Alarm Display Research Articles

Forest Fire Compound Feature Monitoring Technology Based on Infrared and Visible Binocular Vision

Forest fire prevention is the basic guarantee for building ecological civilization. At present, the main problems of forest fire monitoring based on video are that the algorithm recognition generality is not strong, the algorithm has poor real-time performance, and the rate of missing and false alarm is relatively high. In order to improve the fire recognition rate and real-time, in this project we intend to carry out the following research work: (1) using the ratio of infrared radiation energy of adjacent channels to determine the temperature of ignition point hidden under vegetation in forest areas, screening for the image feature processing of smoke flame in the later stage;(2) combining with infrared spectral feature analysis, the image color characteristics, area characteristics and roundness of forest smoke and flame are studied, and a multi-feature analysis algorithm is established;(3) to build a monitoring platform for forest fire detection based on infrared and visible binocular vision. According to the different characteristics of infrared and visible images, the multi-feature recognition algorithm of video images and the infrared spectral features are studied to detect whether the current monitoring area is abnormal in temperature, smoke or flame. Finally, the ground coordinates of current fire alarm are located by GIS map data, so as to realize the early automatic alarm display of fire situation. Therefore, the solution of forest fire compound feature recognition algorithm based on infrared and visible light can realize the early recognition of forest fire, reduce disaster loss, and help to promote the construction of ecological civilization in China.

Design of EPICS and Web-Based Remote Control Software of Near-Infrared Sky Brightness Monitor in Antarctica

The Near-infrared Sky Brightness Monitor (NIRBM) aims to measure the middle infrared sky background in Antarctica. The NIRBM mainly consists of an InGaAs detector, a chopper, a reflector, a cooler and a black body. The reflector can rotate to scan the sky with a field of view ranging from 0{\deg} to 180{\deg}. Electromechanical control and weak signal readout functions are accomplished by the same circuit, whose core chip is a STM32F407VG microcontroller. Considering the environment is harsh for humans in Antarctica, a multi-level remote control software system is designed and implemented. A set of EPICS IOCs are developed to control each hardware module independently via serial port communication with the STM32 microcontroller. The tornado web framework and PyEpics are introduced as a combination where PyEpics is used to monitor or change the EPICS Process Variables, functioning as a client for the EPICS framework. Tornado is responsible for the specific operation process of inter-device collaboration, and expose a set of interfaces to users to make calls. Considering the high delay and low bandwidth of the network environment, the tornado back-end is designed as a master-and-agent architecture to improve domestic user experience. The master node is deployed in Antarctic while multiple agent nodes can be deployed domestic. The master and agent nodes communicate with each other through the WebSocket protocol to exchange latest information so that bandwidth is saved. The GUI is implemented in the form of single-page application based on the Vue framework which communicates with tornado through WebSocket and AJAX requests. The web page integrates device control, data curve drawing, alarm display, auto observation and other functions together.

Design of monitoring system for marine power station based on DSP

Based on the experimental platform of marine power station, the design of the collection circuit was presented and the electrical parameters such as voltage, current, frequency and phase were collected by taking digital signal processor (DSP) in type of TMS320F2812 as the core controller. As regards the site jamming signal existed in power system, the full-wave differential Fourier algorithm was applied to improve the sampling process. It could completely eliminate the DC component and suppress the aperiodic component, while obtaining the accurate fundamental component. Furthermore, the necessary conditions for establishing an effective monitoring system were provided. Combined with the touch screen in type of WEINVIEW MT8100i, the data monitoring and alarm display of the marine power station were realized. The designed data collection and monitoring system can be continuously and stably operated on the experimental platform, which verifies the feasibility of the design.

Design of a Remote Health Monitoring System Based on Wireless Sensor Networks

A multi physiological parameter acquisition system is designed through the research of telemedicine application and wireless communication technology in this paper. The sensors installed on the ZigBee terminal nodes collect the physiological parameters of the human body without delay and transmit information to the sensor gateway; the gateway sends the collected information to the system server and eventually displays the results in real time. When the physical condition of the monitored person has problems, the system starts the alarm display. Experiments show that the effect is good.

TOWARDS A NOVEL MODULAR ARCHITECTURE FOR CERN RADIATION MONITORING.

