Automatic Balancing Research Articles

Evaluating Combinational Illumination Estimation Methods on Real-World Images

Illumination estimation is an important component of color constancy and automatic white balancing. A number of methods of combining illumination estimates obtained from multiple subordinate illumination estimation methods now appear in the literature. These combinational methods aim to provide better illumination estimates by fusing the information embedded in the subordinate solutions. The existing combinational methods are surveyed and analyzed here with the goals of determining: 1) the effectiveness of fusing illumination estimates from multiple subordinate methods; 2) the best method of combination; 3) the underlying factors that affect the performance of a combinational method; and 4) the effectiveness of combination for illumination estimation in multiple-illuminant scenes. The various combinational methods are categorized in terms of whether or not they require supervised training and whether or not they rely on high-level scene content cues (e.g., indoor versus outdoor). Extensive tests and enhanced analyzes using three data sets of real-world images are conducted. For consistency in testing, the images were labeled according to their high-level features (3D stages, indoor/outdoor) and this label data is made available on-line. The tests reveal that the trained combinational methods (direct combination by support vector regression in particular) clearly outperform both the non-combinational methods and those combinational methods based on scene content cues.

Reliability Analysis of Posturography Using a Newly Developed Automatic Balance Calibration System

The purpose of this study was to examine the reliability of posturography using a newly developed automatic balance calibration system (I Balance S (CyberMedic Co., Korea)). Twenty-three patients who volunteered participated in this study. Mean center of gravity (COG) sway velocity, total distance, maximum velocity (MV), average movement degree (AMD), maximum excursion (ME) and directional control (DC) were measured by I Balance S. Overall stability index and overall directional control score were measured by Biodex Balance System (Biodex Medical Systems Inc., New York, USA). For the accurate measurement, the COG was automatically calibrated to zero before each measurement by I Balance S. Each subject was tested twice by examiner A and once by examiner B. The intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) were calculated to assess the inter-rater and intra-rater reliability. Inter-rater reliabilities were higher with the I Balance S (ICC, 0.80-0.91) than with the Biodex Balance System (ICC, 0.71-0.82). Intra-rater reliabilities were similar between the I Balance S (ICC, 0.88-0.94) and the Biodex Balance System SD (ICC, 0.90-0.91). I Balance S using an automatic balance calibration system is a reliable posturography method for performing balance assessments.

Segmentation-Based Automatic White Balance Algorithm

Classic automatic white balance algorithm always been invalidity when there are large color-blocks or less of highlights points occurred in cast images. In this literature, an improved automatic adjustment algorithm based on image segmentation is proposed to resolve the problem mentioned above. First, color images were transformed to HSV color space and low saturation area was segmented from S channel. And then, adjustment parameters were calculated by selected points. Experimental results show that the algorithm can effectively correct varied cast image with low computational complexity, and are suitable for various scenarios.

Cylinder-to-cylinder variation sources in diesel low temperature combustion and the influence they have on emissions

Cylinder-to-cylinder variation in a multi-cylinder diesel engine was found to increase substantially when transitioning to a low-temperature combustion mode. This study was started to investigate the potential influence this effect could have on the emissions levels. Initial testing showed an imbalance in the fuel distribution that prompted this article to focus on data from before and after swapping two injectors under both conventional and low-temperature combustion modes. A significant improvement is observed in cylinder variation based both on visual heat release inspection and on mean effective pressure variation. This is likely a result of a changing combination of exhaust gas recirculation and fuel distribution such that less cylinder-to-cylinder variation is present (e.g. high dilution and low fuel, switched to low dilution and low fuel). Interestingly, despite the reduced cylinder-to-cylinder variation, the results show that the emissions levels are actually not affected. Despite the lack of influence on emissions results, the cylinder-to-cylinder variation in low-temperature combustion modes is still a critical factor that could impact its ability to be implemented in a commercial setting. Further cylinder balancing was attempted and achieved by introducing small (microsecond) adjustments to each cylinder start of injection and injection duration. The balancing is effective, but due to exhaust gas recirculation imbalance, a single adjustment setting does not apply to both conventional and low-temperature combustion modes. Additionally, day-to-day ambient conditions also negate the effectiveness. This supports the idea that some type of consumer-based real-time automatic balancing system may be needed in the future.

