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Ordered piezoelectric units are designed to achieve unnaturally large strains and artificial vibrational modes, owing to the synergistic effects of multiple units. However, when interfacing with another physical field, the challenge for ordered piezoelectric units is to achieve precise control of individual unit independently while maintaining a large manipulation range. In this study, conformal ordered solid–liquid coupled piezoelectric units are introduced, which effectively reduce stress transfer by as much as 84% between units via incorporating a liquid phase into each unit. This design allows for the generation of considerable strain levels (up to ɛZ = 1.13%) when used with a flexible layer and optimized structure. Hence, these conformal ordered piezoelectric units achieve simultaneous production of large strains and independent electromechanical control for each individual unit. As a practical illustration, a biomimetic piezoelectric adaptive lens and a lens array based on solid–liquid coupled piezoelectric units are designed and fabricated. They offer an extensive zoom range from 100.3 mm to infinity, ultra‐high diopter sensitivity of 70 D mV−1, ultra‐rapid response time of 50 µs, and programmable optical focusing through individual manipulation of each unit. This research paves the way for inspiring new designs for piezoelectric metamaterials and devices for intelligent electromechanical systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The demand for high-performance electromechanical resonators is ever-growing across diverse applications, ranging from sensing and time-keeping to advanced communication devices. Among the electromechanical materials being explored, thin-film lithium niobate stands out due to its strong piezoelectric properties and low acoustic loss. However, in nearly all existing lithium niobate electromechanical devices, the configuration is such that the electrodes are in direct contact with the mechanical resonator. This configuration introduces an undesirable mass-loading effect, producing spurious modes and additional damping. Here, we present an electromechanical platform that mitigates this challenge by leveraging a flip-chip bonding technique to separate the electrodes from the mechanical resonator. By offloading the electrodes from the resonator, our approach yields a substantial increase in the quality factor of these resonators, paving the way for enhanced performance and reliability for their device applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Physical interaction with patients, for example conducted as part of a diagnostic examination or surgical procedure, provides clinicians with a wealth of information about their condition. Simulating this interaction is of great interest to researchers in both haptics and medical education, and the development of softness changing tactile interfaces is important in recreating the feel of different soft tissues. This paper presents designs for a variety of novel electromechanical and electromagnetic mechanisms for controlling particle jamming-based, hardness changing tactile displays, intended to allow medical trainees to experience these physical interactions in a range of simulation settings such as clinical skills teaching laboratories. Each design is then subjected to a battery of mechanical tests to evaluate its effectiveness compared to the state of the art, as well as their suitability for simulating the physical hardness of different types of soft tissues, previously characterised in established literature. These results demonstrate that all of the technologies presented are able to exhibit a measurable hardness change, with Shore hardness values between 3A and 57A achieved by the most effective constriction-based device. The electromechanical devices based on constriction and compression, and the state-of-the-art pneumatic device, were able to achieve hardness changes within a range that is useful for replicating the softness of organic tissue. The electromechanical and electromagnetic devices were also found to effect their full range of hardness change in less than a second, compared to several seconds for the state-of-the-art. These results show that the performance of softness changing tactile displays can be improved with the electromechanical actuation techniques proposed in this paper, and that such displays are able to replicate the physical characteristics of soft tissues and may therefore be of benefit in medical training and simulation scenarios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cavity-electromechanical systems are extensively used for sensing and controlling the vibrations of mechanical resonators down to their quantum limit. The nonlinear radiation-pressure interaction in these systems could result in an unstable response of the mechanical resonator showing features such as frequency-combs, period-doubling bifurcations and chaos. However, due to weak light-matter interaction, typically these effects appear at very high driving strengths. By using polariton modes formed by a strongly coupled flux-tunable transmon and a microwave cavity, here we demonstrate an electromechanical device and achieve a single-photon coupling rate g 0 / 2 π of 160 kHz, which is nearly 4% of the mechanical frequency ωm. Due to large g0/ωm ratio, the device shows an unstable mechanical response resulting in frequency combs in sub-single photon limit. We systematically investigate the boundary of the unstable response and identify two important regimes governed by the optomechanical backaction and the nonlinearity of the electromagnetic mode. Such an improvement in the single-photon coupling rate and the observations of microwave frequency combs at single-photon levels may have applications in the quantum control of the motional states and critical parametric sensing. Our experiments strongly suggest the requirement of newer approaches to understand instabilities. In electromechanical devices, nonlinear radiation-pressure interaction can lead to significant changes in the dynamics from just few photons. Here, by enhancing the light-matter coupling in a cavity electromechanical device, the author show the onset of mechanical instabilities with less than a single photon in the cavity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ionomeric polymer‐metal composites (IPMC) are advanced materials designed to mimic biological systems. Their performance depends on various factors, including electrical stimulus intensity, membrane hydration, ionic migration, and