Computer simulation of the initial fire stage dynamics with various growth rate have been carried out with the help of FDS software. In case of a quick fire 1055 kW heat liberation has been reached in accordance with quadratic law within 100 seconds, averagely within 250 seconds and within 500 seconds when the fire rate is slow. Source of fire has been located on the floor and at the height of 2 m. A doorway of 0.8×2.0 m size and two 0.8×0.1 m openings have been used as ventilation holes. One opening has been located at the bottom over the floor and the other one has been positioned under the ceiling. It has been established that in the process of their development fires change their character in the following way: at the initial stage they are controlled by inflammable materials and then the fires are controlled by oxygen. At the first stage heat liberation is changed in accordance with the same law which is used for mass rate of an inflammable material and flame combustion is observed only in the field of the fire source. At the second stage heat liberation dynamics has a form of pulsations which are irregular in amplitude and duration and the dynamics becomes dependable on ventilation conditions. At this stage flame combustion in the source zone and/or self-ignition in the smoke layer provide a corresponding contribution in fire heat liberation.

It has been determined that two layers have been formed in case of a fire in the premises with ventilation in the spatial distribution of temperature and air fumigation. These top and bottom layers are practically uniform and they are characterized by irregular pulsations of the parameters which are due to smoke self-ignition occurrence. The paper shows relationship of these distributions with spatial distribution of air pressure changes in the premises during a fire. A significant dependence of heat liberation dynamics on fire source location height is observed at all fire growth rates. An increase in fire source location height above floor level exerts the most significant influence on heat liberation dynamics when ventilation occurs through a doorway and a top opening. Duration of the fire stage when flame combustion occurs in the source zone is reduced and duration of the stage when self-ignition takes place in the smoke layer is increased. In such a case heat liberation pulsation amplitudes, black-out values and air temperature in the bottom smoke zone where the self-ignition occurs are increasing and the rates of smoke layer and heated air sinking are slowing down. 

Basic requirements to sensor and controlling tracts of mechatronic systems with the remote organization of object control processes have been considered in the paper. A rational approach presupposes designing of the mentioned systems as multichannel technical complexes intended for parallel or quasi-parallel force-moment control of outlet mechanical links (motion modules) by multiple coordinates of the required phase space. It has been shown that the use of digitizing principles and distributed data procession in mechatronic systems makes it possible to pass to the unified structure and typical set of software and hardware functions of the aforesaid tracts. The paper gives consideration to a structural and functional scheme of the mechatronic system which contains an intellectual sensor device, a controlling center and an intellectual executive mechanism. The tasks that are linked with organization of preliminary information procession and construction of the systematic interface for transfer of telemetric transactions between controlled objects and the control center have been specified in the paper. Solution of a functionally full set of logically completed tasks is imposed to software and hardware tracts of the mechatronic system which is based on the abovementioned principles.

The paper presents preliminary distribution of functions according to the system resources that is between an intellectual sensor unit, a control center and an intellectual executive mechanism. One of the most important features is an informational compatibility of the system components which is achieved owing to the use of unified transactions. The noise immune data coding expands useful informational transaction volume to some actual volume. It has been shown that construction of tract transfer and transaction reception in the intellectual mechatronic system on the basis of radio channels is considered as the most complicated technical solution. 

The existing methods for auto-technical expertise presuppose selection of some parameters on the basis of the expert’s intuition and experience. Type of a vehicle and its loading rate, road conditions are not taken into account also in the case when deceleration is to be determined. While carrying out the analysis it has been established that an application of special software makes it possible to improve significantly efficiency of the executed works directed on solution of the assigned tasks, to speed up calculation processes, to decrease qualitatively probability of arithmetic errors and provides the possibility to visualize results of the conducted investigations. Possibility of using various models for dynamic motion simulation and collision of vehicles (in the form of 3D-models) has been established in the paper. In such a case specific features of vehicle technical conditions, its loading rate and condition of roadway surface have been taken account in the paper. The given paper also permits to obtain a dynamic display of reconstructed accident mechanism in axonometric projection, to film video-clips when a camera is positioned at any spatial point: road, roadside, raised position, moving vehicle, driver's seat in the vehicle.

