Human Path Integration by Optic Flow

Path integration or 'dead reckoning' is the ability to keep track of relative position using self-motion signals that convey information about speed and direction of movement. Most animal species, including humans, exhibit some degree of path integration capability and neurophysiological studies have demonstrated that self-motion signals are sufficient to update internal representations of both position and orientation. In the present study, human subjects were required to monitor their position or orientation on the basis of unstructured optic flowfields. Trials were conducted at different speeds to examine the accuracy of path integration and rates of random error accumulation, and at two different head azimuths to prevent a confounding strategy of position updating based primarily on tracking changes in the angular declination of distant landmarks with respect to the horizon. Participants integrated the speed of visual motion to update accurately a representation of their position and orientation within the environment. Consistent with the characteristics of real-world path integration, errors accumulated linearly with the magnitude of position and orientation estimation. We conclude that coherent optic flowfields provide a sufficient basis for humans to keep track of their position and orientation relative to remembered landmarks.     

Prioritized Spatial Updating in the Intrinsic Frame of Reference

In order to maintain valid situation awareness, people need to update the spatial representations of their surroundings as objects, including themselves, move. The present study investigates the properties of spatial updating in the intrinsic frame of reference, where spatial relations are represented with respect to an external object (other than the viewer self) with an intrinsic reference direction. Three experiments were conducted using a task of direction pointing. It was found that given a relatively stable intrinsic reference direction, responses to a small number of salient objects were faster than responses to non-salient objects (Experiment 1 and Experiment 3). The salience effect disappeared when the intrinsic reference direction was no longer stable (Experiment 2). Furthermore, all three experiments revealed a type of orientation dependence similar to that found in egocentric spatial updating. Our results indicate that spatial updating in the intrinsic reference system can be easy only if a fixed reference direction is maintained and the number of objects that need to be tracked is limited.     

Influence of estimation errors on wayfinding-decisions in unknown street networks – analyzing the least-angle strategy

The least-angle strategy is a common wayfinding method that can be applied in unknown environments if the target direction is known. The strategy is based on the navigator's heuristic to select the street segment at an intersection which is most in line with the target direction. To use this strategy, the navigator needs to know the angles between the target direction and the street segments leading out from the intersection. If the direct view to the target is blocked and the target vector cannot be perceived, the target direction that is needed for the decision process is based on the agent's believed position and orientation (estimated through path integration). The agent's believed position and target direction are distorted by human errors in estimation of distances and directions, mainly affecting the path integration process. In this paper we examine how human estimation errors of distance and rotation influence the decision behavior in the wayfinding process in an unknown street environment. To demonstrate the geometrical consequences for a specific test case, we use a simulated software agent which navigates in a simulated street environment.     

Path visualization: a method for objective measurement of spatial visualization

ABSTRACT

The ability to mentally represent spatial information is a fundamental cognitive process. To many people, this process feels a bit like visual perception, hence the term ‘spatial visualization’. In this paper, we describe a method for measuring the accuracy of spatial visualization, specifically visualization of a complex path in imaginary space. A critical feature of this method (called Path Visualization) is that it relies on the detection of intersections in a visualized path. Intersection detection is an inherently spatial task that requires a spatial representation. In this paper, we show how the Path Visualization method works, and how it can be customized to address several key research issues in human spatial cognition.     

无阻力双星串行编队相对位置有限时间控制

研究无阻力卫星构成的双星串行编队相对位置的有限时间控制问题。首先,选取两颗卫星位置连线中点为参考坐标系原点,考虑J2摄动项,建立了双星相对位置的动力学模型。与传统的主从式卫星编队模型中假设主星为理想运动不同,本文的建模方法同时考虑了两颗卫星受到扰动的情况。而后,为使无阻力卫星编队相对位置快速达到期望状态,采用自适应参数更新律和加幂积分技术设计控制律,实现了闭环系统的实际有限时间稳定。最后,通过数值仿真校验了本文控制器的有效性和鲁棒性。     

Representing a stable environment by egocentric updating and invariant representations

To represent a stable environment despite the experience of changes during self movements, one can either develop an invariant allocentric representation, or update the egocentric representations as one moves. Using a disorientation paradigm, three sets of studies investigated these mechanisms in human navigation and scene recognition. Accuracy in the configuration of multiple object localization is impaired by disorientation, an effect not due to artifacts such as memory deterioration over time, intervening physical activities, uncertainty in self position and orientation, etc., suggesting one can locate objects primarily by updating their egocentric positions as she or he moves. Disorientation also impaired the judgment of changes to a scene after viewer movements, suggesting a similar egocentric updating process. On the contrary, representation of the shape of the surroundings is invariant and persists through disorientation. The coexistence of multiple mechanisms may increase the flexibility and robustness of the system.     

