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For search and rescue, AI is not more accurate than humans, but it is far faster. Recent successes in applying computer vision and machine learning to drone imagery for rapidly determining building and road damage after hurricanes or shifting wildfire lines suggest that artificial intelligence could be valuable in searching for missing persons after a flood. Machine learning systems typically take less than one second to scan a high-resolution image from a drone, versus one to three minutes for a person. Plus, drones often produce more imagery to view than is humanly possible during the critical first hours of a search, when survivors may still be alive. Unfortunately, todays AI systems are not up to the task. We are robotics researchers who study the use of drones in disasters. Our experiences searching for victims of flooding and numerous other events show that current implementations of AI fall short. However, the technology can play a role in searching for flood victims. The key is AI-human collaboration. AIs potential Searching for flood victims is a type of wilderness search and rescue that presents unique challenges. The goal for machine learning scientists is to rank which images have signs of victims and to indicate where in those images search-and-rescue personnel should focus. If the responder sees signs of a victim, they pass the GPS location in the image to search teams in the field to check. The ranking is done by a classifier, which is an algorithm that learns to identify similar instances of objectscats, cars, treesfrom training data in order to recognize those objects in new images. For example, in a search-and-rescue context, a classifier would spot instances of human activity, such as garbage or backpacks, to pass on to wilderness search-and-rescue teams, or even identify the missing person themselves. A classifier is needed because of the sheer volume of imagery that drones can produce. For example, a single 20-minute flight can produce over 800 high-resolution images. If there are 10 flightsa small numberthere would be over 8,000 images. If a responder spends only 10 seconds looking at each image, it would take over 22 hours of effort. Even if the task is divided among a group of squinters, humans tend to miss areas of images and show cognitive fatigue. The ideal solution is an AI system that scans the entire image, prioritizes images that have the strongest signs of victims, and highlights the area of the image for a responder to inspect. It could also decide whether the location should be flagged for special attention by search-and-rescue crews. Where AI falls short While this seems to be a perfect opportunity for computer vision and machine learning, modern systems have a high error rate. If the system is programmed to overestimate the number of candidate locations in hopes of not missing any victims, it will likely produce too many false candidates. That would mean overloading squinters or, worse, the search-and-rescue teams, which would have to navigate through debris and muck to check the candidate locations. Developing computer vision and machine learning systems for finding flood victims is difficult for three reasons. One is that while existing computer vision systems are certainly capable of identifying people visible in aerial imagery, the visual indicators of a flood victim are often very different compared with those for a lost hiker or fugitive. Flood victims are often obscured, camouflaged, entangled in debris, or submerged in water. These visual challenges increase the possibility that existing classifiers will miss victims. Second, machine learning requires training data, but there are no datasets of aerial imagery where humans are tangled in debris, covered in mud, and not in normal postures. This lack also increases the possibility of errors in classification. Third, many of the drone images often captured by searchers are oblique views, rather than looking straight down. This means the GPS location of a candidate area is not the same as the GPS location of the drone. It is possible to compute the GPS location if the drones altitude and camera angle are known, but unfortunately, those attributes rarely are. The imprecise GPS location means teams have to spend extra time searching. How AI can help Fortunately, with humans and AI working together, search-and-rescue teams can successfully use existing systems to help narrow down and prioritize imagery for further inspection. In the case of flooding, human remains may be tangled among vegetation and debris. Therefore, a system could identify clumps of debris big enough to contain remains. A common search strategy is to identify the GPS locations of where flotsam has gathered, because victims may be part of these same deposits. An AI classifier could find debris commonly associated with remains, such as artificial colors and construction debris with straight lines or 90-degree corners. Responders find these signs as they systematically walk the riverbanks and flood plains, but a classifier could help prioritize areas in the first few hours and days, when there may be survivors, and later could confirm that teams didnt miss any areas of interest as they navigated the difficult landscape on foot. Robin R. Murphy is a professor of computer science and engineering at Texas A&M University. Thomas Manzini is a PhD student in robotics at Texas A&M University. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
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E-Commerce
Americans are not happy these days. Some of this angst is caused by the state of the world. Americans feel lonely, angry, cynical, and polarized. How are we supposed to do our best work considering all that is going on? But the problem actually goes deeper. We get distracted, seduced, and sabotaged by internal conversations and stories that skew our perceptions and hijack our emotions, ultimately getting in the way of living a happy and fulfilling life and a career that makes us proud. We are carrying around baggage that trips us up, drags us down, and wears us out. Fortunately, our minds have incredible potential to reprogram and rewire themselves. By expanding our self-awareness, looking directly at our pain, putting life in perspective, and distinguishing what we can and cannot control, we can create the opportunity for change. As a psychologist who has advised hundreds of top executives and organizations in 55 countries, Ive observed several attachments that keep people stuck, intensifying their anxiety, anger, and