Formulation of a Transfer Function between rotor responses on a High Speed Balancing Machine and in Turbo Machinery by System Identification

In this paper the authors propose an innovative method for the determination of a transfer function (MTF) between the rotor responses on a balancing machine (HSB) and on turbo machinery (SP). The prediction of the rotor behavior in its turbomachine final housing is a crucial problem for turbo machinery manufacturers and very complex to solve using classical approaches. The proposed method uses a particular MTF formula, calculated with a black/box approach based on the application of the theory of System Identification, using the rotor responses in SP and in HSB as input and output respectively. MTF was determined by a regression analysis of the responses in HSB and SP of 10 rotors; subsequently it was tested and validated on other 15 rotors. The results demonstrate that proposed MTF simulates a rotor behavior in SP with a satisfactory overlapping of the measured output

A robotic vehicle for freight delivery in urban areas

The authors present new concept architecture of light duty full electrical vehicle for efficient sustainable urban freight transport that allows the movement of two Euro Pallets 800x1200 mm (or boxes with similar bottom part). Following a sustainable and efficient mobility approach, a robotic handling device has been designed and positioned on-board of the vehicle. The handling device realizes the loading-unloading operations on the right side of the vehicle and from the ground to the vehicle platform. Active suspensions of the vehicle have been designed to adapt the stiffness to the payload and at modifying the chassis height on the ground for travel and loading-unloading tasks

High energy efficiency biped robot controlled by the human brain for people with ALS disease

This paper analyses the adoption of novel robotic technologies to help people suffering from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The work starts with the analysis of problems that mostly affect these patients in order to understand where science and technology can be used to help them. In particular brain-computer interfaces and their implementation with a high energy efficiency humanoid robot for domestic assistance will be taken into account. The features that this kind of technology must have in order to satisfy the required need will be discussed, with some preliminary tests implemented in existing platforms. © 2014 IEEE