Shape, texture, and angularity are among the properties of aggregates that have a significant effect on the performance of hot-mix asphalt, hydraulic cement concrete, and unbound base and subbase layers. Consequently, there is a need to develop methods that can quantify aggregate shape properties rapidly and accurately. In this study, an improved version of the Aggregate Imaging System (AIMS) was developed to measure the shape characteristics of both fine and coarse aggregates. Improvements were made in the design of the hardware and software components of AIMS to enhance its operational characteristics, reduce human errors, and enhance the automation of test procedure. AIMS was compared against other test methods that have been used for measuring aggregate shape characteristics. The comparison was conducted based on statistical analysis of the accuracy, repeatability, reproducibility, cost, and operational characteristics (e.g. ease of use and interpretation of the results) of these tests. Aggregates that represent a wide range of geographic locations, rock type, and shape characteristics were used in this evaluation. The comparative analysis among the different test methods was conducted using the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP). AHP is a process of developing a numerical score to rank test methods based on how each method meets certain criteria of desirable characteristics. The outcomes of the AHP analysis clearly demonstrated the advantages of AIMS over other test methods as a unified system for measuring the shape characteristics of both fine and coarse aggregates. A new aggregate classification methodology based on the distribution of their shape characteristics was developed in this study. This methodology offers several advantages over current methods used in practice. It is based on the distribution of shape characteristics rather than average indices of these characteristics. The coarse aggregate form is determined based on three-dimensional analysis of particles. The fundamental gradient and wavelet methods are used to quantify angularity and surface texture, respectively. The classification methodology can be used for the development of aggregate shape specifications.

Over the past decades, the development of Taiwan semiconductor industry has been based on the list of scientific and technological power. Early in this process, the required technologies, machines and equipments, most of them rely on the introduction of domestic agents. However, with changes in the industry, market size has become larger, many new agents set up new company to compete authorities of new products agency. Case company is also a trend to follow the ensuing wave of growth, and introduce many IC packaging and testing equipments to many customers throughout all of Taiwan's packaging and testing companies. On IC inspection and handler machines, case company win more than ninety percent market share. With the entire package and testing market maturity, as well as many competitors to join, resulting in agential commission income decreased. At the national policy, the government started to encourage domestic manufacturers to develop and produce equipment to enhance industrial competitiveness. In order to meet the market demand, case company used the original equipment to be modified and carried out the development of new machine. The entire project lasted for two years, although the final outcome did not succeed, but the course of events revealed some clues. It is worth follow-up reference. In this study, a tool for organizational learning - learning history is used for the entire research and analysis. The results of this study found many key factors of R&D development on semiconductor back end automation equipment agent. 1. Agents to develop R&D are among the first to face two different types of business. 2. Agents that attach more importance to short-term interests. 3. The main work culture of agents- business-oriented. 4. The active involvement of executives. 5. The work style of agents is partial bottom-up and form small groups. 6. The rule of man's management style. 7. Emphasis on avoiding conflict and cultural harmony. These key factors are usually associated with the company's culture and management model. In order to develop R&D, agents need to clarify these fundamental issues and a consensus. Looking forward to the results of this study can be helpful for agents of Taiwan semiconductor back end automation equipment.

Beside all the technical challenges concerning sensor quality and control algorithms one of the main issues related to the introduction of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) constitutes the human-machine interaction. This covers not only the physical interface between the driver and the system but also the understanding and cognitive model the driver needs to operate the system. The explorative analysis of a long-term field study of the use of ACC, was aimed at identifying characteristics of the learning process and their potential implications for conceptualising novel displays to increase, particularly in the early phases, usability and safety of the system through the adaptation of information to the drivers. The analysis of the learning aspects derived from drivers’ interaction with the system enabled the identification of learning aims for the usage of an ACC system and an objective classification of observable behaviours from which different levels of skill can be interpreted. It was concluded that by responding to the difficulties met by users in the actual situation and by adapting the information to the drivers’ experience, drivers’ learning progress could be accelerated through better comprehensibility and predictability of the system. To this aim, two innovative help-systems were conceived, implemented and evaluated in terms of drivers driving behaviour and interactions with the ACC system, in the BMW fixed-base driving simulator. A learn-adaptive, multi-modal, on-line tutor system that covered interactions with the system at every level of the driving task (Reichart, 2001) for which learning must be effectuated, was tested with 11 participants. A personalised learning model of the driver was used to relate the drivers’ prior usage of the system and his situational experience, to give the driver additional advice and explanation in order to shorten the learning period. A main effect was found between the experimental groups’ understanding of the system and in participants’ ability to predict when to reclaim control of the system, as measured by the reduction in unnecessary interventions and reduced number of panic reactions. The use of cognitive apprenticeship methods (Cognition and Technology Group at Vanderbilt, 1993) on an online adaptation of feedback showed a positive influence on the learning process, increasing the speed of the learning process towards the acquisition of skill. The second experiment’s objective was to develop an interface that most effectively helped drivers learn to predict the need to reclaim control and the appropriate sensitivity of response in take-over situations. Drivers interactions with a didactic, two-step warning display, based on a time algorithm that was personalised to drivers maximum preferred deceleration level, was tested with 24 participants. Display effects were observed in time-to-collision, reaction times, the number of false alarms (unnecessary driver interventions) and misses (collision or near collisions). Significant differences were also found in distance error, adequate deceleration rates, panic braking and reaction times on the peripheral detection task. These results were also largely supported by the subjective measures. The proposed concepts have shown methods of reducing the ADAS learning phase and accelerating drivers behaviour to a skill level. The theoretical and empirical work described in this thesis plays an important role in deriving recommendations for systems that reduce the amount of learning demand on the driver and eliminates learnability issues that can lead to safety-critical traffic situations.

