Techn. Hochsch., Diss., 2002--Aachen.

Zugl.: Hagen, Fernuniv., Diss., 2007

Universiẗat, Diss., 2001--Bonn.

Stuttgart, Univ., Studienarb., 2004.

This research is focused on the integration problem of process planning and scheduling in steel heat treatment operations environment using artificial intelligent techniques that are capable of dealing with such problems. This work addresses the issues involved in developing a suitable methodology for scheduling heat treatment operations of steel. Several intelligent algorithms have been developed for these propose namely, Genetic Algorithm (GA), Sexual Genetic Algorithm (SGA), Genetic Algorithm with Chromosome differentiation (GACD), Age Genetic Algorithm (AGA), and Mimetic Genetic Algorithm (MGA). These algorithms have been employed to develop an efficient intelligent algorithm using Algorithm Portfolio methodology. After that all the algorithms have been tested on two types of scheduling benchmarks. To apply these algorithms on heat treatment scheduling, a furnace model is developed for optimisation proposes. Furthermore, a system that is capable of selecting the optimal heat treatment regime is developed so the required metal properties can be achieved with the least energy consumption and the shortest time using Neuro-Fuzzy (NF) and Particle Swarm Optimisation (PSO) methodologies. Based on this system, PSO is used to optimise the heat treatment process by selecting different heat treatment conditions. The selected conditions are evaluated so the best selection can be identified. This work addresses the issues involved in developing a suitable methodology for developing an NF system and PSO for mechanical properties of the steel. Using the optimisers, furnace model and heat treatment system model, the intelligent system model is developed and implemented successfully. The results of this system were exciting and the optimisers were working correctly.

Die zuverlässige Einhaltung von Lieferzusagen stellt ein wichtiges Kriterium bei der Auswahl der Teilnehmer eines auftragsbezogenen Produktionsnetzes dar. Für die objektive Bewertung der Lieferzuverlässigkeit der potenziellen Netzwerkteilnehmer bedarf es der Quantifizierung der relevanten Unsicherheiten integriert in einen allgemein gültigen Ansatz der Verfügbarkeitsprüfung. Die Arbeit stellt daraus resultierend Ansätze zur Berechnung der Unsicherheit vor. Durch die Quantifizierung der Unsicherheit innerhalb der Unternehmen ergibt sich zudem die Möglichkeit der flexiblen, situationsabhängigen Nutzung des für langfristige Rahmenverträge reservierten Sicherheitsbestandes zur Befriedigung kurzfristiger Anfragen. Diese Aufgabe unterstützt ein konfigurierbares Modell zur Entscheidungsunterstützung, das auf einem Neuro-Fuzzy-System basiert. Die Kennzahlen der Lieferzuverlässigkeit unterliegen einem dynamischen Verhalten während des Wertschöpfungsprozesses in dem auftragsbasierten Produktionsnetz. Durch die Integration dieser Kennzahlen in das Management dieses Prozesses ergibt sich die Möglichkeit, aus der Zunahme der Unsicherheit mögliche Störungen und deren Auswirkungen bereits vor ihrem Eintreten zu erfassen und im Rahmen eines präventiven Störungsmanagements zu agieren.

The subject of this thesis is to develop a temporal neuro-fuzzy system for fore- casting the future behavior of a multivariate time series data. The system has two components combined by means of a system interface. First, a rule extraction method is designed which is named Fuzzy MAR (Multivari- ate Auto-regression). The method produces the temporal relationships between each of the variables and past values of all variables in the multivariate time series system in the form of fuzzy rules. These rules may constitute the rule-base in a fuzzy expert system. Second, a temporal neuro-fuzzy system which is named ANFIS unfolded in - time is designed in order to make the use of fuzzy rules, to provide an environment that keeps temporal relationships between the variables and to forecast the future behavior of data. The rule base of ANFIS unfolded in time contains temporal TSK(Takagi-Sugeno-Kang) fuzzy rules. In the training phase, Back-propagation learning algorithm is used. The system takes the multivariate data and the num- ber of lags needed which are the output of Fuzzy MAR in order to describe a variable and predicts the future behavior. Computer simulations are performed by using synthetic and real multivariate data and a benchmark problem (Gas Furnace Data) used in comparing neuro- fuzzy systems. The tests are performed in order to show how the system efficiently model and forecast the multivariate temporal data. Experimental results show that the proposed model achieves online learning and prediction on temporal data. The results are compared by other neuro-fuzzy systems, specifically ANFIS.

