Search Results (8)

The increasing integration of renewable energy resources into modern microgrids requires reliable scheduling methods capable of managing uncertainty, seasonal variability, operating cost, and environmental impact. This study proposes a stochastic day-ahead scheduling approach for a representative grid-connected multi-energy microgrid comprising photovoltaic generation, wind generation, a microturbine, a fuel cell, an energy storage system, and utility-grid exchange. The proposed model was implemented and simulated in a MATLAB (2024b) environment. The Birds of Prey-Based Optimization algorithm is applied to determine the optimal 24 h dispatch schedule by minimizing a weighted objective function that combines operating and emission costs. Uncertainties in solar irradiance, wind speed, electrical load, ambient temperature, and electricity prices are modeled using probabilistic distributions and Monte Carlo simulations. To improve computational efficiency, 1000 generated scenarios are reduced to 10 representative scenarios using Fast Forward Selection based on Kantorovich distance. Seasonal case studies for winter, spring, summer, and autumn are used to evaluate the proposed method. Compared with five metaheuristic algorithms, the proposed approach achieves the lowest fitness value in all seasons, with reductions of 15.2%, 26.5%, 6.8%, and 23.9%, respectively. The results confirm improved economic and environmental microgrid operation under seasonal renewable uncertainty. Full article

To address the difficulty of extracting thermal bending failure and centerline horizontal displacement fault feature signals when judging the operating status of cement rotary kilns, we propose a method for extracting fault features based on improved secretary bird optimization algorithm (ISBOA) and variational modal decomposition (VMD). First, a strategy of randomly consuming prey with inertial weights is proposed to enhance the randomness of search results and avoid local optima. Then, the whale algorithm’s encirclement strategy is introduced into the secretary bird’s camouflage strategy to coordinate the capabilities of local search and global exploration. Finally, ISBOA demonstrated superior performance to other optimization algorithms in VMD parameter selection, achieving a 75% improvement in convergence speed compared to pre-optimization. Through validation with experimental and simulation data, this method demonstrates good feasibility. By decomposing actual signals and comparing the mean energy of their characteristic signals, the severity of thermal bending faults in the cylinder and centerline horizontal displacement faults in cement rotary kilns is diagnosed. Verified against actual measurement results, the accuracy reached 96.7%. Full article

The Set Coverage Problem (SCP) is an important combinatorial optimization problem known to be NP-complete. The use of metaheuristics to solve the SCP includes different algorithms. In particular, binarization techniques have been explored to adapt metaheuristics designed for continuous optimization problems to the binary domain of the SCP. In this work, we present a new approach to solve the SCP based on the Secretary Bird Optimization Algorithm (SBOA). This algorithm is inspired by the natural behavior of the secretary bird, known for its ability to hunt prey and evade predators in its environment. Since the SBOA was originally designed for optimization problems in continuous space and the SCP is a binary problem, this paper proposes the implementation of several binarization techniques to adapt the algorithm to the discrete domain. These techniques include eight transfer functions and five different discretization methods. Taken together, these combinations create multiple SBOA adaptations that effectively balance exploration and exploitation, promoting an adequate distribution in the search space. Experimental results applied to the SCP together with its variant Unicost SCP and compared to Grey Wolf Optimizer and Particle Swarm Optimization suggest that the binary version of SBOA is a robust algorithm capable of producing high quality solutions with low computational cost. Given the promising results obtained, it is proposed as future work to focus on complex and large-scale problems as well as to optimize their performance in terms of time and accuracy. Full article

The grey-headed woodpecker (Picus canus) (GHW) is one of the least-studied European woodpeckers, listed in Annex I of the Birds Directive. We examined the key environmental characteristics that determine the possibility of GHW occurrence in vast forests in northeast Poland. Woodpeckers were inventoried in spring on 54 study plots (4 km²) covering 20% of the forest area. Active territories were detected and mapped using the playback experiment of territorial voices and drumming. The generalized linear model GLM, random forest RF, and Boosting were used for modeling. GLM was used to indicate the most critical factors affecting the abundance of GHW. The number of territories in a single study plot ranged from 0 to 3; the most frequent were areas without woodpeckers. The probability of the nesting of the GHW was increasing at plots with watercourses, a bigger share of mixed forest area, and a proportion of stands over 120 years old. The calculation for all 400 quadrats allowed us to estimate the population size at approximately 180–200 breeding pairs. The overall density of GHW in the study area was assessed at 0.13/km², while at the optimal quadrats, it increased to about 0.75/km². Preference for watercourses was linked to alders growing along water banks. Near the water, there are often small meadows where the GHW can prey on ants. In turn, old-growth forests above 120 years old increased the probability of the presence of the GHW. There are more dead and dying trees in older forests, which are the ones the GHW chooses to excavate cavities. To effectively protect the habitats of the GHW, it is necessary to maintain a larger area of stands over 120 years old, mainly on wet sites. Full article

