Prototype System Research Articles

Wireless End to End Image Transmission System using Li-Fi Technology

The first and most important objective of this project is to convey the image through the utilization of a light-emitting diode (LED). The innovative technique known as visible light communication (VLC) holds enormous promise for the implementation of high-speed, large-capacity, short-range wireless data transmission. It is gaining popularity on account of the growing use of solid-state lighting systems. Additionally, LED lights change frequency at a rate that is substantially faster than what the human eye is able to perceive. This is in addition to the fact that radio waves have a higher repetition rate than LED lights, which results in significantly greater speed than Wi-Fi. This work suggests a real-time image broadcast system prototype. Light-emitting diode (LED) lights are used in the prototype since they are widely available and reasonably priced. The scope of the work encompasses the possibility of making information and communication accessible through the utilization of LED bulbs in a manner that may be implemented in a variety of situations, such as homes, offices, organizations, and corporations. If the LED sources are positioned correctly and concentration effects are increased, it is feasible to obtain a real-time image with a maximum distance of two feet, according to the testing results. In addition to being made to last, the LI-FI (Light Fidelity) light source features a broad variety of digital settings that can be adjusted, and it is simple to operate as a result of its efficient design

Resonant coil matrix shielding for dynamic WPT systems

In this article, a magnetic shield for automotive Wireless Power Transfer (WPT) systems is proposed. Its innovative feature consists in the positioning of the shield, that is part of the Ground Assembly (GA) of the WPT system. Passive coils, assembled in an array-like structure to build the shields properly located near the transmitting coils are investigated. Currently, there are a variety of shielding methods, each of them with its peculiar feature. The proposed method is simple and does not increase the transmitting and the receiving coil sizes, a constraint that is often critical from a practical and an economical point of view. The main characteristic of the proposed shielding method is the location of the shielding coils on the same level as the GA. The results here presented are validated by Finite Element (FE) based simulations and are referred to an experimental prototype of wireless charging systems for electric vehicles operating at 85 kHz with a transmitted nominal power of 3.3 kW. The results show that the proposed shield reduces the leakage magnetic flux density in the system up to 37% with a marginal impact on the transmission efficiency, complying the SAE J2954 international standard.

Insights into the development of a landslide early warning system prototype in an informal settlement: the case of Bello Oriente in Medellín, Colombia

Abstract. The global number of vulnerable citizens in areas of landslide risk is expected to increase due to the twin forces of climate change and growing urbanization. Self-constructed or informal settlements are frequently built in hazardous terrain such as on landslide-prone slopes. They are characterized by high dynamics of growth, simple construction methods and strong social dynamics and are exposed to unsteady political approaches. Landslide early warning systems (LEWSs) can contribute to decreasing their vulnerability, but precise, affordable and culturally integrated LEWSs need to be further developed. In this paper, we present a 4-year living-lab research project called Inform@Risk that aimed to develop a LEWS prototype in the neighborhood of Bello Oriente, located on the urban–rural border of Medellín, Colombia. Its research team is composed of landscape architects, geo-engineers, and remote sensing and geo-informatics experts. The research team collaborated with a multitude of stakeholders: civil society, private enterprises, non-governmental agencies and various branches of government. A preliminary LEWS with the last functionalities still to be developed has been designed, implemented and handed over to the government. It has entered a test and calibration phase (i.e., warning-threshold development, procedures for warning and alert dissemination through the sensor system), which is on hold due to legal constraints. Our first findings indicate that the integrative development of technical aspects of a LEWS in informal settlements can be challenging, albeit manageable, whereas the level of social and political support is beyond the control of the designer. Steady political will is needed to increase technical capacities and funding of the operation and maintenance of an increased amount of monitoring equipment. Social outreach has to be continuous in order to inform, train, maintain the trust and increase the self-help capacities of the often rapidly changing population of an informal settlement. Legal requirements for a transfer of academic research projects to municipal authorities have to be clear from the start. Satisfying replacement housing options for the case of evacuation have to be in place in order to not lose the overall acceptance of the LEWS. As political will and municipal budgets can vary, a resilient LEWS for informal settlements has to achieve sufficient social and technical redundancy to maintain basic functionality even in a reduced-governmental-support scenario.

