Pub Date : 2024-01-01DOI: 10.3390/machines12010029
M. Karpenko, Pavel Ževžikov, M. Stosiak, Paulius Skačkauskas, Anna Borucka, M. Delembovskyi
This study investigates the vibrations of centrifugal loop dryer machines used in plastic recycling processes. These machines are characterized by large uncertainties, high vibration, and unmodeled dynamics, making the design and maintenance of real-time state estimators for their operational conditions difficult. The present study includes an analysis of the centrifugal loop dryer machines’ vibration characteristics and their influence on operation results based on vibration analysis, frequency response analysis, and expert advice. Two identical loop dryers installed and operated in parallel in a single recycling line were investigated. Measurements were performed using a two-sample measurement design and based on a one-sample statistical method for estimating uncertainty in repeated measurements of data processing. Additionally, a problem connected with incorrect machine operation during high vibration, resulting in insufficient drying of loaded material, was investigated. This was defined as a situation in which some melted plastic is still too wet after mechanical drying, caused by the incorrect installation of damper elements of the holding elements. Finaly, it is recommended that a correction of the machine installation and a control measurement are carried out to determine whether the vibration in the base of the machine still exists. A simplified theoretical vibration analysis of the rotating machine was also carried out in the present paper.
{"title":"Vibration Research on Centrifugal Loop Dryer Machines Used in Plastic Recycling Processes","authors":"M. Karpenko, Pavel Ževžikov, M. Stosiak, Paulius Skačkauskas, Anna Borucka, M. Delembovskyi","doi":"10.3390/machines12010029","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/machines12010029","url":null,"abstract":"This study investigates the vibrations of centrifugal loop dryer machines used in plastic recycling processes. These machines are characterized by large uncertainties, high vibration, and unmodeled dynamics, making the design and maintenance of real-time state estimators for their operational conditions difficult. The present study includes an analysis of the centrifugal loop dryer machines’ vibration characteristics and their influence on operation results based on vibration analysis, frequency response analysis, and expert advice. Two identical loop dryers installed and operated in parallel in a single recycling line were investigated. Measurements were performed using a two-sample measurement design and based on a one-sample statistical method for estimating uncertainty in repeated measurements of data processing. Additionally, a problem connected with incorrect machine operation during high vibration, resulting in insufficient drying of loaded material, was investigated. This was defined as a situation in which some melted plastic is still too wet after mechanical drying, caused by the incorrect installation of damper elements of the holding elements. Finaly, it is recommended that a correction of the machine installation and a control measurement are carried out to determine whether the vibration in the base of the machine still exists. A simplified theoretical vibration analysis of the rotating machine was also carried out in the present paper.","PeriodicalId":48519,"journal":{"name":"Machines","volume":"4 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2024-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139129537","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-01-01DOI: 10.3390/machines12010030
U.H. Diala, Yunpeng Zhu, R. Gunawardena
Ambient vibration energy is widely being harnessed as a source of electrical energy to drive low-power devices. The vibration energy harvester (VEH) of interest employs an electromagnetic transduction mechanism, whereby ambient mechanical vibration is converted to electrical energy. The limitations affecting the performance of VEHs, with an electromagnetic transduction structure, include its operational bandwidth as well as the enclosure-size constraint. In this study, an analysis and design of a nonlinear VEH system is conducted using the Output Frequency Response Function (OFRF) representations of the actual system model. However, the OFRF representations are determined from the Generalised Associated Linear Equation (GALE) decompositions of the system of interest. The effect of both nonlinear damping and stiffness characteristics, to, respectively, extend the average power and operational bandwidth of the VEH device, is demonstrated.
