Manufacture of microfluidic chips using a gap-control method based on traditional 3D printing technique

The solution to the commercialization of polymer microfluidic chips lies in the development of a low-cost and concise method. We present in this paper a gap-control method for obtaining low cost microfluidic chips on PMMA (polymethyl methacrylate) sheets based on traditional 3D printing technique—fused deposition modeling. The influence of 3D printing parameters such as printing temperature, printing speed, wire flow rate and initial layer thickness on printing quality is studied by experiments. The effect of O₂ plasma parameters such as chamber power and treatment time on the adhesion strength between printed PLA (polylactic acid) structures and PMMA substrate is investigated. The dye filling tests demonstrate that there is no blocking or leakage over the entire microchannels. With this newly developed technology, low-cost and large scale microfluidic chips can be fabricated, which allows commercial manufacturing of microchannels over large areas.

     

From theory to national application—A Finnish experiment

In 1968 the Finnish National Fund for Research and Development started a 3 year project to ‘introduce ergonomics into Finnish production’. A multidisciplinary group, comprising five persons sponsored by the Institute of Occupational Health, was formed.

The concept of ergonomics, at the time the project was founded, was relatively unknown in Finland, although as early as 1962 international course activity on the subject was begun at the Institute of Occupational Health. Little competent ergonomic knowledge existed in the realm of industry, which at that time claimed 500000 workers, and what did was poorly used.

The adopted strategy of the 3 year project was as follows: (a) an attempt was made to convince potential users of ergonomic knowledge of its utility by working out a number of examples on the application of ergonomics; and (b) the availability of ergonomic information was to be improved. By the time the project was completed in 1971, ergonomic activities had reached such a degree of acceptance that it was deemed necessary to maintain the multidisciplinary group and provide it with additional resources. These extended activities are outlined in this paper.     

Enhancing Open Source Software in Alignment with CMMI-DEV

To provide comprehensive, low-cost tool support for project monitoring and control for small organizations in particular, the authors compare the most popular free/open source Web-based project management applications against their compliance to CMMI-DEV. Based on this analysis, they implement a set of enhancements to dotProject, including Earned Value Management, and evaluate the resulting application with respect to its CMMI-compliance. Their initial experiences applying the tool in an R&D organization indicate that it helps establish a systematic project monitoring and control process by supporting or automating tasks. In this way, it presents an open, flexible, and free tool-integration solution for project management, illustrating that open-source tools might be appealing, especially for small organizations.     

The role of distances in requirements communication: a case study

Requirements communication plays a vital role in development projects in coordinating the customers, the business roles and the software engineers. Communication gaps represent a significant source of project failures and overruns. For example, misunderstood or uncommunicated requirements can lead to software that does not meet the customers’ requirements, and subsequent low number of sales or additional cost required to redo the implementation. We propose that requirements engineering (RE) distance measures are useful for locating gaps in requirements communication and for improving on development practice. In this paper, we present a case study of one software development project to evaluate this proposition. Thirteen RE distances were measured including geographical and cognitive distances between project members, and semantic distances between requirements and testing artefacts. The findings confirm that RE distances impact requirements communication and project coordination. Furthermore, the concept of distances was found to enable constructive group reflection on communication gaps and improvements to development practices. The insights reported in this paper can provide practitioners with an increased awareness of distances and their impact. Furthermore, the results provide a stepping stone for further research into RE distances and methods for improving on software development processes and practices.

     

3D visual perception for self-driving cars using a multi-camera system: Calibration,mapping, localization,and obstacle detection

Cameras are a crucial exteroceptive sensor for self-driving cars as they are low-cost and small, provide appearance information about the environment, and work in various weather conditions. They can be used for multiple purposes such as visual navigation and obstacle detection. We can use a surround multi-camera system to cover the full 360-degree field-of-view around the car. In this way, we avoid blind spots which can otherwise lead to accidents. To minimize the number of cameras needed for surround perception, we utilize fisheye cameras. Consequently, standard vision pipelines for 3D mapping, visual localization, obstacle detection, etc. need to be adapted to take full advantage of the availability of multiple cameras rather than treat each camera individually. In addition, processing of fisheye images has to be supported. In this paper, we describe the camera calibration and subsequent processing pipeline for multi-fisheye-camera systems developed as part of the V-Charge project. This project seeks to enable automated valet parking for self-driving cars. Our pipeline is able to precisely calibrate multi-camera systems, build sparse 3D maps for visual navigation, visually localize the car with respect to these maps, generate accurate dense maps, as well as detect obstacles based on real-time depth map extraction.     

