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In precision robotic assembly visual sensing techniques have been widely used since they can detect large misalignments and also part's shape at a distance. Develops two novel visual sensing methodologies.

Both systems consist of four components: an inside mirror and an outside mirror, a pair of plane mirrors and a camera with a collecting lens. The difference between the two is that system A adopts a pyramidal mirror configuration, while system B employs a conic one. Owing to this configuration difference, system A can detect three‐dimensional measurements of objects with only one image capture, while in addition to this functionality system B is shown to be capable of detecting two omni‐directional image. The measurement principles are described in detail and compared with each other.

The image acquiring process is shown to easily detect the in situ status of each assembly action, while the recognition method is found to be effective to identify instantaneous misalignment between the peg and the hole. The results obtained from a series of experiments show that the proposed visual sensing methods are an effective means of detecting misalignment between mating parts even in the presence of self‐occlusion.

The proposed sensing methods will dramatically increase the rate of success when actually utilized in assembly processes.

Describes the development of two novel visual sensing methodologies.

The purpose of this paper is to present the need, and a potential solution, for in‐plane routing of optical signals for optical‐enabled circuit boards.

Multimode waveguides and integrated 45° in‐plane mirror structures were made in a low loss acrylate‐based photopolymer using excimer laser ablation. The fabrication of multimode waveguides and mirrors was carried out in a single laser system which minimised alignment issues.

It was established that in‐plane mirror fabrication using laser ablation can be achieved and can potentially be used to define mirrors in waveguides made by other methods such as photolithography.

While the concept (integrated in‐plane mirror) was demonstrated, the viability of its deployment will depend on the results of optical loss measurements for which further research is required.

The paper gives an overview of the design concept and fabrication steps for an in‐plane embedded mirror.

This paper aims to develop a robotic mirror therapy system for lower limb rehabilitation, which is applicable for different patients with individual movement disability levels.

This paper puts forward a novel system that includes a four-degree-of-freedom sitting/lying lower limb rehabilitation robot and a wireless motion data acquisition system based on mirror therapy principle. The magnetorheological (MR) actuators are designed and manufactured, whose characteristics are detected theoretically and experimentally. The passive training control strategy is proposed, and the trajectory tracking experiments verify its feasibility. Also, the active training controller that is adapt to the human motor ability is designed and evaluated by the comparison experiments.

The MR actuators produce continuously variable and compliant torque for robotic joints by adjusting excitation current. The reference limb joint position data collected by the wireless motion data acquisition system can be used as the motion trajectory of the robot to drive the affected limb. The passive training strategy based on proportional-integral control proves to have great trajectory tracking performance through experiments. In the active training mode, by comparing the real-time parameters adjustment in two phases, it is certified that the proposed fuzzy-based regulated impedance controller can adjust assistance torque according to the motor ability of the affected limb.

The system developed in this paper fulfills the needs of robot-assisted mirror therapy for hemiplegic patients.

The purpose of this paper is to present a fully automatic calibration method for hand-eye serial robot system is presented in this paper. The so-called “fully automatic” is meant to calibrate the robot body, the hand-eye relation, and the used measuring binocular system at the same time.

The calibration is done by controlling the joints to rotate several times one by one in the reverse order (i.e. from the last one to the first one), and simultaneously take pictures of the checkerboard patterns by the stereo camera system attached on the end-effector, then the whole robot system can be calibrated automatically from these captured images. In addition, a nonlinear optimization step is used to further refine the calibration results.

The proposed method is essentially based on an improved screw axis identification method, and it needs only a mirror and some paper checkerboard patterns without resorting to any additional costly measuring instrument.

Simulations and real experiments on MOTOMAN-UP6 robot system demonstrate the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed method.

Although Kirkpatrick’s four‐level evaluation system is universally renowned, virtually no organization implements it. Describes a model that would suit all organizations by mirroring Kirkpatrick’s system, z i.e. working backwards from level 4 to level 1 and then from level 1 back to level 4. Concludes by suggesting that this model should make the individual more business focused and should provide efficient and effective training throughout any organization.

IT was announced recently that Thorn Electrical Industries have been awarded a two‐year contract by the Air Ministry to supply all Royal Air Force airfields, in Britain and overseas, with the R.A.E.‐Thorn Visual Approach Slope Indicator. This follows orders for the system from civil airports in Britain, continental Europe, America and Africa, as well as for North Atlantic Treaty Organization and United States Air Force airfields in Europe. The Visual Approach Slope Indicator has been installed so far at approximately 60 airfields.

Outlines preliminary results from a survey into retail security methods employed by retailers in central Dundee, and forms part of ongoing research into retail crime in this city being undertaken on a joint basis by the University of Abertay Dundee, and Tayside Police. Considers it to be the first survey of this type undertaken at such a local level in the UK. Concentrates on the types of physical and procedural security method employed, their perceived effectiveness from a managerial viewpoint, and which of the alternative security methods retail managers would utilize if they were given a free choice by their employers.

The paper aims to present a framework for integrating the concepts of business continuity and business resilience with the aim of developing a concept of always-on business.

Literature review, conceptual and case-based.

A conceptual model for integrated “always-on business” solution based on continuous comouting technologies, business continuity, disaster recovery, IT/business resilience and several organational frameworks.

Presented framework can be used for integrating business continuity and business resilience in modern digital age; and transforming business systems into “always-on business”.

In the last installment of this series on network resources, we took a look at some of the services available across the Internet via remote log‐on. In this article, we will consider the vast array of resources that are available today as a result of a form of service known as the anonymous FTP server.