Human navigation ability: Tests of the encoding-error model of path integration

This paper tests the generality and implications of an encoding-error model (Fujita et al. 1993) of humans' ability to keep track of their position in space in the absence of visual cues (i.e., by nonvisual path integration). The model proposes that when people undergo nonvisually guided travel, they encode the distances and turns that they experience, and their errors reflect systematic inaccuracies in the encoding process. Thus when people try to return to the origin of travel, they base their response on mis-encoded values of the outbound distances and turns. The two experiments reported here addressed three issues related to the model: (i) whether path integration is context-dependent and if so, how rapidly it adapts to recently experienced distances and turns; (ii) whether effects of experience can be specifically attributed to changes in the encoding process, and if so, what changes; and (iii) whether the encoding process represents distances and turns in the individual paths without considering their spatial relationship to one another (i.e., an object-centered representation). Testing these issues allows us to evaluate and develop the model.Subjects who were blindfolded or had restricted vision were led through two legs of a triangle and the turn between, then tried to return to the origin. Paths varied in whether experienced legs and turns were small or large (Experiment 1) and in variability of return and outbound course (Experiment 2). Response turn, distance and course were determined. The assumption of immutable encoding functions was not supported; encoding processes were context dependent, although they did not adapt within a block of trials. Although effects of experience could be accounted for by the model, the affected parameters were not always as predicted, and in some cases additional parameters were necessary. Results of manipulating variability in return course were consistent with the model's assumption of object-centered representation.     

The conventionality of pictorial representation in interstellar messages

Pictorial messages have previously been advocated for interstellar communication because such messages are presumed to be capable of presenting information in a non-arbitrary and easily intelligible manner. In contrast to this view, pictorial messages actually represent information in a partially conventional way. This point is demonstrated by examining pictorial representations of human beings from a range of cultures. While such representations may be understood quite readily by individuals familiar with the conventions of a particular culture, to the uninitiated outsider, such representations can be unintelligible. In spite of the partially arbitrary nature of pictorial representation, we may be able to construct messages that would teach extraterrestrial intelligence (ETI) some of the conventions by which we view pictures. One such approach is to pair numerical information about geometrical objects with pictorial representations of the same objects. Problems of conventionality can also be addressed in part through use of (1) multiple representations of the same object, (2) contextual cues, (3) three- and four-dimensional representations and (4) non-visual representations.     

Orientational versus esthetical urban street morphology parameterization in Space Syntax

Current topological and geometrical distances in Space Syntax are based on the premise that each change of direction along a path is a mental cost because one loses orientation. This paper proposes to extend the analysis to the case in which esthetic and variety, rather than orientation, are the key elements of street selection. It is widely recognized that most people are attracted to curvy paths rather than straight ones; therefore, when one is not worried about losing orientation in her walk, or when the preferred path is well recognizable even when it requires changes of direction, we should adopt another criterion to weigh distances: morphoahestetic and networkvariety criteria are shown as potential parameterization for Space Syntax distances.     

固定辐射源的干涉测向定位精度分析

固定辐射源的干涉测向技术日益成熟,利用单台测量设备测向数据实现辐射源的定位应用比较广泛,其方法主要分为单点法和移动法,根据某电磁环境监测任务总体设计中的模拟仿真计算,分析了两种定位方法对任务设计中定位指标的影响,提出了任务中体制选择原则,给出了类似系统的通用总体设计思路。     

Spatial memory exclusivity: Examining performance of multiple object-location memories

Research on location memory suggests that integration of separate sources of information does not occur when recalling the position of a common target object. In a relatively simple task, previous research shows no observable benefit from holding two spatial memories compared to one. It has been suggested that exclusively utilizing only one of two memories may account for this finding. The current research tests the robustness of this idea as well as an alternative in the form of an averaging approach to combining spatial information. The results suggest that exclusivity may not be the best account for performance of multiple object-location memories. Rather, memories may well combine in a manner similar to averaging, where information is available for each memory but combined in a nonbeneficial way.     

Transformations and representations supporting spatial perspective taking

Spatial perspective taking is the ability to reason about spatial relations relative to another’s viewpoint. Here, we propose a mechanistic hypothesis that relates mental representations of one’s viewpoint to the transformations used for spatial perspective taking. We test this hypothesis using a novel behavioral paradigm that assays patterns of response time and variation in those patterns across people. The results support the hypothesis that people maintain a schematic representation of the space around their body, update that representation to take another’s perspective, and thereby to reason about the space around their body. This is a powerful computational mechanism that can support imitation, coordination of behavior, and observational learning.     

Framing holes within a loop hierarchy

We investigate the relation between nontrivial spatial concepts such as holes and string loops from a qualitative spatial reasoning perspective. In particular, we concentrate on a family of puzzles dealing with this kind of objects and explain how a loop formed in a string shows a similar behavior to a hole in an object, at least regarding the qualitative constraints it imposes on the solution of the puzzle. Unlike regular holes, however, we describe how string loops can be dynamically created and destroyed depending on the actions on the string. Furthermore, under a Knowledge Representation point of view, we provide a formalization that allows the different puzzle states to be described in terms of string crossings and loops, together with the actions that can be executed for a state transition and the complex effects they cause on the state representation. This implies the consideration of a formal representation of the side effects of actions that create or destroy string loops and the soundness of this representation with respect to the more general representation of string states in knot theory.     

