Variable neighborhood search for minimum cost berth allocation

The berth allocation problem is to allocate space along the quayside to incoming ships at a container terminal in order to minimize some objective function. We consider minimization of total costs for waiting and handling as well as earliness or tardiness of completion, for all ships. We assume ships can arrive at any given time, i.e., before or after the berths become available. The resulting problem, which subsumes several previous ones, is expressed as a linear mixed 0–1 program. As it turns out to be too time-consuming for exact solution of instances of realistic size, a Variable Neighborhood Search (VNS) heuristic is proposed, and compared with Multi-Start (MS), a Genetic Search algorithm (GA) and a Memetic Search algorithm (MA). VNS provides optimal solutions for all instances solved to optimality in a previous paper of the first two authors and outperforms MS, MA and GA on large instances.     

人工神经网络BP算法的改进和结构的自调整

本文解决了BP神经网络结构参数和学习速率的选取问题,并对传统的BP算法进行了改进,提出了BP神经网络动态全参数自调整学习算法,又将其编制成计算机程序,使得隐层节点和学习速率的选取全部动态实现,减少了人为因素的干预,改善了学习速率和网络的适应能力。计算结果表明：BP神经网络动态全参数自调整算法较传统的方法优越。训练后的神经网络模型不仅能准确地拟合训练值,而且能较精确地预测未来趋势。     

Rich preference-based argumentation frameworks

An argumentation framework is seen as a directed graph whose nodes are arguments and arcs are attacks between the arguments. Acceptable sets of arguments, called extensions, are computed using a semantics. Existing semantics are solely based on the attacks and do not take into account other important criteria like the intrinsic strengths of arguments.The contribution of this paper is three fold. First, we study how preferences issued from differences in strengths of arguments can help in argumentation frameworks. We show that they play two distinct and complementary roles: (i) to repair the attack relation between arguments, (ii) to refine the evaluation of arguments. Despite the importance of both roles, only the first one is tackled in existing literature. In a second part of this paper, we start by showing that existing models that repair the attack relation with preferences do not perform well in certain situations and may return counter-intuitive results. We then propose a new abstract and general framework which treats properly both roles of preferences. The third part of this work is devoted to defining a bridge between the argumentation-based and the coherence-based approaches for handling inconsistency in knowledge bases, in particular when priorities between formulae are available. We focus on two well-known models, namely the preferred sub-theories introduced by Brewka and the demo-preferred sets defined by Cayrol, Royer and Saurel. For each of these models, we provide an instantiation of our abstract framework which is in full correspondence with it.     

The Hohenheim Tyre Model: A validated approach for the simulation of high volume tyres – Part II: Validation

This publication series describes the development of the Hohenheim Tyre Model – an approach that considers the properties of high volume, agricultural tyres. The research project was conducted in accordance with the V-Model, which proposes a standardised development methodology for mechatronic systems. The previous publication described amongst others the model structure and parameterisation. This paper elucidates the validation, which is an essential part of the V-Model. Validation received special attention and is divided into three parts. First, three-dimensional tyre behaviour on level surfaces was investigated. Within the second step, single tyre behaviour is validated during obstacle passages. Similar obstacles were then used in the final step that shows up the correlation between measured and simulated whole vehicle behaviour. Throughout the validation a very high level of accuracy is achieved.     

A study of the hydraulically interconnected inerter-spring-damper suspension system

A new hydraulically interconnected inerter-spring-damper suspension (HIISDS) is developed to compensate for traditional passive suspension limitations, such as the imbalance of ride performance and handling stability. In this article, the structure and mechanism of the HIISDS system is briefly introduced at first, and compiled with hydraulically interconnected suspension (HIS) mode and hydraulic inerter-spring-damper (ISD) suspension mode. A vehicle dynamic model of HIISDS system is then derived through these two suspension modes by using Matlab/Simulink. Two different road excitations are used to validate the adaption of the two suspension modes. The effectiveness of HIISDS has been verified by simulation results, in which vehicle ride comfort and handling stability are effectively coordinated through the HIISDS model switch. Finally, an HIISDS suspension prototype is designed based on Simulink results, and test results reconfirm the partial performances of HIISDS modes effectively.     

