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Article
Publication date: 3 May 2024

Changhyun (Lyon) Nam, Mitchell Lewis Stephenson, Chunhui Xiang and Eulanda Sanders

This study aimed to compare the performance of sustainable shoes made with bacterial cellulosic composite and commercial leather shoes using an experimental research design. The…

Abstract

Purpose

This study aimed to compare the performance of sustainable shoes made with bacterial cellulosic composite and commercial leather shoes using an experimental research design. The two specific research objectives were: (1) to examine the basic material properties of multi-layered bacterial cellulosic materials (MBC), which include green tea-based cellulosic (GBC) mats, hemp fabrics, and denim fabrics, in comparison with those of two-layered leathers (MCP) consisting of calf-skin and pig-skin – commonly used in shoe manufacturing; and (2) to explore wearers’ performance in the two types of shoes by assessing quantitative kinematic and kinetic parameters of lower body movements.

Design/methodology/approach

This study focused on assessing the basic materials testing and performance of sustainable shoes through a biomechanical approach, in contrast to commercially available leather shoes, through human wear trials. In this study, green tea-based cellulosic (GBC) mats were developed using the optimal combination of ingredients for cellulose growth. Subsequently, the GBC, denim fabric (100% cotton), and 100% hemp fabric were combined to create multi-layered bacterial cellulosic materials (MBC) as an alternative to leather. Additionally, calf-skin and pig-skin leathers were utilized to produce a commercially available two-layered leather (MCP), commonly employed in shoe manufacturing. 37 of the 42 human subjects who participated in wear testing were collected. A paired t-test was conducted to determine whether significant mean differences existed between the two shoe types, a paired t-test was conducted.

Findings

To develop a biodegradable and compostable material that could be used as a leather alternative for the footwear industry, we proposed MBC and examined its properties compared with those of MCP, a product often used when making shoes. These findings confirmed the similar properties of MBC and MCP from the material testing and the possibility of using a men’s sustainable shoe prototype as a leather alternative, in terms of kinematics and kinetics.

Practical implications

The new multi-layered bacterial cellulosic materials (MBC) could be an alternative to commercial leathers such as innovative sustainable material construction, advanced design, and advanced techniques to optimize the overall performance of sustainable footwear.

Originality/value

Investigating the integration of smart textile technologies, ergonomic design principles, and personalized customization will contribute to developing MBC and making sustainable shoes using MBC compared with commercial leather shoes. This study provides valuable insights into further refinement and innovation in the sustainable footwear industry.

Details

International Journal of Clothing Science and Technology, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0955-6222

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 10 May 2022

Priyaranjan Biswal and Prases Kumar Mohanty

Legged walking robots have numerous advantages over the wheel or tracked robots due to their strong operational ability and exposure to the complex environment. This paper aims to…

Abstract

Purpose

Legged walking robots have numerous advantages over the wheel or tracked robots due to their strong operational ability and exposure to the complex environment. This paper aims to present details about the mechanical formation and a new conceptual elliptical trajectory generation discussed throughout the paper of the quadruped robot.

Design/methodology/approach

Initially, a realistic CAD model of the four-legged robot is developed in Solidwork-2019. The proposed model’s forward and inverse kinematics equations are deduced using Denavit–Hartenberg parameters. Based on geometry and kinematics, manipulability and obstacle avoidance are investigated. A method of galloping trajectory is proposed for aiming the increase of upright direction impulse, which is produced by ground reaction force at each step frequency. Furthermore, the locomotion equation of the ellipse trajectory is derived by setting transition angle polynomial of free-fall phase, stance phase and swing phase and the constraints.

Findings

Finally, a successive simulation on a 2D sagittal plane is performed to check and verify the usefulness of the proposed trajectory. Before the development of the full quadruped, a single prototype leg is generated for experimental verification of the dynamic simulations.

Originality/value

The proposed trajectory is novel in that it uses force tracking control, which is intended to improve the quadruped robot’s robustness and stability.

Details

World Journal of Engineering, vol. 20 no. 6
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1708-5284

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 20 March 2024

Shufeng Tang, Yongsheng Kou, Guoqing Zhao, Huijie Zhang, Hong Chang, Xuewei Zhang and Yunhe Zou

The purpose of this paper is to design a climbing robot connected by a connecting rod mechanism to achieve multi-functional tasks such as obstacles crossing and climbing of power…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to design a climbing robot connected by a connecting rod mechanism to achieve multi-functional tasks such as obstacles crossing and climbing of power transmission towers.

