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In visual adaptive tracking, the tracker adapts to the target, background, and conditions of the image sequence. Each update introduces some error, so the tracker might drift away from the target over time. To increase the robustness against the drifting problem, we present three ideas on top of a particle filter framework: An optical-flow-based motion estimation, a learning strategy for preventing bad updates while staying adaptive, and a sliding window detector for failure detection and finding the best training examples. We experimentally evaluate the ideas using the BoBoT dataseta. The code of our tracker is available online.
The fiber deformations of once-dried, bleached and never-dried unbleached kraft pulps were studied with respect to their behavior in high- and low-consistency refining. The pulps were stained with congo red to experimentally highlight areas where the arrangement of the fibrils was altered by refining such as dislocated zones or slip planes. The stained fibers were analyzed with conventional Metso Fiberlab but also with a novel prototype measurement device utilizing a color imaging setup. The local intensity of the stain in the fiber was expressed as degree of overall damage (Overall fiber damage index, OFDI). The rewetted zero span tensile index (RWZSTI) was used to verify the OFDI with respect to the pulp strength. High consistency refining resulted in a clear increase in the number of kinks which negatively influenced the pulp strength. The OFDI which was used to detect the intensity of local fiber defects also responded accordingly. A higher OFDI resulted in a lower pulp strength. Low consistency refining removed a significant amount of kinks and resulted in an increase in fiber swelling. A slight increase in fibrillation and a significant increase in flake-like fines were also observed. The OFDI, however, was not reduced in low consistency refining as it would be expected by the removal of less severe dislocations. One reason proposed here is that low consistency refining created new fiber pores that allowed the dye to penetrate into the fiber wall similarly as it does in the zones of the dislocations.
Powder coating of engineered wood panels such as medium density fibreboards (MDF) is gaining industrial interest due to ecological and economic advantages of powder coating technology. For transferring powder coating technology to temperature-sensitive substrates like MDF, a thorough understanding of the melting, flowing and curing behaviour of the used low-bake resins is required. In the present study, thermo-analysis in combination with iso-conversional kinetic data analysis as well as rheometry is applied to characterise the properties of an epoxy-based powder coating. Neat resin and cured powder coating films are examined in order to define an ideal production window within which the resin is preferably applied and processed to yield satisfactory surface performance on the one hand and without exposing the carrier MDF too high a temperature load on the other hand to prevent the panel from deteriorating in mechanical strength. In order to produce powder coated films of high surface gloss – a feature that has not yet successfully been realized on MDF with powder coatings – a new curing technology, in-mould surface finishing, has been applied.
Strategy to adjust people’s performance capabilities to new requirements and grantee employability in the world of work. Good examples for this are the current changes in the logistics environment. Regularly, new services and processes close to production were taken into the portfolio of logistics enterprises, so the daily Tasks are changing continuously for the skilled works.
LOPEC aims in developing and offering special-tailored training for Lean Logistics and required basic skills for skilled workers on shopfloor level. Needed know-how for today’s challenges in logistics will be transferred. Another aspect of LOPEC is the development and use of a personal excellence self-assessment that allows a Person to assess and thus improve his/her own level of maturity in employability skills. Thus, LOPEC is aiming at People ehancement as entry ticket to lifelong continuous learning by increasing the maturity level of personal logistic excellence. A common European view for “Logistics personal excellence” for skilled workers will ensure that the final product is an open product, using international, pan European validated standards. As results LOPEC will provide training modules for post-secondary education in the area of Lean Logistics, required basics skills and offers transparency of personal excellence with a personal self-assessment Software solution, regarding the personal maturity Level of hard and soft skills at any time. It can be used as an innovative tool for monitoring personal lifelong learning routes as well as within companies as a strategic tool within Human Resource Development.
The powder coating of veneered particle boards by the sequence electrostatic powder application -powder curing via hot pressing is studied in order to create high gloss surfaces. To obtain an appealingaspect, veneer Sheets were glued by heat and pressure on top of particle boards and the resulting surfaceswere used as carrier substrates for powder coat finishing. Prior to the powder coating, the veneeredparticle board surfaces were pre-treated by sanding to obtain good uniformity and the boards werestored in a climate chamber at controlled temperature and humidity conditions to adjust an appropriate electrical surface resistance. Characterization of surface texture was done by 3D microscopy. The surfaceelectrical resistance was measured for the six veneers before and after their application on the particleboard surface. A transparent powder top-coat was applied electrostatically onto the veneered particleboard surface. Curing of the powder was done using a heated press at 130◦C for 8 min and a smooth, glossy coating was obtained on the veneered surfaces. By applying different amounts of powder thecoating thickness could be varied and the optimum amount of powder was determined for each veneer type.
