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Article
Publication date: 18 October 2011

He Xu, Zhenyu Zhang, Khalil Alipour, Kai Xue and X.Z. Gao

Wheel‐terrain interaction has hardly been taken into consideration in the process of conventional mobile robot design, but its importance has been reflected increasingly towards…

Abstract

Purpose

Wheel‐terrain interaction has hardly been taken into consideration in the process of conventional mobile robot design, but its importance has been reflected increasingly towards these categories of mobile robots in rough sandy terrain or obstacle‐dense ground, as the first performance index in this situation is the trafficability of robot whose propulsion is uniquely generated by wheel‐terrain interaction. Consequently, it is valuable to find an optimized design method when the terrain and robot itself are regarded simultaneously. The purpose of this paper is to present a novel and reasonable design approach to mobile robot in sandy terrain.

Design/methodology/approach

Leading to some conflicted performance indices of robot, terramechanics describes the non‐linear characteristics in wheel‐terrain interaction mathematically, therefore, trade‐offs must be implemented to get a proper solution by multi‐objective optimization (MOO). In this paper, a five‐wheeled drive and five‐wheeled steering (5WD5WS) reconfigurable mobile robot is taken as demonstration with taxonomy of total‐symmetrical, partial‐symmetrical and asymmetrical prototypes. After function modeling, the MOO is carried out via iSIGHT‐FD using NCGA (Neighborhood Cultivation Genetic Algorithm) to minimize the mass, wheel resistance and maximize the static stability simultaneously.

Findings

After MOO, a compact and light weighted asymmetrical prototype is obtained with better trafficability, and other prototypes can produce diversified configurations to meet specific requirements. Significantly reduced masses (about 17 kg) enhance the grade‐ability when robot is in rough terrain. Performed real‐world experiments have also verified these prototypes.

Originality/value

The paper presents a new design approach for a mobile robot which focuses on both robot and terrain simultaneously with respect to conflicted factors. To unveil the insight relation of these factors, MOO is an effective tool to get a trade‐offs prototype.

Details

Industrial Robot: An International Journal, vol. 38 no. 6
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0143-991X

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 27 November 2019

Meng Lu, Yang Qiang, Du Jiangang and Dong Zerui

The purpose of this paper is to examine the interaction effect of innovative product category and presentation order on consumer consumer’s purchasing intention and the mediating…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the interaction effect of innovative product category and presentation order on consumer consumer’s purchasing intention and the mediating role of perceived novelty and risk perception.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors examined the hypotheses in three experiment studies. In Study 1, the authors primed innovative product category and presentation order on consumer consumer’s purchasing intention. In Study 2, the authors measured the mediating role of perceived novelty and risk perception. In Study 3, they validated the moderating effect of picture and text consistency on the improvement of purchase preference.

Findings

The results reveal that RNP/INP and presentation order (from whole to part/from part to whole) could enhance consumers’ purchase intention and verify the mediating role of perceived novelty and risk perception, based on which a complete internal mechanism model is constructed. The third experiment shows the moderating effect of picture and text consistency on the improvement of purchase preference by matching the category and presentation order of innovative products.

Originality/value

Prior literature on the thinking mode of holistic and partial processing has been mostly applied to the cognitive field of reading and text labeling. In this study, using the holistic (local) processing thinking model and anchoring theory, eye movement experiments and situational experiments, the audience’s analysis framework of information processing mechanism is constructed. The unique phenomenon of product category and overall (local) presentation order coexisting in innovative product advertisement is considered comprehensively.

