scholarly journals Towards the Exploitation of Physical Compliance in Segmented and Electrically Actuated Robotic Legs: A Review Focused on Elastic Mechanisms

Sensors ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (24) ◽  
pp. 5351 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jie Chen ◽  
Zhongchao Liang ◽  
Yanhe Zhu ◽  
Chong Liu ◽  
Lei Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Structural Characteristics ◽  
External Disturbances ◽  
Implementation Processes ◽  
Work Related ◽  
Passive Response ◽  
Electrically Actuated ◽  
Series Compliance ◽  
Quantitative Changes ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Representative Work

Physical compliance has been increasingly used in robotic legs, due to its advantages in terms of the mechanical regulation of leg mechanics and energetics and the passive response to abrupt external disturbances during locomotion. This article presents a review of the exploitation of physical compliance in robotic legs. Particular attention has been paid to the segmented, electrically actuated robotic legs, such that a comparable analysis can be provided. The utilization of physical compliance is divided into three main categories, depending on the setting locations and configurations, namely, (1) joint series compliance, (2) joint parallel compliance, and (3) leg distal compliance. With an overview of the representative work related to each category, the corresponding working principles and implementation processes of various physical compliances are explained. After that, we analyze in detail some of the structural characteristics and performance influences of the existing designs, including the realization method, compliance profile, damping design, and quantitative changes in terms of mechanics and energetics. In parallel, the design challenges and possible future works associated with physical compliance in robotic legs are also identified and proposed. This article is expected to provide useful paradigmatic implementations and design guidance for physical compliance for researchers in the construction of novel physically compliant robotic legs.

scholarly journals A standardized protocol for the comprehensive assessment of dental hygiene work

Work ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 1-12
Author(s):  
Shawn C. Roll ◽  
Mark E. Hardison ◽  
Jane L. Forrest ◽  
Nikki L. Colclazier ◽  
Joyce Y. Sumi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dental Hygiene ◽  
Dental Hygienists ◽  
Engineering Controls ◽  
Work Related ◽  
Coding Scheme ◽  
Video Acquisition ◽  
Standardized Protocol ◽  
Work Related Musculoskeletal Disorders ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Observation Protocol

BACKGROUND: Work-related musculoskeletal disorders are prevalent in dental hygienists. Although engineering controls and ergonomic training is available, it is unclear why this intransigent problem continues. One possible barrier is that a comprehensive, standardized protocol for evaluating dental hygiene work does not exist. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to generate a valid and reliable observational protocol for the assessment of dental hygiene work. METHODS: An iterative process was used to establish and refine an ecologically valid video acquisition and observation protocol to assess key activities, tasks, and performance components of dental hygiene work. RESULTS: Good inter-rater reliability was achieved across all variables when the final coding scheme was completed by three independent raters. CONCLUSIONS: This work provides an exemplar of the process required to generate a comprehensive protocol for evaluating the work components of a particular job, and provides standardized nomenclature for use by scientists and practitioners interested in understanding and addressing the pervasive issue of work-related disorders in dental hygienists.

Exposure aboard high-performance Marine craft increases musculoskeletal pain and lowers contemporary work capacity of the occupants

2020 ◽  
pp. 147509022098146
Author(s):  
Manudul Pahansen de Alwis ◽  
Riccardo LoMartire ◽  
Björn O Äng ◽  
Karl Garme
Keyword(s):  
Neck Pain ◽  
Musculoskeletal Pain ◽  
High Performance ◽  
Occupational Exposures ◽  
Performance Degradation ◽  
Individual Risk ◽  
Work Related ◽  
Lower Back ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Exposure Conditions

High-Performance Marine Craft (HPMC) occupants are currently being investigated for various psychophysical impairments degrading work performance postulating that these deteriorations are related to their occupational exposures. However, scientific evidence for this is lacking and the association of exposure conditions aboard HPMC with adverse health and performance effects is unknown. Therefore, the study estimates the prevalence of musculoskeletal pain (MSP) among HPMC occupants and the association of their work exposure with MSP and performance degradation. It also presents a criterion for evaluating the self-reported exposure severity aboard three different types of mono-hull HPMC; displacement, semi-displacement and planing, on a par with the available standard criteria for objectively measurable exposures. Furthermore, another criterion is proposed to assess the performance-degradation of HPMC occupants based on self-reported fatigue symptoms and MSP. Swedish Coast Guard HPMC occupants were surveyed for MSP, fatigue symptoms as well as for work-related and individual risk indicators using a validated web-based questionnaire. Prevalence of MSP and performance-degradation during the past 12 months were assessed and presented as a percentage of the sample. Associations of exposure conditions aboard HPMC with MSP and performance-capacity were systematically evaluated using multiple logistic regression models and expressed as odds ratio (OR). Prevalence of MSP was 72% among which lower back pain was the most prevalent (46%) followed by neck pain (29%) and shoulder pain (23%) while 29% with degraded performance. Exposure to severe conditions aboard semi-displacement craft was associated with lower back (OR = 2.3) and shoulder (OR = 2.6) pain while severe conditions aboard planing craft with neck pain (OR = 2.3) and performance-degradation (OR = 2.6). MSP is common among Swedish coast guards. Severe exposure conditions aboard HPMC are significantly associated with both MSP and performance-degradation. The spine and shoulders are the most susceptible to work-related MSP among HPMC occupants which should be targeted in work-related preventive and corrective measures.