Young's modulus. However, there is a lack of studies in the literature investigating how the water absorption capacity and elastic modulus change over time in IPMCs. Understanding the hydration level variation as a function of time is essential because as this parameter deviates, the ionic migration capacity and Young's modulus also change, altering the device's electromechanical efficiency over time. To address this research gap, Nafion/Pt‐based IPMC devices exchanged with four monovalent cations (H+, Li+, Na+, and K+) and one ionic liquid (1‐butyl‐3‐methylimidazolium—BMIM+) were prepared, and a comprehensive investigation on how the water absorption capacity and Young's modulus vary as a function of time, relative humidity (RH), and counterion size was performed. The results revealed that the water uptake capacity is significantly higher and occurs more rapidly at higher RH levels and when the counterion's ionic radius decreases. Consequently, the time required for the device to reach osmotic equilibrium can range from 40 to 270 min, depending on the RH and counterion used. Furthermore, it was observed that the first natural frequency and Young's modulus also exhibit time‐dependent behavior. Under constant RH conditions, the mechanical properties of the IPMC can vary by up to 50% in less than 60 min. Notably, the combined results from water uptake capacity, Young's modulus, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and electromechanical response analyses (including blocking force, displacement, displacement rate, current, coulombic efficiency, and voltage) suggest that a morphological transformation within the polymer is likely to occur once RH exceeds 60%. This finding strengthens the hypothesis that ion migration is mainly influenced by their movement through Nafion's ionomeric channels rather than the filling of ionic agglomerates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Railway signaling electromechanical devices (RSEDs) play a pivotal role in the railway industry. Normal wear and tear of these devices occur during day-and-night operation and even progressively develop into failures. Hence, it is imperative to predict the remaining useful life (RUL) for reliable services. However, there are three existing challenges in addressing the issue. To overcome these challenges, we introduce M 2 BIST-SPNet for RSEDs RUL prediction. The model incorporates advanced spatiotemporal feature extraction mechanisms, including a spatial-temporal attention-based convolution networks (STACN), multiple branches with multi-scale multifrequency module (MBM), and communication module (CM). Extensive experiments conducted on three typical object datasets (i.e., railway safety relay, EMU contactor, switch circuit controller) shows that the proposed approach has demonstrated state-of-the-art performance in long-term multiparameter prediction and RUL prediction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Magnetorheological materials refer to field-response smart materials whose properties are controllable with a magnetic field, including fluid, grease, elastomer, and gel. The unique magnetorheological effect exhibited by these smart materials is a physical phenomenon where physics and engineering intersect and has extensive application prospects in modern machinery. In electro-mechanical systems, magnetorheological materials offer a superior design method for mechanical devices used in the fields of transmission, damping, and braking. It is important to control the magnetorheological materials for advancing the design philosophy of modern electro-mechanical devices. Hence, this paper presents a recent progressive review on the fundamentals of magnetorheological materials and numerous applications. Firstly, an introduction to the magnetorheological effect and different types of magnetorheological materials are presented in this review. Then, the individual and coupled effects of sedimentation, temperature, and magnetic field on magnetorheological materials are discussed. Finally, magnetorheological materials-based devices have been extensively reviewed, including actuator, clutch, damper, brake, pump, valve, and robot, thus aiming to provide useful information for facilitating the design of complex electro-mechanical systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most piezoelectric materials exhibit a positive longitudinal piezoelectric effect (PLPE), while a negative longitudinal piezoelectric effect (NLPE) is rarely reported or paid much attention. Here, utilizing first-principles calculations, we unveil the origin of negative longitudinal piezoelectricity in ferroelectric hafnia by introducing the concept of weighted projected bond strength around cation in the c direction (WPBc), which is proposed to quantitatively characterize the asymmetric bonding stiffness along the strain direction. When the WPBc is anti-parallel to the direction of bulk spontaneous polarization, the polarization decreases with respect to tensile strain and leads to a negative piezoelectricity. Furthermore, to confirm the influence of WPBc on the piezoelectric effect and understand how the value of WPBc influences the piezoelectric coefficient e33, we acquire both the piezoelectric coefficient of doped hafnia and the corresponding bonding environment around each cation. The finding reveals that the more negative piezoelectric coefficient can be achieved through a concurrent achievement of the more negative average WPBc and the lower standard deviation (STD) of WPBc. In addition, the Sn-doped hafnia with the lowest average WPBc and smaller STD-WPBc is identified to have the highest piezoelectric coefficient (−2.04 C/m2) compared to other dopants, showing great potential in next-generation electromechanical devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of fast and strong microactuators that can be integrated in microdevices is an essential challenge due to a lack of appropriate driving principles. A membrane actuator powered by internal combustion of hydrogen and oxygen in a chamber with a volume of 3.1 nanoliters is demonstrated. The combustion in such a small volume is possible only for an extremely high surface‐to‐volume ratio on the order of 107 m−1. The fuel with this ratio is prepared electrochemically in a special regime that produces only nanobubbles. A cloud of nanobubbles merges, forming a microbubble, which explodes, increasing the volume 500× in 10 µs. The actuator generates an instantaneous force up to 0.5 N and is able to move bodies 11 000× more massive than itself. The natural response time of ≈10 