Journals of Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences
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EVALUATION OF THE LATVIAN LABOUR MARKET USING THE COBB-DOUGLAS PRODUCTION FUNCTION AND THE BEVERIDGE CURVE MODEL
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One of the biggest problems in the Latvian labour market is related to insufficient work productivity, but this is an important aspect of sustainable economic growth, and special attention needs to be paid to it from a macroeconomic point of view. Productivity is measured as gross domestic product per hour worked. One of the most important macroeconomic questions is the one that tries to understand how the gross domestic product depends on capital and labour. Cobb-Douglas production function is related to both – gross domestic product and labour market – and, despite being developed more than 90 years ago, it is still an object of interest. There are unresolved issues related to the function, one of which is whether parameters α and β are equal to 1 or not. Considering the long GDP, labour, and capital time series for one country, it has been recognised that the sum does not have to be equal to 1. The aim of this research is to find what parameters of Cobb-Douglas function for Latvia are equal to and evaluate the Latvian labour market using the Cobb-Douglas production function and the Beveridge curve model.
METHODS
When evaluating the Latvian labour market using the Cobb-Douglas production function, the statistical data of Latvian gross domestic product, labour market and capital were taken, and multilinear logarithmic regression was performed to evaluate parameters α and β of the Cobb-Douglas production function. When evaluating the Latvian labour market using the Beveridge curve, the statistical data of the unemployment rate and the vacancy rate in Latvia were chosen.
RESULTS
When evaluating the Latvian labour market using the Cobb-Douglas production function, the regression analysis gave α + β > 1 (α = 0.74 and β = 1.55). Here, a certain contradiction with the standard scaling condition α + β = 1 arises.
When evaluating the Latvia labour market using the Beveridge curve model, the analysis showed that the ratio between the unemployment rate and vacancy rate grows during the economic decline periods and drops during the economic growth periods.
DISCUSSION
The condition α + β = 1 has been discussed in the literature since the original Cobb and Douglas paper, and the main problem of the discussion is that the clear scaling reasons based on a theoretical explanation of this condition does not meet the experimental data. There is a condition called the scaling condition. If we merge two identical countries in one country that is two times larger, then GDP, capital and labour will be doubled. Cobb-Douglas function can be tested to see how it works in one country. However, when tested empirically on the data taken from one country, the requirement about the sum of parameters being equal to 1 is not met.
The interest in the values of the parameters of the Cobb-Douglas production function is based on the fact that they affect the labour market equilibrium. Parameter β of the Cobb-Douglas production function is used in the utility function of firms, and the condition of utility function maximisation determines the average wage in the country.
 
REORIENTING TEACHING DYNAMICS OF CULINARY EDUCATION WITH SUSTAINABILITY
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There is growing concern among environmental scientists that our food consumption pattern is harming the planet and acting as a catalyst for climate change. With the world already in the Anthropocene epoch, considerable harm is caused to the environmental systems by human activity. Achieving environmentally sustainable food systems is an immediate challenge. Food consumption is massively influenced by food trends and culinary innovations conceptualised by traditional and modern chefs. The greatest chefs in the past have linked food artistry with expensive ingredients and most importantly meat. Traditional culinary education was based on learning the art and science of cooking, but in the last decade, there has been a growing inclination to incorporate sustainable culinary practices, such as optimal usage of ingredients and controlling food wastage. Due to this, there has been an introduction of innovative cooking programmes initiated by culinary schools. Food, climate change and sustainable menus should be driving the next generation of chefs to rethink the way fine-dining is approached. This calls for understanding the various changes that can be brought in to change the face of culinary education, thus making it environmentally friendly.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
The current study aims at understanding the need of changing the dynamics of culinary education and thus training a clan of futuristic chefs who advocate and practice environmentally sustainable menus. The study also aims to conceptualise the various interventions required in culinary education in achieving sustainable development goals (SDGs) by 2030. In this study, the PRISMA technique has been adopted to bring out the themes in the collected literature. The work has been drafted as a viewpoint paper, as the author’s own experience has gone into making the research fit the context.
RESULTS
The study aims to indicate the role of transforming culinary education in achieving sustainable development goals by 2030. The results would identify the gaps by reviewing the extant literature and would suggest a way forward to achieve sustainable commercial kitchens, introducing changes at the grass-root level by transforming culinary education.
