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Taping, covering objects with masking tapes, is a common process before conducting surface treatments such as plasma spraying and painting. Manual taping is tedious and takes a lot of effort of the workers. This paper aims to introduce an automatic agile robotic system and corresponding algorithm to do the surface taping.

The taping process is a special process which requires correct tape orientation and proper allocation of the masking tape for the coverage. This paper discusses on the design of the novel automatic system consisting of a robot manipulator, a rotating platform, a 3D scanner and a specially designed novel taping end-effectors. Meanwhile, the taping path planning to cover the region of interests is introduced.

Currently, cylindrical and freeform surfaces have been tested. With improvements on new sets of taping tools and more detailed taping method, taping of general surfaces can be conducted using such system in future.

The introduced taping path planning method is a novel method first talking about the mathematical model of the taping process. Such taping solution with the taping tool and the taping methodology can be combined as a very useful and practical taping package to replace the work of human in such tedious and time-consuming works.

Force output is extremely important for electromagnetic linear machines. The purpose of this study is to explore new permanent magnet (PM) array and winding patterns to increase the magnetic flux density and thus to improve the force output of electromagnetic tubular linear machines.

Based on investigations on various PM patterns, a novel dual Halbach PM array is proposed in this paper to increase the radial component of flux density in three-dimensional machine space, which in turn can increase the force output of tubular linear machine significantly. The force outputs and force ripples for different winding patterns are formulated and analyzed, to select optimized structure parameters.

The proposed dual Halbach array can increase the radial component of flux density and force output of tubular linear machines effectively. It also helps to decrease the axial component of flux density and thus to reduce the deformation and vibration of machines. By using analytical force models, the influence of winding patterns and structure parameters on the machine force output and force ripples can be analyzed. As a result, one set of optimized structure parameters are selected for the design of electromagnetic tubular linear machines.

The proposed dual Halbach array and winding patterns are effective ways to improve the linear machine performance. It can also be implemented into rotary machines. The analyzing and design methods could be extended into the development of other electromagnetic machines.

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the trends of global automobile industry toward energy saving and smart application. The automobile industry has its own special supply, safety and reliability system. It combined with the legislations that progressive safety driving leads to increase automobile electronic (AE) facilities and enlarges the proportion of the electronic control for vehicles. Based on matured communication and semiconductor industries in Taiwan, the government assists these hi-tech industries in entering the AE domain by clustering relevant enterprises with assembly supply chains. Flagship IC packaging and LCD panels enterprises are located in the Kaohsiung Industrial Park which possesses advantages for the clustering of AE industry.

In this paper, a systematic investigation on establishing AE industry cluster in Kaohsiung Industry Park (KIP) is presented. First, 42 electrical and electronics enterprises are site visited and interviewed for operation and management preferential demands. Second, problems encountered in enterprises’ operation are identified through expert weight method. Third, the main factors involved in the operational management are then analyzed based on five flagship enterprises in KIP. The integration of industrial–university–government resources and assistance is demonstrated. Finally, the establishment of an innovative talents cultivation model is illustrated.

The developed systematic talent program is proposed to resolve the urgent demands in recruiting talents, operational costs and new products development.

This paper satisfies needs of research enterprise management. The establishment of an innovative talents cultivation model is illustrated.

The purpose of this paper is to present a high-precision method for localizing the Target Ball of an industrial robot, using Binocular Stereo Vision (BSV).

The steps for modeling the kinematics of a flexible robot include three steps. First, the kinematic model was developed, and robot motion tests were conducted, which is multiple sets of static joint angle motions. The kinematic parameters were calibrated based on a laser tracker and BSV, respectively. Second, the dynamics model was developed and operate the robot to perform motions, which is Fourier series excitation trajectories. The dynamics parameters were calibrated. Third, the static joint angles were brought into the dynamics model to calculate the external forces and moments of each joint. The stiffness parameters were calibrated.

The experimental results show that after calibrating the kinematic parameters of the Target Ball, the Target Ball positioning error approximately 4.597 mm. After calibrating the kinematic parameters of the Spherically Mounted Retro and stiffness parameters, the Target Ball positioning error is reduced from about 6.962 mm to approximately 4.956 mm, which is close to 4.597 mm.

