Moonlight exerts profound ecological, behavioural and physiological effects on animals. However, lunar cycles are characterised by complex changes in the illuminance and timing of illumination, making it challenging to re‐create and manipulate moonlight cycles in the laboratory using artificial lights. As a result, ecological experiments on the effects of moonlight cycles are uncommon, and existing studies often oversimplify the re‐creation of moonlight. This limitation extends to experimental studies of the effects of light pollution on nocturnal animals, which often fail to adequately represent natural nocturnal light. To address the lack of open‐source solutions for re‐creating and manipulating moonlight cycles, we developed the software‐hardware system We tested the accuracy of
This content will become publicly available on May 8, 2024
Webcam Lighting Studio: A Framework for Real-Time Control of Webcam Lighting
We present the design of a multiuser networked wireless system to remotely configure and control the lighting of multiple webcam users at different locations. This system makes use of a Raspberry Pi and a wireless DMX transmitter as the wireless interface that can be used to control the DMX webcam lights. A lighting control software called OLA is used on the Raspberry Pi. A web interface is designed to issue commands to OLA API running on the Raspberry Pi to control DMX lights associated with Raspberry Pi. Multiple wireless interfaces, each for a specific user at a different location, can be simultaneously configured and managed using the web interface. The interactive web interface can be used to control the intensity and color of the DMX lights. The web interface follows a model controller view design and makes HTTP calls to the OLA software running on Raspberry pi. The proposed system enables an operator to provide optimum and artistic lighting effects for a group of online presenters.
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- Award ID(s):
- 2234986
- NSF-PAR ID:
- 10415428
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- #1570880399 ('Webcam Lighting Studio: A Framework for Real-Time Control of Webcam Lighting')
- Page Range / eLocation ID:
- 371 to 377
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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Abstract MoonShine . This has two components: (1)MoonShineR , an R package with additional R scripts, which predicts moonlight ground illuminance (in lux) at defined intervals, for a specified location and time range; (2)MoonShineP , a Python program running on a Raspberry Pi computer, which uses the illuminance values fromMoonShineR to gradually dim and brighten a diffused array of individually addressable LEDs, allowing realistic natural light regimes to be re‐created in a laboratory environment.MoonShine includes multiple features to re‐create and manipulate light cycles. It supports colour‐shifting of the LED light (by adjustment of RGBW intensity ratios) to approximate the spectrum of natural moonlight, and to mimic habitat‐specific conditions or certain types of light pollution.MoonShineR 's moonlight illuminance predictions by comparison to field radiometer measurements at equatorial and temperate latitude sites. We demonstrated the accuracy ofMoonShineP 's moonlight re‐creation, by comparing its measured LED illuminances to the intended values and its measured LED spectrum against natural moonlight.MoonShine allows researchers to re‐create a range of natural nocturnal lighting scenarios in the laboratory. It can be used to re‐create full natural moonlight cycles with a relatively realistic spectral composition, generate manipulated moonlight schedules, or simulate light pollution. Furthermore, the moonlight illuminance predicted byMoonShineR is useful for field ecologists who require moonlight as a quantitative model predictor. Finally, to provide laboratory‐housed animals with full diurnal light cycles,MoonShine allows researchers to re‐create natural twilight and sunlight regimes. -
1. Description of the objectives and motivation for the contribution to ECE education The demand for wireless data transmission capacity is increasing rapidly and this growth is expected to continue due to ongoing prevalence of cellular phones and new and emerging bandwidth-intensive applications that encompass high-definition video, unmanned aerial systems (UAS), intelligent transportation systems (ITS) including autonomous vehicles, and others. Meanwhile, vital military and public safety applications also depend on access to the radio frequency spectrum. To meet these demands, the US federal government is beginning to move from the proven but inefficient model of exclusive frequency assignments to a more-efficient, shared-spectrum approach in some bands of the radio frequency spectrum. A STEM workforce that understands the radio frequency spectrum and applications that use the spectrum is needed to further increase spectrum efficiency and cost-effectiveness of wireless systems over the next several decades to meet anticipated and unanticipated increases in wireless data capacity. 2. Relevant background including literature search examples if appropriate CISCO Systems’ annual survey indicates continued strong growth in demand for wireless data capacity. Meanwhile, undergraduate electrical and computer engineering courses in communication systems, electromagnetics, and networks tend to emphasize mathematical and theoretical fundamentals and higher-layer protocols, with less focus on fundamental concepts that are more specific to radio frequency wireless systems, including the physical and media access control layers of wireless communication systems and networks. An efficient way is needed to introduce basic RF system and spectrum concepts to undergraduate engineering students in courses such as those mentioned above who are unable to, or had not planned to take a full course in radio frequency / microwave engineering or wireless systems and networks. We have developed a series of interactive online modules that introduce concepts fundamental to wireless communications, the radio frequency spectrum, and spectrum sharing, and seek to present these concepts in context. The modules include interactive, JavaScript-based simulation exercises intended to reinforce the concepts that are presented in the modules through narrated slide presentations, text, and external links. Additional modules in development will introduce advanced undergraduate and graduate students and STEM professionals to configuration and