Capture the flag: mixed-reality social gaming with smart phones

The author developed a mobile, mixed-reality version of capture the flag, a popular genre of computer game. Our CTF game is novel in three ways. First, the smart phone is the main interface. Using the smart phone, players physically role-play virtual characters who try to capture enemy flags by traversing different landscapes. This approach creates a direct, real-time linkage between the real and virtual worlds. Second, players can move freely in the real world over a wide area while maintaining seamless real-time networked contact with other players in both the real and virtual worlds. Third, CTF explores novel tangible aspects of human physical movement and perception, both in the real-world playing environment and in interaction with the virtual world.     

Compact high isolation and improved bandwidth hybrid RF MEMS SPDT switch for 5G applications

Microsystem Technologies - Fifth generation (5G) communication system enables the pathway for a higher data transfer rate. The frequency bands used for 5G communication system are distributed from...     

Analysis of occupation time of vehicles at urban unsignalized intersections in non-lane-based mixed traffic conditions

In India, traffic flow on roads is highly mixed in nature with wide variations in the static and dynamic characteristics of vehicles. At unsignalized intersections, vehicles generally do not follow lane discipline and ignore the rules of priority. Drivers generally become more aggressive and tend to cross the uncontrolled intersections without considering the conflicting traffic. All these conditions cause a very complex traffic situation at unsignalized intersections which have a great impact on the capacity and performance of traffic intersections. A new method called additive conflict flow (ACF) method is suitable to determine the capacity of unsignalized intersections in non-lane-based mixed traffic conditions as prevailing in India. Occupation time is the key parameter for ACF method, which is defined as the time spent by a vehicle in the conflict area at the intersection. Data for this study were collected at two three-legged unsignalized intersections (one is uncontrolled and other one is semicontrolled) in Mangalore city, India using video-graphic technique during peak periods on three consecutive week days. The occupation time of vehicles at these intersections were studied and compared. The data on conflicting traffic volume and occupation time by each subject vehicle at the conflict area were extracted from the videos using image processing software. The subject vehicles were divided into three categories: two wheelers, cars, and auto-rickshaws. Mathematical relationships were developed to relate the occupation time of different categories of vehicles with the conflicting flow of vehicles for various movements at both the intersections. It was found that occupation time increases with the increasing conflicting traffic and observed to be higher at the uncontrolled intersection compared to the semicontrolled intersection. The segregated turning movements and the presence of mini roundabout at the semicontrolled intersection reduces the conflicts of vehicular movements, which ultimately reduces the occupation time. The proposed methodology will be useful to determine the occupation time for various movements at unsignalized intersections. The models developed in the study can be used by practitioners and traffic engineers to estimate the capacity of unsignalized intersections in non-lane-based discipline and mixed traffic conditions.

     

Low temperature epoxy bonding for RF MEMS capacitive switch

Packaging is one of the most critical tasks for MEMS devices. Unlike solid state devices, MEMS structures involves moving structures which needs to be protected from outer environment ensuring free movement of the structure. In the present paper, inverted silicon cavity is used for capping the MEMS devices. However, in case of RF MEMS, silicon cavity would add parasitics and affects its electrical performance. Enclosing the MEMS structure, its mechanical response will also alter. The electrical as well as mechanical characteristics of the RF MEMS switch are analyzed using finite element method simulations. The electrical response of the fabricated switch after packaging is compared with unpackaged device.