Design of a robot for inspection and diagnostic operations of rail track facilities

2022 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ilesanmi Daniyan ◽  
Khumbulani Mpofu ◽  
Samuel Nwankwo
Keyword(s):  
Computer Aided Design ◽  
Crack Detection ◽  
Confusion Matrix ◽  
Network Capacity ◽  
Design Data ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Rail Track ◽  
Rail Network ◽  
Inspection Robot ◽  
Aided Design

PurposeThe need to examine the integrity of infrastructure in the rail industry in order to improve its reliability and reduce the chances of breakdown due to defects has brought about development of an inspection and diagnostic robot.Design/methodology/approachIn this study, an inspection robot was designed for detecting crack, corrosion, missing clips and wear on rail track facilities. The robot is designed to use infrared and ultrasonic sensors for obstacles avoidance and crack detection, two 3D-profilometer for wear detection as well as cameras with high resolution to capture real time images and colour sensors for corrosion detection. The robot is also designed with cameras placed in front of it with colour sensors at each side to assist in the detection of corrosion in the rail track. The image processing capability of the robot will permit the analysis of the type and depth of the crack and corrosion captured in the track. The computer aided design and modeling of the robot was carried out using the Solidworks software version 2018 while the simulation of the proposed system was carried out in the MATLAB 2020b environment.FindingsThe results obtained present three frameworks for wear, corrosion and missing clips as well as crack detection. In addition, the design data for the development of the integrated robotic system is also presented in the work. The confusion matrix resulting from the simulation of the proposed system indicates significant sensitivity and accuracy of the system to the presence and detection of fault respectively. Hence, the work provides a design framework for detecting and analysing the presence of defects on the rail track.Practical implicationsThe development and the implementation of the designed robot will bring about a more proactive way to monitor rail track conditions and detect rail track defects so that effort can be geared towards its restoration before it becomes a major problem thus increasing the rail network capacity and availability.Originality/valueThe novelty of this work is based on the fact that the system is designed to work autonomously to avoid obstacles and check for cracks, missing clips, wear and corrosion in the rail tracks with a system of integrated and coordinated components.

The generation of adaptive assembly from predicting change propagation

2015 ◽  
Vol 35 (3) ◽  
pp. 269-280 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hu Qiao ◽  
Rong Mo ◽  
Ying Xiang
Keyword(s):  
Computer Aided Design ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Original Method ◽  
Change Propagation ◽  
Assembly Model ◽  
Practical Application ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Design Structure ◽  
Aided Design ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to establish an adaptive assembly, to realize the adaptive changing of the models and to improve the flexibility and reliability of assembly change. For a three-dimensional (3D) computer-aided design (CAD) assembly in a changing process, there are two practical problems. One is delivering parameters’ information not smoothly. The other one is to easily destroy an assembly structure. Design/methodology/approach – The paper establishes associated parameters design structure matrix of related parts, and predicts possible propagation paths of the parameters. Based on the predicted path, structured storage is made for the affected parameters, tolerance range and the calculation relations. The study combines structured path information and all constrained assemblies to build the adaptive assembly, proposes an adaptive change algorithm for assembly changing and discusses the extendibility of the adaptive assembly. Findings – The approach would improve the flexibility and reliability of assembly change and be applied to different CAD platform. Practical implications – The examples illustrate the construction and adaptive behavior of the assembly and verify the feasibility and reasonability of the adaptive assembly in practical application. Originality/value – The adaptive assembly model proposed in the paper is an original method to assembly change. And compared with other methods, good results have been obtained.

