Prototype Design Research Articles

Configuration and Kinematics of a 3-DOF Generalized Spherical Parallel Mechanism for Ankle Rehabilitation

The kinematic equivalent model of an existing ankle-rehabilitation robot is inconsistent with the anatomical structure of the human ankle, which influences the rehabilitation effect. Therefore, this study equates the human ankle to the UR model and proposes a novel three degrees of freedom (3-DOF) generalized spherical parallel mechanism for ankle rehabilitation. The parallel mechanism has two spherical centers corresponding to the rotation centers of tibiotalar and subtalar joints. Using screw theory, the mobility of the parallel mechanism, which meets the requirements of the human ankle, is analyzed. The inverse kinematics are presented, and singularities are identified based on the Jacobian matrix. The workspaces of the parallel mechanism are obtained through the search method and compared with the motion range of the human ankle, which shows that the parallel mechanism can meet the motion demand of ankle rehabilitation. Additionally, based on the motion-force transmissibility, the performance atlases are plotted in the parameter optimal design space, and the optimum parameter is obtained according to the demands of practical applications. The results show that the parallel mechanism can meet the motion requirements of ankle rehabilitation and has excellent kinematic performance in its rehabilitation range, which provides a theoretical basis for the prototype design and experimental verification.

Fast Shutter optioneering study for the ITER Disruption Mitigation System

ITER needs a Disruption Mitigation System (DMS) for protection from the consequences of plasma disruptions during high-power operation. The current DMS for ITER is based on the Shattered Pellet Injection (SPI) technology. This works on the basic principle of a cryogenic pipe gun with around a half-meter-long acceleration barrel. It is important to avoid any contact between the pellet and the internal surfaces of the flight line to minimize the risk of premature pellet breakage. Therefore, the internal dimensions of the flight tube of the SPI are relatively large compared to the pellet hence providing a bypass for propellant gas resulting in a significant quantity arriving in the plasma ahead of the pellet. This will cause an undesirable instability in the plasma and compromise the effectiveness of disruption mitigation. The described events appear on a scale of a few milliseconds. One possible solution for this issue could be using a fast-acting shutter in the flight line, which will close after the pellet has passed through to hold back the propellant gas. Due to the environmental requirements, the shutter needs to close an approximately 40 mm aperture within a few ms, the shutter has limited space and limited access and acts under a magnetic field, therefore it should endure a high number of cycles and should perform well in a very demanding situation. This paper describes the optioneering study of the shutter and possible solutions for the demanding criteria. The laboratory testing of the Electromechanical Test Bench and the Prototype design are also detailed in separate papers.

Gender literacy through the making process: A feminist pedagogy approach

This article aims at exploring how to support students' awareness on gender stereotypes and the development of gender literacy through the making process of interactive toys. I present a case study with 22 primary students (11–12 years) from a public primary school in Barcelona, Spain who were involved in a maker workshop series. Building on principles of transformative feminist pedagogy, the article shows exemplary design activities for children to create a space for dialogue and reflection upon gender stereotypes. To this end, the activities were used as a means to spark critical reflections among the students and to guide them in the design of prototypes of cross-gendered interactive toys. By analyzing students’ artifacts and verbal expressions during the discussions, the study illustrates how they gradually discover their own assumptions on gender stereotypes and were enabled to propose cross-gendered alternatives for interactive toys focusing on movement-based and collaborative activities. Finally, the article presents a set of educational activities that support students to reflect upon gender stereotypes in the making process and guidelines for teachers to integrate these strategies into their educational practices.

