System on fabrics utilising distributed computing

The main vision of wearable computing is to make electronic systems an important part of everyday clothing in the future which will serve as intelligent personal assistants. Wearable devices have the potential to be wearable computers and not mere input/output devices for the human body. The present thesis focuses on introducing a new wearable computing paradigm, where the processing elements are closely coupled with the sensors that are distributed using Instruction Systolic Array (ISA) architecture. The thesis describes a novel, multiple sensor, multiple processor system architecture prototype based on the Instruction Systolic Array paradigm for distributed computing on fabrics. The thesis introduces new programming model to implement the distributed computer on fabrics. The implementation of the concept has been validated using parallel algorithms. A real-time shape sensing and reconstruction application has been implemented on this architecture and has demonstrated a physical design for a wearable system based on the ISA concept constructed from off-the-shelf microcontrollers and sensors. Results demonstrate that the real time application executes on the prototype ISA implementation thus confirming the viability of the proposed architecture for fabric-resident computing devices

Shape reconstruction using instruction systolic array

This paper describes a novel, 2D mesh architecture prototype based on the Instruction Systolic Array (ISA) paradigm for distributed computing on fabrics. We discuss a real-time shape sensing and reconstruction application executing on this architecture and demonstrate a physical design for a wearable system based on ISA concept constructed out of off-the-shelf microcontrollers and sensors. Results demonstrate the application executes in 39 ms on our prototype ISA implementation thus confirming the viability of the proposed architecture for fabric-resident computing devices

System on fabrics architecture using distributed computing

This paper describes a novel, distributed sensor network with parallel processing capability based on the Instruction Systolic Array (ISA). A new computing paradigm is introduced where spatially distributed sensors are closely coupled to processing elements and the whole array forms a parallel computer. This may find applications in wearable devices for sensing the position and other metrics of a human body and rapidly processing that data. A new programming model to implement the distributed computer on fabrics is described. The fabric-based distributed computing concept has been validated using a number of parallel applications including a real-time shape sensing and reconstruction application. The exemplar wearable system based on the ISA concept has been realized using off-the-shelf microcontrollers and sensors. Results show that the application executes on the prototype ISA implementation in real time thus confirming the viability of the proposed architecture for fabric-resident computing devices

Grouping the Potential Local Feed Ingredients for Ornamental Fish Feed based on their Nutrient Composition, Cost, and Availability

In the ornamental fish industry, there is a growing concern about the higher freight cost of feed ingredients. The present study aimed to cluster the locally available ingredients based on their nutrient contents, price, and availability.  A total of 15 ingredients; fish meal (FM), by-catches (BC), soybean seeds (Soy), maize (Ma), duckweed (DW), Azolla pinnata (Az), rice bran (RB), shrimp shells (SS), palmyrah fruit pulp (PFP), red seaweed (RS), wheat flour (WF), cassava flour (CF), cornflour (CoF), coconut copra waste (CCC), and groundnut cake (GNC) were selected as locally available ingredients. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was performed by grouping the ingredients based on their nutrient contents, price, and availability using Minitab 16. In PCA, the two first components accounted for 57.50% of the total variance in the initial data. Protein, calcium, phosphorus, and price contribute positively with component 1, whereas carbohydrate content is related negatively to this component. Calcium and ash content correlated positively with component 2 and fat, gross energy, and availability were linked negatively to it. The PCA allowed the clustering the ingredients into four groups. Ingredients in Group 1, including Az, SS, RB, DW, and RS showed a positive correlation with component 2 and they contain more fiber although, they are not accessible throughout the year. Ingredients of Group 2, PFP, WF, CoF, and CF are excellent sources of starch but contained less protein content (0.94%, 11.00%, 0.00%, and 2.80% respectively). CCC, Ma, GNC, and SB pertain to group 3 correlating poorly with component 2. They are an excellent source of protein with the advantage that they are relatively affordable and easy to available than the other groups. Ingredients in group 4 incorporated BC and FB. Although they are high in protein, they are expensive and very poor in carbohydrates. Therefore, it is recommended that the ingredients in group 3 are the best choice for feed formulation with balanced nutrition at a low cost for fish feed preparation

The influence of void size on the micropolar constitutive properties of model heterogeneous materials

In this paper the mechanical behaviour of model heterogeneous materials consisting of regular periodic arrays of circular voids within a polymeric matrix is investigated. Circular ring samples of the materials were fabricated by machining the voids into commercially available polymer sheet. Ring samples of differing sizes but similar geometries were loaded using mechanical testing equipment. Sample stiffness was found to depend on sample size with stiffness increasing as size reduced. The periodic nature of the void arrays also facilitated detailed finite element analysis of each sample. The results obtained by analysis substantiate the observed dependence of stiffness on size. Classical elasticity theory does not acknowledge this size effect but more generalized elasticity theories do predict it. Micropolar elasticity theory has therefore been used to interpret the sample stiffness data and identify constitutive properties. Modulus values for the model materials have been quantified. Values of two additional constitutive properties, the characteristic length and the coupling number, which are present within micropolar elasticity but absent from its classic counterpart have also been determined. The dependence of these additional properties on void size has been investigated and characteristic length values compared to the length scales inherent within the structure of the model materials

Novel lithium Schiff-base cluster complexes as electron injectors: synthesis, crystal structure, thin film characterisation and their performance in OLEDs

This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry 2012A set of novel lithium Schiff base cluster compounds has been synthesised and characterised for the first time and tested as electron injectors in OLED devices. Their electrical, electronic, thermal and optical properties have been investigated and compared with the industry standards LiF and lithium quinolinolate (LiQ). Amongst the compounds tested, lithium 2-((o tolylimino)methyl) phenolate was found to enhance the efficiency of OLEDs by 69% compared to LiF and 15% compared to LiQ. The same electron injector was found to extend the lifetimes of OLEDs by six-fold compared to LiF and 4.3- fold compared to LiQ respectively. The crystal structure of the parent compound, lithium 2- ((phenylamino)methyl)phenolate reveals that the compound is tetrameric in contrast to hexameric LiQ. Substituting the methyl group with fluorine causes a remarkable depression of the HOMO and LUMO levels by up to 1.2 eV. Analysis of current density vs. voltage characteristics of single-layer devices for Li–Al/electron injector/Li–Al and Al/electron injector/Al reveals that both sets of devices are operating as electron-only devices indicating that the formation of free lithium is the cause of enhanced electron injection, but either the energetic aluminium atoms (as proposed previously by other workers) or energetic lithium complexes on an aluminium surface (as we have demonstrated in this paper) are all that is required for efficient electron injection