Airbag Research Articles

A multimodal continuum robot constructed using three stable state characteristics of Kresling origami

Abstract Inspired by the Kresling origami structure and its three stable state characteristics, a novel multimodal continuum robot (MCR) has been proposed in this paper, which achieve its own movement through gas-driven and actively elastic deformed Kresling origami. Air bags are utilized to auxiliary drive in this paper, which make the specific plane of origami unit transform from first stable state to third stable state. The high stiffness of third stable state endows the origami unit better carrying capacity and more motion characteristics, the driving force of the central chamber and selective expansion of air bags enable the multimodal motion of MCR. The theoretical model of MCR and three stable state characteristics of Kresling origami are established to predict and control the behavior of actuator. The experimental results of MCR prototype demonstrate the high carrying capacity of proposed origami unit, the feasibility and high accuracy of multimodal motion. The designing concept of this paper improves the ability of continuum robots to perform complex tasks and promotes the development of origami structures in the field of robotics.

Classification of Sleeping Position Using Enhanced Stacking Ensemble Learning.

Sleep position recognition plays a crucial role in enhancing individual sleep quality and addressing sleep-related disorders. However, the conventional non-invasive technology for recognizing sleep positions tends to be limited in its widespread application due to high production and computing costs. To address this issue, an enhanced stacking model is proposed based on a specific air bag mattress. Firstly, the hyperparameters of the candidate base model are optimized using the Bayesian optimization algorithm. Subsequently, the entropy weight method is employed to select extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost), support vector machine (SVM), and deep neural decision tree (DNDT) as the first layer of the enhanced stacking model, with logistic regression serving as the meta-learner in the second layer. Comparative analysis with existing machine learning techniques demonstrates that the proposed enhanced stacking model achieves higher classification accuracy and applicability.

Physical model case study: treatment effect of soft ground by vacuum preloading combined with liquid bag pressurization method

Vacuum preloading and composite ground reinforcement are commonly used methods for reinforcing soft soil, but there is a lack of integrated design method for vacuum preloading combined with composite ground. This case study introduces an innovative approach that combines vacuum preloading with liquid bag pressurization to achieve the integrated design of consolidation drainage method and composite ground reinforcement, which is different from the reported air bag pressurization. To illustrate the effectiveness of this method. Model tests were carried out to analyze the variation of water discharge, pore water pressure, ground settlement, and average consolidation degree in the process of vacuum consolidation. The study investigated the water content, undrained shear strength, and ground bearing capacity of composite ground after ground treatment. A correlation between average undrained shear strength and characteristic value of ground-bearing capacity was established to evaluate and predict the treatment effect of composite ground. Research shows that compared with traditional vacuum preloading, the undrained shear strength can be increased by 13.78%–65.08%, and the characteristic value of bearing capacity for the composite ground can be enlarged by 2.3–4 times. These results indicate that the vacuum preloading combined with liquid bag pressurization can significantly improve reinforcement effect on soft ground.

Design of Underwater Compressed Air Flexible Airbag Energy Storage Device and Experimental Study of Physical Model in Pool

Renewable energy is a prominent area of research within the energy sector, and the storage of renewable energy represents an efficient method for its utilization. There are various energy storage methods available, among which compressed air energy storage stands out due to its large capacity and cost-effective working medium. While land-based compressed air energy storage power stations have been constructed worldwide, their efficiency remains low. Underwater compressed air energy storage has the potential to significantly enhance efficiency, although no such device currently exists. This paper presents the design of an UWCA-FABESD utilizing five flexible air bags for underwater gas storage and discharge. Additionally, it introduces the working principle of the adiabatic underwater compressed air energy storage system and device. Furthermore, a small-scale physical model with similar functionality was designed and manufactured to simulate the charging process of the air bag in onshore charging and discharging tests as well as posture adjustment and lifting arrangement tests, along with underwater charging and discharging tests. These experiments validated the related functions of the designed underwater compressed air flexible bag energy storage device while proposing methods for its improvement. This research provides a new approach to underwater compressed air energy storage.

