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This paper aims to imitate a cownose ray to develop a fish robot with paired flexible multi-fin-ray oscillating pectoral fins (OPFs) and control it to accomplish vivid stable 3-D motions using central pattern generators (CPGs) and fuzzy algorithm.

The cownose ray’s asymmetric sine-like oscillations were analyzed. Then a cownose-ray-like fish robot named Robo-ray was developed, which has paired flexible multi-fin-ray OPFs to actively control the fin shape and two tail fins to control the depth. To solve the problem of coordinated control for multi-degree-of-freedom Robo-ray, CPGs were adopted. An improved phase oscillator as a CPG unit with controlled amplitude, phase lag, smooth frequency transition and asymmetric oscillation characteristic was established. Furthermore, the CPG-fuzzy algorithm was developed for vivid stable 3-D motions. The open-loop speed control, the closed-loop control of depth and yaw were established.

The kinematic comparisons indicate that Robo-ray imitates the cownose ray realistically. The experimental results of closed-loop are obtained that the depth error of Robo-ray is less than ±100 mm and the course error is less than ±3°. Furthermore, the comprehensive experiments demonstrate that Robo-ray has high mobility, stability and robustness.

This research makes the fish robot with OPF propulsion closer to practical applications in complex underwater environment, for instance, ocean explorations, water quality monitoring and stealth military reconnaissance. In addition, Robo-ray can be taken as a scientific tool for better understanding of the hydrodynamics of OPF batoid.

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effect of water content of assembly solution on the adsorption behavior and corrosion protection performance of 1–tetradecylphosphonic acid [TDPA, CH3(CH2)13P(O)(OH)2] films on aluminum alloy surface in NaCl solution.

Self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) of TDPA were prepared on the 2024 aluminum alloy surface in TDPA containing ethanol-water solutions with different water contents. The adsorption behavior of the SAMs on the alloy surface and their corrosion protection properties in a 3.5 per cent NaCl solution were characterized by potentiodynamic polarization scan, Fourier-transformed infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and atomic force microscopy (AFM).

The FTIR results demonstrated that the TDPA molecules were successfully adsorbed on the 2024 aluminum alloy surface, and the density of the SAMs increased with the increasing water content in the assembly solution. The electrochemical studies and corrosion morphologies observed by AFM showed that the optimal condition is 2 h of assembling in solution B or solution C. The corrosion inhibition efficiency values follow the order solution B ≈ solution C > solution A at the first 2 h assembly and solution B > solution C > solution A while the assembly time exceeded 2 h. The dependence of corrosion inhibition performance of the SAM on the water content and on the assembly time is related to the balancing of competition between TDPA adsorption and dissolution of the alloy oxidation film.

It illustrates potential application prospects of TDPA for surface treatment of aluminum alloy. Via the comparison with our previous work, this paper provides useful information regarding the difference of corrosion inhibition properties of organic phosphonic acid for aluminum alloy between in neutral and in acid solution.

Knowledge governance is an organizational mechanism that formally and informally defines how the firm manages the activities related knowledge, thus it has a significant influence on knowledge sharing. The purpose of this study is to analyze the impact of knowledge governance, including formal and informal knowledge governance, on knowledge sharing. Further, the authors examine the mediating role of guanxi effect between knowledge governance and knowledge sharing.

Based upon their research, the authors chose to use the logic deduction approach for hypotheses and analytical frameworks. Questionnaires and interviews were used to collect data from 339 employees in 39 Chinese strategic emerging firms. Finally, regression analysis and structure equation models by SPSS AMOS were used for data analysis and hypotheses testing.

This study points to the impact that knowledge governance bears upon knowledge sharing based on the mediation of guanxi effect in China. The results first show that knowledge governance, including formal and informal knowledge governance, plays a key role in knowledge sharing; second, that guanxi effect partly mediates between informal knowledge governance and knowledge sharing; thirdly, guanxi effect plays a whole mediating role between formal knowledge governance and knowledge sharing.