Background discrimination with a Micromegas detector prototype and veto system for BabyIAXO

In this paper we present measurements performed with a Micromegas X-ray detector setup. The detector is a prototype in the context of the BabyIAXO helioscope, which is under construction to search for an emission of the hypothetical axion particle from the Sun. An important component of such a helioscope is a low background X-ray detector with a high efficiency in the 1–10 keV energy range. The goal of the measurement was to study techniques for background discrimination. In addition to common techniques we used a multi-layer veto system designed to tag cosmic-ray induced neutron background. Over an effective time of 52 days, a background level of 8.6 × 10−7 counts keV−1 cm−2 s−1 was reached in a laboratory at above ground level. This is the lowest background level achieved at surface level. In this paper we present the experimental setup, show simulations of the neutron-induced background, and demonstrate the process to identify background signals in the data. Finally, prospects to reach lower background levels down to 10–7 counts keV−1 cm−2 s−1 are discussed.

Integrated Extended Kalman Filter and Deep Learning Platform for Electric Vehicle Battery Health Prediction

As the demand for electric vehicles (EVs) rises globally, ensuring the safety and reliability of EV battery systems becomes paramount. Accurately predicting the state of health (SoH) and state of charge (SoC) of EV batteries is crucial for maintaining their safe and consistent operation. This paper introduces a novel approach leveraging deep learning methodologies to predict battery SoH, focusing on implementing a system prototype for real-world applications. The proposed system integrates an extended Kalman filter (EKF) with a deep learning framework, forming a system prototype known as FELL, aimed at EV battery diagnosis and prediction. We devise an algorithm utilizing the EKF to estimate the SoH of the battery. We present a detailed overview of the system architecture and implementation, showcasing its predictive capabilities. Experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness of the system in accurately estimating battery SoH with notable improvements in prediction accuracy. Additionally, the FELL system provides users with real-time predictions and comparative analysis across multiple prediction models, offering valuable insights for EV battery management.

3D Pop-Ups: Omnidirectional image visual saliency prediction based on crowdsourced eye-tracking data in VR

The prediction of the visual saliency of omnidirectional images in VR is valuable for understanding visual behaviors. However, the equipment cost, software setups, hardware operation, and other constraints in acquiring eye-tracking data of omnidirectional images for visual saliency prediction would lead to a low training efficiency and prediction performance. Therefore, this paper proposed a crowdsourcing method based on recall fixations, which was used to collect and construct an omnidirectional image with eye-tracking dataset called CrowdSourcing360, which contained 16,200 pieces of data on 180 images. Using this dataset, a visual saliency prediction model CSnet360 was trained. Experiments demonstrated that the visual saliency prediction performance of the CSnet360 outperformed most existing models even without using actual gaze fixations. Finally, a VR interior design assistance prototype system was built and the preliminary study results indicated that the system could help designers to improve the quality of their design solutions.

Photodetachment and Tunneling Dissociation of Cryogenic Double-Rydberg Anions NH4.

The Rydberg radical NH4 and the double Rydberg anion (DRA) NH4- have long aroused researchers' interests due to their potential for exploring the reaction dynamics of the H + NH3 → H2 + NH2 reaction, a prototypical penta-atomic system. In this study, we present high-resolution photodetachment spectroscopy of DRA NH4- and ion-molecule complex H-(NH3). We observed multiple new photodetachment channels of DRA NH4-. The energy level of the excited state (3p 2T2) of the Rydberg radical NH4 was determined to be 15052(94) cm-1, in excellent agreement with the principal Schüler band (15061.61 cm-1). Additionally, we observed the tunneling dissociation of NH4- in a cryogenic ion trap with its dissociation lifetime determined to be 19(2) ms.

Repository of MRI-derived models of the breast with single and multiple benign and malignant tumors for microwave imaging research.

The diagnosis of breast cancer through MicroWave Imaging (MWI) technology has been extensively researched over the past few decades. However, continuous improvements to systems are needed to achieve clinical viability. To this end, the numerical models employed in simulation studies need to be diversified, anatomically accurate, and also representative of the cases in clinical settings. Hence, we have created the first open-access repository of 3D anatomically accurate numerical models of the breast, derived from 3.0T Magnetic Resonance Images (MRI) of benign breast disease and breast cancer patients. The models include normal breast tissues (fat, fibroglandular, skin, and muscle tissues), and benign and cancerous breast tumors. The repository contains easily reconfigurable models which can be tumor-free or contain single or multiple tumors, allowing complex and realistic test scenarios needed for feasibility and performance assessment of MWI devices prior to experimental and clinical testing. It also includes an executable file which enables researchers to generate models incorporating the dielectric properties of breast tissues at a chosen frequency ranging from 3 to 10 GHz, thereby ensuring compatibility with a wide spectrum of research requirements and stages of development for any breast MWI prototype system. Currently, our dataset comprises MRI scans of 55 patients, but new exams will be continuously added.

Radiationless decay spectrum of O 1s double core holes in liquid water.

