Design and Development of a Security and Guidance Robot for Employment in a Mall

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (05) ◽  
pp. 1950027
Author(s):  
Gabriele Trovato ◽  
Alexander Lopez ◽  
Renato Paredes ◽  
Diego Quiroz ◽  
Francisco Cuellar

Among the possible fields in human society in which robotics can be applied, the possibility of a robotic guard has been imagined since long time. Human guards usually perform a range of tasks in which a robot can provide help. Security personnel not only perform security tasks and patrolling services, but also have to interact with people, providing additional information about the area they safeguard. In this paper, we present the design, development and preliminary tests of RobotMan, an anthropomorphic robot commissioned by a security company that should serve in security roles, such as patrolling large indoor areas and acting as a telepresence platform for the human guards, and guidance roles such as welcoming visitors and providing information. In the preliminary experiment, the new robot and a human guard were employed the roles of security and guidance in a manufacturing center. The results of the experiment collected from 96 participants highlighted differences in participants’ behavior when interacting with the robot rather than the human and a different perception of likeability and authority of the robot depending on subtle differences in its appearance and behavior. These results provide useful indication for the employment of robot guards in a real world situation.

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (11) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark A. Murphy

AbstractChemistry and biology constitute Vast and/or infinite design spaces which can be used by scientists and engineers to generate new and ever more complex chemical molecules and other structures having new emergent properties. A Vanishingly small proportion of those new molecules can generate even more complexity and new emergent properties by interacting with other molecules, bio-molecules, or complex collections of biomolecules. Large degrees of unpredictability reign throughout that Vastness, as well as in the Environment, and human society and behavior. Yet Life, the Earth’s ecosystem, consciousness, and civilized human societies evolved from simpler systems, despite the Vastness and unpredictability. Green Chemistry and Engineering emerged over the last few decades from an evolutionary search for new processes and products for the benefit of humans and the planet that are both economically viable and do less harm to the Environment. The author, who originally conceived, in 1984, the BHC Ibuprofen Process that won one of the very first Presidential Green Chemistry Awards, was inspired and guided in significant part by the “Quality” philosophy, teachings and methods of W. Edwards Deming. Deming’s Quality philosophy and methods adapt the empirical/reductionist perspectives and approaches of the Scientific Method, to readily integrate holistic, human, and ethical goals, ideas, and perspectives, in order to identify and solve Real-World problems. Deming’s methods include his “PDCA” circles, which, when continuously iterated, can guide scientists, engineers, and their interdisciplinary team-mates as to what to do toward the development and evolution of Real-World processes and products that create little waste, and therefore are both economically and ecologically beneficial, via a process of human guided and human accelerated evolution.


2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Pen Lister

AbstractThis paper discusses the uses and applications of the Pedagogy of Experience Complexity for Smart Learning (PECSL), a four-tier model of considerations for the design and development of smart learning activities. Using existing mobile apps and relevant activities as illustrative examples, the PECSL is applied to indicate concepts and mechanisms by which useful pedagogical considerations can work alongside user-centred design principles for the design and development of smart learning in urban hyper-localities. Practical application of the model is discussed using real world examples of activities as a basis to demonstrate the potential for manifold opportunities to learn, and plan for experience complexity in a smart learning activity. Case study approaches reflect on aspects of the PECSL in how it might be a useful and pragmatic guide to some of the issues faced when designing digital citizen learning activities in complex urban environments.


Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (9) ◽  
pp. 2416
Author(s):  
Marina Dorokhova ◽  
Fernando Ribeiro ◽  
António Barbosa ◽  
João Viana ◽  
Filipe Soares ◽  
...  

The energy efficiency requirements of most energy-consuming sectors have increased recently in response to climate change. For buildings, this means targeting both facility managers and building users with the aim of identifying potential energy savings and encouraging more energy-responsible behaviors. The Information and Communication Technology (ICT) platform developed in Horizon 2020 FEEdBACk project intends to fulfill these goals by enabling the optimization of energy consumption, generation, and storage and control of flexible devices without compromising comfort levels and indoor air quality parameters. This work aims to demonstrate the real-world implementation and functionality of the ICT platform composed of Load Disaggregation, Net Load Forecast, Occupancy Forecast, Automation Manager, and Behavior Predictor applications. Particularly, the results obtained by individual applications during the test phase are presented alongside the specific metrics used to evaluate their performance.


