Hardware Products Research Articles

DEVELOPMENT OF AN AUTOMATED SYSTEM FOR CONTROL OF ECOLOGICAL AND TECHNICAL CONDITION OF GPA

Obsolete equipment of compressor stations of linear production departments of main gas pipelines leads to their frequent breakage and increase in the number of harmful emissions during the operation of such compressor stations as combustion chambers of gas pumping units. In this paper, the features and classification of factors of harmful effects of operating gas pumping units on the environment are considered. The authors also analyzed the main modeling methods, hardware and software products that are used to monitor the environmental and technical condition of gas pumping units. The proposed system of monitoring the environmental and technical condition of gas pumping units - an automated control system, which consists of two levels: the first level - lower, the main task of which is to collect data during the combustion chamber of the gas pumping unit using gas analyzers; top - processes these data, at the same time compares them with the maximum allowable concentrations of harmful substances. This system was developed using Siemens Simatic Step-7 software. The initial data for the development of an information system are pressure, temperature and carbon dioxide. Control of these physical quantities will allow to control their quantity, to minimize their harmful influence for the purpose of improvement of working conditions of operators, drivers on service of gas pumping units on line production departments of the main gas pipelines and for the purpose of reduction of negative impact on environment. The developed automated system successfully analyzes the data in real time and allows to optimize the operating modes of the gas pumping units, reducing operating costs and reducing the number of harmful emissions from the combustion chamber of the gas pumping unit.

Creation of a combined system for treatment of iron-containing wastewater from etching operations

The object of research is the methods of purification of iron-containing wastewater from etching operations, the subject of the study is spent technological solutions of etching and wastewater from the operations of washing enterprises of hardware products. Spent etching solutions are characterized as highly concentrated solutions, and wash water belongs to the category of concentrated solutions containing toxic impurities: heavy metal ions, acids, surfactants. The main problem in the etching area is the processing of used etching solutions. The most progressive creation of combined systems in which the bulk of wastewater is treated in centralized systems with partial return of water to the production process. With such wastewater treatment, the problem arises of reducing the total concentration of iron to less than 1 mg/l. That is why, in accordance with the requirements of environmental legislation on nature management, there is a need for deep additional treatment of such wastewater. The study used the methods of potentiometric titration and chemical deposition, as well as the method of photometric determination. Magnetic cleaning was studied in an experimental magnetic deposition apparatus. The paper presents the results of studies evaluating methods for purifying iron-containing wastewater from etching operations. Improvement is achieved by the creation of technological combined schemes for the purification of iron-containing wastewater, including a magnetic device as an auxiliary element. At the same time, the main volume of wastewater is treated in centralized systems with a partial return of water to the production process. Waste solutions from etching operations are subject to regeneration with return to the production process and partial dosage into the main wastewater stream from washing operations. Deep purification from iron-containing impurities using a magnetic device expands the possibilities of practical implementation of reverse osmosis to obtain «clean» water in centralized systems. This water is applicable for the preparation of process solutions and mixed with industrial water for flushing operations.

Implicated Factors in the Success of E-learning Platforms and Online Laboratories of Experimenting along with Enhancement of their Cybersecurity

This paper presents implicated factors in the success of e-learning platforms and online laboratories of experimenting from two different aspects of view: technical engineering aspect and scientific research aspect. These presented factors are categorized according to different levels: educational level, pedagogical level, technological level, service providing, marketing and management. Furthermore, this paper presents how to enhance the cybersecurity of e-learning platforms and online laboratories of experimenting whereas defining the technical characteristics and financial criteria to choose hardware and software products to concretize this cybersecurity

Creation of a software and hardware product of a real-time system for collecting, accounting and managing data transmission of an intelligent transport system in context of the IoT

Some aspects of the functioning of modern microcontrollers of the Internet of Things in conditions that are close to real-time systems are reviewed in the article. Attention is paid to the aspects of the theory of physical data transmission, the significance of the delay metrics in the data transmission path is substantiated and emphasized. These delays (in view of the generalization of measurement results) determine the control accuracy and controllability of the data processing system as a whole, and also affect the reliability of the results. The process of formalization of the architectural template of a data collecting and accounting system for a control device (which is widespread in intelligent transport systems and the Internet of things) is described. The practical application of the approach in synchronous control through the implementation of a web interface and a control language in a microprocessor system (which can be possible at low traffic transmission rates) is substantiated. In conclusion, a generalization of the scope of application of the developed specialized computer system in transport field is given.

