Animate Orientation Based on Visual Landmarks and Scene Recognition

A biologically-inspired approach to robot route following is presented. The ant of the genus Formica rufa (a red forest ant) is used as a model species. These ants actively use collective foraging, unlike many other ant species. The scout ant remembers the route to food and can transmit information about the food location to foraging ants. Foragers can independently reach this place using this data and return home. The basis of the proposed method is the memorization the way by visual landmarks and fuzzy control. The animate path description model consists of a sequence of scenes and includes compass to account for the direction. The behavior of the animate-scout is implemented using an algorithm that simulates the foraging behavior of ants. The animate-forager performs actions to reproduce the route, applying the developed set of rules. The forager behavior is based on the same principles as that of a scout. But the scout remembers the scenes, and the forager recognizes and compares the visible scene and the scene from the route description. The actions of animates are presented in the form of elementary behavioral procedures. Each behavioral procedure is implemented using a finite state machine. The experiments for solving the foraging problem were carried out using a modeling system based on the ROS framework. The simulation results confirm the effectiveness of the proposed method. The method does not require large computing power and advanced sensory capabilities from the robot. It can also be used in reconnaissance and patrol tasks.

AUTOMATED LOGISTIC FLOW SYSTEM FOR TRADING ENTERPRISE

The article addresses one of the most pressing problems for a trading enterprise, namely the problem of routing logistics flows for efficient enterprise management. To optimize itineraries, we use state-of-the-art electronic navigation and mapping systems that can be implemented in modern computer technology, from online services available on any computer to mobile devices. Navigation and mapping systems are distributed software complexes with an array of information stored in database management systems. They involve millions of static objects and huge amounts of dynamic data around the world. To optimize the logistics flows, an algorithm for an automated routing system is described. This system solves the problems of automatic calculation of the construction and recognition of the optimal route between the specified points of its beginning and the end, tracking of movement on a given route and, in the case of congested roads, redirection of logistics flows. Based on the researches and experiments on the formation of a cognitive map in the human mind and the perception of the route description, an algorithm for storing and displaying route data is considered. This algorithm takes into account the personal psychology of perception of cartographic information. Developing an algorithm for describing the routing of trading enterprise traffic flows is creating a model of automatically found path between the predetermined points of its beginning and end. This mapping information is personalized, easy to read, fast to remember, and insensitive to user errors. The proposed algorithm is universal and can be used to solve a wide range of problems of logistic flows optimization.

Do aligned bodies align minds? The partners’ body alignment as a constraint on spatial perspective use.

In a direction-giving task, we examine whether a high-level constraint–the task partners’ relative body alignment–influences spatial language use and task accuracy. In 32 pairs, task partners interacted in two conditions: for one route description, direction givers (DGs) and direction followers (DFs) sat side-by-side (aligned condition), and for another they sat opposite one another (counter-aligned condition). After each description, DFs drew the route on a map. When pairs were counter-aligned (vs. aligned), DGs increased their use of expressions from a survey perspective, using more frequently terms such as east-west. When counter-aligned, DFs also used more words per conversational turn, which was taken to reflect the increased difficulty of coordinating in that condition. Still, in terms of task performance, the accuracy of DFs’ drawings was unaffected by the partners’ body alignment or spatial language use; it was only predicted by the DGs’ spatial ability. We argue that, because direction-giving emphasizes accuracy, task partners invest in strategies that contribute to mutual understanding (e.g., recaps of the route by the DF at the end, evidenced by shifts in language use over time). Thus, body alignment in direction-giving impacts coordination difficulty and spatial language use, but it does not singularly influence task performance.

Route description in Iwaidja: grammar and conceptualisation of motion

This study focussed on the effect of grammar of Iwaidja, an indigenous Australian language, on mathematical conceptualisation. It investigated route description in Iwaidja. Spatial concepts such as direction, height and movement in relation to another object are briefly described using examples. Differences between English and Iwaidja are used to illustrate the some of the impact of grammar on mathematical conceptualisation. The implications are discussed in terms of how understanding these grammatical features can help teachers, especially when children are not fluent in the language of instruction, as well as providing keys to cross-linguistic investigations of mathematical cognition. Descripción de ruta en Iwaidja: gramática y conceptualización del movimiento Este estudio se centró en el efecto de la gramática de iwaidja, una lengua indígena de Australia, en la conceptualización matemática. Se investigó la descripción de ruta en esta lengua. Conceptos espaciales tales como dirección, altura y el movimiento en relación con otro objeto, se describieron utilizando ejemplos. Diferencias entre el inglés y el iwaidja son usadas para ilustrar el impacto de la gramática en la conceptualización matemática. Las implicaciones consideran cómo la comprensión de estas características gramaticales puede ayudar a los maestros, sobre todo cuando los niños no hablan con fluidez el idioma de la instrucción, así como proporcionar claves para investigaciones translingüística de la cognición matemática.Handle: http://hdl.handle.net/10481/42390WOS-ESCI