Gait aiding mechatronic systems

This paper describes method to analyse human gait and shows existing devices for gait aiding for people of different level of impairment. It gives proposition of gait aiding device using gait analysis method as a feedback for gait forcing parameters

Project of the research stand for measuring horizontal and vertical viewing angles of LCD displays

W artykule przedstawiono projekt oraz realizację stanowiska pomiarowego służącego do pomiarów kątów patrzenia monitorów LCD. Przedstawione zostały założenia, które przyjęto na etapie projektu, zgodność z normami ISO oraz przykładowe wyniki pomiarów. Przedstawione wyniki pomiarów pokazują, że zmierzona wartość kąta patrzenia może się znacznie różnić od wartości podawanej przez producenta monitora.The paper deals with project and realization of a laboratory stand for measuring viewing angles of LCD displays. There is a need to build such stands in order to check whether the parameters of displays reflect the ones provided by their producers. The ISO norms guidelines as regards tests of displays (ISO 9241-303:2008 "Ergonomics of human-system interaction - Part 303: Requirements for electronic visual displays" and ISO 9241-305:2008 "Ergonomics of human-system interaction - Part 305: Optical laboratory test methods for electronic visual displays") were used to make sure that the results of such research were reliable. The stand together with additional accessories (spectrophotometer and measuring probes) as well as software allow measuring a wide range of parameters (colour gamut, response time, contrast coefficient and its irregularity, luminance of black colour and its irregularity, luminance of white colour and its irregularity, changes of luminance depending on the viewing angle). In this paper there is described the stand construction as well as the method for measuring the luminance change depending on the viewing angles, which is one of the most important parameters in the situation when there are several people looking at a certain screen. The presented measurement results also show differences between particular pieces of the same model of a display screen (investigations were performed on 5 pieces of the same model of a display). The presented results show that the measured value of the viewing angle may significantly differ from the value provided by producers of displays

Illumination equality measurement of LCD matrices

Artykuł porusza kwestie pomiaru równomierności oświetlenia oraz parametrów związanych z tym zjawiskiem: współczynnika kontrastowości, nierównomierności kontrastu, luminancji i jej nierównomierności. Przedstawia powody, dla których te parametry są istotne pod względem użytkowym, oraz opisuje metody, jakimi można badać wymienione powyżej parametry. Przedstawia wyniki badań wykonanych na próbie pięciu monitorów tego samego modelu.The illumination uniformity in LCD monitors is analyzed in the paper. The phenomenon is described and explained by taking into consideration the following parameters: contrast ratio, luminance, uniformity of display contrast, and luminance. No defined measurement method of these values exists (except partially different standards by ISO, VESA, ANSI). The method which unify and minimize measurements is described in the paper. The same measurement points are used to measure all parameters under consideration. Luminance measurements are made in a dark room, on center of a screen surface emitting white color. The same is also used in uniformity measurement (Eq. 1). It describes luminosity difference values in different places of monitor. Contrast ratio (Eq. 2) measurements were made using electronic set of photodiode and transimpedance amplifier in one structure (Fig. 2). Uniformity measurement of display contrast have been made in few points, defined by VESA organization (Figs. 3, 4, 5, 6). 5 monitors of the same model were tested (Tab. 1). Contrast ratio show significant difference for each monitor and between each other. Similar results are for luminance and luminance uniformity (Tab. 4) where difference in uniformity reached almost 40%. Type of monitor backlight is main cause of poor uniformity, but also quality of LCD matrices may have influence on overall comfort of using such moni-tors. The results show that luminance and contrast uniformity should be given in technical specification of products

Estimating the Efficiency of Microcystin LR Removal During the Water Treatment Processes Performed within the Sulejów-Łódź Water Supply System

