Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Sputter Process Optimization for Al0.7Sc0.3N Piezoelectric Films

Al0.7Sc0. 3N films were reactively sputtered from AlSc segmented targets by ac poweredde S-gun magnetron. 0.5-2.0 µm thick films with homogeneous Sc concentration within 30 +/- 0.5 at. % across 200-mm wafers were grown at ambient temperature directly on Si (100) and on highly (110) textured Mo electrodes. Sputter process optimization, focused on improving film crystalline quality and reducing surface roughness, was performed using XRD, SEM, EDS, TEM, and AFM methods. In contrast to AlN films, which crystallinity typically improves with increasing film thickness due to growth of more thorough grains, Al0.7Sc0. 3N texture degrades in thicker films. Technological solutions for smooth and highly c-axis oriented Al0.7Sc0. 3N films were defined and tested. Introduction of AlN seed layer and deposition at low gas pressure remarkably suppressed growth of abnormal grains and improved crystallinity of the films. Highly c-axis oriented films with RC FWHM of 1.6° and surface roughness RMS of 2.3 nm were grown on Si as well as on Mo electrodes.
Complementary Split Rings Resonator Based Circular Microstrip Antenna for Wireless Applications

In this paper multiple complementary split ring resonators (CSRR) are realized on the ground plane along the periphery of a circular microstrip antenna (CMSA) that improves the realized gain at the desired resonant frequency. Dual band resonance characteristics is also observed when the CSRRs are designed at double the CMSA resonant frequency and placed half way underneath the patch.
Participatory design of biomusic with users on the autism spectrum

Assistive technologies that incorporate affective computing methods may be useful for increasing inclusion across the autism spectrum. The involvement of this target population during development and design is key to ensuring that the technology is beneficial and has the potential to be adopted. This article reports on a participatory design process used for the development of an affective technology intended for users on the autism spectrum. We first briefly recapitulate concepts and theories about emotions to illuminate emotion-specific challenges faced in the design process. We then introduce biomusic, an affective technology that communicates emotional states by translating physiological signals into auditory output. The necessity of stakeholder involvement during the development of biomusic is discussed, with a focus specifically on including individuals with autism spectrum condition (ASC). Finally, we present a concrete example of a participatory sound design workshop focusing on the development of biomusic's auditory display in collaboration with adolescents with ASC. From this experience, challenges of using participatory design for the development of affective technologies with people with ASC are presented and discussed.
A Data-Driven Closed-loop Subspace-aided Approach to Predictive Controller Design

A novel data-driven closed-loop subspace-aided approach to predictive controller design is proposed in this paper. The basic idea of the proposed method is to construct an instrumental variable which contributes to extending the standard LQ factorization to the closed-loop situation. Moreover, the predictive controller can be directly obtained from the input/output data with the subspace-aided technique by minimizing the normal predictive objective function. The efficiency of the proposed method is eventually verified and demonstrated through a numerical study on a randomly generated three-order discrete-time linear time invariant (LTI) system.
An Anti-collision Neighbor Discovery Protocol for Multi-node Discovery

The surging mobile devices provide both opportunities and challenges for building autonomous or adhoc networks. To build these networks, the top priority is to make devices discover each other quickly. However, existing neighbor discovery protocols (NDPs) may introduce large discovery latency due to beacon collisions in multi-node networks. In this paper, we propose an anti-collision NDP to avoid beacon collisions by carrier sensing. Moreover, we reduce the discovery latency by prioritising nodes which wait for a long time and controlling active slot duration dynamically. Simulation results show that our approach avoids most beacon collisions and reduces the discovery latency by more than 40%.
Overview of Multisampling Techniques in Power Electronics Converters

Due to the increasing performance and decreasing price of microcontrollers, applying a high sampling frequency becomes more feasible in modern control. This approach is known as multisampling technology. This paper tries to give an overview of the multisampling application in power electronics converters as it enables a lot of opportunities. First, the multisampling can reduce control delays and thereby break bandwidth limitations in power electronic controllers. Secondly, a smarter control strategy can be realized with more current, voltage and system information acquired through multisampling techniques. However, this approach may also introduce two major drawbacks: risk of dead bands and high-frequency switching ripples, which may degrade the system stability margin. To address these issues, different solutions are explored and illustrated in this paper.
Tabu-List Noisy Gradient Descent Bit Flipping Decoding of LDPC Codes