Design/methodology/approach

A connecting rod type gripper has been designed to achieve stable grasping of angle steel. Before grasping, use coordination between structures to achieve stable docking and grasping. By using the alternating movements of two claws and the middle climbing mechanism, the climbing and obstacle crossing of the angle steel were achieved.

Findings

Through a simple linkage mechanism, a climbing robot has been designed, greatly reducing the overall mass of the robot. It can also carry a load of 1 kg, and the climbing mechanism can perform stable climbing. The maximum step distance of the climbing robot is 543 mm, which can achieve the crossing of angle steel obstacles.

Originality/value

A transmission tower climbing mechanism was proposed by analyzing the working environment. Through the locking ability of the screw nut, stable clamping of the angle steel is achieved, and a pitch mechanism is designed to adjust the posture of the hand claw.

Details

Industrial Robot: the international journal of robotics research and application, vol. 51 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0143-991X

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 30 April 2024

Omar Malla and Madhavan Shanmugavel

Parallelogram linkages are used to increase the stiffness of manipulators and allow precise control of end-effectors. They help maintain the orientation of connected links when…

Abstract

Purpose

Parallelogram linkages are used to increase the stiffness of manipulators and allow precise control of end-effectors. They help maintain the orientation of connected links when the manipulator changes its position. They are implemented in many palletizing robots connected with binary, ternary and quaternary links through both active and passive joints. This limits the motion of some joints and hence results in relative and negative joint angles when assigning coordinate axes. This study aims to provide a simplified accurate model for manipulators built with parllelogram linkages to ease the kinematics calculations.

Design/methodology/approach

This study introduces a simplified model, replacing each parallelogram linkage with a single (binary) link with an active and a passive joint at the ends. This replacement facilitates countering motion while preserving subsequent link orientations. Validation of kinematics is performed on palletizing manipulators from five different OEMs. The validation of Dobot Magician and ABB IRB1410 was carried out in real time and in their control software. Other robots from ABB, Yaskawa, Kuka and Fanuc were validated using control environments and simulators.

Findings

The proposed model enables the straightforward derivation of forward kinematics and transforms hybrid robots into equivalent serial-link robots. The model demonstrates high accuracy streamlining the derivation of kinematics.

Originality/value

The proposed model facilitates the use of classical methods like the Denavit–Hartenberg procedure with ease. It not only simplifies kinematics derivation but it also helps in robot control and motion planning within the workspace. The approach can also be implemented to simplify the parallelogram linkages of robots with higher degrees of freedom such as the IRB1410.

Details

Industrial Robot: the international journal of robotics research and application, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0143-991X

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 22 August 2023

Feng Shuang, Yang Du, Shaodong Li and Mingqi Chen

This study aims to introduce a multi-configuration, three-finger dexterous hand with integrated high-dimensional sensors and provides an analysis of its design, modeling and…

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to introduce a multi-configuration, three-finger dexterous hand with integrated high-dimensional sensors and provides an analysis of its design, modeling and kinematics.

Design/methodology/approach

A mechanical design scheme of the three-finger dexterous hand with a reconfigurable palm is proposed based on the existing research on dexterous hands. The reconfigurable palm design enables the dexterous hand to achieve four grasping modes to adapt to multiple grasping tasks. To further enhance perception, two six-axis force and torque sensors are integrated into each finger. The forward and inverse kinematics equations of the dexterous hand are derived using the D-H method for kinematics modeling, thus providing a theoretical model for index analysis. The performance is evaluated using three widely applied indicators: workspace, interactivity of fingers and manipulability.

Findings

The results of kinematics analysis show that the proposed hand has excellent dexterity. Additionally, three different experiments are conducted based on the proposed hand. The performance of the dexterous hand is also verified by fingertip force, motion accuracy test, grasping and in-hand manipulation experiments based on Feix taxonomy. The results show that the dexterous hand has good grasping ability, reproducing 82% of the natural movement of the human hand in daily grasping activities and achieving in-hand manipulations such as translation and rotation.

