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The purpose of this paper is to examine a new idea of vibration control which minimizes joint‐torques and suppresses vibration of the flexible redundant manipulator.

Using the kinematics redundancy feature of the flexible redundant manipulator, the self‐motion in the joint space can be properly chosen to both suppress vibration and minimize joint‐torques.

The study shows that the flexible redundant manipulator still has the second optimization feature on the premise of vibration suppression. The second optimization feature can be used to minimize joint‐torques on the premise of vibration suppression.

To a flexible redundant manipulator, its joint‐torques and vibration can be reduced simultaneously via its kinematics redundancy feature.

The method and algorithm discussed in the paper can be used to minimize joint‐torques and suppress vibration for the flexible redundant manipulator.

The paper contributes to the study on improving dynamic performance of the flexible redundant manipulator via its kinematics redundancy feature. The second optimization capability of the flexible redundant manipulator is discovered and used to both minimize joint‐torques and suppress vibration.

The purpose of this paper is to introduce the notion of a social fabric (SF) in which the expression of knowledge sources (KS) in cultural algorithms (CA) can be distributed through the population. The SF influence function is applied to the solution of selected complex engineering problems and it is shown that different parameter combinations for the SF influence function can affect the rate of solution. This enhanced approach is compared with previous approaches.

KS are allowed to influence individuals through a network. From a theoretical perspective, individuals in the real world are viewed as participating in a variety of different networks. Several layers of such networks can be supported within a population. The interplay of these various network computations is designated as the “social fabric.” Using this new influence function, when an individual is to be modified, one KS is selected to perform the modification at each generation. The selection process is done via weaving the SF, hence changing the number of individuals that follow a certain KS.

Simulation experiments show that the choice of influence function has a great impact on the problem‐solving phase. For some problems, a social network is not necessary to produce frequent convergence to an optimum. On the other hand, it is observed that the social network can help to focus search by allowing a KS to influence groups of individuals within a network rather than single unrelated individuals. The new approach shows a more focused convergence to optimal values in complex engineering problems with numerous constraints. Also, it is suggested that a SF configuration can be robust in the sense that a configuration that works well for one problem can also perform well in a more complex but unrelated problem. This suggests that a configuration can be evolved to solve suites of problems.

The introduced approach is interesting for the optimization of problems of a non‐linear complex nature.

The purpose of this paper is to present a neural network approach to control performance assessment.

The performance index under study is based on the minimum variance control benchmark, a radial basis function network (RBFN) is used as the pre‐whitening filter to estimate the white noise sequence, and a stable filtering and correlation analysis method is adopted to calculate the performance index by estimating innovations sequence using the RBFN pre‐whitening filter. The new approach is compared with the auto‐regressive moving average model and the Laguerre model methods, for both linear and nonlinear cases.

Simulation results show that the RBFN approach works satisfactorily for both linear and nonlinear examples. In particular, the proposed scheme shows merits in assessing controller performance for nonlinear systems and surpasses the Laguerre model method in parameter selection.

A RBFN approach is proposed for control performance assessment. This new approach, in comparison with some well‐known methods, provides satisfactory performance and potentials for both linear and nonlinear cases.

The purpose of this paper is to develop a mathematical framework to address some algorithmic features of approximate dynamic programming (ADP) by using an average cost formulation based on the concepts of differential costs and performance gradients. Under such a framework, a modified value iteration algorithm is developed that is easy to implement, in the mean time it can address a class of partially observable Markov decision processes (POMDP).

Gradient‐based policy iteration (GBPI) is a top‐down, system‐theoretic approach to dynamic optimization with performance guarantees. In this paper, a bottom‐up, algorithmic view is provided to complement the original high‐level development of GBPI. A modified value iteration is introduced, which can provide solutions to the same type of POMDP problems dealt with by GBPI. Numerical simulations are conducted to include a queuing problem and a maze problem to illustrate and verify features of the proposed algorithms as compared to GBPI.

The direct connection between GBPI and policy iteration is shown under a Markov decision process formulation. As such, additional analytical insights were gained on GBPI. Furthermore, motivated by this analytical framework, the authors propose a modified value iteration as an alternative to addressing the same POMDP problem handled by GBPI.

Several important insights are gained from the analytical framework, which motivate the development of both algorithms. Built on this paradigm, new ADP learning algorithms can be developed, in this case, the modified value iteration, to address a broader class of problems, the POMDP. In addition, it is now possible to provide ADP algorithms with a gradient perspective. Inspired by the fundamental understanding of learning and optimization problems under the gradient‐based framework, additional new insight may be developed for bottom‐up type of algorithms with performance guarantees.

