Printable modular robot: an application of rapid prototyping for flexible robot design

2015 ◽  
Vol 42 (2) ◽  
pp. 149-155 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dennis Krupke ◽  
Florens Wasserfall ◽  
Norman Hendrich ◽  
Jianwei Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Modular Robot ◽  
Flexible Robot ◽  
Physical Force ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Novel Approach ◽  
Servo Actuator ◽  
3D Printed ◽  
Research And Education ◽  
Education Groups ◽  
Single Set

Purpose – This paper aims to present the design of a modular robot with 3D-printing technology. Design/methodology/approach – The robot consists of a number of autonomous modules coupled by magnetic interfaces. Each module combines 3D-printed mechanical parts with widely available standard electronic components, including a microcontroller and a single servo actuator. The mechanical and electrical connection is provided by a single set of magnets which apply the physical force between the modules and at the same time serve as wires for power and communication. Findings – The PMR is a full-featured robotic device, well integrated into a simulation framework, capable to execute common locomotion patterns but still extremely affordable (approximately 25/module). Furthermore, the design is easy to extend and replicate for other research and education groups. Originality/value – This paper explores a novel approach of connecting devices in a complex way by utilizing very simple magnetic parts. A second focus lies on the concept of closely integrating simulation and hardware development, blurring the edge between digital and physical word.

A NOVEL APPROACH TO TURBULENT MULTIPHASE FLOW IMAGING: FLOW IN 3D PRINTED KARSTIC CONDUITS

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samuel N. Jacobson ◽  
◽  
Ellen K. Herman ◽  
Dorothy J. Vesper ◽  
Johnathan E. Moore ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Multiphase Flow ◽  
Flow Imaging ◽  
Novel Approach ◽  
3D Printed

A cell-based smoothed point interpolation method (CS-PIM) for 2D thermoelastic problems

2017 ◽  
Vol 27 (6) ◽  
pp. 1249-1265 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yijun Liu ◽  
Guiyong Zhang ◽  
Huan Lu ◽  
Zhi Zong
Keyword(s):  
Thermal Stresses ◽  
Interpolation Method ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Novel Approach ◽  
Convergence Results ◽  
Point Interpolation Method ◽  
Point Interpolation ◽  
Thermoelastic Problems ◽  
Gradient Smoothing ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose Due to the strong reliance on element quality, there exist some inherent shortcomings of the traditional finite element method (FEM). The model of FEM behaves overly stiff, and the solutions of automated generated linear elements are generally of poor accuracy about especially gradient results. The proposed cell-based smoothed point interpolation method (CS-PIM) aims to improve the results accuracy of the thermoelastic problems via properly softening the overly-stiff stiffness. Design/methodology/approach This novel approach is based on the newly developed G space and weakened weak (w2) formulation, and of which shape functions are created using the point interpolation method and the cell-based gradient smoothing operation is conducted based on the linear triangular background cells. Findings Owing to the property of softened stiffness, the present method can generally achieve better accuracy and higher convergence results (especially for the temperature gradient and thermal stress solutions) than the FEM does by using the simplest linear triangular background cells, which has been examined by extensive numerical studies. Practical implications The CS-PIM is capable of producing more accurate results of temperature gradients as well as thermal stresses with the automated generated and unstructured background cells, which make it a better candidate for solving practical thermoelastic problems. Originality/value It is the first time that the novel CS-PIM was further developed for solving thermoelastic problems, which shows its tremendous potential for practical implications.

scholarly journals A Novel Approach for a Faster Prototyping of Winter Sport Equipment Using Digital Image Correlation and 3D Printing

Proceedings ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 49 (1) ◽  
pp. 125
Author(s):  
Martino Colonna ◽  
Benno Zingerle ◽  
Maria Federica Parisi ◽  
Claudio Gioia ◽  
Alessandro Speranzoni ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
3D Printing ◽  
Digital Image Correlation ◽  
Digital Image ◽  
Sport Activity ◽  
Image Correlation ◽  
Topological Optimization ◽  
Design Parameters ◽  
Sport Equipment ◽  
Novel Approach ◽  
3D Printed

The optimization of sport equipment parts requires considerable time and high costs due to the high complexity of the development process. For this reason, we have developed a novel approach to decrease the cost and time for the optimization of the design, which consists of producing a first prototype by 3D printing, applying the forces that normally acts during the sport activity using a test bench, and then measuring the local deformations using 3D digital image correlation (DIC). The design parameters are then modified by topological optimization and then DIC is performed again on the new 3D-printed modified part. The DIC analysis of 3D-printed parts has shown a good agreement with that of the injection-molded ones. The deformation measured with DIC are also well correlated with those provided by finite element method (FEM) analysis, and therefore DIC analysis proves to be a powerful tool to validate FEM models.

