Abstract: The invention relates to a device (D2) employed in a system for facilitating the assembly of a product, said assembly being carried out by following one or more assembly sequences, an assembly sequence comprising several successive assembly steps graded by execution ranks, said device comprising: a presence sensor (C2), at least one signalling member (V2), a sequencer (SQ2) connected to the presence sensor (C2) and to the signalling member (V2), said sequencer comprising a microcontroller designed to manage said assembly sequence. The invention also relates to a system for facilitating the assembly of a product comprising several devices (D2) connected together via a communication line.

Abstract: Methods of providing a combined synthesis of cost-effective heat and power (CHP) utility systems and the key process systems are provided. An exemplary method includes process steps for identifying the best key subsystem design and operating conditions for both the process and the utility systems. The method can include the step of determining an optimal allocation of steam and power between both process and utility systems for one or more industrial process facilities in both partially and totally decentralized environments. This can include defining rigorously bounded decision variables as model input data, processing the model input data by a combined heat and power utility and process subsystem mathematical program model, and determining a plurality of at least substantially optimal process and utility subsystem conditions.

Abstract: The present invention is to provide a method for selecting the optimal central controller in a power line network, which is applicable to the power line network including at least one terminal device, at least one network device and a plurality of controllers. The controllers are respectively installed with a central controller evaluation and selection software and connected to the terminal device and/or network device, and can communicate with one other through power line. The method is performed by a central controller, that is determined by negotiation between the controllers, via the software and includes the steps of detecting and calculating the connected states of the controllers in the power line network; selecting the optimal controller according to the connected states, assigning the optimal controller as new central controller, and notifying the new central controller to the other controllers, so as to optimize the performance of the power line network.

Abstract: A computer-based electrical power management and allocation system is provided that collects demand for electric power usage and allocates electric power supply in satisfaction thereof. A load control server is used to collect and schedule electrical power start and stop requests according to policies established by either or both of the electric power consumers and electric power suppliers. The energy system collects accumulation messages to reserve electrical power and processes them using the prescribed customer and supplier policies and according to an overall optimization criterion of the energy system. Stop messages are then subsequently issued to cease device operation and the devices are then moved to a reservation pool until the energy system's operational criterion is relaxed or the accumulation messages become obsolete.

Abstract: A device receives sensed operation parameters related to the operation of a machine. The device utilizes the sensed operation parameters in a first analyzer that generates first characteristics related to degradation of the machine and utilizes the sensed operation parameters in a second analyzer configured to generate second characteristics related to thermal characteristics of the machine, wherein the thermal characteristics include thermal stresses present in the machine. The device also utilizes the first and second characteristics and a third characteristic related to operator behaviors related to the current operation of the machine to generate remaining useful life characteristics of components of the machine and generates operational set points for control of the machine based in part on the remaining useful life characteristics, desired machine performance characteristics based on the operator behaviors, and maintenance characteristics of the machine.

Abstract: Environment information associated with a user can be exchanged between an elevator system and a building environmental system. The user can adjust environmental settings in one context (e.g., in an elevator car of the elevator system), and the settings can be carried over to another context (e.g., a room serviced by the building environmental system). Information exchange can be aided by a database that records information for user preferences.

Abstract: For each of consumers, a connection control apparatus is provided that includes an opening/closing device capable of connecting or disconnecting an electric power system and a consumer, that, when a power outage occurs in the electric power system, disconnects the electric power system and the consumer from each other by the opening/closing device at a command from an outage management apparatus or the like, and that connects the electric power system and the consumer to each other by the opening/closing device upon receiving a command from the outage management apparatus or the like at the time of restoration from the power outage. A power supply control apparatus supplies electric power from energy provision equipment to electrical appliances during a power outage in the electric power system.

Abstract: The power flexibility of energy loads is maximized using a value function for each load and outputting optimal control parameters. Loads are aggregated into a virtual load by maximizing a global value function. The solution yields a dispatch function providing: a percentage of energy for each individual load, a time-varying power level for each load, and control parameters and values. An economic term represents the value of the power flexibility to different players. A user interface includes for each time interval upper and lower bounds representing respectively the maximum power that may be reduced to the virtual load and the maximum power that may be consumed. A trader modifies an energy level in a time interval relative to the reference curve for the virtual load. Automatically, energy compensation for other intervals and recalculation of upper and lower boundaries occurs. The energy schedule for the virtual load is distributed to the actual loads.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for choosing a point from a set of optimal solutions defined as the output of a problem in such a way that small perturbations to the input variables of the problem may reliably produce small changes to the output. Embodiments may determine the optimal point for concentrating solar thermal power plants utilizing heliostats, based on a linear function, one or more constraints, and a determined space of optimal solutions.

Abstract: An information handling system (IHS) temperature control system includes a cooling system, a controller coupled to the cooling system, and an IHS coupled to the controller. The IHS includes a temperature status reporting engine that is configured to determine a first temperature of the IHS and determine a second temperature of the IHS subsequent to determining the first temperature. In response to the second temperature being above a first predetermined temperature range, the temperature status reporting engine provides a first signal to the controller to increase cooling provided by the cooling system if the first temperature and the second temperature indicate that a temperature trend of the IHS is not decreasing, and provides a second signal to the controller to maintain cooling provided by the cooling system if the first temperature and the second temperature indicate that the temperature trend of the IHS is decreasing.

