Formation stabilization and resizing based on the control of inter‐agent distances

We propose a control strategy that could steer the group of mobile agents in the plane to achieve a specified formation. The control law could be implemented in a fully decentralized manner so that each agent moves on their own local reference frame. Under the acyclic minimally persistent graph topology, each agent measures the relative displacements of neighboring agents and then adjusts the distances between them to achieve the desired formation. As well as achieving a fixed formation, we could resize the formation only by changing the leader edge, which connects the leader with the first‐follower in acyclic minimally persistent graph, without changing the structures of the control law. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Exploring the Relationship Between Green Consumption Value,Satisfaction, and Loyalty to Hybrid Car in Elderly Consumers

The study aimed to examine the relationship between green consumption value, satisfaction, and loyalty of driving hybrid cars among elderly consumers. Data were collected from a cross‐sectional survey of 314 elderly consumers who purchased hybrid cars in the United States. A partial least squares analysis revealed that elderly consumers’ social, price, and quality values positively influenced the satisfaction of their hybrid car experience, and their satisfaction significantly influenced their loyalty of hybrid car. The relationship between green consumption value, satisfaction, and loyalty toward driving hybrid cars among elderly consumers revealed insight into their value orientations toward the hybrid car. Special efforts are suggested in promoting hybrid car use to elderly consumer groups. Marketers should pay attention to changing beliefs and increasing perceived values of driving a hybrid car for consumers to encourage them to use green products.     

Distinct element method analysis of a retaining wall using a steel frame and fill materials

A technique is developed to clearly establish the shear resistance of a cellular structure, retaining wall composed of a steel frame and fill materials with both continuous and discontinuous characteristics. To overcome the limitation of the existing analysis approach based on continuum mechanics, in which the shear behavior and interaction between the frames and fill material of this type of structure are difficult to describe, this paper introduces displacement incremental analysis into the distinct element method. The results obtained by using the proposed approach are compared with experimental results to verify its accuracy. The results show an internal friction angle of fill materials and overburdening load are major factor determining the shear resistance of a retaining wall with a cellular structure type. From the results of the parametric study on the shear behavior of this type of structure, this paper also proposes a shear resistance moment-shear displacement formula for designing a retaining wall with a cellular structure type.     

An approach to multi-agent interactive control in an intelligent space

International Journal of Control, Automation and Systems - A new type of multi-agent interactive control is proposed in an intelligent space system, which is based on heterogeneous multiple vision...     

Ultra-low noise single-photon detector based on Si avalanche photodiode

We report operation and characterization of a lab-assembled single-photon detector based on commercial silicon avalanche photodiodes (PerkinElmer C30902SH, C30921SH). Dark count rate as low as 5 Hz was achieved by cooling the photodiodes down to -80 °C. While afterpulsing increased as the photodiode temperature was decreased, total afterpulse probability did not become significant due to detector's relatively long deadtime in a passively-quenched scheme. We measured photon detection efficiency >50% at 806 nm.     

Smart‐Home Interface Design: Layout Organization Adapted to Americans' and Koreans' Cognitive Styles

Increases in the number of household appliances and devices with RFID tags have created a need for efficient organization of smart‐home interfaces in consideration of residents. Previous studies of information‐grouping and cultural‐differences in cognitive style on performance have yielded mixed results. Gender has not typically been considered, nor have subjective preferences been measured. We tested four participant groups (American and Korean males and females) and two interface groupings (functional and spatial). Participants performed tasks that required locating controls for specific devices/functions, after which they rated the interfaces on several scales. American males preferred the functional organization, but Koreans and American females tended to prefer the spatial organization. The results are consistent with Koreans' preference for thematic‐structure and the view that men's and women's cognitive styles differ in masculine/individualistic cultures (U.S.) but not in feminine/collectivistic cultures (Korea). Potential applications include physical (e.g., power and wall‐mounted switches) and virtual interactions (e.g., remote controls, GUI/Web/Phone). © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Cognitive evaluation for conceptual design: cognitive role of a 3D sculpture tool in the design thinking process

ABSTRACT

This study focuses on the decisive role played by the digital design environment in the cognitive design process and design thinking. To analyse the cognitive role of digital design tools, we carried out a protocol analysis of conventional design sketching and a 3D sculpture tool. Cognitive evaluation was a differentiating factor when considering the contextual role of the 3D sculpture tool in subsequent evaluations, non-sequential evaluations for conversion, and passive approaches within the design process. Cognitive evaluation played the following roles: validation, extension, navigation, exploration, and confirmation. The navigation, exploration, and extension roles played by non-sequential evaluation were mainly related to inductive design thinking. Finally, the types of cognitive evaluation and their roles when using the 3D sculpture tool were different, according to the design thinking type. This study explored the multidimensional roles of cognitive evaluation using a 3D sculpture tool and its relationship with design thinking types.     

Range image denoising using a constrained local Gaussian model for 3D object query service in the smart space

A position and direction is a fundamental information for U-Business as an anywhere service. A mobile device camera image can increase an accuracy of the positioning, and a range image provides significant information in an occlusion scene. U-Business service queries the information with the range image for a precision position or a target object. We present a method for smoothing heavy noisy surfaces acquired by mobile 3D imaging devices to obtain the stable curvature. The smoothing is performed in a way that finds centers of probability distributions, which maximizes the likelihood of observed points with smooth constraints. The smooth constraints are derived from the unit tangent vector equality. This provides a way of obtaining smooth surfaces and stable curvatures. We achieve the smoothing by solving the regularized linear system. The unit tangent vector equality involves consideration of geometric symmetry, and it minimizes the variation of differential values that are a factor of curvatures. The proposed algorithm has two apparent advantages. The first thing is that the surfaces in a scene with various signals-to-noise ratio are smoothed, and then they can earn suitable curvatures. The second is that the proposed method works on heavy noisy surfaces, for example, a stereo camera image. Experiments on range images demonstrate that the proposed method yields the smooth surfaces from the input with various signals-to-noise ratio and the stable curvatures obtained from the smooth surfaces.     

Color segmentation robust to brightness variations by using B-spline curve modeling

Color segmentation takes a great attention because color is an effective and robust visual cue for characterizing an object from the others. However, color segmentation suffers from color variations incurred by irregular illumination changes. We propose a reliable color modeling approach in hue–saturation–intensity (HSI) color space while considering intensity information by adopting the B-spline curve fitting to make a mathematical model for statistical characteristics of a color with respect to intensity. It is based on the fact that color distribution of a single-colored object is not invariant with respect to brightness variations even in the HS (hue–saturation) plane. The statistical characteristics contain the mean and standard deviation of hue and saturation with respect to intensity. They are mathematically expressed as four bar graphs. In order to fit the bar graphs to continuous curves, we use B-spline curve fitting procedure. From several experimental results, we verify that the proposed algorithm is successfully applied to color segmentation under various illumination conditions.