This study focuses on conducting a benchmarking analysis for light wheeled and tracked robotic vehicles. Vehicle mobility has long been a key aspect of research for many organizations. According to the Department of Defense vehicle mobility is defined as, "the overall capacity to move from place to place while retaining its ability to perform its primary mission"[1]. Until recently this definition has been applied exclusively to large scale wheeled and tracked vehicles. With new development lightweight ground vehicles designed for military and space exploration applications, the meaning of vehicle mobility must be revised and the tools at our disposal for evaluating mobility must also be expanded. In this context a significant gap in research is present and the main goal of this thesis is to help fill the void in knowledge regarding small robotic vehicle mobility assessment. Another important aspect of any vehicle is energy efficiency. Thus, another aim of this study is to compare the energy needs for a wheeled versus tracked robot, while performing similar tasks. The first stage of the research is a comprehensive review of the state-of-the-art in vehicle mobility assessment. From this review, a mobility assessment criterion for light robots will be developed. The second stage will be outfitting a light robotic vehicle with a sensor suite capable of capturing relevant mobility criteria. The third stage of this study will be an experimental investigation of the mobility capability of the vehicle. Finally the fourth stage will include quantitative and qualitative evaluation of the benchmarking study. / Master of Science

Beef cows classified as efficient utilize less resources to achieve the same output than inefficient animals in a sustainable environment. The objective of this study was to utilize a mathematical model to identify beef cows that use energy more efficiently to support maintenance requirements and calf growth based an energy efficiency index (EEI). The EEI was computed as the ratio of metabolizable energy requirements (MER) of the cow to weaning weight of the calf. Data were collected from one herd of 69 Angus crossbred cows over two consecutive years for a performance experiment. The EEI was used to rank the cows for efficiency, cows with low EEI are more efficient because they require less metabolizable energy for the same calf weaning weight. After the cows were ranked in year 1, low (n=8) and high (n=8) EEI cows were selected for an energy metabolism experiment during late lactation and late gestation in year 2. Relationships among performance and efficiency traits were computed with PROC CORR of SAS. Metabolism experiment data were analyzed as a randomized complete block design using PROC MIXED of SAS with side of barn as the random blocking factor. Correlation coefficients were considered different from zero and LSmeans were considered different at P < 0.05. The EEI was strongly negatively correlated (P < 0.05) with model predicted peak milk and calf weaning weight, and moderately, positively correlated (P < 0.05) with cow body weight in both years such that more efficient cows weaned heavier calves and had lesser body weight. Energy efficiency index was moderately, positively correlated (P < 0.05) among years indicating that those cows ranked as efficient in one year tend to be more efficient cows in subsequent years. Low EEI cows had lesser (P < 0.05) dry matter digestibility during late lactation, but not during late gestation than high EEI cows. There were no differences in energy metabolism between low and high EEI cows during late lactation or late gestation. In conclusion, more efficient cows based on EEI wean heavier calves and require less energy but the mechanism by which low EEI cows are more efficient does not appear to be differences in the energy partitioning. / Vacas de corte classificadas como eficientes utilizam menos recursos para obter o mesmo resultados que animais ineficientes em um ambiente sustentável. O objetivo do presente estudo foi a utilização de um modelo matemático para identificar vacas de corte que utilizam energia de forma mais eficiente para suportar sua exigência de mantença e a exigência de crescimento do bezerro baseado no índice de eficiência energética (IEE). O Índice de eficiência energética foi computado como a relação entre a exigência de mantença da vaca e o peso do bezerro ao desmame. Foram utilizadas 69 vacas cruzadas da raça Angus durante dois anos consecutivos para um experimento de desempenho. As vacas foram ranqueadas pelo IEE, vacas com menor IEE são mais eficientes, pois necessitam de menos energia metabolizável para o mesmo peso ao desmame de bezerros. Após os animais serem ranqueadas por eficiência no ano 1, vacas com baixo (n=8) e alto (n=8) EEI foram selecionas para um experimento de metabolismo energético durante o fim da lactação e fim da gestação no segundo ano. Foi utilizado o PROC CORR do SAS para as análises de desempenho e eficiência. As interpretações dos resultados do experimento de metabolismo foram realizadas utilizando o PROC MIXED do SAS sendo o lado da baia como efeito aleatório do bloco. Os coeficientes de correlação foram considerados diferente de zero e a medias foram consideradas diferentes quando P<0.05. O índice de eficiência energética foi negativamente correlacionado (P<0.05) com o pico de leite predito pelo modelo e com o peso do bezerro ao desmame, e teve o correlação positiva moderada (P<0.05) com o peso corporal das vacas nos dois anos de estudo, vacas mais eficientes desmamaram bezerros mais pesados e possuem menor peso corporal. Entre os anos, EEI apresentou uma correlação positiva moderada (P<0.05) indicando que as vacas consideradas eficientes tendem a ser eficientes nos próximos anos. Vacas com baixo IEE apresentaram (P<0.05) menor digestibilidade da matéria seca durante o fim da lactação em relação as vacas com alto IEE, porém, não apresentaram diferenças durante o fim da gestação. Vacas com baixo e alto IEE não apresentaram diferença estatística em relação ao metabolismo energético durante o fim da gestação e lactação. Como conclusão, vacas eficientes baseada no IEE desmamam bezerros mais pesados e necessitam de menor quantidade de energia, entretanto, o mecanismo pelo qual vacas com menor IEE se apresentam mais eficientes não se apresenta relacionado com as diferenças no particionamento de energia.

