From the Publisher: 
The accessible presentation of this book gives both a general view of the entire computer vision enterprise and also offers sufficient detail to be able to build useful applications. Users learn techniques that have proven to be useful by first-hand experience and a wide range of mathematical methods. A CD-ROM with every copy of the text contains source code for programming practice, color images, and illustrative movies. Comprehensive and up-to-date, this book includes essential topics that either reflect practical significance or are of theoretical importance. Topics are discussed in substantial and increasing depth. Application surveys describe numerous important application areas such as image based rendering and digital libraries. Many important algorithms broken down and illustrated in pseudo code. Appropriate for use by engineers as a comprehensive reference to the computer vision enterprise.

Computer vision : a modern approach = 计算机视觉 : 一种现代的方法

Traditional engineering instruction is deductive, beginning with theories and progressing to the applications of those theories Alternative teaching approaches are more inductive Topics are introduced by presenting specific observations, case studies or problems, and theories are taught or the students are helped to discover them only after the need to know them has been established This study reviews several of the most commonly used inductive teaching methods, including inquiry learning, problem-based learning, project-based learning, case-based teaching, discovery learning, and just-in-time teaching The paper defines each method, highlights commonalities and specific differences, and reviews research on the effectiveness of the methods While the strength of the evidence varies from one method to another, inductive methods are consistently found to be at least equal to, and in general more effective than, traditional deductive methods for achieving a broad range of learning outcomes

Inductive Teaching and Learning Methods: Definitions, Comparisons, and Research Bases

Intelligent vehicles have increased their capabilities for highly and, even fully, automated driving under controlled environments. Scene information is received using onboard sensors and communication network systems, i.e., infrastructure and other vehicles. Considering the available information, different motion planning and control techniques have been implemented to autonomously driving on complex environments. The main goal is focused on executing strategies to improve safety, comfort, and energy optimization. However, research challenges such as navigation in urban dynamic environments with obstacle avoidance capabilities, i.e., vulnerable road users (VRU) and vehicles, and cooperative maneuvers among automated and semi-automated vehicles still need further efforts for a real environment implementation. This paper presents a review of motion planning techniques implemented in the intelligent vehicles literature. A description of the technique used by research teams, their contributions in motion planning, and a comparison among these techniques is also presented. Relevant works in the overtaking and obstacle avoidance maneuvers are presented, allowing the understanding of the gaps and challenges to be addressed in the next years. Finally, an overview of future research direction and applications is given.

A Review of Motion Planning Techniques for Automated Vehicles

The use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) is growing rapidly across many civil application domains, including real-time monitoring, providing wireless coverage, remote sensing, search and rescue, delivery of goods, security and surveillance, precision agriculture, and civil infrastructure inspection. Smart UAVs are the next big revolution in the UAV technology promising to provide new opportunities in different applications, especially in civil infrastructure in terms of reduced risks and lower cost. Civil infrastructure is expected to dominate more than $45 Billion market value of UAV usage. In this paper, we present UAV civil applications and their challenges. We also discuss the current research trends and provide future insights for potential UAV uses. Furthermore, we present the key challenges for UAV civil applications, including charging challenges, collision avoidance and swarming challenges, and networking and security-related challenges. Based on our review of the recent literature, we discuss open research challenges and draw high-level insights on how these challenges might be approached.

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles: A Survey on Civil Applications and Key Research Challenges

Automated driving systems (ADSs) promise a safe, comfortable and efficient driving experience. However, fatalities involving vehicles equipped with ADSs are on the rise. The full potential of ADSs cannot be realized unless the robustness of state-of-the-art is improved further. This paper discusses unsolved problems and surveys the technical aspect of automated driving. Studies regarding present challenges, high-level system architectures, emerging methodologies and core functions including localization, mapping, perception, planning, and human machine interfaces, were thoroughly reviewed. Furthermore, many state-of-the-art algorithms were implemented and compared on our own platform in a real-world driving setting. The paper concludes with an overview of available datasets and tools for ADS development.