This study presents a framework for Chinese strategic emerging industries to better comprehend the impact of knowledge governance upon knowledge sharing and thus enhance their firm's guanxi networks to maximize economic and social benefit. The managerial implications are that firms should strengthen knowledge governance to promote employee knowledge sharing and infuse a more harmonious atmosphere to strengthen the positive effects of guanxi among employees. Ultimately, Chinese firms must consider and encourage the benefits of the guanxi effect. This study only investigated 339 employees in 39 organizations located in central China. It is limited by employees' cognition. In further research, the authors will identify more samples and develop a large‐scale questionnaire to explore these impacts in more detail and thus enhance their current research.

It is the first attempt in China to systematically investigate the impact of knowledge governance on knowledge sharing based on the mediation of guanxi effect. The results provide a theoretical and methodological contribution to the study of knowledge governance and can thus improve managerial practice in an era of knowledge‐based economies.

Given the changing role of patents within enterprises, this research aims to investigate the link between patent management and technological innovation performance in Chinese high‐tech enterprises. Also, from theoretical underpinnings this study highlights the managerial implications of effective patent management which will lead to enhanced technological innovation performance.

Hypotheses related to patent management and technological innovation performance in Chinese high‐tech enterprises have been developed based on a review of the literature and related field interviews. Data has been collected from 118 high‐tech enterprises using questionnaires and analyzed using regression and SEM analysis.

Patent acquisition has a positive impact on both protection and commercialization of patents. Considered together, the combination of patent acquisition and commercialization has a positive impact on technological innovation performance in high‐tech enterprises. While patent protection positively affects patent commercialization, it has no direct effect on economic or societal performance. Therefore, the key factors to enhance the link between patent management and technological innovation performance of Chinese high‐tech enterprises are effective patent acquisition and subsequent commercialization.

From a resource‐based view, this paper delineates the concept of patent management and validates the link between patent management and technological innovation performance. To the authors' knowledge, it is a relatively new perspective to explore patent management based on a micro‐level.

Knowledge governance is an organizational mechanism that formally and informally defines how the firm manages the activities related knowledge, thus it plays a significant influence on knowledge sharing. The purpose of this study is to analyze the impact of knowledge governance, including formal and informal knowledge governance, on knowledge sharing. Then the paper examines the mediating role of the guanxi effect on knowledge governance and knowledge sharing.

Based upon this research, the authors chose to use the logical deductive approach for their hypotheses and analytical frameworks. Questionnaires and interviews were used to collect data from 339 employees in 39 Chinese strategic emerging firms. Finally, regression analysis and structure equation models (SPSS and AMOS) were used for data analysis and hypotheses testing.

This study points to the impact that knowledge governance has on knowledge sharing based on the mediation of the guanxi effect in China. The results first show that knowledge governance, including formal and informal knowledge governance, plays a key role in knowledge sharing; second, that the guanxi effect partly mediates between informal knowledge governance and knowledge sharing; third, the guanxi effect plays a significant mediating role between formal knowledge governance and knowledge sharing.

This study presents a framework for Chinese strategic emerging industries to better understand the impact of knowledge governance upon knowledge sharing and thus enhance their firm's guanxi networks to maximize economic and social benefits. The managerial implications are that firms should strengthen knowledge governance to promote employee knowledge sharing and infuse a more harmonious atmosphere to strengthen the positive effects of guanxi among employees. Ultimately, Chinese firms must consider and encourage the benefits of the guanxi effect. This study only investigated 339 employees in 39 organizations located in the central China. It is limited by employees' cognition. In further research, the authors will identify more samples and develop a large‐scale questionnaire to explore these impacts in more detail and thus enhance their current research.

It is the first attempt in China to systematically investigate the impact of knowledge governance on knowledge sharing based on the mediation of the guanxi effect. The results provide a theoretical and methodological contribution to the study of knowledge governance and can thus improve managerial practice in an era of knowledge‐based economies.

The purpose of this paper is to explore fuzzy front end (FFE) of new product development (NPD) in Japanese manufacturing companies and report on the key factors for success with regard to the front end activities of NPD.

On the basis of the literature review, the authors lay out an analytical framework and hypothesis and develop and test a causal model of relationships among key variables relating to the front end factors and success. The causal model is tested with AMOS using information from 513 completed NPD projects from Japanese manufacturing companies.

