The Advanced Handbrake Actuator System

2002 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joram Shenhar ◽  
John L. Hill ◽  
Mark A. Lombardo
Keyword(s):  
Human Error ◽  
State Of The Art ◽  
Ground Level ◽  
Innovation Research ◽  
In Series ◽  
Actuator System ◽  
Freight Car ◽  
Fail Safe ◽  
User Friendly ◽  
Crank Mechanism

State-of-the-art freight car handbrakes are manpower intensive. Setting and releasing handbrakes expose operators to safety hazards and the potential for human error exposes train operations for possible time delays, mild to severe maintenance issues and ultimately the potential for major rail accidents. In response to the need to reduce the hazard associated with freight car handbrakes, UTD has developed the Advanced Handbrake Actuator System (AHAS), a fail-safe powered handbrake device, accessible from ground level on either side of the car. The AHAS concept was developed, manufactured and demonstrated under sponsorship of the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program. The system is designed to replace existing handbrake wheels and provide significant improvements by offering new ways of applying or releasing the brake. Remote electronic signal, car mounted hand levered pneumatic valve, and a manual hand crank mechanism, requiring significantly less effort than that required by the state-of-the-art handbrake wheel, constitute three methods of actuation. The AHAS is comprised of a compression coil spring arranged to apply tension to the handbrake chain as its default condition. Two release systems are available. The first uses an air cylinder actuator connected in series with the spring and chain. Applying air pressure by remote or local command will compress the spring and release the handbrake. The spring may also be compressed to release the handbrake by a hand crank mechanism, accessible from ground level on either side of the car. The AHAS is equipped with a dedicated air reservoir charged with compressed air prior to departure via the train’s brake pipe. The AHAS was successfully field tested on a freight car in regular service over a period of three months and was found to be user friendly and safe, logging over 120 successful operations.

scholarly journals Sampo-UI: A full stack JavaScript framework for developing semantic portal user interfaces

Semantic Web ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 1-16
Author(s):  
Esko Ikkala ◽  
Eero Hyvönen ◽  
Heikki Rantala ◽  
Mikko Koho
Keyword(s):  
User Interfaces ◽  
Linked Data ◽  
State Of The Art ◽  
Software Framework ◽  
End User ◽  
Faceted Search ◽  
Software Developer ◽  
Current State ◽  
Knowledge Graphs ◽  
User Friendly

This paper presents a new software framework, Sampo-UI, for developing user interfaces for semantic portals. The goal is to provide the end-user with multiple application perspectives to Linked Data knowledge graphs, and a two-step usage cycle based on faceted search combined with ready-to-use tooling for data analysis. For the software developer, the Sampo-UI framework makes it possible to create highly customizable, user-friendly, and responsive user interfaces using current state-of-the-art JavaScript libraries and data from SPARQL endpoints, while saving substantial coding effort. Sampo-UI is published on GitHub under the open MIT License and has been utilized in several internal and external projects. The framework has been used thus far in creating six published and five forth-coming portals, mostly related to the Cultural Heritage domain, that have had tens of thousands of end-users on the Web.

scholarly journals Swarm-CG: Automatic Parametrization of Bonded Terms in Coarse-Grained Models of Simple to Complex Molecules via Fuzzy Self-Tuning Particle Swarm Optimization

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charly Empereur-mot ◽  
Luca Pesce ◽  
Davide Bochicchio ◽  
Claudio Perego ◽  
Giovanni M. Pavan
Keyword(s):  
Particle Swarm Optimization ◽  
State Of The Art ◽  
Structural Complexity ◽  
Coarse Grained ◽  
Complex Molecules ◽  
Swarm Optimization ◽  
Molecular Systems ◽  
Self Tuning ◽  
User Friendly ◽  
Python Package

We present Swarm-CG, a versatile software for the automatic parametrization of bonded parameters in coarse-grained (CG) models. By coupling state-of-the-art metaheuristics to Boltzmann inversion, Swarm-CG performs accurate parametrization of bonded terms in CG models composed of up to 200 pseudoatoms within 4h-24h on standard desktop machines, using an AA trajectory as reference and default<br>settings of the software. The software benefits from a user-friendly interface and two different usage modes (default and advanced). We particularly expect Swarm-CG to support and facilitate the development of new CG models for the study of molecular systems interesting for bio- and nanotechnology.<br>Excellent performances are demonstrated using a benchmark of 9 molecules of diverse nature, structural complexity and size. Swarm-CG usage is ideal in combination with popular CG force<br>fields, such as e.g. MARTINI. However, we anticipate that in principle its versatility makes it well suited for the optimization of models built based also on other CG schemes. Swarm-CG is available with all its dependencies via the Python Package Index (PIP package: swarm-cg). Tutorials and demonstration data are available at: www.github.com/GMPavanLab/SwarmCG.