programming of adaptive frequency-agile radios and spectrum management systems that can operate efficiently in congested radio frequency environments. Simulation exercises developed for the advanced modules allow both manual and automatic control of simulated radio links in timed, game-like simulations, and some exercises will enable students to select from among multiple pre-coded controller strategies and optionally edit the code before running the timed simulation. Additionally, we have developed infrastructure for running remote laboratory experiments that can also be embedded within the online modules, including a web-based user interface, an experiment management framework, and software defined radio (SDR) application software that runs in a wireless testbed initially developed for research. Although these experiments rely on limited hardware resources and introduce additional logistical considerations, they provide additional realism that may further challenge and motivate students. 3. Description of any assessment methods used to evaluate the effectiveness of the contribution, Each set of modules is preceded and followed by a survey. Each individual module is preceded by a quiz and followed by another quiz, with pre- and post-quiz questions drawn from the same pool. The pre-surveys allow students to opt in or out of having their survey and quiz results used anonymously in research. 4. Statement of results. The initial modules have been and are being used by three groups of students: (1) students in an undergraduate Introduction to Communication Systems course; (2) an interdisciplinary group of engineering students, including computer science students, who are participating in related undergraduate research project; and (3) students in a graduate-level communications course that includes both electrical and computer engineers. Analysis of results from the first group of students showed statistically significant increases from pre-quiz to post-quiz for each of four modules on fundamental wireless communication concepts. Results for the other students have not yet been analyzed, but also appear to show substantial pre-quiz to post-quiz increases in mean scores.more » « less
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null (Ed.)This paper discusses the implementation of Industry 4.0 in an educational setting. Simulation, virtual reality, analytics, robotics and automation, and 3D printing are integrated to develop a small-scale production line for producing and inspecting 3D printed parts. The system consists of a robot and controller, programmable logic controller, 3D printer, machine vision system, conveyor belt, 3-phase motor and motor controller, webcam, PC and monitor, Raspberry Pi computer, pneumatic system, beam sensor, simulation software, and VR equipment. The system components are connected via ethernet cables running to a basic ethernet switch. An ethernet router is also connected to the switch to resolve IP connection attempts by the connected components. A mini CNC machine is used to drill holes on small metal parts that are assembled with 3D printed parts and plastic bricks to make a car toy. A robot is pre-programmed to perform the assembly of the car toy and a Cognex® camera is used to inspect the parts. Deep learning models are used to predict the remaining useful life of the drilling bits.more » « less
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Abstract Objective. Neural activity represents a functional readout of neurons that is increasingly important to monitor in a wide range of experiments. Extracellular recordings have emerged as a powerful technique for measuring neural activity because these methods do not lead to the destruction or degradation of the cells being measured. Current approaches to electrophysiology have a low throughput of experiments due to manual supervision and expensive equipment. This bottleneck limits broader inferences that can be achieved with numerous long-term recorded samples.Approach. We developed Piphys, an inexpensive open source neurophysiological recording platform that consists of both hardware and software. It is easily accessed and controlled via a standard web interface through Internet of Things (IoT) protocols.Main results. We used a Raspberry Pi as the primary processing device along with an Intan bioamplifier. We designed a hardware expansion circuit board and software to enable voltage sampling and user interaction. This standalone system was validated with primary human neurons, showing reliability in collecting neural activity in near real-time.Significance. The hardware modules and cloud software allow for remote control of neural recording experiments as well as horizontal scalability, enabling long-term observations of development, organization, and neural activity at scale. -
Zmuidzinas, Jonas ; Gao, Jian-Rong (Ed.)An often unglamorous, yet critical, part of most millimeter/submillimeter astronomical instruments is cryogenic temperature monitoring and control. Depending on the operating wavelength of the instrument and detector technology, this could be stable temperatures in the Kelvin range for millimeter heterodyne systems to 100 mK temperatures at sub-micro-Kelvin stability as for many submillimeter bolometer systems. Here we describe a project of the HARDWARE.astronomy initiative to build a low-cost open-source temperature monitoring and control system. The HARDWARE.astronomy Housekeeping Box, or H.aHk Box (pronounced “hack box”) is developed primarily by undergraduates and employs existing open-source devices (e.g Arduino, Raspberry Pi) to reduce costs while also limiting the complexity of the development. The H.aHk Box features a chassis with a control computer and ten expansion slots that can be filled with a variety of expansion cards. These cards include initially an AC 4-wire temperature monitor and PID control cards. Future work will develop 2-wire temperature monitors, stepper motor controller, and high-power supply. The base-system will also be able to interface with other house-keeping systems over USB, serial port and ethernet. The first deployment of the H.aHk Box will be for the ZEUS-2 submillimeter grating spectrometer. All designs, firmware, software and parts list will be published online allowing for other projects to adopt the system and create custom expansion cards as needed. Here we describe the design (including mechanical, electrical, firmware, and software components) and initial performance of the H.aHk Box system with initial AC/DC 4-wire and PID cards.more » « less