ms is defined by the incubation time needed to produce an exploding bubble. The device demonstrates reliable cyclic actuation at a frequency of 1 Hz restricted by the effect of electrolyte aging. After 40 000 explosions, no significant wear in the chamber is observed. Due to a record‐breaking acceleration and standard microfabrication techniques, the actuator can be used as a universal engine for various microdevices including microelectromechanical systems, microfluidics, microrobotics, wearable and implantable devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: During inpatient rehabilitation, physical therapists (PTs) often need to manually advance patients' limbs, adding physical burden to PTs and impacting gait retraining quality. Different electromechanical devices alleviate this burden by assisting a patient's limb advancement and supporting their body weight. However, they are less ideal for neuromuscular engagement when patients no longer need body weight support but continue to require assistance with limb advancement as they recover. The objective of this study was to determine the feasibility of using a hip flexion exosuit to aid paretic limb advancement during inpatient rehabilitation post-stroke. Methods: Fourteen individuals post-stroke received three to seven 1-hour walking sessions with the exosuit over one to two weeks in addition to standard care of inpatient rehabilitation. The exosuit assistance was either triggered by PTs or based on gait events detected by body-worn sensors. We evaluated clinical (distance, speed) and spatiotemporal (cadence, stride length, swing time symmetry) gait measures with and without exosuit assistance during 2-minute and 10-meter walk tests. Sessions were grouped by the assistance required from the PTs (limb advancement and balance support, balance support only, or none) without exosuit assistance. Results: PTs successfully operated the exosuit in 97% of sessions, of which 70% assistance timing was PT-triggered to accommodate atypical gait. Exosuit assistance eliminated the need for manual limb advancement from PTs. In sessions with participants requiring limb advancement and balance support, the average distance and cadence during 2-minute walk test increased with exosuit assistance by 2.2 ± 3.1 m and 3.4 ± 1.9 steps/min, respectively (p < 0.017). In sessions with participants requiring balance support only, the average speed during 10-meter walk test increased with exosuit by 0.07 ± 0.12 m/s (p = 0.042). Clinical and spatiotemporal measures of independent ambulators were similar with and without exosuit (p > 0.339). Conclusions: We incorporated a unilateral hip flexion exosuit into inpatient stroke rehabilitation in individuals with varying levels of impairments. The exosuit assistance removed the burden of manual limb advancement from the PTs and resulted in improved gait measures in some conditions. Future work will understand how to optimize controller and assistance profiles for this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The interferometric control of dissipation in a two-port system is a fruitful concept enabling the enhancement or cancellation of the input amplitudes as a function of their relative phases. Here, beyond the canonical configuration of Coherent Perfect Absorption (CPA), we apply this concept to two simultaneously excited strongly-coupled nanoscale electromechanical resonators submitted to independently controlled phase-shifted excitations. Both subsystems are read simultaneously by optical means allowing us to completely reconstruct the signature of coherent annihilation or amplification on both quadrature. We evidence that the mechanical modes amplitude can be enhanced or inhibited with respect to the case of single port excitation while phase experiences strong variations with the excitation imbalance and phase difference. Meanwhile, phase singularities with opposite topological charges are observed for mechanical normal modes. Close to the phase singularity, we demonstrate that the input of a weak phase modulation induces a large, pure phase modulation of the normal mode. These experimental demonstrations are fully modelled via the mechanical dynamical equations of our system. The interferometric control may open avenues for low-power amplitude controlled phase modulation schemes and vice-versa for potential switches and logical gates. Coherent perfect absorption allows to entirely dissipate the energy impinging on both single and multimode systems, but it typically does not allow for a control of the phase quadratures. Here, the authors implement coherent interferometric control of the phase quadratures in two strongly-coupled electromechanical nanoresonators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Today, there is a trend in world tractor manufacturing to use continuously variable transmissions instead of mechanical stepped transmissions. The most popular continuously variable transmissions are variator, hydraulic-mechanical and electromechanical. For wheeled tractors, of course, the most common transmission is the dual-flow hydraulic-mechanical continuously variable transmission. Today, there are such models of tractors with HMCVT on the world market as John Deere, Case IH, John Deere, Fendt, Massey Ferguson. Therefore, the objective of this paper is to analyse the response of dual-flow transmissions used on wheeled tractors in terms of efficiency and productivity, taking into account the circulating modes of operation. The implementation of the outlined objective is done through the use of basic mathematical equations, supported by the experimental identification of hydromechanical losses in the hydraulic branch of the transmission. When solving the set goal, the configuration of schematic solutions of the HMCVT structure with the placement of the planetary mechanism at the output of the dual-flow system was used. The result is a scientifically based analysis of the performance indicators of HMCVT according to efficiency and productivity criteria with different configurations of the schematic structure of the transmission. The practical significance of the work is to provide recommendations for changing the efficiency and productivity of the two-flow HMCVT by varying the circuit structure. A scientific novelty is the establishment of a relationship between the design parameters of dual-flow transmissions (the energy effect of the power variation in the mechanical branch) and their performance and efficiency criteria for different circuit configurations of the output planetary