This book describes new theories and applications of artificial neural networks, with a special focus on answering questions in neuroscience, biology and biophysics and cognitive research. It covers a wide range of methods and technologies, including deep neural networks, large scale neural models, brain computer interface, signal processing methods, as well as models of perception, studies on emotion recognition, self-organization and many more. The book includes both selected and invited papers presented at the XXI International Conference on Neuroinformatics, held on October 7-11, 2019, in Dolgoprudny, a town in Moscow region, Russia.

This book highlights a set of selected, revised and extended papers from the 7th International Conference on Simulation and Modeling Methodologies, Technologies and Applications (SIMULTECH 2017), held in Madrid, Spain, on July 26 to 28, 2017. The conference brought together researchers, engineers and practitioners whose work involves methodologies in and applications of modeling and simulation. The papers showcased here represent the very best papers from the Conference, and report on a broad range of new and innovative solutions.

This book introduces and illustrates modeling, sensing, and control methods for analyzing, designing, and developing spherical motors. It systematically presents models for establishing the relationships among the magnetic fields, position/orientation and force/torque, while also providing time-efficient solutions to assist researchers and engineers in studying and developing these motors. In order to take full advantage of spherical motors' compact structure in practical applications, sensing and control methods that utilize their magnetic fields and eliminate the need to install external sensors for feedback are proposed. Further, the book investigates for the first time spherical motors' force/torque manipulation capability, and proposes algorithms enabling the ball-joint-like end-effector for haptic use based on these motors' hybrid position/force actuation modes. While systematically presenting approaches to their design, sensing and control, the book also provides many examples illustrating the implementation issues readers may encounter.

This book presents the latest advances and research achievements in the fields of autonomous robots and intelligent systems, presented at the IAS-15 conference, held in Baden-Baden, Germany, in June 2018. It brings together contributions from researchers, engineers and practitioners from all over the world on the main trends of robotics: navigation, path planning, robot vision, human detection, and robot design - as well as a wide range of applications. This installment of the conference reflects the rise of machine learning and deep learning in the robotics field, as employed in a variety of applications and systems. All contributions were selected using a rigorous peer-review process to ensure their scientific quality. The series of biennial IAS conferences was started in 1986: since then, it has become an essential venue for the robotics community.

The book investigates fundamental issues in flexible manipulator systems, including distributed parameter modeling and boundary controller design. It presents theoretical explorations of several fundamental problems concerning the dynamics and control of these systems. By integrating fresh concepts and results to form a systematic approach to control, it also provides a basic theoretical framework. In turn, the book offers a comprehensive treatment of flexible manipulator systems, addressing topics ranging from related distributed parameter modeling and advanced boundary controller design for these systems with input constraint, to active control with output constraint. In brief, the book addresses dynamical analysis and control design for flexible manipulator systems. Though primarily intended for researchers and engineers in the control system and mechanical engineering community, it can also serve as supplemental reading on the modeling and control of flexible manipulator systems at the postgraduate level.

This book focuses on the importance of human factors in the development of safe and reliable unmanned systems. It discusses current challenges such as how to improve the perceptual and cognitive abilities of robots, develop suitable synthetic vision systems, cope with degraded reliability in unmanned systems, predict robotic behavior in case of a loss of communication, the vision for future soldier-robot teams, human-agent teaming, real-world implications for human-robot interaction, and approaches to standardize both the display and control of technologies across unmanned systems. Based on the AHFE 2019 International Conference on Human Factors in Robots and Unmanned Systems, held on July 24-28, 2019, Washington D.C., USA, this book fosters new discussions and stimulates new advances in the development of more reliable, safer, and highly functional devices for carrying out automated and concurrent tasks.

The primary aim of this volume is to provide researchers and engineers from both academia and industry with up-to-date coverage of recent advances in the fields of robotic welding, intelligent systems and automation. It gathers selected papers from the 2018 International Conference on Robotic Welding, Intelligence and Automation (RWIA 2018), held Oct 20-22, 2018 in Guangzhou, China. The contributions reveal how intelligentized welding manufacturing (IWM) is becoming an inescapable trend, just as intelligentized robotic welding is becoming a key technology. The volume is divided into four main parts: Intelligent Techniques for Robotic Welding, Sensing in Arc Welding Processing, Modeling and Intelligent Control of Welding Processing, and Intelligent Control and its Applications in Engineering.