Tangible digital twin with shared visualization for collaborative air traffic management operations

In recent years, digital twin technology has become increasingly popular and been widely applied across different industries including air traffic management (ATM). While previous studies on digital twin in ATM focused on factors such as system architecture, synthetic data generation and transfer, and real-time simulation, there is currently a lack of research on visualization and interaction design of digital twin from human factors’ perspective. Moreover, recent advances in virtual and mixed reality (VR/MR) technology give potential for designing interactive digital twin in 3D space that can assist human operators in performing their duties. Therefore, this research aims to explore visualization and interaction design of an MR-based digital twin prototype that can assist air traffic controllers (ATCOs) in carrying out ground control tasks. Specifically, MR headsets (Microsoft HoloLens 2) are leveraged to project out-of-tower view of airport traffic onto a 3D printed airport model at a 1:1 scale. The spatially aligned tangible system enables ATCOs to perform typical ATM operations by directly touching the 3D printed airport model. In addition, collaborative features are implemented into the system, which enable multiple ATCOs to have a shared view of the airport traffic and collaboratively perform ATM operations when wearing the MR headsets. Finally, a user study was conducted with the recruitment of ten licensed ATCOs to investigate usability of the system and ATCOs’ workload, situational awareness and trust when using the system. The feedback from the ATCOs in the user study suggested that: (1) The visual and interactive design were acceptable; (2) The ATCOs indicated varied workload under different scenarios; (3) The ATCOs developed a high level of shared situational awareness with shared view of the system; and (4) The ATCOs were open and confident to use the system in its’ mature form. The findings show that the MR-based tangible airport digital tower system has high potential in collaborative ATM operations by improving user performance and user experience.

The Development of Augmented Reality As English Learning Media in Junior High School

The existence of learning media on various platforms provides variety and assistance for teachers in delivering learning materials. Not much has been developed in educational media compared to entertainment media such as gaming, films, songs, dance, and music. Educational media need to be packaged in a simple, effective, and efficient manner and respond to the needs of today’s students. In the context of the world of learning English at the junior high school level, learning media is needed as an effort to provide real experience in terms of honing English communication skills. Augmented Reality is one of the media that is able to bridge the needs of students, namely making abstract learning experiences feel concrete. Therefore, this research aims to design learning media for junior high school English on the basis of Augmented Reality with content containing stories from North Sumatra. The research method applied in this study is Research & Development. Data acquisition techniques used were documentation, questionnaires, interviews, and tests which were applied in accordance with nine research stages, namely: (1) identification and analysis of media needs; (2) collection of media materials and tools; (3) development of media prototype designs; (4) implementation media prototype; (5) media prototype validation; (6) media prototype revision; (7) media trial on junior high school students; (8) final revision; and (9) media prototype that has been tested. The final result of this study contains AR in the form of flash cards. AR markers are printed on cards and students only focus their smartphone cameras on markers that have been printed in card form. After the camera has successfully scanned the marker, a learning video will appear. There are five cards (markers) in this study, and each card will play a different learning video.
 Keywords: augmented reality, media, English, junior high school

50.3 ps time resolution and an 11-channel time measuring chip for Topmetal detectors

The Topmetal detector, utilized in this investigation, is a direct-type CMOS pixel sensor known for its distinctive feature of employing exposed metal at the top of each pixel to directly capture external charged particles. This method generates electrical signals through the induction of charge. At present, it is mainly used in gas pixel detector(GPD) and particle beam monitoring. In this paper, we present a new front-end design aimed at enhancing the capabilities of the Topmetal pixel detector. The focus is on incorporating a Time-Digital Conversion (TDC) ASIC into the front-end, with the objective of achieving high-precision time measurement in addition to superior position resolution. The function of the TDC is achieved by the two reverse delay chains, 11 edge acquisition circuits Time-to-Amplitude Converter (TAC), analog gate, weight count module, and Wilkinson Analog-to-Digital Converter (ADC). Coarse time measurement is implemented based on a counter with a working frequency of 500 MHz, and fine time measurement is implemented by the combination of TAC and ADC. The design prototype was taped out with the GSMCR130 nm technology. Test results show that this circuit can handle up to 11 consecutive cases, with the minimum time interval of adjacent cases being 500 ps and the bin size up to 2 ps. The time measurement precision is better than 50.3 ps RMS and the PVT(Process Voltage Temperature) robustness of the input delay chain circuit is validated, showing the stable performance of the design.