Soft robotic fingers with sensorized pre-charged finger pulp

Pneumatically driven soft actuators with sensors have been developing rapidly these years. They can perceive external stimulus and be applied to different scenarios. In this study, we present a novel soft robotic finger with sensorized finger pulp based on sealing a flexible fabric piezoresistive film called Velostat into a pre-charged air bag, which can perceive the contact force with an object based on changes in resistance value of the sensor. The soft sensor mimics human finger pulp and deforms passively according to the shape of objects during grasping, so that it can firmly contact with objects and as such improves the gripper’s grasping stability. Moreover, based on force feedback, the actuator can reduce or increase the input pressure to hold the object and control the contact force precisely. The sensor exhibits a sensitivity of up to 0.328 kPa−1 and can measure pressures ranging from 0 to over 10 kPa. The sensor’s measurement range and sensitivity can be pre-adjusted by regulating the pre-charged pressure during fabrication for different grasping tasks. The response/recovery time of the sensor is 80/60 ms on average. Experiments show that the finger with sensorized pulp can be applied for object softness and size detection, object transport minitoring as well as force control grasping. The proposed soft robotic finger has potential for applications in scenarios that require safe contact and closed-loop control.

An IoT based Low-cost Artificial Mechanical Ventilator for Patients

This paper presents the construction of a low-cost, open-source mechanical ventilator. The motto behind making this type of ventilator comes from the global shortage of ventilators to treat patients suffering with Covid-19. This paper presents a digital method to monitor the lung status of patients. This is achieved by determining pressure measurements from the inspiratory arm and alerts clinicians if the patient is in a healthy or unhealthy condition. The common symptoms of Covid-19 that can be easily identified are body temperature, blood oxygen level and heart rate that we must check to identify the virus. Hence this system can help in case a patient is unable to meet the doctor or requires frequent monitoring. These are going to develop a system which can monitor, and all the monitored data is stored in the cloud. When people suffer from breathing problems, this can be used for emergencies. The ventilator will be able to monitor the patient's blood oxygen levels and exhaled lung pressure while avoiding high pressure. Designed using Arduino, the ventilator meets all these requirements, creating an affordable ventilator to help during a pandemic. A motor mechanism is used to push the air bag. When the oxygen level counts are low, this mechanism is utilized. LCD screens are used to display oxygen levels. Whenever a patient faces a dangerous position, a buzzer sounds to notify a nearby caretaker. The entire system is driven by an Arduino microcontroller and a buzzer is fitted to detect any low levels of oxygen count. Index Terms: Oxygen, Covid-19, Ventilator, Lung pressure, Air bag.

Enhancing Workplace Safety Based on Internet of Things to Provide Intelligent Decision for Preventing Working at Height Fall Incidents for Occupational Workers

In Under develop country like India fall incidents are increasing rapidly at workplace not only in the industrial sector even though construction and private sector too. Fall injury is the highest cause of death/ fatal/severe injuries. The severity of working at height incident depending upon the nature of job, height of application, uneven/cluttered surface etc. In this research paper a unique solution has been studied to bring revolutionary change in personal protective equipment which is used while working at height. There are many technologies are available,in chemical industry if any parameter deviate automatically machine will be shut-down and safe operating protocols will be activated but in conventional personal protective equipment it is hardly say there is still area of research where the technological improvement is needed to bring the robust safety system. Air bags are a very good example to correlate the smart PPE, if any passenger vehicle have air bag system collision with other vehicle automatically within milli second the airbag will be activated which saves the life of driver and passenger as well. Similarly Smart PPE has unique provision if PPE compliance is deviated at workplace immediately the violation shall be captured, and warning alert shall be given to user to remind them to compliance. This will help us to improve workplace safety. It is an error proof system that neither required manual surveillance nor manual recording of violations. In this research paper IOT internet of thing based smart safety harness has been studied and the workplace deviation were compared earlier with manual monitoring data to analyze the human error with respect to compliance of personal protective equipment

