This book presents a concise introduction to the latest advances in robust cooperative control design for multi-agent systems with input delay and external disturbances, especially from a prediction and observation perspective. The volume covers a wide range of applications, such as the trajectory tracking of quadrotors, formation flying of multiple unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and fixed-time formation of ground vehicles. Robust cooperative control means that multi-agent systems are able to achieve specified control tasks while remaining robust in the face of both parametric and nonparametric model uncertainties. In addition, the authors cover a wide range of key issues in cooperative control, such as communication and input delays, parametric model uncertainties and external disturbances. Moving beyond the scope of existing works, a systematic prediction and observation approach to designing robust cooperative control laws is presented. About the Authors Chunyan Wang is an Associate Professor in the School of Aerospace Engineering at Beijing Institute of Technology, China. Zongyu Zuo is a full Professor with the School of Automation Science and Electrical Engineering, Beihang University, China. Jianan Wang is an Associate Professor in the School of Aerospace Engineering at Beijing Institute of Technology, China. Zhengtao Ding is a Professor in the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering at University of Manchester, U.K.

From the Foreword: "Big Data Management and Processing is [a] state-of-the-art book that deals with a wide range of topical themes in the field of Big Data. The book, which probes many issues related to this exciting and rapidly growing field, covers processing, management, analytics, and applications... [It] is a very valuable addition to the literature. It will serve as a source of up-to-date research in this continuously developing area. The book also provides an opportunity for researchers to explore the use of advanced computing technologies and their impact on enhancing our capabilities to conduct more sophisticated studies." ---Sartaj Sahni, University of Florida, USA "Big Data Management and Processing covers the latest Big Data research results in processing, analytics, management and applications. Both fundamental insights and representative applications are provided. This book is a timely and valuable resource for students, researchers and seasoned practitioners in Big Data fields. --Hai Jin, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, China Big Data Management and Processing explores a range of big data related issues and their impact on the design of new computing systems. The twenty-one chapters were carefully selected and feature contributions from several outstanding researchers. The book endeavors to strike a balance between theoretical and practical coverage of innovative problem solving techniques for a range of platforms. It serves as a repository of paradigms, technologies, and applications that target different facets of big data computing systems. The first part of the book explores energy and resource management issues, as well as legal compliance and quality management for Big Data. It covers In-Memory computing and In-Memory data grids, as well as co-scheduling for high performance computing applications. The second part of the book includes comprehensive coverage of Hadoop and Spark, along with security, privacy, and trust challenges and solutions. The latter part of the book covers mining and clustering in Big Data, and includes applications in genomics, hospital big data processing, and vehicular cloud computing. The book also analyzes funding for Big Data projects.

Focused on the latest mobile technologies, this book addresses specific features (such as IoT) and their adoptions that aim to enable excellence in business in Industry 4.0. Furthermore, this book explores how the adoption of these technologies is related to rising concerns about privacy and trusted communication issues that concern management and leaders of business organizations. Managing IoT and Mobile Technologies with Innovation, Trust, and Sustainable Computing not only targets IT experts and drills down on the technical issues but also provides readers from various groups with a well-linked concept about how the latest trends of mobile technologies are closely related to daily living and the workplace at managerial and even individual levels.