Animal orthosis fabrication with additive manufacturing – a case study of custom orthosis for chicken

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Wiktoria Maria Wojnarowska ◽  
Jakub Najowicz ◽  
Tomasz Piecuch ◽  
Michał Sochacki ◽  
Dawid Pijanka ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Veterinary Medicine ◽  
Additive Manufacturing ◽  
Computer Aided Design ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Fused Deposition Modelling ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Fused Deposition ◽  
Secondary Objective ◽  
Traditional Manufacturing ◽  
Aided Design

Purpose Chicken orthoses that cover the ankle joint area are not commercially available. Therefore, the main purpose of this study is to fabricate a customised temporary Ankle–Foot Orthosis (AFO) for a chicken with a twisted ankle using computer-aided design (CAD) and three-dimensional (3D) printing. The secondary objective of the paper is to present the specific application of Additive Manufacturing (AM) in veterinary medicine. Design/methodology/approach The design process was based on multiple sketches, photos and measurements that were provided by the owner of the animal. The 3D model of the orthosis was made with Autodesk Fusion 360, while the prototype was fabricated using fused deposition modelling (FDM). Evaluation of the AFO was performed using the finite element method. Findings The work resulted in a functional 3D printed AFO for chicken. It was found that the orthosis made with AM provides satisfactory stiffen and a good fit. It was concluded that AM is suitable for custom bird AFO fabrication and, in some respects, is superior to traditional manufacturing methods. It was also concluded that the presented procedure can be applied in other veterinary cases and to other animal species and other parts of their body. AM provides veterinary with a powerful tool for the production of well-fitted and durable orthoses for animals. Research limitations/implications The study does not include the chicken's opinion on the comfort or fit of the manufactured AFO due to communication issues. Evaluation of the final prototype was done by the researchers and the animal owner. Originality/value No evidence was found in the literature on the use of AM for chicken orthosis, so this study is the first to describe such an application of AM. In addition, the study demonstrates the value of AM in veterinary medicine, especially in the production of devices such as orthoses.

Computer-aided design of a dielectric insert supporting uniformity of fast microwave heating

2018 ◽  
Vol 37 (6) ◽  
pp. 1958-1968 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ethan M. Moon ◽  
Vadim V. Yakovlev
Keyword(s):  
Microwave Heating ◽  
Complex Permittivity ◽  
Computer Aided Design ◽  
Heating Time ◽  
Geometrical Parameters ◽  
Heating Rates ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Design Variables ◽  
Processed Material ◽  
Aided Design

PurposeThis paper aims to introduce and illustrate a computational technique capable of determining the geometry and complex permittivity of a supplementary dielectric insert making distributions of microwave-induced dissipated power within the processed material as uniform as possible.Design/methodology/approachThe proposed technique is based on a 3D electromagnetic model of the cavity containing both the processed material and the insert. Optimization problem is formulated for design variables (geometrical and material parameters of the insert) identified from computational tests and an objective function (the relative standard deviation [RSD]) introduced as a metric of the field uniformity. Numerical inversion is performed with the method of sequential quadratic programming.FindingsFunctionality of the procedure is illustrated by synthesis of a dielectric insert in an applicator for microwave fixation. Optimization is completed for four design variables (two geometrical parameters, dielectric constant and the loss factor of the insert) with 1,000 points in the database. The best three optimal solutions provide RSD approximately 20 per cent, whereas for the patterns corresponding to all 1,000 non-optimized (randomly chosen) sets of design variables this metric is in the interval from 27 to 136 per cent with the average of 78 per cent.Research limitations/implicationsAs microwave thermal processing is intrinsically inhomogeneous and the heating time is not a part of the underlying model, the procedure is able to lead only to a certain degree of closeness to uniformity and is intended for applications with high heating rates. The initial phase of computational identification of design variables and their bounds is therefore very important and may pre-condition the “quality” of the optimal solution. The technique may work more efficiently in combination with advanced optimization techniques dealing with “smart” (rather than random) generation of the data; for the use with more general microwave heating processes characterized by lower heating rates, the technique has to use the metric of non-uniformity involving temperature and heating time.Practical implicationsWhile the procedure can be used for computer-aided design (CAD) of microwave applicators, a related practical limitation may emerge from the fact that the material with particular complex permittivity (determined in the course of optimization) may not exist. In such cases, the procedure can be rerun for the constant values of material parameters of the available medium mostly close to the optimal ones to tune geometrical parameters of the insert. Special manufacturing techniques capable of producing a material with required complex permittivity also may be a practical option here.Originality/valueNon-uniformity of microwave heating remains a key challenge in the design of many practical applicators. This paper suggests a concept of a practical CAD and outlines corresponding computational procedure that could be used for designing a range of applied systems with high heating rates.

