Maryann Wu, Dabrick A. Brill, Mrunmayee Prakash Shirodkar, Jianxuan Tan, Mukesh Poptani, Ying Wang and Ian S. Haworth
With a growing need to assess multiple aspects of healthcare education, the goal of this study was to develop an innovative web-based application to streamline assessment…
Abstract
Purpose
With a growing need to assess multiple aspects of healthcare education, the goal of this study was to develop an innovative web-based application to streamline assessment processes and meet the increasingly complex role of the educational manager.
Design/methodology/approach
AARDVARC (Automated Approach to Reviewing and Developing Valuable Assessment Resources for your Curriculum) was created with the core function of standardizing course syllabi through the use of a web-based portal and the ability to query fields within the portal to collect multiple points of data. AARDVARC permits quick and efficient gathering of programmatic, curricular, faculty, teaching, preceptor and financial data to facilitate meaningful change and a shared responsibility of assessment. This software has allowed automatic completion of complex analytics each semester, including coverage of program outcomes, course learning objectives, teaching and assessment methods, course readings, topics covered in the curriculum, faculty teaching hours, experiential activities, coverage of disease states and scheduling of peer observation of teaching.
Findings
Three years after its initial launch, AARDVARC is now used by 520 faculty, 60 staff, 44 preceptors and over 2,000 students across multiple health profession and science programs. Data analytics through AARDVARC have allowed the School to reimagine how assessment can be conducted and have provided a pathway for making evidence-based programmatic and curricular changes.
Originality/value
This original software has provided an innovative approach to conduct assessment that combines best practices in curriculum, assessment, data analytics and educational technology while improving the overall quality, speed, and efficiency of academic and business operations.
Details
Keywords
Jianxuan Wu, Chenyang Song, Sa Xiao, Yuankai Lu and Haibin Wu
Polishing is a crucial process in mechanical manufacturing. The use of industrial robots to automate polishing is an inevitable trend in future developments. However, current…
Abstract
Purpose
Polishing is a crucial process in mechanical manufacturing. The use of industrial robots to automate polishing is an inevitable trend in future developments. However, current robotic polishing tools are too large to reach inside deep holes or grooves in workpieces. This study aims to use a pneumatic artificial muscle (PAM) as the actuator and designs a force-controlled end-effector to reach inside the deep and narrow areas in the workpiece.
Design/methodology/approach
This approach first addresses the challenge of converting the tensile force generated by the PAM into pushing force through mechanism design. In addition, a dynamics model of the end-effector was established based on the three-element model of the PAM. A combined control strategy was proposed to enhance force control accuracy and adaptability during the polishing process.
Findings
Experiments were conducted on a robotic platform equipped with the proposed end-effector. The experimental results demonstrate that the end-effector can polish the inner end face of holes or grooves with diameters as small as 80 mm and depths reaching 200 mm. By implementing the combined control strategies, the target force tracking error was reduced by 48.66% compared to the use of the PID controller alone.
Originality/value
A new force-controlled end-effector based on the PAM is designed for robotic polishing. According to the experimental result, this end-effector can polish not only the outer surfaces of the workpiece but also the internal surfaces of workpieces with deep holes or grooves specifically. By using the combined control strategy proposed in this paper, the end-effector significantly improves force control precision and polishing quality.