text:
\section{Introduction and motivation}
\label{Sec:Intro}
A high quality of electricity service requires near-ideal nominal frequency, which is achieved by maintaining instantaneous supply-demand power balance. System operation under off-nominal frequency can deteriorate electric equipment, degrade the performance of electric load and even lead to wide-spread system failures and blackouts \cite{blackout}. Recently, the industrial concerns regarding  frequency quality have grown as the increasing Renewable Energy Sources (RES) presence. The RES which are inherently  intermittent can lead to continuous supply-demand mismatch and drive the system frequency varying around the desired nominal value with unacceptable quality of response (QoR).

To secure power system operations, the unacceptable frequency excursion must be regulated close to zero in real time by means of automated feedback control. The AGC is widely implemented for this purpose \cite{AGC1,AGC2}. However, AGC is mainly designed based on steady state concepts. When AGC is applied to a system with RES, the fast persistent disturbances caused by the RES can drive the system dynamically varying around the equilibrium such that the assumptions of the AGC could become invalid and the AGC might not be as effective as expected. Therefore, the frequency regulation needs to be enhanced and the new approach should extend the modeling and control of AGC from steady state to dynamics.

In the past decades, to improve the performance of AGC, a concept of Area Control Error (ACE) Diversity Interchange (ADI) was proposed in the industry practice \cite{ADI}. However, it is still based on steady state concepts and it is not economic efficient as no coordination exists between different area. A LQR-based full state feedback control was proposed in \cite{LQR} for load frequency control. Thereafter, many follow-up works have been done. One limitation of LQR-based approaches is that they are centralized and requiring overly complicated sensing and communication. To improve QoR and system level coordination without complicated sensing and communication infrastructure, the authors introduce Enhanced AGC (E-AGC) concept in \cite{ Qixing2012, QixingThesis}. However, it should be pointed out that almost all of these design utilize the linearized model which is not valid for large disturbances. Thus, a new approach is needed to consider the tradeoff between the control performance and the complexity.

There are two main contributions of this paper. First, a sufficiently detailed nonlinear dynamical model which captures effects of fast and large nonlinear disturbances is derived for the first time in Section \ref{Sec:model}. Notably, most of existing frequency regulation methods ignore the network dynamics. In Section \ref{Sec:simulation}, we show that the fast network dynamics should not be neglected in today's electric power systems due to high RESs penetration. Second, we adopt the merits of \cite{Qixing2012,QixingThesis} and then propose a general multi-layered control using the proposed nonlinear interconnected system model in Section \ref{Sec:ControlDesign}. We have also provably shown that the proposed approach is capable of canceling fast network inter-area dynamical oscillations and achieving system-level coordination. Unlike \cite{Qixing2012},  the proposed method no longer utilizes the small signal model and the routinely made assumptions such as the network dynamics are non-oscillatory. Thus, the contributions of this paper differ substantially from \cite{Qixing2012,QixingThesis}.

The paper is organized as follows. Section \ref{Sec: problemformulation} and \ref{Sec:model} provide problem formulation and dynamic model. The proposed multi-layered control is explained in Section \ref{Sec:ControlDesign}. Case studies are given in Section \ref{Sec:simulation}. Section \ref{Sec:Conclusion} concludes the paper.
\section{Dynamic Modeling and Problem Formulation }
\label{Sec: problemformulation}
Power electronic devices have been widely installed in the field for voltage regulation. Thus, it is reasonable to make:
\begin{assumption}
	The voltage magnitude of each bus is bounded.
\end{assumption}

It should be noted that Assumption 1 is a mild assumption as we do not fix the voltage. It can vary within a range. In fact, most of existing frequency control approaches neglect the voltage dynamics, i.e., voltage is constant. Notice that the network dynamics is considered. As  the interconnected system is treated as a dynamical system, each bus is equivalent. In other words, traditional bus classification (PV, PQ bus) is no longer suitable.

\subsection{Dynamical model of system components}
\subsubsection{Generation component}
Generators have similar role contributing to frequency dynamics, regardless of their types. Thus, we choose a nonlinear non-reheat generator with a primary governor controller embedded as \cite{QixingThesis}:
\begin{equation}
\begin{split}
\label{Eqn:SM}
\dot \delta_G &= \omega_0(\omega_G-\omega^{ref})\\\
M\dot \omega_G &= P_m + P_m^{ref} - D(\omega_G - \omega_0) - P_e \\
T_u \dot{P}_m &= -P_m + K_t a \\
T_g \dot{a} &= -ra - (\omega_G -\omega^{ref}) + u_{AGC}
\end{split}
\end{equation}
State variables $x_G = [\delta_G, \omega_G, P_m, a]^T$ represent the rotor angle, rotational speed, mechanical power injection, and steam valve position, respectively. $\omega_0$ is the rated angular velocity. $M$, $D$, $K_t$, $T_u$, $T_g$ and $r$ are machine parameters.

It should be pointed out that $P_e$ is the source of the nonlinearity for \eqref{Eqn:SM}. $P_e = f_1(\delta_G, x_{TL}, x_{L})$ represents the sum of the real power transfered on its connecting transmission lines, which is a nonlinear function of  $\delta_G$, line states $x_{TL}$ and load states $x_{L}$.

\subsubsection{Load component}
The load is modeled in the network reference frame as:
\begin{equation}
\begin{split}
\label{Eqn:load}
L_{L} \dot i_{Ld} = -R_{L} i_{Ld} + \omega L_{L}i_{Lq} + V_{Ld}  \\
L_{L} \dot i_{Lq} = -R_{L} i_{Lq} - \omega L_{L}i_{Ld} + V_{Lq}
\end{split}
\end{equation}
State variables $x_L = [i_{Ld}, i_{Lq}]^T$ represent the d-axis and q-axis load current, respectively. $L_{L}$ and $R_L$ stand for the load inductance and resistance. $\omega$ denotes the grid frequency. $V_{Ld}$ and $V_{Lq}$ are the d-axis and q-axis of the terminal voltage. $V_{Ld}:=V\cos\theta_V$ and $V_{Lq} := V\sin\theta_V$ are nonlinear function of the terminal voltage angle $\theta_V$. Note that $\theta_V =\delta_G$ when a generator is connected at the same bus. The load \eqref{Eqn:load} satisfies:

\begin{proposition}
	\label{prop:1}
	Given Assumption 1, state variables $x_{L}$ of load component \eqref{Eqn:load} are bounded.
\end{proposition}

\begin{proof}
	It can be seen that \eqref{Eqn:load} is asymptotically stable if $V_{Ld} = 0$ and $V_{Lq} = 0$. In addition, system matrix $A_L$ is Hurwitz. Thus, using Corollary 5.2 in \cite{Khaili}, we know that \eqref{Eqn:load} is $\mathcal{L}_p$ stable. Notice that voltage magnitude  $V = \sqrt{V_{Ld}^2+V_{Lq}^2}$. Provided Assumption 1, nonlinear inputs $V_{Ld}$ and $V_{Lq}$ are bounded, which yields that $x_{L}$ are bounded.
\end{proof}

\subsubsection{Network component (transmission line)}
 Transmission line component is modeled in the network reference frame as:
\begin{equation}
\label{Eqn:TL}
\begin{split}
	L_{TL} \dot i_{TLd} = -R_{TL} i_{TLd} + \omega L_{TL}i_{TLq} + V_{d,L} - V_{d,R} \\
		L_{TL} \dot i_{TLq} = -R_{TL} i_{TLq} - \omega L_{TL}i_{TLd} + V_{q,L} - V_{q,R}
\end{split}
	\end{equation}
State variables $x_{TL} = [i_{TL,d}, i_{TL,q}]^T$ represent the d and q-axis line current. $R_{TL}$ and $L_{TL}$ are resistance and inductance of the line. $(V_{d,L}, V_{q,L})$ and $ (V_{d,R}, V_{q,R})$ denote the left and right port voltage, respectively. The nonlinearity of \eqref{Eqn:TL} is introduced by its port voltages.

\begin{proposition}
	\label{prop:2}
	Given Assumption 1, state variables $x_{TL}$ of network dynamics \eqref{Eqn:TL} are bounded.
\end{proposition}
	The proof is similar as that of Proposition \ref{prop:1}.  Detail derivation is omitted for brevity.

\subsection{Modeling of disturbances}
Disturbances are characterized as exogenous hard-to-predict inputs to the system. Since disturbances can enter the system through different components, we group them into a vector of external disturbances  $d_{ext}$ as seen by components.
\subsection{Dynamical model of interconnected systems}
The overall interconnected system dynamics can be obtained by combining components together as:
\begin{equation}
\label{Eqn:system}
\begin{split}
	\dot{x}_G & = A_Gx_G + B_Gu_{AGC} + F_Gf_1(x_G,x_{TL},x_{L}, d_{ext})\\
	\dot{x}_{TL} &= A_{TL}x_{TL} + F_{TL}f_2(x_{TL},x_G,x_{L}, d_{ext}) \\
	\dot{x}_{L} &= A_Lx_L + F_Lf_3(x_{L},x_{TL},x_G, d_{ext})
\end{split}
\end{equation}

Notably, $A_G$ is rank 1 deficiency due to the conservation of power, while $A_{TL}$ and $A_{L}$ are Hurwitz matrices. $F_G$, $F_{TL}$ and $F_L$ are the input matrices corresponding to nonlinear coupling $f_1$, $f_2$ and $f_3$, respectively. Network coupling between different components are implicitly shown in $f_1$, $f_2$ and $f_3$.

\subsection{Problem formulation}
The problem considered in this paper can be posed as:
\begin{itemize}
	\item Given:  interconnected system  dynamical model \eqref{Eqn:system}
	\item Design: AGC control input $u_{AGC}$
	\item Objectives: both state variables $[x_G, x_{TL},x_L]^T$ and nonlinear interaction $[f_1, f_2, f_3]$ are stabilized and regulated.
\end{itemize}

\section{Multi-layered dynamical model of interconnected systems}
\label{Sec:model}
In this section the multi-layered model of the interconnected systems \eqref{Eqn:system} is derived. Notice that variations of $f_2$ and $f_3$ are indeed driven by $f_1$, due to the fact that generators are the only active components that produce power. In addition, we have shown that $x_{TL}$ and $x_{L}$ are bounded by $f_2$ and $f_3$ (see Proposition 1 and 2). Therefore, if  $f_1$ can be controlled, $f_2$ and $f_3$ can be indirectly controlled, which further ensures the system performance.

