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Deficit in imitation skills is one of the core symptoms of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). In this study, we have tried to look closer at the body gesture imitation performance of 20 participants with autism, i.e. ASD group, and 20 typically developing subjects, i.e. TD group, in a set of robot-child and human-child gross imitation tasks. The results of manual scoring by two specialists indicated that while the TD group showed a significantly better imitation performance than the ASD group during the tasks, both ASD and TD groups performed better in the human-child mode than the robot-child mode in our experimental setup. Next, to introduce an automated imitation assessment... 

We consider the fundamental problem of reachability analysis over imperative programs with real variables. Previous works that tackle reachability are either unable to handle programs consisting of general loops (e.g. symbolic execution), or lack completeness guarantees (e.g. abstract interpretation), or are not automated (e.g. incorrectness logic). In contrast, we propose a novel approach for reachability analysis that can handle general and complex loops, is complete, and can be entirely automated for a wide family of programs. Through the notion of Inductive Reachability Witnesses (IRWs), our approach extends ideas from both invariant generation and termination to reachability analysis.... 

Service-Oriented Architecture (SOA) is a software design framework where distributed services are provided and used by applications over a network. By using this architecture new challenges appeared for software testing. Lack of access to the source code and runtime binding are examples of these challenges. Functional testing of services assures the quality of service-oriented applications. In this paper, we introduce a new 3-phase consumer and provider contract-based process for web service testing to overcome SOA testing challenges. Our proposed process, namely OTaaWS, consists of Test Automation, Test Execution and Test Management steps on the provider's side, which can be done on-demand.... 

Meet in the middle (MITM) attack is one of the most important and applicable methods for cryptanalysis of block ciphers. In this paper, a more generalized method for MITM attack is considered. For this purpose, a notion, namely cut-set, is utilized by which several numbers of MITM attacks can be performed. However, manual investigation on these cases is time-consuming and sometimes not error-free. Therefore, a new search algorithm is also provided to obtain proper attacks in a timely manner. For examination, this new search algorithm, which could make an automated attack along with some certain ideas, is applied on HIGHT, Piccolo-128, CRAFT and AES-128 block ciphers. The least time... 

ARX algorithms are a class of symmetric-key algorithms constructed by Addition, Rotation, and XOR, which achieve the best software performances in low-end microcontrollers. To evaluate the resistance of an ARX cipher against differential cryptanalysis and its variants, the recent automated methods employ constraint satisfaction solvers, such as SMT solvers, to search for optimal characteristics. The main difficulty to formulate this search as a constraint satisfaction problem is obtaining the differential models of the non-linear operations, that is, the constraints describing the differential probability of each non-linear operation of the cipher. While an efficient bit-vector differential... 

The reliability of machinery and automated guided vehicle has been one of the most important challenges to enhance production efficiency in several manufacturing systems. Reliability improvement would result in a simultaneous reduction of both production times and transportation costs of the materials, especially in automated guided vehicles. This article aims to conduct a practical multi-objective reliability optimization model for both automated guided vehicles and the machinery involved in a job-shop manufacturing system, where different machines and the storage area through some parallel automated guided vehicles handle materials, parts, and other production needs. While similar machines... 

Computed tomography (CT) simulators are versatile tools for scanning protocol evaluation, optimization of geometrical design parameters, assessment of image reconstruction algorithms, and evaluation of the impact of future innovations attempting to improve the performance of CT scanners. Computational human phantoms (CHPs) play a key role in simulators for the radiation dosimetry and assessment of image quality tasks in the medical x-ray systems. Since the construction of patient-specific CHPs can be both difficult and time-consuming, nominal standard/reference CHPs have been established, yielding significant discrepancies in the special design and optimization demands of patient dose and... 

Energy use in buildings contributes a large part in global energy demand. To reduce energy use in this group of consumers, specially in cold seasons, an automatic control technique is proposed. In this paper, a model predictive controller (MPC) is employed to minimize the boiler activation time. The method uses the building model and incorporates the weather forecast data to act on the actuator in an optimal fashion while treating the user comfort constraints. This technique, as a part, can be embedded into the building energy management system. The building model parameters are obtained via an online identification process using unscented kalman filter (UKF). This identification is... 

Conflict is one of the important factors affecting user satisfaction and trust in smart environments, yet conflict modeling in mixed initiative smart environments has not been sufficiently explored. Most of the existing literature on conflict in smart homes are centered on conflicts between users. Although research has shown that about 75% of conflicts are between users and system [1], only a few studies have considered user-system conflicts in smart homes. The aim of this article is to empirically propose both a definition and a run-time detection method for conflicts between users and smart home systems. Our empirical study is based on conflict sample scenarios collected from 163 users.... 

After several decades of work by several talented researchers, estimation of the origin–destination matrix using traffic data has remained very challenging. This paper presents a set of innovative methods for estimation of the origin–destination matrix of large-scale networks, using vehicle counts on links, partial path data obtained from an automated vehicle identification system, and combinations of both data. These innovative methods are used to solve three origin–destination matrix estimation models. The first model is an extension of Spiess’s model which uses vehicle count data while the second model is an extension of Jamali’s model and it uses partial path data. The third model is a... 

