Are we ready for beyond-application high-volume data? The Reeds robot perception benchmark dataset

This paper presents a dataset, called Reeds, for research on robot perception algorithms. The dataset aims to provide demanding benchmark opportunities for algorithms, rather than providing an environment for testing application-specific solutions. A boat was selected as a logging platform in order to provide highly dynamic kinematics. The sensor package includes six high-performance vision sensors, two long-range lidars, radar, as well as GNSS and an IMU. The spatiotemporal resolution of sensors were maximized in order to provide large variations and flexibility in the data, offering evaluation at a large number of different resolution presets based on the resolution found in other datasets. Reeds also provides means of a fair and reproducible comparison of algorithms, by running all evaluations on a common server backend. As the dataset contains massive-scale data, the evaluation principle also serves as a way to avoid moving data unnecessarily.It was also found that naive evaluation of algorithms, where each evaluation is computed sequentially, was not practical as the fetch and decode task of each frame would not scale well. Instead, each frame is only decoded once and then fed to all algorithms in parallel, including for GPU-based algorithms

Microwave imaging for security applications

Microwave imaging technologies have been widely researched in the biomedical field where they rely on the imaging of dielectric properties of tissues. Healthy and malignant tissue have different dielectric properties in the microwave frequency region, therefore, the dielectric properties of a human body’s tissues are generally different from other contraband materials. Consequently, dielectric data analysis techniques using microwave signals can be used to distinguish between different types of materials that could be hidden in the human body, such as explosives or drugs. Other concerns raised about these particular imaging systems were how to build them cost effectively, with less radiation emissions, and to overcome the disadvantages of X-ray imaging systems. The key challenge in security applications using microwave imaging is the image reconstruction methods adopted in order to gain a clear image of illuminated objects inside the human body or underneath clothing. This thesis will discuss in detail how microwave tomography scanning could overcome the challenge of imaging objects concealed in the human body, and prove the concept of imaging inside a human body using image reconstruction algorithms such as Radon transformation image reconstruction. Also, this thesis presents subspace based TR-MUSIC algorithms for point targets and extended targets. The algorithm is based on the collection of the dominant response matrix reflected by targets at the transducers in homogenous backgrounds, and uses the MUSIC function to image it. Lumerical FDTD solution is used to model the transducers and the objects to process its response matrix data in Matlab. Clear images of metal dielectric properties have been clearly detected. Security management understanding in airports is also discussed to use new scanning technologies such as microwave imaging in the future.The main contribution of this reseach is that microwave was proved to be able to image and detect illegal objects embedded or implanted inside human body

Contributions to Intelligent Scene Understanding of Unstructured Environments from 3D lidar sensors

Además, la viabilidad de este enfoque es evaluado mediante la implementación de cuatro tipos de clasificadores de aprendizaje supervisado encontrados en métodos de procesamiento de escenas: red neuronal, máquina de vectores de soporte, procesos gaussianos, y modelos de mezcla gaussiana. La segmentación de objetos es un paso más allá hacia el entendimiento de escena, donde conjuntos de puntos 3D correspondientes al suelo y otros objetos de la escena son aislados. La tesis propone nuevas contribuciones a la segmentación de nubes de puntos basados en mapas de vóxeles caracterizados geométricamente. En concreto, la metodología propuesta se compone de dos pasos: primero, una segmentación del suelo especialmente diseñado para entornos naturales; y segundo, el posterior aislamiento de objetos individuales. Además, el método de segmentación del suelo es integrado en una nueva técnica de mapa de navegabilidad basado en cuadrícula de ocupación el cuál puede ser apropiado para robots móviles en entornos naturales. El diseño y desarrollo de un nuevo y asequible sensor lidar 3D de alta resolución también se ha propuesto en la tesis. Los nuevos MBLs, tales como los desarrollados por Velodyne, están siendo cada vez más un tipo de sensor 3D asequible y popular que ofrece alto ratio de datos en un campo de visión vertical (FOV) limitado. El diseño propuesto consiste en una plataforma giratoria que mejora la resolución y el FOV vertical de un Velodyne VLP-16 de 16 haces. Además, los complejos patrones de escaneo producidos por configuraciones de MBL que rotan se analizan tanto en simulaciones de esfera hueca como en escáneres reales en entornos representativos. Fecha de Lectura de Tesis: 11 de julio 2018.Ingeniería de Sistemas y Automática Resumen tesis: Los sensores lidar 3D son una tecnología clave para navegación, localización, mapeo y entendimiento de escenas en vehículos no tripulados y robots móviles. Esta tecnología, que provee nubes de puntos densas, puede ser especialmente adecuada para nuevas aplicaciones en entornos naturales o desestructurados, tales como búsqueda y rescate, exploración planetaria, agricultura, o exploración fuera de carretera. Esto es un desafío como área de investigación que incluye disciplinas que van desde el diseño de sensor a la inteligencia artificial o el aprendizaje automático (machine learning). En este contexto, esta tesis propone contribuciones al entendimiento inteligente de escenas en entornos desestructurados basado en medidas 3D de distancia a nivel del suelo. En concreto, las contribuciones principales incluyen nuevas metodologías para la clasificación de características espaciales, segmentación de objetos, y evaluación de navegabilidad en entornos naturales y urbanos, y también el diseño y desarrollo de un nuevo lidar rotatorio multi-haz (MBL). La clasificación de características espaciales es muy relevante porque es extensamente requerida como un paso fundamental previo a los problemas de entendimiento de alto nivel de una escena. Las contribuciones de la tesis en este respecto tratan de mejorar la eficacia, tanto en carga computacional como en precisión, de clasificación de aprendizaje supervisado de características de forma espacial (forma tubular, plana o difusa) obtenida mediante el análisis de componentes principales (PCA). Esto se ha conseguido proponiendo un concepto eficiente de vecindario basado en vóxel en una contribución original que define los procedimientos de aprendizaje “offline” y clasificación “online” a la vez que cinco definiciones alternativas de vectores de características basados en PCA

