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1 – 10 of over 21000Jianhua Su, Hong Qiao, Zhicai Ou and Yuren Zhang
The purpose of this paper is to give a novel sensor‐less manipulation strategy for the high‐precision assembly of an eccentric peg into a hole.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to give a novel sensor‐less manipulation strategy for the high‐precision assembly of an eccentric peg into a hole.
Design/methodology/approach
Based on the authors' previous work on the attractive region, this paper proposes the sensorless eccentric peg‐hole insertion strategy. The analysis is based on the visible strategic behaviors by decomposing the high‐dimensional configuration space of the eccentric peg‐hole into two low dimensional configuration subspaces. Then, the robotic manipulations can be designed in the configuration subspaces. Finally, a typical industry application, fitting an eccentric crankshaft into a bearing hole of the automotive air‐conditioners, is used to validate the presented strategy.
Findings
The attractive region constructed in the configuration space has been applied to guide the robotic manipulations, such as, the locating and the insertion.
Practical implications
The designed robotic assembly system without using force sensor or flexible wrist has an advantage in terms of expense and durability for the automotive air‐conditioners manufacturing industry.
Originality/value
Most previous work on sensorless manipulation strategy has concentrated on inserting a symmetric peg into a hole. However, for the assembly of an eccentric peg into a hole, the robotic manipulations should be explored in a high‐dimensional configuration space as the six‐DOFs of the eccentric peg. In this paper, the decomposition method of the high‐dimensional configuration space would make the system analysis visible; then, the assembly strategy can be easily designed in the two subspaces.
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Jianhua Su, Rui Li, Hong Qiao, Jing Xu, Qinglin Ai and Jiankang Zhu
The purpose of this paper is to develop a dual peg-in-hole insertion strategy. Dual peg-in-hole insertion is the most common task in manufacturing. Most of the previous work…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to develop a dual peg-in-hole insertion strategy. Dual peg-in-hole insertion is the most common task in manufacturing. Most of the previous work develop the insertion strategy in a two- or three-dimensional space, in which they suppose the initial yaw angle is zero and only concern the roll and pitch angles. However, in some case, the yaw angle could not be ignored due to the pose uncertainty of the peg on the gripper. Therefore, there is a need to design the insertion strategy in a higher-dimensional configuration space.
Design/methodology/approach
In this paper, the authors handle the insertion problem by converting it into several sub-problems based on the attractive region formed by the constraints. The existence of the attractive region in the high-dimensional configuration space is first discussed. Then, the construction of the high-dimensional attractive region with its sub-attractive region in the low-dimensional space is proposed. Therefore, the robotic insertion strategy can be designed in the subspace to eliminate some uncertainties between the dual pegs and dual holes.
Findings
Dual peg-in-hole insertion is realized without using of force sensors. The proposed strategy is also used to demonstrate the precision dual peg-in-hole insertion, where the clearance between the dual-peg and dual-hole is about 0.02 mm.
Practical implications
The sensor-less insertion strategy will not increase the cost of the assembly system and also can be used in the dual peg-in-hole insertion.
Originality/value
The theoretical and experimental analyses for dual peg-in-hole insertion are proposed without using of force sensor.
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Cristian Incaltarau and Loredana Maria Simionov
The theoretical contribution provided by the transitional theories has fundamentally helped develop a better understanding of the migration process, by showing how migration is…
Abstract
The theoretical contribution provided by the transitional theories has fundamentally helped develop a better understanding of the migration process, by showing how migration is interacting with other processes of development. They show that along with development, emigration is following an upside down ‘U’ shaped pattern, being overreached by immigration, while the region changes its migration profile from emigration to immigration. This was the case for the southern European states, which followed a rapid migration transition during the second half of the twentieth century. After large emigration to Western and Northern Europe, these managed to attract large immigration flows from the less developed countries in Africa and Latin America, but also from Eastern Europe after the fall of communist regimes. This chapter aims to test whether Eastern Europe is heading to the same migration transition pattern as the South and change their current status of net migration provider. Thus, the impact of the migration transition drivers in explaining net migration balance is analysed using a panel data for the 2000–2013 period. As a country can encompass both emigration and immigration regions, the current analysis is carried out at European Union (EU) regional level data (NUTS II), while controlling for the regional specifics and unobserved time effects. Overall, most of the factors which led to the migration shift, from emigration to immigration, in Southern Europe were proven to be fundamental at EU regional level as well. Migration flows were shown to be more sensitive to unemployment, urbanisation, segmentation of the labour market and active population share in the eastern as compared to the southern European regions. Nevertheless, accessing the transition drivers evolution during 2011–2013 period, eastern regions are still highly unattractive and their chances for becoming destination regions are currently at low levels.