ZigBee home automation systems have been around for years. They include smart energy efficient wireless systems that connect devices via mesh networking. It has always been a problem to connect to these ZigBee nodes with existing technologies we use daily. The premise of this project is to provide easy access to these nodes via near field communication, which is a technology that is available on a majority of smart phones today. The report details the design and implementation of N2Z, a device that translates data provided by an Android app through a NFC interface to a ZigBee device and vice- versa. We first discuss the requirements and use cases for the device and application. Then the report goes on to discuss the base technologies behind N2Z, which include the Android platform, Near Field Communication (NFC) & the ZigBee platform. The report then goes on to discuss the design and implementation of the system. Consequently, we discuss the final results of the system with certain use cases and provide some empirical data that gives us insight into system operation. Next we discuss other existing technologies that exist in the market. Finally we conclude the report with a discussion on future work and thoughts on the future of ZigBee. / text

Process Automation Systems’ design, selection, planning and implementation play a contributing role in achieving success in Industrial Megaprojects within the Oil and Gas Industry. Process Automation Systems represent only 8% - 10% of the total installed cost in capital projects, but the reliability and performance of Process Automation Systems are fundamental factors to ensure the operability and safety of new plants within the oil and gas industry. Recent studies show an increasing number of Industrial Megaprojects in execution during the last decade, a better understanding of the real impact that these projects can bring to our societies, the complexity of these endeavors and the likelihood of having more megaprojects being approved during the next 20 years in the global market. It is pleasant to hear that there are favorable conditions present in the industry to promote and execute capital projects, but there is an alarming rate at which these capital projects overrun schedules and budgets. Project execution key performance indicators such as cost growth, cost index, schedule index, schedule slippage and operability index often applied to measure the success of Megaprojects, should be carefully followed by project management teams, during the implementation of Process Automation Systems. In the oil and gas industry megaprojects are executed in a stage gated work process typically divided into phases with a pause for assessment and decision about whether to proceed. The gate assessments examine both economic/business and technical aspects of the project, to make decisions to stop, recycle or proceed. The purpose of this research is to identify practices in a stage gated work process approach (FEL Front End Loading) to increase the probability of success in Process Automation Systems implementation given complexity factors in Industrial Megaprojects. / text

published_or_final_version / Industrial and Manufacturing Systems Engineering / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

The diffusion of sales force automation (SFA) systems has enabled a far more systematic approach to sales force management. This opens new avenues for the academic study of the industrial selling process as well: new arenas for investigation, new windows into salesperson behavior, and new methodological pitfalls. The purpose of this dissertation is to develop a better understanding of SFA from an academic perspective, and then apply these insights to resolve gaps in our understanding of how sales forces behave and how they might be better managed. To do this, three areas of analysis are explored: methodological, behavioral, and theoretical.

A persistent problem among researchers in office automation has been the absence of a comprehensive theory of office information systems. Commercial software such as spreadsheet and financial packages provide only limited support for tasks such as developing balance sheets and income statements. It also supports only limited software integration, usually at the interface and data levels. A model of an office is proposed as a basis for developing integrated office systems. Prior approaches to this problem have been mostly limited to only one or two aspects of the office with the exclusion of others. These approaches have been characterized as forms, data, information, procedural, functional, communication, and decision oriented. The integrated model synthesizes these different views of the office. The proposed model consists of macroscopic and microscopic components. The macroscopic structure is modelled with a semantic network which describes how "functions" of the office are related to one another. The lower level component of the model consists of "procedures" which support the functions described by the functional structure. These procedures use utilities and tools at a lower level of accomplishing standard operations. Thus support for functions is provided through procedures which rely on utilities at a lower level. The model is operationalized with a knowledge base/database containing the necessary knowledge/data for accomplishing the functions and procedures. Detailed designs of the components of the architecture are presented. A prototype based on the design has been implemented in Prolog. The contribution of the dissertation has five dimensions: these are the literature review, the office study, the conceptual model, and a prototype office system. The literature review provides a clarification of concepts and identification of research problems. The office study contributes to a better understanding of analyzing offices from the point of view of modelling. The conceptual model is a good starting point for designing and developing integrated office systems. The prototype system demonstrates the feasibility of the model for developing an integrated office system.

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As electronics and appliances in the home continue to evolve, wireless networks that can monitor and control these are becoming more prevalent. Development platforms for technologies like RF4CE and ZigBee are becoming more available but can still be costly for a complete platform that supports interoperable devices with public ZigBee profiles. This paper details the design and implementation of a ZigBee Home Automation network using free tools on a low cost ZigBee development platform. The platform utilizes a dedicated processor for the ZigBee stack with SPI, UART, and USB interface, allowing the application code that was developed to be integrated into a wide variety of environments. / text