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This paper aims to propose a novel wheel-based multiaxis force sensor designed to detect the interaction forces and moments between the planetary rover’s wheel and the terrain, thereby assisting the rover in environmental perception.

The authors’ design approach encompasses the mechanical structure design, decoupling methods and component integration techniques, effectively incorporating multiaxis sensors into the forward-sensing wheel. This enables high-precision and high-reliability detection of wheel–terrain interaction forces and torques.

The designed wheel-based multiaxis force sensor exhibits a nonlinearity error of 0.45%, a hysteresis error of 0.56% and a repeatability error of 0.49%, meeting the requirements for practical applications. Furthermore, the effectiveness and stability of the designed wheel-based multidimensional force sensor have been validated through hardware-in-the-loop experiments and full-vehicle model testing.

Unlike previous methods that directly integrate multiaxis sensors into the forward-sensing wheel, the authors have designed the force sensing wheel with consideration of its limited design space and the need for high measurement accuracy. The effectiveness of the designed wheel-based multidimensional force sensor was ultimately validated through static calibration, hardware-in-the-loop experiments and full-vehicle model experiments.

Based on social exchange and resource dependence theories, this research investigates how manufacturing firms’ commitment to low-carbon operations management (CLCOM) prompts manufacturing carbon performance (MCP) through low-carbon supply chain collaboration (SCC), as well as the moderating role of supply chain risk management (SCRM).

This study verifies the hypotheses employing hierarchical regression analysis and bootstrapping methods through an online survey of 297 Chinese manufacturers.

The results demonstrate that manufacturers’ low-carbon SCC mediates the influence of affective and continuance CLCOM on MCP. SCRM dampens the link between affective CLCOM and low-carbon SCC. Further, SCRM heightens the relationship of continuance CLCOM–low-carbon collaboration with suppliers, but does not enhance the level of continuance CLCOM–low-carbon collaboration with customers.

This research contributes to the theory and practice area by unveiling the “black-box” of the CLCOM–MCP relationship and considers SCRM’s moderating effect.

The rapid development of information technology, epitomized by AIGC and the metaverse, presents unprecedented challenges to techno-ethics, exposing society to significant risks and uncertainties. A systematic investigation and discussion of the construction of techno-ethical order become crucial under the paradigm of risk society theory. The selection of conditions and pathways for constructing a techno-ethical order under the risk society theory paradigm becomes an unavoidable and vital issue.

Drawing on risk society theory, this study employs scientometrics and qualitative comparative analysis (QCA) to empirically analyze the key factors and conditional pathways in the construction of techno-ethical order. Initially, a quantitative analysis is conducted on 1,490 thematic literature retrieved from CNKI and WoS to identify the hot topics and core concepts in techno-ethical research. Subsequently, QCA configuration analysis is applied to calculate eight evaluation indicators and their weights from the perspectives of government, society and individuals. Finally, the study explores the mechanisms of the impact of these indicators’ weights on the construction of techno-ethical order.

The analysis of factor weights and pathways indicates that the selection of pathways for constructing techno-ethical order is influenced both by the inherent development patterns of technology and societal systems and cultural values. Literature metrics analysis reveals an overall trend of sustained growth in techno-ethical research, indicating an unprecedented prosperity in this field. Alongside technological advancements, keywords related to “artificial intelligence” play a crucial role in current techno-ethical research. Configuration analysis demonstrates that conditional variables from the dimensions of government, society and individuals form a configuration pathway, influencing and synergistically impacting the overall level of techno-ethical order construction. Attention should be given to the mutual constraints and synergistic effects of factors related to technological development, societal systems and cultural values.

This study, grounded in the risk society theory paradigm, quantitatively explores the key factors and pathways of techno-ethical order construction in academic texts, expanding new perspectives, providing novel insights, establishing innovative methodologies and extending new boundaries in the field. Further enrichment of the dataset and in-depth discussions are warranted for continued advancement.

Despite the growing importance of digital transformation, few studies have investigated its precise effects on firm efficiency. This research explores the differential effects of digital transformation on the profitability and marketability of manufacturing firms.

