The Viability of Domain Constrained Coalition Formation for Robotic Collectives

Applications, such as military and disaster response, can benefit from robotic collectives' ability to perform multiple cooperative tasks (e.g., surveillance, damage assessments) efficiently across a large spatial area. Coalition formation algorithms can potentially facilitate collective robots' assignment to appropriate task teams; however, most coalition formation algorithms were designed for smaller multiple robot systems (i.e., 2-50 robots). Collectives' scale and domain-relevant constraints (i.e., distribution, near real-time, minimal communication) make coalition formation more challenging. This manuscript identifies the challenges inherent to designing coalition formation algorithms for very large collectives (e.g., 1000 robots). A survey of multiple robot coalition formation algorithms finds that most are unable to transfer directly to collectives, due to the identified system differences; however, auctions and hedonic games may be the most transferable. A simulation-based evaluation of three auction and hedonic game algorithms, applied to homogeneous and heterogeneous collectives, demonstrates that there are collective compositions for which no existing algorithm is viable; however, the experimental results and literature survey suggest paths forward.Comment: 46 pages, 9 figures, Swarm Intelligence (under review

Keynote Address

In the Emory Bankruptcy Development Journal\u27s first ever keynote address, the Honorable Mary Grace Diehl discussed the evolution of the Bankruptcy Code forty years after its passage. Judge Diehl shared her experiences as a new associate interacting with a freshly minted Bankruptcy Code and described how the Code has changed in unique and unexpected ways

GRAPE-S: Near Real-Time Coalition Formation for Multiple Service Collectives

Robotic collectives for military and disaster response applications require coalition formation algorithms to partition robots into appropriate task teams. Collectives' missions will often incorporate tasks that require multiple high-level robot behaviors or services, which coalition formation must accommodate. The highly dynamic and unstructured application domains also necessitate that coalition formation algorithms produce near optimal solutions (i.e., >95% utility) in near real-time (i.e., <5 minutes) with very large collectives (i.e., hundreds of robots). No previous coalition formation algorithm satisfies these requirements. An initial evaluation found that traditional auction-based algorithms' runtimes are too long, even though the centralized simulator incorporated ideal conditions unlikely to occur in real-world deployments (i.e., synchronization across robots and perfect, instantaneous communication). The hedonic game-based GRAPE algorithm can produce solutions in near real-time, but cannot be applied to multiple service collectives. This manuscript integrates GRAPE and a services model, producing GRAPE-S and Pair-GRAPE-S. These algorithms and two auction baselines were evaluated using a centralized simulator with up to 1000 robots, and via the largest distributed coalition formation simulated evaluation to date, with up to 500 robots. The evaluations demonstrate that auctions transfer poorly to distributed collectives, resulting in excessive runtimes and low utility solutions. GRAPE-S satisfies the target domains' coalition formation requirements, producing near optimal solutions in near real-time, and Pair-GRAPE-S more than satisfies the domain requirements, producing optimal solutions in near real-time. GRAPE-S and Pair-GRAPE-S are the first algorithms demonstrated to support near real-time coalition formation for very large, distributed collectives with multiple services

Must Do @ VCU

Must Do @ VCU is a set of annual collegial activities that can be performed throughout the year, by faculty, staff and students. These VCU-centered activities are considered to be the things that give VCU its identity. The goal of Must Do @ VCU is to generate a sense of community and of belonging to the University. VCU is a relatively new University and its traditions are therefore not well-established. Must Do @ VCU aims to build on shared experiences as a method to establish VCU culture

VCU Media Lab

We propose the establishment of a VCU Media Lab – a professional creative media technology unit whose mission is to support the development, design, production and delivery of innovative media, multimedia, computer-based instruction, publications and tools in support of VCU education, research and marketing initiatives. This centrally administered, budgeted and resourced facility will acknowledge, refine, focus and expand media services that are currently being provided at VCU in a decentralized manner

Consumer Bankruptcy Panel Strip Off in Chapter 7: The Limits of Dewsnup

Consumer Bankruptcy Panel Strip Off in Chapter 7: The Limits of Dewsnu

Análise do processo de coopetição em redes horizontais de pequenas e médias empresas do Rio Grande do Sul

