Kazuyuki Kobayashi

Bio: Kazuyuki Kobayashi is an academic researcher from Hosei University. The author has contributed to research in topics: Mobile robot & Mobile robot navigation. The author has an hindex of 10, co-authored 124 publications receiving 660 citations.

Noninvasive measurement of heartbeat, respiration, snoring and body movements of a subject in bed via a pneumatic method

Abstract: We have developed a noninvasive pneumatics-based system by which to measure heartbeat, respiration, snoring, and body movements of a subject in bed. A thin, air-sealed cushion is placed under the bed mattress of the subject and the small movements attributable to human automatic vital functions are measured as changes in pressure using a pressure sensor having an almost flat frequency response from 0.1 to 5 kHz and a sensitivity of 56 mV/Pa. Using the newly developed system, heartbeat, respiration, apnea, snoring and body movements are clearly measured. In addition, the optimal signal-to-noise (S/N) ratio by which to evaluate the reliability of the heart rate measurement is presented. Heart rates were measured for four different body postures, 13 different subjects, four different bed mattresses, and three different sensor positions. For these measurements, the S/N ratios ranged from 15.9 to 23.5 dB, and so were determined to be reliable.

A color compensation vision system for color-blind people

Abstract: In this paper, we propose a color compensation vision system for color-blind people. About 8% of males and less than 1% of females have faulty color perception from birth. The degree to which a person may possess abnormal color vision ranges from slight difficulty in recognizing shades of color to total loss of color vision. Most types of defective color blindness can be classified into two categories: green color defective and red color defective. The population with the blue color defective type is less than 1%. Thus we mainly focus on a color vision compensation system that enables color-blind people to see the colors of green and red. In order to compensate image color for color-blind people, the image in RGB color space is converted to HLS color space which enables the defective color range to be easily avoided. The validity of the proposed method is confirmed by the developed camera and display color compensation system.

Study of visible light communication system using RGB LED lights

Abstract: In recent years, visible light communication is attracting growing interest for wireless communications since it is low-cost and easily maintained by using high-speed switchable LEDs. We have developed a prototype to demonstrate wireless visible light communications using RGB LEDs as both transmitter and light source. The RGB LEDs enable parallel signal communications, and a PSoC microcontroller is used to control them, thus significantly reducing the need for extra circuits and allowing rapid modification of communication software. A prototype system was developed and its validity was confirmed.

Measurement and analysis of golf swing using 3D acceleration and gyroscopic sensors

Abstract: This paper describes the measurement and analysis of the motion involved in a golf swing. In order to find the difference in the golf swing motions of experienced and novice players, in this study we measured the angular velocity at a player's waist during a golf swing using a device that combines a 3-D acceleration sensor and a gyro sensor. Based on the knowledge of what constitutes a good golf swing, we realized a real-time biofeedback system for training. When the form of a player's swing is incorrect, the system emits a beeping sound. Training using the real-time biofeedback system may be more effective than conventional training that uses proprioceptive feedback.

A Survey on Ambient-Assisted Living Tools for Older Adults

Abstract: In recent years, we have witnessed a rapid surge in assisted living technologies due to a rapidly aging society. The aging population, the increasing cost of formal health care, the caregiver burden, and the importance that the individuals place on living independently, all motivate development of innovative-assisted living technologies for safe and independent aging. In this survey, we will summarize the emergence of `ambient-assisted living” (AAL) tools for older adults based on ambient intelligence paradigm. We will summarize the state-of-the-art AAL technologies, tools, and techniques, and we will look at current and future challenges.

A Survey on Ambient Intelligence in Healthcare

Abstract: Ambient Intelligence (AmI) is a new paradigm in information technology aimed at empowering people's capabilities by means of digital environments that are sensitive, adaptive, and responsive to human needs, habits, gestures, and emotions. This futuristic vision of daily environment will enable innovative human-machine interactions characterized by pervasive, unobtrusive, and anticipatory communications. Such innovative interaction paradigms make AmI technology a suitable candidate for developing various real life solutions, including in the healthcare domain. This survey will discuss the emergence of AmI techniques in the healthcare domain, in order to provide the research community with the necessary background. We will examine the infrastructure and technology required for achieving the vision of AmI, such as smart environments and wearable medical devices. We will summarize the state-of-the-art artificial intelligence (AI) methodologies used for developing AmI system in the healthcare domain, including various learning techniques (for learning from user interaction), reasoning techniques (for reasoning about users' goals and intensions), and planning techniques (for planning activities and interactions). We will also discuss how AmI technology might support people affected by various physical or mental disabilities or chronic disease. Finally, we will point to some of the successful case studies in the area and we will look at the current and future challenges to draw upon the possible future research paths.

Ballistocardiography and Seismocardiography: A Review of Recent Advances

Abstract: In the past decade, there has been a resurgence in the field of unobtrusive cardiomechanical assessment, through advancing methods for measuring and interpreting ballistocardiogram (BCG) and seismocardiogram (SCG) signals. Novel instrumentation solutions have enabled BCG and SCG measurement outside of clinical settings, in the home, in the field, and even in microgravity. Customized signal processing algorithms have led to reduced measurement noise, clinically relevant feature extraction, and signal modeling. Finally, human subjects physiology studies have been conducted using these novel instruments and signal processing tools with promising results. This paper reviews the recent advances in these areas of modern BCG and SCG research.

Smart health monitoring systems: an overview of design and modeling.

Abstract: Health monitoring systems have rapidly evolved during the past two decades and have the potential to change the way health care is currently delivered. Although smart health monitoring systems automate patient monitoring tasks and, thereby improve the patient workflow management, their efficiency in clinical settings is still debatable. This paper presents a review of smart health monitoring systems and an overview of their design and modeling. Furthermore, a critical analysis of the efficiency, clinical acceptability, strategies and recommendations on improving current health monitoring systems will be presented. The main aim is to review current state of the art monitoring systems and to perform extensive and an in-depth analysis of the findings in the area of smart health monitoring systems. In order to achieve this, over fifty different monitoring systems have been selected, categorized, classified and compared. Finally, major advances in the system design level have been discussed, current issues facing health care providers, as well as the potential challenges to health monitoring field will be identified and compared to other similar systems.

Development and experimental validation of an adaptive extended Kalman filter for the localization of mobile robots

Abstract: A basic requirement for an autonomous mobile robot is its capability to elaborate the sensor measures to localize itself with respect to a coordinate system. To this purpose, the data provided by odometric and sonar sensors are here fused together by means of an extended Kalman filter. The performance of the filter is improved by an online adjustment of the input and measurement noise covariances obtained by a suitably defined estimation algorithm.