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The Automatic Programmable Assembly System (APAS) being developed by Westinghouse has reached an advanced stage. Vision plays an important role in the positioning, orienting and inspection of the component parts.

The purpose of this paper is to employ an alternative numerical approach to analyze the characteristics of superconducting charge qubit based on a single Cooper pair box (SCB), also to study the influence of the bias current.

The paper starts with the circuit model of a charge qubit system based on Josephson junction using Hamiltonian formalism. Corresponding Schrodinger eigenvalue problem with periodic boundary condition is converted to the Mathieu type eigenvalue problem. By applying finite difference technique, energy spectrum of charge qubit is obtained and the solutions in the lowest band are obtained in the form of Bloch waves whose superposition provides a wave packet to investigate the effect of bias current to the Coulomb blockade.

The paper identifies a periodic tridiagonal Hermitian matrix form of the eigenvalue problem that is believed to be a special eigenvalue problem. The paper emphasizes that Schrodinger formalism is very useful to model superconducting qubits systems. The investigations indicate that the bias current strongly influences the Coulomb blockade and expectation value of supercurrent (as well as number of Cooper pairs) are affected by gate voltage and energy scale.

In the present study, Schrodinger eigenvalue problem is time independent, therefore, current‐voltage characteristics of the charge qubit system could not be considered. The solution technique applied here can also be used to apply other type of Josephson junction based qubits and circuits.

The paper includes theoretical findings for the development of superconducting qubit that can be valuable for experimentalist. The result obtained in this study is useful for the comparison of experimental study with the expectation value of number of Cooper pairs as function of gate voltage. Working parameters of a SCB can be determined from the findings.

This paper fulfils the contribution of the numerical study of Schrodinger equation for the investigation of superconducting qubits under the influence of bias current.

This paper aims to explore the electronic design of the Touch Hand: a low-cost electrically powered prosthetic hand. The hand is equipped with an array of sensors allowing for position control and haptic sensation. Pressure sensors are used on the fingertips to detect grip force. A temperature sensor placed in the fingertip is used to measure the contact temperature of objects. Investigations are made into the use of cantilever vibration sensors to detect surface texture and object slippage. The hand is capable of performing a lateral grip of 3.7 N, a power grip of 19.5 N and to passively hold a weight of up to 8 kg with a hook grip. The hand is also tested on an amputee and used to perform basic tasks. The amputee took 30 min to learn how to operate the hands basic gripping functions.

Problems of previous prosthetic hands were investigated, followed by ways to improve or have similar capabilities, yet keeping in mind to reduce the price. The hand was then designed, simulated, developed and then tested. The hand was then displayed to public and tested with an amputee.

The Touch Hand’s capabilities with the usage of the low-cost materials, components and sensory system was obtained in the tests that were conducted. The results are shown in this paper to identify the appropriateness of the sensors for a usage while the costs are reduced. Furthermore, models were developed from the results obtained to take into account factors such as the non-slip material.

The research was restricted to a US$1,000 budget to allow the availability of a low-cost prosthetic hand.

The Touch Hand had to have the ability to supply the amputee with haptic feedback while allowing the basic grasping of objects. The commercial value is the availability of an affordable prosthetic hand that can be used by amputees in Africa and other Lower-Income countries, yet allowing a more advanced control system compared to the pure mechanical systems currently available.

The Touch Hand has the ability to give amputees affected in war situations the ability to grasp objects in a more affordable manner compared to the current available options. Feedback from amputees about the current features of the Touch Hand was very positive and it proves to be a way to improve society in Lower-Income countries in the near future. A sponsorship program is being developed to assist amputees with the costs of the Touch Hand.

The contributions of this research is a low-cost prototype system than can be commercialized to allow amputees in the Lower-Income countries to have the ability of a prosthetic hand. A sensory system in the hand is also explained which other low-cost prosthetic hands do not have, which includes temperature, force and vibration. Models of the sensors used that are developed and calibrated to the design of the hand are also described.

The purpose of this study is to confirm that the body weight load reduction system which is developed by us is effective to reduce the knee joint force of the walking user. This system is driven by pneumatic artificial muscle, functions as a mobile walking assist system.

The developed body weight load reduction system driven by rubber-less artificial muscle (RLAM) was tested experimentally. Simple force feedback control is applied to the RLAM. The system moves as synchronized with vertical movement of the walking user. The knee joint force during walking experiments conducted using this system is estimated by measurement of floor reaction force and position data of lower limb joints.

The knee joint force during walking is reduced when using this system. This system contributes to smooth change of knee joint force when the lower limb contacts the floor.

This lightweight body weight load reduction system is particularly effective for realizing easy-to-use mobile walking assist system.

A lightweight body weight load reduction system using pneumatic artificial muscle is a novel proposal. Additionally, these new evaluation results demonstrate its effectiveness for reducing knee joint force during walking.