The paper contains an analysis of possibilities of road traffic accident simulation programs, a statistical analysis that shows significance in differences between simulation results when various programs have been used. The paper presents initial data and results of vehicle speed calculation on the basis of braking track length which have been obtained with the help of road traffic accident express analysis (a classical approach) and PC-Crash when additional influencing factors are taken into account. A number of shortcomings have been revealed while analyzing the simulation results of the applied software. The shortcomings must be removed in the analyzed software products.

On the basis of the executed analysis in respect of application of road traffic accident simulation programs it has been proposed to involve responsible and controlling authorities (State Automobile Inspectorate, expert institutions, insurance companies) for practical activity with the purpose to increase the objectivity of the result conclusions. 

The paper proposes a structure of precision motion system built on the basis of a circular multi-coordinate synchronous segment motor and reconfigurable parallel kinematic mechanism. The multi-coordinate synchronous segment motor may have from two to six movable segments depending on the design, and number of the segments generally defines an internal mobility of the motor. A specific feature of the parallel kinematic mechanism consists in the possibility of its structure reconfiguration by serial connection of two neighboring rods with the help of free elements of their spherical joints into triangular circuits with one spherical hinge at the common vertex. As result of this, the controlled motion of motor movable segments is transformed into the complex spatial displacement of circular platform with number of degrees of freedom up to six inclusively.

A mathematical model for solution of the kinematic problem in the investigated parallel mechanism has been offered in the paper. The model allows to calculate a position of movable segments of multi-coordinate synchronous motor depending on the desired position and orientation of the executive circular platform. The parametric definition of base point positions in the motor segments in time allows eventually to form algorithms of programmable motions.

The paper substantiates ability to embed the developed motion system into projection unit of opto-mechanical equipment while preserving traditional configuration scheme. This provides the possibility of adaptive adjustment of optical elements during operation; it allows to adjust the optical elements when the geometry of projection system is changed due to deterioration. As result, main characteristics of projection system: resolution, depth of field and image contrast and distortion are maintained at the required level. The developed motion system can be used as a coordinate system of positioning, alignment and scanning in the assembly and other precision equipment. 

Devices of infrared equipment are often operating under complicated environmental conditions. First of all it concerns temperature range which can reach ±60 °С in accordance with the requirements. Proceeding from this condition one of the most important tasks for designing objectives if the infrared devices is to preserve their main characteristics during temperature fluctuations. Temperature changes in internal part of the objective leads to changes in design values of the optical system and it leads consequently to thermal defocusing and appearance of aberrations in image that entails sharp decrease in frequency and energy characteristics of the system. The paper considers a problem on compensation of temperature field influence on image quality of focusing units operating in infrared spectral range when there is uniform temperature distribution in the system.

It is expedient to remove dependences of infrared objective characteristics on temperature at the designing stage of focusing unit while using an athermalization method. The paper examines application results of the developed methodology for passive optical athermalization for designing infrared triplet objectives and reveals their advantages in comparison with non-athermalized analogues. Schemes of thermal-independent three-component objectives operating in in the long-distance infrared range of the spectrum 8–14 mkm with matrix photo-receivers have been proposed in the paper. The paper provides results of the analysis on influence of temperature field changes on image quality as non-athermalized so athermalized infrared objectives as well. Combinations of optical materials and characteristics of optical systems for creation of athermalized objectives with long-distance infrared spectrum range have been recommended in the paper. The paper presents an optical system of the triplet which is calculated on the basis of the developed athermalization methodology. 

