Self-contained Machine Research Articles

Programmable Chemical Reactions Enable Ultrastrong Soft Pneumatic Actuation.

Soft pneumatic actuation is widely used in wearable devices, soft robots, artificial muscles, and surgery machines. However, generating high-pressure gases in a soft, controllable, and portable way remains a substantial challenge. Here, a class of programmable chemical reactions that can be used to controllably generate gases with a maximum pressure output of nearly 6MPa is reported. It is proposed to realize the programmability of the chemical reaction process using thermoelectric material with programmable electric current and employing preprogrammed reversible chemical reactants. The programmable chemical reactions as soft pneumatic actuation can be operated independently as miniature gas sources (∼20-100g) or combined with arbitrary physical structures to make self-contained machines, capable of generating unprecedented pressures of nearly 6MPa or forces of about 18kN in a controllable, portable, and silent manner. Striking demonstrations of breaking a brick, a marble, and concrete blocks, raising a sightseeing car, and successful applications in artificial muscles and soft assistive wearables illustrate tremendous application prospects of soft pneumatic actuation via programmable chemical reactions. The study establishes a new paradigm toward ultrastrong soft pneumatic actuation.

Adapting physiologically-based pharmacokinetic models for machine learning applications

Both machine learning and physiologically-based pharmacokinetic models are becoming essential components of the drug development process. Integrating the predictive capabilities of physiologically-based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) models within machine learning (ML) pipelines could offer significant benefits in improving the accuracy and scope of drug screening and evaluation procedures. Here, we describe the development and testing of a self-contained machine learning module capable of faithfully recapitulating summary pharmacokinetic (PK) parameters produced by a full PBPK model, given a set of input drug-specific and regimen-specific information. Because of its widespread use in characterizing the disposition of orally administered drugs, the PBPK model chosen to demonstrate the methodology was an open-source implementation of a state-of-the-art compartmental and transit model called OpenCAT. The model was tested for drug formulations spanning a large range of solubility and absorption characteristics, and was evaluated for concordance against predictions of OpenCAT and relevant experimental data. In general, the values predicted by the ML models were within 20% of those of the PBPK model across the range of drug and formulation properties. However, summary PK parameter predictions from both the ML model and full PBPK model were occasionally poor with respect to those derived from experiments, suggesting deficiencies in the underlying PBPK model.

Robust Estimation By Drone For Surveillance And Bomb Detection Using Actuators

This paper provides the estimation through drone for surveillance and bomb diffusion the using actuators. The proposed model is composed that lightweight, portable and user pleasant with reduced complexity. The new glove system is a wi-fi and self-contained machine that's established at the user arm in an effort to control the motion of the robot. The device is not restricted to the variation inside the finger sizes thereby imparting accuracy and comfort for the robotic control. The system is ready with bomb detection and diffusion mechanism. Once the presence of bomb/Metal is detected by using robotic, it initiates commands to the legal officials and the detected bomb can be subtle from a remote area, it linked direct touch with the bomb. Thus the machine provides high security for the existence of the bomb diffusion squad. The proposed device is noticeably useful in the all regions that call for safety and it presents virtual fact in surveillance and diffusion.

2P1-E17 自立型脚部非固定式歩行補助機の開発(医療・福祉ロボティクス・メカトロニクス)

We developed a walking assist machine, which used a spatial parallel link mechanism for the elderly or workers. The flat steps of the assist machine move in parallel with the ground and can support the legs of an equipped person including the soles. The machine can assist the equipped person's motion of walking; turning around during walking and walking on a slope or stairs. Furthermore, in order to support walking more effectively, the machine was improved the power unit, attachment of wearing, and control system. Especially, by using the SH4 board installed ART-Linux, and the lithium-ion battery, we could develop the self-contained machine. Therefore, the equipped person could be free to walk at will.

Detergent-extracted models for the study of cilia or flagella.

The plasma membrane of the living cell is designed to regulate the internal composition of the cytosol and protect the interior of the cell from oxidative and enzymatic damage. It performs its role so well in these respects that it presents a major obstacle to the study of intracellular processes. Recognizing this problem, Szent-Gyorgyi () used high concentrations of glycerol to increase the permeability of the membrane. This allowed him to carry out his now famous studies of skeletal muscle physiology that demonstrated the central role of ATP and Ca2+ in muscle contraction. Adopting essentially the same approach, Hoffman-Berling and Bishop (,) applied the glycerination method to mammalian sperm cells and reported a limited success in inducing motion but not coordinated swimming. Applying the glycerination technique to sea urchin sperm, Brokaw and Benedict () successfully restored coordinated beating of the flagellum and progressive swimming. Using the nonionic detergent Triton X-100 Gibbons and Gibbons () showed that normal flagellar motility could be reactivated in the absence of the plasma membrane. This result made it clear that the flagellar axoneme is a self-contained machine, which only requires a suitable medium and a supply of Mg-ATP to function.

Measurement of Perchloroethylene Indoor Air Levels Caused by Fugitive Emissions from Unvented Dry-to-Dry Dry Cleaning Units

Abstract The large emissions of perchloroethylene (PERC), a potential carcinogen, from dry cleaning establishments led the fabriccare industry to redesign dry cleaning machines. State-of-theart facilities now employ nonvented self-contained machines that do not emit vapors directly to the outside air. However, fugitive emissions in indoor environments continue to be emitted from these new machines. An indoor air quality study was conducted in six Chicagoarea dry cleaning establishments that use nonvented selfcontained machines. PERC concentrations were investigated by collecting 46 air samples with 150-mg charcoal tubes and subsequently conducting gas chromatograph analysis. Indoor PERC concentrations ranged from 1.7 to 52.3 ppm. A relationship was developed between the weight of clothes cleaned and the emission rate of each facility. This relationship may be used to estimate PERC indoor air concentrations in other facilities.

Modification of a simple desk top computer to provide an automatic data processing device for use in radioisotope studies.

Desk top digital computers are widely used for data reduction and statistical analysis in radioisotope studies. Typical of these is the Olivetti Programma 101 (P101). This self-contained machine performs the basic arithmetic operations and the determination of spuare roots in response to programmed instructions. In addition to the three operating memories of 22 digits in which the arithmetic is performed, there is a numeric storage capacity of five memories of 22 digits or ten memories of 11 digits. This later facility is referred to as a split memory. The basic program capacity is a set of 48 instructions which are stored in two memories which cannot be addressed for data. The number of program instructions can be increased up to a maximum of 120, by using three of the five available numeric storage memories. The program instructions are written using the self-contained, manually operated keyboard, and can be recorded for future use on a magnetic card. The data are entered using this keyboard. The output...

Dynamic Characteristics and Design Criteria for a Class of Vibration-Producing Machines

Many self-contained machines used in industry serve to generate a sustained mechanical vibration for performing such diverse operations as vibration testing, hammering, material conveying, impacting, and screening. A particular class of such machines having only plane motion is idealized as a dynamic “vibrator” consisting of a two-mass, spring-coupled system driven internally by an oscillatory force. A dynamic analysis of this system is presented to show that the steady-state motion has both translational and rotational components. Specific methods are given for predicting the resultant direction and amplitude of motion for any point in the vibrator system. Results of the dynamic analysis show quantitatively the effect of system resonance, mass distribution, gravity-center configuration, and internal damping on vibrator operation and these design factors are discussed in terms of typical vibrator applications.