Application of Markov renewal theory and semi-Markov decision processes in maintenance modeling and optimization of multi-unit systems

In this paper, a condition-based maintenance model for a multi-unit production system is proposed and analyzed using Markov renewal theory. The units of the system are subject to gradual deterioration, and the gradual deterioration process of each unit is described by a three-state continuous time homogeneous Markov chain with two working states and a failure state. The production rate of the system is influenced by the deterioration process and the demand is constant. The states of the units are observable through regular inspections and the decision to perform maintenance depends on the number of units in each state. The objective is to obtain the steady-state characteristics and the formula for the long-run average cost for the controlled system. The optimal policy is obtained using a dynamic programming algorithm. The result is validated using a semi-Markov decision process formulation and the policy iteration algorithm. Moreover, an analytical expression is obtained for the calculation of the mean time to initiate maintenance using the first passage time theory.     

基于在线学习的频谱感知次序策略*

认知无线电允许次级用户在频谱没有被主用户使用时动态地接入频谱进行数据传输。动态频谱接入是解决无线电频谱资源短缺和使用效率低下问题的有效方案,而频谱感知是实现动态频谱接入的关键挑战之一。次级用户的感知能力有限,为了快速找到频谱空闲概率最大的频段从而获得更多的频谱接入机会,研究了频谱感知次序问题。考虑到频谱空闲概率会随时间变化且对次级用户不可知,提出了一个在线学习框架,把频谱感知次序问题规约成经典多摇臂赌博机问题,并利用在线学习方法——满意折现汤普森抽样算法(satisficing discounted Thompson sampling)处理优化问题。仿真结果表明,和其他算法相比,所提算法可获得更多的频谱接入机会并且能够跟踪频谱空闲概率的变化。     

Military Spending,Conflict and External Debt in Sub-Saharan Africa

The damaging economic effects of the debt crises on Africa in the late 1980s encouraged considerable research on the determinants of external debt in developing economies. Although sub-Saharan Africa's (SSA) debt was cut by two-thirds by 2008, through two debt relief programmes, debt in the region has since been rising at an increasingly rapid pace. This study provides an empirical analysis of the determinants of external debt in SSA over the period 1960–2016, using dynamic panel methods. It also considers two potentially important factors that have received relatively little attention. One is military spending, rarely considered, despite a number of well-publicised scandals over the procurement of unnecessary and expensive high-tech weapons systems. A second, is the possibility that the countries studied have been involved in conflict. The empirical results point to a positive impact of military spending on external debt, but with some evidence of heterogeneity across the countries. Furthermore, findings indicate that the positive effect of military expenditure on debt becomes more marked in countries that have been affected by conflict. These results imply that policies to improve security and reduce military spending could be beneficial in reducing external debt and, potentially, improving economic performance in the region.     

Dynamic institutionalization: the foundations of Japan’s radioactive problem

Many have suggested that the true purpose behind Japan’s development of a closed nuclear-fuel cycle is to maintain the technical potential to develop nuclear weapons. However, closer examination of the development of Japan’s nuclear industry shows that, although Japan possesses advanced nuclear technologies, there has been no deliberate strategy to create a nuclear-weapon option. There is no “nuclear hedge.” To illustrate this point, this article presents a framework called “dynamic institutionalization” to explain the origins of Japan’s nuclear policies and the different sets of institutionalized pressures and constraints that have perpetuated these policies over time. Japan’s continued development of closed fuel-cycle technologies is primarily driven by domestic politics and the lack of a permanent spent-fuel management solution. On the other hand, Japan’s institutionalized nuclear forbearance is driven by the calculation that, as long as US extended deterrence remains credible, Japan’s security is best guaranteed through reliance on the US nuclear umbrella. By analytically untangling the policy of closed fuel-cycle development from the rationale for nuclear forbearance, this article provides a more nuanced view of the relationships between the domestic and international variables shaping Japan’s nuclear policies.     