A Survey of Autonomous Driving: Common Practices and Emerging Technologies

The benefits of stationary aerial platforms for continuous observation of a fixed area are evident in cases such as natural disasters, environmental monitoring, intelligence gathering, etc. Lighter-Than-Air (LTA) technology has advanced significantly, for example high-pressure balloons that would make such a platform a potential solution for long, uninterrupted and persistent observation. An adaptive nonlinear control system was designed for LTA station-keeping, with an adaption mechanism to accommodate uncertainties in system parameters. The controller was subsequently implemented on a micro controller and tested in a flight experiment using a helium balloon. The tests were conducted in a 4.5 m by 4.5 m enclosure using infrared sensors to determine position by measuring distance from the walls.

Experimental flight test for autonomous station-keeping of a lighter-than-air vehicle

This paper presents a novel baseband coding technique, from the class of Run Length Limited (RLL) codes, that could be used in Controller Area Network (CAN) physical coding sub-layer. Currently used CAN line coding is explained, where bit stuffing is used to ensure good synchronization on the communication channel. It is then followed by the short review of encoding techniques based on the application of (d, k) sequences, where parameters d and k define minimum and maximum bit intervals between transitions in the encoded signal on the line. Subsequently, a novel coding scheme is designed and suggested for CAN bus application. New code has better synchronization, higher data transfer rate, less inter-symbol interference, and better error detection and error propagation capabilities.

New CAN Bus Line Coding Scheme

Solar-hydrogen systems for remote area power supply (RAPS) are a promising zeroemission alternative to existing diesel and battery-based systems. Considerable research and development work has been done on the main components of such systems - solar photovoltaic arrays, electrolysers, hydrogen storages and fuel cells - but relatively little work on an overall system control unit that optimises unattended operation. The present paper therefore focuses on the design of such a control unit for a solar-hydrogen RAPS system employing a PEM electrolyser, compressed gas or metal-hydride hydrogen storage, a PEM fuel cell and inverter. The proposed system configuration includes a load splitter so that only surplus PV power over the instantaneous load is fed to the electrolyser to generate hydrogen for storage, as well as, to achieve matching the power requirement of the load. Control functions such as load splitting, power matching, switching between hydrogen production by the electrolyser and storage, water and temperature management, safety monitoring and system responses in the event of detected hydrogen leaks are identified and defined

Designing a control unit for a solar-hydrogen system for remote area power supply

The paper deals with light intensity fluctuations that are perceived by human brain as light flicker. The importance of the flicker effect comes from its influence on human health and behaviour, which can result in financial loses in various industrial productions. This paper proposes low cost solution for measurement of the flicker effect based on virtual instrumentation and software platform LabVIEW. The paper covers following issues: voltage fluctuations which cause light flicker, necessary hardware for processing voltage and current signals, virtual flickermeter model and validation of the flickermeter according actual IEC standard. The hardware solution shown in the paper could be used for measuring of other power quality parameters if additional subroutines are implemented in the software.

Low cost virtual flickermeter

Research and innovations in Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) bring numerous benefits to local and global communities. ITS is defined as a system based on the application of contemporary computer and communication technologies into transport, to increase traffic efficiency, reduce pollution and other environmental effects of transport, and increase travelers’ safety. The main goals of our research, reported here, are to improve the safety and efficiency of transport. We investigate a comprehensive solution that includes computer vision, Internet of Things (IoT), social media and AI control of the whole transport system. Autonomous vehicles and vehicular ad hoc networks are intelligent subsystems that will also be integral parts of future transport systems. This is expected to significantly improve traffic safety and throughput which will deliver sustainable economic and environmental benefits to the industry and the community. In alignment with vision zero approaches, we aim at zero human casualties on the road and fewer greenhouse gases emissions. Road transport safety is a critical topic of state, national and international importance, due to the health and safety of the community and serious environmental implications. Public opinion is extremely important in the changes to come and we are presenting here results from a survey that we have conducted. 

Milan Simic

Papers

Experimental flight test for autonomous station-keeping of a lighter-than-air vehicle

New CAN Bus Line Coding Scheme

Designing a control unit for a solar-hydrogen system for remote area power supply

Low cost virtual flickermeter

Development of new technologies for real-time traffic monitoring