REU Site: Fundamental Research Topics Related to Unmanned Systems

技术摘要：阿拉巴马大学亨茨维尔分校(UAH)面向本科生的研究体验计划专注于科学和工程五个相关领域基础研究的缺失环节：动力学与控制、视频处理和数据挖掘与压缩、人机界面、传感器物理、材料科学。例如，这些相关领域的更广泛的社会/经济影响之一是，它们有助于影响人类生活质量的无人系统民用应用的激增。首先，制定了基于交互的学习控制器，这些控制器能够学习如何通过与系统交互来控制系统，类似于人类学习如何用最少的指令控制机器的方式。其次，对基于视觉的物体三维重建与分类进行了研究。其目标是制定一种只使用2D视频来生成任意对象的3D模型并使用2D视频对对象进行分类的方法。此外，学生还将学习蛋白质晶体生长阶段阳离子的数据挖掘技术基于晶体存在的图像阳离子的分类。第三，将研究集成来自不同传感器的数据的新方法。其目标是能够融合从不同类型的传感器收集的数据，以重建3D环境。第四，研究将集中在寻找视频数据实时压缩的最佳方法上。我们的目标是制定一种优化计算能力、能量使用、重量和数据带宽需求的方法。第五，将产生人机界面的新想法。其目的是填补人-代理界面无法直观地解释用户意图的空白。第六，将利用物理学的基本原理发明新的传感器，用于准确实时测量高频应变。第七，将测定IPPase在不同温度、pH和离子浓度下的比催化活性。非技术概述：本科生将接触到与他们选择的研究项目相关的最新知识和背景。他们将接受必要的研究技术、文献调查方法、生成假设、制定验证假设的测试、收集数据以及在专业和科学会议上通过书面材料和口头陈述与同事交流的培训。学生将在导师的帮助下解决研究问题，并将自己转变为相对独立的年轻研究人员。研究经验和独立性激发了学生的热情和信心，并极大地增加了他们在STEM相关领域攻读研究生和从事职业生涯的可能性。该计划鼓励美国未来科学人才的多样性。确定了阿拉巴马州和田纳西州中南部(EPSCoR州)的三所两年制学院和七所本科院校。这十所院校的学生总数由51%的女性和82%的少数民族组成。通过将大部分招聘工作集中在这些机构，该计划的目标是从两年制大学招收至少50%的学生，至少70%的学生由女性和少数族裔参与。学生将准备在相关会议上发表的论文，并在相关的会议记录和科学/工程期刊上发表。这个奖项是由激发竞争性研究的实验计划(EHR/EPSCoR)共同资助的。

TECHNICAL SUMMARY:The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) Research Experience for Undergraduates program focuses on the missing links of fundamental research in five related fields of science and engineering: Dynamics & Controls, Video Processing and Data Mining and Compression, Human-Machine Interface, Physics of Sensors, Material Science. As an example, one of the broader societal/economic impacts of these related fields is that they help the proliferation of Unmanned Systems civilian applications that affect humans quality of life. First, interaction-based learning controllers are formulated, which are able to learn how to control a system only by interacting with it, similar to the way humans learn how to control machines with minimum instructions. Second, vision-based object 3D reconstruction and classification will be researched. The goal is to formulate a method that only uses 2D videos to generate a 3D model of an arbitrary object, and classify objects using 2D video. In addition, the students will learn about data mining techniques for classification of phases of protein crystal growth classification of images based on presence of crystals. Third, new ways of integration of data from heterogeneous sensors will be researched. The goal is to be able to fuse data gathered from different sensor types to reconstruct a 3D environment. Fourth, research will be focused on finding optimum ways of real-time compression of video data. The goal is formulating a method that optimizes the need for computational power, use of energy, weight, and data bandwidth. Fifth, new ideas for human-machine interface will be generated. The objective is to fill the gap in the inability of human-agent interfaces to intuitively interpret the users intent. Sixth, fundamentals of physics will be employed to invent new sensors for accurate real-time measurement of high-frequency strain. Seventh, the specific catalytic activity of the IPPase under different temperatures, pH and ionic concentration will be determined.NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARY:The undergraduate students will be exposed to the state-of-the-art knowledge and background related to the research project of their choice. They will be trained in the required research techniques, methods of literature survey, generating hypotheses, formulating tests to validate hypotheses, collecting data, and communicating with colleagues via written materials and oral presentations at professional and scientific meetings. Students will solve research problems with the help of mentors, and will transform themselves into relatively independent young researchers. The research experience and independence generates enthusiasm and confidence for the students, and highly increases the their likelihood of pursuing graduate studies and careers in STEM-related fields. The program encourages diversity among US future scientific talent. Three two-year colleges and seven undergraduate institutions in Alabama and Central Southern Tennessee (EPSCoR states) are identified. The total student population of these ten institutions consists of 51% women and 82% minorities. By focusing most of the recruitment efforts on these institutions, the program aims for recruiting at least 50% of the students from two-year colleges and at least 70% participation by women and minorities. Students will prepare papers for presentation at relevant conferences and for publication in related conference proceedings and science/engineering journals."This award is co-funded by the Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EHR/EPSCoR)."