Towards autonomous image fusion

Mobile robots are providing great assistance operating in hazardous environments such as nuclear cores, battlefields, natural disasters, and even at the nano-level of human cells. These robots are usually equipped with a wide variety of sensors in order to collect data and guide their navigation. Whether a single robot operating all sensors or a swarm of cooperating robots operating their special sensors, the captured data can be too large to be transferred across limited resources (e.g. bandwidth, battery, processing, and response time) in hazardous environments. Therefore, local computations have to be carried out on board the swarming robots to assess the worthiness of captured data and the capacity of fused information in a certain spatial dimension as well as selection of proper combination of fusion algorithms and metrics. This paper introduces to the concepts of Type-I and Type-II fusion errors, fusion capacity, and fusion worthiness. These concepts together form the ladder leading to autonomous fusion systems.

The validity of the CGI severity and improvement scales as measures of clinical effectiveness suitable for routine clinical use

Objective The Clinical Global Impression Scale (CGI) is established as a core metric in psychiatric research. This study aims to test the validity of CGI as a clinical outcome measure suitable for routine use in a private inpatient setting.

Methods The CGI was added to a standard battery of routine outcome measures in a private psychiatric hospital. Data were collected on consecutive admissions over a period of 24 months, which included clinical diagnosis, demographics, service utilization and four routine measures (CGI, HoNOS, MHQ-14 and DASS-21) at both admission and discharge. Descriptive and comparative data analyses were performed.

Results Of 786 admissions in total, there were 624 and 614 CGI-S ratings completed at the point of admission and discharge, respectively, and 610 completed CGI-I ratings. The admission and discharge CGI-S scores were correlated (r = 0.40), and the indirect improvement measures obtained from their differences were highly correlated with the direct CGI-I scores (r = 0.71). The CGI results reflected similar trends seen in the other three outcome measures.

Conclusions The CGI is a valid clinical outcome measure suitable for routine use in an inpatient setting. It offers a number of advantages, including its established utility in psychiatric research, sensitivity to change, quick and simple administration, utility across diagnostic groupings, and reliability in the hands of skilled clinicians.

Ionic liquid electrolyte for lithium metal batteries : physical, electrochemical, and interfacial studies of N-Methyl-N-butylmorpholinium Bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide

The ionic liquid (IL) N-methyl-N-butylmorpholinium bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide (C₄mmor FSI) is examined from physical and electrochemical perspectives. Pulsed field gradient NMR spectroscopy shows that ion diffusivities are low compared with similar, non-ethereal ILs. Ionicity values indicate that above room temperature, less than 50% of ions contribute to conductivity.

Lithium cycling in symmetrical cells using a C₄mmor FSI-based electrolyte is best demonstrated at elevated temperatures. Specific capacities of 130 mAh g⁻¹ are achieved in a Li−LiFePO₄ battery at 85 °C. FT-IR spectroscopic investigations of lithium electrodes suggest the presence of alkoxide species in the solid electrolyte interphase (SEI), implying a ring-opening reaction of C₄mmor with lithium metal. In contrast, the SEI derived from N-methyl-N-propylpiperidinium FSI lacks the alkoxide signature but shows signs of alkyl unsaturation, and the activation energy for Li+ transport through this SEI is slightly lower than that for the C₄mmor-derived SEI. Our detailed findings give insight into the capabilities and limitations of rechargeable lithium metal batteries utilizing a C₄mmor FSI electrolyte.

New approach to controllable nitrogen doping for improved nano-semiconductors

The data covers the following:
X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) - to collect surface chemical structure changes (using RMIT instrument);
Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) - to collect surface physical structure changes;
Atomic force microscopy (AFM) - to collect surface morphology changes;
Internal/External quantum efficiency (IQE/EQE) – to collect DSSC (Dye Sensitised Solar Cells) efficiency data;
Discharge/Charge capacity - to collect battery efficiency data.

Backward modelling and look-ahead fuzzy energy management controller for a parallel hybrid vehicle

This paper focuses on a parallel hybrid electric vehicle. It first develops a model for the vehicle using the backward-looking approach where the flow of energy starts from wheels and spreads towards engine and electric motor. Next, a fuzzy logic-based strategy is developed to control the operation of the vehicle. The objectives of the controller include managing the energy flow from engine and electric motor, controlling transmission ratio, adjusting speed, and sustaining battery's state of charge. The controller examines current vehicle speed, demand torque, slope difference, state of charge of battery, and engine and electric motor rotation speeds. Then, it determines the best values for continuous variable transmission ratio, speed, and torque. A slope window scheme is also developed to take into account the look-ahead slope information and determine the best vehicle speed for better fuel economy. The developed model and control strategy are simulated. The simulation results are presented and discussed. It is shown that the use of the proposed fuzzy controller reduces fuel consumption.

Polyterthiophene/CNT composite as a cathode material for lithium batteries employing an ionic liquid electrolyte

A polyterthiophene (PTTh)/multi-walled carbon nanotube (CNT) composite was synthesised by in situ chemical polymerisation and used as an active cathode material in lithium cells assembled with an ionic liquid (IL) or conventional liquid electrolyte, LiBF₄/EC–DMC–DEC. The IL electrolyte consisted of 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate (EMIBF₄) containing LiBF₄ and a small amount of vinylene carbonate (VC). The lithium cells were characterised by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and galvanostatic charge/discharge cycling. The specific capacity of the cells with IL and conventional liquid electrolytes after the 1st cycle was 50 and 47 mAh g⁻¹ (based on PTTh weight), respectively at the C/5 rate. The capacity retention after the 100th cycle was 78% and 53%, respectively. The lithium cell assembled with a PTTh/CNT composite cathode and a non-flammable IL electrolyte exhibited a mean discharge voltage of 3.8 V vs Li⁺/Li and is a promising candidate for high-voltage power sources with enhanced safety.