To achieve this goal, the definition of the interaction variable (IntV), which was proposed in \cite{IntV2,QixingThesis},  is revisited and a new interpretation is proposed for the nonlinear systems \eqref{Eqn:system}.
\begin{defn} Given a dynamic component (subsystem), its IntV $z$ is an output variable in terms of the local states of the component (subsystem) and it satisfies:
	\begin{equation}
		z \equiv const
	\end{equation}
	when the component (subsystem) is free of any conserved net power imbalance.
\end{defn}
An IntV is generally defined to capture the non-zero conserved net power imbalance of a component (subsystem). In what follows, the multi-layered dynamic model based on IntV is provided.

We first decompose $u_{AGC}$ of \eqref{Eqn:SM} into component-level, area-level, and system-level control signal as:
\begin{equation}
\label{Eqn:uAGC}
u_{AGC} = u_{AGC, c} + u_{AGC,r}  + u_{AGC,s}
\end{equation}
These control components will later appear at different layers.
\subsection{Component-level dynamical model}
 Component-level IntV dynamical model has the form:
\begin{equation}
\label{Eqn:componentIntV}
\dot{z}_c = P_m^{ref} -P_e + \frac{K_t}{r}u_{AGC,c}  \quad z_c(t_0) =z_{c0}
\end{equation}
 It can been seen that $\dot{z}_c$ captures the conserved net power imbalance of the component. It is worthwhile mentioning that $z_c$ simply depends on its own states, i.e., no assumption about the strength of the external interconnection is needed. This fact has been proved for linearized models \cite{IntV2,QixingThesis}.
\subsection{Area-level dynamical model}
Similarly, a new IntV $z_r$ is introduced for the control areas. Recall the steady-state concept ACE.  The dynamics of $z_r$ can be therefore considered as a dynamic version of ACE.

The dynamics of IntV $z_r^C$ is:
\begin{equation}
\label{Eqn:areaInt}
\dot{z}_r^C = \sum_{i=1}^{N_c^r}\dot z_{c,i} = B_r \mathbf{u}_{AGC,r}  ~~~  z_r(t_0) =z_{r0},~B_r = \mathbf{1}^{N_c^r\times 1}
\end{equation}
$N_c^r$ stands for the number of generators inside the control area.
\subsection{System-level dynamical model}
We can then apply the same procedure at the interconnected system level. Thus, the dynamic of  system-level IntV $z_s$ is:
\begin{equation}
\label{Eqn:sysInt}
\dot{z}_s^R= \sum_{i=1}^{N_s^R}\dot z_{r,i}^C  = B_s \mathbf{u}_{AGC,s}~~~  z_s(t_0) =z_{s0},~B_s = \mathbf{1}^{N_s^r\times 1}
\end{equation}
where $N_s^R$ is the number of control areas.

\section{Design of Enhanced AGC(E-AGC) for complex electric power system dynamics}
\label{Sec:ControlDesign}
Primarily, the objective of the E-AGC is to ensure an acceptable QoR of frequency dynamics. This is achieved through controlling the IntVs at different levels. First, $z_c$ is controlled at constant in order to eliminate the real-time net power imbalance. Second, $z_r^C$ and $z_s^R$ need to be regulated to zero in order to maintain the variation of total inadvertent power exchange around zero. Through the coordination of  widely dispersed control resources, the inexpensive ones can be fully utilized so that the system-level control cost can be reduced in comparison to today's AGC approach.
\subsection{Component-level design}
The component level IntV dynamics \eqref{Eqn:componentIntV} is utilized. In order to have constant $z_c$, we design $u_{AGC,c}$ as:
\begin{equation}
\label{Eqn:u_c}
	u_{AGC,c} = \frac{r}{K_t}(P_e - P_m^{ref})
\end{equation}

Substituting Eqn.\eqref{Eqn:u_c} into Eqn.\eqref{Eqn:SM}, we obtain the closed-loop generator model, which is provably stable under certain conditions. The result is given below.

\begin{lemma}
	\label{lemma1}
	With control design Eqn.\eqref{Eqn:u_c}, the generator module \eqref{Eqn:SM} is stable in the sense of Lyapunov if the following condition is satisfied:
	\begin{equation}
		||P_e - P_m^{ref}||_2 \leq \frac{K_t}{r}u_{max}
	\end{equation}
	where $u_{max}$ denotes the saturation limit of the control input.
\end{lemma}

Proof of Lemma \ref{lemma1}  is organized in the appendix.

\subsection{Area-level coordination}
The objective of this layer is to eliminate the conserved net power imbalance of each area by optimally controlling $z_r^C$.  Within each control area, in order to obtain the optimal coordinated law among participating generators, we design the following LQR problem:
\begin{eqnarray}
\label{Eqn:u_r}
	\min_{u_{AGC,r}}   &J = \int_{t_0}^{\infty}[(z_r^C)^TQ_rz_r^C  + (u_{AGC,r})^TR_ru_{AGC,r}]~d\tau \notag\\
	s.t. \quad & \dot{z}_r^C = u_{AGC,r} \quad z_r^C(t_0) = z_{r0}
\end{eqnarray}
$R_r$ specifies the weight of control cost of each generator. In practice, these two matrices are tunable under the constraint that $Q_r$ and $R_r$ are positive definite matrices.
\subsection{System-level coordination}
The objective of this layer is to eliminate the conserved net power imbalance of the overall system by optimally controlling $z_s^R$. The control areas are coordinated through exchanging their IntVs and controlling the IntVs that are collected.  Similarly, we apply the LQR technique to optimize the following objective function:
\begin{eqnarray}
\label{Eqn:u_s}
\min_{u_{AGC,s}}   &J = \int_{t_0}^{\infty}[(z_s^R)^TQ_sz_s^R  + (u_{AGC,s})^TR_su_{AGC,s}] ~d\tau \notag\\
s.t. \quad & \dot{z}_s^R = u_{AGC,s} \quad z_s^R(t_0) = z_{s0}
\end{eqnarray}
$R_s$ defines the relative control cost between different control areas. In operation, $Q_s$ and $R_s$ can be tuned accordingly.

\subsection{Main theoretical result of the  E-AGC}
In this section, we give the main theoretical result of the proposed E-AGC approach.
\begin{mytheom}
	Given Assumption 1 and the composite control design \eqref{Eqn:u_c} - \eqref{Eqn:u_s}, the interconnected dynamical system \eqref{Eqn:system} will be stabilized and the frequency of each generator will be regulated if the following condition is satisfied:
		\begin{equation}
		||P_e - P_m^{ref}||_2 \leq \frac{K_t}{r}u_{max}
		\end{equation}
\end{mytheom}
Given the page limit, we provide a sketch for the proof:
\begin{proof}
	Notice that that $z_s$ and $z_r$ can be provably regulated via LQR problems. Thus, as $t \to \infty$, $z_r \to 0$ and $z_s \to 0$.  Recall the IntV definition and Lemma 1. It can be concluded that $z_c\to 0$ which indicates $\omega \to \omega^{ref}$.
\end{proof}

\subsection{Communication and implementation discussion}
The communication infrastructures shown in Fig.\ref{fig:5bus} enable the measurement and also the exchange of IntVs for implementing the E-AGC.
\begin{figure}[htp]
	\centering
	\includegraphics[width=0.35\textwidth]{5bus}
	\caption{Information exchange of the E-AGC on a 5 bus system }
	\label{fig:5bus}
\end{figure}

 First, each generator measure its local state variables and then use \eqref{Eqn:componentIntV} to obtain the IntV. Once an IntV is locally computed, a synchronized time-stamp should be added, and then sent to its control area (doted blue line). The control area has to compute its IntV and then compute the coordinated control signals using \eqref{Eqn:areaInt} and \eqref{Eqn:u_r}.  Similarly, after receiving the IntV from control areas (doted black line), the central coordinator computes the system-level coordinated control signals using \eqref{Eqn:u_s} and then distributed back to the control areas (solid black line). Each control area further provides each generator with a control signal comprised of the control signals from different levels (solid blue line). It should be emphasized that only the IntVs are exchanged between different layers. Thus, we minimize the required information exchange, which is also safe from the cyber security perspective.

Note that the proposed control  does not change existing governor control. Different layer signals will be added using \eqref{Eqn:uAGC} and then be applied to \eqref{Eqn:SM} as a composite control. Governor set points $\omega^{ref}$ are fixed. In addition, the proposed approach does not require predefined area power set points, unlike some hierarchical control approaches where the secondary layer needs tertiary level power set points.  Therefore, the proposed control indeed achieves both stabilization and regulation.

\section{Illustration of the E-AGC on a 5-Bus System }
\label{Sec:simulation}
In this section, simulation studies on a 5-bus (two-area) test system (Fig.\ref{fig:5bus}) are carried out. The nonlinear system \eqref{Eqn:system} including network dynamics is simulated using SEPSS at MIT\cite{SEPSS}. The purpose are twofold: to show the importance of network dynamics in frequency regulation and to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed E-AGC.
\subsection{System description and the test scenario}

The total capacity of the system is 25 MW with 20\% of the electric energy provided by  the RES installed at bus 3. As shown in Fig.\ref{fig:5bus}, two areas are interconnected via two transmission lines.  We assume that two control areas are strongly connected, while components are weakly connected within the area.

In order to show the effect of network dynamics, we only consider the step changes at all loads. For this scenario, the conventional AGC is supposed to restore the frequency.