mechanism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Predictive maintenance (PdM) is the most suitable for production efficiency and cost reduction, aiming to perform maintenance actions when needed, avoiding unwanted failures and unnecessary preventive actions. The increasing use of 4.0 technologies in industries has allowed the adoption of recent advances in machine learning (ML) to develop an effective PdM strategy. Then again, production efficiency not only considers production volumes in terms of pieces or working hours, but also product quality (PQ), which is an important parameter to also detect possible defects in machines. In fact, PQ can be used as a parameter to predict possible failures and deeply affects manufacturing costs and reliability. In this context, this study aims to create a product performance-based maintenance framework through ML to determine the optimal PdM strategy based on the desired level of product quality and production performance. The framework is divided into three parts, starting from data collection, through the choice of the ML algorithm and model construction, and finally, the results analysis of the application to a real manufacturing process. The model has been tested within the production line of electromechanical components. The results show that the link between the variables representing the state of the machine and the qualitative parameters of the production process allows us to control maintenance actions based on scraps optimization, achieving an improvement in the reliability of the machine. Moreover, the application in the manufacturing process allows us to save about 50% of the costs for machine downtime and 64% of the costs for scraps. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presents a novel approach to conducting the electromechanical impedance (EMI) technique for delamination detection in composite structures without the need for permanently attaching PZT (Lead Zirconate Titanate) transducers to the surface. Instead, a device is created that can be simply placed on top of the composite structure, enabling one to perform the EMI technique for detecting damage. The primary objective is to investigate the effectiveness of this device in detecting delamination within composite materials. Additionally, this study explores the impact of placing additional weight on top of the transducer to investigate the performance of the device subjected to higher pressure. Experimental results and analysis will be presented to evaluate the feasibility and reliability of this approach for non-destructive testing and structural health monitoring of composite components. This research is significant as it lays the groundwork for developing automated damage detection systems using robotics in the near future. By demonstrating the proposed concept that can be easily integrated into robotic platforms, this study contributes to the advancement of automation in structural health monitoring. Implementing this technique in robotic systems has the potential to revolutionize maintenance practices by enabling continuous, real-time monitoring of composite structures, enhancing safety, and minimizing downtime due to structural defects. Moreover, the investigation into the impact of additional weight on the transducer's performance is crucial for setting minimum weight limits in robotic systems, ensuring optimal functionality and accuracy during automated damage detection tasks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the great opportunities created by the new advances in Industry 4.0, many manufacturers are testing and investing in new equipment and infrastructure to deploy these technologies. However, there are a huge number of small and medium-sized manufacturers (SMMs) that are lagging behind due to the lack of in-house R&D capabilities and workforce shortage and/or financial constraints to afford such investment. Additionally, application of theoretical production research in SMMs often confront challenges such as low data availability and data quality, etc. In this paper, we describe a case study at a local medium-sized manufacturer of electromechanical devices for industrial, consumer, and medical applications, who was struggling to meet ever-growing market demand, and apply a novel approach of production system modelling to overcome the challenge of unavailability of the operation up-and downtime data. Specifically, the parametric model of the production system is identified using several system performance metrics derived based on the parts flow data of the in-process buffer. With the mathematical model constructed, the system bottleneck is analysed anda number of improvement scenarios are explored that can potentially enhance the system throughput. Finally, model sensitivity is analysed by calculating the deviation of the model-predicted performance metrics to those produced by a reference nominal model. This analysis demonstrates that the model constructed using our proposed approach is robust even when the system parameters vary from the baseline ones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Design optimization of multilayer piezoelectric transducers is intended for efficient and practical usage of wideband transducers for fault diagnosis, biomedical, and underwater applications through adjusting layer thicknesses and volume fraction of piezoelectric material in each layer. In this context, we propose a parallel differential evolution (PDE) algorithm to mitigate the complexities of multivariate optimization as well as the computation time to achieve an optimized wideband transducer for the particular application. For lead magnesium niobate-lead titanate (PMN PT)- and PZT5h-based piezoelectric materials, the fitness function is formulated based on uniformity of mechanical pressure at the first three harmonics to achieve wide bandwidth in the required functional frequency range. It is carried out using a one-dimensional model (ODM), while input layer thicknesses and volume fractions of active material are evaluated using PDE. The simulation is performed on a parallel computing platform utilizing three different host machines to reduce computational time. Results of the proposed methodology for PDE are statistically represented in the form of minimum, maximum, mean, and standard deviation of fitness value, while graphically represented in terms of speedup and time. It can be observed that the execution time for parallel DE decreases with the increasing number of cores. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-performance piezoelectric materials are essential for diverse electromechanical devices, from actuators to sensors and transducers. Here, we synthesized Ce 2 O 3 -doped Pb(Mg 1/3 Nb 2/3)O 3 -0.29PbTiO 3 (x Ce-PMNT29) solid solutions via conventional solid-state methods. In the x = 2.5 % modified composition, we achieved a notable electrostrain-hysteresis trade-off, enhancing electrostrain (0.2 %), equivalent piezoelectric coefficient d 33 * (1701 pm V–1 at 3 kV cm–1), and reducing strain hysteresis to 8.1 %. Additionally , direct high-temperature piezoelectric characterizations revealed real-time variations in piezoelectric coefficient (d 33) and the actual depolarization temperature, with d 33 reaching 859 pC N−1 at 53 °C and planar electromechanical coupling coefficient (k p) exceeding 70 % within 30−85 °C. Leveraging x-ray diffraction (XRD) and piezoelectric force microscopy (PFM), we elucidated synergistic effects between complex nanodomains and local structural heterogeneity, enhancing piezoelectric activity. This study presents a promising approach for improving electromechanical performance and electrostrain in ferroelectrics, with significant potential for practical piezoelectric applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, most of the new buildings in China are high-energy buildings, and electromechanical system, as a construction project, occupies a large proportion of energy consumption, which is an important way to improve the green design of buildings. The components of electromechanical system are complex, which have dialectical relationship between performance indexes under the multi-objective optimization of low energy consumption and low cost. Aiming at the common problem of high energy consumption in China's new buildings, this paper comprehensively applied NSGA-Ⅱ method in genetic algorithm and building information technology (BIM), combined with Matlab, Revit, Ecotect and other computing tools. Seven indexes of electromechanical energy consumption have been analyzed for multi-objective optimization design, which namely ACE, REE, CE, HE, LE, BMS and EE The case study of Shandong Province hospital project is selected to reveal the high share of building building electromechanical system in energy consumption through the optimised energy saving effect, and at the same time, there is a huge space for energy saving optimisation. On the basis of BIM technology, genetic algorithm is used to find the optimal solution set of multi-factors of building electromechanical system, so as to provide data support for solving multi-objective and multi-variable problems in green building design. The main conclusions are as follows: (1) The NSGA-Ⅱ method is suitable for the energy consumption optimization calculation of electromechanical equipment in green building projects, and the efficiency and quality of index optimization analysis can be improved by quickly searching Pareto optimal solution set through multiple iterations, which provides an important reference for scheme optimization in the design stage; (2) Pareto optimal solution sets of seven indexes of electromechanical energy consumption are obtained. The highest variation rates are CE(3.23%) and HE(2.67%), and the lowest variation rate is BMS(0.16%). (3) Through optimization simulation calculation, it is found that ACE, REE, HE and LE have a large contribution to reducing the overall energy consumption, while CE, BMS and EE have certain fluctuations before and after optimization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lead-free Bi0.5Na0.5TiO3-based ceramics show great promise for achieving high unipolar strain. However, it remains challenging to implement an effective strategy for microstructural designs with high electromechanical response. Herein, a direct composition-engineering method based on A/B-sites doping is adopted to introduce a synergistic effect of reduced oxygen vacancies, lattice distortion, ferroelectric-to-relaxor phase transition, and nano-sized domains, resulting in a high piezoelectric strain coefficient d*33 of 857 pm/V at a small electric field of 4 kV/mm. Furthermore, a large room-temperature maximum polarization (Pm) of 72.4 μC/cm2 was observed at high electric field. A phase transition from coexisting rhombohedral–tetragonal to pseudocubic was engineered by finely tuning the contents of NaTaO3, leading to a decrease in both remnant polarization (Pr) and coercive field (Ec). The phase diagram of 1-x[0.935(Bi0.5Na0.5TiO3)-0.065(BaTi0.99Nb0.01O3)]-x(NaTaO3) (x = 0–0.04) is proposed, providing a roadmap for engineering high-performance piezoelectric ceramics with enhanced electrostrain responses, which may find potential applications as piezoelectric actuators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The research purpose is to diagnose the market for beeswax quality analyses in Poland and to develop assumptions for the business model for the commercialization of the WAXO beeswax quality analyzer. Design/methodology/approach: The market analysis was conducted using Computer Assisted Self Interviewing (CASI). The study was conducted among randomly selected 124 respondents in beekeeping throughout the country. Most answered questions on behalf of beekeeping groups or associations, indicating how many members they had. Based on these data, it was determined that the interview results were representative of 2226 respondents. Assumptions for the business model were developed using the Business Model Canvas methodology about: customer segmentation, value proposition, channels, customer relationships, revenue structure, key activities, key resources, key partners, cost structure. Findings: A business model was developed based on which the commercialization of the WAXO device should be carried out. Practical implications: The conducted research allowed for the formulation of conclusions along with the presentation of operational initiatives necessary to introduce the device to the market and further commercialize it. Social implications: The invention of a beeswax quality analyzer protects bee colonies and the natural environment by changing the awareness of the beekeeping community and taking steps to change the applicable legislation. The presented recommendations support the university authorities in making decisions regarding the commercialization strategy of WAXO and the selection of operational solutions necessary to introduce it to the market, production, sales, and customer service. Originality/value: The subject of the invention is a portable electromechanical device allowing the analysis of beeswax for the presence of added