http://hdl.handle.net/10204/3219 Sun, 19 May 2013 18:02:49 GMT 2013-05-19T18:02:49Z http://hdl.handle.net/10204/6698 Title: Temporal logic motion planning in robotics Authors: Seotsanyana, M Abstract: Robotic computer systems have become increasingly ubiquitous in everyday life and this has led to a need to develop safe and reliable robot systems. Description: Copyright: 2012 CRC Press: Danvers, Massachusetts Wed, 01 Aug 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/10204/6698 2012-08-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/6642 Title: VHF spectrum monitoring using Meraka cognitive radio platform Authors: Aderonmu, AI; Rotimi, AH; Masonta, MT; Mzyece, M Abstract: Radio Frequency (RF) spectrum is a natural resource widely used by wireless network operators to provide radio communications or transmission systems (e.g. telephone operators and TV broadcast stations). Scarcity of RF spectrums has led to the enhancement of new techniques for better utilization of the RF spectrums. The questions asked are how much RF spectrum is available and can be used opportunistically and dynamically without interfering with licensed or primary users (PUs)? More so, how will the frequency at which the PU is operating are protected against its usage by the unlicensed or secondary user (SU)? In this paper, we present work that is currently going on with regard to the use of Software Defined Radio (SDR) to utilize RF spectrum usage. We discuss the Meraka Cognitive Radio Platform (MCRP) developed using the second version of the Universal Serial Radio Peripheral (USRP2) hardware and the GNU Radio software. We also discussed how the spectrum monitoring system is being implemented on the MCRP. Lastly, the result of the measurements which were conducted using the MCRP is also presented. These measurements were conducted in South Africa. Description: 4th International IEEE EAI Conference on e-Infrastructure and e-Services for Developing Countries (AFRICOMM 2012), Yaounde, Cameroon, 12-14 November 2012 Thu, 01 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/6642 2012-11-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/10204/6566 Title: A comparative study of cognitive radio platforms Authors: Masonta, MT; Mzyece, M; Mekuria, F Abstract: Cognitive radio (CR) technology has become one of the buzzwords within the wireless communications community over the past 12 years. Its ability to learn, decide and adapt to the external environment made CR attractive to regulators, researchers, academia, politicians and the industry. CR promises to bring a paradigm shift in spectrum management policies from command-and-control regime to dynamic and opportunistic spectrum access. Despite more than a decade of research in the CR area, there are too little CR systems ready for the market. This lack of ready CR systems may reflect an overemphasis in the CR literature on theory and simulations with less work done in experimental-based-research and publications. In order to fast-track the real-life deployments of CR systems, the research community is now focusing on the development of CR platforms. With different software defined radio (SDR) packages and hardware available, it is confusing to decide which one to build or use. The objective of this paper is to study the design of CR platforms making use available SDR software packages and hardware. Our conclusion is that CR research should now focus on experimental-based results using real-life CR platforms in order to realize market-ready CR systems. Description: 4th International Conference on Management of Emergent Digital EcoSystems, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 28-31 October 2012. Published in Research gate 2012. Mon, 01 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/10204/6566 2012-10-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/10204/6517 Title: Localisation and mapping in GPS-denied environments using RFID tags Authors: James, S; Verrinder, RA; Sabatta, D; Shahdi, A Abstract: This research addresses the Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (SLAM) problem in the context of an underground mining environment. This would allow autonomous vehicle navigation in this hazardous setting. This environmental setting has few features and no access to GPS or stationary towers, which are typically used for navigation in mobile robots. In addition, dust and debris may hinder optical methods for ranging. This study investigates using randomly distributed RFID tags to autonomously localize and navigate in such environments. Localization is performed by clustering the observed tags. Value iteration is then utilized to navigate the mobile robot to the defined goal. The simulation results demonstrate that this method is an effective means of navigation and localization in an underground setting. Description: ROBMECH 2012: 5th Robotics and Mechatronics Conference of South Africa, CSIR Convention Centre, Pretoria, 26-27 November 2012 Sat, 01 Sep 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/10204/6517 2012-09-01T00:00:00Z