Emerging digital transformation in industry is noticeable among others in Supply Chain Management (SCM). For instance, applying new-generation digitalized technologies in the Dairy Supply Chain (DSC) enables an increase of manufacturing productivity, improves planning and forecasting, and also enhances competitive capabilities according to Industry 4.0 assumptions. It is worth mentioning, that in modern DSC, high visibility of raw materials, components, products, and processes by all contributors on all stages of DSC is crucial. This article focuses on the transparency aspect of the DSC supported by IoT-based technologies enabling interoperability among all DSC participants. The paper addresses the problem of effective integration of heterogeneous data sources, i.e., deployed new technological IoT solutions with traditional SCM systems and a third-party software component. The main objective of this report is to propose the IoT-based DSC model comprising four chain stages: milk production, milk transportation, milk processing, and dairy products distribution. Moreover, the comprehensive DSC domain ontology as a knowledge model is formulated and described. The ontology aims on improvement of the DSC management efficiency by facilitating interoperability within DSC. The applicability of the proposed ontological model is verified using a sustainable-oriented case study, which estimates the environmental footprint at the milk transportation stage of the DSC.

Robotization has become common in modern factories due to its efficiency and cost-effectiveness. Lots of robots and manipulators share their workspaces with humans what could lead to hazardous situations causing health damage or even death. This article presents a real-time safety system applying the distributed computing paradigm for a collaborative robot. The system consists of detection/sensing modules connected with a server working as decision-making system. Each configurable sensing module pre-processes vision information and then sends to the server the images cropped to new objects extracted from a background. After identifying persons from the images, the decision-making system sends a request to the robot to perform pre-defined action. In the proposed solution, there are indicated three safety zones defined by three different actions on a robot motion. As identification method, state-of-the-art of Machine Learning algorithms, the Histogram of Oriented Gradients (HOG), Viola-Jones, and You Only Look Once (YOLO), have been examined and presented. The industrial environment tests indicated that YOLOv3 algorithm outperformed other solutions in terms of identification capabilities, false positive rate and maximum latency.

The assessment of skills is essential and desirable in areas such as medicine, security, and other professions where mental, physical, and manual skills are crucial. However, often such assessments are performed by people called “experts” who may be subjective and are able to consider a limited number of factors and indicators. This article addresses the problem of the objective assessment of driving style independent of circumstances. The proposed objective assessment of driving style is based on eight indicators, which are associated with the vehicle’s speed, acceleration, jerk, engine rotational speed and driving time. These indicators are used to estimate three driving style criteria: safety, economy, and comfort. The presented solution is based on the embedded system designed according to the Internet of Things concept. The useful data are acquired from the car diagnostic port—OBD-II—and from an additional accelerometer sensor and GPS module. The proposed driving skills assessment method has been implemented and experimentally validated on a group of drivers. The obtained results prove the system’s ability to quantitatively distinguish different driving styles. The system was verified on long-route tests for analysis and could then improve the driver’s behavior behind the wheel. Moreover, the spider diagram approach that was used established a convenient visualization platform for multidimensional comparison of the result and comprehensive assessment in an intelligible manner.

Over the last few decades, life expectancy has increased significantly. However, elderly people who live on their own often need assistance due to mobility difficulties, symptoms of dementia or other health problems. In such cases, an autonomous supporting system may be helpful. This paper proposes the Internet of Things (IoT)-based information system for indoor and outdoor use. Since the conducted survey of related works indicated a lack of methodological approaches to the design process, therefore a Design Methodology (DM), which approaches the design target from the perspective of the stakeholders, contracting authorities and potential users, is introduced. The implemented solution applies the three-axial accelerometer and magnetometer, Pedestrian Dead Reckoning (PDR), thresholding and the decision trees algorithm. Such an architecture enables the localization of a monitored person within four room-zones with accuracy; furthermore, it identifies falls and the activities of lying, standing, sitting and walking. Based on the identified activities, the system classifies current activities as normal, suspicious or dangerous, which is used to notify the healthcare staff about possible problems. The real-life scenarios validated the high robustness of the proposed solution. Moreover, the test results satisfied both stakeholders and future users and ensured further cooperation with the project.

