This book presents the proceedings of the 30th International Conference on Robotics in Alpe-Adria-Danube Region, RAAD 2021, held in Poitiers, France, 21-23 June 2021. It gathers contributions by researchers from several countries on all major areas of robotic research, development and innovation, as well as new applications and current trends. The topics covered include: novel designs and applications of robotic systems, intelligent cooperating and service robots, advanced robot control, human-robot interfaces, robot vision systems, mobile robots, humanoid and walking robots, bio-inspired and swarm robotic systems, aerial, underwater and spatial robots, robots for ambient assisted living, medical robots and bionic prostheses, cognitive robots, cloud robotics, ethical and social issues in robotics, etc. Given its scope, the book offers a source of information and inspiration for researchers seeking to improve their work and gather new ideas for future developments.

This textbook provides a sound foundation in physical optics by covering key concepts in a rigorous but accessible manner. Propagation of electromagnetic waves is examined from multiple perspectives, with explanation of which viewpoints and methods are best suited to different situations. After an introduction to the theory of electromagnetism, reflection, refraction, and dispersion, topics such as geometrical optics, interference, diffraction, coherence, laser beams, polarization, crystallography, and anisotropy are closely examined. Optical elements, including lenses, mirrors, prisms, classical and Fabry-Perot interferometers, resonant cavities, multilayer dielectric structures, interference and spatial filters, diffraction gratings, polarizers, and birefringent plates, are treated in depth. The coverage also encompasses such seldom-covered topics as modeling of general astigmatism via 4x4 matrices, FFT-based numerical methods, and bianisotropy, with a relativistic treatment of optical activity and the Faraday and Fresnel-Fizeau effects. Finally, the history of optics is discussed.

To cope with the new running conditions in the ALICE experiment at the Large Hadron Collider at CERN, a new integrated circuit named SAMPA has been created that can process 32 analogue channels, convert them to digital, perform filtering and compression, and transmit the data on high speed links to the data acquisition system. The main purpose of this work is to specify, design, test and verify the digital signal processing part of the SAMPA device to accommodate the requirements of the detectors involved. Innovative solutions have been employed to reduce the bandwidth required by the detectors, as well as adaptations to ease data handling later in the processing chain. The new SAMPA device was built to replace two existing circuits, in addition to reducing the current consumption, and doubling the amount of processing channels. About 50000 of the devices will be installed in the Time Projection Chamber and Muon Chamber detectors in the ALICE experiment.

This book is a collection of the best research papers presented at the 8th International Conference on Innovations in Electronics and Communication Engineering at Guru Nanak Institutions Hyderabad, India. Featuring contributions by researchers, technocrats and experts, the book covers various areas of communication engineering, like signal processing, VLSI design, embedded systems, wireless communications, and electronics and communications in general, as well as cutting-edge technologies. As such, it is a valuable reference resource for young researchers.

The book covers a wide range of wireless communication and network technologies, and will help readers understand the role of wireless technologies in applications touching on various spheres of human life, e.g. healthcare, agriculture, building smart cities, forecasting and the manufacturing industry. The book begins by discussing advances in wireless communication, including emerging trends and research directions for network technologies. It also highlights the importance of and need to actively develop these technologies. In turn, the book addresses different algorithms and methodologies which could be beneficial in implementing 5G Mobile Communication, Vehicular Ad-hoc Networks (VANET), Reliable Cooperative Networks, Delay Tolerant Networks (DTN) and many more contexts related to advanced communications. It then addresses the prominence of wireless communication in connection with the Internet of Things (IoT), Mobile Opportunistic Networks and Cognitive Radio Networks (CRN). Lastly, it presents the new horizons in architecture and building protocols for Li-Fi (Light-Fidelity) and Wearable Sensor Technology.

