Approaching a reliable process simulation for the virtual product development

In this paper an outline for a strategy to include manufacturing effects in subsequent\ud simulations for the virtual product development from an industrial point of view is given.\ud Especially the conditions for a successful mapping of geometry and results between\ud different applications are discussed. An example shows the significance of the inclusion\ud of previous simulations in the final assessment of a part

Projections Onto Convex Sets (POCS) Based Optimization by Lifting

Two new optimization techniques based on projections onto convex space (POCS) framework for solving convex and some non-convex optimization problems are presented. The dimension of the minimization problem is lifted by one and sets corresponding to the cost function are defined. If the cost function is a convex function in R^N the corresponding set is a convex set in R^(N+1). The iterative optimization approach starts with an arbitrary initial estimate in R^(N+1) and an orthogonal projection is performed onto one of the sets in a sequential manner at each step of the optimization problem. The method provides globally optimal solutions in total-variation, filtered variation, l1, and entropic cost functions. It is also experimentally observed that cost functions based on lp, p<1 can be handled by using the supporting hyperplane concept

Stakeholder capitalism, corporate governance and firm value

We consider the advantages and disadvantages of stakeholder-oriented firms that are concerned with employees and suppliers as well as shareholders compared to shareholder-oriented firms. Societies with stakeholder-oriented firms have higher prices, lower output, and can have greater firm value than shareholder-oriented societies. In some circumstances, firms may voluntarily choose to be stakeholder-oriented because this increases their value. Consumers that prefer to buy from stakeholder firms can also enforce a stakeholder society. With globalization entry by stakeholder firms is relatively more attractive than entry by shareholder firms for all societies. JEL Classification: D02, D21, G34, L13, L2

Compressive sensing using the modified entropy functional

Cataloged from PDF version of article.In most compressive sensing problems, 1 norm is used during the signal reconstruction process. In this article, a modified version of the entropy functional is proposed to approximate the 1 norm. The proposed modified version of the entropy functional is continuous, differentiable and convex. Therefore, it is possible to construct globally convergent iterative algorithms using Bregman’s row-action method for compressive sensing applications. Simulation examples with both 1D signals and images are presented. © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved

Special issue on microscopic image processing

Cataloged from PDF version of article

Can Real-time, Adaptive Human-Robot Motor Coordination Improve Humans’ Overall Perception of a Robot?

Previous research on social interaction among humans suggested that interpersonal motor coordination can help to establish social rapport. Our research addresses the question of whether, in a human-humanoid interaction experiment, the human’s overall perception of a robot can be improved by realising motor coordination behaviour that allows the robot to adapt in real-time to a person’s behaviour. A synchrony detection method using information distance was adopted to realise the real-time human-robot motor coordination behaviour, which guided the humanoid robot to coordinate its movements to a human by measuring the behaviour synchrony between the robot and the human. The feedback of the participants indicated that most of the participants preferred to interact with the humanoid robot with the adaptive motor coordination capability. The results of this proof-of-concept study suggest that the motor coordination mechanism improved humans’ overall perception of the humanoid robot. Together with our previous findings, namely that humans actively coordinate their behaviours to a humanoid robot’s behaviours, this study further supports the hypothesis that bidirectional motor coordination could be a valid approach to facilitate adaptive human-humanoid interaction.Peer reviewedFinal Accepted Versio

How Do You Like Me in This: User Embodiment Preferences for Companion Agents

We investigate the relationship between the embodiment of an artificial companion and user perception and interaction with it. In a Wizard of Oz study, 42 users interacted with one of two embodiments: a physical robot or a virtual agent on a screen through a role-play of secretarial tasks in an office, with the companion providing essential assistance. Findings showed that participants in both condition groups when given the choice would prefer to interact with the robot companion, mainly for its greater physical or social presence. Subjects also found the robot less annoying and talked to it more naturally. However, this preference for the robotic embodiment is not reflected in the users’ actual rating of the companion or their interaction with it. We reflect on this contradiction and conclude that in a task-based context a user focuses much more on a companion’s behaviour than its embodiment. This underlines the feasibility of our efforts in creating companions that migrate between embodiments while maintaining a consistent identity from the user’s point of view

3D Model compression using Connectivity-Guided Adaptive Wavelet Transform built into 2D SPIHT

Cataloged from PDF version of article.Connectivity-Guided Adaptive Wavelet Transform based mesh compression framework is proposed. The transformation uses the connectivity information of the 3D model to exploit the inter-pixel correlations. Orthographic projection is used for converting the 3D mesh into a 2D image-like representation. The proposed conversion method does not change the connectivity among the vertices of the 3D model. There is a correlation between the pixels of the composed image due to the connectivity of the 3D mesh. The proposed wavelet transform uses an adaptive predictor that exploits the connectivity information of the 3D model. Known image compression tools cannot take advantage of the correlations between the samples. The wavelet transformed data is then encoded using a zero-tree wavelet based method. Since the encoder creates a hierarchical bitstream, the proposed technique is a progressive mesh compression technique. Experimental results show that the proposed method has a better rate distortion performance than MPEG-3DGC/MPEG-4 mesh coder. © 2009 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved

Interaction and Experience in Enactive Intelligence and Humanoid Robotics

We overview how sensorimotor experience can be operationalized for interaction scenarios in which humanoid robots acquire skills and linguistic behaviours via enacting a “form-of-life”’ in interaction games (following Wittgenstein) with humans. The enactive paradigm is introduced which provides a powerful framework for the construction of complex adaptive systems, based on interaction, habit, and experience. Enactive cognitive architectures (following insights of Varela, Thompson and Rosch) that we have developed support social learning and robot ontogeny by harnessing information-theoretic methods and raw uninterpreted sensorimotor experience to scaffold the acquisition of behaviours. The success criterion here is validation by the robot engaging in ongoing human-robot interaction with naive participants who, over the course of iterated interactions, shape the robot’s behavioural and linguistic development. Engagement in such interaction exhibiting aspects of purposeful, habitual recurring structure evidences the developed capability of the humanoid to enact language and interaction games as a successful participant