THERMAL AND STATIC ANALYSIS OF AN AUTOMATED BRAKE SYSTEM USING CATIA

Safety aspect in automotive engineering has been considered as a number one priority in development of new vehicle. Each single system in brake system has been studied and developed in order to meet safety requirement. Instead of having air bag, good suspension systems, good handling and safe cornering, there is one most critical system in the vehicle which is the braking systems. If there is no proper braking system in the vehicle the passenger in the vehicle is in unsafe position. Therefore, it is a must for all vehicles to have proper braking system. Due to critical system in the vehicle, many of researchers have conducted a study on brake system and its entire component. In this project, we have conducted a study on performance of normal disc brake rotor of normal passenger vehicle at different speeds when different materials are used. The study is more likely concern of Stress distribution on disc brake rotor and deformation and stresses developed on it due to different speeds. The widely used brake rotor material is cast iron which consumes much fuel due to its high specific gravity. The aim of this project is to select the optimum material for the application of brake disc system emphasizing on the substitution of this cast iron by any other lightweight material. The present project is aimed to study the given disc brake rotor for its stability and rigidity, for this Thermal analysis and coupled structural analysis is carried out on a given disc brake rotor to find out its deformation, stress when different materials are used. For these three different materials in each case is analyzed. KEYWORDS: Disc brake, Disc brake rotor, CATIA, ANSYS

Vertical distributions of VOCs in the Tibetan Plateau background region

Exploring the vertical variation in volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in background regions can provide information on the spatial distribution of pollutants, providing a scientific basis for atmospheric pollution prevention and control strategies. From 15 August to 5 September 2023, at the Southeast Tibet Mountain Comprehensive Environmental Observation Station (SETS), a tethered balloon was used to sample VOCs every 100 m from the ground to 1000 m. A total of 403 air bag samples were collected, and 39 vertical profiles of VOCs were obtained. Ninety-two VOC species were detected. The VOC concentration at the SETS did not change significantly vertically, and the average VOC concentration was 11.1 ± 2.4 ppbv. The main components were alkanes (51.4 %), alkenes (18.7 %), and halohydrocarbons (18.1 %). There was no obvious diurnal change in VOCs and no significant difference between the different layers. When the surface VOC concentration was less than 10 ppbv, the concentrations, components, and sources of VOCs were evenly distributed vertically, and the main sources of VOCs at different heights were vehicle exhaust and background. When the surface VOC concentration exceeded 10 ppbv, the VOC concentration gradually decreased with height. The proportion of alkanes in surface VOCs increased, and the source was mainly vehicle exhaust. This study confirmed that VOCs are vertically homogeneous in the background of the Tibetan Plateau, emphasizing the importance of vehicle emissions as a potential source of VOCs.摘要研究背景区域挥发性有机物 (VOCs) 的垂直变化规律, 可以提供污染物的空间分布信息, 为制定大气污染防治策略提供科学依据. 2023年夏季, 利用系留气艇对藏东南背景区域VOCs垂直分布规律进行研究, 共获取92种VOC的39条垂直廓线. 结果表明, VOC浓度垂直分布均一, 平均浓度为11.1 ± 2.4 ppbv; 主要成分为烷烃 (51.4 %), 烯烃 (18.7 %) 和卤代烃 (18.1 %). 地表VOC浓度小于10 ppbv时, 不同高度VOCs的主要来源为机动车尾气和背景贡献. 而地表VOC浓度超过10 ppbv时, 烷烃占比增加, 来源以机动车尾气为主. 该研究证实了青藏高原VOC在垂直方向上分布均一, 强调了机动车排放作为VOCs潜在来源的重要性.

Design of Driver Seat in Automobile Car

Driver seat in the automobile is an important system. There are so many parts in the driver seat which made it a complicated system. Adjustments as well as safety systems. A seat adjustment includes height adjustment, fore and aft adjustment, back recline adjustments. Safety systems include seat belts, air bags and advanced head restraints. Generally professional driver works more than eight hours per day of a week, therefore driver seat must be designed by considering all the parameters. Also uneven road condition induces the vibration in a vehicle transmitted to driver body. Poorly designed driver seat affects the driver health and psychological conditions of mind. Three main objectives of any driver seats are safety, health and comfort of driver. This paper presents all the parameters of driver seat such as anthropometry of human, ergonomics related parameters, seat materials, safety related parameters, comfort related parameters as well as weight and aesthetics with classifications and basics of driver seat.