This book gathers a set of works highlighting significant advances in the areas of music and sound. They report on innovative music technologies, acoustics, findings in musicology, new perspectives and techniques for composition, sound design and sound synthesis, and methods for music education and therapy. Further, they cover interesting topics at the intersection between music and computing, design and social sciences. Chapters are based on extended and revised versions of the best papers presented during the 6th and 7th editions of EIMAD-Meeting of Research in Music, Arts and Design, held in 2020 and 2021, respectively, at the School of Applied Arts in Castelo Branco, Portugal. All in all, this book provides music researchers, educators and professionals with authoritative information about new trends and techniques, and a source of inspiration for future research, practical developments, and for establishing collaboration between experts from different fields.

This book gathers high-quality papers presented at the International Conference on Smart Trends for Information Technology and Computer Communications (SmartCom 2019), organized by the Global Knowledge Research Foundation (GR Foundation) from 24 to 25 January 2019. It covers the state-of-the-art and emerging topics pertaining to information, computer communications, and effective strategies for their use in engineering and managerial applications. It also explores and discusses the latest technological advances in, and future directions for, information and knowledge computing and its applications.

This book comprises the peer-reviewed proceedings of the International Conference on Communications, Signal Processing and VLSI (IC2SV) 2019. It explores the recent advances in the fields of signal and image processing, wireless and mobile communications, embedded systems, VLSI, microwave, and antennas. The contents provide insights into present technological challenges and discusses the emerging applications of different imaging techniques and communications systems. Given the range of topics covered, this book can be useful for students as well as researchers interested in the area of communications, signal processing, and VLSI technologies.

The book is a compilation of best papers presented at International Conference on Recent Advancement in Computer and Communication (ICRAC 2017) organized by IMPLab Research and Innovation Foundation, Bhopal, India. The book covers all aspects of computers and communication techniques including pervasive computing, distributed computing, cloud computing, sensor and adhoc network, image, text and speech processing, pattern recognition and pattern analysis, digital signal processing, digital electronics, telecommunication technologies, robotics, VLSI technologies, embedded system, satellite communication, digital signal processing, and digital communication. The papers included are original research works of experts from industry, government centers and academic institutions; experienced in engineering, design and research.

This book presents novel research ideas and offers insights into radar system design, artificial intelligence and signal processing applications. Further, it proposes a new concept of antenna spatial polarization characteristics (SPC), suggesting that the antenna polarization is a function of the spatial direction and providing new ideas for radar signal processing (RSP) and anti-jamming. It also discusses the design of an advanced signal-processing algorithm, and proposes new polarimetric and anti-jamming methods using antenna inherent properties. The book helps readers discover the potential of radar information processing and improve its anti-interference and target identification ability. It is of interest to university researchers, radar engineers and graduate students in computer science and electronics who wish to learn the core principles, methods, algorithms, and applications of RSP.

This book provides a comprehensive review of all aspects relating to visual quality assessment for stereoscopic images, including statistical mathematics, stereo vision and deep learning. It covers the fundamentals of stereoscopic image quality assessment (SIQA), the relevant engineering problems and research significance, and also offers an overview of the significant advances in visual quality assessment for stereoscopic images, discussing and analyzing the current state-of-the-art in SIQA algorithms, the latest challenges and research directions as well as novel models and paradigms. In addition, a large number of vivid figures and formulas help readers gain a deeper understanding of the foundation and new applications of objective stereoscopic image quality assessment technologies. Reviewing the latest advances, challenges and trends in stereoscopic image quality assessment, this book is a valuable resource for researchers, engineers and graduate students working in related fields, including imaging, displaying and image processing, especially those interested in SIQA research.

This book presents selected papers from the Sixteenth International Conference on Intelligent Information Hiding and Multimedia Signal Processing, in conjunction with the Thirteenth International Conference on Frontiers of Information Technology, Applications and Tools, held on November 5-7, 2020, in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. It is divided into two volumes and discusses the latest research outcomes in the field of Information Technology (IT) including information hiding, multimedia signal processing, big data, data mining, bioinformatics, database, industrial and Internet of things, and their applications.