The European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) has the legal obligation to protect the public and the people working on its premises from any unjustified exposure to ionising radiation. In this context, radiation monitoring is one of the main concerns of the Radiation Protection Group. After 30 y of reliable service, the ARea CONtroller (ARCON) system is approaching the end of its lifecycle, which raises the need for new, more efficient radiation monitors with a high level of modularity to ensure better maintainability. Based on these two main principles, new detectors are currently being developed that will be capable of measuring very low dose rates down to 50 nSv h−1, whilst being able to measure radiation over an extensive range of 8 decades without any auto scaling. To reach these performances, CERN Radiation MOnitoring Electronics (CROME), the new generation of CERN radiation monitors, is based on the versatile architecture that includes new read-out electronics developed by the Instrumentation and Logistics section of the CERN Radiation Protection Group as well as a reconfigurable system on chip capable of performing complex processing calculations. Beside the capabilities of CROME to continuously measure the ambient dose rate, the system generates radiation alarms, provides interlock signals, drives alarm display units through a fieldbus and provides long-term, permanent and reliable data logging. The measurement tests performed during the first phase of the development show very promising results that pave the way to the second phase: the certification.

An integrated alarm display design in digital nuclear power plants

In main control rooms of nuclear power plants (NPPs), operators often have to frequently switch their attention between alarm displays and system information displays to incorporate information from different screens. In this study, we proposed the idea of integrating system information into alarm displays. A bar-based integrated design of alarm display was proposed, and it was compared against a tile-based integrated design, and a traditional separate design through a lab experiment. To verify the idea of integration, forty-eight participants were randomly assigned to the three integration conditions to perform basic alarm response tasks, and their situation awareness levels and subjective evaluations were collected. The results indicated that the participants preferred the idea of integrating system information into alarm displays. Besides, the bar-based integrated display supported higher correct rate of answers to situation awareness questions related to the developing scenario than the tile-based integrated design. The idea of integrating system information into alarm displays merits further research and may be applicable to other safety–critical industries.

A Comparative Analysis of Low Cost Solutions for Quiz Controller and Classroom Access Control Systems

The quiz buzzer systems are widely used in schools, colleges, quizzing championships and TV programs. In the buzzer round of quiz contests, the question is thrown open to all the teams. The person who knows the answer hits the buzzer first and then answers the question. Sometimes two or more players hit the buzzer almost simultaneously and it is difficult to detect which of them has pressed first. In television shows, where the whole event is recorded, the actions are replayed in slow motion to detect the first hit. Such slow motions are possible only where huge funds are available to conduct the show. For this reason buzzer rounds are avoided for quiz contests held in colleges. This project is an electronic quiz buzzer that is affordable by the colleges and even individuals. Three different approaches have been used to operate the quiz buzzer with the same concept of sounding an alarm sound and display of the team number who hits the button first. These approaches are Fastest Finger First Indicator Circuit which uses the basic functionality of all the microprocessors, Quiz Game Controller using Microcontroller PIC16F877A which uses the characteristics of this microcontroller along with UNL2003 and Quiz Buzzer using 8051 Microcontroller AT89C51. All the three approaches are implemented and compared with each other based on the cost employed to develop the product, efficiency of the product and performance. After the successful completion of all the three products, we will try to incorporate unambiguous real time quiz buzzer to the concept of smart classroom by further adding RFID capabilities.

Measurement of the Position and Shape Error for Macro-Axis Base on MCGS and MATLAB

Aiming at the problems of measurement of the position and shape error for macro-axis, the idea of "software is the instrument was designed to assessment system based on the combination of MATLAB and MCGS . The system can complete the measurement data receiving, data processing, curve output, shape and position error calculation, alarm display, such as a series of functions.

Human Factors Evaluations of Alarm Displays in Main Control Rooms

Objective: This study proposes an alarm display and compares it with the one(alarm tile display) widely used in main control rooms(MCRs) of nuclear power plants. Background: Catching up with the rapid development of computer technologies, advanced MCRs has been required. Using modern technologies of computers and visual displays, we have a lot of potential to improve user performance and satisfaction as well as safety in MCRs. Method: The alarm bar display has been proposed to reduce some potential problems of the alarm tile display in this study. Human factors evaluations were conducted to compare both types of displays. Two interfaces of bar alarm and tile alarm were simulated on the desktop computer for the user-involved experiment. Eight students participated in the experiment with the within-subject design. Results: The alarm bar was slightly better in terms of situation awareness, and preferred to understand alarm dynamics. The alarm tile was slightly or significantly better in other measures. Conclusion: Both alarm displays have their own advantages and disadvantages. Therefore, combining benefits of both displays can be used to optimize the design of alarm displays. Application: The proposed display is expected to compensate the existing displays for certain purposes.

