Unconstrained evolution of analogue computational “QR” circuit with oscillating length representation

The unconstrained evolution has already been applied in the past towards the design of digital circuits, and extraordinary results have been obtained, including generation of circuits with smaller number of electronic components. In this paper unconstrained evolution, blended with oscillating length genotype sweeping strategy, is applied towards the design of "QR" analogue circuit on the example of circuit that performs the cube root function. The promising results are obtained. The new algorithm has produced the excellent result in terms of quality of the circuit evolved and evolutionary resources required. It differs from previous ones by its simplicity and represents one of the first attempts to apply Evolutionary Strategy towards the analogue circuit design. The obtained result is compared with previous designs

Challenging the evolutionary strategy for synthesis of analogue computational circuits

There are very few reports in the past on applications of Evolutionary Strategy (ES) towards the synthesis of analogue circuits. Moreover, even fewer reports are on the synthesis of computational circuits. Last fact is mainly due to the dif-ficulty in designing of the complex nonlinear functions that these circuits perform. In this paper, the evolving power of the ES is challenged to design four computational circuits: cube root, cubing, square root and squaring functions. The synthesis succeeded due to the usage of oscillating length genotype strategy and the substructure reuse. The approach is characterized by its simplicity and represents one of the first attempts of application of ES towards the synthesis of “QR” circuits. The obtained experimental results significantly exceed the results published before in terms of the circuit quality, economy in components and computing resources utilized, revealing the great potential of the technique pro-posed to design large scale analog circuits

Open-ended evolution to discover analogue circuits for beyond conventional applications

This is the author's accepted manuscript. The final publication is available at Springer via http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10710-012-9163-8. Copyright @ Springer 2012.Analogue circuits synthesised by means of open-ended evolutionary algorithms often have unconventional designs. However, these circuits are typically highly compact, and the general nature of the evolutionary search methodology allows such designs to be used in many applications. Previous work on the evolutionary design of analogue circuits has focused on circuits that lie well within analogue application domain. In contrast, our paper considers the evolution of analogue circuits that are usually synthesised in digital logic. We have developed four computational circuits, two voltage distributor circuits and a time interval metre circuit. The approach, despite its simplicity, succeeds over the design tasks owing to the employment of substructure reuse and incremental evolution. Our findings expand the range of applications that are considered suitable for evolutionary electronics

Evolutionary Synthesis of Cube Root Computational Circuit Using Graph Hybrid Estimation of Distribution Algorithm

The paper is focused on evolutionary synthesis of analog circuit realization of cube root function using proposed Graph Hybrid Estimation of Distribution Algorithm. The problem of cube root function circuit realization was adopted to demonstrate synthesis capability of the proposed method. Individuals of the population of the proposed method which represent promising topologies are encoded using graphs and hypergraphs. Hybridization with local search algorithm was used. The proposed method employs univariate probabilistic model

Automatic design of analogue circuits

This thesis was submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy and awarded by Brunel University.Evolvable Hardware (EHW) is a promising area in electronics today. Evolutionary Algorithms (EA), together with a circuit simulation tool or real hardware, automatically designs a circuit for a given problem. The circuits evolved may have unconventional designs and be less dependent on the personal knowledge of a designer. Nowadays, EA are represented by Genetic Algorithms (GA), Genetic Programming (GP) and Evolutionary Strategy (ES). While GA is definitely the most popular tool, GP has rapidly developed in recent years and is notable by its outstanding results. However, to date the use of ES for analogue circuit synthesis has been limited to a few applications. This work is devoted to exploring the potential of ES to create novel analogue designs. The narrative of the thesis starts with a framework of an ES-based system generating simple circuits, such as low pass filters. Then it continues with a step-by-step progression to increasingly sophisticated designs that require additional strength from the system. Finally, it describes the modernization of the system using novel techniques that enable the synthesis of complex multi-pin circuits that are newly evolved. It has been discovered that ES has strong power to synthesize analogue circuits. The circuits evolved in the first part of the thesis exceed similar results made previously using other techniques in a component economy, in the better functioning of the evolved circuits and in the computing power spent to reach the results. The target circuits for evolution in the second half are chosen by the author to challenge the capability of the developed system. By functioning, they do not belong to the conventional analogue domain but to applications that are usually adopted by digital circuits. To solve the design tasks, the system has been gradually developed to support the ability of evolving increasingly complex circuits. As a final result, a state-of-the-art ES-based system has been developed that possesses a novel mutation paradigm, with an ability to create, store and reuse substructures, to adapt the mutation, selection parameters and population size, utilize automatic incremental evolution and use the power of parallel computing. It has been discovered that with the ability to synthesis the most up-to-date multi-pin complex analogue circuits that have ever been automatically synthesized before, the system is capable of synthesizing circuits that are problematic for conventional design with application domains that lay beyond the conventional application domain for analogue circuits

