This thesis contributes to the research issue pertaining to the management of multiple energy sources on-board a pure electric vehicle; particularly the energy dense traction battery and the power dense supercapacitor or ultracapacitor. This is achieved by analysing real world drive data on the interaction between lead acid battery pack and supercapacitor module connected in parallel while trying to fulfil the load demands of the vehicle. The initial findings and performance of a prototype electric vehicle conversion of a famous Malaysian city car; the perodual kancil, is presented in this thesis. The 660 cc compact city car engine was replaced with a brushless DC motor rated at 8KW continuous and 20KW peak. The battery pack consists of eight T105 Trojan 6V, 225 Ah deep cycle lead acid battery which builds up a voltage of 48V. In addition to this, a supercapacitor module (165F, 48V) is connected in parallel using high power contactors in order to investigate the increase in performance criteria such as acceleration, range, battery life etc. which have been proven in various literatures via simulation studies. A data acquisition system is setup in order to collect real world driving data from the electric vehicle on the fly along a fixed route. Analysis of collected driving data is done using MATLAB software and comparison of performance of the electric vehicle with and without supercapacitor module is made. Results show that with a parallel connection, battery life and health is enhanced by reduction in peak currents of up to 49%. Peak power capabilities of the entire hybrid source increased from 9.5KW to 12.5KW. A 41% increase in range per charge was recorded. The author of this work hopes that by capitalizing on the natural peak power buffering capabilities of the supercapacitor, a cost effective energy management system can be designed in order to utilize more than 23.6% of the supercapacitor energy.

Embodied Cognition accounts propose that motor activation contributes to semantic representations in action language (Fischer & Zwaan, 2008). However, the nature of this activation remains largely unspecified: in particular, which processes result in relevant activation? Long-term motor experience (e.g., the comprehender’s dominant hand), short-term motor experience (e.g., the hand the comprehender has recently used), and action planning (e.g., the hand the comprehender is planning to use) are all potential candidates. This thesis uses a range of psycholinguistic methods (e.g., timed sentence-picture matching, two-alternative forced-choice sentence-picture matching, spoken sensibility judgements) to distinguish between these possibilities. A first set of experiments investigated how comprehenders’ handedness affects their interpretation of sentences describing manual actions (e.g., I am slicing the tomato). Participants matched sentences of actions to pictures of that action. The Body-Specificity Hypothesis (Casasanto, 2009; Willems, Hagoort, & Casasanto, 2010) predicts that right-handed and left-handed comprehenders will interpret manual action sentences differently, according to whether they would perform that action with their right or their left hand. However, we found that comprehenders appear to interpret manual action sentences according to the hand they use to respond to the task, and not the hand they would typically use to perform manual actions. In addition, this effect was stronger for first-person than third-person sentences, implying that the effect of motor activation is moderated by linguistic context. A second set of experiments used the same paradigm but manipulated at what point comprehenders knew which hand they would use to respond to the sentences: during sentence processing, or after sentence processing was complete. We replicated the finding that comprehenders interpret manual action sentences according to their response hand, and that this effect was stronger for first- than for third-person sentences; but only when comprehenders knew their response hand during sentence processing. In both sets of experiments, there was no effect of whether the picture of the action was presented from an egocentric or allocentric perspective, implying that action sentences are encoded for what effector (in this case, hand) will be used in the action, but not necessarily from what perspective the action will occur. A third set of experiments investigated the existence of a causal role of action planning-based activation on sentence processing. Many studies have shown an effect of language processing on action execution (e.g., Glenberg & Kaschak, 2002; Glenberg et al., 2008), but a fully embodied theory of language also predicts an effect of motor activation on language processing. Here, right-handed participants made spoken judgements about sentences while planning an action with their right or left hand that matched or did not match the action described in the sentence. An effect of response hand on accuracy was found when the task required participants to explicitly judge the congruency of sentence and the action they were preparing, but not otherwise. These results corroborate recent research suggesting that activation of embodied lexical representations may be goal-driven rather than an automatic aspect of language processing (Hoedemaker & Gordon, 2013). Overall, the experiments presented in this thesis suggest a possible role for planning-based motor activation in sentence processing, in line with embodied approaches; however, the results challenge strong accounts of embodiment by suggesting that the effect of planning-based activation is not automatic, and is moderated by linguistic context and task demands.

