The suspension system is one of the most sensitive systems of a vehicle as it affects the dynamic behavior of the vehicle with even minor changes. These systems are designed to carry out multiple tasks such as isolating the vehicle body from the road/tire vibrations as well as achieving desired ride and handling performance levels in both steady state and limit handling conditions. The damping coefficient of the damper plays a crucial role in determining the overall frequency response of the suspension system. Considerable research has been carried out on semi active damper systems as the damping coefficient can be varied without the system requiring significant external power giving them advantages over both passive and fully active suspension systems. Dampers behave as non-linear systems at higher frequencies and hence it has been difficult to develop accurate models for its full range of motion. This study aims to develop a velocity sensitive damper model using artificial neural networks and essentially provide a 'black-box' model which encapsulates the non-linear behavior of the damper. A feed-forward neural network was developed by testing a semi active damper on a shock dynamometer at CenTiRe for multiple frequencies and damping ratios. This data was used for supervised training of the network using MATLAB Neural Network Toolbox. The developed NN model was evaluated for its prediction accuracy. Further, the developed damper model was analyzed for feasibility of use for simulations and controls by integrating it in a Simulink based quarter car model and applying the well-known skyhook control strategy. Finally, effects on ride and handling dynamics were evaluated in Carsim by replacing the default damper model with the proposed model. It was established that this damper modeling technique can be used to help evaluate the behavior of the damper on both component as well as vehicle level without needing to develop a complex physics based model. This can be especially beneficial in the earlier stages of vehicle development. / Master of Science / The suspension system is one of the most sensitive systems of a vehicle as it affects the dynamic behavior of the vehicle with even minor changes. These systems are designed to carry out multiple tasks such as absorbing shocks from the road as well as improving the handling of the vehicle for a smoother and safer drive. The level of firmness of the shock absorber/damper plays a crucial role in determining the overall behavior of the suspension system. Considerable research has been carried out on semi active damper systems as the damper stiffness can be varied quickly and easily as compared to other passive and fully active damper systems. Dampers are complex systems to model especially for high speed operations and hence it has been difficult to develop accurate mathematical models for its full range of motion. This study aims to develop an accurate mathematical model for a semi active damper using artificial neural networks. A semi active damper was fabricated and tested on a shock dynamometer at CenTiRe for multiple speeds and stiffness values. Thistest data obtained was used for training of the mathematical model using the computer software MATLAB. The developed model was evaluated for its accuracy and further analyzed for feasibility of use in computer simulations. It was established that this damper modeling technique can be used to help evaluate the behavior of the damper with high accuracy while still running the simulations relatively quickly whereas in current simulations compromise has to be made on at least the accuracy of the model or the simulation speed. This can be especially beneficial in the earlier stages of vehicle development.

This research documents the creation and use of an open-loop feed forward control scheme designed to manipulate the DC potential across lipid bilayer membranes in artificial hair cell sensors. Inspired by the human cochlea's non-linear gain phenomenon, whereby the cochlea can increase or decrease the effective gain of the auditory system, this controller is the first step in developing more sophisticated signal processing schemes for use with future bio-inspired artificial hair cell development. This open-loop controller allows for three preset gain mappings to tailor the DC offset in response to an external stimulus. Linear, nonlinear and sigmoidal mappings were created to observe the differences in system response during constant frequency and variable frequency excitation. In constant frequency testing, artificial hair cell sensors were excited at 100 Hz across a range of input intensities to observer current output response during increasing or decreasing excitation levels. Results showed average coherence values above 0.98 for the relationship between current output and fluid velocity, indicating a strong correlation between excitation and measured output. In the bilayer with stereocilia test case, RMS power increased with higher excitation levels but the various control laws did not appear to have any discernible impact on output power. In variable frequency testing, sensors were excited from 0-300 Hz to observe the real time effects of our control law on amplification or attenuation of output current with varying input intensity. Results of the variable frequency excitation could not definitively prove that the varied DC potential had an effect on current output due to excessive capacitive noise, but the controller did provide some encouraging results from its behavior during testing. We observed three distinct DC potential response curves for each mapping, indicating, that with some refinement, we should be able to manipulate output current with user defined gain tunings. / Master of Science

