Genetic algorithms and their applications

This article introduces the genetic algorithm (GA) as an emerging optimization algorithm for signal processing. After a discussion of traditional optimization techniques, it reviews the fundamental operations of a simple GA and discusses procedures to improve its functionality. The properties of the GA that relate to signal processing are summarized, and a number of applications, such as IIR adaptive filtering, time delay estimation, active noise control, and speech processing, that are being successfully implemented are described     

Digital watermarking: algorithms and applications

Digital watermarking of multimedia content has become a very active research area over the last several years. A general framework for watermark embedding and detection/decoding is presented here along with a review of some of the algorithms for different media types described in the literature. We highlight some of the differences based on application such as copyright protection, authentication, tamper detection, and data hiding as well as differences in technology and system requirements for different media types such as digital images, video, audio and text     

Computer-assisted applications [telephone systems]

Capabilities of computer-to-telephone system linkages are discussed. The intelligent answering, coordinated voice/data transfer, preview dialing, and predictive dialing features of computer-assisted telephone systems are described. The CallPath Services Architecture, which provides an application program interface that masks out the differences between telephone systems, is also discussed     

Modelling applications of spreadsheets [in engineering]

Spreadsheets are essentially software packages for carrying out operations on rows and columns of numerical values. Although originally a financial modelling tool, they also have many applications in modelling engineering systems. The authors show that most commercially available spreadsheets are well provided with trigonometric, exponential and logarithmic functions, as well as with a range of arithmetic and logic operations for combining such functions. As a result, a spreadsheet is often a quick and convenient way of carrying out many types of calculation which commonly occur in electronics, telecommunications and control engineering. Furthermore, the standard graphics packages normally provided with spreadsheets make it particularly easy to display and use the results of such calculations     

Hide and seek [surface-penetrating radar applications]

The use of surface-penetrating radar in forensic investigations has been well publicised in recent years. In this paper, the author reports on new applications in which the same technology could be used to save lives     

The well-tempered computer [musical applications]

In the world of music, the benefits of computers are widely recognised. In this paper, the author describes how, more recently, the technology wheel has turned full circle with creative musicians now contributing to the development of computer technology     

Rapid prototyping of radar algorithms [Applications Corner]

Rapid prototyping of advanced signal processing algorithms is critical to developing new radars. Signal processing engineers usually use high level languages like MATLAB, IDL, or Python to develop advanced algorithms and to determine the optimal parameters for these algorithms. Many of these algorithms have very long execution times due to computational complexity and/or very large data sets, which hinders an efficient engineering development workflow. That is, signal processing engineers must wait hours, or even days, to get the results of the current algorithm, parameters, and data set before making changes and refinements for the next iteration. In the meantime, the engineer may have thought of several more permutations that he or she wants to test.     

Multicell converters: basic concepts and industry applications

Multicell power converters were introduced ten years ago. This paper summarizes the main results obtained through the research done on these converters over this period: topology and derivation of multicell choppers and voltage-source inverters; harmonics cancellation; open-loop modulation techniques; self-balancing understanding; and optimization. During this same period, industrial products using this technique have been developed and the corresponding know-how has contributed to the field in various ways, such as modular design, low inductance busbars, specific drivers, etc.