Integration of torque blending and slip control using nonlinear model predictive control

Antilock Braking System (ABS) is an important active safety feature in preventing accidents during emergency braking. Electrified vehicles which include both hydraulic and regenerative braking systems provide the opportunity to implement brake torque blending during slip control operation. This study evaluates the design and implementation of a new torque allocation algorithm using a Nonlinear Model Predictive Control (NMPC) strategy that can run in real-time, with results showing that wheel-locking can be prevented while also permitting for energy recuperation

Covariance Steering of Discrete-Time Linear Systems with Mixed Multiplicative and Additive Noise

In this paper, we study the covariance steering (CS) problem for discrete-time linear systems subject to multiplicative and additive noise. Specifically, we consider two variants of the so-called CS problem. The goal of the first problem, which is called the exact CS problem, is to steer the mean and the covariance of the state process to their desired values in finite time. In the second one, which is called the ``relaxed'' CS problem, the covariance assignment constraint is relaxed into a positive semi-definite constraint. We show that the relaxed CS problem can be cast as an equivalent convex semi-definite program (SDP) after applying suitable variable transformations and constraint relaxations. Furthermore, we propose a two-step solution procedure for the exact CS problem based on the relaxed problem formulation which returns a feasible solution, if there exists one. Finally, results from numerical experiments are provided to show the efficacy of the proposed solution methods

Optimal control of motorsport differentials

Modern motorsport limited slip differentials (LSD) have evolved to become highly adjustable, allowing the torque bias that they generate to be tuned in the corner entry, apex and corner exit phases of typical on-track manoeuvres. The task of finding the optimal torque bias profile under such varied vehicle conditions is complex. This paper presents a nonlinear optimal control method which is used to find the minimum time optimal torque bias profile through a lane change manoeuvre. The results are compared to traditional open and fully locked differential strategies, in addition to considering related vehicle stability and agility metrics. An investigation into how the optimal torque bias profile changes with reduced track-tyre friction is also included in the analysis. The optimal LSD profile was shown to give a performance gain over its locked differential counterpart in key areas of the manoeuvre where a quick direction change is required. The methodology proposed can be used to find both optimal passive LSD characteristics and as the basis of a semi-active LSD control algorithm

An Online Survey on Consumer Knowledge and Understanding of Added Sugars.

Evidence of an association between added sugars (AS) and the risk of obesity has triggered public health bodies to develop strategies enabling consumers to manage their AS intake. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has strongly recommended a reduction of free sugars to 10% of total dietary energy (TE) and conditionally recommended a reduction to 5% TE to achieve health benefits. Despite food labelling being a policy tool of choice in many countries, there is no consensus on the mandatory addition of AS to the nutrition panel of food labels. An online survey was conducted to explore consumer ability to identify AS on food labels and to investigate consumer awareness of the WHO guidelines in relation to sugar intakes. The questionnaire was tested for participant comprehension using face-to-face interviews prior to conducting the online study. The online survey was conducted in Northern Ireland during May 2015 and was completed by a convenient sample of 445 subjects. Results showed that just 4% of respondents correctly classified 10 or more ingredients from a presented list of 13 items, while 65% of participants were unaware of the WHO guidelines for sugar intake. It may be timely to reopen dialogue on inclusion of AS on food product nutrition panels

Oldroyd 6-constant Electro-magneto-hydrodynamic fluid flow through parallel micro-plates with heat transfer using Darcy-Brinkman-Forchheimer model: A parametric investigation

The focus of the article is the electro-magneto-hydrodynamics of an Oldroyd 6-constants fluid flow through parallel micro-plates with heat transfer. The medium between the micro-plates is porous and we use the Darcy-Brinkman-Forchheimer model for it. Numerical calculations, using the shooting method, were performed to solve the non-linear equations that emanate from the modeling. The results for the velocity mechanism, the Nusselt number and the temperature distribution are graphically shown. The analysis of the problem focuses on the effects of several fluid and heat transfer parameters, such as the Hartmann number, the Brinkmann number, the Darcy-Brinkman-Forchheimer parameter, the Darcy parameter, the viscous dissipation, and the Joule heating coefficient

Breathers in lattices with alternating strain-hardening and strain-softening interactions

This workfocuses onthe study of time-periodic solutions, including breathers, in a nonlinear lattice consisting of elements whose contacts alternate between strain-hardening and strain-softening. The existence, stability, and bifurcation structure of such solutions, as well as the system dynamics in the presence of damping and driving are studied systematically. It is found that the linear resonant peaks in the system bend toward the frequency gap in the presence of nonlinearity. The time-periodic solutions that lie within the frequency gap compare well to Hamiltonian breathers if the damping and driving are small. In the Hamiltonian limit of the problem, we use a multiple scale analysis to derive a Nonlinear Schrödinger (NLS) equation to construct both acoustic and optical breathers. The latter compare very well with the numerically obtained breathers in the Hamiltonian limit

Sedentary Behavior in Children by Wearable Cameras: Development of an Annotation Protocol

Introduction There is increasing evidence that not all types of sedentary behavior have the same harmful effects on children's health. Hence, there has been a growing interest in the use of wearable cameras. The aim of this study is to develop a protocol to categorize children's wearable camera data into sedentary behavior components. Methods Wearable camera data were collected in 3 different samples of children in 2014. A development sample (3 children aged 4–8 years) was used to design the annotation protocol. A training sample (4 children aged 10 years) was used to train 3 different coders. The independent reliability sample (14 children aged 9–11 years) was used for independent coding of wearable camera images and to estimate inter-rater agreement. Data were analyzed in 2018. Cohen's κ was calculated for every rater pair on a per-participant basis. Means and SDs were then calculated across per-participant κ scores. Results A total of 41,651 images from 14 participants were considered for analysis. Inter-rater agreement over all raters over all the sedentary behavior components was almost perfect (mean κ=0.85, 95% CI=0.83, 0.87). Inter-rater reliability for screen-based sedentary behavior (mean κ=0.72, 95% CI=0.62, 0.82) and nonscreen sedentary behavior (κ=0.69, 95% CI=0.65, 0.72) showed substantial agreement. Inter-rater reliability for location (κ=0.91, 95% CI=0.88, 0.93) showed almost perfect agreement. Conclusions A reliable annotation protocol to categorize wearable camera data of children into sedentary behavior components was developed. Once applied to larger samples in children, this protocol can ultimately help to better understand the potential harms of screen time and sedentary behavior in children