Raúl Alves

Universidad de Salamanca · Department of Computer Science and Automatics

In this paper, we present a new procedure to solve the global localization of mobile robots called Environmental Stimulus Localization (ESL). We propose that the presence of common facts on the environment around the robot can be considered as stimuli for the procedure. The robust performance of our approach is supported by two concurrent particle...

The aim of this paper is to implement a Real Time Optimization in an evaporation section of a sugar factory using a methodology that reduces the time required for developing models using an Equation Based Object Oriented Language. The drawbacks, advances and troubleshooting when using this technique are described. In particular, how to determine th...

Nowadays, a major challenge in the development of advanced robotic systems is the creation of complex missions for groups of robots, with two main restrictions: complex programming activities not needed and the mission configuration time should be short (e.g. Urban Search And Rescue). With these ideas in mind, we analysed several robotic developmen...

This paper deals with the modeling of a high temperature rotatory sugar beet pulp dryer for training simulators. This model adds some aspects to traditional drum dryer models; particle size distribution, detailed modeling of the solid phase, and the inclusion of malfunctions in the model. An object oriented simulation package is selected to impleme...

Nowadays, accurate maps from mostly anywhere in the world can be obtained for free, with the exception of indoor spaces. However, the evidence seems to suggest that in the next few years indoor maps will be more and more available for anyone. Thus, profiting from the idea of easily obtainable indoor maps, we present a novel approach for real-time m...

The paper shows a Windows© NT/XP/7 application oriented to learn control skills to process engineers. It is a dynamic simulation based tool with a friendly user interface that contains two sets of diverse process control problems (more than twenty study cases are available). It is possible to study typical control problems as cascade, ratio, select...

Modeling and simulation of the beet end of a sugar factory for training in the form of a simulator is described and discussed. The developed models housed in the simulator mimic process performance in a typical beet sugar plant, and includes probable malfunctions and anomalies encountered during sugar processing. These characteristics demand a deta...

Simulators are an essential resource for training, operation and engineering at industrial facilities. This paper outlines sugar factory simulators currently used for the training of control room operators. The main aim of simulators is to invest operators with enough knowledge of the process and its control system to be able to respond promptly to...

Se describen un conjunto de aplicaciones informáticas que abordan diferentes aspectos del modelado y simulación de procesos continuos. Primero, se presenta un prototipo universitario SIMPD, que es un generador de código de simulación de sistemas de la industria de proceso y cuyo algoritmo básico trata de emular el modo de razonamiento de un experto...

In this paper, a software framework for a distributed flexible manufacturing system is presented where, as a main design goal, we consider that the functionalities are offered to other components with no effects on the robustness of the system and where security specifications are tackled without the flexibility losses. In this way, the use of the...

This paper describes a solution for the indoor location in the context of wireless local networks. Firstly, the processes of sampling and training are done by off-line scene analysis. Secondly, the mobile entity can be localized in a self-positioning fashion according to the Bayesian Network based method.

En este artículo se describe una aplicación para el diagnóstico energético de plantas azucareras que ha sido desarrollada en el Centro de Tecnología Azucarera. Esta herramienta toma datos del proceso real y mediante la utilización de un modelo estacionario del proceso y algoritmos de reconciliación de datos, basados en técnicas de optimización, es...

This paper describes a software system for the energy diagnosis of sugar factories that has been developed in the Center of Sugar Technology (CTA, University of Valladolid, Spain). This tool takes data from the real process (control system and laboratory) and uses a stationary model (based in energy and mass balances), data reconciliation algorithm...

In this paper we propose a software framework where the main aim is to make easier the implementation of supervisory control. The main idea is that functionalities must be offered with no effects on the robustness of the system. We prove that our methodology has a solid base, so the approach can be applied to any kind of industrial process unit. In...

This paper describes a distributed continuous simulation of an industrial scale case study using DCOM components. The proposed approach considers each part of the simulation as a DCOM component. These components contain simulations performed with an efficient modelling language, EcosimPro, while other software elements communicate and synchronize t...

This paper presents the main features of a sugar factory training simulator currently used for control room operators training. This simulator is based on a realistic distributed real time simulation of the whole factory and in a mimic of the control system. It allows the familiarization of the operators with the process and control system as well...

This paper presents a methodology for the development of distributed process simulation using OPC (OLE for Process Control). The distributed components operate as OPC servers enclosing continuous simulations developed with the simulation language EcosimPro. The paper presents the problems related to data interchange and synchronisation in real time...

This paper presents a case study of the creation of distributed continuous simulations using DCOM components. The proposed approach considers each part of the simulation as a DCOM component and uses an efficient simulation modeling language, EcosimPro, to perform the simulations contained in each one. This procedure has been applied to an industria...

Distributed Control Systems (DCS) are based on assignments of control loops and supervision points to different units. In a first approach, these assignments are made statically and following given distribution criteria. This paper presents a proposal of communications system over a DCS which allows the interchanging of assignments between the cont...

This paper presents different architectures for the execution of distributed simulations. In order to develop this architectures different communication technologies available in the market are used (OPC, DCOM and RTI of HLA). An object oriented simulation tool, called EcosimPro, has been used as a simulation tool. The ultimate aim is the execution...