Refine
Year of publication
Institute
- Fachbereich Elektrotechnik und Informationstechnik (1187) (remove)
Language
- English (720)
- German (466)
- Multiple languages (1)
Document Type
- Article (629)
- Conference Proceeding (310)
- Book (115)
- Part of a Book (66)
- Patent (17)
- Report (9)
- Other (8)
- Conference: Meeting Abstract (6)
- Contribution to a Periodical (6)
- Course Material (6)
Keywords
- Multimediamarkt (7)
- Enterprise Architecture (5)
- MINLP (5)
- Engineering optimization (4)
- Gamification (4)
- Serious Game (4)
- Auslenkung (3)
- Digitale Transformation (3)
- Digitalisierung (3)
- Education (3)
Daten und Informationen sind die wichtigsten Ressourcen vieler Unternehmen und müssen daher entsprechend geschützt werden. Getrieben durch die erhöhte Vernetzung von Informationstechnologie, die höhere Offenheit infolge datengetriebener Dienstleistungen und eine starke Zunahme an Datenquellen, rücken die Gefahren von Informationsdiebstahl, -manipulation und -verlust in den Fokus von produzierenden Unternehmen. Auf dem Weg zum lern- und wandlungsfähigen Unternehmen kann dies zu einem großen Hindernis werden, da einerseits zu hohe Sicherheitsanforderungen neue Entwicklungen beschränken, andererseits wegen des Mangels an ausreichenden Informationssicherheitskonzepten Unternehmen weniger Innovationen wagen. Deshalb bedarf es individuell angepasster Konzepte für die Bereiche IT-Security, IT-Safety und Datenschutz für vernetzte Produkte, Produktion und Arbeitsplätze. Bei der Entwicklung und Durchsetzung dieser Konzepte steht der Faktor Mensch im Zentrum aller Überlegungen.
In diesem Kapitel wird dargestellt, wie der Faktor Mensch bei der Erstellung von Informationssicherheitskonzepten in verschiedenen Phasen zu beachten ist. Beginnend mit der Integration von Informationssystemen und damit verbundenen Sicherheitsmaßnahmen, über die Administration, bis hin zur Anwendung durch den Endnutzer, werden Methoden beschrieben, die den Menschen, verbunden mit seinem Mehrwert wie auch den Risiken, einschließen. Dabei werden sowohl Grundlagen aufgezeigt als auch Konzepte vorgestellt, mit denen Entscheider in der Unternehmens-IT Leitlinien für die Informationssicherheit festlegen können.
Information Channels
(2000)
Information and communication technology for integrated mobility concepts such as E-carsharing
(2015)
During the past decade attitude towards sharing things has changed extremely. Not just personal data is shared (e.g. in social networks) but also mobility. Together with the increased ecological awareness of the recent years, new mobility concepts have evolved. E-carsharing has become a symbol for these changes of attitude. The management of a shared car fleet, the energy management of electric mobility and the management of various carsharing users with individual likes and dislikes are just some of the major challenges of e-carsharing. Weaving it into integrated mobility concepts, this raises complexity even further. These challenges can only be overcome by an appropriate amount of well-shaped information available at the right place and time. In order to gather, process and share the required information, fleet cars have to be equipped with modern information and communication technology (ICT) and become so-called fully connected cars. Ensuring the usability of these ICT systems is another challenge that is often neglected, even though it is usability that makes carsharing comfortable, attractive and supports users’ new attitudes. By means of an integrated and consistent concept for human-machine interaction (HMI), the usability of such systems can be raised tremendously.
Recently, novel AI-based services have emerged in the consumer market. AI-based services can affect the way consumers take commercial decisions. Research on the influence of AI on commercial interactions is in its infancy. In this chapter, a framework creating a first overview of the influence of AI on commercial interactions is introduced. This framework summarizes the findings of comparing numerous customer journeys of novel AI-based services with corresponding non-AI equivalents.