Dual versus Solo Pilot Navigation in Helicopters at Low Level

Abstract

Although British drivers are not as diverse a population as those of the United Stales, they are not a homogeneous group. Nor are they necessarily representative of the population as a whole. The British car industry has a potential home market of I 25 million cars. It is therefore important to identify the driving population, as the design of many aspects of the car depends on their anthropometric characteristics.

An anthropometric survey was carried out by MIRA to provide details of drivers specifically related to the design of cars. The drivers were sampled over a set of survey points throughout England, Scotland and Wales, and a brief measurement session was held in a mobile laboratory. This has made a data bank available, from which to answer specific design problems, particularly those related to multiple dimensions.

The measurements have shown that the driving population differs from the US civilian statistics currently used in much design and legislation. Dimensional models are suggested for 5th percentile female and 95th percentile male drivers, which may be used as design tools.     

Dirty Headlights — Frequency and Visibility Effects

Abstract

To investigate the problem of dirty headlamps, three experiments have been carried out. In the first, dirt layers were systematically collected under various road conditions. The wetness of the road was found markedly to influence the amount of dirt deposited. In the second, light reduction caused by dirt on cars in traffic was measured. It was found that even in dry weather on seemingly clean roads light reduction due to headlamp dirt is normally 10—20%. In bed (slushy) road conditions few cars have light reduction below 50%. Drivers normally do not react to light reduction below 60%

In the third experiment, reduction in visibility during night driving was measured as a function of light reduction. Light reduction of 60% causes a 20% reduction of high beam visibility and a 15% reduction of low beam visibility.     

服务机器人智能空间中顶棚投影器建模与外参数标定

研究服务机器人智能空间中顶棚投影器的运动学建模和外参数标定问题.首先,利用D-H方法对投影器进行运动学建模;然后,给出一种全新的求解一类关于旋转矩阵方程组的非线性迭代优化算法,以完成投影器的外参数标定;最后进行了实验验证.实验结果表明,所提出的投影器建模方法和外参数标定算法具有很高的精度,经过标定后的投影器能够在地面上投射出完全按期望路径引导机器人运动的激光斑点,从而实现低成本服务机器人高效和精确地导航.     

工程系统进度优化的协同决策方法

为解决多个承包商间的项目合作伙伴选择问题, 采用多目标规划构建工程系统进度优化的协同决策模型. 以合作博弈理论为基础, 运用主要目标法设计一种基于期望收益约束选择的模型求解方法. 算例结果表明, 所提出的方法可以在保障参与协同的承包商收益需求前提下实现工程系统进度最优, 所获得的协同方案更容易为各方接受.

     

Driver–vehicle cooperation: a hierarchical cooperative control architecture for automated driving systems

The concept of automated driving changes the way humans interact with their cars. However, how humans should interact with automated driving systems remains an open question. Cooperation between a driver and an automated driving system—they exert control jointly to facilitate a common driving task for each other—is expected to be a promising interaction paradigm that can address human factors issues caused by driving automation. Nevertheless, the complex nature of automated driving functions makes it very challenging to apply the state-of-the-art frameworks of driver–vehicle cooperation to automated driving systems. To meet this challenge, we propose a hierarchical cooperative control architecture which is derived from the existing architectures of automated driving systems. Throughout this architecture, we discuss how to adapt system functions to realize different forms of cooperation in the framework of driver–vehicle cooperation. We also provide a case study to illustrate the use of this architecture in the design of a cooperative control system for automated driving. By examining the concepts behind this architecture, we highlight that the correspondence between several concepts of planning and control originated from the fields of robotics and automation and the ergonomic frameworks of human cognition and control offers a new opportunity for designing driver–vehicle cooperation.