Orientador: Gilberto De Martino Jannuzzi / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Engenharia Mecânica / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-21T01:49:15Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Tiozo_Carla_M.pdf: 11074971 bytes, checksum: 02c6575fdc28a40f6b4cabc39efa3f11 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012 / Resumo: Com o objetivo de sinalizar a necessidade de uma gestão estruturada dos programas de eficiência energética e sugerir a utilização de métodos de gerenciamento de projetos para assegurar que a economia de energia ensejada realmente seja alcançada e a um custo viável, esta dissertação tem como objeto de estudo o Projeto Comunidade Eficiente VI realizado pela LIGHT S.A. no período de 2009 a 2011 em comunidades de baixo poder aquisitivo do estado do Rio de Janeiro. Utilizou-se uma pesquisa descritiva para (i) apresentar os principais instrumentos regulatórios aplicados pelo Governo Federal para delinear os programas de eficiência energética e (ii) elencar práticas de gerenciamento de projetos e uma pesquisa aplicada para analisar, num caráter ex-post facto, os processos utilizados para a realização do referido projeto. Após a análise dos dados, identificou-se oportunidades de melhorias e pontos de controle para aumentar o sucesso de entrega do serviço ou equipamento na primeira tentativa, cumprir os prazos estabelecidos no cronograma, melhorar a comunicação com os parceiros envolvidos e com os clientes, assegurar a destinação correta de geladeiras e lâmpadas recolhidas, entre outros. Diante desses resultados, com a finalidade de auxiliar no acompanhamento de projetos de eficiência energética indica-se nove indicadores e para facilitar a interpretação de um conjunto destes indicadores apresenta-se um modelo de cockpit básico / Abstract: In order to reinforce the need for a structured management of energy efficiency programs and to suggest the use of project management methods to ensure that the planned energy savings can be achieved at a viable cost. The objective of this essay was to study the Efficient Community Project VI carried out by LIGHT S/A during the period of 2009-2011 in low-income communities in the Rio de Janeiro. A descriptive research was used to (i) present the main regulatory instruments applied by the Federal Government to outline the energy efficiency programs and (ii) categorize the project management methods and applied research to analyze, in an ex-post facto character, the processes employed for the fulfillment of the referred project. After analyzing the results, several improvement opportunities and control points were identified to (a) increase the success of delivery of service or equipment on the first attempt; (b) meet the deadlines set out in schedule; (c) improve communication with partners and customers; (d) ensure the correct disposal of refrigerators and light bulbs collected, among others. Based on these results, nine indicators were identified in order to assist in the monitoring of energy efficiency projects. A basic model cockpit is presented to facilitate the interpretation of a set of these indicators / Mestrado / Planejamento de Sistemas Energeticos / Mestra em Planejamento de Sistemas Energéticos