{"title":"Investigative Study of the Effect of Damping and Stiffness Nonlinearities on an Electromagnetic Energy Harvester at Low-Frequency Excitations","authors":"U.H. Diala, Yunpeng Zhu, R. Gunawardena","doi":"10.3390/machines12010030","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/machines12010030","url":null,"abstract":"Ambient vibration energy is widely being harnessed as a source of electrical energy to drive low-power devices. The vibration energy harvester (VEH) of interest employs an electromagnetic transduction mechanism, whereby ambient mechanical vibration is converted to electrical energy. The limitations affecting the performance of VEHs, with an electromagnetic transduction structure, include its operational bandwidth as well as the enclosure-size constraint. In this study, an analysis and design of a nonlinear VEH system is conducted using the Output Frequency Response Function (OFRF) representations of the actual system model. However, the OFRF representations are determined from the Generalised Associated Linear Equation (GALE) decompositions of the system of interest. The effect of both nonlinear damping and stiffness characteristics, to, respectively, extend the average power and operational bandwidth of the VEH device, is demonstrated.","PeriodicalId":48519,"journal":{"name":"Machines","volume":"15 20","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2024-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139125765","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2023-12-31DOI: 10.3390/machines12010028
P. Kaššay, R. Grega, M. Urbanský, J. Krajňák, M. Kačír, Lucia Zulová
Presently, mechanical system vibroisolation is becoming increasingly important. One of the new approaches is semi-active vibroisolation using elements capable of changing a selected mechanical property. These include, among others, pneumatic flexible shaft couplings capable of changing torsional stiffness during operation. The main goal of the article is to examine the potential advantages of a newly patented pneumatic coupling over a current type with the same pneumatic element arrangement. For comparison, parameters determinable from static load characteristics were selected. These parameters are maximum twist angle and torque, average torsional stiffness, and the percentage of torque transmitted by the bellows rubber shell. In all cases, the new coupling had better properties. Since the prototype of the new coupling has not yet been produced, its parameters were determined from its mathematical-physical model. The article contains a full procedure to obtain the static load characteristic of a new coupling type, beginning with the determination of air bellows force/height and volume/height characteristics, then optimum sizes of coupling with regards to the operating range of elements, the dependency of element height on the coupling’s twist angle, and finally the computation of the static load characteristic considering isothermal gas compression. The presented procedure can be applied to any pneumatic bellows where the force/height characteristics of different pressures are given.
{"title":"Novel Design of Variable Stiffness Pneumatic Flexible Shaft Coupling: Determining the Mathematical-Physical Model and Potential Benefits","authors":"P. Kaššay, R. Grega, M. Urbanský, J. Krajňák, M. Kačír, Lucia Zulová","doi":"10.3390/machines12010028","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/machines12010028","url":null,"abstract":"Presently, mechanical system vibroisolation is becoming increasingly important. One of the new approaches is semi-active vibroisolation using elements capable of changing a selected mechanical property. These include, among others, pneumatic flexible shaft couplings capable of changing torsional stiffness during operation. The main goal of the article is to examine the potential advantages of a newly patented pneumatic coupling over a current type with the same pneumatic element arrangement. For comparison, parameters determinable from static load characteristics were selected. These parameters are maximum twist angle and torque, average torsional stiffness, and the percentage of torque transmitted by the bellows rubber shell. In all cases, the new coupling had better properties. Since the prototype of the new coupling has not yet been produced, its parameters were determined from its mathematical-physical model. The article contains a full procedure to obtain the static load characteristic of a new coupling type, beginning with the determination of air bellows force/height and volume/height characteristics, then optimum sizes of coupling with regards to the operating range of elements, the dependency of element height on the coupling’s twist angle, and finally the computation of the static load characteristic considering isothermal gas compression. The presented procedure can be applied to any pneumatic bellows where the force/height characteristics of different pressures are given.","PeriodicalId":48519,"journal":{"name":"Machines","volume":"113 14","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2023-12-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139134397","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2023-12-30DOI: 10.3390/machines12010025
Hossein Rostami Najafabadi, Thiago C. Martins, Marcos S. G. Tsuzuki, Ahmad Barari
This paper explores implementation of self-weight and inertial loading in topology optimization (TO) employing the Simulated Annealing (SA) algorithm as a non-gradient-based technique. This method can be applied to find optimum design of structures with no need for gradient information. To enhance the convergence of the SA algorithm, a novel approach incorporating the crystallization factor is introduced. The method is applied in a benchmark problem of a cantilever beam. The study systematically examines multiple scenarios, including cases with and without self-weight effects, as well as varying point loads. Compliance values are calculated and compared to those reported in existing literature to validate the accuracy of the optimization results. The findings highlight the versatility and effectiveness of the SA-based TO methodology in addressing complex design challenges with considerable self-weight or inertial effect. This work can contribute to structural design of systems where only the objective value is available with no gradient information to use sensitivity-based algorithms.
