Wang Jianhong and Guo Xiaoyong
This paper aims to extend the previous contributions about data-driven control in aircraft control system from academy and practice, respectively, combining iteration and learning…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to extend the previous contributions about data-driven control in aircraft control system from academy and practice, respectively, combining iteration and learning strategy. More specifically, after returning output signal to input part, and getting one error signal, three kinds of data are measured to design the unknown controller without any information about the unknown plant. Using the main essence of data-driven control, iterative learning idea is introduced together to yield iterative learning data-driven control strategy. To get the optimal data-driven controller, other factors are considered, for example, adaptation, optimization and learning. After reviewing the aircraft control system in detail, the numerical simulation results have demonstrated the efficiency of the proposed iterative learning data-driven control strategy.
Design/methodology/approach
First, considering one closed loop system corresponding to the aircraft control system, data-driven control strategy is used to design the unknown controller without any message about the unknown plant. Second, iterative learning idea is combined with data-driven control to yield iterative learning data-driven control strategy. The optimal data-driven controller is designed by virtue of power spectrum and mathematical optimization. Furthermore, adaptation is tried to combine them together. Third, to achieve the combination with theory and practice, our proposed iterative learning data-driven control is applied into aircraft control system, so that the considered aircraft can fly more promptly.
Findings
A novel iterative learning data-driven strategy is proposed to efficiently achieve the combination with theory and practice. First, iterative learning and data-driven control are combined with each other, being dependent of adaptation and optimization. Second, iterative learning data-driven control is proposed to design the flight controller for the aircraft system. Generally, data-driven control is more wide in our living life, so it is important to introduce other fields to improve the performance of data-driven control.
Originality/value
To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this new paper extends the previous contributions about data-driven control by virtue of iterative learning strategy. Specifically, iteration means that the optimal data-driven controller is solved as one recursive form, being related with one gradient descent direction. This novel iterative learning data-driven control has more advanced properties, coming from data driven and adaptive iteration. Furthermore, it is a new subject on applying data-driven control into the aircraft control system.
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Hao Guo, Feng Ju, Ning Wang, Bai Chen, Xiaoyong Wei, Yaoyao Wang and Dan Wang
Continuum manipulators are often used in complex and narrow space in recent years because of their flexibility and safety. Vision is considered to be one of the most direct…
Abstract
Purpose
Continuum manipulators are often used in complex and narrow space in recent years because of their flexibility and safety. Vision is considered to be one of the most direct methods to obtain its spatial shape. However, with the improvement of the cooperation requirements of multiple continuum manipulators and the increase of space limitation, it is impossible to obtain the complete spatial shape information of multiple continuum manipulators only by several cameras.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper proposes a fusion method using inertial navigation sensors and cameras to reconstruct the shape of continuum manipulators in the whole workspace. The camera is used to obtain the position information, and the inertial navigation sensor is used to obtain the attitude information. Based on the above two information, the shape of the continuum manipulator is reconstructed by fitting Bézier curve.
Findings
The experiment result of single continuum manipulator shows that the cubic Bézier curves is applicable to curve fitting of variable curvature, the maximum fitting error is about 2 mm. Meanwhile, the experiment result shows that this method is not affected by obstacles and can still reconstruct the shape of the continuum manipulators in 3-D space by detecting the position and attitude information of the end.
Originality/value
According to the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study on spatial shape reconstruction of multiple continuum manipulators and the first study to introduce inertial navigation sensors and cameras into the field of shape reconstruction of multiple continuum manipulators in narrow space. This method is suitable for shape reconstruction of manipulator with variable curvature continuum manipulator. When the vision of multiple continuum manipulators is blocked by obstacles, the spatial shape can still be reconstructed only by exposing the end point. The structure is simple, but it has certain accuracy within a certain range.
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Xiaoyong Wei, Feng Ju, Bai Chen, Hao Guo, Dan Wang, Yaoyao Wang and Hongtao Wu
There is an increasing popularity for the continuum robot in minimally invasive surgery owing to its compliance and dexterity. However, the dexterity takes the challenges in…
Abstract
Purpose
There is an increasing popularity for the continuum robot in minimally invasive surgery owing to its compliance and dexterity. However, the dexterity takes the challenges in loading and precise control because of the absence of the shape tracking for the continuum robot. The purpose of this paper is to propose a new type of continuum manipulator with variable stiffness that can track the bending shape timely.
Design/methodology/approach
The low-melting-point alloy (LMPA) is used to implement the stiffness variation and shape detection for the continuum manipulator. A conceptual design for a single module is presented, and the principle of stiffness control based on the established static model is formulated. Afterward, a shape detection method is introduced in which the shape of the continuum manipulator can be detected by measuring the resistance of every LMPA. Finally, the effect of the proposed variable stiffness method is verified by simulation; the variable stiffness and shape detection methods are evaluated by experiments.
