The product development process for the automotive industry is normally complicated, lengthy, expensive, and risky. Hence, a study on a new concept for Low Volume Automotive Manufacturing (LVAM), used for niche car models manufacturing, is proposed to overcome this issue. The development of a hybrid Knowledge Based (KB) System, which is a blend of KB System, Gauging Absences of Pre-requisites (GAP), and Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) is proposed for LVAM research. The hybrid KB/GAP/AHP System identifies all potential elements of LVAM issues throughout the development of this system. The KB System used in the LVAM analyses the gap between the existing and the benchmark organisations for an effective implementation. The novelty and differences in the current research approach emphasises the use of Knowledge Based (KB) System in the planning and designing stages by suggesting recommendations of LVAM implementation, through: a) developing the conceptual LVAM model; b) designing the KBLVAM System structure based on the conceptual LVAM model; and c) embedding Gauging Absences of Pre-requisites (GAP) analysis and Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) approach in the hybrid KBLVAM System. The KBLVAM Model explores five major perspectives in two stages. Planning Stage (Stage 1) consists of Manufacturer Environment Perspective (Level 0), LVAM Manufacturer Business Perspective (Level 1), and LVAM Manufacturer Resource Perspective (Level 2). Design Stage (Stage 2) consists of LVAM Manufacturer Capability - Car Body Part Manufacturing Perspective (Level 3), LVAM Manufacturer Capability - Competitive Priorities Perspective (Level 4), and LVAM Manufacturer Capability - Lean Process Optimisation Perspective (Level 5). Each of these perspectives consists of modules and sub-modules that represent specific subjects in the LVAM development. Based on the conceptual LVAM model, all perspectives were transformed into the KBLVAM System structure, which is embedded with the GAP and AHP techniques, hence, key areas of potential improvement are recommended for each activity for LVAM implementation. In order to be able to address the real situation of LVAM environment, the research verification was conducted for two automotive manufacturers in Malaysia. Some published case studies were also used to check several modules for their validity and reliability. This research concludes that the developed KBLVAM System provides valuable decision making information and knowledge to assist LVAM practitioners to plan, design and implement LVAM in terms of business organisation, manufacturing aspects and practices.

The complexity of sustainable building maintenance environment requires managers to define and implement appropriate quality benchmark system suitable for this function. Lean Six Sigma (LSS) is one of the most effective process improvement and optimization philosophy that maintenance organisations can implement in their environment. However, literature review has shown that 90% of failures in LSS implementations are due to lack of readiness to change, the unawareness of the required benchmark organisation capabilities, and improper control of priorities. The contribution of the current research approach is in developing a hybrid Knowledge-Based (KB)/GAP/AHP System, consisting of three stages (Planning, Designing and Implementation) and containing over 2500 KB rules. The KB System can assist the decision-makers in identifying the obstacles behind the organisation readiness to change into a benchmark LSS maintenance environment. Thus the KB System will be used to achieve benchmark standards by determining the gap existing between the current environment and the benchmark goal, and then suggest a detailed plan to overcome these hurdles in a prioritised and structured manner, thus achieving cost benefits. To ensure its consistency and reliability, the KB System was validated in three Oman-based maintenance organisations, and one published case study for a UK-based organisation. The results from the validation were positive with the System output suggesting list of top priorities and action plans for achieving benchmark LSS standards for these organisations. The research concludes that the developed KB System is a consistent and reliable methodology for assisting decision-makers in designing, planning, and implementing LSS for benchmark sustainable building maintenance.