The paper considers a synthesis problem for automatic control systems, which operate in various modes, for example, tracking step-wise effects and slowly changing input signals. Generally, one controller cannot ensure the required qualitative characteristics in all operational modes. One of the methods to solve this problem is to create a reconfigurable control system. The authors propose a reconfigurable control system with two discrete-time controllers. The first one is placed in series with the forward path and the second one is connected in parallel with the reverse path having additional gain and unity feedback. Such system structure is characterized by its simplicity and qualitative operational ability to track step-wise and sinusoidal inputs with different amplitudes.

The paper presents a developed block diagram of the reconfigurable system and describes its operational principle. Three various plants have been chosen with the purpose to check the operation of the system. Digital controllers have been selected and their parameters have been determined in accordance with the requirements to qualitative operational characteristics of the system. Mathematical modeling has been executed in order to check the operation of the proposed system with various plants and digital controllers. The modeling confirms good –speed performance of the automatic control system while tracking stepwise signals, provision of minimum dynamic error for the given controllers and time delay while tracking harmonic signals with various amplitudes. The obtained results have been successfully tested and can be used for development of automatic control systems that contain other plants and digital controllers, if there are various and occasionally contradictory requirements to their operational quality. 

Problems arise in the process of designing, production and investigation of a complicated technological machine. These problems concern not only properties of some types of equipment but they have respect to regularities of control object functioning as a whole. A technological machine is thought of as such technological complex where it is possible to lay emphasis on a control system (or controlling device) and a controlled object. The paper analyzes a number of existing approaches to construction of models for controlling devices and their functioning. A complex model for a technological machine operation has been proposed in the paper; in other words it means functioning of a controlling device and a controlled object of the technological machine. In this case models of the controlling device and the controlled object of the technological machine can be represented as aggregate combination (elements) of these models. The paper describes a conception on realization of a complex model for a technological machine as a model for interaction of units (elements) in the controlling device and the controlled object. When a control activation is given to the controlling device of the technological machine its modelling is executed at an algorithmic or logic level and the obtained output signals are interpreted as events and information about them is transferred to executive mechanisms.

The proposed scheme of aggregate integration considers element models as object classes and the integration scheme is presented as a combination of object property values (combination of a great many input and output contacts) and combination of object interactions (in the form of an integration operator). Spawn of parent object descendants of the technological machine model and creation of their copies in various project parts is one of the most important means of the distributed technological machine modelling that makes it possible to develop complicated models of technical devices still at the project stage. 

In the context of market relations one of the main challenges facing the industry of the Republic of Belarus is to raise a technical level, reliability and competitiveness of wheeled and tracked vehicles. On-board diagnostics improves quality of wheeled and tracked vehicles, increases reliability of their aggregates and units. Scheduled preventive maintenance and repair system as well as sporadic control and diagnostic works can not provide the required level of technical state of wheeled and tracked vehicles because the procedures do not take into account individual peculiarities of each machine, its operational conditions and previously conducted repair measures. One of the ways to solve the problem is to develop onboard diagnostic methods for technical state of powertrain wheeled and tracked vehicles that permit to carry out maintenance at actual requirements. Following this approach it will be possible, firstly, to exclude failed machine operation and, secondly, unjustified material and labour costs in case of untimely maintenance.

On-board diagnostics of power units and, in particular, gearbox hydro-pressing clutches must ensure high rate of road traffic safety. Usage of an information signal from linear displacement transducer for a piston of gearbox hydro-pressing clutch will make it possible timely to determine residual operation time of friction disks at any operational period of “Belarus” tractor and also forecast time when it is necessary to substitute them. 

The paper describes a conception of intelligent transport systems and reveals their benefit in solution of various tasks: road traffic safety, speed increase, ecology improvement, relief of urban territories, comfort improvement and others. The intelligent transport systems cover all types of transport and consider all the elements of transportation system: transport facilities, infrastructure, dynamically interаctive drivers or users. The information is considered as a basis of the intelligent transport systems, whether we have statistic or operational transportation data or a digital map. Data obtained with the help of such systems can provide real-time information on current situation in the network or on-line information in order to plan a road trip. In addition to the mentioned capabilities of the intelligent transport systems in respect of solution of modern transport problems the paper considers comfort factors and also their technologies, logical and physical architecture, productivity and operational efficiency.