Author(s):  
Gwendolyn Rehrig ◽  
Reese A. Cullimore ◽  
John M. Henderson ◽  
Fernanda Ferreira

Abstract According to the Gricean Maxim of Quantity, speakers provide the amount of information listeners require to correctly interpret an utterance, and no more (Grice in Logic and conversation, 1975). However, speakers do tend to violate the Maxim of Quantity often, especially when the redundant information improves reference precision (Degen et al. in Psychol Rev 127(4):591–621, 2020). Redundant (non-contrastive) information may facilitate real-world search if it narrows the spatial scope under consideration, or improves target template specificity. The current study investigated whether non-contrastive modifiers that improve reference precision facilitate visual search in real-world scenes. In two visual search experiments, we compared search performance when perceptually relevant, but non-contrastive modifiers were included in the search instruction. Participants (NExp. 1 = 48, NExp. 2 = 48) searched for a unique target object following a search instruction that contained either no modifier, a location modifier (Experiment 1: on the top left, Experiment 2: on the shelf), or a color modifier (the black lamp). In Experiment 1 only, the target was located faster when the verbal instruction included either modifier, and there was an overall benefit of color modifiers in a combined analysis for scenes and conditions common to both experiments. The results suggest that violations of the Maxim of Quantity can facilitate search when the violations include task-relevant information that either augments the target template or constrains the search space, and when at least one modifier provides a highly reliable cue. Consistent with Degen et al. (2020), we conclude that listeners benefit from non-contrastive information that improves reference precision, and engage in rational reference comprehension. Significance statement This study investigated whether providing more information than someone needs to find an object in a photograph helps them to find that object more easily, even though it means they need to interpret a more complicated sentence. Before searching a scene, participants were either given information about where the object would be located in the scene, what color the object was, or were only told what object to search for. The results showed that providing additional information helped participants locate an object in an image more easily only when at least one piece of information communicated what part of the scene the object was in, which suggests that more information can be beneficial as long as that information is specific and helps the recipient achieve a goal. We conclude that people will pay attention to redundant information when it supports their task. In practice, our results suggest that instructions in other contexts (e.g., real-world navigation, using a smartphone app, prescription instructions, etc.) can benefit from the inclusion of what appears to be redundant information.


Technologies ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 119 ◽  
Author(s):  
Konstantinos Tsiakas ◽  
Maria Kyrarini ◽  
Vangelis Karkaletsis ◽  
Fillia Makedon ◽  
Oliver Korn

In this article, we present a taxonomy in Robot-Assisted Training; a growing body of research in Human–Robot Interaction which focuses on how robotic agents and devices can be used to enhance user’s performance during a cognitive or physical training task. Robot-Assisted Training systems have been successfully deployed to enhance the effects of a training session in various contexts, i.e., rehabilitation systems, educational environments, vocational settings, etc. The proposed taxonomy suggests a set of categories and parameters that can be used to characterize such systems, considering the current research trends and needs for the design, development and evaluation of Robot-Assisted Training systems. To this end, we review recent works and applications in Robot-Assisted Training systems, as well as related taxonomies in Human–Robot Interaction. The goal is to identify and discuss open challenges, highlighting the different aspects of a Robot-Assisted Training system, considering both robot perception and behavior control.


PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. e0245344
Author(s):  
Jianye Zhou ◽  
Yuewen Jiang ◽  
Biqing Huang

Background Outbreaks of infectious diseases would cause great losses to the human society. Source identification in networks has drawn considerable interest in order to understand and control the infectious disease propagation processes. Unsatisfactory accuracy and high time complexity are major obstacles to practical applications under various real-world situations for existing source identification algorithms. Methods This study attempts to measure the possibility for nodes to become the infection source through label ranking. A unified Label Ranking framework for source identification with complete observation and snapshot is proposed. Firstly, a basic label ranking algorithm with complete observation of the network considering both infected and uninfected nodes is designed. Our inferred infection source node with the highest label ranking tends to have more infected nodes surrounding it, which makes it likely to be in the center of infection subgraph and far from the uninfected frontier. A two-stage algorithm for source identification via semi-supervised learning and label ranking is further proposed to address the source identification issue with snapshot. Results Extensive experiments are conducted on both synthetic and real-world network datasets. It turns out that the proposed label ranking algorithms are capable of identifying the propagation source under different situations fairly accurately with acceptable computational complexity without knowing the underlying model of infection propagation. Conclusions The effectiveness and efficiency of the label ranking algorithms proposed in this study make them be of practical value for infection source identification.


