Tao Han, Bo Xiao, Xi-Sheng Zhan, Jie Wu and Hongling Gao
The purpose of this paper is to investigate time-optimal control problems for multiple unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) systems to achieve predefined flying shape.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to investigate time-optimal control problems for multiple unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) systems to achieve predefined flying shape.
Design/methodology/approach
Two time-optimal protocols are proposed for the situations with or without human control input, respectively. Then, Pontryagin’s minimum principle approach is applied to deal with the time-optimal control problems for UAV systems, where the cost function, the initial and terminal conditions are given in advance. Moreover, necessary conditions are derived to ensure that the given performance index is optimal.
Findings
The effectiveness of the obtained time-optimal control protocols is verified by two contrastive numerical simulation examples. Consequently, the proposed protocols can successfully achieve the prescribed flying shape.
Originality/value
This paper proposes a solution to solve the time-optimal control problems for multiple UAV systems to achieve predefined flying shape.
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W. Reed Scull, Cliff Harbour and Keonghee Tao Han
The purpose of this conceptual paper is to encourage community college leaders to make greater use of the human resources organizational frame in understanding their organizations…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this conceptual paper is to encourage community college leaders to make greater use of the human resources organizational frame in understanding their organizations and implementing measures to support its students.
Design/methodology/approach
The methodological approach: Concepts are drawn from key texts examining human resources organizational frame analysis and community college leadership to locate areas of community college policy development and operations that resonate with tenets of this organizational frame.
Findings
Connections between some of the typical operations and policies of community colleges and the analytical tenets and concerns of the human resources frame are explored.
Research limitations/implications
More in-depth literature analysis could well lead to the discussion of additional measures animated by the human resources frame that can be taken to better support students and their learning.
Practical implications
These connections between the human resources frame and community college policy and methods of operation lead to the authors’ recommendation that community college leaders should make particular efforts think and act with the human resources frame in mind. Emerging issues that are consistent with the concerns and tenets of this frame can be highlighted and recognized for further use in leadership and management practice.
Social implications
Community colleges are critical in human capital development for all societal sectors. A human resources perspective puts people and human values at the center of organizational analysis.
Originality/value
We add emphasis to leading recommendations for understanding and practice of community colleges through multiple frames. We suggest that the concerns of the human resource organizational frame can help leaders provide thought and action that has additional relevance and possibility.
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Aamir Hassan and Javed Ahmad Bhat
Concrete-filled double skin tube (CFDST) columns are considered one of the most effective steel-concrete composite sections owing to the higher load carrying capacity as compared…
Abstract
Purpose
Concrete-filled double skin tube (CFDST) columns are considered one of the most effective steel-concrete composite sections owing to the higher load carrying capacity as compared to its counterpart concrete-filled tube (CFT) columns. This paper aims to numerically investigate the performance of axially loaded, circular CFDST short columns, with the innovative strengthening technique of providing stiffeners in outer tubes. Circular steel hollow sections have been adopted for inner as well as outer tubes, while varying the length of rectangular steel stiffeners, fixed inside the outer tubes only, to check the effect of stiffeners in partially and full-length stiffened CFDST columns.
Design/methodology/approach
The behaviour of these CFDST columns is investigated numerically by using a verified finite element analysis (FEA) model from the ABAQUS. The behaviour of 20-unstiffened, 80-partially stiffened and 20-full-length stiffened CFDST columns is studied, while varying the strength of steel (fyo = 250–750 MPa) and concrete (30–90 MPa).
Findings
The FEA results are verified by comparing them with the previous test results. FEA study has exhibited that, there is a 7%–25% and 39%–49% increase in peak-loads in partially stiffened and full-length stiffened CFDST columns, respectively, compared to unstiffened CFDST columns.
Originality/value
Enhanced strength has been observed in partially stiffened and full-length stiffened CFDST columns as compared to unstiffened CFDST columns. Also, a significant effect of strength of concrete has not been observed as compared to the strength of steel.
Changhong Gao, Dacheng Cong, Xiaochu Liu, Zhidong Yang and Han Tao
The purpose of this paper is to propose a hybrid position/force control scheme using force and vision for docking task of a six degrees of freedom (6-dof) hydraulic parallel…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to propose a hybrid position/force control scheme using force and vision for docking task of a six degrees of freedom (6-dof) hydraulic parallel manipulator (HPM).
Design/methodology/approach
The vision system consisted of a charge-coupled device (CCD) camera, and a laser distance sensor is used to provide globe relative position information. Also, a force plate is used to measure local contact forces. The proposed controller has an inner/outer loop structure. The inner loop takes charge of tracking command pose signals from outer loop as accurate as possible, while the outer loop generates the desired tracking trajectory according to force and vision feedback information to guarantee compliant docking. Several experiments have been performed to validate the performance of the proposed control scheme.
Findings
Experiment results show that the system has good performance of relative position tracking and compliant contact. In whole docking dynamic experiment, the amplitudes of contact forces are well controlled within 300 N, which can meet perfectly the requirement of the amplitude being not more than 1,000 N.
Originality/value
A hybrid position/force control scheme using force and vision is proposed to make a 6-dof HPM dock with a moving target object compliantly.