The paper provides an analysis on the development of the intelligent transport systems in the world: the USA, European Union and Russia. The initial stage for creation of the intelligent transport systems has been characterized with due account of the experience of various countries. The paper describes myths and realities pertaining to formation of such systems in the countries with transition economy. Peculiar features concerning development of the intelligent transport systems in Belarus have been analyzed in the paper. The paper presents recommendations on practical steps for establishing the Belarusian intelligent transport system. The main problem in creation of the intelligent transport systems is not technical issue but an institutional one. It is necessary to combine efforts of state, research, industrial, commercial, academic structures in the united team. 

The paper presents an interest for those specialists who are involved in solution of efficiency problems in light industry of Belarus as one of the significant industries that forms an economic situation in the Republic, its export potential and social climate. It is extremely relevant for the Belarusian enterprises to reduce production costs in order to preserve and strengthen positions in the light industry market. Operating capacities for production of natural, synthetic textile and knit-wear materials and their subsequent treatment are in many respects unjustifiably energy intensive. Nowadays the only acceptable solution of the problem for reduction of production costs is to decrease its energy component. Such approach requires transition to creation of modern heat and power supply systems at heat technology enterprises.

The most important sub-system of the enterprises is own combined production of energy flows of secondary electrical and heat energy, freeze. There is a complex of problems that arise during designing process of tri-generation unit. One of the most important problems presupposes determination of a base load demand and capacity of every energy flow generated by an energy source. The solution is directly related to production output, which in its turn is determined by the requirements of sales markets. Due to various reasons the markets have their own specificity for the enterprises under consideration. It is proposed to use statistical methods for searching requirements. In this connection it is necessary to take into account industry development rate (pre-determined by State Programs, Plans, Governmental solutions, including directive instructions), production volumes of competitive goods and actual goods situation on the sales market.

The paper presents the first part of the executed complex investigations which are directed on the development of scientifically-substantiated proposals for higher energy efficiency of the industry as a whole. It has become possible on the basis of the results obtained in the process of studying its power and heat engineering problems. The results of an analytical calculation analysis of statistical and obtained forecasting data are considered as a basis for the development of scientifically substantiated proposals for modernization of energy supply systems and power resource saving of the industry that fully corresponds to the investigation objective. The result of the executed investigations, that is a significant reduction of the energy component in the production costs will be presented in the follow-up publications. 

The essence of a competition as an objective law for development of the commodities production based on private ownership of the means of production and commodity exchange has been revealed in the paper. The paper presents an economic basis of market economy (private ownership) which generates a corresponding production objective. Such purpose is a maximization of profit and a minimization of market subject expenses. Therefore, a struggle for the most favourable conditions on commodity production and sales is inevitable in such situation. The struggle is considered in the community with developed market economy as a competition.

The competition is regarded not as an exogenic factor exerting its influence on market economic system from the outside, but as an objective phenomenon which is inherent to management market system in itself. Such treatment is substantiated by economic disintegration of individual commodity producers. Being an important engine of market economy, the competition does not establish its laws, and its role is to be an executive of data which are internally inherent in commodity production laws and firstly it concerns a profit maximization law which defines a purpose and guiding motif of economic entities in the given economy.

The competition plays a contradictory role under conditions of market economy. On the one hand, it makes manufacturers constantly to aspire to expense reduction for the sake of profit increase. This has resulted in labour productivity increase, production cost decrease and a company receives an opportunity to reduce retail price for its products. Consequently, the competition acts as a potential factor for lowering of prices while increasing production efficiency. On the other hand, sellers have more freedom in price fixing under conditions of imperfect competition as they sell their products under the conditions of a monopolistic competition or an oligopoly. This is the main weakest point of the market economy system.