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To identify the dexterity of spacesuit gloves, they need to undergo bending tests in the development process. The ideal way is to place a humanoid robotic hand into the spacesuit glove, mimicking the motions of a human hand and measuring the bending angle/force of the spacesuit glove. However, traditional robotic hands are too large to enter the narrow inner space of the spacesuit glove and perform measurements. This paper aims to design a humanoid robot hand that can wear spacesuit gloves and perform measurements.

The proposed humanoid robotic hand is composed of five modular fingers and a parallel wrist driven by electrical linear motors. The fingers and wrist can be delivered into the spacesuit glove separately and then assembled inside. A mathematical model of the robotic hand is formulated by using the geometric constraints and principle of virtual work to analyze the kinematics and statics of the robotic hand. This model allows for estimating the bending angle and output force/torque of the robotic hand through the displacement and force of the linear motors.

A prototype of the robotic hand, as well as its testing benches, was constructed to validate the presented methods. The experimental results show that the whole robotic hand can be transported to and assembled in a spacesuit glove to measure the motion characteristics of the glove.

The proposed humanoid robotic hand provides a new method for wearing and measuring the spacesuit glove. It can also be used to other gloves for special protective suits that have highly restricted internal space.

To demonstrate the feasibility of designing a versatile packaging machine for folding cartons of complex geometry and shapes.

The research conducts study of cartons of different geometry and shapes classifying them in suitable types and operations that a machine can understand, conceptualizing a machine that can handle such cartons, modeling and simulation of the machine, and finally design and development of the packaging machine.

It has been shown that such a versatile machine is a possibility; it just needs miniaturization and investment on its development when such machines could be a reality.

This research was aimed at proving the principle, but for practical implementation considerations need to be given for a compact, portable system incorporating sensors.

The design is unique in existence and has been shown to fold cartons of different complexity.

This paper aims to report a novel practical algorithm for manipulation planning of multiple articulated robots.

This paper proposes a model‐based approach to distributing trajectory segments to individual robots in a multirobot system, given a task in terms of trajectories. This approach consists of three modules: task trajectory generation, cooperative robots selection, and joint trajectory generation.

The proposed algorithm has been implemented into a simulation system with four‐planar robots and a multirobot‐packing system, which has shown the effectiveness of the presented method. It improves the flexibility of robot cooperation and handles dynamically cooperative trajectories by using a modularized mapping from Cartesian space to joint space of robots.

The reported research has been developed for task‐oriented applications with prior knowledge. Future work will focus on acquiring prior knowledge using vision systems.

The key contribution of this paper is that it offers a practical real‐time solution to task‐oriented applications. For instance, the proposed method could close the gaps and significantly improve work efficiency in carton packing involved in industrial chains.

The reported work allows a multirobot system realtime, dynamically distributing trajectory segments to individual robots for task‐oriented applications. Industrial practitioners would benefit from employing it in their existing systems, e.g. the car assembly industry.

This paper aims to investigate reconfigurable technology using robotic technology for folding carton in confectionery industry.

Based on the analysis of common motion and manipulation, modules such as robotic fingers and robotic folders are explored and designed. A robotic system is then constructed by arranging those modules for diverse cartons.

A prototyped test rig shows the adaptability of the robotic system. The reconfigurability of the robotic system is realized and verified by experiments and an industrial demonstrator.

This research leads to the development of a demonstrator, manufactured and controlled by industries, to further commercial exploitation of this robotic system. It has been applied in a strict industry environment for a chocolate manufacturer.

This robotic system applied successfully the theory of reconfigurability by using modularity in packaging systems into confectionery industry.

Examines the tenth published year of the ITCRR. Runs the whole gamut of textile innovation, research and testing, some of which investigates hitherto untouched aspects. Subjects discussed include cotton fabric processing, asbestos substitutes, textile adjuncts to cardiovascular surgery, wet textile processes, hand evaluation, nanotechnology, thermoplastic composites, robotic ironing, protective clothing (agricultural and industrial), ecological aspects of fibre properties – to name but a few! There would appear to be no limit to the future potential for textile applications.

