We propose an approach for estimating the date of lost confidence of jet engines, which are devices with multiple components subject to disruption. A mixed Weibull distribution is estimated from a large data set subject to censoring at various times. Parametric uncertainty is derived analytically and mapped visually onto the functions of use in reliability theory, including the hazard function. We demonstrate the use of the method on a database of disruption times for components in 325 jet engines. Copyright (c) 2010 Royal Statistical Society.

Abstract. In this paper, we report on the design of a novel market-based approach for decentralised scheduling across multiple factories. Specifically, because of the limitations of scheduling in a centralised manner -which requires a center to have complete and perfect information for optimality and the truthful revelation of potentially commercially private preferences to that center -we advocate an informationally decentralised approach that is both agile and dynamic. In particular, this work adopts a market-based approach for decentralised scheduling by considering the different stakeholders representing different factories as self-interested, profit-motivated economic agents that trade resources for the scheduling of jobs. The overall schedule of these jobs is then an emergent behaviour of the strategic interaction of these trading agents bidding for resources in a market based on limited information and their own preferences. Using a simple (zero-intelligence) bidding strategy, we empirically demonstrate that our market-based approach achieves a lower bound efficiency of 84%. This represents a trade-off between a reasonable level of efficiency (compared to a centralised approach) and the desirable benefits of a decentralised solution.

This paper presents the concept and implementation of "Hornet", a MASIF-compliant mobile agent system based on the CORBAScript scripting language, thus completely integrated in CORBA environment. Common problems related to standard implementations of CORBA-based distributed applications are illustrated and benefits of agent-based solutions outlined. An overview of CORBA-based mobile agent system architecture is given addressing the specific implementation issues. Two developed example applications are described, consequences of introducing mobile agents in the CORBA environment discussed and future work directions explained. We feel that introduction of tightly CORBA integrated scrip-based object mobility provides a new perspective to developers and researchers of distributed object systems.

No abstract

No abstract