scholarly journals Field trials of a methodology for locomotive brake testing to assess friction enhancement in the wheel/rail interface using a representative leaf layer

2020 ◽  
pp. 095440972097313
Author(s):  
Joseph L Lanigan ◽  
Peter Krier ◽  
Luke Buckley Johnstone ◽  
Benjamin White ◽  
Paul Ferriday ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Real World ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Field Trials ◽  
Laboratory Work ◽  
Braking Performance ◽  
The Real ◽  
Rail Vehicles ◽  
Effective Manner ◽  
Initial Results

There are two options for testing the performance of rail vehicles and the application of material to the wheel/rail interface to influence friction, and therefore braking performance, in a low adhesion environment: laboratory work which is not representative of conditions in the field, and expensive track tests using fully instrumented modern vehicles largely using low adhesion simulants that are not representative of those that occur in the real world and usually applied over great lengths of track. This paper presents a third option: low-cost track tests. We determined the minimum of equipment and resources needed to produce low adhesion using a method more representative on Autumn conditions on rail and monitor the performance of rail vehicles when braking on it. This was mainly targeted at use for testing products applied to the wheel/rail interface to enhance traction, hence the need for real low adhesion causes. We present the methodology that we have developed, and some initial results showing that using it we can generate a low adhesion scenario when braking from 10 mph. This can be used to develop mitigation solutions for low adhesion in a more cost effective manner.

Otta Seals and Gravseals as Low-Cost Surfacing Alternatives for Low-Volume Roads: Experiences in South Africa

2003 ◽  
Vol 1819 (1) ◽  
pp. 338-342 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simon Oloo ◽  
Rob Lindsay ◽  
Sam Mothilal
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Cost Savings ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Field Trials ◽  
Low Volume Roads ◽  
Kwazulu Natal ◽  
Traffic Volumes ◽  
Low Volume ◽  
To Come

The geology of the northeastern part of the province of KwaZulu–Natal, South Africa, is predominantly alluvial with vast deposits of sands. Suitable gravel sources are hard to come by, which results in high graveling and regraveling costs brought about by long haul distances and accelerated gravel loss. Most gravel roads carry fewer than 500 vehicles per day of which less than 10% are heavy vehicles. The high cost of regraveling has led to consideration of upgrading such roads to surfaced standard, even though traffic volumes do not justify upgrading. Traditional chip seals are expensive and cannot be economically justified on roads that carry fewer than 500 vehicles per day. The KwaZulu–Natal Department of Transport is actively involved in efforts to identify cost-effective alternative surfacing products for low-volume roads. Field trials were conducted with Otta seals and Gravseals, which have been used successfully in other countries, as low-cost surfacing products for low-volume roads. The Otta seal is formed by placing graded aggregates on a relatively thick film of soft binder that, because of traffic and rolling, works its way through the aggregates. Gravseal consists of a special semipriming rubberized binder that is covered by a graded aggregate. Both Otta seals and Gravseals provide relatively flexible bituminous surfaces suitable for low-volume roads. Cost savings are derived mainly from the broad aggregate specifications, which allow for the use of marginal materials.

scholarly journals Hobbit: Providing Fall Detection and Prevention for the Elderly in the Real World

2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-20 ◽  
Author(s):  
Markus Bajones ◽  
David Fischinger ◽  
Astrid Weiss ◽  
Daniel Wolf ◽  
Markus Vincze ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Real World ◽  
Independent Living ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Fall Detection ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Field Trials ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Human Robot Interaction ◽  
Service Robot ◽  
Emergency Situations

