Offenburg University of Applied Sciences
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WLRI-AD: assistive device dataset for daily living automation
Full text linkDepending on the degree of disability, simple tasks of daily living can be challenging for people with physical disabilities, such as picking up and placing objects, eating, or reaching for a cup to drink independently. Pervasive technologies such as robotic arms can be used to assist with these daily tasks, allowing patients to regain independence while reducing the need for care. Specialized devices, such as assistive forks or spoons, can facilitate these tasks. Image datasets of everyday objects such as MS COCO do not contain assistive devices, which tend to look different from their non-assistive counterparts. We present the dataset WLRI-AD (Work-Life Robotics Institute–Assistive Devices) to enable a robot to interact with devices in assisted living homes. The benefits of including assistive devices are demonstrated by comparing versions of the dataset with each other and to a baseline. Initial results show an improvement in the detection of assistive devices by training a YOLOv8 model on the assistive devices
Law Meets GenAI: Using Artificial Intelligence to Derive Conceptual Models from Legal Regulations
No full textArtificial intelligence (AI) and conceptual models are both important to public organizations. AI and generative AI (GenAI) can help to cope with an increasing resource shortage, workload, and requirements, while conceptual models are essential for the design of IT systems. However, the combination of both, the creation of conceptual models using GenAI tools in public organizations, has been barely addressed in extant research. Thus, we investigate (1) how legal experts use GenAI tools when deriving conceptual models for public services from legal regulations and (2) what their experiences are in this use. In a qualitative study with 18 administrative legal experts we obtained various insights. For instance, we show that the participants either submitted strict instructions or conducted open conversations and they followed a top-down, bottom-up or combined approach in their analysis. The GenAI tools performed better in generating text-based models (forms) than graphic-based models (process models, decision trees)
A Testbed for Cyber Attack Emulation and AI-Driven Anomaly Detection in Industrial IoT and OT-Networks
No full textLegacy Industrial Control System protocols, such as Modbus, expose critical vulnerabilities in Industrial IoT environments, underscoring the urgent need for advanced security solutions. Our Operational Technology testbed is purpose-built to emulate realistic Industrial Control Network scenarios by integrating essential IT and OT components, including an Engineering Workstation and a Human-Machine Interface for supervisory control, along with Programmable Logic Controllers, an MQTT broker, and a smart switch for VLAN segmentation, in order to replicate the complexities of modern industrial networks. Together, these components form the core of our testbed, enabling not only the simulation of cyber-attack scenarios but also the generation of rich, high-fidelity datasets that are critical for training AI-based anomaly detection models. To our knowledge, this is the first generic cyber attack testbed for deep field buses, enabling systematic attacks and analyses. The collected data, which encompasses network traffic, telemetry, and host logs, is processed through a centralized Elastic Security Information and Event Management system augmented by local monitoring tools such as NetFlow, Auditd, and Zeek. This paper details the design, implementation, and evaluation of our testbed, demonstrating its adaptability to emulate various attack scenarios and its effectiveness in producing datasets that advance cybersecurity in Industrial Control networks
Heaven to my Hell
No full textZusammenfassung Musikvideo:
In einer Welt aus Licht, Regeln und Erwartungen steht ein Engel kurz vor dem Zerbrechen.
Als seine Maske zu bröckeln beginnt und seine Dunkelheit ausbricht, begegnet er einer dunklen Gestalt, die mehr mit ihm gemeinsam hat, als er wahrhaben will.
Erst verängstigt, dann fasziniert, nähert er sich ihr und gibt sich der Dunkelheit hin. Er fängt an, sie zu akzeptieren und zu lieben.
Das Musikvideo begleitet eine junge Frau auf ihrer symbolischen Reise zu sich selbst. Im Zentrum steht der innere Konflikt zwischen äußeren Erwartungen und der eigenen Identität. Erzählt wird von Loslösung, innerer Wandlung, hin zu Stärke, Selbstbewusstsein und persönlicher Freiheit. Visuell wird dies durch eine metaphorische Darstellung in Form eines Engels umgesetzt, der seine eigene Kraft entdeckt und sich Schritt für Schritt selbst findet. Diese Selbstfindung wird metaphorisch dargestellt, indem sich der Engel in einen Dämon verwandelt
Intrinsische Motivation im Kontext hybrider Arbeit
No full textHybride Arbeitsformen, welche sich durch die Kombination unterschiedlicher Arbeitsorte kennzeichnen, haben sich als fester Bestandteil moderner Arbeitsgestaltung etabliert. Die Arbeitsorte schaffen jeweils unterschiedliche Bedingungen, unter denen Motivation entstehen und aufrechterhalten werden kann. Vor diesem Hintergrund stellt sich die Frage, wie sich die Arbeitsorte Homeoffice und Büro im Kontext hybrider Arbeit aus Perspektive der Selbstbestimmungstheorie auf die intrinsische Motivation von Beschäftigten auswirken. Ausgangspunkt bildet dabei die Annahme der Selbstbestimmungstheorie, dass intrinsische Motivation auf der Befriedigung der psychologischen Grundbedürfnisse nach Autonomie, Kompetenz und sozialer Verbundenheit beruht.