Examines the ninth published year of the ITCRR. Runs the whole gamut of textile innovation, research and testing, some of which investigates hitherto untouched aspects. Subjects discussed include cotton fabric processing, asbestos substitutes, textile adjuncts to cardiovascular surgery, wet textile processes, hand evaluation, nanotechnology, thermoplastic composites, robotic ironing, protective clothing (agricultural and industrial), ecological aspects of fibre properties – to name but a few! There would appear to be no limit to the future potential for textile applications.

This paper aims to represent a novel framework for optimization of robotic handling from disarray to structure where the products are randomly distributed on a surface, the initial location of the products are known (with the aid of image processing, laser position sensors, etc.) and there is a set of final positions for the products.

Pick‐and‐place is one of the main solutions especially for the food products where the products are prone to damage, have adhesive surfaces and the grippers can be complicated. The aim of this paper is to maximize the utilization of the pick‐and‐place robotic system. In order to do so the handling process is modelled mathematically and the pick‐and‐place problem is formulated based on assignment problem where Hungarian algorithm is utilized to minimize the total distance travelled by the robot. Furthermore, a simulation program is developed to demonstrate the possible improvements of the algorithm in comparison with the existing algorithms.

Utilizing the proposed algorithm can significantly increase the utilization of robots in the pick‐and‐place operation.

The new optimization algorithm can be applied to any industry with pick‐and‐place where time efficiency and maximum utilization matters.

This paper aims to introduce and identify a new 3D handling operation (bin picking) for natural discrete food products using food categorisation.

The research shows a new food categorisation and the relation between food ordering processes and food categories. Bin picking in the food industry needs more flexible vision software compared to the manufacturing industry in order to decrease the degree of disarray of food products and transfer them into structure.

It has been shown that there are still manual operated ordering processes in food industry such as bin picking; it just needs new ideas of image processing algorithms such as active shape models (ASMs) on its development in order to recognise the highly varying shapes of food products.

This research was aimed at locating a new ordering process and proving a new principle, but for practical implementation this bin picking solution needs to be developed and tested further.

Identifying new ordering processes via food categorisation is unique and applying ASMs to bin picking opens a new industrial sector (food industry) for 3D handling.

Although an important facet of modernist architecture in which function plays a prominent role, building flexibility is not entirely a new concept. Its relevance transcends generations, allowing space and structure to evolve through time. This paper investigates the relationship among main building structures, infill elements, and space by studying examples in ancient Chinese architecture. It reveals the role of building owners, users, and craftsmen from a survey of historical documentation. In studying these examples, it is concluded that craftsmen in ancient China were involved not only during the construction phase but throughout the period of use as well. Thus, in select cases, the relationship between craftsmen and owners or users had been preserved for generations. Finally, this paper suggests potential strategies for the building industry and technology in the move towards sustainable development.

This paper aims to introduce a novel design of the biomimetic quadruped robot, including its body structure, three structural modes and respective workspace.

By taking a metamorphic 8-bar linkage as the body of a quadruped robot, the authors propose a reconfigurable walking robot that can imitate three kinds of animals: mammals (e.g. dog), arthropods (e.g. stick insect) and reptiles (e.g. lizard). Furthermore, to analyze the three structural modes of this quadruped robot, the workspace is calculated and studied.

Based on experimental data analyses, it is revealed that the metamorphic quadruped robot can walk in all its three structural modes and adapt to different terrains.

Because the body of the quadruped robot is deformable and reconfigurable, the location of payload is not considered in the current stage.

The relative positions and postures of legs of the metamorphic robot can be rearranged during its body reconfiguration in such a way to combine all the features of locomotion of the three kinds of animals into one robot. So, the metamorphic quadruped robot is capable of maintaining wider stability margins than conventional rigid-body quadruped robots and conducting operations in different environments, particularly the extreme and restricted occasions due to the changeable and adaptable trunk.

The main contribution is the development of a reconfigurable biomimetic quadruped robot, which uses the metamorphic 8-bar linkage. This robot can easily reshape to three different structural modes and mimic the walking patterns of all mammals, arthropods and reptiles.