Influence of external excitations on ball positioning of an automatic balancer

This study examined the influence of external excitations on ball positioning in an automatic ball balancer (ABB) installed in a rotor system. The authors' previous studies adopted a model that considered the ABB as an autonomous system by neglecting external excitations. We examined how the magnitude, the frequency and even the phase of an external excitation affected ball positioning. Simulations were performed to predict the ball positions under various external forces. Then, we constructed an experimental rig by employing a shaker to apply excitations to the rotor system and the associated ABB to verify the theoretical development. Simulation results indicated that the balancing balls of the ABB could counterbalance the external force by the change of the ball positions. However, it was observed from the experiment that the ball would not be displaced if the external force was applied after the ball had been positioned because the excessive rolling resistance between the ball and the runway prevented the ball from moving to desired positions.

Optimal Control of the Rotor System Motion

Among the problems of the rotor machines dynamics the special attention is given to the problems of creation of the automatic balancing devices (ABD) in form of a hollow rotor, filled by a liquid, and the liquid-solidbody ABD. The theoretical and experimental works on research of the ABD on the base of a hollow rotor filled partially with a liquid and of the liquid-solidbody ABD are not enough. Therefore development of the methods of research of dynamics of the rotor machines with the ABD and such machines designs is an actual, new and perspective problem. In the present work the mathematical model of the rotor system with the ABD taking into account of the engine characteristics is offered. Lets consider the model of the rotor with electric drive with one disk, set up at the flexible shaft without skew. The shaft is lean on two bearings (fig. 1).

Research and Application of Energy-Saving Technology about Intelligent Parameter Adjustment for Pumping Unit

In view of problems that the oil wells are low efficiency and high energy consumption in Changqing oilfield, based on production parameters of oil wells, and in the light of main factors that influencing system efficiency of artificial lift well, developing the intelligent parameter adjustment technology based on dynamic liquid level monitored on-line and automatic balancing technology for pumping unit rely on digitized platform, we have developed intelligent parameter adjustment energy saving device for pumping unit, which achieving digitized upgrade of pumping unit, and reaching the purposes of improving efficiency and saving energy. Meanwhile, the device can reduce the labor intensity of the staff, prolong life of pumping installation, taking back investment within three years, therefore, the device has a good prospect of popularization.

On a two-pass scheme without a faraday mirror for free-space relativistic quantum cryptography

The stability of destructive interference independent of the input polarization and the state of a quantum communication channel in fiber optic systems used in quantum cryptography plays a principal role in providing the security of communicated keys. A novel optical scheme is proposed that can be used both in relativistic quantum cryptography for communicating keys in open space and for communicating them over fiber optic lines. The scheme ensures stability of destructive interference and admits simple automatic balancing of a fiber interferometer.

Determination of aircraft part masses based on a parametric 3D model at the stage of technical proposals

The paper presents a computer model of masses of the basic aircraft units at the stage of technical proposals in a 3D CAD system CATIA .Comparative analysis of the models of aircraft part masses is carried out. An algorithm of automatic aircraft plane balance is proposed on the basis of the 3D model developed.

New automatic ball balancer design to reduce transient-response in rotor system

Ball-type automatic balancers are used to reduce vibrations in rotating machines due to the rotor's inherent imbalance. An automatic ball balancer, consisting of several balls moving freely in a circular race containing a viscous fluid, is used in various rotating machines to reduce rotor vibrations. A properly designed automatic ball balancer can effectively reduce vibrations at steady state. However, it increases vibrations at transient state compared with rotors without an automatic ball balancer. High vibration response at the transient state may shorten the machine's life and produce unpleasant feelings in humans. In this regard, this paper provides a new automatic ball balancer design that prevents increasing vibrations at the transient state. To analyze the present design's motion properties in comparison with the traditional design, a theoretical model with a five-ball automatic balancer is constructed. Governing equations of this theoretical model are derived using Lagrange's equations, and a simulation is conducted using Matlab. The theoretical model's stability is determined with various values of design parameters at the steady state. Consequentially, this paper provides engineering guidelines for designing reliable ball balancers.