This book has been written with the support of Huawei's large accumulation of technical knowledge and experience in the WLAN field, as well as its understanding of customer service requirements. First, the book covers service challenges facing enterprise wireless networks, along with detailing the latest evolution of Wi-Fi standards, air interface performance, and methods for improving user experience in enterprise scenarios. Furthermore, it illustrates typical networking, planning, and scenario-specific design for enterprise WLANs, and provides readers with a comprehensive understanding of enterprise WLAN planning, design, and technical implementation, as well as suggestions for deployment. This is a practical and easy-to-understand guide to WLAN design, and is written for WLAN technical support and planning engineers, network administrators, and enthusiasts of network technology. Authors Rihai Wu is Chief Architect of Huawei's campus network WLAN solution with 16 years of experience in wireless communications product design and a wealth of expertise in network design and product development. He previously served as a designer and developer of products for Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA), LTE indoor small cells, and WLAN. Xun Yang is a WLAN standard expert from Huawei. He has nine years of experience in formulating WLAN standards, and previously served as 802.11ac Secretary, 802.11ah PHY Ad-hoc Co-chair, and 802.11ax MU Ad Hoc Sub Group Co-chair. Mr. Yang oversees technical research, the promotion of standards, and industrialization in the WLAN field, and has filed more than 100 patents. Xia Zhou is a documentation engineer of Huawei's campus network WLAN solution. She has 10 years of experience in creating documents for campus network products. Ms. Zhou was previously in charge of writing manuals for Huawei data center switches, WLAN products, and campus network solutions. She is also the author of Campus Network Solution Deployment Guide and was a co-sponsor of technical sessions such as WLAN from Basics to Proficiency. Yibo Wang is a documentation engineer of Huawei's campus network WLAN solution. He has nine years of experience in creating documents for campus network products. Mr. Wang was previously in charge of writing manuals for Huawei switches, WLAN products, and routers. He was also a co-sponsor of technical sessions such as WLAN from Basics to Proficiency and HCIA-WLAN certification training courses.

Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) and their associated technologies have advanced by leaps and bounds in the nine years since the first edition of this book was published. The concept of survey has changed, especially in the disciplines of geomatics and geoinformatics. This revised and updated second edition provides a thorough understanding of the basic principles and techniques of GNSS, analyzes all four active systems, and explains clearly how each of these systems works. Because of its straightforward treatment of the subject, readers will gain an insight into the techniques, trends, and applications of GNSS and develop knowledge on selecting an appropriate GNSS instrument. Written for students and practitioners in geoinformatics, geomatics engineering, surveying, and remote sensing and GIS, this introductory and practical book includes questions and exercises in each chapter. Key Features: * Furnishes detailed information on GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, BeiDou, and other regional and augmented systems * Provides practical guidance for surveying, mapping, and navigation with GNSS * Sheds light on the latest developments and modern trends of GNSS * Includes a detailed glossary of related terms * Contains many illustrations that complement the text * Exercises for each chapter * MCQ, solution manual for mathematical problems, and PPT as online resources

Dieses Handbuch eroertert den aktuellen Stand der Technik bei Faserstoffen und bietet einen breiten UEberblick uber deren Einsatz in Forschung und Entwicklung. Herausgeber ist ein fuhrender Experte des Fachgebiets. Abhandlungen stammen von erfahrenen Forschern im Bereich Fasern und Textilien. Band 1 legt den Schwerpunkt auf Faserklassen, die Herstellung und Charakterisierung von Fasern. Band 2 stellt Anwendungen vor, darunter auch neue Anwendungen aus den Bereichen Energie, Umweltwissenschaften und Gesundheitswesen. Ein hochaktuelles Fachbuch und einzigartiges Wissenskompendium fur Hochschule und Industrie.

Project Management has gone through a rapid transformation over the last five years due to the widespread adoption of agile methodologies. Agile has changed the role of project managers in many environments and has raised the bar for the entire profession; however, that transformation is ongoing and there is still confusion about the impact it has on project managers. The Project Manager's Guide to Mastering Agile, Second Edition will help project managers who are faced with the challenge of adapting their project management approach to an Agile approach. This new edition includes updated content from the latest PMBOK Guide, updated sections on stakeholder management, value-driven delivery, adaptative planning, and distributed project management, and an all-new chapter on Hybrid project management. There are many books on Agile and traditional project management, but this new edition shows practitioners how these approaches can work jointly to improve project outcomes in any project. This book includes discussion topics, real world case studies, and sample enterprise-level Agile frameworks that facilitate hands-on learning.