SUSTAINABLE MODULAR PROTOTYPE WITH BAMBOO FOR COMMUNITY CENTERS

This contribution presents the results of research carried out in two areas of the Peruvian Amazon within the framework of two community projects for technology transfer and capacity development in construction with bamboo, with the objective of designing and building a modular prototype with bamboo for 1/1 scale with the function of a community center, capable of incorporating sustainable strategies, replicability and adaptability, as an architectural alternative to the deterioration of the Amazonian natural and cultural habitat. The methodology contemplates two phases of experimentation, the first of design and construction of the Model Prototype in the Southwest Amazon (Pilcopata), studying the local context, the bamboo species, the participatory construction process, to formulate the modular proposal with the function of a Center Tourist Community; the second validation of the Prototype, identifying the bamboo species and adding a module in the design format for use in the Communal Transformation Center in the Central Amazon (Native Community of Pampa Michi), both executed with the local population. Among the results, the efficiency, practicality and flexibility of the design and construction stand out, and the verification of sustainable strategies, with the use of carbon neutral materials such as bamboo, the revaluation of traditional knowledge with palm leaves and the replicability in similar conditions with models of participatory learning, which validate the Prototype. In a third phase, the construction processes are systematized, being part of the Manual for the construction of light structures with bamboo in Peru.

Baba is Y'all 2.0: Design and Investigation of a Collaborative Mixed-Initiative System

This paper describes a new version of the mixed-initiative collaborative level designing system: Baba is Y'all, as well as the results of a user study on the system. Baba is Y'all is a prototype for AI-assisted game design in collaboration with others. The updated version includes a more user-friendly interface, a better level-evolver and recommendation system, and extended site features. The system was evaluated via a user study where participants were required to play a previously submitted level from the site and then create their own levels using the editor. They reported on their individual process creating the level and their overall experience interacting with the site. The results have shown both the benefits and limitations of this mixed-initiative system and how it can help with creating a diversity of ‘Baba is You’ levels that are both human and AI designed while maintaining their quality.

Closed-loop control of a 3D printed soft actuator with integrated flex sensors and SMA wires

This article presents a soft SMA-driven actuator capable of achieving desired bending angles. To create the actuator, flex sensors and Shape memory alloy (SMA) wires were embedded into the thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) matrix of the sample during the 3D printing process. By deactivating and activating the two SMA wires according to sensing signals from the flex sensors, the actuator sample can track the input bending angle. This approach enabled closed-loop control and improved the overall efficiency of the system. Additionally, the proposed manufacturing process provides a simple and cost-effective solution for the rapid prototyping and custom design of smart materials with complex structures and high resolutions.

Meta‐atom design and communication prototype for wideband reconfigurable intelligent surface

AbstractExisting research on reconfigurable intelligent surfaces (RIS) has mainly focused on narrowband applications due to limitations in programmable metasurfaces and field prototype realization. This letter introduces a wideband RIS meta‐atom consisting of a single‐layer frequency selective surface supported by a dogbone‐shaped patch, ensuring a stable linear phase interval around the resonant frequency. A RIS communication prototype is constructed to evaluate its phase bandwidth upper limit and fundamental bandwidth properties. An equivalent circuit model is derived to predesign the wideband RIS meta‐atom, controlled by a varactor, and experimental validation in an anechoic chamber confirms its large bandwidth. Additionally, a wideband RIS‐assisted self‐contained prototype is demonstrated to illustrate the bandwidth characteristics and link gain enhancement at a system level. Test results indicate a researched bandwidth of up to 19.65%, with the 1‐bit RIS board achieving a 3‐dB gain bandwidth of about 8.62%.

