Phil D. Picton

Mapping for Wheelchair Users: Route Navigation in Urban Spaces

Abstract Navigation around urban areas is often constraining for the mobility-impaired due to the fabric of the urban landscape, and there is a need to provide maps tailored to individual abilities. Barriers to effective navigation, such as slope, surface type and dropped kerbs, differ for able-bodied pedestrians and wheelchair users. This study identifies and quantifies such differences, and develops a Geographical Information Systems (GIS) network model for the creation of accessibility maps for wheelchair users. The measurement of barriers uses Digital Elevation Models, calculation of rolling resistance, and surveys in the field using hand-held GIS. A spatial database has been constructed which contains the pedestrian route network and barriers to navigation. A GIS application runs the model, providing a user-friendly interface to define and calculate routes through the pedestrian route network that take account of impedances to accessibility. The model, application and interface has been tested with wheelchair users and the route selection provides a good correspondence with patterns of route finding already established through experience. The interface and individually tailored maps generated, provide a tool suitable to assist wheelchair users new to an area; to enable better navigation for existing users, and a means for planners to consider the way in which access is restricted for wheelchair users in their designs for more inclusive urban environments.

Modelling Access with GIS in Urban Systems (MAGUS): capturing the experiences of wheelchair users

Access and mobility are important dimensions of quality of life. For wheelchair users, everyday trips are often fraught with problems, with many barriers imperceptible to the able-bodied, hindering or totally restricting movement. This paper describes a project undertaken with wheelchair users, which has developed, tested and applied a Geographic Information System model. This model acts both as a navigational device for wheelchairs users 2013 enabling them to make informed route choices through urban places 2013 and as a decision support and planning tool for urban planners 2013 making visible the ways in which built environments are often distorted and hostile spaces for wheelchair users.

Modelling the Effects of Dispersal and Landscape Configuration on Population Distribution and Viability in Fragmented Habitat

Landscape configuration and dispersal characteristics are major determinants of population distribution and persistence in fragmented habitat. An individual-based spatially explicit population model was developed to investigate these factors using the distribution of nuthatches in an area of eastern England as an example. The effects of immigration and increasing the area of breeding quality habitat were explored. Predictions were compared with observed population sizes in the study area. Our model combined a nuthatch population simulator based on individual behaviour with a grid-based representation of the landscape; nuthatch life cycle and immigration parameters were user selectable. A novel aspect of the model is user-selection of habitat perceptual range. Using a realistic set of parameters, the number of breeding pairs predicted by the model matched observed numbers. According to model simulations, the main cause of nuthatch scarcity in the study area was the inability of patches to support viable populations without immigration from elsewhere. Modelled habitat management, which increased breeding quality habitat in existing woods, lowered the threshold above which the study area population became self-sustaining. The existence of a large core habitat area was critical in producing a self-sustaining population in this landscape, the same area in dispersed small woods failed to sustain populations.

Problem solving and creativity in engineering: conclusions of a three year project involving reusable learning objects and robots

Abstract The necessity for creative problem solving skills within the sciences and engineering are highlighted in benchmark and policy statements as essential abilities. None of these statements, however, offer any guidance on how these skills might be fostered, let alone assessed. This paper presents findings from the second cycle of an action research project to develop a dedicated creative problem solving module for first year engineering undergraduates. In the module problem based learning (PBL) techniques have been used with Lego Mindstorm NXT robots to develop creative problem solving skills. The focus of the module has been on developing process skills as opposed to the simple methodical solving of routine problems. Process skills have been introduced and mediated by the use of reusable learning objects (RLOs) within a virtual learning environment (VLE). Separate RLOs have also been used to develop skills in using the robots. The action research cycle has been informed by a parallel project involving interviews designed to explore the perceptions of students, academics and professional engineers of creative problem solving. Phenomenography has been used as the main research tool. Student feedback through online questionnaires, focus groups, classroom-based observation and interviews indicates that the module, and its means of delivery, has proven successful in improving creative problem solving skills. It also highlights the value of developing process skills within a practical and motivational environment.

Fuzzy logic in a blackboard system for controlling plasma deposition processes

Abstract A blackboard system, ARBS, has been used to control a plasma processing unit, which is used for depositing coatings on the surface of electronic or mechanical components. Previous applications of ARBS have been based on crisp logic, but fuzzy logic was added in this study for plasma deposition control. Fuzzy rules have been introduced into ARBS without changing either the rule syntax or the existing inference engines, thereby demonstrating the flexibility of the software. Consequently crisp and fuzzy rules can coexist within a single knowledge source (i.e. module). An efficient technique for defuzzification has been employed in which the membership functions are replaced by Dirac delta functions. The technique is equivalent to standard methods of defuzzification, without loss of precision or accuracy, but with a reduced number of calculations. Multi-variable control of DC-bias (an electrical parameter) by automatic adjustment of pressure and RF (radio frequency) electrical power is demonstrated.

Machine-to-machine communications energy efficiencies: the implications of different M2M communications specifications

The energy inefficiency of electronic devices is the major limiting factor for the adoption of these devices in Machine-to-Machine Communications (M2M)/Internet of Things (IoT). In order to address this, different emerging M2M communications standardisation organisations have proposed perceived energy efficient protocols. The essence of this paper is to discuss the energy implications of different M2M communication standards on the lifespan of the electronic devices that are to be used for the M2M communications.

Relaying scene information to the blind via sound using cartoon depth maps

Important scene information may be relayed to a blind person via mobility aids that incorporates an image-to-sound mapping. However, these devices are frequently both tiring and stressful to use. Stereo depth maps are considered as a means of reducing the quantity of unnecessary information passed to the listener. A simple automated method for evaluating the effectiveness of edge depth maps is described, followed by an explanation of a new display technique, which combines a stereo edge depth map with a cartoon-like scene representation. Finally, experimental results are included that demonstrate the effectiveness of this representation.

Non-Linear Modal Interactions in a Suspension Rope System with Time-Varying Length

This paper focuses on the investigation of the autoparametric coupling effects and modal interactions in a suspension rope system with a time varying length. Equations of motion of a multi-degree-of-freedom discrete, non-stationary and non-linear model are presented and are used to analyze the dynamic response of an elevator suspension rope system under resonance conditions. The equations of motion involve quadratic and cubic non-linear terms which are responsible for the modal interaction between the lateral and longitudinal oscillations of the rope and the car motions. The model takes into account the periodic excitations caused by motion of the host structure. The results confirm that adverse responses may arise and internal autoparametric resonance phenomena may occur.

PREDICTING LEATHER HANDLE LIKE AN EXPERT BY ARTIFICIAL NEURAL NETWORKS

This study developed an artificial neural network model to predict the subjective assessment of leather handle by an expert using its measurable physical characteristics. A statistical method was applied to prune the inputs of the network and the “error band” conception was proposed during training.

Intelligent control of low pressure plasma processing

Several parameters characterize systems for materials processing that use radio frequency electrical discharges in gases at low pressure. These include directly measurable quantities such as a DC bias voltage, an ion current, an energy flux, masses of charged species, and spectrally resolved optical emission. None of these is directly controllable but all are dependent on several variables that can be controlled such as radio-frequency (RF) power, chamber pressure, and gas flow rates. There is a rich parameter space that must be painstakingly searched for optimum conditions for any particular process. In place of the relatively slow manual procedure, an artificial intelligence (AI) approach has been used to map out contours for all of the above characteristic parameters in the control space. Automatic characterization of plasma systems in this way could significantly reduce the time to re-configure them and to transfer processes between different systems.