The thesis introduces the user to programming in Simscape language. A permanent magnet synchronous machine torque control drive system for hybrid electric vehicles has been analyzed, programmed, using Simscape language, and tested in this thesis. The thesis walks the reader through the process of creating custom components in Simscape language explaining details and syntax of the language at every step. Important excerpts of code for all the components designed, created and used in the process are explained in the thesis and the complete code for the same is provided in the Appendix. ix

Thesis (MScPhysio (Physiotherapy))--University of Stellenbosch, 2010. / Information on the normal gross motor skills in a healthy population is important since normative data provides a benchmark for health professionals to evaluate deviations from the norm. The Alberta Infant Motor Scale (AIMS) was developed to assist with the motor assessment of young infants from birth through to independent walking. The validation of the Canadian cohort for the AIMS needs to be done with regards to infants in South Africa (Cape Town), before it can be utilised by health professionals working in Paediatric Health Care. To determine if the Canadian norms for the AIMS are valid for infants aged 4 - 18 months within the Cape Metropole, South Africa. A prospective descriptive study was conducted to validate the AIMS. A total of 67 infants from one private and one public institution participated in the study. Infants were assessed at 4, 8, 12 and 18 months of age with the AIMS. Results were analysed using ANOVA and t-tests to determine the relationship between age, ethnicity, gender and clinics.The AIMS gross motor scores of this sample of infants were not significantly different from the Canadian norms, bar at 4 months. Female infants performed significantly (p<0.05) better than males at four months. It was not possible to convert the 18 month old infants‟ raw scores into percentile rankings and therefore it could not be compared to the Canadian norms. The results yielded from this study indicate that the AIMS is a valid assessment tool for healthy infants from 8 - 12 months of age within the Cape Metropole, South Africa, however, care should be taken when infants‟ scores at 4 months are compared to the scores of the normative sample. The AIMS can therefore be used by health care professionals at the Baby Well clinics in the Cape Metropole to assess gross motor development in infants for this age group and can consequently refer infants who may display delays in motor development to appropriate paediatric specialists. The results from this pilot study also make provision for future in-depth research on the AIMS with a larger cohort and with more ethnic diversity.

This thesis investigates the development of structural health monitoring systems (SHM) for aerospace applications. The work focuses on each aspect of a SHM system covering novel transducer technologies and damage detection techniques to detect and locate damage in metallic and composite structures. Secondly the potential of energy harvesting and power arranagement methodologies to provide a stable power source is assessed. Finally culminating in the realisation of smart SHM structures. 1. Transducer Technology A thorough experimental study of low profile, low weight novel transducers not normally used for acoustic emission (AE) and acousto-ultrasonics (AU) damage detection was conducted. This included assessment of their performance when exposed to aircraft environments and feasibility of embedding these transducers in composites specimens in order to realise smart structures. 2. Damage Detection An extensive experimental programme into damage detection utilising AE and AU were conducted in both composites and metallic structures. These techniques were used to assess different damage mechanism within these materials. The same transducers were used for novel AE location techniques coupled with AU similarity assessment to successfully detect and locate damage in a variety of structures. 3. Energy Harvesting and Power Management Experimental investigations and numerical simulations were undertaken to assess the power generation levels of piezoelectric and thermoelectric generators for typical vibration and temperature differentials which exist in the aerospace environment. Furthermore a power management system was assessed to demonstrate the ability of the system to take the varying nature of the input power and condition it to a stable power source for a system. 4. Smart Structures The research conducted is brought together into a smart carbon fibre wing showcasing the novel embedded transducers for AE and AU damage detection and location, as well as vibration energy harvesting. A study into impact damage detection using the techniques showed the successful detection and location of damage. Also the feasibility of the embedded transducers for power generation was assessed.

A parallelisation of the fully-implicit fractional step based in-house DNS code was implemented. Utilising this, DNS of streamwise travelling waves of spanwise wall velocity in a turbulent channel flow were performed at Reτ = 200; 400; 800 and 1600, scaling the input parameters in wall units. Studying the drag reduction at varying Reynolds number showed that the maximum drag reduction decreased as Re was increased. The scaling with Reynolds number was dependent on the control parameters and therefore the optimal parameters changed with Re. An oscillation in the drag reduction over the forcing period was observed and associated with strong variations in the turbulent statistics, angling of the streaks and coherent structures, and the deterioration of the drag reduction. The conditionally averaged λ2 structures were found and behaved differently depending on the sign of the vorticity. This included a strong angling of the structure which rotated in agreement with the wall velocity, and this angle reduced over the half- period. The λ2 structures were moved away from the wall over the period, a feature also visible in the variation of the vorticity fluctuations. The relationship between the drag reduction and the extrema of the turbulent profiles were compared, and showed a good correlation between the maximum of the v rms profile and the DR achieved. This was seen to be independent of Reynolds number when the maximum v rms of the no control flow was subtracted. The variation of the power spent and net power saving with Reynolds number was also studied. The power spent scaled well with Reτ-0.16, and the net power saving scaled differently depending on the control parameters used. Although the maximum value was reduced as the Reynolds number increased.

