RAPID prototyping, CURRENT-voltage characteristics, and FEEDBACK (Psychology)

Using a photovoltaic (PV) emulator (PVE) simplifies the testing of the PV generation system. However, conventional controllers used for PVEs suffer from oscillating output voltage, requiring a high number of iterations, or being too complex to be implemented. This paper proposes a controller based on a resistance feedback control strategy that produces a stable and fast converging operating point for the PVE. The resistance feedback control strategy requires a new type of PV model, which is the current–resistance (I–R) PV model. This model is computed using a binary search method at a fast convergence rate. It is combined with a closed-loop buck converter using a proportional-integral controller to form the resistance feedback control strategy. The PVE's controller is implemented into dSPACE ds1104 hardware platform for experimental validation. The acquired experimental results show that the proposed PVE is able to follow the current–voltage characteristic of the PV module accurately. In addition, the PVE's efficiency is more than 90% under maximum power point operation. The transient response of the proposed PVE is similar to the PV panel during irradiance changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

TECHNOLOGICAL innovations, THREE-dimensional printing, RAPID prototyping, TECHNOLOGICAL forecasting, and SUPPLY chain management

In recent years, the Forecasting Innovation Pathway approach (FIP) has shown to be a promising set of tools to capture potential developments in emerging fields through capturing indications of endogenous futures. However, the FIP approach is reliant on a clear demarcated area to study, a challenge for emerging technology fields where uncertainty and rhetoric abound. This paper presents an addition to the FIP toolbox that helps characterise and demarcate boundaries of emerging fields to allow for deeper analysis through other FIP methods. We illustrate this approach through an exercise for 3D printing technology (also known as Additive Manufacturing). We show that 3D printing can be represented by a dominant design: a tri-partite configuration of printer, material and digital design software. In the past decade we have seen significant branching from applications in rapid-prototyping to medical, fashion, aeronautics and supply chain management with a variety of elements coming together in tri-partite configurations. The paper adds to the current FTA literature an approach building on evolutionary theories of technical change to help with such situations – emerging, evolving and branching 'innovation pathways'. Moreover, we developed a methodology to construct these innovation paths. • New technology fields can be represented as paths that build momentum, fork and evolve. • Forecasting Innovation Pathways (FIP) require a further developed theory of path emergence and evolution. • 3D printing can be represented by a dominant design: a tri-partite configuration that is filled in a variety of ways. • 3D printing is a field which evolved first around prototyping applications and has branched out to new applications. • The interplay of foreseen applications and the filling of the tri-partite schema motivate branching from rapid prototyping. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ORGANIC light emitting diodes, POLYMER light emitting diodes, COMPOSITE materials, SMART materials, PIEZOELECTRIC thin films, and RAPID prototyping

Over the past years, product designers have been involved in collaborative developments of smart material composites early on in the development process, to showcase creative applications of them. In these projects, the way the material is presented to the development team and the extent to which its properties are defined affect how designers understand the potentials and boundaries of the material and envision product applications. In the context of a European project, Light.Touch.Matters, we studied the attempt of designers to understand and prototype underdeveloped composites of thin-film organic light emitting diodes and piezoelectric polymer. Arguing for a collaborative exploration of the unique experiences that such underdeveloped composites unfold, we elaborate on a challenge designers face in understanding and prototyping the experiential qualities, specifically, the dynamic and performative qualities. The paper presents our design approach and complementary tools to overcome this challenge. It further discusses the applicability and limitations of the proposed design supports in the context of collaborative materials development and outlines future research directions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

RAPID prototyping, ENGINEERING systems, LITERATURE reviews, ENGINEERING design, NEW product development, and TECHNICAL literature

Given the need to develop a systems engineering framework to enable rapid prototyping and rapid fielding capability for the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) per Public Law 114-92 and the fact that historically rework has been a problem during product development, a literature survey of engineering and design rework was conducted to better understand its nature and causes. The intent of the survey is to present the current state of research in the understanding of this aspect of development and to articulate future research areas for developing a systems engineering framework during the Technology Maturation and Risk Reduction (TMRR) phase of the DOD life cycle that addresses rework concerns, accelerates iteration and enables rapid prototyping. Since much of the research on rework has been done on information exchange and organizational structure there is a need for future research in systems engineering to develop frameworks to: 1) mitigate the impact of information uncertainty and instability, 2) accelerate information evolution, and 3) reuse knowledge for engineering reasoning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

TARGET costing, PROTOTYPES, PRODUCT design, RAPID prototyping, and SUPPLIERS

Prototyping allows firms to evaluate the technical feasibility of alternative product designs and to better estimate their costs. We study a collaborative prototyping scenario in which a manufacturer involves a supplier in the prototyping process by letting the supplier make detailed design choices for critical components and provide prototypes for testing. While the supplier can obtain private information about the costs, the manufacturer uses target costing to gain control over the design choice. We show that involving the supplier in the prototyping process has an important influence on the manufacturer's optimal decisions. The collaboration results in information asymmetry, which makes parallel prototyping less attractive and potentially reverses the optimal testing sequence under sequential prototyping: It may be optimal to test designs in increasing order of attractiveness to avoid that the supplier does not release technically and economically feasible prototypes for strategic reasons. We also find that the classical target costing approaches (cost‐ and market‐based) need to be adjusted in the presence of alternative designs: Due to the strategic behavior of suppliers, it is not always optimal to provide identical target costs for designs with similar cost and performance estimates, nor to provide different target costs for dissimilar designs. Furthermore, the timing is important: While committing upfront to carefully chosen target costs reduces the supplier's strategic behavior, in some circumstances, the manufacturer can take advantage of this behavior by remaining flexible and specifying the second prototype's target costs later. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

RAPID prototyping, SEARCH algorithms, DIELECTRIC-loaded antennas, THREE-dimensional printing, and PERMITTIVITY

A prototyping method for dielectrically loaded antennas is presented. Dielectric loading has been used with horn antennas, feeds, and lenses. Dielectrics have also been used for coating antennas submerged in water and biological matter and have led to improvements in bandwidth and efficiency as well as antenna miniaturisation. The authors present a new technique to produce variable dielectrics with permittivity from 6 to 28 using two commonly available powders, titanium dioxide (used in foods) and magnesium silicate (used in talcum powder). An example spherical helical ball antenna is used to demonstrate the process. In this antenna, the mixed powders were encased in a 3D printed shell that achieved a reduction in diameter of the spherical antenna by a factor of 1.85. The technique aids rapid prototyping and optimisation using search algorithms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]