CONCLUSIONS
The study would help understand the way commercial kitchens are changing and the role of transforming culinary education as well as the face of commercial kitchens. The study has a futuristic approach and considers the need to train chefs in promoting and cooking sustainable meals.
 
IDENTIFICATION OF LANDSCAPES OF NATIONAL IMPORTANCE USING GIS
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One of the aims of recognising landscapes of national importance is to encourage public authorities to adopt policies and measures at the local, regional and national level for protecting, managing and planning landscapes throughout national states. It covers unique and outstanding landscapes among the ordinary ones, that not only determine the quality of people’s living environment but also contribute to national identity. Different approaches have been used so far internationally in identifying landscapes of national importance, assessing their characteristics, structure and landscape elements, recognising that both – quantitative assessment and expert judgement should be involved for this task. Within this study, the focus is on the quantitative part of the study, using GIS and revealing the traceable sequence of steps and criteria used.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
GIS approach was used to determine landscape areas of national importance, using a hexagon grid - (each in an area of 100 ha, 68,407 hexagons), which covers the territory of Latvia. The aggregation of spatial data in regular grids provides an opportunity to normalise different types of spatial data, as well as to address the use of irregularly shaped polygons (e.g., in the case of politically defined boundaries). The hexagon network, due to the shape, forms continuous coverage of the area, while at the same time the hexagon has a similar shape to a circle, which accordingly provides advantages in terms of defining and representing different spatial relationships. Territories of the most valuable landscapes of national significance are spatially separated, assigning values to hexagons in accordance with the landscape values in their territory. Each hexagon is assigned a value according to whether it overlaps with an area that meets one or more of the criteria for the most valuable landscapes of national importance. In the case of larger, continuous area units, the coincidence of areas is determined by the hexagon centroid, but in the case of smaller, individual area units (also point units), the intersect function is used. The criteria for the research part to be quantified include five thematic sections: natural heritage, cultural heritage and historical evidence, identity and community involvement, uniqueness and landscape quality, which can be quantified from the infrastructure created to highlight the visual aspects and aesthetics of landscape.
RESULTS
The part of the quantitative analysis data used to determine the value of the landscape by GIS has been realised in several sequent stages. First, after analysing the main criteria for the identification of landscapes of national importance from existing literature and research thematic areas, they were split into concrete criteria: 8 for natural heritage, 5 for cultural heritage and historical evidence, 6 for identity and community involvement, 4 for uniqueness and 1 for landscape quality. Each of the criteria was given an appropriate weight of 0.5 to 1.5 points (using 0.25 points as a step). Several of the criteria are exclusive and do not overlap; the total amount for most outstanding landscapes would be 12 points. This was followed by a phase of structuring and categorising large amounts of data to allow GIS analysis to be performed. Minor adjustments were made to the weights assigned to the criteria in the methodology during the analysis. Each area of 100 ha, 68,407 hexagons got weighted value, and those territories where the concentration of the highest values were identified, were reconsidered during the next stage as a landscape with national importance. As there were more than 100 such places of concentration, discussion on joint territories having less valuable hexagons in-between has been carried out.
DISCUSSION
A landscape character assessment technique that is scientifically sound, region-specific and stakeholder orientated, designed to describe landscape character, has been used often recently. It can be applied at a range of scales and it may also integrate landscape character analysis with biodiversity assessments, the analysis of historical character, and socio-economic functions such as recreation etc. Even so it is primarily concerned with documenting landscape character rather than assigning quality or values, implying a distinction between characterisation and judgement; identifying landscapes with national importance still involves the assessment and evaluation process. This is debated widely as the main concern is to carry out ordinary landscape quality in places where people live, recognising that only a limited number of societies will benefit from daily encounters of unique landscapes. However, the GIS method used and criteria applied provide transparent objectivity in the characterisation of landscape uniqueness, and even if it’s relatively easy to recognise them by perception, having a society consensus, spatial aspects and the identification of borders for such landscapes would be much more difficult without GIS.