本文探讨了拓扑优化(TO)中自重和惯性负载的实现,采用了模拟退火(SA)算法作为一种非梯度技术。这种方法无需梯度信息即可用于寻找结构的最佳设计。为了提高 SA 算法的收敛性,引入了一种包含结晶因子的新方法。该方法应用于悬臂梁的基准问题。研究系统地考察了多种情况,包括有自重效应和无自重效应的情况,以及不同的点荷载。计算出的顺应值与现有文献报道的顺应值进行了比较,以验证优化结果的准确性。研究结果凸显了基于 SA 的 TO 方法在应对具有相当大自重或惯性效应的复杂设计挑战时的通用性和有效性。在只有目标值而没有梯度信息、无法使用基于灵敏度的算法的情况下,这项工作有助于系统的结构设计。
{"title":"Structural Design with Self-Weight and Inertial Loading Using Simulated Annealing for Non-Gradient Topology Optimization","authors":"Hossein Rostami Najafabadi, Thiago C. Martins, Marcos S. G. Tsuzuki, Ahmad Barari","doi":"10.3390/machines12010025","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/machines12010025","url":null,"abstract":"This paper explores implementation of self-weight and inertial loading in topology optimization (TO) employing the Simulated Annealing (SA) algorithm as a non-gradient-based technique. This method can be applied to find optimum design of structures with no need for gradient information. To enhance the convergence of the SA algorithm, a novel approach incorporating the crystallization factor is introduced. The method is applied in a benchmark problem of a cantilever beam. The study systematically examines multiple scenarios, including cases with and without self-weight effects, as well as varying point loads. Compliance values are calculated and compared to those reported in existing literature to validate the accuracy of the optimization results. The findings highlight the versatility and effectiveness of the SA-based TO methodology in addressing complex design challenges with considerable self-weight or inertial effect. This work can contribute to structural design of systems where only the objective value is available with no gradient information to use sensitivity-based algorithms.","PeriodicalId":48519,"journal":{"name":"Machines","volume":" 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2023-12-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139138953","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2023-12-30DOI: 10.3390/machines12010026
Samarathunga Mudiyanselage Buddhika Piyumal Bandara Samarathunga, M. Valori, R. Faglia, Irene Fassi, Giovanni Legnani
Ensuring the safety of physical human–robot interaction (pHRI) is of utmost importance for industries and organisations seeking to incorporate robots into their workspaces. To address this concern, the ISO/TS 15066:2016 outlines hazard analysis and preventive measures for ensuring safety in Human–Robot Collaboration (HRC). To analyse human–robot contact, it is common practice to separately evaluate the “transient” and “quasi-static” contact phases. Accurately measuring transient forces during close human–robot collaboration requires so-called “biofidelic” sensors that closely mimic human tissue properties, featuring adequate bandwidth and balanced damping. The dynamics of physical human–robot interactions using biofidelic measuring devices are being explored in this research. In this paper, one biofidelic sensor is tested to analyse its dynamic characteristics and identify the main factors influencing its performance and its practical applications for testing. To this aim, sensor parameters, such as natural frequency and damping coefficient, are estimated by utilising a custom physical pendulum setup to impact the sensor. Mathematical models developed to characterise the sensor system and pendulum dynamics are also disclosed.
