scholarly journals The need for speed: global optic flow speed influences steering

2016 ◽  
Vol 3 (5) ◽  
pp. 160096 ◽  
Author(s):  
Georgios K. Kountouriotis ◽  
Callum D. Mole ◽  
Natasha Merat ◽  
Richard M. Wilkie
Keyword(s):  
Optic Flow ◽  
Ground Plane ◽  
Visual Fields ◽  
Flow Speed ◽  
Sufficient Information ◽  
Global Flow ◽  
Steering Control ◽  
Flow Speeds ◽  
Curved Paths ◽  
Perceptual Variable

How do animals follow demarcated paths? Different species are sensitive to optic flow and one control solution is to maintain the balance of flow symmetry across visual fields; however, it is unclear whether animals are sensitive to changes in asymmetries when steering along curved paths. Flow asymmetries can alter the global properties of flow (i.e. flow speed) which may also influence steering control. We tested humans steering curved paths in a virtual environment. The scene was manipulated so that the ground plane to either side of the demarcated path produced larger or smaller asymmetries in optic flow. Independent of asymmetries and the locomotor speed, the scene properties were altered to produce either faster or slower globally averaged flow speeds. Results showed that rather than being influenced by changes in flow asymmetry, steering responded to global flow speed. We conclude that the human brain performs global averaging of flow speed from across the scene and uses this signal as an input for steering control. This finding is surprising since the demarcated path provided sufficient information to steer, whereas global flow speed (by itself) did not. To explain these findings, existing models of steering must be modified to include a new perceptual variable: namely global optic flow speed.

scholarly journals Steering along curved paths is influenced by global flow speed not speed asymmetry

2015 ◽  
Vol 15 (12) ◽  
pp. 416
Author(s):  
Georgios Kountouriotis ◽  
Callum Mole ◽  
Natasha Merat ◽  
Peter Gardner ◽  
Richard Wilkie
Keyword(s):  
Flow Speed ◽  
Global Flow ◽  
Curved Paths

scholarly journals Enhanced Optic Flow Speed Discrimination While Walking: Contextual Tuning of Visual Coding

Perception ◽  
10.1068/p5845 ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 36 (10) ◽  
pp. 1465-1475 ◽  
Author(s):  
Frank H Durgin ◽  
Krista Gigone
Keyword(s):  
Flow Field ◽  
Optic Flow ◽  
Flow Speed ◽  
Visual Coding ◽  
Choice Procedure ◽  
Flow Speeds ◽  
Forced Choice Procedure ◽  
Speed Discrimination ◽  
Self Motion ◽  
Perceived Speed

We tested the hypothesis that long-term adaptation to the normal contingencies between walking and its multisensory consequences (including optic flow) leads to enhanced discrimination of appropriate visual speeds during self-motion. In experiments 1 (task 1) and 2 a two-interval forced-choice procedure was used to compare the perceived speed of a simulated visual flow field viewed while walking with the perceived speed of a flow field viewed while standing. Both experiments demonstrated subtractive reductions in apparent speed. In experiments 1 and 3 discrimination thresholds were measured for optic flow speed while walking and while standing. Consistent with the optimal-coding hypothesis, speed discrimination for visual speeds near walking speed was enhanced during walking. Reduced sensitivity was found for slower visual speeds. The multisensory context of walking alters the coding of optic flow in a way that enhances speed discrimination in the expected range of flow speeds.

scholarly journals Optic flow and the metric of the visual ground plane

1998 ◽  
Vol 38 (8) ◽  
pp. 1153-1170 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jack M.H. Beusmans
Keyword(s):  
Optic Flow ◽  
Ground Plane

scholarly journals Large amplitude, short wave peristalsis and its implications for transport

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lindsay D Waldrop ◽  
Laura A. Miller
Keyword(s):  
Fluid Flow ◽  
Large Amplitude ◽  
Compression Wave ◽  
Wave Speed ◽  
Flow Direction ◽  
Short Wave ◽  
Flow Speed ◽  
Biological Pumps ◽  
Flow Speeds ◽  
Flow Compression

