Rocking the sea of time: Experiences as vessels bringing pilot vision to people in transit

This thesis explores how ABB Ability™ Marine Pilot Vision (PV) can provide new customer value. PV is a sensor fusion solution monitoring the surroundings of the vessel to gain situational awareness for the ferry operation. The research question is how can Pilot Vision data be adopted for new transit experiences for crew and passengers beyond ship operations. The study uses a phenomenological approach to analyse the current and desired transit experiences, and builds on previous research by e.g. Hassenzahl (e.g. 2013 and 2017) and Desmet (2012). Experience goals are set based on a model by Kaasinen et al. (2015). The research is organised in two cycles. First, the methods include literature review, diary study, in-depth interviews and observations. The second part comprises concept development, building a provocative prototype and testing it. The results show the variety of current transit-related experiences that can be improved by the setting experience goals: Stimulation, Fellowship, Fascination, Inspiration, Freedom and Dreaminess. The Rocking concept utilizes the motion and camera vision data of PV. It proved to be the best concept to achieve the goals. The provocative prototype of Rocking addressed hedonic and pragmatic qualities that are important for desirable transit experiences. Rocking concept can bring new opportunities for enhancing the surroundings for ferry transit experiences by using PV data

Enhancing Market Power by Reducing Switching Costs

Competing firms often have the possibility to jointly determine the magnitude of consumers’ switching costs. Examples include compatibility decisions and the option of introducing number portability in telecom and banking. We put forward a model where firms jointly decide to reduce switching costs before competing in prices during two periods. We demonstrate that the outcome hinges crucially on how the joint action reduces consumers’ switching costs. In particular, firms will enhance their market power if they implementmeasures that reduce consumers’ switching costs by a lump sum. Conversely, they willpreserve market power by not implementing actions that reduce switching costsproportionally. Hence, when policy makers design consumer protection policies, they should not always adopt a favourable attitude towards efforts by firms to reduce switching costs.switching costs, market power, welfare

Intelligent distribution network design

Distribution networks (medium voltage and low voltage) are subject to changes caused by re-regulation of the energy supply, economical and environmental constraints more sensitive equipment, power quality requirements and the increasing penetration of distributed generation. The latter is seen as one of the main challenges for today’s and future network operation and design. In this thesis it is investigated in what way these developments enforce intelligent distribution network design and new engineering tools. Furthermore it should be investigated how a new design and control strategy can contribute to meet the power quality and performance requirements in distribution networks in future. This thesis focuses on network structures that, typical for the Netherlands, are based on relatively short underground cables.Managing current and voltage in such networks both during normal and disturbed operation, requires a good network design and an adequate earthing concept. The limited size of Dutch distribution networks has a positive effect on power quality aspects and reliability. The use of impedance earthing for medium voltage (MV) cable networks reduces the risk of multi-phase faults that cause large fault currents and deep dips. It also reduces the risk on transient overvoltages due to re-striking of cable faults. A TN earthing system for the low voltage (LV) network reduces the risk of damaged apparatus and it maintains safety for people. However, care must be taken for the earthing of devices of other service providers, which requires a co-operative solution. The fast developments of computation techniques and IT equipment in the network opened the possibility to perform many calculations in short time based on both actual and historical data. Examples are the on-line distribution loadflow and the short-circuit calculation for protection coordination and intelligent fault location. In LV and MV network calculations the accuracy of the models and the availability of data are the main obstacles. Because of the unsymmetrical nature of load and generation in LV networks a multiple conductor model is needed. For safety calculations also the earth impedances have to be modelled as well as the neutral and protective earth impedances and their mutual interactions. The protection philosophy in MV networks must take into account the changing requirements regarding safety and power quality. An overall philosophy concerning both network and generator protection is necessary. New developments in substation automation benefit future upgrade and refurbishment of substation control and protection. As a result, also cheap,accurate and fast fault location becomes feasible, reducing the outage time of the customers. Next the influence of distributed generation on the above subjects is investigated. The increasing magnitude of short-circuit currents and the increasing voltage variations in the network are seen as a major challenge for the network planners. Conventional measures for reducing voltage problems may introduce problems with the short-circuit current level and vice versa. In networks which contain a large amount of both load and distributed generation, adverse voltage problems may occur, especially when the generation is located in the LV network. In order to reduce this, specific control strategies need to be developed. The last part of the thesis is related to these control strategies as a solution for operating future distribution networks. By introducing storage and power electronics, networks can be transformed into autonomously controlled networks. These networks remain an inseparable part of the electricity network but may behave in a fairly autonomous manner, both internally and externally, with respect to the rest of the network. The focus in this thesis is on maintaining an optimal voltage for all customers during all combinations of load and generation. Because of the autonomous behaviour of the control systems, their operation must be based on local measurements. A suggested approach is to replace the normal open point between MV feeders by a so called "intelligent node". This node is able to control the power flow in several feeders by means of power electronics and, if provided, by electricity storage. The voltage profile can be improved further, by introducing an intelligent voltage control on the HV/MV transformer feeding the distribution network. The simulation studies in this research have been performed on a realistic model of a typical Dutch MV/LV distribution system. Based on the results the following conclusions are drawn: • The HV/MV transformer control must be based on line drop compensation. This compensation must use the load situation instead of the measured exchange signal. The compensation factor must differ between cases of high load and of high generation. • The optimal control of the intelligent node is a voltage control, based on a linear dependence of the voltage at the node and the power flow towards that node. This method can be improved when the voltage of the MV bus bar in the substation is taken into account. • Methods to obtain a perfect voltage profile will lead to a storage device that is not available for this voltage level yet. • A voltage control based on a fixed value at both terminals of the intelligent node and at the MV bus bar of the HV/MV substation does not result in the optimal voltage profile, although guarantee a good voltage quality and might therefore be a good alternativ

