Venketesh N. Dubey and Richard M. Crowder
The purpose of this paper is to present the design and analysis of a robotic finger mechanism for robust industrial applications.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to present the design and analysis of a robotic finger mechanism for robust industrial applications.
Design/methodology/approach
The resultant design is a compact rigid link finger, which is adaptive to different shapes and sizes providing necessary grasping features. A number of such fingers can be assembled to function as a special purpose end effector.
Findings
The mechanism removes a number of significant problems usually experienced with tendon‐based designs. The finger actuation mechanism forms a compact and positive drive unit within the end effector's body using solid mechanical linkages and integrated actuators.
Practical implications
The paper discusses the design issues associated with a limited number of actuators to operate in a constrained environment and presents various considerations necessary to ensure safe and reliable operations.
Originality/value
The design is original in existence and developed for special purpose handling applications that offers a strong and reliable system where space and safety is of prime concern.
Details
Keywords
A. Jardon, A. Gimenez, R. Correal, R. Cabas, S. Martinez and C. Balaguer
Human care and service demands will need innovative robotic solutions to make the day‐to‐day life of elderly and disabled people in home and workplace environments easier. The…
Abstract
Purpose
Human care and service demands will need innovative robotic solutions to make the day‐to‐day life of elderly and disabled people in home and workplace environments easier. The main objective of this work is to develop a new concept of climbing robot for this type of service applications.
Design/methodology/approach
ASIBOT is a 5 DOF self‐containing manipulator that includes the entire control system on‐board. The main advantage of this robot is its light weight, about 11 kg with 1.3 m reach. The robot is totally autonomous and only needs a power supply to be operated.
Findings
The robot is an arm able to move between different points (Docking stations (DS)) of the rooms and, if necessary, “jump” to (or from) the environment to the wheelchair. In this way the ASIBOT robot could become a home companion and assistance for numerous people.
Originality/value
ASIBOT is a 5 DOF self‐containing light weight manipulator that includes the entire control system on‐board.
Details
Keywords
Mohamed A. Ghonim, Abd El-Mohsen A. Goda, Nagi M. Khashaba, Mohamed M. Elsotouhy and Mohamed A. Khashan
While scholarly studies focus on the role of technology in digital transformation, an important direction of research still requires examining HR-related factors in this regard…
Abstract
Purpose
While scholarly studies focus on the role of technology in digital transformation, an important direction of research still requires examining HR-related factors in this regard specifically. This study aims to analyze factors pertaining to human and organizational resources in the context of digital transformation within healthcare enterprises. The study examines the possible impacts of organizational energy (OE) and human resource flexibility (HRF) on digital transformation (DT). The study also seeks to investigate the influence of organizational inertia (OI) on the relationships being examined, according to the theory of change principles.
Design/methodology/approach
The empirical study used a survey method on 355 Mansoura University Hospitals employees, Egypt. The study data were analyzed using structural equations modeling with WarpPLS V. 8.0.
Findings
The results showed that all OE dimensions directly affected DT and HRF dimensions. Through HRF, OE indirectly affected DT. The study also found that all dimensions of OI negatively moderated the OE-DT and HRF-DT relationships. Based on the study's results, theoretical and practical implications were drawn.
Originality/value
This study develops a novel model to empirically investigate the quantitative relationships between OE, HRF, OI, and DT. This study provides an addition to understanding how human resources and organizational mechanisms work in technology-based experiments such as digital transformation and adds contributions in this regard to the health sector in particular.
Details
Keywords
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to present the design and implementation of a new manipulator with six joints driven by a single DC motor.
Design/methodology/approach
The manipulator consists of several modules, each of which has the twisting and pivoting degrees of freedom. Two clutches and one brake are mounted to control each joint. A clutch model based on PWM control is built to compute the average velocity of each clutch. Two parameters are involved in the model: PWM frequency and duty ratio. PWM frequency is limited by the natural frequencies of structure with all postures. The theoretical duty ratio should be adjusted according to the clutch model. Two experiments – line tracking and arc tracking – are carried out to verify the effectiveness of the control system.
Findings
The study has designed a manipulator with six joints driven by a single DC motor which powers all the modules through a main shaft and several clutches. In the manipulator, all the modules are supplied with a constant speed input and provide a bi‐directional variable output. Experimental results show the clutch model built for the manipulator can be applied to the joint control of all multi‐joint manipulators.
