Point Cloud Framework for Rendering 3D Models Using Google Tango

This project seeks to demonstrate the feasibility of point cloud meshing for capturing and modeling three dimensional objects on consumer smart phones and tablets. Traditional methods of capturing objects require hundreds of images, are very slow and consume a large amount of cellular data for the average consumer. Software developers need a starting point for capturing and meshing point clouds to create 3D models as hardware manufacturers provide the tools to capture point cloud data. The project uses Googles Tango computer vision library for Android to capture point clouds on devices with depth-sensing hardware. The point clouds are combined and meshed as models for use in 3D rendering projects. We expect our results to be embraced by the Android market because capturing point clouds is fast and does not carry a large data footprint

Using Idea-2-Product Labs® as a strategy for accelerating technology transfer

Technology transfer poses particular problems to developing countries whose governments cannot always afford to fund expensive high-tech solutions. This article reports on the Idea 2 Product Labs® concept that was developed in South Africa to offer a low-cost open-source alternative. The motivation behind the work was to put innovative new technologies into the hands of more people within a shorter timeframe than would otherwise be possible. The background, planning, objectives, outcomes and impact of the project are reported together with some conclusions on how this model could be adopted across a wider domain

Shoe Last Customization: A Systematic Review

In recent years, there is an increase in research into shoe last customization and topic analysis methods. The work aims to systematically review the literature on the customization of shoe lasts. The method used in this work is to perform a five-phase systematic review algorithm. Data on the research performed are extracted and synthesized from each study: main research objectives, authors, date of publication, journal, or conference in which the article was published, and the quality of each article. The studies included in the review are published between 2018 and 2022. The results of the review are nineteen papers about the process of customization of the shoe last. The conclusions of the analysis indicate that the quality of research has not changed over time, in 2020 there was a decrease in work. Most often, researchers analyze the impact of anthropometric factors on the correct shoe last modeling and methods of shoe last parameterization

Practices and trends of telework in the Portuguese industry: the results of surveys in the textile, metal and software sectors

The aim of the TeleRisk Project on labour relations and professional risks within the context of teleworking in Portugal – supported by IDICT – Institute for Development and Inspection of Working Conditions (Ministry of Labour), is to study the practices and forms of teleworking in the manufacturing sectors in Portugal. The project chose also the software industry as a reference sector, even though it does not intend to exclude from the study any other sector of activity or the so-called “hybrid” forms of work. However, the latter must have some of the characteristics of telework. The project thus takes into account the so-called “traditional” sectors of activity, namely textile and machinery and metal engineering (machinery and equipment), not usually associated to this type of work. However, telework could include, in the so-called “traditional” sectors, other variations that are not found in technologically based sectors. One of the evaluation methods for the dynamics associated to telework consisted in carrying out surveys by means of questionnaires, aimed at employers in the sectors analysed. This paper presents some of the results of those surveys. It is important to mention that, being a preliminary analysis, it means that it does not pretend to have exhausted all the issues in the survey, but has meant that it shows the bigger tendencies, in terms of teleworking practices, of the Portuguese industry.teleworking; organisation of work; Portugal; manufacturing

Implementation of finite element analysis into the athletic shoe design process

Thesis (S.B.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, 2004.Includes bibliographical references (leaf 32).Finite element analysis is used by companies throughout the world as a substitution for manually testing prototypes. With the assistance of finite element analysis many companies and industries have decreased the time and cost of product production. Currently, the athletic shoe industry does not use finite element analysis in the shoe development process. The goal of this project was to implement finite element analysis into the athletic shoe design process with the intent of decreasing time to market and cost. This effort determined finite element analysis is not recommended to design and test an entire athletic shoe. The human factors and variability make simulation wear-tests on an entire shoe nearly impossible to accurately replicate via finite element analysis. Though human factors affect the entire shoe the most critical component, the heel cushion, is affected only slightly. Since a person's heel is in the shape of a ball, the variation of external forces caused by human factors is not significant. Thus, finite element analysis can be used to design and test the cushion of athletic shoes.by Maria E. Hidalgo.S.B