 
ENTERPRISE MODELLING METHODOLOGY FOR SOCIO-CYBER-PHYSICAL SYSTEMS DESIGN: CASE FROM CYBERSECURITY EDUCATION AND CLIMATE-SMART AGRICULTURE
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The incorporation of various aspects and requirements in socio-cyber-physical (STP) system simulation modelling drives challenges for the application of appropriate methodology and visualisation. The research problem lies in the multi-dimensionality and complexity of these systems. According to information science, the definition of STP implies an understanding of how digital information interacts with and transforms the physical world (which compromises both natural and manmade materials) (Rijswijk et al., 2021). The multi-dimensionality of these system authors is expressed in: 1) time (historical and actual data, future predictions, and continuous updating based on simulation modelling results) (Frazzon et al., 2020); 2) the physical world and its digital representation (Rijswijk et al., 2021); 3) the change in social practices by the influence of the cyber world (Skarga-Bandurova et al., n.d.). All the above-mentioned factors have to be reflected within the comprehensive simulation model.
The author’s proposed hypothesis is: the application of multi-scalability and multi-dimensionality within the enterprise modelling approach provides the opportunity to develop a comprehensive model for socio-cyber-physical systems.
The enterprise modelling method provides an excellent background for case studies and the application of the modern Living Lab approach for socio-cyber-physical systems design. But a research gap exists in contextual modelling for the particular solution. It means that for various cases there is specific contextual information that has to be described and taken into account in order to reach the main goal. The author proposes an extension of 4EM methodology for application in two various cases: 1) development of methodology for cybersecurity education; and 2) requirements for the definition of a climate-smart agriculture solution for farmers.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Method: application of enterprise modelling methodology for 2 various cases: 1. climate-smart agriculture; 2. methodology development for advancing cyber security competencies.
EM consists of 6 inter-related models (Stirna & Persson, 2018):
Goal model, which in general defines the objectives of a company and its problems
in reaching such goals and implementing business processes;
Business law model, which describes the laws that have to be complied with in reaching the goals set and/or implementing business processes or rules in a particular context;
Concept model, which explains concepts used in other models;
Business process model, which generally describes processes to be implemented for reaching the goals and functionality tool;
Actor and resource model, which in general includes the required human resources and material-technical resources for implementing business processes or a particular user;
The model of technical components and requirements, which in general describes the provision of software and hardware for business process implementation, as well as how to reach the goals set and functions of a new remote communication tool.
The model development process was conducted according to methodology requirements in the following steps: 1) expert interview before the modelling session; 2) modelling session; 3) model justification within the expert group.
RESULTS
Results shows that 4EM methodology is an effective methodology for case analysis in uncertain situations and where the solution is not obvious. It brings new insight for the proposed situation and explicitly describes the innovative solution.
The outcome of the modelling sessions conducted was the development of models with incorporated stakeholder needs and requirements. The advantage of the application of 4EM methodology is simplicity and comprehensiveness at the same time. Methodology provides flexibility in a situational analysis and definition of sub-models, which supports the proposed case need and stakeholders’ view and ideas. The iterative model design process provides an effective Living Lab approach for stakeholder community building and a snowball effect in engagement.
DISCUSSION
A discussion point regarding 4EM methodology is its completeness and how detailed the description of models and developed sub-models have to be. The application of 4EM in two various cases proves the hypothesis that methodology can be applied as an effective tool for community building within Living Lab.
Future work is related to the incorporation of technological solution and pattern design for the more effective elicitation of requirements.
CONCLUSIONS
The 4EM model has been developed, summarising the requirements and different aspects in using emerging technologies in various situations. It also includes aspects such as social, technological and security factors. Actors and goals have been defended, and important components recognised. Security capabilities and context elements have been determined according to the goal model. Several threats and problems have been identified. The advantage of this model is that the authors formulate technical requirements according to the set context. This approach is a new addition to the existing 4EM process.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Research is partly supported by European Commission Horizon 2020 programme funding by the project ‘reSilienT fARminG by Adaptive microclimaTemanagEment’ — STARGATE No. 818187 and partly by the “Advancing Human Performance in Cybersecurity”, ADVANCES, benefits from a nearly € 1 million grant from Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway through the EEA Grants. The aim of the project is to advance the performance of cybersecurity specialists by personalising the competence development path and risk assessment. Project contract with the Research Council of Lithuania (LMTLT) No. S-BMT-21-6 (LT08-2-LMT-K-01-051)
“CHANGE IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER”: ENGAGING STAKEHOLDERS FOR A CIRCULAR FUTURE
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The ‘Engaged and Entrepreneurial European University as a Driver for European Smart and Sustainable Region’ (E³UDRES²) project involves universities and university colleges from six European countries. Within E³UDRES² the transnational university campus of the future is developed. One of the main challenges for the future is the transition to a circular economy.