Analysiert wird, wie sich die beiden Arbeitsorte auf diese Grundbedürfnisse und damit auf die intrinsische Motivation auswirken. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass das Homeoffice vor allem Autonomie fördert, während das Büro insbesondere soziale Verbundenheit stärkt. Das Kompetenzerleben hängt weniger eindeutig vom Arbeitsort selbst ab, sondern wird maßgeblich durch die jeweiligen arbeitsbezogenen Rahmenbedingungen beeinflusst. Bei der Gestaltung hybrider Arbeit entstehen zudem Zielkonflikte zwischen den Grundbedürfnissen, die berücksichtigt werden müssen. Diese Arbeit leitet daher Empfehlungen für die Gestaltung hybrider Arbeit ab, die eine ausgewogene Förderung der psychologischen Grundbedürfnisse unter Berücksichtigung bestehender Zielkonflikte ermöglichen
Monitoring and Management of Heterogeneous TSN Networks for Industry 4.0: A Survey
No full textThe growing complexity of industrial communication networks, driven by Industry 4.0, necessitates the integration of Time-Sensitive Networking (TSN) into heterogeneous networks to ensure deterministic, low-latency, and high-reliability communication. This survey provides a comprehensive review of existing research on TSN in heterogeneous networks, focusing on monitoring and network management. We analyze key TSN management frameworks, control mechanisms, and monitoring strategies while identifying challenges in interoperability, synchronization, scalability, and real-time control. By highlighting existing research gaps, this work proposes potential directions for future research to advance TSN deployment in heterogeneous industrial environments
Engaging Low-Literate Adults Through Game-Based Virtual Reality
No full textAdvances in Virtual Reality enable new learning spaces for language learning. While game-based learning generally has shown promise in the field of language learning, its potential for low-literate adults remains underexplored. In this work, we examine the potentials of Serious Virtual Reality Games (SVRGs) for language learning and describe the design of a playful SVRG involving an embodied syllable sorting task. Using a within-participants design, adults previously identified as low-literate (n = 9) played the game in two conditions: a low-immersive desktop and a fully immersive VR version. Learning outcomes were measured via pre- and post-tests. We assessed in-game performance, usability, flow, engagement, and embodiment. While the results did not reveal significant differences regarding knowledge gain, usability, and flow, participants reported increased attention playing the SVRG. Moreover, the game metrics revealed that participants pursued a trial-and-error strategy when playing the PC version, whereas in VR the interface design nudged them towards making more informed decisions
Multi-Scale Investigation of Oxygen-Induced Damage in Nickel-Based Superalloy Alloy 718
No full textUnderstanding damage mechanisms across scales is crucial to ensure the structural integrity of nickel-based superalloy components under demanding conditions. This study highlights key aspects of a multi-scale experimental approach for analyzing oxygen-induced cracking in Alloy 718. Microcantilever bending tests on specific grain boundaries were combined with corrosion tests and detailed analyses using high-resolution scanning electron microscopy, electron backscatter diffraction, and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. The results suggest that susceptibility to oxidative attack is significantly impacted by the type of grain boundary, emphasising the importance of local crystallography in oxygen diffusion and elemental redistribution. By bridging local microstructural features with global mechanical response, the presented multi-scale approach allows the parameterization of physically based material models and identifies grain boundary engineering as a promising strategy for improving damage tolerance
Break-even Analysis
Full text linkBreak-even analysis is used to give answers to questions such as “what is the minimum level of sales that ensure the company will not experience loss” or “how much can sales be de-creased and the company still continue to be profitable”. Break-even analysis is the analysis of the level of sales at which a company (or a project) would make zero profit. As its name implies, this approach determines the sales needed to break even.
Break-even point (B.E.P.) is determined as the point where total income from sales is equal to total expenses (both fixed and variable). In other words, it is the point that corresponds to this level of production capacity, under which the company operates at a loss. If all the company’s expenses were variable, break-even analysis would not be relevant. But, in practice, total costs can be significantly affected by long-term investments that produce fixed costs. Therefore, a company – in its effort to produce gains for its shareholders – has to estimate the level of goods (or services) sold that covers both fixed and variable costs.
Break-even analysis is based on categorizing production costs between those which are variable (costs that change when the production output changes) and those that are fixed (costs not directly related to the volume of production). The distinction between fixed costs (for example administrative costs, rent, overheads, depreciation) and variable costs (for example production wages, raw materials, sellers’ commissions) can easily be made, even though in some cases, such as plant maintenance, costs of utilities and insurance associated with the factory and production manager’s wages, need special treatment. Total variable and fixed costs are com-pared with sales revenue in order to determine the level of sales volume, sales value or production at which the business makes neither a profit nor a loss