A smart ultrasonic actuator with multidegree of freedom for autonomous vehicle guidance industrial applications

A piezoelectric ultrasonic actuator with multidegree of freedom for autonomous vehicle guidance industrial applications is presented in this paper. The actuator is aiming to increase the visual spotlight angle of digital visual data capture transducer. It consists of three main parts, the stator, rotor and housing unit. The stator is a piezoelectric ring made from S42 piezoelectric ceramics material, bonded to three electrodes made from a material that has a close Characteristics to the S42. The rotor is a ball made from stainless steel materials. The actuator working principles is based on creating micro elliptical motions of surface points, generated by superposition of longitudinal and bending vibration modes, of oscillating structures. Transferring this motion from flexible ring transducer through the three electrodes, to the attached rotor, create 3D motions. The actuator Design, structures, working principles and finite element analysis are discussed in this paper. A prototype of the actuator was fabricated and its characteristics measured. Experimental tests showed the ability of the developed prototype to provide multidegree of freedom with typical speed of movement equal to 35 rpm, a resolution of less than 5μm and maximum load of 3.5 Newton. These characteristics illustrated the potential of the developed smart actuator, to gear the spotlight angle of digital visual data capture transducers and possible improvement that such micro-actuator technology could bring to the autonomous vehicle guidance and machine vision industrial applications. Furthermore research are still undertaken to develop a universal control prototype, integrate the actuator with an infrared sensor, visual data capture digital transducers and obtain the trajectory of motion control algorithm

Micro-hydro generator using eco-wheel system for domestic and industrial building applications

The paper presents the preliminary part of ongoing research to design and develop a 3D sustainable renewable power station model that is feasible, competent and of high efficiency at an affordable cost. The paper is focused on the optimization of a 1D micro hydropower system. The constant supply of green power is made possible through a combination of power plants using renewable energies resources. Studies reveal that water wheels are not as efficient as turbines but could offer efficiency in excess of 80% for overshoot & undershoot water wheels, with 75% for breastshot water wheels. The technical issues that limit the water wheel efficiency have been studied and a new design is presented in this paper. The simulation to the new design is hereby presented with some experimental measurements of the efficiency and power that can be delivered with this new design

A smart 3D ultrasonic actuator for unmanned vehicle guidance industrial applications

A smart piezoelectric ultrasonic actuator with multidegree of freedom for unmanned vehicle guidance industrial applications is presented in this paper. The proposed actuator is aiming to increase the visual spotlight angle of digital visual data capture transducer. Furthermore research are still undertaken to integrate the actuator with an infrared sensor, visual data capture digital transducers and obtain the trajectory of motion control algorithm. The actuator consists of three main parts, the stator, rotor and housing unit. The stator is a piezoelectric ring made from S42 piezoelectric material, bonded to three electrodes made from a material that has a close Characteristics to the S42. The rotor is a ball made from steel material. The actuator working principles is based on creating micro elliptical motions of surface points, generated by superposition of longitudinal and bending vibration modes, of oscillating structures. Transferring this motion from flexible ring transducer through the three electrodes, to the attached rotor, create 3D motions. The actuator Design, structures, working principles and finite element analysis are discussed in this paper. A prototype of the actuator was fabricated and its characteristics measured. Experimental tests showed the ability of the developed prototype to provide multidegree of freedom with typical speed of movement equal to 35 rpm, a resolution of less than 5μm and maximum load of 3.5 Newton. These characteristics illustrated the potential of the developed smart actuator, to gear the spotlight angle of digital visual data capture transducers and possible improvement that such microactuator technology could bring to the unmanned vehicle guidance and machine vision industrial applications

3D sustainable renewable micro power station for smart grid industrial applications

The supply of clean energy and its security is becoming a global issue for all countries across the world, due to the limitations of fossil fuels resources usages for energy generations, the relative high dependency on imported fuels, their ever climbing prices and its environmental impacts. Power supply must increase as rapidly as demand to ensure sustained growth. This is the rationale upon which Governments, international organizations, researchers are accelerating investments in expanding the power system, its generation and transmission. This paper presents the preliminary research undertaken to design and develop a 3Dimentional (3D) sustainable renewable micro power station model for smart grid industrial applications. It introduces a solution to challenges in the energy generation sector which do not only refrain only to the safe supply of clean Energy. A major importance for the theoretical study of hybrid systems, based on renewable energy (photovoltaic, wind, hydro system) is the availability of the models that can be utilized to study the behavior of hybrid systems and most important, computer aided design simulation tools. As the available tools are quite limited, this paper would present the most current and up to date model which can be used for the simulation purposes of the 3D sustainable renewable micro power station for smart grid applications as well as for educational purposes

A multi degree of freedom actuation

This paper presents the on going research to develop an actuation system with multi-degree of freedom, for robot and machine vision industrial applications. This is mainly aiming to overcome the current teething issues with digital visual transducer spot angle and enhance the relevant industrial applications performance and accuracy, at low cost. This paper is focused on the actuation system design and development. It covers the actuation system design optimisation, structure, and working principles. Finite element analysis has been used in the design optimisation process. This has been utilised to test the actuation system structure, investigate the dynamic behaviour and the deformation of the stator (active piezo-ceramic electrodes). The initial analysis and experimental results of the work is also presented in this paper and this is showed the potential of the current development

Evaluation of 3D renewable micro power station for smart grid applications

The paper presents the findings of the ongoing research to design and develop of 3 DIMENSIONAL (3D) sustainable renewable micro power station model for smart grid applications. The paper focuses on the design optimization and evaluation process of the station model. Linearization around various outputs and a set of control equilibrium techniques is discussed. This is aimed at obtaining a linear parameter variable model from a nonlinear system regulating the output of the 3D micro power station model. An investigation into the current state of the art of wind, hydro and solar energy conversion system has been carried out during this research. The initial simulation and practical results of this research with some experimental measurements of the efficiency and possible power level that can be delivered is also presented in this paper