Forced Vibration of Rotor Suppressed by a Automatic Ball Balancer (Nonlinear Principal Resonances)

The automatic ball balancer is equipment used to balance the rotor system online and control its forced vibration. Although the rotor system is a nonlinear system actually, especially the occurrence of the nonlinear elastic restoring force in the support of rolling elements bearings, many researches still focus on the linear rotor systems at present. The Jeffcott rotor acted by unsymmetrical nonlinear restoring force is studied in this paper. Through the resolving theoretically and simulating numerically, the principal resonance respond of the rotor system controlled by the balancer with two balls and its stability are studied, while the vibration characteristics and movement laws of the rotor and balls in every rotary speed region are analyzed. The results showed that the balancer can suppress the principal vibration of the nonlinear rotor system in high speed region very well.

Automatic White Balance Algorithm through the Average Equalization and Threshold

Automatic White Balance Algorithm through the Average Equalization and Threshold

Pellet Size Distribution Using Circular Hough Transform in Simulink

This paper presents fast and effective technique for determining the size of pellets from real-time video stream. The circular Hough transforms had been used by several researches in iris detection for face recognition, automatic ball recognition and detecting fingertips position. Here we used circular Hough transform to determine size of pellets in steel plant. This system consists of five steps i.e., take input image, convert into grey scale image, normalize grey scale image, detect edges & perform circular hough transform and do the size analysis. Initially the real-time RGB image is being read from the webcam, as the image is obtained it is converted to grey scale image following that the light normalization of the image is done, after all the circular hough technique is used to detect the pellets and to determine the size of pellets. Since detection and recognition in noisy and cluttered images is challenging problem in computer vision. Some of the pellets are overlapping each other and some itself noise that make the recognition process challenging. So to get rid from all such difficulties the technique used is circular hough transform. This technique helps in determining the centres of the pellets and to measure the radius of pellets and to mark the pellets which are selected. The system is so fast that any change in the input image causes change in the output.

A simple gray-edge automatic white balance method with FPGA implementation

Automatic white balance is one of the most important functions in digital cameras. In addition to effectively correct color bias, the automatic white balance technology should also be fit for resource-constrained hardware and meet its real-time requirements. Based on gray-edge hypothesis, this paper proposes a simple automatic white balance method using image horizontal down-sampling with the averaging filter and horizontal first-order difference on Bayer image, and discusses its algorithm flow on FPGA. The test results show that the proposed method can correct image color bias powerfully. Moreover, the analysis of resource usage on FPGA indicates that the method consumes less hardware resource and achieves high real-time capability, and its parameter selection is unrelated with resource consumption.

An on-demand scaling stereoscopic 3D video streaming service in the cloud

We describe a web service providing a complete stereoscopic 3D video multi-stream cloud application to serve a potentially very large number of clients over the Internet. The system architecture consists of a stream provider that leverages highly scalable and reliable cloud computing and storage services, with automatic load balancing capability for live and content streaming. By use of a suiting flash media plugin the content is displayed on a wide variety of 3D capable devices like for example 3D workstations or smart TV sets. Videos are made available by an on-line stream provider for live broadcasting or by cloud storage services. Compared to conventional 3D video streaming over satellite channels there are considerable savings in cost as well as a wider range of applicability and functional improvements. Possible areas of application are medical surgery, live concerts, and sports events.

