Embedded vision systems such as smart cameras have been rapidly developed recently. Vision systems have become smaller and lighter, but their performance has improved. The algorithms in embedded vision systems have their specifications limited by frequency of CPU, memory size, and architecture. The goal of this e-book is to provide a an advanced reference work for engineers, researchers and scholars in the field of robotics, machine vision, and automation and to facilitate the exchange of their ideas, experiences and views on embedded vision system models. The effectiveness for all methods is emphasized in a practical sense for systems presented in this e-book.

This reference distills information about emerging technologies and applications for smart city design and sustainable urban planning. Chapters present technology use-cases that have radical novelty and high scalability with a prominent impact on community living standards. These technologies prepare urban and rural dwellings for the transformation to the smart world. Applications and techniques highlighted in the book use a combination of artificial intelligence and IoT technologies in areas like transportation, energy, healthcare, education, governance, and manufacturing, to name a few. The book serves as a learning resource for smart city design and sustainable infrastructure planning. Scholars and professionals who are interested in understanding ways for transforming communities into smart communities can also benefit from the cases presented in the book.

This e-book discusses methods that businesses may employ to reduce energy costs related to managing industrial buildings through environmentally sustainable methods. There are several chapters covering various aspects of energy assessments and each chapter is linked to case histories that are given in the appendix. The chapters cover energy efficient methods for managing lighting, insulation, machines, air conditioning and much more. Information needed during the assessment process is also supplemented in tables. Readers who wish to gain a better understanding of[] the many ways to reduce energy consumption can benefit from this book.

This e-book focuses on the vibrational and nonlinear aspects of plate and shell structure dynamics by applying the finite element model. Specifically, shell finite elements employed in the computational studies included in this book are the mixed formulation based lower order flat triangular shell finite elements. Topics in the book are covered over nine chapters, including the theoretical background for the vibration analysis of plates and shells, vibration analysis of plate structures, shells with single curvature, shells with double curvatures, and box structures (single-cell and double-cell) and the theoretical development for the nonlinear dynamic analysis of plate and shell structures. In addition to presenting the steps in the derivations of the consistent element stiffness and mass matrices, constitutive relations of elastic materials and elasto-plastic materials with isotropic strain hardening, yield criterion, return mapping, configuration and stress updating strategies, and numerical algorithms are presented and discussed. The book is a suitable reference for advanced undergraduates and post-graduate level engineering students, research engineers, and scientists working in the field of applied physics and engineering.

Erosion-corrosion is a generic name of degradation phenomena which occur on the chemical plant composing metallic materials under the conditions of various flowing liquids. For example, it occurs on heat transfer pipes of seawater heat exchangers (made of copper base alloys), casings of seawater pumps (made of gray cast iron) and carbon steel pipes which transport pure water of high temperature and pressure. Pipes made of carbon steel have sufficient strength and are simple and inexpensive to process. These are commonly used to transfer de-ionized water. Sudden and fatal explosion accidents have occurred in succession due to carbon steel pipes involved in high-temperature de-ionized water transport in thermal and nuclear power plants. The phenomenon was named FAC (flow accelerated corrosion) without the exact cause being clarified. It is a strongly suspected cause of the serious accident in 1986 with four victims which arose in the Surry nuclear power plant in Virginia, U.S.A. Erosion-Corrosion is a compilation of nearly five decades of research on this theme throughout and demonstrates one true colour of this phenomenon; erosion-corrosions are not the product of the cooperation of erosion and corrosion, in which they may be generally believed, but are pure electrochemical corrosions in nature and usually occur in copper based alloys. This e-book contains descriptions on erosion-corrosion testing methods and case studies carried out on the accidents which have occurred in the real chemical plants. Testing equipment helps us to estimate the erosion-corrosion damage in the laboratory and data of successive accidents in the field allows us to study the mechanisms behind it. The mechanisms brought to light in this e-book are useful for predicting the site of incidence in chemical plants and the degree of the damage. In consequence, it is a useful tool for designing, material selection and maintenance of safer hydraulic machines and chemical plants, seawater pumps and piping in nuclear power plants.

