We present a solution for operating a vehicle without global positioning infrastructure while satisfying constraints on its temporal behavior, and on the uncertainty of its position estimate. The proposed solution is an end-to-end framework for mapping an unknown environment using aerial vehicles, synthesizing a control policy for a ground vehicle in that environment, and using a quadrotor to localize the ground vehicle within the map while it executes its control policy. This vision-based localization is noisy, necessitating planning in the belief space of the ground robot. The ground robot's mission is given using a language called Gaussian Distribution Temporal Logic (GDTL), an extension of Boolean logic that incorporates temporal evolution and noise mitigation directly into the task specifications. We use a sampling-based algorithm to generate a transition system in the belief space and use local feedback controllers to break the curse of history associated with belief space planning. To localize the vehicle, we build a high-resolution map of the environment by flying a team of aerial vehicles in formation with sensor information provided by their onboard cameras. The control policy for the ground robot is synthesized under temporal and uncertainty constraints given the semantically labeled map. Then the ground robot can execute the control policy given pose estimates from a dedicated aerial robot that tracks and localizes the ground robot. The proposed method is validated using two quadrotors to build a map, followed by a two-wheeled ground robot and a quadrotor with a camera for ten successful experimental trials.
In this paper, we study the translational and rotational (SE(N)) invariance properties of locally interacting multi-agent systems. We focus on a class of networked dynamical systems, in which the agents have local pairwise interactions, and the overall effect of the interaction on each agent is the sum of the interactions with other agents. We show that such systems are SE(N)-invariant if and only if they have a special, quasi-linear form. The SE(N)-invariance property, sometimes referred to as left invariance, is central to a large class of kinematic and robotic systems. When satisfied, it ensures independence to global reference frames. In an alternate interpretation, it allows for integration of dynamics and computation of control laws in the agents' own reference frames. Such a property is essential in a large spectrum of applications, e.g., navigation in GPS-denied environments. Because of the simplicity of the quasi-linear form, this result can impact ongoing research on design of local interaction laws. It also gives a quick test to check if a given networked system is SE(N)-invariant.
This paper introduces time window temporal logic (TWTL), a rich expressivity language for describing various time bounded specifications. In particular, the syntax and semantics of TWTL enable the compact representation of serial tasks, which are prevalent in various applications including robotics, sensor systems, and manufacturing systems. This paper also discusses the relaxation of TWTL formulae with respect to the deadlines of the tasks. Efficient automata-based frameworks are presented to solve synthesis, verification and learning problems. The key ingredient to the presented solution is an algorithm to translate a TWTL formula to an annotated finite state automaton that encodes all possible temporal relaxations of the given formula. Some case studies are presented to illustrate the expressivity of the logic and the proposed algorithms.
Cancer is a complex and heterogeneous genetic disease. Different mutations and dysregulated molecular mechanisms alter the pathways that lead to cell proliferation. In this paper, we explore a method which classifies genes into oncogenes (ONGs) and tumor suppressors. We optimize this method to identify specific (ONGs) and tumor suppressors for breast cancer, lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD), lung squamous cell carcinoma (LUSC) and colon adenocarcinoma (COAD), using data from the cancer genome atlas (TCGA). A set of genes were previously classified as ONGs and tumor suppressors across multiple cancer types (Science 2013). Each gene was assigned an ONG score and a tumor suppressor score based on the frequency of its driver mutations across all variants from the catalogue of somatic mutations in cancer (COSMIC). We evaluate and optimize this approach within different cancer types from TCGA. We are able to determine known driver genes for each of the four cancer types. After establishing the baseline parameters for each cancer type, we identify new driver genes for each cancer type, and the molecular pathways that are highly affected by them. Our methodology is general and can be applied to different cancer subtypes to identify specific driver genes and improve personalized therapy.
