Microcontrolled and networked based mobile robot electronic system

Robotics is increasingly on the agenda to perform both complex tasks in uninviting environment and also for routine actions of our day-to-day. The challenges and demands are constant. The back-office work is demanding, highly skilled and requires a lot of dedication, research and tenacity. Clearly and concisely, this work illustrates the foundations for a machine, the steps to get there, a prospect of easy and reliable use. Enjoy this auspicious and inspiring reading

Mobile robot electronic system with a network and micro-controller based interface

This paper describes the electronic system used to a mobile tank-robot and the network and micro-controlled based interface proceeding to drive it

Technisches Informationssystem für die Entwicklung textilbewehrten Betons

In der letzten Periode des Sonderforschungsbereichs 532 wurde eine benutzerfreundliche Internetplattform für den Verbundwerkstoff Textilbeton entwickelt. Die Plattform beinhaltet auf verschiedenen Ebenen umfassende Informationen über Textilbeton, die in Form eines digitalen Handbuchs aufbereitet sind. Präsentiert werden unter anderem die Möglichkeiten des Bauens mit Textilbeton, die Bauteilbemessung, die materialspezifischen Festigkeits- und Verbundeigenschaften sowie verschiedene Produktionstechnologien. Mit der neuen Internetpräsentation wird der Transfer der Forschungsergebnisse in die Baupraxis gezielt unterstützt, und der Baustoff Textilbeton wird der breiten Öffentlichkeit anschaulich näher gebracht.Within the last period of the collaborative research center SFB 532 a user friendly internet platform for textile reinforced concrete was developed. The platform provides various information about textile reinforce concrete on different information levels, which are combined in a digital handbook for textile reinforced concrete. The platform presents application examples of textile reinforced concrete, design rules for different types of construction elements, material and bond characteristics, production technologies and other helpful information for the practical application of textile reinforced concrete. The internet platform will support the transfer of the research results into the building practice and demonstrate the wide range of applications with textile reinforced concrete

Tradeoff between User Experience and BCI Classification Accuracy with Frequency Modulated Steady-State Visual Evoked Potentials

Steady-state visual evoked potentials (SSVEPs) have been widely employed for the control of brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) because they are very robust, lead to high performance, and allow for a high number of commands. However, such flickering stimuli often also cause user discomfort and fatigue, especially when several light sources are used simultaneously. Different variations of SSVEP driving signals have been proposed to increase user comfort. Here, we investigate the suitability of frequency modulation of a high frequency carrier for SSVEP-BCIs. We compared BCI performance and user experience between frequency modulated (FM) and traditional sinusoidal (SIN) SSVEPs in an offline classification paradigm with four independently flickering light-emitting diodes which were overtly attended (fixated). While classification performance was slightly reduced with the FM stimuli, the user comfort was significantly increased. Comparing the SSVEPs for covert attention to the stimuli (without fixation) was not possible, as no reliable SSVEPs were evoked. Our results reveal that several, simultaneously flickering, light emitting diodes can be used to generate FM-SSVEPs with different frequencies and the resulting occipital electroencephalography (EEG) signals can be classified with high accuracy. While the performance we report could be further improved with adjusted stimuli and algorithms, we argue that the increased comfort is an important result and suggest the use of FM stimuli for future SSVEP-BCI applications

Comparative Assessment of Quantification Methods for Tumor Tissue Phosphoproteomics

With increasing sensitivity and accuracy in mass spectrometry, the tumor phosphoproteome is getting into reach. However, the selection of quantitation techniques best-suited to the biomedical question and diagnostic requirements remains a trial and error decision as no study has directly compared their performance for tumor tissue phosphoproteomics. We compared label-free quantification (LFQ), spike-in-SILAC (stable isotope labeling by amino acids in cell culture), and tandem mass tag (TMT) isobaric tandem mass tags technology for quantitative phosphosite profiling in tumor tissue. Compared to the classic SILAC method, spike-in-SILAC is not limited to cell culture analysis, making it suitable for quantitative analysis of tumor tissue samples. TMT offered the lowest accuracy and the highest precision and robustness toward different phosphosite abundances and matrices. Spike-in-SILAC offered the best compromise between these features but suffered from a low phosphosite coverage. LFQ offered the lowest precision but the highest number of identifications. Both spike-in-SILAC and LFQ presented susceptibility to matrix effects. Match between run (MBR)-based analysis enhanced the phosphosite coverage across technical replicates in LFQ and spike-in-SILAC but further reduced the precision and robustness of quantification. The choice of quantitative methodology is critical for both study design such as sample size in sample groups and quantified phosphosites and comparison of published cancer phosphoproteomes. Using ovarian cancer tissue as an example, our study builds a resource for the design and analysis of quantitative phosphoproteomic studies in cancer research and diagnostics

