Development of a method for improving the accuracy of measurement of linear measures of 3D models via scanning

The object of research is to refine the linear sizes of the obtained 3D models via scanning, and reducing the numbers of errors when obtaining the model. For now, there is no accuracy method for transferring the actual sizes of an object to a 3D model. One of the most problematic places in the existing methods of transferring sizes from the object to the model is the error in the placement of dimensional markers due to inaccuracy, or poor quality of the received surface via scanning. A model of the instrument complex is used to implement an improved method of 3D scanning, based on the photogrammetric method. The advanced technology of construction and measurement of 3D models on the basis of photos on the principle of stereo pairs in combination with image projection is based on a combination of existing scanning methods. As well as the introduction of new functionalities, such as maintaining the actual sizes of an object, its textures, color and light characteristics, as well as improving the accuracy of linear sizes. As a result of the use of a standard, reference projections, and a new method of comparing photographs to build a 3D model, a 60 % increase in the accuracy of linear dimensions was achieved. This is due to the fact that the proposed new combined method incorporates all the existing most important aspects of scanning. And also has a number of features, such as the definition of boundary surfaces, automatic sizing, detection, and processing of glass and mirror surfaces. Due to this, this method eliminates the main disadvantages of the usual photogrammetric method – inaccuracies in the surface quality of the models, and inaccuracies in the transfer of linear dimensions. It is estimated that the combined method will allow to transfer the real size of simple objects in 3D with an accuracy of 99.97 % of the actual size of the object. It will also improve the quality of complex surfaces (boundary, glass, mirror) by at least 40–60 %, compared to other existing methods.

Wind-Induced Vibration of an Irregular Pentagon Lamella

At present, there are increasingly encountering the use of lamellar structures, for example on the roofs of buildings, which, in addition to their visual function, also fulfil the function of reducing the flow of wind into the roof space. These structures are often designed as long and subtle structures and therefore their very common problem is unwanted vibration. In this article, the main focus is to show the methodology of the determination of the effects of wind on the lamella of the shape of an irregular pentagon. A real-size model made of steel with a total length of 2 m and a weight of 7.4 kg was used. Its size and shape were influenced by several factors which are specified in more detail in the paper. In the wind tunnel experiment, it was very important to ensure the exact position of the model and also to secure both ends of the model against shifting (to replicate fixed ends). Dynamic response of the structure in two directions together with wind speed were measured simultaneously. To investigate the wind effects by numerical analysis, fluid-structure interaction software simulation (FSI) on a full-size model was used. The main pitfall of the software solution was to get as close as possible to the conditions of the wind tunnel. The actual wind speed measured under laboratory conditions was used as the input wind speed for FSI simulation. The material of the model and the shape of the model was set in software simulation to be as close as possible to the real structure. Subsequently, other boundary conditions were set and the solution process was executed. The biggest problem, especially in terms of comparing the results of both approaches which greatly affected the results, was the very high stiffness of the model. Due to the extent and interconnectedness of results, findings are presented in more detail in the conclusions of the paper. The methodology of setting up a relatively complex FSI simulation, its results, as well as new findings that we came up with if the measurement of the dynamic effects of wind is the matter of interest are presented in this paper.

Autonomous Loading System for Load-Haul-Dump (LHD) Machines Used in Underground Mining

This paper describes an autonomous loading system for load-haul-dump (LHD) machines used in underground mining. The loading of fragmented rocks from draw points is a complex task due to many factors including: bucket-rock interaction forces that are difficult to model, humidity that increases cohesion forces, and the possible presence of boulders. The proposed system is designed to integrate all the relevant tasks required for ore loading: rock pile identification, LHD positioning in front of the ore pile, charging and excavating into the ore pile, pull back and payload weighing. The system follows the shared autonomy paradigm: given that the loading process may not be completed autonomously in some cases, it takes into account that the machine/agent can detect this situation and ask a human operator for assistance. The most novel component of the proposed autonomous loading system is the excavation algorithm, and the disclosure of the results obtained from its application in a real underground production environment. The excavation method is based on the way that human operators excavate: while excavating, the bucket is tilted intermittently in order to penetrate the material, and the boom of the LHD is lifted on demand to prevent or correct wheel skidding. Wheel skidding is detected with a patented method that uses LIDAR-based odometry and internal measurements of the LHD. While a complete loading system was designed, the validation had to be divided in two stages. One stage included the rock pile identification and positioning, and the other included the charging, excavation, pull back, and weighting processes. The stage concerning the excavation algorithm was validated using full-scale experiments with a real-size LHD in an underground copper mine in the north of Chile, while the stage concerning the rock pile identification was later validated using real data. The tests showed that the excavation algorithm is able to load the material with an average of 90% bucket fill factor using between three and four attempts (professional human operators required between two and three loading attempts in this mine).