Abstract: Systems and methods for managing power supplied over an electric power grid by an electric utility and/or other market participants to multiplicity of grid elements and devices for supply and/or load curtailment as supply, each of which having a Power Supply Value (PSV) associated with its energy consumption and/or reduction in consumption and/or supply, and wherein messaging is managed through a network by a Coordinator using IP messaging for communication with the grid elements and devices, with the energy management system (EMS), and with the utilities, market participants, and/or grid operators.

Abstract: When user face information and user air-conditioning information are stored in advance via a portable information terminal and a face of a user is located within a face recognition range of an indoor imaging device, an indoor unit of an air-conditioning apparatus recognizes the face. In addition, when it is determined that the face of the user corresponds to the face of a first user represented by first user information stored in advance, the indoor unit of the air-conditioning apparatus blows conditioned air that satisfies a first user air-conditioning environment represented by first user air-conditioning information set for the first user toward the first user.

Abstract: A computer implemented method is provided including establishing a value corresponding to a particular user of a device, receiving an indication of a triggering condition of the particular user of the device, the triggering condition being enabled by the device or measurable by the device, and determining the triggering condition has been met by the user via the device. The method further includes modifying the value responsive to determining the triggering condition has been met, determining when the value crosses a particular threshold, and disabling an application or a functional component of the device responsive to the value crossing the particular threshold. A system for implementing the method is also provided.

Abstract: A heating-energy saving system and a heating-energy saving method, which realize self-learning energy preservation (SLEP) system or method. By means of this system or method, the energy consumption of a beverage machine, which is mainly due to heating of the liquid required to provide hot beverages, can be reduced. At the same time, by adaptively learning and anticipating when a user is likely to use the beverage machine, the waiting time for the user, which is typically caused by the reheating process of the liquid in the beverage machine, can be significantly reduced. The system adapts the heating to what it learns from the user behavior. The described system and method are adapted to be installed in all kinds of beverage machines, either used in private or in public.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatus embodiments for electric power grid and network registration and management of active grid elements. Grid elements are transformed into active grid elements following initial registration of each grid element with the system, preferably through network-based communication between the grid elements and a coordinator, either in coordination with or outside of an IP-based communications network router. A multiplicity of active grid elements function in the grid for supply capacity, supply and/or load curtailment as supply or capacity. Also preferably, messaging is managed through a network by a Coordinator using IP messaging for communication with the grid elements, with the energy management system (EMS), and with the utilities, market participants, and/or grid operators.

Abstract: Provided is a method that may quickly and simply select the allocation of the type of wafers to the processing chamber having a higher productivity in a semiconductor processing device in which a plurality of conveyance robots is disposed in a conveyance mechanism to which a processing chamber is connected and an object to be processed is delivered between the plurality of conveyance robots, when processings are performed on a plurality of types of wafers in parallel. From the information on the arrangement of the processing chambers of the semiconductor processing device and input type of wafers to be processed, the processing chamber allocation candidate is comprehensively generated and a simulation that manufactures all processing targets for each of the processing chamber allocation candidates is performed to calculate a productivity and the candidates are displayed in the order from a higher productivity to support the adoption of a user.

Abstract: A supply chain management system for controlling component processes includes a computer device that is adapted to: detect a plurality of component processes; create a relative value of each one of the plurality of component processes; prioritize each one of the plurality of component processes according to sibling relationships; and control a flow of the plurality of component processes in a manufacturing line based on the prioritizing.

Abstract: A vehicle includes at least one propulsion member and a power generation system. The power generation system includes a power source and a transmission configured to provide torque to the at least one propulsion member. The power generation system further includes a control apparatus comprising an input device and a processor. The processor is configured to receive signals indicative of a power output command, a plurality of detected ambient air conditions, and a plurality of detected power generation system parameters. The processor is also configured to determine a plurality of power generation system control settings for improving efficiency of the vehicle based on at least one of signals indicative of the power output command, the signals indicative of the plurality of detected ambient air conditions, and the signals indicative of a plurality of power generation system parameters.

Abstract: A dynamic stochastic optimal power flow (DSOPF) control system is described for performing multi-objective optimal control capability in complex electrical power systems. The DSOPF system and method replaces the traditional adaptive critic designs (ACDs) and secondary voltage control, and provides a coordinated AC power flow control solution to the smart grid operation in an environment with high short-term uncertainty and variability. The DSOPF system and method is used to provide nonlinear optimal control, where the control objective is explicitly formulated to incorporate power system economy, stability and security considerations. The system and method dynamically drives a power system to its optimal operating point by continuously adjusting the steady-state set points sent by a traditional optimal power flow algorithm.

Abstract: A computer-based system and method for the customized, on-demand production of minted metal pieces or minted metal assemblies is presented herein. Particularly, the system includes an on-demand management system and data storage device comprising a plurality of selectable metal data and/or selectable housing data for ordering, customizing and the on-demand production of minted metal and/or housings thereof.