Cyber-Physical System Demonstration of an Automated Shuttle-Conveyor-Belt Operation for Inventory Control of Multiple Stockpiles: A Proof of Concept

Smart manufacturing in the so-called Industry 4.0 age pushes the research and development of laboratory-scale proof of concepts before its deployment in pilots and real-size equipment. As such, we present a cyber-physical system (CPS) demonstration in the mining industry field engineered to autonomously manage the handling of solids flowing in a conveyor-belt that drops materials in containers, forming multiple stockpiles per belt. The CPS operates to control multiple stockpiles’ inventories using mixed-integer optimization that minimizes the square deviation of the measured inventory to their targets (heights). Within the sensing-optimizing-actuating (SOA) cycle, the CPS demonstration is performed as follows. First, the sensing (data measurement, data processing, and system evaluation) uses a deep neural network in real-time to assess the level of materials stored in transparent containers. Second, the optimizing (mathematical programming, optimization techniques, and decision-making capabilities) is performed using a flowsheet network formulation called unit-operation-port-state superstructure (UOPSS) that permits a fast solution for the position-idle-time-varying discrete manipulated variables as operational schedules. Third, the actuating (cyber-physical integration) implements a physical actuation solution through an integrated CPS environment. According to the findings of our experimentation, stockpiling process control in a smart manufacturing context has enormous potentials to control multiple stockpiles’ inventory autonomously

Educational System Resilience during the COVID-19 Pandemic—Review and Perspective

The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the educational system worldwide because of the restrictions imposed in response to the pandemic for the purpose of impeding the fast spread of the virus. Educational institutions and people around the world worked intensively to create contingency plans that ensured the quality and continuity of the educational system. The ability to cope with the new changes in the educational environment varied since it depended on the available technologies and level of social restrictions, among other factors. This paper aims to investigate the literature on the educational system during the pandemic, with a particular emphasis on (1) the challenges faced by students and educators during the learning process, (2) the strategies used to overcome such challenges, and (3) the roles of educational institutions and parents. Two databases were selected in this review: Scopus and Web of Science. There were five stages in the identification, screening, and assessment of the eligibility of papers, whereby 87papers were selected to be analyzed. Opportunities to ensure the continuity and quality of learning are highlighted, and a framework is derived from the literature to achieve enhanced and more resilient online educational systems. By including multiple educational levels, potential research gaps can be identified, highlighting the need for further investigation and exploration in specific educational domains—e.g., addressing behavioral, procedural, and technological challenges requires a thorough examination to achieve optimal solutions and implement reforms