Abstract: In one embodiment, an energy manager determines respective energy profiles of one or more local end-devices for which the energy manager is responsible. Through communication between a power grid controller and the energy manager, one or more aspects of power grid operations may be controlled based on the communicating and the respective energy profiles. For example, in one embodiment, upon receiving a global demand response (DR) request, the energy manager determines respective specific DR control for the one or more local end-devices based on the received DR request and the respective energy profiles, and transmits the respective specific DR control to the one or more local end-devices, accordingly. In another embodiment, power grid operations may be stabilized based on the respective energy profiles.

Abstract: The invention describes a system for controlling a shading device with a plurality of controllable shading elements. To provide a system for controlling a shading device, which reduces direct sunlight transmission and enhances thermal comfort and lighting conditions, the system comprises at least one detector unit for providing an image signal of a shading area and a control unit (5) being configured to receive said image signal, determine from said signal, whether a characteristic pattern is present in said shading area and in case said characteristic pattern is determined, control said shading elements to reduce said characteristic pattern.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides managing component driver for an energy-management system that manages energy within a predominantly closed power system. The component driver includes a receiving mechanism configured to receive current status information for a component associated with the component driver, a model-construction mechanism configured to construct a performance model for the component, and a transmitting mechanism configured to transmit the performance model to an optimization and control module.

Abstract: In general, systems and methods for controlling work machine implements are described. In one embodiment, a system for controlling a hydraulically-powered third-party work machine implement includes a microcontroller-based conversion module capable of transforming implement control signals from their native format (e.g., PWM) to a signal format required by the implement to function properly (e.g., digital). A hydraulic flow activation signal can be simultaneously generated and transmitted to the implement so that hydraulic flow occurs only when control signals are received and the implement is caused to be in motion or otherwise activated.

Abstract: An air volume control device determines whether or not a cooling capacity of an electronic device fulfills a predetermined cooling capacity. Then, if it is determined that the cooling capacity of the electronic device is failing to fulfill the predetermined cooling capacity, the air volume control device decreases the number of revolutions of a fan for cooling the electronic device. For example, the air volume control device compares a temperature of a heating element provided in the electronic device before a change in the number of revolutions of the fan with that after the change in the number of revolutions of the fan. If the temperature of the heating element is increased when the number of revolutions of the fan is increased, the air volume control device determines that the cooling capacity of the electronic device is failing to fulfill the predetermined cooling capacity.

Abstract: The present invention includes a system and method for generating, controlling and storing dispatchable renewable energy. The system may include one or more wind power generation facilities and one or more solar power generation facilities to generate power that can be stored by one or more storage facilities. The power can be supplied to a power grid at a level determined by actual or predicted weather conditions, based on variable power demands. The power generated by the renewable energy sources may be combined with power generated by conventional power generation facilities to provide power in a dispatchable manner.

Abstract: The reduced complexity auto-tuning process controller system and method is a control scheme in which, for each process variable, a single gain K, which is initialized with a sufficiently small value, is iteratively auto-tuned using a predetermined discrete sample time and learning rate. A plant error is calculated and summed with an output of a one-sample delay, the sum being input to the one-sample delay. The combined output of the one-sample delay is multiplied by the input signal, i.e., used as a gain constant of the control input signal. The control input signal times this gain constant is fed to the plant input, thereby reducing error in the plant.

Abstract: In the context of a predictive daylight harvesting system data values are input regarding a plurality of variable building design parameters. The effects on a building's environmental characteristics are calculated based on the data values regarding a plurality of building design parameters. At least one of the data values is changed regarding variable building design parameters. The effects on a building's environmental characteristics are recalculated based on the data values regarding a plurality of building design parameters building heat balance.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein are directed to generating physical three-dimensional color-accurate objects based on a 3D computer-based color model using printed layers of media. Embodiments can slice a 3D computer-based color model into 3D cross-sectional components, which retain the color information of the model. The 3D cross-sectional segments can be converted into 2D page images and the color information can be included in a plan image corresponding to the cross-sectional segments. Embodiments can print the page images to form cross-sectional prints which can be layered and trimmed to shape the prints into a color accurate physical object that represents the model.

Abstract: A system communicator receives from a network signals indicating the state of an air conditioner, and updates the content of an air-conditioning information memory. An automatic control rule memory stores automatic control rules which are used when an air conditioner control content is determined. An air conditioner automatic controller determines the air conditioner control content based on the content of the air-conditioning information memory and the automatic control rules recorded in the automatic control rule memory, and changes the content of the air-conditioning information memory. A rule adjustment screen generator stores, in a rule adjustment screen memory, screen creation information generated based on the content of the automatic control rule memory. A rule adjustment operator displays the content of the rule adjustment screen memory as a screen, and receives an operation to adjust the content of the automatic control rule memory.

