Mechatronics at the University of Twente

This paper describes some of the mechatronics activities at the University of Twente. In 1989, the founding of the Mechatronics Research Center Twente started a cooperation of the departments of Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Applied Mathematics and Computer Science. The mechatronics activities get especially attention in projects in the Ph.D. programme and in the `mechatronic designer' program, but Msc. students participate as well. As an illustration of the philosophy behind the work at the University of Twente and of the activities carried out so far, the paper describes two projects of the institute: the MART (Mobile Autonomous Robot Twente) project and the ALASCA (Automated Laser Aided Servo Controlled Assembly) projec

A Profile-Based Identification of Standby and Useless Electricity Consumption in Buildings

Useless electricity consumption is the electricity consumption of an electric appliance or system that is not performing its primary function or that is performing its primary function without being useful. So, useless electricity consumption does not only consist of standby losses. To identify the useless electricity consumption in a building, a profile-based approach is developed. This approach is used to investigate the useless electricity consumption in five buildings of the University of Leuven. The result of this study is that in these buildings the useless electricity consumption accounts for 4 to 13 % of the total electricity consumption. This paper will give a detailed discussion of a case study in a library of the university.status: publishe

Assessment of Mechatronic System Performance at an Early Design Stage

For conceptual design of electromechanical motion systems, an assessment method is formulated that supports the design of a feasible reference path generator, control system, and electromechanical plant with appropriate sensor locations, in an integrated way. This method is based on a classification of standard transfer functions, plant models, and closed-loop systems. The assessment method can be applied in several ways, depending on the available knowledge about the design problem. In order to illustrate this method, an application to an industrial motion system is described. The assessment method quickly provides insight in the design problem. Furthermore, feasible goals and required design efforts can be estimated at an early stage

Constructies voor het nauwkeurig bewegen en positioneren (16) Energiebeheer in mechanismen

Energiebeschouwingen kunnen vaak leiden tot inzichten waarmee men eigenschappen van mechanismen aanmerkelijk kan verbeteren. Een toelichting aan de hand van een aantal gevallen volgt hieronder. Er zijn in dit verband, drie gevallen:) het constant houden van de elastische energie(U=constant) het constant houden van de kinetische energie(T=constant) het constant houden van de totale energie-inhoud(T+U=constant), die achtereenvolgens worden besproke

Assessment of quality of life and cognitive function after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest with successful resuscitation

This prospective cohort study evaluated the impact of the time-related elements of the "chain of survival" on the quality of life of patients, taking their characteristics into account. Between 1995 and 2002, consecutive, out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients from Amsterdam and the surrounding areas were included in this study. A total of 227 patients (12%) survived to hospital discharge and 174 were definitive survivors who were available for assessment at 6 months. Quality of life was measured with the 136-item Sickness Impact Profile (SIP); cognitive functioning was assessed through the Mini Mental State Examination. SIP, profiles were compared with profiles of an open Dutch population of the elderly and patients who experienced a stroke. Time intervals of the chain of survival were calculated from the estimated moment of collapse and related to outcome using regression analysis. The SIP profile of survivors was a little above the reference profile, indicating a slightly poorer quality of life, and below the profile of patients after stroke, indicating a better quality of life. Impaired cognitive function was associated with delay in the start of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (odds ratio 4.3, 95% confidence interval 1.0 to 19). Absence of the need for advanced cardiopulmonary life support was. associated with, better cognitive functioning (odds ratio 0.3, 95% confidence interval 0.1, to 0.9). Female gender and older age were associated with impaired physical functioning. Trends were found for better outcomes after early access, immediate resuscitation, early defibrillation, and early advanced care. (C) 2004 by Excerpta Medica, In

Training of police officers as first responders with an automated external defibrillator

