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Article
Publication date: 15 March 2019

Guangkai Sun, Yang Hu, Mingli Dong, Yanlin He, Mingxin Yu and Lianqing Zhu

Soft robotics is a burgeoning field owing to its high adaptability and safety in human–machine interaction and unstructured environments. However, the feedback control of soft…

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Abstract

Purpose

Soft robotics is a burgeoning field owing to its high adaptability and safety in human–machine interaction and unstructured environments. However, the feedback control of soft actuators with flexible sensors is still a challenge.

Design/methodology/approach

To address this issue, this study proposes an optical fibre-based sensing membrane for the posture measurement of soft pneumatic bending actuators. The major contribution is the development of a flexible sensing membrane with a high sensitivity and repeatability for the feedback control of soft actuators. The characteristics of sensing membrane were analysed. The relationship between wavelength shift and bending curvature was derived. The curvatures of soft actuator were measured at four bending status, and the postures were reconstructed.

Findings

The results indicate that the measurement error is less than 2.1% of the actual bending curvature. The sensitivity is up to 212.8 pm/m−1, and the signal fluctuation in repeated measurements is negligible. This approach has broad application prospects in soft robotics, because it makes the optical fibre achieve more strength and compatible with soft actuators, thus improving the sensing accuracy, sensitivity and reliability of fibre sensors.

Originality/value

Different from previous approaches, an optical fibre with FBGs is embedded into a multilayered polyimide film to form a flexible sensing membrane, and the membrane is embedded into a soft pneumatic bending actuator as the smart strain limited layer which is able to measure the posture in real time. This approach makes the optical fibre stronger and compatible with the soft pneumatic bending actuator, and the sensing accuracy, sensitivity and reliability are improved. The proposed sensing configuration is effective for the feedback control of the soft pneumatic bending actuators.

Details

Industrial Robot: the international journal of robotics research and application, vol. 46 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0143-991X

Keywords

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Article
Publication date: 2 April 2024

Yi Liu, Rui Ning, Mingxin Du, Shuanghe Yu and Yan Yan

The purpose of this paper is to propose an new online path planning method for porcine belly cutting. With the proliferation in demand for the automatic systems of pork…

127

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to propose an new online path planning method for porcine belly cutting. With the proliferation in demand for the automatic systems of pork production, the development of efficient and robust meat cutting algorithms are hot issues. The uncertain and dynamic nature of the online porcine belly cutting imposes a challenge for the robot to identify and cut efficiently and accurately. Based on the above challenges, an online porcine belly cutting method using 3D laser point cloud is proposed.

Design/methodology/approach

The robotic cutting system is composed of an industrial robotic manipulator, customized tools, a laser sensor and a PC.

Findings

Analysis of experimental results shows that by comparing with machine vision, laser sensor-based robot cutting has more advantages, and it can handle different carcass sizes.

Originality/value

An image pyramid method is used for dimensionality reduction of the 3D laser point cloud. From a detailed analysis of the outward and inward cutting errors, the outward cutting error is the limiting condition for reducing the segments by segmentation algorithm.

Details

Industrial Robot: the international journal of robotics research and application, vol. 51 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0143-991X

Keywords

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Article
Publication date: 1 June 2005

Marilyn Delong, Juanjuan Wu and Mingxin Bao

The objective was to provide research‐based insights from two groups of respondents as to their perceptions, preferences and desire to purchase Chinese – influenced Western dress.

7001

Abstract

Purpose

The objective was to provide research‐based insights from two groups of respondents as to their perceptions, preferences and desire to purchase Chinese – influenced Western dress.

Design/methodology/approach

Ten images of models in designer clothing were selected that varied in degree of Chinese influence. College students from a US and a Chinese university, numbering 55 and 56 respectively, were asked to respond by ranking each image to discern their perceptions of ethnic influence and their preferences for and desire to purchase each of the ten images. Responses were compared and analyzed.

Findings

A conclusion based upon analysis of responses was that degree of Chinese influence was less critical than the aesthetic character of the form itself. Some disagreement occurred in respondent's highest ranked preferences. Regarding preference and desire to purchase, US respondents ranked them similarly, while Chinese students ranked them differently.

Research limitations/implications

The sample was confined to College students with similar majors in the two countries. Limiting the sample in this way offered control in age and interest, but also limited application of results.

Practical implications

This study addressed the perceptions, preferences and purchasing desires for dress with Chinese influence in a cross cultural perspective. Respondents in this study preferred effective design of the whole image and not simply a borrowing of disparate ethnic attributes.

Originality/value

Results provide a managerial guide for ethnic fashion marketers.

Details

Journal of Fashion Marketing and Management: An International Journal, vol. 9 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1361-2026

Keywords

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Article
Publication date: 13 November 2009

Guangwei Hu, Wenwen Pan, Mingxin Lu and Jie Wang

This paper aims to provide details of a study on the widely shared definition of e‐government and to help scholars – especially young scholars – to understand the scope and…

2786

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to provide details of a study on the widely shared definition of e‐government and to help scholars – especially young scholars – to understand the scope and meaning of the field.