Transdural herniation of the thoracic spinal cord: untethering via a posterolateral transpedicular approach

2004 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 223-227 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ryder Gwinn ◽  
Fraser Henderson
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Posterior Approach ◽  
Thoracic Spinal Cord ◽  
Dural Repair ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Transpedicular Approach ◽  
Thoracic Spinal ◽  
Novel Approach ◽  
Spinal Cord Herniation ◽  
Thoracic Cord

✓ Anterior spinal cord herniation is a well-documented condition in which the thoracic cord becomes tethered within a defect in the anterior dura mater. Typical procedures have involved a posterior approach with direct manipulation of the thoracic cord to expose and blindly release its point of tethering. The authors report three cases in which a novel approach for the treatment of anterior thoracic cord herniation was performed, cord manipulation and traction are minimized, and direct dural repair of the defect is performed.

Chiasmatic optic glioma treated with chemotherapy

1985 ◽  
Vol 63 (6) ◽  
pp. 862-866 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeffrey G. Rosenstock ◽  
Roger J. Packer ◽  
Larissa Bilaniuk ◽  
Derek A. Bruce ◽  
Jerri-Lynne Radcliffe ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Radiation Therapy ◽  
Young Children ◽  
Progressive Disease ◽  
Actinomycin D ◽  
Initial Therapy ◽  
Optic Glioma ◽  
Newly Diagnosed ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Novel Approach ◽  
Clinical Stabilization

✓ Chiasmatic optic glioma is a rare tumor with an erratic natural history, usually seen in young children. A prior study from this institution demonstrated that these lesions were frequently lethal, despite initial clinical stabilization following radiation therapy, and that visual, intellectual, and late endocrinological disabilities were prevalent. A novel approach was developed in 1977, when an initial clinical response to vincristine was recorded in a child with a recurrent optic glioma. Since then, all children with recurrent optic glioma and all children aged 6 years old and under with newly diagnosed optic glioma have been offered a program of initial therapy with vincristine and actinomycin D for six cycles over 18 months. The four children with recurrent tumor who were treated with that regimen remain clinically stable 13 to 115 months after chemotherapy. Twelve children (eight under 24 months old) with newly diagnosed optic glioma have been treated with this program, and three are still on therapy. Four developed progression while on therapy, and five remain stable from 1 to 60 months posttherapy. The four children who developed progressive disease have been treated with radiation therapy and remain stable. Six of the 12 children showed shrinkage of their tumor on computerized tomography while receiving chemotherapy. This program may serve as an alternative to initial radiation therapy in young children.

Reflecting on perceived deinstitutionalization of gender‐biased employment practices in accountancy

2012 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 300-336 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rosalind H. Whiting
Keyword(s):  
Organizational Change ◽  
Cultural Change ◽  
Sample Selection ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Young Female ◽  
Human Resource Managers ◽  
Employment Practices ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Novel Approach ◽  
Chartered Accountants

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explore the changes in gender‐biased employment practices that it is perceived have occurred in New Zealand accountancy workplaces over the last 30 years, using Oliver's model of deinstitutionalization.Design/methodology/approachSequential interviewing was carried out with 69 experienced chartered accountants and three human resource managers, and at a later date with nine young female accountants.FindingsEvidence is presented of perceived political, functional and social pressures cumulatively contributing to deinstitutionalization of overt gender‐biased employment practices, with social and legislative changes being the most influential. Deinstitutionalization appears incomplete as some more subtle gender‐biased practices still remain in New Zealand's accountancy workplaces, relating particularly to senior‐level positions.Research limitations/implicationsThis study adds to understanding of how professions evolve. The purposeful bias in the sample selection, the small size of two of the interviewee groups, and the diversity in the interviewees' workplaces are recognized limitations.Practical implicationsIdentification of further cultural change is required to deinstitutionalize the more subtle gender‐biased practices in accountancy organizations. This could help to avoid a serious deficiency of senior chartered accountants in practice in the future.Originality/valueThis paper represents one of a limited number of empirical applications of the deinstitutionalization model to organizational change and is the first to address the issue of gender‐biased practices in a profession. The use of sequential interviewing of different age groups, in order to identify and corroborate perceptions of organizational change is a novel approach.