In what follows, the simulation results of the cases with no AGC, the conventional AGC, and the proposed E-AGC are shown. As the low frequency oscillations are observed in operation and our simulations, we then provide an explanation of why they have not been captured by classic methods.
\subsection{Simulation results and discussion}

\subsubsection{Performance with the conventional AGC}
\begin{figure}[htp!]
	\centering
	\begin{subfigure}[b]{0.22\textwidth}
		\includegraphics[width=\textwidth]{withoutAGC}
		\caption{With primary control only}
		\label{fig:NoAGC}
	\end{subfigure}
	~
	\begin{subfigure}[b]{0.2\textwidth}
		\includegraphics[width=\textwidth]{conventionalAGC}
		\caption{With conventional AGC}
		\label{fig:AGC}
	\end{subfigure}
	\caption{Frequency responses of the 5 bus system}
\end{figure}

We first disable the AGC and simulate the system with primary controllers only. Frequency responses are organized in Fig.\ref{fig:NoAGC}. It can be seen that the frequency of the generators in Area 1 settles around 1.1 $p.u.$ but has $2-5~Hz$ oscillations. Similarly, the frequency of Area 2 is oscillating around 1.05 $p.u$.

Next, we activate the conventional AGC \cite{Kundur}.  Corresponding frequency responses are shown in Fig.\ref{fig:AGC}. It can be seen that steady-state errors are greatly reduced. However, the frequency of Area 1 is higher than the nominal value, while Area 2 is slightly lower. This indicates that the inter-area oscillation exists between two areas. It is because the RES provides more power than what Area 1 needs.

It should be also noted that the low frequency oscillations observed in Fig.\ref{fig:NoAGC} still exist in Fig.\ref{fig:AGC}.  It is worthwhile mentioning that such low frequnecy oscillations never show up in classic analysis but system operators do observe similar phenomena in operation. This is because most of conventional approaches are designed based on the quasi-static ACE and the network dynamics is ignored. However, we only assume that voltage magnitude is bounded in our model. In other words, d-q axis voltage can vary over time. As shown in the line dynamics \eqref{Eqn:TL}, the varying voltage angle may act as disturbances  to the component. Recall Proposition 1 and 2. They both explain why we observe oscillatory but bounded behavior in simulations. Therefore, it is important to consider network dynamics into frequency analysis. otherwise such unobserved oscillations are likely large enough to trigger protection devices.

Zooming into control design, we notice that neither the primary control nor the conventional AGC has feedback with respect to rotor angle, i.e., rotor angle (voltage angle) is not directly controlled. Hence, voltage angle may interact with $x_{TL}$ and then start to oscillate. In other words, real and reactive power produced at one bus are interacting with the energy stored in the line when the oscillation occurs. Consequently, disturbances at one bus may spread out to other buses through line dynamics, which further cause oscillatory behavior in the entire system. Fig.\ref{fig:AGC} also supports the fact that there is no guarantee that output feedback can stabilize the rotor angle.

 One argument for  ignoring network dynamics is that the network has much smaller time constant compared to generators. However, transmission line dynamics cannot change instantaneously in reality and the argument is no longer true in microgrids. The rate of real and reactive power entered from two ends of the line are not necessary to be the same. Thus, fast disturbances introduced by RESs may excite  the fast network dynamics,  resulting in accumulated effects on the slow dynamics (frequency dynamics). This will become a critical issue if more and more RESs are integrated.

It should be mentioned that the performance can potentially be improved if rotor angle deviation is considered in the feedback design. It is equivalent to design a PI controller. However, there are several challenges in implementing this solution. First of all, it is hard to get accurate rotor angle reference. It may not be realistic to run centralized optimization (such as AC OPF) after every change in the system. Second, the feedback gain with respect to rotor angle needs to be carefully design. The gain should be tunned so that it can tolerate large and fast-varying disturbances. Improperly tunned integrator can destabilize the system. Last but not the least, it is challenging to measure rotor angle accurately without large delay.

\subsubsection{Performance with the proposed E-AGC}
Simulation results of the proposed E-AGC are given in Fig.\ref{fig:EAGC}.
\begin{figure}[htp!]
	\centering
	\includegraphics[width=0.22\textwidth]{EAGC}
	\caption{Frequency responses with E-AGC}
	\label{fig:EAGC}
\end{figure}

In comparison to the conventional AGC, frequency of each generators are regulated to the nominal value. More importantly, low frequency oscillations no longer exist. This indicates that the imbalances within and between control areas are limited around zero, i.e., no inter-area oscillations.  It is because the proposed E-AGC is designed based on nonlinear dynamic systems. Network dynamics is preserved in the dynamics of the IntV at different levels. At regulation stage, instead of requiring hard-to-get angle reference, area-level and system-level control are using the IntV as feedback signals.  These two layers not only coordinate the resources, but also act as an integrator, which eventually eliminates the low frequency oscillations observed in Fig.\ref{fig:AGC}.

From economic point of view, the proposed E-AGC significantly reduce the systematic regulation cost via area-level and system-level coordination, due to the proposed  formulation. Considering that the E-AGC requires much less information exchange, we argue that this proposed control scheme could be very cost-effective. In addition, we believe that the IntV information is one potential communication protocol for the future grid operation, grid control, etc.

\section{Conclusions}
\label{Sec:Conclusion}
In this paper we revisit  the frequency regulation problem for future electric energy systems. We summarize  the emerging practical problems of applying the conventional AGC, especially when network dynamics and highly variable RESs are presented in the system. The E-AGC approach is thus introduced as an alternative solution.
The regulation cost can be systematically reduced by using little information exchange. Simulations show that the E-AGC outperforms the conventional approaches.
Simulations for large-scale systems will be given in our future publications.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaArXiv


The YotaPhone slaps an extra e-inck screen on the back of a phone to relay information to the user as a battery saving measure. It's on sale in Russia now, but its future is uncertain elsewhere.
In the lead up to a September 6 press conference, details of Amazon's refreshed Kindle line-up have started to leak. Most notably, there will be a Kindle Fire 2 and a new backlit e-ink Kindle.


Socialist Education in America . . .
This is one reason it is so crucial that Christians get their kids out of the public schools as quickly as they can, lest they end up supporting and undertaking the leftist revolution that is beginning to sweep through this country even with Trump in office. How many of these socialist congress-persons you see infesting the halls of Congress were educated in public schools and how many of their parents were? Do you begin to see where this is all taking us, and has been for decades while ignorant Christian parents have fed little Johnny and Mary to the leftist Leviathan of public education so they would "witness" to their teachers and classmates?
In all honesty, just who is "witnessing" to who, and about what? With all the evidence out there about what public schools are really all about, I think the answer to that is quite obvious–it's just one most Christians would rather not deal with and so they ignore it and hope it will go away. It won't!