It is well known that surface tension of a liquid has a decisive role in flow dynamics and the eventual equilibrium state, especially in confined flows under low gravity conditions and also in free surface flows. One such instance of a combination of these two cases where surface tension plays an important role is in the microgravity environment of a spacecraft propellant tank. In this specific case both propellant acquisition and residual propellant estimation are critical to the mission objectives particularly in the end-of-life phase. While there have been a few studies pertaining to the equilibrium state in given geometric configurations, the transient flow leading to final state from an initial arbitrary distribution of propellant is rarely described. The present study is aimed at analysing the dynamic behaviour of the liquids under reduced gravity through numerical simulation and also addresses the specific case of propellant flow transient in a cone-in-a-sphere type of tank configuration proposed by Lal and Raghunandan which is likely to result in both improved acquisition and life time estimation of spacecraft. While addressing this specific problem, the present work aims to study the transient nature of such surface tension driven flows in a general form as applicable to other similar problems also. Volume of Fluid (VOF) method for multiphase model in ANSYS FLUENT was adapted with suitable changes for generating numerical solutions to this problem. Simulations were run for three different cone angles of 17o, 21o & 28o with a flat liquid surface for full scale models to measure the rise height and time of rise. Two scaled models of ½ and 1/10th of the original dimensions with the same liquid configuration of the 28o cone angle case were simulated to see if the time scales involved would come down for experimental feasibility. A third simulation of the 1/10th scale model was run with the liquid spread in the tank to imitate the general conditions found in the propellant tank in microgravity. To understand the behaviour of liquids in the microgravity state to changing physical parameters, a set of simulations was run using liquid phases as water and hydrazine with different physical parameters of temperature and surface tension. The theory put forward by Lal and Raghunandan was found to stand firm. In the case of the cone angle of 28o it was observed that in the final equilibrium state the liquid collected towards the apex of the cone with the larger volume fraction of liquid accumulating inside the cone. An addition of a cylindrical section at the bottom of the cone seems to help although not uniformly for all case. The equilibrium settling times for all the three cone angle cases were in the order of 300 to 600 seconds for simulations on a spherical tank of diameter two metres which was close to the actual tank dimension used on spacecraft. Scaled down simulations of 1/10th and ½ the tank geometry with both flat liquid surfaces and spread out liquid volumes showed that the smaller models had equilibrium settling times which were considerably lower (in the order of tens of seconds) than the full scale models. Although smaller, these time scales are larger than the maximum time scales available in drop tower tests which provide a maximum free fall time of around 9 to 10 seconds. Validation of the proposed configuration by flying an aircraft in a parabolic flight path is a possibility that could be explored for the scaled down models since the zero-g duration for these flights is on an average between 15-20 seconds.

River discharge estimation is the basic hydrological information for most hydrological applications in various socioeconomic planning. Increasing the accuracy of the traditional rating curve in relation to river discharge estimation would be very valuable to hydrological applications. Suggestions have been made that the traditional power function rating curve should be divided into several segments because this is often motivated by the physical characteristics of the river. Each curve is commonly constructed by regression and each requires 3 estimated parameters. However stage-discharge data is often scarce, and this scarcity could lead to overparametrization and deterioration of accuracy. By constructing many unsegmented and segmented rating curves accounting for measurement uncertainty, the models can be validated, it can be determined if segmented rating curves suffers from overparametrization. The results showed that two-segmented rating curves did not yield better fits to data, and nor did it generate larger errors than unsegmented rating curves in extrapolation. Segmentation only reduced errors in low flow interpolation, when there is a clear segmentation.  It could also be concluded that unsegmented rating curves were slightly more robust when extrapolating. The biggest impact on rating curve errors was shown not to be determined by segmentation, but rather much more dependent on the amount of discharge measurement uncertainty or choice of regression method. With a mean discharge uncertainty of ±5 %, the errors from in high flow was 60 % in interpolation and 35 % in extrapolation. For low flows, the interpolation errors were around 95 % end extrapolation error estimation was 250 %. Conclusions could also be made that the relative errors from rating curves increased with lower discharges. Other important regression factors, such as heteroscedasticity, sometimes showed to have substantial impact on rating curve regressions, generally reduced from 59 % occurrence in unsegmented rating curves to 14-15 % in segmented rating curves. / Uppskattning av vattenflöden i vattendrag är den grundläggande informationen för de flesta hydrologiska applikationer vid olika typer av socioekonomisk planering. Att förbättra noggrannheten i avbördningskurvor då vattenflödet uppskattas vid en mätstation skulle vara värdefullt för de flesta tillämpningar där vattenflöden används. Tidigare studier har föreslagit att avbördningskurvor borde delas upp i flera segment, eftersom vattendrag inte sällan har olika segment med olika fysikaliska karaktärer. Varje segment kräver dock att 2-3 regressionsparametrar bestäms, men flödesmätningar vid olika vattennivåer är ofta få, och knappheten kan göra att en utökad modell blir överparametriserad och än mer osäker.   Genom att konstruera många avbördningskurvor, segmenterade och osegmenterade, kan dessa valideras mot valideringsdata och var det möjligt se om segmenterade avbördningskurvor blev överparametriserade. Studien visade att segmenterade avbördningskurvor vid kalibrering, interpolation och extrapolation generellt inte gav bättre prediktion än osegmenterade avbördningskurvor. Vid låga flöden och tydligt motiverade segmenteringar gav segmenterade avbördningskurvor en bättre interpolation, men dock inte vid extrapolation, vilket är en indikation att segmenterade avbördningskurvor var något överparametriserade. Den största inverkan på att minska felen i avbördningskurvor var var att minska mätosäkerheten i flödesmätningarna. Med en genomsnittlig mätosäkerhet i flödesmätningarna på ±5 % kunde osäkerheten kvantifieras till kring 60 % för interpolerade osegmenterade avbördningskurvor vid höga flöden och kring 95 % vid låga flöden. Variansen var dock stor. Osäkerheten från modellvalideringen av extrapolation för osegmenterade avbördningskurvor vid höga flöden kvantifierades till kring 35 % vid höga flöden och kring 250 % vid låga flöden. Resultaten visade att de relativa felen från avbördningskurvor blev större för ju lägre flödet blir.   Heteroskedastitet, som kan generera osäkerheter i avbördningskurvor, visade sig vara vanligare (59 %) i osegmenterade avbördningskurvor jämfört med segmenterade (14-15 %). Även antalet flödesmätningar hade en betydelse för felen i avbördningskurvor. / Avbördningskurva, icke-linjär regression, flöde, flödesmätning, osäkerhet, validering, hydrologi, överparametrisering, vattenstånd