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Dávid Harsányi and Erika Hlédik
The purpose of this paper is to provide greater understanding of attractiveness of different wine region types, especially less attractive wine regions. The paper examines the…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to provide greater understanding of attractiveness of different wine region types, especially less attractive wine regions. The paper examines the different wine tourist segments’ preferences towards wine region types.
Design/methodology/approach
The preferences of wine tourists were analysed based on an online self-administered survey with 8,552 respondents in Hungary. The wine regions were divided into four categories based on their wine and touristic attractiveness: wine dominant, touristic attraction dominant, complex and non-dominant wine regions. Wine region types were examined based on wine travel frequency and also by subjective wine expertise.
Findings
Wine tourist groups based on wine travel frequency and subjective wine expertise have significantly different preferences towards wine region types. Less attractive wine regions are more popular among frequent travellers and wine experts.
Practical implications
The outcome of this research highlights the importance of designing diverse marketing strategies depending on the wine region type. Less attractive wine regions and little-known wineries should focus on frequent travellers and wine experts and provide a complex and high standard experience, as these consumers are more open and have higher expectations of a travel destination.
Originality/value
The study revealed the different wine tourist preferences with regard to the various types of wine regions. Wine-related and non-wine-related aspects were studied in a complex manner.
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Abstract
Purpose
The paper aims to propose a method to build environmental constraint region online in complex-shaped peg-in-hole assembly tasks.
Design/methodology/approach
Compared with conventional way which using computer-aided design (CAD) models of assembly parts to construct the environmental constraint region offline, the paper provides an online approach that consists of three aspects: modeling assembly parts through visual recognition, decomposing complex shapes into multiple primitive convex shapes and a numerical algorithm to simulate the peg-in-hole insertion contact. Besides, a contrast experiment is performed to validate the feasibility and effectiveness of the method.
Findings
The experiment result indicates that online construction takes less time than the offline way under the same task conditions. Furthermore, due to the CAD models of the parts are not required to be known, the method proposed in the paper has a broader application in most assembly scenarios.
Originality/value
With the improvement of customization and complexity of manufactured parts, the assembly of complex-shaped parts has drawn greater attention of many researchers. The assembly methods based on attractive region in environment (ARIE) have shown great performance to achieve high-precision manipulation with low-precision systems. The construction of environmental constraint region serves as an essential part of ARIE-based theory, directly affect the formulation and application of assembly strategies.
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Eddie Blass, Mary Thornton and Bernice Rawlings
This paper seeks to outline four scenarios developed for the future of the South West Midlands region of England. Like many depressed regions in the UK, the foundation industries…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper seeks to outline four scenarios developed for the future of the South West Midlands region of England. Like many depressed regions in the UK, the foundation industries that initially developed the region have gone. Manufacturing is continuing to decline and the low‐skilled economic underpinnings of the region have all but disappeared. The population, however, has not changed with the times, but remains low‐skilled and largely unemployable to many of the industries the region is trying to attract to regenerate itself. Despite this economically depressed picture, the region is renowned for its sense of community and regional identity, and hence crime is uncharacteristically low given the economic and demographic circumstances of the region.
Design/methodology/approach
A range of methodologies were employed to inform scenario building for the future of the region, including a literature review, interviews with employers and community leaders, a word association exercise and questionnaire with children approaching school leaving age, and data analysis of demographic and economic trends.
Findings
Four scenarios were developed as possible futures for the region to help inform policy making, in particular educational policy to encourage more young people to remain in education for longer and gain higher qualifications.