Sales price and service level on a dedicated online service platform: The dynamics under competing reference quality

Hardware manufacturers often use mobile apps to provide value-added services for their product users. These platform-based apps can also serve as a sales outlet for the product. Subsequently, manufacturers consider building their own app platforms over relying on third-party platforms. We propose an optimal control model where a manufacturer produces a physical product and sells it through a platform-based app, which subsequently provides services for the product in a finite time horizon. The instantaneous demand is sensitive to the sales price and service level while the stock of registered customers evolves over time. We derive results from two scenarios: Firm-owned platform and third-party platform. Thereafter, the model is extended to consider a competing platform’s service level as a reference quality. The results imply that it would be better for the manufacturer to build its own platform and operate in-house, if it pursues a higher level of service. In contrast, if the manufacturer intends to develop a larger quantity of registered customers, it would be better to use the third-party platform. However, the service level of the latter will gradually decline. To improve the service quality of the third-party platform, the competing platform’s reference quality level plays a significant role. Regardless of whether the initial reference is higher or lower, the third-party platform will increase the service level in the presence of the reference quality.

Technical standard competition: An ecosystem-view analysis based on stochastic evolutionary game theory

This research addressed two key questions: Which one of the competing technologies can become the de facto technical standard? Under what conditions might this standard arise? Previous studies either ignored the role of complementary suppliers or adopted perfect rationality assumptions, resulting in limited explanatory powers to reality. This study constructs a technology (hardware) selection model involving software vendors and consumers from an ecosystem view. Applying the analysis method of stochastic evolutionary game, three interesting results were found. First, a single technology may become the de facto technical standard, or multiple technologies may coexist. Which equilibrium will emerge depends on the initial state of the game, the performance-price ratio of the two technologies, and the complementarity between hardware and software. Second, it is easier for hardware manufacturers to achieve market monopoly by adopting the strategy of subsidizing software vendors than by improving their own performance-price ratio. Finally, the equilibrium of coexistence may occur in industries where hardware and software are not strongly complementary to each other, and where the development of software is poor. The core mechanism that leads to the coexistence is the inconsistent decision-making pace between consumers and software vendors.

New Model Construction of Enterprise Information Resource Management under e-Commerce

Enterprise information resource management is one of the important branches in the field of information resource management, and it is also the focus and hot spot of information resource management academic research. The arrival of e-commerce era brings opportunities and challenges to enterprise information resource management, which will enter a new stage. Under the environment of e-commerce, the organic combination of enterprise resource planning, supply chain management, customer relationship management, and e-commerce will become an urgent and inevitable choice for enterprises. The purpose of this paper is to establish an innovative model of enterprise information resource management in the e-commerce environment. Combined with the enterprise information resource management in the e-commerce environment, this paper studies the model framework, theoretical system, and technical implementation method of enterprise information resource management. According to the research status of enterprise information resource management, this paper analyzes the enterprise information resource management under the e-commerce environment and adopts the experimental method of simulating the information resource management environment. The idea of “three networks” + “three systems” is put forward. The experimental results show that in 2019, the investment of e-commerce enterprises in hardware products decreased by 3.3% and the proportion of software and information services increased by 2% and 1.3%, respectively. The enterprise information resource management model constructed in this paper has very important practical significance.

How a hydrogen start-up can contribute to the energy transition through the emerging hydrogen economy

How a hydrogen start-up can contribute to the energy transition through the emerging hydrogen economy

Strategic Integration for Hardware and Software Convergence Complexity

Ever-increasing digitization of the physical world and products is driving the growth of software content in manufactured products that requires higher performance in product development and operational excellence to manage the higher project, product, and system complexity. Failure to effectively manage the growing complexity has undermined even companies with best-of-breed quality systems, denting brand equity and depressing sales. Unmanaged complexity is a risk factor for product development and manufacturing supply chains, threatening growth potential of the Internet of Things (IoT) that depends on products becoming smart and connected. Traditional product development organizations plan for a linear increase in the number of components and modules but not an exponential increase in possible interactions due to software. Complexity due to increasing software content in traditionally hardware products is analyzed from the perspective of innovation demand (such as the growth of IoT). Hardware/software convergence complexity is then modeled to determine the basis for strategic product integration. Component interaction coverage is found to provide strategic leverage for managing integration effectiveness.

