A more effective coordinate system for parameter estimation of precessing compact binaries from gravitational waves

Ground-based gravitational wave detectors are sensitive to a narrow range of frequencies, effectively taking a snapshot of merging compact-object binary dynamics just before merger. We demonstrate that by adopting analysis parameters that naturally characterize this 'picture', the physical parameters of the system can be extracted more efficiently from the gravitational wave data, and interpreted more easily. We assess the performance of MCMC parameter estimation in this physically intuitive coordinate system, defined by (a) a frame anchored on the binary's spins and orbital angular momentum and (b) a time at which the detectors are most sensitive to the binary's gravitational wave emission. Using anticipated noise curves for the advanced-generation LIGO and Virgo gravitational wave detectors, we find that this careful choice of reference frame and reference time significantly improves parameter estimation efficiency for BNS, NS-BH, and BBH signals.Comment: 11 pages, 5 figures, submitted to Phys. Rev.

Business Model Review

This document presents a review of alternative business models from a variety of industries and markets. It complements the Month 27 deliverable [Olofsson and Farr, 2006] on tools and methods for business model evaluation, and the Month 30 deliverable [Scott et al, 3006] from Rolls-Royce that discusses business models for the provision of aero engines and supporting services in particular. Herein, a taxonomy of business models is presented, and a broad range of alternatives are considered, showing how companies have defined a target market, and differentiated their products and/or services, implemented plans for activities such as promotion and distribution, and ultimately pursued a profit. The applicability to these models to the aerospace sector is discussed

Use of enterprise simulation to assess the impacts of remanufacturing operations

Remanufacturing could become a cornerstone of a future sustainable society and considerable progress has been made towards finding technical solutions for the renovation of products or selected components. Not all the barriers to remanufacturing are purely technical, however; others are related to business drivers, or social factors. The problems anticipated for remanufacturing, as identified by Guide [1] include “stochastic product returns, imbalances in return and demand rates, and the unknown condition of returned products.” In order to investigate the significance of these problems, a simulation model was constructed to explore the costs and benefits of a range of different end-of-life (EOL) strategies. It suggests that environmental harm can be reduced to an extent, when a company is set up to process returned goods, but that this benefit comes at the cost of considerable complications in scheduling and logistics

Alternative logistic concepts and their effect within the company and the supply chain

This document presents findings from the simulation of a focused factory at Volvo Aero, Trollhättan. A series of experiments were carried out, aimed at testing a range of alternative logistic concepts. Each concept describes an approach to the control of workflow within the business, for the purpose of determining its effect within the company, and in the wider context of the supply chain

Use of enterprise simulation to assess the impacts of remanufacturing operations

Remanufacturing could become a cornerstone of a future sustainable society and considerable progress has been made towards finding technical solutions for the renovation of products or selected components. Not all the barriers to remanufacturing are purely technical, however; others are related to business drivers, or social factors. The problems anticipated for remanufacturing, as identified by Guide [1] include “stochastic product returns, imbalances in return and demand rates, and the unknown condition of returned products.” In order to investigate the significance of these problems, a simulation model was constructed to explore the costs and benefits of a range of different end-of-life (EOL) strategies. It suggests that environmental harm can be reduced to an extent, when a company is set up to process returned goods, but that this benefit comes at the cost of considerable complications in scheduling and logistics

Alternative logistic concepts and their effect within the company and the supply chain

This document presents findings from the simulation of a focused factory at Volvo Aero, Trollhättan. A series of experiments were carried out, aimed at testing a range of alternative logistic concepts. Each concept describes an approach to the control of workflow within the business, for the purpose of determining its effect within the company, and in the wider context of the supply chain

Parametric factory simulation for the responsive enterprise

Simulation offers a powerful way to investigate the boundaries of what can be achieved by a manufacturing system, demonstrating the impact of schedules and policy decisions such as the placement of buffers and the size of safety stocks. Unfortunately, the construction of factory models at the necessary level of detail is a time-consuming process, requiring specialist skills. This paper describes a novel approach to the representation of logistic control within a simulated factory, and its implementation in a study of a business unit at Volvo Aero in Trollhättan, Sweden. Several innovative features were built into the model, making it possible for users who were not simulation experts to explore a broad range of scenarios. The resulting model architecture, as described in this paper, takes simulation out of the computer lab and places it in the hands of managers, as an enabler of the responsive enterprise

Learning from the Proposal Process used by Businesses to Sell Customer Solutions.

This document presents a review of the practices and tools that are used in other (non-aerospace) industries, for the purpose of identifying best practices that might also be employed in the rapid generation of a proposal for aero engine products and services. Addressing the customer’s perception of value, and its delivery process, this has implications for much of the activity conducted within VIVACE Work Package 2.

A parametric approach to logistic control within manufacturing simulation

Simulation offers a powerful way to investigate the boundaries of what can be achieved by a manufacturing system, demonstrating the impact of schedules and policy decisions such as the placement of buffers and the size of safety stocks. Unfortunately, the construction of factory models at the necessary level of detail is a time-consuming process, requiring specialist skills. This paper describes a novel approach to the representation of logistic control in the simulation of a business unit at Volvo Aero in Trollhättan, Sweden. Several innovative features were built into the model, making it possible for users who were not simulation experts to explore a broad range of scenarios. The resulting model architecture, as described in this paper, takes simulation out of the computer lab and places it in the hands of managers, as an enabler of the responsive enterprise