scholarly journals Remote Gait Type Classification System Using Markerless 2D Video

Diagnostics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (10) ◽  
pp. 1824
Author(s):  
Pedro Albuquerque ◽  
João Pedro Machado ◽  
Tanmay Tulsidas Verlekar ◽  
Paulo Lobato Correia ◽  
Luís Ducla Soares
Keyword(s):  
Gait Analysis ◽  
Learning Strategies ◽  
Web Application ◽  
State Of The Art ◽  
The State ◽  
Remote Healthcare ◽  
Visual Artifacts ◽  
Analysis System ◽  
Private Network ◽  
User Friendly

Several pathologies can alter the way people walk, i.e., their gait. Gait analysis can be used to detect such alterations and, therefore, help diagnose certain pathologies or assess people’s health and recovery. Simple vision-based systems have a considerable potential in this area, as they allow the capture of gait in unconstrained environments, such as at home or in a clinic, while the required computations can be done remotely. State-of-the-art vision-based systems for gait analysis use deep learning strategies, thus requiring a large amount of data for training. However, to the best of our knowledge, the largest publicly available pathological gait dataset contains only 10 subjects, simulating five types of gait. This paper presents a new dataset, GAIT-IT, captured from 21 subjects simulating five types of gait, at two severity levels. The dataset is recorded in a professional studio, making the sequences free of background camouflage, variations in illumination and other visual artifacts. The dataset is used to train a novel automatic gait analysis system. Compared to the state-of-the-art, the proposed system achieves a drastic reduction in the number of trainable parameters, memory requirements and execution times, while the classification accuracy is on par with the state-of-the-art. Recognizing the importance of remote healthcare, the proposed automatic gait analysis system is integrated with a prototype web application. This prototype is presently hosted in a private network, and after further tests and development it will allow people to upload a video of them walking and execute a web service that classifies their gait. The web application has a user-friendly interface usable by healthcare professionals or by laypersons. The application also makes an association between the identified type of gait and potential gait pathologies that exhibit the identified characteristics.

Planar locomotion of earthworm-like metameric robots

2019 ◽  
Vol 38 (14) ◽  
pp. 1751-1774 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiong Zhan ◽  
Hongbin Fang ◽  
Jian Xu ◽  
Kon-Well Wang
Keyword(s):  
State Of The Art ◽  
Kinematic Model ◽  
Generic Model ◽  
Deformation Characteristics ◽  
Proof Of Concept ◽  
Generation Algorithm ◽  
Theoretical Predictions ◽  
In Series ◽  
Number Of Segments ◽  
Morphology Characteristics

The goal of this research is to develop a generic earthworm-like locomotion robot model consisting of a large number of segments in series and based on which to systematically investigate the generation of planar locomotion gaits and their correlation with a robot’s locomotion performance. The investigation advances the state-of-the-art by addressing some fundamental but largely unaddressed issues in the field. These issues include (a) how to extract the main shape and deformation characteristics of the earthworm’s body and build a generic model, (b) how to coordinate the deformations of different segments such that steady-state planar locomotion can be achieved, and (c) how different locomotion gaits would qualitatively and quantitatively affect the robot’s locomotion performance, and how to evaluate them. Learning from earthworms’ unique morphology characteristics, a generic kinematic model of earthworm-like metameric locomotion robots is developed. Left/right-contracted segments are introduced into the model to achieve planar locomotion. Then, this paper proposes a gait-generation algorithm by mimicking the earthworm’s retrograde peristalsis wave, with which all admissible locomotion gaits can be constructed. We discover that when controlled by different gaits, the robot would exhibit four qualitatively different locomotion modes, namely, rectilinear, sidewinding, circular, and cycloid locomotion. For each mode, kinematic indexes are defined and examined to characterize their locomotion performances. For verification, a proof-of-concept robot hardware is designed and prototyped. Experiments reveal that with the proposed robot model and the employed gait controls, locomotion of different modes can be effectively achieved, and they agree well with the theoretical predictions.

DMAKit: A user-friendly web platform for bringing state-of-the-art data analysis techniques to non-specific users

2020 ◽  
Vol 93 ◽  
pp. 101557 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Medina-Ortiz ◽  
Sebastián Contreras ◽  
Cristofer Quiroz ◽  
Juan A. Asenjo ◽  
Álvaro Olivera-Nappa
Keyword(s):  
Data Analysis ◽  
State Of The Art ◽  
Analysis Techniques ◽  
User Friendly ◽  
Web Platform

Retrieval-Oriented Design of Clinical Research Forms

2001 ◽  
Vol 40 (03) ◽  
pp. 253-258 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Eigenbauer ◽  
S. Rasoul-Rockenschaub ◽  
W. Gall
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Research ◽  
Data Linkage ◽  
State Of The Art ◽  
Data Retrieval ◽  
Complex Data ◽  
Clinical Documentation ◽  
Clinical Forms ◽  
User Friendly ◽  
Intended Use