We present a combined experimental and theoretical investigation of the radiationless decay spectrum of an O 1s double core hole in liquid water. Our experiments were carried out using liquid-jet electron spectroscopy from cylindrical microjets of normal and deuterated water. The signal of the double-core-hole spectral fingerprints (hypersatellites) of liquid water is clearly identified, with an intensity ratio to Auger decay of singly charged O 1s of 0.0014(5). We observe a significant isotope effect between liquid H2O and D2O. For theoretical modeling, the Auger electron spectrum of the central water molecule in a water pentamer was calculated using an electronic-structure toolkit combined with molecular-dynamics simulations to capture the influence of molecular rearrangement within the ultrashort lifetime of the double core hole. We obtained the static and dynamic Auger spectra for H2O, (H2O)5, D2O, and (D2O)5, instantaneous Auger spectra at selected times after core-level ionization, and the symmetrized oxygen-hydrogen distance as a function of time after double core ionization for all four prototypical systems. We consider this observation of liquid-water double core holes as a new tool to study ultrafast nuclear dynamics.

Three-component systems represent a common pathway for extracytoplasmic addition of pentofuranose sugars into bacterial glycans

Cell surface glycans are major drivers of antigenic diversity in bacteria. The biochemistry and molecular biology underpinning their synthesis are important in understanding host-pathogen interactions and for vaccine development with emerging chemoenzymatic and glycoengineering approaches. Structural diversity in glycostructures arises from the action of glycosyltransferases (GTs) that use an immense catalog of activated sugar donors to build the repeating unit and modifying enzymes that add further heterogeneity. Classical Leloir GTs incorporate α- or β-linked sugars by inverting or retaining mechanisms, depending on the nucleotide sugar donor. In contrast, the mechanism of known ribofuranosyltransferases is confined to β-linkages, so the existence of α-linked ribofuranose in some glycans dictates an alternative strategy. Here, we use Citrobacter youngae O1 and O2 lipopolysaccharide O antigens as prototypes to describe a widespread, versatile pathway for incorporating side-chain α-linked pentofuranoses by extracytoplasmic postpolymerization glycosylation. The pathway requires a polyprenyl phosphoribose synthase to generate a lipid-linked donor, a MATE-family flippase to transport the donor to the periplasm, and a GT-C type GT (founding the GT136 family) that performs the final glycosylation reaction. The characterized system shares similarities, but also fundamental differences, with both cell wall arabinan biosynthesis in mycobacteria, and periplasmic glucosylation of O antigens first discovered in Salmonella and Shigella. The participation of auxiliary epimerases allows the diversification of incorporated pentofuranoses. The results offer insight into a broad concept in microbial glycobiology and provide prototype systems and bioinformatic guides that facilitate discovery of further examples from diverse species, some in currently unknown glycans.

Participatory design of a virtual reality life review therapy system for palliative care

We present a novel Virtual Reality (VR) life review therapy system. Life review therapy is an intervention used by clinical psychologists, counselors, and social workers for patients under palliative care to systematically examine various life experiences to resolve conflicts and complete life tasks. The goal of the therapy is to narrativize the patient’s life before death in order to come to terms with their mortality. Our VR life review therapy system allows therapists to perform their interventions in customized virtual spaces designed to encourage the patient to reflect and reminisce about their life experiences. Our system is also developed in response to mobility restrictions and COVID-19 pandemic-related quarantine measures that have separated patients under palliative care from family and friends, resulting in emotional and psychological distress. As VR systems related to health are increasingly being used by therapists in their interventions, it is of utmost importance that the health professionals who will be the end users of these systems are involved in the design process to create ethical healthcare technologies. In response, we initiated the participatory design and evaluation of our VR life review therapy system prototype with six clinical psychologists who have practical experience delivering life review therapy to patients in palliative care in the Hong Kong hospital system. In the study, each participant experienced the VR life review therapy system and evaluated its strengths and weaknesses through semi-structured interviews. The qualitative data gathered from these interviews was coded according to nine different categories; avatars, content design, evaluation, haptic sensations, interaction, gesturing and gaze direction, movement and navigation, non-verbal communication, soundtrack. These conceptual categories were chosen based on our analysis of common themes reported by the clinical psychologists’ experience of the system. Feedback from clinical psychologists on each of these categories was incorporated into the redesign and update of the final system. Overall, participants generally evaluated the system as feasible and effective for use with patients under palliative care, while movement and interaction were the features requiring the most improvement.

