title: The slot car stig: Performance and consistency of a slot car driven by a heuristic algorithm in an embedded microcontroller

authors: Kane, Steven

subjects: electronics

abstract: We present theory and measured performance of an autonomous slot car driven by a heuristic algorithm on a typical track. The hardware consists of a PIC 8-bit single-chip microcontroller with various sensors driving a standard permanent-magnet (PM) brushed dc (BDC) motor in a mechanically-standard Scalextric platform. We present some interesting results concerning the relative difficulty of apparently-balanced lanes on a track. The car achieves optimum lap times with high consistency. Measured performance agrees with theoretical expectation. The consistency of performance allows the impact of experimental changes to be reliably assessed.

text: The slot car stig: Performance and consistency of a slot car driven by a heuristic algorithm in an embedded microcontroller We present theory and measured performance of an autonomous slot car driven by a heuristic algorithm on a typical track. The hardware consists of a PIC 8-bit single-chip microcontroller with various sensors driving a standard permanent-magnet (PM) brushed dc (BDC) motor in a mechanically-standard Scalextric platform. We present some interesting results concerning the relative difficulty of apparently-balanced lanes on a track. The car achieves optimum lap times with high consistency. Measured performance agrees with theoretical expectation. The consistency of performance allows the impact of experimental changes to be reliably assessed.

year: 2009

title: Variations on a middle class theme: English primary schools in socially advantaged contexts

authors: Thrupp, Martin

subjects: research

abstract: Multiple contexts interact to position any school on a spectrum from cumulatively advantaged to cumulatively disadvantaged. This article discusses a study of the contextual advantages and disadvantages experienced by primary schools in the south east of England, concentrating especially on schools in the least deprived 5% of schools nationally. The research highlights the central influence of advantaged socioeconomic contexts on day‐to‐day school processes and on the related perspectives and beliefs of head teachers as well as variations on this theme related to other external and internal contextual variables. It illustrates that England’s most socially advantaged primary schools are likely to have much in common including a high level of parent involvement, a strong focus on student learning and progress, considerable ability to raise funds, very good reputations and only a handful of students with serious learning or behavioural problems. They also have in common middle class forms of transience and profiles of special needs. The article concludes that while contextual variations amongst socially advantaged schools do exist and are talked up by head teachers, they usually have an impact that can be managed.

text: Variations on a middle class theme: English primary schools in socially advantaged contexts Multiple contexts interact to position any school on a spectrum from cumulatively advantaged to cumulatively disadvantaged. This article discusses a study of the contextual advantages and disadvantages experienced by primary schools in the south east of England, concentrating especially on schools in the least deprived 5% of schools nationally. The research highlights the central influence of advantaged socioeconomic contexts on day‐to‐day school processes and on the related perspectives and beliefs of head teachers as well as variations on this theme related to other external and internal contextual variables. It illustrates that England’s most socially advantaged primary schools are likely to have much in common including a high level of parent involvement, a strong focus on student learning and progress, considerable ability to raise funds, very good reputations and only a handful of students with serious learning or behavioural problems. They also have in common middle class forms of transience and profiles of special needs. The article concludes that while contextual variations amongst socially advantaged schools do exist and are talked up by head teachers, they usually have an impact that can be managed.

year: 2011

title: Ethics systems in the New Zealand psychological society

authors: Dixon, Brian

subjects: Maori

abstract: It is important to remember that the Psychological Society does not exist in isolation. It is part of a wider society and must be accountable to and responsive to the needs of the public, its clients and changes occurring in the community. Ethics largely arise out of the public’s expectations of the profession and implied in that is compliance with the law. Psychologists are obviously answerable to the Courts when their actions transgress the law; no one can legally claim that inclusions or omissions from a code of ethics permit them to act outside of the law. Fortunately, there are seldom conflicts between ethical and legal obligations as certain statutory provisions now reflect some of the more important of our ethical standards. Any consideration of ethics in the Society must take account of the wider societal context within which psychologists operate.

text: Ethics systems in the New Zealand psychological society It is important to remember that the Psychological Society does not exist in isolation. It is part of a wider society and must be accountable to and responsive to the needs of the public, its clients and changes occurring in the community. Ethics largely arise out of the public’s expectations of the profession and implied in that is compliance with the law. Psychologists are obviously answerable to the Courts when their actions transgress the law; no one can legally claim that inclusions or omissions from a code of ethics permit them to act outside of the law. Fortunately, there are seldom conflicts between ethical and legal obligations as certain statutory provisions now reflect some of the more important of our ethical standards. Any consideration of ethics in the Society must take account of the wider societal context within which psychologists operate.

year: 1993