VIDET is a research project active at the University of Bologna and aimed at the development of a mobility aid for the visually impaired. VIDET’s approach consists in the conversion of depth data gathered through a stereo-vision system into a 3D model perceivable by the user by means of a wire-actuated haptic interface. In this paper we describe VIDET’s real-time stereo-vision system, implement...

In this paper the design of a biped robot actuated with Shape Memory Alloy (SMA) springs with minimum degrees of freedom is presented. SMA springs are a class of smart materials that are known for their high power to mass and volume ratios. It was shown that utilizing spring type of SMAs have many advantages as large deformation, smooth motion, silent and clean movement compared to ordinary typ...

For years, traffic engineers have used traffic simulation software to develop, model, and test signal timing plans. However, before timing plans can be implemented in the field, they must be fine-tuned in an actual traffic controller operating under actual intersection conditions. Testing a signal timing plan in the field can cause minor or even major traffic disruption, creating delay and frus...

The operational and safety performance of intersections is the key to ensuring efficient operation urban traffic. With development automated driving technologies, ability adaptive traffic signal control has been improved according data detected by connected vehicles (CAVs). In this paper, an was proposed optimize intersection. algorithm based on Q-learning considers loop detectors CAVs. Further...

How to sustainably conduct intersection operations is a key issue of the current research. For an actuated control intersection, queued vehicles, parameters, and phase schemes all affect operation effect. This paper discusses vehicles at intersections their influence on signal timing. First, this establishes improved traffic wave model proposes vehicle queuing basis. Second, by analyzing disper...

this study aims to better understand the effect of practice schedule and feedback providing types. in two separate experiments the contextual interference effect in bandwidth and self-control feedback conditions on relative and absolute timing learning was examined. in experiment i, the effect of contextual interference using bandwidth and self-control feedback on absolute timing learning (para...

in this paper the design of a biped robot actuated with shape memory alloy (sma) springs with minimum degrees of freedom is presented. sma springs are a class of smart materials that are known for their high power to mass and volume ratios. it was shown that utilizing spring type of smas have many advantages as large deformation, smooth motion, silent and clean movement compared to ordinary typ...

In conventional internal combustion (IC) engines, engine valve displacements are fixed relative to crankshaft position. If these valves are actuated as a variable function of crankshaft angle, significant improvements in fuel economy can be achieved. Existing electromagnetically actuated variable-valve-timing (VVT) systems characteristically use springs to provide the large inertial power to mo...

The current procedure in the Highway Capacity Manual 2000 for analyzing actuated signalized intersections treats pedestrian crossing and timing in a fixed manner, which can lead to erroneous results in capacity and delay calculations. This paper introduces a new model that remedies such a shortcoming in the current procedure. The model takes into account the stochastic nature of pedestrian cros...

Computation of muscle excitation patterns that produce coordinated movements of muscle-actuated dynamic models is an important and challenging problem. Using dynamic optimization to compute excitation patterns comes at a large computational cost, which has limited the use of muscle-actuated simulations. This paper introduces a new algorithm, which we call computed muscle control, that uses stat...