In this work, we present a novel method for automating persistent surveillance missions involving multiple vehicles. Automata-based techniques are used to generate collision-free motion plans for a team of vehicles to satisfy a temporal logic specification. Vector fields are created for use with a differential flatness-based controller, allowing vehicle flight and deployment to be fully automated according to the motion plans. The use of charging platforms with the vehicles allows for truly persistent missions. Experiments were performed with two quadrotors for two different missions over 50 runs each to validate the theoretical results.
This paper provides the proof that Enzymatic Numerical P systems with deterministic, but parallel, execution model are universal, even when the production functions used are polynomials of degree 1. This extends previous known results and provides the optimal case in terms of polynomial degree.
We study the computing power of a class of numerical P systems introduced in the framework of autonomous robot control, namely enzymatic numerical P systems. Three ways of using the evolution programs are investigated: sequential, all-parallel and one-parallel (with the same variable used in all programs or in only one, respectively); moreover, both deterministic and non-deterministic systems are considered. The Turing universality of some of the obtained classes of numerical P systems is proved (for polynomials with the smallest possible degree, one, also introducing a new proof technique in this area, namely starting the universality proof from the characterization of computable sets of numbers by means of register machines). The power of many other classes remains to be investigated.
The main contribution of this paper is the introduction of the new concept of membrane controller based on the structure and functioning of a deterministic numerical P system. The procedure for developing a membrane controller and for using it to control a mobile robot is explained and several test cases are given in which membrane controllers are used to control both simulated and real mobile robots and to generate various desired behaviours (obstacle avoidance, wall following, and follow the leader). The experiments reported in this paper validate the concept and prove that the performance of a membrane controller is comparable to or better than that of other controllers (such as fuzzy logic controllers).
This paper presents PyElph, a software tool which automatically extracts data from gel images, computes the molecular weights of the analyzed molecules or fragments, compares DNA patterns which result from experiments with molecular genetic markers and, also, generates phylogenetic trees computed by five clustering methods, using the information extracted from the analyzed gel image. The software can be successfully used for population genetics, phylogenetics, taxonomic studies and other applications which require gel image analysis. Researchers and students working in molecular biology and genetics would benefit greatly from the proposed software because it is free, open source, easy to use, has a friendly Graphical User Interface and does not depend on specific image acquisition devices like other commercial programs with similar functionalities do.
PyElph software tool is entirely implemented in Python which is a very popular programming language among the bioinformatics community. It provides a very friendly Graphical User Interface which was designed in six steps that gradually lead to the results. The user is guided through the following steps: image loading and preparation, lane detection, band detection, molecular weights computation based on a molecular weight marker, band matching and finally, the computation and visualization of phylogenetic trees. A strong point of the software is the visualization component for the processed data. The Graphical User Interface provides operations for image manipulation and highlights lanes, bands and band matching in the analyzed gel image. All the data and images generated in each step can be saved. The software has been tested on several DNA patterns obtained from experiments with different genetic markers. Examples of genetic markers which can be analyzed using PyElph are RFLP (Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism), AFLP (Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism), RAPD (Random Amplification of Polymorphic DNA) and STR (Short Tandem Repeat). The similarity between the DNA sequences is computed and used to generate phylogenetic trees which are very useful for population genetics studies and taxonomic classification.
PyElph decreases the effort and time spent processing data from gel images by providing an automatic step-by-step gel image analysis system with a friendly Graphical User Interface. The proposed free software tool is suitable for researchers and students which do not have access to expensive commercial software and image acquisition devices.
This paper presents a particle swarm optimization (PSO)-inspired multi-robot search application based on an innovative software system for collaborative robotic applications. The system has a multi-layer architecture which provides low- and high-level interfaces to the robots, resource (robots) management, security policies and concurrent robot access. The main result is the successful testing of the PSO-inspired algorithm on real-world experiments, using Khepera III and e-puck robots. Simulated results obtained in other studies are therefore validated by the real-world experiments. Differences between simulation and real-world experiments are presented and discussed critically.
