Thesis (M.Sc.)--York University, 2007. Graduate Programme in Computer Science and Engineering. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 137-141). Also available on the Internet. MODE OF ACCESS via web browser by entering the following URL: http://gateway.proquest.com/openurl?url_ver=Z39.88-2004&res_dat=xri:pqdiss&rft_val_fmt=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:dissertation&rft_dat=xri:pqdiss:MR38839

No description available.

Thesis (Honors)--University of South Florida, 2008. / Title from cover. "April 24, 2008." Includes bibliographical references (p. 41).

Thesis (M.S.)--Florida State University, 2004. / Advisor: Dr. Patrick Hollis, Florida State University, College of Engineering, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering. Title and description from dissertation home page (viewed June 18, 2004). Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph.D.) -- University of Texas at Arlington, 2008.

No description available.

Society has an every increasing thirst for electrical energy; this is only set to increase as the 21st Century progresses. In order to sustain this increasing demand, the power industry needs to consider a number of factors; adding generation capacity and maintaining the transmission and distribution networks that connect the producers to the consumers. This work focuses on the development of systems to aid maintenance operations. Parts of the transmission network in the UK date back to the 1950's and 60's, consisting of over 22,500 circuit km of overhead lines. The monitoring of this network is a significant ongoing task and needs to locate potential problems prior to failure. Numerous assessment techniques are presented in literature which discuss the examination of line components from the air or ground using the visual, infra-red or ultra-violet spectrums. Of particular interest in this work is the live-line inspection of composite insulators; thereby aligning with other ongoing work at The University of Manchester. While existing techniques have proved adequate to date, not all insulator surfaces can be appropriately seen. The ideal solution would be a device capable of photographing all insulator surfaces from a camera mounted on the insulator itself. While a number of live-line robotic systems are both in development and use around the world, operation and performance information is lacking; possibly due to commercial sensitivity issues. This work aims to clarify this situation, in particular focusing on the nature of broadband communication from, and survivability of complex electronics in areas of intense electric field strength and partial discharges. These areas are explored through the development of a technology demonstrator, a robot capable of imaging composite insulator surfaces in real-time and transmitting them to a ground station. Knowledge gained can then be adapted to create systems for other high-voltage monitoring situations. A systems level approach is taken whereby the technology demonstrator is divided into its constituent functional components. The requirements of each are assessed and research and development needs are detailed. Literature is reviewed to collate existing knowledge and enable comparison with the envisaged requirements. Prototype systems are developed to test the selected communication mechanism under high voltage conditions, while designs are created and fabricated for imaging and mechanical needs. The separate systems are then combined into the technology demonstrator and examined as a single unit under energised conditions. The author presents extensive results on the capability and nature of broadband radio frequency communication from areas of high electric field strength and partial discharges. They show that high data rates from such environments is possible up to a certain point at which high enhanced shield and antenna protection needs to be considered. They additionally demonstrate the transmission of live video from an energised composite insulator. This knowledge can be used to both improve the current system and as a basis to create additional monitoring solutions for high voltage situations. As such a new method of electric field distribution assessment is proposed.

To hasten the process of saving lives after disasters in urban areas, autonomous robots are being looked to for providing mapping, hazard identification and casualty location. These robots need to maximise time in the field without having to recharge and without reducing productivity. This project aims to improve autonomous robot navigation through allowing comparison of algorithms with various weightings, in conjunction with the ability to vary physical parameters of the robot and other factors such as error thresholds/limits. The lack of a priori terrain data in disaster sites, means that robots have to dynamically create a representation of the terrain from received sensor range-data in order to path plan. To reduce the resources used, the affect of input data on the terrain model is analysed such that some points may be culled. The issues of identifying hazards within these models are considered with respect to the effect on safe navigation. A modular open-source platform has been created which allows the automated running of experimental trials in conjunction with the implementation and use of other input types, node networks, or algorithms. Varying the terrains, obstacles, initial positions and goals, which a virtual robot is tasked with navigating means that the design, and hence performance, are not tailored to individual situations. Additionally, this demonstrates the variability of scenarios possible. This combination of features allows one to identify the effects of different design decisions, while the use of a game-like graphical interface allows users to readily view and comprehend the scenarios the robot encounters and the paths produced to traverse these environments. The initially planned focus of experimentation lay in testing different algorithms and various weightings, however this was expanded to include different implementations and factors of the input collection, terrain modelling and robot movement. Across a variety of terrain scenarios, the resultant paths and status upon trial completion were analysed and displayed to allow observations to be made. It was found that the path planning algorithms are of less import than initially believed, with other facets of the robotic system having equally significant roles in producing quality paths through a hazardous environment. For fixed view robots, like the choice used in this simulator, it was found that there were issues of incompatibility with A* based algorithms, as the algorithm’s expected knowledge of the areas in all directions regardless of present orientation, and hence they did not perform as they are intended. It is suggested that the behaviour of such algorithms be modified if they are to be used with fixed view systems, in order to gather sufficient data from the surroundings to operate correctly and find paths in difficult terrains. A simulation tool such as this, enables the process of design and testing to be completed with greater ease, and if one can restrain the number of parameters varied, then also with more haste. These benefits will make this simulation tool a valuable addition to the field of USAR research.

Thesis (M. Sc.)--University of Alberta, 2009. / Title from pdf file main screen (viewed on Dec. 23, 2009). "A thesis submitted to the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Alberta." Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2003. / Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 68-69). Also available on the Internet.