The limitation of the approach is that, kinematic model and dynamics model are both required. Therefore, the high openness degree of robot is required, the robot needs to support path planning functions and joint moment extraction. However, some mature commercial robots do not support this.

In this paper, the stiffness model could effectively replace the calibration of the kinematic parameters of the load.

This study aims to develop a moderated mediation model that enables the examination of the direct relationship between brand orientation (BO) and export performance, the mediating effects of external and internal branding capabilities on the BO-export performance link, and the moderating influence of institutional environment, i.e. regulatory turbulence and policy support.

A time-lag primary data was collected from two-wave survey of 684 cross-industry exporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) using an online-email based survey technique, and the research model was validated using ordinary least squares regression analysis in SPSSV.27 and Hayes’ PROCESS macroV.2.13.

Regression findings indicate that the relationship between BO and export performance is not direct, but rather mediated by means of both external and internal branding capabilities. It further helps to uncover the dual role of institutional environment, with regulatory turbulence weakening and policy support strengthening the indirect influences of BO on export performance via external and internal branding capabilities.

This study advances branding literature by conceptualizing and empirically testing the role of BO associated with internal and external branding capabilities and, subsequently, with export performance.

The research findings indicate that brand-oriented SMEs must actively engage in the development of branding capabilities to improve their export performance.

While brand creation is essential for the success and growth of SMEs competing in the worldwide marketplaces, there is a dearth of research explaining the underlying mechanisms and boundary conditions through which BO influences export performance.

The purpose of this paper is to examine the combined roles that perceived usefulness (PU), perceived ease of use, perceived security and hedonic motivation play on the adoption of e-banking. It also aims to determine the ability of hedonic motivation to transfer the effect of other determinants of e-banking adoption.

In order to empirically test the conceptual model of this study, data were collected from the users of e-banking in Nigeria. A total of 266 questionnaires were analyzed using partial least square structural equation modeling.

The empirical results revealed a significant and positive relationship between PU, perceived security and e-banking adoption. The same result was found to be applicable to the relationship between PU, perceived ease of use, perceived security and hedonic motivation. However, support was not found for the relationship between perceived ease of use and adoption of e-banking. Hedonic motivation plays a mediating role between PU, perceived security and e-banking adoption. The study did not find a mediating effect of hedonic motivation between perceived ease of use and e-banking adoption.

The results of this study provide insights for banking practitioners to know which aspect of e-banking to improve and to aid with policies that will increase adoption. Furthermore, improvements in hedonic motivation will also significantly increase adoption of e-banking.

This study is one of the pioneer studies that tests the mediating influence of hedonic motivation.

Aims to measure syllable aggregation consistency of Romanized Chinese data in the title fields of bibliographic records. Also aims to verify if the term frequency distributions satisfy conventional bibliometric laws.

Uses Cooper's interindexer formula to evaluate aggregation consistency within and between two sets of Chinese bibliographic data. Compares the term frequency distributions of polysyllabic words and monosyllabic characters (for vernacular and Romanized data) with the Lotka and the generalised Zipf theoretical distributions. The fits are tested with the Kolmogorov‐Smirnov test.

Finds high internal aggregation consistency within each data set but some aggregation discrepancy between sets. Shows that word (polysyllabic) distributions satisfy Lotka's law but that character (monosyllabic) distributions do not abide by the law.

The findings are limited to only two sets of bibliographic data (for aggregation consistency analysis) and to one set of data for the frequency distribution analysis. Only two bibliometric distributions are tested. Internal consistency within each database remains fairly high. Therefore the main argument against syllable aggregation does not appear to hold true. The analysis revealed that Chinese words and characters behave differently in terms of frequency distribution but that there is no noticeable difference between vernacular and Romanized data. The distribution of Romanized characters exhibits the worst case in terms of fit to either Lotka's or Zipf's laws, which indicates that Romanized data in aggregated form appear to be a preferable option.

Provides empirical data on consistency and distribution of Romanized Chinese titles in bibliographic records.