A short and effective training programme is an essential prerequisite for the use of automated external defibrillators (AED) by EMS providers and first responders. We evaluated a 3-h AED course based on the ERC requirements. Methods: As part of a study evaluating the effectiveness of AEDs used by first responders (ARREST 4), we trained all police officers in the region of Amsterdam, the Netherlands. By means of a Basic Life Support (BLS) assessment at the beginning of the course and at the end, we evaluated whether BLS can be improved in a 3-h AED course. Through a combined BLS and AED assessment at the end of the course, we evaluated whether AED skills can be acquired sufficiently. BLS skills were measured with the Laerdal SkillMeter(TM) in evaluation mode. AED skills were assessed using 13 criteria. By means of logistic regression, we analysed the influence of student characteristics, such as age, gender, previous training, resuscitation experience and motivation for BLS and AED on BLS and AED skills acquisition. Results: Between September 1999 and June 2000, 823 police officers were trained (76% male, mean age 36 (S.D. 9) years). BLS improved significantly (P <0.001) in all criteria, except for hypoventilation (P <0.001). After training, 89% of the students were able to use an AED safely and effectively. Self-confidence and motivation improved from 12 and 73% to 99 and 94% over the course (P <0.001). Independent student characteristics influencing the success of the AED course were: previous BLS training, motivation before the course for an AED, and resuscitation experience that dated back for more than 12 months. Conclusion: The majority of police officers can be trained to use an AED safely and effectively within a 3-h AED course. During this course, they also improve on their BLS skills. Successful completion of the course depends in part on the student characteristics. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserve

Trained first-responders with an automated external defibrillator: how do they perform in real resuscitation attempts?

Introduction: The quality of first-responder performance at the end of automated external defibrillator (AED) training may not predict the performance adequately during a real resuscitation attempt. Methods: Between January and December 2000, we evaluated 67 resuscitation attempts in Amsterdam and surroundings, where police officers used an AED. We compared their performance with their assessment at the end of their ERC AED training course. One of the main goals of training was to deliver a shock within 90 s after switching the power on in the AED. Results: We analysed 127 police officers working in 67 police-teams. The police officers had a mean age of 35 years (range 23-54 years), 73% was male. The interval between AED training and the first resuscitation attempt was a median of 4 months (range 1-13). 78% percent of the 67 teams consisted of two police officers who both were qualified as "competent" after the initial training. Successful completion of the course correlated well with good performance during a resuscitation attempt (p = 0.009). When measured switching the power on in the AED, 92% of the victims received a shock within 90 s. Conclusions: Successful training correlates well with successful performance in the field. Competence of a team may be better than competence of two separate individuals. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserve

Use of automated external defibrillator by first responders in out of hospital cardiac arrest: prospective controlled trial

Objective To test the hypothesis that the use of an automated external defibrillator by police and fire fighters results in higher discharge rates for out of hospital cardiac arrest. Design Controlled clinical trial with initial random allocation of automated external defibrillators to first responders in four of the eight participating regions; each region switched from control to experimental, and vice versa, every four months. Setting Amsterdam and surroundings, the Netherlands. Participants Patients with witnessed out of hospital cardiac arrests, identified by the emergency medical system between January 2000 and January 2002. Main outcomes measures Survival to hospital discharge; return of spontaneous circulation; admission to hospital. Results 243 patients (65% in ventricular fibrillation) were included in the experimental area and 226 patients (67% in ventricular fibrillation) in the control area. The median time interval between collapse and first shock was 668 seconds in the experimental area and 769 seconds in the control area (P < 0.001). 44 (18%) patients in the experimental area versus 33 (15%) patients in the control area were discharged (odds ratio 1.3 (95% confidence interval 0.8 to 2.2), P = 0.33), 139 (57%) experimental versus 108 (48%) control patients had return of spontaneous circulation (1.5 (1.0 to 2.2), P = 0.05), and 103 (42%) experimental versus 74 (33%) control patients were admitted (1.5 (1.1 to 1.6), P = 0.02). The median delay from receipt of call to dispatch of the ambulance was 120 seconds, and the delay to dispatch of the first responder was 180 seconds. Conclusions Use of automated external defibrillators by first responders did not significantly increase survival to discharge from hospital, although it did improve return of spontaneous circulation and admission to hospital. Improved dispatch procedures should increase the success of programmes of first responders using external defibrillators