For a wide acceptance of E-Mobility, a well-developed charging infrastructure is needed. Conductive charging stations, which are today’s state of the art, are of limited suitability for urbanised areas, since they cause a significant diversification in townscape. Furthermore, they might be destroyed by vandalism. Besides for those urbanistic reasons, inductive charging stations are a much more comfortable alternative, especially in urbanised areas. The usage of conductive charging stations requires more or less bulky charging cables. The handling of those standardised charging cables, especially during poor weather conditions, might cause inconvenience, such as dirty clothing etc. Wireless charging does not require visible and vandalism vulnerable charge sticks. No wired connection between charging station and vehicle is needed, which enable the placement below the surface of parking spaces or other points of interest. Inductive charging seems to be the optimal alternative for E-Mobility, as a high power transfer can be realised with a manageable technical and financial effort. For a well-accepted and working public charging infrastructure in urbanised areas it is essential that the infrastructure fits the vehicles’ needs. Hence, a well-adjusted standardisation of the charging infrastructure is essential. This is carried out by several IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission) and national standardisation committees. To ensure an optimised technical solution for future’s inductive charging infrastructures, several field tests had been carried out and are planned in near future.
31P MR spectroscopic imaging of the human prostate provides information about phosphorylated metabolites that could be used for prostate cancer characterization. The sensitivity of a magnetic field strength of 7 T might enable 3D 31P MR spectroscopic imaging with relevant spatial resolution in a clinically acceptable measurement time. To this end, a 31P endorectal coil was developed and combined with an eight-channel 1H body-array coil to relate metabolic information to anatomical location. An extensive safety validation was performed to evaluate the specific absorption rate, the radiofrequency field distribution, and the temperature distribution of both coils. This validation consisted of detailed Finite Integration Technique simulations, confirmed by MR thermometry and Burn:x-wiley:07403194:media:MRM24175:tex2gif-stack-1 measurements in a phantom and in vivo temperature measurements. The safety studies demonstrated that the presence of the 31P endorectal coil had no influence on the specific absorption rate levels and temperature distribution of the external eight-channel 1H array coil. To stay within a 10 g averaged local specific absorption rate of 10 W/kg, a maximum time-averaged input power of 33 W for the 1H array coil was allowed. For transmitting with the 31P endorectal coil, our safety limit of less than 1°C temperature increase in vivo during a 15-min MR spectroscopic imaging experiment was reached at a time-averaged input power of 1.9 W. With this power setting, a second in vivo measurement was performed on a healthy volunteer. Using adiabatic excitation, 3D 31P MR spectroscopic imaging produced spectra from the entire prostate in 18 min with a spatial resolution of 4 cm3. The spectral resolution enabled the separate detection of phosphocholine, phosphoethanolamine, inorganic phosphate, and other metabolites that could play an important role in the characterization of prostate cancer.
The chemical industry is one of the most important industrial sectors in Germany in terms of manufacturing revenue. While thermodynamic boundary conditions often restrict the scope for reducing the energy consumption of core processes, secondary processes such as cooling offer scope for energy optimisation. In this contribution, we therefore model and optimise an existing cooling system. The technical boundary conditions of the model are provided by the operators, the German chemical company BASF SE. In order to systematically evaluate different degrees of freedom in topology and operation, we formulate and solve a Mixed-Integer Nonlinear Program (MINLP), and compare our optimisation results with the existing system.