Current and future trends of additive manufacturing for chemistry applications: a review.

Three-dimensional (3-D) printing, also known as additive manufacturing, refers to a method used to generate a physical object by joining materials in a layer-by-layer process from a three-dimensional virtual model. 3-D printing technology has been traditionally employed in rapid prototyping, engineering, and industrial design. More recently, new applications continue to emerge; this is because of its exceptional advantage and flexibility over the traditional manufacturing process. Unlike other conventional manufacturing methods, which are fundamentally subtractive, 3-D printing is additive and, therefore, produces less waste. This review comprehensively summarises the application of additive manufacturing technologies in chemistry, chemical synthesis, and catalysis with particular attention to the production of general laboratory hardware, analytical facilities, reaction devices, and catalytically active substances. It also focuses on new and upcoming applications such as digital chemical synthesis, automation, and robotics in a synthetic environment. While discussing the contribution of this research area in the last decade, the current, future, and economic opportunities of additive manufacturing in chemical research and material development were fully covered.Graphical abstract

THE ATTACKING METHODS INVOLVED IN CURRENT TREND ENVIRONMENT

The use of Common Object Request Broker Architecture (CORBA) has become one of the answer to the requirement for interoperability among the rapidly increasing number of hardware and software products available nowadays. CORBA has been introduced as a mechanism in a distributed computing environment in order to overcome recent interoperability issue. This mechanism allows distributed objects to communicate with each other, whether operate on remote devices or local devices, written in different languages or platforms, or at different locations on a network. In this paper, the concept of CORBA application as a middleware is presented. In order to understand this concept, a simple program to handle auction sale. This system is developed using JAVA programming language. This application is implemented on Windows Operating System (OS) and its method is being invoked by a client from the other machine that also runs in Windows OS. Along with this, the benefits of CORBA and its limitation are discussed in this paper.Keywords—CORBA concept; client-server; benefits of Corba; Application example

The effect of technology funding on school-level student proficiency

This study presents new evidence on the effect of technology funding on school-level student proficiency. I exploit exogenous variation in school-level technology funding using the California Education Technology K-12 Voucher Program. The program provided eligible schools with technology vouchers to purchase qualifying hardware and software products and services. Using a regression discontinuity difference-in-difference design and data on voucher eligibility, voucher use, and school-level student proficiency, I find that voucher eligibility had no significant impact on school-level student proficiency, while voucher use had positive impacts on school-level student proficiency. The voucher use results are driven entirely by schools using the voucher funds for technology resources, but reallocating dollars initially earmarked for technology to other school inputs.

WHEN WORLDS COLLIDE – A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF ISSUES IMPEDING ADOPTION OF AGILE FOR HARDWARE

AbstractThe objective of this paper is to explore challenges identified for implementation of scrum for hardware development intersect with agile principles found in the literature. A series of comparative analyses are done at the textual level, through logical intersections, and through thematic analysis. It is shown that there are five underlying themes found across two sets of scrum challenges (constraints of physicality and the 13 principles). These five themes include: flexiblity, chunkability, scalability, endurability, and teamability. These five themes further are found related to the defining principles of the agile manifesto. Using this understanding, future efforts will include empirical case study work to determine the impact that these have on application of scrum methods and tools. Additionally, guidelines should be developed to help hardware product engineers in applying scrum.