This thesis concerns the technological processes of machining of thin-walled parts and the modification of said processes in dependence on the following interopera-tive measurement of the real dimensions of these parts. Within the theoretical part a research study of technological possibilities of measuring thin-walled parts and principles of probe programming are presented. In the main practical part of the the-sis a proposal of an experiment is described, which tests the individual technologi-cal steps and their influence on the quality of a prototype of the produced thin-walled part. Numerical (NC) codes are created using parametric programming, which are then used during the realization of the experiment itself. In the conclusi-on there are presented and discussed the results of measuring of the machined surfaces and the influence of correction paths, which should help to achieve a mo-re accurate production according to given dimensions. This experiment, however, has not met the expected results. That is why new procedures have been designed in order to create said paths, which can be used in a future realization of this expe-riment.

This Masters thesis examines the production of a revolver frame and the implementation of a new CAM system for the manufacturing process. This thesis contain four parts. The first part is focused on the current manufacturing process. The second part of the thesis consists of a new proposal to use progressive rotary tools and elements of automation for inspection by the Equator Gauging System. The third part proposes a new manufacturing strategy for the revolver frame. At the end of the thesis, the production times of proposed and current technologies are compared.

The aim of this work is an optimalization of vector contact force sensor properties which prototype is at the moment designed. The principle of sensor is based on transformation active part of sensor using three tensiometers and following value indentification of loading force vector using neuron network. Sensor has a bad sensitivity when axis force load or near to axis of sensor. To solve this problem ''MKP'' model of sensor was used on which suitable optimalization method was applicated. From the result of optimalization modificated sensor will be proposed and will be made a utility verification using neuron network.

This Diploma thesis deals with the design of facilities for measuring wheel alignment and set-up of race car chassis. Two versions of measuring system have been elaborated, each measurement procedure is described. Stress analysis of main parts follow. The last part consists of factors affecting accuracy of measurement.

