The path generation for a redundant sensor guided coal unloading crane is discussed in this paper. After using much of task specific knowledge to restrict the possible Tool Center Point (TCP) trajectories to a feasible subspace, two approaches are analyzed to optimize the dig head trajectory in this subspace: a Fuzzy Logic and a Dynamic Programming based trajectory generation. Experimental resu...

The issue of concern is the impact of forward model nonlinearity on the nonlinearity of the inverse model. The question posed is, "Does increased nonlinearity in the head solution (forward model) always result in increased nonlinearity in the inverse solution (estimation of hydraulic conductivity)?" It is shown that the two nonlinearities are separate, and it is not universally true that increa...

This paper deals with the optimal control problem that arise when a hydraulic system with fixed-head hydroplants is considered. In the frame of a deregulated electricity market the resulting Hamiltonian for such systems is linear in the control variable and results in an optimal singular/bang-bang control policy. To avoid difficulties associated with the computation of optimal singular/bang-ban...

Editorial Board Eric Britton, Managing Director, EcoPlan International, The Centre for Technology & Systems Stud ies, 10 rue Joseph Bara, 75006 Paris, France. Paul Tra nter , Senior Lecturer, School of Geography & Oceanography, Un iversity College, Australian Defence Force Academy, Canberra ACT 2600, Australia. John Ho we, Professor of Transportation En gineering & Head of Infrastructural En gi...

BACKGROUND The mechanism of injury and the underlying biomechanics of orbital blowout fractures remain controversial. The "hydraulic" theory proposes that a generalized increased orbital content pressure results in direct compression and fracturing of the thin orbital bone. OBJECTIVE To examine the pure hydraulic mechanism of injury by eliminating the factor of globe-to-wall contact and its p...