Valveless, tubular pumps are widespread in the animal kingdom, but the mechanism by which these pumps generate fluid flow are often in dispute. Where the pumping mechanism of many organs was once described as peristalsis, other mechanisms, such as dynamic suction pumping, have been suggested as possible alternative mechanisms. Peristalsis is often evaluated using criteria established in a technical definition for mechanical pumps, but this definition is based on a small-amplitude, long-wave approximation which biological pumps often violate. In this study, we use a direct numerical simulation of large-amplitude, short-wave peristalsis to investigate the relationships between fluid flow, compression frequency, compression wave speed, and tube occlusion. We also explore how the flows produced differ from the criteria outlined in the technical definition of peristalsis. We find that many of the technical criteria are violated by our model: fluid flow speeds produced by peristalsis are greater than the speeds of the compression wave; fluid flow is pulsatile; and flow speed have a non-linear relationship with compression frequency when compression wave speed is held constant. We suggest that the technical definition is inappropriate for evaluating peristalsis as a pumping mechanism for biological pumps because they too frequently violate the assumptions inherent in these criteria. Instead, we recommend that a simpler, more inclusive definition be used for assessing peristalsis as a pumping mechanism based on the presence of non-stationary compression sites that propagate uni-directionally along a tube without the need for a structurally fixed flow direction.

Effects of Shield Gas Flow on Meltpool Variability and Signature in Scanned Laser Melting

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
David C. Deisenroth ◽  
Jorge Neira ◽  
Jordan Weaver ◽  
Ho Yeung
Keyword(s):  
Additive Manufacturing ◽  
Aspect Ratio ◽  
Flow Velocity ◽  
Process Monitoring ◽  
Gas Flow ◽  
Laser Energy ◽  
Flow Speed ◽  
Powder Bed ◽  
Flow Speeds ◽  
Gas Flow Velocity

Abstract In laser powder bed fusion metal additive manufacturing, insufficient shield gas flow allows accumulation of condensate and ejecta above the build plane and in the beam path. These process byproducts are associated with beam obstruction, attenuation, and thermal lensing, which then lead to lack of fusion and other defects. Furthermore, lack of gas flow can allow excessive amounts of ejecta to redeposit onto the build surface or powder bed, causing further part defects. The current investigation was a preliminary study on how gas flow velocity and direction affect laser delivery to a bare substrate of Nickel Alloy 625 (IN625) in the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Additive Manufacturing Metrology Testbed (AMMT). Melt tracks were formed under several gas flow speeds, gas flow directions, and energy densities. The tracks were then cross-sectioned and measured. The melt track aspect ratio and aspect ratio coefficient of variation (CV) were reported as a function of gas flow speed and direction. It was found that a mean gas flow velocity of 6.7 m/s from a nozzle 6.35 mm in diameter was sufficient to reduce meltpool aspect ratio CV to less than 15 %. Real-time inline hotspot area and its CV were evaluated as a process monitoring signature for identifying poor laser delivery due to inadequate gas flow. It was found that inline hotspot size could be used to distinguish between conduction mode and transition mode processes, but became diminishingly sensitive as applied laser energy density increased toward keyhole mode. Increased hotspot size CV (associated with inadequate gas flow) was associated with an increased meltpool aspect ratio CV. Finally, it was found that use of the inline hotspot CV showed a bias toward higher CV values when the laser was scanned nominally toward the gas flow, which indicates that this bias must be considered in order to use hotspot area CV as a process monitoring signature. This study concludes that gas flow speed and direction have important ramifications for both laser delivery and process monitoring.

scholarly journals Experimental Study on the Effects of a Vertical Jet Impinging on Soft Bottom Sediments

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (9) ◽  
pp. 3775 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wei Fan ◽  
Weicheng Bao ◽  
Yong Cai ◽  
Canbo Xiao ◽  
Zhujun Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Theoretical Model ◽  
Side Effects ◽  
Field Experiments ◽  
Sediment Resuspension ◽  
Ecological Engineering ◽  
Phosphorus Release ◽  
Flow Speed ◽  
Critical Conditions ◽  
Water Tank ◽  
Flow Speeds

Artificial downwelling, which is an ecological engineering method, potentially alleviates bottom hypoxia by bringing oxygen-rich surface water down below the pycnocline. However, the downward flow is likely to disturb sediments (or induce sediment resuspension) when reaching the bottom and then have unwanted side effects on the local ecosystem. To evaluate this, our paper presents a theoretical model and experimental data for the sediment resuspension caused by artificial downwelling. The theoretical model considers the critical conditions for sediment resuspension and the scour volume with the downwelling flow disturbing sediment. Experiments with altered downwelling flow speeds, discharge positions relative to the bottom, and particle sizes of sediment were conducted in a water tank, and the results were consistent with our theoretical model. The results show that the critical Froude number (hereinafter Fr) for sediment resuspension is 0.5. The prevention of sediment resuspension requires the downwelling flow speed and the discharge position to be adjusted so that Fr < 0.5; otherwise a portion of sediment is released into the water and its volume can be predicted by the derived formulation based on the Shields theory. Furthermore, sediment resuspension has side effects, such as a water turbidity increase and phosphorus release, the magnitudes of which are discussed with respect to engineering parameters. Further study will focus on field experiments of artificial downwelling and its environmental impacts.

