Increasing computing and wireless communication capabilities will expand the role of the sensors from mere information dissemination to more demanding tasks as sensor fusion, classification, collaborative target tracking. Fault tolerance and reliability performs exclusively vital role for embedded systems, such as obscured wireless sensors, which are deployed in some applications where it is di...

ARTICLE INFO ABSTRACT Keywords: Dependability Consecutive-k-out-of-n: F repairable system Rare-event simulation RESTART The reliability of consecutive-fc-out-of-n: F repairable systems and (fc-l)-step Markov dependence is studied. The model analyzed in this paper is more general than those of previous studies given that repair time and component lifetimes are random variables that follow a gene...

Mobile robots are notoriously unreliable. In order to make significant improvements in mobile robot reliability, we need quantitative methods and precise language for measuring and discussing reliability. Such methods exist within the reliability engineering literature but have seen little use in the design of mobile robots. In this report we present an overview of reliability engineering metho...

Two, ASENs and ZTNs, fault-tolerant multistage interconnection networks of different class are compared, based on their analytic bounds of MTTF, cost, and cost-effectiveness. The full-access condition and deadfault model are used for the MTTF analysis. The simulation study reveals that ZTNs are better in terms of cost and cost-effectiveness while both networks are equally reliable in terms of u...

The variation of permeability with depth can be probed indirectly by various means, including hydrologic models that use geothermal data as constraints and the progress of metamorphic reactions driven by fluid flow. Geothermal and metamorphic data combine to indicate that mean permeability (k) of tectonically active continental crust decreases with depth (z) according to log k ! )14–3.2 log z, ...

Mobile robots are notoriously unreliable. In order to make significant improvements in mobile robot reliability, we need quantitative methods and precise language for measuring and discussing reliability. Such methods exist within the reliability engineering literature but have seen little use in the design of mobile robots. In this report we present an overview of reliability engineering metho...

We study the reliability and sensitivity analysis of a system with M operating machines, S warm standbys, and a repairable service station. Failure times and service times of each machine (operating or standby) are assumed to be exponentially distributed. While the service station is working, it is subject to breakdowns according to a Poisson process. When the station breaks down, it requires ...

This paper presents a multi-objective optimisation model and algorithms for scheduling of radiotherapy treatments for categorised cancer patients. The model is developed considering real life radiotherapy treatment processes at Arden Cancer Centre, in the UK. The scheduling model considers various real life constraints, such as doctors’ rota, machine availability, patient’s category, waiting ti...

In the design of interlock loops for the signal exchange in machine protection systems, the choice of the hardware architecture impacts on machine safety and availability. The reliable performance of a machine stop (leaving the machine in a safe state) in case of an emergency, is an inherent requirement. The constraints in terms of machine availability on the other hand may differ from one faci...

Step-stress accelerated degradation test (SSADT) is a useful tool for assessing the lifetime distribution of highly reliable products (under a normal-use condition) when the available test items are very few. Recently, an optimal SSADT plan has been proposed in the literature which is based on the assumption that the underlying degradation path follows a Wiener process. However, the degradation...