DESIGN AND OPTIMIZATION OF SIMULTANEOUS WIRELESS INFORMATION AND POWER TRANSFER SYSTEMS

Doctoral thesis (2020)

The recent trends in the domain of wireless communications indicate severe upcoming challenges, both in terms of infrastructure as well as design of novel techniques. On the other hand, the world ... [more ▼]

The recent trends in the domain of wireless communications indicate severe upcoming challenges, both in terms of infrastructure as well as design of novel techniques. On the other hand, the world population keeps witnessing or hearing about new generations of mobile/wireless technologies within every half to one decade. It is certain the wireless communication systems have enabled the exchange of information without any physical cable(s), however, the dependence of the mobile devices on the power cables still persist. Each passing year unveils several critical challenges related to the increasing capacity and performance needs, power optimization at complex hardware circuitries, mobility of the users, and demand for even better energy efficiency algorithms at the wireless devices. Moreover, an additional issue is raised in the form of continuous battery drainage at these limited-power devices for sufficing their assertive demands. In this regard, optimal performance at any device is heavily constrained by either wired, or an inductive based wireless recharging of the equipment on a continuous basis. This process is very inconvenient and such a problem is foreseen to persist in future, irrespective of the wireless communication method used. Recently, a promising idea for simultaneous wireless radio-frequency (RF) transmission of information and energy came into spotlight during the last decade. This technique does not only guarantee a more flexible recharging alternative, but also ensures its co-existence with any of the existing (RF-based) or alternatively proposed methods of wireless communications, such as visible light communications (VLC) (e.g., Light Fidelity (Li-Fi)), optical communications (e.g., LASER-equipped communication systems), and far-envisioned quantum-based communication systems. In addition, this scheme is expected to cater to the needs of many current and future technologies like wearable devices, sensors used in hazardous areas, 5G and beyond, etc. This Thesis presents a detailed investigation of several interesting scenarios in this direction, specifically concerning design and optimization of such RF-based power transfer systems. The first chapter of this Thesis provides a detailed overview of the considered topic, which serves as the foundation step. The details include the highlights about its main contributions, discussion about the adopted mathematical (optimization) tools, and further refined minutiae about its organization. Following this, a detailed survey on the wireless power transmission (WPT) techniques is provided, which includes the discussion about historical developments of WPT comprising its present forms, consideration of WPT with wireless communications, and its compatibility with the existing techniques. Moreover, a review on various types of RF energy harvesting (EH) modules is incorporated, along with a brief and general overview on the system modeling, the modeling assumptions, and recent industrial considerations. Furthermore, this Thesis work has been divided into three main research topics, as follows. Firstly, the notion of simultaneous wireless information and power transmission (SWIPT) is investigated in conjunction with the cooperative systems framework consisting of single source, multiple relays and multiple users. In this context, several interesting aspects like relay selection, multi-carrier, and resource allocation are considered, along with problem formulations dealing with either maximization of throughput, maximization of harvested energy, or both. Secondly, this Thesis builds up on the idea of transmit precoder design for wireless multigroup multicasting systems in conjunction with SWIPT. Herein, the advantages of adopting separate multicasting and energy precoder designs are illustrated, where we investigate the benefits of multiple antenna transmitters by exploiting the similarities between broadcasting information and wirelessly transferring power. The proposed design does not only facilitates the SWIPT mechanism, but may also serve as a potential candidate to complement the separate waveform designing mechanism with exclusive RF signals meant for information and power transmissions, respectively. Lastly, a novel mechanism is developed to establish a relationship between the SWIPT and cache-enabled cooperative systems. In this direction, benefits of adopting the SWIPT-caching framework are illustrated, with special emphasis on an enhanced rate-energy (R-E) trade-off in contrast to the traditional SWIPT systems. The common notion in the context of SWIPT revolves around the transmission of information, and storage of power. In this vein, the proposed work investigates the system wherein both information and power can be transmitted and stored. The Thesis finally concludes with insights on the future directions and open research challenges associated with the considered framework. [less ▲]

