FIRST YEAR LABORATORY: PROJECT PROPOSAL - 2010
PROJECT TITLE
CODE
Simulating video feedback on a computer
DEMONSTRATOR
Robert Wicks
E-MAIL ADDRESS
r.wicks@imperial.ac.uk
TELEPHONE
NUMBER
0207 594 7680
ROOM NUMBER
Huxley 6M53
SPAT13
RESEARCH
GROUP
SPAT
PROJECT OUTLINE:
Many interesting complex systems have an inherent feedback effect (predator-prey models,
logistic map, the Belousov-Zhabotinsky reaction, bird flight, bacterial growth, brain activity, etc)
One simple way to investigate feedback is by focusing a video camera on a screen showing the
image from that same camera, making a feedback loop. This has some strange and interesting
effects!
You will make a computer model of a video feedback system using C++ or Matlab, this can
be one of your own devising or, ideally, you can work with the group making a practical
demonstration of video feedback. By finding the mathematical description of different feedback
setups you will predict the output on the screen and be able to measure the fractal dimension of any
resulting fractals or the Lyapunov exponent of any chaotic output. You will learn about chaos and
fractals and how to measure them.
Some key questions you might be able to answer are: Can we write a computer program to
predict the outcome of a video feedback setup accurately? Is it possible to model real physical
systems using video feedback? What are the limiting parameters of a video feedback system?
Figure of predicted video feedback from: Leach, Jonathan, Padgett, Miles and Courtial,
Johannes (2003) 'Fractals in pixellated video feedback',
Students:
Please Physics,
write your
Contemporary
44: name
2, 137 below
— 143 if you are planning to bid for this project.
You must also fill out the bidding form!
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PROJECT INFRASTRUCTURE ASSESSMENT– 2010
Are there any safety aspects which need special attention (i.e. use of lasers, radioactive
sources)?
NO
Will the project require machining services from the mechanical workshop?
NO
Is this a computing project?
YES
If it is would it be done on:
[a] The PC network
YES
[b] Computing facilities within your research group
If the answer to [a] was yes then complete the following three questions:
[i] Do you require additional software or libraries?
[ii] Do you anticipate exceptional cpu or disk storage
(>100Mbyte) requirements?
[iii] Have you discussed your requirements with Martin Morris?
Which programming language are you wishing to use?
Are you proficient in the necessary programming language
NO
NO
NO
NO
C++ or Matlab
YES