Working Cycle Research Articles

Design and Optimization of Non-Coplanar Orbits for Orbital Photovoltaic Panel Cleaning Robots

Aiming at the problem that it is difficult for an orbital photovoltaic panel cleaning robot to span a large distance between photovoltaic panels, a method of designing and optimizing a non-coplanar orbit based on Bezier curves is proposed. Firstly, the robot’s motion law is analyzed to obtain trajectory data for a single work cycle. Then, Bezier curves are utilized for trajectory design to ensure a smooth transition during the spanning motion phase. Thirdly, with the average value of the minimum distance between the Bezier curve and the point set data of the spanning motion phase as the optimization objective function, the nonlinear planning based on the SQP algorithm was adopted for the optimization of the upper and lower trajectories. Finally, the results of the case calculations indicate that the standard deviation of the optimized upper and lower trajectories was reduced by 35.63% and 40.57%, respectively. Additionally, the ADAMS simulation validation demonstrates that the trajectory errors of the four wheels decreased by a maximum of 8.79 mm, 23.78 mm, 10.11 mm, and 14.97 mm, respectively, thereby confirming the effectiveness of the trajectory optimization.

Stress Concentration Modelling in Internal Stiffeners of Ship-to-Shore Quay Cranes Legs Due to Structural Heightening

This paper presents a study on the modelling and estimation of stress concentration at the tips of leg stiffeners in ship-to-shore (STS) quay cranes, which is intensified in those on the sea-side leg extensions, which are more prone to crack formation, notably following structural heightening of the cranes. A computer-simulated database was generated, incorporating mechanical parameters and geometric features that impact stress concentration. These variables can then be integrated as inputs into a multiple linear regression model (MLR). This methodology offers an alternative to the finite element method (FEM) for the computation of stress concentration and deformations. At the same time, the statistical significance of the parameters influencing this scenario is determined, ensuring a comprehensive assessment of their impact on the studied phenomenon. The research underscores the importance of incorporating stress concentration and structural geometry considerations into crane design or modification, given their crucial role in preserving the remaining lifecycle of the structure. Crack initiation is significantly intensified in regions characterised by high stress concentrations, particularly in areas where there are geometric changes at the tips of the stiffeners, where local stiffness is altered. All of this is in combination with work cycles under the supported loads.

Thermal optimization of robotic piezoelectric osteotomy motion in porcine trabecular bone

BackgroundPiezoelectric osteotomy represents a potentially viable alternative to conventional techniques for preparing pilot holes for bone screws. However, piezoelectric osteotomes have demonstrated the potential to heat bone beyond 47 °C, which induces necrosis that could contribute to screw loosening, resulting in osteosynthetic material failure and pseudarthrosis. Thus, we sought to determine the working movements of a piezoelectric drill that resulted in the lowest maximum bone temperatures while ensuring that this optimal drilling motion resulted in temperatures below 47 °C. MethodsVertebrae samples were obtained fresh from a local abattoir. A robot was used to drill 15 mm holes through the vertebrae bodies parallel to a sectioned viewing surface, observed with a thermal camera. We tested three significant aspects of the osteotome's movement: the feed rate, retraction speed and working cycle to see which combination resulted in the lowest maximum temperatures. Each factor combination was tested three times for a total of 24 trials. FindingsA feed rate of 2 mm/s, a retraction speed of 2 mm/s and a novel working cycle termed “multi-pass” were found to generate the lowest maximum temperatures (41.5 °C, σ = 1.91 °C). The factors of retraction speed and working cycle demonstrated statistical significance through analysis of variance, with ordinary least squares regression indicating their optimal settings resulted in reductions in maximum temperatures of 4.95 °C and 5.63 °C, respectively. InterpretationRobotic piezoelectric osteotomy appears to represent a safe method of pedicle screw pilot hole preparation from a thermal perspective when using the optimal methods found in this study.