This thesis project aims to model a quadcopter and design a linear quadratic regulator (LQR) by means of Matlab/Simulink. To this purpose, the LQR-based optimal control theory for controllinga quadcopter is first studied which includes state-space representation (SSR) of a dynamicprocess or system, cost function, LQR, quadcopter flight dynamics and system linearization. A quadcopter model is developed in Matlab/Simulink, followed by the implementation of a LQR-based control system. The LQR parameters are tuned and the system is tested under various flight conditions (wind disturbance, in the simulation, specific/simplified model, etc.). The simulation results show that the LQR is an effective controller for maintaining stable hover at a height straight up and compensating for wind disturbances. However, when the quadcopter moves to a new position, oscillations occur, highlighting the limitations of the LQR due to its reliance on a simplified and linearized model. Additionally, modifications to the model parameters, such as mass and inertia, impact the system performance, indicating potential robustness issues with the controller. It can be concluded that Matlab/Simulink is an effective tool for quadcopter modeling, LQR designing and LQR performance analyzing. In this thesis project, only the LQR method is used for controlling a quadcopter and the LQR tuning process is not efficient. In future work other techniques such as regional linearization and alternative non-linear controllers, like model predictive control (MPC) or sliding mode control (SMC), can be explored. Development of optimization algorithms for LQR tuning in the LQR method is highly recommended.

Indonesia has committed to achieving Net-Zero emissions by 2060, signaling a significant shift towards sustainability, which includes impactful initiatives such as the implementation of Green Seaports. This thesis focuses on designing and developing a model for a proposed Green Seaport power system and the subsequent performance of power flow analysis under various operating conditions. The model, constructed using MATLAB Simulink, underwent extensive testing and analysis, with a specific emphasis on the Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) operating modes, including individual charging, discharging, and simultaneous charging and discharging. This comprehensive investigation and analysis, involving 62 separate simulations, evaluated the impact of variations in solar irradiance, BESS state of charge (SoC), load levels, and power factor on the system across each BESS operating mode. The results conclusively demonstrated that the designed system is healthy, enabling reliable electricity delivery with minimal losses, maintaining stable voltage levels within acceptable limits, and operating efficiently with minimal instances of component overloading.

The instruction-set based general purpose processors are not energy-efficient for event-driven applications. The E-textiles group at Virginia Tech proposed a novel data-flow processor architecture design to bridge the gap between event-driven applications and the target architecture. The architecture, although promising in terms of performance and energy-efficiency, was explored for limited number of applications. This thesis presents a model-driven approach for the design of an application framework, facilitating rapid development of software applications to test the architecture performance. The application framework is integrated with the prior automation framework bringing software applications at the right level of abstraction. The processor architecture design is made flexible and scalable, making it suitable for a wide range of applications. Additionally, an embedded flash memory based architecture design for reduction in the static power consumption is proposed. This thesis estimates significant reduction in overall power consumption with the incorporation of flash memory. / Master of Science

This thesis focuses on developing a high data rate wireless sensor network framework that could be integrated with hardware prototypes to monitor structural health of buildings. In order to better understand the wireless sensor network architecture and its consideration in structural health monitoring, a detailed literature review on wireless sensor networks has been carried out. Through research, it was found that there are numerous simulation software packages available for wireless sensor network simulation. One suitable software was selected for modelling the framework. Research showed that Matlab/Simulink was the most suitable environment, and as a result, a wireless sensor network framework was designed in Matlab/Simulink. Further, the thesis illustrates modeling of a simple accelerometer sensor, such as those used in wireless sensor networks in Matlab/Simulink using a mathematical description. Finally, the framework operation is demonstrated with 10 nodes, and data integrity is analyzed with cyclic redundancy check and transmission error rate calculations.

