Friday, January 8, 2016

B1 Group D: Future - Danielle Beynon

For this assignment, the required topics are sensors, HVAC, Artificial Intelligence (AI), databases, and the future. Sensors, HVAC, AI, and databases all have future implications, since outcomes are always changing in these fields based on innovations and progress that society makes each and every day.

In the field of sensors, where these devices detect environmental changes and produce corresponding outputs, advancements are occurring often. In an article, “Bio-inspired Eye Stabilizes Robot’s Flight, Replaces Inertial Navigation System,” a robot called BeeRotor is described as the first robot to fly without using an accelerometer to remain visually stabilized; optic flow sensors are used to adjust the robot’s speed and to keep it away from obstacles. These particular sensors have applications in industry as well, reiterating the fact that the future will hold numerous innovations for sensors to better enhance the functions of society. Also, sensor advancements are essential for progress in HVAC systems, AI devices, and even for databases.

In the HVAC sector, where heating, ventilating, and air conditioning are used to provide optimum indoor environmental comfort, both new and modified systems are frequently introduced so that buildings can consume less energy and become more efficient. One particular article, “Putting Building Science into Practice,” talks about a rehabilitative project in South Boston that showcased the most recent building technologies of that time with their improved efficiencies. Fraunhofer’s Building Technology Showcase provided a commercial building as a means for showing society how the latest mechanical systems were improvements to existing lighting and HVAC systems. Years later, more improvements are being made on different mechanical systems to result in lower energy consumption and more efficiency in buildings.

In the field of Artificial Intelligence (AI), where intelligence is applied through the use of machines, the future holds the possibility of machines that can perceive and understand their surroundings like humans can. This is explained in an article, “Artificial Intelligence Finally Entered Our Everyday World,” in which a prototype called DuLight captures images of what is in front of a person and sends the images to a smartphone app, where the images are analyzed and an audio description is given through an earpiece. With this type of technology, a blind person can know what is happening in front of them through an app on their smartphone. The prototype still needs to be developed fully and only time will tell how this intelligent device can be used in the future.

In the database sector, where information is organized for ease of use, ideas for large advancements exist and are currently being addressed. In one particular article, “Looking Beyond the Internet of Things,” a knowledgeable technician named Adam Bosworth is working on creating “data singularity” so that anything can have sensors that wirelessly connect to data centers. At these data centers, computer servers can manage and learn from the obtained information and send commands to aid in the operations of the “thing” that contains the sensors. This is a highly complex idea, but with the help of major companies such as Google and Amazon, Bosworth believes that this idea can become reality in the future. With this type of technology, databases could be used to improve certain aspects of HVAC, AI, and numerous other systems.

It can be seen that the future holds endless possibilities in the fields of HVAC, sensors, AI, and databases. It is also recognizable that each of these systems are intertwined with the others in that sensors are needed for many HVAC, AI, and database systems; databases can be used to send information to HVAC and AI systems; and the list continues. Such relationships among these systems are highly beneficial because advancements in one system will open up possibilities for the others. Any ideas or inventions that are happening in these fields now have the potential to be enhanced in the future, which is very remarkable. Society will constantly improve over time as long as innovation and creativity exist.

References:
http://www.wired.com/2016/01/2015-was-the-year-ai-finally-entered-the-everyday-world/


Comments:

1) http://ae-510-ay15-16.blogspot.com/2016/01/b2-future-dianna-vogel_8.html?showComment=1452482141534#c4467948596949889700

Dianna,
You were assigned different topics than me, so it was beneficial for me to learn how 3D printing, BIM, structures, and the future are interconnected from your post. It has always been a passion of mine to use BIM for construction projects, so I enjoyed reading about the house built by Frederik Agdrup and Nicholas Bjorndal. What made this BIM project even more impressive was the fact that the necessary parts were made from a form of 3D printing. Before reading this, I had never realized how advanced technology has become in the world of design and construction; that all aspects of a BIM model can be printed electronically and constructed from there. Another thing that I learned was that strong, durable materials can be created from 3D printing. With these phenomenal advancements, I can only imagine what design and construction will be like in the years to come.


2) http://ae-510-ay15-16.blogspot.com/2016/01/b1-group-d-redus.html?showComment=1452565631676#c215296869003166291

James,

Your description of the history of BIM systems was very informative. I did not realize that there were a few “pre-Revit” systems that were capable of working in a similar fashion. Although I am not proficient in HVAC systems, I am impressed with simulation programs such as eQuest and OpenStudio like you discussed. These types of software can be so useful for HVAC design, and combining these with BIM software seems a close-to-perfect way of designing mechanical systems in a building. Also, I discussed the same AI article about DuLight technology and found it inspirational—seeing, something seemingly impossible for computers, has been accomplished. I cannot believe how advanced AI has become, and it continues to progress each and every day. I, too, am eager to see what the future holds in the fields of BIM and AI.

2 comments:

  1. Danielle,
    I began reading your review as you covered the topic of databases similar to my group. However I found that there were several links between your discussion of sensors, artificial intelligence, and databases and my discussion of the sociological impacts of integrating robots into everyday society and databases. I find bio-inspired technology a very interesting topic and your discussion of an eye which helps robots to stabilize and properly move through an environment similarly compelling. Such technology is likely to be applied to the continued use of robotics in society. Chinese analysists who are working towards creating semi-automated workplaces, in which humans and robots work side by side, have stated that they are limited by the robots’ present ability to sense their surroundings. I believe that sensors will continue to be of more importance due to their variety of applications in robotics, structural assessment, and other fields. I also read the same article, Looking Beyond the Internet of Things, as you did. I found your point that the presence of a large database allowing all of these sensors, computers, and robots to communicate will be what allows for them to become a staple of our society highly accurate.

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  2. There is definitely a lot of development in green building technology. I’m under the impression that this technology is frequently not used because it has not been thoroughly tested in real buildings. This then causes a cycle of not using something because no-one uses it. It’s cool to see Fraunhofer outfitting their building with so many new products. It’s even better that it’s a renovation since so many green buildings seem to be brand-new ones even though we have many old buildings that could be used.

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