Scalable Architecture and Structure of Modules for Distributed Process Control System in Industrial Greenhouse Comp

With the growth of the population, the issue of food supply of cities with high-quality agricultural crops becomes urgent. Supply problems arising from this can be solved with the use of industrial greenhouse complexes with artificial lighting and groundless technologies. The development of these complexes makes the task of developing a control system to automate the cultivation processes urgent. Real industrial greenhouse complexes have a significant number of operations with the direct participation of personnel, which can be automated: control of the greenhouse microclimate, lighting, watering and preparation of the nutrient solution composition. This paper presents the architecture of a distributed control system for industrial greenhouse complexes. The system is built on a modular basis and is divided into three levels. The developed architecture is based on the use of standard modules, which makes the control system flexible and scalable. The paper also presents the basic design ratios, with the help of which it is possible to determine the required number of modules for the three levels of the proposed architecture. The use of wireless data transmission between modules based on LoRa technology allows you to abandon the laying of an information bus and at the same time deploy the system over large areas. Control of the system and its parameters is possible through direct human interaction with the interface of the control module or through remote interaction through the cloud. The architecture includes 3 types of executive modules, one combined sensor module and a control module. Each of the executive modules functions according to a given algorithm, and its parameters are controlled by a control module, based on a given growing program and information from sensors. This feature allows you to increase the reliability of the system and continue working in the event of a loss of communication with the cloud, as well as to exclude emergencies in the event of a loss of communication between the modules. The developed solutions make it possible to adapt the proposed control system for greenhouse complexes of various configurations and growing principles.

UWB and MEMS IMU Integrated Positioning Algorithm for a Work-Tool Tracking System

In this paper, we address a system that can accurately locate and monitor work tools in a complex assembly process, such as automotive production. Our positioning monitoring system is positioned by a combined sensor of the UWB module and the MEMS IMU (inertial measuring unit) sensor based on the extended Kalman filter. The MEMS IMU sensor provides the positioning calibration information. The proposed method incorporates IMU and UWB positioning to compensate for errors that can only occur in UWB positioning through the extended Kalman filter (EKT). This EKT is improved by the error dynamic equation derived from the sparse state-space matrix. Also, the proposed method computes the transmission time and distance between the tag and anchor of the UWB module by the TWR (two-way range) system. The tag of a mobile node, which is attached to a moving tool, measures the position of the work tool and transmits the position coordinate data to the anchor. Here, the proposed method uses the trilateration localization method by the confidence distance compensation to prevent the distance error by obstacles and changes in the indoor environment. Experimental results verified that the proposed method confirms whether a specific tool is accurately used according to the prescribed regulations and has more positioning accuracy than the conventional methods.

Four-point dynamic leveling method for drilling platform application

Purpose It is essential to level the drilling platform across which a drilling robot travels in a slant underground coal mine tunnel to ensure smooth operation of the drill rod. However, existing leveling methods do not provide dynamic performance under the drilling conditions of the underground coal mine. A four-point dynamic leveling algorithm is presented in this paper based on the platform attitude and support rod displacement (DLAAD). An experimental drilling robot demonstrates its dynamic leveling capability and ability to ensure smooth drill rod operations. Design/methodology/approach The attitude coordinate of the drilling robot is established according to its structure. A six-axis combined sensor is adopted to detect the platform attitude, thus revealing the three-axis Euler angles. The support rod displacement values are continuously detected by laser displacement sensors to obtain the displacement increment of each support rod as needed. The drilling robot is leveled according to the current support rod displacement and three-dimensional (3 D) attitude detected by the six-axis combined sensor dynamically. Findings Experimental results indicate that the DLAAD algorithm is correct and effectively levels the drilling platform dynamically. It can thus provide essential support in resolving drill rod sticking problems during actual underground coal mine drilling operations. Practical implications The DLAAD algorithm supports smooth drill rod operations in underground coal mines, which greatly enhances safety, reduces power consumption, and minimizes cost. The approach proposed here thus represents considerable benefits in terms of coal mine production and shows notable potential for application in similar fields. Originality/value The novel DLAAD algorithm and leveling control method are the key contributions of this work, they provide dynamical 3 D leveling and help to resolve drill rod sticking problems.