text:
Go Configure
THE MOTORING MAGAZINE FOR WOMEN
The Tesla Model 3 is an assault on your senses
by Petrol Mum January 7, 2020
Sitting in the driver's seat of the Tesla Model 3 for the first time was very discombobulating for my brain. Gone is essentially everything you expect to see; driver's dash, traditional air vents and buttons on the centre console. In their place is just one 15" horizontal screen at the centre of the dash and suffice to say I needed a run-through before I got on my way.
To be honest my brain was a bit flustered even before I got in thanks to the Model 3 key, or rather key card. To open the Model 3 you touch the key card on the B-pillar and the car unlocks and then when you want to start moving you place the key card near the cup holders. You can set your phone up as key to open and start the Model 3 and most owners do this and leave their key card in their wallet as a backup. The Model 3 comes with two key cards and you can pair up to 10 phones (great for car sharing!) to be used as keys. In addition you can open/start the car remotely using the app so if an owner was to lose both key cards, they could still open/start the car using the app and they could also order a replacement key card (no different than replacing a lost car key). The app cannot be used to summon the Model 3 though, like you can on the Model S.
The Model S and Model X I have previously driven were somewhat futuristic in their design, but the Model 3 takes this to another level. The majority of the controls for the car are accessed via the touch screen and when you press the car-shaped button it opens the quick controls for things that you need to use most frequently like external lights, mirror adjustment, steering adjustment and display brightness. You even open the glovebox from a button on the screen. There is voice control also and this works well for making calls, setting a sat nav destination and some other controls of the car.
There are only two roller switch/toggles on the steering wheel and a stalk on each side. The roller switch on the left hand side is for volume or to skip through media by pushing it sideways and the right hand side is for setting the cruise control speed and distance from the car in front of you. The indicator stalk with a windscreen washer button and high beam (also has auto high beam) is on the left of the steering wheel and the gear selector is on the right. You also use the gear selector to engage adaptive cruise control with one push down and two taps down engages the Autopilot, which is only for use on motorways.
All Tesla vehicles come standard with advanced hardware capable of providing driver's assistance features today, and full self-driving capabilities in the future through software updates. But after experiencing this level of autonomy in various other cars I would say the Tesla system is not the best currently on the market. I have never felt fully comfortable with the Tesla Autopilot; although it doesn't hug the left hand side of the lane anymore, like it did in the Model S I drove in early 2019, it still disengages too easily for my liking. The Autopilot doesn't automatically reengage after you change lanes and the Model 3 I drove did not have 'Full self-driving Capability' and so did not have auto lane change functionality.
Although the dash design is stark, once you get over the initial shock of the lack of features it's actually very pleasant to look at. The air vents in the Model 3 run along the slot in the dash and are controlled via the screen for temperature and direction of airflow. You get dual front climate control and dog mode for when you leave your dog in the car and set a temperature so they remain comfortable. Plus you can set the temperature of your car via the app, so it is toasty warm on a winter's morn and cool on a summer's afternoon.
The feature I disliked the most about the Model 3 was the glass roof; even though I only drove it on a day with a maximum temperature of 30o Celsius it felt like my head was being cooked and I started to feel like I was getting a headache. To counteract the heat coming through the glass I had position the air con so that it was blowing up above my head. For Australia I feel this is a very bad design flaw in the Model 3 and a blind really needs to be installed.
Like the Model S I have previously driven there are plenty of things in the 'Toy box' for you to play with and fart mode is still hilarious. Under your entertainment options you can now log into your Netflix account, access YouTube or view Tesla tutorials while you are charging your car or you can just browse the internet as the Model 3 has a built-in SIM. There are even more arcade games to play as well and now you use the steering wheel to play Beach Buggy Racing 2 and the buttons on the steering wheel to shoot/move when playing Centipede.
Media options include radio, phone, Spotify, TuneIn and new for me in-car Karaoke. It's only meant to be used by the driver while you are parked, but if you press the 'I'm a passenger' button the words are shown while you are driving also. My daughter really appreciated this because she could sing along to 'Let it Go' on the way to school and it really annoyed her brother. Like other Teslas you can view your live energy use graph and when you enter a destination into the satellite navigation the Model 3 will automatically schedule in charging stops as required along the route. One thing I did miss though was the screen option which showed you how much energy you used for each trip.
The lack of a transmission tunnel in the Model 3 means that you have multiple storage cubbies to choose from in the cabin. Under the arm rest is a storage tray that can be removed to reveal a deep storage area. In front of the cup holders is another deep storage cubby that is large enough for a small handbag. Here you have a ledge for your smartphone to be stored and two USB ports for charging. For the storage of a large drink bottle you can use the door cubby.
Model 3 comes as standard with all black premium 'vegan' leather interior or $1,500 for with the white and black premium 'vegan' interior option. All seats in the Model 3 are heated and the front seats are comfortable. The rear seats have enough head and leg room for two adults and having no transmission tunnel really opens up the space in the back. Rear occupants get air vents in the back of the centre console only, these cannot be shut off, and here you will also find two USB ports. Like most five seat cars there are two ISOFIX/three rear tether child seat restraint points in the back, but in reality you would only fit in two car seats in. The centre seat folds down so you get an arm rest with two drink holders and there are large storage cubbies in the doors.
The Model 3 has a big rear boot with an additional storage area under the boot floor where you would normally find a petrol tank. In the front where you would normally find an engine there is a 'frunk' big enough for a carry on sized piece of luggage.
Some design elements I liked on the Model 3 included the driver's mat which actually covered the foot rest on the left hand side, I think this is a first for any car I have ever driven and something I have always thought was needed in cars that do not have a plate here. The rear mat was also very easy to remove for cleaning. A feature I didn't like was the very basic trim on the rear doors, it looked like no care was taken to design it a way that it was finished off nicely near the B-pillar and I think this was exaggerated by the fact that the black area on the B-pillar doesn't extend up to the bottom of the window.
The Model 3 Performance I drove is the pick of the Model 3s in my opinion, not just because of the claimed performance figures of 0-100km/h in 3.4 seconds and a top speed of 261km/h. But also because of the way it looks with the 20" performance wheels and the carbon fibre rear spoiler. Like so many other cars the Model 3 looks a lot better in person than how it does in pictures and I think this is to do with the number plate breaking up the area where the grill would normally be so the Model 3 looks less like it has gaffer tape across its mouth.
Thrills are not only had in a straight line, its Dual Motor All-Wheel Drive system also offers plenty of enjoyment when pushing through the corners; something I never thought I would say about a Tesla. What I did miss though was changing down gears using wheel-mounted paddle shifters as I was approaching a corner. Just another way the Model 3 messes with your senses really. The Performance variant comes with Track Mode, but I didn't give this a go as you have to accept a disclaimer that it is only to be used on a race track. The ride comfort of the Model 3 is good and like other Teslas you get a normal amount of road noise that disguises the lack of engine noise at highway speeds.
Safety features on the Model 3 include adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, lane departure avoidance, emergency lane departure avoidance, blind spot collision warning chime and automatic emergency braking. The Model 3 has dual frontal, side chest-protecting and side head-protecting (curtain) airbags and achieved 5-star ANCAP safety rating with adult occupant protection rated at 36.7 out of 38 (96%) and child occupant rated at 42.9 out of 49 (87%).
Even though it has eight surround cameras the Model 3 does not come with a 360o view reversing camera only a standard reversing camera. It does however have 360o ultrasonic sensors that provide detection of surrounding objects and display the distance to that object of the screen when you are reversing the car.
The Model 3 Performance has a range of up to 560 kilometres (NEDC), but for me this was more like 18kW/100km or a real world range of around 400km. One change to the Tesla drive experience is now when you take your foot off the accelerator of the Model 3, as you approach the traffic lights for instance, the car will regen brake and then come to a complete stop.
I only used the 240V lead to charge the Model 3 while I had it and this charges at a rate of 2kW/hour, but your wall charger included in the purchase price of the Model 3 will charge at a maximum rate of 22kW/hour, so enough to easily recharge your batteries overnight. For long distance travel, the Supercharger network allows Tesla owners to conveniently charge on major routes across Australia connecting Brisbane to Adelaide. All Model 3 customers have pay-per-use access to our Supercharger network, which is reserved specifically for Tesla owners (current cost is $0.42 per kWh); there are currently 33 Supercharger sites in Australia and growing constantly. Plus, with the Destination Charging program, Tesla owners have access to an additional network of chargers at business, travel and leisure destinations. In Australia, Model 3 also comes with a built-in CCS Charge Port for compatibility with third party fast charging networks, giving our customers the most charging flexibility compared to any EV on the market.
All Teslas come with a four year/80,000 km vehicle warranty and an eight year/160,000 km Battery/Drive Unit Warranty. Roadside assistance is included with your four year vehicle warranty. With over-the-air software updates, remote diagnostics and the support of our Mobile Service technicians, the need to visit a Service Centre is reduced, but Tesla does recommend items such as brake fluid and tyre rotation/balance should still be completed at regular intervals.
The Model 3 Performance starts from $93,900 excluding Government charges and has five colour options with Pearl White Multi-Coat included as standard. Solid Black, Midnight Silver and Deep Blue are available for $1,500 and Red Multi-Coat Red is available at $2,900. As tested including on-road costs my Model 3 Performance was $106,415.
Designed to be a mass market EV, the entry level Model 3 starts at $67,900 excluding Government charges. It's sure to be a popular now and in the future and the reason why I am so certain of this is because I enjoyed driving it and my children, the next generation car purchasers, loved it! To purchase your Model 3, you don't even need to visit a showroom simply configure and order it online.
EV acceleration paired with an enjoyable drive The glass roof
Tesla charging network and CCS Charge Port included to access other charging networks The finishing off of the interior could have been done better
Multiple storage options Having to learn how to 'drive' again
Photographs by Driven Women Magazine.
Dual motorElectric vehicleEVFamilyFamily SedanModel 3PerformanceReviewTeslaWomanWomen
Driven Women Magazine
Copyright © 2021 - All Right Reserved. Fairview Press Pty Ltd.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Ubisoft Forums > For Honor > General Discussion > (Shameless self promotion) A post I made about all small details you could've missed.
View Full Version : (Shameless self promotion) A post I made about all small details you could've missed.
Wouldn't it be better to post content here on these forums and also Reddit as I do wager some won't use Reddit and vice versa.
Thanks though for the information, its a detailed post.
I am asking if I will able to update the info after the Alpha. The NDA is very strict, also after I update the post a bit I will repost it on Reddit and post it here.


Life isn't always easy. But the squat is here to help.
Drop set from 275 to 135.
Last two sets were excessive stretch and contract.
Accessory work has been lighter but with insanely strict form to build more muscle.


text:
Watch The "Wyclef Jean" Video Young Thug Never Actually Showed Up For
According to the director, Thug never showed up on set to film the clip, so he was forced to improvise the eclectic visuals.
By Kiyonna Anthony
Young Thug sure knows how to keep his loyal fans entertained.
The rapper released the official video for his Jeffery track "Wyclef Jean" on Tuesday and it already has everyone talking. The Ryan Staake-directed visual is like one big spoof of a rap video shoot. According to Staake, Thug never showed up on set to film the clip, so he was forced to improvise the eclectic visuals.
In a caption before the video, Staake informed viewers: " I don't have anything close to what I planned to film. So, I'll just explain how this video fell apart." He added, "None of this matters. The video cost over $100,000 and the artist never showed up. But you're still watching."
Check out the hilarious visual above.
Watch The "Wyclef Jean" Video Young Thug Never Actually Showed Up For was originally published on globalgrind.com
Jeffrey	, video	, visuals	, Wyclef Jean	, Young Thug


text:
Q: I want to improve the accuracy(MAPE) for my hts time series forecast I am working on hts time series forecasting on the same piece of code provided by Rob Hyndman ,on Level 1(2 nodes) and Level 2(5,1 nodes) . However the MAPE value I get is very high (More than 30 on most of the Nodes prediction )
I tried with the Tuning parameter using Arima model (for all the methods - top down , bottom up etc) suggested by Rob: Hierarchical Time Series
full <- aggts(data)
fcfull <- matrix(0, ncol=ncol(full), nrow=15)
for(i in 1:ncol(full))
{
  fcfull[,i] <- forecast(Arima(full[,i],
                       order=fmodels[[i]]$arma[c(1,6,2)],
                       seasonal=fmodels[[i]]$arma[c(3,7,4)]),
                       h=15)$mean
}
forecast.full <- combinef(fcfull, nodes=data$nodes)

I need high accuracy MAPE approx. to be around 10

A: I had some experience about forecasting using hts. In most of the case, the MinT reconciliation provide better out sample accuracy.
Changing the estimation of the covariance matrix (covariance="shr" or covariance="sam") has sometime proved to be useful.
Finally, you can try other models as FUN argument (nnetar, arfima...) in the forecast.hts function.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


I'm shortlisted for an award!!!
Wow! I'm so chuffed! (Do people still say chuffed?) Be In The Place is on the shortlist for The Lancashire Libraries Children's Book award 2006. Apparantly (from what I could find out on the internet) 150 books are read by teenagers and they choose the shortlist of ten books, and I can't believe that mine is one of them. (Despite spending ages at the computer, I still don't know what the other nine books are). I genuinely feel so honoured. If any of you who kindly voted for my book happen to be reading this; Thank you very much!!!!
The winner is announced in June, so fingers crossed.
When I was a kid my Dad let me play around with a chisel and a piece of soft wood and I loved carving patterns into it. When I grow up I'd love to have another go! Martin from Lady Oak Wood tells me in this interview how he is inspired by nature and I totally agree – I love working with natural materials, including wood, and one day, when I'm not so busy with other things, I seriously would love to give wood turning and wood carving a proper try. It was interesting hearing more about it….


