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Rapid prototyping and College teachers

Byline: Michele Basso, Giacomo Innocenti Keywords: LEGO Mindstorms; Simulink; Robotic laboratory; rapid prototyping; bicycle ABSTRACT LEGO.sub.[c] Mindstorms is a widely spread affordable education robotic platform, that has recently gained native support from the Mathworks.sub.[c] simulation environment Simulink. The pros and cons of the integrated Mindstorms/Simulink framework are actually illustrated through a complex model based control design project featuring a self-stabilized bicycle, that represents a proper example of the rapid prototyping capability of the platform. The importance of such an integration is discussed taking into account the history and the results of the LEGO-based learning activities held at the Control Systems Laboratory of the University of Florence for graduate and undergraduate courses. [c] 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Comput Appl Eng Educ 23:947-958, 2015; View this article online at wileyonlinelibrary.com/journal/cae; DOI 10.1002/cae.21666 Biographical information: Michele Basso received the Master's degree in electronic engineering from the University of Florence, Italy, in 1992, and the PhD degree in systems engineering from the University of Bologna, Italy, in 1997. From 1998 through 2010, he was an assistant professor at the Dipartimento di Sistemi e Informatica, University of Florence. Currently he is an associate professor at Dipartimento di Ingegneria dell'Informazione, University of Florence. He is also affiliated to the Center for Research on Complex Dynamics (CSDC) and a member of the Advisory Board of the Italian Ph.D. School of Information Engineering. He was an Associate Editor for the journal Communications in Nonlinear Science and Numerical Simulations from 2010 through 2014. His current research interests include nonlinear dynamical systems, scanning probe microscopy, and control education. Giacomo Innocenti graduated in 2004 in Computer Science at the Engineering School of University of Florence, Italy and in 2008 received the PhD in 'Nonlinear Dynamics and Complex Systems' from the same institution. He has been Postdoctoral Research Fellow and Adjunct Lecturer at University of Florence and at University of Siena. Since 2012 he has been Assistant Professor in Automatic Controls at University of Florence, where he teaches Industrial Automation to graduate students of the Engineering School. His scientific interests regard Nonlinear Control Systems and their practical applications.

Energy conservation, Sensors, and Rapid prototyping

Byline: Nicolo Dossi, Fabio Terzi, Evandro Piccin, Rosanna Toniolo, Gino Bontempelli Keywords: Pencil-drawn sensing devices; Pen-drawn sensitive elements; Conductive filament deposition; 3D printed sensors; Direct writing; Contact and non-contact deposition methods Abstract The growing demand for low cost and easy to use analytical devices requires the development of reliable and rapid deposition strategies suitable for changing easily planned designs and applicable to a wide range of materials for assembling conductive tracks and sensitive elements. Further important challenges to be pursued are the possibility of using readily available instrumentation and reducing power consumption and hazardous chemical waste. This review provides an overview of the use of portable day-to-day writing tools, such as pencils and pens, for the rapid and on-demand deposition of conductive patterns on different substrates, with particular emphasis on the assembly of "Do It Yourself" sensors. Moreover, layer-by-layer deposition of simple or even complex three dimensional (3D) circuits, resorting to pressure driven extrusion of conductive filaments is considered. Future perspectives and potentiality of these emerging technologies for assembling sensors are also explored. Author Affiliation: Department of Food Science, University of Udine, via Cotonificio 108, I-33100 Udine, Italy phone : (+39) 0432558835 fax: (+39) 0432558803 Department of Chemical and Geological Science, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, via Campi 183, I-41125 Modena, Italy Department of Chemistry, Federal University of Minas Gerais, 31270-901 Belo Horizonte, Brazil

Rapid prototyping

Byline: Sherif Moussa, Ahmed M. Abdel Razik, Adel Omar Dahmane, Claude D'Amours, Habib Hamam Keywords: component; OFDM; MIMO; error-control coding; parity bit selected spreading; block processing; detection; FPGA; implementation; hardware optimization Summary In this paper, a novel MIMO-OFDM transmission scheme is developed to effectively enable multi-access by joint code design across multiple antennas, subcarriers, OFDM frames, and users. It achieves better spectrum efficiency while improving bit error rate performance. The proposed scheme uses either parity bit selected or permutation techniques to assign spreading codes at the transmitter side. As a result, the detection at the receiver is greatly improved because of the fact that identifying the spreading code(s) directly yields the transmitted data symbols. The paper also investigates the field-programmable gate array implementation of the proposed algorithms; optimization techniques are proposed to reduce area, power, and time. These techniques include a pipelined architecture for inverse FFT/FFT blocks, an efficient low complexity algorithm for despreading based on counters and comparators and an optimized architecture for complex matrix inversion using Gauss-Jordan elimination (GJ-elimination). Finally, the fixed-point optimized field-programmable gate array architecture for MIMO-OFDM transceiver is developed, where the maximum allowed performance loss because of quantization is defined, the tradeoffs between BER performance and area reduction are investigated. Copyright [c] 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Rapid prototyping