This thesis describes the design, development, characterisation and clinical translation of three novel devices for optical endoscopic imaging. Over the past decade, rapid innovation in optics and photonics has led to the availability of low-cost and high-performance optical technologies that can be exploited for biomedical applications, but relatively few have been translated into clinic. The work presented outlines for the first time, a comprehensive analysis of the common barriers and unique challenges associated with the translation of optical imaging techniques. To assist developers streamline translation of optical imaging devices in future, a roadmap to clinical translation is outlined, and key translational characteristics are defined. Guided by these, subsequent development of endoscopic devices resulted in preparation and approval of endoscopes for first in human trials in the oesophagus, for early detection of cancer, and in the brain, for delineation of tumour during surgical resection. The thesis culminates in the presentation of results from the first in human use of a compact multispectral endoscope for imaging endogenous tissue contrast in the oesophagus. With continuation of the work as outlined at the end of this thesis, the novel techniques described have the potential to improve the standard of care in their respective indications.

This book provides readers with an overview of the architectures, programming frameworks, and hardware accelerators for typical cloud computing applications in data centers. The authors present the most recent and promising solutions, using hardware accelerators to provide high throughput, reduced latency and higher energy efficiency compared to current servers based on commodity processors. Readers will benefit from state-of-the-art information regarding application requirements in contemporary data centers, computational complexity of typical tasks in cloud computing, and a programming framework for the efficient utilization of the hardware accelerators.

This book provides an overview of the most recent developments in Internet of Things (IoT) security and data protection. It presents the results of several international research projects addressing this topic from complementary angles. It starts by analyzing the main privacy and security threats on IoT, as well as the evolution of data protection norms, such as the European General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), and their impact on IoT. Through a comprehensive and systematic approach, the contributors present new perspectives on IoT & Cloud Computing security requirements. They discuss the most recent approach to support trusted IoT, including new models of privacy risk assessment, labeling and certification, and contractual tools (such as Privacy PACT). Practical implementations, such as in the European Large Scale Pilots on IoT for Smart Cities (Synchronicity), are presented, explaining how they address security, privacy and data protection. Finally, innovative models to secure IoT systems are presented for the network and end-nodes security, including network threats analysis.

This book comprises select proceedings of the International Conference on VLSI, Communication and Signal processing (VCAS 2018). It looks at latest research findings in VLSI design and applications. The book covers a wide range of topics in electronics and communication engineering, especially in the area of microelectronics and VLSI design, communication systems and networks, and image and signal processing. The contents of this book will be useful to researchers and professionals alike.

Technology has brought about the age of convenience, but at a hefty cost. As a result of a growing production demand on a global scale, adhesive bonding operations also generate a huge amount of hazardous waste. Adhesive bonding, an integral step in manufacturing across several sectors, is one of many culprits of the unprecedented overproduction and environmental burden of municipal, industrial, and hazardous waste. If a cleaner, greener bonding process is formulated, hazardous waste production can be reined in and the world can be safer. Using Lasers as Safe Alternatives for Adhesive Bonding: Emerging Research and Opportunities is a pivotal reference source that analyzes the new conditions for laser processing in the context of adhesive bonding. The book includes the results of experimental research, giving grounds to believe that laser technology has a future in the preparation of products for bonding. From this research, the book presents conclusions for eliminating poisonous chemicals, a threat to humans and the environment, and the burden of liquid and solid waste. It further outlines limitations and requirements imposed on people, such as the need to use personal protective equipment, to establish specific work procedures to ensure the safety of working with lasers, with a view to the future implementation of laser technology in manufacturing facilities. Featuring coverage of a wide range of topics including static strength, surface preparation, and beam impact, this book is ideally designed for engineers, policymakers, researchers, academicians, and students.

This book is an important outcome of the Fifth World Internet Conference. It provides a comprehensive account of the new trends and highlights of global Internet development over the past year, covering network infrastructure, information technology, digital economy, world internet media, cyber security, and international cyberspace governance. This year, the book improves the Global Internet Development Index System and adds more countries into the assessed list, in order to reflect more comprehensively, objectively and accurately the general situation of the world Internet development and thus to provide reference for all countries in promoting Internet development and governance.

