A Planner for Ambient Assisted Living: From High-Level Reasoning to Low-Level Robot Execution and Back

Robot ecologies are a growing paradigm in which one or several robotic systems are integrated into a smart environment. Robotic ecologies hold great promises for elderly assistance. Planning the activities of these systems, however, is not trivial, and requires consideration of issues like temporal and information dependencies among different parts of the ecology, exogenous actions, and multiple, dynamic goals. We describe a planner able to cope with the above challenges. We show in particular how this planner has been incorporated in closed-loop into a full robotic system that performs daily tasks in support of elderly people. The full robot ecology is deployed in a test apartment inside a real residential building, and it is currently undergoing an extensive user evaluation

A Hierarchical Framework for Collaborative Artificial Intelligence

We propose a hierarchical framework for collaborative intelligent systems. This framework organizes research challenges based on the nature of the collaborative activity and the information that must be shared, with each level building on capabilities provided by lower levels. We review research paradigms at each level, with a description of classical engineering-based approaches and modern alternatives based on machine learning, illustrated with a running example using a hypothetical personal service robot. We discuss cross-cutting issues that occur at all levels, focusing on the problem of communicating and sharing comprehension, the role of explanation and the social nature of collaboration. We conclude with a summary of research challenges and a discussion of the potential for economic and societal impact provided by technologies that enhance human abilities and empower people and society through collaboration with intelligent systems

Impact of instrumental constraints and imperfections on the dislocation structure in micron-sized Cu compression pillars

In situ micro-Laue diffraction was used to study the plasticity in three 7 lm, initially identical, single-crystalline Cu pillars during compression. Movements of the Laue spot as well as Laue spot streaking were analyzed to obtain real-time insights into the storage of excess dislocations and the possible formation of dislocation cell structures. The results reveal that instrumental constraints lead to dislocation storage at the sample base and top, but will not affect the storage of excess dislocations in the sample center in case of an ideal alignment. In contrast, misaligned samples show early yielding due to the activation of an unpredicted slip system, storage of excess dislocations also in the sample center and, at a later stage, the formation of a complex dislocation substructure

Historical reconfigurations of a social–ecological system adapting to economic, policy and climate changes in the French Alps

To ensure their quality of life, people adapt to multiple changes by maintaining or transforming the structure and functions of their socio-ecological systems (SES). A better understanding of mechanisms underpinning SES adaptation, especially the contribution of changes in human–nature interactions, is crucial to facilitate adaptation to future challenges. Using a chronosystemic timeline and based on literature, archives and local knowledge of inhabitants, we explored the past trajectory of a mountain SES (Pays de la Meije, French Alps) since 1900 by analysing drivers, impacts and responses. We hypothesised that adaptation has occurred through changes in the co-production of nature’s contributions to people (NCP). We identified four historical periods of combined changes in agriculture and tourism with associated changes in NCP. Results show which and how drivers of changes have influenced NCP co-production, how NCP have been mobilised in adaptive responses and how human and natural capitals involved in NCP co-production have been reconfigured for adaptation. We show that drivers of change have been mainly exogenous and out of the control of local actors, like public policies, markets and consumption patterns. These drivers can directly impact the capitals involved in NCP co-production like amount of workforce, knowledge or skills, creating not only threats but also opportunities for the livelihood of the local community. Depending on the intensity of capital reconfiguration and the type of NCP involved, adaptive responses range from resistance to transformation of the governance system and socio-economic sectors. This analysis highlights existing path dependencies that could hinder future adaptation

Historical reconfigurations of a social–ecological system adapting to economic, policy and climate changes in the French Alps

To ensure their quality of life, people adapt to multiple changes by maintaining or transforming the structure and functions of their socio-ecological systems (SES). A better understanding of mechanisms underpinning SES adaptation, especially the contribution of changes in human–nature interactions, is crucial to facilitate adaptation to future challenges. Using a chronosystemic timeline and based on literature, archives and local knowledge of inhabitants, we explored the past trajectory of a mountain SES (Pays de la Meije, French Alps) since 1900 by analysing drivers, impacts and responses. We hypothesised that adaptation has occurred through changes in the co-production of nature’s contributions to people (NCP). We identified four historical periods of combined changes in agriculture and tourism with associated changes in NCP. Results show which and how drivers of changes have influenced NCP co-production, how NCP have been mobilised in adaptive responses and how human and natural capitals involved in NCP co-production have been reconfigured for adaptation. We show that drivers of change have been mainly exogenous and out of the control of local actors, like public policies, markets and consumption patterns. These drivers can directly impact the capitals involved in NCP co-production like amount of workforce, knowledge or skills, creating not only threats but also opportunities for the livelihood of the local community. Depending on the intensity of capital reconfiguration and the type of NCP involved, adaptive responses range from resistance to transformation of the governance system and socio-economic sectors. This analysis highlights existing path dependencies that could hinder future adaptation