impurities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Marine diesel engines are the preferred power equipment for ships and are the most important component among the numerous electromechanical devices on board. Accidents involving these engines can potentially cause immeasurable damage to the vessel, making fault detection in marine diesel engines crucial. This design enables the detection and reporting of faults in marine diesel engines at the earliest possible time through the computation of convolutional neural networks, which is of great significance for ensuring the safe navigation of ships. For this functionality, the Xilinx ZYNQ-7000 XC7Z010 is selected as the main control chip, and the LoRa wireless network is used as the transmission module. The FreeRTOS embedded operating system is ported, with sensor data collection completed on the PS side of the ZYNQ chip and algorithm acceleration calculations on the PL side. Data are then transmitted to the host computer via the LoRa module paired with a custom protocol. Experimental test results show that the program provides stable data transmission, with each module of the algorithm generally accelerating by more than 95% and an accuracy rate of 92.86%. Additionally, the host computer can display the received data in real time. The custom protocol's header also allows for precise judgments about the completeness and origin of messages, facilitating the expansion of other SOC's message uplink and the host computer's message downlink. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The motors are critical components of the electromechanical transmission in vehicles, and its operating status directly affects the maneuverability of vehicles. To quickly and accurately identify the operating status of motors, this paper proposes a new entropy - Composite Multi-scale Weighted Reverse Slope Entropy (CMWRSlE) for motor fault diagnosis, which is a more interpretable entropy due to its deep exploration of signals. Firstly, the composite multi-scale weighted reverse slope entropy values are extracted from the vibration signals of the motor in different states; Secondly, the extracted features are dimensionally reduced by the manifold learning algorithm - Neighbourhood Preserving Embedding (NPE) and classified by the hierarchical prototype-based approach (HPA) to achieve the fault diagnosis of the motor. Finally, the method proposed in this paper is validated through two sets of experimental data: motor rotor faults and motor bearing faults. The results show that the accuracy of the proposed method in motor fault diagnosis reaches 100 %, which indicates the effectiveness of the proposed method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the design, modeling, and characterizing tests of an assembled freely pendulum-type active tuned mass damper (AP-ATMD) for structural vibration control, highlighting its unique features such as noncontact force transmission, nonextra stiffness, and damping members. This device can operate passively as a tuned mass damper (TMD) with optimal tuning when environmental disturbances are minimal, or it can engage efficiently in active control when significant disturbances are present. The AP-ATMD mainly consists of a robust suspension system, an arc-shaped mass block with permanent magnets (PMs), and an arc-shaped electromagnetic motor. Notably, both the electromagnetic motor and the mass block have identical curvatures. A laboratory prototype of the AP-ATMD was designed and fabricated for the purpose of characterizing tests. Furthermore, an electromechanical model based on the Bouc–Wen hysteresis loop was developed to accurately characterize the active force behavior generated by the device. The parameters of this model were identified through a series of characterizing tests of the prototype AP-ATMD under harmonic excitations, and subsequently were validated under random excitation. The results confirmed the efficacy of the proposed electromechanical model in precisely capturing the active force behavior across a wide array of operational conditions. Finally, a numerical simulation of a 3-story frame with the AP-ATMD installed was conducted. The outcomes of the simulation highlighted the AP-ATMD's ability to reduce structural responses significantly. Moreover, the system employing the proposed electromechanical model outperformed a linear model, demonstrating a superior reduction in structural response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We numerically and experimentally developed a cantilever that provided both fast and analog actuation for THz metamaterials (MMs) by properly geometrizing a dimpled tip. Owing to its small size and light mass, the cantilever had a high mechanical resonance at 705 kHz. Cantilever arrays were fabricated with different tip gaps and integrated into a ladder-shaped MM (LS-MM). By changing the tip gap from 0.80 to 0.32 μm, the resonance of the transmittance spectrum changed from 1.235 to 0.795 THz, indicating that the reconfigurable LS-MM was capable of continuously tuning the resonance of the THz wave transmission with the tip gap. Additionally, the dimple served as an anti-stiction structure, providing the cantilever with a fabrication yield of 99.8%. This work shows a practical pathway to high-performance active metamaterials, which holds potential in advanced THz technologies such as 6G communications and fast imaging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The work examines the main technical indicators of electromechanical converters callers with levitation elements, a generalized design method has been developed tions, as well as design diagrams and functional dependencies of the main varieties of electromechanical devices with elements of levitation. Analytical expressions for the levitation coefficient as a function of the dimensions of the magnetic core and coefficient factor of force multiplicity, technical characteristics of levitation material element, set superheat temperature. A mathematical model has been compiled for based on the parameters of the current mode and forces from the equations of electrical, magnetic, mechanical and thermal circuits of the magnetic system. As a result, the main dimensions of the magnetic system and dimensionless quantities. Analytic expressions for the main dimensions, the specified values of the winding overheating temperature are taken into account, input and output parameters, the condition of uniformity of the magnetic field in the working air nom gap. The optimal values of the dimensions of the magnetic circuit, active resistors have been determined