Omówiono problem toksyn sinicowych występujących podczas zakwitów w wodzie powierzchniowej ujmowanej do systemu wodociągu "Sulejów-Łódź", zaopatrującego aglomerację łódzką w wodę przeznaczoną do spożycia. W okresach silnych zakwitów w latach 2001 i 2002 wykonano badania próbek na zawartość mikrocystyny LR w wodzie ujmowanej, w wodzie po ozonowaniu w stacji uzdatniania "Kalinko" oraz w wodzie tłoczonej do sieci wodociągowej. W wyniku przeprowadzonych badań wykazano, że woda uzdatniona w systemie wodociągu "Sulejów-Łódź" spełnia zarówno krajowe wymagania sanitarne jak i zalecenia WHO dotyczące jakości wody przeznaczonej do spożycia w zakresie zawartości mikrocystyny LR. Stężenie mikrocystyny LR w wodzie tłoczonej do sieci wodociągowej zawierało się w przedziale 0,00÷0,32 mg/m3, co stanowiło 32% wartości stężenia dopuszczalnego. W wyniku zastosowanych procesów uzdatniania (wykorzystując m.in. ozonowanie) uzyskano stopień usuwania mikrocystyny LR na poziomie 84÷100%.The problem of cyanobacteria toxins which appear during periods of blue-green algae (Cyanophyta) blooming in the surface water taken in for the needs of the Sulejów-Łódź Water Supply System is discussed. In the periods of strong blooming in 2001 and 2002, analyses were carried out for the presence of Microcystin LR in the taken in water, in the water after ozonation, and in the water flowing in the distribution network. In was found that the water treated in the facilities of the Sulejów-Łódź Water Supply System met both the national standards and the WHO directives on potable water quality with respect to Microcystin LR concentration, which ranged between 0 and 0.32 mg/m3 and thus accounted for 32% of the admissible value. The treatment processes applied (and this includes ozonation) yielded an efficiency of Microcystin LR removal varying from 84 to 100% (compared to the samples collected from the water intake)

Efficiency of Microcystin LR Removal from Surface Water Treated by the Tomaszów Mazowiecki Water Treatment Plant

W normalnym stanie wód powierzchniowych liczebność komórek sinic (Cyanophyta) w 1 cm3 wody waha się od kilkuset do kilku tysięcy, przy czym w okresach intensywnego zakwitu może dochodzić do kilkuset tysięcy na 1 cm3 wody. Intensywne zakwity mogą powodować zmianę barwy i nieprzyjemny zapach wody, a także uwalniają duże ilości neurotoksyn alkaloidowych i hepatotoksyn o wysokiej toksyczności. W pracy przedstawiono wyniki badań dotyczące skuteczności oczyszczania wody powierzchniowej w obecności komórek sinic i mikrocystyny LR w układzie oczyszczania wody w Tomaszowie Mazowieckim w 2004 r. Wykazano, że zastosowanie koagulacji bez wstępnej dezynfekcji chlorem lub dwutlenkiem chloru powodowało wzrost zawartości mikrocystyny LR w wodzie (śr. o 176%), w wyniku rozpadu (lizy) komórek sinic pod wpływem koagulantu. Ozonowanie wody dawką 3,0÷5,5 gO3/m3 było najefektywniejszym etapem usuwania mikrocystyny LR z wody. Końcowa efektywność usuwania mikrocystyny LR z wody zmieniała się w zakresie 49,8÷100,0%.Normally, the number of cyanobacterial cells (Cyanophyta) in surface water varies from several hundred to several thousand per cubic centimeter. While blooming, their number may rise to several hundred thousand per cubic centimeter of water, and the water may take a specific hue and an unpleasant smell. In addition, during blooming cyanobacteria produce large amounts of alkaloid neurotoxins and oligopeptide hepatotoxins of high toxicity. The study reported on in this paper was carried out at the Water Treatment Plant of Tomaszów Mazowiecki in 2004. It aimed at determining the efficiency of their treatment train when the surface water to be treated contained cyanobacterial cells and microcystin LR. The investigations have produced the following findings: coagulation without prechlorination (with chlorine or chlorine dioxide) promoted a rise in microcystin LR concentration by 176% on average, as a result of cell lysis due to exposure to the coagulant; ozonation (with a 3.0 to 5.5 gO3/m3) was the most efficient unit process for microcystin LR removal. The final efficiency of microcystin LR removal from the water ranged from 49.8 to 100%

Effect of water quality and treatment parameters on the extent of cyanobacterial toxins removal from the water: A case study

