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1 – 10 of 42Wenbin Xu, Xudong Li, Liang Gong, Yixiang Huang, Zeyuan Zheng, Zelin Zhao, Lujie Zhao, Binhao Chen, Haozhe Yang, Li Cao and Chengliang Liu
This paper aims to present a human-in-the-loop natural teaching paradigm based on scene-motion cross-modal perception, which facilitates the manipulation intelligence and robot…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to present a human-in-the-loop natural teaching paradigm based on scene-motion cross-modal perception, which facilitates the manipulation intelligence and robot teleoperation.
Design/methodology/approach
The proposed natural teaching paradigm is used to telemanipulate a life-size humanoid robot in response to a complicated working scenario. First, a vision sensor is used to project mission scenes onto virtual reality glasses for human-in-the-loop reactions. Second, motion capture system is established to retarget eye-body synergic movements to a skeletal model. Third, real-time data transfer is realized through publish-subscribe messaging mechanism in robot operating system. Next, joint angles are computed through a fast mapping algorithm and sent to a slave controller through a serial port. Finally, visualization terminals render it convenient to make comparisons between two motion systems.
Findings
Experimentation in various industrial mission scenes, such as approaching flanges, shows the numerous advantages brought by natural teaching, including being real-time, high accuracy, repeatability and dexterity.
Originality/value
The proposed paradigm realizes the natural cross-modal combination of perception information and enhances the working capacity and flexibility of industrial robots, paving a new way for effective robot teaching and autonomous learning.
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Keywords
Abstract
Purpose
Clothing is subject to a dynamic thermal transport process in its routine service in which the apparel and human body together with environment interact with each other. Understanding of the thermal transfer in this case should take the variations of human body and environment together with clothing attributes into consideration. The paper aims to discuss these issues.
Design/methodology/approach
Based on the purpose-built dynamic thermal and moisture tester, this study focuses on the thermal transfer of fabrics in different rotational motions. The energy consumption and power of the simulated human skin, the temperature and the thermal retention rate were monitored in the process of rotation of the testing platform with gradually increased rotating speed.
Findings
It has been found that the thermal transfer of a rotating fabric is greatly affected by the rotating speed, the angle of the fabric toward the moving direction and the attributes of the fabric such as its thickness, layers, structure and its fiber composition.
Practical implications
This study will benefit the understanding of the dynamic thermal interaction of human with the environment, and the designing of clothing with excellent thermal comfort.
Originality/value
This work reveals the dynamic thermal transfer of fabrics in rotational motions. It provides a platform to study the dynamic thermal behavior of clothing in daily use.
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Du-Xin Liu, Xinyu Wu, Wenbin Du, Can Wang, Chunjie Chen and Tiantian Xu
The purpose of this paper is to model and predict suitable gait trajectories of lower-limb exoskeleton for wearer during rehabilitation walking. Lower-limb exoskeleton is widely…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to model and predict suitable gait trajectories of lower-limb exoskeleton for wearer during rehabilitation walking. Lower-limb exoskeleton is widely used for assisting walk in rehabilitation field. One key problem for exoskeleton control is to model and predict suitable gait trajectories for wearer.
Design/methodology/approach
In this paper, the authors propose a Deep Spatial-Temporal Model (DSTM) for generating knee joint trajectory of lower-limb exoskeleton, which first leverages Long-Short Term Memory framework to learn the inherent spatial-temporal correlations of gait features.
Findings
With DSTM, the pathological knee joint trajectories can be predicted based on subject’s other joints. The energy expenditure is adopted for verifying the effectiveness of new recovery gait pattern by monitoring dynamic heart rate. The experimental results demonstrate that the subjects have less energy expenditure in new recovery gait pattern than in others’ normal gait patterns, which also means the new recovery gait is more suitable for subject.
Originality/value
Long-Short Term Memory framework is first used for modeling rehabilitation gait, and the deep spatial–temporal relationships between joints of gait data can obtained successfully.
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Keywords
Huiyi Xu, Zhiming Gao, Yang Yang and Wenbin Hu
The purpose of this study is to ensure the safe use of carbon fiber composite pressure vessels in the nuclear industry environment.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to ensure the safe use of carbon fiber composite pressure vessels in the nuclear industry environment.