Design of prototype for the short circuit protection of DC bus using Arduino Uno and DSP controller

Micro-grids (MGs) play a prominent role in the exchange of bulk power between loads and the central grid. MG can run in an islanding mode or grid-connected mode. When the central grid fails to provide power in such situations, MGs serves as power sources for critical facilities such as coordination facilities in railway stations and airports, transportation, university and research facilities. MGs use energy sources such as solar, wind, hydro, geothermal, and biomass to produce electricity along with rechargeable batteries, aircraft applications is continuously increasing. This leads to the development of DC MGs. A model of DC MG is located at the disaster management lab in the Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering. The MG consists of step-downed and rectified DC power supply from conventional 230 V AC source, a PV array, wind, and a battery bank a source supplying power to a set of nine DC loads. Although DC MGs have many advantages compared to AC MGs, one of the challenges faced is the study of faults and protection of the DC MG. In this paper, a prototype for the existing system in the disaster management lab is designed in hardware and tested.

Applying human-centered design to the construction of a cirrhosis management clinical decision support system.

Electronic health record (EHR)-based clinical decision support is a scalable way to help standardize clinical care. Clinical decision support systems have not been extensively investigated in cirrhosis management. Human-centered design (HCD) is an approach that engages with potential users in intervention development. In this study, we applied HCD to design the features and interface for a clinical decision support system for cirrhosis management, called CirrhosisRx. We conducted technical feasibility assessments to construct a visual blueprint that outlines the basic features of the interface. We then convened collaborative-design workshops with generalist and specialist clinicians. We elicited current workflows for cirrhosis management, assessed gaps in existing EHR systems, evaluated potential features, and refined the design prototype for CirrhosisRx. At the conclusion of each workshop, we analyzed recordings and transcripts. Workshop feedback showed that the aggregation of relevant clinical data into 6 cirrhosis decompensation domains (defined as common inpatient clinical scenarios) was the most important feature. Automatic inference of clinical events from EHR data, such as gastrointestinal bleeding from hemoglobin changes, was not accepted due to accuracy concerns. Visualizations for risk stratification scores were deemed not necessary. Lastly, the HCD co-design workshops allowed us to identify the target user population (generalists). This is one of the first applications of HCD to design the features and interface for an electronic intervention for cirrhosis management. The HCD process altered features, modified the design interface, and likely improved CirrhosisRx's overall usability. The finalized design for CirrhosisRx proceeded to development and production and will be tested for effectiveness in a pragmatic randomized controlled trial. This work provides a model for the creation of other EHR-based interventions in hepatology care.

A Comprehensive Strategy for Stepwise Design of a Lab PROTOTYPE for the Removal of Emerging Contaminants in Water Using Cyclodextrin Polymers as Adsorbent Material.

The significant environmental issue of water pollution caused by emerging contaminants underscores the imperative for developing novel cleanup methods that are efficient, economically viable, and that are intended to operate at high capacity and under continuous flows at the industrial scale. This study shows the results of the operational design to build a prototype for the retention at lab scale of pollutant residues in water by using as adsorbent material, insoluble polymers prepared by β-cyclodextrin and epichlorohydrin as a cross-linking agent. Laboratory in-batch tests were run to find out the adsorbent performances against furosemide and hydrochlorothiazide as pollutant models. The initial evaluation concerning the dosage of adsorbent, pH levels, agitation, and concentration of pharmaceutical pollutants enabled us to identify the optimal conditions for conducting the subsequent experiments. The adsorption kinetic and the mechanisms involved were evaluated revealing that the experimental data perfectly fit the pseudo second-order model, with the adsorption process being mainly governed by chemisorption. With KF constant values of 0.044 (L/g) and 0.029 (L/g) for furosemide and hydrochlorothiazide, respectively, and the determination coefficient (R2) being higher than 0.9 for both compounds, Freundlich yielded the most favorable outcomes, suggesting that the adsorption process occurs on heterogeneous surfaces involving both chemisorption and physisorption processes. The maximum monolayer adsorption capacity (qmax) obtained by the Langmuir isotherm revealed a saturation of the β-CDs-EPI polymer surface 1.45 times higher for furosemide (qmax = 1.282 mg/g) than hydrochlorothiazide (qmax = 0.844 mg/g). Based on these results, the sizing design and building of a lab-scale model were carried out, which in turn will be used later to evaluate its performance working in continuous flow in a real scenario.

