Innovation and failure in mechatronics design education

Innovative engineering design always has associated with it the risk of failure, and it is the role of the design engineer to mitigate the possibilities of failure in the final system. Education should however provide a safe space for students to both innovate and to learn about and from failures. However, pressures on course designers and students can result in their adopting a conservative, and risk averse, approach to problem solving. The paper therefore considers the nature of both innovation and failure, and looks at how these might be effectively combined within mechatronics design education

Assisting the autistic To reduce anxiety caused by their environment

Many people with Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) find certain sounds so unpleasant that their lifestyle can be severely impaired by the need to avoid these noises. This paper considers several common sources of such anxietyinducing noise in the normal home and working environments, and considers whether this problem could be addressed with mechatronic concepts. People with ASD were tested for their reactions to a range of noises, and to the same noises filtered through noise reduction devices. Analysis of the probable characteristics of the anxiety- causing noise features was made. The noises were varying in time and pitch. In addition to anecdotal and survey evidence some carefully structured tests were carried out on some participants using the devices. Based on this investigation, specific mechatronic devices are proposed, using active noise control to selectively soften the sounds, which may be suitably used by those suffering ASD. A smart home or office could deploy multiple devices, in the optimal locations to reduce any offensive noise, whilst preserving a pleasant environment that allows the user the ability to communicate. Furthermore the environment could be tuned to the needs of specific individuals, and switched when they are present

N<i>e</i>XOS – the design, development and evaluation of a rehabilitation system for the lower limbs

Recent years have seen the development of a number of automated and semi-automated systems to support for physiotherapy and rehabilitation. These deploy a range of technologies from highly complex purpose built systems to approaches based around the use of industrial robots operating either individually or in combination for applications ranging from stroke to mobility enhancement. The NeXOS project set out to investigate an approach to the rehabilitation of the lower limbs in a way which brought together expertise in engineering design and mechatronics with specilists in rehabilitation and physiotherapy. The resulting system has resulted in a prototype of a system which is capable in operating in a number of modes from fully independent to providing direct support to a physiotherapist during manipulation of the limb. Designed around a low cost approach for an implementation ultimately capable of use in a patients home using web-baased strategies for communication with their support team, the prototype NeXOS system has validated the adoption of an integrated approach to its development. The paper considers this design and development process and provides the results from the initial tests with physiotherapists to establish the operational basis for clinical implementation

Kecenderungan kerjaya sebagai usahawan di kalangan pelajar bumiputera di Politeknik Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah, Kuantan, Pahang

Usahawan memainkan peranan penting dalam pembangunan ekonomi sesebuah negara. Walau bagaimanapun, jika dilihat senario sekarang, masih ramai Bumiputera yang kurang berminat untuk menceburi bidang keusahawanan. Justeru itu, kajian ini bertujuan untuk menyelidik tentang tahap kecenderungan keijaya sebagai usahawan di kaiangan pelajar Bumiputera tahun akhir Diploma Akauntansi Politeknik Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah, Kuantan (POLISAS). Secara khususnya, kajian ini akan menyelidik sejauh mana cita-cita pelajar Bumiputera untuk menjadi seorang usahawan dipengaruhi oleh ciri-ciri peribadi pelajar, faktor keluarga, faktor pengajian, pengalaman keija dan faktor persekitaran. Responden kajian terdiri daripada pelajar Bumiputera POLISAS iaitu seramai 51 orang. Data dikumpul menggunakan soal selidik dan dianalisis dengan menggunakan prosedur Ujian T, Crosstabs dan Korelasi Pearson melalui perisian SPSS (Statistical Package For Social Sciences). Dapatan kajian menunjukkan hanya faktor persekitaran (iaitu faktor pihak yang paling mempengaruhi pelajar untuk berniaga) yang dapat menarik minat pelajar untuk melibatkan diri dalam perniagaan. Faktor-faktor lain didapati kurang memberikan sumbangan dalam menarik minat pelajar untuk cenderung kepada bidang keusahawanan. Oleh itu, beberapa cadangan telah dibuat bagi menangani masalah ini agar kaum Bumiputera tidak jauh ketinggalan berbanding kaum lain dan seterusnya memenuhi hasrat kerajaan dalam merealisasikan matlamat Dasar Ekonomi Baru (DEB) yang masih belum dicapai sepenuhnya hingga ke hari ini

