Abstract: The present invention relates to a smart grid system and a method for distributing resources in the system. The smart grid system according to the present invention comprises at least one non-shiftable device; at least one controllable device; and at least one shiftable device; wherein price data are provided at each stage, the non-shiftable device is always provided with its resource requirements, the controllable device is provide with resources in the range of its resource requirements, and the shiftable device has its nominal resource requirements but not allowed to be provided with resources at the stage when resource price is highest.

Abstract: A Stackelberg game approach is used to describe a Demand-Response (DR) model for electricity trading between one utility company and multiple users, balancing supply and demand as well as smoothing an aggregated load in the power grid system. The interactions between the utility company and users are formulated into a 1-leader and N-follower Stackelberg game, where optimization problems are formed for each player to help select an optimal strategy. A pricing function is adopted for regulating real-time prices (RTP), and acts as a coordinator inducing users to join the game. An iterative algorithm is proposed to derive a Stackelberg equilibrium, through which optimal power generation and power demands are determined for the utility company and users, respectively.

Abstract: A surround view monitoring system configured to synthesize a birds-eye-view image of an area around a vehicle includes a camera and a controller. The camera is configured to capture a present-image of a field-of-view about the vehicle and output a signal indicative of the present-image. The present-image includes a feature of the vehicle. The controller is configured to receive the signal, compare the present-image to a reference-image from an initial calibration of the system. The reference-image also includes the feature. The controller is further configured to determine a correction table for the present-image to align the feature in the present-image to the feature in the reference-image.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a smart grid system and a method for distributing resources in the system. The smart grid system according to the present invention comprises at least one non-shiftable device; at least one controllable device; and at least one shiftable device; wherein price data are provided at each stage, the non-shiftable device is always provided with its resource requirements, the controllable device is provide with resources in the range of its resource requirements, and the shiftable device has its nominal resource requirements but not allowed to be provided with resources at the stage when resource price is highest.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a birds-eye view system-based parking assist method, characterized in that according to the information of the birds-eye view system a parking assist device assists parking; the method specifically comprises the following steps: 1) the parking assist device selects a parking mode according to a mode select signal, wherein the parking mode includes parallel parking mode and angular parking mode; 2) the parking assist device receives speed information and steering information of a vehicle and panorama video information of the birds-eye view system, and calculates the real-time running direction and position of the vehicle; and, 3) in the currently selected mode, the parking assist device outputs parking guide information according to the panorama video information of the birds-eye view system and the current running direction and position of the vehicle, and displays the parking guide information on the user interface of the vehicle.

Abstract: An improved method is provided for performing nanomanipulations using an atomic force microscope. The method includes: performing a nanomanipulation operation on a sample surface using an atomic force microscope; determining force data for forces that are being applied to the tip of the cantilever during the nanomanipulation operation, where the force data is derived along at least two perpendicularly arranged axis; and updating a model which represents the topography of the sample surface using the force data.

Abstract: An improved method is provided for performing nanomanipulations using an atomic force microscope. The method includes: performing a nanomanipulation operation on a sample surface using an atomic force microscope; determining force data for forces that are being applied to the tip of the cantilever during the nanomanipulation operation, where the force data is derived along at least two perpendicularly arranged axis; and updating a model which represents the topography of the sample surface using the force data.