Towards an Open-Source Industry CAD: A Review of System Development Methods

Due to the industry knowledge barrier, general computer aided design (CAD) software cannot do everything in digital manufacturing by itself, and industry CAD, therefore, occupies a crucial position in the CAD industry. To develop industry CAD smoothly, open-source is the best choice. We analyzed recent examples of industry CAD development and divided the development methods into four types: development based on the graphics development environment, development based on geometric modelling kernel, secondary development based on general CAD, and hybrid development. We analyzed the characteristics of various methods and believe that the method based on the hybrid development of the geometric modelling kernel and the graphics development environment is the best open-source industry CAD development method. We proposed a system architecture of open-source industry CAD for reference and conducted a preliminary exploration of the reference architecture to verify its feasibility

The specification and evaluation of personalised footwear for additive manufacturing

The personalisation of footwear offers advantages not only for runners, but to anyone who wishes to become more active. Additive manufacturing (AM) technology has the potential for making footwear personalisation economically feasible by allowing direct manufacture from CAD models and its tool-less capability. This thesis aims to develop and explore the process of footwear personalisation using AM and evaluates such footwear in terms of discomfort and biomechanics. To start to explore this process a repeated measures pilot study was conducted. Six recreational runners had anthropometric measurements of the foot taken and the plantar surface of both feet scanned. From the scans and measurements, personalised glove fit insoles were designed and manufactured using AM. Participants were then fitted with footwear under two experimental conditions (control and personalised), which were compared in terms of discomfort, performance and biomechanics. The findings of this pilot confirmed the feasibility of the personalisation process. A longitudinal study was then conducted to evaluate the short and medium term use of personalised footwear in terms of discomfort and biomechanics. A matched pairs study design was utilised and 38 recreational runners (19 pairs) were recruited. Control (generic shape) and personalised geometry insoles were designed and manufactured using AM. The participants wore the footwear each time they went running for a 3-month period. They also completed an Activity Diary after each training session and attended 4 laboratory sessions during this period. The results showed significantly lower discomfort ratings in the heel area and for overall fit with the personalised insoles. However, discomfort was reported under the arch region for both conditions (supported by the Activity Diary), indicating that the foot scanning position and material may need modifying. With regard to the biomechanics, the personalised insoles also led to significantly lower maximum ankle eversion and lower peak mean pressure under the heel, which are potentially positive effects in terms of reducing injury risk. A case study is then reported which explored foot capture using a dynamic scanner for the design and manufacture of insoles using AM. Through the development of four insoles, it was found that the selection and manipulation of the scan data from the series of frames generated during ground contact were the most demanding elements of the process. Finally, recommendations and guidance are given for the footwear personalisation process (foot scan position, anthropometry, insole design and AM), together with its potential benefits and limitations

Plant Information Modelling, Using Artificial Intelligence, for Process Hazard and Risk Analysis Study

In this research, the application of Artificial Intelligence and knowledge engineering, automation of equipment arrangement design, automation of piping and support design, using machine learning to automate the stress analysis, and finally, using information modelling to shift ‘field weld locating’ activity from the construction to the design phase were investigated. The results of integrating these methods on case studies, to increase the safety in the lifecycle of process plants were analysed and discussed

Influence of Polyvalence Professionals on Product Development Process Efficiency

Product development is one of a company’s key processes for meeting customer demands, providing long-term market share growth, revenues and company value. The main question we are addressing in this paper is how the professionals with more and better developed competencies (polyvalence professionals) increase efficiency of the product development process. We presume that the efficiency of the product development process is significantly influenced by the matching rate between the competencies of professionals and the task requirements of the process. The hypothesis was tested in an international study in which five footwear companies from three European countries participated. By analysing variances and using correlation and regression analyses, we prove the influence of polyvalence professionals on the product development process efficiency. We also prove that polyvalence professionals are the strategic resources who provide a company’s long-term competitive advantage, allowing efficient development of new products thus having high response rate to customer demands