Vision-based arm gesture recognition for a long-range human–robot interaction

This paper proposes a vision-based human arm gesture recognition method for human–robot interaction, particularly at a long distance where speech information is not available. We define four meaningful arm gestures for a long-range interaction. The proposed method is capable of recognizing the defined gestures only with 320×240 pixel-sized low-resolution input images captured from a single camera at a long distance, approximately five meters from the camera. In addition, the system differentiates the target gestures from the users’ normal actions that occur in daily life without any constraints. For human detection at a long distance, the proposed approach combines results from mean-shift color tracking, short- and long-range face detection, and omega shape detection. The system then detects arm blocks using a background subtraction method with a background updating module and recognizes the target gestures based on information about the region, periodical motion, and shape of the arm blocks. From experiments using a large realistic database, a recognition rate of 97.235% is achieved, which is a sufficiently practical level for various pervasive and ubiquitous applications based on human gestures.     

Hydrogen Reduction Kinetics of Magnetite Concentrate Particles Relevant to a Novel Flash Ironmaking Process

A novel ironmaking technology is under development at the University of Utah. The purpose of this research was to determine comprehensive kinetics of the flash reduction reaction of magnetite concentrate particles by hydrogen. Experiments were carried out in the temperature range of 1423 K to 1673 K (1150 °C to 1400 °C) with the other experimental variables being hydrogen partial pressure and particle size. The nucleation and growth kinetics expression was found to describe the reduction rate of fine concentrate particles and the reduction kinetics had a 1/2-order dependence on hydrogen partial pressure and an activation energy of 463 kJ/mol. Unexpectedly, large concentrate particles reacted faster at 1423 K and 1473 K (1150 °C and 1200 °C), but the effect of particle size was negligible when the reduction temperature was above 1573 K (1300 °C). A complete reaction rate expression incorporating all these factors was formulated.     

Effect of NaF and CaO/SiO2 Mass pct. on the Hydrogen Dissolution Behavior in Calcium-Silicate-Based Molten Fluxes

Metals and Materials International - The effect of NaF and CaO/SiO2 mass pct. ratio (C/S) on the hydrogen solubility in terms of the hydroxyl capacity of the CaO–SiO2–NaF welding flux...     

Exploring the effect of dual use on the value of military technology patents based on the renewal decision

Concerns regarding the high level of research and development (R&D) expenditure on military technology have prompted many nations to pursue a dual-use regime in military R&D. However, the value of dual-use military technology has not yet been quantitatively investigated. We explore whether military technology with a higher level of duality has been more valuable than that with a lower level of duality. We assume that the patent of valuable military technology was renewed until its termination. We retrieve military patents from the United States Patent and Trademark Office during 1976–2014 based on their International Patent Classification (IPC) as F41 or F42. Then, we propose three indicators to assess the duality level of them. The first indicator is based on the determination of whether the patented technology is utilizable in both the military and the civilian sectors using its IPC. For the second indicator, we estimate the potential of convergence of a patented technology with various technological fields using the degree of centrality of the IPC’s co-occurrence network. The third indicator is based on ratio of forward citation by the civilian sector over the total number of forward citations as a measurement of technology diffusion toward the civilian sector. Using logistic regression, we found that the first two indicators are positively associated with patent renewal decision, while the last indicator is nonsignificant. The effects of the two significant indicators suggests that military technologies are more valuable when the technology itself can be used in various sectors, including the civilian sector, and can be converged with technologies in different fields. However, the nonsignificant influence of the third variable suggests that the relation between patent value and diffusion effects toward following inventions is not confined to the civilian sector. Our findings provide evidence of the impact of dual-use policies in military R&D.     

On the Rate Expressions for “Reversible” Gas–Solid Reactions

It is argued that the term with the negative sign in the rate expression for an equilibrium-limited gas–solid reaction can be viewed as representing a lowering of the concentration driving force for the forward reaction due to equilibrium limitation. While the gas composition favors the forward reaction, the negative term may represent the local rate of the reverse reaction. When the gas composition changes significantly to the opposite side of equilibrium, however, this term as written for the forward reaction does not represent the rate of the reverse reaction. Even the reaction order with respect to the same gaseous species may become different for the reverse reaction.     

Effects of Reducing Gas on Swelling and Iron Whisker Formation during the Reduction of Iron Oxide Compact

The effects of different types of reducing gas on swelling and iron whisker formation during the reduction of iron oxide compacts were investigated. The compacts sintered in air at 1273 K were reduced at 1173 K in different reducing atmospheres. The results indicated that catastrophic swelling can happen in CO but not when H₂ is present in the reducing gas mixture. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) micrographs showed that catastrophic swelling was caused by a large amount of long iron whiskers formed during the reduction. The presence of N₂ and CO₂ in CO changed the amount of long iron whiskers and its distribution, which determined the extent of swelling.