The Noisy Gradient Descent Bit Flipping (NGDBF) algorithm surpasses the previous Gradient Descent Bit Flipping (GDBF) and other Bit Flipping (BF) algorithms for decoding Low-Density Parity-Check (LDPC) codes. However, the NGDBF decoder sometimes cannot escape from the local maxima. To further enhance the performance of the NGDBF algorithm, an improved NGDBF algorithm called Tabu-List Noisy Gradient Descent Bit Flipping (TNGDBF) is proposed in this paper. A tabu-list is employed to help the NGDBF decoder escape from the local maxima. It is shown in the simulation results that the TNGDBF algorithm gains about 0.2 dB performance compared with NGDBF at the cost of a small amount of complexity increase.
ANALYSIS OF PYROLYSIS RESIDUES’ UV-VIS SPECTRUMS

In the course of the organic matters’ anaerobic thermal degradation (pyrolysis) gas, liquid and solid products are formed. In our laboratory solid phase pyrolysis residues of various polymers were examined. The pyrolysis residues were extracted by different polarity solvents. The UV-VIS absorption spectrums of these extracts were saved. Examining of the characteristic area of the spectrums, specific differences were found. The material qualities of the starting polymers, and the condition of the pyrolysis made specific impact on the examined spectrums. On hydrocarbons, in the wavelength range of 200-800 nm, mainly the conjugated double bonded molecules (delocalized π electron system) show absorption. Molecule parts containing hetero atoms and functional groups are also could show absorption in this wavelength range. With this there can be inferred for the molecular fragments’ material quality which is the result of the pyrolysis process. For polyamides and polyesters, monomers can be found in the pyrolysis residues by this study. The optical analysis of the solvent extracts of the pyrolysis residues is simple and effective method. Therefore the UV-VIS spectroscopy could be able to do the statistical analysis of the evolving, complex and the various molecules. Our aim was to test a simple method, the measurement of the optical property of the pyrolysis residues’ solvent extract, is able to characterize the pyrolysis process.
Dual Aperture Motion Compensation (DAMoCo)

One of the issues affecting motion compensation schemes in ultrasound imaging is sidelobe re-alignment, a cause of potentially significant image degradation. In this study, we propose a method to address this problem based on tracking the motion between frames that have been beamformed with different receive apodizations. As a result, the motion estimator is able to track the motion of only the mainlobe signal. Subsequently, the frames with the same receive apodization are motion compensated according to the Dual Aperture (DA) motion estimate (DAMoCo). Thus, only mainlobe signals are correctly rephased and coherently summed. This technique can be used in coherent compounding schemes where the point spread function’s sidelobes tilt from subframe to subframe, as well as in adaptive coherent persistence modalities without sidelobe tilt, to further improve image quality by suppressing sidelobe signals. This technique was applied to diverging wave simulation data as well as in diverging wave and focused transmit in vivo cardiac data. In both cases, DAMoCo was found to be capable of suppressing sidelobes, thus improving contrast. However, its effects were milder for the in vivo datasets.
Distributed Generation with Photovoltaic Power Prediction in Remote Microgrid Application

Distributed generation with Solar photovoltaic power integration is gaining wide acceptance and popularity into grid electricity networks and remote microgrids are better positioned to benefit from this integration. The cost of fossil fuel consumption has a huge negative impact on our environment, most especially with greenhouse gas emission of CO2. Most of the remote microgrids for electrical power supply are largely powered by diesel fuel and thus increases the amount of environmental pollution around us today. It is possible to reduce drastically the use of fossil fuel by remote microgrids, if solar photovoltaic (SPV) power is considered as an alternative power source to supplement microgrid power generation. It is a known knowledge that SPV is unpredictable due to the variability in its power generation caused by intermittent solar irradiance. It becomes inevitable that SPV power be predicted to allow for efficient energy management in microgrid application. The accurate prediction of SPV electrical power generation, will assist in the accurate estimation of SPV electrical power supply required to support microgrid load and provides for an optimal scheduling of the limited SPV power. By extension, this will reduce the operational cost of diesel fuel consumption in remote microgrids and allow for cleaner energy supply to our environment. In this research paper, the focus lies in the use of artificial neural network as a technique to predict SPV power supply for remote microgrid power management.
A Parallel Connected Unfolding Bridge (PCUB) Multilevel Converter for HVDC Applications

Hybrid Voltage Source Converters (VSC), that combine the conventional three-level VSCs and Modular Multilevel Chain-Links (CLs), offer a promising solution for future HVDC stations, achieving reduced footprint with respect to the MMC while maintaining high power quality and low loss. This paper introduces a new hybrid solution named ‘Parallel Connected Unfolding Bridge Modular Multilevel Converter’ (PCUB) which uses a parallel connection of phases on the DC side and comprises of wave shaping Chain-Links and unfolding H-bridges. This paper presents the operating principle and basic mathematical model of the PCUB and also details an optimisation of the transformers turn ratio for the minimisation of the energy requirements in the CLs. PLECS simulation results for the proposed topology operating at 20kV DC - 11kV AC and 20MW are also presented to demonstrate its performance.
Cost-effective Design of Magnetically Coupled Power Transfer System with Standby Mode

