Performance evaluation of multiplexed model predictive control for a large airliner in nominal and contingency scenarios

Model predictive control allows systematic handling of physical and operational constraints through the use of constrained optimisation. It has also been shown to successfully exploit plant redundancy to maintain a level of control in scenarios when faults are present. Unfortunately, the computational complexity of each individual iteration of the algorithm to solve the optimisation problem scales cubically with the number of plant inputs, so the computational demands are high for large MIMO plants. Multiplexed MPC only calculates changes in a subset of the plant inputs at each sampling instant, thus reducing the complexity of the optimisation. This paper demonstrates the application of multiplexed model predictive control to a large transport airliner in a nominal and a contingency scenario. The performance is compared to that obtained with a conventional synchronous model predictive controller, designed using an equivalent cost function. © 2012 AACC American Automatic Control Council).

A performance evaluation of volumetric 3D interest point detectors

This paper presents the first performance evaluation of interest points on scalar volumetric data. Such data encodes 3D shape, a fundamental property of objects. The use of another such property, texture (i.e. 2D surface colouration), or appearance, for object detection, recognition and registration has been well studied; 3D shape less so. However, the increasing prevalence of 3D shape acquisition techniques and the diminishing returns to be had from appearance alone have seen a surge in 3D shape-based methods. In this work, we investigate the performance of several state of the art interest points detectors in volumetric data, in terms of repeatability, number and nature of interest points. Such methods form the first step in many shape-based applications. Our detailed comparison, with both quantitative and qualitative measures on synthetic and real 3D data, both point-based and volumetric, aids readers in selecting a method suitable for their application. © 2012 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC.

An evaluation of volumetric interest points

This paper presents the first performance evaluation of interest points on scalar volumetric data. Such data encodes 3D shape, a fundamental property of objects. The use of another such property, texture (i.e. 2D surface colouration), or appearance, for object detection, recognition and registration has been well studied; 3D shape less so. However, the increasing prevalence of depth sensors and the diminishing returns to be had from appearance alone have seen a surge in shape-based methods. In this work we investigate the performance of several detectors of interest points in volumetric data, in terms of repeatability, number and nature of interest points. Such methods form the first step in many shape-based applications. Our detailed comparison, with both quantitative and qualitative measures on synthetic and real 3D data, both point-based and volumetric, aids readers in selecting a method suitable for their application. © 2011 IEEE.

Design considerations for a micro aerial vehicle aerodynamic characterization facility at the University of Florida research and engineering education facility

This paper describes the design considerations for a proposed aerodynamic characterization facility (ACF) for micro aerial vehicles (MAVs). This is a collaborative effort between the Air Force Research Laboratory Munitions Directorate (AFRL/MN) and the University of Florida Research and Engineering Education Facility (UF/REEF). The ACF is expected to provide a capability for the characterization of the aerodynamic performance of future MAVs. This includes the ability to gather the data necessary to devise control strategies as well as the potential to investigate aerodynamic 'problem areas' or specific failings. Since it is likely that future MAVs will incorporate advanced control strategies, the facility must enable researchers to critically assess such novel methods. Furthermore, the aerodynamic issues should not be seen (and tested) in isolation, but rather the facility should be able to also provide information on structural responses (such as aeroelasticity) as well as integration issues (say, thrust integration or sensor integration). Therefore the mission for the proposed facility ranges form fairly basic investigations of individual technical issues encountered by MAVs (for example an evaluation of wing shapes or control effectiveness) all the way to testing a fully integrated vehicle in a flight configuration for performance evaluation throughout the mission envelope.