We present a methodology for the synthesis of controllers, which exploits (explicit) model checking techniques. That is, we can cope with the systematic exploration of a very large state space. This methodology can be applied to systems where other approaches fail. In particular, we can consider systems with an highly non-linear dynamics and lacking a uniform mathematical description (model). W...

This paper presents a set of artificial potential field functions that improves upon, in general, the motion planning and posture control, with theoretically guaranteed point and posture stabilities, convergence and collision avoidance properties of 3-trailer systems in a priori known environment. We basically design and inject two new concepts; ghost walls and the distance optimization techniq...

Two soil compaction trials were conducted at Riverside and Kaalrug near Malelane in the northern irrigated area of the South African sugar industry. Treatments for the trial at Riverside were fresh citrus peel incorporated at 318 tons/ha (95 ton/ha dry material), dry cane trash at 30 tons/ha left on the soil surface and a combination of these two. Compaction was applied by driving a 30 ton rigi...

In this paper we suggest a multi-start greedy heuristic for a real-life truck and trailer routing problem. The considered problem is a site dependent heterogeneous fleet truck and trailer routing problem with soft and hard time windows and split deliveries. This problem arises in delivering goods from a warehouse to stores of a big retail company. There are about 400 stores and 100 vehicles for...

A heavy truck wind tunnel test program is currently underway at the Langley Full Scale Tunnel (LFST). Seven passive drag reducing device configurations have been evaluated on a heavy truck model with the objective of understanding the practical limits to drag reduction achievable on a modern tractor trailer through add-on devices. The configurations tested include side skirts of varying length,...

Abstract: For logistics centers the disposition and dispatch of goods has reached a high standard of automation. However, the trucks and trailers bringing and taking the goods are driven manually. This can at least be improved for the non-public traffic in the scope of logistics centers by autonomous forward and backward motion control for standard transportation vehicles. By an experimental sy...

This paper discusses the background to real-time GPS asset tracking in the context of 1) monitoring moving vehicles, 2) the content of the GPS data that is provided as part of the 2 systems that were tested, 3) the theory behind the installation of such tracking systems in terms of GPS, GPRS and internet communications and finally, 4) the assessment of the economic benefits of both systems is a...

The month, average air temperature, relative humidity, number of pigs of each sex per trailer load, journey time, type of trailer and bedding, and waiting time at the processing plant were recorded from 16,323 trailers transporting 2,730,754 pigs to a packing plant in the USA during a year, together with the numbers of pigs that were dead on arrival, injured or unable to walk. The percentage of...

Although the La autoantigen binds to the 3' ends of all nascent polymerase III transcripts, its function in vivo has long been unclear. Although S. cerevisiae cells lacking the La protein homolog Lhp1p are viable, cells containing a mutation that disrupts the anticodon stem of tRNA(Ser)CGA require Lhp1p for growth. We demonstrate that for the wild-type pre-tRNA(Ser)CGA and other pre-tRNAs, Lhp1...

It is investigated that nearly 86% containers were transferred by roads connection transport at Shenzhen port with the high-speed developing steps of Chinese economy. For a long time, Shenzhen container-trailer enterprises have provided essential and efficient logistics service for every dock. However, problems as operated by many bodies, small scale, decentralized business and poor competitive...