En växande global befolkning och stor efterfrågan på grödor driver den teknologiska utvecklingen framåt inom det moderna lantbruket. I sin utveckling av nya styr- och reglerfunktioner för frontlastare behövde Ålö AB en pålitlig och effektiv plantmodell av deras frontlastare Quicke Q5M. Plantmodellen skulle inkludera det tillhörande mekaniska och hydrauliska systemet och kunna rendera simulering och 3D-animering i realtid. En automatisk nedställningsfunktion för material skulle också utvecklas för att automatisera den vanligt förekommande sysslan att ställa ned material från en upphöjd position. En plantmodell för Quicke Q5M med ett lastkännande hydraulsystem utvecklades i MATLAB Simulink med Simscape Multibody och Simscape Fluids. Prestandan av den simulerade plantmodellen utvärderades. Plantmodellen visade grundläggande överensstämmelse när den jämfördes med sensordata från en frontlastare i verkligheten. En reglerfunktion för automatisk nedställning av material utvecklades i Simulink. En algoritm för att detektera kollision med mark konstruerades genom att analysera sensordata från en frontlastare i verkligheten som ställt ned material på marken. För att detektera materialets kontakt med mark utfördes hastighets- och accelerationsestimeringar på sensordata från vinkelgivare och trycksensorer. Vid kontakt med mark avslutades nedställningsrörelsen automatiskt. Prestandan och noggrannheten av reglersystemet under olika scenarion analyserades och diskuterades. Trots att simuleringar av plantmodellen och den föreslagna nedställningsfunktionen såg realistiska ut var det svårt att kvantifiera överensstämmelsen mellan plantmodell och frontlastare då inga utförligare fysiska tester hanns med. Framtida utveckling av plantmodell och nedställningsfunktion rekommenderas därför att börja med ett implementeringstest av reglerfunktionen i en traktor i verkligheten. Det skulle ge ett mått på hur pass bra plantmodellen representerar frontlastaren samt möjliggöra utvärdering och vidare justering av reglerfunktionens parametrar i en verklig fysisk miljö. / A growing global population and large demands for crops worldwide is driving agricultural technological advances forward. In developing new automatic control functions for front end loader applications, Ålö AB needed a reliable and effective plant model of their front end loader Quicke Q5M. The plant model should include the associated mechanical and hydraulic system and be capable of rendering simulation and 3D animation in real time. An automated put down control function would also be of benefit for farming operators, speeding up the commonly performed farming task of putting down material from an elevated position. A plant model for the Quicke Q5M with a Load Sensing hydraulic system was developed in MATLAB Simulink with Simscape Multibody and Simscape Fluids. The performance of the simulated plant model was evaluated. The plant model showed some consistent results when compared to sensor data logs from a real-world front end loader. An automatic put down control function for material was also developed and tested in Simulink. A collision detection algorithm was constructed by analyzing sensor data logs from a real-world tractor putting down material on the ground. Velocity and acceleration estimations were made from angular position and pressure sensors to detect the contact between material and ground. The control function automatically stopped the lowering movement when contact was detected. The performance and accuracy of the control system under different scenarios were analyzed and discussed. Although the simulations of the plant model and proposed control function seemed realistic, the consistency of the plant model was hard to quantify since there was no time left for any thourough physical tests. It is recommended that future development of both the plant model and control system begin with an implementation test of the control system in a real-world tractor. This would help determine how accurately the plant model represents the front end loader. It would also allow evaluation and further tuning of the control function in a real physical environment.

