Search Results (13)

Fires and fire hazards in industrial environments pose a significant risk to safety, infrastructure, and the operational community. The need for real-time monitoring systems capable of detecting fires early and transmitting alerts promptly is crucial. This paper presents a fire monitoring system utilizing lightweight communication protocols, a multi-hop wireless network, and anomaly detection techniques. The system leverages Message Queue Telemetry Transport (MQTT) for efficient message exchange, the ESP-NOW for low-latency and reliable multi-hop wireless communications, and a radio environment map for optimal node placement, eliminating packet loss and ensuring robust data transmission. The proposed system addresses the limitations of traditional fire monitoring systems, providing flexibility, scalability, and robustness in detecting fire. Data collected by ESP32-CAM sensors, which are equipped with pre-trained YOLOv5-based fire detection modules, are processed and transmitted to a central monitoring server. Experimental results demonstrate a 100% success rate in fire detection transmissions, a significant reduction in latency to 150ms, and zero packet loss under REM-guided configuration. These findings validate the system’s suitability for real-time monitoring in high-risk industrial settings. Future work will focus on enhancing the anomaly detection model for greater accuracy, expanding scalability through additional communication protocols, like LoRaWAN, and incorporating adaptive algorithms for real-time network optimization. Full article

Occasionally, four cars arrive at the four legs of an unsignalized intersection at the same time or almost at the same time. If each lane has a stop sign, all four cars are required to stop. In such instances, gestures are used to communicate approval for one vehicle to leave. Nevertheless, the autonomous vehicle lacks the ability to participate in gestural exchanges. A sophisticated in-vehicle traffic light system has therefore been developed to monitor and facilitate communication among autonomous vehicles and classic car drivers. The fuzzy logic-based system was implemented and evaluated on a self-organizing network comprising eight ESP32 microcontrollers, all operating under the same program. A single GPS sensor connects to each microcontroller that also manages three light-emitting diodes. The ESPNow broadcast feature is used. The system requires no internet service and no large-scale or long-term storage, such as the driving cloud platform, making it backward-compatible with classical vehicles. Simulations were conducted based on the order and arrival direction of vehicles at three junctions. Results have shown that autonomous vehicles at four-legged intersections can now communicate with human drivers at a much lower cost with precise position classification and lane dispersion under 30 s. Full article

The Songnen Plain is a significant region in China, known for its high grain production and concentrated distribution of soda saline land. It is also considered a priority area for cropland development in the country. However, the Songnen Plain is now facing prominent issues such as soil salinization, soil erosion, and deteriorating cropland quality, which are exacerbated by climate change and intensified human activities. In order to address these challenges, it is crucial to adjust the quantitative structure and layout of different landscapes in a harmonious manner, aiming to achieve synergistic optimization, which is posed as the key scientific approach to guide comprehensive renovation policies, improve saline–alkaline land conditions, and promote sustainable agricultural development. In this study, four scenarios including natural development, priority food production (PFP), ecological security priority (ESP), and economic–ecological-balanced saline soil improvement were set up based on Nondominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm II (NSGA-II) and the Future Land Use Simulation (FLUS) model. The results demonstrated that the SSI scenario, which focused on economic–ecological equilibrium, displayed the most rational quantitative structure and spatial layout of landscape types, with total benefits surpassing those of the other scenarios. Notably, this scenario involved converting unused land into saline cropland and transforming saline cropland into normal cropland, thereby increasing the amount of high-quality cropland and potential cropland while enhancing the habitat quality of the region. Consequently, the conflict between food production and ecological environmental protection was effectively mitigated. Furthermore, the SSI scenario facilitated the establishment of a robust ecological security and protection barrier, offering valuable insights for land use planning and ecological security pattern construction in the Songnen Plain, particularly in salt-affected areas. Full article

