Automated computer-vision-based defect detection has received much attention with the increasing surface quality assurance demands for the industrial manufacturing of flat steels. This paper attempts to present a comprehensive survey on surface defect detection technologies by reviewing about 120 publications over the last two decades for three typical flat steel products of con-casting slabs, hot- and cold-rolled steel strips. According to the nature of algorithms as well as image features, the existing methodologies are categorized into four groups: Statistical, spectral, model-based and machine learning. These literatures are summarized in this review to enable easy referral to suitable methods for diverse application scenarios in steel mills. Realization recommendations and future research trends are also addressed at an abstract level.

Neural networks have been widely and deeply studied in the field of computational neurodynamics. However, coupled neural networks and their brain-like chaotic dynamics have not been noticed yet. In this article, we focus on the coupled neural network-based brain-like initial boosting coexisting hyperchaos and its application in biomedical image encryption. We first construct a memristive-coupled neural network (MCNN) model based on two subneural networks and one multistable memristor synapse. Then we investigate its coupling strength-related dynamical behaviors, initial states-related dynamical behaviors, and initial-boosted coexisting hyperchaos using bifurcation diagrams, phase portraits, Lyapunov exponents, and attraction basins. The numerical results demonstrate that the proposed MCNN not only can generate hyperchaotic attractors with high complexity but also can boost the attractor positions by switching their initial states. This makes the MCNN more suitable for many chaos-based engineering applications. Moreover, we design a biomedical image encryption scheme to explore the application of the MCNN. Performance evaluations show that the designed cryptosystem has several advantages in the keyspace, information entropy, and key sensitivity. Finally, we develop a field-programmable gate array test platform to verify the practicability of the presented MCNN and the designed medical image cryptosystem.

As energy demand continues to increase, demand response (DR) programs in the electricity distribution grid are gaining momentum and their adoption is set to grow gradually over the years ahead. Demand response schemes seek to incentivise consumers to use green energy and reduce their electricity usage during peak periods which helps support grid balancing of supply-demand and generate revenue by selling surplus of energy back to the grid. This paper proposes an effective energy management system for residential demand response using Reinforcement Learning (RL) and Fuzzy Reasoning (FR). RL is considered as a model-free control strategy which learns from the interaction with its environment by performing actions and evaluating the results. The proposed algorithm considers human preference by directly integrating user feedback into its control logic using fuzzy reasoning as reward functions. Q-learning, a RL strategy based on a reward mechanism, is used to make optimal decisions to schedule the operation of smart home appliances by shifting controllable appliances from peak periods, when electricity prices are high, to off-peak hours, when electricity prices are lower without affecting the customer’s preferences. The proposed approach works with a single agent to control 14 household appliances and uses a reduced number of state-action pairs and fuzzy logic for rewards functions to evaluate an action taken for a certain state. The simulation results show that the proposed appliances scheduling approach can smooth the power consumption profile and minimise the electricity cost while considering user’s preferences, user’s feedbacks on each action taken and his/her preference settings. A user-interface is developed in MATLAB/Simulink for the Home Energy Management System (HEMS) to demonstrate the proposed DR scheme. The simulation tool includes features such as smart appliances, electricity pricing signals, smart meters, solar photovoltaic generation, battery energy storage, electric vehicle and grid supply.

Nowadays, there is a lot of study on memristor-based systems with multistability. However, there is no study on memristor with multistability. This brief constructs a mathematical memristor model with multistability. The origin of the multi-stable dynamics is revealed using standard nonlinear theory as well as circuit and system theory. Moreover, the multi-stable memristor is applied to simulate a synaptic connection in a Hopfield neural network. The memristive neural network successfully generates infinitely many coexisting chaotic attractors unobserved in previous Hopfield-type neural networks. The results are also confirmed in analog circuits based on commercially available electronic elements.

Memristors have recently demonstrated great promise in constructing memristive neural networks with complex dynamics. This article proposes a memristive Hopfield neural network with three memristive coupling synaptic weights. The complex dynamical behaviors of the triple-memristor Hopfield neural network (TM-HNN), which have never been observed in previous Hopfield-type neural networks, include space multistructure chaotic attractors and space initial-offset coexisting behaviors. Bifurcation diagrams, Lyapunov exponents, phase portraits, Poincaré maps, and basins of attraction are used to reveal and examine the specific dynamics. Theoretical analysis and numerical simulation show that the number of space multistructure attractors can be adjusted by changing the control parameters of the memristors, and the position of space coexisting attractors can be changed by switching the initial states of the memristors. Extreme multistability emerges as a result of the TM-HNN’s unique dynamical behaviors, making it more suitable for applications based on chaos. Moreover, a digital hardware platform is developed and the space multistructure attractors as well as the space coexisting attractors are experimentally demonstrated. Finally, we design a pseudorandom number generator to explore the potential application of the proposed TM-HNN.

Nowadays, research, modeling, simulation and realization of brain-like systems to reproduce brain behaviors have become urgent requirements. In this paper, neural bursting and synchronization are imitated by modeling two neural network models based on the Hopfield neural network (HNN). The first neural network model consists of four neurons, which correspond to realizing neural bursting firings. Theoretical analysis and numerical simulation show that the simple neural network can generate abundant bursting dynamics including multiple periodic bursting firings with different spikes per burst, multiple coexisting bursting firings, as well as multiple chaotic bursting firings with different amplitudes. The second neural network model simulates neural synchronization using a coupling neural network composed of two above small neural networks. The synchronization dynamics of the coupling neural network is theoretically proved based on the Lyapunov stability theory. Extensive simulation results show that the coupling neural network can produce different types of synchronous behaviors dependent on synaptic coupling strength, such as anti-phase bursting synchronization, anti-phase spiking synchronization, and complete bursting synchronization. Finally, two neural network circuits are designed and implemented to show the effectiveness and potential of the constructed neural networks.