Energy Efficiency

This book is one of the most comprehensive and up-to-date books written on Energy Efficiency. The readers will learn about different technologies for energy efficiency policies and programs to reduce the amount of energy. The book provides some studies and specific sets of policies and programs that are implemented in order to maximize the potential for energy efficiency improvement. It contains unique insights from scientists with academic and industrial expertise in the field of energy efficiency collected in this multi-disciplinary forum

Communication in Mobile Robotics

Cílem této práce je poskytnout náhled do způsobů, jakými by se daly vylepšit komunikační spoje používané v mobilní a zejména servisní a záchranářské robotice. Elektromagnetické spektrum, zejména rádiové spektrum, je rozebráno vzhledem k nutnosti určit frekvence na kterých je možné komunikační spoje provozovat. Dále jsou popsány digitální modulace, jelikož mají vliv na chování signálu v přítomnosti rušení. Rovněž jsou popsány možnosti vylepšení komunikačních spojů, a to včetně jejich vhodného použití a možné implementace. Je vyvinut komunikační subsystém založený na routerech MikroTik. Tento komunikační subsystém je schopen retranslace a je vybaven hardwarem potřebným pro implementaci záložního spoje založeného na LTE. Jako testovací robot je oživen robot Orpheus HOPE, který je vybaven novou řídicí deskou, firmwarem, zmíněným komunikačním subsystémem a přejmenován na Orpheus CT. Dále je vyvinut systém pro měření vlastností komunikačních spojů, který je následně ověřen během dvou experimentů. Třetí experiment se zabývá testováním funkce retranslace komunikačního subsystému. Zhodnocení experimentů ukazuje, že zmíněný měřicí systém funguje a že komunikační subsystém je vhodný pro použití v robotech servisní a záchranářské robotiky.The goal of this thesis is to provide insight into ways of improving communication links used in mobile robotics, specifically in field robotics. First, the electromagnetic spectrum is studied in order to provide information about what frequencies can be used. Digital modulations are described as well as they greatly influence link's behavior in presence of noise. Furthermore, various ways of enhancing communication links are described alongside with ideas about their use and implementation. A communication subsystem based on MikroTik routers suitable for field robotics robots is designed and developed. This communication subsystem is capable of retranslation and has hardware required for implementation of redundant communication link based on LTE. Revival of Orpheus HOPE robot is then described. The robot is equipped with a new control unit firmware, the communication subsystem and is renamed to Orpheus CT. A simple system suitable for measuring communication link properties is developed and tested. The system for measuring link properties is then evaluated during two experiments. One experiment is dedicated to testing of retranslation capabilities of the communication subsystem. Evaluation of experiment results shows that the measurement system works and that the communication subsystem is suitable for implementation into real field robots.

Automated construction technologies : analyses and future development strategies

Thesis (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Architecture, 2005.Page 140 blank.Includes bibliographical references (p. 130-132).Substandard productivity and the lack of skilled workers in the construction industry have led major corporations all over the world aiming to produce various types of automated construction technologies. During the process, novel ideologies of design and construction techniques have been realized and the push for these applications has never been greater. This thesis will look to answer the question of benefit and effectiveness of automated construction technology. It will focus on three basic concepts: 1) Analyzing existing automated construction technology; 2) understanding of automated machine design and components; 3) proposal of a multi-purpose pick-and-place machine for the automated construction process. In the end, the intention will be to promote a design intensive approach to automated construction technology in order to advance the conventional methodologies of design and construction.by Han Hoang.S.M

SMART MATERIALS FOR STRETCHABLE ELECTRONICS, SENSORS AND SOFT ACTUATION

Smart materials can be exploited to facilitate disruptive or transformative changes in several fields like stretchable electronics, soft robotics or to develop new class of sensors. They are innovative materials that interact with the environment and respond to external stimuli altering their physical properties in a controlled fashion. They are made integrating different materials at the nanoscale in a nanocomposite to obtain novel functionalities that are not showed from individual constituents. Polymers are the best candidates to be used in smart material fabrication because of their structural and functional properties that can be easily tuned. Moreover, they are low-cost, versatile and can be processed into any shape including thin films. In order to exploit smart materials for soft robotics or stretchable electronic applications, it is required that they should be electrically conductive, patternable, have good mechanical properties and need to be able to transduce an electrical signal in a mechanical response. In addition, their functionalities should remain unchanged over a long period of time. Thus polymers are combined with hard materials like metals, semiconductors or standard electronic components. It is challenging to fabricate technologically relevant smart materials combining hard and soft materials because of their intrinsic physical diversities. Standard manufacturing processes fail to achieve the needed requirements. Among different processes to fabricate smart materials based on polymers, Supersonic Cluster Beam Implantation (SCBI) and Supersonic Cluster Beam Deposition (SCBD) are effective techniques to realize smart materials based on metal/polymer nanocomposites. In my thesis work, I have demonstrated that it is possible to produce new robust smart materials, designing both their electrical and mechanical properties with sharp precision. Metal/polymer nanocomposites have been designed at the nanoscale level to obtain sensors, actuators and electronic devices. Their electrical and mechanical properties have been characterized and their performances have been tested under different stress conditions

