48 research outputs found
A survey of technologies supporting design of a multimodal interactive robot for military communication
Purpose – This paper presents a survey of research into interactive robotic systems for the purpose of identifying the state of the art capabilities as well as the extant gaps in this emerging field. Communication is multimodal. Multimodality is a representation of many modes chosen from rhetorical aspects for its communication potentials. The author seeks to define the available automation capabilities in communication using multimodalities that will support a proposed Interactive Robot System (IRS) as an AI mounted robotic platform to advance the speed and quality of military operational and tactical decision making. Design/methodology/approach – This review will begin by presenting key developments in the robotic interaction field with the objective of identifying essential technological developments that set conditions for robotic platforms to function autonomously. After surveying the key aspects in Human Robot Interaction (HRI), Unmanned Autonomous System (UAS), visualization, Virtual Environment (VE) and prediction, the paper then proceeds to describe the gaps in the application areas that will require extension and integration to enable the prototyping of the IRS. A brief examination of other work in HRI-related fields concludes with a recapitulation of the IRS challenge that will set conditions for future success. Findings – Using insights from a balanced cross section of sources from the government, academic, and commercial entities that contribute to HRI a multimodal IRS in military communication is introduced. Multimodal IRS (MIRS) in military communication has yet to be deployed. Research limitations/implications – Multimodal robotic interface for the MIRS is an interdisciplinary endeavour. This is not realistic that one can comprehend all expert and related knowledge and skills to design and develop such multimodal interactive robotic interface. In this brief preliminary survey, the author has discussed extant AI, robotics, NLP, CV, VDM, and VE applications that is directly related to multimodal interaction. Each mode of this multimodal communication is an active research area. Multimodal human/military robot communication is the ultimate goal of this research. Practical implications – A multimodal autonomous robot in military communication using speech, images, gestures, VST and VE has yet to be deployed. Autonomous multimodal communication is expected to open wider possibilities for all armed forces. Given the density of the land domain, the army is in a position to exploit the opportunities for human–machine teaming (HMT) exposure. Naval and air forces will adopt platform specific suites for specially selected operators to integrate with and leverage this emerging technology. The possession of a flexible communications means that readily adapts to virtual training will enhance planning and mission rehearsals tremendously. Social implications – Interaction, perception, cognition and visualization based multimodal communication system is yet missing. Options to communicate, express and convey information in HMT setting with multiple options, suggestions and recommendations will certainly enhance military communication, strength, engagement, security, cognition, perception as well as the ability to act confidently for a successful mission. Originality/value – The objective is to develop a multimodal autonomous interactive robot for military communications. This survey reports the state of the art, what exists and what is missing, what can be done and possibilities of extension that support the military in maintaining effective communication using multimodalities. There are some separate ongoing progresses, such as in machine-enabled speech, image recognition, tracking, visualizations for situational awareness, and virtual environments. At this time, there is no integrated approach for multimodal human robot interaction that proposes a flexible and agile communication. The report briefly introduces the research proposal about multimodal interactive robot in military communication
Automatic Control and Routing of Marine Vessels
Due to the intensive development of the global economy, many problems are constantly emerging connected to the safety of ships’ motion in the context of increasing marine traffic. These problems seem to be especially significant for the further development of marine transportation services, with the need to considerably increase their efficiency and reliability. One of the most commonly used approaches to ensuring safety and efficiency is the wide implementation of various automated systems for guidance and control, including such popular systems as marine autopilots, dynamic positioning systems, speed control systems, automatic routing installations, etc. This Special Issue focuses on various problems related to the analysis, design, modelling, and operation of the aforementioned systems. It covers such actual problems as tracking control, path following control, ship weather routing, course keeping control, control of autonomous underwater vehicles, ship collision avoidance. These problems are investigated using methods such as neural networks, sliding mode control, genetic algorithms, L2-gain approach, optimal damping concept, fuzzy logic and others. This Special Issue is intended to present and discuss significant contemporary problems in the areas of automatic control and the routing of marine vessels
Biologically Inspired Connected Advanced Driver Assistance Systems
Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) have become commonplace in the automotive industry over the last few decades. Even with the advent of ADAS, however, there are still a significant number of accidents and fatalities. ADAS has in some instances been shown to significantly reduce the number and severity of accidents. Manufacturers are working to avoid ADAS plateauing for effectiveness, which has led the industry to pursue various avenues of investment to ascend the next mountain of challenges – vehicle autonomy, smart mobility, connectivity, and electrification – for reducing accidents and injuries. A number of studies pertaining to ADAS scrutinize a specific ADAS technology for its effectiveness at mitigating accidents and reducing injury severity. A few studies take holistic accounts of ADAS. There are a number of directions ADAS could be further progressed. Industry manufacturers are improving existing ADAS technologies through multiple avenues of technology advancement. A number of ADAS systems have already been improved from passive, alert or warning, systems to active systems which provide early warning and if no action is taken will control the vehicle to avoid a collision or reduce the impact of the collision. Studies about the individual ADAS technologies have found significant improvement for reduction in collisions, but when evaluating the actual vehicles driving the performance of ADAS has been fairly constant since 2015. At the same time, industry is looking at networking vehicle ADAS with fixed infrastructure or with other vehicles’ ADAS. The present literature surrounding connected ADAS be it with fixed systems or other vehicles with ADAS focuses on the why and the how information is passed between vehicles. The ultimate goal of ADAS and connected ADAS is the development of autonomous vehicles.
Biologically inspired systems provide an intriguing avenue for examination by applying self-organization found in biological communities to connecting ADAS among vehicles and fixed systems. Biological systems developed over millions of years to become highly organized and efficient. Biological inspiration has been used with much success in several engineering and science disciplines to optimize processes and designs. Applying movement patterns found in nature to automotive transportation is a rational progression.
This work strategizes how to further the effectiveness of ADAS through the connection of ADAS with supporting assets both fixed systems and other vehicles with ADAS based on biological inspiration. The connection priorities will be refined by the relative positioning of the assets interacting with a particular vehicle’s ADAS. Then based on the relative positioning data distribution among systems will be stratified based on level of relevance. This will reduce the processing time for incorporating the external data into the ADAS actions.
This dissertation contributes to the present understanding of ADAS effectiveness in real-world situations and set forth a method for how to optimally connect local ADAS vehicles following from biological inspiration. Also, there will be a better understanding of how ADAS reduces accidents and injury severity. The method for how to structure an ADAS network will provide a framework for auto-manufacturers for the development of their proprietary networked ADAS. This method will lead to a new horizon for reducing accidents and injury severity through the design of connecting ADAS equipped vehicles.Ph.D
Remote Sensing of the Aquatic Environments
The book highlights recent research efforts in the monitoring of aquatic districts with remote sensing observations and proximal sensing technology integrated with laboratory measurements. Optical satellite imagery gathered at spatial resolutions down to few meters has been used for quantitative estimations of harmful algal bloom extent and Chl-a mapping, as well as winds and currents from SAR acquisitions. The knowledge and understanding gained from this book can be used for the sustainable management of bodies of water across our planet