Autonomous Or Semi-Autonomous Robotic Devices

Autonomous or semi-autonomous robotic devices are increasingly used within consumer homes and commercial establishments. Such devices may include a robotic vacuum, mower, mop, or other similar devices to work autonomously or with minimal input. These robotic devices may autonomously create a map of the environment, subsequently use the map for navigation, and then devise intelligent path plans and task plans for efficient navigation and task completion.

Practical uses of obstacle recognizing mobile robots are applicable to scientific exploration as well as emergency rescue. There may be a dangerous location for humans or it may not even be possible for humans to approach this location directly. In these challenging situations, robots are required to collect information about their surroundings to avoid obstacles. To learn more about the key and critical elements of mobile robots, read on.

The important aspects of the process by which obstacle recognition is carried out in autonomous mobile robots are as follows.

Capturing Images of a Workspace by an Image Sensor: In a practical scenario, an image sensor is mounted on a robot. The sensor detects and conveys information to make images, by converting the different attenuation of light waves as they pass through or reflect off objects. The robot moves in different locations in the workspace and captures images.

Obtaining Images: The captured images are then received at the operating end by a processor in the robotic device or through cloud-based software for the process to further carry on.

Comparing the Images: The captured images obtained by the processor of the device are then compared with an object dictionary. This gives the processor a standard to compare the images with. An object dictionary usually contains a database of all possible objects a robotic device might come across.

Identifying the Image: The obtained images once compared to an object dictionary are then classified into a specific set of objects that they belong to. This part of the process plays an important role in carrying out the next step of the process.

Instructing: After the image has been identified by comparing it with the object dictionary, the processor of the device then instructs the robot to act and execute according to the object identified.

Furthermore, there are a number of modifications that can be performed in a practical situation while using the above-mentioned process. The use of different sensors, such as bump sensors, infrared sensors, and ultrasonic sensors helps achieve a set of specific desired results.

Obstacle recognition feature serves as a major advantage for mobile robots. The complex array of sensors used by mobile robots to detect their surroundings allows them to accurately observe their environment in real-time. This is valuable especially in industrial settings that are constantly changing and shifting.

The Takeaway

With the increased use of autonomous robots at consumer and commercial levels, it is important to know about the main process through which these devices function. Obstacle recognition in robots is carried out in 5 main steps: capturing images, obtaining images, comparing, identifying, and instructing to execute accordingly. Furthermore, the use of variable sensors allows the device to perform advanced tasks as well.

QSFP Transceiver, A Puzzle Worth Solving

What Is A QSFP?

QSFP also known as Quad Small Form Factor Pluggable. All the specifications has been verified by vendors. The vendors have released all the modules, connectors and cages. It supoorts upto 40 Gb/s/port. Every port has the capability of supporting four independent channels. The speed can range upto 10 Gb/s/channel. In near future optical modules are going to support the kind of speed we are expecting. Today, QSFP connectors and cages are combined together so it can run at 10GB/s both in short-reach applications and backplane. In the late 2007, 8 and 10 Gb/s modules were introduced along with QSFP optical modules running 5Gb/s.

Fact About QSFP?

The highest pluggable bandwidth density around the world is offered by QSFP module. Since May 2013, the format specification is evolving day by day which enable higher data rates. The highest possible rate is 4×28 Gbit/s. It is also known as QSFP28. Now QSFP has the ability to accommodate Fiber Channel, Ethernet, infiband and SONET/SDH. With these kind of standards, it offers different data rate options.

Different Kind Of QSFP

Currently, you will find every QSFP transceivers have their own transmitter and receiver types. It helps user to select the appropriate transceiver for each link. It then offers the needed optical reach over multi-mode or single-mode fiber. You will find different categories of QSFP modules in the market today. Some of them are:

1. 4 x 1 Gbit/s QSFP

It consist of four channels which has the capability to carry Gigabit Ethernet, 4GFC (FiberChannel), or DDR InfiniBand. All this information is mentioned on the original QSFP document.