Findings
The results from the simulations and experiments indicate that the designed continuum manipulator has the ability of stiffness variation over 42.3% and the shape detection method has high precision.
Originality/value
Compared with conventional structures, the novel manipulator has a simpler structure and integrates the stiffness variation and shape detection capabilities with the LMPA. The proposed method is promising, and it can be conveniently extended to other continuum manipulators.
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Yanan He, Xindong Zhang, Panpan Hao, Xiaoyong Dai and Haiyan Xue
This paper investigates whether China's R&D tax deduction policy triggers firms to manipulate their R&D expenditures upward.
Abstract
Purpose
This paper investigates whether China's R&D tax deduction policy triggers firms to manipulate their R&D expenditures upward.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper employs the ratio of actual tax savings as a proxy for the benefits of the R&D tax deduction policy based on manually collected and systematically cross-checked data. The relationship between tax benefits and abnormal R&D spending is estimated in a sample of Chinese A-share listed companies for the period 2007–2018.
Findings
The findings suggest that tax deductions lead to positive abnormal R&D spending and that this deviation in R&D spending may be attributed to firms' upward R&D manipulation for tax avoidance. The results also indicate that this behavior is more significant for the period after the policy revision, in non-HNTEs (high and new technology enterprises), and in firms with a high ratio of R&D expenses.
Research limitations/implications
It is difficult to establish a sophisticated and unified model to identify the specific strategy of upward R&D manipulation that firms use to obtain tax benefits.
Practical implications
Managers should take into account upward R&D manipulation when designing governance mechanisms. Policymakers in developing countries may further pursue preferential tax policies that cover every stage of innovation activities gradually; the local provincial governments need to leverage their proximity and flexibility advantages to develop a tax collection and administration system.
Originality/value
This study contributes to the understanding of the complex effect of R&D tax incentives and helps more fully illuminate firms' upward R&D manipulation behavior from the perspective of tax planning strategies, which are underexplored in previous research.
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Jun Sun, Xiao Zhang, Jianxiong Zhu, Yaming Gao, Hu Wang, Xiaoyong Zhao, Qin Teng, Yanping Ren and Guixiang Zhu
Currently, lubrication analysis of piston ring is generally done under engine rated operating condition. However, the engine (such as the vehicle engine) does not always operate…
Abstract
Purpose
Currently, lubrication analysis of piston ring is generally done under engine rated operating condition. However, the engine (such as the vehicle engine) does not always operate in rated operating condition, and its operating condition changes frequently in actual use. In addition, the lubrication status of piston ring is generally assumed as the flooded lubrication or a certain form of poor lubrication in most of the lubrication analysis.
Design/methodology/approach
In this paper, based on the equations about the flow rate of lubricating oil and the variation of control volume, the flow model of lubricating oil in the piston ring-cylinder liner conjunction is established. The lubrication analysis of piston ring for a four-stroke engine under different engine operating conditions is done, in which the lubricating oil at the inlet of piston ring is considered as the lubricating oil attached on the relevant location of cylinder wall after the piston ring moves over at the previous stroke.
Findings
There is remarkable difference for the lubrication characteristics of the piston ring under different engine operating conditions. The worst lubrication status of piston ring may not take place under engine rated operating condition.
Originality/value
In this paper, based on the measured engine cylinder pressure, the lubrication analysis of piston ring for a four-stroke engine under different engine operating conditions is done in which the lubricating oil supply condition at the inlet of piston ring is considered. The results of this paper are helpful for the design and research of engine piston ring-cylinder liner conjunction.
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Furong Qian, Jin Hong, Nana Yang and Xiaoyong Yuan
This study aims to investigate the relationship between entrepreneurship and innovation efficiency (IE), as well as the moderating role of absorptive capacity.
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to investigate the relationship between entrepreneurship and innovation efficiency (IE), as well as the moderating role of absorptive capacity.
Design/methodology/approach
This study uses a sample of industrial enterprises from Chinese provinces from 2005 to 2016, and it tests the research questions using the method of stochastic frontier analysis.
Findings
The results of this study indicate that entrepreneurship promotes IE, and that absorptive capacity plays a positive moderating role. In addition, the effect of entrepreneurship on IE differs between the central and eastern regions and the western region.
Originality/value
This research provides direct policy implications by demonstrating the role of entrepreneurship and absorptive capacity in IE, thereby guiding corporate management practices and the formulation of government innovation and entrepreneurship policies.
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This paper aims to examine the relationships between the group affiliates’ dual legitimacy (membership legitimacy and societal legitimacy) and dual resource acquisition…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to examine the relationships between the group affiliates’ dual legitimacy (membership legitimacy and societal legitimacy) and dual resource acquisition (intra-group and out-group), and the moderating roles of environmental uncertainty and munificence in the emerging economies.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper adopts hierarchical regression analysis to test the hypotheses based on the unique data of 251 group affiliated firms in China and applies the alternative measurements and alternative methodology of structural equation modeling into robustness check to confirm the results.
