Yanjie Chen, Weiwei Zhan, Yibin Huang, Zhiqiang Miao and Yaonan Wang
This paper aims to investigate the distributed formation control problem for a multi-quadrotor unmanned aerial vehicle system without linear velocity feedbacks.
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to investigate the distributed formation control problem for a multi-quadrotor unmanned aerial vehicle system without linear velocity feedbacks.
Design/methodology/approach
A nonlinear controller is proposed based on the orthogonal group SE(3) to obviate singularities and ambiguities of the traditional parameterized attitude representations. A cascade structure is applied in the distributed controller design. The inner loop is responsible for attitude control, and the outer loop is responsible for translational dynamics. To ensure a linear-velocity-free characteristic, some auxiliary variables are introduced to construct virtual signals in distributed controller design. The stability analysis of the proposed distributed control method by the Lyapunov function is provided as well.
Findings
A group of four quadrotors with constant reference linear velocity and a group of six quadrotors with varying reference linear velocity are adopted to verify the effectiveness of the proposed strategy.
Originality/value
This is a new innovation for multi-robot formation control method to improve assembly automation.
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Kaiyu He, Muhammad Nadeem, Siddra Habib, H.M. Sedighi and Duohui Huang
The main purpose of this paper is to calculate the analytical solution or a closed-form solution for the temperature distribution in the heterogeneous casting-mould system.
Abstract
Purpose
The main purpose of this paper is to calculate the analytical solution or a closed-form solution for the temperature distribution in the heterogeneous casting-mould system.
Design/methodology/approach
First, the authors formulate and analyze the mathematical formulation of heat conduction equation in the heterogeneous casting-mould system, with an arbitrary assumption of the ideal contact at the cast-mould contact point. Then, He-Laplace method, based on variational iteration method (VIM), Laplace transform and homotopy perturbation method (HPM), is used to elaborate the analytical solution of this system. The main focus of He-Laplace method is to find the Lagrange multiplier with an easy approach which enables the implementation of HPM very smoothly and provides the series solution very close to the exact solution.
Findings
An example is considered to show that He-Laplace method provides the efficient results for calculating the temperature distribution in the casting-mould heterogeneous system. Graphical representation and error distribution represents that He-Laplace method is very simple to implement and effective for casting-mould heterogeneous system.
Originality/value
The work in this paper is original and advanced. Specially, calculation of Lagrange multiplier for casting-mould system has not been reported in the literature for this work.
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Jiaji Zhu, Yushi Jiang, Xiaoxuan Wang and Suying Huang
Driven by artificial intelligence technology, chatbots have begun to play an important customer service role in the online retail environment. This study aims to explore how…
Abstract
Purpose
Driven by artificial intelligence technology, chatbots have begun to play an important customer service role in the online retail environment. This study aims to explore how conversational styles improve the interaction experience between consumers and chatbots in different social crowding environments, and the moderating role of product categories is considered.
Design/methodology/approach
Three studies are conducted to understand the influences of conversational styles, social crowding and product categories on consumer acceptance, assessed using situational experiments and questions.
Findings
In a low social crowding environment, consumers prefer chatbots with a social-oriented (vs. task-oriented) conversational style, while in a high social crowding environment, consumers prefer a task-oriented (vs. social-oriented) conversational style, and warmth and competence mediate these effects. The moderating effect of product categories is supported.
Originality/value
This study expands the application of the stereotype content model to improve the interaction experience level between consumers and chatbots in online retail. The findings can provide managerial suggestions for retailers to select a chatbot's conversational style and promote a more continuous interaction between consumers and chatbots.
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Jeen Guo, Pengcheng Xiang, Qiqi Liu and Yun Luo
The purpose of this paper is to propose a method that can calculate the transportation infrastructure network service capacity enhancement given by planned transportation…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to propose a method that can calculate the transportation infrastructure network service capacity enhancement given by planned transportation infrastructure projects construction. Managers can sequence projects more rationally to maximize the construction effectiveness of infrastructure investments.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper designed a computational network simulation software to generate topological networks based on established rules. Based on the topological networks, the software simulated the movement path of users and calculated the average travel time. This software allows the adjustment of parameters to suit different research objectives. The average travel time is used as an evaluation index to determine the most appropriate construction sequence.
Findings
In this paper, the transportation infrastructure network of Sichuan Province in China was used to demonstrate this software. The average travel time of the existing transportation network in Sichuan Province was calculated as 211 min using this software. The high-speed railways from Leshan to Xichang and from Xichang to Yibin had the greatest influence on shortening the average travel time. This paper also measured the changes in the average travel time under two strategies: shortening the maximum and minimum priorities. All the transportation network optimisation plans for Sichuan Province will be somewhere between these two strategies.