Abstract:Computerized clinical forms are subject to a wide variety of different requirements. They have to allow detailed documentation and must be user-friendly. State-of-the-art applications for design permit clinicians themselves to create their own forms as needed, with the various variables presented in different ways depending on their intended use. Often, however, only aspects of clinical documentation are considered, with no thought being given to subsequent data retrieval. This article presents guidelines for the retrieval-oriented design of clinical forms. It discusses where anticipatory measures for structuring forms are easier to accomplish than complex data linkage at the time of retrieval and analysis.

scholarly journals Temporal network alignment via GoT-WAVE

2019 ◽  
Vol 35 (18) ◽  
pp. 3527-3529 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Aparício ◽  
Pedro Ribeiro ◽  
Tijana Milenković ◽  
Fernando Silva
Keyword(s):  
User Interface ◽  
State Of The Art ◽  
Source Code ◽  
Network Alignment ◽  
Supplementary Information ◽  
Temporal Network ◽  
Temporal Networks ◽  
Supplementary Data ◽  
Node Similarity ◽  
User Friendly

Abstract Motivation Network alignment (NA) finds conserved regions between two networks. NA methods optimize node conservation (NC) and edge conservation. Dynamic graphlet degree vectors are a state-of-the-art dynamic NC measure, used within the fastest and most accurate NA method for temporal networks: DynaWAVE. Here, we use graphlet-orbit transitions (GoTs), a different graphlet-based measure of temporal node similarity, as a new dynamic NC measure within DynaWAVE, resulting in GoT-WAVE. Results On synthetic networks, GoT-WAVE improves DynaWAVE’s accuracy by 30% and speed by 64%. On real networks, when optimizing only dynamic NC, the methods are complementary. Furthermore, only GoT-WAVE supports directed edges. Hence, GoT-WAVE is a promising new temporal NA algorithm, which efficiently optimizes dynamic NC. We provide a user-friendly user interface and source code for GoT-WAVE. Availability and implementation http://www.dcc.fc.up.pt/got-wave/ Supplementary information Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.

The CHILDES Project: Tools for Analyzing Talk: Vol. 1. Transcription format and programs; Vol. 2. The database (3rd ed.). B. MacWhinney. Mahwah, NJ: Erlbaum, 2000. Pp. 366 (Vol. 1); Pp. 418 (Vol. 2).

2002 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 304-306
Author(s):  
Diane E. Beals
Keyword(s):  
Data Sharing ◽  
Data Exchange ◽  
State Of The Art ◽  
Child Language ◽  
The State ◽  
Exchange System ◽  
Language Analysis ◽  
Language Data ◽  
User Friendly

Since the late 1980s, the Child Language Data Exchange System (CHILDES) has defined the state of the art of collection, analysis, archiving, and data sharing of transcriptions of children's language. Starting from scratch in 1987, Brian MacWhinney, along with many other leaders in child language, developed highly useful tools for the computerization of transcripts and their analysis. I have used the transcription conventions and analysis programs since 1989 and have seen the system evolve from a simple DOS-based program to one that handles much broader and more complex analyses within more user-friendly Windows and Macintosh platforms. This latest (third) edition of the manual that accompanies the CHILDES system reflects a more stable version of the Conventions for Human Analysis of Transcripts (CHAT) and Child Language Analysis (CLAN) programs than prior editions, which felt like works in progress. This version is written as a finished product with procedures and programs that have settled down into stable patterns of operation.

scholarly journals Feasibility of detecting orthopaedic screw overtightening using acoustic emission

2017 ◽  
Vol 231 (3) ◽  
pp. 213-221 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rhys Pullin ◽  
Bryan J Wright ◽  
Richard Kapur ◽  
John P McCrory ◽  
Matthew Pearson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Acoustic Emission ◽  
Human Error ◽  
Current Practice ◽  
State Of The Art ◽  
Screw Fixation ◽  
Measuring Devices ◽  
Current State ◽  
Emission Activity ◽  
Hip Screw ◽  
Preliminary Study

A preliminary study of acoustic emission during orthopaedic screw fixation was performed using polyurethane foam as the bone-simulating material. Three sets of screws, a dynamic hip screw, a small fragment screw and a large fragment screw, were investigated, monitoring acoustic-emission activity during the screw tightening. In some specimens, screws were deliberately overtightened in order to investigate the feasibility of detecting the stripping torque in advance. One set of data was supported by load cell measurements to directly measure the axial load through the screw. Data showed that acoustic emission can give good indications of impending screw stripping; such indications are not available to the surgeon at the current state of the art using traditional torque measuring devices, and current practice relies on the surgeon’s experience alone. The results suggest that acoustic emission may have the potential to prevent screw overtightening and bone tissue damage, eliminating one of the commonest sources of human error in such scenarios.

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