The Aquatic Surface Robot (AnSweR), a lightweight, low cost, multipurpose unmanned research vessel

Author's accepted version (postprint).This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Springer in Communications in Computer and Information Science on 15/03/2021.Available online: https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-030-71711-7_21acceptedVersio

Unmanned aerial system for use in environmental monitoring of water body wave motion

This paper details the research conducted on an open source flight controller for the use of monitoring surface and wave motion of water bodies. Testing was preformed on an industrial FANUC robotic arm, where a Pixhawk 2 was tested using pre-preprogrammed circles of varying sizes to mimic the amplitude of sinusoidal waveforms. Results show good to excellent comparability between the circle radii programmed, and the calculated displacement from the Pixhawk's reported acceleration. This was achieved through the use of Fourier Transforms, filtering and integration of the acceleration logged by the Pixhawk during tests. Such a system is envisaged to be used in the reduction of flow noise a hydrophone experiences from surface deployments, where real time monitoring of the surface would raise and lower a deployed hydrophone in the water column to reduce or eliminate flow noise. Further to this, this system could be used for an early warning tsunami detection system, which could compliment systems already deployed, as well as being a cost effective solution for areas where no systems are currently in place

Transformation to advanced mechatronics systems within new industrial revolution: A novel framework in Automation of Everything (AoE)

The recent advances in cyber-physical domains, cloud, cloudlet and edge platforms along with the evolving Artificial Intelligence (AI) techniques, big data analytics and cutting-edge wireless communication technologies within the Industry 4.0 (4IR) are urging mechatronics designers, practitioners and educators to further review the ways in which mechatronics systems are perceived, designed, manufactured and advanced. Within this scope, we introduce the service-oriented cyber-physical advanced mechatronics systems (AMSs) along with current and future challenges. The objective in AMSs is to create remarkable intelligent autonomous products by 1) forging effective sensing, self-learning, Wisdom as a Service (WaaS), Information as a Service (InaaS), precise decision making and actuation using effective location-independent monitoring, control and management techniques with products, and 2) maintaining a competitive edge through better product performances via immediate and continuous learning, while the products are being used by customers and are being produced in factories within the cycle of Automation of Everything (AoE). With the advanced wireless communication techniques and improved battery technologies, AMSs are capable of getting independent and working with other massive AMSs to construct robust, customisable, energy-efficient, autonomous, intelligent and immersive platforms. In this regard, rather than providing technological details, this paper implements philosophical insights into 1) how mechatronics systems are being transformed into AMSs, 2) how robust AMSs can be developed by both exploiting the wisdom created within cyber-physical smart domains in the edge and cloud platforms, and incorporating all the stakeholders with diverse objectives into all phases of the product life-cycle, and 3) what essential common features AMSs should acquire to increase the efficacy of products and prolong their product life. Against this background, an AMS development framework is proposed in order to contextualize all the necessary phases of AMS development and direct all stakeholders to rivet high quality products and services within AoE

Virtual laboratories for education in science, technology, and engineering: A review

Within education, concepts such as distance learning, and open universities, are now becoming more widely used for teaching and learning. However, due to the nature of the subject domain, the teaching of Science, Technology, and Engineering are still relatively behind when using new technological approaches (particularly for online distance learning). The reason for this discrepancy lies in the fact that these fields often require laboratory exercises to provide effective skill acquisition and hands-on experience. Often it is difficult to make these laboratories accessible for online access. Either the real lab needs to be enabled for remote access or it needs to be replicated as a fully software-based virtual lab. We argue for the latter concept since it offers some advantages over remotely controlled real labs, which will be elaborated further in this paper. We are now seeing new emerging technologies that can overcome some of the potential difficulties in this area. These include: computer graphics, augmented reality, computational dynamics, and virtual worlds. This paper summarizes the state of the art in virtual laboratories and virtual worlds in the fields of science, technology, and engineering. The main research activity in these fields is discussed but special emphasis is put on the field of robotics due to the maturity of this area within the virtual-education community. This is not a coincidence; starting from its widely multidisciplinary character, robotics is a perfect example where all the other fields of engineering and physics can contribute. Thus, the use of virtual labs for other scientific and non-robotic engineering uses can be seen to share many of the same learning processes. This can include supporting the introduction of new concepts as part of learning about science and technology, and introducing more general engineering knowledge, through to supporting more constructive (and collaborative) education and training activities in a more complex engineering topic such as robotics. The objective of this paper is to outline this problem space in more detail and to create a valuable source of information that can help to define the starting position for future research

Human-computer interaction in ubiquitous computing environments

Purpose &ndash; The purpose of this paper is to explore characteristics of human-computer interaction when the human body and its movements become input for interaction and interface control in pervasive computing settings. Design/methodology/approach &ndash; The paper quantifies the performance of human movement based on Fitt\u27s Law and discusses some of the human factors and technical considerations that arise in trying to use human body movements as an input medium. Findings &ndash; The paper finds that new interaction technologies utilising human movements may provide more flexible, naturalistic interfaces and support the ubiquitous or pervasive computing paradigm. Practical implications &ndash; In pervasive computing environments the challenge is to create intuitive and user-friendly interfaces. Application domains that may utilize human body movements as input are surveyed here and the paper addresses issues such as culture, privacy, security and ethics raised by movement of a user\u27s body-based interaction styles. Originality/value &ndash; The paper describes the utilization of human body movements as input for interaction and interface control in pervasive computing settings. <br /

Underwater Vehicles

For the latest twenty to thirty years, a significant number of AUVs has been created for the solving of wide spectrum of scientific and applied tasks of ocean development and research. For the short time period the AUVs have shown the efficiency at performance of complex search and inspection works and opened a number of new important applications. Initially the information about AUVs had mainly review-advertising character but now more attention is paid to practical achievements, problems and systems technologies. AUVs are losing their prototype status and have become a fully operational, reliable and effective tool and modern multi-purpose AUVs represent the new class of underwater robotic objects with inherent tasks and practical applications, particular features of technology, systems structure and functional properties