Originality/value
The paper describes a dexterous and light‐weight manipulator driven by a single motor and designed with bi‐directional joints.
Details
Keywords
Javier Andrades, Domingo Martinez-Martinez, Manuel Larran and Jesus Herrera
The purpose of this paper is to examine the amount of online information reported by Spanish municipal-owned enterprises (MOEs) according to the legal requirements indicated in…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine the amount of online information reported by Spanish municipal-owned enterprises (MOEs) according to the legal requirements indicated in the Spanish Law 19/2013 on Transparency and Good Governance. In addition, the authors analyze how different variables can affect the extent of online information reported by such enterprises.
Design/methodology/approach
To do this, we conducted a content analysis of the web pages of Spanish MOEs located in cities with more than 100.000 habitants, as well as those cities that are provincial capitals. To find information about these enterprises, the authors accessed the General Intervention Board of the State Administration (IGAE) webpage (www.igae.pap.minhafp.gob.es/sitios/igae/es-ES/Paginas/inicio.aspx). This sample was composed of 273 enterprises majority owned and controlled by local governments.
Findings
The findings reveal that the amount of information reported by Spanish MOEs, in accordance with the legal requirements, is quite reduced. The most influential variables for explaining Spanish MOEs’ commitment to information disclosure are population size, political positioning of the local government and reputation.
Originality/value
This study seeks to contribute to the scarce literature on mandatory transparency in the public sector as well as to reinforce the degree of compliance with requirements of information disclosure.
Details
Keywords
Satabdee Dash, Axel Nordin and Glenn Johansson
Dual design for additive manufacturing (DfAM) takes into account both the opportunities and constraints of AM simultaneously, which research shows is more effective than…
Abstract
Purpose
Dual design for additive manufacturing (DfAM) takes into account both the opportunities and constraints of AM simultaneously, which research shows is more effective than considering them separately. Unlike existing reviews, this paper aims to map DfAM research within the engineering design process, focusing solely on studies adopting dual DfAM. Additionally, it aims to suggest future research directions by analysing prominent research themes and their inter-relationships. Special emphasis is on theme inter-relationships concerning the conceptual, embodiment and detail design phases.
Design/methodology/approach
The study is based on a systematic literature review of 148 publications from January 2000 to February 2024. After screening, prominent research themes were identified and systematically analysed. Theme inter-relationships were explored using quantitative analysis and chord diagrams.
Findings
The findings reveal that studies either span the entire design process, the early design phases or the later design phases. Most research focuses on the later design phases, particularly within themes of design optimisation, design evaluation and AM-specific manufacturing constraints. The most frequent theme inter-relationship occurs between design optimisation and AM-specific manufacturing constraints. Overall, the findings suggest future research directions to advance dual DfAM research, such as development of design rules and guidelines for cellular structures.
Originality/value
This review proposes a model by mapping prominent themes of dual DfAM research in relation to the engineering design process. Another original contribution lies in analysing theme inter-relationships and visualising them using chord diagrams – a novel approach that did not exist before.
Details
Keywords
Rodrigo Romo-Muñoz, Francisca Romo-Muñoz, Jairo Stefano Dote-Pardo and Ricardo Troncoso-Sepúlveda
The study focused on the Chilean olive oil market. The purpose of this paper is to determine the incidence of psychographic variables in the purchasing frequency of this product…
Abstract
Purpose
The study focused on the Chilean olive oil market. The purpose of this paper is to determine the incidence of psychographic variables in the purchasing frequency of this product in an emerging market.
Design/methodology/approach
A face-to-face survey was applied to a stratified sample in the Biobío Region (Chile). The food neophobia scale (FNS) and list of values (LOV) were used simultaneously to measure psychographic variables. A multinomial logit model was estimated to determine the relationship between olive oil purchasing frequency and psychographic variables.
Findings
Results suggest that psychographic variables can explain olive oil purchasing frequency in the Chilean market. For a new food product, neophilia and the values of external and hedonistic dimensions can explain the higher purchasing frequency of the product. Just as in other research studies, the combined use of psychographic and sociodemographic variables performed well in segmenting a new food market.
Research limitations/implications
Results should be interpreted for the purchasing behavior of a new food in the context of an emerging market. Future research should expand the geographic zone to apply the survey and incorporate other variables such as ethnocentrism or ethnic identity.
Originality/value
Most available research studies have investigated separately the incidence of both variables in food consumption in developed, cosmopolitan and intercultural markets. This is the first approach in jointly applying the psychographic variables FNS and LOV in an emerging market and using olive oil as a case study.