Pipeline Analog to Digital Converter (ADC) design processes include several redesign steps to achieve the optimum solution. Hence, designers prefer to use automated algorithms for this purpose. In this paper, an automated algorithm for CAD tool is presented considering the trade-off between yield and power consumption for pipeline ADCs. This automated algorithm benefits from multiple degrees of freedom including the system level down to transistor level parameters, which helps CAD tools to find the optimized solution. It allows designers to choose an optimum scenario considering the trade-off between yield and power consumption. To evaluate the capabilities of this algorithm, a 10-bit... 

Deficit in imitation skills is one of the core symptoms of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). In this study, we have tried to look closer at the body gesture imitation performance of 20 participants with autism, i.e. ASD group, and 20 typically developing subjects, i.e. TD group, in a set of robot-child and human-child gross imitation tasks. The results of manual scoring by two specialists indicated that while the TD group showed a significantly better imitation performance than the ASD group during the tasks, both ASD and TD groups performed better in the human-child mode than the robot-child mode in our experimental setup. Next, to introduce an automated imitation assessment... 

Smart energy systems can mitigate electric interruption costs provoked by manifold disruptive events via making efforts toward proper pre-disturbance preparation and optimal post-disturbance restoration. In this context, effective contingency management in power distribution networks calls for contemplating disparate parameters from interconnected electric and transportation systems. This chapter, while considering transportation issues in power networks’ field operations, presents a navigation system for pre-positioning resources such as field crews and reconfiguring the network to acquire a more robust configuration in advance of the imminent catastrophe. Also, after the occurrence of the... 

This paper presents a facility layout design for a cellular manufacturing system (CMS), with the automated guided vehicles (AGVs) as the transportation device, to minimize the total material handling costs. A new concept of assigning the workstations to the non-overlapping closed zones, by which independent AGVs are allocated for internal transfer of materials/parts in each zone, is proposed. To handle this problem, a mathematical programming model is developed. The problem has been shown to be NP-hard. This computational difficulty has led us to consider suboptimal solutions generated by a Tabu search with three algorithmic variants. To evaluate the efficiencies of these algorithms, an... 

Purpose: An abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is known as a cardiovascular disease involving localized deformation (swelling or enlargement) of aorta occurring between the renal and iliac arteries. AAA would jeopardize patients’ lives due to its rupturing risk, so prompt recognition and diagnosis of this disorder is vital. Although computed tomography angiography (CTA) is the preferred imaging modality used by radiologist for diagnosing AAA, computed tomography (CT) images can be used too. In the recent decade, there has been several methods suggested by experts in order to find a precise automated way to diagnose AAA without human intervention base on CT and CTA images. Despite great... 

Although demand responsive feeder bus operation is possible with human-driven vehicles, it has not been very popular and is mostly available as a special service because of its high operating costs due to intensive labor costs as well as requirement for advanced real-time information technology and complicated operation. However, once automated vehicles become available, small-sized flexible door-to-door feeder bus operation will become more realistic, so preparing for such automated flexible feeder services is necessary to take advantage of the rapid improvement of automated vehicle technology. Therefore, in this research, an algorithm for optimal flexible feeder bus routing, which... 

Operational modal analysis based on power spectral density transmissibility (PSDT) functions is a useful tool to identify the modal parameters with low sensitivity to excitations. For pole extraction from the PSDT function, a proper parametric identification method such as the polyreference least squares complex frequency-domain method or poly-Max method can be used. Then, the poles are selected from a stabilization diagram (SD) with overestimating the system model order. Therefore, spurious modes can be identified that must be distinguished and removed from the system poles. To reach this aim, many techniques have been proposed and applied. In this paper, a new algorithm is proposed to... 

Due to the large amount of resources needed for implementing distribution automation systems (DASs), distribution companies (DISCOs) should develop long term plans for this project. Similarly, DISCOs have network capacity expansion (NCX) plans which specify the scheme of constructing the feeders and substations. Since considering DAS may lead to more efficient NCX plans, the planner should revise the NCX plan through the DAS planning. On the other hand, for DAS planning it is necessary to consider a NCX plan as a platform to determine the time and location for installation of automation equipment. Therefore the planner should simultaneously work on two plans, each of them affects the other.... 

The great share of interruptions in distribution networks motivates distribution decision makers to establish various reliability enhancement strategies. Amongst these strategies, deploying remote controlled switch (RCS) can make a crucial contribution to the reduction of interruption costs. Nevertheless, the stochastic nature of contingencies affects RCS worth and imposes substantial financial risk to RCS deployment projects. This paper proposes a mathematical model to consider the risk in the optimal RCS deployment problem. The model determines the number and location of RCSs such that the expected profit is maximized while financial risk is minimized. The risk is modeled through... 

A magnetic actuation system is a promising tool for untethered manipulation at the microscale that medical treatment can benefit from. This paper proposes a new magnetic actuation system that comprises of two coaxial coils on a rotary table. A fixed workspace is placed between coils. The proposed system is able to generate magnetic force with desired direction and magnitude in a plane. The conducted simulation and experiment confirm the capability of the proposed system to control the position of the microrobot. © 2019 IEEE