We present the robot developed within the Hobbit project, a socially assistive service robot aiming at the challenge of enabling prolonged independent living of elderly people in their own homes. We present the second prototype (Hobbit PT2) in terms of hardware and functionality improvements following first user studies. Our main contribution lies within the description of all components developed within the Hobbit project, leading to autonomous operation of 371 days during field trials in Austria, Greece, and Sweden. In these field trials, we studied how 18 elderly users (aged 75 years and older) lived with the autonomously interacting service robot over multiple weeks. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time a multifunctional, low-cost service robot equipped with a manipulator was studied and evaluated for several weeks under real-world conditions. We show that Hobbit’s adaptive approach towards the user increasingly eased the interaction between the users and Hobbit. We provide lessons learned regarding the need for adaptive behavior coordination, support during emergency situations, and clear communication of robotic actions and their consequences for fellow researchers who are developing an autonomous, low-cost service robot designed to interact with their users in domestic contexts. Our trials show the necessity to move out into actual user homes, as only there can we encounter issues such as misinterpretation of actions during unscripted human-robot interaction.

scholarly journals 5G Wireless/Wired Convergence of UFMC Based Modulation for Intensity Modulation Direct Detection

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Keerthivasan K ◽  
Shibu S
Keyword(s):  
Network Architecture ◽  
Direct Detection ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Theoretical Work ◽  
Base Stations ◽  
Complex Nature ◽  
Implementation Model ◽  
Effective Manner ◽  
Media Applications

Faster data speeds, shorter end-to-end latencies, improved end-user service efficiency, and a wider range of multi-media applications are expected with the new 5G wireless services. The dramatic increase in the number of base stations required to meet these criteria, which undermines the low-cost constraints imposed by operators, demonstrates the need for a paradigm shift in modern network architecture. Alternative formats will be required for next-generation architectures, where simplicity is the primary goal. The number of connections is expected to increase rapidly, breaking the inherent complexity of traditional coherent solutions and lowering the resulting cost percentage. A novel implementation model is used to migrate complex-nature modulation structures in a highly efficient and cost-effective manner. Theoretical work to analyses modulations’ behavior over a wired/fiber setup and wireless mode is also provided. The state-of-the-art computational complexity, simplicity, and ease of execution while maintaining efficiency throughput and bit error rate.

scholarly journals Distributive equity in the real world: would targeting the National Health Service Health Check programme to deprived groups be more cost effective?

The Lancet ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 390 ◽  
pp. S34
Author(s):  
Brendan Collins ◽  
Chris Kypridemos ◽  
Paula Parvulescu ◽  
Richard Cookson ◽  
Simon Capewell ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
National Health Service ◽  
Health Service ◽  
National Health ◽  
Real World ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Health Check ◽  
The Real

scholarly journals Automatic Threshold on Current based Anti-pinch Mechanism for Power Windows

2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 2172 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wahyu Kunto Wibowo ◽  
Seok-Kwon Jeong ◽  
Sam-Sang You ◽  
Lee Jaemin
Keyword(s):  
Low Cost ◽  
Experimental Tests ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Threshold Value ◽  
Contact Method ◽  
Threshold Method ◽  
Current Information ◽  
Safety Mechanism ◽  
Effective Manner ◽  
Optimal Calculation

<span>In this paper, the automotive power window has been integrated with an advanced safety mechanism called anti-pinch system for good protection. Based on a contact method, a new safety mechanism using a low-cost technology has been proposed to set a threshold value as a limit to decide the pinch condition, or automatic threshold method. The electric current information is easily detected by using current sensor installed on a motor driver without incorporating extra device. Then the pinch condition is quickly reflected and calculated by using current information in the system. Since the automatic threshold is decided by analyzing system behavior in advance, the optimal calculation can be guaranteed and then applied it on the safety mechanism in a cost-effective manner. Through extensive experimental tests, the squeezing forces of the proposed anti-pinch system have been verified to satisfy requirements of the FMVSS 118 regulations.</span>

scholarly journals BricksAR: exploring the potential of augmented reality to inform assembly processes in construction

