This primer is directed at experts and practitioners in intralogistics who are concerned with optimizing material flows. The presentation is comprehensive covering both, practical and theoretical aspects with a moderate degree of specialization, using clear and concise language. Areas of operation as well as technical standards of all relevant components and functions are described. Recent developments in technology and in the markets are taken into account. The goal of this book is to further stronger use of automated guided transport systems and the enhancement of their future performance.
Blockchain technology presents numerous advantages that include increased transparency, reduced transaction costs, faster transaction settlement, automation of information, increased traceability, improved customer experience, improved digital identity, better cyber security, and user-controlled networks. These potential applications are widespread and diverse including funds transfer, smart contracts, e-voting, efficient supply chain, and more in nearly every sector of society including finance, healthcare, law, trade, real estate, and other important areas. However, there are challenges and limitations that exist such as high energy consumption, limited scalability, complexity, security, network size, lack of regulations, and other critical issues. Nevertheless, blockchain is an attractive technology and has much to offer to the modern-day industry. Industry Use Cases on Blockchain Technology Applications in IoT and the Financial Sector investigates blockchain technology’s adoption and effectiveness in multiple industries and for the internet of things (IoT)-based applications, presents use cases from industrial and financial sectors as well as from other transaction-based services, and fills a gap in this respect by extending the existing body of knowledge in the suggested field. While highlighting topics such as cybersecurity, use cases, and models for blockchain implementation, this book is ideal for business managers, financial accountants, practitioners, researchers, academicians, and students interested in blockchain technology’s role and implementation in IoT and the financial sector.
For any business involved in today's supply chains, logistics services are critical. Companies have to decide whether to retain their own logistics operations or place their trust in third-party suppliers. This potential move away from the traditional approach of managing these processes internally can lead to improved service and reduced cost although this isn't always the case. The Logistics Outsourcing Handbook provides step by step guidance on the process of logistics outsourcing and explains how to apply this information for commercial success. Vital advice is given on benchmarking existing operations, how to shortlist companies, produce a request for a proposal, choose the optimum supplier and implement and manage the contract. The Logistics Outsourcing Handbook analyses outsourcing from both an industry wide perspective, while also drilling down into specific individual considerations. The book provides valuable guidance in terms of contractual relationships, cost models and the integration of information technology systems. By analysing current statistics and surveys, looking into factors behind why contracts are awarded and terminated important insights can be acquired. This book contains tools, models, online resources and case studies on the outsourced relationships of companies including Intel KFC and BA to further develop the reader's knowledge which makes this book an informative and essential resource.
The automotive industry appears close to substantial change engendered by “self-driving” technologies. This technology offers the possibility of significant benefits to social welfare—saving lives; reducing crashes, congestion, fuel consumption, and pollution; increasing mobility for the disabled; and ultimately improving land use. This report is intended as a guide for state and federal policymakers on the many issues that this technology raises.
This book is designed to be everything its title suggests-a practical guide to automation within the food industry. It is the first book to offer practical advice on what can be a most bewildering subject in an industry where the use of effective automation is of paramount importance. There are many books dealing with the theory and practice of control systems in both the food and other industries. However, these tend to offer too much detail in both areas to be classed as overviews, or cover too much of the more obvious detail and gloss over, or avoid, the elements where the decisions are hard-even though these are the areas which are fundamental to successful and expansive projects. This book identifies those elements of any automation scheme which have to be considered first, and that form the foundations for any successful project. The editorial introduction outlines the content of the book and is a useful starting point. Examples are used, wherever possible, to show what can be done, how it can be achieved, and what to avoid. A glossary of definitions is included at the end of the book. All the chapters have been written by engineers, with many years' experience in this field, who have been able to express their views freely. The result is a book which covers the key areas of the subject, using a minimum of the technical jargon with which this subject abounds, in a readable, practical manner.
Robot Systems for Rail Transit Applications presents the latest advances in robotics and artificial intelligence for railway systems, giving foundational principles and running through special problems in robot systems for rail transit. State-of-the art research in robotics and railway systems is presented alongside a series of real-world examples. Eight chapters give definitions and characteristics of rail transit robot systems, describe assembly and collaborative robots in manufacturing, introduce automated guided vehicles and autonomous rail rapid transit, demonstrate inspection robots, cover trench robots, and explain unmanned aerial vehicles. This book offers an integrated and highly-practical way to approach robotics and artificial intelligence in rail-transit. - Introduces robot and artificial intelligence (AI) systems for rail transit applications - Presents research alongside step-by-step coverage of real-world cases - Gives the theoretical foundations underlying practical application - Offers solutions for high-speed railways from the latest work in robotics - Shows how robotics and AI systems afford new and efficient methods in rail transit
This two-volume set (CCIS 158 and CCIS 159) constitutes the refereed proceedings of the International Workshop on Computer Science for Environmental Engineering and EcoInformatics, CSEEE 2011, held in Kunming, China, in July 2011. The 150 revised full papers presented in both volumes were carefully reviewed and selected from a large number of submissions. The papers are organized in topical sections on computational intelligence; computer simulation; computing practices and applications; ecoinformatics; image processing information retrieval; pattern recognition; wireless communication and mobile computing; artificial intelligence and pattern classification; computer networks and Web; computer software, data handling and applications; data communications; data mining; data processing and simulation; information systems; knowledge data engineering; multimedia applications.