Details

Journal of Contemporary Marketing Science, vol. 2 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2516-7480

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 6 May 2024

Ling Liang, Jiqing Xie, Jie Ren, Jialiang Wang and Chang Wang

Information opacity in donation crowdfunding activities has constrained the healthy development of China’s public welfare activities. Addressing the trust crisis and enhancing…

Abstract

Purpose

Information opacity in donation crowdfunding activities has constrained the healthy development of China’s public welfare activities. Addressing the trust crisis and enhancing public engagement warrants further investigation. This study aims to uncover the moderating effect of activity transparency by utilizing data from 1,029 donation crowdfunding projects on the Sina Weibo Public Welfare Social Platform. In this way, we seek to elucidate the impact of donation crowdfunding events on fundraising ability.

Design/methodology/approach

This study selects text complexity, number of supporters, creator experience, and social capital as explanatory variables; innovatively selects the number of updates of online crowdfunding activities and total reading volume as moderating variables; selects the number of shares of crowdfunding activities as a mediating variable; and constructs a moderated mediation multiple regression model for fundraising ability.

Findings

Our findings indicate that independent variables, such as text complexity, number of supporters, and social capital, can significantly affect the dependent variable, fundraising ability. However, creator experience does not influence fundraising ability. Furthermore, social interaction has a mediating effect, whereas activity transparency has a reverse moderating effect. These results indicate that social interaction can enhance the fundraising ability of donation crowdfunding events. However, with an increase in information transparency, the fundraising ability of social media decreases.

Originality/value

The originality of this research is in clarifying the internal factors affecting fundraising ability through induction, making bold assumptions, and focusing on how social media’s effective interaction and activity transparency will affect public welfare crowdfunding fundraising ability.

Details

Industrial Management & Data Systems, vol. 124 no. 5
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0263-5577

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 20 March 2017

Yee Ling Yap, Yong Sheng Edgar Tan, Heang Kuan Joel Tan, Zhen Kai Peh, Xue Yi Low, Wai Yee Yeong, Colin Siang Hui Tan and Augustinus Laude

The design process of a bio-model involves multiple factors including data acquisition technique, material requirement, resolution of the printing technique, cost-effectiveness of…

1397

Abstract

Purpose

The design process of a bio-model involves multiple factors including data acquisition technique, material requirement, resolution of the printing technique, cost-effectiveness of the printing process and end-use requirements. This paper aims to compare and highlight the effects of these design factors on the printing outcome of bio-models.

Design/methodology/approach

Different data sources including engineering drawing, computed tomography (CT), and optical coherence tomography (OCT) were converted to a printable data format. Three different bio-models, namely, an ophthalmic model, a retina model and a distal tibia model, were printed using two different techniques, namely, PolyJet and fused deposition modelling. The process flow and 3D printed models were analysed.

Findings

The data acquisition and 3D printing process affect the overall printing resolution. The design process flows using different data sources were established and the bio-models were printed successfully.

Research limitations/implications

Data acquisition techniques contained inherent noise data and resulted in inaccuracies during data conversion.

Originality/value

This work showed that the data acquisition and conversion technique had a significant effect on the quality of the bio-model blueprint and subsequently the printing outcome. In addition, important design factors of bio-models were highlighted such as material requirement and the cost-effectiveness of the printing technique. This paper provides a systematic discussion for future development of an engineering design process in three-dimensional (3D) printed bio-models.

Details

Rapid Prototyping Journal, vol. 23 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1355-2546

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 28 March 2024

Kai Wang, Massimiliano Matteo Pellegrini, Kunkun Xue, Cizhi Wang and Menghan Peng

Digital technologies over time are becoming increasingly pervasive and relatively affordable, finding a large diffusion in Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) also for…

Abstract

Purpose

Digital technologies over time are becoming increasingly pervasive and relatively affordable, finding a large diffusion in Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) also for internationalization purposes. However, less is known about the specific mechanisms by which this can be achieved. Specifically, we focus on how SMEs can face the international environment, leveraging digital technologies and thanks to their intellectual capital (IC).

Design/methodology/approach

We analyze the relationship between digital technologies and the internationalization of SMEs, exploring the mediating role of IC in its three dimensions: human, relational and innovation capital, and assessing the possible moderating effects posed by international institutional conditions, specifically the Sino-US trade frictions. The relationships are tested using a sample of companies listed on China’s A-share Growth Enterprise Market (GEM) from 2010 to 2021.

