BEVControl: Accurately Controlling Street-view Elements with Multi-perspective Consistency via BEV Sketch Layout

Using synthesized images to boost the performance of perception models is a long-standing research challenge in computer vision. It becomes more eminent in visual-centric autonomous driving systems with multi-view cameras as some long-tail scenarios can never be collected. Guided by the BEV segmentation layouts, the existing generative networks seem to synthesize photo-realistic street-view images when evaluated solely on scene-level metrics. However, once zoom-in, they usually fail to produce accurate foreground and background details such as heading. To this end, we propose a two-stage generative method, dubbed BEVControl, that can generate accurate foreground and background contents. In contrast to segmentation-like input, it also supports sketch style input, which is more flexible for humans to edit. In addition, we propose a comprehensive multi-level evaluation protocol to fairly compare the quality of the generated scene, foreground object, and background geometry. Our extensive experiments show that our BEVControl surpasses the state-of-the-art method, BEVGen, by a significant margin, from 5.89 to 26.80 on foreground segmentation mIoU. In addition, we show that using images generated by BEVControl to train the downstream perception model, it achieves on average 1.29 improvement in NDS score.Comment: 13 pages, 8 figure

Multi-Loop Integral Control-Based Heart Rate Regulation for Fast Tracking and Faulty-Tolerant Control Performance in Treadmill Exercises

In order to offer a reliable, fast, and offset-free tracking performance for the regulation of heart rate (HR) during treadmill exercise, a two-input single-output (2ISO) control system by simultaneously manipulating both treadmill speed and gradient is proposed. The decentralized integral controllability (DIC) analysis is extended to nonlinear and non-square processes especially for a 2ISO process, namely multi-loop integral controllability (MIC). The proposed multi-loop integral control-based HR regulation by manipulating treadmill speed and gradient is then validated through a comparative treadmill experiment that compares the system performance of the proposed 2ISO MIC control loop with that of single-input single-output (SISO) loops, speed/gradient-to-HR. The experimental validation presents that by simultaneously using two control inputs, the automated system can achieve the fastest HR tracking performance and stay close to the reference HR during steady state, while comparing with two SISO structures, and offer the fault-tolerant ability if the gains of the two multi-loop integral controllers are well tuned. It has a vital implication for the applications of exercise rehabilitation and fitness in relation to the automated control system

Multi-mode Stroke Rehabilitation System Using Signal-Controlled Human Machine Interface

University of Technology Sydney. Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology.Stroke has become one of the most devastating health problems due to post-stroke disabilities. Rehabilitation is the necessary process for stroke survivors following discharging from the intensive care units. Of those stroke survivors, many cannot regain full arm functions, in turn, their daily lives are dramatically affected since they cannot perform daily activities independently. This thesis proposes a stroke rehabilitation system with multiple training modes using neuroelectric signals. First, motion intent recognition and emotion classification are developed using electroencephalogram signal. The motion intent system recognises the desired motion before execution. At the same time, emotions of the patients are monitored to ensure safety while the patients are doing exercises. Second, electromyogram connectivity analysis using multivariable autoregression is proposed to analyse the inter-relationship between muscles. Using connectivity analysis, the system controls the paretic arm to generate identical connectivity patterns as the non-paretic arm to achieve higher rehabilitation outcome. A wearable exoskeleton is built as a rehabilitation device, which guides and supports rehabilitation movements based on the patients’ physiological signals. Features such as wireless communication, touch screen user interface, etc., are implemented to promotes the ease-of-use and expand the possible applications in the clinical field

Analysis of the Expansion Characteristics of Rural Settlements Based on Scale Growth Function in Himalayan Region

Road infrastructure is reshaping the rural settlement landscape in the Himalayan area of China through the construction of the rural road and strategic highway network. However, most methods based on multiple factors described in spatial analysis of rural settlement are limited by poor spatial response mechanisms of key factors. This study provides insight into the temporal and spatial process involving 15 rural settlements of Zhada County, west of the Himalayas. The growth of rural settlement follows a “short-head S-shape” function and the general expansion rule. It indicates the mode of evolution and the characteristics of construction. The results show that 70% of rural settlements continue to report the inertia of growth, while the reconstruction of the original site leads to historical spatial displacement under spatio-temporal compression. In addition, rural settlements display a spatial organization of interface area, hinterland, and fringe area and reveal two spatial paradigms of near-road expansion and peripheral extrusion. Further, the hinterland space, which is the core of rural settlement, is compact and intensive; a quarter of the hinterland space encompasses 45% of the settlement scale. These conclusions provide guidance for delineating village boundaries and improving the human settlement environment in the Himalayan-alpine plateau

Analysis of the Expansion Characteristics of Rural Settlements Based on Scale Growth Function in Himalayan Region

