Longfei Zhu, Wenming Tong, Xueyan Han and Jianguo Zhu
The specific iron losses of amorphous alloy material are extremely low compared with silicon steel material. The iron losses of motors may reduce by replacing the silicon steel…
Abstract
Purpose
The specific iron losses of amorphous alloy material are extremely low compared with silicon steel material. The iron losses of motors may reduce by replacing the silicon steel core with an amorphous alloy core. However, one drawback of amorphous alloy material is that the specific iron losses will increase a lot after the motor manufacturing process. This paper aims to study the influences of interlaminar insulator solidifying and annealing on amorphous alloy material. The iron losses of motors made of amorphous alloy and baseline silicon steel sheets are compared and discussed.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper opted for an exploratory study using the experimental analysis and loss separation methods. Two amorphous alloy cores are produced and tested. The iron losses of motors made of amorphous alloy and silicon steel sheets are calculated and compared based on the measured specific iron losses. Three wound amorphous alloy core samples are made and measured. The iron losses are separated and compared by considering the manufacturing influences.
Findings
This paper provides empirical insights about what change is brought in amorphous alloy material after manufacturing. The results have shown that, for amorphous alloy cores without the annealing process, the loss increase caused by solidifying is mainly the eddy current loss, while it is mainly the hysteresis loss component for annealed amorphous alloy cores.
Originality/value
This paper presents for the first time the measured results of manufactured amorphous alloy cores. This paper fulfils the need to manufacture amorphous alloy motors properly for the producers.
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Victor Bloch, Avital Bechar and Amir Degani
The purpose of this paper is to describe a methodology for characterization of the robot environment to help solve such problem as designing an optimal agricultural robot for a…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to describe a methodology for characterization of the robot environment to help solve such problem as designing an optimal agricultural robot for a specific agricultural task.
Design/methodology/approach
Defining and characterizing a task is a crucial step in the optimization of a task-specific robot. It is especially difficult in the agricultural domain because of the complexity and unstructured nature of the environment. In this research, trees are modeled from orchards and are used as the robot working environment, the geometrical features of an agricultural task are investigated and a method for designing an optimal agricultural robot is developed. Using this method, a simplified characteristic environment, representing the actual environment, is developed and used.
Findings
Case studies showing that the optimal robot, which is designed based on the characteristic environment, is similar to the optimal robot, which is designed based on the actual environment (less than 4 per cent error), is presented, while the optimization run time is significantly shorter (up to 22 times) when using the characteristic environment.
Originality/value
This paper proposes a new concept for solving the robot task-based optimization by the analysis of the task environment and characterizing it by a simpler artificial task environment. The methodology decreases the time of the optimal robot design, allowing to take into account more details in an acceptable time.
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ChiKit Au, Joshua Barnett, Shen Hin Lim and Mike Duke
This paper aims to investigate if a Cartesian robot system for kiwifruit harvesting works more effectively and efficiently than an articulated robot system. The robot is a key…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to investigate if a Cartesian robot system for kiwifruit harvesting works more effectively and efficiently than an articulated robot system. The robot is a key component in agricultural automation. For instance, multiple robot arm system has been developed for kiwifruit harvesting recently because of the significant labor shortage issue. The industrial robots for factory automation usually have articulated configuration which is suitable for the tasks in the manufacturing and production environment. However, this articulated configuration may not fit for agricultural application due to the large outdoor environment.
Design/methodology/approach
The kiwifruit harvesting tasks are completed step by step so that the robot workspace covers the canopy completely. A two-arm, Cartesian kiwifruit harvesting robot system and several field experiments are developed for the investigation. The harvest cycle time of the Cartesian robot system is compared to that of an articulated robot system. The difference is analyzed based on the workspace geometries of these two robot configurations.
Findings
It is found that the kiwifruit harvesting productivity is increased by using a multiple robot system with Cartesian configuration owing to its regular workspace geometry.
Originality/value
An articulated robot is a common configuration for manufacturing because of its simple structure and the relatively static factory environment. Most of the agricultural robotics research studies use single articulated robot for their implementation. This paper pinpoints how the workspace of a multiple robot system affects the harvest cycle time for kiwifruit harvesting in a pergola style kiwifruit orchard.
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Xueyan Dong, Yuxin Tian, Mingming He and Tienan Wang
The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) adoption on knowledge workers' innovative work behaviors (IWB), as well as the mediating…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) adoption on knowledge workers' innovative work behaviors (IWB), as well as the mediating role of stress appraisal and the moderating role of individual learning abilities.
Design/methodology/approach
This study analyzed the questionnaire results of 313 knowledge workers, and data analysis was conducted by using SPSS 25.0, SPSS 25.0 macro-PROCESS and AMOS 28.0.
