Servo - December 2008

inferred by considering the following basic information: (bed₁_active(t) or bed₂_active(t)) and shower_tap_active(t). Specifically, bed₁_active(t) and bed₂_active(t) are true if the pressure sensors located on either bed₁or bed₂detect something, whereas shower_tap_active(t) is true if the shower tap is opened.

● EXAMPLE 2: The user is in bed for longer than usual. This situation can be modeled using such simple information as: bed_active(t₁) and length(bed_active, t). length(bed_active, t) is true if the value of bed_active is true for more than a given temporal threshold t. At the time instant t₁the inhabitants are on the bed. As soon as time passes, the value of bed_active remains unaltered. At the time instant t₂such that t₂- t₁> t, length(bed_active, t) becomes true (see Figure 2), thus inferring this situation.

● EXAMPLE 3: During the night, the inhabitant cannot sleep; therefore, he gets up and decides to switch on the TV in the kitchen. This scenario can be modeled using very basic information as demonstrated in the previous examples. As shown in Figure 3, relevant information includes the change of the data value for bed_active (which switching from true to false allows the system to infer that the user got up from the bed) and an opposite change in tv_on (from false to true, thus implying the use of the TV).

Ambient Intelligence

From Here

There is still a lot of work to do before ubiquitous intelligent systems surround us and help us in our daily activities. Although AmI is particularly young and unexplored for the most part, its benefits are more than evident. What is needed to make AmI a reality is for intrepid, motivated innovators to move the field forward. SV

All photos are courtesy of Philips.

Resources

1. K. Ducatel, M. Bogdanowicz, F. Scapolo, J. Leijten, J.C. Burgelman. Scenarios for Ambient Intelligence in 2010. IS TAG Report. IPTS-Seville, February 2001.

2. D.J. Cook and S.K. Das. How Smart Are Our Environments? An Updated Look at the State-of-the-Art In Pervasive and Mobile Computing, vol. 3(2), pp. 53-73, March 2007.

3. www.hitech-projects.com/euprojects/amigo/

4. http://awarehome.imtc.gatech.edu

5. http://ailab.eecs.wsu.edu/mavhome/

6. http://www.icta.ufl.edu

5 reflectance sensors on underside

Item #975 $99.95

battery charger connector

piezo buzzer

4 AAA batteries (not included)

The Pololu 3pi robot is a high-performance, compact mobile platform featuring:

Two metal gearmotors

Five reflectance sensors

8×2 character LCD

Three user pushbuttons

Buzzer and LEDs

All peripherals are connected to an ATmega168 microcontroller running at 20 MHz, with free C-programming _{push-on/push-off}tools, libraries, and support for the Arduino environment. _{power button}reset button