The objectives of this study were (1) to develop an algorithm for the acceleration sensor of the Smartbow Eartag (Smartbow GmbH, Weibern, Austria) to distinguish between postures (lying and standing or locomotion) and to detect 6 kinds of activities (milk intake, water intake, solid feed intake, ruminating, licking or sucking without milk intake, and other activities) in dairy calves and (2) to evaluate this sensor for identifying these behaviors in dairy calves compared with observations from video. Accelerometers were applied to the left ears of 15 preweaned Holstein dairy calves. Calves were kept in a group pen and received milk replacer from an automatic calf feeder. Based on 38 h of acceleration data and video observation, an algorithm was established to detect the predefined behaviors. Using cross-validation, video recordings were used to analyze whether a behavior was detected correctly by the developed algorithm. For posture, sensitivity (94.4%), specificity (94.3%), precision (95.8%), and accuracy (94.3%) were high. Cohen’s kappa was calculated as 0.88. For the 6 defined activities, overall (i.e., aggregated for all activities) accuracy was 70.8% and kappa was calculated as 0.58. Some activities (e.g., ruminating, feed intake, other activities) were identified better than others. In conclusion, the developed algorithm based on the acceleration data of the Smartbow Eartag was successful in detecting lying behavior, rumination, feed intake, and other activities in calves, but further development of the underlying algorithm will be necessary to produce reliable results for milk and water intake.

This paper is devoted to the development of the magnetic plasma control system for the Globus-M/M2 spherical tokamak (ST) when minor disruptions occur. The novelty of the research is the design of robust cascade multivariable control systems for time-varying plasma models in the presence of nonlinear thyristor current inverters as actuators for plasma position control. A new architecture of coordinated control of plasma position and shape is proposed. Quantitative Feedback Theory is used for the synthesis of robust Single-Input Single-Output (SISO) controllers for plasma position and PF-currents. Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO) H∞ control is applied to control the plasma shape. The simulation results of the gaps-based MIMO plasma shape control system with the plasma equilibrium reconstruction code in the feedback are shown. The robust stability of the control system is estimated.

The paper concerns the inverse problem of calculus of variations for one class of elliptic and hyperbolic quasilinear second order equations with two independent variables. The equations of this class have a rather wide range of applications, among which are modeling of a two-conductor transmission line, motion of a hyperelastic homogeneous rod whose cross-sectional area varies along the rod, vibration of a string, wave propagation in a bar of elastic–plastic material, and isentropic flows of a compressible gas with plane symmetry.A constructive solution of the problem in hand is given and themcorresponding Lagrangians are explicitly constructed.

A model of upper and lower bounds of weak manipulability of 13 known aggregation procedures, based on majority relation, is proposed. The modified Nitzan-Kelly index is used to evaluate the spread of the degree of manipulability for Kelly's, Gardenfors, and Expected utility weak extensions of agent's preferences over the sets of alternatives. The results are obtained via computer simulations.

The given article is devoted to the study of security provision for robotic systems. The authors describe the problem area and analyze the actual scientific literature, and also offer an original method of verification of robotic group participants for the solution of the problem of robot authorization and signal transmission of "machine-to-machine" type in the conditions of suppression of wireless communication means. The application of network-centric systems involves a possibility of communication between not only agents with operators but also between robots, which allows one to better evaluate available resources and to make the decision in the conditions of uncertainty. Besides, communication between self-contained units complies with the modern trend of cyberphysical system development. The urgency and necessity of the development of new verification methods for agents in mobile robotic groups is defined by the prompt growth of propagation of group robotics in the solution of a wide spectrum of problems and at the same time by the lack of methodological support for the formation of a safe medium for data exchange between the agents in such groups.