Abstract Conventional robots have always been thought to be humanoid in form or as advanced computerized machines working on the shop floor. This has been so because the tasks given to the robot have been predefined and the terrain predictable and helpful. But in cases where both mission and geography are unknown, the ability to change in shape could be of very great value, since the robots could adapt to constantly changing tasks and systems. The paper shows that modular reconfigurable robots, made by interconnnecting multiple, simple and similar units, can perform such shape shifting. The paper describes how such types of high-utility robots are being developed in many research labs around the world, with one already in the experimental stage at Xerox Palo Alto Research Center (PARC) in California. It is postulated that systems of this kind would be useful for remote autonomous operations, particularly in hostile environments, such as under the sea, at a scene of natural disaster, and on other planets. This paper externalizes the development in design and technology of such modular robots and also highlights their various applications.
Table of Contents:
Abstract
Introduction
Development of Reconfigurable Robots
Three Types of Reconfigurable Robots
Programming Perplexities
Conclusion
From the Paper "Each module contains a Motorola PowerPC 555 embedded processor with 1 megabyte of external RAM. This is a relatively powerful processor to have on every module and its full processing power has not yet been utilized. The final goal of full autonomy may require the use of these processors and memory. Each module communicates over a local bus within chains of segments using the (controller area network) CANbus standard. The six sided nodes will have switching and routing capability to pass messages from segment chain to segment chain."
Abstract This paper examines EIFS, the generic name for a building cladding that usually consists of plastic insulation board, glass fiber reinforcing mesh, and two-coat synthetic stucco surface. It shows how EIFS have enjoyed tremendous popularity because of several advantages, among them, low cost and excellent insurance value and how architects like the design flexibility of the systems, which allow a variety of shapes and surfaces textures to be used on projects with tight budgets. It also looks at how today, the various companies are represented by a trade organization called EIFS Industry Members Association (EIMA), which publishes guideline specifications, technical notes, and other useful information about the product.
From the Paper "The design of an EIFS clad wall must give consideration to all of the loads on the wall assembly. It is crucial for a designer to review and consider the major performance variables that will affect the wall assembly, including; climate, relative exposure of the facades, defining the plane of air tightness, vapor control, rain penetration control and the placement and amount of thermal insulation. It is also crucial to consider the durability and serviceability of the exterior facades. Beyond these decisions that may affect the design of an EIFS clad wall, there must be project-specific details that address all terminations and penetrations in the EIFS, as well as elements within the EIFS. To properly implement these details, a mock-up of the wall assembly should be constructed and reviewed prior to construction."
Tags: insulation, walls, cost, fiber, construction
Abstract This paper looks at the history of engineering education in the United States and the ways that engineering, and thus engineering schools, continue to improve life for each one of us. However, one cannot understand why engineering school began to assume greater and greater importance in the second half of the 19th century in the United States without considering the historical context of engineering and of engineering education. It shows how the Centennial Exposition of 1876 gave a boost to engineering education, but this was only because people were already prepared to reconsider the place of engineering in the United States.
From the Paper "A decade in the planning, sprawling across 450 acres (and costing the then-unbelievable sum of over $11 million), the exposition welcomed over 10 million people. And the most popular draw to all visitors to the exposition was the was Machinery Hall, where viewers were given intimate glimpses into the working models of steam engines and dynamos. The exposition was in many ways a boosterish celebration of the coming of age of the United States as an world industrial power ? and the impression that this display made on both universities and young people was substantial. "The Centennial Exposition in 1876 in Philadelphia was responsible for a national quickening in mechanical matters and for a growing sense of latent power,? wrote Frederick Remsen Hutton in the 1915 A History of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers from 1880 to 1915."
Abstract This paper explains that one of the earliest evidences of technology benefiting the elderly was the advent of reading glasses. The author relates that improving vision at night is an important safety advancement; therefore, Cadillac has created a night vision program that provides additional information to what the eyes can see. The paper stresses that another possible technology for the future would be robots that can perform basic housework tasks.