winding voltages are minimal, resulting in minimization of losses active capacities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The performance of the flap actuation system directly affects the control effect and the flight quality of an aircraft. The electromechanical actuator (EMA) and the linkage mechanism are important components of the system. In order to achieve the goals of good transmission accuracy and dynamic response, the influence of nonlinear properties in the transmission chain including the EMA and linkage mechanism should be considered. A co-simulation model at the system-level of the flap actuation system was developed, which takes nonlinear factors of the EMA, the impact dynamics of the linkage mechanism with joint clearance and the rigid–flexible coupling characteristics into account. Moreover, the experiments with different command frequencies and loads were performed. The simulation and experimental results were compared to verify the effectiveness of the co-simulation model. Finally, the effects of nonlinear properties including the contact stiffness and clearance of a planetary roller screw mechanism, EMA anchorage stiffness, number of clearance joints, flexibility and load are discussed. This work can contribute to analyzing the performance of an electromechanical multibody system with nonlinear characteristics, which has crucial academic meaning and engineering application values for the development of systems with high speed, good reliability and long life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bulk metallic glasses (BMGs) are growing in popularity prominently due to their potential in micro-electromechanical systems (MEMSs) and aerospace applications. BMGs have unique mechanical properties, i.e., high strength, hardness, modulus of elasticity, and wear resistance, due to their disordered atomic structure. Due to their unique mechanical properties and amorphous structures, machining of BMGs remains a challenge. This paper aims to carry out a detailed literature review on various aspects of the machining of bulk metallic glasses using both conventional and non-conventional processes, including experimental approaches, modeling, statistical findings, challenges, and guidelines for machining this difficult-to-machine material. Conventional machining processes were found to be challenging for machining bulk metallic glasses due to their high hardness, brittleness, and tendency to convert their amorphous structure into a crystalline structure, especially at the machined surface and sub-surface. Although their high electrical conductivity makes them suitable for machining by non-conventional processes, they impose new challenges such as heat-affected zones and crystallization. Therefore, the successful machining of BMGs requires more in-depth analysis of cutting forces, tool wear, burr formation, surface finish, recast layers or heat-affected zones, crystallization, and mechanical property changes among different varieties of BMGs. This review paper provides guidelines emerging from in-depth analysis of previous studies, as well as offering directions for future research in the machining of BMGs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Electric Machines & Control / Dianji Yu Kongzhi Xuebao is the property of Electric Machines & Control 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.)

Asymmetric mechanical transducers have important applications in energy harvesting, signal transmission, and micro-mechanics. To achieve asymmetric transformation of mechanical motion or energy, active robotic metamaterials, as well as materials with asymmetric microstructures or internal orientation, are usually employed. However, these strategies usually require continuous energy supplement and laborious fabrication, and limited transformation modes are achieved. Herein, utilizing wettability patterned surfaces for precise control of the droplet contact line and inner flow, we demonstrate a droplet-based mechanical transducer system, and achieve multimodal responses to specific vibrations. By virtue of the synergistic effect of surface tension and solid-liquid adhesion on the liquid dynamics, the droplet on the patterned substrate can exhibit symmetric/asymmetric vibration transformation when the substrate vibrates horizontally. Based on this, we construct arrayed patterns with distinct arrangements on the substrate, and employ the swarm effect of the arrayed droplets to achieve three-dimensional and multimodal actuation of the target plate under a fixed input vibration. Further, we demonstrate the utilization of the mechanical transducers for vibration management, object transport, and laser modulation. These findings provide a simple yet efficient strategy to realize a multimodal mechanical transducer, which shows significant potential for aseismic design, optical molding, as well as micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS). Asymmetric mechanical transducers are pivotal in various applications; however, conventional methods demand continuous energy and intricate fabrication. Here, the authors demonstrate a droplet-based mechanical transducer utilizing wettability-patterned surfaces, enabling precise control of droplet dynamics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Piezoelectric materials have become a key component in sensors and actuators in many industrial fields, such as energy harvesting devices, self-powered structures, biomedical devices, nondestructive testing, owing to the novel properties including high piezoelectric coefficient and electromechanical coupling factors. Piezoelectric thin films integrated on silicon substrates are widely investigated for their high performance and low manufacturing costs to meet the requirement of sensor networks in internet of things (IoT). The aim of this work is to clarify the application and design structure of various piezoelectric thin films types, synthesis methods, and device processes. Based on latest literature, the process of fabricating thin film sensors is outlined, followed by a concise overview of techniques used in microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) processing that can integrate more complex functions to obtain relevant information in surrounding environment. Additionally, by addressing piezoelectric thin films sensors as a cutting-edge technology with the ability to produce self-powered electronic devices, this work delivers incisive conclusions on all aspects of piezoelectric sensor related features. A greater understanding of piezoelectricity is necessary