Indoor Environment

This paper presents an obstacle detection and avoidance of mobile robot using stereo camera for indoor environment. Block matching algorithm is solved the correspondence problem occurred in comparing stereo images (left and right sensors of the camera). The algorithm uses Sum of Absolute Differences (SAD). Left image works as a reference block to the right image and the output is disparity mapping or depth maps with the left coordinate system. A pair of camera or stereo vision baseline is based on horizontal configuration. The block matching technique is briefly described with the performance of its output. The curve fitting tool would determine the range of each obstacle detected in disparity mapping. The programming activities are using Matlab software starting from capturing images until navigation of mobile robot.

The objective of this work is to evaluate the quality of the predictions of the indoor airflow behaviour by the zonal method in comparison to the CFD results. The isothermal airflow of the International Energy Agency Annex 20 test cell was chosen to perform the proposed comparative analysis. This cell represents a rectangular room where the air is supplied horizontally on the upper left and is exhausted through an opening located on the lower right on the opposite side. Results are presented in terms of dimensionless mean velocity between zones considering different zonal grid schemes of the indoor environment.

With the rapid development and wide deployment of wireless Local Area Networks (WLANs), WLAN-based po- sitioning system employing signal-strength-based technique has become an attractive solution for location estimation in indoor environment. In recent years, a number of such systems has been presented, and most of the systems use the common Nearest Neighbor in Signal Space (NNSS) algorithm. In this paper,

Conducting an independent life is probably the most important issue for visually impaired people. In this paper, we suggest a contribution to the solution of this problem using wearable computer technology. We present a visual support system that provides acoustic information about the objects in the surrounding environment, obtained by remotely reading barcode tags sticked on significant objects and surrounding elements, such as doors, windows and so on. The user, walking in an indoor environment, is informed in realtime about the location (direction, distance and pose) of the available objects. Barcode tags deployed in the environment can act as reliable stimuli that trigger local navigation behaviours to achieve global navigation objectives. The proposed system is expected to be useful in the real-time interaction with dynamic environments. To illustrate our work, we introduce a proof-of-concept multimodal, sensorbased application and discuss its implementation and the obtained experimental results.

We propose a new approach for stereo matching in Autonomous Mobile Robot applications. In this framework an accurate but slow reconstruction of the 3D scene is not needed; rather, it is more important to have a fast localization of the obstacles to avoid them. All the methods in the literature are based on a punctual correspondence, but they are inefficient

In the past mobile robot research was often focused to various kinds of point-to-point transportation tasks. Service tasks, such as floor cleaning, require specific approaches for path planning and vehicle guidance in real indoor environments. This article discusses automatic planning of a feasible cleaning path considering a 2D-map as well as kinematic and geometric robot models. Path construction makes use of two typical motion patterns. Each pattern is defined by a sequence of subgoals indicating robot position and orientation. Results of automatic path planning are illustrated by realistic examples of typical robots and cleaning environments. Vehicle guidance includes initialization of robot location, path execution, accurate path tracking and detection of unexpected environmental changes. Path tracking is achieved by subgoal modification during cleaning motion using data from the dead-reckoning and landmark localization systems. If obstacles permanently block the preplanned path, an automatic map update and path replanning is performed. Experimental results with the mobile robot MACROBE confirm the feasibility of the developed planning and guidance system.

Abstract For indoor environments, thermal discomfort must be clearly distinguished from the air pollution caused by outdoor air as well as by inside polluting agents. Full air conditioning of a room requires the introduction of a minimum ventilation air flow whose characteristics ...