Table of Contents
Introduction
Past
Present
Future
Conclusion
From the Paper "Another excellent technological invention from the past was the invention of the wheelchair. The wheelchair allows mobility. In the same way the aging process reduces the ability to see, it often reduces the ability to be mobile. Whether it is arthritis, a broken bone, or other physical problems, causing the inability to get around, a wheelchair can assist. Using a wheelchair allowed those who would otherwise have been bed bound to continue their lives. Past wheelchairs were large and bulky so the elderly who used them still had restrictions about where they could go."
Abstract This paper begins with a description of an article about volume translation technique and how it is widely used in in the field of chemical engineering. The paper explains the intent of the authors of the article, their findings, and the conclusion of the article. The paper then critiques the article and points out both its positive and negative aspects.
From the Paper "The authors of the article are interested in studying various ways of developing equations of state, and they demonstrate that both theoretical and empirical approaches to equations of state can show them nonphysical behavior. They consider this information significant, but are also quick to point out that there is more to their research than just this bit of information. They are also interested in a clear and comprehensive understanding of the reasons for this. They believe that finding these reasons will help them and others to develop reliable equations, and that these equations can be based on both theoretical and empirical methods. Being able to do this would go a long way toward helping researchers who are working with information involving the development of equations of state."
Abstract This research paper investigates the affects of using capacitors to manage the disruptive harmful effects of VSDs to the power supply flow and evaluates factors that affect the cost?benefit ratio of these devices.
From the Paper "Electrical equipment generically termed "non-linear load", such as variable speed drives (VSDs), uninterruptible power supplies (UPSs), computer power supplies, etc. have a detrimental effect on the quality of the supply to which they are connected. When determining power quality and taking any appropriate measures, it is common practice to monitor the point of common coupling (PCC) and this is often accepted as the point at which power comes into an establishment, i.e. the point of metering."
This paper explores the ways in which graph theory can be joined to computer simulation programs to make the planning stages of road redesign more efficient and more accurate.
Abstract This paper explains that graphs allow for a simplification of the real world, doing away with extraneous details without sacrificing any information necessary for the task. The author points out that graph theory is the best tool to use to solve the problem of road conversion because it is the most parsimonious. The assumptions made by graph theory more closely than any other model or theory match the real-world conditions. The paper states that, in converting roads, the effect in the real world will be a disruption of what had been the shortest paths between different points, and urban planners will include some consideration of shortest path issues. Tables and figures.
Table of Contents
Introduction
Graph Theory as the Basis for Conversion of Two-Way Roads
Undirected Graphs to Digraphs
Reachability Problem
Shortest Path Problem
Importance of Simulation
Comment on Validity of Data
Conclusion
From the Paper "The specific shortest path method that is most useful in this particular type of problem is Pallottino's graph growth algorithm with two queues. It must be emphasized that the determination of the shortest path algorithms is perhaps the most important component of any network analysis. It is also quite often the first step in any network analysis as the determination of the shortest path is often needed as a key datum in making later choices."
Abstract While the debate over fossil fuels and global warming continues, scientists are continuing their research into more efficient methods of providing a wide variety of applications, some of which are still being discovered. This paper provides a review and discussion concerning the current status of superconductivity, its existing applications and trends, and trends for the future. This paper includes two relevant graphics.
From the Paper "Superconductivity consists of the complete disappearance of electrical resistance in various solids when they are cooled below a characteristic temperature. This temperature is called the transition temperature and it varies for different materials but it is generally cited at being below 20 K (-253? C). The phenomenon of superconductivity was first discovered in mercury by the Dutch physicist Heike Kamerlingh Onnes in 1911. However, similar behavior has been identified in approximately 25 other chemical elements (including lead and tin) and in thousands of alloys and chemical compounds. Oher materials that have been studied to within fractions of a degree of absolute zero have consistently demonstrated normal resistance to the flow of electric currents. The use of superconductors in magnets is constrained by the fact that strong magnetic fields above a certain critical value, depending upon the material, cause a superconductor to revert to its normal, or nonsuperconducting, state, even though the material is kept well below the transition temperature (Superconductivity, 2003)."
