With classical techniques for data transmission soon reaching their limitations, cognitive approaches may offer a solution to user requirements for better coverage, connectivity, security, and energy efficiency at lower cost. Wireless Sensor Networks: A Cognitive Perspective presents a unified view of the state of the art of cognitive approaches in telecommunications. A benchmark in the field, it brings together research that has previously been scattered throughout conference and journal papers. Cutting-Edge Topics in Cognitive Communications After a review of the cognitive concept and approaches, the book outlines a generic architecture for cognition in wireless sensor networks. It then targets specific issues that need to be addressed through cognition, from cognitive radio and spectrum access to routing protocols. The book also explores how to use weighted cognitive maps to improve network lifetime through optimizing routing, medium access, and power control while fulfilling end-to-end goals. The final chapter discusses the implementation of hardware for GPS/INS-enabled wireless sensor networks. This addresses an important need for real-time node position information in many wireless sensor network applications and communication protocols. Real-World Applications of Wireless Sensor Networks using the Cognitive Concept Written in a tutorial style, the book supplies an in-depth survey of each topic, accompanied by detailed descriptions of the algorithms and protocols. It also provides a step-by-step analysis of the various communications systems through extensive computer simulations and illustrations. Examples cover environmental monitoring, vehicular communications, tracking, and more. A comprehensive overview of cognitive communications in wireless sensor networks, this work lays the foundations for readers to participate in a new era of research in this emerging field.

Most traditional power systems textbooks focus on high-voltage transmission. However, the majority of power engineers work in urban factories, buildings, or industries where power comes from utility companies or is self-generated. Introduction to Electrical Power and Power Electronics is the first book of its kind to cover the entire scope of electrical power and power electronics systems in one volume-with a focus on topics that are directly relevant in power engineers' daily work. Learn How Electrical Power Is Generated, Distributed, and Utilized Composed of 17 chapters, the book is organized into two parts. The first part introduces aspects of electrical power that most power engineers are involved in during their careers, including the distribution of power to load equipment such as motors via step-down transformers, cables, circuit breakers, relays, and fuses. For engineers working with standalone power plants, it also tackles generators. The book discusses how to design and operate systems for economic use of power and covers the use of batteries in greater depth than typically found in traditional power system texts. Understand How Power Electronics Work in Modern Systems The second part delves into power electronics switches, as well as the DC-DC converters, AC-DC-AC converters, and frequency converters used in variable-frequency motor drives. It also discusses quality-of-power issues in modern power systems with many large power electronics loads. A chapter on power converter cooling presents important interdisciplinary design topics. Draw on the Author's Extensive Industry and Teaching Experience This timely book draws on the author's 30 years of work experience at General Electric, Lockheed Martin, and Westinghouse Electric and 15 years of teaching electrical power at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy. Designed for a one-semester or two-quarter course in electrical power and power electronics, it is also ideal for a refresher course or as a one-stop reference for industry professionals.

Because prevailing atmospheric/troposcopic conditions greatly influence radio wave propagation above 10 GHz, the unguided propagation of microwaves in the neutral atmosphere can directly impact many vital applications in science and engineering. These include transmission of intelligence, and radar and radiometric applications used to probe the atmosphere, among others. Where most books address either one or the other, Microwave Propagation and Remote Sensing: Atmospheric Influences with Models and Applications melds coverage of these two subjects to help readers develop solutions to the problems they present. This reference offers a brief, elementary account of microwave propagation through the atmosphere and discusses radiometric applications in the microwave band used to characterize and model atmospheric constituents, which is also known as remote sensing. Summarizing the latest research results in the field, as well as radiometric models and measurement methods, this book covers topics including: Free space propagation Reflection, interference, polarization, and other key aspects of electromagnetic wave propagation Radio refraction and its effects on propagation delay Methodology of estimating water vapor attenuation using radiosonde data Knowledge of rain structures and use of climatological patterns to estimate/measure attenuation of rain, snow, fog, and other prevalent atmospheric particles and human-made substances Dual/multifrequency methodology to deal with the influence of clouds on radiometric attenuation Deployment of microwaves to ascertain various tropospheric conditions Composition and characteristics of the troposphere, to help readers fully understand microwave propagation Derived parameters of water, free space propagation, and conditions and variable constituents such as water vapor and vapor pressure, density, and ray bending

