Search

Induction-based breathing sensors in automobiles enable unobtrusive respiratory rate monitoring as an indicator of a driver's alertness and health. This paper introduces a quantitative method based on signal quality to guide the integration of textile inductive electrodes in automotive applications. A case study with a simplified setup illustrated the ability of the method to successfully provide basic design rules about where and how to integrate the electrodes on seat belts and seat backs to gather good quality respiratory signals in an automobile. The best signals came from the subject's waist, then from the chest, then from the upper back, and finally from the lower back. Furthermore, folding the electrodes before their integration on a seat back improves the signal quality for both the upper and lower back. This analysis provided guidelines with three design rules to increase the chance of acquiring good quality signals: (1) use a multi-electrode acquisition approach, (2) place the electrodes in locations that maximize breathing-induced body displacement, and (3) use a mechanical amplifying method such as folding the electrodes in locations with little potential for breathing-induced displacement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are hundreds, even thousands of various pallets and hangers, which we call them carriers collectively in this paper, in automobile assembly workshop for car assembly and car parts delivery. Their geometry accuracy is very important to ensure equipment availability (EA) and overall equipment effectiveness (OEE), the two KPIs of the workshop. So, either good or bad, equipment management department of each automobile plant all have their own methods to check and ensure geometry accuracy of carriers. To make equipment management standardized, one set of geometry accuracy check and control method should be established. Firstly, based on the brief introduction of automobile assembly process, what are carriers in automobile assembly workshop is presented through some examples. Then, what is geometry accuracy of carrier is illustrated through three kinds of typical carriers used in automobile assembly workshop. And then reasons of geometry accuracy loss of carriers are simply summarized. Finally, considering functionality, practicability, operation easiness and traceability, one set of standardized check methods of geometry accuracy which can be used practically in automobile assembly workshop are raised for different types of carriers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper deals with the research on the influence of the shapes of tubes and fins of automobile engine radiators and ethylene glycol coolants of type G12 on the cooling process. This involves cross-flow without mixing of coolant and air. The circular tubes with straight fins are compared with flat tubes with corrugated fins at identical external dimensions of the radiators. The new coolant is compared with the used coolant (10 years of usage) and further with a mixture of the used coolant and the additive (coolant enhancer). The goal is to reduce the heat dissipation time during the cooling process. Forced air convection is generated by three fan variants with diameters ϕ400 mm, ϕ345 mm, and a pair of fans ϕ345 mm and ϕ290 mm. The radiator core with flattened tubes and corrugated fins achieved lower outlet temperatures of 0.35 °C, 1.56 °C, and 2.43 °C compared to circular tubes and straight fins when using the ϕ400 mm diameter fan, the fan pair, and the ϕ345 mm diameter fan, respectively. The addition of the coolant enhancer to the used and new G12 coolant, depending on the fan variant, caused the outlet temperature to decrease in the range of 0.64 °C to 1.47 °C and 0.55 °C to 1.65 °C, respectively. The fan cover is also important for efficient cooling. Refilling of the coolant enhancer in the used coolant ensured that the heat transfer properties were recovered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The negative impact of operations in informal auto mechanic workshops is a major public health concern, and its effect on surface water pollution cannot be overlooked. This current work evaluates the environmental impact of automobile waste on surface water quality in Ebonyi State, Southeast Nigeria. A total of 108 surface water samples were taken in 2022 and 2023 from Abakaliki, Onueke, and Afikpo streams, and WHO as controls using standard analytical methods. Data sets were analyzed using Fisher's Significance Least Difference (F‐LSD) at the 0.05 probability level. The study showed that surface water appearance was slightly brown, and the observed upstream is acidic in nature, the midstream is alkaline, and the downstream is natural. Water samples from Abakaliki, Onueke, and Afikpo streams were observed to be hard since their concentration levels were above the WHO standard. Furthermore, the high concentrations of heavy metals (Pb and Mn) as well as the oil and grease content indicate that the surface water in the area of study is polluted and its overall quality is degraded. The study therefore concluded that automobile waste had a negative influence on the surface water quality in the study area. Based on these new findings, it is recommended that automobile waste be properly treated and disposed of to avoid their adverse effects on surface water quality. In addition, given the uncontrolled development of these informal auto workshops across the nation in recent years, there is a need for the execution of environmental standards connected to automobile service activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article offers a solution to traffic congestion caused by temporary disruptions, such as accidents or road construction, through a method called Congestion Management based on Inflow and Outflow Volumes (COMIO). Topics include the limitations of traditional route control methods, the introduction of COMIO to stabilize traffic flow, and how COMIO manages the balance between traffic inflow and outflow to prevent the recurrence of congestion.

