Intuitive Operation Research Articles

Hybrid 3D printed-paper microfluidics

3D printed and paper-based microfluidics are promising formats for applications that require portable miniaturized fluid handling such as point-of-care testing. These two formats deployed in isolation, however, have inherent limitations that hamper their capabilities and versatility. Here, we present the convergence of 3D printed and paper formats into hybrid devices that overcome many of these limitations, while capitalizing on their respective strengths. Hybrid channels were fabricated with no specialized equipment except a commercial 3D printer. Finger-operated reservoirs and valves capable of fully-reversible dispensation and actuation were designed for intuitive operation without equipment or training. Components were then integrated into a versatile multicomponent device capable of dynamic fluid pathing. These results are an early demonstration of how 3D printed and paper microfluidics can be hybridized into versatile lab-on-chip devices.

Towards the development of an intuitive teleoperation system for human support robot using a VR device

This paper presents our development of an intuitive teleoperation system for Toyota's Human Support Robot. While this robot has been widely used as an autonomous agent in the field of service robotics, we explore a possibility of this robot for the use of remote assistance of daily activities in home environments. For rapid prototyping an affordable teleoperation system, we adopt a commercially available VR device as a user interface and develop a Robot Operating System (ROS)-based control framework building on the software application programming interfaces (APIs). In particular, we implement a singularity robust inverse kinematics algorithm to achieve a coordinated whole-body motion of the robot for safe and intuitive operation. We empirically evaluate the practical feasibility of the proposed teleoperation system through various test tasks. We discuss the potential and limitations of the current development for its future improvement.

Innovative methods of adult learners’ educationin the framework of scientific and social partnership

Development of network technologies creates more and more friendly conditions contributing to the development of e-learning platforms. Thanks to simpler and more intuitive operation, e-learning platforms are applicable in the implementation of educational objectives among adult learners. E-platforms contribute to the integration and creation of cooperation networks among environments implementing common objectives, although they function in remote localizations. In the paper the opportunities of innovative applications of the e-learning Moodle platform was characterized. This platform was used to implement objectives connected with intercultural and intergenerational education in the process of Long Life Learning among Polish people living abroad. The aim of the implemented project was common development of innovative methodology of adult learners’ education in order to provide the high level of teaching with the application of e-learning solutions.

Autonomous driving cargo bikes – Introducing an acceptability-focused approach towards a new mobility offer

Autonomous Driving as a possible, almost likely future of mobility offers new scenarios to move. In the present study, we take the first step to transfer the vision of mobility as a service on autonomous driving cargo bikes: users will be able to call a cargo bike, use it for multiple purposes and release it again for others to use. To ensure broad applicability in different mobility scenarios as well as addressing individual mobility needs while offering intuitive operability, we followed an interdisciplinary approach. While the challenge to realize this vision on a technical level was prepared, both logistics and human sciences collaborated in developing data collection instruments and using user-centered development methods. In detail, we used online questionnaires to describe mobility needs on the test field of a university's' campus. Secondly, we used focus groups to discuss points relevant to future users' needs for the autonomous driving cargo bike as well as discussion points with other road users who would encounter the cargo bike in traffic. We integrated results from those different approaches to formulate construction indications and points for future research.

Effective intervals and regular Dirichlet subspaces

It is shown in Li and Ying (2019) that a regular and local Dirichlet form on an interval can be represented by so-called effective intervals with scale functions. This paper focuses on how to operate on effective intervals to obtain regular Dirichlet subspaces. The first result is a complete characterization for a Dirichlet form to be a regular subspace of such a Dirichlet form in terms of effective intervals. Then we give an explicit road map how to obtain all regular Dirichlet subspaces from a local and regular Dirichlet form on an interval, by a series of intuitive operations on the effective intervals in the representation above. Finally applying previous results, we shall prove that every regular and local Dirichlet form has a special standard core generated by a continuous and strictly increasing function.

The role of augmented reality in robotics

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to provide an insight into how augmented reality (AR) technologies are being applied to robotics.Design/methodology/approachFollowing an introduction and a brief historical background to AR, this first provides examples of AR applications in robot programming. It then gives examples of recent research into AR-based robot teleoperation. Research activities involving the virtual fixtures (VF) technique are then discussed and finally, brief conclusions are drawn.FindingsBecause AR concepts were first investigated in the 1990s, applications involving robotics have been widely studied. Programming with the aid of AR devices, such as the HoloLens headset, can be simplified and AR methods, including the VF technique, can improve the accuracy and speed of teleoperation, manipulation and positional control tasks. They can also provide visual or haptic feedback which leads to more intuitive operation and significantly reduces the cognitive load on the operator.Originality/valueThis provides an insight into the growing role of AR in robotics by providing examples of recent research in a range of applications.

