A smart surgical robotic for cochlear implantation

In this paper a surgical robotic device for cochlear implantation surgery is described that is able to discriminate tissue interfaces and other controlling parameters ahead of a drill tip. The advantage in surgery is that tissues at interfaces can be preserved. The smart tool is able to control interaction with respect to the flexing tissue to avoid penetration control the extent of protrusion with respect to the real-time position of the tissue. To interpret drilling conditions, and conditions leading up to breakthrough at a tissue interface, the sensing scheme used enables discrimination between the variety of conditions posed in the drilling environment. The result is a robust fully autonomous system able to respond to tissue type, behaviour and deflection in real-time. The paper describes the robotic tool that has been designed to be used in the surgical environment where it has been used in the operating room.

Integrating Scientific Publication into an Applied Gaming Ecosystem

Salman, M. et al. (2016). Integrating Scientific Publication into an Applied Gaming Ecosystem. GSTF Journal on Computing (JoC), Volume 5 (Issue 1), pp. 45-51.

Threat Analysis of BlackEnergy Malware for Synchrophasor based Real-time Control and Monitoring in Smart Grid

The BlackEnergy malware targeting critical infrastructures has a long history. It evolved over time from a simple DDoS platform to a quite sophisticated plug-in based malware. The plug-in architecture has a persistent malware core with easily installable attack specific modules for DDoS, spamming, info-stealing, remote access, boot-sector formatting etc. BlackEnergy has been involved in several high profile cyber physical attacks including the recent Ukraine power grid attack in December 2015. This paper investigates the evolution of BlackEnergy and its cyber attack capabilities. It presents a basic cyber attack model used by BlackEnergy for targeting industrial control systems. In particular, the paper analyzes cyber threats of BlackEnergy for synchrophasor based systems which are used for real-time control and monitoring functionalities in smart grid. Several BlackEnergy based attack scenarios have been investigated by exploiting the vulnerabilities in two widely used synchrophasor communication standards: (i) IEEE C37.118 and (ii) IEC 61850-90-5. Specifically, the paper addresses reconnaissance, DDoS, man-in-the-middle and replay/reflection attacks on IEEE C37.118 and IEC 61850-90-5. Further, the paper also investigates protection strategies for detection and prevention of BlackEnergy based cyber physical attacks.

Residence Time Distribution (Rtd) Associated with Statistical Weighted Moments to Fit Mathematical Models Using In Industrial Systems Diagnosis

This work presents a computational, called MOMENTS, code developed to be used in process control to determine a characteristic transfer function to industrial units when radiotracer techniques were been applied to study the unit´s performance. The methodology is based on the measuring the residence time distribution function (RTD) and calculate the first and second temporal moments of the tracer data obtained by two scintillators detectors NaI positioned to register a complete tracer movement inside the unit. Non linear regression technique has been used to fit various mathematical models and a statistical test was used to select the best result to the transfer function. Using the code MOMENTS, twelve different models can be used to fit a curve and calculate technical parameters to the unit.