{"title":"Considerations on the Dynamics of Biofidelic Sensors in the Assessment of Human–Robot Impacts","authors":"Samarathunga Mudiyanselage Buddhika Piyumal Bandara Samarathunga, M. Valori, R. Faglia, Irene Fassi, Giovanni Legnani","doi":"10.3390/machines12010026","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/machines12010026","url":null,"abstract":"Ensuring the safety of physical human–robot interaction (pHRI) is of utmost importance for industries and organisations seeking to incorporate robots into their workspaces. To address this concern, the ISO/TS 15066:2016 outlines hazard analysis and preventive measures for ensuring safety in Human–Robot Collaboration (HRC). To analyse human–robot contact, it is common practice to separately evaluate the “transient” and “quasi-static” contact phases. Accurately measuring transient forces during close human–robot collaboration requires so-called “biofidelic” sensors that closely mimic human tissue properties, featuring adequate bandwidth and balanced damping. The dynamics of physical human–robot interactions using biofidelic measuring devices are being explored in this research. In this paper, one biofidelic sensor is tested to analyse its dynamic characteristics and identify the main factors influencing its performance and its practical applications for testing. To this aim, sensor parameters, such as natural frequency and damping coefficient, are estimated by utilising a custom physical pendulum setup to impact the sensor. Mathematical models developed to characterise the sensor system and pendulum dynamics are also disclosed.","PeriodicalId":48519,"journal":{"name":"Machines","volume":" 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2023-12-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139137323","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2023-12-30DOI: 10.3390/machines12010027
Jian Yu, Renhui Shen, Le Zhou, Zelin Jia, Yulong Hao
With the development of the photovoltaic industry; there will be an increasing demand for efficient, high-power density, and low-cost grid interface converters. Compared with two-level inverters, multilevel inverters have the following advantages: (1) lower device voltage ratings; (2) better output filtering spectrum; (3) lower electromagnetic interference (EMI) noise; and (4) higher switching speed capability. However, the complex switching circuit of the multilevel inverter will bring more parasitic inductance, resulting in severe switching overvoltage (ringing). Especially in order to reduce the cost of the inverter, using the long-loop modulation mode, the commutation loop will introduce more parasitic inductance, which will make the overvoltage more serious. Consider that commonly used overvoltage absorption schemes are effective only for overvoltage or suppression of oscillations. Therefore, a new overvoltage absorption circuit is proposed in this paper, which can not only alleviate the overvoltage and ringing phenomena but also suppress the effect of voltage jumps during low-frequency switching on high-frequency input voltage. This overvoltage absorption circuit is characterized by low overvoltage, fast ringing damping, and minimum capacitance. Experiments and simulations are conducted to verify the effectiveness of this overvoltage absorption circuit using a three-level ANPC inverter as a prototype. The results show that the proposed overvoltage absorption circuit can significantly reduce the overvoltage level, shorten the oscillation time, and reduce the voltage difference between the upper and lower DC bus capacitors.
{"title":"Investigation of a Low-Speed Commutation Voltage Shock Problem in Three-Level ANPC Inverter with Hybrid Modulation Mode","authors":"Jian Yu, Renhui Shen, Le Zhou, Zelin Jia, Yulong Hao","doi":"10.3390/machines12010027","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/machines12010027","url":null,"abstract":"With the development of the photovoltaic industry; there will be an increasing demand for efficient, high-power density, and low-cost grid interface converters. Compared with two-level inverters, multilevel inverters have the following advantages: (1) lower device voltage ratings; (2) better output filtering spectrum; (3) lower electromagnetic interference (EMI) noise; and (4) higher switching speed capability. However, the complex switching circuit of the multilevel inverter will bring more parasitic inductance, resulting in severe switching overvoltage (ringing). Especially in order to reduce the cost of the inverter, using the long-loop modulation mode, the commutation loop will introduce more parasitic inductance, which will make the overvoltage more serious. Consider that commonly used overvoltage absorption schemes are effective only for overvoltage or suppression of oscillations. Therefore, a new overvoltage absorption circuit is proposed in this paper, which can not only alleviate the overvoltage and ringing phenomena but also suppress the effect of voltage jumps during low-frequency switching on high-frequency input voltage. This overvoltage absorption circuit is characterized by low overvoltage, fast ringing damping, and minimum capacitance. Experiments and simulations are conducted to verify the effectiveness of this overvoltage absorption circuit using a three-level ANPC inverter as a prototype. The results show that the proposed overvoltage absorption circuit can significantly reduce the overvoltage level, shorten the oscillation time, and reduce the voltage difference between the upper and lower DC bus capacitors.","PeriodicalId":48519,"journal":{"name":"Machines","volume":" 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2023-12-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139139070","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
In this study, a novel planning and tracking approach is proposed for a mobile robotic arm to grab objects in an obstacle environment. First, we developed an improved APF-RRT* algorithm for the motion planning of a mobile robotic arm. This algorithm optimizes the selection of random tree nodes and smoothing the path. The invalid branch and the planning time are decreased by the artificial potential field, which is determined by the specific characteristics of obstacles. Second, a Fuzzy-DDPG-PID controller is established for the mobile robotic arm to track the planned path. The parameters of the PID controller are set using the new DDPG algorithm, which integrated FNN. The response speed and control accuracy of the controller are enhanced. The error and time of tracking of the mobile robotic arm are decreased. The experiment results verify that the proposed approach has good planning and tracking results, high speed and accuracy, and strong robustness. To avoid the occasionality of the experiments and fully illustrate the effectiveness and generality of the proposed approach, the experiments are repeated multiple times. The experiment results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach. It outperforms existing planning and tracking approaches.
