Facebook Fellowship Program

Facebook Fellowship Program

Facebook has just launched their 2016-2017 Graduate Fellowship Program. Applications are invited for Facebook Fellowship Program available to Ph.D. students gloablly who has already enrolled in accredited universities in any country. International and Domestic students can apply for this program.

Study Subject in following fields can apply for it:

1. Artificial Intelligence
2. Computer Vision
3. Connectivity Hardware
4. Data Mining
5. Databases
6. Distributed Systems, Networking & Operating Systems
7. Economics and Computation
8. Electrical Engineering
9. Human-Computer Interaction
10. Machine Learning
11. Natural Language Processing & Speech Technologies
12. Programming Languages & Compilers
13. Security & Privacy
14. Social Computing
15. Software Engineering

The Facebook fellowship program is designed to encourage the doctoral students who are engaged in innovative and relevant research oriented work related to Computer Science and Engineering. "While we support Fellows across a wide spectrum of computer science and engineering disciplines, this year in particular, we are seeking to support more PhD students working in connectivity, machine learning, and hardware, including electrical engineering, to build long-term collaborations" said Rebekkah Hogan, Facebook Fellowship Program Manager. The merit scholarship is offered by Facebook to support talented doctoral students in their research effort while delivering innovative research.

Scholarship Award winners will get following:

1. Tuition and fees will be paid for the academic year (up to two years)
2. $37K grants (one-time payment during each academic year)
3. Up to $5,000 in conference travel support
4. Paid visit to Facebook HQ to present research
5. Opportunity for a paid internship at Facebook

Facebook fellowship award phd program Scholarship can be taken in USA and Overseas (The Fellowship Program is open to Ph.D. students globally who are enrolled in an accredited university in any country).

Eligibility Criteria:

1. Full-time Ph.D. students who are currently involved in on-going research.
2. Students work must be related to one or more relevant disciplines.
3. Students must be enrolled during the academic year(s) that the Fellowship is awarded.
4. The Fellowship Program is open to Ph.D. students globally who are enrolled in an accredited university in any country.
5. Nationality: International and domestic students can apply for these facebook fellowships.
6. Applicants from outside the home country will often need to meet specific English language/other language requirements in order to be able to study there.

Applications must include:

1. 1-2 page research summary which clearly identifies the area of focus, importance to the field, and applicability to Facebook of the anticipated research during the award. Please reference the topical areas below.
2. 
   
3. Student's CV (with email, phone and mailing address). Please include applicable coursework.
4. 2 letters of recommendation (one must be from an academic advisor).

How to Apply:

All applicants will need to use their Facebook account to apply. All application materials, including two letters of recommendation, will be due on November 1, 2016. Once applicants provide with their reference contact email, they will be sent an email with a link to submit their letter. Once they have submitted, the application page will show a "Received" message below their name. Applicants may resend the reminder email to their references from the application page if required.

Important Dates:

1. Fellowship program application open date: 1st August, 2016
2. Fellowship program application close date: 1st November, 2016
3. Facebook Emerging Scholarship open date: 1st November, 2016
4. Facebook Emerging Scholarship close date: 28th February, 2017

You can apply through following link

https://www.facebook.com/careers/program/fellowship/apply/

View link on website http://www.fbchandra.com/

Facebook designed 3D-360 video capture system

Facebook has designed and developed a 3D-360 video capture system. Some important points as below:

• It has capacity to capture high resolution video
• The system also known asFacebook surround 360
• It is also well known for production-ready 3D-360, foe hardware and software video capturing
• It will be available on GitHub this summer.
• The design for camera hardware and software code will be available on Git repository for developers, which will help to promote the product
• It has been designed and developed based on algorithm
• It will produce maximum throughput
• Optical flow concept has been used to left-right eye stereo disparity
• It has ability to consolidate and generate stereoscope 360 panoramas
• It has capable to reduce the development time(weeks to overnights) due to stitching code based algorithm
• The system can exports 4K, 6k or 8K videos for each eye.
• The 8K videos maximise the industry standard output
• The output can be played with Gear VR by using Dynamic Streaming technology developed by facebook

More About 3D-360 system

It will helps to create professional grade for end-toend system. It will enable to edit, capture and render high resolution video. It has aims to provide high quality video capturing with providing maximum level of satisaction for artist.