Abstract This paper discusses how the designing and building of projects or software requires software engineers to analyze data input or data flow systematically, processing or transforming data, data storage, and information output, within the context of a particular business. It outlines various models, methods, and approaches that are currently being used by the software development industry and illustrates object-oriented techniques behind the building of software in association with Unified Modeling Language (UML). Emphasis is also made on the accessing of information through various scripting languages. It also explains the concept of the database and the information manipulation in a database.
From the Paper "A very different approach to system development is object oriented system design. Object oriented techniques, which are based on object oriented programming concepts can help analysts respond to the organizational demands for new systems that must undergo continuous maintenance, adaptation and redesign. In object programming, objects are created that include not only code about data, but also interactions about operations to be performed on it. Operational prototypes are usually utilized during the design phase, often done via Rapid Application Development. Object Oriented Design makes use of objects, classes, encapsulation, inheritance and polymorphism."
Abstract This paper explains the increasing phenomena of urban sprawl. The paper begins by trying to define what urban living is and concludes that it is a movement of segmented civilization away from a steadily de-popularized city center, into new, but nearby, insular developments that,nonetheless, rely on and interact with the mother city to a degree that serves to distinguish them from being entirely new, city-type entities. The writer uses the neighborhood of Hough in Cleveland as a typical example of an urban area and shows the make-up and design of this type of area. The paper includes a discussion of the issues that affect urban life, including race, politics, social issues, economic issues, and education.
From the Paper "The colors of urban sprawl are undeniably clear, visible from even casual experience and from statistics. Not all the number laundering in the world can hide the fact that the majority of those left in the urban centers are poor and black, and that the majority in the new suburbs are upper-class and white, and that the middle suburbs show a largely segregated gradient. The easiest conclusion to draw is the one drawn by many activists and social critics suggesting that the white majority oppresses and segregates the black minority to keep them poor. One might easily assume that the driving force in urban sprawl was the desire to keep cities segregated. ?In reality the residential mosaic is shaped in part by a combination of economic forces and group preferences, and it is simplistic to assume the driving force to be clearly racial animus.? (Clark, 3) However, race is a huge consideration in the creation of urban sprawl."
Tags: housing, race, politics, social, school, home, parent, jobs
Abstract This paper explains that the first known bathtub was found in Greece in the great palace of Knossos and included impressive technologies that provided water for the tub, including a system of interlocking terra-cotta pipes. The author believes that the function of the bathroom needs to be pushed to a new extreme, allowing people, spaces, and domestic functions new potentials for hybrid activities. The paper relates that a complete home plumbing system requires three distinct networks of pipes: water supply lines, which carry water under pressure; a network of drain pipes, which works entirely by gravity; and a network of pipes, which serves to maintain equal air pressure throughout the drainpipe so that the flow proceeds without interference.
Table of Contents
Introduction
History of Bathing
Evolution of Sanitation
History of Water Closets
Environmental Aspects
Public Health Aspects
Basic Components of Modern Bathrooms
Toilet or Flush
Sinks
Tubs and Showers
Storage
Ventilation
Natural Lighting
Special Effects with Plants
Appropriate Plants for the Bath
Hydroponics
Spirituality
Landscape of Bathing and Relaxing
Metroscape
Artificial versus Real
The New Landscape in Metro Area
Water Supply Service
Purification
Boosting by Pump
Boosting by Pressure Cylinder Water Pump
Drainage
Vents and Traps
The Ideal Living, the Bathroom in New Product Design Context
The Future of the Bathroom Is Here
From the Paper "In fact, until the mid-nineteenth century, streets were used as refuse dumping grounds, domestic animals roamed the streets and rodents ran rampant. Cesspools were located near houses and buildings, reeking and spreading germs. The Industrial Revolution and discoveries such as the germ theory brought about major changes in approach, raising the standard of living and ending serious epidemics. By 1900, improved nutrition, better sanitation, and, especially, contributions from bacteriologists increased life expectancy at birth by almost six years to age 47.3."
