Prototype Computer Research Articles

Analysis of dynamics and fit of diving suits

Paper presents research on dynamical behaviour and fit analysis of customised diving suits. Diving suits models are developed using the 3D flattening method, which enables the construction of a garment model directly on the 3D computer body model and separation of discrete 3D surfaces as well as transformation into 2D cutting parts. 3D body scanning of male and female test subjects was performed with the purpose of body measurements analysis in static and dynamic postures and processed body models were used for construction and simulation of diving suits prototypes. All necessary parameters, for 3D simulation were applied on obtained cutting parts, as well as parameters values for mechanical properties of neoprene material. Developed computer diving suits prototypes were used for stretch analysis on areas relevant for body dimensional changes according to dynamic anthropometrics. Garment pressures against the body in static and dynamic conditions was also analysed. Garments patterns for which the computer prototype verification was conducted were used for real prototype production. Real prototypes were also used for stretch and pressure analysis in static and dynamic conditions. Based on the obtained results, correlation analysis between body changes in dynamic positions and dynamic stress, determined on computer and real prototypes, was performed.

Computer literacy through dance: the dancing computer project

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to present the design and evolution of the Dancing Computer project. Dancing Computer is an ongoing research project at the Michigan State University, which is developing a system that aims to increase computer literacy in elementary-aged children by teaching them first to read code before they write it. The main objective is to educate children on basic concepts of computer science.Design/methodology/approachChildren are given tablet computers that present a simple program line-by-line that they execute as they pretend to be a computer. The programs are acted out on a portable dance floor consisting of colored tiles, and the program statements instruct the child to move, turn and act out dance poses and terminology.FindingsThe Dancing Computer prototype was tested in six different locations in 2016, reaching approximately 250 students. Learning was demonstrated by significant improvements in both task duration and error performance as students performed the activities. The most common errors were movement errors, where participants failed to move the correct number of squares.Social implicationsThis project has the potential to increase the level of computer literacy for thousands of children. This project’s goal is to increase understanding of what a computer does, what a program does and the step-by-step nature of computer programs.Originality/valueThis is a unique and a different approach – the norm being to start students off writing code in some language. In Dancing Computer stages children as readers of programs, allowing them to pretend to be a computer in a fun and engaging activity while also learning how computers execute real programs.

A prototype computer with non-von Neumann architecture based on strategic domestic J7 microprocessor

We consider a prototype of a computer with non-von Neumann architecture based on the domestic J7 microprocessor and nonclassical massively parallel program organization with globally addressable memory and new data transmission technology, new design of 3D electronics packaging to enhance the security level.

Computation and fabrication of scaled prototypes

The formal, functional, and material attributes of design are routinely investigated through the construction of physical models and scaled prototypes. With the increasing adoption of computational workflows, the digital to physical translation process is central to the construction of scaled prototypes. However, the choice of methods, tools and materials for computational prototyping is a developing area. Therefore a systematic body of knowledge on the benefits and costs of multiple methods of computational prototyping for the construction of physical prototypes need to be identified. This paper addresses the prototyping process through the comparison of three computational methods of fabrication through the modelling, analysis and construction of a Gaussian Vault. It reports on the process of digital to physical construction using additive manufacturing, surface fabrication and structural component models. The Gaussian Vault offers a unique set of geometric, structural and physical characteristics for testing all three methods of prototyping. The size, shape and proportion of vault prototypes are rapidly generated and tested. The design geometry, material properties and physical construction of the Gaussian Vault are realised using commonly used practice workflows comprising parametric modelling and analysis of geometry, model rationalisation with material characteristics and finally the use of digital fabrication methods. Comparison of the results identifies the characteristics, benefits and limitations of the three approaches. Finally the paper discusses the digital to physical translation processes and summarises the characteristics, benefits and issues encountered in each.

