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Creators/Authors contains: "Dennis, S"

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  1. Real-time numerical differentiation plays a crucial role in many digital control algorithms, such as PID control, which requires numerical differentiation to implement derivative action. This paper proposes an algorithm for estimating the numerical derivative of a signal from noisy sampled data measurements. The method uses adaptive input estimation with adaptive state estimation (AIE/ASE), and thus it requires only minimal prior information about the signal and noise statistics. Furthermore, since the estimates of the derivative at step k provided by AIE/ASE depend only on data available up to step k, AIE/ASE is thus implementable in real time. The accuracy of AIE/ASE is compared numerically to several conventional numerical differentiation methods. Finally, AIE/ASE is applied to simulated vehicle position data, generated in the CarSim simulator software. 
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    Free, publicly-accessible full text available December 1, 2025
  2. A self-excited system is a nonlinear system with the property that a constant input yields a bounded, nonconvergent response. Nonlinear identification of self-excited systems is considered using a Lur'e model structure, where a linear model is connected in feedback with a nonlinear feedback function. To facilitate identification, the nonlinear feedback function is assumed to be continuous and piecewise affine (CPA). The present paper uses least-squares optimization to estimate the coefficients of the linear dynamics and the slope vector of the CPA nonlinearity, as well as mixed-integer optimization to estimate the order of the linear dynamics and the breakpoints of the CPA function. The proposed identification technique requires only output data, and thus no measurement of the constant input is required. This technique is illustrated on a diverse collection of low-dimensional numerical examples as well as data from a gas-turbine combustor. 
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  3. Otitis media (OM) is the most common disease among young children and one of the most frequent reasons to visit the pediatrician. Development of OM requires nasopharyngeal colonization by a pathogen which must gain access to the tympanic cavity through the eustachian tube (ET) along with being able to overcome the defense mechanisms of the immune system and middle ear mucosa. OM can be caused by viral or bacterial infection. The three main bacterial pathogens are Streptococcus pneumoniae, nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHi), and Moraxella catarrhalis. Innate immunity is important in OM resolution as the disease occurs in very young children before the development of specific immunity. Elements of innate immunity include natural barriers and pattern recognition receptors such as Toll like receptors (TLRs), and Nod like receptors (NLRs). Surfactant proteins A (SP-A) and D (SP-D) act as pattern recognition receptors and are found in the lung and many other tissues including the ET and the middle ear where they probably function in host defense. Surfactant has a potential for use in the treatment of OM due to surface tension lowering function in the ET, and the possible immune functions of SP-D and SP-A in the middle ear and ET. 
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  4. null (Ed.)
    This paper considers system identification for systems whose output is asymptotically periodic under constant inputs. The model used for system identification is a discretetime Lur’e model consisting of asymptotically stable linear dynamics, a time delay, a washout filter, and a static nonlinear feedback mapping. For sufficiently large scaling of the loop transfer function, these components cause divergence under small signal levels and decay under large signal amplitudes, thus producing an asymptotically oscillatory output. A leastsquares technique is used to estimate the coefficients of the linear model as well as the parameters of a piecewise-linear approximation of the feedback mapping. 
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  5. null (Ed.)
  6. Neutrino-nucleus cross section measurements are needed to improve interaction modeling to meet the precision needs of neutrino experiments in efforts to measure oscillation parameters and search for physics beyond the Standard Model. We review the difficulties associated with modeling neutrino-nucleus interactions that lead to a dependence on event generators in oscillation analyses and cross section measurements alike. We then describe data-driven model validation techniques intended to address this model dependence. The method relies on utilizing various goodness-of-fit tests and the correlations between different observables and channels to probe the model for defects in the phase space relevant for the desired analysis. These techniques shed light on relevant mismodeling, allowing it to be detected before it begins to bias the cross section results. We compare more commonly used model validation methods which directly validate the model against alternative ones to these data-driven techniques and show their efficacy with fake data studies. These studies demonstrate that employing data-driven model validation in cross section measurements represents a reliable strategy to produce robust results that will stimulate the desired improvements to interaction modeling. Published by the American Physical Society2025 
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    Free, publicly-accessible full text available May 1, 2026
  7. Self-excited systems arise in many applications, such as biochemical systems, mechanical systems with fluidstructure interaction, and fuel-driven systems with combustion dynamics. This paper presents a Lur’e model that exhibits biased oscillations under constant inputs. The model involves arbitrary asymptotically stable linear dynamics, time delay, a washout filter, and a saturation nonlinearity. For all sufficiently large scalings of the loop transfer function, these components cause divergence under small signal levels and decay under large signal amplitudes, thus producing an oscillatory response. A bias-generation mechanism is used to specify the mean of the oscillation. The main contribution of the paper is the presentation and analysis of a discrete-time version of this model. 
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  8. In some applications of control, the objective is to optimize the constant asymptotic response of the system by moving the state of the system from one forced equilibrium to another. Since suppression of the transient response is not the main objective, the feedback control law can operate quasistatically, that is, extremely slowly relative to the open-loop dynamics. Although integral control can be used to achieve the desired setpoint, three issues must be addressed, namely, nonlinearity, uncertainty, and multistability, where multistability refers to the fact that multiple locally stable equilibria may exist for the same constant input. In fact, multistability is the mechanism underlying hysteresis. The present paper applies an adaptive digital PID controller to achieve quasi-static control of systems that are nonlinear, uncertain, and multistable. The approach is demonstrated on multistable systems involving unmodeled cubic and backlash nonlinearities. 
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  9. Large neutrino liquid argon time projection chamber (LArTPC) experiments can broaden their physics reach by reconstructing and interpreting MeV-scale energy depositions, or blips, present in their data. We demonstrate new calorimetric and particle discrimination capabilities at the MeV energy scale using reconstructed blips in data from the MicroBooNE LArTPC at Fermilab. We observe a concentration of low-energy ( < 3 MeV ) blips around fiberglass mechanical support struts along the time projection chamber edges with energy spectrum features consistent with the Compton edge of 2.614 MeV Tl 208 decay γ rays. These features are used to verify proper calibration of electron energy scales in MicroBooNE’s data to few percent precision and to measure the specific activity of Tl 208 in the fiberglass composing these struts, ( 11.7 ± 0.2 ( stat ) ± 3.1 ( syst ) ) Bq / kg . Cosmogenically produced blips above 3 MeV in reconstructed energy are used to showcase the ability of large LArTPCs to distinguish between low-energy proton and electron energy depositions. An enriched sample of low-energy protons selected using this new particle discrimination technique is found to be smaller in data than in dedicated cosmic-ray simulations, suggesting either incorrect modeling of incident cosmic fluxes or particle transport modeling issues in eant4. Published by the American Physical Society2025 
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    Free, publicly-accessible full text available February 1, 2026