Byline: Nancy Wilkins-Diehr, Sandra Gesing, Tamas Kiss, Antonio Tadeu A. Gomes, Bruno F. Bastos, Vivian Medeiros, Vinicius M. Moreira Summary Arguably, an important amount of scientific software development time is likely to be employed on user interfaces. In particular, science gateways have gained increasing interest from the e-Science community. These gateways allow hiding the complexity of the underlying resources that give support to the management of scientific data and to the execution of scientific applications. Based on our previous experience with the development of science gateways for diverse application domains in the Brazilian national high-performance computing network (SINAPAD), we have devised a rapid prototyping strategy to lower the barrier for scientific application developers to launch new science gateways. This strategy is based on two main tools. The first tool implements a gateway engine that can be configured by a small set of XML files. Such files completely define the desired functionality of a specific science gateway in the gateway engine. The gateway engine also offers other features not commonly found in related technologies, such as file sharing, data provenance tracking, and restricted anonymous access to underlying computational resources. The second tool implements both an editor and a packager for the aforementioned engine. This tool allows the developer to rapidly deploy and launch a new science gateway in ordinary Web application containers. In this paper, we present our results with the use of both tools in the SINAPAD network. We also discuss about the current limitations of both tools, as well as how we have been dealing with such limitations to provide a more comprehensive toolset to developers. Copyright [c] 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Image processing, Rapid prototyping, Tumors, Computer-aided design, and Osteotomy

Keywords: computer-aided design; customized implant; customized surgical osteotomy guide; rapid prototyping; virtual surgical planning Abstract Objectives The objective of this study was to provide the generalized methodology for design and development of a customized implant and customized surgical osteotomy guide (CSOG) for precise mandibular tumor resection and placement of a customized implant in ablative tumor surgery for accurate mandibular reconstruction. Methods Medical imaging technique, image processing, virtual surgical planning (VSP), biomedical computer-aided design (CAD), and rapid prototyping (RP) were used to develop CSOG and customized implant. A mock surgical test and an experimental analysis were performed on the biomodel (RP assisted diseased model) to check the effectiveness of the CSOG. Results The paired t test showed the statistically significant result with the use of CSOG as compared to the without using CSOG in ablative mandibular tumor surgery. Conclusions A mock test and an experimental analysis proved that, the precise tumor resection and customized implant placement with minimal gap between bone-implant junctions in mandibular reconstruction using CSOG. Byline: Sandeep Dahake, Abhaykumar Kuthe,Mahesh Mawale, Pranav Sapkal, Ashutosh Bagde, Subodh Daronde, Manish Kamble, Bhupesh Sarode

Computer-Aided Design, Rapid Prototyping, New Technique, Models, Prototypes, Engineering -- Design and construction, and Computer industry -- Product information

Companies can produce a prototype from a computer-aided design (CAD) file within one or two days by using the services of one of the approximately 40 rapid prototyping (RP) service bureaus. The CAD system must interface with the RP equipment, the file format being particularly important. An STL file interfaces with most RP systems and can be created with a good CAD system. Alternatively, many software developers now offer STL translators. STL translators can be created only for solid-model CAD systems only, rather than for models that do not close. Surface models work only if they are designed to be watertight. Additionally, supports must be created for any cantilevers or other unsupported structures to develop a CAD model and it is often appropriate to allow the RP service bureau to create the supports themselves. Future alternatives to the STL format will allow users to create smooth, precise surfaces.

