136,887 research outputs found
Co-creation and user innovation: The role of online 3D printing platforms
The aim of this article is to investigate the changes brought about by online 3D printing platforms in co-creation and user innovation. As doing so requires a thorough understanding of the level of user involvement in productive processes and a clear view of the nature of co-creative processes, this article provides a ‘prosumption’ framework and a typology of co-creation activities. Then, based on case studies of 22 online 3D printing platforms, a service-based taxonomy of these platforms is constructed. The taxonomy and typology are then matched to investigate the role played by online 3D platforms in regard to the various types of co-creation activities and, consequently, how this impacts user innovation
Business Case and Technology Analysis for 5G Low Latency Applications
A large number of new consumer and industrial applications are likely to
change the classic operator's business models and provide a wide range of new
markets to enter. This article analyses the most relevant 5G use cases that
require ultra-low latency, from both technical and business perspectives. Low
latency services pose challenging requirements to the network, and to fulfill
them operators need to invest in costly changes in their network. In this
sense, it is not clear whether such investments are going to be amortized with
these new business models. In light of this, specific applications and
requirements are described and the potential market benefits for operators are
analysed. Conclusions show that operators have clear opportunities to add value
and position themselves strongly with the increasing number of services to be
provided by 5G.Comment: 18 pages, 5 figure
Conclusions and implications of automation in space
Space facilities and programs are reviewed. Space program planning is discussed
The potential of additive manufacturing in the smart factory industrial 4.0: A review
Additive manufacturing (AM) or three-dimensional (3D) printing has introduced a novel production method in design, manufacturing, and distribution to end-users. This technology has provided great freedom in design for creating complex components, highly customizable products, and efficient waste minimization. The last industrial revolution, namely industry 4.0, employs the integration of smart manufacturing systems and developed information technologies. Accordingly, AM plays a principal role in industry 4.0 thanks to numerous benefits, such as time and material saving, rapid prototyping, high efficiency, and decentralized production methods. This review paper is to organize a comprehensive study on AM technology and present the latest achievements and industrial applications. Besides that, this paper investigates the sustainability dimensions of the AM process and the added values in economic, social, and environment sections. Finally, the paper concludes by pointing out the future trend of AM in technology, applications, and materials aspects that have the potential to come up with new ideas for the future of AM explorations
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Expanding Rapid Prototyping for Electronic Systems Integration of Arbitrary Form
An innovative method for rapid prototyping (RP) of electronic circuits with components
characteristic of typical electronics applications was demonstrated using an enhanced version of
a previously developed hybrid stereolithography (SL) and direct write (DW) system, where an
existing SL machine was integrated with a three-axis DW fluid dispensing system for combined
arbitrary form electronic systems manufacturing. This paper presents initial efforts at embedding
functional electronic circuits using the hybrid SL/DW system. A simple temperature-sensitive
circuit was selected, which oscillated an LED at a frequency proportional to the temperature
sensed by the thermistor. The circuit was designed to incorporate all the required electronic
components within a 2.5” x 2” x 0.5” SL part. Electrical interconnects between electronic
components were deposited on the SL part with a DW system using silver conductive ink lines.
Several inks were deposited, cured, and tested on a variety of SL resin substrates, and the E 1660
ink (Ercon Inc, Wareham, MA) was selected due to its measured lowest average resistivity on
the SL substrates. The finished circuit was compared with Printed Circuit Board (PCB)
technology for functionality. The electronic components used here include a low voltage battery,
LM 555 timer chip, resistors, a thermistor, capacitors, and Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs). This
circuit was selected because it (1) represented a simple circuit combining many typically used
electronic components and thus provided a useful demonstration for integrated electronic
systems manufacturing applicable to a wide variety of devices, and (2) provided an indication of
the parasitic resistances and capacitances introduced by the fabrication process due to its
sensitivity to manufacturing variation. The hybrid technology can help achieve significant size
reductions, enable systems integration in atypical forms, a natural resistance to reverse
engineering and possibly increase maximum operating temperatures of electronic circuits as
compared to the traditional PCB process. This research demonstrates the ability of the hybrid
SL/DW technology for fabricating combined electronic systems for unique electronics
applications in which arbitrary form is a requirement and traditional PCB technology cannot be
used.Mechanical Engineerin
Modeling of system knowledge for efficient agile manufacturing : tool evaluation, selection and implementation scenario in SMEs
In the manufacturing world, knowledge is fundamental in order to achieve effective and efficient real time decision making. In order to make manufacturing system knowledge available to the decision maker it has to be first captured and then modelled. Therefore tools that provide a suitable means for capturing and representation of manufacturing system knowledge are required in several types of industrial sectors and types of company’s (large, SME). A literature review about best practice for capturing requirements for simulation development and system knowledge modeling has been conducted. The aim of this study was to select the best tool for manufacturing system knowledge modelling in an open-source environment. In order to select this tool, different criteria were selected, based on which several tools were analyzed and rated. An exemplary use case was then developed using the selected tool, Systems Modeling Language (SysML). Therefore, the best practice has been studied, evaluated, selected and then applied to two industrial use cases by the use of a selected opens source tool.peer-reviewe
Technology as an economic catalyst in rural and depressed places in Massachusetts
This paper uses case studies, including two cities (Lynn and New Bedford), a sub-city district (Roxbury) and two towns in rural Franklin County (Greenfield and Orange), to examine the role of technology as a potential economic catalyst in rural and depressed places in Massachusetts. Though the five target areas vary in size, density, geographic area, demographic characteristics and economic resources, each exhibits chronic patterns of economic distress related to the decline of manufacturing, construction and other key industries
Energy-efficient through-life smart design, manufacturing and operation of ships in an industry 4.0 environment
Energy efficiency is an important factor in the marine industry to help reduce manufacturing and operational costs as well as the impact on the environment. In the face of global competition and cost-effectiveness, ship builders and operators today require a major overhaul in the entire ship design, manufacturing and operation process to achieve these goals. This paper highlights smart design, manufacturing and operation as the way forward in an industry 4.0 (i4) era from designing for better energy efficiency to more intelligent ships and smart operation through-life. The paper (i) draws parallels between ship design, manufacturing and operation processes, (ii) identifies key challenges facing such a temporal (lifecycle) as opposed to spatial (mass) products, (iii) proposes a closed-loop ship lifecycle framework and (iv) outlines potential future directions in smart design, manufacturing and operation of ships in an industry 4.0 value chain so as to achieve more energy-efficient vessels. Through computational intelligence and cyber-physical integration, we envision that industry 4.0 can revolutionise ship design, manufacturing and operations in a smart product through-life process in the near future
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