Using microwave Doppler radar in automated manufacturing applications

Since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution, manufacturers worldwide have used automation to improve productivity, gain market share, and meet growing or changing consumer demand for manufactured products. To stimulate further industrial productivity, manufacturers need more advanced automation technologies: smart part handling systems, automated assembly machines, CNC machine tools, and industrial robots that use new sensor technologies, advanced control systems, and intelligent decision-making algorithms to see, hear, feel, and think at the levels needed to handle complex manufacturing tasks without human intervention.;The investigator\u27s dissertation offers three methods that could help make smart CNC machine tools and industrial robots possible: (1) A method for detecting acoustic emission using a microwave Doppler radar detector, (2) A method for detecting tool wear on a CNC lathe using a Doppler radar detector, and (3) An online non-contact method for detecting industrial robot position errors using a microwave Doppler radar motion detector.;The dissertation studies indicate that microwave Doppler radar could be quite useful in automated manufacturing applications. In particular, the methods developed may help solve two difficult problems that hinder further progress in automating manufacturing processes: (1) Automating metal-cutting operations on CNC machine tools by providing a reliable non-contact method for detecting tool wear, and (2) Fully automating robotic manufacturing tasks by providing a reliable low-cost non-contact method for detecting on-line position errors. In addition, the studies offer a general non-contact method for detecting acoustic emission that may be useful in many other manufacturing and non-manufacturing areas, as well (e.g., monitoring and nondestructively testing structures, materials, manufacturing processes, and devices).;By advancing the state of the art in manufacturing automation, the studies may help stimulate future growth in industrial productivity, which also promises to fuel economic growth and promote economic stability. The study also benefits the Department of Industrial Technology at Iowa State University and the field of Industrial Technology by contributing to the ongoing smart machine research program within the Department of Industrial Technology and by stimulating research into new sensor technologies within the University and within the field of Industrial Technology

Double-Peaked Narrow-Line Active Galactic Nuclei. II. The Case Of Equal Peaks

Active galactic nuclei (AGNs) with double-peaked narrow lines (DPAGNs) may be caused by kiloparsec-scale binary AGNs, bipolar outflows, or rotating gaseous disks. We examine the class of DPAGNs in which the two narrow-line components have closely similar intensity as being especially likely to involve disks or jets. Two spectroscopic indicators support this likelihood. For DPAGNs from Smith et al., the "equal-peaked" objects (EPAGNs) have [Ne V]/[O III] ratios lower than for a control sample of non-double-peaked AGNs. This is unexpected for a pair of normal AGNs in a galactic merger, but may be consistent with [O III] emission from a rotating ring with relatively little gas at small radii. Also, [O III]/H beta ratios of the redshifted and blueshifted systems in the EPAGN are more similar to each other than in a control sample, suggestive of a single ionizing source and inconsistent with the binary interpretation.University Cooperative Society of the University of Texas at AustinJane and Roland Blumberg Cenntenial Professorship in AstronomyAlfred P. Sloan FoundationNational Aeronautics and Space AdministrationNational Science FoundationU.S. Department of EnergyJapanese MonbukagakushoMax Planck SocietyUniversity of ChicagoInstitute for Advanced StudyJapan Participation GroupJohns Hopkins UniversityKorean Scientist GroupLos Alamos National LaboratoryMax-Planck-Institute for Astronomy (MPIA)Max-Planck-Institute for Astrophysics (MPA)New Mexico State UniversityUniversity of PittsburghUniversity of PortsmouthPrinceton UniversityUnited States Naval ObservatoryUniversity of WashingtonFermilabAstronom

The Social Costs of an MTBE Ban in California

Resource /Energy Economics and Policy,

Historical reconstruction of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation from the ECMWF operational ocean reanalysis

A reconstruction of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (MOC) for the period 1959–2006 has been derived from the ECMWF operational ocean reanalysis. The reconstruction shows a wide range of time-variability, including a downward trend. At 26N, both the MOC intensity and changes in its vertical structure are in good agreement with previous estimates based on trans-Atlantic surveys. At 50N, the MOC and strength of the subpolar gyre are correlated at interannual time scales, but show opposite secular trends. Heat transport variability is highly correlated with the MOC but shows a smaller trend due to the warming of the upper ocean, which partially compensates for the weakening of the circulation. Results from sensitivity experiments show that although the time-varying upper boundary forcing provides useful MOC information, the sequential assimilation of ocean data further improves the MOC estimation by increasing both the mean and the time variability

