8,320 research outputs found
A model of the vessel traffic process
A model of the total vessel traffic control process that includes the functioning of the human operator (HO) is presented. The vessel traffic services (VTSs) are modeled in their possible role of monitor, conflict detector, and advisor for the total vessel traffic system. The model assumes a number of ships, with a given planned route, in a given confined area. The navigation of each ship is based on a planned route, which is updated by information about the visual scene, instruments, and the VTS. Both normal operation and collision avoidance are modeled. The model is implemented in a C program. Typical traffic situations have been simulated to showing the ability of the model to address realistic vessel traffic scenarios. The model can answer questions related to safety and efficiency, the effect of HO functioning, information necessary to perform tasks, communication between ships and VTS, the optimization of procedures, automation of the total vessel traffic process, et
Model of large scale man-machine systems with an application to vessel traffic control
Mathematical models are discussed to deal with complex large-scale man-machine systems such as vessel (air, road) traffic and process control systems. Only interrelationships between subsystems are assumed. Each subsystem is controlled by a corresponding human operator (HO). Because of the interaction between subsystems, the HO has to estimate the state of all relevant subsystems and the relationships between them, based on which he can decide and react. This nonlinear filter problem is solved by means of both a linearized Kalman filter and an extended Kalman filter (in case state references are unknown and have to be estimated). The general model structure is applied to the concrete problem of vessel traffic control. In addition to the control of each ship, this involves collision avoidance between ship
Assessing the accuracy of Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov calculations by use of mass relations
The accuracy of three different sets of Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov calculations
of nuclear binding energies is systematically evaluated. To emphasize minor
fluctuations, a second order, four-point mass relation, which almost completely
eliminates smooth aspects of the binding energy, is introduced. Applying this
mass relation yields more scattered results for the calculated binding
energies. By examining the Gaussian distributions of the non-smooth aspects
which remain, structural differences can be detected between measured and
calculated binding energies. Substructures in regions of rapidly changing
deformation, specifically around and , are clearly
seen for the measured values, but are missing from the calculations. A similar
three-point mass relation is used to emphasize odd-even effects. A clear
decrease with neutron excess is seen continuing outside the experimentally
known region for the calculations.Comment: 13 pages, 9 figures, published versio
Structure and decay at rapid proton capture waiting points
We investigate the region of the nuclear chart around from a
three-body perspective, where we compute reaction rates for the radiative
capture of two protons. One key quantity is here the photon dissociation cross
section for the inverse process where two protons are liberated from the
borromean nucleus by photon bombardment. We find a number of peaks at low
photon energy in this cross section where each peak is located at the energy
corresponding to population of a three-body resonance. Thus, for these energies
the decay or capture processes proceed through these resonances. However, the
next step in the dissociation process still has the option of following several
paths, that is either sequential decay by emission of one proton at a time with
an intermediate two-body resonance as stepping stone, or direct decay into the
continuum of both protons simultaneously. The astrophysical reaction rate is
obtained by folding of the cross section as function of energy with the
occupation probability for a Maxwell-Boltzmann temperature distribution. The
reaction rate is then a function of temperature, and of course depending on the
underlying three-body bound state and resonance structures. We show that a very
simple formula at low temperature reproduces the elaborate numerically computed
reaction rate.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures, conference proceedings, publishe
Boxfishes (Teleostei: Ostraciidae) as a model system for fishes swimming with many fins: kinematics
Swimming movements in boxfishes were much more
complex and varied than classical descriptions indicated.
At low to moderate rectilinear swimming speeds
(<5 TL s^(-1), where TL is total body length), they were
entirely median- and paired-fin swimmers, apparently
using their caudal fins for steering. The pectoral and
median paired fins generate both the thrust needed for
forward motion and the continuously varied, interacting
forces required for the maintenance of rectilinearity. It
was only at higher swimming speeds (above 5 TL s^(-1)), when
burst-and-coast swimming was used, that they became
primarily body and caudal-fin swimmers. Despite their
unwieldy appearance and often asynchronous fin beats,
boxfish swam in a stable manner. Swimming boxfish used
three gaits. Fin-beat asymmetry and a relatively nonlinear
swimming trajectory characterized the first gait
(0–1 TL s^(-1)). The beginning of the second gait (1–3 TL s^(-1))
was characterized by varying fin-beat frequencies and
amplitudes as well as synchrony in pectoral fin motions.
The remainder of the second gait (3–5 TL s^(-1)) was
characterized by constant fin-beat amplitudes, varying finbeat
frequencies and increasing pectoral fin-beat
asynchrony. The third gait (>5 TL s^(-1)) was characterized
by the use of a caudal burst-and-coast variant. Adduction
was always faster than abduction in the pectoral fins.
There were no measurable refractory periods between
successive phases of the fin movement cycles. Dorsal and
anal fin movements were synchronized at speeds greater
than 2.5 TL s^(-1), but were often out of phase with pectoral
fin movements
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