Design of a Passenger Ship Launch Using an Air Bag System

Ship launching is one of the stages of ship production before the ship is handed over to the owner, which marks the beginning of the ship's life. With the development of technology at this time, various launching methods have been developed, one of which is the launching method using an air bag system. Launching using air bags has many advantages compared to conventional launching methods that have been used so far. Pre-launch calculations are performed to avoid risks during the launch. Launching using air bags begins with calculating the weight plan of the ship launch and the preparation of the air bag layout. Using CB/T 3837:1998 Technological Requirements for Ship Upgrading or Launching Relying on Air Bags, Shipbuilding Industry Standard, and ISO 14409:2011 ships and marine technology-ship launching air bags, the number of air bag requirements and layout can be determined to support the ship launching process. The passenger ship, with an length overall of 62.80 metres, is planned to have a launch weight of 1058.881 tons. By using the QG6 high-bearing capacity air bag model with 6 layers of cord fabric with a diametre of one metre and a contact length between the air bag and the ship's body of ten metres, a total of 11 air bags are required in a linear arrangement to support the launch of a passenger ship. The distance between air bags is 2.07 metres to 5.736 metres, the longer the distance between air bags, the greater the load supported by each air bag.

IOT Based Smart Solution for Preventing Fall Injuries at Workplace

In India fall injuries are increasing rapidly at workplace not only in the industrial sector even though construction and private sector too. Fall injury is the highest cause of death/ fatal/severe injuries. The severity of working at height incident depending upon the nature of job, height of application, uneven/cluttered surface etc.In this research paper a unique solution has been studied to bring revolutionary change in personal protective equipment which is used while working at height. There are many technologies are available, in chemical industry if any parameter deviate automatically machine will be shut-down and safe operating protocols will be activated but in conventional personal protective equipment it is hardly say there is still area of research where the technological improvement is needed to bring the robust safety system. Air bags are a very good example to correlate the smart PPE, if any passenger vehicle have air bag system collision with other vehicle automatically within milli second the airbag will be activated which saves the life of driver and passenger as well. Similarly Smart PPE has unique provision if PPE compliance is deviated at workplace immediately the violation shall be captured, and warning alert shall be given to user to remind them to compliance. This will help us to improve workplace safety. It is an error proof system that neither required manual surveillance nor manual recording of violations. In this research paper IOT internet of thing based smart safety harness has been studied and the workplace deviation were compared earlier with manual monitoring data to analyze the human error with respect to compliance of personal protective equipment

Air bag-embedded MIL-101(Fe) metal-organic frameworks for an amplified tumor microenvironment activation loop through strategic delivery of iron ions and lentinan.

Background: Iron-based nanocarriers have demonstrated potential in redirecting tumor associated macrophages (TAMs) polarization towards the M1 phenotype, critical for activating the tumor microenvironment (TME) in triple negative breast cancer (TNBC). However, their real-world effectiveness is curtailed by insufficient Fe2+/3+ exposure and the absence of suitable synergists in tumors. Methods: We introduce an air bag-embedded iron-based MIL-101 metal-organic frameworks (MOFMIL-101(Fe)) for igniting the TME in TNBC through bubble-driven tumoral codelivery of Fe2+/3+ and lentinan. This system, named HM/Ef/LNT-MOFMIL-101(Fe), features nano-sized MOFMIL-101(Fe) as the core, embedded NaHCO3 as a pH-triggered air bag, electrostatically-adsorbed lentinan forming the inner shell, and a shield shell with 4T1&red blood cell hybrid membrane. Results: HM/Ef/LNT-MOFMIL-101(Fe) can mitigate non-specific capture in the bloodstream but respond to the acidic tumor milieu, rapidly generating a burst of CO2 bubbles to disassemble MOFMIL-101(Fe). Upon entering tumors, lentinan-induced interferon-γ (IFN-γ) enable Fe2+/3+ facilitating an enhanced ferroptosis and Fenton-like reaction, pushing TAMs towards M1 polarization via the "IFN-γ-ferroptosis-ROS-Caspase-3" pathway. Moreover, HM/Ef/LNT-MOFMIL-101(Fe) increases the infiltration of T lymphocytes and decreases regulatory T cells. These cascading immune responses synergistically foster a loop of amplified TME activation based on TAMs M1 polarization, showcasing notable advancements in anticancer effectiveness and promise for various combination therapies. Conclusion: This study utilizes an "embedded air-bag" strategy to achieve strategic codelivery of Fe2+/3+ and lentinan, providing a new tool for engineering the TME.

