## 3 Experiments and Analysis
### Self-Coordination and Mutual Cooperation of the MDF Continuous Hot Press Cylinder  
The set of reference inputs for three detection channels are sine signals. These signals mean that errors are time-variable. Their frequency, amplitude, and bias were separately 1.256, 0.5, and 0.5. The phases were different and set separately as 0, 1.775, and 7.85. The input error signals constructed are shown in Figure 7. The errors should be zero, as the output of the terminals is set to one. At most sampling points, errors from different channels belong to different error levels. This should generate identifiable ECWs and drive relevant sub-decision matrices. Figure 6: (**a**) Comparison of the number of error levels and coded error data in the channel. (**b**) Increasing tendencies for various modes. The synergy relation of the flocking system is shown in Figure 8. Terminals in a common ellipse compose a synergy unit. They are self-synergetic if their output modes are the same, otherwise they are inter-synergetic. Furthermore, in a common unit, the displacement of the terminal outputs is always the primary one. Terminals marked 23, 33, and 43 always act in Mode 1, which means they output displacement. Terminals act in Mode 0 to output pressure. In Figure 9, we set the thickness of the load to 9 mm. The experimental load was conveyed to pass the thickness detection sensors. \(T_{test}\) represents the thickness test value of S1 to S5. \(E_{act}\) represents the error range generated by the five deviation levels. Error correcting word (ECW) represents the deviation Hamming code analysis result of the five deviation levels. The sensors collect actual thickness values and submit the data to calculate errors. The collected data are listed in Equation (14). Actual errors are calculated according to Equation (15). The actual errors from Sensors 5 to 1 are separately shown for Level 5, Level 4, Level 3, Level 2, and Level 1. The \(ECW\) is as Equation (16) and Figure 10.  
Figure 8: Hierarchical synergy corrections. Figure 7: Reference inputs of channels with sensor 1 (S1), S2, S3, S4, and S5. \[\left\{ \begin{array}{l}T_{test\_55}=9.5\ mm\\ T_{test\_54}=9.4\ mm\\ T_{test\_53}=9.3\ mm\\ T_{test\_52}=9.2\ mm\\ T_{test\_51}=9.1\ mm\end{array} \right. \tag{14}\]  
\[\left\{ \begin{array}{l}E_{act\_55}=\frac{(T_{test\_55}-T_{st})}{T_{st}}=5.56 \%\Rightarrow V<E_{act\_55}<IV\\ E_{act\_54}=\frac{(T_{test\_54}-T_{st})}{T_{st}}=5.13\%\Rightarrow IV<E_{ act\_54}<III\\ E_{act\_53}=\frac{(T_{test\_53}-T_{st})}{T_{st}}=4.41\%\Rightarrow III<E_{ act\_53}<II\\ E_{act\_52}=\frac{(T_{test\_52}-T_{st})}{T_{st}}=3.82\%\Rightarrow II<E_{ act\_52}<I\\ E_{act\_51}=\frac{(T_{test\_51}-T_{st})}{T_{st}}=3.34\%\Rightarrow 0<E_{ act\_51}<I\end{array} \right. \tag{15}\]  
\[\left\{ \begin{array}{l}ECW_{5}=0110\\ ECW_{4}=0010\\ ECW_{3}=1010\\ ECW_{2}=1011\\ ECW_{1}=1010\end{array} \right. \tag{16}\]  
The units are separately presented in mm and bar. The output surfaces are shown in Figure 10. Errors from the sensors were eliminated. Pressure output values with the same displacement output were different so as to have the displacement outputs of flocking terminals present favorable consistency because viscoelasticity was unevenly presented at the surface of the load in Figure 11.  
Figure 10: ECWs coded as system errors. Figure 9: Thickness of the viscoelastic load and output of the cylinder. the heavy bulge D level was 144; the operation calculation result was \(M_{19}\); the nearest value could be judged as the deviation type of FM14. The RPN value of the heavy bulge E level was 192; the operation calculation result was \(M_{20}\); the nearest value could be judged as the deviation type of FM14. \[M_{01} =\left[ \begin{array}{cccc}0&1&0&0&1\\ 0&1&1&0&0\\ 0&1&0&0&0\\ 0&1&0&0&0\\ 0&1&0&0&0\end{array} \right]M_{02}=\left[ \begin{array}{cccc}0&1&0&0&1\\ 0&1&1&0&0\\ 0&1&0&0&0\\ 0&1&0&0&0\\ 0&1&0&0&0\end{array} \right]\] \[M_{03} =\left[ \begin{array}{cccc}0&1&1&0&1\\ 0&1&1&0&1\\ 0&1&0&0&0\\ 0&1&0&0&0\\ 0&1&0&0&0\end{array} \right]M_{04}=\left[