Defining the challenges of VR capture

At inial level of developement was very critical time. Initially it was not available for everyone without special request. The cameras in the 3D system found as overheat so can't go with the production environment. The stiching takes a lot of time bacause everything must be done by the hand. These challenges and analysed properly to provide capture, edit and rendering features in easy manner.

To capture 3D video from 2 cameras in stereoscopic 360 and Monoscopic 360 was very chalenging. It allowed to look arround the whole scene rather than flat like a still photo.

Initially every and every shoots has been analysed properly. Facebook analysed the shots for each location which were taken with two cameras. It has found as same from left to right or right to left. It means need to shoots in streoscopic 360 location with 10 to 20 cameras which can support 30 to 60 frames per second simultaneously. Each shoots must be stitch from cameras into single videos. It should be happened from both eye (left to right or right to left directions.)

The analysis for both side capturing was very difficult but it found as feasible because already a lot of experiments happened since long time. By previous research helped a lot to make it as successful due to decrement of memory cost.

The VR capture System

Facebook did a lot experiment to make it reliable, high-quality and end-to-end capture system. They designed and developed a prototype which they had faced earlier. The below point has been taken care in the mind:

• The hardware (the camera and control computer)
• The camera control software (for synchronised capture)
• The stitching and rendering software

Above points are very important to achieve the goals. Each component is dependent on each others. It can affect the quality of product if any one have lack of synchronisation.

We tried to build which can support others working model. It will be help in terms of non-dependent on actual architure. So that anyone can build and deploy the product with the help of new technology.

The camera hardware

A system can be combination of hardware and software. Any one have lack of synchronsatio that might be affect the quality of the product. The below point is required for camers:

• Camera must be able to capture each frames simultaneously within leass than 1 ms of other, synchonisation is required
• All pixel can be viewed simultaneously, all camera must have a global shutter will capture all the objects
• Camera must have on-off features
• Camera must be able to capture the object continuously without heating.
• Rig and Camera must be rigid to improve quality.

Each and every points has been analysed and working model has been designed accordingly. The Point Grey has been used which have global shutter. It will not overheat if contnue in working. The cameras has been bolted into aluminium classic so that it must be stay in one place. To prevent internal component it has been coded from steel from outside.

The camera control and capture software and storage

Once design has completed then next step was to control the camera movement. It has been designed in such a way who can run on linux based system. It will help to transfered stream from cameras to desk easily.

Camera should be capture all the frames without dropped. For that Low level buffer is required. 30Gb/s transfer rate is required for 30Hz frames. Facebook used at initially 8-way level -5 RAID SSD disk to keep all the camera capture rates. Camera can be controlled over remote through a web brwoser in the devices that supports an HTML browsers.

System should enable exposures, shutter speed, analogue sensor gain and frame rate that can be controlled by capture software. All cameras are synced with remote system.

The Stitching Software

Capturing the frames and storing was very challenging task, a lot of computational algorithm has required. Already experiments has been done since last 20 years in case of computational photography, which gives idea to continue the implemetation.

Stitching process helps to collect the images part of capture screen into single video images. The visual images quality was good as expected. They tried to maintained the quality of images so that they had process the data in several steps:

1. Converts raw Bayer input image to gamma corrected RGB.
   • Mutual camera color correction
   • Anti-vignetting
   • Gamma and tone curve
   • Sharpening
   • Pixel Quality
2. Correct the lens distortion and reproject images again
3. Consolidate the all screen captures into single video screen
4. Apply optical flow
5. Consolidate final pixal of left and right flows

The key concept is optical flow. It will help to build code which is stronger for creating stitching than other. It delivers better solution in terms of results. Optical flow will compute all the object form left eye to right eye viceversa. It will follow top and bottom cameras into the side cameras. So that it can match the objects. It will automatically generates seamless steroscopic 360 panaromas.

Playback

Facebook 3D-360 stores output as 4K, 6K and 8K for each eye. It uses Gear VR for streaming high quality video. The output file can viewed by VR headsets such as the Oculus Rift and Gear VR. It can be shared on facebook as feed.

