Ascending or descending locomotion involves a change in potential energy (PE) and a corresponding change in power requirement. We sought to test whether the mechanical power required for steady ascending or descending flight is a simple sum of the power required for level flight and the power necessary for potential energy change. Pigeons (Columba livia) were trained to fly at varying angles of...

Visually impaired has limited movement using the classic white cane. Currently, there are many designs for devices that can assist the blind moves better in unfamiliar environment. Then, controllers were applied in the devices’ system so that it can improve the system’s efficiency and accuracy in dealing with real-time situations. That’s when the intelligent system was introduced in the field t...

To design an automatic steering controller with high performance for autonomous vehicle, it is necessary to have a precise model of the lateral dynamics with respect to the steering command input. This paper presents an empirical modeling of the steering system for an autonomous vehicle. The steering system here is represented by three individual transfer function models: a steering wheel actua...

[Abstract] Motivated by long-endurance requirements in surveillance, reconnaissance and exploration, this paper considers level flight path planning for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) equipped with solar cells on the upper surface of the wings. These solar cells collect energy that is stored in a battery and used to drive a propeller. The mission of the UAV is to travel from a given initial po...

This paper proposes a method for the design of a dynamic path planner which utilizes fuzzy logic for navigation of mobile robots in uncertain environments. The method consists in identifying a dynamical system, with a fuzzy logic controller structure, from the examples generated by an \expert". The generator of examples will be a search algorithm on a known map of the working environment, that ...

This paper studies the target tracking control strategy of a snake robot and proposes an adaptive sliding mode method. The ensures follows path by controlling joint angle through feedback, pushing to reach position gait function. In order achieve tracking, kinematic model was first established in this paper. Then, we used double-sine serpentine solve problem low steering efficiency caused regul...

Active Front Steering system (AFS) provides an electronically controlled superposition of an angle to the steering wheel angle. This additional degree of freedom enables a continuous and driving-situation dependent on adaptation of the steering characteristics. In an active steering system, there needs be no fixed relationship between the steering wheel and the angle of the road wheels. Not onl...

An analysis and experimental evidence are presented that the visual control of steering in following a straight demarcated path is possible even when information about the direction of one's travel (course) is not available. Two likely sources of optical information available to observers are considered, bearing and splay, that might be used for steering under these conditions. In an experiment...

Unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) are important assets for accessing high risk airspace and incorporate technologies for sensor coordination, onboard processing, tele-communication, unconventional flight control, and ground based monitoring and optimization. These capabilities permit adaptive mission management in the face of complex requirements and chaotic external influences. NASA Ames Researc...

A novel basis for beam steering with electrowetting microprisms (EMPs) is reported. EMPs utilize electrowetting modulation of liquid contact angle in order to mimic the refractive behavior for various classical prism geometries. Continuous beam steering through an angle of 14 degrees (+/-7 degrees ) has been demonstrated with a liquid index of n=1.359. Experimental results are well-matched to t...