AI-powered smart assistants: Your key to self-learning success

This research aims to develop a prototype of a smart assistant system for independent learning activities based on Artificial Intelligence. Web-based instructional design (WBID) approach is used in research to develop intelligent assistant systems. Artificial Intelligence-Learning Analytics helps students make important decisions and creates an effective and efficient learning environment while still building learning independence. The method used is a research and development (R&D) approach. The findings of this research are an intelligent assistant system in independent learning activities assisted by artificial intelligence in the form of the AILA ChatBot application. In the end, this research concludes that the ChatBOT application developed in this research is used to provide recommendations for using AI applications to students, which are then implemented and integrated into SPOC/MOOC.

Ultra-high-speed four-dimensional hyperspectral imaging

We propose, to the best of our knowledge, a novel deep learning–enabled four-dimensional spectral imaging system composed of a reflective coded aperture snapshot spectral imaging system and a panchromatic camera. The system simultaneously captures a compressively coded hyperspectral measurement and a panchromatic measurement. The hyperspectral data cube is recovered by the U-net-3D network. The depth information of the scene is then acquired by estimating a disparity map between the hyperspectral data cube and the panchromatic measurement through stereo matching. This disparity map is used to align the hyperspectral data cube and the panchromatic measurement. A designed fusion network is used to improve the spatial reconstruction of the hyperspectral data cube by fusing aligned panchromatic measurements. The hardware prototype of the proposed system demonstrates high-speed four-dimensional spectral imaging that allows for simultaneously acquiring depth and spectral images with an 8 nm spectral resolution between 450 and 700 nm, 2.5 mm depth accuracy, and a 1.83 s reconstruction time.

Method to determine instantaneous transient responses in pressurized pipes from transfer functions and state space for evaluation of leak signals

This article addresses the impact of transient pressure anomalies in hydraulic systems, triggered by the opening or closing of valves or pumps, instantly disturbing the line of hydraulic gradient (LGH). This variation in pressure has significant consequences both in hydraulic and structural terms for water networks. Most of the existing techniques to detect transients in water distribution systems use asynchronous methods, generating timeless information that limits the response capacity in critical situations. Therefore, an automatic transient detection system based on the Internet of Things (IoT) is proposed, capable of identifying overpressure or underpressure pulses in soft real-time, activating alarms to facilitate decision-making. This approach helps maintain the safety of the water distribution system and prevent leaks in the network. Furthermore, a model of the transient behavior of pressure and flow is presented by linearizing the water hammer equations from the Laplace transform, thus generating a transfer function that describes the algebraic relationship between the outlet and inlet of the hydraulic system.•The transient analysis of the hydraulic system prototype underscores its high sensitivity to initial conditions, attributed to turbulence. This observation suggests the possible presence of a dynamic strange attractor related to water hammer phenomena in pressure pipes.•The methodology involving transfer functions and state-space models enables the assessment of how leaks impact the transient responses of the system, including the magnitude, duration, and frequency of disturbances generated by them.•The proposed method introduces a dynamic transfer function capable of identifying instantaneous changes over time in terms of flow and pressure.

Photogeneration of Hydrogen: Insights from a Pt(II)‐Complex Incorporated into a Covalent Organic Framework

AbstractPt(II)‐based molecular catalysts stand as a prototypical system in hydrogen evolution reactions (HER) owing to their consistently elevated activity levels. Their integration into heterogeneous systems thus provides an ideal platform to develop catalytic materials with optimal atom economy. In this work, by rational molecular design, we have synthesized a novel two‐dimensional photoactive Covalent Organic Framework (COF), wherein the pore walls host a quinoline‐based α‐diimine ligand serving as a coordination site for anchoring a Pt(II) molecular catalyst. Thorough structural analyses, employing X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), infrared spectroscopy (FT‐IR), diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DR), coupled with DFT calculations, distinctly confirm the Pt(II) complexation through the coordination site of the α‐diimine ligand. The Pt(II)‐metalated COF exhibits photocatalytic activity with a hydrogen evolution rate reaching up to 1300 μmol g−1 h−1. Nevertheless, the occurrence of platinum nanoparticles in post‐catalysis samples, along with reduced photocatalytic activity in the presence of chloride ions, suggests that Pt(II) anchored into the COF backbone might not be the primary catalytic site.

A Review of Real-Time Implementable Cooperative Aerial Manipulation Systems

This review paper focuses on quadrotor- and multirotor-based cooperative aerial manipulation. Emphasis is first given to comparing and evaluating prototype systems that have been implemented and tested in real-time in diverse application environments. The underlying modeling and control approaches are also discussed and compared. The outcome of this review allows for understanding the motivation and rationale to develop such systems, their applicability and implementability in diverse applications and also challenges that need to be addressed and overcome. Moreover, this paper provides a guide to develop the next generation of prototype systems based on preferred characteristics, functionality, operability, and application domain.