Type-Aware Programming Models for Distributed Applications

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Washington, 2016-08

Computer simulations of soft particles in flow

Understanding the dynamics of blood cells is a crucial element to discover biological mechanisms, to develop new efficient drugs, design sophisticated microfluidic devices, for diagnostics. In this work, we focus on the dynamics of red blood cells in microvascular flow. Microvascular blood flow resistance has a strong impact on cardiovascular function and tissue perfusion. The flow resistance in microcirculation is governed by flow behavior of blood through a complex network of vessels, where the distribution of red blood cells across vessel cross-sections may be significantly distorted at vessel bifurcations and junctions. We investigate the development of blood flow and its resistance starting from a dispersed configuration of red blood cells in simulations for different hematocrits, flow rates, vessel diameters, and aggregation interactions between red blood cells. Initially dispersed red blood cells migrate toward the vessel center leading to the formation of a cell-free layer near the wall and to a decrease of the flow resistance. The development of cell-free layer appears to be nearly universal when scaled with a characteristic shear rate of the flow, which allows an estimation of the length of a vessel required for full flow development, $l_c \approx 25D$, with vessel diameter $D$. Thus, the potential effect of red blood cell dispersion at vessel bifurcations and junctions on the flow resistance may be significant in vessels which are shorter or comparable to the length $l_c$. The presence of aggregation interactions between red blood cells lead in general to a reduction of blood flow resistance. The development of the cell-free layer thickness looks similar for both cases with and without aggregation interactions. Although, attractive interactions result in a larger cell-free layer plateau values. However, because the aggregation forces are short-ranged at high enough shear rates ($\bar{\dot{\gamma}} \gtrsim 50~\text{s}^{-1}$) aggregation of red blood cells does not bring a significant change to the blood flow properties. Also, we develop a simple theoretical model which is able to describe the converged cell-free-layer thickness with respect to flow rate assuming steady-state flow. The model is based on the balance between a lift force on red blood cells due to cell-wall hydrodynamic interactions and shear-induced effective pressure due to cell-cell interactions in flow. We expect that these results can also be used to better understand the flow behavior of other suspensions of deformable particles such as vesicles, capsules, and cells. Finally, we investigate segregation phenomena in blood as a two-component suspension under Poiseuille flow, consisting of red blood cells and target cells. The spatial distribution of particles in blood flow is very important. For example, in case of nanoparticle drug delivery, the particles need to come closer to microvessel walls, in order to adhere and bring the drug to a target position within the microvasculature. Here we consider that segregation can be described as a competition between shear-induced diffusion and the lift force that pushes every soft particle in a flow away from the wall. In order to investigate the segregation, on one hand, we have 2D DPD simulations of red blood cells and target cell of different sizes, on the other hand the Fokker-Planck equation for steady state. For the equation we measure force profile, particle distribution and diffusion constant across the channel. We compare simulation results with those from the Fokker-Planck equation and find a very good correspondence between the two approaches. Moreover, we investigate the diffusion behavior of target particles for different hematocrit values and shear rates. Our simulation results indicate that diffusion constant increases with increasing hematocrit and depends linearly on shear rate. The third part of the study describes development of a simulation model of complex vascular geometries. The development of the model is important to reproduce vascular systems of small pieces of tissues which might be gotten from MRI or microscope images. The simulation model of the complex vascular systems might be divided into three parts: modeling the geometry, developing in- and outflow boundary conditions, and simulation domain decomposition for an efficient computation. We have found that for the in- and outflow boundary conditions it is better to use the SDPD fluid than DPD one because of the density fluctuations along the channel of the latter. During the flow in a straight channel, it is difficult to control the density of the DPD fluid. However, the SDPD fluid has not that shortcoming even in more complex channels with many branches and in- and outflows because the force acting on particles is calculated also depending on the local density of the fluid.

CHARACTERIZATION OF RADIATION DAMAGE TO A NOVEL PHOTONIC CRYSTAL SENSOR

New methods of nuclear fuel and cladding characterization must be developed and implemented to enhance the safety and reliability of nuclear power plants. One class of such advanced methods is aimed at the characterization of fuel performance by performing minimally intrusive in-core, real time measurements on nuclear fuel on the nanometer scale. Nuclear power plants depend on instrumentation and control systems for monitoring, control and protection. Traditionally, methods for fuel characterization under irradiation are performed using a “cook and look” method. These methods are very expensive and labor-intensive since they require removal, inspection and return of irradiated samples for each measurement. Such fuel cladding inspection methods investigate oxide layer thickness, wear, dimensional changes, ovality, nuclear fuel growth and nuclear fuel defect identification. These methods are also not suitable for all commercial nuclear power applications as they are not always available to the operator when needed. Additionally, such techniques often provide limited data and may exacerbate the phenomena being investigated. This thesis investigates a novel, nanostructured sensor based on a photonic crystal design that is implemented in a nuclear reactor environment. The aim of this work is to produce an in-situ radiation-tolerant sensor capable of measuring the deformation of a nuclear material during nuclear reactor operations. The sensor was fabricated on the surface of nuclear reactor materials (specifically, steel and zirconium based alloys). Charged-particle and mixed-field irradiations were both performed on a newly-developed “pelletron” beamline at Idaho State University's Research and Innovation in Science and Engineering (RISE) complex and at the University of Maryland's 250 kW Training Reactor (MUTR). The sensors were irradiated to 6 different fluences (ranging from 1 to 100 dpa), followed by intensive characterization using focused ion beam (FIB), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to investigate the physical deformation and microstructural changes between different fluence levels, to provide high-resolution information regarding the material performance. Computer modeling (SRIM/TRIM) was employed to simulate damage to the sensor as well as to provide significant information concerning the penetration depth of the ions into the material.