Drop Generation in Cross-Flow of Liquid Rotating in Rigid Body Motion

2020 ◽  
Vol 142 (10) ◽  
Author(s):  
Haipeng Zhang ◽  
Sangjin Ryu
Keyword(s):  
Rigid Body ◽  
Cross Flow ◽  
Continuous Phase ◽  
Flow Speed ◽  
Rigid Body Motion ◽  
Body Motion ◽  
Drop Diameter ◽  
Liquid Drops ◽  
Syringe Needle ◽  
Flow Speeds

Abstract Various methods have been developed to generate monodisperse drops of a dispersed phase (DP) liquid in an immiscible continuous phase (CP) liquid, which include the membrane emulsification method and the microfluidic drop generation. This study proposes an easy-to-adopt drop generation method using cross-flow: a DP liquid is injected through a stationary vertical syringe needle into a CP liquid rotating in rigid body motion. The developed method was tested and characterized using de-ionized water as the DP liquid and mineral oil as the CP liquid. Drops were generated mainly either in the dripping mode or the jetting mode, and the former resulted in higher monodispersity. Smaller drops were generated when a thinner syringe needle was used, the average flow speed of the DP liquid through the needle was decreased, or the linear flow speed of the CP liquid at the needle location was increased. Especially, the power–law relationship was observed between the drop diameter and the flow speeds, and the dripping-to-jetting transition (DJT) was observed when the Weber number of the DP liquid was about 5.

scholarly journals Steering bends and changing lanes: The impact of optic flow and road edges on two point steering control

2018 ◽  
Vol 18 (9) ◽  
pp. 14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuki Okafuji ◽  
Callum David Mole ◽  
Natasha Merat ◽  
Takanori Fukao ◽  
Yasuyoshi Yokokohji ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Optic Flow ◽  
Steering Control ◽  
The Impact

scholarly journals Effect of morphology on the large-amplitude flapping dynamics of an inverted flag in a uniform flow

2019 ◽  
Vol 874 ◽  
pp. 526-547 ◽  
Author(s):  
Boyu Fan ◽  
Cecilia Huertas-Cerdeira ◽  
Julia Cossé ◽  
John E. Sader ◽  
Morteza Gharib
Keyword(s):  
Large Amplitude ◽  
Free Edge ◽  
Flow Speed ◽  
Uniform Flow ◽  
Analytical Theory ◽  
Natural Occurrence ◽  
Fluid Forces ◽  
Elastic Sheet ◽  
Divergence Instability ◽  
Flow Speeds

The stability of a cantilevered elastic sheet in a uniform flow has been studied extensively due to its importance in engineering and its prevalence in natural structures. Varying the flow speed can give rise to a range of dynamics including limit cycle behaviour and chaotic motion of the cantilevered sheet. Recently, the ‘inverted flag’ configuration – a cantilevered elastic sheet aligned with the flow impinging on its free edge – has been observed to produce large-amplitude flapping over a finite band of flow speeds. This flapping phenomenon has been found to be a vortex-induced vibration, and only occurs at sufficiently large Reynolds numbers. In all cases studied, the inverted flag has been formed from a cantilevered sheet of rectangular morphology, i.e. the planform of its elastic sheet is a rectangle. Here, we investigate the effect of the inverted flag’s morphology on its resulting stability and dynamics. We choose a trapezoidal planform which is explored using experiment and an analytical theory for the divergence instability of an inverted flag of arbitrary morphology. Strikingly, for this planform we observe that the flow speed range over which flapping occurs scales approximately with the flow speed at which the divergence instability occurs. This provides a means by which to predict and control flapping. In a biological setting, leaves in a wind can also align themselves in an inverted flag configuration. Motivated by this natural occurrence we also study the effect of adding an artificial ‘petiole’ (a thin elastic stalk that connects the sheet to the clamp) on the inverted flag’s dynamics. We find that the petiole serves to partially decouple fluid forces from elastic forces, for which an analytical theory is also derived, in addition to increasing the freedom by which the flapping dynamics can be tuned. These results highlight the intricacies of the flapping instability and account for some of the varied dynamics of leaves in nature.

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