The increasing adoption of Internet of Things (IoT) technologies has facilitated the creation of advanced applications in various industries, notably in complex workplaces where safety and efficiency are paramount. This paper addresses the challenge of monitoring worker presence in vast workplaces such as shipyards, large factories, warehouses, and other construction sites due to a lack of traditional network infrastructure. In this context, we developed a novel system integrating Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) beacons with multi-hop IoT networks by using the ESP-NOW communications protocol, first introduced by Espressif Systems in 2017 as part of its ESP8266 and ESP32 platforms. ESP-NOW is designed for peer-to-peer communication between devices without the need for a WiFi router, making it ideal for environments where traditional network infrastructure is limited or nonexistent. By leveraging the BLE beacons, the system provides real-time presence data of workers to enhance safety protocols. ESP-NOW, a low-power communications protocol, enables efficient, low-latency communication across extended ranges, making it suitable for complex environments. Utilizing ESP-NOW, the multi-hop IoT network architecture ensures extensive coverage by deploying multiple relay nodes to transmit data across large areas without Internet connectivity, effectively overcoming the spatial challenges of complex workplaces. In addition, the Message Queuing Telemetry Transport (MQTT) protocol is used for robust and efficient data transmission, connecting edge devices to a central Node-RED server for real-time remote monitoring. Moreover, experimental results demonstrate the system’s ability to maintain robust communication with minimal latency and zero packet loss, enhancing worker safety and operational efficiency in large, complex environments. Furthermore, the developed system enhances worker safety by enabling immediate identification during emergencies and by proactively identifying hazardous situations to prevent accidents. Full article

The use of wireless technology in common marine engineering applications as a medium for data transaction in measurement and control systems, is not as popular as it should be. This article aims to demonstrate the advantages of using wireless technology in maritime engineering applications through a proposed Wi-Fi based wireless system dedicated to performance and safety monitoring in marine cargo cranes. The system is based on some concepts that were suggested in the earlier literature to perform authenticated data transmission from multiple sensors through using both the ESP-NOW protocol and the WebSerial remote serial monitor. The introduced system will be integrated with an already installed system in order to render the means for implementing effective principles in automation and control engineering, such as functional safety and predictive maintenance. Additionally, this article will highlight the economic efficiency of adopting wireless technology instead of cabling as a medium for data transaction in measurement and control systems in marine engineering applications such as cargo cranes. Full article

With the development of civilisation, the awareness of the impact of versatile aerosol particles on human health and the environment is growing. New advanced materials and techniques are needed to purify the air to reduce this impact. This brings the necessity of fast and low-cost devices to evaluate the air quality from particulate and gaseous impurities, especially in a place where gas chromatography (GC) techniques are unavailable. Small portable and low-cost systems may work separately or be incorporated into devices responsible for air-cleaning processes, such as filters, smoke adsorbers, or plasma air cleaners. Given the above, this study proposes utilising a self-assembled low-cost system to evaluate air quality, which can be used in many outdoor and indoor applications. ESP32 boards with the wireless communication protocol ESP-NOW were used as the framework of the system. The concentration of aerosol particles was measured using Alphasense sensors. The concentrations of the following gases were measured: NO₂, SO₂, O₃, CO, CO₂, and H₂S. The system was used to evaluate the quality of air containing tobacco smoke after passing through an actual DBD plasma reactor where the purification occurred. A high amount of reduction in aerosol particles and a reduction in the SO₂ concentration were detected. An increase in the NO₂ concentration was seen as an undesirable effect. The aerosol particle measurements were compared with those using a professional device (GRIMM, Hamburg, Germany), which showed the same trends in aerosol particle behaviour. The obtained results are auspicious and are a step towards producing a low-cost, efficient system for evaluating air quality as well as indoor and outdoor conditions. Full article

About 8% of the Ecuadorian population suffers some type of amputation of upper or lower limbs. Due to the high cost of a prosthesis and the fact that the salary of an average worker in the country reached 248 USD in August 2021, they experience a great labor disadvantage and only 17% of them are employed. Thanks to advances in 3D printing and the accessibility of bioelectric sensors, it is now possible to create economically accessible proposals. This work proposes the design of a hand prosthesis that uses electromyography (EMG) signals and neural networks for real-time control. The integrated system has a mechanical and electronic design, and the latter integrates artificial intelligence for control. To train the algorithm, an experimental methodology was developed to record muscle activity in upper extremities associated with specific tasks, using three EMG surface sensors. These data were used to train a five-layer neural network. the trained model was compressed and exported using TensorflowLite. The prosthesis consisted of a gripper and a pivot base, which were designed in Fusion 360 considering the movement restrictions and the maximum loads. It was actuated in real time thanks to the design of an electronic circuit that used an ESP32 development board, which was responsible for recording, processing and classifying the EMG signals associated with a motor intention, and to actuate the hand prosthesis. As a result of this work, a database with 60 electromyographic activity records from three tasks was released. The classification algorithm was able to detect the three muscle tasks with an accuracy of 78.67% and a response time of 80 ms. Finally, the 3D printed prosthesis was able to support a weight of 500 g with a safety factor equal to 15. Full article