We analyze the relationship between digital transformation and firm efficiency using a dataset of Chinese-listed manufacturing firms from 2011 to 2023.

The results indicate that digital transformation improves marketability and has a U-shaped relationship with profitability. Moreover, industry competition amplifies the positive effect of digital transformation on marketability but attenuates its U-shaped effect on profitability. In contrast, media coverage attenuates the positive effect of digital transformation on marketability and amplifies its U-shaped effect on profitability.

While the existing conclusion about the efficiency of digital transformation is inconsistent, this research enriches the literature on digital transformation and provides insights for improving firm efficiency in terms of both profitability and marketability.

This study aims to address the issues of limited pipe diameter adaptability and low inspection efficiency of current pipeline inspection robots, a new type of pipeline inspection robot capable of adapting to various pipe diameters was designed.

The diameter-changing mechanism uses a multilink elastic telescopic structure consisting of telescopic rods, connecting rods and wheel frames, driven by a single motor with a helical drive scheme. A geometric model of the position relationships of the hinge points was established based on the two extreme positions of the diameter-changing mechanism.

A pipeline inspection robot was designed using a simple linkage agency, which significantly reduced the weight of the robot and enhanced its adaptive pipe diameter ability. The analysis determined that the robot could accommodate pipe diameters ranging from 332 mm to 438 mm. A static equilibrium equation was established for the robot in the hovering state, and the minimum pressing force of the wheels against the pipe wall was determined to be 36.68 N. After experimental testing, the robots could successfully pass a height of 15 mm, demonstrating the good obstacle capacity of the robot.

This paper explores and proposes a new type of multilink elastic telescopic variable diameter pipeline inspection robot, which has the characteristics of strong adaptability and flexible operation, which makes it more competitive in the field of pipeline inspection robots and has great potential market value.

The robot is characterized by the innovative design of a multilink elastic telescopic structure and the use of a single motor to drive the wheel for spiral motion. On the basis of reducing the weight of the robot, it has good pipeline adaptability, climbing ability and obstacle-crossing ability.

The Internet of Things-based digital twin (IoT-DT) technologies offer a transformative approach to building retrofitting for reducing operational carbon (ROC) emissions. However, a notable gap exists between the potential and adoption of the two emerging technologies, further exacerbated by the nascent state of research in this domain. This research aims to establish the best practices that innovatively strengthen the identified enablers to decisively tackle challenges, ensuring the efficient implementation of IoT-DT for ROC emissions in buildings.

This study adopted a mixed-method approach. Questionnaire data from 220 multidiscipline professionals were analysed via structural equation modelling analysis, while interview data obtained from 18 stakeholders were analysed using thematic content analysis. The findings were triangulated for cohesive interpretation.

After the analysis of questionnaire data, a structural model was established, depicting the critical challenges (inadequate data security, limited technical expertise and scalability issues) and key enablers (robust data security measures, skill development and government incentives) of implementing IoT-DT for ROC. Sequentially, analysis of in-depth interview data revealed the IoT-based DT best practices (safeguarding data, upskilling and incentivization). Upon triangulating the questionnaire and interview findings, this study explicitly highlights the potential of the established best practices to strategically strengthen enablers, thereby mitigating challenges and ensuring the successful implementation of IoT-based DT for ROC emissions in buildings.

This study provides practical guidance for stakeholders to effectively implement IoT-DT in ROC in buildings and contributes significantly to climate change mitigation.

CSR authenticity reflects the perceived trustworthiness of CSR activities. Despite its importance, research on CSR authenticity in virtual contexts remains limited. This study investigates how specific dimensions of CSR authenticity influence consumer engagement in virtual CSR initiatives by focusing on the mediating role of cognitive cause proximity (i.e. cause salience and cause relevance).

Data were collected through a structured online survey on Chinese social media, which yielded 389 valid responses. Structural equation modelling using AMOS 24 was employed to test the proposed hypotheses.

