Bridging The Gap Between Rendering And Simulation Frameworks

Taking into account aspects of semantic world models and graph databases, Nico Hempe presents concepts for a new class of modern Multi-Domain VR Simulation Systems based on the principles of the research field of eRobotics. Nico Hempe not only shows how to overcome structural differences between rendering and simulation frameworks to allow attractive and intuitive representations of the generated results, he also demonstrates ways to enable rendering-supported simulations. The outcome is an intuitive multi-purpose development tool for multiple applications, ranging from industrial domains over environmental scenarios up to space robotics.

This is the first book on synthetic data for deep learning, and its breadth of coverage may render this book as the default reference on synthetic data for years to come. The book can also serve as an introduction to several other important subfields of machine learning that are seldom touched upon in other books. Machine learning as a discipline would not be possible without the inner workings of optimization at hand. The book includes the necessary sinews of optimization though the crux of the discussion centers on the increasingly popular tool for training deep learning models, namely synthetic data. It is expected that the field of synthetic data will undergo exponential growth in the near future. This book serves as a comprehensive survey of the field. In the simplest case, synthetic data refers to computer-generated graphics used to train computer vision models. There are many more facets of synthetic data to consider. In the section on basic computer vision, the book discusses fundamental computer vision problems, both low-level (e.g., optical flow estimation) and high-level (e.g., object detection and semantic segmentation), synthetic environments and datasets for outdoor and urban scenes (autonomous driving), indoor scenes (indoor navigation), aerial navigation, and simulation environments for robotics. Additionally, it touches upon applications of synthetic data outside computer vision (in neural programming, bioinformatics, NLP, and more). It also surveys the work on improving synthetic data development and alternative ways to produce it such as GANs. The book introduces and reviews several different approaches to synthetic data in various domains of machine learning, most notably the following fields: domain adaptation for making synthetic data more realistic and/or adapting the models to be trained on synthetic data and differential privacy for generating synthetic data with privacy guarantees. This discussion is accompanied by an introduction into generative adversarial networks (GAN) and an introduction to differential privacy.

Complex artificial dynamic systems require advanced modeling techniques that can accommodate their asynchronous, concurrent, and highly non-linear nature. Discrete Event systems Specification (DEVS) provides a formal framework for hierarchical construction of discrete-event models in a modular manner, allowing for model re-use and reduced development time. Discrete Event Modeling and Simulation presents a practical approach focused on the creation of discrete-event applications. The book introduces the CD++ tool, an open-source framework that enables the simulation of discrete-event models. After setting up the basic theory of DEVS and Cell-DEVS, the author focuses on how to use the CD++ tool to define a variety of models in biology, physics, chemistry, and artificial systems. They also demonstrate how to map different modeling techniques, such as Finite State Machines and VHDL, to DEVS. The in-depth coverage elaborates on the creation of simulation software for DEVS models and the 3D visualization environments associated with these tools. A much-needed practical approach to creating discrete-event applications, this book offers world-class instruction on the field’s most useful modeling tools.

Virtual Humans are becoming more and more popular and used in many applications such as the entertainment industry (in both film and games) and medical applications. This comprehensive book covers all areas of this growing industry including face and body motion, body modelling, hair simulation, expressive speech simulation and facial communication, interaction with 3D objects, rendering skin and clothes and the standards for Virtual Humans. Written by a team of current and former researchers at MIRALab, University of Geneva or VRlab, EPFL, this book is the definitive guide to the area. Explains the concept of avatars and autonomous virtual actors and the main techniques to create and animate them (body and face). Presents the concepts of behavioural animation, crowd simulation, intercommunication between virtual humans, and interaction between real humans and autonomous virtual humans Addresses the advanced topics of hair representation and cloth animation with applications in fashion design Discusses the standards for Virtual Humans, such as MPEG-4 Face Animation and MPEG-4 Body Animation.

This book analyses examples of quality teaching in professional education in the human client fields. The first of two volumes, the editors and contributors use case studies to illustrate the elements deemed good practice within professional education. There are many different routes towards preparing well-qualified professionals through higher education: as diverse as the professions themselves, these routes are largely determined by decisions academics make regarding content, curriculum alignment, integration of research with practice and pedagogical techniques. Including case studies from midwifery, medical, nursing and psychology degree programmes, the authors and editors unravel what good teaching in professional practice looks like in the human client fields, and how it can be achieved. This rigorous and comprehensive collection will be of interest and value to students and scholars of professional pedagogy, as well as practitioners.

This book constitutes the refereed proceedings of the 17th Portuguese Conference on Artificial Intelligence, EPIA 2015, held in Coimbra, Portugal, in September 2015. The 45 revised full papers presented together with 36 revised short papers were carefully reviewed and selected from a total of 131 submissions. EPIA 2015, following the standard EPIA format, covers a wide range of AI topics as follows: ambient intelligence and affective environments, artificial Intelligence in medicine, artificial intelligence in transportation systems, artificial life and evolutionary algorithms, computational methods in bioinformatics and systems biology, general artificial intelligence, intelligent information systems, intelligent robotics, knowledge discovery and business intelligence, multi-agent systems: theory and applications, social simulation and modelling, text mining and applications.

From driverless cars to vehicular networks, recent technological advances are being employed to increase road safety and improve driver satisfaction. As with any newly developed technology, researchers must take care to address all concerns, limitations, and dangers before widespread public adoption. Transportation Systems and Engineering: Concepts, Methodologies, Tools, and Applications addresses current trends in transportation technologies, such as smart cars, green technologies, and infrastructure development. This multivolume book is a critical reference source for engineers, computer scientists, transportation authorities, students, and practitioners in the field of transportation systems management.

This book constitutes the refereed proceedings of the 16th International Conference on Artificial Reality and Telexistence, ICAT 2006, held in Hangzhou, China in November/December 2006. The 138 revised papers cover anthropomorphic intelligent robotics, artificial life, augmented reality, distributed and collaborative VR system, motion tracking, real time computer simulation virtual reality, as well as VR interaction and navigation techniques.