Here is the MATLAB code for the detect path block we need for using the linescan camera to direct the autonomous car on the track.

Autonomous Vehicle Presentation

The Autonomous Vehicle was supposed to be a Competition but due to time constraints we were unable to compete. The competition would have included 3 tracks, 2 predetermined and 1 random. For the 2 predetermined tracks we could hardcode the vehicle to travel for a certain amount of time at a certain speed and turn for certain times, etc. For the random track we used the camera on the front of the car. It is a line scan camera, so it registers the difference between the black and white on the track, creates a graph, and follows the center index of the track to remain centered. For this project we had to create the code as well as (attempt) to keep the vehicle mechanically working.

High School Autonomous Vehicle Challenge

Final Hard Code Archive: https://drive.google.com/open?id=1DP5LX_xiwgLeiH8P418eHLfUMGAl14s1

Final Camera Read Archive: https://drive.google.com/open?id=1Y7AY5mYmh2puu3nii2xANe4uaDa7RPDv&authuser=1

STEM Poster Example

Attached please see an example of a poster for a STEM conference. The dimensions of this poster is not the same as our display board. However, the outlines and the way of presentation can be your reference. (PowerPoint file link)

Dynamic Range and Curves

Before

After

Using dynamic ranges in photoshop, I was able to make the image above stand out by brightening it. In order to get the result I did, I adjusted the level, making the photo's whites whiter, resulting in a more defined setting. I then used curves to darken an isolated part of the skyline on the truck as well as the separate building next to it. This also defined the area in the image, drawing your eye to the source of the light. This use of color and mood makes me want to try and change more natural photographs, such as woodlands or oceans to see how it would come out. 

Using Adjustment layers and Histogram

Histogram Before

Before

Histogram After

After

Using adjustment layers I was able to change the saturation and vibrance of the image from a baby blue sky into a more brighter cyan color as well as making the colors on the building more defined. This overall makes the image feel more like a painting giving it a brighter mood. This newfound knowledge helped me transform the photo into my liking.

Using the Clone Stamp Tool

Before

After

The goal of this photoshop was to make the image look cleaner by removing the majority of crumbs on the plate as well as the large wrinkle on the carpet near the top left. The clone stamp tool also helped me move the largest crumb from the left side of the plate to the right side as well as cloning more toppings on the pizzas. The clone tool made it much easier for me to remove unwanted things in my photo as well as duplicate things I want more of in my photo. This makes me want to learn how to remove larger and more significant items from an image.

Content Aware Fill Move and Scale

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After

My goal in this photoshop was to see whether or not I was able to remove the entirety of the brush and toothpaste on the tooth brush. I was able to do so by using the content aware fill tool. When I initially used the lasso tool to select the brush it warped the image too much to look natural. Instead I used the selection tool. This resulted in a more accurate removal. Once the brush and toothpaste was removed I then select the rest of the toothbrush and shrank it a bit making the image above. This makes me want to work on images with animals or people adding or removing certain features in order to exaggerate how they look such as removing the ears of a cat for example.

Healing Brush and Patch Tools

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After

I was able to use the Healing and Patch tools in the image above by removing the white dots spread across the projector. The dots within the photo distract from the object of interest which is the image on the projector. This makes me want to further remove distractions from other images as I want to make my photoshops as perfect as they can be and this tool does this perfectly.

Valentine Blog Post

My Valentine's Day Posters

In order to create my Valentine's Day Poster (above), I used three specific tools. First, I used the quick select to isolate the hands and to delete the background. I then used the brush tool in order to draw the body of the red guy as well as writing "Happy Valen Day!!". In order to make the  hands blend into the arms, I used the clone stamp, as well as changing the hue of the hands in order to create the perfect Valentine's Day poster. This experience makes me want to experiment combining my drawings seamlessly with pre rendered images such as the example I used.  I tried to create different tones and mood for each poster. The top is a HILARIOUS and FUNNY poster the subverts the viewer's expectations. The middle one reflects more of a propaganda or motivational mood within the poster. The bottom poster is just something funny I made. How can one enhance the tone of their photos to emphasize a different mood?

Making Selections Based on Color and Focus

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After

I was able to change the the color of the toothbrush as well as the background into a more saturated color by selecting the desired shared color within the entirety of the image. This in turn is able to change the tone of the photograph taken as I am able to darken or lighten colors that I want as well as being able to focus in on certain subjects within the image. I was able to make the toothbrush stand out more by changing the color of the tooth brush and the toothpaste, draining its color almost entirely, whilst the background adds  more emphasis on the subject of the photo. This technique can be used as a means to change large portions of background colors to either lighten or darken the photo, thus changing how colorful or monotone it is.

Using Select and Mask to Refine a Hard Edge Selection

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After

Using Select and Mask, I was able to isolate the squash and change its color into a brighter yellowish shade of yellow.  This process makes it easier to change colors using the quick select tool as well as the masking tool to select as much of an image as accurately as possible. This technique can be used in the future if there is a smaller, more particular object you want to edit it's color with within a crowded image, such as a forest, or a city block.    