Ten Frontier Technologies for International Development

The report finds clear evidence of the potential of frontier technologies to contribute to social, economic and political development gains in a number of ways, by: • Driving innovations in business models, products and processes that provide new goods and services to ‘bottom of the pyramid’ consumers; • Providing the means by which to make better use of existing underutilised household and productive assets; • Catalysing increases in demand, nationally and internationally, which create new industries and markets, leading to macro- and microeconomic growth; and • Changing demand for labour and capital, leading to direct job creation and transformation of the workforce. For all of the potential upsides, potential downsides must also be considered. While it will largely be the private sector that will drive deployment of these technologies, the public sector through national regulation, as well as development financing, will have a major role in mediating the pace and direction of technological change, both to achieve development objectives, and to protect potential losers.As new technologies and digital business models reshape economies and disrupt incumbencies, interest has surged in the potential of novel frontier technologies to also contribute to positive changes in international development and humanitarian contexts. Widespread adoption of new technologies is acknowledged as centrally important to achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. But while frontier technologies can rapidly address large-scale economic, social or political challenges, they can also involve the displacement of existing technologies and carry considerable uncertainty and risk. Although there have been significant wins bringing the benefits of new technologies to poor consumers through examples such as mobile money or off-grid solar energy, there are many other areas where the applications may not yet have been developed into viable market solutions, or where opportunities have not yet been taken up in development practice

Laser Scanner Technology

Laser scanning technology plays an important role in the science and engineering arena. The aim of the scanning is usually to create a digital version of the object surface. Multiple scanning is sometimes performed via multiple cameras to obtain all slides of the scene under study. Usually, optical tests are used to elucidate the power of laser scanning technology in the modern industry and in the research laboratories. This book describes the recent contributions reported by laser scanning technology in different areas around the world. The main topics of laser scanning described in this volume include full body scanning, traffic management, 3D survey process, bridge monitoring, tracking of scanning, human sensing, three-dimensional modelling, glacier monitoring and digitizing heritage monuments

Implications of industry 4.0 on financial performance: an empirical study

With this thesis, we explore the relationship between industry 4.0 technologies and financial performance. After presenting the fourth industrial revolution and the analysis of management articles and reviews, we describe the database used. Finally research questions are investigated though t-tests and multiple linear regression model

Airport Passenger Processing Technology: A Biometric Airport Journey

A passengers’ traveling journey throughout the airport is anything but simple. A passenger goes through numerous hoops and hurdles before safely boarding the aircraft. Many airports today are implementing isolated solutions for passenger processing. Some of these technologies include automated self-service kiosks and bag tag, self-service bag drop-off, along with automated self-service gates for boarding and border control. These solutions can be integrated with biometric systems to enhance passenger handling. This thesis analyzes the current passenger processing technology implemented at airports around the world and their associated challenges that passengers face. A new passenger processing technology called a biometric single token identification (ID) is presented as a solution to help alleviate current issues. By using a medium-sized international airport as a case study, the results show that a single token ID is beneficial to the time it takes to process a passenger. Furthermore, it demonstrates that implementation of a single token ID with self-service technology can provide enhanced passenger travel experience, improving operational process efficiency, all while ensuring safety and security