Preparation of tantalum metal powder by magnesium gas reduction of tantalum pentoxide with different initial particle size

Ta metal is frequently used as a raw material in the production of military hardware and electromagnetic components; therefore, obtaining high-purity tantalum is emerging as an important goal. Here, Ta metal powder was successfully prepared by reduction of Mg gas with tantalum pentoxide (Ta2O5). The reduction behavior was studied kinetically using Ta2O5 with different initial particle sizes (0.3 and 1.2 μm). Reduction temperature varied in the range from 1073 to 1273 K. In the X-ray diffraction patterns of reduced powders, pure Ta peaks appear above 1123 K when using the 0.3 μm initial powder, and at 1173 K when using the 1.2 μm initial powder. With increasing reduction temperature, reduction rates were higher with the use of the 0.3 μm powder than with the coarser 1.2 μm powder. This behavior resulted in different activation energies for Mg-reduction (5.234 and 8.695 kJ/mol for the 0.3 and 1.2 μm powder, respectively). In the powder reduced at 1273 K, the oxygen content was lowered to 0.66 and 0.88 wt% for the 1.2 and 0.3 μm powders, respectively; this is explained by differences in the specific surface area according to particle size.

Architectural Protection of Trusted System Services for SGX Enclaves in Cloud Computing

Data security and privacy are of great concern for users of cloud computing. In order to provide such guarantees in public clouds, hardware manufacturers have designed trusted execution environments such as Intel’s Software Guard eXtensions (SGX). Intel SGX supports privacy-preserving, tamper-proof containments called enclaves. Regrettably, an SGX enclave has to rely on the untrusted operating system or hypervisor for underlying services, which contradicts the threat model of Intel SGX. Whereas much of the previous work concentrates on protecting trusted applications by means of modifying a hypervisor, we tackle the problem by reusing existing drivers and leveraging processor-enforced protection. We propose a novel approach, named SMK, to provide trusted system services for SGX enclaves. SMK leverages existing Intel architecture features, i.e., System Management Mode (SMM) and Uniform Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI). Specifically, we retrofit UEFI firmware and design an isolated micro-kernel inside SMM to securely provision critical system services for enclaves. To highlight the effectiveness and extensibility of SMK, we implement two system services: trusted clock and trusted network. Furthermore, we harden two real-world security-sensitive applications, OpenSSL and OpenVPN, with SMK’s system services. Our evaluation indicates that SMK can supply trusted system services for enclaves with modest runtime overheads.

Review of Low-Cost 3D Bioprinters: State of the Market and Observed Future Trends.

Three-dimensional (3D) bioprinting has become mainstream for precise and repeatable high-throughput fabrication of complex cell cultures and tissue constructs in drug testing and regenerative medicine, food products, dental and medical implants, biosensors, and so forth. Due to this tremendous growth in demand, an overwhelming amount of hardware manufacturers have recently flooded the market with different types of low-cost bioprinter models-a price segment that is most affordable to typical-sized laboratories. These machines range in sophistication, type of the underlying printing technology, and possible add-ons/features, which makes the selection process rather daunting (especially for a nonexpert customer). Yet, the review articles available in the literature mostly focus on the technical aspects of the printer technologies under development, as opposed to explaining the differences in what is already on the market. In contrast, this paper provides a snapshot of the fast-evolving low-cost bioprinter niche, as well as reputation profiles (relevant to delivery time, part quality, adherence to specifications, warranty, maintenance, etc.) of the companies selling these machines. Specifically, models spanning three dominant technologies-microextrusion, droplet-based/inkjet, and light-based/crosslinking-are reviewed. Additionally, representative examples of high-end competitors (including up-and-coming microfluidics-based bioprinters) are discussed to highlight their major differences and advantages relative to the low-cost models. Finally, forecasts are made based on the trends observed during this survey, as to the anticipated trickling down of the high-end technologies to the low-cost printers. Overall, this paper provides insight for guiding buyers on a limited budget toward making informed purchasing decisions in this fast-paced market.

Testing the methodology for evaluating the accuracy of the 3d printing

The spread of 3d printing in the industry has led to the need to determine the accuracy of reproducible dimensions on a 3d printer. Precision manufacturing of parts is essential in the manufacture of products. The hardware manufacturer provides the user with information on the positioning accuracy of the 3d printer, but this could be a marketing statement. Also, it is very important to know the accuracy of a 3d printer after its upgrade or under the influence of various external factors (ambient temperature, vibrations) inherent in the location of the printer. The purpose of this work was to check the accuracy of a 3d printer and to develop a methodology for assessing the accuracy of a 3d printer by printing a sample product. As a result of the work done, it was found that by measuring various samples of products, it is possible to determine the quality of accuracy for certain structural elements and the average coefficient of accuracy of products. It was also found that the study of a sample product allows us to determine most of the factors affecting the accuracy of manufacturing products.