Towards a knowledge-based decision support system to foster the return to work of wheelchair users

Accidents at work may force workers to face abrupt changes in their daily life: one of the most impactful accident cases consists of the worker remaining in a wheelchair. Return To Work (RTW) of wheelchair users in their working age is still challenging, encompassing the expertise of clinical and rehabilitation personnel and social workers to match the workers’ residual capabilities with job requirements. This work describes a novel and prototypical knowledge-based Decision Support System (DSS) that matches workers’ residual capabilities with job requirements, thus helping vocational therapists and clinical personnel in the RTW decision-making process for WUs. The DSS leverages expert knowledge in the form of ontologies to represent the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF) and the Occupational Information Network (O*NET). These taxonomies enable both workers’ health conditions and job requirements formalization, which are processed to assess the suitability of a job depending on a worker’s condition. Consequently, the DSS suggests a list of jobs a wheelchair user can still perform, exploiting his/her residual abilities at their best. The manuscript describes the theoretical approach and technological foundations of such DSS, illustrating its development, its output metric, and application. The developed solution was tested with real wheelchair users’ health conditions provided by the Italian National Institute for Insurance against Accidents at Work. The feasibility of an approach based on objective data was thus demonstrated, providing a novel point of view in the critical process of decision-making during RTW.

Rethinking Human-AI Collaboration in Complex Medical Decision Making: A Case Study in Sepsis Diagnosis.

Today's AI systems for medical decision support often succeed on benchmark datasets in research papers but fail in real-world deployment. This work focuses on the decision making of sepsis, an acute life-threatening systematic infection that requires an early diagnosis with high uncertainty from the clinician. Our aim is to explore the design requirements for AI systems that can support clinical experts in making better decisions for the early diagnosis of sepsis. The study begins with a formative study investigating why clinical experts abandon an existing AI-powered Sepsis predictive module in their electrical health record (EHR) system. We argue that a human-centered AI system needs to support human experts in the intermediate stages of a medical decision-making process (e.g., generating hypotheses or gathering data), instead of focusing only on the final decision. Therefore, we build SepsisLab based on a state-of-the-art AI algorithm and extend it to predict the future projection of sepsis development, visualize the prediction uncertainty, and propose actionable suggestions (i.e., which additional laboratory tests can be collected) to reduce such uncertainty. Through heuristic evaluation with six clinicians using our prototype system, we demonstrate that SepsisLab enables a promising human-AI collaboration paradigm for the future of AI-assisted sepsis diagnosis and other high-stakes medical decision making.

Design and development of robotic technology through microcontroller system with machine learning techniques

Through the integration of AI and IoT, the digital twin transforms industrial sectors by virtually portraying physical systems. Simulation and the application of lifecycle management improve decision-making. In this paper, a virtual prototype system a digital twin framework that integrates robotic devices is proposed. Created using debugging platforms, they track every robotic activity, supported by real-time microcontroller structural design systems. Machine learning methods are the fundamental engine of the digital twin system. Because of this connection, robotic actions may be seamlessly controlled and monitored, guaranteeing effectiveness and adaptability in changing contexts. Robotics has advanced significantly with the combination of digital twin technology, machine learning, and microcontroller systems, offering improved performance and versatility in a range of applications.

Heating performance of a vapor compression heat pump cascaded with a thermoelectric heat pump

Air source heat pumps (ASHPs) are widely utilized for heating and cooling in residential buildings; however, their effectiveness in heating mode is compromised during extreme weather conditions. Extensive research endeavors have been undertaken to develop, test, and assess a cost-effective vapor compression ASHP suitable for cold climate regions. This study takes an innovative approach by developing component and system prototypes for a cold climate heat pump. This design combines a thermoelectric heat pump (TEHP) with a traditional residential split ASHP to augment heating capacity in low ambient temperature conditions. The component and system prototypes underwent experimental testing in the psychrometric chambers. The experimental findings revealed a 13.6 % to 13.7 % increase in total heat pump heating capacity, accompanied by a 3.1 % to 5.0 % decrease in the coefficient of performance (COP) at ambient temperatures of −15 °C and −19 °C, when compared to the original ASHP. The COP of the TEHP is relatively constant, ranging from 1.63 to 1.76. This prototype offers a solution to address the challenges associated with reduced heat pump capacity at low ambient temperatures. The experimental results indicated that the lower the ambient temperature, thermoelectric heat pump auxiliary heating can increase the heating efficiency 60 % in comparison to electric resistance.