A combined Langmuir Probe – fluxgate magnetometer sensor design for Comet Interceptor

<p>The in situ characterization of space plasmas requires an instrument suite for the measurement of the magnetic and electric fields and waves and of the plasma populations, with the field instruments typically being mounted on booms. This can be a tall order, especially for small planetary science missions, so that one has to seek simplifications. In the context of the Comet Interceptor mission, we have designed a combined sensor that consists of a hollow spherical Langmuir probe that harbors a fluxgate magnetometer at its center. Special precautions have been taken to minimize the possible interference between both, while at the same time being very lightweight. An engineering model has been built and is tested and characterized in detail. Such a combined sensor, together with a companion Langmuir probe, provides data regarding magnetic and electric fields and waves, total ion and electron densities and electron temperature, as well as the ambient nanodust population. It can form the core of an in situ plasma characterization package and offers reference data for the other sensors, such as magnetic field direction, spacecraft potential and total plasma density at high cadence.</p>

Integrated Electric Vehicle Shunt Current Sensing System for Concurrent Revenue Metering and Detection of DC Injection

Certified electric vehicle power converters can inject DC current into the AC grid if they fail. Verification of DC injection by electric vehicle supply equipment can be a cost-effective extra measure to ensure power quality from a variety of plugged-in electric vehicles. As electric vehicle supply equipment typically performs high-accuracy revenue energy metering, we propose that measurement of AC current and DC injection with a single sensor is the most economically efficient design. This article presents an integrated shunt current sensing system with separation of AC and DC signals for concurrent revenue metering and DC injection detection. It also shows how the combined sensor is integrated into 19.2 kW single-phase electric vehicle supply equipment, and outlines how the design would be extended to 100 kW three-phase electric vehicle supply equipment. The prototype can detect DC injection of ≥400 mA in an AC current up to 80 A in accordance with the IEEE 1547-2018 standard. The prototype can also conduct revenue metering within the 1.0 accuracy class. The prototype does not have high power dissipation at high currents typical for shunt systems. Finally, the prototype is less costly than common electric vehicle supply equipment revenue metering CT systems with the addition of the popular Hall-effect sensor.

Is Sitting Always Inactive and Standing Always Active? A Simultaneous Free-Living activPal and ActiGraph Analysis

Sedentary Behavior (SB), defined as sitting with minimal physical activity, is an emergent public health topic. However, the measurement of SB considers either posture (e.g., activPal) or physical activity (e.g., ActiGraph), and thus neglects either active sitting or inactive standing. The aim of this study was to determine the true amount of active sitting and inactive standing in daily life, and to analyze by how much these behaviors falsify the single sensors’ sedentary estimates. Sedentary time of 100 office workers estimated with activPal and ActiGraph was therefore compared with Bland-Altman statistics to a combined sensor analysis, the posture and physical activity index (POPAI). POPAI classified each activPal sitting and standing event into inactive or active using the ActiGraph counts. Participants spent 45.0% [32.2%–59.1%] of the waking hours inactive sitting (equal to SB), 13.7% [7.8%–21.6%] active sitting, and 12.0% [5.7%–24.1%] inactive standing (mean [5th–95th percentile]). The activPal overestimated sedentary time by 30.3% [12.3%–48.4%] and the ActiGraph by 22.5% [3.2%–41.8%] (bias [95% limit-of-agreement]). The results showed that sitting is not always inactive, and standing is not always active. Caution should therefore be paid when interpreting the activPal (ignoring active sitting) and ActiGraph (ignoring inactive standing) measured time as SB.