Abstract: A method and system for monitoring a mandrel. A first plurality of transmitting devices is positioned with respect to the mandrel. Signals from a portion of the first plurality of transmitting devices are received at a receiving device. The signals are processed to determine a configuration of the mandrel.

Abstract: Invention is an adaptive freeze, snow or ice protection system and method of operation that comprises an integrated expert system control module, a sensing means, a heating means, a control system means, an interconnection means and an energy supply system means where the protection system is supplied with an external energy source. The integrated expert system control module has a learning algorithm that performs adaptive analysis using input from conventional and unique sensors as the sensing means, other available inputs and other available data to monitor all of the systems of the protection system and provides commands to control all the systems of the protection system that manage the possible effects of predetermined environmental conditions on facilities or equipment.

Abstract: A method of controlling a system that has a finite execution time in the optimization of a cost function: J = ? i = 1 N ? F ? ( u ? ( k + i | k ) , y ? ( k + i | k ) ) , where N is selected such that J is convergent; k+i is the time in the future after the passage of i time increments; u(k+i|k) and y(k+i|k) are restricted to values of the respective control variables u and performance variables y that are compatible with predetermined system operational constraints; and for each time increment i=1 . . . N, values for F(u(k+i|k), y(k+i|k)) are calculated using a system model M to determine y(k+i|k) for a plurality of respective discrete values of u(k+i|k) that are limited to and representatively sampling the range of possible values of u that are compatible with the predetermined system operational constraints, J being optimised by identifying the combination {u(k+1|k),u(k+2|k), . . .