title: Analysis of adaptive reactive control systems for autonomous mobile robots

authors: Brightwell, Gary

abstract: This thesis presents techniques developed for the robust reactive control of autonomous mobile robots navigating in complex environments. Traditional approaches have adopted a top-down perspective by focusing on the reasoning part of path-planning. In contrast, this thesis tackles planning from a bottom-up perspective which is characterised by a tight coupling between perception and action.

With this view in mind, control systems ranging from pure reactive controllers to controllers that can construct spatial representations of the environment are investigated. Hand-designed techniques as well as evolutionary approaches are developed and analysed. Quantitative simulation experiments measuring the performance of each control system are presented along with a new algorithm for developing topological maps of the environment from laser range-finder sensory information.

text: Analysis of adaptive reactive control systems for autonomous mobile robots This thesis presents techniques developed for the robust reactive control of autonomous mobile robots navigating in complex environments. Traditional approaches have adopted a top-down perspective by focusing on the reasoning part of path-planning. In contrast, this thesis tackles planning from a bottom-up perspective which is characterised by a tight coupling between perception and action.

With this view in mind, control systems ranging from pure reactive controllers to controllers that can construct spatial representations of the environment are investigated. Hand-designed techniques as well as evolutionary approaches are developed and analysed. Quantitative simulation experiments measuring the performance of each control system are presented along with a new algorithm for developing topological maps of the environment from laser range-finder sensory information.

year: 1999

title: Book Review: Research Methods in Education, 7th Edition

authors: Zegwaard, Karsten E.

subjects: Research Methods in Education

abstract: This article reviews the book, “Research Methods in Education” by Louis Cohen, Lawrence Manion, Keith Morrison (Authors).

text: Book Review: Research Methods in Education, 7th Edition This article reviews the book, “Research Methods in Education” by Louis Cohen, Lawrence Manion, Keith Morrison (Authors).

year: 2011

title: The Buried Village, New Zealand - an example of dark tourism?

authors: Ryan, Chris

subjects: dark tourism

abstract: In 1886, the explosion of Mount Tarawera resulted in the loss of 150 lives and the burial of the village of Te Wairoa, the base from which tourists had visited the Pink and White Terraces, a silicone-stained natural formation then advertised as one of the natural wonders of the world. Since 1931, the buried site has itself been a tourist attraction and Smith and Croy have argued that it serves as an example of “dark tourism”. This paper uses a different methodology to argue that Lennon and Foley's original definition of dark tourism is precise, that the buried village of Te Wairoa does not meet that specification, but does support the model suggested by Sharpley, that the site's characteristics are those of grey tourism supply. However, the findings derived from a sample of over 600 respondents indicate that sites are complex packages of potential experiences, and are potentially multi-faceted in terms of the experiences they offer. It is also suggested that cultural components might play a role in the experience of what is “dark” about a site.

text: The Buried Village, New Zealand - an example of dark tourism? In 1886, the explosion of Mount Tarawera resulted in the loss of 150 lives and the burial of the village of Te Wairoa, the base from which tourists had visited the Pink and White Terraces, a silicone-stained natural formation then advertised as one of the natural wonders of the world. Since 1931, the buried site has itself been a tourist attraction and Smith and Croy have argued that it serves as an example of “dark tourism”. This paper uses a different methodology to argue that Lennon and Foley's original definition of dark tourism is precise, that the buried village of Te Wairoa does not meet that specification, but does support the model suggested by Sharpley, that the site's characteristics are those of grey tourism supply. However, the findings derived from a sample of over 600 respondents indicate that sites are complex packages of potential experiences, and are potentially multi-faceted in terms of the experiences they offer. It is also suggested that cultural components might play a role in the experience of what is “dark” about a site.

year: 2006