1,164 research outputs found
Visual Servoing
The goal of this book is to introduce the visional application by excellent researchers in the world currently and offer the knowledge that can also be applied to another field widely. This book collects the main studies about machine vision currently in the world, and has a powerful persuasion in the applications employed in the machine vision. The contents, which demonstrate that the machine vision theory, are realized in different field. For the beginner, it is easy to understand the development in the vision servoing. For engineer, professor and researcher, they can study and learn the chapters, and then employ another application method
An Internet of Things (IoT) Robotic Light Switch
The purpose of this project was to design and build an Internet of Things (IoT) Robotic Light Switch. This light switch would act as a complementary device to existing toggle switches and equip them with typical smart device features such as remote control (via Wi-Fi), digital voice assistant control, motion-sensing and integration with other smart home solutions (such as IFTTT). All these features would be supported by a dedicated web page that would also be able to view the usage statistics of the device. This device is aimed at offering users an extremely easy-to-install home automation solution that needs no wiring and gives users the flexibility to implement a phased transition to home automation rather than having to revamp their entire home lighting system. The device was designed to meet certain basic constraints. First and foremost, the device must be extremely simple to install to an existing light switch and should not require any professional services for installation. Secondly, the configuration of the device should be relatively simple and there should be ways to easily re-configure the remote communication method settings when moving the device from one location to another. Besides this, the device should offer a remote communication platform such as a webpage that can be used to control the switch, view all switching/sensor activity and integrate the switch with other smart home solutions/services. The body of the device was 3D printed and an adhesive was used to snap the device on to existing switches. A webserver was set up to offer a web platform that allowed the use of all features of the device. Also, the webserver allowed integration with 3rd party services such as IFTTT and digital voice assistant. Integration with other services allowed additional features such automated switching based on motion-sensing and GPS-location of user, voice command control via Cortana/Siri etc. Finally, a business canvas model was developed using this device as a case-study. The model addressed all aspects that would need to be considered if the proposed device was commercialized including a detailed cost analysis
Design and development experience with a digital fly-by-wire control system in an F-8C airplane
To assess the feasibility of a digital fly-by-wire system, the mechanical flight control system of an F-8C airplane was replaced with a digital system and an analog backup system. The Apollo computer was used as the heart of the primary system. This paper discusses the experience gained during the design and development of the system and relates it to active control systems that are anticipated for future civil transport applications
Novel Vine-like Continuum Robot for Environmental Exploration Applications
This thesis details a new design and novel operational strategies for nature inspired, thin tendril continuum robots. Instead of taking inspiration for robot design from insects or animals, the novel approach to continuum robotics herein takes inspiration and adapts operational concepts from plant life. In particular, an innovative strategy is developed which mimics behaviors observed in vines and other climbing plants. Specifically, a tendril robot with prickles was developed and deployed to actively seek environmental contact, exploiting the mechanical advantage gained by bracing against the environment using the prickles. The resulting performance enhancements over previously developed smooth backbone tendril robot designs, and use of strategies that do not attempt to interact with the environment are empirically demonstrated with the new robot prototype. Results of further experiments suggest applications in which the new design and approach could prove useful to the scientific and wider communities
Simulations of a Variable Friction Device for Multihazard Mitigation
This paper investigates the performance of a novel semiactive damping device at mitigating nonsimultaneous multihazard loads. The device, termed modified friction device (MFD), has been previously proposed by the authors. It consists of a variable friction system based on automotive drum brake technology. The device has been demonstrated in a laboratory environment, and its dynamic behavior has been modeled. This model is used to conduct numerical simulations on two representative structures, one short building located in Japan and the other tall building located in Boston, MA. Simulated hazards include wind, blast, and seismic loads. Various control cases are considered, including semiactive control under five different sets of control weights, and passive viscous and passive friction to benchmark performance. Results show that the semiactive control cases outperforms all of the other cases for the vast majority of hazards and performance indices, provided that the right control weights are utilized
Automated Syringe Filler
The automated syringe filling system is a bench-top device designed to remove human error when filling a syringe. The microcontroller powered system will hold multiple medicine types that will fill a single syringe with a user specified amount of one medicine to a precise degree and log this information against a remote database of patient information. Before the system can be accessed, the user’s credentials will be checked against the database of authorized users. Once verified a touch screen will be used to enter user input that will be logged to a remote database. The microcontroller will then control the actuators and servo to fill the syringe with the appropriate amount of medicine. The system will automate the process of filling a syringe and remove the element of human error from the syringe filling equation
Novel Wine Pouring Machine
This Final Design Report outlines the “Novel Wine Opener” senior design project completed by a team of mechanical engineering students at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. The project was sponsored by Bill Swanson, owner of the Center of Effort vineyard and winery in Edna Valley, CA. The goal of the project was to produce a novel wine pouring machine for the Center of Effort. This device should be able to remove the foil cap from a wine bottle, uncork the bottle, and pour a glass of wine at the winery and at public events. The finished product should fit the aesthetic of the remodeled winery and serve as an attraction for wine tasting visitors. After determining our sponsor’s needs and wants for the project, we refined the problem into a set of engineering specifications. Existing technologies were researched and compared to identify similar developments already on the market. The lack of similar technologies found confirmed the presence of a need that our project seeks to fill. The first step we took in tackling this design challenge was to divide the project into six subsystems: bottle gripping, foil removal, cork removal, lifting and pouring, pour volume sensing, and user interface. Our leading concepts comprise a rotating tower for foil and cork removal, a pivoting pouring tower to hold and pour the bottle, a load cell to measure the pour volume, and mechanical buttons and toggle switches for user interface. To verify the feasibility of our designs, we built conceptual and structural prototypes of the rotating tower, cork remover, and foil cutter. The next step in the design process was to redesign each individual function as needed. Prototyping highlighted areas in need of design changes. These changes were implemented, and new prototypes were made. This cycle continued until each individual function operated successfully. The final design consists of improved versions of the leading concepts selected before prototyping: rotating tower, pouring tower, bottle gripper, load cell weight sensing mechanism, and user interface. Next, the final design was manufactured and assembled with final materials. Most prototyping materials included plywood and acrylic. These materials were switched out with aluminum parts. After each function was successfully manufactured and functional, all subsystems were integrated together onto one base plate. Some redesigning and remanufacturing were necessary for successful integration of the entire device. Once the device was satisfactorily assembled, the device was tested against the engineering specifications originally identified at the beginning of the project. This document contains the research, ideation processes, design decisions, design outcomes, manufacturing processes, and test results of the entire process to date
Rotorcraft digital advanced avionics system (RODAAS) functional description
A functional design of a rotorcraft digital advanced avionics system (RODAAS) to transfer the technology developed for general aviation in the Demonstration Advanced Avionics System (DAAS) program to rotorcraft operation was undertaken. The objective was to develop an integrated avionics system design that enhances rotorcraft single pilot IFR operations without increasing the required pilot training/experience by exploiting advanced technology in computers, busing, displays and integrated systems design. A key element of the avionics system is the functionally distributed architecture that has the potential for high reliability with low weight, power and cost. A functional description of the RODAAS hardware and software functions is presented
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