block diagram
Robotic Multimodal Data Acquisition for In-Field Deep Learning Estimation of Cover Crop Biomass
Johnson, Joe, Chalasani, Phanender, Shah, Arnav, Ray, Ram L., Bagavathiannan, Muthukumar
Accurate weed management is essential for mitigating significant crop yield losses, necessitating effective weed suppression strategies in agricultural systems. Integrating cover crops (CC) offers multiple benefits, including soil erosion reduction, weed suppression, decreased nitrogen requirements, and enhanced carbon sequestration, all of which are closely tied to the aboveground biomass (AGB) they produce. However, biomass production varies significantly due to microsite variability, making accurate estimation and mapping essential for identifying zones of poor weed suppression and optimizing targeted management strategies. To address this challenge, developing a comprehensive CC map, including its AGB distribution, will enable informed decision-making regarding weed control methods and optimal application rates. Manual visual inspection is impractical and labor-intensive, especially given the extensive field size and the wide diversity and variation of weed species and sizes. In this context, optical imagery and Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) data are two prominent sources with unique characteristics that enhance AGB estimation. This study introduces a ground robot-mounted multimodal sensor system designed for agricultural field mapping. The system integrates optical and LiDAR data, leveraging machine learning (ML) methods for data fusion to improve biomass predictions. The best ML-based model for dry AGB estimation achieved a coefficient of determination value of 0.88, demonstrating robust performance in diverse field conditions. This approach offers valuable insights for site-specific management, enabling precise weed suppression strategies and promoting sustainable farming practices.
Role of Uncertainty in Model Development and Control Design for a Manufacturing Process
Li, Rongfei, Assadian, Francis
The use of robotic technology has drastically increased in manufacturing in the 21st century. But by utilizing their sensory cues, humans still outperform machines, especially in the micro scale manufacturing, which requires high-precision robot manipulators. These sensory cues naturally compensate for high level of uncertainties that exist in the manufacturing environment. Uncertainties in performing manufacturing tasks may come from measurement noise, model inaccuracy, joint compliance (e.g., elasticity) etc. Although advanced metrology sensors and high-precision microprocessors, which are utilized in nowadays robots, have compensated for many structural and dynamic errors in robot positioning, but a well-designed control algorithm still works as a comparable and cheaper alternative to reduce uncertainties in automated manufacturing. Our work illustrates that a multi-robot control system can reduce various uncertainties to a great amount.
Integrating Optimization Theory with Deep Learning for Wireless Network Design
Coleri, Sinem, Onalan, Aysun Gurur, di Renzo, Marco
Traditional wireless network design relies on optimization algorithms derived from domain-specific mathematical models, which are often inefficient and unsuitable for dynamic, real-time applications due to high complexity. Deep learning has emerged as a promising alternative to overcome complexity and adaptability concerns, but it faces challenges such as accuracy issues, delays, and limited interpretability due to its inherent black-box nature. This paper introduces a novel approach that integrates optimization theory with deep learning methodologies to address these issues. The methodology starts by constructing the block diagram of the optimization theory-based solution, identifying key building blocks corresponding to optimality conditions and iterative solutions. Selected building blocks are then replaced with deep neural networks, enhancing the adaptability and interpretability of the system. Extensive simulations show that this hybrid approach not only reduces runtime compared to optimization theory based approaches but also significantly improves accuracy and convergence rates, outperforming pure deep learning models.
LLMs for Coding and Robotics Education
Shu, Peng, Zhao, Huaqin, Jiang, Hanqi, Li, Yiwei, Xu, Shaochen, Pan, Yi, Wu, Zihao, Liu, Zhengliang, Lu, Guoyu, Guan, Le, Chen, Gong, Liu, Xianqiao Wang Tianming
Large language models and multimodal large language models have revolutionized artificial intelligence recently. An increasing number of regions are now embracing these advanced technologies. Within this context, robot coding education is garnering increasing attention. To teach young children how to code and compete in robot challenges, large language models are being utilized for robot code explanation, generation, and modification. In this paper, we highlight an important trend in robot coding education. We test several mainstream large language models on both traditional coding tasks and the more challenging task of robot code generation, which includes block diagrams. Our results show that GPT-4V outperforms other models in all of our tests but struggles with generating block diagram images.
