Integrating real-time multi-resolution scanning and machine learning for Conformal Robotic 3D Printing in Architecture

Robotic 3D printing applications are rapidly growing in architecture, where they enable the introduction of new materials and bespoke geometries. However, current approaches remain limited to printing on top of a flat build bed. This limits robotic 3D printing’s impact as a sustainable technology: opportunities to customize or enhance existing elements, or to utilize complex material behaviour are missed. This paper addresses the potentials of conformal 3D printing and presents a novel and robust workflow for printing onto unknown and arbitrarily shaped 3D substrates. The workflow combines dual-resolution Robotic Scanning, Neural Network prediction and printing of PETG plastic. This integrated approach offers the advantage of responding directly to unknown geometries through automated performance design customization. This paper firstly contextualizes the work within the current state of the art of conformal printing. We then describe our methodology and the design experiment we have used to test it. We lastly describe the key findings, potentials and limitations of the work, as well as the next steps in this research.

Microfluidics Mediated Production of Foams for Biomedical Applications

Within the last decade, there has been increasing interest in liquid and solid foams for several industrial uses. In the biomedical field, liquid foams can be used as delivery systems for dermatological treatments, for example, whereas solid foams are frequently used as scaffolds for tissue engineering and drug screening. Most of the foam functionalities are largely correlated to their mechanical properties and their structure, especially bubble/pore size, shape, and interconnectivity. However, the majority of conventional foaming fabrication techniques lack pore size control which can induce important inhomogeneities in the foams and subsequently decrease their performance. In this perspective, new advanced technologies have been introduced, such as microfluidics, which offers a highly controlled production, allowing for design customization of both liquid foams and solid foams obtained through liquid-templating. This short review explores both the fabrication and the characterization of foams, with a focus on solid polymer foams, and sheds the light on how microfluidics can overcome some existing limitations, playing a crucial role in their production for biomedical applications, especially as scaffolds in tissue engineering.

IC Fabrication Process Steps Analysis using Fuzzy DEMATEL Method

Semiconductor industry and the process involved in fabrication play a major role in a modern technology whatever the field may be. In this paper, the study discusses about the complete process flow of the IC fabrication and the interdependence of each steps involved. Seven important process flow steps have been considered and explained throughout this study. In particular, the present work inspects comprehensively the correlation between each process steps by using fuzzy DEMATEL technique. The fabrication steps have been separated as cause and effect groups, for the readers to get a good understanding of a inter relationship between the seven process steps. The result has proved that the market requirement (C1), the complexity of the fabrication process (C3) and the streamline of supply chain and time to market (C7) fall under causal group and cost to customer , design , customization , testing yield , packaging fall under effect group. The research analysis by fuzzy DEMATEL method has been demonstrated as an efficient approach in the inter relationship studies

Custom Design of Packaging through Advanced Technologies: A Case Study Applied to Apples

In the context of food packaging design, customization enhances the value of a product by meeting consumer needs. Personalization is also linked to adaptation, so the properties of the packaging can be improved from several points of view: functional, aesthetic, economic and ecological. Currently, functional and formal properties of packaging are not investigated in depth. However, the study of both properties is the basis for creating a new concept of personalized and sustainable product. In accordance with this approach, a conceptual design procedure of packaging with personalized and adapted geometries based on the digitization of fresh food is proposed in this work. This study is based on the application of advanced technologies for the design and development of food packaging, apples in this work, in order to improve the quality of the packaging. The results obtained show that it is possible to use advanced technologies in the early stages of product design in order to obtain competitive products adapted to new emerging needs.

