570,263 research outputs found
Robot Autonomy for Surgery
Autonomous surgery involves having surgical tasks performed by a robot
operating under its own will, with partial or no human involvement. There are
several important advantages of automation in surgery, which include increasing
precision of care due to sub-millimeter robot control, real-time utilization of
biosignals for interventional care, improvements to surgical efficiency and
execution, and computer-aided guidance under various medical imaging and
sensing modalities. While these methods may displace some tasks of surgical
teams and individual surgeons, they also present new capabilities in
interventions that are too difficult or go beyond the skills of a human. In
this chapter, we provide an overview of robot autonomy in commercial use and in
research, and present some of the challenges faced in developing autonomous
surgical robots
The lifetime cost of a magnetic refrigerator
The total cost of a 25 W average load magnetic refrigerator using commercial
grade Gd is calculated using a numerical model. The price of magnetocaloric
material, magnet material and cost of operation are considered, and all
influence the total cost. The lowest combined total cost with a device lifetime
of 15 years is found to be in the range \^{+++}$ refrigeration unit. In a
rough life time cost comparison between the magnetic refrigeration device and
such a unit we find similar costs, the former being slightly cheaper, assuming
the cost of the magnet can be recuperated at end of life.Comment: 17 pages, 17 figure
Specifications for modelling fuel cell and combustion-based residential cogeneration device within whole-building simulation programs
This document contains the specifications for a series of residential cogeneration device models developed within IEA/ECBCS Annex 42. The devices covered are: solid oxide and polymer exchange membrane fuel cells (SOFC and PEM), and internal combustion and Stirling engine units (ICE and SE). These models have been developed for use within whole-building simulation programs and one or more of the models described herein have been integrated into the following simulation packages: ESP-r, EnergyPlus, TRNSYS and IDA-ICE. The models have been designed to predict the energy performance of cogeneration devices when integrated into a residential building (dwelling). The models account for thermal performance (dynamic thermal performance in the case of the combustion engine models), electrochemical and combustion reactions where appropriate, along with electrical power output. All of the devices are modelled at levels of detail appropriate for whole-building simulation tools
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Electricity Network Investment and Regulation for a Low Carbon Future
The requirement for significantly higher electricity network investment in the UK seems certain as the capacity of distributed generation and large scale renewables increases on the system. In this paper, which forms a chapter in the forthcoming Book âDelivering a Low Carbon Electricity System: Technologies, Economics and Policyâ, the authors make a number of significant suggestions for improvement to the current system of network regulation. First, they suggest that the RPI-X system needs to be overhauled in favour of a simpler yardstick based system and which allows for more merchant transmission investments. Second, future regulation should involve more negotiated regulation involving agreements between network owners and purchasers of network services. This would be particularly advantageous for decisions on new network investments. Third, more extensive use needs to be made of locational pricing within the transmission and distribution system in order to facilitate the least cost expansion of low carbon generation, including micropower. Fourth, consideration needs to be given to ownership unbundling of distribution networks from retail supply. This would better facilitate the entry of distributed generation and the development of appropriate competition between grid and off-grid generation supply and demand side management. Finally, there needs to be a significant increase in R&D expenditure in electricity networks supported by customer levies
Arc tracking control in insulation systems for aeronautic applications: challenges, opportunities, and research needs
Next generation aircrafts will use more electrical power to reduce weight, fuel consumption, system complexity and greenhouse gas emissions. However, new failure modes and challenges arise related to the required voltage increase and consequent rise of electrical stress on wiring insulation materials, thus increasing the risk of electrical arc appearance. This work performs a critical and comprehensive review concerning arc tracking effects in wiring insulation systems, underlying mechanisms, role of materials and possible mitigation strategies, with a special focus on aircraft applications. To this end an evaluation of the scientific and technological state of the art is carried out from the analysis of theses, research articles, technical reports, international standards and white papers. This review paper also reports the limitations of existing insulation materials, standard test methods and mitigation approaches, while identifying the research needs to comply with the future demands of the aircraft industryPeer ReviewedPostprint (published version
Dry anaerobic digestion of organic waste: A review of operational parameters and their impact on process performance.
open access articleDry digestion is a suitable technology for treating organic wastes with varying composition such as the organic
fraction of municipal solids waste. Yet, there is a need for further research to overcome some of the disadvantages
associated with the high total solids content of the process. Optimisation of inoculum to substrate
ratio, feedstock composition and size, liquid recirculation, bed compaction and use of bulking agents are some of
the parameters that need further investigation in batch dry anaerobic digestion, to limit localised inhibition
effects and avoid process instability. In addition, further attention on the relation between feedstock composition,
organic loading rate and mixing regimes is required for continuous dry anaerobic digestion systems. This
paper highlights all the areas where knowledge is scarce and value can be added to increase dry anaerobic
digestion performance and expansion
Turbulent liquidâliquid dispersion in SMV static mixer at high dispersed phase concentration
The aim of this paper is to investigate the influence of physico-chemical parameters on liquidâliquid dispersion at high dispersed phase concentration in Sulzer SMV⢠mixer. Four different oil-in-water systems involving two different surfactants are used in order to evaluate the effect of interfacial tension, densities and viscosities ratio on mean droplets size diameters. Moreover the influence of the dispersed phase concentration on the pressure drop as well as on the droplet size distribution is investigated. Two different droplets size distribution analysis techniques are used in order to compare the resulting Sauter mean diameters. The comparison between residence time in the mixer and surfactants adsorption kinetics leads to take into account the evolution of the interfacial tension between both phases at short times. Finally experimental results are correlated as a function of dimensionless Reynolds and Weber numbers
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