In current clinical cardiovascular MR (CMR) practice cardiac motion is commonly dealt with using ECG based synchronization. However, ECG is corrupted by magneto-hydrodynamic (MHD) effects in magnetic fields. This leads to artifacts in the ECG trace and evokes severe T-wave elevations, which might be misinterpreted as R-waves resulting in erroneous triggering. At (ultra)high field strengths, the propensity of ECG recordings to MHD effects is further pronounced. Pulse oximetry (POX) being inherently sensitive to blood oxygenation provides an alternative approach for cardiac gating. However, due to the travel time of the blood the peak of maximum oxygenation and hence the trigger is delayed by approx. 300 ms with respect to the ECG's R-wave. Also the peak of maximum oxygenation shows a jitter of up to 65 ms. Alternative triggering approaches include acoustic cardiac triggering (ACT). In current clinical practice cardiac gating / triggering commonly relies on using single physiological signals only. Realizing this limitation this study proposes a combined triggering approach which exploits multiple physiological signals including ECG, POX or ACT to track cardiac activity. The feasibility of the coupled approach is examined for LV function assessment at 7.0 T. For this purpose, breath-held 2D-CINE imaging in conjunction with cardiac synchronization was performed paralleled by real time logging of physiological waveforms to track (mis)synchronization between the cardiac cycle and data acquisition. Combinations of the ECG, POX and ACT signals were evaluated and processed in real time to facilitate reliable trigger information.
The initial idea of Robotic Process Automation (RPA) is the automation of business processes through the presentation layer of existing application systems. For this simple emulation of user input and output by software robots, no changes of the systems and architecture is required. However, considering strategic aspects of aligning business and technology on an enterprise level as well as the growing capabilities of RPA driven by artificial intelligence, interrelations between RPA and Enterprise Architecture (EA) become visible and pose new questions. In this paper we discuss the relationship between RPA and EA in terms of perspectives and implications. As workin- progress we focus on identifying new questions and research opportunities related to RPA and EA.
Objectives
To assess the image quality of T2-weighted (T2w) magnetic resonance imaging of the prostate and the visibility of prostate cancer at 7 Tesla (T).
Materials & methods
Seventeen prostate cancer patients underwent T2w imaging at 7T with only an external transmit/receive array coil. Three radiologists independently scored images for image quality, visibility of anatomical structures, and presence of artefacts. Krippendorff’s alpha and weighted kappa statistics were used to assess inter-observer agreement. Visibility of prostate cancer lesions was assessed by directly linking the T2w images to the confirmed location of prostate cancer on histopathology.
Results
T2w imaging at 7T was achievable with ‘satisfactory’ (3/5) to ‘good’ (4/5) quality. Visibility of anatomical structures was predominantly scored as ‘satisfactory’ (3/5) and ‘good’ (4/5). If artefacts were present, they were mostly motion artefacts and, to a lesser extent, aliasing artefacts and noise. Krippendorff’s analysis revealed an α = 0.44 between three readers for the overall image quality scores. Clinically significant cancer lesions in both peripheral zone and transition zone were visible at 7T.
Conclusion
T2w imaging with satisfactory to good quality can be routinely acquired, and cancer lesions were visible in patients with prostate cancer at 7T using only an external transmit/receive body array coil.
Höhere Mathematik kompakt
(2013)
Hybrid control for autonomous systems — Integrating learning, deliberation and reactive control
(2010)
Unternehmen sind in der Regel überzeugt, dass sie die Bedürfnisse ihrer Kunden in den Mittelpunkt stellen. Aber in der direkten Interaktion mit dem Kunden zeigen sie häufig Schwächen. Der folgende Beitrag illustriert, wie durch eine konsequente Ausrichtung der Wertschöpfungsprozesse auf die zentralen Kundenbedürfnisse ein Dreifacheffekt erzielt werden kann: Nachhaltig erhöhte Kundenzufriedenheit, gesteigerte Effizienz und eine Differenzierung im Wettbewerb.
How does the implementation of a next generation network influence a telecommunication company?
(2009)
As the potential of a Next Generation Network (NGN) is recognized, telecommunication companies consider switching to it. Although the implementation of an NGN seems to be merely a modification of the network infrastructure, it may trigger or require changes in the whole company and even influence the company strategy. To capture the effects of NGN we propose a framework based on concepts of business engineering and technical recommendations for the introduction of NGN technology. The specific design of solutions for the layers "Strategy", "Processes" and "Information Systems" as well as their interdependencies are an essential characteristic of the developed framework. We have per-formed a case study on NGN implementation and observed that all layers captured by our framework are influenced by the introduction of an NGN.