Custom Design of Packaging through Advanced Technologies: Case of Study Applied to Apples

In the context of food packaging design, customization enhances the value of a product by meeting the needs of the consumer. Personalization is also linked to adaptation. This makes it possible to improve the properties of the packaging from various points of view: functional, aesthetic, economic and ecological. Currently the functional and formal properties of packaging are not investigated among themselves, however the study of both properties are the basis for creating a new concept of personalized and sustainable product. In accordance with this approach, the conceptual design procedure of packaging with personalized and adapted geometries based on the digitization of fresh food is proposed in this work. This study is based on the application of advanced technologies for the design and development of food packaging, in this case apples, in order to improve the quality of the packaging. The results obtained show that it is possible to use advanced technologies in the early stages of product design in order to obtain competitive products adapted to new emerging needs.

Solving a Floral Order-Picking Model Using a Metaheuristic to Seven Societies of Central Asia

In several societies of emerging economies, an increasingly large community collects and buys bouquets for celebration purposes linked to the scalability and adjustment of components. Many schools use floral design customization to improve aspects of sociability in schools with problems of structured violence. So, second-hand cargoes of separate parts can build bouquets at a low cost. An order-picking algorithm can be used as the primary guideline because providers often implement a route system depending on the needs for the assembly of the floral design considering the different components that are required and using a model associated with the relevance of a match according to the customization of the new bouquets. In many cases, it has been challenging to develop an adequate transfer of the components; thus, the same routes have been used for a long time, and new provisions on traffic behavior and new routes are not considered. In this research is proposed a new algorithm based on the behavior of birds, called PSO to improve and solve the problem of this order picking model.

Optimization of Kaplan Hydro-Turbine at Very Low Head With Rim-Driven Generator

The objective of the paper is to study the design and optimization of Kaplan hydro turbines for very low head (less than 3 meters), with a particular emphasis on the use of rim-drive electrical generators. The work is based on Computation Fluid Dynamics (CFD) analysis of a variety of design parameters for maximum output power and efficiency. Two designs are presented in the paper. One is a 90-cm (35-inch) diameter vertical-oriented Kaplan hydro turbine systems as an intended product capable of generating over 50 kW. The other is a smaller, 7.6-cm (3-inch) diameter horizontal-oriented system for prototyping and laboratory verification. Both are analyzed through CFD based on Large Eddy Simulation (LES) of transient turbulence. Certain design for the runner and the stator as well as guide vanes upstream of the turbine were studied to get the most from the available head. The intent is to use 3D-printing manufacturing techniques, which may offer original design opportunities as well as the possibility of turbine and water conduit design customization as a function of the head and flow available from a specific site.

The challenge of building effective hybrid organizations in Brazil

Since 1996, Petróleo Brasileiro S.A. – Petrobras, the biggest oil company in Latin America, has been supporting a programme for the design, customization, and implementation of tri-lateral collaborative arrangements called the Centres and Networks of Excellence (CNE) Programme, in areas which are critical to the company's competitiveness. This programme is aligned with the Open Innovation proposal, as it is designed to intensify the inflows and outflows of information and technology, from internal and external sources, in the RD&I activities of the participating organizations. This article presents qualitative research based on the case study of the Centre of Excellence (CE) in Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC), a hybrid organization which brings together oil companies, EPC companies, universities and technical schools, government entities, professional associations and industry bodies, in an effort to make the Brazilian EPC sector related to the oil and gas industry sustainable and competitive worldwide. The principal objective was to investigate the governance elements and managerial mechanisms that support or hinder collaboration among the parties. The work included the identification of collaborative activities within the organization and aspects of trust. Qualitative data was collected by means of in-depth interviews with staff and executive members of the CE-EPC. The case study highlighted the potential of the method to help set up hybrid collaborative initiatives among parties from different institutional spheres. However, the research identified some barriers to the full accomplishment of CNE. A weak culture of collaboration was the greatest difficulty found in the CE-EPC case. The lack of positive previous cooperation experiences together with a lifelong practice of market relations make it hard to get members to focus attention on a new work logic. Yet, despite the high asymmetry among members and the weak network culture, the results indicate that the CE-EPC has accomplished significant positive results in twenty months of operation and that its internal environment is supportive and favours the improvement and consolidation of the organization.