1,775 research outputs found
The 'Flexator' as a robotic actuator
No full textDescribes a research project at Middlesex Polytechnic which has been investigating the static and dynamic performance characteristics of a new low-cost pneumatic actuator, invented by Jim Hennequin of Airmuscle Ltd., for use in an electric wheelchair mounted robotic ar
A novel pneumatic actuator
No full textMiddlesex University has been investigating the static and dynamic performance characteristics of a new low-cost pneumatic actuator, the Flexator, invented by Jim Hennequin of Airmuscle Ltd, for use in a hybrid electric-pneumatic wheelchair-mounted robotic arm
Author reply to Hettiarachchi et al. (re Helicobacter pylori resistance in Australia…)
No full textLetter to the EditorJonathon P. Schubert, Paul R. Ingram, Morgyn S. Warner, Christopher K. Rayner, Ian C. Roberts-Thomson, Samuel P. Costello and Robert V. Bryan
The Middlesex University rehabilitation robot
No full textThis paper outlines the historical developments of Wheelchair-Mounted Robot Arms (WMRA's) and then focuses on the ongoing research at Middlesex to develop a low-cost aid to daily living for users with high-level quadriplegia. A detailed review is given explaining the design specification. It describes the construction of the robotic device and its control architecture. The prototype robot used several gesture recognition and other input systems. The prototype has been tested on disabled and non-disabled users with positive feedback. They observed that it was easy to use, but issues about speed of operation were resolved after further development. The robot has a payload of greater than 1kg with a maximum reach of 0.7–0.9m. Published by the Taylor & Francis Publishing Group, this publication is one of the only journals to cover the multi-disciplinary area of medical technology research. Currently, research bids are being formulated with the School of Computing Science to continue this researc
A new development in low cost pneumatic actuators
No full textOutlines the history of pneumatic muscle actuators as applied to prosthetics, orthotics and rehabilitation robotics. The advantages of low cost pneumatic muscles over more conventional forms of actuation are described, together with details of a single-axis test-rig which is being used to analyse the static and dynamic performance of a new type of muscle system in twenty different variations of length and width. A theoretical analysis using the nonsteady flow energy equation is proposed and some early experimental results are presented. Finally, the results of this study can be used to develop an electric wheelchair mounted robotic arm incorporating pneumatic muscle actuator
Direct numerical simulation of turbulent Couette-Poiseuille flow with zero skin friction
No full textThe near-wall scaling of mean velocity U(y) is addressed for the case of zero skin friction on one wall of a fully turbulent channel flow. The present DNS results can be added to the evidence in support of the conjecture that U is proportional to √yw in the region just above the wall at which the mean shear dU/dy = 0
Scaling and intermittency in ocean turbulence: analysis of coastal water optical properties and sea surface temperature (SST)
No full textWe consider here some scaling and intermittency properties of oceanic turbulence, with a general aim of considering the impact of turbulence on the bio-optical dynamics. For that purpose, we tried two different approaches, using in situ and satellite data. For the in situ study we adopted one dimensional and for the satellite two dimensional approaches. Different techniques such as Fourier power spectrum, Empirical mode of decomposition (EMD), Hilbert spectral analysis (HSA) have been used for analyzing the intermittency characteristics of the in situ data. For analyzing the multi-scale properties of the satellite images, we have considered Structure functions (SF) and Fourier power spectrum (1D and 2D). The general objective is to understand the multi-scale oceanic variability using scaling tools developed in the field of intermittent turbulence studies
The organization of industry in the P.R. China: A new start or resort to old concepts?
No full textThe Chinese have let it be known since the death of Mao Zedong and the purge of the “Gang of Four” that they would in future draw on credits from foreign governments as well as other sources to finance imports of technology. According to western conjectures China’s capital requirements may be between US $ 25 and 50 bn or even a good deal higher. Many observers have taken the view that the Chinese have thereby put all their former development principles behind them. The author of the following article was in the P.R. China about the middle of this year at the invitation of the National Planning Commission. His assessment is that the P.R. China is far from embarking on an entirely new course in its development policy
Constant approximation for virtual backbone construction with guaranteed routing cost in wireless sensor networks
No full textEconomic potential of the P.R. Spring oil-impregnated deposit, Uinta Basin, Utah
No full textreportThe P.R. Spring oil-impregnated sandstone (tar sand) deposit is located in the southeastern portion of the Uinta Basin, approximately 50 miles northwest of Grand Junction, Colorado. These oil impregnated sandstones are in the Eocene Green River Formation and five zones have been identified. These zones consist of one or more lenticular beds of lacustrine sandstone, separated by intervals of barren lithologies. The degree of impregnation of individual beds within the five zones is controlled by the lateral extent of the bed, its porosity and permeability, and the distance the oil has migrated within the bed. The degree of saturation varies both laterally and vertically. The purpose of this report was to 1) determine the total hydrocarbon content of each zone in blocks of 640 acres or less, and 2) relate this data to current economic and mining feasibility. This study incorporates the results of 38 measured sections and 26 core holes. The oil extracted from the P.R. Spring tar sands is a naturally occurring, brown to black, highly viscous or solid mixture of hydrocarbons. Its composition indicates that the oil was formed in situ or migrated only a short distance. The author has calculated the total barrels of oil in place for the deposit to be approximately 3.3 billion barrels. This is less than other published calculations of 3.7 and 4.0 to 4.5 billion barrels (Byrd, 1967; Ritzma, 1974). Problems associated with the method of economic recovery of the oil remain to be solved. Only the southeastern corner of the field is strip rninable. Other areas will probably have to be exploited by in situ recovery methods and several are being tested. The only known active operation in P.R. Spring is by Bighorn Oil, located in the southeastern part of the deposit. Their operation consists of an open-pit mine and a 200-barrel-per-day extraction plant utilizing a solvent solution process. Surface water availability in the area is limited, but may be sufficient if storage, reuse and ground-water potential are considered. Oil extraction will require a fuel supply, possibly from generated coke and other byproduct fuels generated by the tar refining process or by local natural gas or coal production. Further work is needed in the area, specifically more core holes and associated analyses. Strategic drilling in T. 11 S., R. 22 and 24 E., and T. 12 S., R. 22 E., could be used to verify assumed saturation
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