Findings

Digital technologies help to internationalize SMEs. However, this positive relationship is affected (mediated) by the presence of an already consolidated IC. In addition, the institutional conditions of the international market, such as the Sino-US trade friction, moderate the components of IC differently. Specifically, the overall mediating effect of human and relational capital is boosted, while this does not happen for innovation capital.

Originality/value

First, this study contributes to the literature on organizational resilience, especially digital resilience, confirming its validity in the context of internationalization and, in particular, those processes adopted by SMEs. Second, we clarify the mechanisms through which digital technologies exert their impact on the process of internationalization and in particular the prominent necessity of having IC. Third, our conclusions enrich the understanding of how IC components react to turbulence in international markets.

Details

Journal of Enterprise Information Management, vol. 37 no. 5
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1741-0398

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 21 December 2021

Xue-Qin Li, Lu-Kai Song and Guang-Chen Bai

To provide valuable information for scholars to grasp the current situations, hotspots and future development trends of reliability analysis area.

Abstract

Purpose

To provide valuable information for scholars to grasp the current situations, hotspots and future development trends of reliability analysis area.

Design/methodology/approach

In this paper, recent researches on efficient reliability analysis and applications in complex engineering structures like aeroengine rotor systems are reviewd.

Findings

The recent reliability analysis advances of engineering application in aeroengine rotor system are highlighted, it is worth pointing out that the surrogate model methods hold great efficiency and accuracy advantages in the complex reliability analysis of aeroengine rotor system, since its strong computing power can effectively reduce the analysis time consumption and accelerate the development procedures of aeroengine. Moreover, considering the multi-objective, multi-disciplinary, high-dimensionality and time-varying problems are the common problems in various complex engineering fields, the surrogate model methods and its developed methods also have broad application prospects in the future.

Originality/value

For the strong demand for efficient reliability design technique, this review paper may help to highlights the benefits of reliability analysis methods not only in academia but also in practical engineering application like aeroengine rotor system.

Details

International Journal of Structural Integrity, vol. 13 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1757-9864

Keywords

Open Access
Article
Publication date: 29 November 2019

Kai Yu, Liqun Peng, Xue Ding, Fan Zhang and Minrui Chen

Basic safety message (BSM) is a core subset of standard protocols for connected vehicle system to transmit related safety information via vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) and…

1473

Abstract

Purpose

Basic safety message (BSM) is a core subset of standard protocols for connected vehicle system to transmit related safety information via vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) and vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I). Although some safety prototypes of connected vehicle have been proposed with effective strategies, few of them are fully evaluated in terms of the significance of BSM messages on performance of safety applications when in emergency.

Design/methodology/approach

To address this problem, a data fusion method is proposed to capture the vehicle crash risk by extracting critical information from raw BSMs data, such as driver volition, vehicle speed, hard accelerations and braking. Thereafter, a classification model based on information-entropy and variable precision rough set (VPRS) is used for assessing the instantaneous driving safety by fusing the BSMs data from field test, and predicting the vehicle crash risk level with the driver emergency maneuvers in the next short term.

Findings

The findings and implications are discussed for developing an improved warning and driving assistant system by using BSMs messages.

Originality/value

The findings of this study are relevant to incorporation of alerts, warnings and control assists in V2V applications of connected vehicles. Such applications can help drivers identify situations where surrounding drivers are volatile, and they may avoid dangers by taking defensive actions.

Details

Journal of Intelligent and Connected Vehicles, vol. 2 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2399-9802

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 6 February 2023

Hong Zhang, Lu-Kai Song, Guang-Chen Bai and Xue-Qin Li

The purpose of this study is to improve the computational efficiency and accuracy of fatigue reliability analysis.