The results show that perceived benevolence and the broad impact of CSR authenticity positively affect consumer engagement in virtual CSR. Significantly, cause relevance mediates the relationship between the broad impact of CSR and CSR engagement. However, cause salience unexpectedly reduces consumer engagement in virtual CSR initiatives.

This study extends construal level theory (CLT) and social exchange theory (SET) to virtual corporate social responsibility, offering fresh insights into how consumers respond to authentic CSR efforts. Practitioners can enhance CSR authenticity by highlighting its broad impact and benevolence to drive engagement while being cautious about overemphasising cause salience, which may risk alienating consumers.

Salt rock from salt lakes can serve as a cost-effective material for subgrade filling, as demonstrated in projects like the Qarhan Salt Lake section of the Qinghai-Tibet Railway and the Qarhan Salt Lake section of the G215 Highway. This state-of-the-art paper aims to summarize the engineering properties of salt rock filling and present the advances of its utilization.

This paper collects and analyzes laboratory and field data of salt rock filling from previous studies to present a comprehensive analysis of the engineering properties and utilization of salt rock fillings.

Salt rock primarily contains minerals such as halite and glauberite, which contribute to its unique phase-changing behavior under varying environmental conditions, impacting its mechanical properties. Salt rock filling shrinks when in contact with vapor or unsaturated brine and expands under cooling or evaporation. Its use is particularly recommended for arid regions, with specific restrictions depending on the structure type. This paper discusses suggested countermeasures to mitigate these issues, as well as key quality acceptance indices for salt rock filling compaction. Moisture content after air-drying is recommended as a crucial parameter for construction quality control.

This review aims to support future research and engineering practices in salt rock subgrade applications.

As China is on an inevitable march into the digital era, firms have accumulated abundant digital assets, such as algorithms and data. Facing the possibility of using digital assets as a new type input, besides traditional inputs such as capital and labor, would powerful managers perform better? Would managerial power help managers increase the efficiency of how a firm combines traditional and digital inputs and converts them into outputs? Thus, the purpose of this study is to investigate whether powerful managers promotes corporate productivity by using digital assets as a new input.

Using data from listed Chinese firms between 2008 and 2020, the authors constructed panel regressions with three-way fixed effects to examine whether and how managerial power influences corporate productivity in the current digital context, particularly under market uncertainty.

The findings reveal no consistent relationship between managerial power and corporate productivity. The results explain this from two contrasting effects: while managerial power promotes technological change it hinders technical efficiency – two components of total productivity. Moreover, this study identifies market uncertainty as a significant external contingency. In uncertain markets, strong managerial power positively impacts corporate productivity.

The results extend extant theoretical insights in the literature on how managerial power might influence corporate productivity.

The development of regional public brands for agricultural products necessitates compelling narratives that resonate deeply with consumers. Given the distinctiveness of agricultural products, consumers prioritize the inherent connection to roots and heritage when making purchasing decisions. Therefore, crafting brand narratives must emphasize this root appeal, namely, consumers’ information appeal preference, to positively influence consumers’ brand perceptions and underscore the value of regional public brands. This study investigates this phenomenon through the lens of cue utilization theory.

Four experiments were conducted for this purpose. Study 1 examined the stimulus materials for brand story type (typical vs atypical). The purpose of study 2 was to verify whether the experimental material could be used to categorize participants' information appeal preferences (geographic vs cultural). Study 3 employed a between-subjects design with a 2 (brand story: typical vs atypical) × 2 (consumers’ information appeal preferences: cultural vs geographic) factorial design. Study 4 used a between-subjects design of 2 (brand story: typical and atypical) × 2 (consumers’ information appeal preferences: cultural vs geographic) × 2 (culturally derived power perception: individual and social).

The findings indicated that the type of brand story and consumers’ information appeal preferences interact with consumers’ brand attitudes toward regional public brands for agricultural products. In addition, a sense of place was found to mediate the interaction between the type of brand story and consumers’ information appeal preferences. Furthermore, culturally derived power perceptions moderated this mechanism.

This study offers valuable insights into marketing regional public brands for agricultural products by categorizing their brand stories into typical and non-typical narratives.