scholarly journals Exploring the causes of stress and coping with it amongst doctoral level students: Highlighting the importance of information collection and management

2016 ◽  
pp. 19-39
Author(s):  
Sheikh Usman Yousaf ◽  
Bushra Usman ◽  
Muhammad Akram
Keyword(s):  
Coping Strategies ◽  
Doctoral Students ◽  
Time Management ◽  
Information Collection ◽  
Stress Coping ◽  
Doctoral Level ◽  
Work Related ◽  
Depth Analysis ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Information Ambiguity

Stress may hinder the efficiency and performance of individuals. However, little attention has been given to academic stress especially stress experienced by doctoral level university students. Understanding and comprehending the causes of their stress and relevant coping strategies is indeed essential for their better performance. Hence, to address this gap, the purpose of the study was to explore the stressors produced by academic environment and the stress coping strategies adopted by doctoral scholars. Unit of analysis were the individuals enrolled in doctoral studies at the Business School of University Kebangsaan, Malaysia. In-depth analysis of eight doctoral level students revealed that they, in general, share the same experiences and adopt similar coping strategies as were reported to have been experienced and adopted by students of other disciplines (i.e., nursing or psychology students). However, a lack of ability to manage information, information ambiguity and ambiguity regarding quality of one's own work emerged as the major stressors in this study, which have not previously been commonly highlighted by past researches. This study, therefore, reveals that information collection, scarcity of information resources, information ambiguity and work related ambiguity are major stressors for doctoral students. Further, it is also identified that social support, problem diversion, effective information management and time management are significant stress coping techniques. The implications and future recommendation are also discussed in the paper.

scholarly journals The Effects of Colour in Work Environment: A systematic review

2018 ◽  
Vol 3 (13) ◽  
pp. 149 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nattha Savavibool ◽  
Birgitta Gatersleben ◽  
Chumporn Moorapun
Keyword(s):  
Work Environment ◽  
Publishing House ◽  
Design Element ◽  
Inclusion Criteria ◽  
Colour Perception ◽  
Work Related ◽  
International Publishing ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Important Design ◽  
Open Access Article

In the work environment, colour is considered an important design element used to improve aesthetic qualities of the environment and for a company’s branding. This paper reviews existing research on the effects of workplace colour on worker’s mood, wellbeing and other work-related outcomes. In total 40 papers fitted the inclusion criteria and were included in the review. The results show a significant influence of colour on affect (e.g. mood, emotion), wellbeing (e.g. stress, comfort, wellbeing), and performance (e.g. productivity, performance, creativity). The review concludes with suggestions for further research.Keywords: Colour perception; Colour psychology; Effect of colour; Work environment.eISSN 2398-4295 © 2018. The Authors. Published for AMER ABRA cE-Bs by e-International Publishing House, Ltd., UK. This is an open-access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/). Peer–review under responsibility of AMER (Association of Malaysian Environment-Behaviour Researchers), ABRA (Association of Behavioural Researchers on Asians) and cE-Bs (Centre for Environment-Behaviour Studies), Faculty of Architecture, Planning & Surveying, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.21834/ajbes.v3i13.152

Novel Method of Assessing Practical Intelligence Acquired in Mechatronics Laboratory Classes

2015 ◽  
pp. 895-928
Author(s):  
Zol Bahri Razali
Keyword(s):  
Engineering Education ◽  
Engineering Students ◽  
Explicit Knowledge ◽  
Assessment Instruments ◽  
Practical Intelligence ◽  
Work Related ◽  
Novel Method ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Representative Work ◽  
Method Of Assessment

Practical intelligence is often referred to as the ability of a person to solve practical challenges in a given domain. The lack of practical intelligence may be due to the way in which explicit knowledge is valued and subsequently assessed in engineering education, namely via examinations, tests, laboratory reports, and tutorial exercises. The lack of effective assessments on practical intelligence indicates implicit devaluation, which can significantly impair engineering students' ability to acquire practical intelligence. To solve this problem, the authors propose a new method of assessment for measuring practical intelligence acquired by engineering students after performing engineering laboratory classes. The novices-experts approach is used in designing the assessment instruments, based on the behaviors' of novices/experts observed and novices/experts representative work-related situations. The practical intelligence can be measured by calculating the difference between participants' and the experts' ratings; the closer the novices to experts, the higher the practical intelligence acquired.