Graphene, Carbon Nanotubes, and Nanostructures: Techniques and Applications offers a comprehensive review of groundbreaking research in nanofabrication technology and explores myriad applications that this technology has enabled. The book examines the historical evolution and emerging trends of nanofabrication and supplies an analytical understanding of some of the most important underlying nanofabrication technologies, with an emphasis on graphene, carbon nanotubes (CNTs), and nanowires. Featuring contributions by experts from academia and industry around the world, this book presents cutting-edge nanofabrication research in a wide range of areas. Topics include: CNT electrodynamics and signal propagation models Electronic structure calculations of a graphene-hexagonal boron nitride interface to aid the understanding of experimental devices based on these heterostructures How a laser field would modify the electronic structure and transport response of graphene, to generate bandgaps The fabrication of transparent CNT electrodes for organic light-emitting diodes Direct graphene growth on dielectric substrates, and potential applications in electronic and spintronic devices CNTs as a promising candidate for next-generation interconnect conductors CMOS-CNT integration approaches, including the promising localized heating CNT synthesis method CNTs in electrochemical and optical biosensors The synthesis of diamondoids by pulsed laser ablation plasmas generated in supercritical fluids, and possible applications The use of DNA nanostructures in lithography CMOS-compatible silicon nanowire biosensors The use of titanium oxide-B nanowires to detect explosive vapors The properties of protective layers on silver nanoparticles for ink-jet printing Nanostructured thin-film production using microreactors A one-stop reference for professionals, researchers, and graduate students working in nanofabrication, this book will also be useful for investors who want an overview of the current nanofabrication landscape.

Microsystems technologies have found their way into an impressive variety of applications, from mobile phones, computers, and displays to smart grids, electric cars, and space shuttles. This multidisciplinary field of research extends the current capabilities of standard integrated circuits in terms of materials and designs and complements them by creating innovative components and smaller systems that require lower power consumption and display better performance. Novel Advances in Microsystems Technologies and their Applications delves into the state of the art and the applications of microsystems and microelectronics-related technologies. Featuring contributions by academic and industrial researchers from around the world, this book: Examines organic and flexible electronics, from polymer solar cell to flexible interconnects for the co-integration of micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) with complementary metal oxide semiconductors (CMOS) Discusses imaging and display technologies, including MEMS technology in reflective displays, the fabrication of thin-film transistors on glass substrates, and new techniques to display and quickly transmit high-quality images Explores sensor technologies for sensing electrical currents and temperature, monitoring structural health and critical industrial processes, and more Covers biomedical microsystems, including biosensors, point-of-care devices, neural stimulation and recording, and ultra-low-power biomedical systems Written for researchers, engineers, and graduate students in electrical and biomedical engineering, this book reviews groundbreaking technology, trends, and applications in microelectronics. Its coverage of the latest research serves as a source of inspiration for anyone interested in further developing microsystems technologies and creating new applications.

High-speed, power-efficient analog integrated circuits can be used as standalone devices or to interface modern digital signal processors and micro-controllers in various applications, including multimedia, communication, instrumentation, and control systems. New architectures and low device geometry of complementary metaloxidesemiconductor (CMOS) technologies have accelerated the movement toward system on a chip design, which merges analog circuits with digital, and radio-frequency components. CMOS: Analog Integrated Circuits: High-Speed and Power-Efficient Design describes the important trends in designing these analog circuits and provides a complete, in-depth examination of design techniques and circuit architectures, emphasizing practical aspects of integrated circuit implementation. Focusing on designing and verifying analog integrated circuits, the author reviews design techniques for more complex components such as amplifiers, comparators, and multipliers. The book details all aspects, from specification to the final chip, of the development and implementation process of filters, analog-to-digital converters (ADCs), digital-to-analog converters (DACs), phase-locked loops (PLLs), and delay-locked loops (DLLs). It also describes different equivalent transistor models, design and fabrication considerations for high-density integrated circuits in deep-submicrometer process, circuit structures for the design of current mirrors and voltage references, topologies of suitable amplifiers, continuous-time and switched-capacitor circuits, modulator architectures, and approaches to improve linearity of Nyquist converters. The text addresses the architectures and performance limitation issues affecting circuit operation and provides conceptual and practical solutions to problems that can arise in the design process. This reference provides balanced coverage of theoretical and practical issues that will allow the reader to design CMOS analog integrated circuits with improved electrical performance. The chapters contain easy-to-follow mathematical derivations of all equations and formulas, graphical plots, and open-ended design problems to help determine most suitable architecture for a given set of performance specifications. This comprehensive and illustrative text for the design and analysis of CMOS analog integrated circuits serves as a valuable resource for analog circuit designers and graduate students in electrical engineering.

