Localization and detection of wireless embeddable structural sensors using an unmanned aerial vehicle in the absence of visual markers

The objective of this thesis is to develop a fully integrated UAV based platform for autonomous collection of data from embedded sensors. Passive (battery-less) embedded sensors provide means for periodic long-term monitoring of civil structures like bridges. However, collection of data from these sensors requires extensive manual effort of locating them. UAVs can automate this process, although localization of these embedded tags in absence of visual markers pose a challenge. A RF (13.56MHz) reader is used to capture data from RF tags wirelessly. Different tag coil sizes are tested to observe effects on read range as well as to characterize the interaction volume between reader and tag. The UAV platform is integrated with the RF reader to autonomously capture data from tags using GPS based localization. Different sensor configurations are tested and characterized to meet the requirements of X,Y,Z localization set by the reader and tag interaction volume. Flight characteristics are also observed for various UAV navigation parameters. Results suggest that by using low-cost RTK GPS unit, the UAV is capable of detecting and localizing RF tags without any visual markers or aides.Electrical and Computer Engineerin

Metrological Characterization of a Vision-Based Measurement System for the Online Inspection of Automotive Rubber Profile

This paper deals with the metrological characterization of a stereovision-based measurement system for the inspection of automotive rubber profiles in an industrial plant. The characterization of this class of measurement systems introduces new challenges due to both the unavailability of reference measurement instruments and the complexity of the measurement system itself, which does not allow a straightforward application of the standard procedures for uncertainty evaluation. To assign optimum values to a number of design parameters, the followed approach focuses not only on evaluating the total uncertainty but also on analyzing systematic effects and influence quantities

Engineering for a changing world: 60th Ilmenau Scientific Colloquium, Technische Universität Ilmenau, September 04-08, 2023 : programme

In 2023, the Ilmenau Scientific Colloquium is once more organised by the Department of Mechanical Engineering. The title of this year’s conference “Engineering for a Changing World” refers to limited natural resources of our planet, to massive changes in cooperation between continents, countries, institutions and people – enabled by the increased implementation of information technology as the probably most dominant driver in many fields. The Colloquium, supplemented by workshops, is characterised but not limited to the following topics: – Precision engineering and measurement technology Nanofabrication – Industry 4.0 and digitalisation in mechanical engineering – Mechatronics, biomechatronics and mechanism technology – Systems engineering – Productive teaming - Human-machine collaboration in the production environment The topics are oriented on key strategic aspects of research and teaching in Mechanical Engineering at our university

A systematic review of perception system and simulators for autonomous vehicles research

This paper presents a systematic review of the perception systems and simulators for autonomous vehicles (AV). This work has been divided into three parts. In the first part, perception systems are categorized as environment perception systems and positioning estimation systems. The paper presents the physical fundamentals, principle functioning, and electromagnetic spectrum used to operate the most common sensors used in perception systems (ultrasonic, RADAR, LiDAR, cameras, IMU, GNSS, RTK, etc.). Furthermore, their strengths and weaknesses are shown, and the quantification of their features using spider charts will allow proper selection of different sensors depending on 11 features. In the second part, the main elements to be taken into account in the simulation of a perception system of an AV are presented. For this purpose, the paper describes simulators for model-based development, the main game engines that can be used for simulation, simulators from the robotics field, and lastly simulators used specifically for AV. Finally, the current state of regulations that are being applied in different countries around the world on issues concerning the implementation of autonomous vehicles is presented.This work was partially supported by DGT (ref. SPIP2017-02286) and GenoVision (ref. BFU2017-88300-C2-2-R) Spanish Government projects, and the “Research Programme for Groups of Scientific Excellence in the Region of Murcia" of the Seneca Foundation (Agency for Science and Technology in the Region of Murcia – 19895/GERM/15)

Open Platforms for Connected Vehicles

L'abstract è presente nell'allegato / the abstract is in the attachmen

Power quality and electromagnetic compatibility: special report, session 2

The scope of Session 2 (S2) has been defined as follows by the Session Advisory Group and the Technical Committee: Power Quality (PQ), with the more general concept of electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) and with some related safety problems in electricity distribution systems. Special focus is put on voltage continuity (supply reliability, problem of outages) and voltage quality (voltage level, flicker, unbalance, harmonics). This session will also look at electromagnetic compatibility (mains frequency to 150 kHz), electromagnetic interferences and electric and magnetic fields issues. Also addressed in this session are electrical safety and immunity concerns (lightning issues, step, touch and transferred voltages). The aim of this special report is to present a synthesis of the present concerns in PQ&EMC, based on all selected papers of session 2 and related papers from other sessions, (152 papers in total). The report is divided in the following 4 blocks: Block 1: Electric and Magnetic Fields, EMC, Earthing systems Block 2: Harmonics Block 3: Voltage Variation Block 4: Power Quality Monitoring Two Round Tables will be organised: - Power quality and EMC in the Future Grid (CIGRE/CIRED WG C4.24, RT 13) - Reliability Benchmarking - why we should do it? What should be done in future? (RT 15

Signalling Design in Sensor-Assisted mmWave Communications for Cooperative Driving

Millimeter-Wave (mmWave) Vehicle-To-Vehicle (V2V) communications are a key enabler for connected and automated vehicles, as they support the low-latency exchange of control signals and high-resolution imaging data for maneuvering coordination. The employment of mmWave V2V communications calls for Beam Alignment and Tracking (BAT) procedures to ensure that the antenna beams are properly steered during motion. The conventional beam sweeping approach is known to be unsuited for the high vehicular mobility and its large overhead reduces transmission efficiency. A promising solution to reduce BAT signalling foresees the integration of V2V communication systems with on-board vehicle sensors. We focus on a cooperative sensor-assisted architecture for mmWave V2V communications in line of sight, where vehicles exchange the estimate of antenna position and its uncertainty to compute the optimal beam direction and dimension. We analyze and compare different signalling strategies for sharing the information on antenna estimate, evaluating the tradeoff between signalling overhead and performance loss for different position and uncertainty encoding strategies. Main attention is given to differential quantization on both the antenna position and uncertainty. Analyses over realistic urban mobility trajectories suggest that differential approaches introduce a negligible performance loss while significantly reducing the BAT signalling communication overhead