Contour-based Fourier descriptors are established as a simple and effective shape description method for content-based image retrieval. In order to achieve invariance under rotation and starting point change, most Fourier descriptor implementations disregard the phase of the Fourier coefficients. We introduce a novel method for extracting Fourier descriptors, which preserve the phase of Fourier coefficients and have the desired invariance. We propose specific points, called pseudomirror points, to be used as shape orientation reference. Experimental results indicate that the proposed method significantly outperforms other Fourier descriptor based techniques.

In long duration emergency and large scale disaster situations, information on asset position, information of current and information history of weather conditions, and communication are crucial for every rescue operation. Picture and voice are crucial so that affected population can make important decisions and take actions. Available technology offers affordable (low cost) and robust infrastructure solutions in disaster relief situations supported by radio amateur communication. In this paper we presented three types of services for which same hardware in essence can be used. First service is for GPS location mapping, second one is for VOIP communication, and third one is to provide real time video capturing. GPS location mapping was performed by using APRS-IS SDR, VOIP communication is performed via radio-svxlink-Internet using Echolink (svxlink which is linux compatible version) software, and for video capturing was used using Motion software. All above stated services is possible to install on low energy microcomputer such as Raspberry Pi which can be powered with 5 V battery or with mobile phone power adapter.

This paper deals with the design and implementation of a discrete dynamic control system using multi-objective dynamic programming. A discrete dynamic system along with the constraints regarding the values of the system's state (output) and the applicable control input has been introduced. Using multi-objective dynamic programming, a control system has been designed which minimizes two objectives while satisfying introduced constraints. The implemented control solution is explained. Experiments have been performed to test the quality of the implemented solution. A single-objective version of the control problem has been tested to provide reference for analysis regarding the quality of the implemented multi-objective control solution. The comparison of the obtained experimental results confirms the effectiveness of the proposed control solution and demonstrates the benefits of the multi-objective approach.

It is well known that the process of tuning a fuzzy logic controller is almost always a very complex task, which is time consuming, very laborious and often requires expert knowledge of the controlled system. Mapping of fuzzy logic controller's parameters (rule base and membership functions of input(s) and output(s)) into a performance measure in a closed analytical form is near impossible to get, and thus the use of any classical optimization method is automatically ruled out. Knowing this, genetic algorithms with a fitness function in a form of cumulative response error represent a good choice of the optimization method. This approach enables the use of offline optimization of membership functions' parameters (which are being coded into chromosomes). Sugeno-Takagi fuzzy logic controllers with a proportional and a derivative component, and also with a fixed rule base are used in this approach. Experimental results of both simulations and validations on real systems are given in this paper and they show the good performance of this approach.

Radio amateurism is a hobby, which helped in pioneering many innovations that we are using today. Hobbyists, which use radio communication to communicate, are called Hams. Radio communications has great history and Hams are part of it. Radio amateurism is a hobby which plays great part in emergency and disaster relief situations when conventional communications became unavailable. Technology built around radio communication is suitable in education to test study cases, and gain knowledge in wireless and computer communications. Purpose of this paper is to experiment with open source VOIP software (svxlink) using, cheap microcomputer hardware, one of available Linux distributions, radio amateur frequencies, radio amateur transceivers and antennas. Different technological issues brought together in this paper such as wired and wireless communication, VOIP over Internet with voice coming from radio amateur equipment and vice versa. We also tested integrated automatic position reporting system (APRS) because svxlink has capability to dynamically update data on APRS server what is capability with potential many applications such as active and passive measuring activities of VOIP users, users' mobility, and other applicable APRS functionalities as well. In this paper are published experiences from real disaster situation during floods and mudslides which hits Bosnia and Herzegovina in May 2014.

Radio communication has great history of innovations. A hobby which helped in pioneering many innovations in radio communications that we are using today is radio amateurism. Hams are radio amateur hobbyists, which use radio communication to communicate, research, and explore new radio technologies and applications, such as Automatic Packet Reporting System (APRS), which is digital communications information channel for Ham radio. Among other purposes APRS is used to report and map position of any stationary or mobile object via radio. In this paper we presented a low cost APRS client-server infrastructure using Raspberry Pi, APRSdroid, and software defined radio (SDR).

Shape, color and texture are the most important discriminative elements for content based image retrieval. Fourier descriptors are widely used in shape based image retrieval problems. This paper presents a novel method of extracting Fourier descriptors from the simplest shape signature - complex coordinates. Instead of the commonly used scale normalization with the magnitude of the first harmonic, normalization with the sum of magnitudes of all harmonics is used. This leads to an improved shape scale normalization. All the experimental results indicate that the proposed method outperforms many other state-of-the-art Fourier descriptors based methods, both in terms of retrieval performance and computational time.

