NOPR Collection:

Navigation with a Cooperative Social Robot for a Group of Visitors using Face Detection and a ‘Stop and Wait’ Scheme

Sun, 01 Oct 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Title: Navigation with a Cooperative Social Robot for a Group of Visitors using Face Detection and a ‘Stop and Wait’ Scheme Authors: Malviya, Vaibhav; Kala, Rahul Abstract: The work is on the use of a robot as a guide that takes visitors for a guided tour around a facility. A past project of the research group proposed a robot guide that enacted a pre-recorded tour, however, had a limited applicability as the humans rarely followed the guided tour and the robot did not respond to the movement of the visitors. A robotic guide must ensure that it takes the visitors along, who are not left behind, while typically maintaining comforting distances from the visitor. The width and height of the human face is computed which is inversely proportional to the distance of the person from the robot. Further, we construct a method which guides visitors cooperatively. The robot moves sequentially to different locations with the visitors, and if any visitor is found missing, the robot stops and waits for that visitor. When the visitor becomes visible, the robot resumes the journey. The robot moves and navigates as a guide for a group of visitors maintaining appropriate distances from the visitor using the distance measurement methodology. The results are demonstrated by making the robot take visitors on a guided tour of the Robotics and Machine Intelligence Laboratory. The robot waits if a visitor leaves the group for calls or any other reason, while also waits if the visitors lag behind. The work demonstrates the ability of a robot to be socially complaint while taking a group of visitors on a guided tour. Page(s): 1009-1021

Synthesis of Amorphous Hierarchical Mesoporous ZnAlPO4 and its Catalytic Applications for Benzene to Aniline Reaction

Sun, 01 Oct 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Title: Synthesis of Amorphous Hierarchical Mesoporous ZnAlPO4 and its Catalytic Applications for Benzene to Aniline Reaction Authors: Peta, Sreenivasulu; Singh, Sadhana Abstract: This paper reports a distinctive property of hierarchical mesoporous ZnAlPO4 for benzene to aniline reaction, with 99% selectivity using aqueous ammonia as amine source in presence of hydrogen peroxide at mild reaction conditions (70℃ and atmospheric pressure). The catalyst is synthesized by a simple, solvent-free mixing method, which significantly improves properties such as acidity and porosity of the material is gained by increasing the temperature of the physical mixture from room temperature (25ºC) to 100ºC. Detailed characterization analysis by FT-IR, SEM, TEM, XRD, TPD, XPS, and N2 adsorption–desorption studies of the material helped in understanding the direct amination activity of the material. Page(s): 1022-1030

Analysis of Carbon Footprint and Comfort for Bus System Regarding Optimum Daily Trips

Sun, 01 Oct 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Title: Analysis of Carbon Footprint and Comfort for Bus System Regarding Optimum Daily Trips Authors: Murat, Yetis Sazi; Demirkollu, Muhammed; Saldiroglu, Selim Abstract: Sustainable and smart management of public transportation systems depends on continuous monitoring and analysis of the data collected at regular intervals. One of the key research topics in this area is determining bus service frequency and developing appropriate schedules. The number of buses and their frequencies have a significant impact on the entire transportation system, affecting all users of the network. To address this issue, bus service frequencies during peak hours should be determined based on passenger demand. In this study, the daily frequencies of the bus system of a city (Denizli, Turkey) were investigated, the carbon footprints of the system were analyzed, and suggestions were provided. This is determined by the model developed regarding the linear optimization method. The goal programming approach is used in the analysis. The existing frequencies are compared with that provided by the goal programming approach. Additionally, the results obtained are investigated by a cost analysis regarding different benefit rates (carbon footprint, total kilometer, and passenger comfort) for the public. By implementing the recommended bus service frequencies, significant financial and environmental improvements can be achieved. Page(s): 1031-1040

Interaction of Pesticides with Clean-up Agents during QuEChERS Dispersive-SPE Clean-up

Sun, 01 Oct 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Title: Interaction of Pesticides with Clean-up Agents during QuEChERS Dispersive-SPE Clean-up Authors: Tippannanavar, Madhu; Banerjee, Tirthankar; Shekhar, Sumit; Talaviya, Harshang; Sahu, Sudama; Narayanan, Neethu; Gupta, Suman; Singh, Anupama Abstract: A method was developed using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectroscopy for the identification and quantification of multi residues of pesticides. The present study is first of this kind, destined purely to understand the interaction between the clean-up agents with 103 pesticides. The QuEChERS clean-up, employing most commonly used clean-up agents like anhyd.MgSO4, PSA, C-18 and GCB in twelve combinations, was performed to assess their adsorption behavior with the pesticides. Recovery studies at 1μg∙mL−1 showed that anhyd.MgSO4 gave acceptable recovery for 100 pesticides (97.08%) in treatment T1. The PSA adsorbed some polar and acidic pesticides onto it and gave acceptable recovery for < 90% pesticides in T2 to T5 and C-18 with anhyd.MgSO4 & varying amount of PSA (T6, T7) gave a lower, but acceptable recovery of 83.49% pesticides. GCB with anhyd.MgSO4 & varying amount of PSA (T8, T9), adsorbed some planar pesticides like carbendazim, tricyclazole and gave a lower, but acceptable recovery for 74.75 – 77.66% pesticides. In T10 to T12, when all the adsorbents were used, adsorption of polar, acidic and planar pesticides (25.24%) was observed while rest of the pesticides (74.75%) gave acceptable recovery. The method also satisfied the single laboratory validation criteria for linearity, specificity, accuracy and precision. Page(s): 1041-1054