Managing Downtime: Actionable Strategies for Productively Filling Slack Periods

This article provides evidence-based strategies for capitalizing on slow work cycles rather than letting productivity suffer. Drawing on over 40 years of scholarly literature across multiple disciplines, the article outlines a framework for constructively navigating periods of lower workload. It advocates first adjusting one's mindset to view downtime positively as opportunity rather than negatively as a problem. Tactics are then presented for comprehensively inventorying available resources and strategically targeting them towards high-impact undertakings. The importance of systematically tracking progress is emphasized. Real-world case examples from marketing and manufacturing industries demonstrate impact. The article concludes by emphasizing how effectively addressing variability through temporary, targeted investments strengthens long-term organizational agility, performance and prosperity.

ДАВЛЕНИЕ НА ПОЧВУ БУНКЕРОВ-ПЕРЕГРУЖАТЕЛЕЙ В РАБОЧИХ ЦИКЛАХ ОБСЛУЖИВАНИЯ ЗЕРНОУБОРОЧНЫХ КОМБАЙНОВ

The problem of soil compaction by heavy transport equipment used to transport grain from combines, the solution of which is associated with the use of bunker-loaders (BL), is currently becoming more acute. However, the lack of indicators of the pressure on the soil of their running systems (when moving across fields) and the methodology for assessing the impact of BL on the soil with different body loads of grain, prevent comparative assessments of BL and an objective choice by agricultural producers of samples with the lowest pressure on the soil. The distances of passes across the field in the working cycles of BL for the variants of the number of combines serviced are modeled using original formulas as a result of research. It was found that the total length of the BL run across the field Ltotal in the working cycle is directly proportional to the length of the run Lg of the harvested field and the number of combines serviced. It consists of separate sections-passages characterized by successively increasing soil compaction, the value of which in turn depends on the mass of the loaded grain and the number of support wheels of the BP. The proposed expression for calculating the vertical load on the wheels of the bunker-loader, taking into account the change in the weight of the grain in the body, provides the ability to calculate the maximum pressure on the sections of the BP movement across the field when servicing combines for subsequent comparison with the regulated permissible pressure. It was found that with each loading of grain from the combine bunker, the maximum pressure of the wheels on the soil increases by 104 and 80 kPa for BP with four support wheels and by 38-50 kPa - with eight support wheels, with an increase in pressure to 382-394 kPa and with an excess of the permissible value by 1.8-1.9 times. When working with grain reception in a heavy-duty BP from three bunkers of TORUM combines instead of the possible four, the maximum pressure on the soil is reduced by 9.9% (from 382 to 344 kPa), and when receiving grain from two bunkers - by 20.7% (from 382 to 302 kPa).

Health behaviours and affective states of partners of fly‐in fly‐out workers: A daily diary study

AbstractPartners of fly‐in fly‐out (FIFO) workers face increases in demands, for instance in care and family responsibilities, particularly in the absence of workers; however, little is known about how their daily life experiences influence their health across the FIFO work cycle. This study examined the within‐person effects of workload, job control and social support on affective states and health behaviours of partners of FIFO workers. Forty‐four (N = 44) partners of FIFO workers completed online diary surveys on affective states and health behaviours once a day for 28 consecutive days during on‐and off‐shift periods of the FIFO worker. Multilevel models were used to analyse day‐level data. The results of the study demonstrated significant differences in partners' depressed affect and alcohol consumption during both on‐ and off‐shift periods of FIFO workers. Daily increases in workload were associated with anxious affect, whereas daily increases in job control and social support were associated with low depressed affect and positive affect in partners of FIFO workers. Daily increase in social support was also found to be associated with an increase in daily alcohol intake. Interventions could support partners in managing the daily workload and encouraging the creation of social support networks in partners of FIFO workers.