Dieses Lehr- und Fachbuch vermittelt anschaulich die Grundlagen der HF-Technik, gibt konkrete Beschreibungen für den Entwurf von linearen Komponenten aus Bauteilen wie auch Leitungen für High-Speed- und HF-Schaltungen. Dem Leser wird vermittelt, wie Bauteile modelliert und Schaltungen synthetisiert und optimiert werden. Mit Hilfe frei verfügbarer Simulationssoftware können GHz-Schaltungen selbst entwickelt werden. Viele Übungsbeispiele ermöglichen die Eigenkontrolle des Wissensstandes. Weiterhin werden komplexe nichtlineare Komponenten wie Hochfrequenzmischer, Oszillatoren und Synthesegeneratoren in ihrer Funktionalität dargestellt. Die neuen Mixed-Mode-Streuparameter sowie deren Leitungs- und Schaltungstechnik für Anwendungen der schnellen Digital- und der modernen HF-Technik sind ausführlich beschrieben. Es wird auf Systeme für folgende Bereiche eingegangen: Streuparametermesstechnik, verschiedene Funktechniken, UHF-RFID und Lokalisierung- und Ortung. Dem Leser wird somit ermöglicht, komplexe GHz-Schaltungen insbesondere mit Halbleiter-, SMD- und LTCC-Schaltungen zu entwickeln.
In: Konferenzband zur Konferenz Medienproduktion 2007, 1.12.2008. 29 S. High Quality Streaming beschäftigt sich mit High Definition Television und Mehrkanal Sound. In diesem Beitrag werden die Technologien und Anwendungsperspektiven für HD Medien-Dienstleistungen beschrieben. Der Beitrag entstand im Rahmen der Konferenz Medienproduktion „Expansion und Mobilität“ am 7. Dezember 2007. Der Beitrag beschreibt Geschäftsmodelle, Technologien und neue Anwendungen für High Quality Streaming. Neben der Präsentation wurden auch die Medienproduktionen der unterschiedlichen HQ-Mediendienste vorgeführt. Die Mediendienste sind im Rahmen der Forschungsarbeit High Quality Media Services des Studiengangs Communication and Multimedia Design (Fachbereich Elektrotechnik und Informationstechnik) an der Fachhochschule Aachen entstanden. Eine Marktevaluierung der deutschen und niederländischen Märkte, internationale Expertengesprächen sowie ein Prototypen HDMediaservices bilden die Basis der Forschungsarbeit. Die Mediendienste stehen zur Demonstration unter dem Link media.fh-aachen.de bereit. HQ-Mediendienste bedeuten: Gestochen scharfe Bilder in High Definition, volle Klänge in Surround und das über das Internet, wo doch gerade mal die briefmarkengroßen Bilder mit unscharfen Konturen und krätzenden Klängen der heutigen Portale wie YouTube Alltag sind.
Halbleiterschaltungstechnik
(2009)
Grundlagen des Mobilfunks
(2007)
his report summarizes the results of a workshop on Groupware related task design which took place at the International Conference on Supporting Group Work Group'99, Arizona, from 14 th to 17 th November 1999.
The workshop was addressed to people from different
viewpoints, backgrounds, and domains:
- Researchers dealing with questions of task analysis
and task modeling for Groupware application from an
academic point of view. They may contribute modelbased design
approaches or theoretically oriented
work
- Practitioners with experience in the design and
everyday use of groupware systems. They might refer
to the practical side of the topic: "real" tasks, "real"
problems, "real" users, etc.
