A Multilevel Architecture for Autonomous UAVs

In this paper, a multilevel architecture able to interface an on-board computer with a generic UAV flight controller and its radio receiver is proposed. The computer board exploits the same standard communication protocol of UAV flight controllers and can easily access additional data, such as: (i) inertial sensor measurements coming from a multi-sensor board; (ii) global navigation satellite system (GNSS) coordinates; (iii) streaming video from one or more cameras; and (iv) operator commands from the remote control. In specific operating scenarios, the proposed platform is able to act as a “cyber pilot” which replaces the role of a human UAV operator, thus simplifying the development of complex tasks such as those based on computer vision and artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms which are typically employed in autonomous flight operations.

Embbedded System-on-Chip 3D Localization and Mapping—eSoC-SLAM

This paper discusses a novel embedded system-on-chip 3D localization and mapping (eSoC-LAM) implementation, that followed a co-design approach with the primary aim of being deployed in a small system on a programmable chip (SoPC), the Intel’s (a.k.a Altera) Cyclone V 5CSEMA5F31C6N, available in the Terasic’s board DE1-SoC. This computer board incorporates an 800 MHz Dual-core ARM Cortex-A9 and a Cyclone V FPGA with 85k programmable logic elements and 4450 Kbits of embedded memory running at 50 MHz. We report experiments of the eSoC-LAM implementation using a Robosense’s 3D LiDAR RS-16 sensor in a Robotis’ TurtleBot2 differential robot, both controlled by a Terasic’s board DE1-SoC. This paper presents a comprehensive description of the designed architecture, design constraints, resource optimization, HPS-FPGA exchange of information, and co-design results. The eSoC-LAM implementation reached an average speed-up of 6.5× when compared with a version of the algorithm running in a the hard processor system of the Cyclone V device, and a performance of nearly 32 fps, while keeping high map accuracy.

Using Nagios on a Raspberry Pi to Monitor Anetwork with Emphasis on Security

The objective of this paper is to present an advanceduse of Nagios on Raspberry Pi to monitor a network. RaspberryPi is a tiny, low-cost yet powerful computer board with manyapplications. Network monitoring systems constantly monitor acomputer network for malfunctions and failures of servers andnotifies the network administrator in case of trouble. In ourcase, the free version of Nagios installed on a Raspberry Pi hasbeen used to monitor a network at minimal cost. Furthermore,two bash scripts automating the complex process of Nagiosinstallation on Raspberry Pi, as well as Linux host have beendeveloped. In order to elevate the security level of Networkmonitoring we have proposed a triple set of Raspberry Pi Nagiosservers, each one monitoring hosts and servers including theother two Nagios servers (triple modular redundancy). Finally,custom scripts providing useful information about monitoredhosts, such as their operating system, hardware and networking,as well as a special script examining and rating the security levelof Apache web servers, have been developed and incorporatedinto the network monitoring process.

IoT based facial recognition door access control home security system using raspberry pi

The home security system has become vital for every house. Previously, most doors can be open by using traditional ways, such as keys, security cards, password or pattern. However, incidents such as a key loss has led to much worrying cases such as robbery and identity fraud. This has become a significant issue. To overcome this problem, face recognition using deep learning technique was introduced and Internet of Thing (IoT) also been used to perform efficient door access control system. Raspberry Pi is a programmable small computer board and used as the main controller for face recognition, youth system and locking system. The camera is used to capture images of the person in front of the door. IoT system enables the user to control the door access.