The Use of Heart Rate Measures to Evaluate Stress Levels among Air Traffic Controllers

This paper looks at the possibility of using a heart rate monitor to evaluate stress levels among Air Traffic Controllers (ATCOs). Air Traffic Control (ATC) service requires constant good planning, situation awareness, and always making sound decisions. A study was conducted on two ATCOs for three complete work cycles: the morning shift from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., the afternoon shift from 4 p.m. to 12 a.m., and the night shift from 12 a.m. to 8 a.m. Both participants have different roles, with Subject A being a planner controller while Subject B is a radar controller. The study used the NASA Task Load Index (NASA-TLX) survey to collect the subjective workload rating and a heart rate monitor armband to measure the heart rate reading of an ATCO and then compare it with the number of aircraft within the controlled area. Two hypotheses were investigated: the first one is the relationship between the number of traffic and heart rate readings, and the second hypothesis is the relationship between the elapsed working time and heart rate reading. The Spearman correlation test has been used to determine these relationships. Based on the results, a p-value of less than 0.05 and a positive correlation indicates a significant relationship between the number of aircraft and heart rate readings for both subjects. Elapsed time and heart rate measurement, on the other hand, do not significantly correlate with a p-value greater than 0.05 and a negative correlation was produced for both subjects. The unweighted NASA-TLX workload measure confirmed the findings for Subject A but not for Subject B. This might be due to the different roles carried out by both subjects during the experiment. This shows that different work tasks resulted in different workload-induced factors. The results show a promising outcome of using a heart rate monitor to evaluate stress levels among ATCOs. However, more subjects were needed to enable the use of this concept for future purposes of measuring ATCO stress levels to manage workload.

Comparative Study on the Anti Sliding Performance of Circular and Rectangular Cross-section Anti-Sliding Piles

Anti-slide pile is a retaining structure commonly used in large-scale landslide reinforcement. It usually adopts large cross-section rectangle pile by artificial excavation, but the defects of this pile are long work cycle, large excavation disturbances and personnel safety of builders in hole can't get effective guarantee in the rainy season and stratum saturated by water. However, the circle section pile has advantages of applying rotary pile drill into holes, high efficiency pore-forming, small excavation disturbances, and the option of aperture convenient and flexible. The circle section pile has obvious superiority to large cross-section rectangle pile. But the mechanism and design calculation of anti-slide pile group with the space frame structure of circle section has not the existing specification to adopt. This study aims to contrast and discuss the anti-sliding effectiveness between circle and rectangle section anti-pile through experiment.

Von Neumann Entropy and Evolution

In this paper I outline a hypothesis where quantum information in the form of von Neumann entropy provides a universal driving force for increasing complexity of systems and for evolutionary processes. Interference between quantum states of interacting systems allows storage of free energy that can be used to overcome kinetic barriers and accelerate reactions. This informational work cycle is analogous to entanglement in quantum Carnot engines where energy is stored as phase or so-called phaseonium fuel. The von Neumann entropy subadditivity and Araki-Lieb inequality properties of combined states can lower effective entropy and favour routes to increasing complexity of systems. It is proposed that observed macroscopic evolutionary processes are the emergent manifestation of this microscopic informational drive to complexity.

Optimization and performance assessment of Ag@SiO2 core–shell nanofluids for spectral splitting PV/T system: Theoretical and experiment analysis

Ag@SiO2 nanofluid is widely used in spectral splitting PV/T system. Its core–shell structure has great influence on the optical properties. In this work, we focus on the comprehensive analysis and structure optimization of Ag@SiO2 nanofluid to achieve its optimal spectral performance. DDA method is used to predict the optical properties of Ag@SiO2 nanofluid and an optimization model based on filter efficiency is proposed. The effect of the SiO2 shell thickness and Ag core mass concentration is analyzed. It indicates that the spectral performance of Ag@SiO2 nanofluid can be improved with SiO2 shell thickness of 15–40 nm and Ag core mass concentration of 81–135 mg/L. To achieve the same theoretical merit function of 1.46, the usage of Ag mass can be reduced by 25/33/44/62 % with SiO2 coating of 10/20/40/70 nm. The optimal structure to achieve the highest filter efficiency η of 37.8 % is with a shell thickness of 20 nm and a mass concentration of 113.9 mg/L. An indoor PV/T operation testing is conducted to verify the optimization results. The merit function of Ag-based nanofluids increases from 1.58 to 1.598 and a reduction in Ag usage of 17 % is achieved with a SiO2 coating shell of 17.8 nm. Operation stability is also enhanced with no aggregation observed during the working cycle and 7-day static experiment.