In general wireless power transfer systems (WPTS), the power transfer is controlled by wireless communication between a transmitter (Tx) and a receiver (Rx). However, it is difficult to apply to an electronic product such as a TV which does not have a battery and it increases system implementation cost and size. To eliminate wireless communication units between Tx and Rx, a WPTS with resonators based on LLC transformer is proposed in this paper. The proposed system operates at the boundary of the resonance frequency, and the required power can be stably supplied to the authorized devices even though some misalignment occurs.
Dual mode supply system for DD coils

DD coils are often selected as case study for the research activity about the dynamic wireless charging systems for electric vehicles and are proposed to setup the track and/or the pickup onboard the vehicles. Indeed, they offer good coupling performance, but their capability can be fully exploited only if both the track coil and the pickup have the same DD topology, otherwise the transferred power decreases substantially. This paper proposes to use a three-legs inverter to separately supply the two sub coils that form a DD coil. Adopting a suitable control strategy of the inverter, the dynamic wireless charging system is made able to perform an effective power transfer both to DD coil pickups and to spiral coil pickups. Condition under which this result is achieved and the required modifications of the supply system and of the coils are studied in the paper. The proposed solution is validated by means of simulations.
Indirect Model Predictive Control of a Three-Phase Grid-Connected Siwakoti-H Inverter

The Siwakoti-H flying-capacitor inverter (sFCI) is a potential candidate for photovoltaic applications, specifically for the transformerless grid-connected systems. One of the main challenges in the control of a sFCI is to maintain the flying capacitor voltage within prescribed limits while balancing the voltages on the three flying capacitors. This paper proposes an indirect model predictive control strategy for a three-phase sFCI connected to the grid via an LCL-filter. By linearizing the system model, the nonlinearities introduced due to the dynamics of the flying capacitor are neglected. Moreover, by not directly controlling the switches, but rather manipulating the modulating signal, the optimization problem can be formulated as a quadratic program (QP) and solved in a computationally efficient manner. The explicit solution computed by the controller makes the realtime implementation feasible by employing a carrier-based pulse width modulator (CB-PWM). The presented results illustrate the steady-state and dynamic performance of the controller.
Resolution limit of 2D MUSIC in near-field source localization

Recently, near-field source localization has received more attention due to its capability of estimating the source direction of arrival (DOA) as well as the distance of the source from sensors. In the near-field, the waves are spherical and form a second-order model. A two dimensional (2D) method such as 2D MUSIC is used to solve this second-order problem. Theoretically, the 2D MUSIC has infinite resolution, but practically its resolution is limited and depends on various parameters. In this paper, we have investigated the resolution limit of 2D MUSIC. It has been seen that for closely spaced sources, the resolvability of the MUSIC depends upon the parameters such as the number of sensors, and the distance between the sensors. Mathematically this relationship is derived based on the orthogonality property of the autocorrelation matrix's eigenvectors. Simulation results varying above mentioned parameters validate the mathematical analysis. This study is important for practical implementation, where closely spaced sources are present.
Including a Musculoskeletal Model in the Control Loop of an Assistive Robot for the Design of Optimal Target Forces

Assistive and rehabilitation robots are designed in the attempt to alleviate the work of the therapists and to accelerate the rehabilitation of the patients. Including accurate descriptions of the human body dynamics into the control loop of these robots can lead to the creation of smoother human-robot interfaces. In this paper we present: 1) a torque-driven musculoskeletal model of the sit-to-stand movement, 2) the optimal control (OC) solution of the corresponding predictive dynamics and 3) the model predictive control (MPC) solution that simulates how the human model interacts with a simple robot model. The model is a planar and symmetric representation of the major joints involved in the sit-to-stand movement: ankle, knee, hip, shoulder, elbow and neck. The seat has been modelled as a contact force, reacting like a spring-damper in the vertical direction and as a friction along the horizontal direction. Experimental data collected on a single subject provided the reference for qualitative movement comparison. The movement predicted by the OC exhibits the major characteristics of the real movement (e.g. preparation phase, joint torque and articular angle patterns). The MPC framework allowed us to simulate the reaction of the musculoskeletal model to an external force provided by a robot. This method could be used in the future in the design of specific target forces for assistive robot strategies and smooth human-robot interfaces.
Dual Set-membership Identification and Explicit MPC for an Electric Ducted Fan-based Actuator for Vortex Adhesion