星光折射航天器自主定轨方案比较

当星光透射大气发生折射时 ,用星光折射角精确地反映星光在大气中离地球表面的高度 ,并建立高度、航天器与地球的几何关系。通过对折射角进行观测 ,间接测得地平 ,从而改善了用地平仪直接测地平所造成的航天器自主导航精度低的不足。本文提出了几种利用星光折射的航天器自主定轨方案 ,并作了细致的仿真实验 ,对直接和间接两种测量地平方法以及几种星光折射自主定轨方案进行了分析比较。     

弹道导弹中段机动突防制导误差修正方法

针对弹道导弹中段反拦截实时机动突防带来的参数偏差问题,给出了在地球非球形摄动影响下的位置和速度偏差量的计算方法,采用改进的fg级数和预测制导方法获得了机动推力的作用方向及发动机的开启时间,并对再入点误差进行了修正。仿真结果表明,采用该方法可有效地修正因机动突防与地球扁率而引起的再入点参数误差,为末制导系统的工作提供了良...     

The acquisition of survey knowledge for local and global landmark configurations under time pressure

The influence of stress states on cognition is widely recognized. However, the manner in which stress affects survey knowledge acquisition is still unresolved. For the present study, we investigated whether survey knowledge acquisition during a stressful task (i.e., under time pressure) is more accurate for the mental representation of global or local landmarks. Participants navigated through virtual cities with a navigation aid and explicit learning instructions for different landmark configurations. Participants’ judgments of relative direction (JRDs) suggest that global landmark configurations were not represented more accurately than local landmark configurations and that survey knowledge acquisition was not impaired under time pressure. In contrast to prior findings, our results indicate the limitations of the utility of global landmarks for spatial knowledge acquisition.     

基于贝叶斯优化的无人机路径规划算法

提出了一种基于贝叶斯优化算法的无人机路径规划方法。把无人机路径编码为离散时间上的速度和航向变化序列，每一步的速度和航向变化量都限制在无人机相应最大变化量之内，所以这种编码方法对应的物理轨迹是无人机可飞的。利用每代种群中的优良解集构造贝叶斯网络，用贝叶斯网络的结构体现染色体基因位之间的联系，用贝叶斯网络参数体现染色体基因位之间的联系程度。设计了一个多变量K2度量评价网络的优劣。用贝叶斯网络产生新的染色体以体现种群的进化，这取代了传统遗传算法的交叉和变异过程。如果不满足终止条件，则用新一代种群的优良解集构造贝叶斯网络，直到满足终止条件。仿真结果验证了算法的有效性。     

Spatial Influence of Environmental Axes in a Baseball Field

Abstract

We investigated the influence of environmental axes in a baseball field. In Experiment 1, participants walked either a path in the prototypical orientation (home plate to second base) or one which was rotated 225°. Recall for object locations was best when participants imagined themselves aligned with axes salient from the experienced orientation. In Experiment 2, when learning was through a route text, there was less of an influence of environmental axes. In Experiment 3, when participants walked both paths, memories were good for the atypical orientation, suggesting that task-specific spatial cues can be more influential than a prior conceptual north.     

小天体软着陆自主光学导航与制导方法研究

针对小天体软着陆任务自主性、实时性的需求,对软着陆小天体自主导航与制导问题 进行了研究。提出了一种利用激光测距仪和光学导航相机跟踪目标着陆点的自主导航方案, 利用测距矢量以及目标点之间的几何关系,确定着陆平面法向方向和目标点位置。分析期望 的探测器下降轨迹特点,给出了一种基于制导变量的脉冲控制制导律,通过对目标点视线与 着陆平面法向矢量之间夹角的控制,将软着陆小天体控制分解为切向控制与法向控制两部分 。最后,通过数学仿真对自主导航制导系统的性能进行了验证,结果表明该方法能够满足垂 直软着陆的任务需要,实现高精度软着陆。     

姿态运动的Rodrigues参数描述

详细介绍了刚体姿态运动的Rodrigues参数描述，指出了Rodrigues参数的许多新特性，定义了Rodrigues参数的乘法及相关的代数运算，给出了坐标变换的Rodrigues参数乘法描述，推导了Rodrigues参数描述的姿态运动学微分方程及逆运动方程，并给出了Rodrigues参数与其他常用姿态描述之间的转换公式。文中指出用Rodrigues参数描述姿态转动具有简洁、直观的优点，而且Rodrigues参数描述的微分方程结构简洁、无多余的约束，其计算效率优于当前广泛应用的四元数方法。文末介绍了Rodrigues参数在弹道导弹捷联姿态实时解算中的应用，基于Rodrigues参数的捷联姿态算法在计算精度、内存消耗上均优于目前弹上计算机使用的四元数递推算法，且计算量仅相当于后者的一半。