{"title":"A Novel Planning and Tracking Approach for Mobile Robotic Arm in Obstacle Environment","authors":"Jiabin Yu, Jiguang Wu, Jiping Xu, Xiaoyi Wang, Xiaoyu Cui, Bingyi Wang, Zhiyao Zhao","doi":"10.3390/machines12010019","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/machines12010019","url":null,"abstract":"In this study, a novel planning and tracking approach is proposed for a mobile robotic arm to grab objects in an obstacle environment. First, we developed an improved APF-RRT* algorithm for the motion planning of a mobile robotic arm. This algorithm optimizes the selection of random tree nodes and smoothing the path. The invalid branch and the planning time are decreased by the artificial potential field, which is determined by the specific characteristics of obstacles. Second, a Fuzzy-DDPG-PID controller is established for the mobile robotic arm to track the planned path. The parameters of the PID controller are set using the new DDPG algorithm, which integrated FNN. The response speed and control accuracy of the controller are enhanced. The error and time of tracking of the mobile robotic arm are decreased. The experiment results verify that the proposed approach has good planning and tracking results, high speed and accuracy, and strong robustness. To avoid the occasionality of the experiments and fully illustrate the effectiveness and generality of the proposed approach, the experiments are repeated multiple times. The experiment results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach. It outperforms existing planning and tracking approaches.","PeriodicalId":48519,"journal":{"name":"Machines","volume":"108 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2023-12-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139145599","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
As increasingly extensive applications of flexible manufacturing systems (FMSs) arise, their reliability allocation has been a research hot spot. But, since FMSs are always composed of transfer and buffer devices, production machines, and complex control systems, the large number of basic elements makes the number of variables and constraints of reliability-allocation optimization increase greatly, which leads to the difficulty and inefficiency of optimization. To solve the above problem, two dimension-reduction strategies are proposed for the FMS reliability optimization with low cost and a high level of reliability as the objectives, and they are the reliability-weight double-threshold qualification strategy (RWTS) and the bi-level optimization strategy (BLOS), respectively. Based on these two strategies, an overall reliability-allocation optimization model and a bi-level reliability-allocation optimization model are established based on the FMS reliability evaluation presented in our previous work, and their algorithms based on particle swarm optimization (PSO) are presented. In terms of their contributions, for the RWTS, thresholds of reliability and the weight index of each basic element are set to dynamically reduce the number of variables in each iteration of the optimization; for the BLOS, the overall reliability-allocation optimization problem for transitioning from the FMS to basic elements can be transformed into simpler allocation optimizations from the FMS to subsystems and from subsystems to basic elements, which have fewer variables, and this can largely improve the optimization convergence performance. Through applying this to a box-parts finishing FMS, compared with the traditional optimization method, the high efficiency and the good allocation effect of the optimization based on these two strategies for improving convergence speed are verified by the simulation results. The proposed method has great significance for FMS design due to its limited cost but high-reliability requirement.