Abstract This paper examines the pros and cons of selling U.S. nuclear technology to other countries. The paper pays particular attention to the history and ramifications of the continued sale of nuclear technology.
From the Paper "For these companies, the reasons are economic. Domestic demand for nuclear technology has decreased drastically in the environmentally conscious 1990s. Many nuclear energy companies were thus forced to look elsewhere to market their technologies. An official at the ABB Combustion Engineering, for example, states that the survival of many such companies rely on their ability to open plants in China -- a move that could generate at least $40 billion for the beleaguered industries."
Abstract This paper gives a complete explanation of structural failure caused by fire. The paper provides statistics about fires, describes current fireproofing and fire retardant technology, and flame retardant materials. In addition, the paper focuses on the individual measures and technological advancements made to the individual structural members, which can extend their life when exposed to heat and flame.
From the Paper "The rate at which a structure experiences deformation and loss of structural integrity leading to building collapse does not proceed along a straight line. The Figure 1 below illustrates that during the three stages of a fire, 1) ignition and growth, 2) full development, and 3) decay, the rate at which the building will sustain loss increases as time increases. The longer a building is exposed to the fire, the more rapidly the structure moves from the stable, static system toward the dynamic state in which member failure, and structural collapse if imminent. For this reason, the technology of fire prevention focuses on prolonging the stable period of the individual members by reducing the effects of the fire on each individual member."
Abstract This paper examines how the expansion of the Route 55 freeway in southern New Jersey has been a source of controversy in terms of the environment, due to wetlands, urban sprawl, pollution, and degradation. It discusses how opponents of the project cite environmental concerns, whereas others say that there could also be many environmental concerns with not building the roadway. It looks at both sides of the story and how those that built the original portion could not foresee the quagmire that would result from it.
From the Paper "When the freeway was completed, it was 20 miles short of its intended goal; the highway ended at a surface route northwest of the intended terminus at Route 9 in Cape May Court House. In 1975, an environmental assessment was done on the missing link and it was determined that not only would it encroach on wetlands regions and forests, but it would take 20 years to complete and would cost more that the existing section of the freeway alone; needless to say, this project was subsequently abandoned. However, in 2001, the project was revived by governor Donald DiFrancesco, who supported a $500 million plan to construct the missing link, and in 2003, the state passed a resolution allowing the project to get underway amidst much controversy (Anderson 3-4)."
Abstract This report outlines the management cycle of a project that deals with the inspection of tanks and the determination of the structural integrity of the tanks. The report explains the need for inspections, the possible problems that can arise with above-ground and underground storage tanks, how to create a schedule for inspection, maintenance, and repair of the tanks, and how to implement the project schedule.
From the Paper "The project developed for the purpose of this report deals with the inspection of tanks and the determination of the structural integrity of the tank for a pre-defined service-life. The tanks that are considered for these inspections are used to store chemicals, petroleum and petroleum by-products. Almost all manufacturing and production organizations maintain a few tanks on their locations to ensure steady supply of the products as and when needed. These tanks are not considered the core business for these organizations and often an external contractor may be responsible for the day-to-day running operations and the periodic maintenance that may be required to maintain the tanks. Tanks used for storage of liquids are generally of two categories: Aboveground Storage Tanks (AST) and Underground Storage Tanks (UST.) The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and the Environmental Protection agency along with the American Petroleum Institute (API) determine the guidelines by which these tanks need to be inspected, repaired and tested prior to usage."