A real-time system for monitoring driver fatigue

ABSTRACTThis paper presents a nonintrusive prototype computer vision system for real-time fatigue driving detection. First, we use Haar-like features to detect a driver’s face and conduct tracking by introducing an improved Camshift algorithm. Second, we propose a new eye-detection algorithm that combines the Adaboost algorithm with template matching to reduce computational costs and add an eye-validation process to increase the accuracy of the detection rate. Third, and different from other methods focusing on detecting eyes using the ‘bright pupil’ effect, which only works well only for certain constrained lighting conditions, our method detects and estimates the iris center in the hue (H) channel of the hue, saturation, value color space and fits the iris with an ellipse. After extracting the eye fatigue features, we calculate the PERCLOS measurement for fatigue evaluation. This system has been tested on the IMM Face Database, which contains more than 200 faces, and in a real-time test. The experimental results show that the system possesses good accuracy and robustness.

Flow optimised design of a novel point-of-care diagnostic device for the detection of disease specific biomarkers

Abstract For the development of a novel, user-friendly and low cost point-of-care diagnostic device for the detection of disease specific biomarkers a flow optimised design of the test system is investigated. For this, computational fluid dynamics and rapid prototyping methods are used. The result is a functional design, which can be used for further experimental investigations.

UAV를 이용한 돔형 원자력 격납건물 외관조사를 위한 3차원 모델기반 비행 좌표 생성 방법

This paper provides a method for generating flight path of Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) that is intended to be used in visual inspection of dome-type nuclear containment building. The method basically employs 3-D model to extract accurate location coordinates. Two basic route patterns that provide guide lines in defining moving locations were defined for each side wall and dome section of the containment. The route patterns support sequential capturing of images as well. In addition, several simple equations and an algorithm for calculation of the moving location on the route were developed on the basis of 3-D geometric characteristics of the containment building. A prototype computer program has been implemented to validate the proposed method, and a case study shows the method can visualize covering area in 3-D model as well.

Adaptive Power Efficiency Control by Computer Power Consumption Prediction Using Performance Counters

As the number of data centers has grown in pace with the burgeoning expansion in information technology (IT), reducing data center power consumption has become an important social challenge. Since IT equipment is a primary contributor to the data center power consumption, it is also an area where power conservation efforts are indispensable. Nevertheless, although the efficiency of the power supply modules integrated into computers has recently seen significant improvements, their overall efficiency primarily depends on load rates. This is particularly true under low-power load conditions, where efficiency is known to decrease drastically. Recently, power-saving techniques that work by controlling the power module configuration under low-power load conditions have been considered, and using such techniques, it is expected that further efficiency improvements can be achieved by interlocking the computer load status with the power supply configuration control in real time. In this paper, the performance counters built into computer processors are used to predict power load variations, and an equation that facilitates the prediction of server power consumption levels is defined. In a server application experiment utilizing prototype computer hardware and multiple regression analysis, we confirmed that the power prediction equation could precisely predict computer power requirements and achieve adaptive efficiency control. In order to further validate the efficiency control effect, a circuit simulation was conducted. The simulation results showed that a power loss reduction of up to 28.3% could be achieved using the model equations to control the power supply module efficiency.

Abstract 17443: 3D Printing for Precision Drug Therapy: An Initial Proof of Concept Study

Personalized medicine is an emerging approach for disease management. Individuals can vary dramatically in their response to cardiovascular drugs. Personalization of medication dosing is necessary for increasing efficacy and reduction of side-effects based on the patient's race, weight, renal function, liver function or other relevant factors. However, adjustments for oral medications are not easily made due to limited formulations by pharmaceutical companies. We hypothesized it is feasible to produce personalized pills tailored to each individual patient’s clinical and biological characteristics through automated 3D-printing. Methods: A prototype computer algorithm was developed in our laboratory. The software includes two databases: 3D volume and dosage-adjustment factors. After inputting clinical and biological factors specific to the patients (age, race, weight, GFR, etc.), the software automatically calculates a personalized dose. Once the appropriate dose is determined, 3 volume datasets are generated and transferred to a STL file of a 4x4 pill board for 3D-printing to test the accuracy and variability of 3D-printed “pills”. Five different doses (80 pills) were created with dosing increments of 25%. Results: All pills were successfully printed using a 3D-printer (Figure). Doses of printed pills ranged from 124 mg to 373 mg. There was high reproducibility with standard deviations ranging from 3-5 mg. There were differences of 0.5-6% between the printed pills and computer-generated volumes in 5 different dose ranges indicating pills can be replicated accurately using a volume-concentration equation by the software. Conclusion: The study demonstrates that personalized pills based on each individual's clinical and biological characteristics can be produced with high precision through 3D-printing. Further studies are needed to develop 1) a standard adjustment formula for each individual drugs 2) cost-effective 3D drug printing techniques.