Details
Keywords
Ziaul Haque Munim, Dhanavanth Reddy Maditati, Sebastian Kummer and Hans-Joachim Schramm
This study aims to explore the gaps concerning the organizational operant resources (OORs) of logistics service providers (LSPs) expected in outsourcing relationships. The study…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to explore the gaps concerning the organizational operant resources (OORs) of logistics service providers (LSPs) expected in outsourcing relationships. The study considers the views of both manufacturing firms (M-firms) and LSPs in India and DACH region (Germany, Austria and Switzerland) seeking gaps within and across regions.
Design/methodology/approach
This research employed a survey targeting executives from large M-firms and LSPs in both India and DACH. The perceptions about the importance and improvement expectations of 17 OORs are analyzed. A modified version of importance-improvement analysis (A-B), a novel comparative A-B analysis (CABA) method, has been proposed to identify the importance and improvement gaps in OORs between M-firms and LSPs within and across India and the DACH region.
Findings
There are more gaps between M-firms and LSPs in India compared to DACH. Cross-country comparisons reveal that LSPs in India and DACH have similar perceptions concerning the OORs, but M-firms in India have significantly higher improvement expectations than those in DACH.
Research limitations/implications
This study proposes an analytical approach that enables managers to identify improvement areas and better align with their outsourcing relationship partners. It also highlights aspects that need to be considered while entering emerging markets such as India.
Originality/value
The analysis approach using CABA is novel. Also, among the cross-country studies, this is the first to compare outsourcing relationships in India with the DACH region while involving both users' and service providers' perspectives.
Details
Keywords
Emma Hawkins, Kate Grant, Mariann Szabo and Kate Hewett
The purpose of this study was to review and make changes to the performance management process in place for teachers in a school for autistic children with learning disabilities…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study was to review and make changes to the performance management process in place for teachers in a school for autistic children with learning disabilities. The performance management process consisted of line managers setting targets for their staff and points were given for targets met. Targets were related to improving outcomes for the children in the school. Teacher engagement in the performance management process was measured by the number of teachers reporting their points monthly and the number of points earned monthly.
Design/methodology/approach
The PDC (Austin, 2000) was conducted to determine changes to the process to improve teacher engagement with the performance management system. These changes to the performance management process consisted of an antecedent and information intervention (flowchart implemented summarising performance management process), equipment and processes interventions (change to graphing requirement, set rolling targets implemented) and consequence interventions (teachers set rolling targets to meet with their line manager regularly and to report on targets met monthly).
Findings
The number of teachers completing and submitting monthly summary forms increased following the changes made to the performance management process. The average number of points received increased significantly during the intervention. The intervention implemented following the use of the PDC led to increased teacher engagement in the performance management process and thus potentially improved the outcomes for the children within the school.
Originality/value
The PDC is a fairly simple tool to use to identify solutions to problems in the workplace. The procedure used herein is replicable across many settings and different workplace issues.
Details
Keywords
Natalia Porto and Carolina Inés Garcia
This paper aims to study the role of tourism specialisation on tourism labour precarity in Argentinian cities, considering urban primacy.
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to study the role of tourism specialisation on tourism labour precarity in Argentinian cities, considering urban primacy.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors propose an econometric model that iterates between alternative labour precarity measures explained by the economic sector (tourism, rest of services and rest of economy) and tourism specialisation at the city level. They build three geographical groups based on Argentinian urban agglomerates: the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, tourism specialised cities and non-tourism specialised cities. The authors further distinguish between big and small cities according to their urban primacy. The main sources of data are the Permanent Household Survey and the Hotel Occupancy Survey from the Argentinian National Statistics and Census Institute for the period 2007–2017.
Findings
The authors find that as tourism specialisation grows, the incidence of precarious labour conditions in tourism goes down. Working in this sector increases the chances of having a precarious job, particularly for non-legal outcome variables. However, tourism specialisation and urban primacy generate a mitigating effect on these negative results.
Originality/value
The authors focus on tourism labour conditions in Argentinian cities, using different measures of labour precarity from a legal perspective, (namely, legal informality) and a non-legal one (including productive informality, part-time work and non-permanent occupation). The authors follow an innovative approach to this matter in the tourism sector, as they consider both tourism specialisation at the city level and urban primacy. This is the first article addressing these issues not only for Argentina but also for Latin America.