This book features selected papers presented at the 14th International Conference on Electromechanics and Robotics 'Zavalishin's Readings' - ER(ZR) 2019, held in Kursk, Russia, on April 17-20, 2019. The contributions, written by professionals, researchers and students, cover topics in the field of automatic control systems, electromechanics, electric power engineering and electrical engineering, mechatronics, robotics, automation and vibration technologies. The Zavalishin's Readings conference was established as a tribute to the memory of Dmitry Aleksandrovich Zavalishin (1900-1968) - a Russian scientist, corresponding member of the USSR Academy of Sciences, and founder of the school of valve energy converters based on electric machines and valve converters energy. The first conference was organized by the Institute of Innovative Technologies in Electromechanics and Robotics at the Saint Petersburg State University of Aerospace Instrumentation in 2006. The 2019 conference was held with the XIII International Scientific and Technical Conference "Vibration 2019", and was organized by Saint Petersburg State University of Aerospace Instrumentation (SUAI), Saint Petersburg Institute for Informatics and Automation of the Russian Academy of Sciences (SPIIRAS) and the Southwest State University (SWSU) in with cooperation Russian Foundation for Basic Research (project No. 19-08-20021).

This book focuses on the design, development, and characterization of a compact magnetic laser scanner for microsurgical applications. In addition, it proposes a laser incision depth controller to be used in soft tissue microsurgeries. The use of laser scanners in soft tissue microsurgery results in high quality ablations with minimal thermal damage to surrounding tissue. However, current scanner technologies for microsurgery are limited to free-beam lasers, which require direct line-of-sight to the surgical site, from outside the patient. Developing compact laser micromanipulation systems is crucial to introducing laser-scanning capabilities in hard-to-reach surgical sites, e.g., vocal cords. In this book, the design and fabrication of a magnetically actuated endoscopic laser scanner have been shown, one that introduces high-speed laser scanning for high quality, non-contact tissue ablations in narrow workspaces. Static and dynamic characterization of the system, its teleoperation through a tablet device, and its control modelling for automated trajectory executions have been shown using a fabricated and assembled prototype. Following this, the book discusses how the laser position and velocity control capabilities of the scanner can be used to design a laser incision depth controller to assist surgeons during operations.

The book provides readers with a comprehensive overview of the state of the art in the field of gait and balance rehabilitation. It describes technologies and devices together with the requirements and factors to be considered during their application in clinical settings. The book covers physiological and pathophysiological basis of locomotion and posture control, describes integrated approaches for the treatment of neurological diseases and spinal cord injury, as well as important principles for designing appropriate clinical studies. It presents computer and robotic technologies currently used in rehabilitation, such as exoskeleton devices, functional electrical stimulation, virtual reality and many more, highlighting the main advantages and challenges both from the clinical and engineering perspective. Written in an easy-to-understand style, the book is intended for people with different background and expertise, including medical and engineering students, clinicians and physiotherapists, as well as technical developers of rehabilitation systems and their corresponding human-compute interfaces. It aims at fostering an increased awareness of available technologies for balance and gait rehabilitation, as well as a better communication and collaboration between their users and developers.

The subject of this book is theory, principles and methods used in radar algorithm development with a special focus on automotive radar signal processing. In the automotive industry, autonomous driving is currently a hot topic that leads to numerous applications for both safety and driving comfort. It is estimated that full autonomous driving will be realized in the next twenty to thirty years and one of the enabling technologies is radar sensing. This book presents both detection and tracking topics specifically for automotive radar processing. It provides illustrations, figures and tables for the reader to quickly grasp the concepts and start working on practical solutions. The complete and comprehensive coverage of the topic provides both professionals and newcomers with all the essential methods and tools required to successfully implement and evaluate automotive radar processing algorithms.