The study considers a five-factor model toward online banking adoption in the context of banking customers in India and validates the proposed model. In addition, the authors consider the impact of validated factors on overall satisfaction of customers.

A five-factor online banking adoption model has been tested for reliability and validity by confirmatory factor analysis. For determining contribution of factors toward overall satisfaction level of banking customers structural equation modeling has been adopted. Four explanatory variables have been used to assess the overall satisfaction level of online banking users. A structured questionnaire incorporating variables identified from literature has been used as survey instrument for the study. Final respondent sample was 280 banking customers.

Trust, Usage Constraint, Ease of Use, Accessibility and Intention to Use as reliable and valid factors determining internet banking adoption among customers in India. Accessibility, Usage Constraints, Intention to Use portrayed strong and significant relationship with overall customer satisfaction. Trust and Ease of Use are relatively weaker and insignificant contributors toward overall customer satisfaction.

The existing studies in the context of e-banking in general and online banking in particular have been majorly confined to proposing key drivers toward adoption of such alternate banking mediums. By providing an insight towards satisfaction level of customers adopting online banking the proposed model attempts to fill this gap. As the study relates to banking customers in India, findings will be of particular value to domestic and foreign banking entities looking to leverage technology as a tool to attain stronghold with an emerging economic set-up.

This study aims to investigate the relationship between perceived usefulness, ease of use and adoption of online banking by customers in the Indian context. Using the technology acceptance model (TAM) as the base, this study underscores the importance of perceived enjoyment, security and trust in influencing customer satisfaction.

Using a structured survey instrument, this paper gathered data from 476 respondents in the southern part of India. First, the instrument’s psychometric properties were tested, and hypotheses were tested using Hayes’s PROCESS macros.

The results indicated that (i) perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use are positively related to the attitude of the consumers to use online banking, (ii) attitude to use is positively related to adoption intention and (iii) adoption intention positively predicts customer satisfaction. The results also reveal that (i) perceived enjoyment moderates the relationship between attitude to use and adoption intention, (ii) trust moderates the relationship between adoption intention and customer satisfaction and (iii) security (second moderator) moderates the moderated relationship between trust (first moderator) and adoption intention on customer satisfaction.

As with any survey research, self-report measures have the inherent problems of common method bias and social desirability bias. However, the authors have taken adequate care to minimize these limitations. In addition, the research has implications for consumer behavior concerned with online banking.

This study contributes to both practicing managers and the literature on online banking. The study suggests that bank managers need to focus on ensuring security and earning customers’ trust to motivate them to adopt online banking.

The study contributes to society by unraveling the antecedent conditions leading to accepting innovative changes initiated by banks. Especially in rural and cooperative banks, customers adopting online banking helps save their time and energy in visiting the physical locations of banks.

This study provides new insights into the complex relationships among variables contributing to customer satisfaction. The double-layered moderated moderated-mediation conceptual model developed and tested in this study is a novel idea that makes a significant contribution to the growing literature on online banking.

Currently, the majority of designed robots are not well‐matched to their applications because designers do not employ a clear and organized design process. Additionally, the high cost of robotic systems makes it difficult to financially justify the use of this technology. The purpose of this paper is to present a new design process that gathers conceptual, kinematic and dynamic design, finite elements method (FEM), functional design and virtual reality control. Furthermore, kinematic and dynamic design can be obtained by traditional theory or standard computer tools (SCT) to accelerate the design. Through SCT fitted mathematical models and non‐mathematical virtual models may be acquired.

This paper investigates the design process of a robot. First, the entire methodology is presented (including two new techniques for solving the kinematic and dynamic questions via SCT). Second, a case study using Autodesk^® Inventor™ has been analysed to assess the feasibility of the method and techniques.

The more stages of the design process are considered, the more successful solutions become. Designers can obtain a mathematical solution for an analytically unsolvable robot fitting a mathematical model by SCT. To obtain a rapid design, designers must consider using SCT and following just in need (JIN) philosophy to find a non‐mathematical virtual model.

This paper presents an innovative guide for robotic engineers and researchers which covers the whole design process and new techniques for obtaining mathematical and non‐mathematical solutions.