Circular economy (CE) has been proposed as a crucial strategy to reduce climate change. A circular economy reduces emissions and material losses by increasing the use of renewable and recyclable resources. Approaches to achieve a circular economy are multitude, such as sharing material and resources, prolonging the life cycle of resources, reusing, redistributing, refurbishing or remanufacturing materials and recycling resources. Several barriers exist in preventing the transition to a circular economy.
Multistakeholder engagement is needed for this transition to be successful. One of the most difficult aspects in the transition process to a circular economy is changing the attitude and decision-making process of stakeholders. There is a need to develop more engaging approaches for sharing information about a circular economy.
The Change Corner, originating from the E³UDRES² consortium, is a transnational space supporting multistakeholder engagement.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Desk research is performed to find out the most appropriate form of the Change Corner Hub (CCH). The CCH concept envisages a virtual, physical or hybrid format across the different regions.
By integrating research methods from implementation science, citizen science, participatory action research and Human Centred Design (HCD), stakeholder barriers and needs concerning the transition to circular economy are explored. Starting from these needs and barriers, the desired impact of stakeholders concerning circular economy in their regions is envisioned in co-creation sessions.
Change Corner consists of transnational and region specific aspects. Photovoice challenges are organised across the regions of E³UDRES². In these photovoice challenges, participants are asked to share pictures of their good practices and barriers concerning the transition to a circular economy.
At the University College Leuven-Limburg in Belgium, a series of lunch lectures are the basis for Change Corner. Good practices from the region are presented to stakeholders in order to inspire action and overcome powerlessness in the face of climate change. During the lunch lectures, barriers and good practices are discussed with participants, resulting in co-created challenges in the transition to a circular economy. Lunch lecture sessions are recorded so that information gathered in the sessions can feed back into the other regions. After the sessions, participants receive a qualitative questionnaire in which individual good practices and barriers are gathered.
RESULTS
A concept is developed of the Change Corner Hub (CCH) by all E³UDRES² project partners in physical or virtual format with different approaches. The CCH is used for information sharing, raising awareness and activities to prepare for future changes, which will take place during the implementation of a circular economy.
Upcoming results will form the basis for future research projects. Within the scope of Change Corner, a method-mix of contextual analysis, co-creation sessions, workshops and photovoice is applied to reach multistakeholder engagement
SUSTAINABILITY OF THE CROSS-COUNTRY APPROACH AND THE ROLE OF DESTINATION MANAGEMENT ORGANISATIONS IN CREATING NEW TOURISM PRODUCTS: THE CASE OF SIAULIAI, JONISKIS (LITHUANIA) AND JELGAVA (LATVIA)
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Destination is used as a synonym for attraction; destination can also be defined as a specific brand or product, or a product package or selection of products and services compiled according to climate, infrastructure, natural and cultural features. Destination is defined as a place where tourists can rest, walk, spend their time in nature, see historical monuments, attend festivals, events, taste local cuisine and be part of unique events. Combining the last approach with traditional geographic or administrative aspects, we may define a destination as an administrative or geographically defined area where tourists can rest, walk, spend their time in nature, see historical monuments, attend festivals, events, taste local cuisine and be part of unique events. With a new trend of local travel, the promotion of regions that were not among top visited destinations becomes essential in trying to attract local travellers in the short term. The objective of this study was to identify the effects of promotional and organisational factors on travellers’ intentions to visit two destinations in Lithuania and one in Latvia.
HYPOTHESES
Key hypothesis of this study – can sustainable cross region or cross border cooperation initiate higher tourist interest in formerly less visited destinations and what steps do we need to take to create valuable proposals.