This book introduces innovative and interdisciplinary applications of advanced technologies. Featuring the papers from the 10th DAYS OF BHAAAS (Bosnian-Herzegovinian American Academy of Arts and Sciences) held in Jahorina, Bosnia and Herzegovina on June 21-24, 2018, it discusses a wide variety of engineering and scientific applications of the different techniques. Researchers from academic and industry present their work and ideas, techniques and applications in the field of power systems, mechanical engineering, computer modelling and simulations, civil engineering, robotics and biomedical engineering, information and communication technologies, computer science and applied mathematics.

The aim of the book is to introduce new developments in Ambient Intelligence from researchers of several countries. The book includes different works in the area of Ubiquitous Computing, e-Health, Ambient Assisted Living, Distributed Computing and Context Aware Computing that have been selected by an international committee. The studies have been presented in the 9th International Symposium on Ambient Intelligence held in Toledo in June 2018.

This book introduces innovative and interdisciplinary applications of advanced technologies. Featuring the papers from the 10th DAYS OF BHAAAS (Bosnian-Herzegovinian American Academy of Arts and Sciences) held in Jahorina, Bosnia and Herzegovina on June 21-24, 2018, it discusses a wide variety of engineering and scientific applications of the different techniques. Researchers from academic and industry present their work and ideas, techniques and applications in the field of power systems, mechanical engineering, computer modelling and simulations, civil engineering, robotics and biomedical engineering, information and communication technologies, computer science and applied mathematics.

The proceedings present selected research papers from the CIAC2019, held in Jiangsu, China on September 20-22, 2019. It covers a wide range of topics including intelligent control, robotics, artificial intelligence, pattern recognition, unmanned systems, IoT and machine learning. It includes original research and the latest advances in the field of intelligent automation. Engineers and researchers from academia, industry, and government can gain valuable insights into solutions combining ideas from multiple disciplines in this field.

The book reports on advanced topics in interactive robotics research and practice; in particular, it addresses non-technical obstacles to the broadest uptake of these technologies. It focuses on new technologies that can physically and cognitively interact with humans, including neural interfaces, soft wearable robots, and sensor and actuator technologies; further, it discusses important regulatory challenges, including but not limited to business models, standardization, education and ethical-legal-socioeconomic issues. Gathering the outcomes of the 1st INBOTS Conference (INBOTS2018), held on October 16-20, 2018 in Pisa, Italy, the book addresses the needs of a broad audience of academics and professionals working in government and industry, as well as end users. In addition to providing readers with detailed information and a source of inspiration for new projects and collaborations, it discusses representative case studies highlighting practical challenges in the implementation of interactive robots in a number of fields, as well as solutions to improve communication between different stakeholders. By merging engineering, medical, ethical and political perspectives, the book offers a multidisciplinary, timely snapshot of interactive robotics.

This book constitutes the refereed proceedings of the 9th International Conference on Applications and Techniques in Information Security, ATIS 2018, held in Nanning, China, in November 2018. The 19 full papers were carefully reviewed and selected from 59 submissions. The papers are organized in the following topical sections: information security, information abuse prevention, security implementations, knowledge discovery, and applications.

These transactions publish research in computer-based methods of computational collective intelligence (CCI) and their applications in a wide range of fields such as the semantic web, social networks, and multi-agent systems. TCCI strives to cover new methodological, theoretical and practical aspects of CCI understood as the form of intelligence that emerges from the collaboration and competition of many individuals (artificial and/or natural). The application of multiple computational intelligence technologies, such as fuzzy systems, evolutionary computation, neural systems, consensus theory, etc., aims to support human and other collective intelligence and to create new forms of CCI in natural and/or artificial systems. This thirtieth issue is a regular issue with 12 selected papers.

This two-volume set (CCIS 951 and CCIS 952) constitutes the proceedings of the 13th International Conference on Bio-inspired Computing: Theories and Applications, BIC-TA 2018, held in Beijing, China, in November 2018. The 88 full papers presented in both volumes were selected from 206 submissions. The papers deal with studies abstracting computing ideas such as data structures, operations with data, ways to control operations, computing models from living phenomena or biological systems such as evolution, cells, neural networks, immune systems, swarm intelligence.