2. 4 x 10 Gbit/s QSFP+

This transceiver is a modified version of QSFP. It supports four 10 Gbit/sec channels carrying 10 Gigabit Ethernet, 10GFC FiberChannel, or QDR InfiniBand. The vendors have added a benefit of adding 4 channels and combining into a single 40 Gigabit Ethernet link. Generally it is made only for the application of Data center, 40G Ethernet, Infiniband, and other communications standards.

3. 4 x 14 Gbit/s QSFP+ (QSFP14)

This QSFP+ is for simple purpose only. It does not mean that it does not hold value. It is designed to bring FDR InfiniBand, SAS-3.[7] or 16G Fibre Channel into full functionality.

4. 4 x 28 Gbit/s QSFP+ (QSFP28)

It is designed to carry 100 Gigabit Ethernet, EDR InfiniBand or 32G Fibre Channel. Such kind of transceivers can also be attached with direct-attach cables. This way 100Gbe is adapted to four independent 25 gigabit ethernet ports. These transceivers are also referred as “QSFP100″ or “100G QSFP”.

Web Designing Tips That Makes Your Life Easier

Every web designer has some secrets which separate him from other good designers. Here we managed to make a list of some tips that are really useful in making the design better. With some professional know how you will discover some features in this blog. Whether you are a beginner or a professional you will learn a lot from this article. Let’s start.

Codekit for browsers
Codekit is a must if you are using a MAC system than. The reloading features of the browser are worth the small cost alone. The days of hard refreshing your browser to make different changes are long gone.

Global Changes
Apply the global changes is the healthy tip from a professional that can really help speed things up at the early stages of your design work. You can use the wildcard CSS rule that you can apply the changes globally to your page. While going through the designing process this is the great trick that you must have in your pocket. For sure this is not a great idea to leave this in your live code so use this trick carefully.

Bright Outlines
Whenever you are working with the media queries use bright outlines for them. This trick will enable you to see instantly what rules are applied and how they are looking.

Character Count
For safe and comfortable reading 45-75 characters are generally accepted. There’s a quick trick available to check the responsive and fluid design. Place a line of 45 characters and 75 characters on your page and make sure it resizes within these parameters.

Image size reduction
Highly optimized images sites are load faster and work better on different devices. You can use the reduced images for the better designs and loading rates of your website.

Exports Images
PNG image files are a good thing in designing your website. If you are exporting an image from Photoshop to PNG and it doesn’t need to be transparent try to export it as 8-bit PNG. Mostly it doesn’t affect the quality of your website but it will reduce the side massively.

Typography Palettes
An application “typecast” produced by the talented team at making the design typography riches sites a breeze. This will enable you to build and typographic palettes.

Find Color Inspiration
For a better design of your website, you must use the color combination in an effective way. Colors of your website are the real representation. According to survey color combination attracts more users towards your website.

User flow
User flow is the most critical part of web design. Your user must have an idea how’s your website is working and what is the purpose of your website should be clear to your users. The interface of your website should be easy and friendly so that your visitors stay for a longer time on your site. Your website will be in more focus by your users if your website design is attractive. Website design is also the factor for the heavy traffic on your website.

Involve your Client
Get your client involved with your website as early as possible throughout the design process. Always remember this “they know their business best” and the only way to develop the successful digital solution to combine your knowledge with the client knowledge.

Prototyping
Use different prototyping tools to get early designs in front of your clients as soon as possible. This could be a simple as well as a complex prototype as well. These prototypes will help you as well as your clients to know what your client actually wants from you and it will make your job easier.

Social Share and follow buttons
Producing the great content and offers are not the only things that your website requires. You must provide an opportunity for your users to share your content. If your website lacks social buttons you can miss a lot of traffic on your website that is generated from the people that are already reading your content. If this term is new to you, social sharing buttons are small buttons placed at the top or bottom of your content. These buttons actually work to increase the traffic on your website.
These are some key factors that you can use in your website design. If can’t design your website then you can hire any reputable web design company to build your website for you.

Appointments – Manage Your Time Better At Home to Be Effective

What would happen to you if your home life was more organized than it is right now? Can work-life balance be achieved? What are the tools at our disposal? Could scheduling appointments and keeping them at home help us save time and prioritize?