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Sexually Transmitted Infections surveillance data: incidence drop or artefact?

Background Before the COVID-19 pandemic, Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) were increasing in Europe, and Spain and Catalonia were not an exception. Catalonia has been one of the regions with the highest number of COVID-19 confirmed cases in Spain. The objective of this study was to estimate the magnitude of the decline, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, in the number of STI confirmed cases in Catalonia during the lockdown and de-escalation phases. Methods Interrupted time series analysis was performed to estimate the magnitude of decline in the number of STI reported confirmed cases - chlamydia, gonorrhoea, syphilis, and lymphogranuloma venereum- in Catalonia since lockdown with historical data, from March 13th to August 1st 2020, comparing the observed with the expected values. Results We found that since the start of COVID-19 pandemic the number of STI reported cases was 51% less than expected, reaching an average of 56% during lockdown (50% and 45% during de-escalation and new normality) with a maximum decrease of 72% for chlamydia and minimum of 22% for syphilis. Our results indicate that fewer STIs were reported in females, people living in more deprived areas, people with no previous STI episodes during the last three years, and in the HIV negative. Conclusions The STI notification sharp decline was maintained almost five months after lockdown started, well into the new normality. This fact can hardly be explained without significant underdiagnosis and underreporting. There is an urgent need to strengthen STI/HIV diagnostic programs and services, as well as surveillance, as the pandemic could be concealing the real size of the already described re-emergence of STIs in most of the European countries.

Design and analysis of motion and energy regulating vibration harvester

In this paper a novel design of energy harvester has been proposed, which converts harmonic or random vibrations energy into useful electric power. The energy harvester comprises of mechanical motion rectifier, motion regulator, strain energy storage element and a rotary electric generator. The mechanical motion rectifier comprises of a spatial mechanism with unidirectional bearings and spherical joint that converts the linear oscillating force into unidirectional torque pulses. Further, motion regulating mechanism directs the energy flow to the strain energy storage element and drives the electric generator. The arrangement ensures that flow of vibration energy is regulated such that it is stored in the spring up to a threshold limit and thereafter dissipated to the electric generator. Rigid body simulations in Adams and Matlab have been used in design and analysis of the energy harvester with investigations for the effect of significant design parameters. Experimentation on a prototype has been performed to validate the numerical model which delivered 4.13 W of peak power and average power of 0.12–0.52 W within frequency range of 1–15 Hz. Simulation results on a real size device with higher torsion spring stiffness indicates that the harvester can operate with 69.8% efficiency and deliver 0.32–2.45 W of average power for frequency of 0.5–4 Hz.

Study on Size Distribution and Flow Characteristics of Condensed Products in Solid Rocket Motor

The size distribution of condensed products during the combustion of aluminized propellants and flow characteristics of the gas-solid two-phase flow in solid rocket motor were studied in this paper. Firstly, based on the laser scattering technology, an online detection system for condensed products in plume was established, and the size detection of condensed products in the plume of solid rocket motor is carried out. Secondly, a numerical model of two-phase flow in solid rocket motor is established by combining the real size distribution of products in the plume with discrete phase model through the Rosin-Rammler distribution function. Besides, numerical simulation research is carried out under the same experimental conditions, focusing on the influence of condensed products with real size on the characteristics of solid rocket motor. The results show that the innovation measurement system can be used to obtain the size distribution characteristic of condensed products in the plume. At the particle size of stable stage, the mean size, D v 50 , is 104 μm, which is the smallest among all stages. It is also suggested that condensed products at the end stage have the most impact on the flow behavior in solid rocket motor, in that the shock structure, Mach number, and temperature distribution in the near field of plume are significantly changed.