This paper intends to contribute to a better understanding of the co-opetition (simultaneous co-operation and competition) process within horizontal networks in small and medium-sized companies, which is a relevant field of study in strategic management. The objective of this investigation is to analyze the key elements characterizing co-opetition within horizontal networks in selected small and medium-size companies based in Rio Grande do Sul state. Its strategy was a multiple case study, in a qualitative survey, using semi-structured in-depth interviews and documental analysis as data collection procedures. Associates and managers of the Agafarma and Redecore networks were interviewed. The data were treated and analyzed using the technique of content analysis. The results show that the key elements of co-opetition identified on the basis of the theoretical background are present in those networks, including (i) trust and reciprocity; (ii) complementarity and commitment; (iii) exchange of experience and learning;(iv) history and identity; (v) adaptability and alignment; (vi) interdependence and equality; (vii) incompatibility and conflicts; (viii) competition and rivalry; (ix) control and standardization; (x) individual and collective performance; and (xi) independence and autonomy. The networks have all these elements in different degrees of intensity, due to their different and specific features, such as size, operation field, period of existence, direct and non-direct competitors, and other aspects. It must be highlighted that the elements linked to the dimension of cooperation are present in the networks more intensely than the elements linked to competition.Key words: horizontal networks of companies, co-operation networks, co-opetition, key elements.Este artigo busca contribuir para um melhor entendimento do processo de coopetição (cooperação e competição simultâneas) que ocorre em redes horizontais de pequenas e médias empresas, tema que tem se apresentado como um campo de estudo relevante da administração estratégica. O objetivo desta pesquisa é analisar os elementos-chave que caracterizam a coopetição em redes horizontais de pequenas e médias empresas selecionadas do Estado do Rio Grande do Sul. A estratégia de pesquisa adotada foi de estudo de casos múltiplos, com investigação qualitativa, que teve como técnicas de coleta de dados entrevistas em profundidade com roteiro semiestruturado e análise documental. Os respondentes são associados e gestores das Redes Agafarma e Redecore. Os dados foram tratados e analisados com o uso da técnica de análise de conteúdo. De acordo com os resultados, pode-se inferir que os elementos-chave da coopetição identificados a partir da teoria, incluindo (i) confiança e reciprocidade; (ii) complementaridade e comprometimento; (iii) troca de experiências e aprendizagem; (iv) histórico e identidade; (v) adaptabilidade e alinhamento; (vi) interdependência e igualdade; (vii) incompatibilidade e conflitos; (viii) concorrência e rivalidade; (ix) controle e padronização; (x)desempenho individual e coletivo; e (xi) independência e autonomia, encontram-se presentes nas redes estudadas. As redes de empresas analisadas possuem todos os elementos propostos em diferentes graus de intensidade, em função de suas características diversas e específicas, como porte, segmento de atuação, tempo de existência, empresas concorrentes diretas ou não e outros aspectos. Destaca-se que os elementos vinculados à dimensão cooperação mostraram-se presentes nas redes com maior intensidade que os elementos vinculados à dimensão competição.Palavras-chave: redes horizontais de empresas, redes de cooperação, coopetição, elementoschave

Análise do processo de coopetição em redes horizontais de pequenas e médias empresas do Rio Grande do Sul