In autonomous navigation of mobile robots the dynamic environment is a source of problems. Because it is not possible to model all the possible conditions, the key point in the robot control is to design a system that is adaptable to different conditions and robust in dynamic environments. This study presents a reactive control system for a Khepera robot with the ability to navigate in a dynamic environment for reaching goal objects. The main motivation of this research is to design a robot control, which is robust to sensor errors and sudden changes and adaptable to different environments and conditions. Behavior based approach is used with taking the advantage of fuzzy reasoning in design. Experiments are made on Webots, which is a simulation environment for Khepera robot.

Increasing demands, shrinking financial and human resources, and increased infrastructure deterioration have made the task of maintaining the infrastructure systems more challenging than ever before. Life-cycle cost analysis (LCCA) is an important tool for transportation infrastructure management, which is used extensively to support project level decisions, and is increasingly being applied to enhance network level analysis. However, traditional LCCA tools cannot practically and effectively utilize expert knowledge and handle ambiguous uncertainties. The main objective of this dissertation was to develop enhanced LCCA models using soft computing (mainly fuzzy logic) techniques. The proposed models use available "real-world" information to forecast life-cycle costs of competing maintenance and rehabilitation strategies and support infrastructure management decisions. A critical review of available soft computing techniques and their applications in infrastructure management suggested that these techniques provide appealing alternatives for supporting many of the infrastructure management functions. In particular, LCCA often utilizes information that is uncertain, ambiguous and incomplete, which is obtained from both existing databases and expert opinion. Consequently, fuzzy logic techniques were selected to enhance life-cycle cost analysis of transportation infrastructure investments because they provide a formal approach for the effective treatment of these types of information. The dissertation first proposes a fuzzy-logic-based decision-support model, whose inference rules can be customized according to agency's management policies and expert opinion. The feasibility and practicality of the proposed model is illustrated by its implementation in a life-cycle cost analysis algorithm for comparing and selecting pavement maintenance, rehabilitation and reconstruction (MR&R) policies. To enhance the traditional probabilistic LCCA model, the fuzzy-logic-based model is then incorporated into the risk analysis process. A fuzzy logic approach for determining the timing of pavement MR&R treatments in a probabilistic LCCA model for selecting pavement MR&R strategies is proposed. The proposed approach uses performance curves and fuzzy-logic triggering models to determine the most effective timing of pavement MR&R activities. The application of the approach in a case study demonstrates that the fuzzy-logic-based risk analysis model for LCCA can effectively produce results that are at least comparable to those of the benchmark methods while effectively considering some of the ambiguous uncertainty inherent to the process. Finally, the research establishes a systematic method to calibrate the fuzzy-logic based rehabilitation decision model using real cases extracted from the Long Term Pavement Performance (LTPP) database. By reinterpreting the model in the form of a neuro-fuzzy system, the calibration algorithm takes advantage of the learning capabilities of artificial neural networks for tuning the fuzzy membership functions and rules. The practicality of the method is demonstrated by successfully tuning the treatment selection model to distinguish between rehabilitation (light overlay) and do-nothing cases. / Ph. D.

Uma vez que sistemas de inferência neuro-fuzzy adaptativos são aproximadores universais que podem ser usados em aplicações de aproximação de funções e de previsão, este trabalho tem por objetivo determinar seus melhores parâmetros e suas melhores arquiteturas com o propósito de se executar previsão de demanda de energia elétrica no curtíssimo prazo em subestações de distribuição. Isto pode possibilitar o desenvolvimento de controles automáticos de carga mais eficientes para sistemas elétricos de potência. As entradas do sistema são séries temporais de demanda de energia elétrica, compostas por dados mensurados em intervalos de cinco minutos ao longo de sete dias em subestações localizadas em cidades do interior do estado de São Paulo. Diversas configurações de entrada e diferentes arquiteturas foram examinadas para se fazer a previsão de um passo a frente. Os resultados do sistema de inferência neuro-fuzzy adaptativo frente às abordagens encontradas na literatura foram promissores. / Since adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference systems are universal approximators that can be used in functions approximation and forecasting applications, this work has the objective to determine their best parameters and best architectures with the purpose to execute very short term load forecasting in distribution substations. This can allow the development of more efficient load automatic control for power systems. The system inputs are load demand time series, which are composed of data measured at each five minutes interval, during seven days, from substations located in cities from São Paulo state countryside. Several input configurations and different architectures were examined to make a prediction aiming one step forecasting. The adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system results in comparison with other approaches found in literature were promising.