This book discusses biologically inspired robotic actuators designed to offer improved robot performance and approaching human-like efficiency and versatility. It assesses biological actuation and control in the human motor system, presents a range of technical actuation approaches, and discusses potential applications in wearable robots, i.e., powered prostheses and exoskeletons. Gathering the findings of internationally respected researchers from various fields, the book provides a uniquely broad perspective on bioinspired actuator designs for robotics. Its scope includes fundamental aspects of biomechanics and neuromechanics, actuator and control design, and their application in (wearable) robotics. The book offers PhD students and advanced graduate students an essential introduction to the field, while providing researchers a cutting-edge research perspective.

This book provides an accessible and comprehensive tutorial on the key enabling technologies for 5G and beyond, covering both the fundamentals and the state-of-the-art 5G standards. The book begins with a historical overview of the evolution of cellular technologies and addresses the questions on why 5G and what is 5G. Following this, six tutorial chapters describe the fundamental technology components for 5G and beyond. These include modern advancements in channel coding, multiple access, massive multiple-input and multiple-output (MIMO), network densification, unmanned aerial vehicle enabled cellular networks, and 6G wireless systems. The second part of this book consists of five chapters that introduce the basics of 5G New Radio (NR) standards developed by 3GPP. These include 5G architecture, protocols, and physical layer aspects. The third part of this book provides an overview of the key 5G NR evolution directions. These directions include ultra-reliable low-latency communication (URLLC) enhancements, operation in unlicensed spectrum, positioning, integrated access and backhaul, air-to-ground communication, and non-terrestrial networks with satellite communication.

This book draws inspiration from natural shepherding, whereby a farmer utilizes sheepdogs to herd sheep, to inspire a scalable and inherently human friendly approach to swarm control. The book discusses advanced artificial intelligence (AI) approaches needed to design smart robotic shepherding agents capable of controlling biological swarms or robotic swarms of unmanned vehicles. These smart shepherding agents are described with the techniques applicable to the control of Unmanned X Vehicles (UxVs) including air (unmanned aerial vehicles or UAVs), ground (unmanned ground vehicles or UGVs), underwater (unmanned underwater vehicles or UUVs), and on the surface of water (unmanned surface vehicles or USVs). This book proposes how smart 'shepherds' could be designed and used to guide a swarm of UxVs to achieve a goal while ameliorating typical communication bandwidth issues that arise in the control of multi agent systems. The book covers a wide range of topics ranging from the design of deep reinforcement learning models for shepherding a swarm, transparency in swarm guidance, and ontology-guided learning, to the design of smart swarm guidance methods for shepherding with UGVs and UAVs. The book extends the discussion to human-swarm teaming by looking into the real-time analysis of human data during human-swarm interaction, the concept of trust for human-swarm teaming, and the design of activity recognition systems for shepherding. Presents a comprehensive look at human-swarm teaming; Tackles artificial intelligence techniques for swarm guidance; Provides artificial intelligence techniques for real-time human performance analysis.

This book introduces readers to the polarimetric synthetic aperture radar (PolSAR) system, its information processing, and imaging applications. The content is divided into three main parts: Part I, on the research scope of PolSAR, addresses the underlying theory and system design, polarimetric SAR interferometry (PolInSAR), compact PolSAR, and calibration of PolSAR. Part II, which focuses on information processing, highlights the new theories and methods used in PolSAR, such as statistical properties analysis for images, speckle reduction, image enhancement, polarimetric target decomposition, and classification of PolSAR target detection. In turn, Part III, on the applications of polarimetric SAR, discusses the geophysical parameter retrieval of PolSAR data, polarimetric interferometric SAR information processing, compact polarimetric interferometric SAR information processing, and the effects of terrain tilt in azimuth direction on PolSAR data. The book provides a comprehensive and systematic guide to the system, integrating theory and practice, and has a highly application-oriented focus. Presenting new theories, methods and achievements made in polarimetric microwave imaging in recent years, it offers a valuable asset for researchers, engineers and scientists in the area of remote sensing and radar imaging. It can also be used as a reference book for university educators and graduate students.

This book aims to gather the insight of leading experts on corruption and anti-corruption studies working at the scientific frontier of this phenomenon using the multidisciplinary tools of data and network science, in order to present current theoretical, empirical, and operational efforts being performed in order to curb this problem. The research results strengthen the importance of evidence-based approaches in the fight against corruption in all its forms, and foster the discussion about the best ways to convert the obtained knowledge into public policy. The contributed chapters provide comprehensive and multidisciplinary approaches to handle the non-trivial structural and dynamical aspects that characterize the modern social, economic, political and technological systems where corruption takes place. This book will serve a broad multi-disciplinary audience from natural to social scientists, applied mathematicians, including law and policymakers.