Methane gas spectral imaging method based on dual wedge scanning mirrors

With the increase in the number of oil and gas pipelines laid in China, more attention needs to be paid to pipeline maintenance work. At present, the main methods of detecting natural gas leaks in oil and gas transmission stations include manual inspections, opposing natural gas detection equipment, and cloud desktop natural gas detection equipment. Hand held natural gas detection equipment is used for manual inspection, which requires regular manual inspection. However, the response speed is poor and gas leaks cannot be detected in a timely manner. The opposed laser gas detection method can only detect the presence of gas on the beam path. If a larger area of leakage detection is desired, more equipment needs to be installed, resulting in a greatly increase in hardware costs. The existing cloud desktop laser gas detection method controls the deflection of the laser beam through the cloud platform to achieve leak detection at various points in the area to be tested. However, the rotation speed of the cloud platform is slow, and a complete detection cycle takes dozens of minutes, and only the presence of gas can be detected. For accurate leak location, manual on-site survey is also required to further determine the leak location. In order to meet the needs of the real-time monitoring and rapid positioning of oil and gas pipeline leaks, in this work, a fast and accurately controlled dual wedge scanning mirror system is designed, which combines tunable semiconductor laser absorption spectroscopy technology to convert the gas measurement laser beam from point measurement to surface measurement, thereby obtaining the two-dimensional distribution of gas, which is conducive to subsequent analysis and positioning of gas leakage sources. By using the inverse solution iterative optimization algorithm, the angle of the wedge mirror is controlled to obtain an efficient and uniform beam scanning trajectory. The deflection direction and detection position of the laser beam are fused with the corresponding methane concentration information, and a methane concentration data containing position information is constructed. In order to quantitatively verify the measurement accuracy and spatial resolution in the experiment, a standard air bag is used to simulate the methane leakage distribution. The results show that the minimum detection limit of the system can be lower than 5×10<sup>–4</sup> m, and the spatial resolution can be less than 6 cm. At the same time, this method can adjust the scanning step node based on the measurement distance of the oil from gas station, thereby achieving adjustable imaging resolution. This imaging method provides a new idea for accurately positioning and detecting the methane leakage location and amount.

A Study on Failure Rate, Reliability, and Collection Efficiency Trend of Bag Filters in a Cement Plant

This thesis presents a comprehensive study on the failure rate, reliability, and collection efficiency trends of bag filters in a cement plant over 15 years. Bag filters are vital pollution control equipment used in various industries, including cement plants, to maintain environmental compliance. Understanding their performance and failure patterns is crucial to ensure efficient and reliable operation while adhering to stringent pollution control standards. The research findings reveal that the failure rate trend of bag filters closely follows the bathtub curve, with an initial high failure rate, a period of lower failures, and a subsequent increase in failures as the equipment nears the end of its life cycle. Reliability trends align with Madhab's Hat curve, exhibiting higher reliability during the first 10 to 12 years of operation, followed by a decline in reliability. The collection efficiency of bag filters declines as the equipment ages, with the efficiency decreasing from 99.998% in the early years to 95.05% in the 15th year. This emphasizes the importance of maintenance and retrofitting for older dust collection equipment to maintain high collection efficiency. The study concludes that the typical life span of bag filters ranges from 10 to 15 years, after which major maintenance interventions are necessary to minimize failure rates. The research provides valuable insights for maintenance engineers, design engineers, and reliability engineers, enabling them to improve the performance of pollution control equipment, such as bag filters, reverse air bag houses (RABH), and electrostatic precipitators (ESP), to meet the pollution control standards set by regulatory authorities.