Water suppliers are faced with the great challenge of achieving high-quality and, at the same time, low-cost water supply. In practice, the focus is set on the most beneficial maintenance measures and/or capacity adaptations of existing water distribution systems (WDS). Since climatic and demographic influences will pose further challenges in the future, the resilience enhancement of WDS, i.e. the enhancement of their capability to withstand and recover from disturbances, has been in particular focus recently. To assess the resilience of WDS, metrics based on graph theory have been proposed. In this study, a promising approach is applied to assess the resilience of the WDS for a district in a major German City. The conducted analysis provides insight into the process of actively influencing the
resilience of WDS
Grain boundary and surface segragation of Ba-Ti-O-Phases in rutile. O´Bryan, H. M.; Hagemann, H. J.
(1987)
Die vorliegende Arbeit zeichnet sich dadurch aus, dass registrierte unsegmentierte Volumina aus multimodalen Bilddatensätzen (z.B. MRT, PET) gleichzeitig in einer 3D-Rekonstruktion visualisiert werden und in Echtzeit manipuliert werden können. Ermöglicht wird die Echtzeitfähigkeit durch die Programmierung der Algorithmen zur direkten Volumenvisualisierung auf der Grafikkarte mittels der neuen CUDA-Technologie. Die Zuordnung der Farbeigenschaften wird über 1D-Transferfunktionen für jedes Volumen getrennt gesteuert. So können durch die interaktive Veränderung der 1D-Transferfunktion Detailinformationen aus den zwei Bilddatensätzen getrennt kontrolliert werden und die Vorteile der verschiedenen Bildmodalitäten in einer Visualisierung genutzt werden. Mittels dieses interaktiven Frameworks können neue Erkenntnisse insbesondere über neurodegenerativen Erkrankungen gewonnen werden.
One central challenge for self-driving cars is a proper path-planning. Once a trajectory has been found, the next challenge is to accurately and safely follow the precalculated path. The model-predictive controller (MPC) is a common approach for the lateral control of autonomous vehicles. The MPC uses a vehicle dynamics model to predict the future states of the vehicle for a given prediction horizon. However, in order to achieve real-time path control, the computational load is usually large, which leads to short prediction horizons. To deal with the computational load, the control algorithm can be parallelized on the graphics processing unit (GPU). In contrast to the widely used stochastic methods, in this paper we propose a deterministic approach based on grid search. Our approach focuses on systematically discovering the search area with different levels of granularity. To achieve this, we split the optimization algorithm into multiple iterations. The best sequence of each iteration is then used as an initial solution to the next iteration. The granularity increases, resulting in smooth and predictable steering angle sequences. We present a novel GPU-based algorithm and show its accuracy and realtime abilities with a number of real-world experiments.
Among many approaches to address the high-level decision making problem for autonomous robots and agents, the robot program¬ming and plan language Golog follows a logic-based deliberative approach, and its successors were successfully deployed in a number of robotics applications over the past ten years. Usually, Golog interpreter are implemented in Prolog, which is not available for our target plat¬form, the bi-ped robot platform Nao. In this paper we sketch our first approach towards a prototype implementation of a Golog interpreter in the scripting language Lua. With the example of the elevator domain we discuss how the basic action theory is specified and how we implemented fluent regression in Lua. One possible advantage of the availability of a Non-Prolog implementation of Golog could be that Golog becomes avail¬able on a larger number of platforms, and also becomes more attractive for roboticists outside the Cognitive Robotics community.
To train end users how to interact with digital systems is indispensable to ensure a strong computer security. 'Competence Developing Game'-based approaches are particularly suitable for this purpose because of their motivation-and simulation-aspects. In this paper the Competence Developing Game 'GHOST' for cybersecurity awareness trainings and its underlying patterns are described. Accordingly, requirements for an 'Competence Developing Game' based training are discussed. Based on these requirements it is shown how a game can fulfill these requirements. A supplementary game interaction design and a corresponding evaluation study is shown. The combination of training requirements and interaction design is used to create a 'Competence Developing Game'-based training concept. A part of these concept is implemented into a playable prototype that serves around one hour of play respectively training time. This prototype is used to perform an evaluation of the game and training aspects of the awareness training. Thereby, the quality of the game aspect and the effectiveness of the training aspect are shown.