Design/methodology/approach

From 1998‐2007, a ten‐year time‐span, 632 articles from the three world‐leading academic databases, including Wiley InterScience, Elsevier ScienceDirect, and SCI Expanded, were retrieved and 324 were analyzed using CATA software (Concordance 3.20), to identify the vocabulary that was used frequently by e‐government scholars. Then the distinct vocabulary was used to construct the widely shared definition of e‐government.

Findings

In those 324 articles, 57 words generated from the text analysis formed the basis for imputing a widely shared definition of the field of e‐government. The definition was conceptualized by six elements.

Research limitations/implications

Two limitations of the pool of articles selected may be noted. First, articles were drawn from three leading academic databases in an effort to distinguish e‐government from other fields; but such an approach omitted any consideration of how e‐government definitions varied from different academic fields. Second, because the pool of articles was drawn only from these three, journals excluded by these databases were thus omitted.

Originality/value

The study is unique in that it discusses the definition of e‐government by an exploratory approach. The universal shared definition extracted could serve as either a screen or a magnet for future research. And the methodology could be applied to several academic fields, including administration and management, library and information science, e‐records management, computer science, etc.

Details

The Electronic Library, vol. 27 no. 6
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0264-0473

Keywords

Available. Content available
Article
Publication date: 1 March 2005

238

Abstract

Details

Journal of Fashion Marketing and Management: An International Journal, vol. 9 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1361-2026

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Article
Publication date: 1 April 2003

Zhu Yunxia and Herbert W. Hildebrandt

This paper aims to compare the Greek and Chinese rhetorical traditions and explore their influences on today’s business and marketing communication across relevant cultures. In…

2010

Abstract

This paper aims to compare the Greek and Chinese rhetorical traditions and explore their influences on today’s business and marketing communication across relevant cultures. In particular, it uses the Aristotelian persuasive orientations as reference points to introduce the Chinese rhetoric, and interpret cultural differences in persuasion from a historical and sociocultural perspective. It has been found that Greek and Chinese rhetoric and persuasion were developed to meet the needs of the social and cultural environments and this rule still applies to today’s business communication. The logical approach has been emphasised in the English rhetorical tradition while both qing (emotional approach) and li (logical approach) are the focus of persuasion in the Chinese tradition. This difference is also the root of cultural differences in modern business communication. Findings from both English and Chinese texts and data are examined to substantiate our focal argument.

Details

Asia Pacific Journal of Marketing and Logistics, vol. 15 no. 1/2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1355-5855

Keywords

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Article
Publication date: 7 September 2015

Ankita Pritam Praharaj, Dibakar Behera, Tapan Kumar Bastia and Arun Kumar Rout

This paper aims to focus on the development and study properties of bisphenol-A glycidyldimethacrylate (BisGMA) and ethylene–propylene–diene monomer (EPDM) blend-based…

91

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to focus on the development and study properties of bisphenol-A glycidyldimethacrylate (BisGMA) and ethylene–propylene–diene monomer (EPDM) blend-based nanocomposites containing amine-functionalised multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT-NH2) as a compatibiliser.

Design/methodology/approach

First, BisGMA was synthesised from epoxy and methacrylic acid followed by the amine functionalisation of MWCNTs. A novel two-roll milling technique was then conducted to prepare nanocomposite specimens with MWCNT-NH2 as compatibiliser. Effect of MWCNT-NH2 content on the mechanical, thermal, electrical, corrosive and water absorption properties of the nanocomposites was investigated and results have been reported.

Findings

The results of the present work reveal that MWCNT-NH2 acts as a potential compatibiliser and nanofiller in BisGMA/EPDM blend-based nanocomposites. The authors report here that the nanocomposites exhibit improved mechanical, thermal and electrical properties with increased addition of MWCNT-NH2. Moreover, desirable results are obtained at 5 phr of nanofiller loading beyond which the properties deteriorate due to particle agglomeration. The nanocomposites display negligible corrosion and water absorption characteristics. Thus, the above fabricated nanocomposites with optimum compatibiliser content can serve as low-cost structural, thermal and electrical materials which can also be utilised in corrosive and moist environments.

Research limitations/implications

The present investigation has come up with the successful and cost-effective fabrication of BisGMA/EPDM blend-based nanocomposites with optimum nanofiller/compatibiliser (MWCNT-NH2) content that can be used for a wide range of structural, thermal and electrical projects, as it is corrosion and moisture resistant. It is also the most durable from the mechanical point of view.

Originality/value

The above nanocomposites have never been designed before.

Details

Pigment & Resin Technology, vol. 44 no. 5
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0369-9420

Keywords

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