The term global climate change is omnipresent since the beginning of the last decade. Changes in the global climate are associated with an increase in heavy rainfalls that can cause nearly unpredictable flash floods. Consequently, spatio-temporally high-resolution monitoring of rivers becomes increasingly important. Water gauging stations continuously and precisely measure water levels. However, they are rather expensive in purchase and maintenance and are preferably installed at water bodies relevant for water management. Small-scale catchments remain often ungauged. In order to increase the data density of hydrometric monitoring networks and thus to improve the prediction quality of flood events, new, flexible and cost-effective water level measurement technologies are required. They should be oriented towards the accuracy requirements of conventional measurement systems and facilitate the observation of water levels at virtually any time, even at the smallest rivers. A possible solution is the development of a photogrammetric smartphone application (app) for crowdsourcing water levels, which merely requires voluntary users to take pictures of a river section to determine the water level. Today’s smartphones integrate high-resolution cameras, a variety of sensors, powerful processors, and mass storage. However, they are designed for the mass market and use low-cost hardware that cannot comply with the quality of geodetic measurement technology. In order to investigate the potential for mobile measurement applications, research was conducted on the smartphone as a photogrammetric measurement instrument as part of the doctoral project. The studies deal with the geometric stability of smartphone cameras regarding device-internal temperature changes and with the accuracy potential of rotation parameters measured with smartphone sensors. The results show a high, temperature-related variability of the interior orientation parameters, which is why the calibration of the camera should be carried out during the immediate measurement. The results of the sensor investigations show considerable inaccuracies when measuring rotation parameters, especially the compass angle (errors up to 90° were observed). The same applies to position parameters measured by global navigation satellite system (GNSS) receivers built into smartphones. According to the literature, positional accuracies of about 5 m are possible in best conditions. Otherwise, errors of several 10 m are to be expected. As a result, direct georeferencing of image measurements using current smartphone technology should be discouraged. In consideration of the results, the water gauging app Open Water Levels (OWL) was developed, whose methodological development and implementation constituted the core of the thesis project. OWL enables the flexible measurement of water levels via crowdsourcing without requiring additional equipment or being limited to specific river sections. Data acquisition and processing take place directly in the field, so that the water level information is immediately available. In practice, the user captures a short time-lapse sequence of a river bank with OWL, which is used to calculate a spatio-temporal texture that enables the detection of the water line. In order to translate the image measurement into 3D object space, a synthetic, photo-realistic image of the situation is created from existing 3D data of the river section to be investigated. Necessary approximations of the image orientation parameters are measured by smartphone sensors and GNSS. The assignment of camera image and synthetic image allows for the determination of the interior and exterior orientation parameters by means of space resection and finally the transfer of the image-measured 2D water line into the 3D object space to derive the prevalent water level in the reference system of the 3D data. In comparison with conventionally measured water levels, OWL reveals an accuracy potential of 2 cm on average, provided that synthetic image and camera image exhibit consistent image contents and that the water line can be reliably detected. In the present dissertation, related geometric and radiometric problems are comprehensively discussed. Furthermore, possible solutions, based on advancing developments in smartphone technology and image processing as well as the increasing availability of 3D reference data, are presented in the synthesis of the work. The app Open Water Levels, which is currently available as a beta version and has been tested on selected devices, provides a basis, which, with continuous further development, aims to achieve a final release for crowdsourcing water levels towards the establishment of new and the expansion of existing monitoring networks. / Der Begriff des globalen Klimawandels ist seit Beginn des letzten Jahrzehnts allgegenwärtig. Die Veränderung des Weltklimas ist mit einer Zunahme von Starkregenereignissen verbunden, die nahezu unvorhersehbare Sturzfluten verursachen können. Folglich gewinnt die raumzeitlich hochaufgelöste Überwachung von Fließgewässern zunehmend an Bedeutung. Pegelmessstationen erfassen kontinuierlich und präzise Wasserstände, sind jedoch in Anschaffung