Submitted by Morgana Silva (morgana_linhares@yahoo.com.br) on 2016-07-26T18:10:50Z No. of bitstreams: 1 arquivototal.pdf: 2752063 bytes, checksum: 886fc73f7f66099f1e033937798f6b7e (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-07-26T18:10:50Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 arquivototal.pdf: 2752063 bytes, checksum: 886fc73f7f66099f1e033937798f6b7e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-02-29 / This paper presents a block diagram modeling of a grid-independent photovoltaic power generation system, including the steps of DC regulation, voltage inversion, and control system based on dynamic simulations in Simulink / Matlab® exclusively using the built-in blocks available in its library. A well-known technique in literature called MPPT (maximum power point tracking) was used for tracking the maximum power of the photovoltaic generation. However, the control that was used to maintain a constant output voltage of the Push-Pull is based on a method that is similar to the MPPT, which configures a novelty of this research. The integration of modeling the entire PV system with these control systems is carried out in Simulink for investigaton and production of simulation results. An experimental platform that includes an emulator of photovoltaic panels, a 1 kW Push-Pull converter, a three-phase inverter with three arms and a hydraulic load constituided by a motor-pump was built in the laboratory. The experimental results corroborate the methodology that was used. / Este trabalho apresenta uma modelagem em diagramação de blocos de um sistema de geração de energia fotovoltaico isolado, incluindo as etapas de regulação CC, inversão de tensão e sistema de controle com base em simulações dinâmicas no ambiente Simulink/Matlab® utilizando, exclusivamente, os blocos built-in disponíveis em sua biblioteca. Uma técnica bem conhecida na literatura foi utilizada para o rastreio da máxima potência da geração fotovoltaica. No entanto, o controle utilizado para manter a tensão de saída constante do Push-Pull é baseado num método similar ao do rastreio da máxima potência, o que configura uma novidade deste trabalho. A integração da modelagem de todo o sistema fotovoltaico com estes sistemas de controle é realizada no ambiente Simulink para averiguação e produção dos resultados de simulação. Uma plataforma experimental que inclui um emulador de painéis fotovoltaicos, um Push-Pull de 1 kW de potência, um inversor trifásico de três braços e uma carga hidráulica constituída por um motobomba foi construída em laboratório. Os resultados experimentais corroboram a metodologia utilizada.

Orientador: Luis Geraldo Pedroso Meloni / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Engenharia Eletrica e de Computação / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-14T05:58:36Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 LemesFilho_JoseMatias.pdf: 2987431 bytes, checksum: 93fc757a06215b93a08427d2f33f88a2 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2009 / Resumo: Este trabalho descreve o estudo, a pesquisa e compilação de técnicas de otimização de códigos em FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Arrays) utilizando uma ferramenta de prototipagem rápida. Para isso, foram implementados alguns algoritmos para auxiliar na apresentação e avaliação de quatro técnicas de otimização: uso de recursos alternativos, multiplexação no tempo, algoritmos alternativos e mudança da freqüência sistêmica. As principais contribuições do presente trabalho foram: compilar em um único documento diversas técnicas para geração eficiente de códigos de processamento digital de sinais; o estudo das etapas de fluxo de projeto baseado em ferramentas de prototipagem rápida; implementações de diversos algoritmos para demonstrar as técnicas de otimização, visando-se o estudo da minimização da área de ocupação em FPGA. Com o uso das técnicas pode-se alcançar uma redução de área da FPGA de até 90%, conforme a complexidade do sistema alvo. / Abstract: This work describes the study, research and compilation of programming optimization techniques for FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Arrays) using a tool technology for rapid prototyping. For this purpose, some algorithms have been implemented to help the presentation and evaluation of four optimization techniques: alternative resources usage, time multiplexing, alternative algorithms and systemic frequency change. The main contributions of this work are: compilation in one document several efficient techniques for generation code in digital signal processing; study of the phases of design flow were based on rapid prototyping tools; implementations of several algorithms to demonstrate the optimization techniques, looking for the minimization of the FPGA occupation area. With the use of these techniques, it is possible to reach a FPGA area reduction of up to 90%, depending of the complexity of the target system. / Universidade Estadual de Campi / Telecomunicações e Telemática / Mestre em Engenharia Elétrica