Technological Innovation at PC Sector During Covid-Crisis

Purpose: The article's primary goal is to assess the current impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the innovative activity of computer hardware manufacturers. It is imperative to assess whether the impact of a pandemic is negative. Design/Approach/Methodology: For the set goals, the authors analyzed the literature on innovation. The analysis of the case study referred to the segment of graphics card manufacturers. Graphics cards were assessed based on selected criteria. These criteria are the technological process of producing graphics processors (photolithography), and the second element in the evaluation of graphics cards were the results of selected card models in a representative program for computer graphics performance tests. Findings: Thanks to this approach, it was possible to identify trends in graphics card performance in the pre-pandemic and pandemic period. The increase in graphics card performance is the result of the implementation of technological innovations. So far, the coronavirus pandemic has not significantly affected the development of the graphics card segment. Practical Implications: The presented approach and results of analyses may constitute the basis for creating an advanced methodology for determining trends in the development of graphics processor performance. Originality/Value: Research results confirmed the adopted assumptions that so far, the pandemic has not a negative impact on innovation in the computer hardware industry.

Software and hardware solution for monitoring and managing the efficiency of work of construction objects based on analysis of the use of working time

Today, even taking into account the rapid progress, one of the most important problems of any organization is the loss of income due to violations of labor discipline of employees. The solution to this problem can be the use of specialized software and hardware products designed to monitor and control the actions of personnel. The construction industry is the most lagging behind in the issue of automation of accounting for actually worked time due to the complexity and versatility of the processes taking place at the construction site. Failure to meet the construction deadline leads to the accrual of fines, reducing the income from the contract. In addition, objects that are not completed on time spoil the statistics of the construction organization and can reduce the likelihood of receiving a new order, and the absence The importance of the developed system lies in the fact that the information that this system will analyze will allow: discipline, calculate wages for the actual time worked and the amount of work performed, receive factual data on many problems and exceptional situations that arise during the implementation of projects.

Mobile communication of the fifth generation and its place in the transformation processes of digitalization of the economy

The formation of the digital economy in the world is due to the development of a number of new breakthrough technologies that are unfolding in the process of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. The basic of them is the fifth generation of mobile communication (5G), which provides the opportunity to implement a large number of new information and communication technologies, as well as hardware solutions and products for the economy and society. Countries that take the leadership in building 5G infrastructure and adopting fifth-generation mobile standards will be able to apply their successful expertise to deploy a new generation of communications in other countries, opening up ample opportunities to enhance technological, economic and geopolitical impact on them. The paper is devoted to the analysis of trends in the formation and development of mobile technologies of the fifth generation in the world and its impact on the processes of digitalization of the economy, as well as the identification of promising practices for their implementation in Ukraine. In the course of the analysis, it is defined that 5G, unlike the previous generations of communication, is peculiar to large-scale virtualization, which goes beyond exclusively hardware and infrastructural decisions, and the majority of its functionality is realized by a software way. That is why it is often called not a network, but a system or platform that enables the implementation of a significant number of services and solutions, in particular: high-speed data transmission, a wide range of Internet of Things services, storing large data sets in cloud storage, virtual reality services, smart automation and robotics of production, unmanned vehicles, etc. But 5G is also characterized by a number of shortcomings (due to the use of short radio waves with rapid attenuation) that actualize the challenges, associated with increasing consumption of raw materials and energy, increased anthropogenic burden, lack of study of this technology’s potential negative impact on human health and local ecosystems etc. It is defined, that 5G-technologies, being a new event, according to the concept of technology life cycle are in the lower part of the S-shaped technological curve. This stage of technology development is characterized by significant financial investments and small economic returns, associated primarily with sales of radio frequency resources. Measures are proposed to avoid in the future for Ukraine the role of a raw material appendage of technologically developed countries, in terms of creating a favorable national institutional environment and ensuring support and encouragement of the development of new digital communication technologies.