Optically tracked and 3D printed haptic phantom hand for surgical training system.

For surgical fixation of bone fractures of the human hand, so-called Kirschner-wires (K-wires) are drilled through bone fragments. Due to the minimally invasive drilling procedures without a view of risk structures like vessels and nerves, a thorough training of young surgeons is necessary. For the development of a virtual reality (VR) based training system, a three-dimensional (3D) printed phantom hand is required. To ensure an intuitive operation, this phantom hand has to be realistic in both, its position relative to the driller as well as in its haptic features. The softest 3D printing material available on the market, however, is too hard to imitate human soft tissue. Therefore, a support-material (SUP) filled metamaterial is used to soften the raw material. Realistic haptic features are important to palpate protrusions of the bone to determine the drilling starting point and angle. An optical real-time tracking is used to transfer position and rotation to the training system. A metamaterial already developed in previous work is further improved by use of a new unit cell. Thus, the amount of SUP within the volume can be increased and the tissue is softened further. In addition, the human anatomy is transferred to the entire hand model. A subcutaneous fat layer and penetration of air through pores into the volume simulate shiftability of skin layers. For optical tracking, a rotationally symmetrical marker attached to the phantom hand with corresponding reference marker is developed. In order to ensure trouble-free position transmission, various types of marker point applications are tested. Several cuboid and forearm sample prints lead to a final 30 centimeter long hand model. The whole haptic phantom could be printed faultless within about 17 hours. The metamaterial consisting of the new unit cell results in an increased SUP share of 4.32%. Validated by an expert surgeon study, this allows in combination with a displacement of the uppermost skin layer a good palpability of the bones. Tracking of the hand marker in dodecahedron design works trouble-free in conjunction with a reference marker attached to the worktop of the training system. In this work, an optically tracked and haptically correct phantom hand was developed using dual-material 3D printing, which can be easily integrated into a surgical training system.

Development of artificial hand using pneumatic artificial muscle

Artificial arm is an auxiliary product that replaces arms. They have the function of complementing the appearance and supporting daily life. In recent years, there are also high-performance prosthetic devices, such as those that allow intuitive operation using myoelectrics. However, there are disadvantages such as the metal parts being too heavy, expensive, and difficult to maintain. Therefore, this study is developing lightweight, low-cost prostheses that are easy to maintain using 3D printer, resin materials, and pneumatic artificial muscles. This study describes three experiments and the results. The first is how to make pneumatic efficient artificial muscle. The second is the grip of artificial arm. The third is the shape it holds and its water resistance.

Improved Availability Index for Repairable Fuzzy Multi-State Systems

Fuzzy multi-state systems (FMSSs) comprise FMS components (FMSCs) aims at analyzing non-probabilistic uncertain circumstances defined by fuzzy state-transition rate and performance numbers. The triangular fuzzy number that features intuitive and algebraic operations is widely used for quantifying fuzziness. This study aims to overcome the drawbacks of the existing FMSS availability index that either does not conform to a normal convex set or is inconsistent with the crisp-circumstance multi-state system (MSS) availability beyond summation over state probabilities that do no equal unity. The proposed method first evaluates the instantaneous state probability (ISP) of FMSCs by establishing the FMSCs Markov model. Subsequently, the FMSSs ISP is evaluated by integrating the FMSCs ISP using the fuzzy universal generating function based on the system-structure function. A “constrained nonlinear parameter programming model” has been developed to evaluate the improved FMSSs availability. The corresponding availability index features the normal convex set whilst fulfilling the MSS theory, which requires state probabilities to equal unity during availability evaluation. The effectiveness of the proposed approach has been verified using an illustrated community-based smart-grid system comprising three FMSCs—solar- and wind-energy systems as well as diesel-generator equipment. Moreover, the results of an independent sensitive analysis provide further insights into the improved FMSSs availability with regard to the time and circumstance fuzziness.