{"title":"An Optimization Method of Flexible Manufacturing System Reliability Allocation Based on Two Dimension-Reduction Strategies","authors":"Jingjing Xu, Long Tao, Yanhu Pei, Zhifeng Liu, Qiaobin Yan, Qiang Cheng","doi":"10.3390/machines12010024","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/machines12010024","url":null,"abstract":"As increasingly extensive applications of flexible manufacturing systems (FMSs) arise, their reliability allocation has been a research hot spot. But, since FMSs are always composed of transfer and buffer devices, production machines, and complex control systems, the large number of basic elements makes the number of variables and constraints of reliability-allocation optimization increase greatly, which leads to the difficulty and inefficiency of optimization. To solve the above problem, two dimension-reduction strategies are proposed for the FMS reliability optimization with low cost and a high level of reliability as the objectives, and they are the reliability-weight double-threshold qualification strategy (RWTS) and the bi-level optimization strategy (BLOS), respectively. Based on these two strategies, an overall reliability-allocation optimization model and a bi-level reliability-allocation optimization model are established based on the FMS reliability evaluation presented in our previous work, and their algorithms based on particle swarm optimization (PSO) are presented. In terms of their contributions, for the RWTS, thresholds of reliability and the weight index of each basic element are set to dynamically reduce the number of variables in each iteration of the optimization; for the BLOS, the overall reliability-allocation optimization problem for transitioning from the FMS to basic elements can be transformed into simpler allocation optimizations from the FMS to subsystems and from subsystems to basic elements, which have fewer variables, and this can largely improve the optimization convergence performance. Through applying this to a box-parts finishing FMS, compared with the traditional optimization method, the high efficiency and the good allocation effect of the optimization based on these two strategies for improving convergence speed are verified by the simulation results. The proposed method has great significance for FMS design due to its limited cost but high-reliability requirement.","PeriodicalId":48519,"journal":{"name":"Machines","volume":"72 s320","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2023-12-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139146614","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Permutation flowshop design and optimization are crucial in industry as they have a direct impact on production scheduling and efficiency. The ultimate goal is to model the production system (PSM) based on revealing the fundamental principles of the production process, and to schedule or reschedule production release plans in real time without interrupting work-in-progress (WIP). Most existing PSMs are focused on static production processes which fail to describe the dynamic relationships between machines and buffers. Therefore, this paper establishes a PSM to characterize both the static and transient behaviors of automatic and manual machines in the permutation flowshop manufacturing system. Building upon the established PSM, based on Bernoulli’s theory, discrete event model predictive control is proposed in this paper; its aim is to realize real-time optimization of production release plans without interfering with work-in-progress. According to the results of numerical examples, the discrete event model predictive control proposed in this paper is feasible and effective. The model established in this paper provides a theoretical basis for optimizing the effective operation of work-in-progress and replacement process systems.
{"title":"A Predictive Control Model of Bernoulli Production Line with Rework Loop for Real-Time WIP Optimization in Permutation Flowshop","authors":"Wenbin Gu, Zhenyang Guo, Xianliang Wang, Yiran Yang, Minghai Yuan","doi":"10.3390/machines12010020","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/machines12010020","url":null,"abstract":"Permutation flowshop design and optimization are crucial in industry as they have a direct impact on production scheduling and efficiency. The ultimate goal is to model the production system (PSM) based on revealing the fundamental principles of the production process, and to schedule or reschedule production release plans in real time without interrupting work-in-progress (WIP). Most existing PSMs are focused on static production processes which fail to describe the dynamic relationships between machines and buffers. Therefore, this paper establishes a PSM to characterize both the static and transient behaviors of automatic and manual machines in the permutation flowshop manufacturing system. Building upon the established PSM, based on Bernoulli’s theory, discrete event model predictive control is proposed in this paper; its aim is to realize real-time optimization of production release plans without interfering with work-in-progress. According to the results of numerical examples, the discrete event model predictive control proposed in this paper is feasible and effective. The model established in this paper provides a theoretical basis for optimizing the effective operation of work-in-progress and replacement process systems.","PeriodicalId":48519,"journal":{"name":"Machines","volume":" 11","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2023-12-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139142385","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2023-12-29DOI: 10.3390/machines12010021