A measurement of the energy spectra of cosmic rays from 20 to 1000 GeV per AMU

During the report period the BUGS-4 instrument was completed, and the maiden voyage took place on 29 September from Fort Sumner, New Mexico. The successful flight of a large spherical drift chamber is a unique first for the sub-orbital balloon program. Unfortunately the instrument was consumed by fire after striking a power line during landing. However, while at float altitude, circa 24 hours of data were telemetered. The pre-flight preparations, and flight operations are described

Pilot Study: Implementing a Brief DBT Skills Program in Schools to Reduce Health Risk Behaviors Among Early Adolescents

A significant proportion of youth engage in health risk behaviors, which are of concern, as they are associated with adverse health consequences across development. Two factors associated with engagement in such behaviors are emotion dysregulation and impulsivity. Dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) is an effective intervention that enhances emotion regulation skills to reduce problem behaviors among adolescent populations; however, limited research has been conducted implementing the program within school settings. The current study was a 9-week DBT skills group conducted among 80 middle school youth, with pre–posttest data among 53 students. Findings indicated feasibility to implement the program in schools and preliminary evidence of efficacy in decreasing youth’s likelihood to engage in risky, particularly among youth high on an emotion-based impulsivity trait. Brief DBT skills group may be an effective program to be utilized by school nurses and health-care teams to reduce health risk behaviors among school-aged youth

An instrument to measure the charge, and energy spectrum (20-1000 GeV/a) of the cosmic ray species oxygen to iron

BUGS-4 (Bristol University Gas Scintillator-4) made its maiden engineering flight from Fort Summer (NM) on the 29th of September 1993. The instrument was consumed by fire after striking a power line during landing following 24 hours at float. The analysis of the telemetered data from this sophisticated instrument is a demanding task. Early analysis was compromised by electronic artifacts. Unravelling these problems has been difficult and time consuming, especially as the flight hardware was burned beyond salvage, but is is an essential preliminary to analysis. During this report period we have concentrated on a small sub-set of data (the first 30,000 events; 90 minutes at float), and developed software algorithms to correct systematic errors. Using these corrected events we have begun to develop the analysis algorithms. Although the analysis is preliminary, and restricted to the first 30,000 events, the results are encouraging, and suggest the design concepts are well matched to this application. Further work will refine the analysis, and allow quantitative evaluation of the concepts employed in BUGS-4 for applicability to future instruments. We believe this work will justify fabrication of a new instrument employing techniques deployed on BUGS-4

Cosmic Ray Energy Determination by the Reduced-Opening Angle Method

Accurate measurement of the primary galactic cosmic ray species energy dependence in the regime beyond approx. 500 GeV/a is difficult due to the low flux and the limitations of energy measurement techniques. However, such observations are essential to resolve several questions of current interest such as: Is the enrichment of heavy species (Z greater that or equal to 6) cosmic rays first reported at higher energies by the proton satellite' and then later at lower energies real? The results from a previous deployment of the reduced opening angle technique are inconclusive but the authors do point to limitations in the previous techniques. Another intriguing puzzle is the energy dependence of silicon cosmic rays. Two independent experiments using different experimental techniques indicate that silicon is under-abundant. At present the observation is limited by statistics; it could still be a three sigma fluctuation. However, if confirmed the current models of acceleration and propagation which are species independent are seriously inadequate. To progress further the species and energy dependence must be accurately measured in a manner that is free from systematic uncertainty. In this report we show that the reduced opening angle method offers a simple and relatively inexpensive method to answer these questions. First we present the physics of the reduced opening angle and indicate the expected energy and charge resolution. The proposed detector design is then presented followed by the expected performance. Where ever possible simple phenomenological expressions that allow 'back of the envelope' estimates are given. More details are presented in the appendices. The limit of the energy resolution and the expected event rates for iron cosmic rays are calculated. Salient points are summarized in the conclusions