A model-driven approach for real-time road recognition

This article describes a method designed to detect and track road edges starting from images provided by an on-board monocular monochromic camera. Its implementation on specific hardware is also presented in the framework of the VELAC project. The method is based on four modules: (1) detection of the road edges in the image by a model-driven algorithm, which uses a statistical model of the lane sides which manages the occlusions or imperfections of the road marking – this model is initialized by an off-line training step; (2) localization of the vehicle in the lane in which it is travelling; (3) tracking to define a new search space of road edges for the next image; and (4) management of the lane numbers to determine the lane in which the vehicle is travelling. The algorithm is implemented in order to validate the method in a real-time context. Results obtained on marked and unmarked road images show the robustness and precision of the method. Received: 18 November 2000 / Accepted: 7 May 2001     

The investigation of the lower limb geometry using 3D sonography and magnetic resonance

The main aim of this work was to test the developed system of a free hand sonographic probe in the clinical conditions. The measuring system consists of navigation system tracking the position of a linear ultrasound probe and the self-developed software to control the tools and analyse the recorded data. It enables both measurement of geometrical parameters according to the self-designed template and the identification of the three dimensional shape of bone. Moreover the software provides virtual planning of surgery and supports the surgeon to execute the planned scenario in the reality.     

Analysis of safety precautions for coal and gas outburst-hazardous strata

The author analyses coal and gas outbursts and generalizes the available data on the approaches to solving the problematics of these gas-dynamic events in the framework of Czech Republic Grant “Estimate of the Safety Precautions for Coal and Gas Outburst Hazardous Strata”. __________ Translated from Fiziko-Tekhnicheskie Problemy Razrabotki Poleznykh Iskopaemykh, No. 5, pp. 42–52, September–October, 2008.     

Reformulation of Global Constraints Based on Constraints Checkers

This article deals with global constraints for which the set of solutions can be recognized by an extended finite automaton whose size is bounded by a polynomial in n, where n is the number of variables of the corresponding global constraint. By reducing the automaton to a conjunction of signature and transition constraints we show how to systematically obtain an automaton reformulation. Under some restrictions on the signature and transition constraints, this reformulation maintains arc-consistency. An implementation based on some constraints as well as on the metaprogramming facilities of SICStus Prolog is available. For a restricted class of automata we provide an automaton reformulation for the relaxed case, where the violation cost is the minimum number of variables to unassign in order to get back to a solution.     

A Preliminary List of Levels and g-Values for the First Spectrum of Thorium (Th I)

The present state of the analysis of the first spectrum of thorium (Th I) is discussed briefly. Even and odd levels are listed in ​and2.2. The low even levels form terms arising from the configurations 6d² 7s² and 6d³ 7s. The Th I standard wavelengths that fit into the known level arrays are presented in

Prediction of geometric errors of robot manipulators with Particle Swarm Optimisation method

This paper reports on the prediction of the expected positioning errors of robot manipulators due to the errors in their geometric parameters. A Swarm Intelligence (SI) based algorithm, which is known as Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO), has been used to generate error estimation functions. The experimental system used is a Motoman SK120 manipulator. The error estimation functions are based on the robot position data provided by a high precision laser measurement system. The functions have been verified for three test trajectories, which contain various configurations of the manipulator. The experimental results demonstrate that the positioning errors of robot manipulators can be effectively predicted using some constant coefficient polynomials whose coefficients are determined by employing the PSO algorithm. It must be emphasized that once the estimation functions are obtained, there may be no need of any further experimental data in order to determine the expected positioning errors for a subsequent use in the error correction process.     

Size measurement of bubbles in a cavitation tunnel by digital in-line holography

Digital in-line holography (DIH) with a divergent beam is used to measure size and concentration of cavitation bubbles (6-100 μm) in hydrodynamic facilities. A sampling probe is directly inserted in the cavitation tunnel, and the holograms of the bubbles are recorded through a transparent test section specially designed for DIH measurements. The recording beam coming from a fiber-coupled laser diode illuminates the sample volume, and holograms are recorded by a CMOS camera. From each hologram, the sampling volume can be reconstructed slice by slice by applying a wavelet-based reconstruction method. Because of the geometry of the recording beam, a magnification ratio must be introduced for recovering the 3D location and size of each bubble. The method used for processing holograms recorded in such a configuration is presented. Then, statistical results obtained from 5000 holograms recorded under different pressures in the cavitation tunnel are compared and discussed.     

Microwave‐assisted synthesis of Ag/ZnO hybrid filler,preparation, and characterization of antibacterial poly(vinyl chloride) composites made from the same

Hybrid silver/zinc oxide (Ag/ZnO) nanostructured microparticles were obtained via the fast and simple microwave‐assisted synthesis. The phase structure of filler particles was revealed by X‐ray diffraction analysis. Composites with medical‐grade poly(vinyl chloride) were prepared with filler concentration from 1 to 5 wt%. The scanning electron microscopy was used for morphology characterization and elemental analysis of both filler and composites. The mechanical properties of composites and the electrical resistivity were found suitable for medical device application. The excellent surface antibacterial performance of the prepared composite tested according to ISO 22196:2007 against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus showed the reliability of the material in the medical application field. POLYM. COMPOS., 35:19–26, 2014. © 2013 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Flue gas treatment for SO2 removal with air-sparged hydrocyclone technology

Laboratory results from an initial study on the removal of SO2 from gas mixtures are reported using air-sparged hydrocyclone (ASH) technology. Tap water and alkaline solutions were used for absorption, and the influence of gas flow rate, water flow rate, and length of the ASH unit were investigated. The research results indicate thatthe air-sparged hydrocyclone can be used as a highly efficient absorber for SO2 emissions. The ASH allows for 97% SO2 removal using water alone for sulfur dioxide content in the gas phase of 5 g/m3. All SO2 is removed in weakly alkaline solution (0.01 mol NaOH/dm3).