Privacy matters:issues within mechatronics

As mechatronic devices and components become increasingly integrated with and within wider systems concepts such as Cyber-Physical Systems and the Internet of Things, designer engineers are faced with new sets of challenges in areas such as privacy. The paper looks at the current, and potential future, of privacy legislation, regulations and standards and considers how these are likely to impact on the way in which mechatronics is perceived and viewed. The emphasis is not therefore on technical issues, though these are brought into consideration where relevant, but on the soft, or human centred, issues associated with achieving user privacy

Integrated process of images and acceleration measurements for damage detection

The use of mobile robots and UAV to catch unthinkable images together with on-site global automated acceleration measurements easy achievable by wireless sensors, able of remote data transfer, have strongly enhanced the capability of defect and damage evaluation in bridges. A sequential procedure is, here, proposed for damage monitoring and bridge condition assessment based on both: digital image processing for survey and defect evaluation and structural identification based on acceleration measurements. A steel bridge has been simultaneously inspected by UAV to acquire images using visible light, or infrared radiation, and monitored through a wireless sensor network (WSN) measuring structural vibrations. First, image processing has been used to construct a geometrical model and to quantify corrosion extension. Then, the consistent structural model has been updated based on the modal quantities identified using the acceleration measurements acquired by the deployed WSN. © 2017 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd

Towards transparent telepresence

It is proposed that the concept of transparent telepresence can be closely approached through high fidelity technological mediation. It is argued that the matching of the system capabilities to those of the human user will yield a strong sense of immersion and presence at a remote site. Some applications of such a system are noted. The concept is explained and critical system elements are described together with an overview of some of the necessary system specifications

WeighstEd

The purpose of this design thesis is to outline and describe the design project; WeighstEd. WeighstEd, is a data collection, storage, and analysis system for food waste to help Santa Clara University’s Sustainability Center reach a quantifiable food waste reduction goal of 10% by 2020 by using data to make informed cafeteria changes. The report will outline the entire engineering design process from ideation to manufacture including analysis techniques and benchmark testing. This report will serve as a written documentation of three mechanical engineers Senior Design Project completed at Santa Clara University. WeighstEd will be implemented at on campus events and in the university cafeteria beginning in the 2019-2020 school year

Regional development platform analysis as a tool for regional innovation policy

European regions have to direct their innovation and technology policies in the world of ever increasing competition. Right kinds of policy decisions aiming towards sustainable futures are essential in achieving competitive advantage for a region. The strategic choices are especially important because of the often very scarce resources in a region. The evolutionary economic theory has indicated the great difference of the development paths of the regions in seemingly similar circumstances, which manifests the unique character of each region, and the need of understanding the importance of path dependency in regional development. Helpful tools for supporting regional strategy building and decision-making in extremely different regions are needed. In this study, 'Regional Development Platform Analysis' is presented as a method of finding the regional potential for future development strategies. The method is under construction at Helsinki University of Technology Lahti Center. It needs a lot of further development in order to fulfil the demands of a real instrument for regional development. However, this paper presents a pilot case conducted in Lahti Region, where the method has been used as a tool for building the regional science park concept. A regional development platform is a concept understood as an industry or expertise based 'platform' presenting the business potential of the actors working for the platform. The actors of a regional development platform are the firms technology centers, expertise centers, research centers, education organisations etc. contributing to the defined development platform. A regional development platform has to be defined separately each time. A development platform is often based on an industry, including the development organisations and the regional innovation system supporting the development of the industry/platform. The analysis method consists of four phases: -Background study of the region, -expert analysis, -study of possible technological scenarios in the future, -development platform analysis. In the background study, all the available statistical data was gathered pertaining to regional economics, industries and expertises in Lahti region. And if possible, the regional data was compared with the data of the national level. In the second phase, an expert analysis panel was organised. The 30 respondents working for regional development organisations were asked to give marks to 15 industries using 10 given criteria. The same was asked of 13 expertises using five given criteria. The grade of importance of the connection between industries and expertises was asked as well. The material prepared in the first phase was given to the respondents. In the third phase, a brief look was taken at possible technological scenarios affecting the region in the future. Technological changes might change radically the potential of a development platform in the future. The regional development analysis of Lahti Region itself was conducted by using the material produced in the first three phases. The most potential development platforms were outlined for the future development strategies. The development platform analysis was also used as substantial basis in defining the science park concept of Lahti Region.