Rosemary Shrager's Cookery School is a uniquely fun day out for cooks of all abilities, which makes our Full Day Cookery Course with Rosemary Shrager an ideal gift when you're looking for a present that's a little bit special. Whether they are a complete beginner or a budding chef they'll be whipping up gourmet delights in no time.
The lucky recipient will have a five-hour masterclass led by Rosemary Shrager. She will be on hand to share her own passion for food, equipping guests with her knowledge of techniques and the confidence to use them to enjoy and experiment with their cooking. After initial demonstrations, guests will be invited back to their workstations to get stuck into recreating some of Rosemary's signature meals, followed by an opportunity to ask any additional questions during a relaxed dinner with the woman herself.
All our guests have the kind of lovely experience Rosemary Shrager is famous for, plus there are a wealth of classes to choose from, each with opportunities to learn new skills and recipes. To view the list of Rosemary's classes and for further information, click here.


This Demonstration shows a construction of a triangle given the length of the base , the difference of the base angles and the slope of the median from to the base.
Draw a segment of length with midpoint .
Step 2: Draw a circle with center and radius . Let and be intersections of and .
Step 3: Let be the intersection of and the line through parallel to .
By construction, the triangles and are similar, so . The line segment is the median of with slope since is on and is the midpoint of .
 D. S. Modic, Triangles, Constructions, Algebraic Solutions (in Slovenian), Ljubljana: Math Publishers, 2009 pp. 91.
Izidor Hafner "10. Construct a Triangle Given the Length of Its Base, the Difference of the Base Angles and the Slope of the Median to the Base"


DRF Trusted Property Solutions offers same day water heater repair, installation and replacement for customers in Downers Grove, DuPage County, Illinois. Downers Grove, a population of 49,715 , established in 1873, is near the cities Naperville, Wheaton, Oak Brook, Countryside, Lombard, Glen Ellyn, and Westmont. For every water heating and plumbing need, you can count on DRF to get the job Done Right First.


A friend of mine turned me on to Jack Garrett. From across the pond, he has an essence of Alex Clare with a blend of Miike Snow. My personal favorite, "Worry" has some killer make out vibes - yes, I said that.
Jack was recently featured by VEVO Dscvr UK, so hop on over to his profile for exclusive live shows and interviews!


text:
Home Politics & News Saudi Crown Prince discusses strengthening Gulf cooperation with Mohammed bin Rashid
Saudi Crown Prince discusses strengthening Gulf cooperation with Mohammed bin Rashid
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, discussed ways to strengthen bilateral relations between the two countries and peoples, within the framework of common destiny and common visions.
According to a tweet on the Dubai Media Office, the two sides reviewed during the meeting, strengthening Gulf cooperation, future aspirations, and coordination between the UAE and Saudi Arabia at various levels.
The Saudi Crown Prince expressed his appreciation for the great efforts made by Dubai in "organizing this exceptional session of Expo 2020 Dubai and the integration of national efforts to bring the global event out at the highest level of organization."
Later on Wednesday, the Saudi Press Agency, "SPA", said that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman left the Emirati capital, Abu Dhabi, after a two-day visit, noting that Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed was at the forefront of his depositors.
After leaving the Emirates, Prince Mohammed bin Salman sent a telegram to Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid in which he said that his visit to the UAE "confirmed the depth of the historical and distinguished relations that bind the two brotherly countries under the leadership of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and his brother Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan."
On Tuesday, Prince Mohammed bin Salman met with Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, in a session of talks that dealt with bilateral relations and consolidating the pillars of regional stability, on the second stop of his Gulf tour after he visited Muscat.
During the meeting, the two sides reviewed "the various aspects of strategic cooperation between the two countries, which is based on well-established elements of understanding, cooperation, joint action, and mutual interests." They also discussed "the importance of activating joint Gulf and Arab action and some regional and international issues and files that concern the two countries."
Previous post "Formula 1" sets a record for the number of views
Next post London: G7 urges Iran to return to the negotiating table
Saudi civilian calls for caution from an air depression & thunderstorms
Qatar announces passing the peak of corona virus
80,000 pomegranate trees produce 3 million kilograms annually in Tabuk
UN INITIATIVE TO "REUNITE" SUDAN


Bernard Foley kicked a penalty a minute from time to give the New South Wales Waratahs their maiden Super Rugby title with a 33-32 victory over the seven-times champion Canterbury Crusaders in a thrilling final on Saturday.
The Waratahs dreams of a first title in their third final were hanging by a thread when the Wallabies flyhalf calmly slotted his seventh penalty of the night from 44 metres to send the record crowd of 61 823 at the Olympic Stadium into raptures.
The Waratahs also had tries either side of half time from centre Adam Ashley-Cooper but they had to dig deep in the second half when the Crusaders erased an early deficit and took a slender lead.
It was a first win in 12 matches over a decade against the New Zealanders, who had won the first two finals between the teams in 2005 and 2008.
The Crusaders had tries from flanker Matt Todd and winger Nemani Nadolo – his 12th of the season – along with 20 points from the boot of flyhalf Colin Slade and two from Dan Carter.
The crowd was a record for a Super Rugby match, beating the 55,000 that watched the Bulls beat the Waikato Chiefs in the 2009 final in Pretoria.
The Waratahs, as they have often this season, started at a canter and were 8-0 up inside five minutes after Foley kicked his first penalty and Ashley-Cooper finished off a breathless move by barging through three tacklers to touch down.
The Crusaders appeared shellshocked by the Waratahs' opening barrage – making uncharacteristic handling errors and looking fragile at the set piece – and two more Foley penalties extended the lead to 14-0 after 15 minutes.
The New Zealanders had too much quality to simply lie down, though, and from a counter-attack from inside their own 22 on 18 minutes, number eight Kieran Read offloaded to flanker Todd, who brushed off Ashley-Cooper's tackle to score in the corner.
Carter added the extras in one of his last contributions before he departed the contest on the half-hour mark with an injured leg, leaving Slade to trade a couple of penalties apiece with Foley before the break.
Three minutes after halftime and the scores were all square at 20-20 after another sweeping Crusaders counter-attack resulted in Nadolo touching down in the corner.
It was a controversial decision confirmed by referee Craig Joubert only after review of the TV pictures, which suggested the Fijian's foot might have gone into touch.
Slade converted and added a penalty after the Waratahs scrum collapsed under pressure in the 48th minute to put the Crusaders ahead for the first time at 23-20.
Foley missed a chance to level the scores a couple of minutes later but made no mistake with his next attempt only for Slade to slot another penalty to maintain the three-point cushion.
The Crusaders were now dominating the breakdown but the Waratahs managed to get enough quick ball to launch another assault and again it was Ashley-Cooper who crashed through the tackles to give the home side the lead at 30-26.


I just finished reading "The Tipping Point" by Malcolm Gladwell. He is also the author of "Outliers" and "Blink," each of which is part psychology, part story telling, and part theory application. (If you have yet to read these three books, I highly recommend them for a summer reading list!) A few weeks ago, I wrote about the need for connectors, mavens, and salespeople, a concept from "The Tipping Point." Today, I would like to address the subtitle of the book: 'how little things can make a big difference.' This concept struck me as I began applying it to our daily work.
M. Gladwell tells a story about the crime epidemic in New York City during the 1980s and 1990s. Drugs, murder, and other crimes ran rampant and all of a sudden, the crime rate dropped significantly. Another story describes the development of Sesame Street. Many studies were done to find out what sustained children's attention. Episodes were pre-viewed by a test audience of toddlers: if it didn't captivate, it was tweaked until it was broadcast ready.
So what happened? What small changes made crime in NYC stop? What small changes made toddlers pay attention to a television?
The New York subway system was one area of focus. Instead of concentrating efforts on murder or drug deals, graffiti was cleaned off of cars and dollar fare hoppers were stopped. These two little changes changed the mentality of thousands of people who used the subway system on a daily basis. Because the subways system was cleaner and people were held accountable for paying their fares, fewer serious crimes occurred. Similarly, Sesame Street made small changes to the location and size of the text and images on the screen, which helped toddlers focus on only what was important.
Think if we applied this concept to our everyday work. Directly speaking, if there is graffiti on the wall or vomit in the hallway, we get it cleaned up immediately. If a program is not working for our student population, we change it so it better suits our audience.
We have so much on our plates: from student concerns to administrative tasks, and from e-mails to larger picture projects. We talk about being intentional with our work. This becomes so much more real when we put it in "the small things really can make a huge difference" context.
Even if it is just making sure our facilities are squeaky clean, or giving compliments to our student staff where compliments are due, I challenge you to pay attention to small details and act on those to make an even bigger difference, every day.
Katie--I love the points you make throughout! I'm reminded of the "broken window theory" from criminology and how those ideologies can carry over to the residence halls in regard to vandalism and building upkeep. Thanks for your perspective and for challenging us all to make even bigger differences!
So thanks for playing, but...nope. The dystopian picture you quote isn't the Natural State of Small Children. Not surprisingly, given your collective level of ignorance of this stage of childhood according to last case study writing papers both you AND Mr. Price are way off the mark here.


