ENGINEERING NEWS IN BRIEF

======================================================================

                  ENGINEERING NEWS IN BRIEF
                        E-Mail Newsletter

                               No.50
             Issued by the Asian TOP Panel, February 2006

           The Chinese Mechanical Engineering Society (CMES)
           The Institution of Engineers, Indonesia (PII)
           The Japan Society of Mechanical Engineers (JSME)
           The Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers (KSME)

======================================================================

    According to the agreement made in the 2nd Asian TOP Panel Meeting,
the ENGINEERING NEWS IN BRIEF (E-mail newsletter) has now been edited
by the CMES for the year 2006.

======================================================================

[Contents]

(1) Development of a Crawling Robot for Overhead High - voltage Transmission Line(Source: CMES)
(2) Application of ANN Method in Inertial Parameter Identification of the End Effector of Robot (Source: CMES)
(3) A Study on Tool Life Based on Process Capability Indices (Source: CMES)
(4) High Pressure Hydrogen Tank for FCV (Fuel Cell Vehicle) (Source: JSME)
(5) COE (Cerebral functional mapping of Oxygen Exchanging) device using wave mechanical (Source: JSME)
(6) JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) Vision -JAXA2025- (Source: JSME)

========================================================================

(1) Development of a Crawling Robot for Overhead High - voltage Transmission Line

Wu Gongping Xiao Xiaohui Guo Yinglong Hu Jicai
Wu Han University

A robot which can automatically crawl along overhead high - voltage transmission lines and span obstacles was presented. The robot was supported and driven by umbrella - shaped wheels, whose motions of spanning obstacles were controlled by groove pulley and cam mechanism. The crawling motion was realized by a stroke amplification mechanism and grasping mechanism. The harmonizing control of the crawling motion and self - adaptive control of grasping force were generated by an integrated electro - hydraulic servo system. The robot can carry the equipments of detection and communication, while inspecting the transmission lines.

========================================================================

(2) Application of ANN Method in Inertial Parameter Identification of the End Effector of Robot

Chen Enwei Liu Zhengshi Hefei University of Technology
Gan Fangjian University of Science and Technilogy of China

Algorithm and mathematical model of identification for the inertial parameters of the end - effector of manipulator in a robot were analyzed. A new method of identifying inertial parameters which was different from traditional artificial neural network problems was developed, hence the physical meaning can be found from the structure and the weights of the networks. The difficulty of obtaining samples was resolved. General rules and advantages of application of artificial neural net-work in parameter identification of the system were investigated. This method is simple, direct and less in operation, which can be applied in on line identification of inertial parameters of the end-effector of a robot based on the signals of sensor. Feasibility and effectiveness of the method are proved by the results of experiment in a PUMA562 robot.

========================================================================

(3) A Study on Tool Life Based on Process Capability Indices

He Zhen Zhang Min Dong Yanfeng Tianjin University

A method of the residuals of the tool wear process in traditional machine tools was fitted by using Glejser test method which can test the increasing or decreasing heteroskedasticity of the processes, then the process capability indices at the tool change moment were calculated. If the minimum process capability indices were given, the tool change time can be determined. Integrating tool cutting life and quality life, this paper provides a new tool change decision method for automatic machine tools.

=======================================================================

(4) High Pressure Hydrogen Tank for FCV (Fuel Cell Vehicle)

Hiromichi ONIKURA, Kyushu University
Takao SAJIMA, Kyushu University
Daisuke Tabuchi, Kyushu University

We have proposed a high pressure hydrogen tank for FCV, which is made by taking advantage of characteristic of FRP (Fiber Reinforced Plastic) that is made by lamination. Generally, high pressure hydrogen tank for FCV is made of FRP and metal or plastic liner. When a tank is filled with high pressure hydrogen, higher circumferential stress is generated at the inner layer than the outer layer in FRP of the tank. Increasing the pressure, the tank would break from the inner layer in FRP the of tank. Therefore, by adding initial circumferential compressive stress at the inner layer and initial circumferential tensile stress at the outer layer in FRP of the tank, the radial distribution of circumferential stress in FRP of the tank is equalized when it is filled
with high pressure hydrogen. This method seems to be an effective way to decrease the weight of tank. Now, we have developed a tank manufacturing machine to make those tanks as mentioned above.
We have made tanks by this machine experimentally, and tested them demonstratively.

============================================================

(5) COE (Cerebral functional mapping of Oxygen Exchanging) device using wave mechanical

Toshinori KATO, The Institute of Well-being Society

A principle and technology of noninvasive COE (Cerebral functional mapping of Oxygen Exchanging) device were invented using two wavelength of near-infrared light. COE device involves two basic principles : “cerebral functional near-infrared imaging through the skull surface”(1991) and “a wave mechanical nature of oxygen exchange (OE)“(2001) which were first considered by Kato (the author). Oxygen (O2) moves from a capillary to a cell as oxygen supply synchronously with cellular oxygen consumption. In the chemical reaction of OE, oxyhemoglobin is changed into O2 and deoxyhemoglobin. In addition to the chemical particle reaction, a wave mechanical reaction of OE was found. This wave mechanical nature is described as wave mechanical equations (function ?μ) of OE. The function ?μ is described using Euler's formula. A COE device can measure cerebral OE degree as phase k-angle change of wave mechanical reaction. k-angle change is quantity value to express how O2 was exchanged between a capillary and a cell. As O2 is quantum size, quantum mechanics participates in the dynamics of k-angle. In the wave mechanical equation of OE, quantum mechanics and Newton
dynamics were unified by an imaginary number dimension in living body.

============================================================

(6) JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) Vision -JAXA2025-

Yasuhiro FUNO, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)

The JAXA Vision -JAXA2025- is JAXA's proposal on its own initiative and provides the ideal situation of aerospace areas in the next 20 years and the executive direction for its realization.
The followings are main contents of the JAXA Vision.

Vision (1)
Contribute to building a secure and prosperous society through the utilization of aerospace technologies.
Vision (2)
Contribute to advance our knowledge of the universe and broaden the horizon of human activity.
Vision (3)
Develop the capability to carry out autonomous space activities through the best technologies in the world.
Vision (4)
Facilitate growth of the space industry with self-sustenance and world class capability.
Vision (5)
Facilitate the growth of aviation industry and aim for technological breakthroughs for future air transportation.

In order to create above ideal situation, during the first ten years, JAXA will focus its efforts on
those activities that would promote wider use of aerospace technologies in the society, with a view to contributing to building the secure and prosperous country.
JAXA hopes that its Vision would lead to better understanding among all stakeholders and the public and would be appropriately taking into account to develop national strategies and so on.

============================================================

Editor : Tian Ruizhu
           The Dept. of Internationa Affairs
           Chinese Mechanical Engineering Society