中国通货紧缩的成因分析

近几年来 ,我国经济增长速度放慢 ,物价指数连续下降 ,出现了通货紧缩现象 ,引起我国经济界的广泛关注 .本文从定量分析的角度 ,采用自组织建模方法对造成我国通货紧缩的因素进行建模分析 ,并据此给出相应的对策     

基于人工免疫改进的搬运机器人蚁群路径规划

针对搬运机器人在障碍环境下的路径寻优问题,提出一种基于人工免疫改进的蚁群路径规划算法(AI-ACA)。蚁群算法(ACA)的规划依赖于信息素挥发系数、期望启发因子和信息启发因子等参数的选取,传统ACA通过经验来设定这三个参数,但路径寻优中的最优参数因障碍环境而异,为解决经验参数对不同环境路径寻优结果的影响,引入人工免疫算法(AIA),对ACA的相关参数进行迭代优化,以此改善路径寻优结果。仿真结果及在自制机器人平台上测试表明,AI-ACA对于不同障碍环境可以准确地进行路径规划,在同样环境下较所参考的定参数蚁群路径规划效果有明显提升,提高了整个系统的运输效率。     

Reconstruction of road defects and road roughness classification using Artificial Neural Networks simulation and vehicle dynamic responses: Application to experimental data

This paper reports the performance of an Artificial Neural Network based road condition monitoring methodology on measured data obtained from a Land Rover Defender 110 which was driven over discrete obstacles and Belgian paving. In a previous study it was demonstrated, using data calculated from a numerical model, that the neural network was able to reconstruct road profiles and their associated defects within good levels of fitting accuracy and correlation. A nonlinear autoregressive network with exogenous inputs was trained in a series–parallel framework. When compared to the parallel framework, the series–parallel framework offered the advantage of fast training but had a shortcoming in that it required feed-forward of true road profiles. In this study, the true profiles are not available and the test data are obtained from field measurements. Training data are numerically generated by making minor adjustments to the real measured profiles and applying them to a full vehicle model of the Land Rover. This is done to avoid using the same road profile and acceleration data for training and testing or validating the neural network. A static feed-forward neural network is trained and consequently tested on the real measured data. The results show very good correlations over both the discrete obstacles and the Belgian paving. The random nature of the Belgian paving necessitated correlations to be made using their displacement spectral densities as well as evaluations of RMS error percent values of the raw road profiles. The use of displacement spectral densities is considered to be of much more practical value than the road profiles since they can easily be interpreted into road roughness measures by plotting them over an internationally recognized standard roughness scale.     

Efficient optimisation of a vehicle suspension system, using a gradient-based approximation method, Part 1: Mathematical modelling

A methodology is proposed for the efficient determination of gradient information, when performing gradient based optimisation of an off-road vehicle’s suspension system. The methodology is applied to a computationally expensive, non-linear vehicle model, that exhibits severe numerical noise. A recreational off-road vehicle is modelled in MSC.ADAMS, and coupled to MATLAB for the execution of the optimisation. The successive approximation method, Dynamic-Q, is used for the optimisation of the spring and damper characteristics. Optimisation is performed for both ride comfort and handling. The determination of the objective function value is performed using computationally expensive numerical simulations.This paper proposes a non-linear pitch-plane model, to be used for the gradient information, when optimising ride comfort. When optimising for handling, a non-linear four wheel model, that includes roll, is used. The gradients of the objective function and constraint functions are obtained through the use of central finite differences, within Dynamic-Q, via numerical simulation using the proposed simplified models. The importance of correctly scaling these simplified models is emphasised. The models are validated against experimental results. The simplified vehicle models exhibit significantly less numerical noise than the full vehicle simulation model, and solve in significantly less computational time.     

Criteria for handling measurement

Both handling and ride comfort play an important role in the performance of a vehicle, usually resulting in a compromised suspension. To improve this situation, a two-stage, semi-active hydro-pneumatic spring–damper system has been developed. The suspension system enables either good ride comfort for a compliant suspension or good handling when changed to a hard setting. The question that arises is, what measures can be applied to determine when a switchover between the two settings should occur. The frequency weighted mean square value of the vertical acceleration is a well-known criterion for ride comfort. For handling, several criteria have been put forward, which are to a more or lesser extent dependent on driver input. This paper considers the metrics that have been used for measuring handling and pays special attention to roll angle as a valid criterion. Results of tests performed on three different vehicles are presented. The results indicate that roll angle, lateral acceleration and yaw rate are interrelated for the tracks investigated and this is apparently also true for severe handling manoeuvres such as the double lane change. These observations suggest that roll angle is a suitable metric to measure handling and that it can be used to determine the moment of switchover if limits of acceptability are set.