text:
the socially awkward malcontent
come in and know me better, MAN.
True Story, Bro
Comics Home
I Do Not Even Know How This Got Out The Door, Defenders #1-6
Post author By pauldekams
1 Comment on I Do Not Even Know How This Got Out The Door, Defenders #1-6
Seriously, this is one of those books that I can't believe Marvel has published. I'm not trying to say that in a stuck up manner, but they're a fairly conservative publisher when it comes to trying new or expiremental things and it's just so…weird and fun.
Credits! Defenders is written by Matt Fraction! I have been gushing all over his work…GUSHING…as you've seen in my reviews of Hawkeye and Casanova. I can't say the dude has done no wrong because when he turns off his weirdness and tries to write modern-y superhero stuff or crossover work it comes off pretty bland. But when the man's writerly equivalent of Hulkamania is allowed to run wild, it runs wild. And it does so in Defenders.
He's aided by artists who each bring unique styles to the different genres that Fraction plays with by focusing on each Defender. Terry Dodson brings a very bright, super-hero-y vibe when the whole team is brought together. Michael Lark gives the book a dark, 70's vibe that fits perfectly with issue 4's focus on Doctor Strange's blend of magic and failed relationships. While Mitch Breitweiser takes us underwater for a tale focused on the undersea King Namor; and Victor Ibanez's issue 6, which is all about Iron Fist, echoes the pulpy feel of both Hawkeye and Fraction's work on The Immortal Iron Fist with Ed Brubaker and David Aja.
Doctor Strange, he's got problems. Interpersonal problems. This is laid out for you, along with the fact that he's a magician, fairly quickly without the baggage of years of comic book continuity. You can pick this book up and read it without having spent thousands of dollars on comics (or wasted dozens of hours reading summaries of comics you no longer read on Wikipedia — oh, self loathing!) like me.
Anyway, yeah. Dr. Strange, he's bad with the ladies. Probably the only person to de-Hulk a Hulk-ified person through sexual grossness. His general inability to deal with womenfolk, and with normal people, is mostly played for comedy, but issue 4 really takes a look at a guy who knows he's messed up, and that he's made mistakes.
But in spite of that knowledge, and a willingness to make amends or do better, it's not enough. He can't make that connection.
I've really honed in on Doctor Strange, probably cause I'm weird and awkward myself. But Fraction puts together a whole team of misfits and weirdos, and is fairly straightforward with what role each character is playing. The book is alternatingly narrated by an omniscient third person narrator, as well as each of the series main characters, Doctor Strange (weirdo, possible sex-werido–the dude has probably bought phone sex…but through a crystal ball), Namor (haughty, yet lonely king), Iron Fist (Kung Fu adventurer and billionaire, down with the swirl), Red She-Hulk (used to be married to The Hulk, now a Hulk herself, she's a tourist through the Marvel Universe), and The Silver Surfer (an outsider looking in). Characters like Molly (Strange's love/hate-interest) and a first-issue guest starring Hulk are also given their own chapters to narrate, giving even guest stars equal footing with main characters. Sometimes the narration overlaps for some fun moments where characters gang up on Doctor Strange by thinking the word "creep." Basically there's a lot of narration in this series and a lot of personality to it.
This kind of casual (?) narration is really enjoyable to read. It's not the "This is the greatest thing you'll ever read this month" style of Stan Lee, but more of a friend telling you a story vibe (A fairly dark story about people getting molested and such. OK, just that one guy, but still).
When I read that title, I knew I was going to love this series. And then Hulk says it later in the same issue (though sadly, he's a coherent, Hulk and does not say "Hulk hate self and want to die.")
Here's an example of more awesomeness in this book. Not only is Red She-Hulk yelling at a Tiger-man about a big-ass sword, but it's also got something you may have noticed in some of the other panels. Random text, perhaps commentary from Fraction that appears at the bottom of most pages of each issue. I almost missed this reading this panel by panel, but when I zoomed out, I saw it. Sometimes it fits into the story, "Shut down the engines. Save the universe." Sometimes it's random like above. And sometimes, it's promotional blurbs for either current Marvel books, or books that don't exist like Werewolf by Night Nurse (which I am very sad doesn't exist).
This was me last week. And this week too, but I'm trying to fight through life and read more comics!
But yes, there's a team in this book, and the team finds a series of machines that seem to be able to alter and rewrite reality. A character in the first arc is wiped from existence, while The Defenders find themselves in entirely new costumes at the blink of an eye. They also find that they can't talk about the machines with any other characters. Defenders seems to be about comics, and really the superhero genre in general. So many feel barred from the super hero genre because of years of backstory and continuity, but Fraction and his team show how that all doesn't matter. Sometimes creators come in and change things around, or ignore what other creators have done before them. Fraction is riffing on this. On the malleability of comic book characters and their histories. Characters are wished into existence and comic book series that didn't exist are referenced through the running commentary/editor's notes.
So much comic book criticism, or criticism of the medium of comics (or rather dismissal) focuses on inaccessibility. Defenders is dense, and full of history, but it's all accessible within this story. And it's a story that's ending, with issue 12 in November. It's a great series. It's a weird series. But it's a lovingly created series, and that's the kind of comics I want to read. The kind that creators create in order to tell a story. Not to get characters from point A to point B for a marketing tie in, but because they have a story they want to tell.
Tags COMICS, Creepy dudes, Doctor Strange, Iron Fist, Matt Fraction, Michael Lark, Namor, Red She-Hulk, Silver Surfer, Terry Dodson, WWSSD
By pauldekams
Paul DeKams is a socially awkward malcontent working in marketing in New York City. So, yeah, he's a writer. He's written a few independent film projects, written a blog about comics, and even has an embarrassing Live Journal you can find if you try really hard.
← The Stupid, Frustrating Stuff That Gets In The Way Of You and Reading Comics… → Folks Talkin' Bout Comics 2 (Resisting Electric Boogaloo Joke): Transmetropolitan Volumes 3-4
One reply on "I Do Not Even Know How This Got Out The Door, Defenders #1-6"
Buy Things With Your Moneys: Digital Comic Books « Read This Comic!says:
[…] I've also written about The Defenders before. […]
2015: The Paul Awakens
Runnerversary
Say Hello To The Bad Guy…
I Haven't Changed All That Much
That's Okay With Me
© 2021	the socially awkward malcontent


Buy Mimco Focus Stud - 4479041931855644070 starting at $59.95. Shop all Mimco Earrings delivered to Australia Shop all Mimco Earrings delivered to Australia Browse... The retailer must then notify Afterpay of the refund and return full payment to Afterpay. Afterpay will then issue a refund to the customer. If a consumer is returning a purchase 120 days or more after the purchase date, then they deal directly with the retailer.
The first thing to consider is the store's returns policy; be sure you can return the item. Once a return has been processed by a store, Afterpay is automatically notified, and your payment schedule is updated, whether it's a total or partial refund. (Fully refunded items will display as "paid" on Afterpay.)... Mimco Afterpay Policy Give that many Mimco pieces can cost several hundred dollars, it's a relief to many fans of the store that Afterpay is a payment option. Afterpay enables shoppers to pay for their items in four equal payments over eight weeks.
Mimco Afterpay Policy Give that many Mimco pieces can cost several hundred dollars, it's a relief to many fans of the store that Afterpay is a payment option. Afterpay enables shoppers to pay for their items in four equal payments over eight weeks.
Afterpay has a limit of $1000 if you are linking a credit card for your re-payments. If you are using a debit card you will have a limit of $500.
For first time Afterpay customers the first payment will be charged at the time of purchase. Existing Afterpay customers' first payment will be charged 14 days from the date of purchase. Should you need to return your items, and your items are faulty, you are eligible for a refund via Afterpay and we can cancel the payment plan.


Hammer- and hammer impact mills are suitable for crushing soft to medium hard materials (degrees of hardness according to F. Mohs 2 – 5). For example: agglomerates, coal, limestone, gypsum and slag.
They are designed for large through-put volumes and trouble-free operation.
Hammer impact mills are particularly suited very coarse material for whilst attaining a high degree of comminution with large through-puts.
The hammer mill HM 1 with the collection box in the base frame is for the grinding of small batches, as normally handled in laboratories.
In a special execution that mill can also be used for the grinding of laboratory samples of metal filings.
In hammer mills the material is pulled into the crushing space by the hammers suspended from the rapid running rotor. Comminution occurs mainly through impact in the area of the grid basket. The material being crushed remains in the crushing space until the degree of fineness required has been achieved, so that it can then pass through the discharge grid.
In both types of mills the fineness of the finished material is influenced by changing the grid slot widfh and circumferential speed.
Unlike hammer mills, hammer impact mills are provided with additional impact space in the top housing section.
The material once fed in is picked up by the rotor hammers and hurled against the deflectors in the impact space. The material precrusfied in this manner lands in the bottom crushing space, being subsequently crushed, in the main, on the grid basket.
The hammer- and hammer impact mills are of inlet welded steel construction. The two-section housing comprises the top housing section and bottom housing section.
The crushing space is protected from wear by easily exchangeable armoured plates. Continuous bolts holding the hammers, can be withdrawn through openings in the housing sides (over size 3).
Changing and re-positioning of the hammers is quick and easy, without the need to dismantle the mill. Inspection covers (over size 3) on front and rear walls make the mill interior easily accessible.
The two-section grid basket (over size 3) made of low-wear profile bars is incorporated in the lower housing section.
Each half of the grid basket is mounted to swivel with continuous bolts at the extreme end.
In hammer mill HM 1 the top housing section can be swung up, making for rapid and trouble-free grid basket changing and cleaning.
This mill is powered by a three-phase motor and V-belt drive with flywheel.
The throughput depends on the slot width of the grate basket, the bulk density and the crushing behavior of the crushed material.


Whole-school, Faculty or Department, Strategic or Day-to-Day, Staff or Student focused – Raven Consulting can deliver outstanding, gimmick-free, training and support to benefit your school. Whatever your needs, we can build and deliver a programme to help.
Working with students in groups or one-to-one to: achieve improved performance; address specific targets; write the perfect UCAS Personal Statement, or just become more confident public speakers – Raven Consulting offers a wide-range of student specific programmes.
Choose from our published programmes, or get in touch and we'll build a bespoke programme to suit your needs. Popular staff training programmes include: team-building, successful school marketing, and effective time management. Check our programme listings for more.
If we offer the programme you need, we'll deliver it at the time and place that suits you best. If we don't offer what you need, talk to us and we'll work with you to create the programme you require. Raven Consulting prices are competitive and can be negotiated depending on your budget.
A simple passion for quality education developed from 28 years' classroom experience working in high-performing schools across the North of England as a Housemaster, Head of English, Head of Sixth Form and Senior Leader.
Training, done properly, really does make a difference to school leaders, teachers and students.
Everyone can make minor changes to improve what they do and how they do it.
A fresh perspective on working practices can help you find better ways of operating.
Education Consultancy, Staff Training, Student Workshops, One-to-One sessions – Raven Consulting covers every aspect of Education.


