Repeatable and accurate assembly of thin, foil optics is crucial to meeting performance goals in optical systems such as grazing-incidence X-ray telescopes and diffractive lithography tools. Our previous work in proving key technologies for assembly has been motivated by the need to meet spectral resolution goals for the NASA Constellation-X mission. We report a new generation of technology tha...

Product assembly design is a complex activity possible involving collaboration between different designers geographically dispersed. This paper puts forward some significant methodologies and technologies for distributed assembly and presents a collaboration architecture that manages to support working in both synchronous and asynchronous ways. Meanwhile, we adopt a three-level conflicts detect...

Virtual reality (VR) technology holds promise as a virtual prototyping (VP) toolfor mechanical assembly; however, several developmental challenges still need to beaddressed before virtual prototyping applications can successfully be integrated into theproduct realization process. This paper categorizes and elaborates these challenges and then describes how SHARP (System for Haptic A...

The study of rotary steering drilling technology is currently one of the hot topics in the drilling engineering field. It requires accurate well trajectory control instructions when rotary steerable tools are applied to achieve the well trajectory control goal. A drilling trajectory prediction model will benefit this progress. According to the continuous beam theory, a mechanical model of push-...

In this paper we present recent experimental results using a novel parallel manipulator operating under Natural Admittance Control performing difficult mechanical assemblies. The example assemblies are components from an automotive automatic transmission. Success depends on appropriate force responsiveness, rather than precise position control. The robotic assemblies are shown to be gentler tha...

In this paper, we review half a century of research on the design of systems displaying (physical) self-assembly of macroscopic components. We report on the experience gained in the study of 22 such systems, exhibiting components ranging from passive mechanical parts to mobile robots. We discuss the systems with regard to physical and electrical design characteristics, outcome and analysis of s...

Contemporary chemical and material engineering often takes inspiration from nature, targeting for example strong yet light materials and materials composed of highly ordered domains at multiple different lengthscales for fundamental science and applications in e.g. sensing, catalysis, coating technology, and delivery. The preparation of such hierarchically structured functional materials throug...

1 Corresponding Author. Ph.D. Student, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Dept., Glennan 109. 2 Asst. Prof., Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Dept., Glennan 515B. Abstract. This paper presents search strategies for peg-inhole assemblies with position uncertainty. The assembly of parts whose position uncertainty far exceeds assembly clearance has to rely on either visual assistance ...

Elastin is a major structural component of elastic fibres that provide properties of stretch and recoil to tissues such as arteries, lung and skin. Remarkably, after initial deposition of elastin there is normally no subsequent turnover of this protein over the course of a lifetime. Consequently, elastic fibres must be extremely durable, able to withstand, for example in the human thoracic aort...

Responsive PMO materials have been synthesized through co-assembly of bridged diacetylenic silsesquioxane and surfactant. The spatially defined polydiacetylenic component, mesoporous network, and the covalent proximity of polydiacetylene to silica endow the PMO with mechanical robustness, reversible chromatic responses, improved thermal stability, and faster responses to chemical stimuli. This ...