Originality/value
The contribution of this research are three aspects: First, a complex network analysis method that can take into account the differences of node elements is proposed. Second, it provides an effective tool for decision makers to plan transportation infrastructure construction. Third, the construction sequence of transportation infrastructure development plan can effect the infrastructure investment effectiveness.
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Chi Zhang, Kun He, Wenjie Zhang, Ting Jin and Yibin Ao
To further promote application of BIM technology in construction of prefabricated buildings, influencing factors and evolution laws of willingness to apply BIM technology are…
Abstract
Purpose
To further promote application of BIM technology in construction of prefabricated buildings, influencing factors and evolution laws of willingness to apply BIM technology are explored from the perspective of willingness of participants.
Design/methodology/approach
In this paper, a tripartite game model involving the design firm, component manufacturer and construction firm is constructed and a system dynamics method is used to explore the influencing factors and game evolution path of three parties' application of BIM technology, from three perspectives, cost, benefit and risk.
Findings
The government should formulate measures for promoting the application of BIM according to different BIM application willingness of the parties. When pursuing deeper BIM application, the design firm should pay attention to reducing the speculative benefits of the component manufacturer and the construction firm. The design firm and the component manufacturer should pay attention to balancing the cost and benefit of the design firm while enhancing collaborative efforts. When the component manufacturer and the construction firm cooperate closely, it is necessary to pay attention to balanced distribution of interests of both parties and lower the risk of BIM application.
Originality/value
This study fills a research gap by comprehensively investigating the influencing factors and game evolution paths of willingness of the three parties to apply BIM technology to prefabricated buildings. The research helps to effectively improve the building quality and construction efficiency, and is expected to contribute to the sustainability of built environment in the context of circular economy in China.
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Gutama Kusse Getele and Xiong Ruoliu
The study research aims to examine the effects of supply chain management practices on risk mitigating (RM) by studying the correlation between social ties, institutional support…
Abstract
Purpose
The study research aims to examine the effects of supply chain management practices on risk mitigating (RM) by studying the correlation between social ties, institutional support, interagency cooperation and external flexibility in public healthcare sectors. Moreover, this research examines the impact of RM on supplier trust, and also the authors examine the relationship among supplier trust and logistics performance.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors used a structural equation model (SEM) based on 539 quantitative data from Ethiopian healthcare organizations. The model included control variables like company size and position to understand better how employees perceive risk mitigation.
Findings
The study's findings indicate that interagency collaboration and external flexibility positively affects RM. On the other hand, RM positively impacts supplier trust and also the supplier trust has a positive effects on performance dimensions. This study also shows that RM has not positively impacting institutional support and social ties.
Practical implications
The study investigation may help the pharmaceutical industry, healthcare service SC agencies and other stakeholders better understand the effects of supply chain management practices on RM and obtain information on progress made thus far.
Originality/value
This research helps managers and their organizations to manage the risk associated with their organizations. Though, this study focuses on Ethiopian healthcare SCM. The authors expect the findings might apply to other countries organizations with comparable demographic or SCM features.
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Xiaofei Tang, Pan Zeng, Bing Sun, En-Chung Chang and Fagui Mei
A humanoid intelligent robot (HIR) possessing a human-like appearance can undertake human jobs, interact, communicate and even transmit emotions to human beings. Such robots have…
Abstract
Purpose
A humanoid intelligent robot (HIR) possessing a human-like appearance can undertake human jobs, interact, communicate and even transmit emotions to human beings. Such robots have gradually been integrated into people's daily life and production scenarios. However, it is unclear whether and by what mechanism HIRs can stimulate people’s risk perception and its impact on consumption attitudes. Based on the risk decision theory, this study aims to take the social value substitution attribute of a HIR as the incentive and analyzes the influence of social value substitution and risk perception on the customers’ consumption attitudes.
Design/methodology/approach
Three experiments were conducted to investigate the related questions about the social value substitution attribute of a HIR, its impact on risk perception and the customers’ consumption attitudes.
Findings
The results reveal that physical labor, intellectual labor, friendship, kinship and the ego constitute the hierarchical elements of social value substitution. Among them, physical labor and intellectual labor pertain to the dimension of social function value substitution, while friendship, kinship and ego pertain to the dimension of social presence value substitution; social function value substitution and social presence value substitution affect the subjects’ risk perception positively, but the latter arouses a stronger risk perception; the 2 (risk perception of social function value: security/danger) × 2 (risk perception of social presence value: security/danger) condition corresponds to diverse consumption attitudes.