Sinice (Cyanophyta), wchodzące w skład fitoplanktonu, należą do grupy gram ujemnych prokariotycznych organizmów fotosyntezujących. W normalnych warunkach liczebność komórek sinicowych w 1 cm3 wody waha się od kilkuset do kilku tysięcy, przy czym w okresach intensywnego zakwitu może dochodzić do kilkuset tysięcy komórek w 1 cm3 wody. Intensywne zakwity nadają wodzie barwę i nieprzyjemny zapach, uwalniają też duże ilości neurotoksyn alkaloidowych i hepatotoksyn o charakterze oligopeptydów o wysokiej toksyczności. W pracy przedstawiono wyniki badań dotyczące efektywności uzdatniania wody ujmowanej ze zbiornika sulejowskiego, przy obecności komórek sinicowych i hepatotoksyn, w systemie wodociągowym Sulejów-Łódź. W badaniach przeprowadzonych w 2002 r. stwierdzono, że końcowe stężenia mikrocystyny LR były dużo niższe niż wartość dopuszczalna (1,0 mg/m3), świadcząc o prawidłowym przebiegu procesu uzdatniania wody. Czynnikiem mającym negatywny wpływ na efektywność uzdatniania wody była całkowita biomasa mikroorganizmów oraz pośrednio wysoka temperatura wody powierzchniowej, wpływająca korzystnie na zakwity oraz przyrost całkowitej biomasy, jak też ilość produkowanych toksyn. Zastosowane w procesie uzdatniania dawki dwutlenku chloru i ozonu były dostateczne do usunięcia mikrocystyny LR w granicach 85÷100%, a innych izoform w granicach 70÷100%. Dokładniejsze zbadanie wpływu tych czynników na efektywność usuwania toksyn sinicowych będzie przedmiotem dalszych badań, w celu potwierdzenia wcześniej uzyskanych wyników.Cyanobacteria (Cyanophyta) belong to the group of gram-negative procariotic photosynthesizing organisms and are part of the phytoplankton. Normally, the number of cyanobacteria ranges between several hundred and several thousand cells per cubic centimeter of water to increase to several hundred thousand cells per cubic centimeter when blooming. Blooming produces an intensive hue and objectionable odor of the water; it also releases large amounts of alkaloid neurotoxins and hepatotoxins of oligopeptide type displaying a very high toxicity. The present paper shows the results of an experimental study (performed in 2002), which aimed at determining the efficiency of the treatment process involving water taken in from the Sulejów impoundment lake, contaminated with cyanobacterial cells and hepatotoxins. The study has produced a number of major findings. The final concentrations of microcystin LR fell much below the admissible level (1.0 mg/m3). The total biomass of the microorganisms and, indirectly, the high temperature of the surface water had an adverse influence on the efficiency of the treatment process; they promoted blooming, enhanced the increment in the total biomass and increased the amount of the toxins produced. The chlorine dioxide and ozone doses used in the experiments sufficed to yield a removal of microcistin LR and other isoforms within 85 to 100% and 70 to 100%, respectively. The effect of the factors mentioned above upon the extent of cyanobacterial toxins removal will be examined in more detail in a further study in order to substantiate our previous results

Mechatronic system for verticalization and aiding the motion of the disabled

Mechatronics is nowadays a dominating concept in design of various kinds of systems and technical devices. High speeds of data processing by control units of mechatronic systems, as well as high dynamics of their actuators allow the systems to be applied in wider fields. This refers to the medicine as well, especially while making attempts to replace lost human motor abilities by means of robots aiding the man. These devices can be divided into three groups: exoskeletons designed to strengthen the natural force of human muscles, orthotic robots that restore lost or weakened functions of human limbs, and prosthetic robots replacing an amputated limb. The first and the third group are known quite well, whereas the orthotic robots are at an initial phase of their development. The authors have worked on a device for aiding the motion of disabled people suffering from paresis of the lower limbs. The paper presents a concept and a structure of the system that has been created, comparing it with similar devices that have already existed. There are indicated some connections and areas where the subunits merge, as well as the rules of their working with the user

Mechatronic system for verticalization and aiding the motion of the disabled

Mechatronics is nowadays a dominating concept in design of various kinds of systems and technical devices. High speeds of data processing by control units of mechatronic systems, as well as high dynamics of their actuators allow the systems to be applied in wider fields. This refers to the medicine as well, especially while making attempts to replace lost human motor abilities by means of robots aiding the man. These devices can be divided into three groups: exoskeletons designed to strengthen the natural force of human muscles, orthotic robots that restore lost or weakened functions of human limbs, and prosthetic robots replacing an amputated limb. The first and the third group are known quite well, whereas the orthotic robots are at an initial phase of their development. The authors have worked on a device for aiding the motion of disabled people suffering from paresis of the lower limbs. The paper presents a concept and a structure of the system that has been created, comparing it with similar devices that have already existed. There are indicated some connections and areas where the subunits merge, as well as the rules of their working with the user