Determination of burn criterion for promoted combustion testing

Promoted ignition testing [1–3] is used to determine the relative flammability of metal rods in oxygen-enriched atmospheres. In these tests, a promoter is used to ignite each metal rod to start the sample burning. Experiments were performed to better understand the promoted ignition test by obtaining insight into the effect a burning promoter has on the preheating of a test sample. Test samples of several metallic materials were prepared and coupled to fast-responding thermocouples along their length. Various ignition promoters were used to ignite the test samples. The thermocouple measurements and test video were synchronized to determine temperature increase with respect to time and length along each test sample. A recommended length of test sample that must be consumed to be considered a flammable material was determined based on the preheated zone measured from these tests. This length was determined to be 30 mm (1.18 in.). Validation of this length and its rationale are presented.

Book review : Indigenous peoples : self-determination knowledge indigeneity

This is a book review of Indigenous Peoples: Self-Determination Knowledge Indigeneity. Edited by Henry Minde in collaboration with Harald Gaski, Svein Jentoft and Georges Midre. Published by Eburon Academic Publishers in Delft, the Netherlands. Paperback, 382 pages, no index. AUD. $79.99. ISBN 978-90-5972-204-0.

Hippocampal models for simultaneous localisation and mapping on an autonomous robot

To navigate successfully in a novel environment a robot needs to be able to Simultaneously Localize And Map (SLAM) its surroundings. The most successful solutions to this problem so far have involved probabilistic algorithms, but there has been much promising work involving systems based on the workings of part of the rodent brain known as the hippocampus. In this paper we present a biologically plausible system called RatSLAM that uses competitive attractor networks to carry out SLAM in a probabilistic manner. The system can effectively perform parameter self-calibration and SLAM in one dimension. Tests in two dimensional environments revealed the inability of the RatSLAM system to maintain multiple pose hypotheses in the face of ambiguous visual input. These results support recent rat experimentation that suggest current competitive attractor models are not a complete solution to the hippocampal modelling problem.

A modified particle filter for simultaneous robot localization and landmark tracking in an indoor environment

This paper presents the implementation of a modified particle filter for vision-based simultaneous localization and mapping of an autonomous robot in a structured indoor environment. Through this method, artificial landmarks such as multi-coloured cylinders can be tracked with a camera mounted on the robot, and the position of the robot can be estimated at the same time. Experimental results in simulation and in real environments show that this approach has advantages over the extended Kalman filter with ambiguous data association and various levels of odometric noise.

Simultaneous localisation and mapping from natural landmarks using RatSLAM

This paper describes the current state of RatSLAM, a Simultaneous Localisation and Mapping (SLAM) system based on models of the rodent hippocampus. RatSLAM uses a competitive attractor network to fuse visual and odometry information. Energy packets in the network represent pose hypotheses, which are updated by odometry and can be enhanced or inhibited by visual input. This paper shows the effectiveness of the system in real robot tests in unmodified indoor environments using a learning vision system. Results are shown for two test environments; a large corridor loop and the complete floor of an office building.

Biologically inspired visual landmark processing for simultaneous localization and mapping

This paper illustrates a method for finding useful visual landmarks for performing simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM). The method is based loosely on biological principles, using layers of filtering and pooling to create learned templates that correspond to different views of the environment. Rather than using a set of landmarks and reporting range and bearing to the landmark, this system maps views to poses. The challenge is to produce a system that produces the same view for small changes in robot pose, but provides different views for larger changes in pose. The method has been developed to interface with the RatSLAM system, a biologically inspired method of SLAM. The paper describes the method of learning and recalling visual landmarks in detail, and shows the performance of the visual system in real robot tests.

Artful determination : "state of the art" and PCME Ltd v. Goyen COntrols Co. UK Ltd

In a recent decision by Mr Justice Laddie, a patent was held anticipated by, inter alia, prior use of a device which fell within the claims of the patent in suit, even though its circuitry was enclosed in resin. The anticipating invention had been "made available to the public" within the terms of section 2 (2) of the Patents Act 1977 because its essential integers would have been revealed by an interesting character, the "skilled forensic engineer".