The results of this study are summarized as follows: first, the more both market and technical uncertainties are reduced during the front end, the higher is the effectiveness of NPD projects. Second, the more intensively new projects are planned prior to the start of development, the more both market and technical uncertainties are reduced. Finally, in the industry goods firms, it is easy for managers to develop the initial planning, and it has a greater impact on reduction of market uncertainty compared to the consumer goods firms.

First, it is the scope and size of the sample. Our research mainly focuses on the precision apparatus, chemical and material products, electronic products, food processing and pharmaceutical industry in Japan. Second, the research concentrates less on the interaction between initial planning, planning changes and process management style.

The paper provides several insights that will help managers to improve the success of their NPD activities.

The paper provides additional evidence regarding the strong positive effect of FFE activities on NPD success. The model presented enhances understanding of the dynamics of the FFE.

The purpose of this paper is to understand different institutional mechanisms for promoting effective innovation diffusion and maximizing spillovers from fruitfulness of university‐industry linkages.

The approach involved the content analysis of university documents and in‐depth interviews with university personnel. The paper investigated the types of changes which had been instituted by selected universities in regards to the management of invention disclosure and patent licensing procedures, policies for new business startups by faculty and graduates. The paper then studies how university incentive structures have been reshaped to encourage and facilitate engagement with industry.

The types of changes have been instituted by select universities enhance research commercialization capacity in regards to the management of invention disclosure and patent licensing, policies for new business startups by faculty and graduates, and provision of seed capital, training and incubator facilities, especially the relationship between technology transfer offices and university administration, as well as faculty; how university incentive structure has been reshaped to encourage and facilitate engagement with industry; how gross royalties and/or net royalty income are distributed between university and faculty.

This paper describes the important role of institutional underpinnings for building commercial linkages. It also explores what university policies and institutions shape the nature and fruitfulness of innovation diffusion in China.

This paper aims to develop a robofish with oscillating pectoral fins, and control it to mimic the bionic prototype by central pattern generators (CPGs).

First, the oscillation characteristics of the cownose ray were analyzed quantitatively. Second, a robofish with multi-joint pectoral fins was developed according to the bionic morphology and kinematics. Third, the improved phase oscillator was established, which contains a spatial asymmetric coefficient and a temporal asymmetric coefficient. Moreover, the CPG network is created to mimic the cownose ray and accomplish three-dimensional (3D) motions. Finally, the experiments were done to test the authors ' works.

The results demonstrate that the CPGs is effective to control the robofish to imitate the cownose ray realistically. In addition, the robofish is able to accomplish 3D motions of high maneuverability, and change among different swimming modes quickly and smoothly.

The research provides the method to develop a robofish from both 3D morphology and kinematics. The motion analysis and CPG control make sure that the robofish has the features of high maneuverability and camouflage. It is useful for military underwater applications and underwater detections in narrow environments. Second, this work lays the foundation for the autonomous 3D control. Moreover, the robotic fish can be taken as a scientific tool for the fluid bionics research.

Knowledge is recognized to be a key asset to achieve the strategic objectives of an organization. To that end, it is necessary to count on governance mechanisms that ensure the alignment between the knowledge resources and processes and the business strategy. Given that knowledge management is often performed by project management offices (PMOs), the purpose of this paper is to explore if the dimensions for PMOs governance suggested in the literature are also valid for knowledge governance and what problems do exist.

This research has been done using case study methodology. A large complex project in the IT industry was deeply analyzed. This project brings together most of the elements that can be found in current organizational contexts (e.g. geographical dispersed project teams, multicultural environment, technical complexity, etc.), thus reinforcing the applicability of the results obtained.

The study findings indicate that knowledge flows between PMOs take place along the dimensions defined for PMO governance, thus confirming the suitability of those dimensions also for the governance of knowledge. This research also validates the connection between the barriers to knowledge sharing and the knowledge governance mechanisms, and provides empirical evidence of the importance of informal knowledge governance to foster knowledge sharing behaviors. This is of key importance to overcome daily operational issues. The observations made are, in fact, valuable lessons learnt for future projects and a valuable input for further research.

This study explores the similarities between PMOs governance and knowledge governance in multi-PMO settings on the basis of a case study, thus contributing additional empirical data to the literature. Previous work with this approach has not been found.