Dual consent? Donors' and recipients' views about involvement in decision-making on the use of embryos created by gamete donation in research

Background Reasonable disagreement about the role awarded to gamete donors in decision-making on the use of embryos created by gamete donation (EGDs) for research purposes emphasises the importance of considering the implementation of participatory, adaptive, and trustworthy policies and guidelines for consent procedures. However, the perspectives of gamete donors and recipients about decision-making regarding research with EGDs are still under-researched, which precludes the development of policies and guidelines informed by evidence. This study seeks to explore the views of donors and recipients about who should take part in consent processes for the use of EGDs in research. Methods From July 2017 to June 2018, 72 gamete donors and 175 recipients completed a self-report structured questionnaire at the Portuguese Public Bank of Gametes (response rate: 76%). Agreement with dual consent was defined as the belief that the use of EGDs in research should be consented by both donors and recipients. Results The majority of participants (74.6% of donors and 65.7% of recipients) were willing to donate embryos for research. Almost half of the donors (48.6%) and half of the recipients (46.9%) considered that a dual consent procedure is desirable. This view was more frequent among employed recipients (49.7%) than among non-employed (21.4%). Donors were less likely to believe that only recipients should be involved in giving consent for the use of EGDs in research (25.0% vs. 41.7% among recipients) and were more frequently favourable to the idea of exclusive donors' consent (26.4% vs. 11.4% among recipients). Conclusions Divergent views on dual consent among donors and recipients indicate the need to develop evidence-based and ethically sustainable policies and guidelines to protect well-being, autonomy and reproductive rights of both stakeholder groups. More empirical research and further theoretical normative analyses are needed to inform people-centred policy and guidelines for shared decision-making concerning the use of EGDs for research

Doubling Down on Children and Young People’s Aspirations Post-lockdown

Children and young people experienced the Covid-19 lockdown differently from adults, and we need to consider these impacts as part of the recovery measures. Prior to Covid-19, cracks in our social system were already evident. At that time, children and young people told us what they wanted in order to create better future. The aspirations they shared are even more relevant post-Covid-19. Their views shaped the Child and Youth Wellbeing Strategy, and our best approach to supporting child wellbeing as part of the recovery is to double down on implementing this strategy. This will ensure that the recovery response is child-centred, holistic and aspirational