UWB (Ultra Wide Band) technology is a wireless application technology that works at a frequency of 3.1–10.6 GHz. This technology is designed to transmit high-speed data in an indoor environment. MB-OFDM (Multiband Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing) UWB is one of the UWB data transmission system. The symbol on the system is not sent continuously on a single frequency band, but

The introduction of green plants in indoor spaces has raised a great amount of interest motivated by plants’ supposed capacity to improve the quality of indoor built environments. Subsequent studies have covered a broad range of topics, testing plants in indoor environments for their climate-mitigating effects, acoustic benefits, potential energy savings and the enhancement of the indoor microbial communities. Despite the diversity of focus in these studies, no major breakthroughs been made involving the use of plants in indoor environments after nearly thirty years
of research. To identify major inconsistencies and gaps in the research, this review, of an explorative nature, presents an analysis of plant-related parameters reported in 31 cases of experimental research involving the use of plants in indoor environments. The papers were identified by searching the online databases Google Scholar, ResearchGate, Scopus and MDPI and were selected based on their relevance to the topic and diversity of focus. Two classifications in table form provide an overview of the 38 plant-related parameters used in the reviewed research. The conclusions drawn from the analysis of the tables highlight a strongly anthropocentric frame of reference across the majority of the studies, which prioritize human and experimental convenience above plant physiology, and display an overall scarcity and inconsistency in the plant-related parameters reported.

The introduction of green plants in indoor spaces has raised a great amount of interest motivated by plants’ supposed capacity to improve the quality of indoor built environments. Subsequent studies have covered a broad range of topics, testing plants in indoor environments for their climate-mitigating effects, acoustic benefits, potential energy savings and the enhancement of the indoor microbial communities. Despite the diversity of focus in these studies, no major breakthroughs have been made involving the use of plants in indoor environments after nearly thirty years of research. To identify major inconsistencies and gaps in the research, this review, of an explorative nature, presents an analysis of plant-related parameters reported in 31 cases of experimental research involving the use of plants in indoor environments. The papers were identified by searching the online databases Google Scholar, ResearchGate, Scopus and MDPI and were selected based on their relevance to the top...

Cool roofs are an emerging technique with a recent growing interest worldwide. The aim of the present paper is to present the application of cool roofs’ technology in a laboratory building located in Iraklion, Crete, Greece. The building is monitored towards its energy performance and indoor environment before and after the implementation of the cool roof technology. The specific case study is intended as a shining example of the cool roof capabilities in improving the thermal conditions in non-air conditioned and in reducing the energy consumption in air conditioned buildings.► In this study the cool roofs performance is examined. ► Cool roofs are applied in a building at Iraklion, Crete, Greece. ► The energy efficiency on yearly basis is almost 20%. ► Cool roofs show better performance in terms of energy efficiency than roof insulation and windows replacement.

A rapid and facile TLC staining method is reported for the qualitative analysis of boronic acids and related boron-containing derivatives. A red colouration is observed when boron is present due to the formation of a boron-curcumin complex. The structure of the phenylboronic acid-curcumin complex was confirmed using single crystal X-ray diffraction data.

The climatic conditions of the tropical regions are characterized by high air temperatures, high relative humidity and very low wind speeds, which make the environmental conditions uncomfortable. A good dwelling design can keep the indoor environment favorable and comfortable during most of the year without the use of any mechanical devices. Depending on ambient conditions, natural ventilation may lead to

The warming climate, projected increase in frequency and severity of extreme heat events, and the long-established heat island phenomenon are all expected to exacerbate urban environmental thermal loading. Active means used for addressing such risks are likely to increase energy consumption and emission trends to create a positive feedback loop that could threaten the health and wellbeing of urban citizens. In response, passive approaches such as green infrastructure enhancements are widely advocated, and to meet the challenges of implementing enhancements in dense cities, attention has been directed toward encouraging surface greening. This paper recognises this trend and considers vertical greening as a developing interest with application opportunity in both exterior and interior urban environments. A review of available studies and interviews with experts found most observations available to be derived from exterior applications. Interior applications consequently have yet to be investigated to determine relative value to indoor environments where most of human habitation is typically concentrated. The integration of plant science studies in this regard is highlighted as essential to develop a balanced evidence base for the enthusiasm observed for promoting indoor living wall installations.