Abstract: A network product planner (29) ascertains material levels required at dispatch stockpiles (15), for example by checking upcoming orders for material to be shipped by transport ships (19) to end customers. Tolerance bands for chemical components required at the dispatch stockpiles are then ascertained. The tolerance bands are defined by upper and lower expected value control limits for each chemical component. The network product planner (29) then passes the collected information to the optimization engine (29a), which finds the values of decision variables in the form of weights, that minimize variance of the chemical components in the dispatch stockpiles, whilst being constrained to comply with the specified tolerance bands of the chemical components. The network product planner (29) then passes the weight values to the rail dispatch controller (23) in messages (14).

Abstract: A method is provided for operating a railway network having a number of trains, the method comprises operating a scheduling machine that is in communication with the railway network over a data communication system, to receive time separated state data defining states of the railway network at respective times. The scheduling machine accesses a model of the railway network that is stored in an electronic data source. The model defines locations in the railway network that allows for passing of trains and paths for journeys of each of the trains. The method includes operating the scheduling machine to apply the state data to the model to determine, at each of the respective times, controls associated with each trains' path for each of the trains.

Abstract: A vehicle coordination system is provided for coordinating the trajectories of vehicles on a road network. The vehicle coordination system comprises a plurality of vehicles each having respective vehicle position tracking assemblies that are in communication with respective vehicle communication systems for transmitting vehicle state messages including positions of the vehicles. A task assignment allocator is provided that is arranged to generate task assignments for each of the plurality of vehicles, including destinations in the road network for the vehicles. A vehicle coordination assembly is in communication with the vehicle communication systems via a data network for receiving the vehicle state messages.

Abstract: A vehicle coordination system is provided for coordinating the trajectories of vehicles on a road network. The vehicle coordination system comprises a plurality of vehicles each having respective vehicle position tracking assemblies that are in communication with respective vehicle communication systems for transmitting vehicle state messages including positions of the vehicles. A task assignment allocator is provided that is arranged to generate task assignments for each of the plurality of vehicles, including destinations in the road network for the vehicles. A vehicle coordination assembly is in communication with the vehicle communication systems via a data network for receiving the vehicle state messages.

Abstract: A method is provided for operating a railway network having a number of trains, the method comprises operating a scheduling machine that is in communication with the railway network over a data communication system, to receive time separated state data defining states of the railway network at respective times. The scheduling machine accesses a model of the railway network that is stored in an electronic data source. The model defines locations in the railway network that allows for passing of trains and paths for journeys of each of the trains. The method includes operating the scheduling machine to apply the state data to the model to determine, at each of the respective times, controls associated with each trains' path for each of the trains.

Abstract: A method to measure the vibrational characteristics of an oscillating system (1) uses a control system (6, 7a, 7b, 7c). The oscillating system comprises a resonator, at least one vibration exciter and at least one sensor. The resonator is excited by the vibration exciter, and the motion of the resonator is measured by the sensor. The control system uses the sensor to control the motion of the resonator by the vibration exciter. The motion of the resonator is a superposition of at least two harmonic motions, and the control system comprises at least two subcontrollers (7a, 7b, 7c). Each harmonic motion is controlled independently by one of the subcontrollers. The harmonic motions are controlled by the subcontrollers simultaneously. A corresponding device is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method to measure the vibrational characteristics of an oscillating system (1) uses a control system (6, 7a, 7b, 7c). The oscillating system comprises a resonator, at least one vibration exciter and at least one sensor. The resonator is excited by the vibration exciter, and the motion of the resonator is measured by the sensor. The control system uses the sensor to control the motion of the resonator by the vibration exciter. The motion of the resonator is a superposition of at least two harmonic motions, and the control system comprises at least two subcontrollers (7a, 7b, 7c). Each harmonic motion is controlled independently by one of the subcontrollers. The harmonic motions are controlled by the subcontrollers simultaneously. A corresponding device is also disclosed.