Advantages and challenges of unmanned aerial vehicle autonomy in the Postheroic age

Over the past decade, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have revolutionized how the U.S. engages elusive militants in low-intensity conflicts by allowing the U.S. to project continuous military power without risking combat casualties. While UAV usage promises additional tactical advantages in future conflicts, little agreement exists regarding a strategic vision for UAV research and development, necessary for the U.S. to allocate limited resources among UAV development programs that address national security objectives. The present research makes the case for a future UAV technology evolutionary path leading to fully autonomous intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR)/strike UAV systems for the United States Air Force that are capable of sensing their environments through multiple modalities, recognizing patterns, and executing appropriate actions in response to their real-time analyses. The thesis addresses enabling technology inroads stemming from major improvements in our understanding of human neural circuitry that promise to enable innovations in the artificial intelligence needed to achieve autonomous system function. Arguments are based on projected military and economic benefits of autonomous systems and extend the historical model established by the CIA\u27s successful UAV program to unconventional warfare (UW) conflicts that the U.S. Air Force finds itself ill-equipped to handle. Counter-arguments are addressed relating to uncontrolled lethal technology, conflict initiation thresholds, and the vulnerability of overreliance on high-technology systems. In making the case for fully automated UAV technology, research provides a strategic future vision for autonomous UAV usage by highlighting the important interaction of artificial intelligence, “smart” wide-area sensors, and cooperative micro UAVs

Precision Agriculture Technology for Crop Farming

This book provides a review of precision agriculture technology development, followed by a presentation of the state-of-the-art and future requirements of precision agriculture technology. It presents different styles of precision agriculture technologies suitable for large scale mechanized farming; highly automated community-based mechanized production; and fully mechanized farming practices commonly seen in emerging economic regions. The book emphasizes the introduction of core technical features of sensing, data processing and interpretation technologies, crop modeling and production control theory, intelligent machinery and field robots for precision agriculture production

Special oils for halal and safe cosmetics

Three types of non conventional oils were extracted, analyzed and tested for toxicity. Date palm kernel oil (DPKO), mango kernel oil (MKO) and Ramputan seed oil (RSO). Oil content for tow cultivars of dates Deglect Noor and Moshkan was 9.67% and 7.30%, respectively. The three varieties of mango were found to contain about 10% oil in average. The red yellow types of Ramputan were found to have 11 and 14% oil, respectively. The phenolic compounds in DPKO, MKO and RSO were 0.98, 0.88 and 0.78 mg/ml Gallic acid equivalent, respectively. Oils were analyzed for their fatty acid composition and they are rich in oleic acid C18:1 and showed the presence of (dodecanoic acid) lauric acid C12:0, which reported to appear some antimicrobial activities. All extracted oils, DPKO, MKO and RSO showed no toxic effect using prime shrimp bioassay. Since these oils are stable, melt at skin temperature, have good lubricity and are great source of essential fatty acids; they could be used as highly moisturizing, cleansing and nourishing oils because of high oleic acid content. They are ideal for use in such halal cosmetics such as Science, Engineering and Technology 75 skin care and massage, hair-care, soap and shampoo products

Precision Agriculture Technology for Crop Farming

This book provides a review of precision agriculture technology development, followed by a presentation of the state-of-the-art and future requirements of precision agriculture technology. It presents different styles of precision agriculture technologies suitable for large scale mechanized farming; highly automated community-based mechanized production; and fully mechanized farming practices commonly seen in emerging economic regions. The book emphasizes the introduction of core technical features of sensing, data processing and interpretation technologies, crop modeling and production control theory, intelligent machinery and field robots for precision agriculture production

Technology 2002: The Third National Technology Transfer Conference and Exposition, volume 2

Proceedings from symposia of the Technology 2002 Conference and Exposition, December 1-3, 1992, Baltimore, MD. Volume 2 features 60 papers presented during 30 concurrent sessions

Advances in Reinforcement Learning

Reinforcement Learning (RL) is a very dynamic area in terms of theory and application. This book brings together many different aspects of the current research on several fields associated to RL which has been growing rapidly, producing a wide variety of learning algorithms for different applications. Based on 24 Chapters, it covers a very broad variety of topics in RL and their application in autonomous systems. A set of chapters in this book provide a general overview of RL while other chapters focus mostly on the applications of RL paradigms: Game Theory, Multi-Agent Theory, Robotic, Networking Technologies, Vehicular Navigation, Medicine and Industrial Logistic