Evaluation of different scoring systems in the prediction of complications, morbidity, and mortality after laparoscopic radical gastrectomy

BackgroundThis retrospective study aimed to assess the suitability of POSSUM and its modified versions, E-PASS and its modified score, SRS, and SORT scores for predicting postoperative complications and mortality in patients undergoing laparoscopic radical gastrectomy for gastric cancer.Materials and methodsData analysis was performed on 349 patients who underwent laparoscopic radical gastrectomy at Tianjin Medical University General Hospital between January 2016 and December 2021. The discriminative ability of the scoring systems was evaluated using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). The primary endpoint focused on the prediction of postoperative complications, while the secondary endpoint assessed the prediction of postoperative mortality.ResultsAmong the scoring systems evaluated, the modified E-PASS (mE-PASS) score exhibited the highest AUC (0.846) and demonstrated the highest sensitivity (81%) and specificity (79%) for predicting postoperative complications. All other scores, except for POSSUM, showed moderate discriminative ability in predicting complications. In terms of predicting postoperative mortality, the E-PASS score had the highest AUC (0.978), while the mE-PASS score displayed the highest sensitivity (76%) and specificity (90%). Notably, both E-PASS and mE-PASS scores exhibited excellent discriminative ability.ConclusionsThe P-POSSUM, O-POSSUM, E-PASS, mE-PASS, SRS, and SORT scoring systems are useful tools for predicting postoperative outcomes in laparoscopic radical gastrectomy. Among them, the mE-PASS score demonstrated the best predictive power. However, the POSSUM system could only be applicable to predict postoperative mortality.

Optimizing frontal impact occupant protection systems for passengers seated in wheelchairs

ObjectiveThe advent of automated vehicles (AVs) provides an opportunity to design integrated wheelchair seating stations that provide an equivalent level of safety for occupants using wheelchairs as those using vehicle seating. This study designed a frontal occupant protection system for an integrated second-row wheelchair seating station that includes optimized airbags and seatbelt systems. MethodsMADYMO models were used to optimize belt geometry for a midsized male ATD seated in a surrogate wheelchair fixture, with and without inclusion of a Self Conforming Rearseat Air Bag (SCaRAB). Sled tests were performed to confirm the benefits of airbag use and optimized belt geometry. Additional modeling was performed with commercial manual and power wheelchairs, to identify the effects of wheelchair design and forward clear space on occupant kinematics and injury measures. Additional sled tests were performed with manual and power wheelchairs to demonstrate effectiveness of the restraint system with commercial products. ResultsSimulations and tests both showed improved kinematics using an optimized seatbelt system geometry compared to a commonly used suboptimal D-ring location that places the shoulder belt at a more outboard location. Use of the SCaRAB helped compensate for suboptimal geometry. Results include specific recommendations for belt geometry relative to the wheelchair seating station and airbag parameters suitable for protecting occupants seated in wheelchairs. Restraint systems initially optimized using the surrogate wheelchair also performed well with the two commercial wheelchairs. The clear space required for maneuvering a wheelchair will likely prevent injurious head contact in frontal crashes. ConclusionsThis study is the first to design a frontal optimal occupant protection system for an integrated second-row wheelchair seating station, demonstrating that it should be feasible once integrated wheelchair seating stations are included in AVs.