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
João Pedro Andrade Caixeta ◽  
André Luís De Araújo
Keyword(s):  
Augmented Reality ◽  
Real World ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Manual Assembly ◽  
Ongoing Research ◽  
The Real ◽  
Modeling Simulation ◽  
Design Production ◽  
Manufacturing Methods ◽  
Assembly Operations

The use of Augmented Reality (AR) systems in construction processes can represent an essential transformation in the communication between design and production. However, supposing that design-production translations can be obtained from several manufacturing methods (such as robotic, manual, modular, non-modular, and others), there are not enough studies that explored the potential uses of AR as an assistant for assembly operations. To tackle this problem, this ongoing research proposes to investigate the potentials of a low-cost and marker-based AR system to conduct different manual assembly processes. With the observational focus on aspects of precision and feasibility, we used scientific reductions based on modeling, simulation, and prototyping to provide inferences about the proposed tool's behavior in the real world.

scholarly journals Role of Fibrinolytic Enzymes in Anti-Thrombosis Therapy

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Farwa Altaf ◽  
Shourong Wu ◽  
Vivi Kasim
Keyword(s):  
Plasminogen Activator ◽  
Thrombus Formation ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Tissue Type ◽  
High Yield ◽  
Efficacy Rate ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Fibrinolytic Enzymes ◽  
Effective Manner

Thrombosis, a major cause of deaths in this modern era responsible for 31% of all global deaths reported by WHO in 2017, is due to the aggregation of fibrin in blood vessels which leads to myocardial infarction or other cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Classical agents such as anti-platelet, anti-coagulant drugs or other enzymes used for thrombosis treatment at present could leads to unwanted side effects including bleeding complication, hemorrhage and allergy. Furthermore, their high cost is a burden for patients, especially for those from low and middle-income countries. Hence, there is an urgent need to develop novel and low-cost drugs for thrombosis treatment. Fibrinolytic enzymes, including plasmin like proteins such as proteases, nattokinase, and lumbrokinase, as well as plasminogen activators such as urokinase plasminogen activator, and tissue-type plasminogen activator, could eliminate thrombi with high efficacy rate and do not have significant drawbacks by directly degrading the fibrin. Furthermore, they could be produced with high-yield and in a cost-effective manner from microorganisms as well as other sources. Hence, they have been considered as potential compounds for thrombosis therapy. Herein, we will discuss about natural mechanism of fibrinolysis and thrombus formation, the production of fibrinolytic enzymes from different sources and their application as drugs for thrombosis therapy.

scholarly journals Designing an augmented reality video game to assist stroke patients with independent rehabilitation

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Regan Petrie
Keyword(s):  
Augmented Reality ◽  
Video Game ◽  
Real World ◽  
Lower Limb ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Mixed Reality ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Stroke Patients ◽  
The Real ◽  
Positive Results

<p>Early, intense practice of functional, repetitive rehabilitation interventions has shown positive results towards lower-limb recovery for stroke patients. However, long-term engagement in daily physical activity is necessary to maximise the physical and cognitive benefits of rehabilitation. The mundane, repetitive nature of traditional physiotherapy interventions and other personal, environmental and physical elements create barriers to participation. It is well documented that stroke patients engage in as little as 30% of their rehabilitation therapies. Digital gamified systems have shown positive results towards addressing these barriers of engagement in rehabilitation, but there is a lack of low-cost commercially available systems that are designed and personalised for home use. At the same time, emerging mixed reality technologies offer the ability to seamlessly integrate digital objects into the real world, generating an immersive, unique virtual world that leverages the physicality of the real world for a personalised, engaging experience.  This thesis explored how the design of an augmented reality exergame can facilitate engagement in independent lower-limb stroke rehabilitation. Our system converted prescribed exercises into active gameplay using commercially available augmented reality mobile technology. Such a system introduced an engaging, interactive alternative to existing mundane physiotherapy exercises.  The development of the system was based on a user-centered iterative design process. The involvement of health care professionals and stroke patients throughout each stage of the design and development process helped understand users’ needs, requirements and environment to refine the system and ensure its validity as a substitute for traditional rehabilitation interventions.  The final output was an augmented reality exergame that progressively facilitates sit-to-stand exercises by offering immersive interactions with digital exotic wildlife. We hypothesize that the immersive, active nature of a mobile, mixed reality exergame will increase engagement in independent task training for lower-limb rehabilitation.</p>

