Noise-induced escape from a metastable state of a dynamical system is studied close to a saddle-node bifurcation point, but in the region where the system remains underdamped. The activation energy of escape scales as a power of the distance to the bifurcation point. We find two types of scaling and the corresponding critical exponents.

The objective of this study is to develop an intelligent action algorithm for virtual human agents on three-dimensional large terrains to accomplish a specified mission by group communication and coordination. The area contains natural and build-in entities such as trees, rocks, rivers, roads, houses, bridges, etc. Our platoons that are represented by virtual human agents enter a specific area ...

The random midpoint displacement method is a widely applied algorithm used for terrain simulation. This paper first reviews the underlying theory and the algorithm of the random midpoint displacement method and then analyzes the characteristics of the simulated terrain. An implementation is developed for the successive random addition midpoint displacement method using the programming language ...

introduction: the cholinergic system plays an important role in learning and memory. administration of either extracts of crocus sativus (saffron) or its constituent, crocin, reduced ethanol-induced memory impairment. based on the above findings, we investigated the effect of crocin in antagonizing spatial learning and memory impairment induced by scopolamine, a cholinergic receptor antagonist,...

This study explores the concept of evolving game terrains through intermediation of living biological organisms and presents a proof of concept realization thereof. We explore how fungal and bacterial cultures can be used to generate an evolving game terrain in real-time. By visually capturing growing cultures inside a Petri-dish, heightmaps are generated that form the basis of naturally evolvi...

Fractal terrains provide an easy way to generate realistic landscapes. There are several methods to generate fractal terrains, but none of those algorithms allow the user much flexibility in controlling the shape or properties of the final outcome. A few methods to modify fractal terrains have been previously proposed, both algorithm-based as well as by hand editing, but none of these provide a...

In recent years, the scientific community has had an increased interest in exploring the asteroids of the solar system (JAXA/ISAS, 2003; JHU/APL, 1996; NASA/JPL, 2007). Technological advances have enabled mankind for the first time to take a closer look at these small solar system objects through sensors and instruments of robotic deep space probes. However, most of these space probe missions h...

Terrains are the main part of an electronic game. To reduce human effort on game development, procedural techniques are used to generate synthetic terrains. However rendering a terrain is not a trivial task. Their rendering techniques must be optimal for gaming. Specially planetary terrains, which must account for precision and scale conversion. Multi-resolution models are best fit to planetary...

Most locomotion control strategies are developed for flat terrain. We explore the use of reinforcement learning to develop motor skills for the highly dynamic traversal of terrains having sequences of gaps, walls, and steps. Results are demonstrated using simulations of a 21-link planar dog and a 7-link planar biped. Our approach is characterized by: non-parametric representation of the value f...