On-line control of active camera networks

Large networks of cameras have been increasingly employed to capture dynamic events for tasks such as surveillance and training. When using active (pan-tilt-zoom) cameras to capture events distributed throughout a large area, human control becomes impractical and unreliable. This has led to the development of automated approaches for on-line camera control. I introduce a new approach that consists of a stochastic performance metric and a constrained optimization method. The metric quantifies the uncertainty in the state of multiple points on each target. It uses state-space methods with stochastic models of the target dynamics and camera measurements. It can account for static and dynamic occlusions, accommodate requirements specific to the algorithm used to process the images, and incorporate other factors that can affect its results. The optimization explores the space of camera configurations over time under constraints associated with the cameras, the predicted target trajectories, and the image processing algorithm. While an exhaustive exploration of this parameter space is intractable, through careful complexity analysis and application domain observations I have identified appropriate alternatives for reducing the space. Specifically, I reduce the spatial dimension of the search by dividing the optimization problem into subproblems, and then optimizing each subproblem independently. I reduce the temporal dimension of the search by using empirically-based heuristics inside each subproblem. The result is a tractable optimization that explores an appropriate subspace of the parameters, while attempting to minimize the risk of excluding the global optimum. The approach can be applied to conventional surveillance tasks (e.g., tracking or face recognition), as well as tasks employing more complex computer vision methods (e.g., markerless motion capture or 3D reconstruction). I present the results of experimental simulations of two such scenarios, using controlled and natural (unconstrained) target motions, employing simulated and real target tracks, in realistic scenes, and with realistic camera networks

Hybrid solar-biomass system for district heating

The energy used in the built-up environment represents at least 40% of the total energy consumed, out of which, at least 60% is required for heating, cooling and domestic hot water (DHW). Within the European Union, more than 6,000 communities (i.e. over 9%) use district heating systems, the majority of which use the conversion of fossil fuels as a source of energy. This aspect, which is corroborated by the directives of the EU legislation on the use of renewable energy sources and energy performance, imposes the development of new solutions through which the existing district heating systems may be adapted to use renewable energy sources. The solar-thermal systems that are used on a large (district) scale are becoming more and more efficient from the point of view of their feasibility; however, it is almost impossible to create systems that should satisfy the thermal energy demand throughout the four seasons of the year. The hybrid solar-biomass system is becoming the applicable solution for the majority of the communities that have from this potential, since it can secure independence from the point of view of the use of thermal energy. This paper presents the design stages for the implementation of the hybrid solar-biomass systems with a view to identifying the optimal solutions for systems to be integrated into an existing district heating system. A case study (Taberei District in Odorheiu Secuiesc City), which provides a detailed description of the feasible technical solutions, is presented

Overview regarding the certification of a new military jet aircraft for school and training

The requirements for designing a new Romanian school and training military jet, IAR 99 NG, are in line with the EMAR - European Military Airworthiness Requirement. The Approval Regulation for the new school and training military jet is EMACC - European Military Airworthiness Certification Criteria. In addition to the basic regulation, the main categories of norms used for designing, manufacturing and testing are as follows: AIR, MIL, NA, EN and SR EN etc. For each system used on the new school and training military jet, Standard Defense 00-970 and NATO STANAG regulates the requirement to perform tests on a functional model. In order to be tested, each modeled system, must accurately reproduce the original system

Calculation of steering system parameters of a military training aircraft

The mechanical-hydraulic steering system of a military training aircraft is a technical problem for specialized engineers and it must be investigated and solved in a scientific manner using theoretical knowledge, calculus programs such as Mathcad, and CAD applications for design such as CATIA V5 which allows the preservation of practical experience and favors its dissemination for future similar calculation. The scope of this calculus is to demonstrate that the active moment developed by the two hydraulic cylinders is always bigger than the resisting moment opposing the steering action of the nose landing gear wheel generated by the frictional forces between the wheel and the running way

Analysis of modern military jet trainer aircraft

New technical solutions and the application of modern technologies have led to combat aircraft configurations with a significant improvement in reliability, flight performance and operational performance through the creation of new features that enhance the ability to integrate sensors and process information. On one side, this pace of development has created operational advantages, but on the other side it has made the use of modern multifunctional combat aircraft increasingly expensive. In this context, the need for the use of modern military jet trainer aircraft has become more and more acute, the cost being reduced by about 10 times per hour of instruction in comparison to a jet fighter. The aim of this paper is to analyze the technological performances of the newest and most advanced jet trainers in the world and the development perspectives in the field, to determine the directions of development and the design of a new Romanian jet trainer to be used for school, training and light combat and to be competitive for the time period 2030-2040

Experimental research of hydraulic cylinder with the built-in throttle for steering the front landing gear wheel

This paper presents the experimental research method of a hydraulic cylinder used for steering the front landing gear wheel. A mechanical-hydraulic steering system is operated by two interchangeable hydraulic cylinders acting in tandem to rotate the movable sub-assembly that contains the front landing gear wheel. Each hydraulic cylinder is designed with a built-in throttle to equalize the speed of the hydraulic cylinder rod traveling in both directions of movement (extension and retraction). During the experiments, three constructive variants of the built-in throttle will be used to obtain the optimal variant

Combining Head-Mounted and Projector-Based Displays for Surgical Training

We introduce and present preliminary results for a hybrid display system combining head-mounted and projector-based displays. Our work is motivated by a surgical training application, where it is necessary to simultaneously provide both a high-fidelity view of a central close-up task (the surgery) and visual awareness of objects and events in the surrounding environment. In particular, for trauma surgeons it would be valuable to learn to work in an environment that is realistically filled with both necessary and distracting objects and events