Adaptive 3D ray tracing approach for indoor radio signal prediction at 3.5 GHz

This paper explained an adaptive ray tracing technique in modelling indoor radio wave propagation. As compared with conventional ray tracing approach, the presented ray tracing approach offers an optimized method to trace the travelling radio signal by introducing flexibility and adaptive features in ray launching algorithm in modelling the radio wave for indoor scenarios. The simulation result was compared with measurements data for verification. By analyzing the results, the proposed adaptive technique showed a better improvement in simulation time, power level and coverage in modelling the radio wave propagation for indoor scenario and may benefit in the development of signal propagation simulators for future technologies.

Development of real-time indoor human tracking system using LoRa technology

<p>Industrial growth has increased the number of jobs hence increase the number of employees. Therefore, it is impossible to track the location of all employees in the same building at the same time as they are placed in a different department. In this work, a real-time indoor human tracking system is developed to determine the location of employees in a real-time implementation. In this work, the long-range (LoRa) technology is used as the communication medium to establish the communication between the tracker and the gateway in the developed system due to its low power with high coverage range besides requires low cost for deployment. The received signal strength indicator (RSSI) based positioning method is used to measure the power level at the receiver which is the gateway to determine the location of the employees. Different scenarios have been considered to evaluate the performance of the developed system in terms of precision and reliability. This includes the size of the area, the number of obstacles in the considered area, and the height of the tracker and the gateway. A real-time testbed implementation has been conducted to evaluate the performance of the developed system and the results show that the system has high precision and are reliable for all considered scenarios.</p>

MULTIPATH ANTENNA SYSTEM OF THE VHF BAND BASED ON A LENS MADE OF GRANITE RUBBLE

Предложена конструкция приземной многолучевой антенной решетки на основе линзы из гранитного щебня, позволяющая одновременно формировать до нескольких десятков лучей в длинноволновой области УКВ-диапазона волн. Эффективная диэлектрическая проницаемость гранитного щебня оценивалась с помощью формулы Лихтенекера для мелкодисперсных смесей; ее величина приблизительно равна 3. Для оценки величины замедления поверхностных волн в линзе использовалась методика анализа дисперсионных характеристик зеркального диэлектрического волновода; при высоте линзы 1.8 метра эффективная диэлектрическая проницаемость эквивалентного зеркального диэлектрического волновода равна 2.1. В качестве облучателей линзы - несимметричные электрические вибраторы, расположенные на окружности по периметру линзы, диаметр которой составляет 30 метров; диаметр подстилающей стальной поверхности составляет 40 метров. Предложенная антенная система характеризуется потерями в щебне около 3 дБ при диаметре линзы около 3,8 длин волн; показано, что коэффициент направленного действия у каждого луча может составлять около 15,5 дБ, при ширине главного лепестка в азимутальной плоскости по уровню половинной мощности около 10 градусов We propose a design of a surface multi-beam antenna array based on a lens of crushed granite, which makes it possible to simultaneously form up to several tens of beams in the long-wave region of the VHF wave range. We estimated the effective dielectric constant of crushed granite using the Lichtenecker formula for fine mixtures; its value is approximately equal to 3. To estimate the magnitude of the deceleration of surface waves in the lens, we used a technique to analyze the dispersion characteristics of a mirror dielectric waveguide; at a lens height of 1.8 meters, the effective dielectric constant of the equivalent mirror dielectric waveguide is 2.1. As irradiators of the lens - asymmetric electric vibrators located on a circle around the perimeter of the lens, the diameter of which is 30 meters; the diameter of the underlying steel surface is 40 meters. The proposed antenna system is characterized by a loss in rubble of about 3 dB with a lens diameter of about 3.8 wavelengths; the directivity of each beam can be about 15.5 dB, with the width of the main lobe in the azimuthal plane at half power level of about 10 degrees

Optimization and Operational Analysis of Electric Vehicle Operation with Fast-Charging Technologies

This work presents three demos, which include Electric Buses (EBs) from four various brands with lengths of 12 m and 18 m and an Electric Truck (E-truck) for refuse collection. The technical operation of these EVs were analyzed to implement further operational cost optimization on the demo vehicles. The Electric Vehicles (EVs) were tested against superfast-charging solutions based on Pantograph (Type A & Type B) on the route lines (and depots) and based on Combined Charging System Type 2 (CCS2, Combo2) from various brands to validate the interoperability among several vendors and support further EV integration with more affordable solutions. The optimization includes the calculation of the EBs’ consumption at various seasons and under various operating conditions in order to use optimum battery system design, heating system, optimum EB fleet operation and size and to find the charging solutions properly. The results showed that the EB consumption increases in some cases by 64.5% in wintertime due to heating systems, and the consumption in urban areas is more than that on the route lines outside cities. In the E-truck demo, where the electric heater was replaced with a heat-pump to optimize the energy consumption, it was found that the consumption of the heat-pump is about half of the electric heater under certain operating conditions. Under strict EB schedule, Pantograph charging solutions with power ratings of 300–600 kW have been adopted to charge the batteries of the EBs within 4–10 min. In order to minimize the cumulative costs of energy, (pantograph) charging infrastructure depreciation and battery degradation, as well as depot charging (at the bus operator’s depot), was adopted with a power level of 50–350 kW based on CCS2 and pantograph.

