Energy
Evaluating the Efficacy of Cut-and-Paste Data Augmentation in Semantic Segmentation for Satellite Imagery
Motoi, Ionut M., Saraceni, Leonardo, Nardi, Daniele, Ciarfuglia, Thomas A.
Satellite imagery is crucial for tasks like environmental monitoring and urban planning. Typically, it relies on semantic segmentation or Land Use Land Cover (LULC) classification to categorize each pixel. Despite the advancements brought about by Deep Neural Networks (DNNs), their performance in segmentation tasks is hindered by challenges such as limited availability of labeled data, class imbalance and the inherent variability and complexity of satellite images. In order to mitigate those issues, our study explores the effectiveness of a Cut-and-Paste augmentation technique for semantic segmentation in satellite images. We adapt this augmentation, which usually requires labeled instances, to the case of semantic segmentation. By leveraging the connected components in the semantic segmentation labels, we extract instances that are then randomly pasted during training. Using the DynamicEarthNet dataset and a U-Net model for evaluation, we found that this augmentation significantly enhances the mIoU score on the test set from 37.9 to 44.1. This finding highlights the potential of the Cut-and-Paste augmentation to improve the generalization capabilities of semantic segmentation models in satellite imagery.
Stochastic Online Optimization for Cyber-Physical and Robotic Systems
Ma, Hao, Zeilinger, Melanie, Muehlebach, Michael
We propose a novel gradient-based online optimization framework for solving stochastic programming problems that frequently arise in the context of cyber-physical and robotic systems. Our problem formulation accommodates constraints that model the evolution of a cyber-physical system, which has, in general, a continuous state and action space, is nonlinear, and where the state is only partially observed. We also incorporate an approximate model of the dynamics as prior knowledge into the learning process and show that even rough estimates of the dynamics can significantly improve the convergence of our algorithms. Our online optimization framework encompasses both gradient descent and quasi-Newton methods, and we provide a unified convergence analysis of our algorithms in a non-convex setting. We also characterize the impact of modeling errors in the system dynamics on the convergence rate of the algorithms. Finally, we evaluate our algorithms in simulations of a flexible beam, a four-legged walking robot, and in real-world experiments with a ping-pong playing robot.
Inexact Simplification of Symbolic Regression Expressions with Locality-sensitive Hashing
Aldeia, Guilherme Seidyo Imai, de Franca, Fabricio Olivetti, La Cava, William G.
Symbolic regression (SR) searches for parametric models that accurately fit a dataset, prioritizing simplicity and interpretability. Despite this secondary objective, studies point out that the models are often overly complex due to redundant operations, introns, and bloat that arise during the iterative process, and can hinder the search with repeated exploration of bloated segments. Applying a fast heuristic algebraic simplification may not fully simplify the expression and exact methods can be infeasible depending on size or complexity of the expressions. We propose a novel agnostic simplification and bloat control for SR employing an efficient memoization with locality-sensitive hashing (LHS). The idea is that expressions and their sub-expressions traversed during the iterative simplification process are stored in a dictionary using LHS, enabling efficient retrieval of similar structures. We iterate through the expression, replacing subtrees with others of same hash if they result in a smaller expression. Empirical results shows that applying this simplification during evolution performs equal or better than without simplification in minimization of error, significantly reducing the number of nonlinear functions. This technique can learn simplification rules that work in general or for a specific problem, and improves convergence while reducing model complexity.
Resistive Memory-based Neural Differential Equation Solver for Score-based Diffusion Model
Yang, Jichang, Chen, Hegan, Chen, Jia, Wang, Songqi, Wang, Shaocong, Yu, Yifei, Chen, Xi, Wang, Bo, Zhang, Xinyuan, Cui, Binbin, Li, Yi, Lin, Ning, Xu, Meng, Li, Yi, Xu, Xiaoxin, Qi, Xiaojuan, Wang, Zhongrui, Zhang, Xumeng, Shang, Dashan, Wang, Han, Liu, Qi, Cheng, Kwang-Ting, Liu, Ming
Human brains image complicated scenes when reading a novel. Replicating this imagination is one of the ultimate goals of AI-Generated Content (AIGC). However, current AIGC methods, such as score-based diffusion, are still deficient in terms of rapidity and efficiency. This deficiency is rooted in the difference between the brain and digital computers. Digital computers have physically separated storage and processing units, resulting in frequent data transfers during iterative calculations, incurring large time and energy overheads. This issue is further intensified by the conversion of inherently continuous and analog generation dynamics, which can be formulated by neural differential equations, into discrete and digital operations. Inspired by the brain, we propose a time-continuous and analog in-memory neural differential equation solver for score-based diffusion, employing emerging resistive memory. The integration of storage and computation within resistive memory synapses surmount the von Neumann bottleneck, benefiting the generative speed and energy efficiency. The closed-loop feedback integrator is time-continuous, analog, and compact, physically implementing an infinite-depth neural network. Moreover, the software-hardware co-design is intrinsically robust to analog noise. We experimentally validate our solution with 180 nm resistive memory in-memory computing macros. Demonstrating equivalent generative quality to the software baseline, our system achieved remarkable enhancements in generative speed for both unconditional and conditional generation tasks, by factors of 64.8 and 156.5, respectively. Moreover, it accomplished reductions in energy consumption by factors of 5.2 and 4.1. Our approach heralds a new horizon for hardware solutions in edge computing for generative AI applications.