Substrate-induced coagulation (SIC) of nano-disperse carbon black in non-aqueous media : a method of manufacturing highly conductive cathode materials for Li-ion batteries by self-assembly

Substrate-induced coagulation (SIC) is a coating process based on self-assembly for coating different surfaces with fine particulate materials. The particles are dispersed in a suitable solvent and the stability of the dispersion is adjusted by additives. When a surface, pre-treated with a flocculant e.g. a polyelectrolyte, is dipped into the dispersion, it induces coagulation resulting in the deposition of the particles on the surface. A non-aqueous SIC process for carbon coating is presented, which can be performed in polar, aprotic solvents such as N-Methyl-2- pyrrolidinone (NMP). Polyvinylalcohol (PVA) is used to condition the surface of substrates such as mica, copperfoil, silicon-wafers and lithiumcobalt oxide powder, a cathode material used for Li-ion batteries. The subsequent SIC carbon coating produces uniform layers on the substrates and causes the conductivity of lithiumcobalt oxide to increase drastically, while retaining a high percentage of active battery material.

Look-ahead intelligent energy management of a parallel hybrid electric vehicle

Improving fuel efficiency in vehicles can reduce the energy consumption concerns associated with operating the vehicles. This paper presents a model for a parallel hybrid electric vehicle. In the model, the flow of energy starts from wheels and spreads toward engine and electric motor. A fuzzy logic based control strategy is implemented for the vehicle. The controller manages the energy flow from the engine and the electric motor, controlling transmission ratio, adjusting speed, and sustaining battery's state of charge. The controller examines the vehicle speed, demand torque, slope difference, state of charge of battery, and engine and electric motor rotation speeds. It then determines the best values for continuous variable transmission ratio, speed, and torque. A slope window method is formed that takes into account the look-ahead slope information, and determines the best vehicle speed. The developed model and control strategy are simulated using real highway data relating to Nowra-Bateman Bay in Australia, and SAE Highway Fuel Economy Driving Schedule. The simulation results are presented and discussed. It is shown that the use of the proposed fuzzy controller reduces the fuel consumption of the vehicle.

Field evaluation of a suite of biomarkers in an Australian Tropical Reef Species, Stripey Seaperch (Lutjanus carponotatus) : Assessment of Produced Formation water from the Harriet A Platform

There is paucity of data regarding hydrocarbon exposure of tropical fish species inhabiting the waters near oil and gas platforms on the Northwest Shelf of Australia. A comprehensive field study assessed the exposure and potential effects associated with the produced water (PW) plume from the Harriet A production platform on the northwest shelf in a local reef species, Stripey seaperch (Lutjanus carponotatus). This field study was a continuation of an earlier pilot study which concluded that there were “warning signs” of potential biological effects on fish populations exposed to PW. A 10-day field caging study was conducted deploying 15 individual fish into 6 separate steel cages set 1-m subsurface at 3 stations in a concentration gradient moving away from the platform. A battery of biomarkers were evaluated including hepatosomatic index (HSI), total cytochrome P450, bile metabolites, CYP1A-, CYP2K- and CYP2M-like proteins, cholinesterase (ChE) activity, and histopathology of liver and gill tissues. Water column and PW effluent samples was also collected. Results confirmed that PAH metabolites in bile, CYP1A-, CYP2K-, and CYP2M-like proteins and liver histopathology provided evidence of significant exposure and effects after 10 days at the near-field site (~200 m off the Harriet A platform). Hepatosomatic index, total cytochrome P450, and ChE did not provide site-specific differences by day 10 of exposure to PW. CYP proteins were shown by principal component analysis (PCA) to be the best diagnostic tool for determining exposure and associated biological effects of PW on L. carponotatus. Using a suite of biomarkers has been widely advocated as a vital component in environmental risk assessments worldwide. This study demonstrates the usefulness of biomarkers for assessing the Harriet A PW discharge into Australian waters with broader applications for other PW discharges. This approach has merit as a valuable addition to environmental management strategies for protecting Australia’s tropical environment and its rich biodiversity.

Effect of noise factors in energy management of series plug-in hybrid electric vehicles

It has been demonstrated that charge depletion (CD) energy management strategies are more efficient choices for energy management of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs). The knowledge of drive cycle as a priori can improve the performance of CD energy management in PHEVs. However, there are many noise factors which affect both drivetrain power demand and vehicle performance even in identical drive cycles. In this research, the effect of each noise factor is investigated by introducing the concept of power cycle instead of drive cycle for a journey. Based on the nature of the noise factors, a practical solution for developing a power-cycle library is introduced. Investigating the predicted power cycle, an energy management strategy is developed which considers the influence of temperature noise factor on engine performance. The effect of different environmental and geographic conditions, driver behavior, aging of battery and other components are considered. Simulation results for a modelled series PHEV similar to GM Volt show that the suggested energy management strategy based on the driver power cycle library improves both vehicle fuel economy and battery health by reducing battery load and temperature.

Injection, detection and repair of aesthetics in home movies

This paper details the design of an algorithm for automatically manipulating the important aesthetic element of video, visual tempo. Automatic injection, detection and repair of such aesthetic elements, it is argued, is vital to the next generation of amateur multimedia authoring tools. We evaluate the performance of the algorithm on a battery of synthetic data and demonstrate its ability to return the visual tempo of the final media a considerable degree closer to the target signal. The novelty of this work lies chiefly in the systematic manipulation of this high level aesthetic element of video.