Photovoltaic (PV) energy generation is an excellent example of large-scale electric power generation through various parallel arrangements of small voltage-generating solar cells or modules. However, PV generation systems require power electronic converters system to satisfy the need for real-time applications or to balance the demand for power from electric. Therefore, a DC-DC power converter is a vital constituent in the intermediate conversion stage of PV power. This book presents a comprehensive review of various non-isolated DC-DC power converters. Non-isolated DC-DC converters for renewable energy system (RES) application presented in this book 1st edition through a detailed original investigation, obtained numerical/experimental results, and guided the scope to design new families of converters: DC-DC multistage power converter topologies, Multistage "X-Y converter family", Nx IMBC (Nx Interleaved Multilevel Boost Converter), Cockcroft Walton (CW) Voltage Multiplier-Based Multistage/Multilevel Power Converter (CW-VM-MPC) converter topologies, and Z-source and quasi Z-source. Above solutions are discussed to show how they can achieve the maximum voltage conversion gain ratio by adapting the passive/active component within the circuits. For assessment, we have recommended novel power converters through their functionality and designs, tested and verified by numerical software. Further, the hardware prototype implementation is carried out through a flexible digital processor. Both numerical and experimental results always shown as expected close agreement with primary theoretical hypotheses. This book offers guidelines and recommendation for future development with the DC-DC converters for RES applications based on cost-effective, and reliable solutions.

The application of deep learning methods to problems in natural language processing has generated significant progress across a wide range of natural language processing tasks. For some of these applications, deep learning models now approach or surpass human performance. While the success of this approach has transformed the engineering methods of machine learning in artificial intelligence, the significance of these achievements for the modelling of human learning and representation remains unclear. Deep Learning and Linguistic Representation looks at the application of a variety of deep learning systems to several cognitively interesting NLP tasks. It also considers the extent to which this work illuminates our understanding of the way in which humans acquire and represent linguistic knowledge. Key Features: combines an introduction to deep learning in AI and NLP with current research on Deep Neural Networks in computational linguistics. is self-contained and suitable for teaching in computer science, AI, and cognitive science courses; it does not assume extensive technical training in these areas. provides a compact guide to work on state of the art systems that are producing a revolution across a range of difficult natural language tasks.

The application of deep learning methods to problems in natural language processing has generated significant progress across a wide range of natural language processing tasks. For some of these applications, deep learning models now approach or surpass human performance. While the success of this approach has transformed the engineering methods of machine learning in artificial intelligence, the significance of these achievements for the modelling of human learning and representation remains unclear. Deep Learning and Linguistic Representation looks at the application of a variety of deep learning systems to several cognitively interesting NLP tasks. It also considers the extent to which this work illuminates our understanding of the way in which humans acquire and represent linguistic knowledge. Key Features: combines an introduction to deep learning in AI and NLP with current research on Deep Neural Networks in computational linguistics. is self-contained and suitable for teaching in computer science, AI, and cognitive science courses; it does not assume extensive technical training in these areas. provides a compact guide to work on state of the art systems that are producing a revolution across a range of difficult natural language tasks.

Sustainable Production and Logistics: Modeling and Analysis Subject Guide: Engineering - Industrial & Manufacturing This book presents issues faced by planners of production and distribution operations in terms of smart manufacturing and sustainability, using efficient quantitative techniques in a variety of decision-making situations. Addressing the state-of-the-art of the smart and sustainable sides of production and distribution planning operations, it highlights how a current issue can be effectively approached and what particular quantitative technique can be used. The book goes on to provide a foundation in the new and fast-growing digital journey, and includes logistics 4.0 inside Industry 4.0, along with case studies. The information in this book is useful worldwide, especially in the Americas, Europe, Turkey, and Japan. It is written for academicians, researchers, practitioners, and students.