Novel UV-transparent 2-component polyurethane resin for chip-on-board LED micro lenses

In this work we present a novel optical polymer system based on polyurethane elastomer components, which combines excellent UV transparency with high thermal stability, good hardness, high surface tension and long pot life. The material looks very promising for encapsulation and microlensing applications for chip-on-board (CoB) light-emitting diodes (LED). The extinction coefficient k, refractive index n, and bandgap parameters were derived from transmission and reflection measurements in a wavelength range of 200-890 nm. Thermogravimetry and differential scanning calorimetry were used to provide glass transition and degradation temperatures. The surface tension was determined by means of contact angle measurements. As proof of concept, a commercial InGaN-CoB-LED is used to demonstrate the suitability of the new material for the production of microlenses. © 2020 Optical Society of America

Future improvements in conjunction assessment and collision avoidance using a combined laser tracking/nudging network

The expected significant increase of space launch activities in the next years, both from spacefaring nations and in the private sector, yields an enhanced risk of space debris generation. In this regard, space situational awareness (SSA) is mandatory not only for the protection of active space missions, but as a prerequisite to prevent aggravation of the space debris environment by cascading effects of secondary debris generation due to in-space collisions. High accuracy in laser ranging to space objects (within a meter or better) has already been demonstrated, e.g., by the International Laser Ranging Service (ILRS) network. Thus, laser ranging can be considered as a highly promising sensor technology for space surveillance in the Low Earth Orbit (LEO) which has the potential to complement existing radar facilities in terms of achievable state vector accuracy. Furthermore several laser-based concepts on orbit modification have been proposed in the recent years. In particular, momentum transfer to space debris via photon pressure appears to become feasible, due to advancements in adaptive optics and the commercial availability of high power lasers with an average power output beyond the 10 kW level. This allows for the setup of a network of comparably cost-efficient laser stations for momentum transfer in the near future paving the way for the capability to remotely operate space debris in particular in terms of debris vs. debris collision avoidance maneuvers. In the scope of the conceptual study LARAMOTIONS (SSA P3-SST-XV) funded by the European Space Agency (ESA) simulations of a ground-based laser tracking and momentum transfer network have been carried out in order to estimate the subsequent improvements in conjunction assessment and collision avoidance for operational satellites as well as for debris vs. debris encounters. Therefore, the software generates reference trajectories from a Two-Line-Element (TLE) catalogue for any number of target objects in LEO. From these trajectories station passes as well as random measurement samples are computed and the orbit determination process is simulated yielding the collision rate and false alert rate of the given network. Special emphasis is taken on considering station downtimes due to weather conditions by introducing a station-specific duty cycle based on the analysis of historical weather data. Afterwards a momentum transfer network can be simulated. In order to achieve this, forces induced by photon pressure are computed from tabulated data of target-specific Laser-Matter-Interaction simulations and are applied to the object’s trajectories. A second laser tracking simulation based on the modified orbits eventually shows the advantages of the given system in terms of conjunction analysis and avoidance, in particular considering debris vs. debris collisions for which at present collision avoidance maneuvers are not yet available. The paper will outline the software architecture as well as the results for different network geometries considering the number of stations, their geographical distribution and different duty cycle values. Among the results, the effects of the network geometry and station distribution on the achievable orbit accuracy will be presented. Two operational scenarios will be compared: On-demand tracking in response to conjunction alerts and a laser catalog scenario yielding the maximum number of objects, which can continuously be tracked by a given network independently from radar-based SSA data. Finally, an outlook will be given regarding future simulations and possible enhancements of the simulation environment

