Decomposition and replacement: Spatial knowledge distillation for monocular depth estimation

Knowledge distillation has become a key technique for making smart and light-weight networks through model compression and transfer learning. Unlike previous methods that applied knowledge distillation to the classification task, we propose to exploit the decomposition-and-replacement based distillation scheme for depth estimation from a single RGB color image. To do this, Laplacian pyramid-based knowledge distillation is firstly presented in this paper. The key idea of the proposed method is to transfer the rich knowledge of the scene depth, which is well encoded through the teacher network, to the student network in a structured way by decomposing it into the global context and local details. This is fairly desirable for the student network to restore the depth layout more accurately with limited resources. Moreover, we also propose a new guidance concept for knowledge distillation, so-called ReplaceBlock, which replaces blocks randomly selected in the decoded feature of the student network with those of the teacher network. Our ReplaceBlock gives a smoothing effect in learning the feature distribution of the teacher network by considering the spatial contiguity in the feature space. This process is also helpful to clearly restore the depth layout without the significant computational cost. Based on various experimental results on benchmark datasets, the effectiveness of our distillation scheme for monocular depth estimation is demonstrated in details. The code and model are publicly available at : https://github.com/tjqansthd/Lap_Rep_KD_Depth.     

Predictive process mapping for laser powder bed fusion: A review of existing analytical solutions

One of the main challenges in the laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) process is making dense and defect-free components. These porosity defects are dependent upon the melt pool geometry and the processing conditions. Power-velocity (PV) processing maps can aid in visualizing the effects of LPBF processing variables and mapping different defect regimes such as lack-of-fusion, under-melting, balling, and keyholing. This work presents an assessment of existing analytical equations and models that provide an estimate of the melt pool geometry as a function of material properties. The melt pool equations are then combined with defect criteria to provide a quick approximation of the PV processing maps for a variety of materials. Finally, the predictions of these processing maps are compared with experimental data from the literature. The predictive processing maps can be computed quickly and can be coupled with dimensionless numbers and high-throughput (HT) experiments for validation. The present work provides a boundary framework for designing the optimal processing parameters for new metals and alloys based on existing analytical solutions.     

Establishment of a color tolerance for yarn-dyed fabrics from different color-depth yarns

Yarn-dyed fabric is often woven from warp and weft yarns in the same color depth to ensure a uniform color appearance. The difference in color depth between warp and weft tends to result in the uneven color of the yarn-dyed fabric. This article aims to establish a color tolerance for yarn-dyed fabric that can be woven with a qualified color appearance but from the warp and weft yarns in different color depths. A total of 27 yarn-dyed fabric samples in three color series (red, yellow, and blue) were evaluated by using the yarn-dyed fabric from warp and weft yarns in the same color depth of 2% (on weight of fabric, owf) as the standard. Visual assessment and instrumental measurement of color were carried out to establish the color tolerance ellipse that was defined as CMC (Color Measurement Committee) color differences (2:1) of no more than 1.00. It was found that the color strengths (K/S) and color differences (ΔE_CMC(2:1)) of these fabric samples for each color series had linear relationships with the color depths of warp and weft yarns. The color tolerance ellipses indicated that, even though the warp and weft yarns had an apparent color difference, they could be woven in fabrics with relatively uniform color appearance and meet the requirements for yarn-dyed fabric. This work provided valuable insight into the production of qualified yarn-dyed fabrics from unqualified dyed yarns.     

A Skin-Inspired Triboelectric Nanogenerator with an Interpenetrating Structure for Motion Sensing and Energy Harvesting

Rapid advancements in wearable electronics impose the challenge on power supply devices. Herein, a flexible single-electrode triboelectric nanogenerator (SE-TENG) that enables both human motion sensing and biomechanical energy harvesting is reported. The SE-TENG is fabricated by interpenetrating Ag-coated polyethylene terephthalate (PET) nanofibers within a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) elastomer. The Ag coating and PDMS are performed as the electrode and dielectric material for the SE-TENG, respectively. The Ag-coated PET nanofibers enlarge the electrode surface area, which is beneficial to increase sensing sensitivity. The flexible SE-TENG sensor shows the capability of outputting alternating electrical signals with an open-circuit voltage up to 50 V and a short-circuit current up to 200 nA in response to externally applied pressure. It is used to sense various types of human motions and harvest electric energy from body motion. The harvested energy can successfully power wearable electronics, such as an electronic watch and light-emitting diode. Therefore, the as-prepared SE-TENG sensor with a pressure response and self-powered capability provides potential applications in wearable sensors or flexible electronics for personal healthcare and human–machine interfaces.     

Review on development of metal/ceramic interpenetrating phase composites and critical analysis of their properties

Metal/ceramic composites are in high demand in several industries because of their superior thermo-mechanical properties. Among various composite types, the interpenetrating phase composites (IPCs) with percolating metallic and ceramic phases offer manifold benefits, such as a good combination of strength, toughness, and stiffness, very good thermal properties, excellent wear resistance, as well as the flexibility of microstructure and processing route selection, etc. The fabrication of metal/ceramic IPCs typically involves two steps - i) processing of an open porous ceramic body, and ii) infiltration of metallic melt in the pores to fabricate the IPC. Although significant progress has been made in recent years for developing both porous ceramics and melt infiltration methods, to the best of the knowledge of the authors, no review article summarizing all the aspects of processing and properties of IPCs has been published till date. This review article is aimed at filling this gap. Starting with a brief introduction about the current status and applications of IPCs, the various processing routes for fabricating open porous ceramic preforms and melt infiltration techniques have been discussed. Subsequently, the data available for various important physical, mechanical, and thermal properties for IPCs have been critically analyzed to thoroughly understand their dependence on various structural and processing parameters. To compare the properties of IPCs with other relevant materials, seven different Ashby material property maps have been used, and the domains for IPCs have been created in them. For each map, the concept of material indices has been employed to critically discuss how IPCs perform in relation to other material classes for various optimum design conditions. Finally, a detailed future outlook for further research on IPCs has been provided.     