Parametric identification of coefficients for a model of fatigue stiffness degradation of a composite material

The problem of finding the fatigue characteristics of a composite material based on test results is considered. The results of endurance tests of unidirectional polymer composite materials with different initial stiffness, breaking stress and working cycle stress were used as the initial data. As a mathematical model of stiffness degradation, a nonlinear ordinary differential equation with five unknown parameters is used, reflecting characteristic changes in the properties of the material. It is required to find such parameter values that the solution of the differential equation should describe the available test results with sufficient accuracy. The solution procedure is reduced to the problem of optimizing the objective function, the value of which characterizes the achieved accuracy. As optimization methods, a method simulating the behavior of a flock of moths and a method of sequential reduction of the search set were used. A step-by-step algorithm for finding unknown model parameters is proposed, and numerical results of processing input data containing information on changing the elasticity modulus of the composite material in the course of applying load cycles are presented.

Mobile Application Development for Prepaid Water Meter Based on LC Sensor

This study presents a novel low-cost and low-power prepaid water meter system that combines tokenization and LC sensors to monitor water consumption accurately with mobile application via Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) connectivity compared to conventional meters. Water meters play a vital role in monitoring water usage in Indonesia. Postpaid billing methods that rely on manual data recording are a source of concern due to potential inaccuracies caused by human error. This study presents the development of a prepaid water meter system that integrates LC sensors, BLE connectivity, a tokenization mechanism, and a mobile application to address this issue. The system offers a cost-effective solution by utilizing BLE + Global System for Mobile (GSM) from the user’s mobile phone. Using the design thinking methodology, the mobile application for the prepaid water meter achieved a usability testing score of 80. The load testing results for the back-end server, conducted with a sample size of 515 users, revealed a back-end latency of 1.973 milliseconds and an error rate of 8.74%. Furthermore, the LC sensors integrated into the PWM device showed an average error rate of 1.33%. The power consumption during each work cycle was measured at 129 mA and each battery is expected to last six years. Overall, with simple LC sensors, this system can precisely measure water usage.

Radiative heat transfer to enhance the performance of liquid metal-based phase change heat sink under natural convection condition

Liquid metal phase change materials have the advantages of high thermal conductivity and high volumetric latent heat, which are expected to address the growing challenges of thermal management of advanced electronics. In previous studies, the effect of radiative heat transfer from fins of a phase change heat sink on thermal management performance has rarely been considered. In this study, radiative coating materials with high emissivity were prepared and coated on the fins of the liquid metal phase change heat sink. The effect of radiative heat transfer on the performance of liquid metal phase change heat sink was investigated. The experimental results of continuous heating under natural convection conditions show that the introduction of the radiative coating with an emissivity of 0.9298 can extend the time for the surface temperature of the heat source to reach 100 °C by 9.4%, while shortening the recovery time of the phase change heat sink by 14.9%. The results of high-power cyclic heating indicate that the high emissivity coating can reduce the peak temperature by 16.6 °C in the tenth working cycle. A simplified numerical model was subsequently developed and validated to determine the specific effects of phase change and radiative heat transfer on the overall thermal control performance. The radiation-enhanced liquid metal phase change heat sink proposed in this study is simple and maintenance-free. It is expected to address the thermal management issues of electronic devices that cannot use active cooling or operate in thin-air environments.

Even if you build it, they may not come: challenges in the uptake of workplace mental health toolkits