2.2. The Things We Can Do with Pictures: Image-Based Modeling and Archaeology

Since the wide-spread availability of cost efficient image-based modeling software emerged five years ago, the discipline of archaeology has seen a proliferation of all things digital. The implementation of 3D modeling specifically is well attested as evidenced initially by a wave of peer-reviewed studies testing the technology for archaeological purposes, which has then been followed by colloquia, conferences panels, workshops, and publications focusing on the technology’s analytical benefits. It remains evident that although digital archaeology is not a new development, it now has a heretofore unpresented degree of staying power. The intention here is to present a critical analysis of the technology by drawing on a set of field applications that highlight how this technology continues to transform the discipline through a diverse set of methodological and interpretive frameworks.https://dc.uwm.edu/arthist_mobilizingthepast/1010/thumbnail.jp

Virtuaalse proovikabiini 3D kehakujude ja roboti juhtimisalgoritmide uurimine

Väitekirja elektrooniline versioon ei sisalda publikatsiooneVirtuaalne riiete proovimine on üks põhilistest teenustest, mille pakkumine võib suurendada rõivapoodide edukust, sest tänu sellele lahendusele väheneb füüsilise töö vajadus proovimise faasis ning riiete proovimine muutub kasutaja jaoks mugavamaks. Samas pole enamikel varem välja pakutud masinnägemise ja graafika meetoditel õnnestunud inimkeha realistlik modelleerimine, eriti terve keha 3D modelleerimine, mis vajab suurt kogust andmeid ja palju arvutuslikku ressurssi. Varasemad katsed on ebaõnnestunud põhiliselt seetõttu, et ei ole suudetud korralikult arvesse võtta samaaegseid muutusi keha pinnal. Lisaks pole varasemad meetodid enamasti suutnud kujutiste liikumisi realistlikult reaalajas visualiseerida. Käesolev projekt kavatseb kõrvaldada eelmainitud puudused nii, et rahuldada virtuaalse proovikabiini vajadusi. Välja pakutud meetod seisneb nii kasutaja keha kui ka riiete skaneerimises, analüüsimises, modelleerimises, mõõtmete arvutamises, orientiiride paigutamises, mannekeenidelt võetud 3D visuaalsete andmete segmenteerimises ning riiete mudeli paigutamises ja visualiseerimises kasutaja kehal. Selle projekti käigus koguti visuaalseid andmeid kasutades 3D laserskannerit ja Kinecti optilist kaamerat ning koostati nendest andmebaas. Neid andmeid kasutati välja töötatud algoritmide testimiseks, mis peamiselt tegelevad riiete realistliku visuaalse kujutamisega inimkehal ja suuruse pakkumise süsteemi täiendamisega virtuaalse proovikabiini kontekstis.Virtual fitting constitutes a fundamental element of the developments expected to rise the commercial prosperity of online garment retailers to a new level, as it is expected to reduce the load of the manual labor and physical efforts required. Nevertheless, most of the previously proposed computer vision and graphics methods have failed to accurately and realistically model the human body, especially, when it comes to the 3D modeling of the whole human body. The failure is largely related to the huge data and calculations required, which in reality is caused mainly by inability to properly account for the simultaneous variations in the body surface. In addition, most of the foregoing techniques cannot render realistic movement representations in real-time. This project intends to overcome the aforementioned shortcomings so as to satisfy the requirements of a virtual fitting room. The proposed methodology consists in scanning and performing some specific analyses of both the user's body and the prospective garment to be virtually fitted, modeling, extracting measurements and assigning reference points on them, and segmenting the 3D visual data imported from the mannequins. Finally, superimposing, adopting and depicting the resulting garment model on the user's body. The project is intended to gather sufficient amounts of visual data using a 3D laser scanner and the Kinect optical camera, to manage it in form of a usable database, in order to experimentally implement the algorithms devised. The latter will provide a realistic visual representation of the garment on the body, and enhance the size-advisor system in the context of the virtual fitting room under study

Connected healthcare: Improving patient care using digital health technologies

Now more than ever, traditional healthcare models are being overhauled with digital technologies of Healthcare 4.0 being increasingly adopted. Worldwide, digital devices are improving every stage of the patient care pathway. For one, sensors are being used to monitor patient metrics 24/7, permitting swift diagnosis and interventions. At the treatment stage, 3D printers are currently being investigated for the concept of personalised medicine by allowing patients access to on-demand, customisable therapeutics. Robots are also being explored for treatment, by empowering precision surgery or targeted drug delivery. Within medical logistics, drones are being leveraged to deliver critical treatments to remote areas, collect samples, and even provide emergency aid. To enable seamless integration within healthcare, the Internet of Things technology is being exploited to form closed-loop systems that remotely communicate with one another. This review outlines the most promising healthcare technologies and devices, their strengths, drawbacks, and scopes for clinical adoption