A Novel Bioinspired Vision System: A Step toward Real-Time Human-Robot Interactions

Building a human-like robot that could be involved in our daily lives is a dream of many scientists. Achieving a sophisticated robot's vision system, which can enhance the robot's real-time interaction ability with the human, is one of the main keys toward realizing such an autonomous robot. In this work, we are suggesting a bioinspired vision system that helps to develop an advanced human-robot interaction in an autonomous humanoid robot. First, we enhance the robot's vision accuracy online by applying a novel dynamic edge detection algorithm abstracted from the rules that the horizontal cells play in the mammalian retina. Second, in order to support the first algorithm, we improve the robot's tracking ability by designing a variant photoreceptors distribution corresponding to what exists in the human vision system. The experimental results verified the validity of the model. The robot could have a clear vision in real time and build a mental map that assisted it to be aware of the frontal users and to develop a positive interaction with them

RESEARCH AND EXTENSION NEEDS TO MITIGATE CONSTRAINTS LIMITING THE PRODUCTIVITY OF SMALL-SCALE SUGARCANE FARMERS IN MAURITIUS

Abstract The issue of low productivity on small farmers' lands is a matter of concern in many sugarcane producing countries. In Mauritius, some 25 000 small-scale farmers are involved in sugarcane cultivation which is a major source of income for 200 000 rural families. Yield differences as high as 40% exist between the small-scale and large commercial farmers and their causes are often taken for granted. This paper presents part of the findings of a project to better understand, with farmers' participation, the functioning of the existing small farming systems and their information-seeking behaviours, a study financed by the French government through the Southern African Development Community (SADC). A survey, based on a formal questionnaire, was carried out among 800 farmers in Mauritius. Analysis of the data collected has enabled the prioritisation of factors and constraints affecting productivity, namely, increasing costs of inputs, availability and costs of labour and transport and access to finance and credit facilities. The conditions limiting adoption of good management practices have been identified to be the small-sized farms, low adoption rate of improved technologies and limited contact with advisory and support services. The elaboration of decision support tools to assist these farmers to increase production levels through sustainable and environment friendly production systems will now be generated. There is a need to pursue specific research on cost-cutting farming operations and new production techniques, adopting extension strategies favouring targeted and grouped extension interventions for some categories of small-scale sugarcane farmers. It is believed that the research and extension interventions will ensure the long-term survival of this producer category and will enhance ability to achieve productivity levels that will render the agricultural activities of the small-farmers economically and environmentally sustainable