考虑煤层倾角和钻孔倾角的钻屑量理论研究

为准确预测与预防深部开采煤与瓦斯突出,建立了考虑煤层倾角与钻孔倾角的新钻屑量理论计算公式,并分析了煤层倾角和钻孔倾角对钻屑量的影响。以平煤股份有限公司八矿为研究对象,将钻屑量理论计算值与该矿己15-21030风巷现场钻屑量实测值进行对比验证,得出在煤层倾角一定时,钻屑量随钻孔倾角增大呈幂指数递减关系,减小的比率呈“V”形变化趋势,原钻屑量理论值与实测值平均误差为5.5%,在考虑煤层倾角与钻孔倾角情况下的新钻屑量理论值与实测值平均误差为3.9%。     

基于卷积神经网络的单目深度估计

针对利用深度学习方法对街道图像进行深度估计，提出采用语义分割的方法解决深度图出现边界模糊等问题；估计深度通过左右视角图生成视差图进行无监督的训练。在网络模型中添加语义分割层，采取多个空洞卷积并行的结构增加感受野，同时减少了图像下采样的次数，降低了由于下采样带来的信息损失，使得的结果更加准确。这也是在深度估计中首次与空洞卷积相结合增加准确率。通过对KITTI街道数据集进行训练，与现有结果相比，除了增加检测准确性，降低错误率之外，使得效果图中的物体更加清晰，并且在效果图中还保留了一些原模型中被忽视掉的细节信息，将原始图像更加完整的表现出来。     

Differences between oculomotor and perceptual artifacts for temporally limited head mounted displays

We used perceptual and oculomotor measures to understand the negative impacts of low (phantom array) and high (motion blur) duty cycles with a high‐speed, AR‐likehead‐mounted display prototype. We observed large intersubject variability for the detection of phantom array artifacts but a highly consistent and systematic effect on saccadic eye movement targeting during low duty cycle presentations. This adverse effect on saccade endpoints was also related to an increased error rate in a perceptual discrimination task, showing a direct effect of display duty cycle on the perceptual quality. For high duty cycles, the probability of detecting motion blur increased during head movements, and this effect was elevated at lower refresh rates. We did not find an impact of the temporal display characteristics on compensatory eye movements during head motion (e.g., VOR). Together, our results allow us to quantify the tradeoff of different negative spatiotemporal impacts of user movements and make subsequent recommendations for optimized temporal HMD parameters.     

Perception‐aware autonomous mast motion planning for planetary exploration rovers

Highly accurate real‐time localization is of fundamental importance for the safety and efficiency of planetary rovers exploring the surface of Mars. Mars rover operations rely on vision‐based systems to avoid hazards as well as plan safe routes. However, vision‐based systems operate on the assumption that sufficient visual texture is visible in the scene. This poses a challenge for vision‐based navigation on Mars where regions lacking visual texture are prevalent. To overcome this, we make use of the ability of the rover to actively steer the visual sensor to improve fault tolerance and maximize the perception performance. This paper answers the question of where and when to look by presenting a method for predicting the sensor trajectory that maximizes the localization performance of the rover. This is accomplished by an online assessment of possible trajectories using synthetic, future camera views created from previous observations of the scene. The proposed trajectories are quantified and chosen based on the expected localization performance. In this study, we validate the proposed method in field experiments at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) Mars Yard. Furthermore, multiple performance metrics are identified and evaluated for reducing the overall runtime of the algorithm. We show how actively steering the perception system increases the localization accuracy compared with traditional fixed‐sensor configurations.     

纵轴式掘进机截割头载荷影响因素的仿真分析

针对现有掘进机截割头载荷特性研究方法采用单一影响因素不能全面反映截割头载荷及其波动变化规律的问题,通过分析截割头瞬时载荷,确定了纵轴式掘进机在水平截割工况下截割头载荷的主要影响因素有截割岩石特性、截割头掏槽深度、截割头吃刀深度、截割头转速和截割臂摆速。针对某纵轴式掘进机水平截割工况,采用Matlab对影响截割头载荷的多种因素进行仿真分析,得到了各向载荷及其波动随各因素的变化规律:截割头载荷随着岩壁普氏系数的增大而增加,其中横向阻力增加尤为明显,横向阻力波动程度高于其他方向载荷,且随着岩壁普氏系数的增大呈减小趋势;随着截割头掏槽深度的增加,截割头各向载荷近似呈线性增加,其中升力增加幅度最大,各向载荷波动则随着截割头掏槽深度的增大而减小;随着吃刀深度的增加,截割头载荷总体呈增大趋势,载荷波动程度则随之减小;在截割头转速一定的情况下,截割头载荷均随着截割臂摆速的增加而增大,在同一摆速下,截割头载荷随着截割头转速的减小而增大,横向阻力波动明显高于升力和推进阻力波动,横向阻力和推进阻力波动按截割头载荷规律变化,升力波动则与之相反。截割头载荷波动变化规律与截割头载荷变化规律不尽一致,有时甚至相互冲突。因此,掘进机作业过程中应合理选择截割头掏槽深度、吃刀深度等操作参数和截割头转速、截割臂摆速等运动参数,使各参数相互匹配,以减小掘进机振动,延长使用寿命。