Road infrastructure is reshaping the rural settlement landscape in the Himalayan area of China through the construction of the rural road and strategic highway network. However, most methods based on multiple factors described in spatial analysis of rural settlement are limited by poor spatial response mechanisms of key factors. This study provides insight into the temporal and spatial process involving 15 rural settlements of Zhada County, west of the Himalayas. The growth of rural settlement follows a “short-head S-shape” function and the general expansion rule. It indicates the mode of evolution and the characteristics of construction. The results show that 70% of rural settlements continue to report the inertia of growth, while the reconstruction of the original site leads to historical spatial displacement under spatio-temporal compression. In addition, rural settlements display a spatial organization of interface area, hinterland, and fringe area and reveal two spatial paradigms of near-road expansion and peripheral extrusion. Further, the hinterland space, which is the core of rural settlement, is compact and intensive; a quarter of the hinterland space encompasses 45% of the settlement scale. These conclusions provide guidance for delineating village boundaries and improving the human settlement environment in the Himalayan-alpine plateau

Understanding Topological and Spatial Attributes of Bus Transportation Networks in Cities of Chongqing and Chengdu

It is critical to understand the characteristics of public transportation networks (PTNs). Existing studies have mainly focused on the topological structure of PTNs and have revealed the commonalities of the topological structures of PTNs. However, few studies have examined the differences regarding topological structure characteristics between the PTNs of different cities. In addition, the nature and extent of the influence of specific urban geographic conditions and morphology on PTNs are unclear. This paper focuses on the influence of urban spatial and geographic environments on bus transportation networks (BTNs) by comparatively studying the topological and spatial attributes of two typical BTNs, respectively, from a mountainous city and a plain city in China, from the perspectives of basic statistical properties, types, connection properties, and spatial attributes, by using the complex networks theory and spatial analysis method. The results reveal that the two BTNs have similar statistical properties and they both have scale-free features as well as small-world features. However, these two BTNs are significantly different in the connection properties and spatial attributes. The difference is found closely related to the city’s geographic conditions and spatial morphology. The implications of this study regarding urban traffic planning and land planning are discussed

Dynamic Network Analysis of the Risks of Mega Infrastructure Projects from a Sustainable Development Perspective

Mega infrastructure projects (MIPs) are exposed to numerous interdependent risks of various natures which pose difficulties in risk management. Thus far, the research on the risk interactions of MIPs has been focused on developing static risk networks within a single category of risks, at certain stages of the project. It is essential to understand the risk interactions at various stages of MIPs to identify the key risks and key risk relationships that jeopardise their success. This is especially relevant nowadays, as MIPs are expected to be delivered sustainably. Therefore, to analyse the dynamic risk interaction of MIPs, initially, through literature analysis and expert interviews, combined with the four dimensions of sustainable development and the four stages of MIPs, 98 risk factors of MIPs were identified. Subsequently, semi-structured interviews were conducted to determine risk relationships and weights. Risk networks were developed for each stage of MIPs, and improved social network analysis was applied to these risk networks. Finally, the key risks and key risk relationships in each stage of MIPs were identified by analysing the changes of multi-level network indicators. This aided in determining risk control strategies. The results demonstrate that the key risks and key risk relationships are different for each stage of MIPs. Furthermore, the risks of different dimensions of sustainable development have different relationships at different stages. This research is the first to identify the risk relationships involved in MIPs by taking into consideration the whole project life cycle and its sustainable development. This research provides theoretical support for the risk management of MIPs, and strategic suggestions for controlling the risks at each stage of the project.Design & Construction Managemen

Characteristics Description of Shale Fracture Surface Morphology: A Case Study of Shale Samples from Barnett Shale

Shale reservoirs are the hot issue in unconventional resources. The key to the development of shale reservoirs lies in the complex fractures, which are the only path for fluid to migrate from the matrix to the wellbore in shale reservoirs. Therefore, the characteristics of shale fracture surface morphology directly affect fluid migration in shale reservoirs. However, there are few reports about the characteristics of shale fracture surface morphology as the parallel plate model was commonly used to characterize the fracture, neglecting its surface morphology characteristics and leading to great deviation. Thus, description methods were introduced to characterize shale fracture surface morphology with the aim to provide a foundation for the development of shale resources. Three shale samples were fractured by the Brazilian test, and the height distribution of the fracture surface was captured by a three-dimensional profilometer. Then, three-dimensional fracture surface morphology was regarded as a set of two-dimensional profiles, which converted three-dimensional information into two-dimensional data. Roughness, joint roughness coefficient, fractal dimension, tortuosity, and dip angle were employed to characterize shale fracture surface morphology, and their calculation methods were also, respectively, proposed. It was found that roughness, joint roughness coefficient, fractal dimension, tortuosity, and dip angle were all directional, and they varied greatly along with different directions. Roughness, joint roughness coefficient, fractal dimension, tortuosity, absolute dip angle, and overall trend dip angle were among 0.0834–0.2427 mm, 2.5715–10.9368, 2.1000–2.1364, 1.0732–1.1879, 17.7498°–24.5941°, and −3.7223°–13.3042°, respectively. Joint roughness coefficient, fractal dimension, tortuosity, and dip angle were all positively correlated with roughness