Lane-change detection using a computational driver model

OBJECTIVE: This paper introduces a robust, real-time system for detecting driver lane changes. Background: As intelligent transportation systems evolve to assist drivers in their intended behaviors, the systems have demonstrated a need for methods of inferring driver intentions and detecting intended maneuvers. METHOD: Using a "model tracing" methodology, our system simulates a set of possible driver intentions and their resulting behaviors using a simplification of a previously validated computational model of driver behavior. The system compares the model's simulated behavior with a driver's actual observed behavior and thus continually infers the driver's unobservable intentions from her or his observable actions. RESULTS: For data collected in a driving simulator, the system detects 82% of lane changes within 0.5 s of maneuver onset (assuming a 5% false alarm rate), 93% within 1 s, and 95% before the vehicle moves one fourth of the lane width laterally. For data collected from an instrumented vehicle, the system detects 61% within 0.5 s, 77% within 1 s, and 84% before the vehicle moves one-fourth of the lane width laterally. CONCLUSION: The model-tracing system is the first system to demonstrate high sample-by-sample accuracy at low false alarm rates as well as high accuracy over the course of a lane change with respect to time and lateral movement. APPLICATION: By providing robust real-time detection of driver lane changes, the system shows good promise for incorporation into the next generation of intelligent transportation systems.     

Recycling paint overspray

The use of recovered paint overspray from the auto industry was investigated. Water and solvent had been removed from the recovered paint by a vacuum treatment process. The acid catalyst had been neutralized by excess base prior to processing. The recovered paint, as supplied, contained contaminant particles of self-crosslinked hardener that were removed by filtration. The cleaned paint was then formulated with additional catalyst and additional crosslinker to replace that which was lost in processing, and solvent (55% solids, 3 lb/gal VOC) to reach application viscosity. The paint was applied to metal test panels and baked at 190°C for 15, 20, or 25 min. The results indicate that the gray recycled paint gave reasonable properties for many expected industrial applications. Center for Coatings and Bio-Based Technology, Institute for Environmental and Industrial Science, San Marcos, Texas 78666     

SML-Sys: a functional framework with multiple models of computation for modeling heterogeneous system

System-on-Chip and other complex distributed hardware/software systems contain heterogeneous components. High-level modeling of such systems require frameworks that provide designers with the ability to express concepts of models of computation (MoC)s as modeling constructs. Many system-level modeling frameworks and corresponding modeling notations such as Ptolemy II and SystemC-H facilitate multi-MoC modeling but are based on imperative programming languages (C++, Java, etc). In such frameworks, the computation and communication aspects between the components of models get intertwined thereby hindering its amenability to formal analysis. In this work, we illustrate function-based semantic definitions of MoCs, which are formulated in a functional framework called SML-Sys. We illustrate through a number of examples how to create system models using this functional programming paradigm.     

Anomalous crystallinity in a semi-fluorinated perfluorocyclobutyl (PFCB) polymer containing the hexafluoro-i-propylidene (6F) linkage

The thermal cyclopolymerization of 2,2-bis(4-trifluorovinyloxyphenyl)-1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoropropane affords the first example of a semi-crystalline perfluorocyclobutyl (PFCB) polymer and an anomalous feature for a polymer containing the hexafluoroisopropylidene (6F) linkage. Fluoroalkylation of 2,2-bis(hydroxyphenyl)-1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoropropane (6F bisphenol A) with 1,2-dibromotetrafluoroethane, followed by zinc mediated elimination affords the bis(trifluorovinyloxyphenyl) monomer in good yield. High molecular weight polymer (M_w=66,700) with molecular weight distribution approaching 2 was obtained by heating neat monomer at 180 °C for 24 h and 220 °C for 8 h. The stereo-random polymer (ca. 48 to 52 cis- to trans-1,2-disubstituted perfluorocyclobutyl groups) is easily crystallized from the melt despite the presence of the 6F group and a substantial increased fluorocarbon content per repeat unit compared to traditional PFCB polymers. A melting temperature approaching 200 °C was measured by DSC and the crystallinity was characterized by WAXD. Remarkably, the high melting semi-crystalline polymer could be easily dissolved in common solvents in greater than 50 wt% solutions.     