A Human Factors Perspective : Auditory Alarm Signals

s International. 40/09B, 4543 (University Microfilms No. 8004002), 1979. 13. Momtahan KL. Mapping of psychoacoustic parameters to the perceived urgency of auditory warning signals [dissertation] 14. Hellier E, Edworthy J. On using psychophysical techniques to achieve urgency mapping in auditory warnings. Applied Ergonomics, 30, 167-171, 1999. 15. Brewster SA, Wright PC, Edwards A. Experimentally Derived Guidelines for the Creation of Earcons, in Proceedings of HCI 95, Huddersfield, UK, pp. 155-159, 1995. 16. McGookin DK, Brewster SA. An investigation into the identification of concurrently presented earcons. Proceedings of the 2003 International Conference on Auditory Display, Boston, MA, USA,

Simulation and Integrated Testing of Process Models of PFBR Operator Training Simulator

Abstract High fidelity Full Scope Operator Training Simulators play a key role in imparting plant related knowledge to the operating personnel in an effective way. It provides a platform for training the operators on normal and emergency conditions including all types of scenarios that would arise in any Nuclear Power Plant. The scenario based training helps the plant operator to handle a crisis in an efficient manner with the ultimate goal of safe and efficient operation of the plant. This paper discusses about the general description of PFBR Operator Training Simulator, modeling and simulation of various process models, the complexities involved etc. It also covers the associated process logics, controls, display of alarms and indications, malfunctions and transient incidents related to each process model, integration with other sub systems, individual process model testing, integrated performance testing and verification and validation of models. Simulation of process models are broadly classified into two main categories namely, External Models - that are developed in-house and ported to the simulator environment and Internal Models - that are developed using Simulation Tool. External Models are tested on the desk top for intended functioning and after obtaining satisfactory results, the models are ported to the simulator base wherein the Logical and Virtual Panel Models are built to represent a real system of the plant. Internal Models are built using the Simulation Tools and integrated with the External Models after testing. Combination of External and Internal Model represents the total plant and the performance testing is conducted in an Integrated Mode to qua lify the Process Models for training purpose.

Communication value of displays and postures in Red-vented Bulbul Pycnonotus cafer (Aves: Pycnonotidae)

I investigated visual signals mediated through displays and postures and their importance in communication in Red-vented Bulbul Pycnonotus cafer. Observations revealed that this species used five types (namely mate acquisition display, greeting display, alarm display, crest position and begging display) of visual signals for communication and showed three types of sleeping postures and broken-wing display. Mate acquisition display was performed to maintain pair bond and when two individuals met, one of them would use greeting display along with low amplitude complex vocalisations. The position of the crest seemed to vary with different behavioural contexts; it was raised erect in alarm and recumbent during greeting. Nestlings/ fledglings used specific begging displays that included gaping with or without vocal signals. The presence of a predator in close vicinity of bird/nesting site, elicited alarm displays along with alarm calls. The present study revealed that the displays and postures are important means of communication under various social contexts and were often accompanied with vocalisations thus making them multi-component. It is believed that the multi-component signals provide more reliable information for receivers and increase the efficacy of communication.

Enhancing Perceived Situation Awareness and Reducing Perceived Workload with a Likelihood Alarm Display

The researchers investigated the effects of a likelihood alarm display (LAD) on perceptions of workload and situation awareness (SA) during varying degrees of taskload. Twenty-four psychology students reacted to alarms while performing a complex primary task. The researchers examined participants performances during four experimental sessions. Two conditions of alarm display (binary and likelihood) and task load (low and high) were manipulated within groups. In addition, alarm display order (binary first or likelihood first) and task load order (low first or high first) were examined between groups. Results showed greater SA and reduced workload when participants used a likelihood alarm display and when they experienced low task load. Significant order effects also occurred. This study demonstrated the positive effects of a likelihood alarm display on perceptions of workload and SA, and suggests that LAD use may reduce workload and enhance SA.

‘Soft’ control desks and alarm display

Recent years have seen many process plants replace hard desk operator interfaces with modern computer based VDU interfaces. Alarm systems have similarly undergone a transformation in their user interface. The article describes some of the developments within the UK coal-fired generating industry in moving to the new technology, with specific reference to alarm display philosophy.