text:
using Xunit;

namespace System.Reflection.Tests
{
    public class GetMemberTests
    {
        public static void TryGetMember(string AssemblyQualifiedNameOfTypeToGet, string memberToFind, string[] expectedMemberName)
        {
            Type typeToCheck;
            typeToCheck = Type.GetType(AssemblyQualifiedNameOfTypeToGet);
            Assert.NotNull(typeToCheck);
            MemberInfo[] memberReturned = typeToCheck.GetMember(memberToFind);
            Assert.Equal(expectedMemberName.Length, memberReturned.Length);
            if (expectedMemberName.Length != 0)
            {
                int foundIndex;
                Array.Sort(expectedMemberName);
                for (int i = 0; i < memberReturned.Length; i++)
                {
                    foundIndex = Array.BinarySearch(expectedMemberName, memberReturned[i].ToString());
                    Assert.False(foundIndex < 0, "An unexpected member " + memberReturned[i].ToString() + " was returned");
                }
            }
        }

        public static void TryGetMember(string AssemblyQualifiedNameOfTypeToGet, string memberToFind, BindingFlags bindingAttr, string[] expectedMemberName)
        {
            Type typeToCheck;
            typeToCheck = Type.GetType(AssemblyQualifiedNameOfTypeToGet);
            Assert.NotNull(typeToCheck);
            MemberInfo[] memberReturned = typeToCheck.GetMember(memberToFind, bindingAttr);
            Assert.Equal(expectedMemberName.Length, memberReturned.Length);
            if (expectedMemberName.Length != 0)
            {
                int foundIndex;
                Array.Sort(expectedMemberName);
                for (int i = 0; i < memberReturned.Length; i++)
                {
                    foundIndex = Array.BinarySearch(expectedMemberName, memberReturned[i].ToString());
                    Assert.False(foundIndex < 0, "An unexpected member " + memberReturned[i].ToString() + " was returned");
                }
            }
        }

        public static string ArrayToCommaList(string[] ArrayToConvert)
        {
            string returnString = "";
            if (ArrayToConvert.Length > 0)
            {
                returnString = ArrayToConvert[0];
                for (int i = 1; i < ArrayToConvert.Length; i++)
                {
                    returnString += ", " + ArrayToConvert[i];
                }
            }
            return returnString;
        }

        public static string ArrayToCommaList(MemberInfo[] ArrayToConvert)
        {
            string returnString = "";
            if (ArrayToConvert.Length > 0)
            {
                returnString = ArrayToConvert[0].ToString();
                for (int i = 1; i < ArrayToConvert.Length; i++)
                {
                    returnString += ", " + ArrayToConvert[i].ToString();
                }
            }
            return returnString;
        }

        [Fact]
        public void Test1()
        {
            TryGetMember("System.Reflection.Tests.GenericClassUsingNestedInterfaces`2[System.String,System.Int32]", "Field*", new string[] { "System.String FieldZero", "System.String FieldOne", "Int32 FieldTwo", "Int32 FieldThree" });
        }

        [Fact]
        public void Test2()
        {
            TryGetMember("System.Reflection.Tests.GenericClassUsingNestedInterfaces`2[System.String,System.Int32]", "Return*", new string[] { "System.String ReturnAndSetFieldZero(System.String)", "Int32 ReturnAndSetFieldThree(Int32)" });
        }

        [Fact]
        public void Test3()
        {
            TryGetMember("System.Reflection.Tests.GenericClassWithInterface`1[System.Int32]", "*", new string[] { "W GenericMethod[W](W)", "Int32 ReturnAndSetFieldZero(Int32)", "Boolean Equals(System.Object)", "Int32 GetHashCode()", "System.Type GetType()", "System.String ToString()", "Void .ctor(Int32)", "Int32 field" });
        }

        [Fact]
        public void Test4()
        {
            TryGetMember("System.Reflection.Tests.IGenericInterface`1", "ReturnAndSetFieldZero", new string[] { "T ReturnAndSetFieldZero(T)" });
        }

        [Fact]
        public void Test5()
        {
            TryGetMember("System.Reflection.Tests.GenericArrayWrapperClass`1", "*", new string[] { "Int32 get_myProperty()", "Void set_myProperty(Int32)", "T get_Item(Int32)", "Void set_Item(Int32, T)", "Boolean Equals(System.Object)", "Int32 GetHashCode()", "System.Type GetType()", "System.String ToString()", "Void .ctor(T[])", "Int32 myProperty", "T Item [Int32]" });
        }

        [Fact]
        public void Test6()
        {
            TryGetMember("System.Reflection.Tests.Cat`1[System.Int32]", "*", new string[] { "Void add_WeightChanged(System.EventHandler)", "Void remove_WeightChanged(System.EventHandler)", "System.Object[] get_StuffConsumed()", "Void Eat(System.Object)", "System.Object[] Puke(Int32)", "Boolean Equals(System.Object)", "Int32 GetHashCode()", "System.Type GetType()", "System.String ToString()", "Void .ctor()", "System.Object[] StuffConsumed", "System.EventHandler WeightChanged" });
        }

        [Fact]
        public void Test7()
        {
            BindingFlags allBindingFlags = BindingFlags.Public | BindingFlags.Static | BindingFlags.NonPublic | BindingFlags.Instance | BindingFlags.DeclaredOnly;
            TryGetMember("System.Reflection.Tests.Cat`1[System.Int32]", "*", allBindingFlags, new string[] { "Void add_WeightChanged(System.EventHandler)", "Void remove_WeightChanged(System.EventHandler)", "Void add_WeightStayedTheSame(System.EventHandler)", "Void remove_WeightStayedTheSame(System.EventHandler)", "System.Object[] get_StuffConsumed()", "Void Eat(System.Object)", "System.Object[] Puke(Int32)", "Void .ctor()", "System.Object[] StuffConsumed", "System.EventHandler WeightChanged", "System.EventHandler WeightStayedTheSame", "System.Collections.Generic.List`1[System.Object] _pStuffConsumed", "System.EventHandler WeightChanged", "System.EventHandler WeightStayedTheSame", "System.EventHandler s_catDisappeared" });
        }

        [Fact]
        public void Test8()
        {
            BindingFlags allBindingFlags = BindingFlags.Public | BindingFlags.Static | BindingFlags.NonPublic | BindingFlags.Instance | BindingFlags.DeclaredOnly;
            TryGetMember("System.Reflection.Tests.GenericArrayWrapperClass`1", "*", allBindingFlags, new string[] { "Int32 get_myProperty()", "Void set_myProperty(Int32)", "T get_Item(Int32)", "Void set_Item(Int32, T)", "Void .ctor(T[])", "Int32 myProperty", "T Item [Int32]", "T[] _field", "Int32 _field1" });
        }
    }
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Do Teslas Have Transmissions Updated 01/2023
Almost everyone knows that Tesla has a brand-new line of electric cars.
But not everyone knows what makes them different from regular cars.
Most cars use a standard transmission system to move power from the engine to the wheels.
Does a Tesla have a transmission at all?
Transmissions are used in Teslas, but they are different from other transmissions in that they only have one gear. Because Teslas are powered by the energy stored in their batteries instead of a combination of cylinders powered by traditional combustion engines, they have all the power they need as soon as you turn them on.
Tesla's transmission system can get power to the wheels without using gears.
Because of this, they tend to feel much smoother to drive than regular cars.
Even automatic transmissions don't seem to be as smooth as the one that Tesla uses.
Still, that doesn't mean that Teslas don't have a way to send power. They just use one that is very different from the ones you've seen.
In technical terms, it only has one gear.
What Makes Tesla's Transmission Different?
Do Teslas Need Transmission Fluid?
Do Teslas Have Differentials?
Does Tesla Use a CVT Transmission?
Most cars were built in the past with five gears under the hood. Smaller gears give out more power at a slower speed, which makes them great for speeding up.
When you want to get the highest top speed possible, bigger gears tend to work better.
Since we've been driving cars, that's how things have been in the car business.
But by making a new transmission system, Tesla has done something different.
Theirs is different from other cars because it doesn't have gears.
Teslas change how power gets to the wheels because they use electric motors.
Most old engines don't go faster than 5000 rpm at most.
If they tried to do more than that, they could fail in a very bad way. That could mean ruining the whole engine block.
The ability of the piston to burn fuels doesn't affect how an electric motor works. In their batteries, they have a lot of power that is ready to be used.
By using that stored power, the engine can move a lot faster.
Some of them can go all the way up to 20,000 RPM.
That's up to five times faster than what you would see in a regular car. And we're talking about when you're speeding down the highway.
So, if you've paid attention to the details, that's a pretty big difference.
They don't need more than one gear because they can reach such high RPMs.
They can work a lot like a bike with only one gear.
Every time you press on the accelerator, the engine revs up.
That makes the engine's RPMs go up, giving the wheels more power and making you go faster.
If you've been working on cars for a while, you probably know about the gearing ratios.
When you change them on a normal car, you can change how it drives.
Almost everyone who has ever owned a car has had to change the transmission fluid at some point.
If they didn't, they could hurt it. When you turn on your car, the friction in the engine goes down because of the transmission fluid.
Most of the time, when you turn on an engine, it makes a lot of heat because of the combustion.
When fuels burn, they give off a lot of energy, most of which comes out as heat. When you use an internal combustion engine, high temperatures are a direct result.
All that extra heat is bad for your engine, though. Its parts will start to break if it gets too hot.
By reducing friction, transmission fluid keeps your engine from getting too hot.
If you look at the history of engine building, this is how things have been for a long time.
Things are different now because of how Tesla made their engines. They can work without making as much heat because they have electric engines.
Because it runs at a lower temperature, there's no need to use transmission fluid. Because of this, none of Tesla's cars have transmission fluid.
The transmission system of a Tesla vehicle should be oiled, according to engineers.
But the one that comes with the car from the factory is expected to last for 500,000 miles.
So, you won't have to worry about anything soon unless you drive a lot.
An open differential is used to make Teslas. Most of the time, a differential gives each wheel a different amount of power.
Even though the differential is open, it doesn't change how much power each of them gets.
About 50 years ago, they were used on a lot of cars. But you can also find them on new Teslas now.
That's because they are built using a unique transmission system.
Internal combustion engines deliver power to a single driveshaft. That's where you'll find its differential, distributing power to all the wheels.
When you turn, the differential changes the amount that each of them gets.
A normal car would not be able to turn without a differential. It would put too much stress on the driveshaft, which could cause it to break.
By using them, the driveshaft can give each wheel the right amount of power.
Tesla, on the other hand, doesn't use a differential. They can get around this problem by giving each wheel its own engine.
Inside the car, there is a control module that is made of electronics.
It will help figure out how much power each engine needs to send to each wheel.
You don't need a differential because they aren't using a central driveshaft.
Building a car without using one lets you limit the number of problems that need fixing.
The differential is one of the parts of a transmission that tends to break the most.
Since Teslas don't have them, you don't have to worry about replacing them. You've just got to make sure they're going to the dealer for maintenance on a regular basis.
Taking them there often should help prolong their lifespan.
This system is also responsible for the car's traction control. It's able to detect how much traction each of its wheels has when you're on the road.
Then, it can change how much power goes to each one of them, depending on the road's condition.
When there's a loss of traction, it'll adjust where power is sent. That's how it's able to prevent you from losing control while you're driving on slippery roads.
Delivering power to each of them makes it a lot easier for them to maintain traction if the road gets slippery.
A combination of sensors and software makes all this happen. The sensors can tell how much traction each of the wheels has when you're driving.
By feeding the software with this info, it's able to help you maintain control.
Sending less power to wheels that have lost grip can make it easier for them to regain traction.
Maintaining traction allows you to always have control over the vehicle. So, the way they've implemented their system is an incredible advance in auto safety.
Teslas don't have any gears, but that doesn't mean they've got a CVT transmission. They are made using a single gear transmission system.
Why Do Cars Look Like They Have a Face?
Can You Fix A Blown Subwoofer
Launched Toyota Innova Touring Sport
Do K&N Filters Void Warranty