What is the challenge we face? I sometimes find that time spent at home can be the busiest time, especially in the times we live in. Imagine someone working from home, home-schooling children, and sometimes even doing a side hustle. Imagine also the full-time home-based entrepreneur. How do they manage to do all they need to do in a day?. We are living in a time when many entrepreneurs and even company employees have adopted work- at – home culture. This comes with its challenges as the lines become blurred between home and work. These blurred lines and constraints on the limited resource called time result in over-worked, under-rested, burnt-out individuals. Whilst good time management has been encouraged and indeed, embraced in the workplace, I believe more needs to be done in changing the mindset for the elusive work-life balance to be achieved.

What are the tools at our disposal? To manage time effectively at home, there are many interventions one can employ including setting goals for the day, prioritizing wisely, setting a time limit for every task, organizing oneself, and instituting the discipline of appointments. Yes, an appointment at home! We can spend time pontificating on the pros and cons of each intervention, however, I believe we need to focus on appointments and see how this can powerfully change the course of one’s day regardless of whether it’s a workday or weekend. Life is busy as it is without any intrusions. The question is how do you handle the one who announces that they are at the gate. These can be friends, neighbors, a salesman of some product you do not even need. I am not promoting regimentation here but rather a culture of filling your day with what’s important. Everything that we succeed at is because we carefully plan and execute it. I am a firm believer that you cannot manage time if you do not manage yourself thus I implore you to incorporate planning and appointments into your repertoire. I am not talking about something I do not do. I have to achieve many things in a day therefore I set appointments with my work, others, and myself.

Could scheduling appointments and keeping them on the home front help us save time and prioritize? Whereas we have established that it is a normal business practice to set appointments and keep them, we need to abandon the liberal open-door policy of allowing all and sundry to have access to us as and when they please on the home front. Please understand where I am coming from. We each have greatness within us but for us to achieve it we need to culture great habits. Employing the use of appointments at home and seeing only those people you had agreed to see removes non-essential encounters especially during the most productive hours. I know this will vary with culture, geographical region, or even level of affluence, whether you live in a low density or high-density residential area, but doesn’t negate the need to be organized and effective. Controlling access determines how organized you are and how well you will work and rest when the time for scheduled rest comes.

What do we need to do differently? We need to be disciplined and diligent, learn to say no, now is not a good time, let’s make an appointment for next week. What are the benefits of this approach? You are not always fire-fighting to meet deadlines, You are not always tired because you have not taken time out to rest. You have set aside enough time to spend with your loved ones or a loved one. If you are a busy person, I am sure you appreciate what I am saying. Whether it’s time to work uninterrupted, family time, or “me-time”, it takes some kind of order to enjoy it.

I am not saying that those that come unannounced are bad people. No, not at all, they probably are people you enjoy spending time with. Nevertheless, there must be prior communication so that you can attend to your visitor(s) when it is convenient for both you and them. It can be quite disrupting and a whole day can just pass by without achieving anything that you had planned to do.

As we grow older we begin to appreciate that rest and recovery need to be scheduled. The fact that I am relaxing doesn’t mean that I don’t have anything to do. One therefore cannot assume that just because you are at home you are available. Maybe you have scheduled that time to rest. That is important. You need to make an appointment with yourself, spouses need to also set aside time for each other. Parents need to schedule a time to spend with their children. When you have some sort of order in your life you determine who sees you and who you see. It also means that your relationships will be healthy and that makes you a happier person.

In conclusion, I believe that the work-life balance can be achieved. There are many tools at our disposal just like it is in the workplace.I believe we could do more and be happier if we are disciplined enough to make only the commitments we can keep.I am certain that setting appointments and keeping them at home help us save time and prioritize.

Fitzgerald Mujuru, a fusion of Business Coach, Personal Effectiveness Coach, Business Consultant, Marketing Strategist, Sales Zealot, Speaker, brand builder, with over twenty years in marketing and sales for globally known brands. He has vast commercial experience at management level in various sectors. His strengths include marketing, brand building, sales, business development, business strategy, management, and equipping leaders and teams with strategies for personal and team effectiveness. He has handled various consultancy assignments for companies in professional services, media, communications, training and development, non-profit organizations. He has released 4 books and published more than 200 articles online.

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