A modern goal of walking robots is to achieve motion while maintaining relatively low energy costs. Traditional robots are capable of level ground walking, but they are generally not energy efficient. The Extended Body Rimless (EBR) wheel is a robotic walking device which employs torsional springs and a rotating pendulum to prevent energy from being lost due to foot collisions. In simulations w...

We develop a semi-analytical model that determines the evolution of the mass, position and internal structure of dark matter substructures orbiting in dark matter haloes. We apply this model to the case of the Milky Way. We focus in particular on the effects of mass loss, dynamical friction and substructure–substructure interactions, the last of which has previously been ignored in analytic mod...

With the aim of developing a method for reducing energy consumption of room air conditioners, we address a higher-efficiency design of the rotary compressor currently most used worldwide. We focused on a new rotary compressor equipped with a mechanism to restrict the rolling motion of the piston, and performed a dynamics analysis. The new rotary compressor has a small pillar at the tip of the v...

OBJECTIVES In a job site, a portable fan is often used to ventilate a confined space. When a portable fan is applied to such a space, the actual ventilation flow rate must be accurately estimated in advance because the safety level of contaminant and oxygen concentrations in the space will determine the ventilation requirements. When a portable fan is used with a flexible duct, the actual flow ...

OBJECTIVE To investigate the effects of lubricin gene dosage and cyclic loading on whole joint coefficient of friction and articular cartilage surface integrity in mouse knee joints. METHODS Joints from mice with 2 (Prg4(+/+)), 1 (Prg4(+/-)), or no (Prg4(-/-)) functioning lubricin alleles were subjected to 26 hours of cyclic loading using a custom-built pendulum. Coefficient of friction value...