Design and Simulation of a Real-Time Implementable Energy-Efficient Model-Predictive Cruise Controller for Electric Vehicles

in Journal of the Franklin Institute (2015), 352(2), 603-625

This paper presents the design of a novel energy-efficient model-predictive cruise controller for electric vehicles as well a simulation model of the longitudinal vehicle dynamics and its energy ... [more ▼]

This paper presents the design of a novel energy-efficient model-predictive cruise controller for electric vehicles as well a simulation model of the longitudinal vehicle dynamics and its energy consumption. Both, the controller and the dynamic model are designed to meet the properties of a series-production electric vehicle whose characteristics are identified and verified by measurements. A predictive eco-cruise controller involves the minimisation of a compromise between terms related to driving speed and energy consumption which are in general both described by nonlinear differential equations. Considering the nonlinearities is essential for a proper prediction of the system states over the prediction horizon to achieve the desired energy-saving behaviour. In this work, the vehicle motion equation is reformulated in terms of the kinetic energy of the moving vehicle which leads to a linear differential equation without loss of information. The energy consumption is modeled implicitly by exploiting the special form of the optimisation problem. The reformulations finally lead to a model-predictive control approach with quadratic cost function, linear prediction model and linear constraints that corresponds to a piecewise linear system behaviour and allows a fast real-time implementation with guaranteed convergence. Simulation results of the MPC controller and the simulation model in closed-loop operation finally provide a proof of concept. [less ▲]

Design and synthesis of novel benzoxazines to replace traditional reinforcing resins in rubber compounds

Doctoral thesis (2021)

The mechanical performance of tires is controlled by many of the ingredients used in their production. Among them, novolac-type phenolic resins (PR) are petroleum-based materials commonly employed to ... [more ▼]

The mechanical performance of tires is controlled by many of the ingredients used in their production. Among them, novolac-type phenolic resins (PR) are petroleum-based materials commonly employed to reinforce rubber compounds. Even though overall performance is efficient, there is a growing societal need to develop alternatives to these resins as they are challenged by REACH regulations. Benzoxazine resins (Bz) are a new generation of materials that can be suitable for this purpose; they hold potential for improvement of both the mechanical properties and the sustainability of the rubber compounds. However, while PR have been extensively used and their interactions with tire compounds are well known, the use of benzoxazines in rubber compounds requires extensive studies and in-detail investigations. This thesis aims at filling this gap and designing benzoxazine resins that could be relevant alternatives to PR. For this purpose, novel sulfur containing dibenzoxazines were successfully synthesized and their interactions with rubber compounds were methodically investigated. Diphenolic compounds with either disulfide bonds (S‒S), or monosulfide bonds (‒S‒) were reacted with monoamines such as furfurylamine, a bio-based amine produced from agricultural byproducts. These partially bio-based original precursors, which were never reported before, exhibited polymerization behaviors that greatly fit the required conditions for rubber vulcanization. Indeed, the curing of these novel benzoxazine monomers occurred during rubber vulcanization, allowing the elaboration of reinforced materials at the molecular scale without detrimental side-reactions with the curing package. A fine investigation of the mechanical and thermal properties of the resulting rubber compounds indicated the reinforcing effect of these new resins at the macroscale. Therefore, the potential of each benzoxazine to act as a reinforcing resin was tested in real tire parts confirming the potential of Bz to be used as alternatives to PR resins in carbon-black filled compounds. In conclusion, the outcome of this thesis emphasizes that structural features of benzoxazines are a major parameter to be considered for their use in rubber reinforcement. Thanks to the knowledge generated, it was possible to develop novel benzoxazine resins capable of reinforcing rubber compounds in place of traditional phenolic resins. This study also paves the way to replace petroleum based resins by partially bio-based precursors, improving the sustainability of tire compounds. [less ▲]

Design Anthropology 2013 Peter Lang Edited by Yana Milev

Book published by Peter Lang (2013)

