The power of the crowd: promise and potential of crowdsourcing for education

Crowdsourcing is the term often used for processes of data collation and creation where individuals or groups of users who are not necessarily located centrally generate content that is then shared. While the term originates within the world of business, it has since gained traction within a number of academic and professional disciplines. Drawing upon two examples that have originated within the Republic of Ireland, this paper reflects on the educational potential of crowdsourcing. Firstly, it reports a unique one-year open crowdsourcing initiative which compiled a comprehensive A-Z directory of edtech tools for teaching and learning through collaborative contributions. Secondly, it describes an initiative to develop a crowdsourced repository of study tips and suggestions for adult, part-time, online and flexible learners embarking on further study. These two case studies provide a valuable context for considering the wider potential of crowdsourcing applications for teaching and learning purposes

Taxonomy as the key to life.

Taxonomy is a key to life not only in providing guides to distinguishing species but in opening the door to knowledge about biodiversity. Names of species, as the only standardised measure of biodiversity, are essential for communication of information about nature. However, new knowledge means that what we understand each species to be may change over time. Online species databases are improving accessibility to this knowledge and expertise and provide an easy way to keep up to date with species nomenclature and classification. I propose three practical priorities for taxonomy: (1) complete a world list of all known species; (2) establish an online cooperative community infrastructure that updates species nomenclature and links it to associated literature, information and expertise; (3) create an internet portal as a key to life on Earth. The first is near completion in the Catalogue of Life. The second has an exemplar in the World Register of Marine Species. The third goal has not begun but some of its ingredients exist. This key to life should make it easy for anybody with internet access to accurately name, and discover unnamed, species, and learn about their natural history. Moreover, a “key to life” infrastructure suitably supported by the community and science organisations, could be a focal point for a world taxonomic society and a taxonomy based mega-science initiative to understand life on Earth.publishedVersio

Taxonomy as the key to life.

Taxonomy is a key to life not only in providing guides to distinguishing species but in opening the door to knowledge about biodiversity. Names of species, as the only standardised measure of biodiversity, are essential for communication of information about nature. However, new knowledge means that what we understand each species to be may change over time. Online species databases are improving accessibility to this knowledge and expertise and provide an easy way to keep up to date with species nomenclature and classification. I propose three practical priorities for taxonomy: (1) complete a world list of all known species; (2) establish an online cooperative community infrastructure that updates species nomenclature and links it to associated literature, information and expertise; (3) create an internet portal as a key to life on Earth. The first is near completion in the Catalogue of Life. The second has an exemplar in the World Register of Marine Species. The third goal has not begun but some of its ingredients exist. This key to life should make it easy for anybody with internet access to accurately name, and discover unnamed, species, and learn about their natural history. Moreover, a “key to life” infrastructure suitably supported by the community and science organisations, could be a focal point for a world taxonomic society and a taxonomy based mega-science initiative to understand life on Earth.publishedVersio

On the Use of Rigging Angle and Canopy Tilt for Control of a Parafoil and Payload System

Controllable parafoil and payload aircraft are controlled with downward deflection of left and right parafoil brakes. Lateral control is obtained by differential deflection while longitudinal control is created by collective deflection of the left and right side parafoil brakes. The work reported considers an alternative method to control parafoil and payload air vehicles by tilting the parafoil canopy for lateral control and changing rigging angle for longitudinal control. Using a nonlinear 9 degree of freedom simulation model, it is shown that canopy tilt provides a powerful lateral control mechanism and rigging angle provides a viable longitudinal control mechanism

Aspects of Control for a Parafoil and Payload System

A parafoil controlled by parafoil brake deflection offers a lightweight and space-efficient control mechanism for autonomous placement of air-dropped payloads to specified ground coordinates. The work reported here investigates control issues for a parafoil and payload system with left and right parafoil brakes used as the control mechanism. It is shown that parafoil and payload systems can exhibit two basic modes of lateral control, namely,roll and skid steering. These two modes of lateral steering generate lateral response in opposite directions. For example, a roll steer configuration turns left when the right parafoil brake is activated, whereas a skid steer configuration turns right under the same control input. In transition between roll and skid lateral steering, the lateral response is zero, and the system becomes uncontrollable.Angle of incidence, canopy curvature of the parafoil, and magnitude of brake deflections are important design parameters for a controllable parafoil and payload system and greatly effect control response, including whether the basic lateral control mode is roll or skid steering. It is shown how the steering mode switches when fundamental design parameters are altered and as the magnitude of the brake deflection increases. The mode of directional control transitions toward roll steering as the canopy curvature decreases or the angle of incidence becomes more negative. The mode of directional control transitions away from the roll steering mode as the magnitude of the brake deflection increases, and for “large” brake deflections most parafoils will always skid steer

Utilizing Ground-Based LIDAR Measurements to Aid Autonomous Airdrop Systems

Uncertainty in atmospheric winds represents one of the primary sources of landing error in airdrop systems. In this work, a ground-based LIDAR system samples the wind field at discrete points above the target and transmits real-time data to approaching autonomous airdrop systems. In simulation and experimentation, the inclusion of a light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system showed a maximum of 40% improvement over unaided autonomous airdrop systems. Wind information nearest ground level has the largest impact on improving accuracy

Variable Structure Observer for Control Bias on Unmanned Air Vehicles

ENGINEERING NOTES are short manuscripts describing new developments or important results of a preliminary nature. These Notes should not exceed 2500 words (where a figure or table counts as 200 words). Following informal review by the Editors, they may be published within a few months of the date of receipt. Style requirements are the same as for regular contributions (see inside back cover)

Comparison of Measured and Simulated Motion of a Controllable Parafoil and Payload System

For parafoil and payload aircraft, control is affected by changing the length of several rigging lines connected to the outboard side and rear of the parafoil leading to complex changes in the shape and orientation of the lifting surface. Flight mechanics of parafoil and payload aircraft most often employ a 6 or 9 DOF representation with the canopy modeled as a rigid body during flight. The effect of control inputs is idealized by the deflection of parafoil brakes on the left and right side of the parafoil. Using a small parafoil and payload aircraft, glide rates and turn performance were measured and compared against a 9 DOF simulation model. This work shows that to properly capture control response of parafoil and payload aircraft, tilt of the parafoil canopy must be accounted for along with left and right parafoil brake deflection