Design/methodology/approach
This study investigated the degradation behaviors of carbon fiber reinforced composite (CFRP) using the specific corrosive media HF solution, with a focus on the damage to the surface epoxy layer. The degradation behaviors of CFRP in HF solution were examined by electrochemical methods and surface characterization, using HCl, NaCl and NaF solution for comparison.
Findings
The results showed that the specimen in HF solution will have a value of |Z|0.01 Hz one order of magnitude lower, a substantially lower contact angle, more breakage of the surface epoxy and the stronger O─H peak and weaker C─O─C peak in the Fourier transform infrared spectrum, indicating severe hydrolytic damage to the surface epoxy.
Originality/value
The work focuses on the degradation damage to CFRP surface epoxy by specific corrosive media HF.
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Wenbin Ni and Hongyi Sun
This study aims to examine the trustworthiness of internet-based quality signals (specifically webpages and before-sale services) from the perspective of interactivity by…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to examine the trustworthiness of internet-based quality signals (specifically webpages and before-sale services) from the perspective of interactivity by evaluating the associations between on-line signals of product quality and the off-line perceived quality of actual products.
Design/methodology/approach
Empirical data are collected from 261 Chinese female university students. Partial least squares structural equation modelling is used to test the conceptual model.
Findings
Both webpages and before-sale services are positively associated with off-line perceived quality, but only the quality of before-sale service has a direct association with customer satisfaction. Webpages and before-sale services are both trustworthy signals for indicating the quality of physical products; however, these signals provide different levels of trustworthiness.
Research limitations/implications
The interactivity perspective supplements information-economics theory in examining the trustworthiness of internet-based signals. A signal is a trustworthy indicator only if customers perceive a close relationship between the quality of the signal and the actual product quality.
Practical implications
On-line sellers should improve the reciprocity and controllability of communications from a buyer’s perspective and should pay more attention to the strategic role of on-line communication for improving customer service.
Originality/value
Researchers have evaluated the trustworthiness of on-line quality signals from an information-economics perspective. This study extends these previous studies by addressing the perspective of interactivity. Two types of product-quality signals, including webpages and before-sale services, are assessed in terms of their trustworthiness by examining how these signals relate to off-line perceived quality and customer satisfaction.
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Xin Wang, Weilin Xu, Weigang Cui, Wenbin Li and Xungai Wang
Fibers based regenerated protein draw much attention for recycling discarded protein resources and can produce biodegradable and environmental friendly polymers. In this study…
Abstract
Fibers based regenerated protein draw much attention for recycling discarded protein resources and can produce biodegradable and environmental friendly polymers. In this study, superfine wool powder is blended with polypropylene (PP) to produce wool powder/PP blend film through extrusion and hot-pressing. Hydrogen peroxide is used to bleach the black colored surface of the blend films. The effects of peroxide concentration, bleaching time and powder content on the final whiteness and mechanical properties of the blend films are investigated.
The bleached films are dyed with acid red dyes and the dyed color is evaluated using a Computer Color Matching System. Color characters of dyed films, such as L*, a*, b*, ΔE*ab, C*ab and K/S values are measured and analyzed. The study not only reuses discarded wool resources into organic powder, widens the application of superfine wool powder on polymers, but also improves the dyeing properties of PP through the addition of protein content.
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Weigang Cui, Xin Wang, Wenbin Li and Weilin Xu
The purpose of this paper is to present a dynamic analysis on the thermal and electrical properties of fabrics under wet conditions.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to present a dynamic analysis on the thermal and electrical properties of fabrics under wet conditions.
Design/methodology/approach
A purpose‐built apparatus is applied to test the thermal and electrical properties of textiles in moisture absorption and liberation process. Relation between temperature and resistance of a cotton/polyester double‐layer fabric is also analysed.
Findings
The surface temperature of textiles shows three different stages in the process. The electrical resistance is linearly related to the reciprocal of the moisture regain of fabrics. In the moisture absorption and liberation process, surface temperature of cotton layer is higher than that of polyester layer. And the electrical resistance of cotton layer decreases more quickly than that of polyester layer. The electrical resistance changes earlier than surface temperature in the moisture‐liberation process.
Practical implications
The paper is helpful in not only the designing of sportswear, but also the devising of moisture‐testing apparatus.
Originality/value
A dynamic testing method is applied to characterize the thermal and electrical properties of textiles.