Design and evaluation of a software for the objective and easy-to-read presentation of new drug properties to physicians.

BackgroundWhen new pharmaceutical products appear on the market, physicians need to know whether they are likely to be useful in their practices. Physicians currently obtain most of their information about the market release and properties of new drugs from pharmaceutical industry representatives. However, the official information contained in the summary of product characteristics (SPCs) and evaluation reports from health agencies, provide a more complete view of the potential value of new drugs, although they can be long and difficult to read. The main objective of this work was to design a prototype computer program to facilitate the objective appraisal of the potential value of a new pharmaceutical product by physicians. This prototype is based on the modeling of pharmaceutical innovations described in a previous paper.MethodsThe interface was designed to allow physicians to develop a rapid understanding of the value of a new drug for their practices. We selected five new pharmaceutical products, to illustrate the function of this prototype. We considered only the texts supplied by national or international drug agencies at the time of market release. The perceived usability of the prototype was evaluated qualitatively, except for the System Usability Scale (SUS) score evaluation, by 10 physicians differing in age and medical background.ResultsThe display is based on the various axes of the conceptual model of pharmaceutical innovations. The user can select three levels of detail when consulting this information (highly synthetic, synthetic and detailed). Tables provide a comparison of the properties of the new pharmaceutical product with those of existing drugs, if available for the same indication, in terms of efficacy, safety and ease of use.The interface was highly appreciated by evaluators, who found it easy to understand and suggested no other additions of important, internationally valid information. The mean System Usability Scale score for the 10 physicians was 82, corresponding to a “good” user interface.ConclusionsThis work led us to propose the selection, grouping, and mode of presentation for various types of knowledge on pharmaceutical innovations in a way that was appreciated by evaluators. It provides physicians with readily accessible objective information about new drugs.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12911-015-0158-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Computing fundamental groups from point clouds

We describe an algorithm for computing a finite, and typically small, presentation of the fundamental group of a finite regular CW-space. The algorithm is based on the construction of a discrete vector field on the $$3$$3-skeleton of the space. A variant yields the homomorphism of fundamental groups induced by a cellular map of spaces. We illustrate how the algorithm can be used to infer information about the fundamental group $$\pi _1(K)$$?1(K) of a metric space $$K$$K using only a finite point cloud $$X$$X sampled from the space. In the special case where $$K$$K is a $$d$$d-dimensional compact manifold $$K\subset \mathbb R^d$$K?Rd, we consider the closure of the complement of $$K$$K in the $$d$$d-sphere $$M_K=\overline{\mathbb S^d\!\setminus \!K}$$MK=Sd\K¯. For a base-point $$x$$x in the boundary $$\partial M_K$$?MK of the manifold $$M_K$$MK one can attempt to determine, from the point cloud $$X$$X, the induced homomorphism of fundamental groups $$\phi :\pi _1(\partial M_K,x)\rightarrow \pi _1(M_K,x)$$?:?1(?MK,x)??1(MK,x) in the category of finitely presented groups. We illustrate a computer implementation for $$K$$K a small closed tubular neighbourhood of a tame knot in $$\mathbb R^3$$R3. In this case the homomorphism $$\phi $$? is known to be a complete ambient isotopy invariant of the knot. We observe that low-index subgroups of finitely presented groups provide useful invariants of $$\phi $$?. In particular, the first integral homology of subgroups $$G < \pi _1(M_K)$$G<?1(MK) of index at most six suffices to distinguish between all prime knots with 11 or fewer crossings (ignoring chirality). We plan to provide formal time estimates for our algorithm and characteristics of a high performance C++ implementation in a subsequent paper. The prototype computer implementation of the present paper has been written in the interpreted gap programming language for computational algebra.