Roberto Francesco Pitzalis, Daegeun Park, Darwin G. Caldwell, G. Berselli, J. Ortiz
Manual handling tasks, both in daily activities and at work, require high dexterity and the ability to move objects of different shapes and sizes. However, musculoskeletal disorders that can arise due to aging, disabilities, overloading, or strenuous work can impact the natural capabilities of the hand with serious repercussions both in working and daily activities. To address this, researchers have been developing and proving the benefits of wrist exoskeletons. This paper, which is Part II of a study on wrist exoskeletons, presents and summarizes wearable wrist exoskeleton devices intended for use in rehabilitation, assistance, and occupational fields. Exoskeletons considered within the study are those available either in a prototyping phase or on the market. These devices can support the human wrist by relieving pain or mitigating fatigue while allowing for at least one movement. Most of them have been designed to be active (80%) for higher force/torque transmission, and soft for better kinematic compliance, ergonomics, and safety (13 devices out of 24, more than 50%). Electric motors and cable transmission (respectively 11 and 9 devices, out of 24, i.e., almost 50% and 40%) are the most common due to their simplicity, controllability, safety, power-to-weight ratio, and the possibility of remote actuation. As sensing technologies, position and force sensors are widely used in all devices (almost 90%). The control strategy depends mainly on the application domain: for rehabilitation, CPM (control passive motion) is preferred (35% of devices), while for assistance and occupational purposes, AAN (assistance-as-needed) is more suitable (38% of the devices). What emerges from this analysis is that, while rehabilitation and training are fields in which exoskeletons have grown more easily and gained some user acceptance (almost 18 devices, of which 4 are available on the market), relatively few devices have been designed for occupational purposes (5, with only 2 available on the market) due to difficulties in meeting the acceptance and needs of users. In this perspective, as a result of the state-of-the-art analysis, the authors propose a conceptual idea for a portable soft wrist exoskeleton for occupational assistance.
{"title":"State of the Art in Wearable Wrist Exoskeletons Part II: A Review of Commercial and Research Devices","authors":"Roberto Francesco Pitzalis, Daegeun Park, Darwin G. Caldwell, G. Berselli, J. Ortiz","doi":"10.3390/machines12010021","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/machines12010021","url":null,"abstract":"Manual handling tasks, both in daily activities and at work, require high dexterity and the ability to move objects of different shapes and sizes. However, musculoskeletal disorders that can arise due to aging, disabilities, overloading, or strenuous work can impact the natural capabilities of the hand with serious repercussions both in working and daily activities. To address this, researchers have been developing and proving the benefits of wrist exoskeletons. This paper, which is Part II of a study on wrist exoskeletons, presents and summarizes wearable wrist exoskeleton devices intended for use in rehabilitation, assistance, and occupational fields. Exoskeletons considered within the study are those available either in a prototyping phase or on the market. These devices can support the human wrist by relieving pain or mitigating fatigue while allowing for at least one movement. Most of them have been designed to be active (80%) for higher force/torque transmission, and soft for better kinematic compliance, ergonomics, and safety (13 devices out of 24, more than 50%). Electric motors and cable transmission (respectively 11 and 9 devices, out of 24, i.e., almost 50% and 40%) are the most common due to their simplicity, controllability, safety, power-to-weight ratio, and the possibility of remote actuation. As sensing technologies, position and force sensors are widely used in all devices (almost 90%). The control strategy depends mainly on the application domain: for rehabilitation, CPM (control passive motion) is preferred (35% of devices), while for assistance and occupational purposes, AAN (assistance-as-needed) is more suitable (38% of the devices). What emerges from this analysis is that, while rehabilitation and training are fields in which exoskeletons have grown more easily and gained some user acceptance (almost 18 devices, of which 4 are available on the market), relatively few devices have been designed for occupational purposes (5, with only 2 available on the market) due to difficulties in meeting the acceptance and needs of users. In this perspective, as a result of the state-of-the-art analysis, the authors propose a conceptual idea for a portable soft wrist exoskeleton for occupational assistance.","PeriodicalId":48519,"journal":{"name":"Machines","volume":"92 s388","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2023-12-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139146365","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}