Energy conservation and implementation of effective energy efficiency policies have become imperative to curbing the escalating consumption of energy. The imbalance in the supply and demand of a country's energy has increased the importance of implementing energy efficiency policies. Proper replication of strategic energy efficiency policies that are known to be successful in one country, along with development of new approaches, can be helpful in developing the energy policy portfolio of another country. Some OECD (Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development) countries like Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom and the United States have benefited from their energy policies during the most recent energy crisis. The motivation of this research is to provide a tool for developing countries, which are still in the stage of formulating their energy efficiency policies, to compare energy efficiency policy portfolios across countries. These countries can improve their energy efficiency policy portfolios based on lessons learned from the developed countries. The research develops a framework to compare energy efficiency policy portfolios across countries / states. Although this framework can be adopted for any type of energy policy, targeting any sector with few modifications, the current focus is on policies that target the residential building sector to reduce energy consumption. The research begins with identification of the functional domains that influence human behavior–people, economy, environment and technology–followed by identification of the factors affecting household energy consumption. It uses the four functional domains as the evaluation framework's four axes. The various factors affecting household energy consumption are positioned in the framework based on association with the functional domains. The energy efficiency policies implemented in a country are positioned in the same framework based on the pattern of diffusion of each type of policy. In addition, a prototype method is developed to identify the factors targeted by each energy efficiency policy implemented in a country. This evaluation method allows for a uniform assessment process of how energy efficiency policies target specific socio-economic factors that are known to affect energy consumption. The proposed framework will facilitate the work of policy makers and other decision makers with a powerful tool for evaluating and comparing their individual policies, or their complete portfolio of energy efficiency policies, to those from other states or countries, and to benefit from the lessons learned. / Ph. D.

No description available.

Doctor of Philosophy / Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering / Balasubramaniam Natarajan / The number of wireless devices is predicted to skyrocket from about 5 billion in 2015 to 25 billion by 2020. Therefore, traffic volume demand is envisioned to explode in the very near future. The proposed fifth generation (5G) of mobile networks is expected to be a mixture of network components with different sizes, transmit powers, back-haul connections and radio access technologies. While there are many interesting problems within the 5G framework, we address the challenges of energy-related management in a heterogeneous 5G networks. Based on the 5G architecture, in this dissertation, we present some fundamental methodologies to analyze and improve the energy efficiency of 5G network components using mathematical tools from optimization, control theory and stochastic geometry. Specifically, the main contributions of this research include: • We design power-saving modes in small cells to maximize energy efficiency. We first derive performance metrics for heterogeneous cellular networks with sleep modes based on stochastic geometry. Then we quantify the energy efficiency and maximize it with quality-of-service constraint based on an analytical model. We also develop a simple sleep strategy to further improve the energy efficiency according to traffic conditions. • We conduct a techno-economic analysis of heterogeneous cellular networks powered by both on-grid electricity and renewable energy. We propose a scheme to minimize the electricity cost based on a real-time pricing model. • We provide a framework to uncover desirable system design parameters that offer the best gains in terms of ergodic capacity and average achievable throughput for device-to-device underlay cellular networks. We also suggest a two-phase scheme to optimize the ergodic capacity while minimizing the total power consumption. • We investigate the modeling and analysis of simultaneous information and energy transfer in Internet of things and evaluate both transmission outage probability and power outage probability. Then we try to balance the trade-off between the outage performances by careful design of the power splitting ratio. This research provides valuable insights related to the trade-offs between energy-conservation and system performance in 5G networks. Theoretical and simulation results help verify the performance of the proposed algorithms.

Human activities pressure the socio-ecological system that maintains our quality of life by causing global repercussions such as climate change. The energy system, a major contributor to climate change due to its reliance on fossil fuels makes the transition to sustainable energy an imperative. The purpose of this thesis is to identify focus areas that support businesses in changing their energy habits. This leads to the research question: How can local businesses on small islands become drivers in the transition towards sustainable energy? The Framework for Strategic Sustainable Development (FSSD) enabled us to employ a systems perspective, place sustainable energy into a comprehensive and scientific definition of sustainability, and align our findings’ relevance to a strategic approach. The Motivation-capability-implementation- results (MCIR) framework was a suitable tool for our needs. For data collection purposes, literature analysis and a case study on the French island Île d’Oléron were conducted. The main findings of the thesis are that in order for businesses to become drivers in the transition to sustainability energy, Awareness, Consistent and Proactive Political System, Engaged Community, Supporting Infrastructure, Financial Capability and Agile Approach need to be addressed. The six focus areas cover the many barriers and enablers for achieving sustainable energy.