Abstract: The frequency characteristic of a controller is acquired. The gain characteristic and phase characteristic of a controlled system are acquired. The open-loop transfer characteristic of the control system and the variation range of the open-loop transfer characteristic are computed from a variation range of the frequency characteristic of the controlled system and the frequency characteristic of the controller, and the variation range of the frequency characteristic of the controlled system is a region where a variation range of the gain characteristic and a variation range of the phase characteristic overlap in a complex coordinate system. The stability of the control system is estimated from the open-loop transfer characteristic and the variation range of the open-loop transfer characteristic.

Abstract: A building management strategy includes using exponentially weighted moving averages with statistical models to detect changes in the behavior of the building management system. Detected changes in the behavior of the system may indicate a detected fault, a change in a predicted behavior, or a need for the statistical models to be updated.

Abstract: An operator interface within a process plant includes an execution engine that implements process flow modules made up of interconnected smart process objects that are aware of devices and other entities within the plant and that can perform methods to detect conditions within the plant, especially on a system-level basis. The smart process objects include a display element to be displayed to the operator, data storage for storing data pertaining to and/or received from an associated entity within a plant, inputs and outputs for communicating with other smart process objects and methods that may be executed on the stored and received data to detect plant conditions, including system-level conditions, such as leaks, errors and other conditions. Process flow modules, which may be made up of numerous interconnected smart process objects, may also include flow algorithms associated therewith to calculate mass balances, flows, etc. for the process elements within the process flow modules.

Abstract: A system of controlling media devices configured for outputting signals to a surrounding area. The system including a control strategy for controlling operation of the media devices to execute operations according to a common schedule and a communications strategy for use in communicating the control strategy between the media devices in such a manner as to facilitate distribution of the control strategy to the media devices desired to operate according to the common timeline.

Abstract: A user interface for use with an HVAC system, a method of providing service reminders on a single screen of a user interface of an HVAC system and an HVAC system incorporating the user interface or the method. In one embodiment, the user interface includes: (l) a display configured to provide information to a user, (2) a touchpad configured to accept input from the user and (3) a processor and memory coupled to the display and the touchpad and configured to drive the display and provide a plurality of seasonal programs.

Abstract: A virtual power infrastructure for managing distribution of power to a plurality of power demanding units from a plurality of power generators includes a demand manager having logical descriptions of the power demanding units, in which the demand manager is configured to determine power load demands of the power demanding units using the logical descriptions of the power demanding units, and a capacity manager having logical descriptions of the power generators. The capacity manager is configured to determine allocation of power capacity supplied to the power generators from one or more of the power generators to meet the power load demands of the power demanding units, while satisfying one or more predetermined constraints associated with at least one of the power demanding units and the power generators.

Abstract: A power control system controls electric devices so as to consume a power generated by a self-generated power facility using a natural energy, which is provided with a surplus power detection unit that detects the surplus portion of power generated by the self-generated power facility, and a device control unit that controls the operation of a plurality of electric devices. When the surplus power detection unit detects the surplus power, the device control unit controls one or more of a plurality of electric devices to perform predetermined operations so as to consume the surplus power.

Abstract: A control device includes a storage device storing reference power, basic device point information showing a control priority representing a degree for determining a control order of a plurality of devices, and room information showing a priority of each room in which the plurality of devices are disposed; an acquisition unit acquiring power usage of the plurality of devices; a changing unit changing the basic device point information based on the room information; a determination unit determining whether or not the acquired power usage has exceeded the reference power; and a transmitting unit transmitting, to a device of the plurality of devices that is relatively high in control priority after change, an instruction to reduce the power usage of this device, based on determination that the acquired power usage has exceeded the reference power.

Abstract: A detail thermal model memory has stored detail thermal models each including a mathematical formula using parameters describing a temperature variation of a rolling material in a prescribed cooling interval, an influence coefficient calculator calculate an influence coefficient as necessary for a control of temperature variation of the rolling material, a simple cooling pattern calculator calculate a simple cooling pattern in a simplified form of a preferable detail cooling pattern being necessary for the rolling material to have a preferable material quality, strength, or ductility, a detail cooling pattern calculator calculate a detail cooling pattern of the rolling material in the prescribed cooling interval, and a cooling controller takes the detail cooling pattern as a basis to control a cooling of the rolling material.

Abstract: A system can include an interface to receive sensed data and economic data; a production control framework that includes a module for modeling motor efficiency of an electric submersible pump, a module for modeling gas composition of a fluid being pumped by an electric submersible pump, a module for modeling solid dynamics in a fluid being pumped by an electric submersible pump, a module to update one or more of the modules for modeling in response to receipt of data via the interface; and an interface to output control commands to a controller for an electric submersible pump based at least in part on data received by the interface and analyzed by the production control framework. Various other apparatuses, systems, methods, etc., are also disclosed.