Strategic, tactical decisions and information in Rapid Manufacturing supply chain

The efficiency and agility of its supply chain is vital to the commercial success of any product. Sharing strategic and tactical information effectively within the supply chain is often a key factor in achieving this goal. This paper proposes a framework to identify strategic, tactical decisions and information. The framework is used to conduct a sector based analysis of the Rapid Manufacturing (RM) industry. The decisions and information identified include amongst others various supply chain strategies and technical information

A center for commercial development of space: Real-time satellite mapping. Remote sensing-based agricultural information expert system

The research project results in a powerful yet user friendly CROPCAST expert system for use by a client to determine the crop yield production of a certain crop field. The study is based on the facts that heuristic assessment and decision making in agriculture are significant and dominate much of agribusiness. Transfer of the expert knowledge concerning remote sensing based crop yield production into a specific expert system is the key program in this study. A knowledge base consisting of a root frame, CROP-YIELD-FORECAST, and four subframes, namely, SATELLITE, PLANT-PHYSIOLOGY, GROUND, and MODEL were developed to accommodate the production rules obtained from the domain expert. The expert system shell Personal Consultant Plus version 4.0. was used for this purpose. An external geographic program was integrated to the system. This project is the first part of a completely built expert system. The study reveals that much effort was given to the development of the rules. Such effort is inevitable if workable, efficient, and accurate rules are desired. Furthermore, abundant help statements and graphics were included. Internal and external display routines add to the visual capability of the system. The work results in a useful tool for the client for making decisions on crop yield production

Contractor point of view for system development and test program

Industry's practice of testing space qualified hardware is examined. An overview of the Global Positioning System (GPS) Test Program is discussed from the component level to the sub-system compatibility tests with the space vehicle and finally to the launch site tests, all related to the Rubidium clock

Modeling microscopic swimmers at low Reynolds number

We employ three numerical methods to explore the motion of low Reynolds number swimmers, modeling the hydrodynamic interactions by means of the Oseen tensor approximation, lattice Boltzmann simulations and multiparticle collision dynamics. By applying the methods to a three bead linear swimmer, for which exact results are known, we are able to compare and assess the effectiveness of the different approaches. We then propose a new class of low Reynolds number swimmers, generalized three bead swimmers that can change both the length of their arms and the angle between them. Hence we suggest a design for a microstructure capable of moving in three dimensions. We discuss multiple bead, linear microstructures and show that they are highly efficient swimmers. We then turn to consider the swimming motion of elastic filaments. Using multiparticle collision dynamics we show that a driven filament behaves in a qualitatively similar way to the micron-scale swimming device recently demonstrated by Dreyfus et al.Comment: 12 pages, 10 figure

An Improved Technique For Calibrating And Testing Power System Generator Automatic Synchronizing And Speed Matching Relays

The design of a unique special purpose instrument for calibrating and testing power system automatic synchronizing and speed matching relays is described. The unit is constructed using inexpensive integrated circuit components and provides a direct digital readout of slip frequency from 0.05 Hz to 0.50 Hz resolution and advance angle from 0 to 99.9 degrees with 0.1-degree resolution. This device eliminates the need for expensive test equipment previously required, expedites the test procedure and solves the problem of referencing against a variable bus frequency source. Copyright © 1980 by The Institute Of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc

Computer Analysis Of 3-Phase Induction Motor Operation On Rural Open-Delta Distribution Systems

Open-delta/open-delta and open-wye/open-delta transformer banks are often used as an economic means of supplying simultaneous single-phase and 3-phase loads in rural areas. If the 3-phase load is an induction motor, the inherent voltage unbalance causes increased losses and uneven heating that may lead to motor failure. Often these motors are submersible or deep well pump motors located in remote unattended areas or air conditioning motors which may not have sufficient over-design to handle the voltage unbalance. The theory analyzing the open-delta distribution system has existed for many years, however, because of the tedious and almost infinite differences in distribution topology, the problem has been neglected. The purpose in this endeavor is to present a simple general approach to the solution of the problem by utilizing existing motor and network concepts and theories. Two previously published theories are used to predict motor heating and the motor derating that is necessary to prevent insulation failure due to the unbalanced voltages. A general motor model has been developed. Motor heating and derating are obtained from the model through a generalized digital computer program. Copyright © 1976 by The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. Inc

Regional changes in grain production

The study reported in this bulletin is the second in a series dealing with the apparent over-capacity of agriculture and the relative competitive advantages of different producing regions of the United States. Like the previous study, analysis is restricted to wheat and feed grains. Initial research was reported in United States Department of Agriculture Technical Bulletin No 1241(.1)· Interpretation and summary of this initial study, especially to provide background information for the research reported in this bulletin, is given in a following section.https://lib.dr.iastate.edu/card_reports/1015/thumbnail.jp

An Interactive Power System Analyzer With Graphics Display For Educational Use

The paper presents a student-oriented power-system analyzer with an interactive graphics display. Its capabilities include studies of (1) load flow, (2) load and generation, (3) voltage level control, (4) economic dispatch, and (5) contingency and planning analysis. Power network configurations of up to 30 buses can be presented clearly on one screen. The interactive nature of this program makes such studies effective and easy to use. With the support of a computer with graphics software and many graphics terminals, this program can be a useful teaching tool for power system studies. Copyright © 1986 by The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc