The Grasping Problem: Toward Task-Level Programming for an Articulated Hand

This report presents a system for generating a stable, feasible, and reachable grasp of a polyhedral object. A set of contact points on the object is found that can result in a stable grasp; a feasible grasp is found in which the robot contacts the object at those contact points; and a path is constructed from the initial configuration of the robot to the stable, feasible final grasp configuration. The algorithm described in the report is designed for the Salisbury hand mounted on a Puma 560 arm, but a similar approach could be used to develop grasping systems for other robots.

Natural Language Input for a Computer Problem Solving System

The STUDENT problem solving system, programmed in LISP, accepts as input a comfortable but restricted subset of English which can express a wide variety of algebra story problems. STUDENT finds the solution to a large class of these problems. STUDENT can utilize a store of global information not specific to any one problem, and may make assumptions about the interpretation of ambiguities in the wording of the problem being solved. If it uses such information or makes any assumptions, STUDENT communicates this fact to the user. The thesis includes a summary of other English language questions-answering systems. All these systems, and STUDENT, are evaluated according to four standard criteria. The linguistic analysis in STUDENT is a first approximation to the analytic portion of a semantic theory of discourse outlined in the thesis. STUDENT finds the set of kernel sentences which are the base of the input discourse, and transforms this sequence of kernel sentences into a set of simultaneous equations which form the semantic base of the STUDENT system. STUDENT then tries to solve this set of equations for the values of requested unknowns. If it is successful it gives the answers in English. If not, STUDENT asks the user for more information, and indicates the nature of the desired information. The STUDENT system is a first step toward natural language communication with computers. Further work on the semantic theory proposed should result in much more sophisticated systems.

Truth Maintenance Systems for Problem Solving

The thesis developed here is that reasoning programs which take care to record the logical justifications for program beliefs can apply several powerful, but simple, domain-independent algorithms to (1) maintain the consistency of program beliefs, (2) realize substantial search efficiencies, and (3) automatically summarize explanations of program beliefs. These algorithms are the recorded justifications to maintain the consistency and well founded basis of the set of beliefs. The set of beliefs can be efficiently updated in an incremental manner when hypotheses are retracted and when new information is discovered. The recorded justifications also enable the pinpointing of exactly whose assumptions which support any particular belief. The ability to pinpoint the underlying assumptions is the basis for an extremely powerful domain-independent backtracking method. This method, called Dependency-Directed Backtracking, offers vastly improved performance over traditional backtracking algorithms.

The Dirichlet problem in convex bounded domains for operators with L^\infty-coefficients

M.Hieber, I.Wood: The Dirichlet problem in convex bounded domains for operators with L^\infty-coefficients, Diff. Int. Eq., 20, 7 (2007),721-734.

James Joyce and the Problem of Psychoanalysis

Thurston, L. (2004). James Joyce and the Problem of Psychoanalysis. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. RAE2008

Littered with meaning: The problem of sign pollution in postmodern, post-structuralist, and ecocritical thought

Slocombe, W. (2005). Littered with meaning: The problem of sign pollution in postmodern, post-structuralist, and ecocritical thought. Textual Practice. 19 (4), 493-508. RAE2008

Precise solutions of the one-dimensional Monge-Kantorovich problem

Plakhov, A.Y., (2004) 'Precise solutions of the one-dimensional Monge-Kantorovich problem', Sbornik: Mathematics 195(9) pp.1291-1307 RAE2008

Newton's aerodynamic problem in media of chaotically moving particles

Plakhov, A.Y.; Torres, D., (2005) 'Newton's aerodynamic problem in media of chaotically moving particles', Sbornik: Mathematics 196(6) pp.885-933 RAE2008

The Dirichlet problem in convex bounded domains for operators with L8-coefficients

Wood, Ian; Hieber, M., (2007) 'The Dirichlet problem in convex bounded domains for operators with L8-coefficients', Differential and Integral Equations 20 pp.721-734 RAE2008

Project Sanitarium: gaming TB: a serious game for a serious problem

Collaborative projects between Industry and Academia provide excellent opportunities for learning. Throughout the academic year 2014-2015 undergraduates from the School of Arts, Media and Computer Games at Abertay University worked with academics from the Infection Group at the University of St Andrews and industry partners Microsoft and DeltaDNA. The result was a serious game prototype that utilized game design techniques and technology to demystify and educate players about the diagnosis and treatment of one of the world's oldest and deadliest diseases, Tuberculosis (TB). Project Sanitarium is a game incorporating a mathematical model that is based on data from real-world drug trials. This paper discusses the project design and development, demonstrating how the project builds on the successful collaborative pedagogical model developed by academic staff at Abertay University. The aim of the model is to provide undergraduates with workplace simulation, wider industry collaboration and access to academic expertise to solve challenging and complex problems.

The Offstage of Democracy: The Problem of Social Dialogue in John Dewey’s and Walter Lippmann’s Writings

The aim of this article is to present and discuss John Dewey’s and Walter Lippmann’s views on the problem of communication in a democratic society, particularly their views on the question of a role of communication in forming social processes. First part of the paper outlines the framework of this problem and its meaning to the question of possibility of democracy. Part two is concerned with anthropological and socio-political considerations: I discuss the Deweyan and the Lippmannian understanding of individual, society, intelligence and democracy. In part three I examine in detail the problem of communication, with special attention given to the questions of the role of communication in forming social processes, the foundations and conditions of communication, the debaters, and a subject matter of a debate as well as the questions of who and what forms this debate and whether we can form it altogether.

Problem ubóstwa w Unii Europejskiej

The issues of poverty, famine and malnutrition mainly concern underdeveloped regions. Yet in recent years the proportion of the population threatened with poverty and social exclu- sion has been growing not only in these regions but also in developed areas, including the EU. The issue of poverty is additionally related to demography. In this context, the aging popula- tion of West European countries is worrisome, as the elderly are one of the groups particularly threatened by poverty, and their number continues to grow. Appreciating the gravity of this is- sue, the European Commission considers the fight against poverty to be one of the basic five directions established in the Europe 2020 strategic document.

Sytuacja społeczna ludzi starych jako problem pedagogiczny

In the article were presented results and analysis of searches of social situation of older people. A general purpose of searches was to qualify outer impulses which are components of aspect of social situation and that how it is accepted by older people and how it stimulates their activity. Learning of social situation of older people allows to qualify specific methods of work with them on base of pedagogics.

Refugee Question as an International Global Problem

The problem of refugees is a phenomenon characteristic of contemporary international relations. It can take an individual form (as a result of individual persecutions of a racial, religious, national or political character) or the form of mass relocations, especially in the face of military conflicts or general breaching of human rights. The purpose of this paper is to present the refugee question as an international global problem that may appear in any region of the world, impacting the situation of states and societies, that is perceived as both a threat and a fundamental challenge for the entire international community.

Konwencja dotycząca statusu uchodźców a praktyka turecka. Problem przybyszów zza wschodniej granicy

Celem publikacji jest podjęcie próby przeanalizowania polityki, jaką Turcja prowadzi wobec obcokrajowców poszukujących schronienia na jej terytorium. O ważkości zagadnienia zadecydowała w ostatnich latach przede wszystkim tocząca się w Syrii wojna domowa, w wyniku której na terytorium Turcji znalazło się ponad 700 tysięcy Syryjczyków. Szczególne w tym kontekście kontrowersje budzi fakt stosowania przez Turcję podwójnych standardów w przedmiocie nadawania imigrantom konwencyjnego statusu uchodźcy. Państwo to, jako jedno z czterech na świecie, w momencie przystępowania do Konwencji dotyczącej statusu uchodźców i Protokołu nowojorskiego zastrzegło sobie prawo do stosowania w tej materii tzw. kryterium geograficznego. W efekcie, o ile status uchodźcy nadany być może osobom przybywającym zza zachodnich granic Turcji, o tyle uciekinierzy z państw takich, jak Syria, Iran, czy Irak z formalnego punktu widzenia są „poszukującymi schronienia” (tur. sığınmacı). To zaś oznacza brak ich konwencyjnej ochrony. Celem artykułu jest jednak nie tylko przeanalizowanie prawnego i rzeczywistego położenia, w jakim znajdują się ofiary syryjskiej wojny domowej, przybywające na terytorium Turcji, a także próba przewidzenia scenariusza rozwoju tejże sytuacji. Celem uczynienia analizy możliwie najbardziej rzetelną, odwołano się zarówno do anglo, jak i tureckojęzycznych materiałów źródłowych.