und Wartung sehr teuer und werden vorzugsweise an wasserwirtschaftlich-relevanten Gewässern installiert. Kleinere Gewässer bleiben häufig unbeobachtet. Um die Datendichte hydrometrischer Messnetze zu erhöhen und somit die Vorhersagequalität von Hochwasserereignissen zu verbessern, sind neue, kostengünstige und flexibel einsetzbare Wasserstandsmesstechnologien erforderlich. Diese sollten sich an den Genauigkeitsanforderungen konventioneller Messsysteme orientieren und die Beobachtung von Wasserständen zu praktisch jedem Zeitpunkt, selbst an den kleinsten Flüssen, ermöglichen. Ein Lösungsvorschlag ist die Entwicklung einer photogrammetrischen Smartphone-Anwendung (App) zum Crowdsourcing von Wasserständen mit welcher freiwillige Nutzer lediglich Bilder eines Flussabschnitts aufnehmen müssen, um daraus den Wasserstand zu bestimmen. Heutige Smartphones integrieren hochauflösende Kameras, eine Vielzahl von Sensoren, leistungsfähige Prozessoren und Massenspeicher. Sie sind jedoch für den Massenmarkt konzipiert und verwenden kostengünstige Hardware, die nicht der Qualität geodätischer Messtechnik entsprechen kann. Um das Einsatzpotential in mobilen Messanwendungen zu eruieren, sind Untersuchungen zum Smartphone als photogrammetrisches Messinstrument im Rahmen des Promotionsprojekts durchgeführt worden. Die Studien befassen sich mit der geometrischen Stabilität von Smartphone-Kameras bezüglich geräteinterner Temperaturänderungen und mit dem Genauigkeitspotential von mit Smartphone-Sensoren gemessenen Rotationsparametern. Die Ergebnisse zeigen eine starke, temperaturbedingte Variabilität der inneren Orientierungsparameter, weshalb die Kalibrierung der Kamera zum unmittelbaren Messzeitpunkt erfolgen sollte. Die Ergebnisse der Sensoruntersuchungen zeigen große Ungenauigkeiten bei der Messung der Rotationsparameter, insbesondere des Kompasswinkels (Fehler von bis zu 90° festgestellt). Selbiges gilt auch für Positionsparameter, gemessen durch in Smartphones eingebaute Empfänger für Signale globaler Navigationssatellitensysteme (GNSS). Wie aus der Literatur zu entnehmen ist, lassen sich unter besten Bedingungen Lagegenauigkeiten von etwa 5 m erreichen. Abseits davon sind Fehler von mehreren 10 m zu erwarten. Infolgedessen ist von einer direkten Georeferenzierung von Bildmessungen mittels aktueller Smartphone-Technologie abzusehen. Unter Berücksichtigung der gewonnenen Erkenntnisse wurde die Pegel-App Open Water Levels (OWL) entwickelt, deren methodische Entwicklung und Implementierung den Kern der Arbeit bildete. OWL ermöglicht die flexible Messung von Wasserständen via Crowdsourcing, ohne dabei zusätzliche Ausrüstung zu verlangen oder auf spezifische Flussabschnitte beschränkt zu sein. Datenaufnahme und Verarbeitung erfolgen direkt im Feld, so dass die Pegelinformationen sofort verfügbar sind. Praktisch nimmt der Anwender mit OWL eine kurze Zeitraffersequenz eines Flussufers auf, die zur Berechnung einer Raum-Zeit-Textur dient und die Erkennung der Wasserlinie ermöglicht. Zur Übersetzung der Bildmessung in den 3D-Objektraum wird aus vorhandenen 3D-Daten des zu untersuchenden Flussabschnittes ein synthetisches, photorealistisches Abbild der Aufnahmesituation erstellt. Erforderliche Näherungen der Bildorientierungsparameter werden von Smartphone-Sensoren und GNSS gemessen. Die Zuordnung von Kamerabild und synthetischem Bild erlaubt die Bestimmung der inneren und äußeren Orientierungsparameter mittels räumlichen Rückwärtsschnitt. Nach Rekonstruktion der Aufnahmesituation lässt sich die im Bild gemessene 2D-Wasserlinie in den 3D-Objektraum projizieren und der vorherrschende Wasserstand im Referenzsystem der 3D-Daten ableiten. Im Soll-Ist-Vergleich mit konventionell gemessenen Pegeldaten zeigt OWL ein erreichbares Genauigkeitspotential von durchschnittlich 2 cm, insofern synthetisches und reales Kamerabild einen möglichst konsistenten Bildinhalt aufweisen und die Wasserlinie zuverlässig detektiert werden kann. In der vorliegenden Dissertation werden damit verbundene geometrische und radiometrische Probleme ausführlich diskutiert sowie Lösungsansätze, auf der Basis fortschreitender Entwicklungen von Smartphone-Technologie und Bildverarbeitung sowie der zunehmenden Verfügbarkeit von 3D-Referenzdaten, in der Synthese der Arbeit vorgestellt. Mit der gegenwärtig als Betaversion vorliegenden und auf ausgewählten Geräten getesteten App Open Water Levels wurde eine Basis geschaffen, die mit kontinuierlicher Weiterentwicklung eine finale Freigabe für das Crowdsourcing von Wasserständen und damit den Aufbau neuer und die Erweiterung bestehender Monitoring-Netzwerke anstrebt.

The aim of the work is to compare different ways of measuring geometric parametrs of railway track and compare methods for guidance automatic tamping machine in estabilishing the geometrical parameters of the selected track section between train stations Brodek u Přerova - Grygov. The work contains a description of the superstructure gauging carriage and measuring system APK, whose data were used to compare the track geometry and its spatial position during the observation period. Conclusion of the work includes an assessement of individual measurements and recommendations for practise.