The paper considers how the agile concept can be included in the User Driven Design framework. This design method combines requirements and constraints of users and stakeholders. The agile concept ...

The increased potential and effectiveness of Real-time Locating Systems (RTLSs) substantially influence their application spectrum. They are widely used, inter alia, in the industrial sector, healthcare, home care, and in logistic and security applications. The research aims to develop an analytical method to customize UWB-based RTLS, in order to improve their localization performance in terms of accuracy and precision. The analytical uncertainty model of Angle of Arrival (AoA) localization in a 3D indoor space, which is the foundation of the customization concept, is established in a working environment. Additionally, a suitable angular-based 3D localization algorithm is introduced. The paper investigates the following issues: the influence of the proposed correction vector on the localization accuracy; the impact of the system's configuration and LS's relative deployment on the localization precision distribution map. The advantages of the method are verified by comparing them with a reference commercial RTLS localization engine. The results of simulations and physical experiments prove the value of the proposed customization method. The research confirms that the analytical uncertainty model is the valid representation of RTLS' localization uncertainty in terms of accuracy and precision and can be useful for its performance improvement. The research shows, that the Angle of Arrival localization in a 3D indoor space applying the simple angular-based localization algorithm and correction vector improves of localization accuracy and precision in a way that the system challenges the reference hardware advanced localization engine. Moreover, the research guides the deployment of location sensors to enhance the localization precision.

Developing technologies associated with tracking human movement and behaviour enable new applications for competence assessments from training results of professionals, such as medical staff, sportsmen or emergency servicemen. This article considers a methodological approach to design a system for firefighter's skills and competence assessment. Assessed training features such as in-building behaviour and tasks execution are analysed based on data gathered with wireless Ultra-Wideband Real-Time Location System, UWB RTLS, and Inertial Measurement Unit, IMU. The assessment is based on the predefined required training tasks, the expert's expertise and results of the trainee's test. The Unity game engine is used for data processing and visualization. As the comprehensive final map of the trainee's skills, the spider diagram is applied and the single score method provides the conclusive statement. The proposed solution was verified experimentally in real environment.

Wireless sensor networks, WSN, for which development has begun by military applications, are nowadays applied to all human activities; e.g. in medicine for patience monitoring or to reduce the effects of disasters. Therefore, the WSNs area has been also one of the emerging and fast growing scientific fields. Increasing interest of WSNs is even caused by equally intense growth of interest in the Internet of Things domain, IoT, in which WSNs constitute a significant part. These reasons have brought about developing low cost, low-power and multi-function sensor nodes. However, the major fact that sensor nodes run quickly out of energy has been an issue and many energy efficient routing protocols have been proposed to solve this problem. Case study presented in this paper concern design of WSN in IoT concept from system lifetime perspective. A hierarchical routing technique, which shows energy efficiency, has been validated. Simulation results show that chosen technique prolongs the lifetime of the WSN compared to other investigated clustering schemes. The advantages of this method are validated by comparative studies.

Real-time Locating Systems (RTLSs) have the ability to precisely locate the position of things and people in real time. They are needed for security and emergency applications, but also for healthcare and home care appliances. The research aims for developing an analytical method to customize RTLSs, in order to improve localization performance in terms of precision. The proposed method is based on Angle of Arrival (AoA), a ranging technique and fingerprinting method along with an analytically defined uncertainty of AoA, and a localization uncertainty map. The presented solution includes three main concerns: geometry of indoor space, RTLS arrangement, and a statistical approach to localization precision of a pair of location sensors using an AoA signal. An evaluation of the implementation of the customized RTLS validates the analytical model of the fingerprinting map. The results of simulations and physical experiments verify the proposed method. The research confirms that the analytically established fingerprint map is the valid representation of RTLS' performance in terms of precision. Furthermore, the research demonstrates an impact of workspace geometry and workspace layout onto the RTLS' performance. Moreover, the studies show how the size and shape of a workspace and the placement of the calibration point affect the fingerprint map. Withal, the performance investigation defines the most effective arrangement of location sensors and its influence on localization precision.