Dans un climat de raréfaction des énergies fossiles et de tensions liées à la sécurisation de l'approvisionnement mondial, un passage progressif à des sources d'énergie peu carbonées s'opère dans plusieurs pays du monde. L'utilisation de ressources renouvelables telles que les ressources solaires et éoliennes soulèvent intrinsèquement la problématique d'intermittence de production. Ce qui conduit à un écart entre la production et la consommation d'électricité et génère parfois d'importants excédents d'électricité. Une voie de valorisation de cet excédent consiste à la stocker sous forme chimique dans l'hydrogène qui sera à son tour utilisé pour la synthèse de méthanol. L'objectif de cette thèse consiste à explorer des voies de développement d'un nouveau procédé de synthèse de méthanol à partir de CO2 venant de sources industrielles et de H2 issu de l'électrolyse de l'eau. Le procédé doit répondre à des variations fréquentes de régime de fonctionnement. Dans un premier temps, une étude des phénomènes de transfert de matière et de chaleur pour deux technologies de réacteurs de synthèse de méthanol a été réalisée moyennant des critères de la littérature. En se basant par la suite sur les résultats obtenus lors de l'analyse des transferts, un modèle de réacteur hétérogène a été développé et exploité pour une vaste étude paramétrique du réacteur de synthèse de méthanol. Dans un second temps, l'étude a été étendue à un réacteur avec recyclage afin d'apprendre davantage sur l'impact de l'intégration du réacteur dans la boucle sur ses performances et la production globale de méthanol. Fort d'une compréhension des phénomènes ayant lieu au sein du procédé en régime permanent, un modèle de la boucle a été développé pour des simulations du procédé en régime transitoire. Les temps nécessaires pour le démarrage de l'unité ainsi que sa stabilisation suite à un changement de régime de fonctionnement ont été estimés par le modèle transitoire. La disponibilité de l'électricité actuelle et à moyen terme a été analysée dans l'optique d'anticiper sur le nombre de transitions annuelles auxquelles sera soumise l'unité de méthanol. Sur cette base, des designs de réacteurs et des stratégies opératoires ont été proposés dans le but de réduire au mieux l'impact des transitions sur l'unité de méthanol. Tout un chapitre a été consacré à d'éventuelles possibilités de développement et d'amélioration du procédé de synthèse de méthanol. Des designs de réacteurs sont proposés et évalués par rapport à leur capacité à convertir l'hydrogène. Même si les propositions de design ne sont qu'au stade de concept, certaines suscitent plus d'intérêt et méritent une évaluation plus approfondie. Finalement, un outil d'aide à la décision multicritères a été présenté puis utilisé pour essayer de choisir une technologie de réacteur pour le procédé de synthèse de méthanol / As the result of fossil resources increasing scarcity, and geopolitical tensions due to energy supply securing, some countries are gradually moving to renewable and low carbon energy resources to reduce significantly their energy dependency. The electricity production from solar and wind energy are intrinsically responsible for intermittency issues that periodically lead to a gap between production and consumption. Transforming the unused excess of electricity production to chemicals may be an interesting solution for optimal exploitation of these resources. This thesis aims at investigating some means of developing new methanol process synthesis from CO2 stemming from industrial sources and H2 produced by the excess of electricity through water electrolysis. The envisioned methanol unit should be able to operate under variable regime. Initially, heat and mass transfer for two reactor technologies of methanol synthesis have been studied by using criteria described in literature. Then, a heterogeneous reactor model has been grounded in the results of heat and mass transfer analysis obtained previously. The reactor model was used to carry out a large parametric analysis of the reactor. In a second step, the reactor survey has been extended to the methanol loop to learn about the effect on the global reactor performances after its integration in the methanol loop. Once the phenomena involved in methanol process have been understood in steady regime, a transient model of the methanol loop has been developed and used to investigate the process dynamics such as the required time to start the process or to move from an operating state to another. The current and medium term electricity availability has been assessed in order to estimate the number of transitions per year undergone by the methanol unit. Based on these observations, reactor designs and operating strategies have been suggested so that they lower the impact of transitions on methanol unit. A whole chapter has been dedicated to evaluate some alternatives to develop and to improve the process of methanol synthesis. Some reactor designs have been suggested and their ability to convert hydrogen to methanol has been simulated. Although the reactor design proposals are only at the concept stage, some of them arouse more interest, and merit further evaluation. Finally, a decision support tool has been presented and used to choose the most appropriate reactor technology for the process of methanol synthesis