The book presents innovative scientific research works by academics, research scholars and students, presented at the 2017 International Conference on Energy, Materials and Information Technology at Amity University Jharkhand, India. It includes contributions on system solutions based on soft computing techniques, and covers innovative soft computing techniques and tools with advanced applications. A major focus of the book is on presenting interdisciplinary problems and how they can be solved using information technology, together with innovative connections to other disciplines. It also includes papers on cloud computing and WSN-related real-time research.

The book describes recent progress of near-field optical science and technology. The title of the book implies capabilities of optical near-field not only for imaging/microscopy but also for fabrication/manipulation/processing in nanometric scale. The authors introduce the differences between near-field optics and far-field optics from both an experimental and theoretical perspective. The book touches on a wide range of topics in near-field optics, and can be used both by the novice and experienced researcher already familiar with the subject, to connect the experimental with the theoretical aspects of near-field optics.

This book focuses on the multidisciplinary state-of-the-art of full-duplex wireless communications and applications. Moreover, this book contributes with an overview of the fundamentals of full-duplex communications, and introduces the most recent advances in self-interference cancellation from antenna design to digital domain. Moreover, the reader will discover analytical and empirical models to deal with residual self-interference and to assess its effects in various scenarios and applications. Therefore, this is a highly informative and carefully presented book by the leading scientists in the area, providing a comprehensive overview of full-duplex technology from the perspective of various researchers, and research groups worldwide. This book is designed for researchers and professionals working in wireless communications and engineers willing to understand the challenges and solutions full-duplex communication so to implement a full-duplex system.

This book is an in-depth description on how to design digital filters. The presentation is geared for practicing engineers, using open source computational tools, while incorporating fundamental signal processing theory. The author includes theory as-needed, with an emphasis on translating to practical application. The book describes tools in detail that can be used for filter design, along with the steps needed to automate the entire process. Breaks down signal processing theory into simple, understandable language for practicing engineers; Provides readers with a highly-practical introduction to digital filter design; Uses open source computational tools, while incorporating fundamental signal processing theory; Describes examples of digital systems in engineering and a description of how they are implemented in practice; Includes case studies where filter design is described in depth from inception to final implementation.

Recent rapid advances in femtosecond technology have had a great impact on their industrial applications such as: ultrafast optoelectronic devices and optical telecommunication systems, ultrashort-pulse lasers and measurement systems, and the development of novel materials for ultrafast functions. In this book, a wealth of knowledge covering requirements in applications details of recent achievements in important technical areas is presented by world-prominent authors in a concise, systematic form. As a whole, this is the first comprehensive book on the emerging field of femtosecond technology.

This book focuses on non-GNSS positioning systems and approaches. Although it addresses both theoretical and practical aspects, the primary focus is on engineering practice. This is achieved by providing in-depth studies on a number of major topics such as tracking system architecture, link budget, system design, implementation, testing, and performance evaluation. It studies four positioning application cases in detail: covert vehicle tracking, horse racing, rowing, and tracking for field sports. Its comprehensive and systematic treatment of practical issues in wireless positioning makes the book particularly suitable for readers who are interested in learning about practical wireless positioning solutions. It will also benefit researchers, engineers and graduate students in fields such as positioning and navigation, geospatial engineering and telecommunications.

This thesis presents experimental research on the interaction between the optical field and the mechanical oscillator in whispering-gallery mode microcavities. It demonstrates how optomechanical interactions in a microresonator can be used to achieve non-magnetic non-reciprocity and develop all-optically controlled non-reciprocal multifunctional photonic devices. The thesis also discusses the interaction between the travelling optical and mechanical whispering-gallery modes, paving the way for non-reciprocal light storage as a coherent, circulating acoustic wave with a lifetime of up to tens of microseconds. Lastly, the thesis presents a high-frequency phase-sensitive heterodyne vibrometer, operating up to 10 GHz, which can be used for the high-resolution, non-invasive mapping of the vibration patterns of acoustic devices. The results presented here show that optomechanical devices hold great potential in the field of information processing.