BackgroundStrategies to promote workplace mental health can target system, organization, team, and individual levels exclusively or in concert with each other. Creating toolkits that include these different levels is an emerging innovative strategy to support employees working in various sectors. Our paper describes the development, implementation, and refinement of two different online toolkits: the Healthy Professional Worker Toolkit for Education Workers and the Health Worker Burnout Toolkit.MethodsThe Knowledge to Action Framework guided the team during the development and early interventions phases of toolkit development. Stakeholder engagement regarding the intended use of the toolkit of promising practices for workplace interventions was integrated throughout with different forms of feedback in a research capacity between 2022 and 2024.ResultsReflecting on the different phases of the KTA Framework, we describe first the engagement involved in building the toolkits and then on their utilization. Our toolkits were built to include different resources aimed at empowering workers, teams, and employers offering innovative ideas to address the mental health-leaves of absence and return to work cycle in one case and the different forms and consequences of burnout in the other. Criteria for inclusion were informed by ongoing research with a range of stakeholders and other intended toolkit users including managers, supervisors, executives, human resource specialists, staff, and others in healthcare and educational organizations and settings. In the implementation phase, the volume of resources available in each toolkit considered a strength by some was overwhelming for some partners and individual workers to navigate. Capacity, engagement, time, and readiness for change, are themes that heavily influenced if and when organizations interacted with each toolkit, and how much time they spent exploring the resources provided.ConclusionIt is critical to ground toolkits in the experiential evidence of workplace mental health as is linking these to evidence-informed interventions that correspond to workplace concerns. Organizational readiness to adopt and adapt resources and implement changes is a key consideration. Ultimately, user engagement is what brought these toolkits to life.

Мебель «Лесной серии» С. Т. Конёнкова как образец синтезированного художественного языка

The research relies on a comprehensive approach, a formally stylistic analysis of over 60 pieces from the “Forest Series” by S. T. Konenkov, including furniture, as well as statements by its author. The aim of the study is to reveal the multi-level synthesized nature of the works, namely the synthesis of art forms, styles, genres, technical and methodological dominants, and deep generalizations of historical and religious content. The synthesis of genres is particularly evident in the investigated cycle of works as a whole, and their complex combinations are found in a number of individual pieces of furniture. As a result, the conclusion is made that it is precisely this specificity of the artistic language that allowed the sculptor to express the deep symbolic content, preserving the centuries-old connotations of Russian national art. The research is novel in that it is the first one to analyze the multi-level synthesized character of the works of furniture in the “Forest Series” by S. T. Konenkov, namely the synthesis of art forms, styles, genres, technical and methodological dominants, and deep generalizations of historical and religious content.

Integration of Agile Technologies in Internal Audit

The study is devoted to the processes of integration of Agile technologies in internal audits. It was determined that Agile is a method and a way of thinking simultaneously, which ensures timeliness of receiving information, quick response to risks, and acceleration of audit cycles, thanks to which the effect of value creation is achieved for both top management and stakeholders. The analysis of statistical studies of the implementation of Agile technologies allowed the authors to conclude that the Agile approach is increasingly used in enterprises to achieve planned results, and to single out key changes in the concepts of internal audit, which became possible thanks to the implementation of the Agile approach. It is noted that there is no single path for transitioning to the use of Agile methodology for all organisations. In addition, such a transition can cause difficulties associated with rethinking the audit process. That is why the authors attempted to unify the work cycles of the internal Agile audit.

Real-Time Detection of Internal Short Circuits in Lithium-Ion Batteries using an Extend Kalman Filter

Concerns over fuel scarcity and environmental degradation largely drive the increasing popularity of electric vehicles (EVs). Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), known for their high energy and power densities, are the favored power source for EVs. Over the past few decades, research has been concentrated on ensuring these batteries operate efficiently, safely, and reliably. A key issue impacting the safety of Li-ion batteries is thermal runaway (TR), which can lead to hazardous battery fires. Internal short circuits (ISCs) are often the primary cause of these TR incidents, making the early detection of spontaneous ISC formation a pivotal diagnostic task. This research introduces an innovative ISC detection technique for cylindrical Li-ion battery cells. This technique is based on the augmentation of the model state vector in an extended Kalman filter (EKF), combining both classical voltage measurements to surface temperature observations. This framework enables real-time estimation of the internal ISC state while maintaining computational efficiency. The proposed method is tested numerically considering a high-fidelity numerical plant cycled using charge-depleting tests that mimic a practical battery cell working cycle at various C rates and at different ambient temperatures to account for both load and environmental uncertainties. The results demonstrate the robustness and effectiveness of the method. In addition, the method has been proven to be computationally efficient, demonstrating the feasibility of its real-time implementation.

