New Method for Localization and Human Being Detection using UWB Technology: Helpful Solution for Rescue Robots

International audienceTwo challenges for rescue robots are to detect human beings and to have an accurate positioning system. In indoor positioning, GPS receivers cannot be used due to the reflections or attenuation caused by obstacles. To detect human beings, sensors such as thermal camera, ultrasonic and microphone can be embedded on the rescue robot. The drawback of these sensors is the detection range. These sensors have to be in close proximity to the victim in order to detect it. UWB technology is then very helpful to ensure precise localization of the rescue robot inside the disaster site and detect human beings. We propose a new method to both detect human beings and locate the rescue robot at the same time. To achieve these goals we optimize the design of UWB pulses based on B-splines. The spectral effectiveness is optimized so the symbols are easier to detect and the mitigation with noise is reduced. Our positioning system performs to locate the rescue robot with an accuracy about 2 centimeters. During some tests we discover that UWB signal characteristics abruptly change after passing through a human body. Our system uses this particular signature to detect human body

GROUNDWATER QUALITY AND ITS SUITABILITY FOR DRINKING AND AGRICULTURAL USE IN A RURAL AREA FROM CLUJ COUNTY (FLORESTI VILLAGE)

In the present study, a hydrochemical investigation was conducted in a rural area from Cluj County, Romania, inorder to determine the chemical composition of groundwater and to evaluate if the investigated water sources canbe used for drinking or agriculture purposes. Several groundwater samples were collected from fifteen wells inorder to analyze the major dissolved ions (Na+, K+, Mg2+, Ca2+, F-, Cl-, Br-, NO2-, NO3-, PO43- and SO42-). Theanalyzed waters proved to have a low level of sodium (0.27 - 41.87 mg/l), magnesium (0.11 – 25.17 mg/l), calcium(0.59 – 117.30 mg/l), chloride (3.33 – 97.68 mg/l) and sulphate (4.42 – 132.80 mg/l), and a high level of potassium(0.22 – 22.59 mg/l), nitrites (detected only in one sample - 1.36 mg/l), nitrate (6.58 – 92.96 mg/l), fluoride (0.24 –1.40 mg/l) and phosphate (12.44 –18.26 mg/l). The possibility of using these waters for agricultural purposes hasbeen assessed by calculating the sodium adsorption ratio (SAR). The results of the present study indicate that theuse for agricultural purposes of some of the analyzed groundwater represent no threat for vegetation, as the SARlevel was lower than 3.0

Tokyo: Japan (2013)" New Method for Localization and Human Being Detection using UWB Technology: Helpful Solution for Rescue Robots*

Abstract — Two challenges for rescue robots are to detect human beings and to have an accurate positioning system. In indoor positioning, GPS receivers cannot be used due to the reflections or attenuation caused by obstacles. To detect human beings, sensors such as thermal camera, ultrasonic and microphone can be embedded on the rescue robot. The drawback of these sensors is the detection range. These sensors have to be in close proximity to the victim in order to detect it. UWB technology is then very helpful to ensure precise localization of the rescue robot inside the disaster site and detect human beings. We propose a new method to both detect human beings and locate the rescue robot at the same time. To achieve these goals we optimize the design of UWB pulses based on B-splines. The spectral effectiveness is optimized so the symbols are easier to detect and the mitigation with noise is reduced. Our positioning system performs to locate the rescue robot with an accuracy about 2 centimeters. During some tests we discover that UWB signal characteristics abruptly change after passing through a human body. Our system uses this particular signature to detect human body. I