Diagnóstico automático de eventos e distúrbios em unidades geradoras e usinas utilizando lógica fuzzy

The electric power systems are getting more complex and covering larger areas day by day. This fact has been contribuiting to the development of monitoring techniques that aim to help the analysis, control and planning of power systems. Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems, Wide Area Measurement Systems and disturbance record systems. Unlike SCADA and WAMS, disturbance record systems are mainly used for offilne analysis in occurrences where a fault resulted in tripping of and apparatus such as a transimission line, transformer, generator and so on. The device responsible for record the disturbances is called Digital Fault Recorder (DFR) and records, basically, electrical quantities as voltage and currents and also, records digital information from protection system devices. Generally, in power plants, all the DFRs data are centralized in the utility data centre and it results in an excess of data that difficults the task of analysis by the specialist engineers. This dissertation shows a new methodology for automated analysis of disturbances in power plants. A fuzzy reasoning system is proposed to deal with the data from the DFRs. The objective of the system is to help the engineer resposnible for the analysis of the DFRs’s information by means of a pre-classification of data. For that, the fuzzy system is responsible for generating unit operational state diagnosis and fault classification.

Sistema supervisor inteligente para procesos de producción de petróleo

Maximizar la producción de pozos de crudo pesado y extra pesado es el principal beneficio que se desea obtener de los sistemas de control que están corrientemente operativos en empresas de petróleo. Dada la naturaleza compleja y cambiante con el tiempo de los métodos existentes de levantamiento artificial para extracción de crudo, se dificulta el cumplimiento de las especificaciones pre establecidas para el procesamiento del crudo por parte de los lazos de control regulatorios. Tomando esto en cuenta, en éste trabajo se propone un sistema de supervisión inteligente que permite detectar cambios en las condiciones de operación del proceso productivo y realizar ajustes automáticos de sus consignas. Además, el sistema supervisor propuesto tiene la capacidad de detectar fallas en los sensores involucrados en los lazos de control, garantizando de esta manera una operación confiable del proceso. La propuesta fue probada en un pozo de petróleo real obteniéndose resultados que superaron las expectativas iniciales.

Otimização de controle de tráfego em grupo de elevadores com algoritmos bioinspirados

Dissertação (mestrado)—Universidade de Brasília, Faculdade de Tecnologia, Departamento de Engenharia Mecânica, 2015.

Plataforma interactiva para edifícios inteligentes com controlo preditivo

Esta dissertação desenvolve uma plataforma de controlo interactiva para edifícios inteligentes através de um sistema SCADA (Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition). Este sistema SCADA integra diferentes tipos de informações provenientes das várias tecnologias presentes em edifícios modernos (controlo da ventilação, temperatura, iluminação, etc.). A estratégia de controlo desenvolvida implementa um controlador em cascada hierárquica onde os "loops" interiores são executados pelos PLC's locais (Programmable Logic Controller), e o "loop" exterior é gerido pelo sistema SCADA centralizado, que interage com a rede local de PLC's. Nesta dissertação é implementado um controlador preditivo na plataforma SCADA centralizada. São apresentados testes efectuados para o controlo da temperatura e luminosidade de salas com uma grande área. O controlador preditivo desenvolvido tenta optimizar a satisfação dos utilizadores, com base nas preferências introduzidas em várias interfaces distribuídas, sujeito às restrições de minimização do desperdício de energia. De forma a executar o controlador preditivo na plataforma SCADA foi desenvolvido um canal de comunicação para permitir a comunicação entre a aplicação SCADA e a aplicação MATLAB, onde o controlador preditivo é executado. ABSTRACT: This dissertation develops an operational control platform for intelligent buildings using a SCADA system (Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition). This SCADA system integrates different types of information coming from the several technologies present in modem buildings (control of ventilation, temperature, illumination, etc.). The developed control strategy implements a hierarchical cascade controller where inner loops are performed by local PLCs (Programmable Logic Controller), and the outer loop is managed by the centralized SCADA system, which interacts with the entire local PLC network. ln this dissertation a Predictive Controller is implemented at the centralized SCADA platform. Tests applied to the control of temperature and luminosity in huge­area rooms are presented. The developed Predictive Controller tries to optimize the satisfaction of user explicit preferences coming from several distributed user-interfaces, subjected to the constraints of energy waste minimization. ln order to run the Predictive Controller at the SCADA platform a communication channel was developed to allow communication between the SCADA application and the MATLAB application where the Predictive Controller runs.