Build and create

Facebook has tested 3D-360 camera and promised that it has stabled. Every day technology changes remain. Design changes in enginering in terms of optical field of view, sensor resolution, camera arrangement, will iniate to modiy the design for 3d-360 also. Some other camera also have features of stitching, but they will increase the volume of captured data and bandwidth to process. Increasing rendering quality can be costly.

Optical flow change will help to reduce the number of cameras or ease the amount of required stitching.

Facebook has planned for open sourcing for 3D-360 in upcoming summer. It will help for others to come and join for better improvement.

A final note- making a personal connection

When the facebook member has started their work towards 3D-360. It was very exiting movement for all. They were very excited for working a leading-edge camera as a "VR camera".

Facebook team has started working hard. All the team was excited about the VR camera. They are just trying to connect the people through the technology.

View post on fbchandra.com

Aquila first successful test ride, a step towards internet connectivity

Aquila is first solar - powered unmanned aircraft, design and developed by facebook. The idea was come in the mind due to internet.orgcommitment. Intenet.org has promised to provide cost-effective internet to all community worldwide. Currently around 1.6 billion people don't have internet access which is 60% of the global population. As of now, remote areas are connected through the existing technologies like optical fibre, microwave links. Facebook has developed the Lab to build new technologies (aircraft, satellite and wireless communication system) to solve the connectivity problem. Now internet is affordable to hundreds of million people where it is harder to reach people.

Aquila has capable to circle a region up to 60 miles in a diameter for connectivity. It has designed in such a way that it can fly up to 3 month continuously at an altitude of more than 60,000 feet at a time using laser communication and millimetre wave system. Beam broadband will cover up to 60 mile- wide area on the ground. Aquila has been tested so many times with 1/5 of actual size. This time it was finally tested with full size. Before moving full-scale test it has been selected to test at low altitude. Small altitude test was successful. Then it goes for full test. Initially it was estimated for 30 minutes only, but later it goes to 90 minutes and it was successful mission. Aquila was tested with different parameters to test capacity of design, performance of autopilot, motors, batteries etc. At cruising speed it will consume only 5,000 watts - the same amount as three hair dryers, or a high-end microwave normally use.

Testing Aquila

To test the behaviours of the model below parameters should be taken care of:

Takeoff- Aquila has designed in such ways that don't have landing gear and it has optimized for minimal mass. At the takeoff time Aquila was attached to a dolly structure using four straps. It will speed up the takeoff. When plane will be reached at some height with right speed, automatically strap will be cut down using pyrotechnic cable cutter. Aquila has features for auto sensing. Autopilot will take care while flying the plane.

Aerodynamic model

Aquila has designed in such way to operate in environment like cold & warm. Computer model has been build based on computational fluid dynamics. It will help to understand required power. Facebook has tested with different parameter and result was come as expected.

Battery and power performance

Aquila contains solar cells as in power system. It has tested with 2000 W of power which was successful to fly the plane. The result was same as expected in prediction.

Autopilot performance model

Aquila has designed to control automatic when it's flying. It is capable to understand the how aircraft will works under aerodynamics or inertial loads. Result was successful as expected.

Real-world conditions

At starting so many tests has been tried to get the data. Data helps to analyse about performance, how it will responds to wind etc.

Challenges Ahead

The full-scale of test already has been completed for Aquila. At the testing time each and every day has come up with unique challenges. A challenge has given the idea to build and improve in a better way by using science, engineering and design.

Challenge #1 - Getting enough sun

Aquila is solar-power based automated aircraft. To work continue it requires energy to operate properly. Energy was collected from sun. The energy has to be requiring for payload, avionics, heaters, lights and communications. It has capable to charge the solar panel within short of time in winter season which can works up to 14 hrs.

Challenge #2 - Batteries

In the winter, to keep Aquila long life energy is very important. It's required a lot of energy to continue to functioning. Current and battery performance will be equal to half of the mass of the aircraft. The rest of Aquila's mass consisting of motor, payload, avionics and structure. Currently Facebook Is working for improved battery who can support maximum support to Aquila live long in the space.

Challenge #3 - Size and speed

Aquila has been tested in terms of speed and size. It's slower than another airplane in terms of speed. It is capable to fly with 25 mph speed as compared to other of the same in size. It has been tested in 25 mph at sea level as compared to 50 mph for a glider or more than 200 mph for a another aircraft. Continuous effort is going on to reach maximum of the speed in term of size.