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Chunyu Yang and Jue Huang
Spatial integration and industrial clustering have become an important feature of the culture tourism business. When the core elements in both the culture industry and tourism…
Abstract
Spatial integration and industrial clustering have become an important feature of the culture tourism business. When the core elements in both the culture industry and tourism industry are integrated, a model based on system science is constructed that combines the resources and capacity of the two entities to envisage the ways of creating integrated products and services from the two sectors. Guided by the system science, this study proposes a culture tourism system revealing the clustering and hierarchical structure of the industrial elements. The system contains two subsystems: internal system and external system. The agglomeration model of the system includes 26 indices and the PEF methods, which involved the Parallelogram Law, Entropy-weight Method, and Fuzzy Membership Function. Finally, this study deploys an empirical study involving all provincial territories (N=31) in mainland China. It analyzes the variability and degree of balanced development of the system. In addition, through the resultant data this research adds a typology of culture tourism system along with policy recommendations.
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Rabab Allouzi, Awni Abu-Shamah and Amer Alkloub
Concrete-filled double-skin tubular (CFDST) columns have been gaining significant attention since these columns proved to be more efficient compared to concrete-filled…
Abstract
Purpose
Concrete-filled double-skin tubular (CFDST) columns have been gaining significant attention since these columns proved to be more efficient compared to concrete-filled steel-tubular (CFST) columns. This paper presents a tool to design slender CFDST columns with/without inclination.
Design/methodology/approach
First, 3D nonlinear finite element (FE) models of twenty-two straight CFDST columns are calibrated and it is found that FE results are in good agreement with the experimental outcomes. This is validated based on available experimental data. Subsequently, a parametric study is conducted by adjusting each calibrated FE model to account for three different angles of inclination. These models are used to quantify the effective length factor of these inclined columns.
Findings
It is found that FE results are in good agreement with the experimental outcomes. An equation is developed in this paper to calculate the characteristic concrete compressive strength for the design of straight CFDST columns. In addition, an equation is presented for engineering practice to calculate the effective length factor at different inclination angles and slenderness ratios to design CFDST columns. The predicted load capacity compares well with the experimental results of straight columns and FE results of inclined columns.
Originality/value
Advancement in the structural design procedure is required as a response to the continuous innovations in architectural design. Designers might introduce an inclination in columns in buildings or bridges, and there are no available guidelines to design them.
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Linhao Han, Tao Wang, Yu Jia, Yinger Ye, Tianyuan Liu and Jiayu Lv
This study investigates how role overload in the sharing economy leads to emotional exhaustion, which restricts value co-creation activity, and also investigates the moderating…
Abstract
Purpose
This study investigates how role overload in the sharing economy leads to emotional exhaustion, which restricts value co-creation activity, and also investigates the moderating effect of perceived platform support.
Design/methodology/approach
Two experimental investigations and field research questionnaires were given to respondents with shared mobility industry expertise.
Findings
First, role overload detrimentally affects service providers' value co-creation behavior; second, emotional exhaustion acts as a mediator between role overload and value co-creation behavior; and finally, perceived platform support moderates the adverse effect of role overload on emotional exhaustion.
Originality/value
To the best of the authors' knowledge, this study is the first to explore the antecedents of value co-creation behavior from the service provider's perspective, extending the application of COR theory in a sharing economy context.
Research limitations
First, alternative mediators between role overload and emotional exhaustion were not identified. Second, other dimensions of role overload and their impacts were not examined. Lastly, this study did not explore broader perspectives beyond algorithms.
Practical implications
This study recommends that managers reduce role overload ex ante in terms of clarifying responsibilities and obligations, providing substantive resource support and rationalizing order allocation, respectively.
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Qu Shao‐cheng, Gong mei‐jing and Wang yong‐ji
The purpose of this paper is to find an appropriate sliding mode control strategy for neutral systems with time‐delays in the presence of unmatched parameter uncertainties and…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to find an appropriate sliding mode control strategy for neutral systems with time‐delays in the presence of unmatched parameter uncertainties and external disturbance.
Design/methodology/approach
Owing to the complexity of uncertain neutral time‐delay systems, some conclusions for system stability and stabilization are complicated non‐linear matrix inequality (NLMI). Through virtual state feedback control, a sliding mode controller is designed to guarantee state trajectories from any initial condition are attracted to the sliding mode plane in a finite time and remain there for all subsequent time, which can avoid the complicated NLMI. Furthermore, a delay‐independent sufficient condition for the design of robust stable sliding mode plane is obtained in term of LMI.
Findings
The sliding mode controller for uncertain neutral time‐delay systems is designed and a delay‐independent sufficient condition for the design of robust stable sliding mode plane is obtained.
Research limitations/implications
The main limitations are that external disturbance must meet matched condition.
Practical implications
A useful control strategy for uncertain neutral systems with time‐delays.
Originality/value
The virtual state feedback control is designed so to avoid the complicated NLMI.
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Tao Han and Addis Gedefaw Birhanu
In this chapter, the authors draw insights from the literature on institutional distance and examine whether firms engaging in cross-border acquisitions overcome the liability of…
Abstract
In this chapter, the authors draw insights from the literature on institutional distance and examine whether firms engaging in cross-border acquisitions overcome the liability of foreignness by using external advisors. Specifically, the authors argue that acquiring and target firms may alleviate heightened information asymmetries and transaction costs by leveraging the information-production and uncertainty-reduction roles of M&A advisors. Using a global sample of cross-border M&As from 2001 to 2020, the results suggest that institutional distance triggers both acquirers and targets to use M&A advisors. Among the four types of institutional distance the authors examined, cultural distance – and to a lesser extent administrative distance – greatly contributes to the use of various types of advisors in cross-border deals. Interestingly, although both parties in the transaction rely on advisors to overcome distance barriers, acquiring firms appear to hire advisors more often than target firms.