METHODS AND MATERIALS
Analysis of scientific literature and secondary data, descriptive statistical analysis.Destination management has historically placed emphasis on the management of demand and supply, visitor experience and maintenance of competitive advantage. This has been enhanced through the application of modern marketing techniques (Buhalis & Sinarta, 2019; Gretzel & Scarpino-Johns, 2018; Kabadayi, Ali, Choi, Joosten, & Lu, 2019; Polese, Botti, Grimaldi, Monda, & Vesci, 2018). Our study shows that many destinations lack a clearly stated value separately, as they are mostly too small to attract the attention of experienced travellers.
RESULTS
We have collected all the possible sights, historical background and created 20 different routes that combine the object of project stakeholders – Siauliai, Joniskis and Jelgava districts, bearing in mind that enhancing greater cooperation might help to create better stories, use a historical element, and attract the attention of experienced travellers.
We clarified that DMO’s are still heavily focused on the classical promotion of their attractions. This is why this first stage of research implemented a new methodology based on which regional DMO’s can create cooperation and develop easy-to-use products. The authors put a content orientated approach and not infrastructure created experience at the forefront.
Justifying our hypothesis, we found that any less visited destination can acquire additional interest by combining objects from more than one district or well-known country.But the most important question that we were solving is how to satisfy all the stake holders and not to benefit one partner.We have tested our offered model by creating an actual product.
CONCLUSIONS
Destination resilience is becoming an important area of research, with DMO’s becoming the key players in the development of more adaptive strategies, managing the risks, and furthermore, attracting visitors to most of the local objects. DMO’s lack appropriate models that can help them to market their destination more. A ready-to-use and tested model can become a good example for any DMO that is eager to attract more visitors by creating products that reflect a modern traveller’s needs
ADAPTATION OF ADVANCED ANALYTICS IN LATVIAN EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS
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This study reflects advanced analytics as one of the most important resources for achieving the goals of sustainable education. The OECD points to the trend of increasingly complex education systems in OECD countries. Strategic, long-term thinking and approaches to the management of a complex education system in the context of the future are essential, with regular and targeted evaluation of the functioning of the system using so-called big data. Higher education institutions should be able to adapt to change and be prepared to proactively respond to crises and contingencies. Effective governance of educational institutions requires data collection and analysis, as well as the use of results for further decision-making. For the planning and successful implementation of education policy, it is necessary to increase the competence of the heads of educational institutions in the processing of large data and the ability to perform analytical work at a higher strategic level. Large data processing and analysis, as well as situational forecasting and context mapping require the use of sophisticated and up-to-date tools.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
The quantitative survey contains a questionnaire with 40 questions – single choice, multiple choice, text entry, matrix table, constant sum type questions, allowing one to collect wide ranging and structured information. The main blocks are Demographics, Data management, Analytics, Process around data and analytics, People, Technologies, Culture, Leadership, Success drivers, Barriers.
The data of this study were obtained using the online survey platform Qualtrics. The majority of respondents were attracted using the online panel provider https://intraresearch.com. An additional channel was created to attract respondents on the homepage http://www.raaconsulting.eu/ with the help of Google Ads. For quantitative data processing, the descriptive and statistical analytics R and MS Excel software were used. Mostly descriptive and statistical analyses were used to explore the survey outcome and describe the findings.
DISCUSSION
Some of the key questions to consider in the context of educational sustainability: What is the overall level of advanced analytics in Latvian educational institutions?
Analysis of literature suitable for the subject of the study reveals that advanced analytics is a process of turning huge volumes of structured or unstructured data, statistical and predictive analytics into decision-making with a value to business. To ensure sustainable decision-making, organisations should use advanced analysis to analyse past, understand current behaviours, and predict and influence future events, actions, decisions, and behaviours. Several studies have shown that to create data-driven decision-making, organisations need to put maximally automated processes in place to manage and utilise all different and fast-moving data from internal and external sources. New approaches, algorithms, tools and platforms help derive meaning from large amounts of unstructured and structured data and techniques that provide so-called advanced analysis. Data, analytics, related tools and the overall analytics ecosystem become more and more crucial topics in any organisation taking high digitisation demand into account.
