Engineering, Environment and Computing

A first version of a telemetry system, designed by students, comprises 18 sensors and a GPS receiver. The short range communication between a car and a base-station has been implemented using a radio modem which transmits the data using the spread-spectrum modulation method (also known as the frequency-hopping method). This allows one to avoid the interference between several transmitters which can work in the same time on different cars during the cars racing competition on the same racing track. Additionally, this type of a transmitter provides the high security of the data-communication due to the fact that both devices (a transmitter on a car and a receiver on a base-station) are automatically synchronised on the

The Intelligent Transport Systems and Telematics (ITS&T) Applied Research Group (ARG) has been established in the Faculty of Engineering and Computing (Department of Mechanical and Automotive Engineering, Coventry University) in order to work on practical tasks related to advanced automotive systems, including Controller Area Network (CAN-bus), vehicle diagnostics and safety, vehicle telemetry (sensors monitoring) and vehicle position monitoring (based on GPS, an accelerometer and gyroscope), wireless data-transmission and GPRS network, and tasks related to Intelligent Transport Systems. In particular, modelling and simulation of road traffic networks for optimization of the traffic flow, traffic accidents simulation, reduction of fuel consumption and exhaust emissions. Other projects, related to Intelligent Transport Systems, include modelling and simulation of signalized and non-signalized roundabouts for optimal traffic control; design and simulation of the optimal allocation of traffic infrastructure, charging stations for electric vehicles in car parks and on the roads. More recently, the following projects have been carried out: emergency evacuation of pedestrians and vehicles in the city and from car-parks due to environmental disasters and related threats, logistics of multi-modal transportation, driver's health and performance monitoring via the internet using wireless sensors, and simulation of hybrid-electric and fully-electric vehicles in different traffic and environmental conditions. At the present time the ITS&T group is interested in the development, building and testing of autonomous vehicles: unmanned ground vehicles (UGV), unmanned air vehicles (UAV) and maritime autonomous vehicles (MAV). The group is actively engaged in the work on European Union projects (remote control of equipment and robots via the Internet, VAPVoS; Dynamics In and Of Complex Systems, DIONICOS), and on specific research and consultancy projects with industrial organizations.

— The continuous evolution and development of the world in which we live in vis-à-vis the entire transport industry is constantly demanding endless and rapid advancement in vehicle performance and efficiency. This crucial and imperative need in our transportation system is not only important but also extremely essential for the present and future of road network, vehicle and user sustenance. Improvement in road and vehicle transport technology has continued to redefine the current expectations and subsequently future prospects of sustainable transport and traffic management. In this paper, the current trends and applications of Intelligent Transport System (ITS) on cars and infrastructure is discussed and reviewed. Furthermore this paper also introduces future development in ITS technology including advancement in combination of sophisticated control and communication ITS solutions and the current trends in wireless and satellite vehicle navigation system, while also exposing the existing challenges of ITS solutions.

—Most anthropometrical measurements today are based on using such standard tools as anthropometers, calipers and tape measures. Automatization of measurement process with high speed and accuracy using non-contact scanners can give significant benefit for industry and for customers. The problem of digital surface reconstruction and surface measurement is especially important in medicine: for facial surgery simulation, diagnosis of craniofacial anomalies, trauma to the head, and for reconstructive surgery. Different approaches and equipment have been developed for the solution of this problem; for example, the photogrammetric method based on the principle of rasterstereography [1], a moiré-based light projection system [2], and the 3D reconstruction system [3]. All these methods are based on non-contact measurement principles. The surface digitization system based on a contact method is presented in [4]. The systems described above have many unresolved problems, (such, for example, as a time consuming analysis of the pattern of the object in order to obtain its digital image [1]; a lengthy calibration procedure and intensive computation (off-line processing of data) [2]; huge size and weight, high cost of the system [3]; slow data acquisition and restricted accuracy due to friction of a probe with a surface [4]). Thus the need of a simple, cheap and fast 3D digital surface reconstruction system still exists today. The system presented in this paper allows one to solve these problems. .

With the s tatics of a we alth of mode l s ys te ms in s tatis tical and conde ns e d-matte r s ys te ms be ing re lative ly we ll unde rs tood, an incre as e d e ffort in re s e arch in the s e fie lds is channe lle d towards the unde rs tanding of dynamical phe nome na. This age nda is e ve n more pre s s ing as dynamic e ffe cts are of crucial importance for many e xpe rime ntally obs e rve d and te chnologically important phe nome na. Funding scheme: MC-IRSES -Inte rnational re s e arch s taff e xchange s che me (IRSES) Pe riodic Re port Summary 1 -DIONICOS (Dynamics of and in Comple x Sys te ms ) P a ge 1 o f 4 Research and Innovation EU co nt ribut io n: EUR 235 800 EU co nt ribut io n: EUR 45 600 EU co nt ribut io n: EUR 72 700 EU co nt ribut io n: EUR 33 600 Co o rdinato r PRIORY STREET CV1 5FB COVENTRY Unite d Kingdom Act ivit y t ype: Highe r or Se condary Education Es tablis hme nts Administ rat ive co nt act : Martin We ige l Te l.: +44 2477658862 E-mail Participants RUE MICHEL ANGE 3 75794 PARIS France Act ivit y t ype: Re s e arch Organis ations Administ rat ive co nt act : Vé ronique De bis s chop Te Ritte rs tras s e 04109 Le ipz ig Ge rmany Act ivit y t ype: Highe r or Se condary Education Es tablis hme nts Administ rat ive co nt act : Ge rhard Fuchs Te l.: +49 341 97 35 012 Fax: +49 341 97 35 009 E-mail UNIVERSITATSSTRASSE 31 93053 REGENSBURG Ge rmany Act ivit y t ype: Highe r or Se condary Education Es tablis hme nts Administ rat ive co nt act : Johanna Kronbe rge r Te

This research exercise was undertaken in response to concerns relating to the relevance of
the current Information Systems (IS) curriculum and the drive to change IS courses to
address those concerns. As part of that exercise IS skill and knowledge requirements
have been identified using a variety of instruments and techniques from four
perspectives, academia, market, competitor and research. The findings from each
perspective have been compared and evaluated. The results reveal similarities between
the requirements of competitors and academia and significant differences between the
market and the academia. The findings from the research source complement the
findings from all three sources.

This paper focuses on the selection of a CASE tool
for educational purposes. The paper also seeks to
examine if the use of ICT such as CASE can aid the
students’ understanding of systems analysis and
design techniques, more specifically an entity
relationship model. It is suggested that focus
groups can be used as an effective method of
selecting a CASE tool. In addition there is some
evidence to support using a CASE tool to facilitate
understanding. Furthermore this paper provides a
valuable platform for defining future research.

The story of the de Havilland Comet first began in 1929, when a British Royal Air Force engineer Frank Whittle first presented the idea of powering an airplane with a gas turbine engine. After twenty years of research, experimentation and experience from building jet fighters, such as the Gloster Meteor, the Comet was born. The first prototype of the Comet, developed and manufactured by de Havilland in Hertfordshire, United Kingdom, flew in 1949 and was released as the first commercial jetliner in 1952. The Comet offered an alternative to travelling by ship and train, transformed the passenger experience and significantly reduced travel times against any of its competitors. The Comet was thus heralded an immediate success and enabled Great Britain to take the lead in commercial aviation.  After just one year of commercial service the Comet suffered a range of technical problems which resulted in a number of high profile accidents. However it was these very accidents that have helped raise the awareness of many safety issues and improved several aspects of commercial aviation today.