Geotechnical instrumentation is used for installation, monitoring and assessment on any sizeable project, particularly in urban areas, and is used for recording, controlled remedial work, and safety. This unique and up-to-date book deals with the conceptual philosophy behind the use of instruments, and then systematically covers their practical use. It is divided into displacement dominated systems and stress recording systems. The limitations are discussed and the theoretical background for data assessment and presentation are covered in some detail, with some relevant background material in theoretical soil mechanics. Relevant advanced electronic techniques such as laser scanning in surveying and fibre-optics are also included and communication and data recovery systems are discussed. This book is written for senior designers, consulting engineers, and major contractors who need a major introduction to the general purpose, availability, and analysis of field instruments before details of their own project can be progressed, and it serves as a textbook to any specialist geotechnical MSc or professional seminar course in which instrumentation forms a major part.

Focusses on important perspectives of the Internet of Drones (IoD) Emphasizes drone deployment in smart cities, smart agriculture, smart healthcare, and 3D mapping Covers challenges in drone design for applications with security and privacy issues Reviews diversified drone applications with real-use cases from modern drone players ranging from startup companies to big giants in the drone industry Includes different aspects of drone design such as hardware and software architecture, potential applications, and opportunities

Linear Systems: Non-Fragile Control and Filtering presents the latest research results and a systematic approach to designing non-fragile controllers and filters for linear systems. The authors combine the algebraic Riccati technique, the linear matrix inequality (LMI) technique, and the sensitivity analysis method to establish a set of new non-fragile (insensitive) control methods. This proposed method can optimize the closed-loop system performance and make the designed controllers or filters tolerant of coefficient variations in controller or filter gain matrices. A Systematic Approach to Designing Non-Fragile Controllers and Filters for Linear Systems The text begins with developments and main research methods in non-fragile control. It then systematically presents novel methods for non-fragile control and filtering of linear systems with respect to additive/multiplicative controller/filter gain uncertainties. The book introduces the algebraic Riccati equation technique to solve additive/multiplicative norm-bounded controller/filter gain uncertainty, and proposes a structured vertex separator to deal with the numerical problem resulting from interval-bounded coefficient variations. It also explains how to design insensitive controllers and filters in the framework of coefficient sensitivity theory. Throughout, the book includes numerical examples to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed design methods. More Effective Design Methods for Non-Fragile Controllers and Filters The design and analysis tools described will help readers to better understand and analyze parameter uncertainties and to design more effective non-fragile controllers and filters. Providing a coherent approach, this book is a valuable reference for researchers, graduate students, and anyone who wants to explore the area of non-fragile control and filtering.

Metallic Spintronic Devices provides a balanced view of the present state of the art of metallic spintronic devices, addressing both mainstream and emerging applications from magnetic tunneling junction sensors and spin torque oscillators to spin torque memory and logic. Featuring contributions from well-known and respected industrial and academic experts, this cutting-edge work not only presents the latest research and developments but also: Describes spintronic applications in current and future magnetic recording devices Discusses spin-transfer torque magnetoresistive random-access memory (STT-MRAM) device architectures and modeling Explores prospects of STT-MRAM scaling, such as detailed multilevel cell structure analysis Investigates spintronic device write and read optimization in light of spintronic memristive effects Considers spintronic research directions based on yttrium iron garnet thin films, including spin pumping, magnetic proximity, spin hall, and spin Seebeck effects Proposes unique solutions for low-power spintronic device applications where memory is closely integrated with logic Metallic Spintronic Devices aims to equip anyone who is serious about metallic spintronic devices with up-to-date design, modeling, and processing knowledge. It can be used either by an expert in the field or a graduate student in course curriculum.