月球轨道超长波天文观测微卫星在轨数据预处理方法

围绕“嫦娥4号”月球轨道超长波天文观测微卫星展开研究,针对微纳卫星对地数传资源的限制,提出一种在轨信号预处理方法：通过10通道数字下变频链路实现原始数据的变频接收,再利用多级滤波器抽取获得低采样率基带数据,下变频本振频率可调,在对地数传资源约束下保证了不同频带数据的灵活选取。以上方法实现了一种10频点超窄带梳状滤波,仿真验证表明,采样率80 MSPS基带带宽为1 kHz的情况下,此方法可在现场可编程门阵列平台上稳定运行,能保证带内平坦度和线性相位等关键技术指标, 数据量与直接下传原始数据相比,降低了3个数量级以上。     

Natural gas storage valuation and optimization: A real options application

In this article, we present an algorithm for the valuation and optimal operation of natural gas storage facilities. Real options theory is used to derive nonlinear partial‐integro‐differential equations (PIDEs), the solution of which give both valuation and optimal operating strategies for these facilities. The equations are designed to incorporate a wide class of spot price models that can exhibit the same time‐dependent, mean‐reverting dynamics, and price spikes as those observed in most energy markets. Particular attention is paid to the operational characteristics of real storage units. These characteristics include working gas capacities, variable deliverability and injection rates, and cycling limitations. We illustrate the model with a numerical example of a salt cavern storage facility that clearly shows how a gas storage facility is like a financial straddle with both put and call properties. Depending on the amount of gas in storage the relative influence of the put and call components vary. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Naval Research Logistics 2009     

基于PDA-UKF的杂波环境下单目标跟踪算法

提出将概率数据关联算法和不敏卡尔曼滤波相结合,用于杂波环境下的单目标跟踪。该算法同时解决了测量方程非线性情况下的滤波问题和杂波环境下的目标跟踪问题。给出了PDA-UKF算法的仿真过程,提供了一个基于距离、方位角、俯仰角的目标跟踪问题的仿真算例。理论分析与仿真结果均表明,该算法提高了滤波的稳定性和跟踪的精确性,具有较高的实用价值和广泛的应用前景。     

AIP潜艇位置基准点问题研究

位置基准点问题是常规动力潜艇战术研究中的一个重要问题.由于具有两种不同的水下航行动力,AIP潜艇位置基准点问题与普通柴电潜艇的位置基准点问题具有很大的不同.给出了AIP潜艇的位置基准点问题的数学描述,在对问题进行分析的基础上,给出了AIP潜艇位置基准点问题的一个取值范围及相应的计算方法,所采用的理论和技术包括二人零和对策、最优控制以及动态规划.最后,通过计算实例对所给理论的正确性,算法的合理性及效率进行了验证.     

基于LBDL逻辑的抗DPA攻击电路设计方法

动态差分逻辑是一种典型的电路级差分功耗攻击(DPA)防护技术.这种技术通过使逻辑门保持恒定的翻转率来降低电路功耗与数据信号之间的相关性.介绍了一种新型的、基于查找表(Look-Up-Table,LUT)结构的动态差分逻辑(LBDL),以及基于这种逻辑的集成电路设计方法.该设计方法仅需在传统的半定制设计流程中添加少量的替换操作就可以实现 ,因而比其他完全需要全定制设计的动态差分逻辑具有更好的实用性.而相对同样适用于半定制实现的动态差分逻辑 WDDL(Wave Dynamic Differential Logic),LBDL逻辑解决了逻辑门翻转时刻与数据信号之间的相关性,从而比WDDL逻辑具有更好的功耗恒定性.实验结果表明,该设计方法能够有效实现具有抗DPA攻击性能的电路.     

密集杂波环境下用于多目标跟踪的改进PDA算法

概率数据关联(PDA)算法在密集波环境下跟踪单目标时具有良好的效果,但当跟踪多目标时,由于未能考虑相邻目标间的相互影响,因此效果不佳,针对PDA算法的不足,基于多目标跟踪中相邻目标间相互影响的特点,提出了一种新的改进概率数据关联(NIPDA)算法.新算法引入量测J属于目标t的概率Bjtk,并用其对关联概率进行修正,从而在计算互联概率时考虑了相邻目标间的影响.仿真结果表明,新算法在计算量与PDA算法相近的情况,提高了目标跟踪成功率.