A smart city uses technology to provide services and solve problems to improve urban policy efficiency, reduce waste, improve quality of life, and maximize social inclusion. By 2050, 66% of the world's population is expected to be urban, which is a key driver of a global trend toward the creation of smart cities. This trend creates many opportunities for urban planning committees to learn how to design, modernize, and operate smart cities intelligently and effectively. Facets of a Smart City: Computational and Experimental Techniques for Sustainable Urban Development is a collection of topics that are relevant to the design of a smart city. This book aims to complement technical journal articles that require advanced knowledge of the subject of smart cities and applications for readers. It aims to bridge knowledge gaps in sustainable urban design by providing background information via case studies to facilitate students, recent graduates and new practitioners in urban design and planning. Key Features: - This book features 9 chapters that cover 6 major domains, which include (i) information modelling, (ii) internet of things, (iii) intelligent transportation systems, (iv) water supply, (v) waste management and (vi) sustainable environment - Computational techniques are included in the book. These include artificial neural networks, stochastic models, particle swarm optimization, machine learning, and adaptive neuro-fuzzy Inference systems. - Goals of case studies presented in this book use computational techniques to offer readers examples of supervised, unsupervised and reinforcement learning strategies in the context of smart city applications - References are provided for further reading

This e-book details state-of-the-art drive by wire technology. Readers are made aware about the challenges ahead that need be addressed in order for this technology to gain a foothold in the automotive industry. The eBook presents a systematic analysis of these issues and points out the fundamental reasons for the limited applications of these systems to date. It also discusses how recent technological advances in fault tolerant control can address these current challenges facing drive by wire application in automobiles. Non-technological issues such as consumer perception of drive by wire systems, trade-off analysis of drive by wire system from Automotive OEMs and suppliers’ perspective are also reviewed in this volume. This book will enhance current understanding of this technology amongst practicing automotive engineers and researchers alike.

The book is an exciting source of information for individuals interested in learning about and marketing sensors. The book focuses on scientific and commercial advances in Fiber Bragg Grating (FBG) sensor technology since its discovery over 30 years ago. Discussions on new FBG sensor manufacturing and processing methods are provided by leading experts in the field. Novel applications of FBG sensor technology in engineering, energy, chemical and biological sectors are also included along with a clear identification of commercial opportunities in the next decade.

Frontiers in Electrical Engineering is a book series dedicated to publishing current research in the field of electrical engineering and electronics. The vast amount of publications concerning these fields are summarized in each series volumes with a key focus on device structures and fabrication techniques that are pertinent to the practical production processes and electronic applications. This volume presents an introduction to the subject of Active-Matrix Organic Light-Emitting Display (AMOLED) technology. AMOLEDs are generally integrated into electronic applications and production processes, including understanding basic optical LED (OLED) working principles and the fabrication and characterization of electronic and semiconductor devices. Other applications of AMOLEDs include white OLEDs, light outcoupling, encapsulation, thin film transistor backplanes, driving schemes, and circuit and layout design technologies. This volume will be helpful to novice scientists and engineers working on the development of practical OLED display and OLED lighting technology. Researchers studying organic electronics and advanced undergraduate and graduate students and professionals involved in the OLED industry will also benefit from the information given in this monograph.

This book presents research focused on the design of fractal antennas using bio-inspired computing techniques. The authors present designs for fractal antennas having desirable features like size reduction characteristics, enhanced gain, and improved bandwidths. The research is summarized in six chapters which highlight the important issues related to fractal antenna design and the mentioned computing techniques. Chapters demonstrate several applied concepts and techniques used in the process such as Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs), Genetic Algorithms (GAs), Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) and Bacterial Foraging Optimization (BFO). The work aims to provide cost-effective and efficient solutions to the demand for compact antennas due to the increasing demand for reduced sizes of components in modern wireless communication devices. A key feature of the book includes an extensive literature survey to understand the concept of fractal antennas, their features, and design approaches. Another key feature is the systematic approach to antenna design. The book explains how the IE3D software is used to simulate various fractal antennas, and how the results can be used to select a design. This is followed by ANN model development and testing for optimization, and an exploration of ANN ensemble models for the design of fractal antennas. The bio-inspired computing techniques based on GA, PSO, and BFO are developed to find the optimal design of the proposed fractal antennas for the desired applications. The performance comparison of the given computing techniques is also explained to demonstrate how to select the best algorithm for a given bio-inspired design. Finally, the book explains how to evaluate antenna designs. This book is a valuable resource for students (from UG to PG levels) and research scholars undertaking learning modules or projects on microstrip and patch antenna design in communications or electronics engineering courses.