2,159 research outputs found
Distributed Control of Microscopic Robots in Biomedical Applications
Current developments in molecular electronics, motors and chemical sensors
could enable constructing large numbers of devices able to sense, compute and
act in micron-scale environments. Such microscopic machines, of sizes
comparable to bacteria, could simultaneously monitor entire populations of
cells individually in vivo. This paper reviews plausible capabilities for
microscopic robots and the physical constraints due to operation in fluids at
low Reynolds number, diffusion-limited sensing and thermal noise from Brownian
motion. Simple distributed controls are then presented in the context of
prototypical biomedical tasks, which require control decisions on millisecond
time scales. The resulting behaviors illustrate trade-offs among speed,
accuracy and resource use. A specific example is monitoring for patterns of
chemicals in a flowing fluid released at chemically distinctive sites.
Information collected from a large number of such devices allows estimating
properties of cell-sized chemical sources in a macroscopic volume. The
microscopic devices moving with the fluid flow in small blood vessels can
detect chemicals released by tissues in response to localized injury or
infection. We find the devices can readily discriminate a single cell-sized
chemical source from the background chemical concentration, providing
high-resolution sensing in both time and space. By contrast, such a source
would be difficult to distinguish from background when diluted throughout the
blood volume as obtained with a blood sample
Velocity field path-planning for single and multiple unmanned ariel vehicles
Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) have seen a rapid growth in utilisation for reconnaissance, mostly using single UAVs. However, future utilisation of UAVs for applications such as bistatic synthetic aperture radar and stereoscopic imaging, will require the use of multiple UAVs acting cooperatively to achieve mission goals. In addition, to de-skill the operation of UAVs for certain applications will require the migration of path-planning functions from the ground to the UAV. This paper details a computationally efficient algorithm to enable path-planning for single UAVs and to form and re-form UAV formations with active collision avoidance. The algorithm presented extends classical potential field methods used in other domains for the UAV path-planning problem. It is demonstrated that a range of tasks can be executed autonomously, allowing high level tasking of single and multiple UAVs in formation, with the formation commanded as a single entity
Solving the potential field local minimum problem using internal agent states
We propose a new, extended artificial potential field method, which uses dynamic internal agent states. The internal states are modelled as a dynamical system of coupled first order differential equations that manipulate the potential field in which the agent is situated. The internal state dynamics are forced by the interaction of the agent with the external environment. Local equilibria in the potential field are then manipulated by the internal states and transformed from stable equilibria to unstable equilibria, allowiong escape from local minima in the potential field. This new methodology successfully solves reactive path planning problems, such as a complex maze with multiple local minima, which cannot be solved using conventional static potential fields
Acoustic Communication for Medical Nanorobots
Communication among microscopic robots (nanorobots) can coordinate their
activities for biomedical tasks. The feasibility of in vivo ultrasonic
communication is evaluated for micron-size robots broadcasting into various
types of tissues. Frequencies between 10MHz and 300MHz give the best tradeoff
between efficient acoustic generation and attenuation for communication over
distances of about 100 microns. Based on these results, we find power available
from ambient oxygen and glucose in the bloodstream can readily support
communication rates of about 10,000 bits/second between micron-sized robots. We
discuss techniques, such as directional acoustic beams, that can increase this
rate. The acoustic pressure fields enabling this communication are unlikely to
damage nearby tissue, and short bursts at considerably higher power could be of
therapeutic use.Comment: added discussion of communication channel capacity in section
Identification for control of suspended objects in non-Newtonian fluids
This paper proposes a framework for modelling velocity profiles and suspended objects in non-Newtonian fluid environment. A setup is proposed to allow mimicking blood properties and arterial to venous dynamic flow changes. Navier-Stokes relations are employed followed by fractional constitutive equations for velocity profiles and flow. The theoretical analysis is performed under assumptions of steady and pulsatile flow conditions, with incompressible properties. The fractional derivative model for velocity and friction drag effect upon a suspended object are determined. Experimental data from such an object is then recorded in real-time and identification of a fractional order model performed. The model is determined from step input changes during pulsatile flow for velocity in the direction of the flow. Further on, this model can be employed for controller design purposes for velocity and position in pulsatile non-Newtonian fluid flow
The minimum energy expenditure shortest path method
This article discusses the addition of an energy parameter to the shortest path execution process; namely, the energy expenditure by a character during execution of the path. Given a simple environment in which a character has the ability to perform actions related to locomotion, such as walking and stair stepping, current techniques execute the shortest path based on the length of the extracted root trajectory. However, actual humans acting in constrained environments do not plan only according to shortest path criterion, they conceptually measure the path that minimizes the amount of energy expenditure. On this basis, it seems that virtual characters should also execute their paths according to the minimization of actual energy expenditure as well. In this article, a simple method that uses a formula for computing vanadium dioxide () levels, which is a proxy for the energy expenditure by humans during various activities, is presented. The presented solution could be beneficial in any situation requiring a sophisticated perspective of the path-execution process. Moreover, it can be implemented in almost every path-planning method that has the ability to measure stepping actions or other actions of a virtual character
Identifying Vessel Branching from Fluid Stresses on Microscopic Robots
Objects moving in fluids experience patterns of stress on their surfaces
determined by the geometry of nearby boundaries. Flows at low Reynolds number,
as occur in microscopic vessels such as capillaries in biological tissues, have
relatively simple relations between stresses and nearby vessel geometry. Using
these relations, this paper shows how a microscopic robot moving with such
flows can use changes in stress on its surface to identify when it encounters
vessel branches.Comment: Version 2 has minor clarification
Aerospace Medicine and Biology: A continuing supplement 180, May 1978
This special bibliography lists 201 reports, articles, and other documents introduced into the NASA scientific and technical information system in April 1978
Aerospace medicine and biology: A continuing bibliography with indexes (supplement 331)
This bibliography lists 129 reports, articles and other documents introduced into the NASA Scientific and Technical Information System during December, 1989. Subject coverage includes: aerospace medicine and psychology, life support systems and controlled environments, safety equipment, exobiology and extraterrestrial life, and flight crew behavior and performance
Aerospace medicine and biology: A continuing bibliography with indexes, supplement 218, April 1981
This bibliography lists 161 reports, articles, and other documents introduced into the NASA scientific and technical information system in March 1981
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