2020 ◽  
Vol 92 (12) ◽  
pp. 105-119
Author(s):  
O. Yu. Fomenko ◽  
S. V. Morozov ◽  
S. Mark Scott ◽  
H. Charles Knowles ◽  
D. A. Morozov ◽  
...  

This manuscript summarizes consensus reached by the International Anorectal Physiology Working Group (IAPWG) for the performance, terminology used, and interpretation of anorectal function testing including anorectal manometry (focused on high-resolution manometry), the rectal sensory test, and the balloon expulsion test. Based on these measurements, a classification system for disorders of anorectal function is proposed. Aim to provide information about methods of diagnosis and new classification of functional anorectal disorders to a wide range of specialists general practitioners, therapists, gastroenterologists, coloproctologists all who face the manifestations of these diseases in everyday practice and determine the diagnostic and therapeutic algorithm. Current paper provides agreed statements of IAPWG Consensus and comments (in italics) of Russian experts on real-world practice, mainly on methodology of examination. These comments in no way intended to detract from the provisions agreed by the international group of experts. We hope that these comments will help to improve the quality of examination based on the systematization of local experience with the use of the methods discussed and the results obtained. Key recommendations: the International Anorectal Physiology Working Group protocol for the performance of anorectal function testing recommends a standardized sequence of maneuvers to test rectoanal reflexes, anal tone and contractility, rectoanal coordination, and rectal sensation. Major findings not seen in healthy controls defined by the classification are as follows: rectoanal areflexia, anal hypotension and hypocontractility, rectal hyposensitivity, and hypersensitivity. Minor and inconclusive findings that can be present in health and require additional information prior to diagnosis include anal hypertension and dyssynergia.


2020 ◽  
Vol 2 (4) ◽  
pp. 20-25
Author(s):  
Simon K. Langat ◽  
Pascal M. Mwakio ◽  
David Ayuku

Automation of human tasks has taken place for a long time now. Humans have in earlier periods dreamed of a world where machines capable of mimicking decision making would be created with some works of fiction describing in caricature, how machines would take over the human space in the world. Artificial intelligence has come to fruition in the last few decades following the development of fast computing capability and vast chip memory. Discussions of how the human space will look and feel when artificial intelligence have taken place at various levels of global organization geared towards ensuring that the new “thinking machines” do not rock human society in ways to render them obsolete. This article looks at the ethics of AI considering the issues that have been outlined by others in the light of communitarian ethics as seen in Africa. It describes the possible impact of thinking machines on society and how individuals would relate with each other and with AI systems.


MAKILA ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 14-28
Author(s):  
Sitna Marasabessy ◽  
Bokiraiya Latuamury ◽  
Iskar Iskar ◽  
Christy C.V. Suhendy

Green open space is at least a minimum requirement for an environmentally sustainable city at 30% of the total area. Pressure on green free space, especially the Green belt area in the river border, tends to increase from year to year due to an increase in urban population. Therefore, this study aims to analyze people's perceptions of the green belt vegetation's role in the watershed of the Wae Batu Gajah watershed in Ambon City. The research method uses descriptive methods that describe a situation based on facts in the field and do not treat the object, with the hypothesis testing procedure using Chi-Square. The results showed that the community's socio-economic parameters consisting of age, formal education, and occupation had a significant influence on the understanding of the green border of the river. In contrast, gender and marital status parameters have no significant effect on understanding the green belt border. Formal education can influence attitudes and behavior through values, character, and understanding of a problem built in stages in a person. The type of work a person has for a long time working will affect the environment's mindset and behavior. The poor only have two sources of income, through salaries / informal business surpluses for basic needs.


Author(s):  
Ann Leslie Claesson ◽  
Felicity Pearson ◽  
Jesse Rosel

This chapter explores how rich media can be used in these three types of applications using the Riverbend City Simulation project for Capella’s School of Public Service Leadership as a case study example. Riverbend City is a scenario-based simulation that provides a multidisciplinary, rich media experience to learners in an online, asynchronous university setting. The simulation provides real-world scenarios where student skills and knowledge can be applied and tested on specific subjects. The ultimate goal of the project is to empower learners to envision their ability to combine collaboration and leadership when working with multiple disciplines in a real-world situation.


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