Nowadays, automotive engines are controlled by electronic control units (ECUs), and the engine idle speed performance is significantly affected by the setup of control parameters in the ECU. The engine ECU tune‐up is done empirically through tests on a dynamometer (dyno). In this way, a lot of time, fuel and human resources are consumed, while the optimal control parameters may not be obtained. The purpose of this paper is to propose a novel ECU setup optimization approach for engine idle speed control.

In the first phase of the approach, Latin hypercube sampling (LHS) and a multi‐input/output least squares support vector machine (LS‐SVM) is proposed to build up an engine idle speed model based on dyno test data, and then a genetic algorithm (GA) is applied to obtain optimal ECU setting automatically subject to various user‐defined constraints.

The study shows that the predicted results using the estimated model from LS‐SVM are in good agreement with the actual test results. Moreover, the optimization results show a significant improvement on idle speed performance in a test engine.

As the methodology is generic it can be applied to different vehicle control optimization problems.

The research is the first attempt to integrate a couple of paradigms (LHS, multi‐input/output LS‐SVM and GA) into a general framework for constrained multivariable optimization problems under insufficient system information. The proposed multi‐input/output LS‐SVM for modelling of multi‐input/output systems is original, because the traditional LS‐SVM modelling approach is suitable for multi‐input, but single output systems. Finally, this is the first use of the novel integrated framework for automotive engine idle‐speed control optimization.

The purpose of this paper is to provide a review of the issues related to cluster analysis, one of the most important and primitive activities of human beings, and of the advances made in recent years.

The paper investigates the clustering algorithms rooted in machine learning, computer science, statistics, and computational intelligence.

The paper reviews the basic issues of cluster analysis and discusses the recent advances of clustering algorithms in scalability, robustness, visualization, irregular cluster shape detection, and so on.

The paper presents a comprehensive and systematic survey of cluster analysis and emphasizes its recent efforts in order to meet the challenges caused by the glut of complicated data from a wide variety of communities.

The purpose of this paper is to present research results in analyzing image contents to improve the accuracy of using an artificial neural network (ANN) to detect embedded data in a digital image.

A texture measure based on the MPEG‐7 texture descriptor is applied to assess the local texture amount. Those image blocks with high texture are masked out and the remaining blocks with low texture are used to derive features for an ANN to classify an image as embedded or clear. The high‐texture blocks are not discarded and can be tested independently for embedded data.

By masking out the high‐texture image blocks, an ANN has improved detection performance especially when the original embedding rate is low. Bypassing the low‐texture image blocks do not pay off for a steganographer because the effective embedding rate in the high‐texture blocks is driven higher.

Hidden data detectors should take the image content into account in order to improve detection performance.

The results can be integrated into a steganalytic system.

This paper presents evidence that image texture affects steganalytic performance and proposes a solution that incorporates texture that has improved detection performance.

This paper aims to investigate the effect of transformational leadership (TL), behavioral integration of top management team (TMT) and team conflict on manager ambidexterity behavior.

Hierarchical linear modeling has been applied to test the degree of influence of TL and behavioral integration of TMT on manager ambidexterity using data collected from 60 chief executive officers (CEOs) and 322 TMT members of small- and medium-sized enterprises in the Chinese electronic commerce industry.

The results suggest the following: transformational leadership is positively associated with the behavioral integration of TMT and a high level of TMT behavioral integration strengthens the positive relationship between transformational leadership and manager ambidexterity. Also, team conflict moderates the mediating role of TMT behavioral integration in the relationship of transformational leadership to manager ambidexterity.

First, this study does not directly test whether transformational leadership encourages a focus on manager ambidexterity, although the results on behavioral integration draw attention to the usefulness of such leadership. Second, in focusing on manager ambidexterity, this paper omits key variables, especially skills and abilities.

Given that several aspects of leadership can be learned and adjusted, the findings suggest that organizations can improve their individual ambidexterity by helping the CEOs develop and display transformational leadership through training and mentoring. TMTs were found to rely mostly on the behavioral integration approach (collaborative behavior, quality of information exchange and joint decision-making) and team conflict management. Such reliance, in turn, predicts effective team behavioral coordination and subsequent manager ambidexterity.

First, this study goes beyond the current research that focuses primarily on ambidexterity at the inter-organizational alliance, firm and business unit levels. This earlier research lacks a conceptually and empirically validated understanding of ambidexterity at the level of the manager. In contrast, by investigating and examining the antecedents of manager ambidexterity behavior, the study develops an individual perspective to elucidate the ambidextrous mechanisms. Second, the study also contributes by explaining how transformational leadership relates to manager ambidexterity. To date, only limited research has disentangled how transformational leaders enhance managers’ teamwork (e.g. behavioral integration) and how such leaders affect the ambidextrous orientation of managers.