Going beyond the traditional field of robotics to include other mobile vehicles, Mobile Intelligent Autonomous Systems describes important theoretical concepts, techniques, approaches, and applications that can be used to build truly mobile intelligent autonomous systems (MIAS). It offers a comprehensive treatment of robotics and MIAS, as well as related disciplines, helping readers understand the subject from a system-theoretic and practical point of view. Organized into three sections, the book progresses from conceptual foundations to MIAS and robotics systems and then examines allied technologies. With an emphasis on recent research and developments, experts from various fields cover key aspects of this rapidly emerging area, including: Path and motion planning Obstacle avoidance in a dynamic environment Direct biological-brain control of a mobile robot Sensor and image data fusion Autonomous decision making and behavior modeling in robots Hydro-MiNa robot technology Adaptive algorithms for smart antennas Control methods for autonomous micro-air vehicles Neuro-fuzzy fault-tolerant auto-landing for aircraft H-infinity filter based estimation for simultaneous localization and mapping Where relevant, concepts and theories are illustrated with block/flow diagrams and numerical simulations in MATLAB (R). An integrated exploration of the theory and practice of MIAS and robotics, this is a valuable reference and recipe book for research and industry.

As multimedia applications have become part of contemporary daily life, numerous paradigm-shifting technologies in multimedia processing have emerged over the last decade. Substantially updated with 21 new chapters, Multimedia Image and Video Processing, Second Edition explores the most recent advances in multimedia research and applications. This edition presents a comprehensive treatment of multimedia information mining, security, systems, coding, search, hardware, and communications as well as multimodal information fusion and interaction. Clearly divided into seven parts, the book begins with a section on standards, fundamental methods, design issues, and typical architectures. It then focuses on the coding of video and multimedia content before covering multimedia search, retrieval, and management. After examining multimedia security, the book describes multimedia communications and networking and explains the architecture design and implementation for multimedia image and video processing. It concludes with a section on multimedia systems and applications. Written by some of the most prominent experts in the field, this updated edition provides readers with the latest research in multimedia processing and equips them with advanced techniques for the design of multimedia systems.

Nanoelectronic Device Applications Handbook gives a comprehensive snapshot of the state of the art in nanodevices for nanoelectronics applications. Combining breadth and depth, the book includes 68 chapters on topics that range from nano-scaled complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) devices through recent developments in nano capacitors and AlGaAs/GaAs devices. The contributors are world-renowned experts from academia and industry from around the globe. The handbook explores current research into potentially disruptive technologies for a post-CMOS world. These include: Nanoscale advances in current MOSFET/CMOS technology Nano capacitors for applications such as electronics packaging and humidity sensors Single electron transistors and other electron tunneling devices Quantum cellular automata and nanomagnetic logic Memristors as switching devices and for memory Graphene preparation, properties, and devices Carbon nanotubes (CNTs), both single CNT and random network Other CNT applications such as terahertz, sensors, interconnects, and capacitors Nano system architectures for reliability Nanowire device fabrication and applications Nanowire transistors Nanodevices for spintronics The book closes with a call for a new generation of simulation tools to handle nanoscale mechanisms in realistic nanodevice geometries. This timely handbook offers a wealth of insights into the application of nanoelectronics. It is an invaluable reference and source of ideas for anyone working in the rapidly expanding field of nanoelectronics.