The purpose of this research is to improve performance of the Hybrid Scene Analysis - Neural Network indoor localization algorithm applied in Real-time Locating System, RTLS. A properly customized structure of Neural Network and training algorithms for specific operating environment will enhance the system's performance in terms of localization accuracy and precision. Due to nonlinearity and model complexity, a heuristic analysis is suitable to evaluate NN performance for different environmental conditions. Efficiency of the proposed customization of a Neural Network is verified by simulations and validated by physical experiments. This research also concerns the influence of size of Neural Network training set. The results prove that, better localization accuracy is with a NN system which is properly customized with respect to a training method, number of neurons and type of transfer function in the hidden layer and also type of transfer function in the output layer.

The purpose of this research is to find an optimal number and configuration of readers in RFID based 3D Indoor Positioning System. The system applies a Hybrid Scene Analysis - Neural Network algorithm to estimate target's position with a desired accuracy. The system's accuracy and cost depend on a number of utilized readers and their arrangement. Readers' deployment is crucial for the localization accuracy too. The system optimization enhances the system cost-efficiency. The arrangement analysis was based on simulations and validated by physical experiment. The results of this research define a tradeoff between a number of readers and their deployment and the system performance in terms of localization accuracy.

The Research Methodology course for postgraduate students is challenging, even for an experienced academic teacher. The primary objective of this course is to prepare participants to conduct scient ...

The purpose of this research is to find an optimal number and configuration of readers in RFID based 3D Indoor Positioning System. The system applies a Hybrid Scene Analysis Neural Network algorithm to estimate target's position with a desired accuracy. The system's accuracy and cost depend on a number of utilized readers and their arrangement. Readers' deployment is crucial for the localization accuracy too. The system optimization enhances the system cost-efficiency. The arrangement analysis was based on simulations and validated by physical experiment. The results of this research define a tradeoff between a number of readers and their deployment and the system performance in terms of localization accuracy.

The paper presents a new Automatic Waterjet Positioning Vision System (AWPVS) and investigates components of workpiece positioning accuracy. The main purpose of AWPVS is to precisely identify the position and rotation of a workpiece placed on a waterjet machine table. Two webcams form a basis for the system, and constitute its characteristics. The proposed algorithm comprises various image processing techniques to assure a required identification precision. To validate the PVS identification quality, synthetic images were applied under various conditions. The analysis ascertains dependence of an object detection rate and accuracy on a size of cropping frame. Experimental results of the proposed PVS prototype prove that a combination of the vision algorithm and webcams is an alternative to dedicated expensive industrial vision systems. The two main components of AWPVS uncertainty, a machine component and PSV component are discerned and estimated.

The main purpose of this research is to improve localization accuracy of an active Radio Frequency Identification, RFID tag, in 3D indoor space. The paper presents a new RFID based 3D Indoor Positioning System which shows performance improvement. The proposed positioning system combines two methods: the Scene Analysis technique and Artificial Neural Network. The results of both simulation using Log-Distance Path Loss Model and physical experiments validate that the proposed positioning system improves the localization accuracy of an RFID tag compared with well-known Scene Analysis technique solutions

The goals of this work are a design and implementation of a new vision system, integrated with the waterjet machine. This system combines two commercial webcams applied on an industrial dedicated platform. A main purpose of the vision system is to detect the position and rotation of a workpiece placed on the machine table. The used object recognition algorithm consists of edge detection, standard math processing functions and noise filters. The Hough transform technique is used to extract lines and their intersections of a workpiece. Metric rectification method is used, in order to obtain a top view of the workspace and to adjust an image coordinate system, accordingly to the waterjet machine coordinates. In situ calibration procedures of the booth webcams are developed and implemented. Experimental results of the proposed new vision system prototype confirm required performance and precision of the element detection.