A low energy consumption ultrasonic washing machine, powered by a photovoltaic current generator, has been developed. It comprises a rotating drum, immersed in degassed water, with a submersible magnetostrictive transducer of working frequency 20 kHz, a water heater, and acoustic insulation. A low energy consumption refrigerator, powered by a photovoltaic current generator, has been developed. A reversible ventilator system, powered by a photovoltaic current generator, has been developoed to maintain a constant temperature within a house during a warm day. A survey on the systematics and capabilities of neural networks, their architecture and applications and hardware available for neural network simulation has been performed.
Neural networks can be of considerable help in the visualization and analysis of multivariate data.
The robotics work developed a prototype of an autonomous roving vehicle. This work has been found very useful in approaching the problem of collision avoidance. Neural networks have also been found to be an ideal means of monitoring the oscillations of flexible structures and controlling them using a damping system based around a neural network. Work on optimization involved an application for airline end user and crew scheduling problems. A first prototype has been produced, and the follow up work planned aims to produce a crew scheduling product.