Generic Drone Control Platform for Autonomous Capture of Cinema Scenes

The movie industry has been using Unmanned Aerial Vehicles as a new tool to produce more and more complex and aesthetic camera shots. However, the shooting process currently rely on manual control of the drones which makes it difficult and sometimes inconvenient to work with. In this paper we address the lack of autonomous system to operate generic rotary-wing drones for shooting purposes. We propose a global control architecture based on a high-level generic API used by many UAV. Our solution integrates a compound and coupled model of a generic rotary-wing drone and a Full State Feedback strategy. To address the specific task of capturing cinema scenes, we combine the control architecture with an automatic camera path planning approach that encompasses cinematographic techniques. The possibilities offered by our system are demonstrated through a series of experiments

Theoretical aproach to the democratization and the critical spirit promotion in the science of education

Este artículo presenta un enfoque teórico sobre el fomento del espíritu crítico. Se defiende la importancia de éste para la democratización. Ello es debido al diálogo presente en nuestra concepción del criticismo pedagógico y a los elementos hermenéuticos. De hecho, nuestra concepción crítica es eminentemente hermenéutica y experiencial.This paper presents a theoretical approach about the promoting the critical spirit. We defend its importance for democratization. This one is due to the dialogue present in our conception of pedagogical criticism and the hermeneutic elements. In fact, our view is eminently critical hermeneutics and experiential

Risk-Seeking versus Risk-Avoiding Investments in Noisy Periodic Environments

We study the performance of various agent strategies in an artificial investment scenario. Agents are equipped with a budget, $x(t)$, and at each time step invest a particular fraction, $q(t)$, of their budget. The return on investment (RoI), $r(t)$, is characterized by a periodic function with different types and levels of noise. Risk-avoiding agents choose their fraction $q(t)$ proportional to the expected positive RoI, while risk-seeking agents always choose a maximum value $q_{max}$ if they predict the RoI to be positive ("everything on red"). In addition to these different strategies, agents have different capabilities to predict the future $r(t)$, dependent on their internal complexity. Here, we compare 'zero-intelligent' agents using technical analysis (such as moving least squares) with agents using reinforcement learning or genetic algorithms to predict $r(t)$. The performance of agents is measured by their average budget growth after a certain number of time steps. We present results of extensive computer simulations, which show that, for our given artificial environment, (i) the risk-seeking strategy outperforms the risk-avoiding one, and (ii) the genetic algorithm was able to find this optimal strategy itself, and thus outperforms other prediction approaches considered.Comment: 27 pp. v2 with minor corrections. See http://www.sg.ethz.ch for more inf

The MSSM prediction for W+/- H-/+ production by gluon fusion

We discuss the associated W+/- H-/+ production in p p collision for the Large Hadron Collider. A complete one-loop calculation of the loop-induced subprocess g g -> W+/- H-/+ is presented in the framework of the Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model (MSSM), and the possible enhancement of the hadronic cross section is investigated under the constraint from the squark direct-search results and the low-energy precision data. Because of the large destructive interplay in the quark-loop contributions between triangle-type and box-type diagrams, the squark-loop contributions turn out to be comparable with the quark-loop ones. In particular, the hadronic cross section via gluon fusion can be extensively enhanced by squark-pair threshold effects in the box-type diagrams, so that it can be as large as the hadronic cross section via the b b-bar -> W+/- H-/+ subprocess which appears at tree level.Comment: 35 pages, 7 figures, version to appear in Physical Review

Squark Loop Correction to W^{+-} H^{-+} Associated Hadroproduction

We study the squark loop correction to W^{+-} H^{-+} associated hadroproduction via gluon-gluon fusion within the minimal supersymmetric extension of the standard model. We list full analytic results and quantitatively analyze the resulting shift in the cross section at the CERN Large Hadron Collider assuming a supergravity-inspired scenario.Comment: 13 pages (Latex), 5 figures (Postscript

A clumpy and anisotropic galaxy halo at z=1 from gravitational-arc tomography

Every star-forming galaxy has a halo of metal-enriched gas extending out to at least 100 kpc, as revealed by the absorption lines this gas imprints on the spectra of background quasars. However, quasars are sparse and typically probe only one narrow pencil beam through the intervening galaxy. Close quasar pairs and gravitationally lensed quasars have been used to circumvent this inherently one-dimensional technique, but these objects are rare and the structure of the circum-galactic medium remains poorly constrained. As a result, our understanding of the physical processes that drive the re-cycling of baryons across the lifetime of a galaxy is limited. Here we report integral-field (tomographic) spectroscopy of an extended background source -a bright giant gravitational arc. We can thus coherently map the spatial and kinematic distribution of Mg II absorption -a standard tracer of enriched gas- in an intervening galaxy system at redshift 0.98 (i.e., ~8 Gyr ago). Our gravitational-arc tomography unveils a clumpy medium in which the absorption-strength decreases with increasing impact parameter, in good agreement with the statistics towards quasars; furthermore, we find strong evidence that the gas is not distributed isotropically. Interestingly, we detect little kinematic variation over a projected area of ~600 kpc squared, with all line-of-sight velocities confined to within a few tens of km/s of each other. These results suggest that the detected absorption originates from entrained recycled material, rather than in a galactic outflow.Comment: Published online in Nature on 31 January 201

