Towards a deep reinforcement learning integration into model-based systems engineering

The integration of Deep Reinforcement Learning (DRL) in Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) is a promising approach that can lead to significant benefits for system designers and developers. DRL is a branch of machine learning where an agent learns to make decisions by interacting with an environment, receiving feedback in the form of rewards or punishments that indicate the quality of its actions, and adjusting its decision-making policy to maximize the cumulative reward over time. MBSE provides a structured approach to system design, which can help to clarify system requirements, identify potential issues, and improve the overall efficiency of the system development process. This model-based approach can be particularly useful for DRL, which requires a clear understanding of the system environment and objectives to develop the system’s behavior. We propose a method for integrating DRL into MBSE, where the desired system behavior is defined in a model-based representation using a modeling language to describe the relevant design components for DRL. The method's model framework is applied and evaluated to an example use case using SysML as the modeling language. This integration enables system designers to use DRL with the benefits and support of MBSE

Supporting Your Basic Needs - A Base Support Approach for Static Stability Assessments in Air Cargo

Static stability is one of the most important constraints in the design and efficient calculation of safe air cargo pallets. To calculate the static stability of a cargo layout, base-focused methods such as full or partial base support are often used. Compared to mechanical or simulation-based methods, they offer high performance and simplicity. However, these methods currently reach their limits when dealing with the practical complexity of air cargo, making them difficult to apply in practice. In this research, we extend and generalize these support point methods by modeling irregular and multilevel cargo shapes, which enables improved practical applications. We follow a design-oriented approach to capture air cargo requirements, design an artifact, and evaluate its performance. Our results show a generalized approach that covers a greater practical complexity while maintaining its efficiency

Exploring the trilemma of cost-efficiency, landscape impact and regional equality in onshore wind expansion planning

Onshore wind development has historically focused on cost-efficiency, which may lead to uneven turbine distributions and public resistance due to landscape impacts. Using a multi-criteria planning approach, we show how onshore wind capacity targets can be achieved by 2050 in a cost-efficient, visually unobtrusive and evenly distributed way. For the case study of Germany, we build on the existing turbine stock and use open data on technically feasible turbine locations and data on scenicness of landscapes to plan the optimal expansion. The analysis shows that while the trade-off between optimizing either cost-efficiency or landscape impact of the turbines is rather weak with about 15% higher costs or scenicness, an even distribution has a large impact on these criteria. However, a more evenly distributed expansion is necessary for the achievement of the targeted south quota, a policy target that calls for more wind turbine additions in southern Germany. Our analysis assists stakeholders in resolving the onshore wind expansion trilemma

Exploring the trilemma of cost-efficiency, landscape impact and regional equality in onshore wind expansion planning

Funding Information: This work was supported by the Helmholtz Association under the program "Energy System Design".Peer reviewedPublisher PD

The Caldas Novas dome, central Brazil : structural evolution and implications for the evolution of the Neoproterozoic Brasilia belt

The Caldas Novas dome (Goiaas state, central Brazil) lies in the southern segment of the Neoproterozoic Brasilia belt (center of the Tocantins Province) between the Goias magmatic arc and the margin of the ancient Sao Francisco plate. The core of the dome comprises rocks of the Meso-Neoproterozoic Paranoa group (passive margin psamitic-pelitic sediments and subgreenschist facies) covered by a nappe of the Neoproterozoic Araxa group (backarc basin pelitic-psamitic sediments and volcanics of greenschist facies, bitotite zone). Hot underground waters that emerge along fractures in the Paranoa quartzite and wells in the Araxa schist have made the Caldas Novas dome an international tourist attraction. A recent detailed structural analysis demonstrates that the dome area was affected by a D₁D₃ Brasiliano cycle progressive deformation in the — 750-600 Ma interval (published U-Pb and Sm-Nd data). During event D₁, a pervasive layer- parallel foliation developed coeval the regional metamorphism. Event D₂ (intense F₂ isoclinal folding) was responsible for the emplacement of the nappe. D₁ and D₂ record a regime of simple shear (top-to-SE relative regional movement) due to a WNW-ESE subhorizontal compression (a1). Event D₃ records a WSW-ENE compression, during which the dome rose as a large-scale F₃ fold, possibly associated with a duplex structure at depth. During the dome’s uplift, the layers slid back and down in all directions, giving way to gravity-slide folds and an extensional crenulation cleavage. A set of brittle fractures and quartz veins constitutes the record of a late-stage D₄ event important for understanding the thermal water reservoir