Concept design of the megawatt power level gyrotron stabilized by a low-power signal for DEMO project

The specific features of the main components of the new powerful 230GHz/80kV/40A gyrotron aimed to use in the future control fusion facility DEMO are described. The gyrotron design provides a stable output power generation of more than 1 MW using a superconducting magnet with a moderate size warm bore. Furthermore, the new original quasi-optical converter providing the gyrotron operation in three possible regimes  two free oscillation regimes with co-rotating TE33,13 or counter-rotating TE33,-13 mode, and the regime with frequency locking by the stable input signal  is suggested and optimized. The Gaussian content in the output wave-beam in all above-mentioned regimes is about 98%.

Sample size and its evolution in research

Objective: Sample size is one of the crucial and basic steps involved in planning any study. This article aims to study the evolution of sample size across the years from hundreds to thousands to millions and to a trillion in the near future (H-K-M-B-T). It also aims to understand the importance of sampling in the era of big data. Study Design - Primary Outcome measure, Methods, Results, and Interpretation: A sample size which is too small will not be a true representation of the population whereas a large sample size will involve putting more individuals at risk. An optimum sample size needs to be employed to identify statistically significant differences if they exist and obtain scientifically valid results. The design of the study, the primary outcome, sampling method used, dropout rate, effect size, power, level of significance, and standard deviation are some of the multiple factors which affect the sample size. All these factors need to be taken into account while calculating the sample size. Many sources are available for calculating sample size. Discretion needs to be used while choosing the right source. The large volumes of data and the corresponding number of data points being analyzed is redefining many industries including healthcare. The larger the sample size, the more insightful information, identification of rare side effects, lesser margin of error, higher confidence level, and models with more accuracy. Advances in the digital era have ensured that we do not face most of the obstacles faced traditionally with regards to statistical sampling, yet it has its own set of challenges. Hence, considerable efforts and time should be invested in selecting sampling techniques which are appropriate and reducing sampling bias and errors. This will ensure the reliability and reproducibility in the results obtained. Along with a large sample size, the focus should be on getting to know the data better, the sample frame and the context in which it was collected. We need to focus on creation of good quality data and structured systems to capture the sample. Good data quality management makes sure that the data are structured appropriately.

Bioprospecting microwave-alkaline hydrolysate cocktail of defatted soybean meal and jackfruit peel biomass as carrier additive of molasses-alginate-bead biofertilizer

The extraction of soluble hydrolysate protein and sugar from a biomass cocktail of defatted soybean meal (DSM) and jackfruit peel (JP) was examined using microwave-alkaline hydrolysis by varying the NaOH concentrations (0.04–0.11 M) and residence times (2–11 min). Based on the central composite design, the optimized parameters were achieved at 0.084 M NaOH concentration (100 mL), for 8.7 min at 300 W microwave power level to obtain the highest protein (5.31 mg/mL) and sugar concentrations (8.07 mg/mL) with > 75% recovery. Both raw and detoxified hydrolysate (using activated carbon) were correspondingly biocompatible with Enterobacter hormaechei strain 40a (P > 0.05) resulting in maximal cell counts of > 10 log CFU/mL. The optimized hydrolysate was prepared as an additive in molasses-alginate bead encapsulation of strain 40a. Further evaluation on phosphate and potassium solubilization performance of the encapsulated strain 40a exhibited comparable results with those of free cell counterpart (P > 0.05). The DSM-JP hydrolysate cocktail holds potential as a carrier additive of encapsulated-cell bead biofertilizers in order to sustain bacterial cell quality and consequently improve crop growth and productivity.

Study on interaction between plasma and electromagnetic field in ion source of 10cm ECR ion thruster

Through diagnosing plasma density and calculating the intensity of microwave electric field, four 10cm electron cyclotron resonance (ECR) ion sources with different magnetic field structures are studied to reveal the inside interaction between plasma, magnetic field and microwave electric field. From the diagnosing result it can be found that the plasma density distribution is controlled by the plasma generation and electron loss volumes associated with magnetic field and microwave power level. Based on the cold plasma hypothesis and diagnosing result, the microwave electric field intensity distribution in the plasma is calculated. The result shows that the plasma will significantly change the distribution of microwave electric field intensity to form a bow shape. From the boundary region of the shape to the center, the electric field intensity varies from higher to lower and the diagnosed density inversely changes. If the bow and its inside lower electric field intensity region is close to the screen grid, the performance of ion beam extracting will be better. The study can provide useful information for the creating of 10cm ECR ion source and understanding its mechanism.

Generation of E × B flow shear by finite orbit width effects from heat sources in tokamaks

We present a possible mechanism for the generation of strong E × B flow shear relevant to internal transport barrier formation in tokamak plasmas. From gyrokinetic calculations, we show that strong E × B flow shear can be generated by finite orbit width (FOW) effects associated with a non-uniform heat source and is sufficient to lead to transport barrier formation in the core region with a moderate power level. Two FOW effects inducing neoclassical polarization are shown to be responsible for this: 1) the radial drift of particle orbit center due to the variation of the heat source within orbit width and 2) the non-uniformly evolved orbit width by the non-uniform heating.