Pressure management in water distribution systems: current status, proposals, and future trends

Pressure management (PM) is commonly used in water distribution systems (WDSs). In the last decade, a strategic objective in the field has been the development of new scientific and technical methods for its implementation. However, due to a lack of systematic analysis of the results obtained in practical cases, progress has not always been reflected in practical actions. To address this problem, this paper provides a comprehensive analysis of the most innovative issues related to PM. The methodology proposed is based on a case-study comparison of qualitative concepts that involves published work from 140 sources. The results include a qualitative analysis covering four aspects: (1) the objectives yielded by PM; (2) types of regulation, including advanced control systems through electronic controllers; (3) new methods for designing districts; and (4) development of optimization models associated with PM. The evolution of the aforementioned four aspects is examined and discussed. Conclusions regarding the current status of each factor are drawn and proposals for future research outlined

Falcon herramientas de software para el procesamiento aerofotogramétrico

En el área de Aerofotogrametría Digital, el software comercial prevalente para postproceso presenta limitaciones debido a dos factores: (i) las legislaciones de cada país o región requieren diferentes convenciones, y (ii) las necesidades de las empresas son tan cambiantes que no justifican la compra de software de alto rendimiento, que puede quedar sin utilizar debido a un viraje del mercado -- El presente proyecto se ha desarrollado para atender necesidades de procesamiento automático de planos (partición, detección y corrección de errores, etc.), así como módulos de importación – exportación paquete a paquete, trazado de rutas e interacción con GPS -- Este artículo informa de los dos últimos aspectos -- Debido a necesidades de los clientes, los archivos entregados deben llevar un formato comercial (DWG, DXF), pero el procesamiento de los archivos debe ser hecho en paquetes y formatos diversos (DGN) -- Por lo tanto, fue necesario diseñar e implementar un formato acompañante que permitió llevar la información que se pierde al usar filtros comerciales (DGN a DXF/DWG) -- Asimismo se crearon módulos de importación y exportación redundantes, que hicieron efectivos dichos atributos -- En el aspecto de generación de rutas de vuelo, se reportan en este artículo la aplicación de algoritmos tradicionales de barrido (peinado) de áreas 2D, a los cuales se agregaron restricciones geométricas (puntos fijos, offsets, orden de los barridos de acuerdo a coordenadas del sitio de partida, etc.) -- Debido a los altos costos de equipos equivalentes, se decidió desarrollar software para traducción de rutas entre formatos GPS y formatos geográficos locales al país -- Ello permite la eliminación de fuentes de error y además facilita la carga del plan de vuelo, a costos mucho menores a los del hardware / software comercial

Do intelligent heating controls out-smart ordinary users?

Nearly a third of UK gas and electricity is used in homes, of which 80% is for space heating and hot water provision. Rising consumer bills, concerns about climate change and the surge in personal digital technology use has provoked the development of intelligent domestic heating controls. Whilst the need for having suitable control of the home heating system is essential for reducing domestic energy use, these heating controls rely on appropriate user interaction to achieve a saving and it is unclear whether these ‘smart’ heating controls enhance the use of domestic heating or reduce energy demand. This paper describes qualitative research undertaken with a small sample of UK householders to understand how people use new heating controls installed in their homes and what the requirements are for improved smart heating control design. The paper identifies, against Nielsen’s usability heuristics, the divergence between the householder’s use, understanding and expectations of the heating system and the actual design of the system. Digital and smart heating control systems should be designed to maximise usability so that they can be effectively used for efficient heating control by all users. The research highlights the need for development of new systems to readdress the needs of users and redefine the system requirements.