This book aims to bring together leading academic scientists, researchers, and research scholars to exchange and share their experiences and research results on all aspects of Artificial Intelligence. The book provides a premier interdisciplinary platform to present practical challenges and adopted solutions. The book addresses the complete functional framework workflow in Artificial Intelligence technology. It explores the basic and high-level concepts and can serve as a manual for the industry for beginners and the more advanced. It covers intelligent and automated systems and its implications to the real-world, and offers data acquisition and case studies related to data-intensive technologies in AI-based applications. The book will be of interest to researchers, professionals, scientists, professors, students of computer science engineering, electronics and communications, as well as information technology.

This volume focuses on natural language processing, artificial intelligence, and allied areas. Natural language processing enables communication between people and computers and automatic translation to facilitate easy interaction with others around the world. This book discusses theoretical work and advanced applications, approaches, and techniques for computational models of information and how it is presented by language (artificial, human, or natural) in other ways. It looks at intelligent natural language processing and related models of thought, mental states, reasoning, and other cognitive processes. It explores the difficult problems and challenges related to partiality, underspecification, and context-dependency, which are signature features of information in nature and natural languages. Key features: Addresses the functional frameworks and workflow that are trending in NLP and AI Looks at the latest technologies and the major challenges, issues, and advances in NLP and AI Explores an intelligent field monitoring and automated system through AI with NLP and its implications for the real world Discusses data acquisition and presents a real-time case study with illustrations related to data-intensive technologies in AI and NLP.

This new volume provides an informative collection of chapters on ICT and data analytics in education, helping to lead the digital revolution in higher education. The chapters emphasize skill development through ICT, artificial intelligence in education, policies for integrating ICT in higher education, and more. The book focuses mainly on technological advancements in ICT in education, the perceived role of ICT in the teaching-learning transaction, pedagogy for teaching-learning in the 21st century, student-centered learning based on ICT, learning analytics, online technologies learning, tools for technology enhanced learning, distance education and learning, the effective use of ICT in management education, experiences in ICT for technology-enhanced learning, influence of ICT in research development in higher education, role of teachers in direct classroom teaching in web-based education system, and role of ICT in innovation capacity building. The case studies help to illustrate the ideas and concepts discussed in the chapters.

Spintronics Handbook, Second Edition offers an update on the single most comprehensive survey of the two intertwined fields of spintronics and magnetism, covering the diverse array of materials and structures, including silicon, organic semiconductors, carbon nanotubes, graphene, and engineered nanostructures. It focuses on seminal pioneering work, together with the latest in cutting-edge advances, notably extended discussion of two-dimensional materials beyond graphene, topological insulators, skyrmions, and molecular spintronics. The main sections cover physical phenomena, spin-dependent tunneling, control of spin and magnetism in semiconductors, and spin-based applications. Features: Presents the most comprehensive reference text for the overlapping fields of spintronics (spin transport) and magnetism. Covers the full spectrum of materials and structures, from silicon and organic semiconductors to carbon nanotubes, graphene, and engineered nanostructures. Extends coverage of two-dimensional materials beyond graphene, including molybdenum disulfide and study of their spin relaxation mechanisms Includes new dedicated chapters on cutting-edge topics such as spin-orbit torques, topological insulators, half metals, complex oxide materials and skyrmions. Discusses important emerging areas of spintronics with superconductors, spin-wave spintronics, benchmarking of spintronics devices, and theory and experimental approaches to molecular spintronics. Evgeny Tsymbal's research is focused on computational materials science aiming at the understanding of fundamental properties of advanced ferromagnetic and ferroelectric nanostructures and materials relevant to nanoelectronics and spintronics. He is a George Holmes University Distinguished Professor at the Department of Physics and Astronomy of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL), Director of the UNL's Materials Research Science and Engineering Center (MRSEC), and Director of the multi-institutional Center for NanoFerroic Devices (CNFD). Igor Zutic received his Ph.D. in theoretical physics at the University of Minnesota. His work spans a range of topics from high-temperature superconductors and ferromagnetism that can get stronger as the temperature is increased, to prediction of various spin-based devices. He is a recipient of 2006 National Science Foundation CAREER Award, 2005 National Research Council/American Society for Engineering Education Postdoctoral Research Award, and the National Research Council Fellowship (2003-2005). His research is supported by the National Science Foundation, the Office of Naval Research, the Department of Energy, and the Airforce Office of Scientific Research.

