Estudio del comportamiento dinámico de un vehículo eléctrico mediante SimMechanics.

The introduction of electric propulsion systems in automobiles is helping to reduce fossil fuel consumption and optimize the e ciency of new vehicles. This paper analyzes and simulates the dynamic behavior of an electric vehicle. Dynamic equations are formulated and a three-dimensional prototype is built, which allows the collection of data on mass and inertia of its components. All these variables are implemented in a model that is analyzed by the tool for the analysis of Multibody systems SimMechanics. The main contribution of this paper is the proposal, once validated the model, of a change in the distribution of mass of the vehicle which improves the dynamic performance of it. And thanks to the integration of this model in MATLAB / Simulink, future additions such as navigation systems, autonomous control, brake assist and stability control, among others are possible

Output subsidies and quotas under uncertainty and firm heterogeneity

This paper studies the relative efficiency of two kinds of regulations, quantity restrictions (quotas) and output subsidies, in an imperfectly competitive market under the existence of two sources of uncertainty: uncertainty in both costs and prices. We find that when the two sources of uncertainty are independently distributed, the output subsidy instrument has comparative advantage over the quantity instrument. However, when we take into account the possibility of correlation between the random components and across firms marginal costs, we find that a positive (negative) correlation tends to favor the quantity (subsidy) instrument. Finally, we show that when the correlation is positive, it is possible to find situations in which the quantity instrument has comparative advantage over the subsidy instrument.Cost uncertainty, demand uncertainty, firm heterogeneity, output subsidy and quantity instruments

Benchmarking Particle Filter Algorithms for Efficient Velodyne-Based Vehicle Localization

Keeping a vehicle well-localized within a prebuilt-map is at the core of any autonomous vehicle navigation system. In this work, we show that both standard SIR sampling and rejection-based optimal sampling are suitable for efficient (10 to 20 ms) real-time pose tracking without feature detection that is using raw point clouds from a 3D LiDAR. Motivated by the large amount of information captured by these sensors, we perform a systematic statistical analysis of how many points are actually required to reach an optimal ratio between efficiency and positioning accuracy. Furthermore, initialization from adverse conditions, e.g., poor GPS signal in urban canyons, we also identify the optimal particle filter settings required to ensure convergence. Our findings include that a decimation factor between 100 and 200 on incoming point clouds provides a large savings in computational cost with a negligible loss in localization accuracy for a VLP-16 scanner. Furthermore, an initial density of ∼2 particles/m 2 is required to achieve 100% convergence success for large-scale (∼100,000 m 2 ), outdoor global localization without any additional hint from GPS or magnetic field sensors. All implementations have been released as open-source software

Determination of blue water footprint in forages crops from irrigation disctrict 017, Comarca Lagunera, Mexico

El objetivo de este trabajo fue la determinación de la huella hídrica azul en los cultivos forrajeros del DR-017 Comarca Lagunera, México. Mediante el uso de indicadores de productividad y eficiencia se desarrollaron modelos matemáticos que permitieron estimar la huella hídrica azul de los cultivos. Los resultados muestran que los forrajes ocuparon 45% de la superficie total agrícola, empleando 94,7% del agua subterránea, generando 33% del Valor Bruto de la Producción agrícola. Los índices de productividad física fueron en promedio 252 L kg-1 (sorgo forrajero 181 L kg-1, avena forrajera 413 L kg- 1, alfalfa L kg-1). El ingreso por m3 empleado fue de US$0,04 m-3 en promedio (maíz forrajero US$ 0,07 m-3, alfalfa US$0,05 m-3). El indicador de eficiencia social mostró que en promedio se generaron 0,048 empleos hm-3 (0,037empleos hm-3 en alfalfa y 0,076 empleos hm-3 en rye grass). Finalmente bajo las mismas condiciones de cultivo, así como de mercado, la cantidad mínima que se requiere producir para tener una operación viable (punto de equilibrio) en promedio fue 39,02 t ha-1. En conclusión, la producción de maíz y sorgo forrajero en la región resultó altamente eficiente y productiva en comparación con los demás cultivos forrajeros lo que se tradujo en una menor huella hídrica azul.The aim of this work was the determination of the blue water footprint in forage crops from DR-017 “Comarca Lagunera", México. By means of productivity and efficiency mathematical models were used to estimate the blue water footprint of forages crops. The results show that forages occupied 45of groundwater, generating 33rates were on average 252 L kg-1 (forage sorghum 181 L kg-1, forage oats 413 L kg-1 alfalfa L kg- 1). Income per m3 was US$ 0.04 m-3 on average (US$0.94 m-3 in forage maize, US$ 0.05 m-3 alfalfa forage). The social efficiency indicator showed in average 0.048 jobs per hectometer (0.037 jobs hm-3 in alfalfa and 0.076 jobs hm-3 in rye grass). Finally, under the same crop y market conditions the minimum amount for a viable operation (break-even point) was 39.02 t ha-1. In conclusion, the production of corn and sorghum forage in the region was highly efficient and productive compared to other forage crops which resulted in lower blue water footprint.Fil: Ríos Flores, José Luis. Universidad Autónoma Chapingo (México)Fil: Torres Moreno, Miriam. México. Secretaría de Agricultura, Ganadería, Desarrollo Rural, Pesca y AlimentaciónFil: Castro Franco, Rafael. Universidad Autónoma Chapingo (México)Fil: Torres Moreno, Marco Antonio. Universidad Autónoma Chapingo (México)Fil: Ruiz Torres, José. Universidad Autónoma Chapingo (México