This two-volume set (CCIS 951 and CCIS 952) constitutes the proceedings of the 13th International Conference on Bio-inspired Computing: Theories and Applications, BIC-TA 2018, held in Beijing, China, in November 2018. The 88 full papers presented in both volumes were selected from 206 submissions. The papers deal with studies abstracting computing ideas such as data structures, operations with data, ways to control operations, computing models from living phenomena or biological systems such as evolution, cells, neural networks, immune systems, swarm intelligence.

The book reports on cutting-edge theories and methods aimed at the control and coordination of agents acting and moving in a dynamic environment. It covers a wide range of systems, including multiagent systems, domotic agents, robotic manipulators, soccer robots, autonomous and semiautonomous robots, as well as systems for industrial applications. Advances in software agents, sensors, computer visions and other related areas are also thoroughly discussed and presented in detail. Based on the 19th edition of the International Workshop of Physical Agents (WAF 2018), held on November 22-23, 2018, in Madrid, Spain, this book offers a snapshot of the state-of-the-art in the field of physical agents, with a special emphasis on autonomous systems such as mobile robots, industrial process or other complex systems.

This book includes innovative research work presented at ICO'2018, the 1st International Conference on Intelligent Computing and Optimization, held in Pattaya, Thailand on October 4-5, 2018. The conference presented topics ranging from power quality, reliability, security assurance, cloud computing, smart cities, renewable energy, agro-engineering, smart vehicles, deep learning, block chain, power systems, AI, machine learning, manufacturing systems, and big-data analytics. This volume focuses on subjects related to innovative computing, uncertainty management and optimization approaches to real-world problems in big-data, smart cities, sustainability, meta-heuristics, cyber-security, IoTs, economics and finance, renewable energy, energy and electricity systems, and block chain. Presenting cutting-edge methodologies with real-world application problems and their solutions, the book is useful for researchers, managers, executives, students, academicians, practicing scientists, and decision makers from all around the globe. It offers the academic and the applied communities a compendium and a research resource with significant insights and inspiration for innovative scientific education, investigation and collaboration, to overcome "hard problems" among the emerging challenges today and in the future.

Robots challenge humans' beliefs and expectations. Hence, regardless of whether they are the audience of a conference, the visitors of a lab, the citizens in general, some journalists, or the European Parliament, the first step in order to gain a better understanding of the field of robotics is obviously to consult the experts. Roboticists seem indeed to be in the best position to guide society in this matter, whether it is in the everyday life or within an official institution. Today however, there is a gap between the robots, as they are actually thought and built, and the intelligent and autonomous machines, as they are perceived by the society. How can we explain it? Do the words borrowed from the living organisms and used to describe robots play a role in the confusion about the status of the discipline of robotics? The texts gathered within this book focus on the problematic of wording robotics from various perspectives. They are the results of a unique interdisciplinary meeting gathering roboticists, linguists, philosophers and neuroscientists, the 4th Workshop of Anthropomorphic Motion Factory held at LAAS-CNRS in Toulouse on Nov 31st - Dec 1st 2017.

This is the fourth volume of the successful series Robot Operating Systems: The Complete Reference, providing a comprehensive overview of robot operating systems (ROS), which is currently the main development framework for robotics applications, as well as the latest trends and contributed systems. The book is divided into four parts: Part 1 features two papers on navigation, discussing SLAM and path planning. Part 2 focuses on the integration of ROS into quadcopters and their control. Part 3 then discusses two emerging applications for robotics: cloud robotics, and video stabilization. Part 4 presents tools developed for ROS; the first is a practical alternative to the roslaunch system, and the second is related to penetration testing. This book is a valuable resource for ROS users and wanting to learn more about ROS capabilities and features.

This book constitutes the proceedings of the 10th International Symposium on Cyberspace Safety and Security, CSS 2018, held in Amalfi, Italy, in October 2018. The 25 full papers presented in this volume were carefully reviewed and selected from 79 submissions. The papers focus on cybersecurity; cryptography, data security, and biometric techniques; and social security, ontologies, and smart applications.