Challenge #4 - New cost paradigms

To make Aquila as successful, industry expert is working with Facebook to minimise the network cost, manpower, functional cost etc. They also are working to reduce the damage cost in terms of maintenance. Facebook is continuously working hard to accelerate the development of new technology that can help to deploy the internet infrastructure.

A lot of experiment is going based on different parameter. They are also focusing on size, weight, power consumption to provide cost effective network infrastructure in upcoming days

Details on http://www.fbchandra.com/aquila-first-successful-test-for-internet-connectivity/

How to add or remove query string in URL without page refresh

You can add/remove query string from URL without reloading page in javascript. Generally URL changes by page reloading. When URL changes page gets refresh and new content appears on page.

e.g. Go

Here when we click 'Go' it goes to new URL with query string.

HTML5 gave you facility to change URL using pushState function to change URL and append data using ajax.

e.g. history.pushState({state:1, rand: Math.random()}, '', "?page="+1);

history.pushState function is used to add history state. It takes three parameters: a state object, a title (which is currently ignored), and (optionally) a URL.

You can test code by clicking following buttons

      

Use following code function to modify query string without page reload

//Add jquery
<script src="https://cdnjs.cloudflare.com/ajax/libs/jquery/3.1.0/jquery.js"></script>
<script>
//Define variable
var objQueryString={};

//Get querystring value
function getParameterByName(name) {
    name = name.replace(/[\[]/, "\\[").replace(/[\]]/, "\\]");
    var regex = new RegExp("[\\?&]" + name + "=([^&#]*)"),
    results = regex.exec(location.search);
    return results === null ? "" : decodeURIComponent(results[1].replace(/\+/g, " "));
}

//Add or modify querystring
function changeUrl(key,value) {
 //Get query string value
 var searchUrl=location.search;
 if(searchUrl.indexOf("?")== "-1") {
  var urlValue='?'+key+'='+value;
  history.pushState({state:1, rand: Math.random()}, '', urlValue);
 }
 else {
  //Check for key in query string, if not present
  if(searchUrl.indexOf(key)== "-1") {
   var urlValue=searchUrl+'&'+key+'='+value;
  }
  else { //If key present in query string
   oldValue = getParameterByName(key);
   if(searchUrl.indexOf("?"+key+"=")!= "-1") {
    urlValue = searchUrl.replace('?'+key+'='+oldValue,'?'+key+'='+value);
   }
   else {
    urlValue = searchUrl.replace('&'+key+'='+oldValue,'&'+key+'='+value); 
   }
  }
  history.pushState({state:1, rand: Math.random()}, '', urlValue);
  //history.pushState function is used to add history state.
  //It takes three parameters: a state object, a title (which is currently ignored), and (optionally) a URL.
 }
 objQueryString.key=value;
 sendAjaxReq(objQueryString);
}

//Used to display data in webpage from ajax
function sendAjaxReq(objQueryString) {
 $.post('test.php', objQueryString, function(data) {
  //alert(data);
 })
}


//Function used to remove querystring
function removeQString(key) {
 var urlValue=document.location.href;
 
 //Get query string value
 var searchUrl=location.search;
 
 if(key!="") {
  oldValue = getParameterByName(key);
  removeVal=key+"="+oldValue;
  if(searchUrl.indexOf('?'+removeVal+'&')!= "-1") {
   urlValue=urlValue.replace('?'+removeVal+'&','?');
  }
  else if(searchUrl.indexOf('&'+removeVal+'&')!= "-1") {
   urlValue=urlValue.replace('&'+removeVal+'&','&');
  }
  else if(searchUrl.indexOf('?'+removeVal)!= "-1") {
   urlValue=urlValue.replace('?'+removeVal,'');
  }
  else if(searchUrl.indexOf('&'+removeVal)!= "-1") {
   urlValue=urlValue.replace('&'+removeVal,'');
  }
 }
 else {
  var searchUrl=location.search;
  urlValue=urlValue.replace(searchUrl,'');
 }
 history.pushState({state:1, rand: Math.random()}, '', urlValue);
}

</script>

<div>
 <input type="button" value="Add id" onClick="changeUrl('id','2')" />
 <input type="button" value="Add category" onClick="changeUrl('category','mobile')" />
 <input type="button" value="Add item" onClick="changeUrl('item','samsung')" />