CONCLUSIONS
The authors found that most Latvian educational institutions are not ready for the challenges of turning huge volumes of structured or unstructured data, statistical and predictive analytics into decision-making with a value to the organisation. Advanced analytics is a realistically underestimated tool for the sustainable effective governance of educational institutions
USING TECHNOLOGY AS A WAY OF ENHANCING VISITORS’ EXPERIENCE IN MUSEUMS. A CASE STUDY IN ALBANIA
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The digital area has affected various sectors of the economy; both commercial and non-commercial. Successful organisations are those that are able to adapt their processes and activities relating to these digital innovations.
This article focuses on museum sector development in Albania and the way that the use of digital technology contributes to the visitor experience, as well as to analyse the extent to which new technologies are being used in museums in Albania.
Albania reveals sufficient potential in cultural tourism products (Caca et al., 2016). The usefulness of our research results from the fact that cultural tourism development is closely related to museum product development, and museums are considered as main cultural tourist attractions.
This article begins with the assumption that museums can use digital technology and enhance visitors’ experience.
The research carried out so far has proven that the use of virtual reality (VR) provides an immersive environment that can enhance the storytelling process (Suroto, Dewantara, and Wiradarmo 2020), and technology can create a communication bridge that contributes to the process of transmitting knowledge to visitors in current ways that depend on modern technologies.
Augmented Reality (AR) is increasingly being used in museums as a way of providing added value to the museum experience by attaching virtual content on physical evidence (Ming 2018).
MATERIALS AND METHODS
The purpose of this paper is to analyse the way digital technology has affected the visitor experience and how the use of digital technology can capture visitors’ attention and interests. This paper also analyses the current situation of museums in Albania. In this regard, this paper discusses the possibilities of incorporating digital technology for visitors as a way of increasing public appreciation and accessibility. The new technologies adopted in the museum sector form a new relationship between cultural heritage objects and the public.
This research was carried out in Albania, as Albania is considered a country distinguished for the development of cultural tourism and museum experience and is considered a main attraction in this regard. The usefulness of our research results from the fact that cultural tourism development is closely related to museum product development, and museums are considered main cultural tourist attractions.
20 museums were visited and given a set of questions designed to analyse the current situation of their management, the implementation of digital technologies, the way their visitors interact with these new technologies and the evaluation of their experiences.
We believe that this study will not only be useful for the museums analysed, but for all museums in Albania. The collected data were correlated with the conclusions presented in the literature and with our experience as visitors in the selected museums.
RESULTS
The results of this paper show that the use of virtual technologies positively contributes to enhancing the visitor experience and interactivity, but we found out that there are still museums which do not use digital technologies. This is because these technologies are not cheap and also require special knowledge and accurate planning. The application of new technologies in museums is a MUST.
DISCUSSION
New technologies adopted in museums help form a new relationship between the public and cultural objects, make them more visible and offer new approaches in reinforcing the role and importance of museums. Therefore, it is easy to notice from the results of the survey that technological innovations positively impact exhibitions of cultural products and thus the visitors’ experience. New technologies also influence the decision to visit museums. This study points out the fact that with technological changes, there is a possibility to increase the number of visitors and become a key economic and social actor.
CONCLUSIONS
Museums today are required to explore the great potential offered by digital technology and demonstrate the ability to understand visitors’ needs and expectations. In order to become more visible to the public there is a need to implement changes in the development strategy and mission of museums.
There is a need to understand how to use and fully benefit from the digital technologies as a way to communicate their products and contents to the public.
 
INVOLVEMENT OF TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION IN SPORTS
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The complexity of the tools used in sports requires constant technological change and improvement. In this paper we will highlight how technological innovations have influenced the development of sports.
Is it true that technology has intervened in improving results in all sports?
Many authors (Tidd et al., 1997; Tidd and Bessant, 2009; Hakansson and Snehota, 1995) have attempted to highlight the complex relationships between the innovation process and the incentives that lead to various sport-related inventions.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
In this paper we will use the method of analysis and description to show how technological innovation has influenced the development of sport. The complexity of the tools used in sports constantly requires technological changes and improvements. For example, gymnastics equipment, athletic vaulting poles, tennis rackets, bikes, roller skates and ice skates, etc. are constantly undergoing technological evolution.