Automatic room information retrieval and classification from floor plan using linear regression model

International Journal on Document Analysis and Recognition (IJDAR) - The automatic creation of a repository of the building’s floor plan helps a lot to the architects to reuse them. The basic...     

Primary user supported routing protocol for cognitive radio ad hoc networks in search of higher throughput

A routing protocol for cognitive radio ad hoc networks (CRAHNs), namely, primary user supported routing (PSR) is demonstrated in this research. Unlike existing routing protocols for CRAHN, where routing of cognitive users (CUs) is accomplished within CUs, in this proposed protocol, some of the primary users (PUs) support CUs to communicate, by forwarding CU packets. This service provided by PU is of voluntary nature. However, such assistance shall be provided by the PUs, only when they are idle, thereby, preserving the principles of cognitive radio networks (CRNs), which indicates that the operation of PU should not be disturbed by the CU activities. The proposed work is compared with cognitive ad hoc on-demand distance vector (CAODV) protocol. The performance parameters considered are routing overhead, rate of loss of packets, and e2e packet delay. PSR outperforms CAODV in all these performance parameters. There has been on average 26.25% improvement in routing overhead, 34.12% decrease in loss, and 27.01% improvement in e2e delivery in the proposed PSR.     

Barriers,biases, and beliefs about arteriovenous fistula placement in children: A survey of the International Pediatric Fistula First Initiative (IPFFI) within the Midwest Pediatric Nephrology Consortium (MWPNC)

There has been recent emphasis on increased arteriovenous fistula (AVF) use and decreased central venous catheter use in hemodialysis (HD) patients. The International Pediatric Fistula First Initiative was founded via collaborative effort with the Midwest Pediatric Nephrology Consortium to alert nephrologists, surgeons, and dialysis staff to consider fistulae as the best access in pediatric HD patients. A multidisciplinary educational DVD outlining expectations and strategies to increase AVF placement and usage in children was created. Participants were administered a survey previewing and postviewing to identify barriers to placement and usage of AVF in children. A total of 52 surveys were subdivided as either “dialysis staff” or “proceduralist” at five centers. Thirty‐three percent of respondents were unaware if their practice was following published guidelines. Sixty‐five percent of respondents stated they referred to a dedicated vascular access surgeon at their respective institutions. Methods used to monitor AVF function included physical exam, venous pressure monitoring, and ultrasound dilution. Vascular access was placed within 3 months in only 35% of patients. Interdisciplinary communication problems between surgeons, interventional radiologists, and nephrologists were identified as a major barrier. Lack of AVF usage was often due to maturation failure. Routine access rounds did not occur in any centers. Regarding monitoring, 74% of the respondents use physical exam, 26% use venous pressure monitoring, and 9% use ultrasound dilution. Ninety‐three percent of dialysis staff stated they would change practice patterns following the intervention; however, 12% of surgeons stated they would alter practice patterns. To our knowledge, this is the first report to identify barriers to placement of AVF in children from the perspectives of multidisciplinary team members including pediatric nephrologists, surgeons, interventional radiologists, and multidisciplinary dialysis staff.     

Negative ion beam extraction in ROBIN

The RF based single driver ?ve ion source experiment test bed ROBIN (Replica Of BATMAN like source in INDIA) has been set up at Institute for Plasma Research (IPR), India in a technical collaboration with IPP, Garching, Germany. A hydrogen plasma of density 5 × 10¹² cm^?3 is expected in driver region of ROBIN by launching 100 kW RF power into the driver by 1 MHz RF generator. The cesiated source is expected to deliver a hydrogen negative ion beam of 10 A at 35 kV with a current density of 35 mA/cm² as observed in BATMAN.In first phase operation of the ROBIN ion source, a hydrogen plasma has been successfully generated (without extraction system) by coupling 80 kW RF input power through a matching network with high power factor (cos θ > 0.8) and different plasma parameters have been measured using Langmuir probes and emission spectroscopy. The plasma density of 2.5 × 10¹¹ cm^?3 has been measured in the extraction region of ROBIN. For negative hydrogen ion beam extraction in second phase operation, extraction system has been assembled and installed with ion source on the vacuum vessel. The source shall be first operated in volume mode for negative ion beam extraction. The commissioning of the source with high voltage power supply has been initiated.