Design and Development of an IoT System Prototype for Safe Traffic Assurance System

In 18 months (from 2022 to the first 6 months of 2023), there were 16,229 road traffic accidents nationwide, killing 9,086 people and injuring 11,235 people. In the first 9 months of 2023 alone, there were 8,335 traffic accidents nationwide, killing 4,765 people and injuring 5,802 people. Traffic order and safety are one of the important issues related to the life and development of the country. According to statistics from the World Health Organization (WHO), each year about 1.35 million people die and 50 million people are injured due to traffic accidents. Some serious traffic accidents, killing and injuring many people, are mainly caused by high speed and violation of the regulations on alcohol concentration. Therefore, implementing safe traffic solutions to minimize loss of life and property is one of the urgent needs. The project develops an IoT system prototype that can reduce the risks of traffic accidents through a continuous monitoring of parameters during participation in traffic by vehicles. The system integrates sensors, including gas sensors (detection of alcohol concentration), vibration sensors (detection of accidents), and infrared sensors (detection of the seat belts). In case of any accident, the system can send warnings and location information to the relevant systems.

Dynamic simulation and performance analysis of a solid-state barocaloric refrigeration system

Barocaloric refrigeration technology is a promising candidate for next-generation refrigeration technologies attributed to its eco-friendliness, high efficiency, and mechanical stability. To date, research in this field has predominantly focused on the exploration of solid-state refrigerants. However, the development of barocaloric systems is currently hindered by a lack of both prototype models and a comprehensive theoretical foundation. Addressing this gap, this study innovatively introduces the first model of a barocaloric refrigeration system, characterized by efficient hydrostatic pressure transitions and rapid heat and cold extraction. The employed refrigerant, neopentyl glycol, is notable for its low cost and significant barocaloric effect. Through the development of a one-dimensional dynamic numerical model for the system, this study investigates the system's temperature variability and operational efficiency under varying design parameters and operating conditions. Simulations suggest that the system could achieve a maximum COP of 13.1 and a refrigeration capacity of 106.4 W at a temperature span of 10 K. Additionally, the system is capable of reaching a maximum temperature span of 18 K under no-load conditions. This research not only underscores the theoretical viability of barocaloric refrigeration, but also provide crucial theoretical support and guidance for the design and construction of the first-generation barocaloric refrigeration prototype.

Human-centered design and evaluation of a workplace for the remote assistance of highly automated vehicles

Remotely operating vehicles utilize the benefits of vehicle automation when fully automated driving is not yet possible. A human operator ensures safety and availability from afar and supports the vehicle automation when its capabilities are exceeded. The remote operator, conceptualized as remote assistant, fulfills the legal requirements in Germany as a Technical Supervisor to operate highly automated vehicles at Society of Automotive Engineers 4. To integrate the remote operator into the automated driving system, a novel user-centered human–machine interface (HMI) for a remote assistant’s workplace was developed and initially evaluated. The insights gained in this process were incorporated into the design of a workplace prototype for remote assistance. This prototype was tested in the study reported here by 34 participants meeting the professional background criteria for the role of Technical Supervisor according to the German law. Typical scenarios that may occur in highly automated driving and require remote assistance were created in a simulation environment. Even under elevated cognitive load induced by simultaneously engaging in a secondary task, participants were able to obtain sufficient situation awareness and quickly resolve the scenarios. The HMI also yielded favorable usability and acceptance ratings. The results of this study inform the iterative workplace development and further research on the remote assistance of highly automated vehicles.

Design of An Internet of Things-Based Intelligent Cutlery Cleaning Tool

Technology that continues to develop has given rise to many new technologies that help humans work; one example is washing dishes. Because this work is quite time-consuming, it created an automatic dishwasher based on the Internet of Things (IoT). This tool aims to build a tool that can help homemakers complete one of their homework, namely washing tableware. This research was conducted by making a prototype design using Arduino Mega 2560 and NodeMCU and supported by Android applications using the XML programming language. In the application, there are control and monitoring features. The control feature in the application will control the number of rounds of water used, while the monitoring feature is used to monitor the water discharge used during washing. In addition, this tool also uses Firebase as a database used to store data. By incorporating sensors and technology into this appliance, a more efficient, programmable, and customized washing experience is possible. The appliance underwent 27 tests, with an overall success rate of 88,89%.