The applications of non-fullerene acceptor Y6 with a new type of A₁-DA₂D-A₁ framework and its derivatives have increased the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of organic solar cells (OSCs) up to 19%. Researchers have made various modifications of the donor unit, central/terminal acceptor unit, and side alkyl chains of Y6 to study the influences on the photovoltaic properties of OSCs based on them. However, up to now, the effect of changes of terminal acceptor parts of Y6 on the photovoltaic properties is not very clear. In the present work, we have designed four new acceptors—Y6-NO₂, Y6-IN, Y6-ERHD, and Y6-CAO—with different terminal groups, which possess diverse electron-withdrawing ability. Computed results show that with the enhanced electron-withdrawing ability of the terminal group, the fundamental gaps become lower; thus, the wavelengths of the main absorption peaks of UV-Vis spectra red-shifts and total oscillator strength increase. Simultaneously, the electron mobility of Y6-NO₂, Y6-IN, and Y6-CAO is about six, four, and four times faster than that of Y6, respectively. Overall, Y6-NO₂ could be a potential NFA because of its longer intramolecular charge-transfer distance, stronger dipole moment, higher averaged ESP, enhanced spectrum, and faster electron mobility. This work provides a guideline for the future research on modification of Y6. Full article

This paper aims to prove the feasibility of a 4D monitoring solution (3D modeling and temporal monitoring) for the sandbar and to characterize the species’ role in the landscape. The developed solution allows studying the interaction between the river dynamics and vegetation using a network of low resolution and low power sensors. The issues addressed concern the feasibility of implementing a photogrammetry solution using low-resolution sensors as well as the choice of the appropriate sensor and its testing according to different configurations (image capture and storage on the sensor and/or image transmission to a centralization node) and also the detailed analysis of the different phases of the process (camera initialization, image capture, network transmission and selection of the most appropriate standby mode). We reveal that the tiny, low-cost board (ESP32-Cam) can perform a 3D reconstruction and propose using the camera’s UXGA (1600, 1200) resolution because of the quality rendering and energy consumption. A multi-node scenario based on a combined Wi-Fi and GSM relay is proposed in the study showing several years of autonomy for the system. Finally, to illustrate the energy cost of the module, we have defined a study process, where we have identified and quantified one by one the different phases of operation of the card for better energy optimization (setup, camera configuration, shooting, saving on SD card, or sending by Wi-Fi). The device is now operational for deployment on the Allier River (France). Full article

Automation can now be found in nearly every industry. However, home automation has yet to reach Pakistan. This paper presents an Internet of Things smart kitchen project that includes automation and monitoring. In this project, a system was developed that automatically detects the kitchen temperature. It also monitors the humidity level in the kitchen. This system includes built-in gas detection sensors that detect any gas leaks in the kitchen and notify the user if the gas pressure in the kitchen exceeds a certain level. This system also allows the user to remotely control appliances such as freezers, ovens, and air conditioners using a mobile phone. The user can control gas levels using their phone with this system. In this paper, the ESP32, DHT11 Sensor, 5 V Relay X 8, and MQ-135 gas sensors create a smart kitchen by controlling the temperature, managing humidity, and detecting gas leakage. The system was built on an Arduino board that is connected to the Internet. The hardware was integrated and programmed using an Arduino, and a user Android application was developed. The project’s goal is to allow any Android smartphone to remotely control devices. This method is commonly used in homes, businesses, and grocery stores. Users will be able to control all of their instruments from anywhere, including switches, fans, and lights. Furthermore, simulation was performed using Matlab2016b on multiple houses. In the simulation, not only was the kitchen considered, but also two, four, and six houses. Each house has two bedrooms, one living room, one guest room, two bathrooms, and one kitchen. The results revealed that using this system will have a scientifically significant impact on electricity consumption and cost. In the case of the houses, the cost was USD 33.32, 32.64, 22.32, and 19.54 for unscheduled, two, four, and six houses, respectively. Thus, it was observed that the cost and power are directly proportional to each other. The results reveal that the proposed solution efficiently reduces the cost as compared to that of unscheduled houses. Full article

