Abstract
In this paper, a new system identification algorithm is proposed for linear and time invariant systems with multiple input and single output. The system is described by a state-space model in the canonical observable form and represented by a Luenberger observer with a known state matrix. Thence, the identification problem is reduced to the estimation of the system input matrix and the observer gain which can be performed by a simple Least Square Estimator. The quality of the estimator depends on the observer state matrix. In the proposed algorithm, this matrix is found by an iterative process where, in each iteration, a state matrix called curiosity is generated. A weight depending on the value of the Least Square Cost is associated to each curiosity. The optimal state matrix is the barycenter of the curiosities. This iterative process is a free derivative optimization algorithm with its roots in non-iterative barycenter methods previously introduced to solve adaptive control and system identification problems. Although the Barycenter iterative version was recently proposed as an optimization method, here it will be implemented in an identification algorithm for the first time.

Abstract
In this paper, the gas dynamics within the pipelines is written as a wave repetitive process, and modified in a way that the dynamics is driven by the boundary conditions. We study controllability of the system through boundary control and every agent, as well as observability of the system being steered by initial and boundary data. Next, we obtain sufficient criteria for the existence and uniqueness of boundary equilibrium controls. From the point of view of some applications, e.g. in high pressure gas pipeline management, it seems to make sense to consider boundary data controls. The same problem is then extended to its infinite counterpart since it may run infinitely and, in this case, we become interested in studying its stabilisation.

Abstract

Abstract
This article revisits the inverted pendulum-in particular, analyses a simplified model of a Segway, with a view to exploring its capabilities in Control Systems Engineering education. The integration between the theoretic and practical side is achieved through simulation, and in particular by using MathWorks software. We also present a structure for the work to be done in the Laboratory class and propose a solution for the problem. © 2018 IEEE.

Abstract

Abstract
The inclusion of site-specific conditions is essential to adequately represent the seismic hazard and the seismic risk for a region. We acquired, gathered, and organized a near-surface shear-wave velocity database for Portugal and applied a three-step methodological approach for developing a V-S30 site-condition map using extrapolation based on surface geology. The methodology includes (1) defining a preliminary set of geologically defined units, (2) calculating the probability distribution of log V-S30 for each unit, and (3) merging the units according to the results of statistical tests. The final model comprises three geologically defined units characterized by log V-S30 distributions that are statistically significantly different from each other: F1, igneous, metamorphic, and old sedimentary rocks; F2, Neogene and Pleistocene formations; and F3, Holocene formations. The site conditions for the F3 unit may be further refined using correlations with topographic slope based on the Shuttle Radar Topography Mission at 3 arcsec resolution (SRTM3) dataset. We analyzed the performance site-condition models based on correlations with exogenous data (topographic slope and surface-geology analogs). The results show that the residual distributions between log V-S30 values measured and estimated from those proxies are strongly biased for some geological units, emphasizing the need for acquiring regional V-S data.