PresTo: A liquid-filled camera for low-cost imaging in the deep sea

Deep-sea imaging systems are traditionally expensive to manufacture and are physically scaled depending on the operating depth of their housing and the internal camera/lens components. Liquid and epoxy filled instrument designs are increasing in popularity as a way to reduce the cost and size of deep-sea housings. Recent advances in 3D printing have facilitated rapid prototyping of these pressure tolerant deep-sea designs. This study presents the design of PresTo, a liquid-filled pressure tolerant camera manufactured using SLA 3D printing methods. This is a compact and low-cost imaging system filled with deionized water and coated in epoxy to remove all implodable air volumes in the camera. The lens design for PresTo can be easily customized to any focal length and with zoom capabilities using a magnetically driven focus mechanism. Images taken with PresTo likely have minimal image distortions compared to other underwater cameras with flat viewports because, due to the elimination of a flat viewport solely for the reason of pressure isolation, there is an inherent reduction in the refractive indices of the surrounding environment and internal medium. The presented system has been field-tested to depths exceeding 1700 m and has been hydrostatically tested to function beyond 2600 m.

Thermal Performance Analysis of Affordable House in the Equatorial Coastal Area of the Tropics

Affordable housing subsidised by the government in Indonesia often poses many problems, including an uncomfortable internal environment that leads to the massive use of mechanical ventilation. Designing an affordable house undoubtedly faces challenges due to the very small building lots, while it should provide many spatial needs and functions for the occupants’ daily activities. Because of limited funding provided by the government, affordable house design is often based only on basic needs, thus scarcely considering thermal comfort for the occupants. This study evaluates the thermal performance of affordable houses built for the 2018 great earthquake, tsunami, and liquefaction victims in Palu’s coastal area. Field measurements were conducted in an affordable housing complex, and a sample house was selected, representing a raised floor house design prototype. External and internal climate conditions were recorded for nine days to establish the hourly thermal trend. Hobo Onset H21 microclimate stations were used to record external climate conditions, whereas Onset Hobo U12-012 T-RH-Light was employed to record internal thermal conditions. The result showed that the thermal condition in the sample house was intolerably hot. The main cause of these conditions is the design of the roof and building envelope. The selected materials with a high U-value also worsen the thermal conditions in the sample house

Prototype Design of Web-Based Drug Inventory Prediction Application Using Multiple Linear Regression Methods at the X District Health Office

<div><table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="left"><tbody><tr><td align="left" valign="top"><p><em>The need for information systems is currently becoming very important, especially in terms of predicting drug needs in health care facilities, one of which is the health department. The availability of drug inventory prediction applications is expected to help health facility management optimize drug inventory levels so that they can use budgets effectively. The research aims to design an application that can meet the needs and facilitate the process of planning drug needs in health care facilities. This research is highly relevant to the aspects of pharmacy management, pharmacy data analysis, and information systems in the field of health, all of which are important topics in the development of effective and efficient health services. The research method used in this study is a qualitative method using the System Development Life Cycle (SDLC) model approach to develop information systems. The information system developed is a web-based information system that adopts a multiple linear regression system and the use of data mining as an algorithm in predicting drug needs. This is so that the allocation of drug provision budgets can be used effectively. The design of a drug data prediction information system using a linear regression method is intended to facilitate the process of planning drug needs that must be met in healthcare facilities. If this application design is implemented, it will help the management of healthcare facilities to optimize the level of drug inventory. This is because there is already a drug needs selection process that is in accordance with the drug needs condition needed by the hospital formation installation. Suggestions for further research can be developed to obtain information quickly about significant changes in drug needs or the potential risk of stockouts.</em></p><p><em><br /></em></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><strong><em>Keywords: Data Mining, Drug Procurement, Medicine Needs</em></strong>