This article establishes a Constrained Finite Time Optimal Control (CFTOC) design for unknown, discrete-time systems with parametric uncertainty, whose dynamics are identified via Set-Membership Identification (SMI). The control scheme is composed of: a) the SMI module, which identifies the dynamics of the system through a Weighted Recursive Least Squares (WRLS) algorithm, and b) the CFTO controller, which can be online updated based on the SMI provided information, hence, providing the ability to adapt online the overall control framework based on the overall confidence intervals from the SMI. The proposed scheme has been adapted for the case of controlling a Vortex Actuator, based on an Electric Ducted Fan and utilized for wall climbing robotic applications. Simulation results are provided to demonstrate the efficacy of the overall proposed scheme.
The Analysis of Low-Voltage DC Arc behavior on Three Interrupting Phases Based on AC Black-box Arc model

Among many low voltage power electrical devices, Low-voltage (LV) dc circuit breaker (DCCB) is one of the most essential components and is widely used to protect the overall LV dc distribution system. Therefore, many research institutes and manufacturers have been concentrating a lot of research and interest in LV DCCB in recent years. LV dc arc simulation modeling technique using computational methods is being studied. However, dc arc modeling technique using only finite element method is studied among various modeling methods, and there are no existing researches of dynamic arc-circuit interaction analysis using a black-box model. In this paper, LV dc arc is modeled by using the proposed black-box model as the ac arc modeling technique. The existing LV DCCB has air arc characteristics according to the interrupting topology, and the corresponding LV dc arc interrupting phases can be divided into arc commutation, arc motion, and arc splitting. Arc modeling was performed on three interrupting phases, based on the typical waveform of a LV dc arc and actual experimental data. The black-box model uses the schwarz model, which is known to be best suited for representing the small current and large current regions of the arc. As a result, the applicability of the dc arc was evaluated using the existing ac black-box model, and the behavior of the dc arc for each interrupting phase was described.
Procedural Generation of Quests for Games Using Genetic Algorithms and Automated Planning

The production of high-quality commercial games requires the work of a few hundred individuals, including designers, artists, and story writers, to produce game content, such as 3D models, textures, and narratives. Over the last decade, the production of game content has grown to the point of becoming a bottleneck in companies' schedules and budgets. In this context, procedural content generation techniques are increasingly being applied to reduce the work overload of the development teams. Although game developers and academic researchers have extensively explored procedural content generation, there is a lack of techniques to handle procedural generation of quests. In this paper, we present a new quest generation method based on genetic algorithms and automated planning. By combining planning with an evolutionary search strategy guided by story arcs, the proposed method can generate coherent quests based on a specific narrative structure. Preliminary results show that quests created with our method are nearly at par with those created by game design professionals.
Homopolar harmonic injection and grid synchronization in distributed control systems for grid-tied intelligent power electronic blocks in 4-wire 3-phase converters

This paper studies two issues related with the use of distributed control for modular power converters based on the use of single-phase power units, namely intelligent Power Electronics Building Block (iPEBB) for power conversion in hybrid DC/AC microgrids. Some issues related to the distributed control are studied in this paper. Homopolar injection for PWM generation becomes more difficult, since each distributed controller calculates (and knows) only its control action. A possible solution is provided, based on the calculation of this homopolar injection by the central controller at 1 kHz. Synchronization with the grid becomes more difficult too, because each controller acts independently, without communication with the other ones (only with the central controller). Two alternatives are studied for this synchronization angle calculation: calculation in the central controller at central control frequency (1 kHz) or in each module at distributed control frequency (10 kHz).
Liver fibrosis structure effects on viscoelasticity estimation using group shear wave speeds

Viscoelasticity measurements can improve the accuracy of liver fibrosis diagnosis for chronic hepatitis. Methods to estimate tissue viscoelasticity using frequency characteristics of the shear wave phase velocity are common but not robust. Therefore, in recent years, a technique to estimate viscoelasticity from group speeds in displacement and particle velocity has been proposed as a robust method [1]. However, we earlier reported that the liver fibrotic structure can change the frequency characteristics of phase velocity [2]. Therefore, in this study, we evaluated the influence of the liver fibrosis structure on the estimation method using group shear wave speeds. We used the previously developed liver fibrosis progression model to investigate the effect of the fibrous structure. Shear wave propagation was simulated using this model. Viscoelasticity was estimated using lookup tables that represented the relation between group speeds in displacement and particle velocity and viscoelasticity. When a shear wave reflection component is present, a directional filter is required. The directional filter affects the group speeds of the shear wave. Therefore, we established lookup tables considering the characteristics of the directional filter. Using these tables, we performed viscoelasticity estimations on liver fibrosis models and corresponding uniform models. In the uniform models, the viscoelasticity was estimated correctly. However, in the liver fibrosis models, the Young’s modulus was estimated to be smaller than the actual value, and the shear viscosity coefficient was estimated to be greater than the actual value with the difference from the actual value increasing as fibrosis progressed.