An adaptive network-based approach for advanced forecasting of cryptocurrency values
This paper describes an architecture for predicting the price of cryptocurrencies for the next seven days using the Adaptive Network Based Fuzzy Inference System (ANFIS). Historical data of cryptocurrencies and indexes that are considered are Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), Bitcoin Dominance (BTC.D), and Ethereum Dominance (ETH.D) in The architectural performance designed in this paper has been compared with different inputs and neural network models in terms of statistical evaluation criteria. Finally, the proposed method can predict the price of digital currencies in a short time. NTRODUCTION Digital currency is a form of electronic money that operates on the internet and possesses most of the attributes of conventional money, except for its physical absence. A subset of digital currency is cryptocurrency, which is encrypted by specific algorithms. These cryptocurrencies often utilize blockchain technology to record transactions [1]. The main distinction between cryptocurrencies and other digital currencies is the level of security of the former.
Towards a Systems Theory of Algorithms
Dörfler, Florian, He, Zhiyu, Belgioioso, Giuseppe, Bolognani, Saverio, Lygeros, John, Muehlebach, Michael
Traditionally, numerical algorithms are seen as isolated pieces of code confined to an {\em in silico} existence. However, this perspective is not appropriate for many modern computational approaches in control, learning, or optimization, wherein {\em in vivo} algorithms interact with their environment. Examples of such {\em open} include various real-time optimization-based control strategies, reinforcement learning, decision-making architectures, online optimization, and many more. Further, even {\em closed} algorithms in learning or optimization are increasingly abstracted in block diagrams with interacting dynamic modules and pipelines. In this opinion paper, we state our vision on a to-be-cultivated {\em systems theory of algorithms} and argue in favour of viewing algorithms as open dynamical systems interacting with other algorithms, physical systems, humans, or databases. Remarkably, the manifold tools developed under the umbrella of systems theory also provide valuable insights into this burgeoning paradigm shift and its accompanying challenges in the algorithmic world. We survey various instances where the principles of algorithmic systems theory are being developed and outline pertinent modeling, analysis, and design challenges.
Analyzing ChatGPT's Aptitude in an Introductory Computer Engineering Course
Deshpande, Sanjay, Szefer, Jakub
ChatGPT has recently gathered attention from the general public and academia as a tool that is able to generate plausible and human-sounding text answers to various questions. One potential use, or abuse, of ChatGPT is in answering various questions or even generating whole essays and research papers in an academic or classroom setting. While recent works have explored the use of ChatGPT in the context of humanities, business school, or medical school, this work explores how ChatGPT performs in the context of an introductory computer engineering course. This work assesses ChatGPT's aptitude in answering quizzes, homework, exam, and laboratory questions in an introductory-level computer engineering course. This work finds that ChatGPT can do well on questions asking about generic concepts. However, predictably, as a text-only tool, it cannot handle questions with diagrams or figures, nor can it generate diagrams and figures. Further, also clearly, the tool cannot do hands-on lab experiments, breadboard assembly, etc., but can generate plausible answers to some laboratory manual questions. One of the key observations presented in this work is that the ChatGPT tool could not be used to pass all components of the course. Nevertheless, it does well on quizzes and short-answer questions. On the other hand, plausible, human-sounding answers could confuse students when generating incorrect but still plausible answers.
AI for Closed-Loop Control Systems -- New Opportunities for Modeling, Designing, and Tuning Control Systems
Schöning, Julius, Riechmann, Adrian, Pfisterer, Hans-Jürgen
Control Systems, particularly closed-loop control systems (CLCS), are frequently used in production machines, vehicles, and robots nowadays. CLCS are needed to actively align actual values of a process to a given reference or set values in real-time with a very high precession. Yet, artificial intelligence (AI) is not used to model, design, optimize, and tune CLCS. This paper will highlight potential AI-empowered and -based control system designs and designing procedures, gathering new opportunities and research direction in the field of control system engineering. Therefore, this paper illustrates which building blocks within the standard block diagram of CLCS can be replaced by AI, i.e., artificial neuronal networks (ANN). Having processes with real-time contains and functional safety in mind, it is discussed if AI-based controller blocks can cope with these demands. By concluding the paper, the pros and cons of AI-empowered as well as -based CLCS designs are discussed, and possible research directions for introducing AI in the domain of control system engineering are given.