Neurobehavioral changes in people with post-stroke aphasia

At present, research on neurobehavioral disorders in people with post-stroke aphasia is scarce, especially in Spanish. The objective of this study is to design a new scale on neurobehavioral change, the Scale of Neurobehavioral Affectation in Aphasia (EANA, in Spanish) and to evaluate 14 people affected by chronic post-stroke aphasia (mean age: 51/ DT: 7.2) together with their main informants. At the same time, psychiatric (Neuropsychiatric Inventory, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Stroke Aphasic Depression Questionnaire), cognitive (Mini Mental State examination, Informer Test) and functional instruments (Stroke and Aphaisa Quality of Life Scale and Barthel Index) have been used to provide a multidimensional description of the affected persons. The results show statistically significant neurobehavioral changes in multiple domains. According to the EANA, those affected with post-stroke aphasia communicate with less frequently, show more introversion, shyness, dependence and apathy, behave in a more infantile manner ("makes me grimaces"), in addition to showing heightened anxiety and impulsivity. Finally, the informants report more aggressive acts, both verbal (insults) and physical (throwing objects, hitting both objects as persons), that did not occur before the stroke. According to the psychiatric instruments, many of the affected cope with anxiety, agitation and apathy, as well as mild depression. At a cognitive level, affected individuals show mild to moderate deficits, especially in working memory and temporal orientation. Functionally most individuals maintain a medium-high level of functional independence in daily activities. These findings support the inclusion of recommendations for the routine assessment and management of neurobehavioral changes to help optimize long-term recovery in people with stroke and aphasia.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

A Low-Cost Modular Platform for Heterogeneous Data Acquisition with Accurate Interchannel Synchronization

Most experimental fields of science and engineering require the use of data acquisition systems (DAQ), devices in charge of sampling and converting electrical signals into digital data and, typically, performing all of the required signal preconditioning. Since commercial DAQ systems are normally focused on specific types of sensors and actuators, systems engineers may need to employ mutually-incompatible hardware from different manufacturers in applications demanding heterogeneous inputs and outputs, such as small-signal analog inputs, differential quadrature rotatory encoders or variable current outputs. A common undesirable side effect of heterogeneous DAQ hardware is the lack of an accurate synchronization between samples captured by each device. To solve such a problem with low-cost hardware, we present a novel modular DAQ architecture comprising a base board and a set of interchangeable modules. Our main design goal is the ability to sample all sources at predictable, fixed sampling frequencies, with a reduced synchronization mismatch (<1 s) between heterogeneous signal sources. We present experiments in the field of mechanical engineering, illustrating vibration spectrum analyses from piezoelectric accelerometers and, as a novelty in these kinds of experiments, the spectrum of quadrature encoder signals. Part of the design and software will be publicly released online

A 3D Printed Power-Split Device for Testing Energy Management Strategies Applied to Hybrid Vehicles

This work presents a testbed emulating the hybrid electric vehicles powertrain with both teaching and research purposes. The core of this testbed is a 3D printed epicycloidal gearset actuating as a power split device. Its design and hardware equipment are explained as well as its working principle. From an educational point of view, this system states an interesting control problem and, at the same time, exemplifies the operation of this kind of machines with the scope of a motivating application. Consequently, a teaching methodology comprising this testbed is proposed. In addition, the challenging nature of the system encourage the development of optimization techniques aimed at reducing the overall system energy consumption. Results of a preliminary experiment are satisfactory addressed. As a consequence, the presented testbed is proposed as a remote lab for teaching and benchmarking new control strategies