Findings
This study found that AI adoption has a double-edged sword effect on knowledge workers' IWB. Specifically, AI adoption can promote IWB by enhancing knowledge workers' challenging stress appraisal, while inhibiting IWB by fostering their hindering stress appraisal. Moreover, individual learning ability significantly moderated the relationship between AI adoption and stress appraisal, which further influenced IWB.
Originality/value
This study integrates the conflicting findings of previous studies and proposes a comprehensive theoretical model based on the theory of cognitive appraisal of stress. This study enriches the research on AI in the field of knowledge management, especially extending the understanding of the relationship between AI adoption and knowledge workers’ IWB by unraveling the psychological mechanisms and behavior outcomes of users' technology usage. Additionally, we provide new insights and suggestions for organizations to seek the cooperation and support of employees in introducing new technologies or driving intelligent transformation.
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Xueyan Dong, Zhenya Tang and Houcai Wang
Unverified information avoidance behavior refers to the conscious effort made by individuals to avoid consuming information that has not been verified by credible sources. This…
Abstract
Purpose
Unverified information avoidance behavior refers to the conscious effort made by individuals to avoid consuming information that has not been verified by credible sources. This behavior is essential in preventing the spread of misinformation that can hinder effective public health responses. While previous studies have examined information avoidance behavior in general, there is a lack of research specifically focusing on the avoidance of unverified information during health crises. This study aims to fill this gap by exploring factors that lead to social media users’ unverified information avoidance behavior during health crises, providing novel insights into the determinants of this protective behavior.
Design/methodology/approach
We based our research model on the health belief model and validated it using data collected from 424 individuals who use social media. The proposed model was tested by using the partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) approach.
Findings
Our results indicate that individuals’ government social media participation (following accounts and joining groups) affects their health beliefs (perceived severity and benefits of information avoidance), which in turn trigger their unverified information avoidance behavior.
Originality/value
Our study contributes to the current literature of social media crisis management and information avoidance behavior. The implications of these findings for policymakers, social media platforms and theory are further discussed.
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This chapter builds on the authors’ research into the internationalization of China’s higher education (HE) as soft power with “Chinese characteristics” (Lo & Pan, 2020). It…
Abstract
This chapter builds on the authors’ research into the internationalization of China’s higher education (HE) as soft power with “Chinese characteristics” (Lo & Pan, 2020). It rethinks the “Chinese characteristics” in contemporary China’s internationalization of HE as soft power, by contextualizing them in the historico-cultural rootedness that legitimizes the sense of Chinese exceptionalism in the Party-state’s global re-emergence. It also sheds light on the tension and paradox therein through analyzing the conflicts generated by the Party-state’s attempts at re-globalizing the Chinese world order alongside the Westphalian system. In addition to integrating the soft-power concepts coined by Joseph Nye (1990) with the dimensional perspectives on the internationalization of HE framed by Jane Knight (1997), this study also puts in China’s perspectives that stand in contrast to, and yet in confluence with, some of the current norms and values being espoused by the West. In so doing, it demonstrates the potentiality of employing comparative lenses that cut across times, spaces and cultures in the research into internationalization of HE as soft power with national characteristics.
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Shuang Huang, Haitao Zhang and Tengjiang Yu
This study aims to investigate the micro mechanism of macro rheological characteristics for composite modified asphalt.Grey relational analysis (GRA) was used to analyze the…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to investigate the micro mechanism of macro rheological characteristics for composite modified asphalt.Grey relational analysis (GRA) was used to analyze the correlation between macro rheological indexes and micro infrared spectroscopy indexes.
Design/methodology/approach
First, a dynamic shear rheometer and a bending beam rheometer were used to obtain the evaluation indexes of high- and low-temperature rheological characteristics for asphalt (virgin, SBS/styrene butadiene rubber [SBR], SBS/rubber and SBR/rubber) respectively, and its variation rules were analyzed. Subsequently, the infrared spectroscopy test was used to obtain the micro rheological characteristics of asphalt, which were qualitatively and quantitatively analyzed, and its variation rules were analyzed. Finally, with the help of GRA, the macro-micro evaluation indexes were correlated, and the improvement efficiency of composite modifiers on asphalt was explored from rheological characteristics.
Findings
It was found that the deformation resistance and aging resistance of SBS/rubber composite modified asphalt are relatively good, and the modification effect of composite modifier and virgin asphalt is realized through physical combination, and the rheological characteristics change with the accumulation of functional groups. The correlation between macro rutting factor and micro functional group index is high, and the relationship between macro Burgers model parameters and micro functional group index is also close.
Originality/value
Results reveal the basic principle of inherent-improved synergistic effect for composite modifiers on asphalt and provide a theoretical basis for improving the composite modified asphalt.