• Visualization experiment using a high-speed camera of a vertical sliding vane rotary engine. • Investigate the effect of compressor rotational speed on vane contact. • Effect of oil supply amount and temperature on vane chattering. • Influences of ratio of compressor discharge pressure and supply pressure on vane and cylinder contact. In this study, the impacts of various factors on the chattering phenomenon in sliding vane compressors, which is a crucial aspect that influences their performance and efficiency were explored. The analysis focused on the compressor rotational speed, pressure ratio, and operating temperature, considering both ambient and heated conditions. The aim was to provide a comprehensive understanding of the relationship between these factors and the occurrence of chattering at different operational intervals, as well as the vane sealing performance and adherence to the chamber wall. The methodology involved examining vane behavior and the chattering occurrence across three intervals under various conditions, specifically looking at oil films formation and sealing performance degradation. The experimental results provided notable insights into the chattering phenomenon. It was shown that as the pressure ratio increased and the compressor rotational speed decreased, the sealing performance deteriorated. Moreover, when operating under heated conditions, a decrease in oil viscosity leads to reduced friction between the vane and bearing, improving vane adherence compared to ambient conditions. The methodology and findings of this study provide insights into the chattering phenomenon in vane compressors by considering the interplay between various factors. The results emphasize the importance of optimizing the compressor oil refueling flow, rotational speed, pressure ratio, and operating temperature, to ensure proper lubrication and efficient interaction between the vanes and compression chamber walls for improved compressor performance and reduced operational challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

How do environmentally-driven and firm-specific factors influence business innovation and adaptation? How can the analysis of their co-evolutionary relationship help explain firm survival or failure over time? To address these key questions, this article focuses on the study regarding the 20-year performance (1997–2017) of the Fiat (later Fiat Chrysler Automobiles) group in the automobile industry. The analysis primarily deals with three historical phases: crisis (1997–2002), turnaround (2003–2007), and expansion (2008–2017). As a key contribution, the study combines elaborations from a robust dataset comprising both industry characteristics and executive team features, with historical events both at the environmental and the firm's strategy levels. Results suggest that when executive team diversity and a wide breadth of product portfolio are concurrently present, they positively affect corporate performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Social Sciences & Philosophy is the property of Research Center for Humanities & Social Sciences, Academia Sinica and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The results of a study of the automotive market considering the issues that determine consumer requirements related to the development of product quality are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A necessary factor in ensuring the forecasting of the required product quality in the automotive market is the process of developing a typology of consumers of new cars. The tools for developing a typology of consumers of new cars is presented in detail regarding quality assurance issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article conducts a 20-year review of studies investigating the utilization of artificial intelligence in HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) system control, with a particular focus on automotive HVAC systems, renowned for their unique challenges due to the highly dynamic nature of automotive cabins. Artificial neural networks (ANNs) provide adaptive modeling and control capabilities to enhance energy efficiency, thermal comfort, and air quality in HVAC systems. Nevertheless, ANNs exhibit limitations, primarily their performance being constrained by training data, impeding adaptability to unforeseen scenarios. To overcome these constraints, researchers have explored hybrid approaches that integrate ANNs with PID (Proportional, Integral, and Derivative) or PI (Proportional and Integral) algorithms, resulting in systems referred to as Neuro-PID or Neuro-PI. These systems can effectively handle unanticipated situations by absorbing errors introduced by ANNs. Nonetheless, the applicability of Neuro-PID varies depending on the specific system. It becomes infeasible in scenarios with substantial delays, prompting the choice of the appropriate approach based on the controllability factor, a ratio between system delay and time constant. A controllability factor less than 2 indicates the suitability of employing ANNs for PID controller tuning. Furthermore, the intricate interaction between temperature and humidity in HVAC control systems diminishes the effectiveness of traditional PID. To proficiently regulate both variables, a viable alternative is the amalgamation of ANNs with specific control logic or the deployment of distinct ANN algorithms for varying scenarios. The heightened variability and unpredictability within automotive HVAC systems, driven by continuous vehicle movement and door/window operations, present additional challenges. In such contexts, reinforcement learning techniques have found application, allowing systems to dynamically adapt to unforeseen events. In summary, the choice of HVAC control approach hinges on the primary goal—thermal comfort or specific variable control—as well as the system's noise level, controllability factor, and system nature. While ANNs hold significant potential, combining them with other techniques, such as PID, reinforcement learning, or specific control logic, may prove essential in addressing the intricacies of HVAC systems [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lower-income consumers who seek to increase their perceived social status or to emulate their wealthier peers may be motivated to purchase conspicuous luxury goods. Using a vehicle financing dataset, we find that non-prime consumers value vehicle prestige more than the average consumer. The stronger preferences for prestige lead non-prime consumers to purchase more expensive vehicles than they otherwise would. The preferences for prestige are driven both by status signaling and peer emulation motives. Furthermore, we show that larger vehicle purchases financed by auto loans lead to worse loan performance and credit standing for non-prime consumers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Annie Proulx constructs a covert feminist narrative line in her debut novel Postcards with female minor characters. Focusing on the "historical gap" between the waning of the first wave of the feminist movement and before the rise of the second wave of feminism, Proulx examines the experience and differentiation of American women in the industrialization and urbanization movements. Strongly influenced by the "Annales School," Proulx uses the quintessential cultural totem of 20th-century America, the automobile, as "new historical material" and a key entry point into the fluctuations of the American feminist movements. The three female characters in the story, Billy as "the Beauty in the Car," Mernelle as "the Motorcar Bride" and Pearl as "the Mechanical Earth Mother," correspond respectively to women of consumerism, women of the "affluent society," and post-war modern professional women. Pearl's final death from a car accident not only serves as Proulx's warning about "industrial progress" but also reflects her contemplation on the failure of the second wave of feminism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]