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Topic Review
Potential of Cable-Driven Continuum Robots
Rigid robots have found wide-ranging applications in manufacturing automation, owing to their high loading capacity, high speed, and high precision. Nevertheless, these robots typically feature joint-based drive mechanisms, possessing limited degrees of freedom (DOF), bulky structures, and low manipulability in confined spaces. In contrast, continuum robots, drawing inspiration from biological structures, exhibit characteristics such as high compliance, lightweight designs, and high adaptability to various environments. Among them, cable-driven continuum robots (CDCRs) driven by multiple cables offer advantages like higher dynamic response compared to pneumatic systems and increased working space and higher loading capacity compared to shape memory alloy (SMA) drives. However, CDCRs also exhibit some shortcomings, including complex motion, drive redundancy, challenging modeling, and control difficulties.
  • 214
  • 11 Feb 2024
Topic Review
Sustainability in Natural-Fiber-Reinforced Polymers
Fiber-reinforced polymer composites (FRCs) from renewable and biodegradable fiber and sustainable polymer resins have gained substantial attention for their potential to mitigate environmental impacts. The limitations of these composites become evident when considered in the context of high-performance engineering applications, where synthetic fiber composites like glass or carbon FRCs typically dominate. A balance between the performance of the composite and biodegradability is imperative in the pursuit of what may be termed an environmentally conscious composite. 
  • 123
  • 08 Feb 2024
Topic Review
Nature-Inspired Designs in Wind Energy: A Review
The field of wind energy stands at the forefront of sustainable and renewable energy solutions, playing a pivotal role in mitigating environmental concerns and addressing global energy demands. Biomimetics, drawing inspiration from biological systems, has long intrigued engineers and designers, tracing back to Leonardo da Vinci’s studies of bird flight and even earlier to myths like Daedalus and Icarus. Historical references, including King Solomon’s throne adorned with mechanical creatures and the Talmud’s tales of the Golem, illustrate this enduring fascination.
  • 100
  • 07 Feb 2024
Topic Review
Applications of Biomimetic Propulsion for Underwater Vehicles
Biomimetics and bio-inspiration, distinct yet complementary, both derive insights from nature’s ingenuity in science and engineering. Biomimetics, specifically for underwater vehicles, studies and emulates the efficient shapes and behaviors of aquatic creatures like fishes, dolphins, and whales, leading to innovative underwater vehicle designs with enhanced speed, thrust, maneuverability, and reduced water drag.
  • 236
  • 04 Feb 2024
Topic Review
Expressive Qualifiers, Feature Learning and Expressive Movement Generation
Expressive body movements are defined by low- and high-level descriptors. Low-level descriptors focus on kinematics or dynamic quantities such as velocity and acceleration, whereas high-level descriptors use low-level features to describe their perceptual or semantic evaluation optimally. Notable high-level systems include Pelachaud’s qualifiers, Wallbot’s descriptors, and the Laban Movement Analysis (LMA) system, which is commonly used for dance performance evaluation.
  • 87
  • 02 Feb 2024
Topic Review
N-G/ZIF-8-Based/Derived Materials as Battery Electrodes
As electrodes for batteries, N-G/MOF(ZIF-8) materials can mitigate issues like an electrode volume expansion for Li-ion batteries and the ‘shuttle effect’ for Li-S batteries. As electrodes for electrochemical capacitors, these materials can considerably improve the ion transfer rate and electronic conductivity, thereby enhancing the specific capacitance while maintaining the structural stability. Batteries are widely recognized as the most convenient electrochemical energy storage systems, and considerable efforts have been dedicated to their development and enhancement. Despite these endeavors, various challenges persist, including sluggish reaction rates, irreversible electrochemical reactions, the formation of a solid electrolyte interface (SEI), and electrode volume expansion. 
  • 66
  • 02 Feb 2024
Topic Review
Predictive Maintenance of Ball Bearing Systems
In the era of Industry 4.0 and beyond, ball bearings remain an important part of industrial systems. The failure of ball bearings can lead to plant downtime, inefficient operations, and significant maintenance expenses.
  • 81
  • 01 Feb 2024
Topic Review
Pulsed Flows and Patterned Surfaces Mitigate Membrane Fouling
Patterned membrane surfaces offer a hydrodynamic approach to mitigating concentration polarization and subsequent surface fouling. However, when subject to steady crossflow conditions, surface patterns promote particle accumulation in the recirculation zones of cavity-like spaces. In comparison, a rapidly pulsed crossflow induces mixing mechanisms (i.e., the deep sweep and the vortex ejection) that disrupt recirculation zones and reduce the rate of particle accumulation.
  • 65
  • 31 Jan 2024
Topic Review
Numerical Simulation Tools for Offshore Wind Turbine Systems
The emerging industry of offshore wind turbines mounted on floating bases has garnered significant attention from both academia and industry. The desire to understand the complex physics of these floating structures has led to the development of numerical and physical modelling techniques. While physical testing has traditionally been employed, there is a growing focus on cost-effective and accurate high-fidelity numerical modelling as a potential alternative or supplement. However, commonly used numerical engineering tools in the offshore industry are considered mid- to low-fidelity and may lack the desired precision for floating offshore wind turbines (FOWTs). Given the complexity of these simulation codes, it is crucial to validate their accuracy.
  • 108
  • 30 Jan 2024
Topic Review
Vehicle Design and Technology for Reducing Fuel Consumption
In recent times, the significance of advancing road transportation technologies has notably increased. This is mainly driven by the escalating need for road transportation systems that are not only safe but also environmentally sustainable. Moreover, enhancing fuel efficiency in road vehicles (i.e., automobiles) holds the potential to contribute significantly to the reduction of a country’s economic vulnerability (i.e., improved energy security), by reducing the reliance on energy imports. 
  • 281
  • 29 Jan 2024
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