Finite Impulse Response Filter-Based Track Formation for Preceding Vehicle Tracking Using Automotive Radars

Automotive radars, which are used for preceding vehicle tracking, have attracted significant attention in recent years. However, the false measurements that occur in cluttered roadways hinders the tracking process in vehicles; thus, it is essential to develop automotive radar systems that are robust against false measurements. This study proposed a novel track formation algorithm to initialize the preceding vehicle tracking in automotive radar systems. The proposed algorithm is based on finite impulse response filtering, and exhibited significantly higher accuracy in highly cluttered environments than a conventional track formation algorithm. The excellent performance of the proposed algorithm was demonstrated using extensive simulations under real conditions.

The control of the height and shape of the track in laser metal deposition by the QCW laser mode

The control of the track shape in laser metal deposition technology by the QCW laser mode has been studied. The different geometric characteristics of the tracks are shown to obtain at the same average laser power, depending on the selected laser power control mode. The difference in the temperature regimes of track formation is shown.

Energy Retention in Thin Graphite Targets after Energetic Ion Impact

High energy ion irradiation is an important tool for nanoscale modification of materials. In the case of thin targets and 2D materials, which these energetic ions can pierce through, nanoscale modifications such as production of nanopores can open up pathways for new applications. However, materials modifications can be hindered because of subsequent energy release via electron emission. In this work, we follow energy dissipation after the impact of an energetic ion in thin graphite target using Geant4 code. Presented results show that significant amount of energy can be released from the target. Especially for thin targets and highest ion energies, almost 40% of deposited energy has been released. Therefore, retention of deposited energy can be significantly altered and this can profoundly affect ion track formation in thin targets. This finding could also have broader implications for radiation hardness of other nanomaterials such as nanowires and nanoparticles.

Integration of biplanar X-ray, three-dimensional animation and particle simulation reveals details of human ‘track ontogeny’

The emergence of bipedalism had profound effects on human evolutionary history, but the evolution of locomotor patterns within the hominin clade remains poorly understood. Fossil tracks record in vivo behaviours of extinct hominins, and they offer great potential to reveal locomotor patterns at various times and places across the human fossil record. However, there is no consensus on how to interpret anatomical or biomechanical patterns from tracks due to limited knowledge of the complex foot–substrate interactions through which they are produced. Here, we implement engineering-based methods to understand human track formation with the ultimate goal of unlocking invaluable information on hominin locomotion from fossil tracks. We first developed biplanar X-ray and three-dimensional animation techniques that permit visualization of subsurface foot motion as tracks are produced, and that allow for direct comparisons of foot kinematics to final track morphology. We then applied the discrete element method to accurately simulate the process of human track formation, allowing for direct study of human track ontogeny. This window lets us observe how specific anatomical and/or kinematic variables shape human track morphology, and it offers a new avenue for robust hypothesis testing in order to infer patterns of foot anatomy and motion from fossil hominin tracks.

Observation of Vapor Plume Behavior and Process Stability at Single-Track and Multi-Track Levels in Laser Powder Bed Fusion Regime

Laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) is a promising additive manufacturing technology for producing metal parts with complex geometric features. However, the issue concerning process stability and repeatability still hinders its future acceptance by the industry. Gaining a better understanding of the behavior and stability of the evaporation process is an important step towards further insights into the complex interaction between laser and material. In this study, we used off-axis high-speed camera to observe vapor plume evolution in single-track formation on bare Ti-6Al-4V plates; the results showed that evaporation has a strong effect on melting quality even if the keyhole is not developed. We then expanded the experiments to multi-track level and found that the melting mode can change as the result of heat accumulation. The results show the possibility that keyhole regime may be reached even if it starts with a combination of parameters below the threshold for keyhole formation in single-track-level observation.

Roto-Translational Control of Spacecraft in Low Earth Orbit Using Environmental Forces and Torques

In this paper, relative orbit and attitude adaptive controllers are integrated to perform roto-translational maneuvers for CubeSats equipped with a Drag Maneuvering Device (DMD). The DMD enables the host CubeSat with modulation of aerodynamic forces/torques and gravity gradient torque. Adaptive controllers for independent orbital and attitude maneuvers are revisited to account for traslational-attitude coupling while compensating for uncertainty in parameters such as atmospheric density, drag/lift coefficients, location of the Center of Mass (CoM) and inertia matrix. Uniformly ultimately bounded convergence of the attitude error and relative orbit states is guaranteed by Lyapunov-based stability analysis for the integrated roto-translational maneuver. A simulation example of an along-track formation maneuver between two CubeSats with simultaneous attitude control using only environmental forces and torques is presented to validate the controller.