Anthropometric Characteristics, Body Composition and Somatotype in Elite Junior ITF Tennis Players from South America

Indexación: Scopus; Scielo.El objetivo de este estudio fue determinar las características antropométricas, composición corporal y somatotipo en tenistas varones elite juniors sudamericanos de la Federación Internacional de Tenis. Participaron 25 jugadores de 17,04 ± 1,05 años. La composición corporal se evaluó con el perfil restringido de 25 variables propuesto por Kerr en base al método pentacompartimental, el cual fracciona el cuerpo en 5 componentes (tejidos: muscular, adiposo, óseo, residual, y piel). El somatotipo se identificó con el método de Heath y Carter. Para la evaluación se utilizaron las normas propuestas por La Sociedad Internacional para el Avance de la Cineantropometría (ISAK) y el Grupo Español de Cineantropometría (GREC). El porcentaje de tejido muscular fue de 47,65 ± 2,83 %, tejido adiposo de 23,23 ± 3,56 %, y tejido óseo de 11,79 ± 1,56 % con un índice músculoóseo(IMO) de 4,09 ± 0,50. En cuanto al somatotipo se apreció una clasificación de tipo mesomorfo balanceado con valores de 2,5 ± 0,81 de endomorfia, 4,9 ± 0,66 de mesomorfia, y 2,7 ± 0,96 de ectomorfia. El grupo de tenistas presentó un predominio del componente mesomorfia con un equilibrio entre los componentes endomorfia y ectomorfia con características de composición corporal similares a las encontradas en la literatura. El presente estudio entrega datos referenciales sobre las características antropométricas en tenistas sudamericanos nivel elite categoría junior.The objective of the study was to determine the anthropometric characteristics, body composition and somatotype in male elite junior tennis players from the International Tennis Federation (ITF). Twenty five players of 17.04 ± 1.05 years participated. The body composition was evaluated with the restricted profile of 25 variables proposed by Kerr based on the pent compartmental method, which divided the body into 5 components (tissues: muscle, adipose, bone, residual, and skin). The somatotype was identified with the Heath and Carter method. For the evaluation, the norms proposed by the International Society for the Advancement of Cineanthropometry (ISAK) and the Spanish Group of Cineanthropometry (GREC) were used. The percentage of muscle tissue was 47.65 ± 2.83 %, adipose tissue of 23.23 ± 3.56 %, and bone tissue of 11.79 ± 1.56 % with a muscle-osseous index (IMO) of 4.09 ± 0.50. Regarding somatotype, a balanced mesomorphic classification was observed with values of 2.5 ± 0.81 of endomorphy, 4.9 ± 0.66 of mesomorphy, and 2.7 ± 0.96 of ectomorphy. The group of tennis players presented a predominance of the mesomorphy component with a balance between the components endomorphy and ectomorphy with characteristics of body composition similar to those found in the literature. The present study provides referential data on the anthropometric characteristics in South American tennis players elite junior category.https://scielo.conicyt.cl/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0717-95022018000301095&lng=en&nrm=iso&tlng=e

A computational investigation of cardiovascular haemodynamic abnormalities in turner syndrome patients

Girls with Turner syndrome (TS), a chromosomal condition in which a female has complete or partial absence of the second sex chromosome, present a unique group of patients, with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Congenital heart abnormalities occur in up to 50% of TS individuals and mortality rates are three times higher compared with the general population, with the most common cause of death being from cardiovascular disease [1-2]. We hypothesise that patients with TS present a greater variance in aortic arch morphology and haemodynamics than their healthy counterparts, because each TS patient is regarded as a unique anatomical and physiological case study. In this investigation, we present the first ever computational fluid dynamic analysis of TS children, with patient-specific physiologically realistic haemodynamic conditions. Computational models were used to analyse the arterial blood flow in TS children, who are known to present an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Three-dimensional patient geometries of the aortic arch were reconstructed while numerical simulations were performed within a finite-volume method framework, using patient-specific phase-contrast MRI obtained boundary conditions. Velocity streamlines and time-dependent metrics, such as the timeaveraged wall shear stress (TAWSS) and oscillatory shear index (OSI), were computed for all models. Particular attention was paid to regions of low mean and oscillatory haemodynamic wall shear stresses as our current understanding of subclinical atherosclerosis links these blood flow-induced biomechanical stimuli with damage to the arterial vascular endothelium. Preliminary results have found morphological aortic differences between patients to have a strong effect on the haemodynamic environment and may be a marker for increased cardiovascular risk