 <input type="button" value="Remove id" onClick="removeQString('id','2')" />
 <input type="button" value="Remove category" onClick="removeQString('category')" />
 <input type="button" value="Remove item" onClick="removeQString('item')" />
 <input type="button" value="Remove query string" onClick="removeQString('')" />
</div>

Click here for details http://www.fbchandra.com/developers/add-remove-query-string-url-without-reloading-page/

Facebook collaboration with Telecom Infra Project (TIP)

Facebook collaboration with Telecom Infra Project Facebook collaboration with Telecom Infra Project (TIP)

Facebook has joined with TIP (Telecom Infra Project) to solve the coverage issue and achieve future connectivity requirement. TIP is focussing on vendor-specific component of network infrastructure. TIP member is working hard to create a new space on the earth. They wanted to deploy the new topology across the globe. They are contributing specs in terms of hardware and software. TIP is also working on 5G enabled networks worldwide by using new topology to solve the specific connectivity challenges.

Now a day mobile devices become very popular worldwide. Every day people are getting updated version of mobile devices in the market. Telecom network are playing vital role while transferring huge amount of data in format of Audio & Video. In 2020, more than zettabyte (approx. 1000 Exabyte) information will be exchanged through telecom channel. Telecommunications industries are facing coverage issue worldwide. Latest technologies will help to meet the future connectivity requirement.

Facebook has joined with TIP (Telecom Infra Project) to solve the coverage issue and achieve future connectivity requirement. Few years ago, Facebook was faced data centre issue when they are dependent on vendors. Data centre is the place where server will be available to capture the data. They had realised the future problem and they decided to create their own data centre from scratch. Facebook achieved milestone through Open Compute Project (OCP). By working with OCP project Facebook had saved billions of dollars and infrastructure cost.

Fiber optics and power of CPU cost can be very cheaper with using OCP model. It will be help to decrease the deployment cost as well as infrastructure cost. Facebook is going to launch TIP with the collaboration of Nokia and Intel, both are brand in technologies solutions since long time. Deutsche telecom and SK telecom is continuously working to provide improved network by using new technology. Other companies also showing their interest to be part of TIP. TIP will also provide technical and operational knowledge across the area of telecom.

TIP is focussing on vendor-specific component of network infrastructure. For making a better and cost effective, TIP is working on three areas- access, backhaul, and core and management. They are working hard to explore new hardware and software architecture. TIP is continuously working to provide simple and efficient technology to solve the network coverage issue worldwide.

TIP member is working hard to create a new space on the earth. They wanted to deploy the new topology across the globe. They are contributing specs in terms of hardware and software. TIP is also working on 5G enabled networks worldwide by using new topology to solve the specific connectivity challenges.

TIP is continuously analysing the result based on their experiment. They are creating a new model who can help to create a cost-effective telecom infrastructure. Facebook is also connected with Globe on a small pilot development in the Philippines. Facebook has developed low cost based solar-powered network in-a-box solution. Facebook brings the mobile coverage to village. It reduces the cost of phone call.

Facebook is continuously working to deploy the cost-effective, sustainable network. They are working with operator on several other pilot. They are focusing to build and deploy the new technology which can solve the network coverage issue not to become an operator. Facebook is studying area wise pilot deployment test result. Facebook will contribute technology used in the deployment.

TIP has given opportunity to all to join together to solve connectivity challenges with appropriate solutions. TIP knows that it won't be possible to achieve the solution with experiment. Tim aims to resolve the problem with local solution.

They are continuously trying to deploy the new technologies across the globe. They are looking a new way to deploy the network in new area. TIP is continuously focusing to provide quickest way to meet with the solution wordwise.

Get details on http://www.fbchandra.com/facebook-collaboration-with-telecom-infra-project-tip

Facebook opencellular for wireless platform

Recently Facebook has designed and tested wireless access platform. Access platform is open source platform having aim to provide cost-effective, improved connectivity features in the remote area across the globe. An open source wireless access platform will support wide range of communication option from 2G to LTE (High Speed Wireless communication media for mobile). Facebook has planned to work withTelecom Infra Project (TIP) member.