ANÁLISE DE DESEMPENHO DE SENSORES PARA TRANSMISSÃO DE VÍDEO EM REDES SEM FIO DE BAIXA VAZÃO

As Wireless sensor networks(WSN) ou rede de sensores sem fio são definidas como uma distribuição espacial de sensores autônomos para monitoramento de condições físicas ou ambientais. As WSN são habitualmente utilizadas em ambientes com baixa infraestrutura, pois desprezam a presença de fios, devido à natureza de sua comunicação e a utilização de baterias para alimentação dos módulos, essas aplicações são frequentemente utilizadas para na aquisição de informações de plantações, industrias, veículos automotores entre outras.Alguns tipos de redes necessitam lidar com uma maior carga de dados para processar devido à natureza dos seus sensores, esse é o caso das Wireless Visual Sensor Network, ou Rede De Sensores Visuais Sem Fio (RSVSF), composta por sensores multimídia. A utilização de sensores multimídia geram dois grandes problemas, primeiro o custo associado a aquisição, pois trata-se de sensores complexos com alto custo de fabricação e segundo o custo associado ao transporte e processamento do grande volume de dados que esses sensores geram. Uma forma de contornar esse problema é através da codificação dos dados.O objetivo da codificação é reduzir o volume de dados, através da representação das imagens ou vídeos com o menor número possível de bits, sem a alteração da qualidade e da nitidez necessária a aplicação. A codificação realiza uma compressão na imagem, facilitando sua transmissão e armazenamento.A compressão de uma imagem só é possível porque as imagens apresentam um alto graus de coerência, que se traduz em uma redundância de informação quando codificada. A compressão de imagens pode ocorrer de duas maneiras possíveis, com e sem perda de informação. A Compressão sem perda ou codificação de redundância, explora a redundância entre pixels na codificação, preservando todas as informações que permitirão a reconstrução exata da imagem. A compressão com perda gera uma degradação de dados durante o processo de compressão da imagem, sendo mais eficiente em relação à área final de armazenamento devido à sua razão de compressão ser maior que a sem perda.Outra estratégia para contornar o alto fluxo de dados e custo de implementação da rede é a utilização de sensores da nova geração, que possuem maior capacidade de processamento e armazenamento de dados, e cujos custos de aquisição vem caindo ao longo do tempo. O Single Computer Board, Raspberry Pi, está entre os potenciais dispositivos de baixo custo que podem atuar como nó sensor e ao longo dos anos vem se tornando popular, por ser um dispositivo barato, de baixo consumo e com inúmeras interfaces de entrada e saída.

The Implementation of Electronic Commerce in SMEs in Singapore

This chapter analyzes why small to medium enterprises (SMEs) in Singapore have or have not adopted electronic commerce, and explains issues affecting its adoption. In recent years, the Singapore government has spearheaded the implementation of e-commerce in Singapore. SMEs still have not heeded the government’s call. In a survey conducted by AC Nielsen, commissioned by the National Computer Board of Singapore, it was found that of 13 percent of 1,500 randomly selected adults, only 6 percent made a purchase using the Internet (NCB, 1998). The reasons for Singapore’s SMEs’ uniform and widespread unwillingness to adopt e-commerce despite the government’s push, are still largely unknown. Research published on the Singapore Government’s e-commerce web site (http://www.ec.gov.sg) (also Singapore 2000; 1998a; 1998b), has information only on surveys showing that Internet users are still rather unsure of e-commerce, especially towards Internet commerce. What is required is information from the SME’s viewpoint. Already certain “seminal” advantages exist in adopting e-commerce, such as: cost savings, improved productivity and streamlined business processes. This research will obtain relevant information from selected SMEs in Singapore, to better understand issues that have led to the current e-commerce situation in Singapore. The Singaporean Government has consistently focused on promoting informatization and information industry development in the economic development strategy of the island economy (IMCM, 1998). Among developing countries, Singapore has achieved one of the highest rates of diffusion of information technology (Wong, 1996; Wong 1998; Corbitt & Thanasankit, 2002). Singapore has also been regularly rated as maintaining among the best telecommunications infrastructure in the world, according to the annual World Competitiveness Report (International Institute for Management Development, 1996). The “electric commercialization” of Singapore started in 1996 with the National Computer Board (NCB) and with the e-commerce Hotbed Program (ECH) to jumpstart the pervasive use of e-commerce and position Singapore as a hub for e-commerce. An e-commerce committee established six guiding principles to promote e-commerce in Singapore: • The private sector should take the lead • Government should create a framework that provides certainty and reliability • Government should provide a secure and safe environment • Joint venture pilots and experiments between Government and the private sector are needed to expedite e-commerce growth and development • Innovative, transparent and liberal policies should be proactively pursued by Government • Consistency with international regimes, international cooperation and interoperability are necessary for e-commerce to thrive (National Computer Board, 1998)

Case Study for Energy-Efficiency of Liquid-Cooled Data Centers

The thermal management of existing data centers is centered on forced convection using air as the transport fluid. A large portion of the energy required for typical data centers is used in maintaining reasonable operating temperatures, and many have looked to liquid cooling as a promising solution to increased energy efficiency. The current work is a case study of making this transition for a single computer board. The energy savings potential is quantified and the removal of heat via liquid cooling is characterized from the chip level to the environment. A thermal solution model is developed and validated through experimentation. The experiment consists of a rack-mounted computer board to simulate a server and cold plates attached at several key locations for cooling. Multiple measurements are made to determine the amount of heat removed and power consumed in the process. The results from this study show that liquid-cooling presents an improved thermal solution to data centers and the energy savings potential is large, which improves the power usage effectiveness since power is mostly used in data processing rather than server cooling.