Evolutionary Synthesis of Analog Electronic Circuits Using EDA Algorithms

Disertační práce je zaměřena na návrh analogových elektronických obvodů pomocí algoritmů s pravěpodobnostními modely (algoritmy EDA). Prezentované metody jsou na základě požadovaných charakteristik cílových obvodů schopny navrhnout jak parametry použitých komponent tak také jejich topologii zapojení. Tři různé metody využití EDA algoritmů jsou navrženy a otestovány na příkladech skutečných problémů z oblasti analogových elektronických obvodů. První metoda je určena pro návrh pasivních analogových obvodů a využívá algoritmus UMDA pro návrh jak topologie zapojení tak také hodnot parametrů použitých komponent. Metoda je použita pro návrh admitanční sítě s požadovanou vstupní impedancí pro účely chaotického oscilátoru. Druhá metoda je také určena pro návrh pasivních analogových obvodů a využívá hybridní přístup - UMDA pro návrh topologie a metodu lokální optimalizace pro návrh parametrů komponent. Třetí metoda umožňuje návrh analogových obvodů obsahujících také tranzistory. Metoda využívá hybridní přístup - EDA algoritmus pro syntézu topologie a metoda lokální optimalizace pro určení parametrů použitých komponent. Informace o topologii je v jednotlivých jedincích populace vyjádřena pomocí grafů a hypergrafů.Dissertation thesis is focused on design of analog electronic circuits using Estimation of Distribution Algorithms (EDA). Based on the desired characteristics of the target circuits the proposed methods are able to design the parameters of the used components and theirs topology of connection as well. Three different methods employing EDA algorithms are proposed and verified on examples of real problems from the area of analog circuits design. The first method is capable to design passive analog circuits. The method employs UMDA algorithm which is used for determination of the parameters of the used components and synthesis of the topology of their connection as well. The method is verified on the problem of design of admittance network with desired input impedance function which is used as a part of chaotic oscillator circuit. The second method is also capable to design passive analog circuits. The method employs hybrid approach - UMDA for synthesis of the topology and local optimization method for determination of the parameters of the components. The third method is capable to design analog circuits which include also ac- tive components such as transistors. Hybrid approach is used. The topology is synthesized using EDA algorithm and the parameters are determined using a local optimization method. In the individuals of the population information about the topology is represented using graphs and hypergraphs.

Automatic design of analogue circuits

Evolvable Hardware (EHW) is a promising area in electronics today. Evolutionary Algorithms (EA), together with a circuit simulation tool or real hardware, automatically designs a circuit for a given problem. The circuits evolved may have unconventional designs and be less dependent on the personal knowledge of a designer. Nowadays, EA are represented by Genetic Algorithms (GA), Genetic Programming (GP) and Evolutionary Strategy (ES). While GA is definitely the most popular tool, GP has rapidly developed in recent years and is notable by its outstanding results. However, to date the use of ES for analogue circuit synthesis has been limited to a few applications. This work is devoted to exploring the potential of ES to create novel analogue designs. The narrative of the thesis starts with a framework of an ES-based system generating simple circuits, such as low pass filters. Then it continues with a step-by-step progression to increasingly sophisticated designs that require additional strength from the system. Finally, it describes the modernization of the system using novel techniques that enable the synthesis of complex multi-pin circuits that are newly evolved. It has been discovered that ES has strong power to synthesize analogue circuits. The circuits evolved in the first part of the thesis exceed similar results made previously using other techniques in a component economy, in the better functioning of the evolved circuits and in the computing power spent to reach the results. The target circuits for evolution in the second half are chosen by the author to challenge the capability of the developed system. By functioning, they do not belong to the conventional analogue domain but to applications that are usually adopted by digital circuits. To solve the design tasks, the system has been gradually developed to support the ability of evolving increasingly complex circuits. As a final result, a state-of-the-art ES-based system has been developed that possesses a novel mutation paradigm, with an ability to create, store and reuse substructures, to adapt the mutation, selection parameters and population size, utilize automatic incremental evolution and use the power of parallel computing. It has been discovered that with the ability to synthesis the most up-to-date multi-pin complex analogue circuits that have ever been automatically synthesized before, the system is capable of synthesizing circuits that are problematic for conventional design with application domains that lay beyond the conventional application domain for analogue circuits.EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo

Quantum simulation of Abelian gauge fields with ultracold gases

Gauge theories are ubiquitous in physics. Many intriguing phenomena in condensed matter physics owe to the action of the electromagnetic field, which is an Abelian gauge theory. The numerical treatment of many-body systems is inherently complex due to the exponentially growing size of the Hilbert space. While in one dimension an area law guarantees that numerical methods on classical computers can deal with strongly correlated systems, in higher dimensions the quantum simulation comes as the panacea for the many-body problem. The present thesis comprises the elaboration of experimentally feasible methods for the quantum simulation of dynamical Abelian gauge fields with ultra-cold gases of neutral atoms and the theoretical analysis of the related model Hamiltonians. As neutral atoms do not interact with external vector potentials like charged particles would do, the gauge fields have to be artificially engineered. The elements of a gauge theory that need to be replicated on a quantum simulator vary depending on the subject of investigation. The key ingredient at the root of many condensed matter phenomena, from the quantum Hall effect to superconductivity and chiral topological insulators, is the Berry phase. Whilst artificial static gauge fields have been widely explored, much remains to do regarding the realization of artificial dynamical gauge fields. In Chapter 3 we present a method based on the amplitude modulation of a one-dimensional optical lattice, which allows for an unprecedented degree of control over a wide range of parameters. The method also comprises the generation of a density-dependent complex phase, fundamental to the creation of anyonic pseudo-particles. The anyons are amenable of observation through interferometric measurement, realizable with the same experimental set-up. With regard to gauge theories, the Berry phase is just the visible tip of the iceberg. Below the waterline, there is more to consider in order to comprehensively reproduce a gauge theory, like the electric and magnetic fields in quantum electrodynamics. Moreover, a full account for the inherent symmetry is crucial to investigate phenomena proper of non-Abelian gauge theories in the context of high-energy physics, such as confinement. For this collection of topics, one can turn to lattice gauge theories. In Chapter 5, we consider a class of lattice gauge theories particularly suitable for quantum simulation, the Quantum Link Model. The study of the Abelian U(1) Quantum Link Model on a ladder geometry reveals a highly non-trivial phase diagram, featuring a symmetry-protected topological phase. In both Chapters, innovative solutions for the experimental realization of the model Hamiltonians are designed and proposed. To gain numerical access to the ground-state properties and the dynamics of the systems investigated we make use of state-of-the-art numerical methods based on Tensor Networks. The elements of the numerical analysis carried out throughout this thesis are presented in Chapter 6. In the last part we offer an outlook on research perspectives related to the topics discussed in the thesis

Modelling, system identification and control of a fibre optic accelerometer

A research report submitted to the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in partial ful lment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Engineering. Johannesburg, 2015Control of systems are important in most industrial sectors, they nd applications in electronics, machine design and navigation. These control systems often use sensors to work e ectively. One such sensor is an accelerometer, which is used to measure acceleration with one or more degrees of freedom. This research report investigates the modelling, system identi cation and controller design for an accelerometer, a Fibre Optic Accelerometer (FOA). Such a device may be applied in many applications such as anti-skid control, structural failure in buildings and bridges, as well as strategic missile guidance. This report presents a model of a FOA demonstrator which crudely models an industrially developed accelerometer, the demonstrator is made of a jig consisting of a guitar string and electromagnets. Such a model needs to account for a distributed parameter beam combined with a permanent magnet and four electromagnets. The guitar string is modelled using three beam models, namely a spring/damper model, an Assumed Modes Model (ASM) and a Transfer Function Model (TFM). The parameters for these beam models are identi ed using the Nelder-Mead simplex algorithm and the least squares method. The electromagnets within the jig, are modelled using a mathematical model obtained through curve tting of experimental data. The overall FOA sensor is optimised using a lead-lag controller. Five cost functions where investigated, these cost functions are H1, Integral Square Error (ISE), Integral Absolute Error (IAE), Integral Time Square Error (ITSE) and Integral Absolute Time Error (IATE). It was found that the guitar string may be modelled using a single degree of freedom beam model. This is based on a number of reasons, such as the aperture size - through which the tip Light Emitting Diode (LED) projects, the tip mass (permanent magnet) - acting as a natural damper and the fact that Position Sensing Device (PSD) only measures the tip position. It was found that a single degree of freedom model in two orthogonal axes, with a single link beam spring/damper model was the most suitable representation of the guitar string. And the IAE lead-lag controller was found to be the most e ective in controlling a guitar string, this e ectiveness was due to least settling time.MT201

CBR and MBR techniques: review for an application in the emergencies domain

The purpose of this document is to provide an in-depth analysis of current reasoning engine practice and the integration strategies of Case Based Reasoning and Model Based Reasoning that will be used in the design and development of the RIMSAT system. RIMSAT (Remote Intelligent Management Support and Training) is a European Commission funded project designed to: a.. Provide an innovative, 'intelligent', knowledge based solution aimed at improving the quality of critical decisions b.. Enhance the competencies and responsiveness of individuals and organisations involved in highly complex, safety critical incidents - irrespective of their location. In other words, RIMSAT aims to design and implement a decision support system that using Case Base Reasoning as well as Model Base Reasoning technology is applied in the management of emergency situations. This document is part of a deliverable for RIMSAT project, and although it has been done in close contact with the requirements of the project, it provides an overview wide enough for providing a state of the art in integration strategies between CBR and MBR technologies.Postprint (published version