A language for representing and extracting 3D geometry semantics from paper-based sketches

Every product that exists, ranging from a toothbrush to a car, has first been conceived as a mental concept. Due to its efficacy in rapidly externalizing concepts, paper-based sketching is still extensively used by practising designers to gradually develop the three-dimensional (3D) geometric form of a concept. It is a common practice that form concepts are sketched on paper prior to generating 3D virtual models in commercial Computer-Aided Design (CAD) systems. However, the user-interface of such systems does not support automatic generation of 3D models from sketches. Furthermore, the inherent characteristics of form sketching (e.g. idiosyncrasy) pose a challenge to computer-based understanding of the form concept semantics expressed on paper. To address these issues, this paper is therefore concerned with the development of a visual language that is prescribed and to be used by product designers to annotate paper-based sketches such that the form geometry semantics can be formally represented; parsing the annotated sketch allows for the automatic generation of 3D virtual models in CAD. Inspired by re-usable 3D CAD modelling functions and the related environmental constraints and requirements, a prescribed sketching language, PSL, has been developed to annotate paper-based form sketches. The framework architecture which parses the annotated sketch and subsequently extracts the form concept semantics is described. Based on this framework, a prototype computer tool has been implemented and evaluated. Evaluation results provide a degree of evidence, first on the suitability of PSL in representing the semantics of a range of forms, and secondly on the designers׳ acceptance of taking up this annotated sketching approach in practice.

Prior schemata transfer as an account for assessing the intuitive use of new technology

New devices are considered intuitive when they allow users to transfer prior knowledge. Drawing upon fundamental psychology experiments that distinguish prior knowledge transfer from new schema induction, a procedure was specified for assessing intuitive use. This procedure was tested with 31 participants who, prior to using an on-board computer prototype, studied its screenshots in reading vs. schema induction conditions. Distinct patterns of transfer or induction resulted for features of the prototype whose functions were familiar or unfamiliar, respectively. Though moderated by participants' cognitive style, these findings demonstrated a means for quantitatively assessing transfer of prior knowledge as the operation that underlies intuitive use. Implications for interface evaluation and design, as well as potential improvements to the procedure, are discussed.

Structural Dynamic Analysis of Freight Railway Wagon Using Finite Element Method

This paper describes the development of a virtual freight wagon vehicle using virtual prototyping computer tools. The freight wagon considered as open type wagon “BOXN25” of the Indian Railways. The freight wagon vehicle comprises of car body structure and two bogies. Solidworks is used for modeling the freight wagon and the geometry is exported to finite element tool, ANSYS. A multi degree of freedom system has been reviewed and compared with system having infinite degree of freedom (continuous structure). The current problem falls in the category of large models (Block Lanczos Algorithm is used) and has high degrees of freedom (PCG Solver is used). The structural dynamic response for the virtual freight wagon is determined. It is seen that the car body deformation is influenced by its elastic underframe and sidewalls. The influence of vibration modes, which describe local deflection, on the comfort level and stability of laden goods is discussed. Mode shapes up to a frequency of 30Hz are considered.

Maximum-Entropy Density Estimation for MRI Stochastic Surrogate Models

Stochastic spectral methods can generate accurate compact stochastic models for electromagnetic problems with material and geometric uncertainties. This letter presents an improved implementation of the maximum-entropy algorithm to compute the density function of an obtained generalized polynomial chaos expansion in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) applications. Instead of using statistical moments, we show that the expectations of some orthonormal polynomials can be better constraints for the optimization flow. The proposed algorithm is coupled with a finite element-boundary element method (FEM-BEM) domain decomposition field solver to obtain a robust computational prototyping for MRI problems with low- and high-dimensional uncertainties.

Automated design of customized implants

This paper presents a model capable of design a customized cranial implant directly from a medical imaging process, whose output will be a file in a manufacture system recognizable format.The proposed system has been created by linking two computer prototypes developed during the present research and studying the inner and outer related technologies. The core of the model is the KBS (Knowledge Based System) technology, able to store and manage medical data, as well as designer knowledge, in order to use this information in the implant design process. The aim of this project is to obtain a tool to improve the design process, the biocompatibility with patient and reduce final costs, which can be operated without necessity of wide knowledge from the user.