Clay minerals play an increasingly important role as functional fillers and reinforcing materials for clay polymer nanocomposites (CPN) in advanced applications. Among the prerequisites necessary for polymer improvement by clay minerals are homogeneous and stable Distribution of the clay mineral throughout the CPN, good compatibility of the reinforcement with the Matrix component and suitable processability. Typically, clay minerals are surface-modified with organic interface active compounds like detergents or silanes to obtain favorable properties as filler. They are incorporated into the polymer matrix using manufacturing Equipment like extruders, batch reactors or other mixing machines. In order for the surface modification to survive the stresses and strains during incorporation, the modified clay minerals must display sufficient thermal and mechanical stability to retain the compatibilizing effect. In the present study, thermogravimetry was used in combination with isoconversional kinetic analysis to determine the thermal stability of a silane-modified clay mineral based on bentonite. These findings were compared with the stability of the same clay mineral that was only surfactant-modified. It was found that silane modification leads to significantly improved thermal stability, which depends strongly on the type of silane employed.
The interaction between lipid bilayers in water has been intensively studied over the last decades. Osmotic stress was applied to evaluate the forces between two approaching lipid bilayers in aqueous solution. The force–distance relation between lipid mono- or bilayers deposited on mica sheets using a surface force apparatus (SFA) was also measured. Lipid stabilised foam films offer another possibility to study the interactions between lipid monolayers. These films can be prepared comparatively easy with very good reproducibility. Foam films consist usually of two adsorbed surfactant monolayers separated by a layer of the aqueous solution from which the film is created. Their thickness can be conveniently measured using microinterferometric techniques. Studies with foam films deliver valuable information on the interactions between lipid membranes and especially their stability and permeability. Presenting inverse black lipid membrane (BLM) foam films supply information about the properties of the lipid self-organisation in bilayers. The present paper summarises results on microscopic lipid stabilised foam films by measuring their thickness and contact angle. Most of the presented results concern foam films prepared from dispersions of the zwitterionic lipid 1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphorylcholine (DMPC) and some of its mixtures with the anionic lipid — 1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-[phospho-rac-(1-glycerol)] (DMPG).
The strength of the long range and short range forces between the lipid layers is discussed. The van der Waals attractive force is calculated. The electrostatic repulsive force is estimated from experiments at different electrolyte concentrations (NaCl, CaCl2) or by modification of the electrostatic double layer surface potential by incorporating charged lipids in the lipid monolayers. The short range interactions are studied and modified by using small carbohydrates (fructose and sucrose), ethanol (EtOH) or dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO). Some results are compared with the structure of lipid monolayers deposited at the liquid/air interface (monolayers spread in Langmuir trough), which are one of most studied biomembrane model system. The comparison between the film thickness and the free energy of film formation is used to estimate the contribution of the different components of the disjoining pressure to the total interaction in the film and their dependence on the composition of the film forming solution.
Vehicles have been so far improved in terms of energy-efficiency and safety mainly by optimising the engine and the power train. However, there are opportunities to increase energy-efficiency and safety by adapting the individual driving behaviour in the given driving situation. In this paper, an improved rule match algorithm is introduced, which is used in the expert system of a human-centred driving system. The goal of the driving system is to optimise the driving behaviour in terms of energy-efficiency and safety by giving recommendations to the driver. The improved rule match algorithm checks the incoming information against the driving rules to recognise any breakings of a driving rule. The needed information is obtained by monitoring the driver, the current driving situation as well as the car, using in-vehicle sensors and serial-bus systems. On the basis of the detected broken driving rules, the expert system will create individual recommendations in terms of energy-efficiency and safety, which will allow eliminating bad driving habits, while considering the driver needs.
Since November 2011 the standard DIN 4709 stipulates performance tests for Micro-CHP units in Germany. In contrast to steady state measurements of the CHP unit itself, the test according to DIN 4709 includes the thermal storage tank as well as the internal control unit, and it is based on a 24 h test cycle following a specified thermal load profile. Hence, heat losses from the storage tank are as well taken into account as transient losses of the CHP unit. In addition, the control strategy for loading and unloading the storage tank affects the test results.
The DIN 4709 test cycle has been applied at the test stand for Micro-CHP units at Reutlingen University, and results for the Micro-CHP unit WhisperGen and the EC Power units XRGI 15® and XRGI 20® are available. During the analysis a method has been developed to evaluate the results in case the test cycle does not end in a time slot between 24 and 24.5 h after the starting as demanded by DIN 4709. Since this method has been successfully applied to the test of various CHP units of different size and technology so far, it is suggested to incorporate it to DIN 4709 during the next revision of the standard.
The performance numbers obtained reveal the differences in efficiencies measured at steady-state on the one hand and following the DIN 4709 test cycle on the other hand. While the deviations in electrical efficiencies are small, thermal efficiencies according to DIN 4709 fall below steady state data by 3–6 percentage points. This is attributed to transient thermal losses and heat losses from the storage tank, which are not included in steady state and separate testing of the CHP unit, only.