Originality/value
The results enrich the theories of the “cha-xu pattern” and “uncanny valley” and provide reference for the healthy development of the HIR industry.
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Xiaoming Zhang, Yangyan Shi, Peng Zhang, Fang Xu and Chaozhe Jiang
The purpose of this study is to explore mitigation measures for cash flow interruption during the epidemic and provide decision support to ensure the regular operation and…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to explore mitigation measures for cash flow interruption during the epidemic and provide decision support to ensure the regular operation and robustness of the supply chain (SC).
Design/methodology/approach
Considering the scenarios of production capacity and demand disruption during the epidemic, the authors adopt system dynamics (SD) to construct a three-echelon SC financial system consisting of a core manufacturer, a capital-constrained retailer and the customer. In different interruption scenarios, through the decision adjustments of stakeholders, the differences in performance are compared to explore solutions for SC robust optimization.
Findings
The results show that partial credit guarantee (PCG) could solve cash flow interruption and maintain the regular operation of the SC. During epidemic, with the product price increases, the revenue of stakeholders and the robustness are generally negatively correlated. But when the manufacturer's production capacity is fully interrupted, increasing product price is the right decision for the retailer and could simultaneously promote performance and robustness.
Originality/value
This paper primarily focuses on the PCG under the cash flow interruption caused by epidemics. The authors adopt the supply chain finance (SCF) theory and SD method to supplement and expand existing research on interruption management of SC. It is a pioneering study to explore the robustness of the SC financial system under disruptions.
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Homa Bahmani, Yibin Ao, Dujuan Yang, Dongpo Wang, Mingyang Li, Yi Long and Panyu Peng
This study aims to enhance evacuation safety and efficiency measures in primary school corridors by considering the impact of adult guidance and evacuation graphical signs on…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to enhance evacuation safety and efficiency measures in primary school corridors by considering the impact of adult guidance and evacuation graphical signs on evacuation speed and density by considering different visibility conditions and corridor design.
Design/methodology/approach
The experiment setup involved ten carefully designed drills exploring the evacuation behavior of 6–7-year-old students in a primary school, varying factors such as adult guidance, smoke conditions and graphical evacuation signs. Kinovea software was employed for data extraction to transform video footage into frames, facilitating meticulous manual tallies of children’s movements in designated sub-areas during the drills. The research utilized statistical tests, a generalized linear model and curve-fitting techniques to analyze the extracted data.
Findings
The findings highlight the vital role of adult guidance in expediting evacuations, emphasizing the importance of trained personnel during emergencies. Additionally, graphical evacuation signs were identified as powerful tools for enhancing evacuation speed during low visibility, as they provide clear visual cues to guide evacuees effectively. Signage and adult guidance are beneficial when the classrooms’ gates opening to the passage are far from each other. In contrast, in areas with close and multiple exits, guidance strategies, especially those involving adults, are more effective in reducing population density during evacuations.
Originality/value
These findings have practical implications for improving emergency preparedness, guiding the design of primary school corridors and informing evacuation protocols. School administrators, architects and emergency planners can utilize these findings to inform the development of safety protocols, enhance evacuation guidance strategies and improve the design of primary school corridors. Further research can expand on these findings by exploring their applicability in diverse educational settings and evaluating the real-world implementation of evacuation measures.
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Digital economic innovation is associated with risks. The lack of a platform's profitability weakens the operation's ability to sustain innovators and increases the possibility of…
Abstract
Purpose
Digital economic innovation is associated with risks. The lack of a platform's profitability weakens the operation's ability to sustain innovators and increases the possibility of the business' termination. Relevant data demonstrate a significant upward trend in the exit of Chinese innovators of the digital economy. The study aims to clarify the role of an effective government and effective market in the prevention and control of the withdrawal of innovators.
Design/methodology/approach
Based on balanced panel data of 31 provinces and cities from 2010 to 2018, this study uses the individual fixed effect model to study the impact of the marketization level, the market's scale and government interventions on the withdrawal of innovators. Simultaneously, based on the spatial econometric model, this study examines the spatial spillover effect of the withdrawal of innovators.
Findings
Results indicate that government interventions have an inhibiting effect on the withdrawal of innovators. Moreover, there was a positive “U”-shaped nonlinear relationship between the marketization level and the withdrawal of innovators, and an inverse “U”-shaped nonlinear relationship between the market size and the withdrawal of innovators.
Originality/value
The paper first studies the relationship between the exit of innovators and government intervention, marketization level and field scale; takes the lead in the research on the role of the government and effective market in the prevention and control of the exit of innovators from the perspective of the exit of innovators and puts forward policy suggestions to promote the sustainable and healthy development of fintech innovation in China from the market scale and other aspects.