A review: metamaterial sensors for material characterization

Sensor Review ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 39 (3) ◽  
pp. 417-432 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Vivek ◽  
K. Shambavi ◽  
Zachariah C. Alex
Keyword(s):  
Material Characterization ◽  
Research Work ◽  
Wave Interaction ◽  
High Sensitivity ◽  
Electromagnetic Spectrum ◽  
Label Free ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Work Related ◽  
Sensing Application ◽  
And Performance

Purpose This paper aims to focus on research work related to metamaterial-based sensors for material characterization that have been developed for past ten years. A decade of research on metamaterial for sensing application has led to the advancement of compact and improved sensors. Design/methodology/approach In this study, relevant research papers on metamaterial sensors for material characterization published in reputed journals during the period 2007-2018 were reviewed, particularly focusing on shape, size and nature of materials characterized. Each sensor with its design and performance parameters have been summarized and discussed here. Findings As metamaterial structures are excited by electromagnetic wave interaction, sensing application throughout electromagnetic spectrum is possible. Recent advancement in fabrication techniques and improvement in metamaterial structures have led to the development of compact, label free and reversible sensors with high sensitivity. Originality/value The paper provides useful information on the development of metamaterial sensors for material characterization.

Administrative Reform: Opportunities, Drivers, and Barriers

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anthony B.L. Cheung
Keyword(s):  
Agenda Setting ◽  
Administrative Reform ◽  
Political Order ◽  
Institutional Factors ◽  
Reform Agenda ◽  
Implementation Processes ◽  
Negotiated Settlement ◽  
The World ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Two Sides

Administrative reform has become an almost permanent feature of most governments across the world driven by the pursuit of efficiency, responsiveness and performance and sometimes induced by domestic or external crises. The paradigms and priorities of reform vary at different times in tandem with the dominant ideological currents. Despite similarities in the vision, rhetoric and tools of reform engaged, regional and national variations can be observed attributable to historical, cultural, political and institutional factors. These factors mediate the specific reform agenda setting and implementation processes, resulting in distinct national reform hybrids. The realpolitik of reform cannot be devoid of the prevailing political order and structures of power and resources, which determine institutional interactions such as between politicians and bureaucrats, between the center and localities, and between the executive and legislature. Forces for and against change interplay in the domains of politics, bureaucracy and society to ultimately make or break reform. Opportunities for change are rooted in the same setting as the resistance to reform, such that the drivers of and the barriers to reform are paradoxically two sides of the same coin. All reform junctures comprise elements of both preservation and innovation or renovation, mostly ending in a negotiated settlement and mixed results.

A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF PERFORMANCE OF THE DESIGN STRATEGIC GROUPS AND DESIGN STRATEGIES

2004 ◽  
Vol 01 (04) ◽  
pp. 373-392 ◽  
Author(s):  
WEN-CHIH CHANG ◽  
YEN HSU
Keyword(s):  
New Product Development ◽  
Design Strategy ◽  
Aggressive Response ◽  
Strategic Groups ◽  
Design Strategies ◽  
Passive Response ◽  
Home Appliance ◽  
And Performance ◽  
And Cluster Analysis ◽  
Response Group

The results generated from a questionnaire survey conducted in the period of 2002 to 2003 have shown that Taiwanese home appliance firms' product design strategy can be classified into passive response, aggressive response, and R&D focus groups according to characteristics classified by factor analysis and cluster analysis. Differences in issues related to the design strategy adopted by each group are highlighted from case studies. Performance in new product development differs among strategic groups. Overall, the aggressive response group performs the best, followed by the R&D focus group, and finally the passive response group. Some relationships between the design strategy related issues adopted by each strategic group and performance have been found after comparisons between them.

THE INTERRELATIONSHIP OF FRACTIONAL COMPOSITION, SUPRAMOLECULAR STRUCTURE AND PERFORMANCE OF ROAD BITUMEN. PART II

2015 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. 108-114
Author(s):  
Tatyana Viktorovna SHEINA ◽  
Anastasia Aleksandrovna SAMOKHINA
Keyword(s):  
Supramolecular Structure ◽  
Fractional Composition ◽  
Raw Materials ◽  
Structural Characteristics ◽  
Quantitative Relation ◽  
Structure And Properties ◽  
Deformation Properties ◽  
Composition Structure ◽  
And Performance

The paper thoroughly investigates the composition, structure and properties of road bitumen malthenes. It describes the infl uence of the nature of raw materials and ways of their processing on the deformation properties of the binderm and the infl uence of quantitative relation of malthenes faction hydrocarbons of their structural characteristics.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document