Heterogeneous resource management in energy hubs with self-consumption: Contributions and application example

The energy hub concept and modeling methodology are widely employed tools for solving resource conversionand storage scheduling problems. For instance, industrial clusters might benefit from determining the suitabletime to operate their facilities and to sell electricity to the public power grid, according to legal, economic orenvironmental factors. In this paper, novel elements are introduced in order to more accurately represent realplants and to reduce the amount of decision variables. The major innovation is to consider devices consuming aresource which is not related to the quantity of output produced, by attaching binary decision variables tocertain energy hub outputs. Secondly, a path vector is defined to take into account the flows of resources withinthe system instead of employing a variable for each branch between the components. The third innovationconsists of an additional vector to express the amount of output resources sold from the energy hub, includingconstraints for those resources which are exported and imported through the same medium. An extended energyhub model is first proposed and then applied to a real plant example, including multiple and heterogeneousresources and performing a comparison between days with different demands, weather conditions and electricityprices. The results obtained in the selected scenarios demonstrate a logical operation scheduling, and thereforevalidate the proposed approach

Cálculo convencional de estructuras, teoría: estructuras articuladas

El objetivo de esta publicación es desarrollar la fase segunda dentro del proceso de un cálculo estructural, que se designa con el nombre de cálculo de estructuras. Si bien existen muchos e importantes problemas que pueden ser incluidos dentro de este ámbito, aquí únicamente serán tratados aquellos que son específicos del análisis, es decir, los correspondientes al estudio de las relaciones entre las excitaciones estructurales (acciones) y las respuestas (resultados). Por lo tanto, se dejan de lado todos los problemas fundamentales de síntesis o proyecto de sistemas estructurales incluidos dentro del término diseño óptimo de estructuras, así como los relativos a la cada vez más importante rama del cálculo de estructuras denominada Teoría de la Identificación

Determinación de la huella hídrica azul en los cultivos forrajeros del DR-017, Comarca Lagunera, México

The aim of this work was the determination of the blue water footprint in forage crops from DR-017 "Comarca Lagunera", México. By means of productivity and efficiency mathematical models were used to estimate the blue water footprint of forages crops. The results show that forages occupied 45% of the total agricultural area using 94,7% of groundwater, generating 33% of the Gross Value Production. Physical productivity rates were on average 252 L kg-1 (forage sorghum 181 L kg-1, forage oats 413 L kg-1 alfalfa L kg- 1). Income per m3 was US$0.04 m-3 on average (US$ 0.94 m-3 in forage maize, US 0.05 m-3 alfalfa forage). The social efficiency indicator showed in average 0.048 jobs per hectometer (0.037 jobs hm-3 in alfalfa and 0.076 jobs hm-3 in rye grass). Finally, under the same crop y market conditions the minimum amount for a viable operation (break-even point) was 39.02 t ha-1. In conclusion, the production of corn and sorghum forage in the region was highly efficient and productive compared to other forage crops which resulted in lower blue water footprint.    El objetivo de este trabajo fue la determinación de la huella hídrica azul en los cultivos forrajeros del DR-017 Comarca Lagunera, México. Mediante el uso de indicadores de productividad y eficiencia se desarrollaron modelos matemáticos que permitieron estimar la huella hídrica azul de los cultivos. Los resultados muestran que los forrajes ocuparon 45% de la superficie total agrícola, empleando 94,7% del agua subterránea, generando 33% del Valor Bruto de la Producción agrícola. Los índices de productividad física fueron en promedio 252 L kg-1 (sorgo forrajero 181 L kg-1, avena forrajera 413 L kg- 1, alfalfa L kg-1). El ingreso por m3 empleado fue de US 0,04 m-3 en promedio (maíz forrajero US$0,07 m-3, alfalfa US$ 0,05 m-3). El indicador de eficiencia social mostró que en promedio se generaron 0,048 empleos hm-3 (0,037empleos hm-3 en alfalfa y 0,076 empleos hm-3 en rye grass). Finalmente bajo las mismas condiciones de cultivo, así como de mercado, la cantidad mínima que se requiere producir para tener una operación viable (punto de equilibrio) en promedio fue 39,02 t ha-1. En conclusión, la producción de maíz y sorgo forrajero en la región resultó altamente eficiente y productiva en comparación con los demás cultivos forrajeros lo que se tradujo en una menor huella hídrica azul