Object oriented design in the AGSDCS alarm system

The alarm subsystem of the Alternating Gradient Synchrotron Distributed Control System (AGSDCS) has been redesigned to enhance reliability, flexibility, and ease of maintenance. The alarm system is functionally divided into Alarm Generators, Alarm Displays, and a central Alarm Receiver. The task was simplified by defining a set of C+ + classes that could be reused by all components of the alarm system. The AlarmData class represents instances of alarm conditions. The AlarmFilter class is used by both the Alarm Receiver and Alarm Displays to select the alarms that are of interest to a particular user. The AlarmDatabase class is used by the Alarm Receiver to manage the central alarm database. The Alarm Displays use the AlarmDatabase class to manage the local database representing the alarms on their screens.

Can speech be used for alarm displays in ‘process control’ type tasks?

Abstract There has been much research into the feasibility of speech in aircraft cockpits, but little in human supervisory control tasks. Speech displays can provide a number of benefits over conventional, visual displays, particularly as a means of providing alarm information. We discuss the term ‘alarm’, and suggest that different alarm situations will have different information requirements. Thus, a single type of alarm display may not be suitable for the complete range of situations encountered in the control room. We investigated the use of speech for different ‘alarm-initiated actions’: recording, urgency rating, location identification, and action specification. These tasks varied in terms of difficulty, and this affected performance. We also varied the quality of speech, comparing synthesized with human speech. While speech quality affected performance on the recording task, we found that task difficulty interacted with speech quality on the other tasks. This means that definable ‘trade-offs’ exis...

Likelihood Alarm Displays

In a likelihood alarm display (LAD) information about event likelihood is computed by an automated monitoring system and encoded into an alerting signal for the human operator. Operator performance within a dual-task paradigm was evaluated with two LADs: a color-coded visual alarm and a linguistically coded synthetic speech alarm. The operator's primary task was one of tracking; the secondary task was to monitor a four-element numerical display and determine whether the data arose from a "signal" or "no-signal" condition. A simulated "intelligent" monitoring system alerted the operator to the likelihood of a signal. The results indicated that (1) automated monitoring systems can improve performance on primary and secondary tasks; (2) LADs can improve the allocation of attention among tasks and provide information integrated into operator decisions; and (3) LADs do not necessarily add to the operator's attentional load.

A Newly Developed Computer Graphics System for the Display of Underground Mine Environments

A newly developed computer graphics software package designed for the display of remote sensor information, such as underground air quality data, on a color graphics video screen is discussed. The software also has trending, predictive ventilation, contaminant, and mine fire capabilities. It was developed at Michigan Technological University under US Bureau of Mines contract H0212024. The package utilizes a unique system of display indexing that provides a simple, efficient method of recalling a series of mine schematics, detailing an underground operation and an alarm display and acknowledgment scheme that provides an effective method for identifying problem areas that may exist in the mine network. The package also permits the display of trend plots, which an operator uses to review a particular sensor value as a function of time over a period of several days. The software package has been written in Fortran and has been designed for use with a specific hardware system, although it can be modified for other hardware installations.

Development of an integrated monitoring system for a new tritium facility at Mound

A stand-alone system was developed for monitoring process support services and tritium levels in gloveboxes, room air, room exhaust ducts, and stack exhaust. Sixty tritium monitors were built and interfaced to a Health Physics control room where all tritiuim levels are displayed and abnormal conditions appear as alarms on large display boards. The control room was designed for full remote control of all monitors, with the exception of those for gloveboxes, as well as for control and alarm display of many other functions, including the purge rate for glovebox atmosphere and the selection of room air discharge to stack or to a tritium cleanup system. The monitoring system is interfaced to a data gathering computer and an automatic dialing alarm syhstem.

An Advanced Digital ROD Postion Indication System for Pressurized Water Reactors

A new digital Rod Position Indication (RPI) System is described. It is a replacement for analog RPI systems in pressurized water reactors. The new RPI system provides substantial improvements in plant availability, system maintenance, fault tolerance and control room man-machine interface. A new sensing technique reduces systems complexity and eliminates time consuming costly adjustments. A fault tolerant, redundant microprocessor based system architecture and extensive embedded diagnostics ensure plant availability and reduce the need for system maintenance. Reduced electrical interconnection requirements frees many containment penetrations for alternative uses. All external interfaces are designed for low installed cost. Display of rod position, alarms, and diagnostic information are provided in analog and digital formats on a compact color CRT in the control room.