Am Beispiel der Telekommunikationsindustrie zeigt der Beitrag eine konkrete Ausgestaltung anwendungsorientierter Forschung, die sowohl für die Praxis als auch für die Wissenschaft nutzen- und erkenntnisbringend ist. Forschungsgegenstand sind die Referenzmodelle des Industriegremiums TM Forum, die von vielen Telekommunikationsunternehmen zur Transformation ihrer Strukturen und Systeme genutzt werden. Es wird die langjährige Forschungstätigkeit bei der Weiterentwicklung und Anwendung dieser Referenzmodelle beschrieben. Dabei wird ein konsequent gestaltungsorientierter Forschungsansatz verfolgt. Das Zusammenspiel aus kontinuierlicher Weiterentwicklung in Zusammenarbeit mit einem Industriegremium und der Anwendung in vielfältigen Praxisprojekten führt zu einer erfolgreichen Symbiose aus praktischer Nutzengenerierung sowie wissenschaftlichem Erkenntnisgewinn. Der Beitrag stellt den gewählten Forschungsansatz anhand konkreter Beispiele vor. Darauf basierend werden Empfehlungen und Herausforderungen für eine gestaltungs- und praxisorientierte Forschung diskutiert.
Durch die Fragmentierung von Wertschöpfungsketten ergeben sich neue Herausforderungen für das Management von Kundenbeziehungen. Die Dissertation untersucht die daraus resultierenden Anforderungen an eine übergreifende Integration von Customer Relationship Management in der
Telekommunikationsindustrie. Ziel ist es, durch Anwendung von Methoden eines Enterprise Architecture Framework eine übergreifend Lösung zu gestalten. Grundlegende Prämisse dabei ist, dass die übergreifende Gestaltung eines Customer Relationship Management für alle an der
Wertschöpfung beteiligten Unternehmen vorteilhaft ist.
Germanistik [Lexikoneintrag]
(1998)
Fußball oder Mathematik
(1971)
In the RoboCup@Home domestic service robot competition, complex tasks such as "get the cup from the kitchen and bring it to the living room" or "find me this and that object in the apartment" have to be accomplished. At these competitions the robots may only be instructed by natural language. As humans use qualitative concepts such as "near" or "far", the robot needs to cope with them, too. For our domestic robot, we use the robot programming and plan language Readylog, our variant of Golog. In previous work we extended the action language Golog, which was developed for the high-level control of agents and robots, with fuzzy concepts and showed how to embed fuzzy controllers in Golog. In this paper, we demonstrate how these notions can be fruitfully applied to two domestic service robotic scenarios. In the first application, we demonstrate how qualitative fluents based on a fuzzy set semantics can be deployed. In the second program, we show an example of a fuzzy controller for a follow-a-person task.
Fundamentals and ignition of a microplasma at 2.45 GHZ / Holtrup, Stephan ; Heuermann, Holger
(2009)
Spontaneous language has rarely been subjected to neuroimaging studies. This study therefore introduces a newly developed method for the analysis of linguistic phenomena observed in continuous language production during fMRI.
Most neuroimaging studies investigating language have so far focussed on single word or — to a smaller extent — sentence processing, mostly due to methodological considerations. Natural language production, however, is far more than the mere combination of words to larger units. Therefore, the present study aimed at relating brain activation to linguistic phenomena like word-finding difficulties or syntactic completeness in a continuous language fMRI paradigm. A picture description task with special constraints was used to provoke hesitation phenomena and speech errors. The transcribed speech sample was segmented into events of one second and each event was assigned to one category of a complex schema especially developed for this purpose. The main results were: conceptual planning engages bilateral activation of the precuneus. Successful lexical retrieval is accompanied – particularly in comparison to unsolved word-finding difficulties – by the left middle and superior temporal gyrus. Syntactic completeness is reflected in activation of the left inferior frontal gyrus (IFG) (area 44). In sum, the method has proven to be useful for investigating the neural correlates of lexical and syntactic phenomena in an overt picture description task. This opens up new prospects for the analysis of spontaneous language production during fMRI.