With the expansion of green energy, more and more data show that wind turbines can pose a significant threat to some endangered bird species. The birds of prey are more frequently exposed to collision risk with the wind turbine blades due to their unique flight path patterns. This paper shows how data from a stereovision system can be used for an efficient classification of detected objects. A method for distinguishing endangered birds from common birds and other flying objects has been developed and tested. The research focused on the selection of a suitable feature extraction methodology. Both motion and visual features are extracted from the Bioseco BPS system and retested using a correlation-based and a wrapper-type approach with genetic algorithms (GAs). With optimal features and fine-tuned classifiers, birds can be distinguished from aeroplanes with a 98.6% recall and 97% accuracy, whereas endangered birds are delimited from common ones with 93.5% recall and 77.2% accuracy. Full article

Adapting grasp-specialized biomechanical structures into current research with 3D-printed prostheses may improve robotic dexterity in grasping a wider variety of objects. Claw variations across various bird species lend biomechanical advantages for grasping motions related to perching, climbing, and hunting. Designs inspired by bird claws provide improvements beyond a human-inspired structure for specific grasping applications to offer a solution for mitigating a cause of the high rejection rate for upper-limb prostheses. This research focuses on the design and manufacturing of two robotic test devices with different toe arrangements. The first, anisodactyl (three toes at the front, one at the back), is commonly found in birds of prey such as falcons and hawks. The second, zygodactyl (two toes at the front, two at the back), is commonly found in climbing birds such as woodpeckers and parrots. The evaluation methods for these models included a qualitative variable-object grasp assessment. The results highlighted design features that suggest an improved grasp: a small and central palm, curved distal digit components, and a symmetrical digit arrangement. A quantitative grip force test demonstrated that the single digit, the anisodactyl claw, and the zygodactyl claw designs support loads up to 64.3 N, 86.1 N, and 74.1 N, respectively. These loads exceed the minimum mechanical load capabilities for prosthetic devices. The developed designs offer insights into how biomimicry can be harnessed to optimize the grasping functionality of upper-limb prostheses. Full article

The White-tailed eagle, an apex predator, is currently recovering its populations across Europe and has already reached high numbers in many countries. This led to the saturation of eagles in optimal habitats and their encroachment on suboptimal ones. We aimed to compare the diet of White-tailed eagles in optimal and suboptimal conditions in northeastern Poland to investigate how population development affected prey composition, which is expected to be lacking in suboptimal eagle territories. We have monitored eagle nests with trail cameras to investigate their diet objectively and precisely. In order to compare territories of different quality, we have conducted modeling of habitat suitability using data on nest locations prior to their saturation. Using recorded photos of the prey, we measured their size and estimated their weight to check if the size and biomass of the prey are comparable between optimal and suboptimal territories. We found that eagles in the latter conditions were not limited by prey biomass but turned to alternative prey and brought larger prey. The alternative prey were large birds such as White storks and Common cranes, but also chicks of other avian predators that were robbed from their nests. Most probably, eagles cope with a lack of optimal prey by ranging farther and exploring non-optimal foraging habitats. We conclude that the diet flexibility of White-tailed eagle enables him to still increase its numbers despite already high densities. Our study also shows that this species might possibly impact the White stork population, as seen in the case of the Black stork and some seabird species. Full article

The Optimal Foraging Theory predicts that, to maximize fitness, animals adapt their foraging strategy that provides the most benefit for the lowest cost, maximizing the net energy gained. While the diet of many breeding raptor populations is well known, studies on the foraging patterns of non-territorial birds of prey (floaters) are scarce. In this study, we examined the foraging pattern of non-territorial Eastern Imperial Eagle, scrutinizing different aspects of its feeding ecology and behavior. We built a simple model of the optimal foraging strategy of floater eagles including the success of foraging as a currency as well as environmental factors such as seasons, type of prey, habitat, foraging techniques, and eagle age as a limitation affecting the foraging efficiency of birds. We found that floaters focused their diet exclusively on European Souslik, accounting for almost half (44.2%) of the eagle’s prey. Diet differences between floaters and breeders were due to higher Souslik and carrion consumption and lower Hedgehog predation by floater eagles. The diet diversity of breeding eagles (H = 3.297) was much higher than that of floaters (H = 1.748). Our model suggested that the foraging mode, habitat type, and season best explained the feeding success of non-territorial eagles (_ΔAIC = 0.00, w = 0.42). Of all explanatory factors, “Kleptoparasitism” (β² = −4.35), “Rodents” (β² = −4.52), “Pasture” (β² = 2.96), “Wheat” (β² = 4.41), “In the air” (β² = 4.16), and “Other habitats” (β² = 4.17) had a pronounced effect. The factors “Spring–summer season” (β² = −0.67) and “European Souslik” (β² = −2.76) had a marginal effect in our models. Generally, the mean success rate of attack modes used by non-territorial eagles was 0.54 ± 0.50. Floaters successfully obtained food through: kleptoparasitism (43.10%), carrion feeding (24.14%), and high soar with vertical stoop (14.66%). Several important issues for the conservation of non-territorial Eastern Imperial Eagles arose from our research. The strong relation of floaters with the European Souslik calls for specific conservation measures aimed at the conservation of this type of prey and the restoration and appropriate management of its grassland habitats. The importance of the scavenging behavior of juvenile birds requires increased control of the use of poison baits and subsequent prosecution by state institutions. Protecting the most important temporary areas, improving institutional control against the use of poison baits, and intensifying awareness-raising campaigns among pigeon-fanciers and hunters are also of crucial importance for effective species conservation. Full article