Operability Evaluation System and Comparison Experiment of Gesture Operation and Button Operation of Robot Manipulator

Robot manipulators are now widely used in manufacturing industries. When programmed to perform required movements via a process called teaching, they can accomplish a wide variety of complex tasks. In conventional teaching processes, a teaching pendant (TP), which is a tethered controller with which the operator inputs specific movement commands, is used. However, such devices normally have so many buttons that operators often experience difficulty in programming operations intuitively, so the teaching process consumes significant amounts of time and effort. To solve this problem, intuitive operation methods in which human body motions (such as hand gestures) are used as input to the robot have been studied. However, no quantitative comparisons between those new gesture-based and conventional teaching methods have yet been made. With that point in mind, the present paper proposes a virtual space-based evaluation system in which operators control the position and orientation of a six-degree-of-freedom virtual robot hand in order to evaluate and compare TP- and gesture-based operation methods. The experimental results show that when compared to TP-based methods, gesture-based operation methods achieved higher evaluations in terms of time and psychological aspects. In addition, four types of gesture-based operating methods were proposed in order to consider different ways in which position changes and orientation changes could be handled. The operability levels of the four gesture types were also compared quantitatively using the proposed evaluation system, and the obtained experimental results suggest that such differences can affect the cognitive burden imposed on the operator.

Development of the multifunctional rescue robot FUHGA2 and evaluation at the world robot summit 2018

Robots are needed in rescue activities and the inspection of infrastructure. We developed the rescue robot FUHGA2 so that it has various functions. FUHGA2 has high mobility, with main crawlers covering the body and four sub-crawlers, high dexterity using a long six-axis arm, and high searching ability using various sensors. Furthermore, a novel parallel gripper unit with wire-jamming mechanism is mounted at the tip of the arm, which can change its hardness and fit its shape to an object. Additionally, high Maneuvering is achieved by displaying sensor information to the operator clearly and intuitive operation command design. FUHGA2 won the World Robot Summit 2018 Standard Disaster Robotics Challenge, which is a competition for rescue robots. We achieved high scores in all categories of tasks. In this paper, we describe the development of FUHGA2 and the performance evaluation results from the World Robot Summit 2018.

From monitoring of seismic fields to the automatic forecasting of earthquakes

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to offer two Web-based platforms for systematic analysis of seismic processes. Both platforms are designed to analyze and forecast the state of the environment and, in particular, the level of seismic hazard. The first platform analyzes the fields representing the properties of the seismic process; the second platform forecasts strong earthquakes. Earthquake forecasting is based on a new one-class classification method.Design/methodology/approachThe paper suggests an approach to systematic forecasting of earthquakes and examines the results of tests. This approach is based on a new method of machine learning, called the method of the minimum area of alarm. The method allows to construct a forecast rule that optimizes the probability of detecting target earthquakes in a learning sample set, provided that the area of the alarm zone does not exceed a predetermined one.FindingsThe paper presents two platforms alongside the method of analysis. It was shown that these platforms can be used for systematic analysis of seismic process. By testing of the earthquake forecasting method in several regions, it was shown that the method of the minimum area of alarm has satisfactory forecast quality.Originality/valueThe described technology has two advantages: simplicity of configuration for a new problem area and a combination of interactive easy analysis supported by intuitive operations and a simplified user interface with a detailed, comprehensive analysis of spatio-temporal processes intended for specialists. The method of the minimum area of alarm solves the problem of one-class classification. The method is original. It uses in training the precedents of anomalous objects and statistically takes into account normal objects.

Der Alleskönner der Messtechnik

SummaryThe all‐rounder of measurement technology – Monitoring of vacuum propertiesThe Novion is an all‐rounder of vacuum measurement technology. The newly developed sensor is based on a novel ion source and an integrated TOF mass spectrometer. The new vacuum measuring instrument is versatile: precise total pressure measurement over a wide range and simultaneously determination of helium partial pressure and residual gas analysis. By using the patented ion source, the instrument also achieves a high dynamic range without the use of a cost‐intensive electron multiplier, down to the UHV range. The Novion comes with a compact design, easy maintenance and an intuitive operation. The article covers the fields of application of this multi‐method sensor and explains its functionality in detail.

Electric Circuits as Seen by Thermal Imaging Cameras

Providing instant visual feedback, thermal imaging cameras are becoming more and more popular tools not only in industrial applications, but also in physics education. Continuously decreasing prices, modules compatible with smart portable devices, and intuitive operation make thermal measurements available for schools and attractive for students. This paper deals with predominantly qualitative IR experiments designed for high school or even university students. All the experiments visualize thermal processes related to the flow of current through electric circuits and are repeatedly used with high school students. The suggested experiments could be incorporated in physics lessons separately or as a complete teaching sequence summarizing the knowledge concerning Ohm’s law, Kirchhoff’s circuit laws, and Joule heating.