In the process of design of protocols for medium access control in wireless sensor networks, it is necessary to find a compromise between energy saving, time sensitivity, scalability, adaptability and complexity. In this research, as an object of optimization S-MAC protocol is chosen. The main advantage of the S-MAC protocol is a state of sleep, which significantly reduces power consumption. Although the S-MAC protocol is described with a large number of parameters, in this paper we have selected three parameters that directly affect the time frame protocol: the duty cycle, the duration of the synchronization interval, and duration of the data interval. To assess the quality of the selected parameters, three measures were selected: total electricity consumption in the network, delay in the delivery of packets to the application layer, and the total achieved bandwidth. Using ns-2 network simulator, a model for testing the influence of parameters of S-MAC protocol on network performance has been developed. The parameters values are selected using the NSGA-II algorithm implemented in MATLAB software package, and the whole process of finding of non-dominated solution set is fully automated. In addition to multi-objective optimization of parameters, an experiment with single-objective optimization using aggregated utility function and the standard GA is performed. Finally, the analysis of the obtained set of non-dominated solutions is performed and a comparison with the results of the single-objective optimization is done.

Evolutionary strategies is a heuristic, guided-search based evolutionary algorithm, widely used as optimization technique for computationally intensive problems. Python is a high-level programming language known for code readability, reusability and the ease of use, making it preferable choice for quick and robust software development, although it is lacking in performance and concurrency area. Emerging technologies such as Anaconda Accelerate Python compiler attempt to combine Python's ease of use with both declarative and explicit parallelization and high performance in computationally intensive problems. In this paper an example of master - slave parallel Evolutionary strategy ES(μ,λ) implementation in Python is given, and its performance on CPU and GPU are analyzed.

It is well known that the process of tuning a fuzzy logic controller is almost always a very complex task, which is time consuming, very laborious and often requires expert knowledge of the controlled system. Mapping of fuzzy logic controller's parameters (rule base and membership functions of input(s) and output(s)) into a performance measure in a closed analytical form is near impossible to get, and thus the use of any classical optimization method is automatically ruled out. Knowing this, genetic algorithms with a fitness function in a form of cumulative response error represent a good choice of the optimization method. This approach enables the use of offline optimization of membership functions' parameters (which are being coded into chromosomes). Sugeno-Takagi fuzzy logic controllers with a proportional and a derivative component, and also with a fixed rule base are used in this approach. Experimental results of both simulations and validations on real systems are given in this paper and they show the good performance of this approach.

Two methods of the multi-objective design optimization of switched reluctance motor with 8 stator and 14 rotor poles (SRM 8/14) are compared in this paper. The first optimization method is based on using the results of Two-Dimensional Finite Element Method (2D FEM) parametric analysis of SRM 8/14. Augmented Lagrangian Genetic Algorithm (ALGA) and 2D FEM are coupled in the second optimization process. The optimization objectives are to minimize torque ripple and maximize average steady-state torque, torque factor, torque quality factor, torque density and losses factor. The optimization variables are the stator and rotor poles arc angles, the taper angles of the stator and rotor poles, stator yoke radius, rotor yoke radius, and stator coil height.

This paper presents results of research in development of parallel implementations of genetic algorithms with focus on Map-Reduce programming paradigm. It tries to classify and fit this particular implementation in special model of algorithm having in mind all specific features of programming paradigm used. Besides that, we analyze details of existing proposals for implementation and scaling GA with MapReduce, and show the results of different approach which turned out to be anti-pattern for most general cases.

The paper deals with one of frequently encountered tasks in process industry - water level control. Proportional Integral Derivative (PID) control is often used for this purpose. Since control parameters of PID controller are fixed and tank system is inherently nonlinear, PID controller should not be used on wider level range. Therefore, this paper analyzes the effectiveness of water level control using fuzzy controller. The fuzzy controller is implemented based on mathematical model of tank and using MATLAB. The controller is implemented on Friendly ARM - embedded computer. Arduino board is used as an acquisition board for collecting sensor data from tank system Festo Didactic DD 3100 and as a PWM signal generator for water pump control. Experimental results confirm that the fuzzy control system has good adaptability in comparison with PID and provided satisfying results.

The paper deals with one of frequently encountered tasks in process industry - water level control. Proportional Integral Derivative (PID) control is often used for this purpose. Since control parameters of PID controller are fixed and tank system is inherently nonlinear, PID controller should not be used on wider level range. Therefore, this paper analyzes the effectiveness of water level control using fuzzy controller. The fuzzy controller is implemented based on mathematical model of tank and using MATLAB. The controller is implemented on Friendly ARM - embedded computer. Arduino board is used as an acquisition board for collecting sensor data from tank system Festo Didactic DD 3100 and as a PWM signal generator for water pump control. Experimental results confirm that the fuzzy control system has good adaptability in comparison with PID and provided satisfying results.

This paper presents a procedure for optimization of the switched reluctance drive, in order to achieve required torque-speed characteristics. SRM configuration and characteristics are given, and experimental verification of the modeled characteristic is presented. Genetic algorithm (GA) was used for optimization of turn-on angle, turn-off angle and voltage, which represent basic control inputs. The achieved results suggest that the machine's geometry should be optimized as well.