Topic Review
UX in AR-Supported Industrial Human–Robot Collaborative Tasks
The fourth industrial revolution is promoting the Operator 4.0 paradigm, originating from a renovated attention towards human factors, growingly involved in the design of modern, human-centered processes. New technologies, such as augmented reality or collaborative robotics are thus increasingly studied and progressively applied to solve the modern operators’ needs. Human-centered design approaches can help to identify user’s needs and functional requirements, solving usability issues, or reducing cognitive or physical stress. 
  • 419
  • 14 Jan 2022
Topic Review
Different Postures and Children Risk during Evacuations
Over the past decade, there have been an increasing number of articles in the ergonomics literature that have used wearable sensors to capture human motion data for analysis and decision-making. The relationship between the postures and the occupations of adults has been studied for a long time, and in terms of evacuation, researchers have found that adopting different postures significantly affects survival rates, but little is known about children. Moreover, children are more vulnerable than adults during evacuation, as they are physically, mentally, and physiologically underdeveloped. Recently, researchers have become increasingly interested in the motor skills and evacuation behavior of children. However, ergonomic findings on the evacuation behavior of children with a motion capture system remain limited; therefore, an in-depth study concerning the dynamic behavior of children is necessary.
  • 312
  • 23 Nov 2021
Topic Review
External Human–Machine Interface of AVs
In future urban traffic, it is more likely that automated vehicles (AVs) will operate not in separated traffic spaces but in so-called mixed traffic environments where different types of traffic participants interact. Therefore, AVs must be able to communicate with other traffic participants, e.g., pedestrians as vulnerable road users (VRUs), to solve ambiguous traffic situations. Taking current traffic communication patterns into account, a combination of implicit communication via the driving behavior (e.g., deceleration, position in lane) and explicit communication via an external Human–Machine Interface (eHMI) seems to be a promising approach. The eHMI consists of an external interface connected to the vehicle, which can transmit explicit signals enabling interaction between AVs and other TPs.
  • 829
  • 15 Aug 2021
Topic Review
Metal Matrix Composites
Metal matrix composites (MMCs) present extraordinary characteristics, including high wear resistance, excellent operational properties at elevated temperature, and better chemical inertness as compared to traditional alloys. These properties make them prospective candidates in the fields of aerospace, automotive, heavy goods vehicles, electrical, and biomedical industries. MMCs are challenging to process via traditional manufacturing techniques, requiring high cost and energy. The laser-melting deposition (LMD) has recently been used to manufacture MMCs via rapid prototyping, thus, solving these drawbacks. Besides the benefits mentioned above, the issues such as lower ultimate tensile strength, yield strength, weak bonding between matrix and reinforcements, and cracking are still prevalent in parts produced by LMD. In this article, a detailed analysis is made on the MMCs manufactured via LMD. An illustration is presented on the LMD working principle, its classification, and dependent and independent process parameters. Moreover, a brief comparison between the wire and powder-based LMDs has been summarized. Ex- and in-situ MMCs and their preparation techniques are discussed. Besides this, various matrices available for MMCs manufacturing, properties of MMCs after printing, possible complications and future research directions are reviewed and summarized.
  • 2.5K
  • 18 May 2021
Topic Review
Mini/Micro/Nano Scale Liquid Metal Motors
Swimming motors navigating in complex fluidic environments have received tremendous attention over the last decade. In particular, liquid metal (LM) as a new emerging material has shown considerable potential in furthering the development of swimming motors, due to their unique features such as fluidity, softness, reconfigurability, stimuli responsiveness, and good biocompatibility. LM motors can not only achieve directional motion but also deformation due to their liquid nature, thus providing new and unique capabilities to the field of swimming motors. 
  • 683
  • 28 Apr 2021
Topic Review
Fe-Based Magnetic Amorphous Alloys
Amorphous alloys for soft magnetic applications are often fabricated by rapid solidification of the melt. They are generally prepared with the nearly 20% addition of metalloids (Si, B, Al, C and P) for Fe-based and Co-based alloys. Si and B are important metalloids for glass formation and the amorphous structure stabilisation. Typical chemical compositions are such that the combined compositions of Fe, Co, Ni elements are 70–85 atomic (at.)% and those of Si and B are 15–30 at.% in total. However, magnetic glassy alloys have a wide variety of compositions. This allows for a large range of soft magnetic properties to be achieved, which depend upon the demands of the application.
  • 1.2K
  • 28 Apr 2021
Topic Review
Intermediate Strain Rate Testing Devices
The existing experimental tests are mainly designed to study the mechanical response of materials at various strain rates. Many researchers performed the experimental test in tension, compression, and shear (with torsion test) over a wide range of strain rates. They found out that material exhibits an increase in yield stress as well as flows stress with an increase in strain rate. It illustrates that there is a need for experimental data to study the material behaviour over the full range of strain rates, from quasi-static to high strain rate test. Many special techniques have been developed to bridge the strain rate gap between quasi-static and high strain rate testing to provide a method for an intermediate strain rate test for engineering materials. Some researchers have tried to conduct intermediate strain rate tests with standard servo-hydraulic load frames. However, the results of such tests are not accurate. The problem is that during the experiment, the whole machine is not in static equilibrium. The inertial effect influences the experimental data. The records obtained from these machines are often noisy with large oscillation. therefore, the comprehensive review is given to describes the development and evolution of the existing intermediate strain rate testing devices which includes the working principles, some critical theories, technological innovation in load measurement techniques, components of the device, basic technical assumption, and measuring techniques. In addition, some research direction on future implementation and development of an intermediate strain rate apparatus is also discussed in detail.
  • 1.5K
  • 18 Apr 2021
Topic Review
Additive Manufacturing and Industry 4.0
We present a review on Additive Manufacturing and Industry 4.0 from business innovation and sustainability perspective.
  • 2.6K
  • 14 Apr 2021
Topic Review
Ironmaking Process
Fe is extracted from Fe ore and converted into alloys. This metallurgical process is important. The raw materials of the iron-bearing mineral are introduced in the blast furnace (BF), wherein aside from Fe and C, other elements are also subjected to roasting in the furnace.
  • 1.6K
  • 10 Mar 2021
Topic Review
Twinning-Induced Plasticity
Twinning-induced plasticity (TWIP) steel is a second-generation advanced high strength steel grade developed for automotive applications. TWIP steels exhibit an excellent combination of strength and ductility, mainly originating from the activation of deformation twinning.
  • 2.2K
  • 23 Feb 2021
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