to perform longer transforms. The Winograd Fourier Transform Algorithm (WFTA) was implemented on a TMS9900 microprocessor to compute NTTs. Since multiplication conducted modulo M is very time consuming a special purpose external hardware modular multiplier was designed, constructed and interfaced with the TMS9900 microprocessor. This external hardware modular multiplier allowed an improvement in the transform execution time. Computation time may further be reduced by employing several microprocessors. Taking advantage of the inherent parallelism of the WFTA, a dedicated parallel microprocessor system was designed and constructed to implement a 15-point WFTA in parallel. Benchmark programs were written to choose a suitable microprocessor for the parallel microprocessor system. A master or a host microprocessor is used to control the parallel microprocessor system and provides an interface to the outside world. An analogue to digital (A/D) and a digital to analogue (D/A) converter allows real time digital signal processing

Experimental investigation on the use of multiple very low-cost inertial-based devices for comfort assessment and rail track monitoring

The periodic rail track inspection is mandatory to ensure ride comfort and operational safety. However, conventional monitoring technologies have high costs, stimulating research on low-cost alternatives. In this regard, this paper presents the first experimental results on the use of multiple very low-cost sensors aboard trains for vibration monitoring, proposing a collective approach to provide more accurate and robust results. Nine devices comprising commercial-grade inertial sensors were tested in different distributions aboard a high-speed track recording train. Frequency weighted accelerations were calculated in accordance with ISO 2631 standard as comfort and indirect track quality index. As expected, vertical and lateral results were correlated with, respectively, track longitudinal level (range D1, maximum correlation coefficient of 0.86) and alignment (range D2, maximum correlation coefficient of 0.60), with numerically similar results when considering the fused signal. The collective approach's potential was proven as a result of the noise reduction and the discrepant sensor identification