The Study of the Balancing Process for Starting Rotors in Heavy-Duty Vehicles: An Industrial Application

In the heavy-duty vehicle industry, unbalance in the armature is one of the most common problems affecting starters’ performance and durability. This research presents a comprehensive study to improve the balancing process for starting rotors in heavy-duty vehicles. The complete manufacturing process of armatures was analyzed to understand the contribution of assembly processes to unbalancing. The analysis revealed that the primary factor leading to high unbalance in these parts is the misalignment of conductors within the armature winding. During assembly, these conductors experience axial movements, resulting in non-uniform mass distribution and causing unbalanced values ranging from 150 to 350 g·mm. These values surpass the permissible limit, making rectification during the balancing process at the end of the assembly impossible. Consequently, a novel alignment tool was designed to address this issue, significantly reducing the effect and achieving the maximum allowable unbalance of 100 g·mm. This allowed the balancing machine used in the process to correct the initial unbalance of the reinforcements in a single work cycle, improving operation efficiency by about 15%.

Environmental Life Cycle Assessment of Innovative Ejectors Plant Technology for Sediment by-Pass in Harbours and Ports

Sedimentation is the natural process of sediment transportation and deposition in quiescent water conditions. Sedimentation can affect the functionality of ports, harbours and navigation channels by reducing water depth, making navigation difficult, if not impossible. Different solutions are available to guarantee infrastructure functionality against sedimentation, with maintenance dredging being the most widely adopted. Alternative technologies for dredging have been developed and tested to reduce the environmental concerns related to dredging operations. Among other solutions, applying a sediment by-pass system based on a jet pump emerged as one of the most promising. While the existing literature covers the techno-economic aspects of sediment by-pass systems, the environmental impacts must be better evaluated and assessed. This paper aims to resolve this gap by evaluating, through the ReCiPe2016 life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology, the environmental impact of an innovative sediment by-pass system called an “ejectors plant”. The LCA results are based on the demonstrator established in Cervia Harbour in Italy, which was extensively monitored for 15 months during its operation. This paper shows how energy consumption during the operation phase highly affects the considered midpoint and endpoint categories. For example, the GWP100 of the ejectors plant, considering the Italian electricity mix, equals 1.75 million tons of equivalent CO2 over 20 years, while under a low-carbon scenario, it is reduced to 0.17. In that case, material consumption in the construction phase becomes dominant, thus highlighting the importance of eco-innovation of ejectors plants to minimise oxidant formation. Finally, this paper compares the ejectors plant and traditional dredging through environmental LCA. The ejectors plant had a lower impact in all categories except for GWP-related categories. The sensitivity analysis showed how such a conclusion may be mitigated by considering different electricity mixes and maintenance dredging working cycles.

Research on energy consumption evaluation and energy-saving design of cranes in service based on structure-mechanism coupling

Aiming at the problem that the life cycle energy consumption index of hoisting machinery is difficult to be objectively quantified, a crane energy consumption evaluation calculation method based on the working cycle of the service period is proposed, the typical service working mode of the crane is analyzed, and the working cycle process of the mechanism is clarified. On this basis, the stress cycle characteristics of the crane structure during the service period are determined based on the coupling relationship between the mechanism and the structure, which lays the foundation for accurately evaluating the life index of the crane. According to the relationship between the load rate and effective power of each mechanism during the service period of the crane, the calculation method for the evaluation and calculation of the structure energy consumption during the service period of the crane is studied. Finally, the crane is designed based on the concept of absolute service safety, and an optimal design model of the main girder structure of the crane with the goal of the lowest energy consumption in service is established. Using the research method of this paper to study a certain type of bridge crane, the energy consumption of the hoisting machinery during its service period is not only related to the accumulation of the operating characteristics of the mechanism but also related to the characteristic parameters such as the structure self-weight. The comprehensive evaluation of energy consumption provides an effective quantitative method and a reliable green design theory for crane design.