This is a professional level, introductory text on antenna principles, design, analysis, and measurements. It is especially suitable for persons who wish to improve their knowledge of antenna principles, concept design, performance analyses, and measurements. It is not a cookbook-like catalog for antenna design, nor does its understanding require a familiarity with electromagnetic theory, sophisticated mathematics, or complex computer techniques. The 3rd Edition updates and expands the original text by Lamont Blake, which was prepared at the undergraduate engineering, science, or technology level. For providing technical depth at the senior and graduate university levels, additions to the original book include a greatly expanded Chapter 7 on Antennas with Special Properties, a brand new Chapter 8 on Electronically Steered Arrays, and a revised Chapter 9 on Measurements. Also new to this edition are numerous appendices to the updated text and a CD-ROM with sample computer analyses. Reader knowledge assumes familiarity with basic college physics and mathematics. Computer computations use Mathcad(R) software, which can be read and used by persons without prior computer programming knowledge. The book is therefore suitable for entry-level as well as the more experienced professionals who desire to expand their understanding of and capabilities for antenna principles, analyses, measurements, and design.

This handbook presents state-of-the-art research in reinforcement learning, focusing on its applications in the control and game theory of dynamic systems and future directions for related research and technology. The contributions gathered in this book deal with challenges faced when using learning and adaptation methods to solve academic and industrial problems, such as optimization in dynamic environments with single and multiple agents, convergence and performance analysis, and online implementation. They explore means by which these difficulties can be solved, and cover a wide range of related topics including: deep learning; artificial intelligence; applications of game theory; mixed modality learning; and multi-agent reinforcement learning. Practicing engineers and scholars in the field of machine learning, game theory, and autonomous control will find the Handbook of Reinforcement Learning and Control to be thought-provoking, instructive and informative.

This book provides conceptual understanding of machine learning algorithms though supervised, unsupervised, and advanced learning techniques. The book consists of four parts: foundation, supervised learning, unsupervised learning, and advanced learning. The first part provides the fundamental materials, background, and simple machine learning algorithms, as the preparation for studying machine learning algorithms. The second and the third parts provide understanding of the supervised learning algorithms and the unsupervised learning algorithms as the core parts. The last part provides advanced machine learning algorithms: ensemble learning, semi-supervised learning, temporal learning, and reinforced learning. Provides comprehensive coverage of both learning algorithms: supervised and unsupervised learning; Outlines the computation paradigm for solving classification, regression, and clustering; Features essential techniques for building the a new generation of machine learning.

This book focuses on the fundamentals of blockchain technology along with the means and methods of its integration with Internet of Things (IoT). The book allows the reader to have a deeper understanding of blockchain technology, IoT and various application areas wherein both technologies can be implemented. The book serves the purpose of providing knowledge about the fundamentals of blockchain and IoT to a common reader along with allowing a research scholar to identify some futuristic problem areas that emerge from the convergence of both technologies. Furthermore, the authors discuss relevant application areas such as smart city, e-healthcare, smart travel, etc. throughout the course of the book. The book also talks through a few case studies illustrating the implementation and benefits of using blockchain and IoT. Provides a comprehensive view of blockchain technology and its integration with IoT; Facilitates in having a valuable understanding of various application areas pertaining to blockchain and IoT; Assists the reader in exploring new research areas wherein blockchain and IoT can find their applicability based upon their list of benefits.

This book is the first comprehensive book about reservoir computing (RC). RC is a powerful and broadly applicable computational framework based on recurrent neural networks. Its advantages lie in small training data set requirements, fast training, inherent memory and high flexibility for various hardware implementations. It originated from computational neuroscience and machine learning but has, in recent years, spread dramatically, and has been introduced into a wide variety of fields, including complex systems science, physics, material science, biological science, quantum machine learning, optical communication systems, and robotics. Reviewing the current state of the art and providing a concise guide to the field, this book introduces readers to its basic concepts, theory, techniques, physical implementations and applications. The book is sub-structured into two major parts: theory and physical implementations. Both parts consist of a compilation of chapters, authored by leading experts in their respective fields. The first part is devoted to theoretical developments of RC, extending the framework from the conventional recurrent neural network context to a more general dynamical systems context. With this broadened perspective, RC is not restricted to the area of machine learning but is being connected to a much wider class of systems. The second part of the book focuses on the utilization of physical dynamical systems as reservoirs, a framework referred to as physical reservoir computing. A variety of physical systems and substrates have already been suggested and used for the implementation of reservoir computing. Among these physical systems which cover a wide range of spatial and temporal scales, are mechanical and optical systems, nanomaterials, spintronics, and quantum many body systems. This book offers a valuable resource for researchers (Ph.D. students and experts alike) and practitioners working in the field of machine learning, artificial intelligence, robotics, neuromorphic computing, complex systems, and physics.

