Advances in Computational Logistics

Mathematical modeling is both a skill and an art and must be practiced in order to maintain and enhance the ability to use those skills. Though the topics covered in this book are the typical topics of most mathematical modeling courses, this book is best used for individuals or groups who have already taken an introductory mathematical modeling course. Advanced Mathematical Modeling with Technology will be of interest to instructors and students offering courses focused on discrete modeling or modeling for decision making.

Manipulation using dextrous robot hands has been an exciting yet frustrating research topic for the last several years. While significant progress has occurred in the design, construction, and low level control of robotic hands, researchers are up against fundamental problems in developing algorithms for real-time computations in multi-sensory processing and motor control. The aim of this book is to explore parallels in sensorimotor integration in dextrous robot and human hands, addressing the basic question of how the next generation of dextrous hands should evolve. By bringing together experimental psychologists, kinesiologists, computer scientists, electrical engineers, and mechanical engineers, the book covers topics that range from human hand usage in prehension and exploration, to the design and use of robotic sensors and multi-fingered hands, and to control and computational architectures for dextrous hand usage. While the ultimate goal of capturing human hand versatility remains elusive, this book makes an important contribution to the design and control of future dextrous robot hands through a simple underlying message: a topic as complex as dextrous manipulation would best be addressed by collaborative, interdisciplinary research, combining high level and low level views, drawing parallels between human studies and analytic approaches, and integrating sensory data with motor commands. As seen in this text, success has been made through the establishment of such collaborative efforts. The future will hold up to expectations only as researchers become aware of advances in parallel fields and as a common vocabulary emerges from integrated perceptions about manipulation.

The scientific theme of the book is “Sustainability for the digital manufacturing era” which is focused on how the technological enablers of digital systems drive the sustainability for products, processes, manufacturing, and logistics systems in the industry of the future. The book’s chapters describe sustainability drivers specific to the technological advances that motivate, encourage, and engage the economic, social, and environmental aspects within intelligent manufacturing and logistics systems. The novelty of this approach consists in extending the economic sustainability of digital manufacturing with the ethical perspective at human social scale. The general scope of the book is to foster innovation in smart and sustainable manufacturing and logistics systems and in this context to promote concepts, methods, and solutions for the digital transformation of manufacturing through service orientation in holonic and agent-based control with distributed intelligence. The book’s readership is comprised of researchers and engineers working in the value chain of products and processes, who develop digital control solutions in the “Industry of the Future” vision. The book is also addressed to master’s and Ph.D. students enrolled in Engineering Sciences programs.

ACM's flagship magazine, Communications of the ACM, is the premier chronicler of computing technologies, covering the latest discoveries, innovations, and research that inspire and influence the field. Each month, Communications brings readers in-depth stories of emerging areas of computer science, new trends in IT, and practical research applications. Industry leaders choose Communications to debate technology implications, public policies, engineering challenges, and market trends.