Comcast is launching yet another video streaming service for you to consider purchasing. The cable giant announced today it's launching Xfinity Instant TV, what is essentially a bundle of local broadcast networks, for $18 per month. The service will only be available to Comcast broadband subscribers.
This type of "over-the-top" offering is far from new. Comcast will be pitting itself against other services such as Sling TV, YouTube TV, and Hulu Live TV that also offer live television over the internet rather than a traditional cable subscription.
What's still unclear is the benefit this service would have over a simple TV antenna. Right now, most people can already get access to local standard cable channels using an HDTV antenna, which costs about $30. Based on what Comcast is saying, it appears there will be quite a lot of overlap.
"Available channels vary by region, but all Limited Basic lineups include popular broadcast channels like ABC, CBS, The CW, FOX, NBC, and PBS as well as public, educational, and government channels. Plus, most include Univision and Telemundo," Comcast says on a Xfinity Instant TV support page.
The only major drawback here is that the basic Xfinity Instant TV package doesn't come with popular cable channels like ESPN, CNN, MSNBC, or CNBC (ones that can't be accessed using a simple TV antenna). Those channels will cost customers an additional $30 per month.
Comcast is also offering an entertainment package that includes cable channels like A&E, AMC, Comedy Central, Discovery, Food Network TBS, TNT, and USA for an additional $15 per month. A kids and family option is also available for an extra $10 a month and includes channels like Cartoon Network, Disney Channel, MTV, and Nickelodeon.
Xfinity Instant TV will be available on most popular platforms including web browsers, mobile apps, and streaming devices such as Roku. Another weird detail: the subscription won't let customers rent or purchase videos on-demand. Customers also won't be able to buy pay-per-views with the service (sorry, UFC and boxing fans!).
It's no secret soundbars have dominated the home theater space in recent years, leaving only a niche for complex, passive home theater systems. While soundbars allow for additional rear channels to be added and the TV sound experience to be elevated in many locations, they don't present the same levels of power and definition as a system comprised of component speakers.
Fortunately, we are entering a new era in the world of high-definition home theater. Statistics show the time is now for a resurgence in surround sound systems. The content available to consumers is ready, and the production values of audio and video for TV, music, and movies are already great and continually getting better. However, for the venture to be successful, the installation and control experience needs to be extremely simple for consumers. Simply put, it needs to be free of wires.
Today, the consumer electronics industry has access to innovative technology that improves the home theater experience by standardizing and promoting quality wireless audio while assuring interoperability. As with most new technologies, there has been a period of investigation, testing, and integration into the roadmaps of many brands and manufacturers. Numerous brands, including Bang & Olufsen, Klipsch, Enclave and Axiim, have proven to be early adopters and brought high-performance systems to market that have been well received. Additionally, several key retailers are now allocating precious floor space to wireless home theater solutions. These are all great signs for the future of wireless home theater, but heightened adoption and implementation across the industry is necessary for the resurgence of true home theater.
The next leap forward is underway as we see more speaker brands creating assortments of products, as well as "source" brands like TV and gaming systems manufacturers incorporating the transmission of wireless home theater audio. As more momentum builds, it will only get easier for consumer electronics retailers to sell sources and speakers that provide consumers a wireless and interoperable home theater system offering the right components for an assortment of budgets and needs.
Retailers will also play a pivotal role in mass adoption given the significant power and influence they have to reinvent the home theater category through the convenience of wireless audio. Content providers, producers, networks, and any other parties involved in the creation and distribution of quality multi-channel content, also need to be talking about how much better the experience is with a great surround sound system rather than a TV audio experience or the minor upgrade from a sound bar.
In the current landscape, simplicity is common and therefore expected, but the majority of home theater systems require a myriad of wires and are often complicated to connect and install. Together, speaker manufacturers and retailers sit at a crossroads holding vast potential to create an extremely simple yet exceptional home theater experience that is uncompromising of performance.
Tony Ostrom is president of the Wireless Speaker & Audio (WiSA) Association, an industry group dedicated to bringing the industry's only fully interoperable, high resolution, multi-channel wireless audio capability to consumer and professional products. His 25-year career in the consumer electronics industry has been focused on product planning and development, consumer research, go-to-market planning, technology integration, marketing and training.
Yesterday the US Patent & Trademark Office published yet another patent application from Apple adding to this common theme of patents that we've hyperlinked to above. The invention relates to an audio system that automates the detection, setup, and configuration of distributed speaker arrays using video and/or audio sensors.
When you combine the major theme of patents that we've pointed to including today's addition, it appears that this is what Apple is trying to achieve for a future Apple TV system. Perfect surround sound that's so intelligent that it smashes the concept of stereo sound in the home and introduces us to true intelligent audio.
The intelligent sound system uses an iDevice camera and with a depth camera that can analyze where people are sitting, what objects are in the room and automates the speaker arrays to ensure that surround sound would be heard by all, even if family or friends aren't exactly centered to the screen. This would be an amazing achievement if the Apple team could eventually bring this to market.
Speaker arrays may reproduce pieces of sound program content to a user through the use of one or more audio beams. For example, a set of speaker arrays may reproduce front left, front center, and front right channels for a piece of sound program content (e.g., a musical composition or an audio track for a movie). Although speaker arrays provide a wide degree of customization through the production of audio beams, conventional speaker array systems must be manually configured each time a new user and/or a new speaker array are added to the system. This requirement for manual configuration may be burdensome and inconvenient as speaker arrays are added to a listening area or moved to new locations within the listening area.
An audio system is provided that efficiently detects speaker arrays in a listening area and configures the speaker arrays to output sound. In one embodiment, the audio system may include a computing device that operates on a shared network with one or more speaker arrays and an audio source. The computing device may detect and record the addresses and/or types of speaker arrays on the shared network.
In one embodiment, a camera associated with the computing device (iPhone) may capture a video of the listening area, including the speaker arrays. The captured video may be analyzed to determine the location of the speaker arrays, one or more users, and/or the audio source in the listening area. These determined locations may be determined relative to objects within the listening area.
While capturing the video, the speaker arrays may be driven to sequentially emit a series of test sounds into the listening area. As the test sounds are being emitted, a user may be prompted to select which speaker arrays in the captured video emitted each of the test sounds. Based on these inputs from the user, the computing device may determine an association between the speaker arrays on the shared network and the speaker arrays in the captured video. This association indicates a position of the speaker arrays detected on the shared network based on the previously determined locations of the speaker arrays in the captured video.
Using the determined locations, the computing device may assign roles to each of the speaker arrays on the shared network. These roles may be transmitted to the speaker arrays and the audio source.
In some embodiments, the test sounds emitted by the speaker arrays and the captured video captured by the computing device may be further analyzed to determine the geometry and/or characteristics of the listening area. This information may also be forwarded to the speaker arrays and/or the audio source. By understanding the configuration of the speaker arrays and the geometry/characteristics of the listening area, the speaker arrays may be driven to more accurately image sounds to the users.
As a patent tidbit, the image that is shown in the figures 8B and 8C are actually related to Apple TV and a granted patent that we covered in February titled "Apple Granted 38 Patents Today Covering an Original Apple TV Related Invention, Dual Mode Headphones and more." That patent was actually filed in 2006, before the iPhone came to market. The exact patent figure of the two gentlemen was found in the original patent under figure 15 as noted below.
The Message: the audio system of the future is seen to be in sync with Apple TV.
Too bad you guys went on and on about how you aren't happy with what you described as the politicization of the NFL games. If your goal was to remain neutral, then neutral comments were warranted. Instead, the patter came off as flippant toward the deadly subject of the protests and toward the attempt by the president to silence those who don't subscribe to the morally objectionable extremes of his ideology. Neutral commentary would not have placed blame for your disappointment by calling out the NFL and Goodell as you did.


Most able-bodied people do not appreciate the importance and the central role of movement in everyday life and are privileged to not think twice about it. For a lot of children assisted by the ILAI Fund, movement is never taken for granted. They struggle or are unable to walk because of various disabilities, illnesses, and injuries and they need special equipment to grant them the ability to move and gain the independence able-bodied people take for granted. We are honored to assist families with special needs children in the purchase of this equipment.
Through this project, we provide families in need with funds to purchase wheelchairs, walkers, braces, crutches, mobility scooters, special shoes and other equipment that gives disabled children the ability to walk and move, and by doing so, grants them unprecedented independence.
A walker or walking frame is a tool for disabled or elderly people who need additional support to maintain balance or stability while walking. A Hart walker is a customized orthotic walking frame which encourages a normal gait pattern. These and other tools are a life changer for disabled children and our goal is to provide as many as we can with the funds to purchase these tools.