Rapid Prototyping, Distributed Systems, Programming Management, Computer Science, and Programming management (Computers) -- Methods

The development of a distributed program is not an easy task. In this paper, we present a set of rapid prototyping tools that can efficiently help the development process of remote procedure call (RPC)-based programs. After some introduction in the first section, we describe the structure of our prototyping tools in the second section. The tool-set consists of three generators: the distributed frame generator, the user interface generator, and the application model generator. Three sections are devoted to describing these generators. The last part of our paper presents a prototyping example using our tool-set and summarizes the paper. (Reprinted by permission of the publisher.)

Rapid Prototyping, Service Bureaus, CAD/CAM, Tutorial, and CAD-CAM systems -- Usage

A business can use a rapid prototyping (RP) service bureau instead of buying a RP system, which can cost anywhere from $50,000 to $550,000. The service bureau can not only act as a supplier but can also serve as an active consultant to the design process. A business needs to receive a job cost estimate first from the RP service bureau, providing all necessary design specifications such as tolerances and product use. The best way to transfer computer-aided files to the service bureau is to use the STL file protocol because it is recognized as the standard for hooking RP machines to computer-aided design systems. The cost of using a service bureau depends on the time it takes to convert data, the time to actually build the part on the RP system and the amount of time it takes to detail the finished product. One disadvantage of the system is a lack of security surrounding the product design even when nondisclosure agreements have been signed. The best use of a rapid prototyping system is when it builds complex parts. A directory of RP service bureaus is included.

Rapid Prototyping, Comparison, Manufacturing, Automobile industry, Automobiles, Chrysler Corp. -- Production management, Repetitive manufacturing systems -- Testing, Automobile industry -- Production management, and Automobiles -- Equipment and supplies

When evaluating rapid prototyping systems it is important to measure the accuracy of the process, as well as the safety and durability of materials. Additionally, it is important to consider the cost of installation, training and maintenance. Chrysler's Jeep and Truck Engineering unit decided to produce a single automobile part on five rapid prototyping systems in order to compare them. Chrysler sent an STL of the speedometer adaptor to five companies: DTM, Cubital, Stratasys, Helisys and 3D Systems. Detailed is an overview of the comparisons between the five systems. Areas discussed include quality quantifications, price parameters, and the benchmark bottom line. Skill and experience of the operator can have a significant effect on the accuracy of the part produced.

Rapid Prototyping, Processor Architecture, Algorithm, Miniaturization, Reconfiguration, Circuit Design, Integrated circuit fabrication, Signal processing, Prototypes, Engineering -- Design and construction, Integrated circuit fabrication -- Testing, and Signal processing -- Research

Ageneralized architecture for signal processing, the wafer scale integration architecture for rapid prototyping (WARP), consists of the universal multiply-substract-add (UMSA) cell and the universal nonlinear (UNL) cell. The class of algorithms is broadened by the WARP architecture, using a single rapid-prototyping architecture. FIR filtering algorithms, FFT computation algorithms and L-U decomposition algorithms can be implemented. The high degree of regularity in signal processing algorithms makes them suitable for wafer scale integration (WSI). Mapping of the algorithm to an array of just a few types of cells on the wafer is facilitated. Careful test planning and strict adherence to design-for-test practices are important to testing WSI circuits. The UMSA and UNL cells are discussed in detail with the mapping of the FFT and L-U decomposition algorithms.

Software engineering, Scientific Research, Program Development Techniques, Database, Programming Language, Rule-Based System, Rapid Prototyping, Object-Oriented Programming, Relational Database, and Software engineering -- Methods

The design and rapid prototyping of data-intensive software applications can be accomplished via the use of Logres and Algres, two advanced database programming languages. Logres, a new-generation programming language, integrates rule-based programming with an object-oriented data model. Algres is a relational system that manages complex database relationships. Algres does not have the necessary programming constructs needed to implement imperative computations. Expressive power and openness to external libraries can be gained by embedding Algres into the C programming language, resulting in the Alice programming interface. THe Logres/Algres software platform allows data-intensive applications to be prototyped rapidly.

CAD/CAM, Rapid Prototyping, Analysis, and Applications

Some analysts argue that engineers are often too conservative when it comes to trying out new ideas. They argue, though, that entire new technologies can open up once a seemingly impractical avenue of research has been penetrated. Similarly, conceptual leaps have been made in the areas of rapid prototyping and desktop manufacturing. The idea of a three-dimensional-based manufacturing technology once seemed remote. Analysts compare the technique of rapid prototyping with the long design life-cycles of conventional manufacturing technologies. They argue that it is in the planning stages of the manufacturing process in which rapid prototyping comes into its own.