This edited volume covers technological developments and current research trends in the field of photonics, plasmonics and optics, focusing on photonic crystals, semiconductor optical devices, optical communications and optical sensors, with an emphasis on practical sectors. It broadly contains the latest research domains contributed by experts and researchers in their respective fields with a major focus on the basic physics. Works in the area of electromagnetic bandgap structures (EBG) and metasurfaces are included for applications in different aspects of communications systems. Further, it covers research phenomena of microwave photonic devices to develop miniaturized high-frequency devices. FEATURES Reviews nonlinear optical phenomena related with materials and crystals and plasmonic effects on device fabrications Contains a detailed analysis on photonic crystals with their applications in making all-optical passive components Focusses on nonlinear optics, more precisely on crystals and materials, and computational aspects on evaluating their properties from Maxwell's equations Presents an extensive study on the physics of EBG structures for application in antenna and high-frequency communications Includes metamaterials and metasurfaces for applications in photonics as well as in microwave engineering for high-frequency communication systems Photonics, Plasmonics and Information Optics: Research and Technological Advances is aimed at researchers, professionals and graduate students in optical communication, silicon photonics, photonic crystals, semiconductor optical devices, metamaterials and metasurfaces, and microwave photonics.

Enables the reader both to understand and to use, in a practical manner, laser welding. The author explains the principles of laser welding and provides examples of industrial applications, examines many aspects of laser welding and devotes a complete chapter to safety.

An effective laser safety program can mean big savings in time, money, effort, and most importantly, human well-being. It can improve the quality of your research program, your organization's reputation, and ultimately, improve your bottom line. Based on the extensive experience of active Laser Safety Officer Kenneth Barat, Laser Safety Management provides practical tools for successfully implementing a laser safety program in any environment. The book defines the three elements of laser safety: users, the laser safety officer, and incidental personnel. It covers the types of laser injuries, standard operating procedures to ensure safety, tips and tools to avoid pitfalls, training, control measures, and personal protection equipment. The author explores the laser safety officer position and delineates the required elements of effective SOPs. He also discusses non-beam hazards, includes practical control examples and sample forms, and covers U.S. and European regulations and standards. Taking a pedagogical approach, the book covers not only how to avoid accidents, but how to investigate them if they do occur. It includes a sample safety program designed to evaluate your current safety plan and act as a roadmap for where you need to be and how to get there. Filled with common sense solutions for laser safety issues, the book makes setting up a safety program practically painless.

UAVs-unmanned aerial vehicles, remotely piloted aircraft; the labels vary-are a disruptive technology on par with computers and smartphones. Present since soon after the dawn of manned aviation, they have become controversial only in recent times. In the United States, the mainstream media has painted them with a broad brush as "drones" with a warlike past, and civil liberties organizations warn of their impact on individual privacy rights. But a promising new industry beckons-UAVs can be useful for farming, filmmaking, law enforcement and sundry other missions. Entrepreneurs and aerospace manufacturers alike want them freed to fly for commercial purposes, and the US Congress has answered with a mandate to make that happen. Caught in the middle is the staid, bureaucratic Federal Aviation Administration, whose sacred mission is to protect the safety of America's skies. Enter the Drones cuts through the hyperbole over UAVs to explain the considerable challenges the FAA faces.

