Pulse-driven robot: Motion via solitary waves

The unique properties of nonlinear waves have been recently exploited to enable a wide range of applications, including impact mitigation, asymmetric transmission, switching, and focusing. Here, we demonstrate that the propagation of nonlinear waves can be as well harnessed to make flexible structures crawl. By combining experimental and theoretical methods, we show that such pulse-driven locomotion reaches a maximum efficiency when the initiated pulses are solitons and that our simple machine can move on a wide range of surfaces and even steer. Our study expands the range of possible applications of nonlinear waves and demonstrates that they offer a new platform to make flexible machines to move.

Affective Computing

We seem to be entering an era of enhanced digital connectivity. Computers and Internet have become so embedded in the daily fabric of people’s lives that people simply cannot live without them (Hoffman, Novak, & Venkatesh, 2004). We use this technology to work, to communicate, to shop, to seek out new information, and to entertain ourselves. With this ever-increasing diffusion of computers in society, human–computer interaction (HCI) is becoming increasingly essential to our daily lives. HCI design was first dominated by direct manipulation and then delegation. The tacit assumption of both styles of interaction has been that the human will be explicit, unambiguous, and fully attentive while controlling the information and command flow. Boredom, preoccupation, and stress are unthinkable even though they are “very human” behaviors. This insensitivity of current HCI designs is fine for well-codified tasks. It works for making plane reservations, buying and selling stocks, and, as a matter of fact, almost everything we do with computers today. But this kind of categorical computing is inappropriate for design, debate, and deliberation. In fact, it is the major impediment to having flexible machines capable of adapting to their users and their level of attention, preferences, moods, and intentions. The ability to detect and understand affective states of a person we are communicating with is the core of emotional intelligence. Emotional intelligence (EQ) is a facet of human intelligence that has been argued to be indispensable and even the most important for a successful social life (Goleman, 1995). When it comes to computers, however, not all of them will need emotional intelligence and none will need all of the related skills that we need. Yet human–machine interactive systems capable of sensing stress, inattention, and heedfulness, and capable of adapting and responding appropriately to these affective states of the user are likely to be perceived as more natural, more efficacious, and more trustworthy. The research area of machine analysis of human affective states and employment of this information to build more natural, flexible (affective) HCI goes by a general name of affective computing, introduced first by Picard (1997).

A Structured Search for Novel Manufacturing Processes Leading to a Periodic Table of Ring Rolling Machines

Manufacturing processes based on cutting have been extensively automated over the past 30–40 years leading to greatly increased flexibility of operation. In contrast, processes based on ductile forming have largely remained dependent on fixed tooling and lack flexibility. Recent innovations have shown that forming can also be made flexible, by new process configurations typically using simpler and smaller tools with increased (and controllable) freedom of motion. In order to facilitate development of such flexible forming processes, this paper examines the possibility that all such processes can be predicted and organized so that subsequent process development may be based on selection rather than invention. The approach taken is based on Zwicky’s “morphological analysis,” in which the features of a design are parameterized and an exhaustive search is conducted, with appropriate constraints used to reject infeasible designs. As an example of this approach, the process of ring rolling is explored, and a “periodic table” of 102 “elemental” ring rolling machines is presented. The combination of elements into compounds is described, and the use of the table for development of practical flexible machines is discussed. Having applied this approach to the example of ring rolling, its likely value in exploring other processes is discussed.

Flexible and Intelligent Gripping Technology for Machining and Handling of Spatially Curved Extruded Aluminum Profiles

With a novel extrusion process which is investigated in the Collaborative Research Center Transregio 10 (SFB/TR10), it is possible to manufacture spatially curved aluminum profiles. This process is the base for an automated small and medium size batch production of light-weight frame structures. For the handling and machining of the spatially curved profiles, highly flexible machines and manufacturing equipment are needed. Today’s automated process chains do not reach a sufficient flexibility. This article introduces a new approach to handle and machine spatially curved profiles using a flexible gripping and clamping system. Firstly, the requirements concerning the process comprehensive gripping technology, which have to be fulfilled for a flexible small and medium batch production of light-weight frame structures, are specified. Subsequently, the function and design of a flexible gripping and clamping system are described. Furthermore, metrological processes to maintain a once reached condition of order during the entire process chain are depicted.