Wireless video communications encompass a broad range of issues and opportunities that serve as the catalyst for technical innovations. To disseminate the most recent advances in this challenging yet exciting field, Advanced Video Communications over Wireless Networks provides an in-depth look at the fundamentals, recent technical achievements, challenges, and emerging trends in mobile and wireless video communications. The editors have carefully selected a panel of researchers with expertise in diverse aspects of wireless video communication to cover a wide spectrum of topics, including the underlying theoretical fundamentals associated with wireless video communications, the transmission schemes tailored to mobile and wireless networks, quality metrics, the architectures of practical systems, as well as some novel directions. They address future directions, including Quality-of-Experience in wireless video communications, video communications over future networks, and 3D video communications. The book presents a collection of tutorials, surveys, and original contributions, providing an up-to-date, accessible reference for further development of research and applications in mobile and wireless video communication systems. The range of coverage and depth of expertise make this book the go-to resource for facing current and future challenges in this field.

Going "green" is becoming a major component of the mission for electronics manufacturers worldwide. While this goal seems simplistic, it poses daunting dilemmas. Yet, to compete effectively in the global economy, manufacturers must take the initiative to drive this crucial movement. Green Electronics Manufacturing: Creating Environmental Sensible Products provides you with a complete reference to design, develop, build, and install an electronic product with special consideration for the product's environmental impacts during its whole life cycle. The author discusses how to integrate the state-of-the-art technologies of finite element method (FEM) modeling, simulation, and testing to create environmental sensible products of satisfying global environmental regulations, such as Restriction of Hazardous Substances (ROHS) compliance. He covers enabling techniques such as advanced fatigue life modeling, crack propagation analysis, and probabilistic robust design of lead-free electronics. The book also explores how risk engineering methodology empowers practitioners with effective tools such as buckling analysis of tin whiskers. With its emphasis on reducing parts, rationing materials, and reusing components to make products more efficient to build, green electronics intertwines today's electronics with manufacturing strategies of global sourcing, concurrent engineering, and total quality. Implemented through product and process design, it can help you achieve sustainability to support future generations and at the same time preserve our natural resources. Green Electronics Manufacturing: Creating Environmental Sensible Products gives you the tools to create environmental sensible products while maintaining electronics quality and reliability.

A Totally Different Outlook on Power Electronic System Analysis Power Electronic Systems: Walsh Analysis with MATLAB (R) builds a case for Walsh analysis as a powerful tool in the study of power electronic systems. It considers the application of Walsh functions in analyzing power electronic systems, and the advantages offered by Walsh domain analysis of power electronic systems. Solves Power Electronic Systems in an Unconventional Way This book successfully integrates power electronics as well as systems and control. Incorporating a complete orthonormal function set very much unlike the sine-cosine functions, it introduces a blending between piecewise constant orthogonal functions and power electronic systems. It explores the background and evolution of power electronics, and discusses Walsh and related orthogonal basis functions. It develops the mathematical foundation of Walsh analysis, and first- and second-order system analyses by Walsh technique. It also describes the Walsh domain operational method and how it is applied to linear system analysis. Introduces Theories Step by Step While presenting the underlying principles of Walsh analysis, the authors incorporate many illustrative examples, and include a basic introduction to linear algebra and MATLAB (R) programs. They also examine different orthogonal piecewise constant basis functions like Haar, Walsh, slant, block pulse functions, and other related orthogonal functions along with their time scale evolution. * Analyzes pulse-fed single input single output (SISO) first- and second-order systems * Considers stepwise and continuously pulse width modulated chopper systems * Describes a detailed analysis of controlled rectifier circuits * Addresses inverter circuits Power Electronic Systems: Walsh Analysis with MATLAB (R) is written for postgraduate students, researchers, and academicians in the area of power electronics as well as systems and control.

After the 2010 Nobel Prize in Physics was awarded to Andre Geim and Konstantin Novoselov "for groundbreaking experiments regarding the two-dimensional material graphene," even more research and development efforts have been focused on two-dimensional nanostructures. Illustrating the importance of this area in future applications, Two-Dimensional Nanostructures covers the fabrication methods and properties of these materials. The authors begin with discussions on the properties, size effect, applications, classification groups, and growth of nanostructures. They then describe various characterization and fabrication methods, such as spectrometry, low-energy electron diffraction, physical and chemical vapor deposition, and molecular beam epitaxy. The remainder of the text focuses on mechanical, chemical, and physical properties and fabrication methods, including a new mechanical method for fabricating graphene layers and a model for relating the features and structures of nanostructured thin films. With companies already demonstrating the capabilities of graphene in a flexible touch-screen and a 150 GHz transistor, nanostructures are on their way to replacing silicon as the materials of choice in electronics and other areas. This book aids you in understanding the current chemical, mechanical, and physical processes for producing these "miracle materials."