Originality/value

A novel three-finger dexterous hand with multi-configuration and integrated high-dimensional sensors is proposed. It performs better than the previously designed dexterous hand in actual experiments and kinematic performance analysis.

Details

Industrial Robot: the international journal of robotics research and application, vol. 50 no. 6
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0143-991X

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 9 November 2022

Zhicheng Song, Xiang Li, Xiaolong Yang, Yao Li, Linkang Wang and Hongtao Wu

This paper aims to improve the kinematic modeling accuracy of a spatial three-degrees-of-freedom compliant micro-motion parallel mechanism by proposing a modified modeling method…

183

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to improve the kinematic modeling accuracy of a spatial three-degrees-of-freedom compliant micro-motion parallel mechanism by proposing a modified modeling method based on the structural matrix method (SMM).

Design/methodology/approach

This paper analyzes the problem that the torsional compliance equation of the circular notched hinge is no longer applicable because it is subject to bilateral restrained torsion. The torsional compliance equation is modified by introducing the relative length coefficient. The input coupling effect, which is often neglected, is considered in kinematic modeling. The symbolic expression of the input coupling matrix is obtained. Theory, simulation and experimentation are presented to show the validity of the proposed kinematic model.

Findings

The results show that the proposed kinematics model can improve the modeling accuracy by comparing the theoretical, finite element method (FEM) and experimental method.

Originality/value

This work provides a feasible scheme for CMPM kinematics modeling. It can be better applied to the optimization design based on the kinematic model in the future.

Details

Industrial Robot: the international journal of robotics research and application, vol. 50 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0143-991X

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 20 February 2023

Guodong Qin, Qi Wang, Changyang Li, Aihong Ji, Huapeng Wu, Zhikang Yang and Shikun Wen

In large equipment and highly complex confined workspaces, the maintenance is usually carried out by snake-arm robots with equal cross-sections. However, the equal cross-sectional…

272

Abstract

Purpose

In large equipment and highly complex confined workspaces, the maintenance is usually carried out by snake-arm robots with equal cross-sections. However, the equal cross-sectional design results in the snake arm suffering from stress concentration and restricted working space. The purpose of this paper is to design a variable cross-section elephant trunk robot (ETR) that can address these shortcomings through bionic principles.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper proposes a cable-driven ETR to explore the advantages and inspiration of variable cross-section features for hyper-redundant robot design. For the kinematic characteristics, the influence of the variable cross-section design on the maximum joint angle of the ETR is analysed using the control variables method and the structural parameters are selected. Based on the biological inspiration of the whole elephant trunk following the movement of the trunk tip, a trajectory-tracking algorithm is designed to solve the inverse kinematics of the ETR.

Findings

Simulation and test results show the unique advantages of the proposed variable cross-section ETR in kinematics and forces, which can reduce stress concentrations and increase the flexibility of movement.

Originality/value

This paper presents a design method for a variable cross-section ETR for confined working spaces, analyses the kinematic characteristics and develops a targeted trajectory control algorithm.

Details

Industrial Robot: the international journal of robotics research and application, vol. 50 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0143-991X

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 18 January 2024

Zaihua Luo, Juliang Xiao, Sijiang Liu, Mingli Wang, Wei Zhao and Haitao Liu

This paper aims to propose a dynamic parameter identification method based on sensitivity analysis for the 5-degree of freedom (DOF) hybrid robots, to solve the problems of too…

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to propose a dynamic parameter identification method based on sensitivity analysis for the 5-degree of freedom (DOF) hybrid robots, to solve the problems of too many identification parameters, complex model, difficult convergence of optimization algorithms and easy-to-fall into a locally optimal solution, and improve the efficiency and accuracy of dynamic parameter identification.

Design/methodology/approach

First, the dynamic parameter identification model of the 5-DOF hybrid robot was established based on the principle of virtual work. Then, the sensitivity of the parameters to be identified is analyzed by Sobol’s sensitivity method and verified by simulation. Finally, an identification strategy based on sensitivity analysis was designed, experiments were carried out on the real robot and the results were verified.

Findings

Compared with the traditional full-parameter identification method, the dynamic parameter identification method based on sensitivity analysis proposed in this paper converges faster when optimized using the genetic algorithm, and the identified dynamic model has higher prediction accuracy for joint drive forces and torques than the full-parameter identification models.