We will analyse how innovations such as: the use of rubber suits in swimming (2008), the increase in cycling speed by the invention of the mechanism that regulates the ratio of wheel speed (1935) or the use of light rubber and very resilient marathon running shoes (2013) have improved results, helping to achieve times at the maximum limits of human ability.
RESULTS
Comparing the results drawn from the analysis of scientific works of different authors gives us the opportunity to reach conclusions, which open new avenues of perspective in the sports sector in terms of the design and implementation of technology. The inclusion of technology in sports gives human society greater opportunities to reap its benefits for a more active life.
DISCUSSION
Data provided by various authors show that: the use of rubber suits in swimming (2008), increasing the speed in cycling by inventing the mechanism that regulates the ratio of wheel speed (1935) or the use of rubber lightweight and very resilient marathon running shoes (2013) have improved results, helping to achieve times at the maximum limits of human ability.
In order for innovation to have the greatest impact on sports, cooperation and exchange of experiences is required between sports companies and large manufacturers of sports equipment in improving the technical aspects of the equipment they produce.
CONCLUSIONS
The involvement of innovation and technology at different levels have has unquestionably influenced the discovery of high-tech materials as well as the modification and improvement of various techniques. Consequently, these inclusions have made sports performance achieve unimaginable results, pushing the limits of human ability
SIMPLE DATA APPROXIMATION FOR COMPUTER AND CONTROLLER-AIDED DEVICES
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Development of mechatronic systems involves finding an optimal balance between the basic mechanical structure, sensor and actuator implementation, automatic information processing and overall control. Mechatronic systems are characterized by a combination of basic mechanical devices with a processing unit monitoring and controlling it via number of actuators and sensors. Therefore sensors are significant in the process of providing usable output to microcontrollers. Wide range of sensors are available for constructing mechatronic systems. Sensors can be divided into two big groups: Active and Passive. Other type of classification is by the means of detection used in the sensor. Some of the means are electric, chemical, radioactive etc. Various types of sensors are classified by their measuring objectives for example light sensors, temperature sensors, flow sensors etc.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
In the process of constructing a mechatronic system a proper setup and signal processing must be provided. There exist certain problems with several sensors, therefore sometimes additional circuits for signal conditioning are made to linearize the output with hardware, but some researchers and developers try to linearize the signal using software.
In modern manufacturing equipment very complex systems of devices and sensors are made therefore, they must function correctly because they are the main control parameters. It is particularly important that such control parameters that bring about a correct actual behavior in relation to the reference behavior of such a system are available as a function of time. This means that the parameters must be such that the actual behavior of the system corresponds as closely as possible to the reference behavior. Some examples of such systems are:
Robot arms, which move a tool, such as a laser or burr removing tool, for example, which is to be guided along a particulary contour line of a workpiece.
Heating systems which are intended to impart a particulary temperature profile to a workpiece.
The input data of sensors is crucial for mechatronic systems.
A large part of the system is equipped with sensors that read the most important parameters – location coordinates, altitude, compass readings, distance to the barrier (for robots and unmanned aerial vehicles), temperature (heaters and coolers), lighting, etc.
Often, some types of sensors give floating data, processing which, a computer or controller acting under an algorithm develops non-physical, inexecutable commands for the final control elements. This results in an increasing load of engines, heating elements, and other actuators, as well as inappropriately increasing energy consumption.
The well-known PID algorithm and numerical approximation with built-in MatLab or MATCAD functions does not provide a solution for autonomous systems with controllers that have limited memory and speed of operation.
RESULTS
New methods that approximate sensor data and are applicable to both analogue and PWM (Pulse-Width-Modulation)-controlled devices have been developed in the paper.
The first proposed – derivative - method relates to the restriction of the function direction coefficient module. The second method – the growth bisection method enables smooth sensor data to be obtained.
The derivation method is based on limitation of the maximum function increment to a specified level. The growth bisection (proportional) method is based on comparison of the increment module with the increment in the previous step and its proportional decrease by multiplying by a predefined constant. Both methods take up some lines in the control program code, and most mechatronic equipment is capable of real-time operation.
CONCLUSIO
Dynamic data background connection allows to obtain a self-learning system adapting to the nature of incoming data – a higher number of data will be used in case of minor changes; in contrast, only the last data saved will be used for a rapid change. A system response delay is negligible