Advanced concepts for wireless communications offer a vision of technology that is embedded in our surroundings and practically invisible, but present whenever required. Although the use of deep submicron CMOS processes allows for an unprecedented degree of scaling in digital circuitry, it complicates the implementation and integration of traditional RF circuits. The requirement for long operating life under limited energy supply also poses severe design constraints, particularly in critical applications in commerce, healthcare, and security. These challenges call for innovative design solutions at the circuit and system levels. Low Power Emerging Wireless Technologies addresses the crucial scientific and technological challenges for the realization of fully integrated, highly efficient, and cost-effective solutions for emerging wireless applications. Get Insights from the Experts on Wireless Circuit Design The book features contributions by top international experts in wireless circuit design representing both industry and academia. They explore the state of the art in wireless communication for 3G and 4G cellular networks, millimeter-wave applications, wireless sensor networks, and wireless medical technologies. The emphasis is on low-power wireless applications, RF building blocks for wireless applications, and short-distance and beam steering. Topics covered include new opportunities in body area networks, medical implants, satellite communications, automobile radar detection, and wearable electronics. Exploit the Potential behind Emerging Green Wireless Technologies A must for anyone serious about future wireless technologies, this multidisciplinary book discusses the challenges of emerging power-efficient applications. Written for practicing engineers in the wireless communication field who have some experience in integrated circuits, it is also a valuable resource for graduate students.

Quantitative Process Control Theory explains how to solve industrial system problems using a novel control system design theory. This easy-to-use theory does not require designers to choose a weighting function and enables the controllers to be designed or tuned for quantitative engineering performance indices such as overshoot. In each chapter, a summary highlights the main problems and results and exercises improve and test your understanding of the material. Mathematical proofs are provided for almost all the results while examples are based on actual situations in industrial plants involving a paper-making machine, heat exchanger, hot strip mill, maglev, nuclear reactor, distillation column/heavy oil fractionator, jacket-cooled reactor, missile, helicopter/plane, and anesthesia. Developed from the author's many years of research, this book takes a unique, practical approach for efficiently solving single-input and single-output (SISO) and multiple-input and multiple-output (MIMO) control system design issues for quantitative performance indices. With much of the material classroom-tested, the text is suitable for advanced undergraduate and graduate students in engineering, beginning researchers in robust control, and more seasoned engineers wanting to learn new design techniques.

Real-Time Simulation Technologies: Principles, Methodologies, and Applications is an edited compilation of work that explores fundamental concepts and basic techniques of real-time simulation for complex and diverse systems across a broad spectrum. Useful for both new entrants and experienced experts in the field, this book integrates coverage of detailed theory, acclaimed methodological approaches, entrenched technologies, and high-value applications of real-time simulation-all from the unique perspectives of renowned international contributors. Because it offers an accurate and otherwise unattainable assessment of how a system will behave over a particular time frame, real-time simulation is increasingly critical to the optimization of dynamic processes and adaptive systems in a variety of enterprises. These range in scope from the maintenance of the national power grid, to space exploration, to the development of virtual reality programs and cyber-physical systems. This book outlines how, for these and other undertakings, engineers must assimilate real-time data with computational tools for rapid decision making under uncertainty. Clarifying the central concepts behind real-time simulation tools and techniques, this one-of-a-kind resource: Discusses the state of the art, important challenges, and high-impact developments in simulation technologies Provides a basis for the study of real-time simulation as a fundamental and foundational technology Helps readers develop and refine principles that are applicable across a wide variety of application domains As science moves toward more advanced technologies, unconventional design approaches, and unproven regions of the design space, simulation tools are increasingly critical to successful design and operation of technical systems in a growing number of application domains. This must-have resource presents detailed coverage of real-time simulation for system design, parallel and distributed simulations, industry tools, and a large set of applications.