Findings
The results show as follows: the group affiliates can benefit from membership legitimacy for intra-group resource acquisition and out-group resource acquisition through the mediations of societal legitimacy and intra-group resource acquisition. However, in the linkage between affiliates’ membership legitimacy and intra-group resource acquisition and the linkage between societal legitimacy and out-group resource acquisition, environmental uncertainty plays the positive moderating roles while environmental munificence plays the negative moderating roles. Under the condition of high environmental uncertainty and low environmental munificence, the linkage between membership legitimacy and intra-group resource acquisition, and the linkage between societal legitimacy and out-group resource acquisition reach the strongest level.
Research limitations/implications
The findings highlight the importance of dual legitimacy building for group affiliates to acquire resources both inside and outside the business group when they operate in emerging economies characterized by high environmental uncertainty and low environmental munificence. However, it does not explore the contextual factors (e.g. institutional distance) affecting the relationship between the affiliate’s membership legitimacy and societal legitimacy. Then more group-level factors are expected to be included and explored with multi-level models in the future studies.
Originality/value
The findings reveal the mechanism of how group affiliates benefiting differently from dual legitimacy to acquire resources in the emerging economies, which also provide a new interpretation for the questions of who benefiting more from the group affiliation, how and why (Carney et al., 2009). This research also explores the moderating roles of task environmental characteristics (environmental uncertainty and environmental munificence) on the affiliate's dual legitimacy and dual resource acquisition, which helps understand why legitimacy building is more important in terms of resource acquisition in the emerging economy characterized by uncertainty and non-munificence.
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Wu-Yueh Hu, Daniel Phaneuf and Xiaoyong Zheng
The purpose of this paper is to quantify the benefits to farmers from using alternative marketing arrangements (AMAs) in the USA. The authors first estimate a behavioral model…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to quantify the benefits to farmers from using alternative marketing arrangements (AMAs) in the USA. The authors first estimate a behavioral model explaining farmers' joint decisions on which commodities to produce and which marketing channels to use when selling their outputs. The authors then use the estimated model to quantify the benefits to farmers from using AMAs.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors use the discrete choice random utility maximization model to examine farmers' choices on production regimes, where a regime is defined as a possible combination of all the individual commodity/marketing arrangement channels that the farmer can choose to use. The farmer is assumed to compare the utilities he gets from each of the possible production regimes and then selects the production regime that yields the highest utility to him. The benefit of having access to a particular AMA is measured as the negative of the welfare loss associated with forcing the farmer to abandon that particular AMA.
Findings
The results indicate that AMAs yield an economically significant amount of benefits to farmers who rely on them to market their outputs. At the national level, the benefit of using production contracts to hog farmers is valued at $336.4 million. The benefits of using marketing contracts are valued at $374.2, $156.6 and $92.1 million for corn, soybeans and wheat producers.
Originality/value
The paper is the first study that uses the farm-level data to study the welfare effects of marketing contracts in the grain sector. The results show that considering a multi-enterprises farm, farmers' welfare loss might be smaller when the hog production contract is no longer existed.
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Gan Cui, Zili Li, Chao Yang and Xiaoyong Ding
Under normal conditions, there are different protection objects inside and outside the gas station, so two sets of independent cathodic protection systems are adopted. At the same…
Abstract
Purpose
Under normal conditions, there are different protection objects inside and outside the gas station, so two sets of independent cathodic protection systems are adopted. At the same time, an insulating flange is applied at the position where trunk pipelines access to the gas station, which realizes electrical isolation of the structures inside and outside the station. However, as a result of short distance between the two cathodic protection systems, there will be stray current interference between them. The purpose of this paper was to study on the interference between cathodic protection systems of gas station and long distance trunk pipeline.
Design/methodology/approach
Based on the above, in this paper, first, the mathematical model of interference between cathodic protection systems was established and the control equations solved using the boundary element method. Second, the influence of cathodic protection system of gas station on long distance trunk pipeline and the influence of cathodic protection system of long distance trunk pipeline on gas station were studied separately using BEASY software. Finally, a new thought of cathodic protection design for local station was put forward.
Findings
It was concluded that there were serious interference problems between the cathodic protection systems of gas station and long distance trunk pipeline. By moving the potential control point to area outside the influence scope of anode ground bed could avoid the influence of cathodic protection system of gas station on long distance trunk pipeline. By moving the auxiliary anodes away from gas station could avoid the influence of cathodic protection system of long distance trunk pipeline on pipelines in gas station. The new thought of cathodic protection design could avoid the interference between the cathodic protection systems effectively.
Originality/value
It is considered that the results can guide cathodic design for gas station and long distance trunk pipeline. The results can also avoid the interference corrosion between the structures in gas station and trunk pipeline.