22 research outputs found
Southwest Research Institute assistance to NASA in biomedical areas of the technology utilization program
The activities are reported of the NASA Biomedical Applications Team at Southwest Research Institute between 25 August, 1972 and 15 November, 1973. The program background and methodology are discussed along with the technology applications, and biomedical community impacts
Development of PVDF tactile dynamic sensing in a behaviour-based assembly robot
The research presented in this thesis focuses on the development of tactile event sig¬
nature sensors and their application, especially in reactive behaviour-based robotic
assembly systems.In pursuit of practical and economic sensors for detecting part contact, the application
ofPVDF (polyvinylidene fluoride) film, a mechanical vibration sensitive piezo material,
is investigated. A Clunk Sensor is developed which remotely detects impact vibrations,
and a Push Sensor is developed which senses small changes in the deformation of a
compliant finger surface. The Push Sensor is further developed to provide some force
direction and force pattern sensing capability.By being able to detect changes of state in an assembly, such as a change of contact
force, an assembly robot can be well informed of current conditions. The complex
structure of assembly tasks provides a rich context within which to interpret changes
of state, so simple binary sensors can conveniently supply a lot more information than
in the domain of mobile robots. Guarded motions, for example, which require sensing a
change of state, have long been recognised as very useful in part mating tasks. Guarded
motions are particularly well suited to be components of assembly behavioural modules.In behaviour-based robotic assembly systems, the high level planner is endowed with
as little complexity as possible while the low level planning execution agent deals with
actual sensing and action. Highly reactive execution agents can provide advantages by
encapsulating low level sensing and action, hiding the details of sensori-motor complexity from the higher levels.Because behaviour-based assembly systems emphasise the utility of this kind of quali¬
tative state-change sensor (as opposed to sensors which measure physical quantities),
the robustness and utility of the Push Sensor was tested in an experimental behaviourbased system. An experimental task of pushing a ring along a convoluted stiff wire is
chosen, in which the tactile sensors developed here are aided by vision. Three differ¬
ent methods of combining these different sensors within the general behaviour-based
paradigm are implemented and compared. This exercise confirms the robustness and
utility of the PVDF-based tactile sensors. We argue that the comparison suggests
that for behaviour-based assembly systems using multiple concurrent sensor systems,
bottom-level motor control in terms of force or velocity would be more appropriate
than positional control. Behaviour-based systems have traditionally tried to avoid
symbolic knowledge. Considering this in the light of the above work, it was found
useful to develop a taxonomy of type of knowledge and refine the prohibition
The characteristics and the implications of electrical activity within the nervous system
Abstract Not Provided
1977-1978 Wright State University Graduate Course Catalog
This is a Wright State University graduate course catalog from 1977-1978.https://corescholar.libraries.wright.edu/archives_catalogs/1018/thumbnail.jp
NASA Tech Briefs, March 1995
This issue contains articles with a special focus on Computer-Aided design and engineering amd a research report on the Ames Research Center. Other subjects in this issue are: Electronic Components and Circuits, Electronic Systems, Physical Sciences, Materials, Computer Programs, Mechanics, Machinery, Manufacturing/Fabrication, Mathematics and Information Sciences and Life Science
1990-1992 Wright State University Graduate Course Catalog
This is a Wright State University graduate course catalog from 1990-1992.https://corescholar.libraries.wright.edu/archives_catalogs/1035/thumbnail.jp
Cumulative index to NASA Tech Briefs, 1986-1990, volumes 10-14
Tech Briefs are short announcements of new technology derived from the R&D activities of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. These briefs emphasize information considered likely to be transferrable across industrial, regional, or disciplinary lines and are issued to encourage commercial application. This cumulative index of Tech Briefs contains abstracts and four indexes (subject, personal author, originating center, and Tech Brief number) and covers the period 1986 to 1990. The abstract section is organized by the following subject categories: electronic components and circuits, electronic systems, physical sciences, materials, computer programs, life sciences, mechanics, machinery, fabrication technology, and mathematics and information sciences