To overcome the constraints of 5G for supporting new challenges, 6G wireless systems must be developed with new and attractive features. These systems are expected to increase performance and maximize quality of service several folds more than 5G along with other exciting features. However, 6G is still in its infancy and must be explored. The Handbook of Research on Design, Deployment, Automation, and Testing Strategies for 6G Mobile Core Network discusses the technological feats used in the new 6G wireless systems. It discusses the design, automation, and uses for industry as well as testing strategies. Covering topics such as 6G architecture, smart healthcare, and wireless communication, this major reference work is an excellent resource for computer scientists, engineers, students and professors in higher education, researchers, and academicians.

This book brings together papers presented at The 2nd International Conference on Artificial Intelligence in China (ChinaAI) 2020, which provides a venue to disseminate the latest developments and to discuss the interactions and links between these multidisciplinary fields. Spanning topics covering all topics in artificial intelligence with new development in China, this book is aimed at undergraduate and graduate students in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science and Mathematics, researchers and engineers from academia and industry as well as government employees (such as NSF, DOD and DOE).

This book presents the proceedings of the 2nd International Conference on Networks and Advances in Computational Technologies (NetACT19) which took place on July 23-25, 2019 at Mar Baselios College of Engineering and Technology in Thiruvananthapuram, India. The conference was in association with Bowie State University, USA, Gannon University, USA and Malardalen University, Sweden. Papers presented were included in technical programs that were part of five parallel tracks, namely Computer Application, Image Processing, Network Security, Hardware & Network Systems and Machine Learning. The proceedings brings together experts from industry, governments and academia from around the world with vast experiences in design, engineering and research. Presents the proceedings of the 2nd International Conference on Networks and Advances in Computational Technologies (NetACT19); Includes research in Computer Application, Image Processing, Network Security, Hardware & Network Systems and Machine Learning; Provides perspectives from industry, academia and government.

This book presents the select peer-reviewed proceedings of the International Conference on Futuristic Trends in Mechanical Engineering (ICOFTIME 2020). The contents focus on latest research in different areas of mechanical engineering such as additive manufacturing, vibrations, robotics and automation, nano and smart materials, green energy, supply chain management, aviation, and biomechanics. The book also includes numerical and optimization methods relevant for several real-life mechanical engineering problems. Given its contents, this book will prove useful for researchers and professionals alike.

This book establishes an important mathematical connection between cooperative control problems and network optimization problems. It shows that many cooperative control problems can in fact be understood, under certain passivity assumptions, using a pair of static network optimization problems. Merging notions from passivity theory and network optimization, it describes a novel network optimization approach that can be applied to the synthesis of controllers for diffusively-coupled networks of passive (or passivity-short) dynamical systems. It also introduces a data-based, model-free approach for the synthesis of network controllers for multi-agent systems with passivity-short agents. Further, the book describes a method for monitoring link faults in multi-agent systems using passivity theory and graph connectivity. It reports on some practical case studies describing the effectivity of the developed approaches in vehicle networks. All in all, this book offers an extensive source of information and novel methods in the emerging field of multi-agent cooperative control, paving the way to future developments of autonomous systems for various application domains

This book equips readers to understand a complex range of healthcare products that are used to diagnose, monitor, and treat diseases or medical conditions affecting humans. The first part of the book presents medical technologies such as medical information retrieval, tissue engineering techniques, 3D medical imaging, nanotechnology innovations in medicine, medical wireless sensor networks, and knowledge mining techniques in medicine. The second half of the book focuses on healthcare technologies including prediction hospital readmission risk, modeling e-health framework, personal Web in healthcare, security issues for medical records, and personalized services in healthcare. The contributors are leading world researchers who share their innovations, making this handbook the definitive resource on these topics. Handbook of Medical and Healthcare Technologies is intended for a wide audience including academicians, designers, developers, researchers and advanced-level students. It is also valuable for business managers, entrepreneurs, and investors within the medical and healthcare industries.

This book serves as the first guideline of the integrative approach, optimal for our new and young generations. Recent technology advancements in computer vision, IoT sensors, and analytics open the door to highly impactful innovations and applications as a result of effective and efficient integration of those. Such integration has brought to scientists and engineers a new approach -the integrative approach. This offers far more rapid development and scalable architecting when comparing to the traditional hardcore developmental approach. Featuring biomedical and healthcare challenges including COVID-19, we present a collection of carefully selective cases with significant added- values as a result of integrations, e.g., sensing with AI, analytics with different data sources, and comprehensive monitoring with many different sensors, while sustaining its readability.