Britain and Germany are two countries that are internationally recognised for their energy efficiency policies in the area of domestic buildings. Although pursuing similar objectives, the two countries have quite different flagship policies: Germany put in place a large loan and grant scheme to finance residential energy efficiency measures in 2001, the CO2-Building Rehabilitation Programme. The UK was the first country in Europe that introduced Energy savings obligations in 1994. Since then the policy instruments in both countries experienced significant change. This thesis explores the politics of the changes that occurred, and investigates the policy processes that led to the modifications. Mainstream theories of policy change emphasise short-term crisis-like events when it comes to explaining why policies change significantly. However, more recent theoretical approaches suggest that gradual mechanisms, including accumulating external pressures and slowly developing consequences of the policies themselves, play an important role as well. In order to approach the two cases theoretically, this thesis draws on the concept of friction developed in Punctuated Equilibrium Theory and the policy feedback literature. This thesis investigates how long-term pressures, for example the perceived impact of climate change and rising energy prices, affected the evolution of the key home energy efficiency policies in Britain and Germany. Combined with assessing the impact of institutional changes and policy feedback, a comprehensive analysis of long-term policy change is carried out. A set of different methods is employed to undertake the investigation including qualitative and quantitative research methods such as semi-structured interviews with more than 25 experts followed by qualitative content analysis, complementary document analysis, and the review of data sets. The analysis provides a detailed historical case study of the key home energy efficiency policy instruments in Germany and the UK with a focus on the causal mechanisms of gradual pressures. Wider conclusions are drawn for the theories of policy change and how gradual pressures might be accounted for in those theories in a more meaningful way.

Organizations are turning to private clouds due to concerns about security, privacy and administrative control. They are attracted by the flexibility and other advantages of cloud computing but are wary of breaking decades-old institutional practices and procedures. Private Clouds can help to alleviate these concerns by retaining security policies, in-organization ownership and providing increased accountability when compared with public services. This work investigates how it may be possible to develop an energy-aware private cloud system able to adapt workload allocation strategies so that overall energy consumption is reduced without loss of performance or dependability. Current literature focuses on consolidation as a method for improving the energy-efficiency of cloud systems, but if consolidation is undesirable due to the performance penalties, dependability or latency then another approach is required. Given a private cloud in which the machines are constant, with no machines being powered down in response to changing workloads, and a set of virtual machines to run, each with different characteristics and profiles, it is possible to mix the virtual machine placement to reduce energy consumption or improve performance of the VMs. Through a series of experiments this work demonstrates that workload mixes can have an effect on energy consumption and the performance of applications running inside virtual machines. These experiments took the form of measuring the performance and energy usage of applications running inside virtual machines. The arrangement of these virtual machines on their hosts was varied to determine the effect of different workload mixes. The insights from these experiments have been used to create a proof-of- concept custom VM Allocator system for the OpenStack private cloud computing platform. Using CloudMonitor, a lightweight monitoring application to gather data on system performance and energy consumption, the implementation uses a holistic view of the private cloud state to inform workload placement decisions.

This thesis is concerned with the energy efficiency of cellular networks. It studies the dominant power consumer in future cellular networks, the Long Term Evolution (LTE) radio Base Station (BS), and proposes mechanisms that enhance the BS energy efficiency by reducing its power consumption under target rate constraints. These mechanisms trade spare capacity for power saving. First, the thesis describes how much power individual components of a BS consume and what parameters affect this consumption based on third party experimental data. These individual models are joined into a component power model for an entire BS. The component model is an essential step in analysis but is too complex for many applications. It is therefore abstracted into a much simpler parameterized model to reduce its complexity. The parameterized model is further simplified into an affine model which can be applied in power minimization. Second, Power Control (PC) and Discontinuous Transmission (DTX) are identified as promising power-saving Radio Resource Management (RRM) mechanisms and applied to multi-user downlink transmission. PC reduces the power consumption of the Power Amplifier (PA) and is found to be most effective at high traffic loads. DTX mostly reduces the power consumption of the Baseband (BB) unit while interrupting transmission and is better applied in low traffic loads. Joint optimization of these two techniques is found to enable additional power-saving at medium traffic loads and to be a convex problem which can be solved efficiently. The convex problem is extended to provide a comprehensive power-saving Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) frame resource scheduler. The proposed scheduler is shown to reduce power consumption by 25-40% in computer simulations, depending on the traffic load. Finally, the thesis investigates the influence of interference on power consumption in a network of multiple power-saving BSs. It discusses three popular alternative distributed uncoordinated methods which align DTX mode between neighbouring BSs. To address drawbacks of these three, a fourth memory-based DTX alignment method is proposed. It decreases power consumption by up to 40% and retransmission probability by around 20%, depending on the traffic load.