Reliability-based multiobjective optimization (RBMO) is a method that integrates multiobjective optimization with a reliability analysis. The method is useful for a large or complicated design problem such as aerospace structure design. Reliability analysis generally requires the probabilistic distribution parameters of random variables such as the mean and standard deviation. However, for an actual design problem, the probabilistic parameters are sometimes estimated with insufficient accuracy because of a limited number of experiments. In that case, the uncertainty in the distribution parameter is not negligible. This study proposes the evaluation method to estimate the effect of the information uncertainty at first, where the uncertainty is evaluated by using the confidence interval. Some numerical examples illustrates the effectiveness of the proposed method in comparison with a conventional method, Gibbs sampling. Then, the effect of the parameter uncertainty on the RBMO is illustrated through numerical examples. The RBMO problem is formulated by using the satisficing trade-off method (STOM), where the multiobjective optimization problem is transformed into the equivalent single-objective optimization method. For the reliability-based design optimization, a modified SLSV (single-loop-single-vector) method is adopted for the computational efficiency. The effects of the parameter uncertainty on the selected Pareto solutions according to the aspiration level are investigated by using the confidence intervals of the Pareto solutions.

Recently, the development of small reconnaissance robots has been actively studied for the purpose of remote monitoring. However, difficulties related to the robot gaining access to a distant target area have been encountered in this research area. In this paper, a cross-bow-type launcher, which uses elastic energy to launch, was developed to launch a small robot to a designated target location. The design parameters were determined based on commercial users' comments and axiomatic design methodology to optimize the launcher system. This crossbow system was developed to satisfy functional requirements, such as protecting the robot during the launching process and achieving long-range shooting over 100 m, an accurate shooting range, high portability and ease of operation. In addition, field experiments were conducted to validate the performance of the developed launcher system.

The summer season witnesses a tremendous rise in electrical power consumption. To meet this electric demand, the reduction of electrical power demand in summer by improving the efficient utilization of facilities is critical. Currently, power management and power-saving efforts in the manufacturing industry are focused on improving efficiency through replacement and improvement of equipment that consumes large amounts of energy. However, recent advances in demand response have significantly increased awareness that can lead factory managers to schedule their energy consumption efficiently by shifting electrical loads. This paper presents an optimization model for managing facility operations with shifting electrical loads in an effort to deal with the most expensive hours of the day. An integer programming (IP) model is used as a formal presentation of the problem. The results from a performance analysis of the formulation in solving problems with different characteristics are prepared, along with illustrative examples. They demonstrate how a factory manager can shift electrical loads in response to electricity prices.

A transportation vehicle or mobile robot that can move to a target location in an arbitrary direction on the floor is important to ensure that work can proceed quickly and effectively in a limited space. To move in an arbitrary direction, conventional methods such as omni wheels have free rollers along the outer circumference of the wheel that can rotate passively. However, the conventional methods are difficult to control precisely because of the rotational resistance of the free rollers. In addition, the direction that the conventional methods can move actively by themselves is limited. This paper proposes a novel mechanism called the active omni wheel, which is able to actively move in an arbitrary direction by using only one wheel unit. The active omni wheel is composed of a main body and outer rollers arranged around the outer circumference of the wheel. By using a differential gear mechanism, the active omni wheel enables active rotation of not only the main body of the wheel but also the outer rollers. The theoretical equation of motion of the active omni wheel is clarified to control the wheel. An omnidirectional vehicle using the active omni wheel is discussed. The appropriate arrangement of wheels that enables the omnidirectional vehicle to move actively in arbitrary directions by using the active omni wheel is shown and the motion theory is constructed. This paper also discusses the structure appropriate for the vehicle using the active omni wheel, including the arrangement of input shafts, the structure supporting the wheels, the main body of the vehicle, and its suspension. The active omni wheel and omnidirectional vehicle were designed and manufactured. Experiments conducted on the manufactured vehicle verify the effectiveness of the active omni wheel and the omnidirectional vehicle.

On the basis of space curve meshing equation of line gear, geometric characteristics of a driven contact curve for a driven line gear are deduced from a given driving contact curve of a driving line gear for the skew line gear (SLG) mechanism. The geometric interference is analyzed between the driving and driven line teeth of the SLG pair at the non-meshing point during the mesh process. Afterwards, a supplementary design criterion is proposed for proofing against geometric interference. The selection criteria and calculation formulae of geometric parameters for the SLG pair are subsequently derived and an experiment was carried out to test their kinematic performance. The experimental result shows that the proposed methods serve as a convenient and reasonable design tool for the SLG pair in practical application.

Because every member of the product minor updates supply chain enterprises had different position, different product minor updates resources and different level of risk, and they had different bargaining power during the profit allocation. In order to eliminate the profit conflict and imbalance of the profit allocation among partners, the improved shapely value model was studied. On the analyses of the principles of the profit allocation, we put forward four key factors affecting profit allocation about collaborative product minor updates in the supply chain and established the modified shapely model. Finally, we used numerical example to show the practicability and feasibility of the improved shapely value model.

Rescue robots that can penetrate into narrow gaps in the rubble, create and maintain spaces for rescuers after earthquakes are urgently needed in search and rescue missions. This paper proposes two novel rescue robots, including a cutting robot and a jack robot, which are used to cut obstacles and jack up heavy debris in hazardous locations and in narrow spaces, where rescuers cannot work or approach. Firstly, a multi-linked tracked, or snake-like rescue robot platform is designed, which is composed of modular crawler vehicles connected by active and passive joints with three degrees of freedom. This rescue robot platform has high mobility on irregular terrains and the ability to move into narrow collapsed structures. Then, portable rescue tools including an electric cutter and a novel electric screw jack are designed. In order to perform operations to the tools, manipulators with multi degrees of freedom are also developed. Consequently, the cutting robot and jack robot are realized by equipping the corresponding rescue tool and manipulator in the rescue robot platform. Finally, field tests of the two rescue robots operating on different terrains and performing rescue missions are carried out in the national training base for urban search and rescue. The results validated the mobility, cutting and lift-up capacity of the two rescue robots. The experiments show that they might play some role in rescue operations.

In this paper, a new type of mechanism in a life testing machine for self-lubricating rod end spherical plain bearing of a helicopter is proposed based on the main rotor structure and motion process of a single rotor helicopter with hinged blades. The forward displacement of the mechanism is analyzed by using coordinate transformation and a function relationship for rotation variation between inner and outer ring of testing bearing rotating around the radial and axial is gained; a novel life testing machine is accomplished based on the mechanism, and a 3 D model is built and the function curves are obtained with MATLAB. The function relationship is proved to be validity by contrasting with the motion simulation results. This life testing machine can simulate pitching and flapping motions of self-lubricating rod end spherical plain bearing of helicopter on the ground, and the research provides a theory basis for accurately applying the load on the testing bearing and boundary conditions for optimizing the mechanism structure.