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to improve the computational efficiency and accuracy of fatigue reliability analysis.

Design/methodology/approach

By absorbing the advantages of Markov chain and active Kriging model into the hierarchical collaborative strategy, an enhanced active Kriging-based hierarchical collaborative model (DCEAK) is proposed.

Findings

The analysis results show that the proposed DCEAK method holds high accuracy and efficiency in dealing with fatigue reliability analysis with high nonlinearity and small failure probability.

Research limitations/implications

The effectiveness of the presented method in more complex reliability analysis problems (i.e. noisy problems, high-dimensional issues etc.) should be further validated.

Practical implications

The current efforts can provide a feasible way to analyze the reliability performance and identify the sensitive variables in aeroengine mechanisms.

Originality/value

To improve the computational efficiency and accuracy of fatigue reliability analysis, an enhanced active DCEAK is proposed and the corresponding fatigue reliability framework is established for the first time.

Details

International Journal of Structural Integrity, vol. 14 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1757-9864

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 29 October 2019

Kai Wang, Massimiliano Matteo Pellegrini, Jiaan Xue and Cizhi Wang

Strategic change is integral to the survival and development of firms. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the impact of environmental uncertainty on a firm’s strategic change…

Abstract

Purpose

Strategic change is integral to the survival and development of firms. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the impact of environmental uncertainty on a firm’s strategic change and further demonstrates the moderating role of political connection and family ownership on the relationship between environmental uncertainty and a firm’s strategic change.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper uses the population sample of Chinese firms listed on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange and the Shanghai Stock Exchange from 2008 to 2014 and quantitatively tests hypotheses through correlation analysis, regression analysis and other methods.

Findings

Environmental uncertainty has a positive effect on the degree of strategic changes made. Political connection and family ownership negatively moderate the impact of the two dimensions of environmental uncertainty (environmental dynamism and environmental munificence) on strategic changes.

Originality/value

Conclusions enrich the research of other studies on firms’ strategic changes. From an open systems perspective, this paper reveals the influences of external environmental factors on firms’ strategic changes. In addition to this, in analyzing the ways in which environmental uncertainty affects a firm’s strategic change, the research expands the application scope of information processing theory and resource-based view. This paper also provides significant practical observations on firms’ strategic decision making in this area.

Details

Journal of Family Business Management, vol. 10 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2043-6238

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 2 March 2023

Wei-Yuan Lo, Yu-Kai Lin, Hsiang-Ming Lee and Tsui-Yau Liu

This study aims to use “both–and” thinking of Yin-Yang philosophy to extend the field of leadership literatures and explore the influences of paradoxical leadership and emotional…

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to use “both–and” thinking of Yin-Yang philosophy to extend the field of leadership literatures and explore the influences of paradoxical leadership and emotional intelligence on organizational identification and turnover intentions of nurses.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors adopted a cross-sectional survey completed by 285 nurses in Taiwan. SPSS 22, PROCESS and AMOS 21 were used for data analysis.

Findings

The results reveal that paradoxical leadership has a significant positive relationship with nurses’ organizational identification and a significant negatively relationship with their turnover intentions, and organizational identification partially mediated the relationship between paradoxical leadership and turnover intentions. The results further show that emotional intelligence strengthens the effect of paradoxical leadership on organizational identification, and paradoxical leadership had a stronger indirect effect on turnover intentions through organizational identification under strong emotional intelligence.

Originality/value

Paradoxical leadership can strengthen managers’ abilities in dealing with interrelated and substantial issues and correspond to organizing and belonging paradoxes in holistic thinking processes. Health-care organizations must shape a coordinated institution and offer training initiatives to increase managers’ ability and attitude to control organizational rules and procedures while allowing employees’ flexibility and autonomy according to the requirements of the situation, which will maintain both organizational short-term benefits and long-term growth.

Details

Leadership in Health Services, vol. 36 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1751-1879

Keywords

1 – 10 of 128