Self-Adjusting Finite State Machines: an approach to Real-Time Autonomous Behavior in Robots

In the Robotics industry, it is a frequent requirement that robots operate in real-time. The usual approach to this issue involves creating robots driven entirely by direct environmental input rather than complicated planning and decision-making AI. This approach means that the current state of the robot in relation to its environment exclusively determines the actions of the robot. In the simplest terms, this approach creates a Finite State Machine (FSM). Clearly, a standard FSM is completely pre-deterministic upon its creation. This is a drawback which immediately disallows the robot to cope with dynamic environments in an autonomous manner. This research suggests a solution to this problem, while still maintaining real-time performance of the FSM structure, through the development of a Self-Adjusting FSM (SA-FSM). A SA-FSM is a FSM with an additional module which adds, removes, and adjusts specific states of its FSM structure. By adjusting its FSM the SA-FSM will have the basis for autonomous attributes. It will be capable of coping with drastic changes in its environment by making necessary fundamental adjustments to its behavior. Through this mechanism, the process of learning can be implemented. In this regard, only the inherent learning/inference algorithms the SA-FSM employs to adjust its FSM determine the complexity of the behavior produced by a SA-FSM based robot

Programming the landscape – the objectification of space

The following paper will attempt to illuminate and elaborate on a distinct pattern of human behavior, namely the idea that the collective actions of groups (cultures) are directed toward the objectification of their environments. This paper will attempt to prove that this is indeed the case, and further, explain why and how this behavior is undertaken. The more focused implication of this broad assertion is that groups are motivated to program their landscapes in order to position themselves within a more predictable temporal trajectory. It is the assertion herein that the capacity for symbolic thought is the primary vehicle through which this achieved

Mobility and transverse flow visualization using phase variance contrast with spectral domain optical coherence tomography

Phase variance-based motion contrast is demonstrated using two phase analysis methods in a spectral domain optical coherence tomography system. Mobility contrast is demonstrated for an intensity matched Intralipid solution placed without flow within agarose wells. Vasculature oriented transversely to the imaging direction has been imaged for 3-4 dpf in vivo zebrafish using the phase variance contrast methods. 2D phase variance contrast images are demonstrated with imaging times only 25% higher than a Doppler flow image with comparable statistics. En face images created by integrating depth regions of 3D zebrafish intensity and phase variance contrast data demonstrate vasculature consistent with expected images

Supporting State Policymakers' Implementation of Federal Health Reform

Outlines the capacities states will need to implement federal healthcare reform in the areas of information and analysis, strategic implementation and planning, topic-specific technical assistance, communications, and coordination and integration

Volumetric microvascular imaging of human retina using optical coherence tomography with a novel motion contrast technique

Phase variance-based motion contrast imaging is demonstrated using a spectral domain optical coherence tomography system for the in vivo human retina. This contrast technique spatially identifies locations of motion within the retina primarily associated with vasculature. Histogram-based noise analysis of the motion contrast images was used to reduce the motion noise created by transverse eye motion. En face summation images created from the 3D motion contrast data are presented with segmentation of selected retinal layers to provide non-invasive vascular visualization comparable to currently used invasive angiographic imaging. This motion contrast technique has demonstrated the ability to visualize resolution-limited vasculature independent of vessel orientation and flow velocity

Merry Masquerade

The song, Merry Masquerade, was developed by the fifth-grade students of Martin Luther King Elementary School during the 2015 spring semester as part of the America’s Civil War through Music sessions developed by Scott Schwartz and Marten Stromberg. This is the fourth year the students helped write a new song building on the knowledge that they have acquired through weekly history lessons and music performances by Scott and Marten, and copies of primary source documents pulled from the University’s Illinois History and Lincoln Collections. The students’ song this year builds on some of the more unusual stories about the mad-capped adventures of Abraham Lincoln, Jefferson Davis, Confederate General Stonewall Jackson, Union General George McClellan, and the many soldiers who fought during America’s Civil War.Ope

Contract Interpretation Redux

Contract interpretation remains the largest single source of contract litigation between business firms. In part this is because contract interpretation issues are difficult, but it also reflects a deep divide between textualist and contextualist theories of interpretation. While a strong majority of U.S. courts continue to follow the traditional, formalist approach to contract interpretation, some courts and most commentators prefer the contextualist interpretive principles that are reflected in the Uniform Commercial Code and the Second Restatement. In 2003, we published an article that set out a formalist theory of contract interpretation to govern agreements between business firms. We argued that, although accurate judicial interpretations are desirable, accurate interpretations are costly for parties and courts to obtain. Thus, any socially desirable interpretive rule would trade off accuracy against contract-writing and adjudication cost. This tradeoff implies that risk neutral business parties will commonly prefer judicial interpretations to be made on a limited evidentiary base, the most important element of which is the contract itself. But importantly, we also argued that commercial parties\u27 preferences along this dimension will be heterogeneous. Thus, any interpretation rules the state adopts should be defaults and the state should defer to the expressed preferences of particular parties regarding interpretation. This Review clarifies and extends these arguments, which have prompted a number of antiformalist responses. We respond to our critics and summarize empirical data that support our theory. Although much academic commentary suggests otherwise, both the available evidence and prevailing judicial practice support the claim that sophisticated parties prefer textualist interpretation. Sophisticated commercial parties incur costs to cast obligations expressly in written and unconditional forms to permit a party to stand on its rights under the written contract, to improve party incentives to invest in the deal, and to reduce litigation costs. Contextualist courts and commentators prefer to withdraw from parties the ability to use these instruments for contract design. The contextualists, however, cannot justify rules that so significantly restrict contractual freedom in the name of contractual freedom