TIP will help to build and deploy the new generation network and do the testing for functional, technical and operational w.r.t. to platform. Facebook is also focusing on open source design (e.g. Hardware design, software management system, baseband, amplifier, filter, mounting device, and antennas) to enable telecom operators, entrepreneurs, OEMs, and researchers to build, deploy and operate the wireless infrastructure based on this platform.

People are using mobile phone past 20 years, but still 4 billion people are not connected to internet across the globe. Cellular network is very limited in the ecosystem due to high cost so it's very difficult for operator to deploy the network everywhere. Facebook open access wireless platform will help to solve this kind of problem by providing improved connectivity, verity of wireless network with low budget deployment. Open Source wireless access platform will help to reduce the civil cost and will provide wide range of connectivity with extends network access in both rural and urban areas.

Design Architecture

Facebook access platform can be customised as per requirement in urban & rural areas. It provides on-board computing and storage capacity option which can be configured in a box or cellular access point.

Some principle are used in design modal-

• Modular Design- It will support existing or upcoming cellular or wireless technologies
• Scalable solution for all areas- It will covers rural as well as urban areas
• Low CAPEX and OPEX - enabling a broader range of business models
• Simple Installation and support- Minimise the support cost
• Minimize the civil cost

Hardware Element

Access platform will help to minimize the hardware element cost, power efficient which is consist of two subsystem-

1. General-baseband computing (GBC): It uses microcontroller, microprocessor, timing model, sensor and control system. It support various power sources like DC, eternal batteries etc.
2. Radio with integrated front-end: Radio subsystem will multiple option like- software-defined radio (SDR) or system on chip (SoC) which support various cellular stack.

Industrial and Mechanical Design

Help to maximize the deployment across the globe with mounting solution which will handle high winds, temperatures etc.

Software element

OpenCellular contains many software element which will monitor function of the system. It will help to reduce the cost while running in remote areas. It will generate alarm in case of any assistance needed where the technical person is not available.

Testing OpenCellular

Facebook is testing for underdeveloped open-source design in their Headquarters to make available across the globe. Facebook has joined with TIP member to get particular trial location for testing of technical, functional and operational validation w.r.t. hardware. Continuous work is going on to provide enhanced features by reducing the cost and improve efficiency in the worldwide.

Read details on http://www.fbchandra.com/facebook-opencellular-for-wireless-platform/

Facebook initiates internet networks in the stratosphere

Internet has a lots of impact on our daily life. Since morning to evening we connected through it by many ways like google, facebook, twitter, whatsapp and many other websites. Due to its high impact, we cannot think our life without it. But still around 60% people round the globle live without internet as they reside in interior area or island where internet connectivity is rare or due to its expensive cost.

Before going foward i want to explain, how internet works. You must have seen various tower on house roof or many places. These towers send radio signal to our devices for internet connectivity. Towers itself connected to eachother through optical fiber cable which is the fastest communication channel. But the cost of this infrastructure is very high, so cost of internet is high.

Facebook takes an initiative to build fast internet connection at very low cost. They use high-altitude aircraft, satellites, free space optics, and terrestrial solutions for it. UK aerospace team has designed an aircraft called Aquila. It can stay in air for months at a time. It is operated by solar power. Aquila can create 50 km communications radius for 90 days and send signal to people below it. This signal is received by tower in that area and convert that signal to Wi-Fi or LTE network, so that people can connect to their phones easily.

But in this condition, aircraft should be very big so that it covers maximum area and to fly high it should be light weight. Aquila has the wingspan of a Boeing 737 airplane (around 42 meters) but weighs a third as much as an electric car. The monocoque wing is made from a cured carbon fiber that is stronger than steel for the same mass of material.

It can fly at an altitude from 60,000 to 90,000 feet from ground. During day, it will fly at an altitude of 90,000 feet to maximum utilize solar energy to charge their solar cells. At night, it will come at an altitude of 60,000 feet to consume less power. Its flying altitude is very high as compared to any commercial flight, so that commercial flight do not get effected due to its movement. Commercial airliners and military aircraft typically fly in the lower levels of the stratosphere, which starts between 30,000 and 41,000 feet.

Facebook uses free space laser communications as a mechanism for communicating between aircraft. Free space optics is very secure, as the narrow beam is hard to intercept. However, the signal quality gets affected by weather conditions. Facebook use air as communication medium through laser beam, while fiber optics send fast data through fiber.