Forecasting Electric Vehicle Battery Output Voltage: A Predictive Modeling Approach
Darapaneni, Narayana, K, Ashish, S, Ullas M, Paduri, Anwesh Reddy
-- The battery management system plays a vital the battery operates within its designated voltage range, preventing role in ensuring the safety and dependability of electric and overcharging or undercharging scenarios. These extremes can be hybrid vehicles. It is responsible for various functions, including detrimental to the battery's health, causing irreversible damage and state evaluation, monitoring, charge control, and cell balancing, potentially reducing its lifespan. Nonetheless, due to the Furthermore, this predictive capability contributes to the overall uncertainties surrounding battery performance, implementing enhancement of the efficiency and effectiveness of the battery these functionalities poses significant challenges. By consistently monitoring and regulating the we explore the latest approaches for assessing battery states, charging voltage in line with anticipated requirements, the BMS can highlight notable advancements in battery management systems proactively manage the battery's state of charge (SOC) and state of (BMS), address existing issues with current BMS technology, health (SOH). This proactive management allows for optimal energy and put forth possible solutions for predicting battery charging utilization, as the BMS can adjust charging and discharging cycles voltage. In essence, the research emphasizes that accurate charging voltage Keywords -- Neural Networks, Battery Management System, prediction is a linchpin for achieving several critical objectives Battery, Temperature, State of Charge, Battery charging voltage, within the realm of EV battery management. It ensures battery Machine Learning, Charge Cycle.
Responsible Generative AI: What to Generate and What Not
In recent years, generative AI (GenAI), like large language models and text-to-image models, has received significant attention across various domains. However, ensuring the responsible generation of content by these models is crucial for their real-world applicability. This raises an interesting question: \textit{What should responsible GenAI generate, and what should it not?} To answer the question, this paper investigates the practical responsible requirements of both textual and visual generative models, outlining five key considerations: generating truthful content, avoiding toxic content, refusing harmful instruction, leaking no training data-related content, and ensuring generated content identifiable. Specifically, we review recent advancements and challenges in addressing these requirements. Besides, we discuss and emphasize the importance of responsible GenAI across healthcare, education, finance, and artificial general intelligence domains. Through a unified perspective on both textual and visual generative models, this paper aims to provide insights into practical safety-related issues and further benefit the community in building responsible GenAI.
GloSoFarID: Global multispectral dataset for Solar Farm IDentification in satellite imagery
Solar Photovoltaic (PV) technology is increasingly recognized as a pivotal solution in the global pursuit of clean and renewable energy. This technology addresses the urgent need for sustainable energy alternatives by converting solar power into electricity without greenhouse gas emissions. It not only curtails global carbon emissions but also reduces reliance on finite, non-renewable energy sources. In this context, monitoring solar panel farms becomes essential for understanding and facilitating the worldwide shift toward clean energy. This study contributes to this effort by developing the first comprehensive global dataset of multispectral satellite imagery of solar panel farms. This dataset is intended to form the basis for training robust machine learning models, which can accurately map and analyze the expansion and distribution of solar panel farms globally. The insights gained from this endeavor will be instrumental in guiding informed decision-making for a sustainable energy future. https://github.com/yzyly1992/GloSoFarID
Shared Autonomy via Variable Impedance Control and Virtual Potential Fields for Encoding Human Demonstration
Jadav, Shail, Heidersberger, Johannes, Ott, Christian, Lee, Dongheui
This article introduces a framework for complex human-robot collaboration tasks, such as the co-manufacturing of furniture. For these tasks, it is essential to encode tasks from human demonstration and reproduce these skills in a compliant and safe manner. Therefore, two key components are addressed in this work: motion generation and shared autonomy. We propose a motion generator based on a time-invariant potential field, capable of encoding wrench profiles, complex and closed-loop trajectories, and additionally incorporates obstacle avoidance. Additionally, the paper addresses shared autonomy (SA) which enables synergetic collaboration between human operators and robots by dynamically allocating authority. Variable impedance control (VIC) and force control are employed, where impedance and wrench are adapted based on the human-robot autonomy factor derived from interaction forces. System passivity is ensured by an energy-tank based task passivation strategy. The framework's efficacy is validated through simulations and an experimental study employing a Franka Emika Research 3 robot. More information can be found on the project website https://shailjadav.github.io/SALADS/
Russia says Ukraine attack hits Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant
Ukraine has struck the dome above a shutdown reactor at the Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia nuclear station, the plant's Russian-installed administration said. It was not immediately clear what weapon was used in Sunday's attack against the nuclear plant, which was taken by Russian forces shortly after their full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, although the Russian state-owned nuclear agency Rosatom said the site had come under a drone attack. Radiation levels were normal and there was no serious damage after the attack, according to the plant's officials. But Rosatom later said that three people had been wounded, specifically in a drone strike near the site's canteen. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which has experts at the site, said it had been informed by the Russian-run plant that a drone had detonated at the site and the information was "consistent" with IAEA observations.