Human-machine Interface Applications Research Articles

A MECHATRONICS APPROACH IN INTELLIGENT CONTROL SYSTEMS OF THE OVERHEAD TRAVELING CRANES PROTOTYPING

The paper presents a mechatronics approach to elaborate intelligent control system of the real device: the two-spares overhead crane. The control system, based on fuzzy controller with Takagi-Sugeno-Kang fuzzy inference system, was elaborated, built and optimized during simulations conducted on mathematical models of the device and experiments conducted on the real device and next the control algorithm was implemented on the final control device, programmable logic controller PLC. Applied programming environment based on Matlab program and HMI (Human Machine-Interface) application as well as hardware’s solutions gave a possibility to build the control system using rapid prototyping method.

A Dynamic Connection Scheme for User Interface of Process Control System in Offshore Plant

In offshore plant, the process control system manages process variables and interfaces with all plant utilities. It consists of workstations, controllers and various field interface devices. Plant operators deal with a large variety of process variables using the Human-Machine Interface application (HMI) in operator stations, which is a software program to interact with plant operators and to communicate with the system server. In large-scale processes, the process control system has not only multiple system servers for system availability but also many operator stations for plant operators to manage easily the process. The main focus of our work is in a connection scheme of the HMI for linking to one of system servers without additional configuration works. The proposed scheme is adopted the fundamental concepts of autonomic computing and supports fault-tolerant and load-balanced features because it provides a dynamic connection according to the status of system servers. We implement the module for the proposed scheme as agent between the system server and the HMI, and then incorporate it into the process control system. Finally, the case study shows that the proposed scheme can provide reliable connection with system servers and efficient load status of system servers.

Human - Machine Interface Implementation in Designing Crane Control Based on Fuzzy Logic Algorithm

The paper is focusing on Human Machine-Interface implementation in designing crane control based on fuzzy logic algorithm. The Human Machine-Interface application was created for visualization, monitoring and managing the transportation process realized by the crane. Control systems based on fuzzy controllers with Mamdani and Sugeno inference systems were elaborated and built using prototyping methods and tools enable for control object identification, real time tests on the control object and control algorithm implementation on target Programmable Logic Controller.

Tongue-Movement Communication and Control Concept for Hands-Free Human–Machine Interfaces

A new communication and control concept using tongue movements is introduced to generate, detect, and classify signals that can be used in novel hands-free human-machine interface applications such as communicating with a computer and controlling devices. The signals that are caused by tongue movements are the changes in the airflow pressure that occur in the ear canal. The goal is to demonstrate that the ear pressure signals that are acquired using a microphone that is inserted into the ear canal, due to specific tongue movements, are distinct and that the signals can be detected and classified very accurately. The strategy that is developed for demonstrating the concept includes energy-based signal detection and segmentation to extract ear pressure signals due to tongue movements, signal normalization to decrease the trial-to-trial variations in the signals, and pairwise cross-correlation signal averaging to obtain accurate estimates from ensembles of pressure signals. A new decision fusion classification algorithm is formulated to assign the pressure signals to their respective tongue-movement classes. The complete strategy of signal detection and segmentation, estimation, and classification is tested on four tongue movements of eight subjects. Through extensive experiments, it is demonstrated that the ear pressure signals due to the tongue movements are distinct and that the four pressure signals can be classified with an accuracy of more than 97% averaged across the eight subjects using the decision fusion classification algorithm. Thus, it is concluded that, through the unique concept that is introduced in this paper, human-computer interfaces that use tongue movements can be designed for hands-free communication and control applications.

Challenges of 'VoiP' Communication Systems for Air Traffic Management

Today's dense air traffic and the worldwide move to FutureAir Navigation System (FANS) concepts demand a high levelof modem and reliable Air Traffic Control (ATC) equipmentto accommodate customer requirements now and in the future.The work tries to answer the questions that indicate the fact whya new VCS generation (Voice Communication System) basedon VoiP (Voice over Internet Protocol) has some essentialcomparative advantages related to the conventional VCS. Oneof the key arguments featuring the VoiP technology is its lowprice a~d wide application in modem communications. Becauseof the fact of the PC-based HMI (Human Machine Interface)application, IP-VCS could easily be implemented in thenew A TM data network infrastructure. In the future, the VoiPtechnology development and VoiP VCS will have to prove thatthey are ready to meet the requirements of more flexible, saferand cheaper way of air traffic management.