This historical review of casting methods used to produce sheets of steel for automobiles, household products, rocket bodies, etc., all point toward the development of one-step commercial processes, which are capable of casting liquid steel directly into a final sheet product. Progress towards this goal is confirmed by successful advances being made, but there remain major difficulties in reaching it. We concur that the conventional continuous casting method remains the current process of choice for highest-quality steel sheet products, but the ESP TSC (Endless Strip Production—Thin Slab Caster) approach is now highly competitive. Similarly, the original goal of Sir Henry Bessemer to produce a direct strip-making twin-drum caster, in 1856, finally came to lasting commercial fruition at CASTRIP/NUCOR. Nonetheless, a newer approach, promoted by Salzgitter, termed DSP (Direct Strip Production), or promoted by MMPC/MetSim as HSBC (Horizontal Single Belt Casting), has several advantages over CASTRIP in terms of microstructures and productivity. As such, the pros and cons of current methods are reviewed within this brief history of casting. Full article

While wireless sensor networks (WSN) offer potential, their limited programmability and energy limitations determine operational challenges. Thus, a TinyIPFIX-based system was designed such that this application layer protocol is now used to exchange data in WSNs efficiently. The new prototype is based on the Espressif ESP32-WROOM-32D Internet-of-Things (IoT) platform, which is becoming famous, as it is inexpensive but powerful compared to older generations of IoT devices. The system implementation is provided in the programming language MicroPython, which provides a simple and efficient implementation, compared to a lower-level programming language. Therefore, this approach focuses on value creation rather than platform-specific implementation difficulties. The system is evaluated in smart home use cases and displays valuable overhead, reliability, and power efficiency. TinyIPFIX outperforms the data overhead of the type–length–value (TLV) paradigm by a factor of 7% when a TinyIPFIX data message carries only two records, and one TinyIPFIX template message is sent per three TinyIPFIX data messages. A further decrease in overhead is observed when the number of data records per message and the number of TinyIPFIX data messages sent per one TinyIPFIX template message increase to larger values. The message delivery between end devices and the application server resides at a very high level, close to 100%, when the transmission reliability is secured with acknowledgments and retransmissions. The energy efficiency resides at the limited level, as the experienced deep sleep power consumption of the ESP32 device resides at the milliwatt level. Full article

Background: A variety of veneering options to zirconia frameworks are now available. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of veneer materials, veneering methods, cement materials, and aging on the failure load of bilayered veneer zirconia. Material and methods: Zirconia bars (20 × 4 × 1 mm) were veneered to 2 mm total thickness (n = 10/group). Veneering method groups included: 1. Hand-layered feldsparthic porcelain (VM = Vita VM9, Vident) and fluorapatite glass–ceramic (CR = IPS e.max Ceram, IvoclarVivadent); 2. Pressed feldspathic porcelain (PM = Vita PM9, Vident) and fluorapatite glass–ceramic (ZP = IPS e.max ZirPress, IvoclarVivadent); 3. CAD-/CAM-milled feldspathic ceramic (TF = Vitablocs Triluxe Forte, Vident) and lithium-disilicate glass–ceramic (CAD = IPS e.max CAD, IvoclarVivadent). CAD/CAM veneers were either cemented with resin cements (P = Panavia21, KurarayDental), (R = RelyX Ultimate, 3M ESPE), (M = Multilink Automix, Ivoclar Vivadent) or fused with fusion glass–ceramic (C = CrystalConnect, IvoclarVivadent). A three-point bending test (15 mm span, zirconia on tension side) was performed on Instron universal testing machine (ISO 6872) recording load-to-failure (LTF) of first veneer cracks or catastrophic failure. For group VM, PM, TF-M, TF-C, CAD-M, CAD-C, ten more bars were prepared and aged with cyclic loading (100,000 cycles, 50% LTF) and thermocycling (2000 cycles) before testing. Data were analyzed by ANOVA, Tukey HSD post hoc tests, and t-test (α = 0.05). Zirconia veneered with IPS e.max CAD by fusing had significantly higher failure load compared with zirconia veneered with other veneering materials (p ≤ 0.05). For cemented veneers, the cement type had a significant effect on the failure load of the veneer zirconia specimens. Specimens cemented with Panavia 21 had a lower resistance to loading than other cements. The aging experiment revealed a significant difference in failure load between non-aged and aged bars in groups VM and PM, but not in the groups with CAD-/CAM-milled veneers. In conclusion, veneer materials, veneering methods, and cement materials have a significant effect on the failure load of bilayered veneer zirconia. CAD-/CAM-milled veneer zirconia is not susceptible to aging performed in this study. Full article