An input/output module includes a control unit and a monitoring unit. The monitoring unit includes a series-connection body including three or more resistors, a comparator, a connection path, and a switch. One of inverting and non-inverting input terminals of the comparator serves as a monitoring terminal, and the other serves as a threshold terminal. Input voltage of the threshold terminal when the switch is turned off is set to a high-voltage-side threshold, and the input voltage when the switch is turned on is set to a low-voltage-side threshold. The control unit makes a diagnosis that an abnormality in which the power supply voltage falls outside of an operable voltage range or an abnormality in the monitoring unit has occurred, when logic of an output signal of the comparator is determined to be unchanged over a determination time that is a longer amount of time than a predetermined amount of time.

An input/output module includes a control unit and a monitoring unit. The monitoring unit includes a series-connection body including three or more resistors, a comparator, a connection path, and a switch. One of inverting and non-inverting input terminals of the comparator serves as a monitoring terminal, and the other serves as a threshold terminal. Input voltage of the threshold terminal when the switch is turned off is set to a high-voltage-side threshold, and the input voltage when the switch is turned on is set to a low-voltage-side threshold. The control unit makes a diagnosis that an abnormality in which the power supply voltage falls outside of an operable voltage range or an abnormality in the monitoring unit has occurred, when logic of an output signal of the comparator is determined to be unchanged over a determination time that is a longer amount of time than a predetermined amount of time.

A method for dispatching buildings, including: generating data sets, each having energy values along with corresponding time and outside temperature values, wherein the energy values are shifted by one of a plurality of lag values relative to the corresponding time and outside temperature values; performing a machine learning model analysis on the each of the data sets; determining a least valued residual that indicates a corresponding energy lag for each of the buildings, the corresponding energy lag describes a transient energy consumption period preceding a change in outside temperature; using outside temperatures, model parameters, and energy lags for all of the buildings to estimate a cumulative energy consumption for the buildings, and to predict a dispatch order reception time for the demand response program event; and employing the dispatch order reception time to prepare actions required to control the each of the buildings to optimally shed energy specified in a dispatch order.

A method for dispatching buildings, including: generating data sets, each having energy values along with corresponding time and outside temperature values, wherein the energy values are shifted by one of a plurality of lag values relative to the corresponding time and outside temperature values; performing a machine learning model analysis on the each of the data sets; determining a least valued residual that indicates a corresponding energy lag for each of the buildings, the corresponding energy lag describes a transient energy consumption period preceding a change in outside temperature; using outside temperatures, model parameters, and energy lags for all of the buildings to estimate a cumulative energy consumption for the buildings, and to predict a dispatch order reception time for the demand response program event; and employing the dispatch order reception time to prepare actions required to control the each of the buildings to optimally shed energy specified in a dispatch order.

A system and method for providing irrigation management services is disclosed. The system may include a plurality of controllers, where each controller controls application of water by an irrigation system associated with the controller. A central computer that is remote from each of the controllers may be configured to implement an irrigation management plan that is individualized to each location and based, at least in part, upon one or more characteristics of the location as determined by an on-site visit. The irrigation manager may guarantee that the system will provide a return on investment within a predefined period of time. The system may also detect faults in the irrigation systems using water usage data from the controllers and diagnose the faults. A technician may be notified and dispatched to repair the faults.

A system and method for providing irrigation management services is disclosed. The system may include a plurality of controllers, where each controller controls application of water by an irrigation system associated with the controller. A central computer that is remote from each of the controllers may be configured to implement an irrigation management plan that is individualized to each location and based, at least in part, upon one or more characteristics of the location as determined by an on-site visit. The irrigation manager may guarantee that the system will provide a return on investment within a predefined period of time. The system may also detect faults in the irrigation systems using water usage data from the controllers and diagnose the faults. A technician may be notified and dispatched to repair the faults.

A method for controlling a temperature in an air conditioning device according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: calculating an exponentially-weighted running mean temperature for outdoor temperatures measured for a predetermined period, setting a variable constant and a fixed constant according to the exponentially-weighted running mean temperature and an operation condition, setting a comfort temperature by multiplying the exponentially-weighted running mean temperature by the variable constant and adding the fixed constant, and controlling an indoor temperature by using the set comfort temperature. Here, the fixed constant and the variable constant are constants obtained through a regression analysis of a distribution relationship between an exponentially-weighted running mean temperature and a comfort temperature, and the distribution of comfort temperatures is linearly increased from the fixed constant with a gradient of the comfort temperature according to the exponentially-weighted running mean temperature.

A method for controlling a temperature in an air conditioning device according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: calculating an exponentially-weighted running mean temperature for outdoor temperatures measured for a predetermined period, setting a variable constant and a fixed constant according to the exponentially-weighted running mean temperature and an operation condition, setting a comfort temperature by multiplying the exponentially-weighted running mean temperature by the variable constant and adding the fixed constant, and controlling an indoor temperature by using the set comfort temperature. Here, the fixed constant and the variable constant are constants obtained through a regression analysis of a distribution relationship between an exponentially-weighted running mean temperature and a comfort temperature, and the distribution of comfort temperatures is linearly increased from the fixed constant with a gradient of the comfort temperature according to the exponentially-weighted running mean temperature.

An unmanned aerial vehicle and a fail-safe method thereof are provided. The unmanned aerial vehicle includes at least one actuator, a failure processing circuit, and a flight controller. The actuator is configured to drive the flight behavior of the unmanned aerial vehicle. The failure processing circuit is configured to: define a corresponding relationship between the multiple failure states and the multiple protection measures, wherein each protection measure is respectively defined with a priority level and each protection measure is used to correspondingly change the flight behavior of the unmanned aerial vehicle; determine multiple current failure states when the flight behavior takes place; and select, according to the corresponding relationship, the selected protection measure having the highest priority level among the protection measures corresponding to the current failure state. The flight controller is used to change the flight behavior of the unmanned aerial vehicle according to the selected protection measures.

An unmanned aerial vehicle and a fail-safe method thereof are provided. The unmanned aerial vehicle includes at least one actuator, a failure processing circuit, and a flight controller. The actuator is configured to drive the flight behavior of the unmanned aerial vehicle. The failure processing circuit is configured to: define a corresponding relationship between the multiple failure states and the multiple protection measures, wherein each protection measure is respectively defined with a priority level and each protection measure is used to correspondingly change the flight behavior of the unmanned aerial vehicle; determine multiple current failure states when the flight behavior takes place; and select, according to the corresponding relationship, the selected protection measure having the highest priority level among the protection measures corresponding to the current failure state. The flight controller is used to change the flight behavior of the unmanned aerial vehicle according to the selected protection measures.