Frauen und Revolution: Der weibliche Anteil an der Geschichte. Christa Wolf und das Ende der DDR
(1991)
Das Ziel des INTERREG-Projektes „SHAREuregio“ (FKZ: 34.EFRE-0300134)
ist es, grenzüberschreitende Mobilität in der Euregio Rhein-Maas-Nord zu
ermöglichen und zu fördern. Dazu soll ein elektromobiles Car- und Bikesharing-
System entwickelt und in der Stadt Mönchengladbach, im Kreis Viersen
sowie in den Gemeinden Roermond und Venlo (beide NL) zusammen mit den
Partnern Wirtschaftsförderung Mönchengladbach, Wirtschaftsförderung für den
Kreis Viersen, NEW AG, Goodmoovs (NL), Greenflux (NL) und der FH Aachen
implementiert werden. Zunächst richtet sich das Angebot, bestehend aus 40
Elektroautos und 40 Elektrofahrrädern, an Unternehmen und wird nach einer
Erprobungsphase, mit einer größeren Anzahl an Fahrzeugen, auch für Privatpersonen
verfügbar gemacht werden. Die Fahrzeuge stehen bei den jeweiligen
Anwendungspartnern in Deutschland und den Niederlanden.
Im Rahmen dieses Projektes hat die FH Aachen „FlexSHARE“ entwickelt
– ein methodisches Framework zur innovativen Gestaltung urbaner Sharing-
Angebote. Das Framework ermöglicht es, anhand von messbaren Kenngrößen,
bedarfsgerechte und auf die Region abgestimmte Sharing-Systeme zu entwickeln.
The benefits of robotic process automation (RPA) are highly related to the usage of commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) software products that can be easily implemented and customized by business units. But, how to find the best fitting RPA product for a specific situation that creates the expected benefits? This question is related to the general area of software evaluation and selection. In the face of more than 75 RPA products currently on the market, guidance considering those specifics is required. Therefore, this chapter proposes a criteria-based selection method specifically for RPA. The method includes a quantitative evaluation of costs and benefits as well as a qualitative utility analysis based on functional criteria. By using the visualization of financial implications (VOFI) method, an application-oriented structure is provided that opposes the total cost of ownership to the time savings times salary (TSTS). For the utility analysis a detailed list of functional criteria for RPA is offered. The whole method is based on a multi-vocal review of scientific and non-scholarly literature including publications by business practitioners, consultants, and vendors. The application of the method is illustrated by a concrete RPA example. The illustrated
structures, templates, and criteria can be directly utilized by practitioners in their real-life RPA implementations. In addition, a normative decision process for selecting RPA alternatives is proposed before the chapter closes with a discussion and outlook.
In order to maximize the possible travel distance of battery electric vehicles with one battery charge, it is mandatory to adjust all components of the powertrain carefully to each other. While current vehicle designs mostly simplify the powertrain rigorously and use an electric motor in combination with a gearbox with only one fixed transmission ratio, the use of multi-gear systems has great potential. First, a multi-speed system is able to improve the overall energy efficiency. Secondly, it is able to reduce the maximum momentum and therefore to reduce the maximum current provided by the traction battery, which results in a longer battery lifetime. In this paper, we present a systematic way to generate multi-gear gearbox designs that—combined with a certain electric motor—lead to the most efficient fulfillment of predefined load scenarios and are at the same time robust to uncertainties in the load. Therefore, we model the electric motor and the gearbox within a Mixed-Integer Nonlinear Program, and optimize the efficiency of the mechanical parts of the powertrain. By combining this mathematical optimization program with an unsupervised machine learning algorithm, we are able to derive global-optimal gearbox designs for practically relevant momentum and speed requirements.