Design of patrol and control platform for power network based on UAV and VR

Since the beginning of the twenty-one th century, with the rapid development of China’s economy and the continuous progress of China’s power industry, it has contributed an indelible force to the development of China’s socialist undertakings The construction of power grid is very important to the development of society. The normal operation of the power grid can not be separated from regular inspection of power grid equipment and lines, so as to keep abreast of and understand the operation of power transmission lines and changes in the surrounding environment and Line Protection Areas Is the power supply enterprise a heavy daily work. Manual inspection is a traditional inspection method, but also the main way of transmission line inspection. Due to the complex terrain of the transmission line corridor, there are almost no patrol roads in some sections along the route in some harsh conditions such as river-crossing or high mountains and steep mountains. This patrol method has great labor intensity and difficult working conditions Transmission lines can not get timely feedback, and can not observe the real-time intuitive operation of lines and equipment. In this case, in response to the national “Internet +” strategic thinking, we initiated the “Internet +”, “UAV +” and “VR +” all-ecological power grid patrol mode Realize the power network equipment long-distance inspection, all-round inspection, real-time simulation inspection, inspection in bad environment, so that the cause of power inspection can take off.

The Usability Testing of VR Interface for Tourism Apps

Virtual reality (VR) is considered to be an emerging technology. This study compared the usability differences of VR travel software, such as Google Street View, VeeR VR, and Sites in VR, for mobile phones. In the pilot study, three post-graduate students and one interface expert were invited to participate in the designed experimental tasks to provide opinions on the first draft of the questionnaire. Next, thirty college students were recruited to join the formal experiment. After operating the VR interface, they were asked to fill out the questionnaire, and a semi-structured interview was conducted. The results are described as follows: (1) Intuitive operation is required to allow people to select objects smoothly; (2) the chosen object requires a feedback mode to inform the user that the object has been selected; (3) the speed of the feedback mode should be adjustable to fulfil the needs of most people; (4) the contrast of icon color needs to be improved to ensure the most efficient verification of the operations; and (5) a search button or reminder function can be added to aid first-time users.

63‐3: Advances in Driving Technology for Free‐Form LCDs

The gate driver circuit is successfully embedded in the active area of TFT‐LCD by novel pixel architecture. Circuit in the active area technology is suitable for freeform design or through‐hole LCD. Mechanical knob can be easily installed for intuitive operation and safe consideration in car display.

Self-powered glove-based intuitive interface for diversified control applications in real/cyber space

Present Human Machine Interfaces (HMIs) that vary in shapes, operation schemes, and functions can be frequently found in our daily life, and the giant market demand has been pushing the development of the HMIs since the last decades. To greatly extend the communication channels between humans and external devices in a natural way, here we report an intuitive, self-powered, low-cost, and glove-based HMI towards diversified applications. A minimalist design based on the triboelectric nanogenerators (TENG) in two configurations is proposed to balance the requirement on the full functionality and the simplified signal processing capacity of the HMIs. Each TENG sensor is composed of a PEDOT:PSS coated textile strip stitched onto the glove and a layer of silicone rubber thin film coated on the glove. The glove-based interface has been successfully demonstrated for wireless car control, wireless drone control, minigame control, VR game control, and cursor control for online shopping as well as alphabet writing with a simple and intuitive operation technique. This glove-based interface provides a novel minimalist design concept distinct from the present rigid and bulky HMIs to open up a new direction of the further development of the HMIs with advantages of flexibility/wearability, low cost, easy operation, simplified signal processing, and low power consumption.

テレワークの職場環境評価とICTツールの直感的な操作 : 超臨場感テレワークに向けて( テレワークを支援するICTツール)

テレワークの職場環境評価とICTツールの直感的な操作 : 超臨場感テレワークに向けて( テレワークを支援するICTツール)

Artificial Replacement of Human Sensation Using Haptic Transplant Technology

This study proposes a novel prosthetic hand that can artificially replace human sensation using haptic transplant technology. Conventional motorized prostheses are unable to precisely control the grasping force of the hand due to the lack of force sensation. In this paper, a haptic prosthetic hand is developed that allows for intuitive operation and precise force adjustment. These functions are realized by artificially transplanting the tactile sensation of a healthy part of the user's body to the amputated part of their body. The haptic transplant technology transmits the force sensation of the prosthesis to the master interface attached to the amputee's healthy part of body using bilateral control without a force sensor. Furthermore, variable compliance control is proposed for flexible adaptation to the shape of the object being grasped. The effectiveness of the proposed system was experimentally verified by comparing the controllability of the proposed system with that of a myoelectric prosthesis. In summary, an artificial replacement for human sensation was developed, and the intuitive operability and flexibility of the proposed system were confirmed.