     

多车超车跟车假想尾巴模型

进一步分析了各种传统方法在模拟超车跟车过程时存在的不足之处。以固支梁挠度曲线方程为基础,明确地提出了假想尾巴的新概念,它假定每一车辆有一假想的尾巴。各车的运动约束条件被表现为前方车辆尾巴和道路对其的联合作用,由此得到了一种用于模拟多车辆间超车和跟车过程的通用分析模型。在该模型中,为节约计算机时,车辆在道路的横向位置可暂不考虑而只对纵向位置独立计算。给出了具体算法和计算实例。该算法既能适用于两个或三个车辆的情形,也能适用于任意车辆及任意车辆初始位置的情形。该模型也被发现可用于事故模拟。     

Solution modules and system equivalence

In this paper we consider a system as a relation between input, internal variables and output. This relation is given by the solution space of the system's equations. For time invariant linear systems in differential operator representation the solution space carries a K[s]-module structure defined by the ordinary differential operator. This algebraic structure is exploited systematically to develop a self-contained theory of strict system equivalence in time domain.

The module of free motions is considered as space of initial conditions. An algebraic characterization of systems having the same solution space is presented. System homomorphisms are defined as special K[s] homomorphisms between the solution modules. Two systems are called system-equivalent, if there exists a system-isomorphism between their solution spaces. It turns out that, this concept coincides with Rosenbrock's concept of strict. system equivalence. It. is shown that further concepts and results of linear system theory (construction of a state-space model in time domain, controllability and observability criteria, uniqueness theorem of linear realization theory) can be derived within this framework.     

The journey as concept for digital museum design

Abstract

This article discusses The Journey as a metaphor for design and development of the app Kunstporten (Art gate) for mobile and iPod. The goal of the project was to go beyond traditional mobile guides and support young visitors' various and contiguous experiences with art. The project involved seven Norwegian art museums over the period 2012–2013. The article focuses on the choices and challenges we as museum professionals met during the design of the app. It reports on how the dialogic concept of museum communication, integrated in the metaphor of The Journey, was shaped and adjusted in the design, planning and development of modules, multimedia content and procedural structure that may support art experience as a journey. The article describes considerations undertaken by museum practitioners in processes of creating museum communication that goes across multiple mediational platforms.     

Reimagining the Format Model: Introducing the Work of the NSLA Digital Preservation Technical Registry

In this article we introduce the work of the National and State Libraries Australasia Digital Preservation Technical Registry project.

Any technical registry model must allow digital preservation analysts to understand the technical form of the content they are tasked with preserving, understand the capabilities they have in relation to that content, and reflect on the community position in relation to those capabilities. We believe the solution outlined here is well placed to deliver the information required to answer these questions, and in a manner that makes it easy to understand, reference and augment.

The primary focus of this article is to describe the format model, which is the most radical part of the Digital Preservation Technical Registry. The flexibility the model provides delivers on all of the requirements outlined by the NSLA partners and project team members; this includes the ability to reference many layers constituting a format, including relationships between specifications and implementations of real-world formats. We seek input from members of the community on the model and suggestions for use cases and requirements that we have not envisaged.     

Traffic Dynamics and Mode Choice’s Delay Effect Under Traffic Restriction in Two-Mode Networks

Day-to-day traffic assignment models provide a powerful tool to analyze the time evolution of traffic flow within transport networks. In day-to-day dynamics, most models assume that there are only private cars on traffic networks and travelers update their choices each day. However, there are mainly two traffic modes, i.e. cars and buses, and travelers may not change their mode choices frequently. In this paper, a period-to-period traffic assignment model is proposed to capture traffic dynamics under traffic restrictions by considering interactions among different modes and introducing a delay about travelers’ mode choice. The existence and uniqueness of the equilibrium are analyzed. The linear stability of the equilibrium is analyzed and the eigenvalue range of Jacobian matrix is estimated by using the Gershgorin circle theorem. Both theoretical analyses and numerical simulations indicated that compared to the system with no mode choice, mode choice behaviors could improve the stability of the equilibrium. Additionally, mode choice behaviors with delay might further increase the stability domain and dampen oscillations on the cost and the flows. This study explains the evolution patterns of transportation networks under traffic policy and provides guidance for network design and management.

