521 research outputs found
Reactive direction control for a mobile robot: A locust-like control of escape direction emerges when a bilateral pair of model locust visual neurons are integrated
Locusts possess a bilateral pair of uniquely identifiable visual neurons that respond vigorously to
the image of an approaching object. These neurons are called the lobula giant movement
detectors (LGMDs). The locust LGMDs have been extensively studied and this has lead to the
development of an LGMD model for use as an artificial collision detector in robotic applications.
To date, robots have been equipped with only a single, central artificial LGMD sensor, and this
triggers a non-directional stop or rotation when a potentially colliding object is detected. Clearly,
for a robot to behave autonomously, it must react differently to stimuli approaching from
different directions. In this study, we implement a bilateral pair of LGMD models in Khepera
robots equipped with normal and panoramic cameras. We integrate the responses of these LGMD
models using methodologies inspired by research on escape direction control in cockroaches.
Using ‘randomised winner-take-all’ or ‘steering wheel’ algorithms for LGMD model integration,
the khepera robots could escape an approaching threat in real time and with a similar
distribution of escape directions as real locusts. We also found that by optimising these
algorithms, we could use them to integrate the left and right DCMD responses of real jumping
locusts offline and reproduce the actual escape directions that the locusts took in a particular
trial. Our results significantly advance the development of an artificial collision detection and
evasion system based on the locust LGMD by allowing it reactive control over robot behaviour.
The success of this approach may also indicate some important areas to be pursued in future
biological research
Sensitive Search for a Permanent Muon Electric Dipole Moment
We are proposing a new method to carry out a dedicated search for a permanent
electric dipole moment (EDM) of the muon with a sensitivity at a level of
10^{-24} e cm. The experimental design exploits the strong motional electric
field sensed by relativistic particles in a magnetic storage ring. As a key
feature, a novel technique has been invented in which the g-2 precession is
compensated with radial electric field. This technique will benefit greatly
when the intense muon sources advocated by the developers of the muon storage
rings and the muon colliders become available.Comment: 16 pages, 3 figures. Submitted for publication in Proceedings of the
International Workshop on High Intensity Muon Sources (HIMUS99), KEK, Japan,
December 1-4 199
Search for Lorentz and CPT Violation Effects in Muon Spin Precession
The spin precession frequency of muons stored in the storage ring has
been analyzed for evidence of Lorentz and CPT violation. Two Lorentz and CPT
violation signatures were searched for: a nonzero
(=); and a sidereal variation of
. No significant effect is found, and the following
limits on the standard-model extension parameters are obtained: GeV; GeV; and the 95% confidence level limits
GeV and
GeV.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figures, submitted to Physical Review Letters, Modified to
answer the referees suggestion
The Muon Anomalous Magnetic Moment and the Standard Model
The muon anomalous magnetic moment measurement, when compared with theory,
can be used to test many extensions to the standard model. The most recent
measurement made by the Brookhaven E821 Collaboration reduces the uncertainty
on the world average of a_mu to 0.7 ppm, comparable in precision to theory.
This paper describes the experiment and the current theoretical efforts to
establish a correct standard model reference value for the muon anomaly.Comment: Plenary Talk; PANIC'02 XVI Particles and Nuclear International
Conference, Osaka, Japan; Sept. 30 - Oct. 4, 2002; Report describes the
published 0.7 ppm result and updates the theory statu
An Improved Limit on the Muon Electric Dipole Moment
Three independent searches for an electric dipole moment (EDM) of the
positive and negative muons have been performed, using spin precession data
from the muon g-2 storage ring at Brookhaven National Laboratory. Details on
the experimental apparatus and the three analyses are presented. Since the
individual results on the positive and negative muon, as well as the combined
result, d=-0.1(0.9)E-19 e-cm, are all consistent with zero, we set a new muon
EDM limit, |d| < 1.9E-19 e-cm (95% C.L.). This represents a factor of 5
improvement over the previous best limit on the muon EDM.Comment: 19 pages, 15 figures, 7 table
Search for Lorentz and CPT Violation Effects in Muon Spin Precession
The spin precession frequency of muons stored in the storage ring has
been analyzed for evidence of Lorentz and CPT violation. Two Lorentz and CPT
violation signatures were searched for: a nonzero
(=); and a sidereal variation of
. No significant effect is found, and the following
limits on the standard-model extension parameters are obtained: GeV; GeV; and the 95% confidence level limits
GeV and
GeV.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figures, submitted to Physical Review Letters, Modified to
answer the referees suggestion
Final Report of the Muon E821 Anomalous Magnetic Moment Measurement at BNL
We present the final report from a series of precision measurements of the
muon anomalous magnetic moment, a_mu = (g-2)/2. The details of the experimental
method, apparatus, data taking, and analysis are summarized. Data obtained at
Brookhaven National Laboratory, using nearly equal samples of positive and
negative muons, were used to deduce a_mu(Expt) = 11 659 208.0(5.4)(3.3) x
10^-10, where the statistical and systematic uncertainties are given,
respectively. The combined uncertainty of 0.54 ppm represents a 14-fold
improvement compared to previous measurements at CERN. The standard model value
for a_mu includes contributions from virtual QED, weak, and hadronic processes.
