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Based on the investigation of large length measurement and alignment techniques in 3D construction, a laser diode alignment system for boat assembly is presented. In the system, a horizontal laser diode beam and a vertical light plane formed by a rotating pentagonal prism are used as a measuring datum. The system is of low cost, reliable, safe and convenient to be used on‐line in small boatyards with reasonable accuracy. The synthesised error of the system is analysed. The application of the system in boat assembly and some considerations of the system design are described.

The aim of the research is to perform an accurate micromanipulation task, the assembly of a lens system, implementing safe procedures in a flexible microrobot‐based workstation for micromanipulation.

The approach to the micromanipulation research issue consists in designing and building a micromanipulation station based on mobile microrobots, with 5 degrees of freedom and a size of a few cm³, capable of moving and manipulating by the use of tube‐shaped and multilayered piezo‐actuators. Controlled by visual and force/tactile sensor information, the micro‐robot is able to perform manipulation with a motion resolution down to 10 nm in a telemanipulated or semi‐automated mode, thus freeing human operators from the difficult task of handling minuscule objects directly. Equipped with purposely‐developed grippers, the robot can take over high‐precise grasping, transport, manipulation and positioning of mechanical or biological micro‐objects. A computer system using PC‐compatible hardware components ensures the robot operation in real‐time.

The robots and the grippers described in this paper are highly interesting tools. Even if each specific application may require specific modifications, the proposed solution is extremely versatile, due to the ability to manipulate with a very large stroke (being the size of the base the robot works on) with a very high motion resolution. These positive aspects do make the robots very suitable also for working in a scanning electron microscope, for wafer inspection in a laboratory, and so on.

Future work will include modifications to the existing system in order to enhance the flexibility of the workstation: e.g. other robots and other tools with different characteristics will be designed and fabricated. Research efforts will be devoted in particular to further miniaturization of the actuators.

This workstation can be used as a platform for assembling novel prototypes, and as a test bench for testing new assembly procedures or new products, e.g. the lens assembly procedure described in this work, even if not suitable for mass production, was useful to assess the performance of the two‐lenses assembly system itself, compared to standard systems with just one lens.

The system proves that the development of mobile micro‐robots is a promising approach to realise very small and flexible tools useful for different applications. By means of its intuitive teleoperation mode, the system enables the user to work in the micro‐world; due to the force feedback the user is almost immersed into the micro‐world and gets a sense for the handled object.

This paper aims to investigate the effect of misalignment on wear of spur gears and on oil degradation using online sensors.

The misalignment effect on gears is created through a self-alignment bearing, and is measured using laser alignment system. Several online sensors such as Fe-concentration sensor, moisture sensor, oil condition sensor, oil temperature sensor and metallic particle sensor are installed in the gear test rig to monitor lubricant quality and wear debris in real time to assess gearbox failure.

Offset and angular misalignments are detected in both vertical and horizontal planes. The failure of misaligned gear is observed at both the ends and on both the surfaces of the gear teeth. Larger-size ferrous and non-ferrous particles are traced by metallic particle sensor due to gear and seal wear caused by misalignment. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) images examine chuck, spherical and flat platelet particles, and confirm the presence of fatigue (pitting) and adhesion (scuffing) wear mechanism. Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy analysis of SEM particles traces carbon (C) and iron (Fe) elements due to gear failure.

Gear misalignment is one of the major causes of gearbox failure and the lubricant analysis is as important as wear debris analysis. A reliable online gearbox condition monitoring system is developed by integrating wear and oil analyses for misaligned spur gear pair in contact.

Technical means now exist to monitor, predict a danger and issue early warnings when something devastating is estimated to happen in the human environment. In order to adapt such means for the benefit of humanity, existing monitoring methods, basic system design principles and natural short and long environmental transformations were investigated. Finally an integrated automatic system for deformation monitoring and surveying of the Chernobyl disaster area, was proposed. The conclusion was that airborne remote sensing including GPS and photogrammetry can be considered the optimum solution.

Presents a summary of research which is currently being conducted at Monash University ‐ Gippsland Campus. The research aims at the automation of coal harvesting at a major Australian open cut mine. This mine is located at Morwell, Victoria and produces brown coal (lignite). The coal from this mine contributes significantly to the power generation in Victoria. The research aims to provide a computer assisted remote operation of mining machines and services. Also, this research aims at developing an intelligent unmanned mining system using robotics technology. Also discusses the method of robotizing such a mine for maximum economic efficiency and the proposed control configuration for the system. Describes the current automation project, which is to achieve the required alignment between the robotized mining machine and the hopper by employing a reactive/adaptive fuzzy control system for maximum economic efficiency.

Antenna and electric field probe calibration requires precise positioning and movement throughout a known RF field. Measurements are usually made in an anechoic chamber. A robotic six‐axis antenna positioner was needed that would work in this environment at NIST. Discusses NIST’s vendor‐selection process for the new positioner and how the positioner has enhanced their capabilities. Also chronicles the design, technical challenges and manufacture of the positioner by Mek‐A‐Nize Engineering & Robotics, Inc., the vendor selected by NIST to provide the turnkey robotic antenna positioner.

The European defence industry has changed considerably since the late 1980s. The end of the Cold War required the industry to undertake major restructuring, especially when governments, expecting to reap a “peace dividend,” drastically cut procurement spending. In the early 2000s this restructuring was also influenced by the new context of international security, even though defence budgets have started to increase again since 1998. The European defence industry could not expect to escape from a radical transformation, beyond the specific crisis engendered by the end of the Cold War.