Environmental legislation is driving research into new technologies for future automotive products. Electric vehicle technologies have the potential to meet these legislative requirements, but are currently restricted by cost implications. This work focuses on the potential for offsetting this cost against potential benefits of the technology. In particular, the application of a motor at each wheel, facilitating Independent Wheel Control (IWC). A scale model vehicle is incorporated into a Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) simulation for the application of developing IWC strategies. The model uses four motors, each driving a single wheel in order to effect this control. Control strategies are 'rapid prototyped' in MathWorks Simulink™ using an industrial standard tool, dSPACE™, to operate the strategies in real-time HIL simulation. The application of a control strategy, representative of a conventional 4x4 behaviour, incorporating a lockable centre differential is applied. Shaft compliance is modelled in order to provide a test of the system operation with a transient dynamic response. Stability issues raised through this application are related to signal processing. An estimator is devised in software to overcome these issues, producing a stable system response. The work concludes that the use of a physical scale model for the development of IWC strategies is inappropriate in the context of supporting the development of a full-scale vehicle due to the complexity of reproducing a scaled tyre. However, in a broader sense, the approach of utilising a physical model has demonstrated significant benefits in promoting the concept of lWC within an industrial organisation, and in assisting product development.

Rover Group had began to address product quality in the 1980's, by collaborating with the Honda Motor Company, and commencing a "Total Quality Improvement - TQI" initiative. Whilst delivering initial improvement, it was not considered to be sufficient to sustain an organisational culture of ongoing improvement activity within the business. A five year quality strategy was created, which identified improvement milestones for each of the key business processes that drive Rover Group. A significant deployment of the quality strategy is represented by Rover's new product introduction process, which led to the creation of Project Management Policy (PMP), and a series of processes constructed as a framework known as Common Business Environment (CBE). Implementation of PMP is achieved by the mandatory requirement for new product teams to conform to the "six quality and reliability prescriptives", which are measured by adoption of a team-based self assessment process and senior management review. The Rover Group Quality Strategy demonstrates innovation in the conceptual model designed for its initial creation, and the deployment process by application of Group Judgement Theory, and the Japanese technique of "Hoshin Kanri" policy deployment. This represents a significant contribution towards the achievement of improved business results by Rover Group in aspects of product development lead time and quality.

Minimisation of the mass of aerospace structures has been investigated by researchers and designers for many years. It is an efficient means to reduce the manufacturing costs, fuel consumption and environmental impact. To achieve this objective, high performance composite materials and optimised configurations are utilised in modern aircraft design. Additionally, use of the postbuckling reserve of strength has been considered during the preliminary design stage to obtain more efficient structures. The exact strip analysis and optimum design software VICONOPT has been developed and used in postbuckling analysis. VICONOPT is able to give a good initial evaluation of load versus end shortening when compared with experimental and finite element results. However it provides poor predictions of the stress and strain distributions in the postbuckling range. This is due to its assumptions concerning the longitudinal invariance of stress and the sinusoidal variation of buckling modes in the longitudinal direction. These assumptions are appropriate for initial buckling analysis but they limit the accuracy of subsequent postbuckling analysis. This thesis outlines some developments which improve the existing exact strip postbuckling analysis by improving the accuracy of mode shape prediction and stress and strain distributions. Based on previous research by Von Karman, improved governing equations are derived and solved for general anisotropic plates with different in- plane edge conditions. Implementation of the improved analysis in VICONOPT enhances the accuracy of mode shapes and stress and strain distributions in the postbuckling analysis.

The aim of the thesis is to offer a comprehensive account of the developmental course of hand-mouth (HM) coordination from birth until a mature form of the coordination is attained. Questions relating both to the structure and function of the coordination were addressed. Three studies are reported. The method of observation was the same in each case; video records of two perpendicular views of the infant were obtained and a micro-analysis of movement structure was carried out. The main question addressed in study 1 was whether spontaneous HM contacts in newborns are related to hunger. HM contacts were compared before and after feeding in a group of newborn babies. There was no change in the relative distribution of locations of contacts on the mouth and face before and after feeding, but anticipatory mouth opening prior to HM contacts only occurred before feeding. Study 2 sought to obtain detailed measures of transitions taking place between 1-5 months in the structure of HM coordination, and to investigate what factors could be responsible for the changes observed. A longitudinal design was employed where babies were observed at monthly intervals. A small object was placed in the hands of infants to promote oral contacts. At 4 months of age, contacts began to be centred on the mouth (as opposed to other parts of the face) and the frequency of contacts was significantly higher when the object was present relative to the frequency of spontaneous contacts. Anticipatory mouth opening only occurred at 5 months of age, suggesting that this aspect of the coordination follows a U-shaped developmental trajectory. There was evidence that vision was playing a role in motivating HM contacts by 5 months of age. Consistent individual differences between babies were found in different aspects of HM coordination raising the possibility that more than one developmental route is followed in the achievement of mature HM coordination. Study 3 investigated HM coordination cross-sectionally between the ages of 5-9 months. The possibility that the development of reaching was influencing the development of HM coordination was investigated. Two situations were compared, one where the infant had to reach for an object prior to transportation to the mouth and another where the object was placed in the hand of the infant. Although HM coordination and reaching and grasping were already integrated at 5 months, the two coordinations appear to develop independently of each other. The development of HM coordination was found to be marked by motivational and structural shifts and apparent regressions. The results are interpreted within a dynamic systems view of development.