Practical implications
The paper offers practical ideas for (re)engaging young people in education in a depressed region where the value of education has never really been appreciated.
Originality/value
This paper offers readers alternative perspectives on an area of education that might otherwise be ignored and finds positive ways forwards to further promote education in the region.
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This paper aims to review contributions made to the strategic question about the main trends, opportunities, challenges and success factors in the Russian hospitality and tourism…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to review contributions made to the strategic question about the main trends, opportunities, challenges and success factors in the Russian hospitality and tourism market in the experience economy era.
Design/methodology/approach
Based on the strategic question, a critical analysis of each contribution was carried out to identify the key themes and the issues, impacts and findings related to each theme.
Findings
The findings show nine key themes related to the sustainable development of the Russian hospitality and tourism market.
Research limitations/implications
The findings create a framework to boost discussion between all stakeholders in the tourism and hospitality industry in Russia. There are ways to improve the competitiveness of the country as a tourist destination in spite of a number of impediments, both internal and external. Overall, this theme issue provides a useful framework for discussions with a wider range of stakeholders as the implications arising are of importance to all stakeholder groups.
Originality/value
All nine articles have contributed different perspectives to the topic, and all confirm that networking is critical in the experience economy era to ensure that aspirations and concerns of all key stakeholders are taken into account.
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The purpose of this paper is to present a novel application of cluster theory and cluster methodology to evaluate large infrastructure investments. The complementing clusters…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to present a novel application of cluster theory and cluster methodology to evaluate large infrastructure investments. The complementing clusters approach, which builds on the notion of infrastructure as connecting isolated “economic islands”, is able to assess the potential for value creation effects of new infrastructure investment.
Design/methodology/approach
The author uses simulation analysis based on a unique data set encompassing all employees and employers, as well as cluster mapping, for every pair of “economic islands” being connected by the examined infrastructure investments. The empirical setting is of large fjord crossings in Western Norway, the so-called E39 project.
Findings
The empirical findings show that productivity gains are higher when an integrated labor market hosting complementary clusters is formed. Limitations remain regarding the economic integration path.
Research limitations/implications
The authors provide an ex-ante analysis using information over the past 10 years. Following the expected infrastructure investments, future research should examine the extent to which productivity gains materialized and the reasons underlying the achieved materialization levels.
Practical implications
Current evaluation of large infrastructure investments focuses on transportation economics effects, technical feasibility and environmental consequences. The authors complement this current practice by advancing a theoretically grounded value creation perspective that can affect future evaluation practices.
Originality/value
Cluster complementarity-based evaluation is a novel methodology that is applicable to investment decisions which are central for economic development. Cluster analysis of infrastructure investments provides new and valuable data for making such investments decisions.
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Purpose – The purpose of this article is to provide a tool to map the critical roles of intermediate organizations. To clarify the concept of intermediate organizations in a…
Abstract
Purpose – The purpose of this article is to provide a tool to map the critical roles of intermediate organizations. To clarify the concept of intermediate organizations in a regional context, especially from the network dynamics point‐of‐view. Design/methodology/approach – Regional dynamics are presented as networks of production, development and innovation in the regional cluster. The intermediaries are divided into national, regional and local level actors. The roles of the intermediaries from the network dynamics point‐of‐view are then illustrated with examples from a case study in a medical technology cluster located in a sparsely inhabited area in Finland. Findings – According to the results of the case study, the regional intermediaries have the most important role in the creation and supporting of the network dynamics. The most critical roles include forming shared innovation strategies between the actors and attracting anchor tenants to the region. Research limitations/implications – The characteristics of the case region are discussed in a generic sense with the concepts of social capital and communities of practice. Practical implications – Conceptually, the article provides an approach to reducing the complexity of the regional networks to a more understandable level. The model provides a tool for the decision makers in a region to define the critical roles of the intermediaries from the network dynamics point‐of‐view. Originality/value – The novel approach introduced in this paper addresses three gaps in existing research: it helps to define the concept of an intermediary in a regional context; it shows that the intermediaries have a much broader role in a region than just knowledge transfer and that the roles of the intermediaries differ on national, regional and local levels.
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