sadness and undermining their peace of mind. We are attached to: Stability We believe we can create stability and safety in our lives and careers. But there is no such thing. Every time we breathe, the world changes. By fearing change, we risk becoming too attached to stability. Research has shown that having a negative attitude toward uncertainty is associated with heightened anxiety and poor mental health. Theres also a strong association between feeling a sense of gratitude and favorable markers of cardiovascular health. Remember: uncertainty is reality and stability is an illusion. So, confront your fear of the unknown. Step out your comfort zone and embrace new challenges and opportunities. And be grateful for what you have in your life. Its likely you have everything you need right now. Past Many of us are living in the past. We idealize or demonize our memories and become immobilized by old emotional scars, relationships that didnt work, or business deals that went sour. Unresolved trauma, self-blame, or nostalgia for happier times are often the cause of our psychological pain. By not facing the truth and practicing forgiveness, we risk becoming too attached to the past. Forgiveness is linked to positive mental health and fewer physical health symptoms. Here we must challenge our limiting beliefs, let go of our grudges, shift the focus to the present moment, and build new connections with colleagues. Future Others of us are preoccupied with the future. We obsess over what is missing in our careers. We are never satisfied with who we are or what we have accomplished. By worrying about the future, we diminish our confidence and peace of mind. Here, we miss out on the present moment and believe that happiness exists in the future. Excessive future-oriented thoughts have consistently been linked to higher anxiety and depression. Try letting go of future expectations, stop comparing yourself with others, and relish the small everyday moments. Control From early childhood we are taught to shape our environment. We take charge and cleverly influence people to get what we want. Determined to control the uncontrollable, we hide our vulnerabilities and risk becoming too attached to control. Mistrusting others and our own anxiety are often the culprit. Embracing vulnerability can lead to healthier relationships and less emotional and physical pain. So, stop micromanaging your team. Perfection We are imperfect by nature. Yet how many of us are ruled by the need to be perfect. Then we impose our perfection on the people around us. By fearing rejection and mistakes and ignoring our need for approval, we risk becoming too attached to perfection. A 2022 study of 16- to 25-year olds found that 85% of participants identified having perfectionist traits that affected their physical and mental well-being. Balancing our work/family/personal lives is never easy. So, do your best, allow room for flexibility, and fall in love with your imperfections. Success Many of us get this need met at work. But when our desire for success turns into a compulsive need for achievement, weve got another problem. We define success from the outside in, based on other peoples expectations and not our own. This is driven by our fear of failure and not being good enough. People with an abundant, rather than a scarcity, mindset, are more creative, optimistic, and more unfazed by adverse circumstances. So, prioritize your well-being and happiness, practice self-compassion, and create space for rest and relaxation. Only when we confront our attachments head on can we drive true change. The result is more joy and freedom, and better performance. Keep in mind being detached does not mean being uninvolved or disconnected. Quite the opposite. By ridding our attachments, we free ourselves to embrace life fully and stay engaged in what matters.
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E-Commerce
The new must-have pet accessory? A concrete slab. On #CatTok, videos are racking up views as cat owners bring slabs into their homes, set them down, and watch their beloved pets sniff, lick, roll, and rub against their new favorite toys. Bonus points if they’re placed in a sunny spot. @mrmilothechonk I should have bought 3 #foryou #foryoupage #cats #catsoftiktok #viral Almost forgot that this was the whole point – Take my Hand Instrumental – AntonioVivald The trend appears to have started with an orange tabby named Kurt and his owner, Abram Engle. Kurt loves rolling around on the concrete outside, so Im bringing the concrete to him, Engle explains in a video posted back in May. That video has since gained 4.7 million views and inspired other cat owners to try the DIY enrichment hack for themselves. Some are even taking their cats to Home Depot to pick out their own slabs. @abrameng Kurt was conking the crete original sound – Abram Engle Several cat owners have speculated whether their pampered pets former life might have something to do with the attraction. Since Minnow was originally a street cat, I was wondering if she missed being outside on the pavement, one owner theorized. Its safe to say she loved it, and now Im stuck with this new piece of furniture. Or, as one commenter put it, the toe stubber 3000. @shecatcalls PART 2 | Cat enrichment ideas. The way she sits more on this $7 brick than any of the actual cat beds and huts I buy her Can anyone else relate? Video idea inspired by Kurt the Cat @Abram Engle @The Home Depot #creatorsearchinsights #cats #cattok #sillycat #funny #meow Cute – In Music If its not nostalgia for a life once spent sleeping rough on the streets, what explains the attachment to what is, after all, just a block of concrete? While there havent been any formal studies on the phenomenon, Purina pet behaviorist and TikTok user Dr. Annie, aka Annie Valuska, PhD, has a few theories. For one, they’re new and kind of out of place, she explains. Due to cats’ territorial and predatory nature, they really like new stuff. The material itself may also play a role. Concretes porous surface holds onto scenta major way cats can communicate that a space belongs to them. It also offers a satisfying texture for scratching. And if you park it in the sun? Even better. It warms up really nicely when its placed in a sunny spot,” Valuska says in one video. “Cats like warmth because they have a higher body temperature than humans do, and they evolved from a species adapted to a warm environment.” Best of all? Its cheaper than most cat trees or towers.
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E-Commerce
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