Role of smartphone devices in motivation to study in the Covid-19 Pandemic

Aims The sudden COVID-19 pandemic experienced globally has caused many schools and institutions of higher learning to resort to fully online teaching and learning throughout the world. Since online teaching is essentially a student-centered learning approach, students’ motivational level plays an important role in making teaching protocols effective. This study aimed to know the level of motivation to study using a smartphone in the COVID-19 pandemic. Instrument & Methods This descriptive study was carried out in 2020 on 75 Indonesian Academy of Administrative Management College students who have smartphones. These students were selected by random sampling method. Data were collected using a researcher�made questionnaire and analyzed by SPSS 17 software using Pearson correlation coefficient and simple linear regression test. Findings There was a positive and significant correlation between the mean score of smartphone usage and the mean score of study motivation (r=0.84; p=0.0001). The effect of smartphone uses on the study motivation in the Covid-19 pandemic was 61.7% (R2=0.617). Conclusion With the increasing use of smartphones, the motivation to learn during pandemic COVID-19 also increased

An overview of waste materials for sustainable road construction

Untreated soil typically has low shear strength, swelling behavior, high compressibility and its characteristics were highly dependent on the environment. In general, such problematic soil will lead to severe damages in road construction industry such as bearing capacity failure, slope instability, and excessive settlement. Agricultural waste, construction waste, and municipal waste have recently gained considerable attention as a sustainable material in road construction application due to its availability, environmental friendly and low-cost materials. Therefore in this review, randomly distributed fiber reinforced soil and oriented distributed fiber reinforced soil will be extensively discussed based on the emerging trend. It further reviewed the feasibility of using waste materials as a reinforcement material for the road construction industry. The review also attempts to evaluate and compare the engineering properties of soil and sustainable materials in order to enhance soil performance as well as help to improve the environment affected by growing waste materials

A modular serpentine rescue robot with climbing ability

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to present new locomotion and steering modules conceived and designed for rescue serpentine robots with enhanced climbing ability. The locomotion modules apply sock locomotion technology that allows great motion efficiency in rubble and confined environment due to the very high propulsion ratio. The steering joints guarantee good orientation dexterity by exploiting actuation based on smart materials. Design/methodology/approach: Great attention and time is dedicated to the design phase, digital mock-upping and virtual comparative assessment of different solutions. Mechatronic interdisciplinary design methodology including mechanisms analysis, sensory actuation issues and functional materials characterization, control and communication integration has been adopted. Findings: The locomotion modules are revised and updated versions improving climbing ability of the socked locomotion module originally proposed by the authors. New steering modules with high orientation workspace, based on smart actuation, are introduced. Research limitations/implications: The evaluation of the findings on the field is planned but no experimental result is today available. Practical implications: Agile serpentine robots are requested for quick and safe rescue and special risky interventions in environments where dense vegetation, rubble and confined spaces prevent human presence. These robots offer invaluable potential help in such risky interventions mainly by being agile in exploring the environment, robust, low cost, reliable, and tele-operated. Originality/value: The paper presents original issues in terms of concept and design of instrumental (locomotion and steering) modules for composing modular rescue robots with very high locomotion agility and climbing performances