AMBIT

FP7 Locon

Platform for an inter-working of embedded localisation and communication systems

The project aims at a seamless connectivity and inter-working of embedded localisation and communication systems through a new platform in order to maintain large infrastructures like airports more efficiently, flexibly and securely

Main Objectives

One main objective of LocON is to create an inter-working platform for the control of large scale infrastructures and to develop middleware that integrate heterogeneous embedded radio localisation technologies in a scalable and fully flexible manner. The project focuses on seamless and reliable localisation onsite (indoors as well as outdoors). To maintain large infrastructures like airports in a more efficient, flexible, secure and easy way is the main impact – thus LocON is targeting the following objectives:- to integrate a hardware/software platform including the middleware for heterogeneous short range embedded localisation and communication technologies focusing on seamless connectivity, scalability, coexistence and inter-working- to implement the interoperabilities with the satellite based localisation and the wireless communication based on Sensor Networks and on standards like WLAN, WIMAX, GSM, UMTS, TETRA.- to implement a control system with new engineering approaches that ensure efficient, robust, predictable, safe and secure behaviour for the large scale infrastructure airport (e.g.: controlling the luggage in an airport, controlling the staff, control of movements in restricted areas- to demonstrate the results and benefits in the large scale infrastructure of an airport with strong security requirements- and finally to bring together all the main key players in the European short range localisation market and to begin a standardisation process at European level.

Tetra SCALA

This project is a cooperation between the research groups e-lab (Artesis University College of Antwerp) and DraMCo (KAHO St. Lieven, Ghent).
The project fits in the ‘Ambient Assisted Living’ philosophy, because location dependent services are important elements of this new way of living.

Main Objectives

During the Tetra project ‘Ladi Witepa’, that was also conducted in a cooperation by the e-lab and the DraMCo research group, an evaluation of the wireless technologies suited for indoor positioning was made. All of these systems estimate the position by examining the RF propagation (signal strength, propagation delay,…) between the tag and the network.
The need for this new Tetra project, arose from the observation that there is a huge gap between available RF technologies for indoor positioning and the end user applications.
Between the low level hardware and software, and the high level end user applications, a new convergence layer will be developed. This layer will not only ease the usability of the technologies in the applications, but will also add an extra value by selecting and/or combining technologies seamlessly and in real time to get faster, permanent and more accurate position information.

Field tests will be conducted to thoroughly check and evaluate the developed system. These tests will be set up in close collaboration with the industrial partners from the user group of the project and should provide the researchers with more information about the best practices for combining technologies in order to get better results.

Finally, research will be done to evaluate new technologies that might be developed during the execution of this project.

Phd. Ubiquitous Locating Systems

A lot of localisation systems exists these days on macro, mezzo and micro level. Next to the all-known satellite navigation, there exists also a lot of different short-range systems.
These systems have all kind of applications in different markets. The coverage of these systems is typically one building or an area of a few hundreds of square meters with an accuracy of a few centimetres up to a few meters.  A lot of systems are already deployment on different sites around the globe, but these are mostly proprietary systems which create isolated applications.

POC (proof of concept) NFC

In this project, research will be conducted to examine the technical and practical usability of a secure payment and access control system using the wireless “touch” technology NFC. The needed terminals and applications need further examination, development and testing, after which a practical case study will be organized to get feedback from potential end users and  event organizers. Based on this feedback, the developed system can be altered and optimized.

Main Objectives

The main objective of this project is to research whether the new “touch” technology NFC is a feasible technology to use for payment and access control. The resulting system will be commercialized by an independent company
In first instance we need to develop a working system. As use-case we choose a festival or a student’s party whereas in the present paper tickets and vouchers are used
Analyses:

• Is the speed of the system better or comparable with the current system.
• Impact user feedback. What’s the impact of user feedback (pushing an ok button or so…) on the speed and simplicity of payment.
• Will the system have an impact on the sales
• To make an estimate of the cost of the system.
• How will terminals work the best, what buttons are required.

With the results of the above analyses we can optimize the system for a demo setup. On that demo setup we will do the necessary performace and security analyses. These are necessary to persuade possible investors or clients.

AMMI

PhD Gesture Recognition for 3D Human-Computer Interaction

Promoter: Wilfried Philips (UGent); Co-promoter: Alessandro Ledda (Artesis)

The purpose of this PhD research is to develop camera-based solutions for human-computer interaction with 3D-modelling applications. Objects can then be manipulated using natural hand gestures.

The system will exist of a low-resolution camera and the necessary intelligence to adapt to changing background illumination. Further on, because of the interactive nature of the application, the system should work in real-time and with only a small delay.