Plume Analysis and Detection

This work involves the design and implementation of a gas-sensing mobile robot as an experimental tool to reconstruct a carbon dioxide plume in real-time based on concentration gradient and local wind speed measurements. The autonomous robot, an iRobot Create 2, achieves navigation through an embedded micro-controller using on-board sensors and various sensor fusion methods. A mass flow controller and diffuser are used to dependably generate a plume that simulates a point source. A base station reconstructs the plume via a state estimator through data from the robot and transmits commands to guide it into spatial regions of interest. This method has applicability for unmanned vehicles tracking emissions of contaminants and their effects in the environment

Evaluating Visitor Experience in Gallery 67: The Korea Foundation Gallery

The Korea Foundation Gallery is one of the many galleries in the British Museum that holds historically significant artifacts. The British Museum tries to preserve and honor its artifacts by continuously assessing and updating its galleries. A 2012 Korea Foundation Gallery visitor experience survey revealed that visitors did not notice key objects and did not follow the layout of the gallery. This feedback prompted curators to make renovations to the Gallery. We evaluated whether the redesign met the desired impact through tracking visitor movements, surveying visitors, and interviewing museum staff. Based on our evaluation, we found that the visitor experience improved post- redesign. We also provided suggestions on ways to further the Gallery’s visitor engagement