Sistema de Aquisição de Baixo Custo para um Dinamômetro Biomédico / Acquisition system of a low cost biomedical dynamometer

1970 ◽  
Vol 3 (4) ◽  
pp. 59-63
Author(s):  
Paulo José Oliveira Cortez ◽  
Sandro Oliveira Machado ◽  
Renato Rosa ◽  
Vitor Engrácia Valenti ◽  
José Elias Tomazini
Keyword(s):  
Muscle Strength ◽  
Muscular Strength ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Electrical Signal ◽  
Device Fabrication ◽  
Acquisition System ◽  
Analog Input ◽  
Initial Results

Objetivo: criar um Sistema de Aquisição de baixo custo, otimizando um dispositivo de fabricação própria. Método: Para tanto, foi idealizado um sistema dedicado, o qual é alimentado por uma bateria central de 12V. A ponte completa de “Wheatstone” é alimentada pela bateria central, regulada em 9V. Resultados: O sinal dos extensômetros apresenta uma variação de 0 a 30 mV, o qual é amplificado e filtrado por um Condicionador de Sinais de fabricação própria, usando um LM 324. O sinal elétrico então passa a variar de 0 a 5V, que serão tratados em uma entrada analógica de um Microcontrolador PIC. Os testes para registro e interpretação dos dados ocorrem através do software  MyOpenLab. Conclusão: O trabalho está em andamento e os primeiros resultados sugerem que o sistema será capaz de mensurar a força muscular de forma precisa e com custo reduzido.   Palavras chave: Dinamômetro, Força Muscular, Engenharia Biomédica.    Objective: to create a purchasing system for optimizing a low cost device fabrication itself. Method: For this purpose was designed a system which is powered by a 12V battery center. The full bridge of "Wheatstone" is powered by the central battery set to 9V. Results: The sign of the strain has a range of 0 to 30 mV which is amplified filtered by a signal conditioner own manufacturing using an LM 324. The electrical signal then passes to vary from 0 to5V which will be processed in an analog input of PIC microcontroller. Tests for the registration and interpretation of data are through software MyOpenLab. Conclusion: The work is in progress and initial results suggest that the system will be able to measure muscular strength accurately and cost-effective.  Keywords: Dynamometry, Muscle Strength, Biomedical Engineer.  

Challenge and Complexity of Virtual Team Management

2014 ◽  
pp. 109-120
Author(s):  
Edward T. Chen
Keyword(s):  
Competitive Advantage ◽  
Virtual Teams ◽  
Business Strategy ◽  
Global Economy ◽  
Business Processes ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Business Leaders ◽  
Talent Pool ◽  
Effective Manner

To thrive in our global economy, businesses must continually seek ways to maintain a competitive advantage by supplying the market with innovative and effective products and services. To do this, barriers of space and time must be overcome, conventional business processes must be enhanced, and customer demand must be promptly answered by high-quality, low-cost, or value-based products and services. One way for companies to meet these fast-paced market demands is by utilizing virtual teams. With virtual teams, companies can expand their talent pool beyond geographical barriers. Furthermore, they can incorporate a follow-the-sun process in their business strategy. Combined, this leveraged approach can better position companies to meet market demands in a more timely and cost-effective manner. However, to achieve this competitive advantage, business leaders must thoroughly understand the challenges associated with developing and managing virtual teams. This research chapter examines the reasons for utilizing virtual teams, challenges that stem from diversity, structural and behavioral characteristics, and managerial considerations for effective leadership, supporting technologies, best practices, and future implications.

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