Details
Keywords
Jun Hu, Wenbin Long, Xianzhong Song and Taijie Tang
Due to environmental externalities, micro-enterprises with profit-seeking features do not develop sufficient motivation for environmental governance. In a fiscally decentralized…
Abstract
Purpose
Due to environmental externalities, micro-enterprises with profit-seeking features do not develop sufficient motivation for environmental governance. In a fiscally decentralized system, local environmental protection authorities perform environmental supervision, and the intensity of the regulations that they implement has an important influence on corporate environmental governance. Based on the promotion tournament framework, this paper aims to discuss the driving mechanism of corporate environmental governance using turnover of environmental protection department directors (EPDDs) as an indicator.
Design/methodology/approach
Using samples of A-share companies listed on the Shanghai and Shenzhen exchanges from 2007 to 2014, this paper examines the impact of EPDD turnover on corporate environmental governance and its underlying mechanism.
Findings
The results show that corporate environmental governance exhibits a political periodicity that changes with the turnover of the EPDD, and the periodicity remains after controlling for the influence of changes in provincial party secretary and governor. Internal mechanisms analysis indicates that, without financial independence, local environmental protection departments rely on increasing sewage charges, not environmental protection subsidies, to promote corporate environmental governance. Further, considering heterogeneity among officials, it finds that the younger a new EPDD is, the more pronounced the periodicity of corporate environmental governance. However, there is no significant difference between in-system and out-system turnover.
Originality/value
In general, this paper describes the mechanisms of corporate environmental governance from the perspective of political economics, and the results have implications for the potential improvement of the government’s environmental supervision functions and the development of ecological civilization in China.
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Keywords
Jiayuan Han, Lingcheng Kong, Wenbin Wang and Jiqing Xie
A public emission reduction project offers saleable carbon credits to encourage individual residents to participate in activities with low carbon emissions: if the residents…
Abstract
Purpose
A public emission reduction project offers saleable carbon credits to encourage individual residents to participate in activities with low carbon emissions: if the residents participate, they will earn carbon credits that can be sold to polluting firms for carbon offsetting. This study explores the economic and environmental implications of these projects.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors develop a multiperiod model to incorporate the decisions of individual residents and a polluting firm. The model captures residents' difference in estimating the price of carbon credits: A proportion of residents are naive residents who shortsightedly take the previous market price of carbon credits as the basis of their decision-making.
Findings
A public emission reduction project can improve the cost-efficiency of carbon reduction, increase both the profit of the polluting firm and consumer surplus, but may hurt the welfare of the participating residents. Reducing transaction costs of carbon credits may cause a greater loss to participating residents. As the ratio of naive residents decreases, the overall welfare of participating residents increases and the number of participating residents decreases.
Practical implications
To encourage more residents to reduce carbon emissions, the project should be promoted to new areas (e.g. rural areas) where there are more naive residents. Although reducing transaction costs is an effective way to increase the economic viability of the project, the government should pay attention to protecting the welfare of residents, and educating residents is an effective way to improve their overall welfare.
Originality/value
This paper is the first to reveal the economic and environmental implications of public emission reduction projects.
Details
Keywords
Wenbin Li, Peiqing Jiang, Xin Wang, GaoWen Li and Weilin Xu
In this study, a novel dynamic testing method was established to measure the moisture variation of fabric surface during the process of moisture liberation in simulated windy…
Abstract
Purpose
In this study, a novel dynamic testing method was established to measure the moisture variation of fabric surface during the process of moisture liberation in simulated windy condition. The paper aims to discuss these issues
Design/methodology/approach
In this method, the samples were rotating during the test process so as to simulate the external windy environment. Effects of simulated wind speed, moisture regains and fabric materials on the surface moisture of fabric were investigated.
Findings
Experimental results showed that the surface moisture presented a trapezoidal moisture liberation curve, it increased at first, then kept stable for a while, and decreased finally with the increase of time. It took longer time for the fabric to complete the liberation process when the moisture regain of the fabric increased or the simulated wind speed decreased. The fiber materials of the fabric affected the time for the moisture liberation process under a specific windy condition.
Practical implications
This study will benefit the designing and development of clothing such as sportswear.
Originality/value
A dynamic testing method was proposed to characterize the surface humidity of textiles under simulated windy conditions.
Details