Measurement of the infusion flow rate of a novel non-electrically driven infusion pump in determining the influencing factors on its flow performance

A novel non-electrical infusion pump prototype, driven by a vacuum-piston-cylinder, was developed for intravenous (IV) fluid therapy. This infusion pump prototype, called as AIR-BAG, was designed to work by inflating a sleeping-bag-shaped air bag to compress a drip bag for producing an infusion flow rate. This study was aimed at investigating the influencing factors on its flow performance by measuring the discharge flow rate stability using a gravimetric test bench. In determining the influencing factors, this study took an investigatory strategy of studying the behaviors of the drip bag and the air bag independently in order to examine and quantify their respective effects on the overall flow performance. From the investigation, it was found that ‘wrinkles’, created on the drip bag surface, trapped, and isolated small quantities of liquid inside the drip bag, leading to a rapid drop of liquid pressure inside the drip bag and hence a decrease of infusion flow rate. Due to the existence of the wrinkles, the adhesiveness of contact surfaces between the air bag and the drip bag, which was crucial for transition of pressurizing force, became highly affected, consequently further deteriorating the flow performance of AIR-BAG. The findings and understandings from this investigation will path the way for further improvement of prototype AIR-BAG.

Development of an Active Mechanical Lung for Simulating Human Pulmonary Ventilation

At present, the passive simulated lung including the splint lung is an important device for hospitals and manufacturers in testing the functions of a respirator. However, the human respiration simulated by this passive simulated lung is quite different from the actual respiration. And it is not able to simulate the spontaneous breathing. Therefore, including" the device simulating respiratory muscle work "," the simulated thorax" and" the simulated airway", an active mechanical lung to simulate human pulmonary ventilation was designed:3D printed human respiratory tract was developed and connected the left and right air bags at the end of the respiratory tract to simulate the left and right lungs of the human body. By controlling a motor running to drive the crank and rod to move a piston back and forth, and to deliver an alternating pressure in the simulated pleural, and so as to generate an active respiratory airflow in airway. The experimental respiratory airflow and pressure from the active mechanical lung developed in this study are consistent with the target airflow and pressure which collected from the normal adult. The developed active mechanical lung function will be conducive to improve the quality of the respirator.

Thick-film – a mature technology at the cutting edge of advances in the electronics industry

For decades, thick-film technology has proven to be a dependable, cost-efficient method for highly reliable electronic circuitry and components. Hybrid microelectronics was the first major application for fired thick-film materials, finding its way into military and aerospace applications, where reliability is paramount. Inner and outer electrodes for passive components have been another traditional thick-film market. One of the main advantages of thick film is that it is an additive process, where the various conductor, resistor, and dielectric pastes are screen-printed and fired or cured in succession to form the circuit. This results in cost-efficient processing for the circuit manufacturer. Patterned screens are relatively easy to manufacture, allowing for flexibility in circuit design, and screen printing allows for flexibility in feature sizes from hundreds of microns down to 30 microns or less. The main drivers in electronics today are miniaturization – higher circuit density, adaptation to new forms such as 3D and flexible substrates, and ecological factors such as reduced energy consumption, waste reduction, and reduction in the use of toxic substances (RoHS – REACH). Thick film has evolved to address these main drivers and due to its reliability, flexibility, and adaptability, The technology has found new applications. 5G telecommunications utilizes highly conductive silver coatings on signal filters for low losses. Automobiles have historically used thick film technology in fuel/air sensors, air bag deployment sensors, and electronic control units (ECUs). Current vehicles have become computers on wheels and have multiple driver assistance sensors (ADAS), e.g. lane departure warning, blind spot monitoring, automatic braking, regenerative braking, and fully autonomous driving. Both fired and non-fired thick-film technology is enabling these developments. Also in the automotive space, applications include thick film heaters for cabin comfort, heaters keeping ADAS sensors free from frost and snow, and heaters for battery management systems (BMS) in electric vehicles. Polymer thick-film (PTF) pastes for cured (90 – 250o C) electronic circuitry on temperature sensitive polymers have also been around for decades, used in membrane touch-switch keypads and similar circuity. Recently, new applications have emerged for PTF in printed electronics, where the ability to develop flexible, highly durable pastes is enabling new applications in flexible displays, medical monitoring, and performance enhancement in sports. As the megatrends continue to drive the advancement in technologies, the versatility, reliability, and adaptability of thick-film technology is expected to continue to facilitate these advancements. Heraeus Electronics, with its extensive portfolio of thick-film pastes and matched systems, is primed to support these advancements.