This paper intends to contribute to a better understanding of the co-opetition (simultaneous co-operation and competition) process within horizontal networks in small and medium-sized companies, which is a relevant field of study in strategic management. The objective of this investigation is to analyze the key elements characterizing co-opetition within horizontal networks in selected small and medium-size companies based in Rio Grande do Sul state. Its strategy was a multiple case study, in a qualitative survey, using semi-structured in-depth interviews and documental analysis as data collection procedures. Associates and managers of the Agafarma and Redecore networks were interviewed. The data were treated and analyzed using the technique of content analysis. The results show that the key elements of co-opetition identified on the basis of the theoretical background are present in those networks, including (i) trust and reciprocity; (ii) complementarity and commitment; (iii) exchange of experience and learning;(iv) history and identity; (v) adaptability and alignment; (vi) interdependence and equality; (vii) incompatibility and conflicts; (viii) competition and rivalry; (ix) control and standardization; (x) individual and collective performance; and (xi) independence and autonomy. The networks have all these elements in different degrees of intensity, due to their different and specific features, such as size, operation field, period of existence, direct and non-direct competitors, and other aspects. It must be highlighted that the elements linked to the dimension of cooperation are present in the networks more intensely than the elements linked to competition.Key words: horizontal networks of companies, co-operation networks, co-opetition, key elements.Este artigo busca contribuir para um melhor entendimento do processo de coopetição (cooperação e competição simultâneas) que ocorre em redes horizontais de pequenas e médias empresas, tema que tem se apresentado como um campo de estudo relevante da administração estratégica. O objetivo desta pesquisa é analisar os elementos-chave que caracterizam a coopetição em redes horizontais de pequenas e médias empresas selecionadas do Estado do Rio Grande do Sul. A estratégia de pesquisa adotada foi de estudo de casos múltiplos, com investigação qualitativa, que teve como técnicas de coleta de dados entrevistas em profundidade com roteiro semiestruturado e análise documental. Os respondentes são associados e gestores das Redes Agafarma e Redecore. Os dados foram tratados e analisados com o uso da técnica de análise de conteúdo. De acordo com os resultados, pode-se inferir que os elementos-chave da coopetição identificados a partir da teoria, incluindo (i) confiança e reciprocidade; (ii) complementaridade e comprometimento; (iii) troca de experiências e aprendizagem; (iv) histórico e identidade; (v) adaptabilidade e alinhamento; (vi) interdependência e igualdade; (vii) incompatibilidade e conflitos; (viii) concorrência e rivalidade; (ix) controle e padronização; (x)desempenho individual e coletivo; e (xi) independência e autonomia, encontram-se presentes nas redes estudadas. As redes de empresas analisadas possuem todos os elementos propostos em diferentes graus de intensidade, em função de suas características diversas e específicas, como porte, segmento de atuação, tempo de existência, empresas concorrentes diretas ou não e outros aspectos. Destaca-se que os elementos vinculados à dimensão cooperação mostraram-se presentes nas redes com maior intensidade que os elementos vinculados à dimensão competição.Palavras-chave: redes horizontais de empresas, redes de cooperação, coopetição, elementoschave

Power and rights in the community: paralegals as leaders in women's legal empowerment in Tanzania

What can an analysis of power in local communities contribute to debates on women’s legal empowerment and the role of paralegals in Africa? Drawing upon theories of power and rights, and research on legal empowerment in African plural legal systems, this article explores the challenges for paralegals in facilitating women’s access to justice in Tanzania, which gave statutory recognition to paralegals in the Legal Aid Act 2017. Land conflicts represent the single-biggest source of local legal disputes in Tanzania and are often embedded in gendered land tenure relations. This article argues that paralegals can be effective actors in women’s legal empowerment where they are able to work as leaders, negotiating power relations and resisting the forms of violence that women encounter as obstacles to justice. Paralegals’ authority will be realised when their role is situated within community leadership structures, confirming their authority while preserving their independence

The study of atmospheric ice-nucleating particles via microfluidically generated droplets

Ice-nucleating particles (INPs) play a significant role in the climate and hydrological cycle by triggering ice formation in supercooled clouds, thereby causing precipitation and affecting cloud lifetimes and their radiative properties. However, despite their importance, INP often comprise only 1 in 10³–10⁶ ambient particles, making it difficult to ascertain and predict their type, source, and concentration. The typical techniques for quantifying INP concentrations tend to be highly labour-intensive, suffer from poor time resolution, or are limited in sensitivity to low concentrations. Here, we present the application of microfluidic devices to the study of atmospheric INPs via the simple and rapid production of monodisperse droplets and their subsequent freezing on a cold stage. This device offers the potential for the testing of INP concentrations in aqueous samples with high sensitivity and high counting statistics. Various INPs were tested for validation of the platform, including mineral dust and biological species, with results compared to literature values. We also describe a methodology for sampling atmospheric aerosol in a manner that minimises sampling biases and which is compatible with the microfluidic device. We present results for INP concentrations in air sampled during two field campaigns: (1) from a rural location in the UK and (2) during the UK’s annual Bonfire Night festival. These initial results will provide a route for deployment of the microfluidic platform for the study and quantification of INPs in upcoming field campaigns around the globe, while providing a benchmark for future lab-on-a-chip-based INP studies