A design method of a mode control and an unbalance vibration control for five-axes active magnetic bearing systems

Mass unbalance of magnetically levitated rotors causes deteriorations of dynamic and static characteristics. To avoid this problem, it is necessary that mode matrices (i.e., a mode selection/distribution matrices) are adjusted appropriately. This is because these matrices are set based on the rotor’s centre of gravity and magnetic force coefficients of electromagnets. It takes long time to adjust the parameters of the mode matrices by trial and error. To design these parameters efficiently, we propose an adjustment method based on experimental analysis. Experimental results of step response show effectiveness of the proposed method. On the other hand, the eccentricity of the rotor causes unbalanced vibration, which is a common problem in rotating machinery. To suppress the vibration, automatic balancing system (ABS) and peak-of-gain control (PGC) are utilised. By using the ABS (the PGC), the bearing stiffness at rotational frequency is decreased (increased). In previous works, implementation methods for these have not been presented fully. Thus, in this paper, we considered the implementation of the ABS and the PGC. Moreover, practical advantages of the PGC/ABS are demonstrated by rotational tests of a turbo molecular pump.

Automatic White Balance Based on Gaussian Decomposition

In this literature, an automatic white balance adjustment algorithm based on Gaussian decomposition is proposed. The improved algorithm is aiming at handling the problem occurred in automatic white balance algorithm, such as lack of correction or high complexity. First, Gaussian distribution of gray level is obtained by using Gaussian decomposition. And then, gain curve of each component in RGB color image are calculated by the parameters. After the coefficient is used for white balance adjustment, a corrected image is finally obtained. Experimental results show that the algorithm can effectively correct the image color cast problems, and are suitable for a variety of different scenarios.

Research on Integral Lifting Continuous Steel Box Girder Bridge Construction Technology

Due to over length and weight of the girder segment, the main bridge steel box girder of Chongqi Bridge adopts large segment integral lifting erection method; two sets of large floating cranes are needed for hoisting. According to the water environment condition at site, select the lifting equipments to research on; conduct restrict checking on the lifting weight, height and amplitude; new automatic balance type lifting sling structure form is adopted during lifting erection to make sure the stress on each lifting point is balanced; conduct optimization design onto the lifting points; aimed at lifting erection of large segments, use ansys to establish large solid simulation model for finite element analysis so as to guarantee safety of steel box girder structure during lifting erection of large segment.

Formation of volatile compounds in Teleme cheese manufactured with mesophilic and thermophilic dairy starters

Teleme cheese from sheep, goat and cow milk was produced and the effect of three different starter cultures (mesophilic, thermophilic and mixed) on the formation of volatile compounds during ripening period up to 6 months was studied. Analysis of volatile compounds was performed by an automatic balance pressure headspace apparatus coupled to a GC/MS. The volatile fraction of Teleme cheeses displayed 27 volatile compounds including aldehydes, alcohols, ketones fatty acids and esters. The amount of total volatile compounds (except aldehydes) increased during ripening. The most abundant volatile compounds were butan-2-one, ethanol, butan-2-ol and acetic acid. The results indicated that the type of culture was found to affect to the formation of volatile compounds of the produced cheese. Cheeses made with thermophilic culture showed the highest mean levels of propanal, butanal, none-2-al, hexanal, heptanal, 3-methylbutanal, ethanol, butan-2-one, acetoin, acetone, diacetyl and acetic acid, while cheeses made with mesophilic and mixed cultures showed the lowest and intermediate levels, respectively. The type of milk used and the ripening time were also found to affect to the formation of volatile compounds. Sheep's milk cheese showed higher mean levels of acetaldehyde, propanal, butan-2-ol, 3-hydroxybutan-2-one and acetic acid, whereas the mean level of hexanal, acetone and 3-methylbutan-2-one were higher in goat cheese.

Comparison of One-Unit Ball-Rod-Spring Balancer with Traditional Ball-Type Automatic Balancer

Ball-type automatic balancers have been applied successfully to suppress unbalance vibrations of a rotor. A traditional ball-type automatic balancer consists of several balls moving along a fixed circular orbit. A new type of balancer, the ball-rod-spring balancer, in which the ball may move in the radial direction as well as in circumferential direction, has been proposed. This study aims to compare the performance of the new type of balancer with the traditional ball-type auto-balancer.