Originality/value

This work analyzes the sensitivity of the parameters to be identified in the dynamic parameter identification model for the first time. Then a parameter identification method is proposed based on the results of the sensitivity analysis, which can effectively reduce the parameters to be identified, simplify the identification model, accelerate the convergence of the optimization algorithm and improve the prediction accuracy of the identified model for the joint driving forces and torques.

Details

Industrial Robot: the international journal of robotics research and application, vol. 51 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0143-991X

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 3 January 2023

Tri Bien Minh, Hien Vo and Luan Thanh Hua

The main purpose of the study was mechanical designing, simulation and manufacturing process for a new model of octocopter V-frame and to achieve simple manufacturing with 3D…

Abstract

Purpose

The main purpose of the study was mechanical designing, simulation and manufacturing process for a new model of octocopter V-frame and to achieve simple manufacturing with 3D printing technology. Moreover, the octocopter PID controller was simulated on the Simulink environment to get performance on the roll and pitch angle control.

Design/methodology/approach

Octocopter is one kind of multirotor vehicle (a rotorcraft with more than two rotors), that has lately gained a lot of attention for both the scientific and commercial spheres. With a greater number of rotors, the multirotor is very maneuverable and robust. Multi-copter makes an important contribution to the technological revolution in the military, industry, transportation, mapping and especially agriculture. Nowadays, we are heading to the four-industrial revolutions as well as the new technological application in the agricultural field such as precision agriculture, mapping and surveillance. Due to recently advanced technology about sensors, electronics, 3D printing, battery with high performance, multi-copter can be manufactured at low cost.

Findings

The V-frame octocopter was chosen to design in this paper; it had better performance scores including high redundancy rotors, high payload capability and affordable cost than another multi-copter family. The V-frame octocopter increasing freedom field of view of the camera was considered to place the camera position in the front of the drone.

Research limitations/implications

For the future aspects, the mechanical structure of the octocopter could be improved by using more advanced metal 3D printing to produce the aluminum or titan alloy materials for lighter and more rigid compared with ABS material, and finally the assembly to the real test.

Originality/value

The study shows the new platform of the V-frame octocopter kinematics analysis, designed on the CAD software, with some important mechanical parts using FEM analysis to find the highest stress and displacement under high load applied, the result of all connecting the joints 3D printing part is completely safe. Mechanical parts were manufactured by using 3D printing technology and CNC milling. Moreover, the study has shown V-frame octocopter simulation based on Simulink using the second method Ziegler- Nichols to find suitable parameters of the PID controller for roll and pitch angle. Using the block simulation is good for implementing and fast checking the new algorithm when building the new platform of the robot.

Details

International Journal of Intelligent Unmanned Systems, vol. 11 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2049-6427

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 9 August 2023

Yi Sui, Yi Wang and Xiang Yu

The dynamic response of the nuclear power plants (NPPs) with pile foundation reinforcement have not yet been systemically investigated in detail. Thus, there is an urgent need to…

Abstract

Purpose

The dynamic response of the nuclear power plants (NPPs) with pile foundation reinforcement have not yet been systemically investigated in detail. Thus, there is an urgent need to improve evaluation methods for nonlithological foundation reinforcements, as this issue is bound to become an unavoidable task.

Design/methodology/approach

A nonlinear seismic wave input method is adopted to consider both a nonlinear viscoelastic artificial boundary and the nonlinear properties of the overburden layer soil. Subsequently, the effects of certain vital parameters on the structural response are analyzed.

Findings

A suitable range for the size of the overburden foundation is suggested. Then, when piles are used to reinforce the overburden foundation, the peak frequencies in the floor response spectra (FRS) in the horizontal direction becomes higher (38%). Finally, the Poisson ratio of the foundation soil has a significant influence on the FRS peak frequency in the vertical direction (reduce 35%–48%).

Originality/value

The quantifiable results are performed to demonstrate the seismic responses with respect to key design parameters, including foundational dimensions, the Poisson Ratio of the soil and the depth of the foundation. The results can help guide the development of seismic safety requirements for NPPs.

Details

Engineering Computations, vol. 40 no. 6
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0264-4401

Keywords

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