     

COMPETENCE ONTOLOGY FOR DOMAIN KNOWLEDGE DISSEMINATION AND RETRIEVAL

In this paper, we present a competence ontology for domain knowledge dissemination and retrieval services, which has been used in the MDKT project (Management and Dissemination of Knowledge in Telecommunication). The main objective of this project is to set up a computerized knowledge management system related to a specific domain in order to develop the human resources expertise for the needs of the enterprise. In the case of this project, the knowledge is about wireless networking and is expressed in digital documents. Among all the ontologies that implement the knowledge needed by the system, the competence ontology plays a key role. The competence ontology defines at a meta-level the concept of competence and its relationships with other concepts such as document or user. Its instantiation is used to characterize a user model and a document model. This knowledge organization makes it possible to infer which document, or more generally which domain knowledge information, is suitable for a given person or to whom specific domain knowledge information should be disseminated.     

The effect of lighting conditions and use of headlights on drivers’ perception and appraisal of approaching vehicles at junctions

Use of Daytime Running Lights (DRL) is mandatory in many countries for motorcycles, and in some for cars. However, in developing countries, DRLs may be optional or compliance low. The effect of car or motorcycle headlights and lighting conditions on Malaysian drivers’ ability to perceive and judge the safety of pulling out was investigated. Stimuli were photographs depicting either daytime or nighttime taken at a T-junction with approaching vehicles with headlights on or off. Headlights improved drivers’ ability to perceive cars and motorcycles in the nighttime photographs but not the daytime photographs, although this could be due to the bright weather in the photographs. Drivers judged it less safe to pull out when approaching motorcycles had headlights on than off, regardless of the lighting conditions, supporting the utility of DRL for motorcycles. Headlights did not affect judgements for cars, questioning the utility of DRL for cars.

Practitioner Summary: The effect of headlights and lighting conditions on drivers’ ability to perceive and make judgements about the safety of pulling out was investigated. Daytime Running Lights influenced drivers’ decision-making about the safety of pulling out in front of motorcycles, illustrating the importance of having automatic headlights equipped.     

A data fusion system of GNSS data and on-vehicle sensors data for improving car positioning precision in urban environments

Accurate car positioning on the Earth's surface is a requirement for many state-of-the-art automotive applications, but current low-cost Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receivers can suffer from poor precision and transient unavailability in urban areas. In this article, a real-time data fusion system of absolute and relative positioning data is proposed with the aim of increasing car positioning precision. To achieve this goal, a system based on the Extended Kalman Filter (EKF) was employed to fuse absolute positioning data coming from a low-cost GNSS receiver with data coming from four wheel speed sensors, a lateral acceleration sensor, and a steering wheel angle sensor. The bicycle kinematic model and the Ackerman steering geometry were employed to particularize the EKF. The proposed system was evaluated through experimental tests. The results showed precision improvements of up to 50% in terms of the Root Mean Square Error (RMSE), 50% in terms of the 95th-percentile of the distance error distribution, and 75% in terms of the maximum distance error, with respect to using a stand-alone, low-cost GNSS receiver. These results suggest that the proposed data fusion system for car vehicles can significantly reduce the positioning error with respect to the positioning error of a low-cost GNSS receiver. The best precision improvements of the system are expected to be achieved in urban areas, where tall buildings hinder the effectiveness of GNSS systems. The main contribution of this work is the proposal of a novel system that enables accurate car positioning during short GNSS signal outages. This advance could be integrated in larger expert and intelligent systems such as autonomous cars, helping to make self-driving easier and safer.     

Supervised and unsupervised classification by histogram overlay techniques

Abstract

A new classification technique was proposed from the viewpoint of memory saving, as well as intensive processing time reduction, to meet the strong requirement for easier operation on a personal computer. To carry out this process efficiently, some neighbouring pixels were lumped into a cell. This idea is based on the fact that changes of the CCT counts in the sea area are monotone, that is histograms are symmetrical, and that cell by cell classification is, therefore, sufficient.

First, a cell distance was denned by extending the concept of the Mahalano-bis' distance, which is the statistical difference between a cell and a cluster. The classification results agree well with those of the conventional Maximum Likelihood Method. We define this method as CDM (Cell Distance Method).

Secondly, an alternative concept which indicates the degree of similarity between two cells was proposed. It was found that this concept, defined as HOM (Histogram Overlay Method), not only improves the speed of processing image data but also has a close relation with the cell distance. In fact, it corresponds fairly to the cell distance under a certain condition.

Thirdly, these two methods were extended to unsupervised classification and applied to the investigation of turbidity in the sea around Hiroshima and Kure, West Japan.