"John Russ is the master of explaining how image processing gets applied to real-world situations. With Brent Neal, he's done it again in Measuring Shape, this time explaining an expanded toolbox of techniques that includes useful, state-of-the-art methods that can be applied to the broad problem of understanding, characterizing, and measuring shape. He has a gift for finding the kernel of a particular algorithm, explaining it in simple terms, then giving concrete examples that are easily understood. His perspective comes from solving real-world problems and separating out what works in practice from what is just an abstract curiosity." -Tom Malzbender, Hewlett-Packard Laboratories, Palo Alto, California, USA Useful for those working in fields including industrial quality control, research, and security applications, Measuring Shape is a handbook for the practical application of shape measurement. Covering a wide range of shape measurements likely to be encountered in the literature and in software packages, this book presents an intentionally diverse set of examples that illustrate and enable readers to compare methods used for measurement and quantitative description of 2D and 3D shapes. It stands apart through its focus on examples and applications, which help readers quickly grasp the usefulness of presented techniques without having to approach them through the underlying mathematics. An elusive concept, shape is a principal governing factor in determining the behavior of objects and structures. Essential to recognizing and classifying objects, it is the central link in manmade and natural processes. Shape dictates everything from the stiffness of a construction beam, to the ability of a leaf to catch water, to the marketing and packaging of consumer products. This book emphasizes techniques that are quantitative and produce a meaningful yet compact set of numerical values that can be used for statistical analysis, comparison, correlation, classification, and identification. Written by two renowned authors from both industry and academia, this resource explains why users should select a particular method, rather than simply discussing how to use it. Showcasing each process in a clear, accessible, and well-organized way, they explore why a particular one might be appropriate in a given situation, yet a poor choice in another. Providing extensive examples, plus full mathematical descriptions of the various measurements involved, they detail the advantages and limitations of each method and explain the ways they can be implemented to discover important correlations between shape and object history or behavior. This uncommon assembly of information also includes sets of data on real-world objects that are used to compare the performance and utility of the various presented approaches.

This title includes a number of Open Access chapters. Mass communication is the academic study of the various means by which individuals and entities communicate information to large audiences at the same time. Mass communication channels include newspaper and magazine publishing, radio, television, film, and the Internet. Mass Communication: Issues, Perspectives and Techniques addresses pressing concerns in the field today. The book discusses communicating information to the public about emergency procedures in the face of disasters and emergencies and the media's role in public health campaigns. It also also explores mass media theory and incorporating media strategies into peace-building campaigns. A thoughtful analysis of how mass media messages are constructed and construed rounds out the coverage.

Highly Regarded, Accessible Approach to Image Processing Using Open-Source and Commercial Software A Computational Introduction to Digital Image Processing, Second Edition explores the nature and use of digital images and shows how they can be obtained, stored, and displayed. Taking a strictly elementary perspective, the book only covers topics that involve simple mathematics yet offer a very broad and deep introduction to the discipline. New to the Second Edition This second edition provides users with three different computing options. Along with MATLAB (R), this edition now includes GNU Octave and Python. Users can choose the best software to fit their needs or migrate from one system to another. Programs are written as modular as possible, allowing for greater flexibility, code reuse, and conciseness. This edition also contains new images, redrawn diagrams, and new discussions of edge-preserving blurring filters, ISODATA thresholding, Radon transform, corner detection, retinex algorithm, LZW compression, and other topics. Principles, Practices, and Programming Based on the author's successful image processing courses, this bestseller is suitable for classroom use or self-study. In a straightforward way, the text illustrates how to implement imaging techniques in MATLAB, GNU Octave, and Python. It includes numerous examples and exercises to give students hands-on practice with the material.

First volume covers the issues related to the components and systems of transport machines. Design issues of machine elements operating in extreme conditions are also addressed. Covers the dynamics of hydraulic, electro-hydraulic and mechanical-hydraulic systems. Examines selected technical and economic issues of gas transport. Covers topics of modelling of production processes with the transport of products.

Covers applications of mechatronics in material processing and robotics Analyses both classical and modern machining methods Modelling of these processes is also treated from a phenomenological point of view Studies issues related to robotics in various technological processes