scholarly journals Viability of the Digitalization of Dental Laboratory in Bacolod City

2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 31-32
Author(s):  
Paul Brian S. Mendez ◽  
Rizalie N.E. Mibato
Keyword(s):  
Computer Aided Design ◽  
Data File ◽  
Dental Restoration ◽  
Design Data ◽  
Dental Patients ◽  
Computer Aided ◽  
Cad Cam ◽  
Aided Design ◽  
Improved Accuracy ◽  
The City

Dentistry has evolved from its origin to the present day, becoming almost entirely digitized and supervised. The digitalized dental laboratory saves time due to computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacture (CAD/CAM) technology, which will capture and display clients' tooth or teeth and gums on a 3D image on a computer screen sent to the lab.  It enables a dental lab technician to work faster and get the perfect design of the digital dental restoration. The main advantage of digitalization includes faster and improved efficiency on the turn-around time of devices, like crowns and bridges, and improved accuracy of procedures and manufactured gadgets. Digitalization Dental Laboratory (DDL) is the first to offer a digital dental lab in the city of Bacolod. The service allows laboratories to design the prosthesis digitally from in-house CAD software and email the design data provider or download the data file into a proprietary web host or server. The lab will cater to the digital needs of dental patients of the Multi-Specialty Dental Center (a sister company of DDL) and other dental clients.

Vision-force guided precise robotic assembly for 2.5D components in a semistructured environment

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Boyoung Kim ◽  
Minyong Choi ◽  
Seung-Woo Son ◽  
Deokwon Yun ◽  
Sukjune Yoon
Keyword(s):  
Computer Aided Design ◽  
Degrees Of Freedom ◽  
Printed Circuit Board ◽  
Force Sensor ◽  
Circuit Board ◽  
Robotic Assembly ◽  
Ccd Cameras ◽  
Content Type ◽  
3 Dimensional ◽  
Aided Design

Purpose Many manufacturing sites require precision assembly. Particularly, similar to cell phones, assembly at the sub-mm scale is not easy, even for humans. In addition, the system should assemble each part with adequate force and avoid breaking the circuits with excessive force. The purpose of this study is to assemble high precision components with relatively reasonable vision devices compared to previous studies. Design/methodology/approach This paper presents a vision-force guided precise assembly system using a force sensor and two charge coupled device (CCD) cameras without an expensive 3-dimensional (3D) sensor or computer-aided design model. The system accurately estimates 6 degrees-of-freedom (DOF) poses from a 2D image in real time and assembles parts with the proper force. Findings In this experiment, three connectors are assembled on a printed circuit board. This system obtains high accuracy under 1 mm and 1 degree error, which shows that this system is effective. Originality/value This is a new method for sub-mm assembly using only two CCD cameras and one force sensor.

Parametric geometry model design of a wingsuit

2020 ◽  
Vol 32 (5) ◽  
pp. 691-705
Author(s):  
Nazanin Ansari ◽  
Sybille Krzywinski
Keyword(s):  
Computer Aided Design ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Production Costs ◽  
Process Chain ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Geometry Model ◽  
Computer Aided ◽  
2D Pattern ◽  
Aided Design

PurposeThis paper aims to introduce a process chain spanning from scanned data to computer-aided engineering and further required simulations up to the subsequent production. This approach has the potential to reduce production costs and accelerate the procedure.Design/methodology/approachA parametric computer-aided design (CAD) model of the flyer wearing a wingsuit is created enabling easy changes in its posture and the wingsuit geometry. The objective is to track the influence of geometry changes in a timely manner for following simulation scenarios.FindingsAt the final stage, the two-dimensional (2D) pattern cuts were derived from the developed three-dimensional (3D) wingsuit, and the results were compared with the conventional ones used in the first stages of the wingsuit development.Originality/valueProposing a virtual development process chain is challenging; apart from the fact that the CAD construction of a wingsuit flyer – in itself posing a complicated task – is required at a very early stage of the procedure.