While the QED processes account for most of the anomaly, the largest
theoretical uncertainty, ~0.55 ppm, is associated with first-order hadronic
vacuum polarization. Present standard model evaluations, based on e+e- hadronic
cross sections, lie 2.2 - 2.7 standard deviations below the experimental
result.Comment: Summary paper of E821 Collaboration measurements of the muon
anomalous magnetic moment, each reported earlier in Letters or Brief Reports;
96 pages, 41 figures, 16 tables. Revised version submitted to PR
Action ability modulates time‑to‑collision judgments
Time-to-collision (TTC) underestimation has been interpreted as an adaptive response that allows observers to have more time to engage in a defensive behaviour. This bias seems, therefore, strongly linked to action preparation. There is evidence that the observer’s physical fitness modulates the underestimation effect so that people who need more time to react (i.e. those with less physical fitness) show a stronger underestimation effect. Here we investigated whether this bias is influenced by the momentary action capability of the observers. In the first experiment, participants estimated the time-to-collision of threatening or non-threatening stimuli while being mildly immobilized (with a chin rest) or while standing freely. Having reduced the possibility of movement led participants to show more underestimation of the approaching stimuli. However, this effect was not stronger for threatening relative to non-threatening stimuli. The effect of the action capability found in the first experiment could be interpreted as an expansion of peripersonal space (PPS). In the second experiment, we thus investigated the generality of this effect using an established paradigm to measure the size of peripersonal space. Participants bisected lines from different distances while in the chin rest or standing freely. The results replicated the classic left-to-right gradient in lateral spatial attention with increasing viewing distance, but no effect of immobilization was found. The manipulation of the momentary action capability of the observers influenced the participants’ performance in the TTC task but not in the line bisection task. These results are discussed in relation to the different functions of PPS
Improved Measurement of the Positive Muon Anomalous Magnetic Moment
A new measurement of the positive muon's anomalous magnetic moment has been
made at the Brookhaven Alternating Gradient Synchrotron using the direct
injection of polarized muons into the superferric storage ring. The angular
frequency difference omega_{a} between the angular spin precession frequency
omega_{s} and the angular orbital frequency omega_{c} is measured as well as
the free proton NMR frequency omega_{p}. These determine
R = omega_{a} / omega_{p} = 3.707~201(19) times 10^{-3}. With mu_{mu} /
mu_{p} = 3.183~345~39(10) this gives a_{mu^+} = 11~659~191(59) times 10^{-10}
(pm 5 ppm), in good agreement with the previous CERN and BNL measurements for
mu^+ and mu^-, and with the standard model prediction.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures. accepted for publication in Phys. Rev. D62 Rapid
Communication
Measurement of the Negative Muon Anomalous Magnetic Moment to 0.7 ppm
The anomalous magnetic moment of the negative muon has been measured to a
precision of 0.7 parts per million (ppm) at the Brookhaven Alternating Gradient
Synchrotron. This result is based on data collected in 2001, and is over an
order of magnitude more precise than the previous measurement of the negative
muon. The result a_mu= 11 659 214(8)(3) \times 10^{-10} (0.7 ppm), where the
first uncertainty is statistical and the second is sytematic, is consistend
with previous measurements of the anomaly for the positive and negative muon.
The average for the muon anomaly a_{mu}(exp) = 11 659 208(6) \times 10^{-10}
(0.5ppm).Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures, submitted to Physical Review Letters, revised to
reflect referee comments. Text further revised to reflect additional referee
comments and a corrected Fig. 3 replaces the older versio
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