Natural language manual programming for pulsed fiber laser micromachining

This paper proposes the use of voice commands expressed in natural language for part program generation for pulsed fiber laser micromachining. Traditionally, according to ISO G-code, a part program is an ordered list of program blocks in an ASCII formatted computer file. Each block identifies a machine operation and defines its parameters, following a predefined syntax. Under the proposed approach, such a file is replaced by natural language voice commands without any particular syntax constraints. Such an approach has the potential to facilitate the generation of part programs in domains (laser micromanufacturing, rapid prototyping, desktop computer numerical control) where traditional ISO G-code programming seems inappropriate, and the adoption and implementation of complex solutions such as STEP-NC or CAD/CAM systems could be unjustified. The input system is responsible for the recognition and interpretation of voice commands according to a statistical knowledge base learnt from examples. The proposed approach has been implemented in a prototype computer system, named smart programming system that has been validated by an application to the programming of pulsed fiber laser micromachining.

Implementation of A Gibbs Energy Minimizer In A Fission-Product Release Computer Program

SOURCE 2.0 is the Canadian computer program for calculating fractional release of fission products from the UO2 fuel matrix. In nuclear accidents, fission-product release from fuel is one of the physical steps required before radiation dose from fission products can affect the public. Fission-product release calculations are a step in the analysis path to calculating dose consequences to the public from postulated nuclear accidents. SOURCE 2.0 contains a 1997 model of fission-product vaporization by B.J. Corse et al. based on lookup tables generated with the FACT computer program. That model was tractable on computers of that day. However, the understanding of fuel thermochemistry has advanced since that time. Additionally, computational resources have significantly improved since the time of the development of the Corse model and now allow incorporation of the more-rigorous thermodynamic treatment. Combining the newer Royal Military College of Canada (RMC) thermodynamic model of irradiated uranium dioxide fuel, a new model for fission-product vaporization from the fuel surface, a commercial user-callable thermodynamics subroutine library (ChemApp), an updated nuclide list, and updated nuclear physics data, a prototype computer program based on SOURCE IST 2.0P11 has been created that performs thermodynamic calculations internally. The resulting prototype code (with updated and revised data) provides estimates of 140La releases that are in better agreement with experiments than the original code version and data. The improvement can be quantified by a reduction in the mean difference between experimental and calculated release fractions from 0.70 to 0.07. 140La is taken to be representative of “low-volatile” fission products. To ensure that the existing acceptable performance for noble gases and volatile fission products is not adversely affected by the changes, comparisons were also made for a representative noble gas, 85Kr, and a representative volatile fission-product, 134Cs. These nuclides have the largest dataset in the SOURCE 2.0 validation test suite. This improvement provides increased confidence in the safety margin for equipment qualification in Loss-of-Coolant Accidents with Loss of Emergency Core Cooling.

Innovation of the Advanced Actuator

Actuator is a kind of swaying mechanism whose power source is the hydraulic pressure oil, which may be widely applied to varied occasions where need swaying mechanisms, such as aircraft, tank, ship, train, etc. An aircraft needed a most advanced actuator which can produce torque up to 28kg•m with its unit weight, and set strict demands on such indexes as weight, dimension. According to existing plan, an actuator was designed and manufactured, being far inferior to requirement, which adopted a complex gear train composed of 2K-H and 3K planetary reductors. On the basis of analyzing existing dozens of reductors, a new structure that achieves swaying with multi-start ball guide screw driven by reciprocating piston rod of high-pressure oil cylinder was put forward. Having analyzed and compared more than ten new type of plans, a structural model of straight-rotary ball pair was proposed, an ideal plan of identical radius ball-return was found, a new spatial tight ball-return curve was designed, and the optimal design of the advanced actuator was finished. Computer simulation and prototype experiment made clear that each index of the advanced actuator could satisfy the aircraft’s demand.

The Theory of the Density-Based Gravure Spot-Color Matching

Spot-color is widely used in modern package printing technology. In order to use of computer techniques in calculation the formula of spot-color, an algorithm of formula calculation for the gravure spot-color was proposed in this paper. Firstly, the spot-color was divided into ten color areas based on the theory of Munsell color system, and in IGT gravure testing system, the color proofs were printed for each color area, according to different ratio of the cyan, magenta, yellow and white ink, in order to gain the data of mathematics modeling. Then, the algorithm of matching spot-color based on Masking Equation was provided, after measuring and analyzing of the proofs. Moreover, the results of experiment in blue color area show that the algorithm, which was proposed, has good accuracy of matching spot-color. Finally, using the C++ programming language and MySQL database, the prototype computer aided gravure spot-color matching system was developed, the results of operation show that the software is available.