Vertical tail FEA with a CAD/CAE based multidisciplinary process

2018 ◽  
Vol 90 (4) ◽  
pp. 652-658
Author(s):  
Péter Deák
Keyword(s):  
Finite Element ◽  
Computer Aided Design ◽  
Tail Length ◽  
Element Model ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Nodal Displacements ◽  
Von Mises ◽  
Von Mises Stresses ◽  
Aided Design

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to make an analytical comparison of two vertical tail models from a structural point of view. Design/methodology/approach The original vertical tail design of PZL-106BT aircraft was used for Computer aided design (CAD) modeling and for creating the finite element model. Findings The nodal displacements, Von-Mises stresses and Buckling factors for two vertical tail models have been found using the finite element method. The idea of a possible Multidisciplinary concept assessment and design (MDCAD) concept was presented. Practical implications The used software analogy introduces an idea of having an automated calculation procedure within the framework of MDCAD. Originality/value The aircraft used for calculation had undergone a modification in its vertical tail length, as there was an urgent need to calculate for the plane’s manufacturer, PZL Warszawa – Okecie.

scholarly journals Additively manufactured textiles and parametric modelling by generative algorithms in orthopaedic applications

2020 ◽  
Vol 26 (5) ◽  
pp. 827-834 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vito Ricotta ◽  
Robert Ian Campbell ◽  
Tommaso Ingrassia ◽  
Vincenzo Nigrelli
Keyword(s):  
Computer Aided Design ◽  
Selective Laser Sintering ◽  
Flexible Structure ◽  
Parametric Modelling ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Cad Modelling ◽  
Generative Algorithms ◽  
Application Fields ◽  
Aided Design ◽  
Design And Production

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to implement a new process aimed at the design and production of orthopaedic devices fully manufacturable by additive manufacturing (AM). In this context, the use of generative algorithms for parametric modelling of additively manufactured textiles (AMTs) also has been investigated, and new modelling solutions have been proposed. Design/methodology/approach A new method for the design of customised elbow orthoses has been implemented. In particular, to better customise the elbow orthosis, a generative algorithm for parametric modelling and creation of a flexible structure, typical of an AMT, has been developed. Findings To test the developed modelling algorithm, a case study based on the design and production of an elbow orthosis made by selective laser sintering was investigated. The obtained results have demonstrated that the implemented algorithm overcomes many drawbacks typical of the traditional computer aided design (CAD) modelling approaches. The parametric CAD model of the orthosis obtained through the new approach is characterised by a flexible structure with no deformations or mismatches and has been effectively used to produce the prototype through AM technologies. Originality/value The obtained results present innovative elements of originality in the CAD modelling sector, which can contribute to solving problems related to modelling for AM in different application fields.

Direct slicing of T-spline surfaces for additive manufacturing

2018 ◽  
Vol 24 (4) ◽  
pp. 709-721 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jiawei Feng ◽  
Jianzhong Fu ◽  
Zhiwei Lin ◽  
Ce Shang ◽  
Bin Li
Keyword(s):  
Additive Manufacturing ◽  
Computer Aided Design ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Geometrical Properties ◽  
Direct Slicing ◽  
Spline Surface ◽  
Spline Surfaces ◽  
Complex Models ◽  
Aided Design ◽  
Design And Manufacture

Purpose T-spline is the latest powerful modeling tool in the field of computer-aided design. It has all the merits of non-uniform rational B-spline (NURBS) whilst resolving some flaws in it. This work applies T-spline surfaces to additive manufacturing (AM). Most current AM products are based on Stereolithograph models. It is a kind of discrete polyhedron model with huge amounts of data and some inherent defects. T-spline offers a better choice for the design and manufacture of complex models. Design/methodology/approach In this paper, a direct slicing algorithm of T-spline surfaces for AM is proposed. Initially, a T-spline surface is designed in commercial software and saved as a T-spline mesh file. Then, a numerical method is used to directly calculate all the slicing points on the surface. To achieve higher manufacturing efficiency, an adaptive slicing algorithm is applied according to the geometrical properties of the T-spline surface. Findings Experimental results indicate that this algorithm is effective and reliable. The quality of AM can be enhanced at both the designing and slicing stages. Originality/value The T-spline and direct slicing algorithm discussed here will be a powerful supplement to current technologies in AM.

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