Empowering society by reusing privately held data for official statistics - A European approach

The High-Level Expert Group on facilitating the use of new data sources for official statistics has been created in the context of the data and digital strategy of the European Commission (EC). The task of the Expert Group is to provide recommendations aimed at enhancing data sharing between businesses and government (B2G) for the purpose of producing official statistics (B2G4S). The Expert Group consists of high-level experts with various backgrounds that are particularly relevant to B2G4S. Businesses generate and use data primarily for business-related purposes. The motivation for B2G4S stems from the high societal value that such privately held data can potentially generate when transformed into reliable, relevant and timely official statistics that are made available to everybody, for free. Transforming data into statistical information requires cooperation between private data holders and statistical authorities. On a voluntary basis there have been many collaborative efforts by businesses and statistical authorities to produce statistics based on privately held data, but for various reasons the use of such data for official statistics is still far below the level required to provide society with the high-quality and timely official statistics it needs in the increasingly data-driven world

Conceptual Study on Laser Networks for Near‐Term Collision Avoidance for Space Debris in the Low Earth Orbit

Due to the increasing amount of space debris, several laser‐based concepts for orbit modification have been proposed in the recent years. Since the sparse availability of pulsed lasers with high energy (> 10 kJ) seems to render laser‐ablative debris nudging for collision avoidance into a solution only for the long run, alternative options which can be realized earlier are mandatory to counter the rapidly increasing number of space debris in low Earth orbit. In this regard, high‐power CW lasers (> 10 kW) have been proposed in the past for debris nudging by photon pressure. With momentum coupling being 3 – 4 orders of magnitude lower than in the case of laser ablation, this might appear as a poor alternative at first glance, but the opposite is the case when a greater number of laser stations are combined forming an international network for laser tracking and momentum transfer (LTMT). From this viewpoint, we report on our findings on photon momentum transfer to space debris from our work performed under the conceptual study LARAMOTIONS (SSA P3‐SST‐XV) funded by the European Space Agency (ESA) in the framework of ESA’s Space Situational Awareness Program. Commercial availability of high power CW lasers allows for the setup of a network of relatively cost‐efficient laser stations in the next decade. Such an LTMT network would serve for both momentum transfer to space debris as well as for high precision laser tracking as a prerequisite for conjunction alert assessment and high‐power laser beam pointing. Depending on the network size, geographical distribution of stations, orbit parameters and remaining time to conjunction, multi‐pass irradiation enhances the efficiency of photon momentum coupling by 1 – 2 orders of magnitude and has the potential to eventually yield a promisingly significant reduction of the collision rate in low Earth orbit

A paired-kidney allocation study found superior survival with HLA-DR compatible kidney transplants in the Eurotransplant Senior Program

The Eurotransplant Senior Program (ESP) has expedited the chance for elderly patients with kidney failure to receive a timely transplant. This current study evaluated survival parameters of kidneys donated after brain death with or without matching for HLA-DR antigens. This cohort study evaluated the period within ESP with paired allocation of 675 kidneys from donors 65 years and older to transplant candidates 65 years and older, the first kidney to 341 patients within the Eurotransplant Senior DR-compatible Program and 334 contralateral kidneys without (ESP) HLA-DR antigen matching. We used Kaplan-Meier estimates and competing risk analysis to assess all cause mortality and kidney graft failure, respectively. The log-rank test and Cox proportional hazards regression were used for comparisons. Within ESP, matching for HLA-DR antigens was associated with a significantly lower five-year risk of mortality (hazard ratio 0.71; 95% confidence interval 0.53-0.95) and significantly lower cause-specific hazards for kidney graft failure and return to dialysis at one year (0.55; 0.35-0.87) and five years (0.73; 0.53-0.99) post-transplant. Allocation based on HLA-DR matching resulted in longer cold ischemia (mean difference 1.00 hours; 95% confidence interval: 0.32-1.68) and kidney offers with a significantly shorter median dialysis vintage of 2.4 versus 4.1 yrs. in ESP without matching. Thus, our allocation based on HLA-DR matching improved five-year patient and kidney allograft survival. Hence, our paired allocation study suggests a superior outcome of HLA-DR matching in the context of old-for-old kidney transplantation.</p