Selecting Subjects

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After

;This week I learned about selecting objects and editing them into other photographs. I was able to use some of my previous knowledge on isolating an object in a photograph (see previous blog). I was then able to use smooth soft edges from his hair in order to prevent unwanted parts of the background. I then used another photograph I took and added it as a background image to complete the photo. This week's practice makes me want to learn about how to shade in objects in order for them to blend in with the photo more seamlessly.

Using Marquee and Lasso Tools

Using the lasso tool, I was able to create body parts for the character above. In order to create y character, I made sure to use multiple layers if I wanted to move any body parts or erase certain parts of it that didn't look right. I am able to  use these tools in the future if I want to edit the characters or photos using drawings of my characters, I can use the lasso and marquee tool to manipulate certain parts of the photo I want to edit.

Soft Edges

Before 

After

The photograph of the teddy bear after is a demonstration of how I utilized the select and mask feature to isolate the bear from the background, maintaining it's individual hairs on the object. This process was fairly easy once I understood what was needed to do as I was able to select and deselect  the object of interest. Masking the rest of the background was also fairly simple, brushing over the edges, softening it in order for it to make the object less rigid. I will definitely use this technique in my future works.

Quick Selection

    

Before using Quick Selections

After using Quick Selection

I was able to use quick selections to change the hue of the penny by selection the penny alone and adjusting the color to another one. When photoshopping the penny using quick selections, I noticed how easy it was to select larger areas that would take more time to fill in compared to smaller areas, which automatically filled in unnecessary spaces. The quick selection tool makes me wonder how I am able to use this feature for more complex images in the future

Documentation Through Photography

After documenting my daily life through photography, I discovered that my life is very routine-like, as looking back through them all, I noticed how I'd do the same sort of things every weekday. The greatest challenge of choosing only 12 out of 24 photos to add to my final essay was how I had good photos from one day, and another equally good photo from another day that was exclusive to that day, such as percussion club and drama club, or when there was snow one one day, but there was none on another. I decided to follow the guideline of consistency, in order for it to appear as if the photos were all taken in one day. Dorothea Lange and her photography influenced what I took pictures of as I simply seized the moment of opportunity when I saw a potentially good photograph. rather than simply doubting myself.

Engineering Journal

I have begun to create a website in order to help users navigate the PATH system. I am using the website known as Weebly and utilizing information found on both the official PATH website and Wikipedia. I plan to incorporate a number of features. I have finished the History section, which details the history of the Subway system. I am attempting to work on the other sections such as Directions and Station Information. The Station Information section is going to require some field work and testing. What I mean by this is that I will need to go out to all 13 PATH stations and gather information in order to put this information in this section. The Directions Section will probably be the hardest as I need to figure out how to program the buttons in order to respond to a combination of two buttons and then write a script for how to get from Station A to Station B for each combination. While there are 169 different combinations theoretically, that includes when you input the same station twice, and going between 33rd and 23rd as well as 23rd and 33rd for example. It should not be too hard, but I need to figure it out. I also have this Gantt Chart in order to show how I am going to work on the different features of the website. One can find it in the Google Drive link

11/5/18

Today the group made gradual progress on the project. Max and Joy learned Python and practiced on Youtube. Sophia worked on updating her software, which has proven to be a tedious task. We will continue to practice coding and updating software, hopefully all software will be up to date by Wednesday and the app can begin to develop. The only problems encountered was that the software previously installed on the computer is so out of date that to update it one has to do it in small increments. However with time, this will be an easy fix.

Input Features 

Input Features The input features consist of three sets of variables.

1. The first set is the historical daily trading data of INTC including previous 5 day’s adjusted closing price, log returns, and OHLC variables. These features provide basic information about INTC stock.
2. The second set is the technical indicators that demonstrate various characteristics of the stock’s behavior.
3. The third set is about indexes: S&P500, CBOE Volatility Index, and PHLX Semiconductor Sector Index.

Category 1. Daily Trading Data

• S&P 500
• An American stock market index based on the market capitalizations of 500 large companies having common stock listed on the NYSE/ NASDAQ
• VIX
• The CBOE Volatility Index: a popular measure of the stock market’s expectation of volatility
• SOX
• The PHLX Semiconductor Sector: an index composed of companies primarily involved in the design, distribution, manufacture, and sale of semiconductors

Other performance measures

1. Allocative efficiency
1. Total surplus (welfare) is my key measure of market performance. Welfare indicates how well the market allocates trades according to underlying private valuations.
2. Liquidity
1. Markets are liquid to the extent they maintain availability of opportunities to trade at prevailing prices.
2. In other words: Liquidity is defined as the ability to exchange an asset for money at a price as close as possible to the equilibrium price
3. Price discover- This reflects how well prices incorporate information.