SmartWoW – constructing a tool for knowledge work performance analysis

2015 ◽  
Vol 64 (4) ◽  
pp. 479-498 ◽  
Author(s):  
Miikka Palvalin ◽  
Maiju Vuolle ◽  
Aki Jääskeläinen ◽  
Harri Laihonen ◽  
Antti Lönnqvist
Keyword(s):  
Work Performance ◽  
Knowledge Work ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Management Tool ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Work Practices ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Individual Level ◽  
New Ways Of Working ◽  
Novel Approach

Purpose – New Ways of Working (NewWoW) refers to a novel approach for improving the performance of knowledge work. The purpose of this paper is to seek innovative solutions concerning facilities, information technology tools and work practices in order to be able to “work smarter, not harder.” In order to develop work practices toward the NewWoW mode there is a need for an analytical management tool that would help assess the status of the organization’s current work practices and demonstrate the impacts of development initiatives. This paper introduces such a tool. Design/methodology/approach – Constructive research approach was chosen to guide the development of the Smart ways of working (SmartWoW) tool. The tool was designed on the basis of previous knowledge work performance literature as well as on interviews in two knowledge-intensive organizations. The usefulness of the tool was verified by applying it in four organizations. Findings – SmartWoW is a compact questionnaire tool for analyzing and measuring knowledge work at the individual level. The questionnaire consists of four areas: work environment, personal work practices, well-being at work and productivity. As SmartWoW is a standardized tool its results are comparable between organizations. Research limitations/implications – SmartWoW was designed a pragmatic managerial tool. It is considered possible that it can be valuable as a research instrument as well but the current limited amount of collected data does not yet facilitate determining its usefulness from that perspective. Originality/value – This paper makes a contribution to the existing literature on knowledge work measurement and management by introducing an analytical tool which takes into account the NewWoW perspective.

A novel approach to diagnose ADHD using virtual reality

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ha Min Son ◽  
Dong Gyu Lee ◽  
Yoo-Sook Joung ◽  
Ji Woo Lee ◽  
Eun Ju Seok ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Virtual Reality ◽  
Diagnostic Test ◽  
Rating Scale ◽  
Necessary Condition ◽  
Natural Environments ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Adhd Diagnosis ◽  
Dsm 5 ◽  
Novel Approach ◽  
Potential Patient

Purpose The current golden standard for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) diagnosis is clinical diagnosis based on psychiatric interviews and psychological examinations. This is suboptimal, as clinicians are unable to view potential patients in multiple natural settings – a necessary condition for objective diagnosis. The purpose of this paper is to improve the objective diagnosis of ADHD by analyzing a quantified representation of the actions of potential patients in multiple natural environments. Design/methodology/approach The authors use both virtual reality (VR) and artificial intelligence (AI) to create an objective ADHD diagnostic test. Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders, 5th Edition (DSM-5) and ADHD Rating Scale are used to create a rule-based system of quantifiable VR-observable actions. As a potential patient completes tasks within multiple VR scenes, certain actions trigger an increase in the severity measure of the corresponding ADHD symptom. The resulting severity measures are input to an AI model, which classifies the potential patient as having ADHD in the form inattention, hyperactivity-impulsivity, combined or neither. Findings The result of this study shows that VR-observed actions can be extracted as quantified data, and classification of this quantified data achieves near-perfect sensitivity and specificity with a 98.3% accuracy rate on a convolutional neural network model. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study to incorporate VR and AI into an objective DSM-5-based ADHD diagnostic test. By including stimulation to the visual, auditory and equilibrium senses and tracking movement and recording voice, we present a method to further the research of objective ADHD diagnosis.

Corporate sustainability reporting in Japanese multinational enterprises: a threat to local legitimacy or an opportunity lost for corporate sustainability practices?

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Masayoshi Ike ◽  
Jerome Denis Donovan ◽  
Cheree Topple ◽  
Eryadi Kordi Masli
Keyword(s):  
Multinational Enterprises ◽  
Corporate Sustainability ◽  
Sustainability Reporting ◽  
Internal Communication ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Host Countries ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Sustainable Development ◽  
Novel Approach ◽  
Responsible Consumption

Purpose This paper aims to investigate whether Japanese manufacturing multinational enterprises (MNEs) maintain local legitimacy in their host countries through adequate informing of local stakeholders with targeted corporate sustainability (CS) reporting. Design/methodology/approach The paper first identified specific CS activities that were considered important in four Association of Southeast Asian Nations host countries, through semi-structured interviews with 58 participants of 16 Japanese manufacturing MNEs. The degree of establishment of local legitimacy was then measured through the number of references made to these CS activities and other activities specific to the respective host countries in the CS reports of the MNEs across a five-year period. Findings The majority of MNEs in the sample were under-reporting items of specific interest to localhost country stakeholders potentially undermining the MNEs’ image. There were found to be differences on the topics published in CS reports compared to those mentioned in the interviews indicating potential issues with regard to internal communication between the subsidiary and headquarters offices. Originality/value A novel approach is taken to investigate the degree of local legitimacy established by MNEs through comparing the contents of interviews held at subsidiaries with their respective CS reports. This paper highlights the importance of considering MNE subsidiaries when addressing Target 12.6 of the Sustainable Development Goal 12: responsible consumption and production.

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