«D.A.» represents a cultural science handbook of «Design Anthropology», providing an epistemology, phenomenology and survey of the varieties of the extended concept of design. Here the design concept is ... [more ▼]

«D.A.» represents a cultural science handbook of «Design Anthropology», providing an epistemology, phenomenology and survey of the varieties of the extended concept of design. Here the design concept is placed at the centre of the nexus of meaning of cultural production that rests on the three pillars Segno, Mythus and Techne. Anthropological design research is trans-disciplinary, developing in the connexion between Visual Culture (signal, in/visibility, image/void, imagination, representation), Doing Culture (act, cooperation, relation, fabrication, exchange), Material Culture (object, artefact, thing, facing, texture), Knowledge Culture (techniques, practices, norms, beliefs, values), Narrative Culture (mythology, significance, meaning, memory, identity), Critical Culture (watching, criterion, antagonism, crisis, theory) and Aesthetic Culture (emotion, sentiment, taste, feel, sense). It is only against this background that the complex anthropological dimension of Design Culture can be understood, extending far beyond the horizon of a design science concept of design, industry-near design thinking and marketing, or a product-oriented concept of manufacture. «Design Anthropology» is the research field of the «Coming Community», which has been founded here with a «D.A.» fraternity of more than 100 contributions, partners and friends. Through «D.A.» Yana Milev has formulated the theoretical and curatorial foundation for an extended concept of design that she has been representing and practicing since the 1990s in the context of the arts, rendering it now as «Anthropo Design». [less ▲]

Design By Contract Deontic Design Language for Multiagent Systems

in Coordination, Organizations, Institutions, and Norms in Multi-Agent Systems AAMAS 2005 International Workshops on Agents, Norms, and Institutions for Regulated Multiagent Systems, ANIREM 2005 and on Organizations in Multi-Agent Systems, OOOP 2005 (2006)

Design by contract is a well known theory that views software construction as based on contracts between clients (callers) and suppliers (routines), relying on mutual obligations and benefits made ... [more ▼]

Design by contract is a well known theory that views software construction as based on contracts between clients (callers) and suppliers (routines), relying on mutual obligations and benefits made explicit by assertions. However, there is a gap between this theory and software engineering concepts and tools. For example, dealing with contract violations is realized by exception handlers, whereas it has been observed in the area of deontic logic in computer science that violations and exceptions are distinct concepts that should not be confused. To bridge this gap, we propose a software design language based on temporal deontic logic. Moreover, we show how preferences over the possible outcomes of a supplier can be added. We also discuss the relation between the normative stance toward systems implicit in the design by contract approach and the intentional or BDI stance popular in agent theory. [less ▲]

Design concept for point fitting of insulation glass units

in VI International Congress on Architectural Envelopes - Book (2012, June)

The façade significantly influences the energy efficiency of the building. However, in addition to high insulating properties, modern architecture demands a high transparency for natural illumination and ... [more ▼]

The façade significantly influences the energy efficiency of the building. However, in addition to high insulating properties, modern architecture demands a high transparency for natural illumination and the compliance with inner comfort criteria in the building. The increasing use of glass can be seen as the architectural intention to combine those well-being and energetic principles. The highest transparency can be achieved with point-fitted glass units. Though, insufficient knowledge is present to use point fittings for insulation glass units, which are required to comply with the demand for energy-efficiency. Therefore, research has been carried out to investigate in the load bearing mechanism of different point-fitted insulating glass units in order to find an innovative point fitting connection system for insulating glass units to the steel substructures. This paper presents results of this research campaign and provides information on how to design point-fitted insulating glass units. [less ▲]

Design for meaning in products and services to foster eco-sufficient user behavior: exemplified by sharing goods

Doctoral thesis (2017)

Design guidelines for highly glazed office buildings in steel composite construction developed by using Trnys, optimization methods and LCA

Scientific Conference (2017, March 01)

Design Methods in Industry

Presentation (2016, September)

Design model for sfrc flat slabs with openings in the column area

in Abstract book of 3rd Congress of the International Federation for Structural Concrete (fib) (2010)