This book covers the issues related to optimization of engineering and management problems using soft computing techniques with an industrial outlook. It covers a broad area related to real life complex decision making problems using a heuristics approach. It also explores a wide perspective and future directions in industrial engineering research on a global platform/scenario. The book highlights the concept of optimization, presents various soft computing techniques, offers sample problems, and discusses related software programs complete with illustrations. Features Explains the concept of optimization and relevance to soft computing techniques towards optimal solution in engineering and management Presents various soft computing techniques Offers problems and their optimization using various soft computing techniques Discusses related software programs, with illustrations Provides a step-by-step tutorial on how to handle relevant software for obtaining the optimal solution to various engineering problems

This book presents a comprehensive compilation of practical systems engineering models. The application and recognition of systems engineering is spreading rapidly, however there is no book that addresses the availability and usability of systems engineering models. Notable among the models to be included are the V-Model, DEJI Model, and Waterfall Model. There are other models developed for specific organizational needs, which will be identified and presented in a practical template so that other organizations can learn and use them. A better understanding of the models, through a comprehensive book, will make these models more visible, embraced, and applied across the spectrum. Visit www.DEJImodel.com for model details. Features Covers applications to both small and large problems Displays decomposition of complex problems into smaller manageable chunks Discusses direct considerations of the pertinent constraints that exist in the problem domain Presents systematic linking of inputs to goals and outputs

Recently, many books on multiobjective programming have been published. However, only a few books have been published, in which multiobjective programming under the randomness and the fuzziness are investigated. On the other hand, several books on multilevel programming have been published, in which multiple decision makers are involved in hierarchical decision situations. In this book, we introduce the latest advances in the field of multiobjective programming and multilevel programming under uncertainty. The reader can immediately use proposed methods to solve multiobjective programming and multilevel programming, which are based on linear programming or convex programming technique. Organization of each capter is summarized as follows. In Chapter 2, multiobjective programming problems with random variables are formulated, and the corresponding interactive algorithms are developed to obtain a satisfactory solution, in which the fuzziness of human's subjective judgment for permission levels are considered. In Chapter 3, multiobjective programming problems with fuzzy random variables are formulated, and the corresponding interactive algorithms are developed to obtain a satisfactory solution, in which not only the uncertainty of fuzzy random variables but also the fuzziness of human's subjective judgment for permission levels are considered. In Chapter 4, multiobjective multilevel programming is discussed, and the interactive algorithms are developed to obtain a satisfactory solution, in which the hierarchical decision structure of multiple decision makers is reflected. In Chapter 5, two kinds of farm planning problems are solved by applying the proposed method, in which cost coefficients of crops are expressed by random variables.

The book deals with theoretical and experimental research of antennas. The presentation is based on the electromagnetic theory. It begins with the theory of thin antennas. Thin antennas represent one of the main types of radiators, thus the theory of thin antennas is the basis of the antennas analysis. Special attention is paid to the integral equation of Leontovich-Levin for a current along a straight thin-walled metal cylinder, which is equivalent to the equation of Hallen with a precise kernel. Together with the analysis of various types of antennas, the book deals with the problems of synthesis including the creation a wide-band radiator by means of determining of the types and the magnitudes of concentrated loads, which are connected along a linear radiator and create in a given frequency band high electrical performance. Problems of antenna engineering are discussed in the second half of the book, including the results of application of a compensation method for the protection of humans against irradiation and structural features of ship antennas.

This book offers a practical and reliable approach to how an organization can move beyond all of the separate initiatives and hype associated with sustainability. It shows how to build in what is already in place, in order to create a sense of stewardship that protects the environment, creates a sense of social well-being, and shared value within the organization.

This book provides a link between different disciplines of nanophysics, biophotonics, nanobiomaterials & applications of nanobiophotonics in biomedical research and engineering. The fundamentals of light, matter, nanobiomaterials & nanophysics are discussed together, and relevant applications in biomedical engineering as well as other related factors influencing the interaction process are explicated. Theoretical and experimental research is combined, emphasizing the influence of crucial common factors on applications.