regarding the future development and industry challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Existing studies on wrinkling, an instability phenomenon commonly observed on electro-active polymers (EAP), have largely ignored the unequal-biaxial taut states, focusing instead on the equal-biaxial deformations of such a material class. EAP-based soft actuators, primarily used in soft robotics, frequently exhibit a variety of instabilities, which may adversely affect their functioning and trigger device failure. Conversely, wrinkles can be utilized proactively in specific applications that necessitate an intentional transformation in surface morphology along with functional particle reinforcement on EAP composites. The dielectric elastomer is a promising EAP material class for the same, often filled with functional particles to improve its electromechanical performance. This paper theoretically develops a continuum physics-based unequal-biaxial deformation model incorporating the classical tension field theory to predict the thresholds on the taut domains in the plane of principal stretches. The model solution ties an unanswered ideal remark on the deviations of taut states with the biaxiality ratio of unequal-biaxially deformed wrinkle appearance in EAP composites. The proposed model solution may aid in designing next-generation soft robotic systems by offering guidelines for the wrinkling control of EAP composites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of sand and dust pollution on the sensitive structures of flow sensors in microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) is a hot issue in current MEMS reliability research. However, previous studies on sand and dust contamination have only searched for sensor accuracy degradation due to heat conduction in sand and dust cover and have yet to search for other failure-inducing factors. This paper aims to discover the other inducing factors for the accuracy failure of MEMS flow sensors under sand and dust pollution by using a combined model simulation and sample test method. The accuracy of a flow sensor is mainly reflected by the size of its thermistor, so in this study, the output value of the thermistor value was chosen as an electrical characterization parameter to verify the change in the sensor's accuracy side by side. The results show that after excluding the influence of heat conduction, when sand particles fall on the device, the mutual friction between the sand particles will produce an electrostatic current; through the principle of electrostatic dissipation into the thermistor, the principle of measurement leads to the resistance value becoming smaller, and when the sand dust is stationary for some time, the resistance value returns to the expected level. This finding provides theoretical guidance for finding failure-inducing factors in MEMS failure modes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction. High-speed linear pulse electromechanical converters (LPEC) provide acceleration of the executive element in a short active section to high speed with significant displacement, while power-purpose LPECs create powerful power impulses of the executive element on the object of influence with minor movements. One of the areas of improvement of LPEC is the creation of multi-armature structures. Methodology. To analyze the electromechanical characteristics and indicators of LPEC, a mathematical model was used, which takes into account the interconnected electrical, magnetic, mechanical and thermal processes that occur when connected to a pulse energy source with a capacitive energy storage. The main results of the calculations were performed in the COMSOL Multiphysics software environment and confirmed by experimental studies in laboratory conditions. Results. The features of the electromechanical processes of multi-armature LPECs are established and their indicators are determined. With the help of efficiency criteria, which take into account electrical, power, speed and magnetic indicators in a relative form with different options for their evaluation strategy, it was established that multi-armature LPECs for power purposes have increased efficiency, and for high-speed LPECs the use of multiarmature configurations is impractical. The conducted experimental studies confirm the reliability of the calculated results. Originality. It has been established that almost all multi-armature LPECs for power purposes have higher efficiency compared to a converter with one armature, and for high-speed LPECs it is advisable to use traditional LPECs with one armature. Practical value. On the basis of multi-armature LPECs, models of an electromagnetic UAV catapult, a magnetic pulse press for ceramic powder materials, an electromechanical device for dumping ice and snow deposits from a power line wire, a device for destroying information on a solid-state digital SSD drive have been developed and tested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, flexible electromechanical devices (EMDs) emerged as alternatives to rigid electronics, promoting polymeric materials over traditional semiconductors. This study develops EMDs using conductive nanofibrous membranes of thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), polyaniline (PANI), and multi‐walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) in various structures. The fabrication technique included the combination of electrospinning and in situ polymerization to create random and aligned conductive membranes. Morphological, mechanical, thermomechanical, and electrical characterizations were conducted to assess their potential in EMDs applications. Mechanical testing revealed that, in comparison to aligned pure TPU mats, aligned TPU/PANI and TPU/MWCNTs/PANI membranes exhibited maximum strains of 26% and 19%, respectively. Meanwhile, randomly oriented mats, TPU/PANI and TPU/MWCNTs/PANI demonstrated maximum strains of 18% and 27%, respectively. Moreover, incorporating PANI and/or MWCNTs increased the Young's modulus. Thermogravimetric analysis showed thermal stability up to 250°C for all mats, with TPU/PANI mats demonstrating superior stability. Dynamic mechanical analysis revealed that PANI incorporation increased the storage modulus from 119 and 180 MPa to 2012 and 1367 MPa for aligned and random mats, respectively, compared with pure TPU mats. The combination of MWCNTs and PANI yielded moduli of 1501 and 1096 MPa, respectively. All conductive mats exhibited symmetric ohmic behavior, with conductivities varying based on orientation and composition. Specifically, TPU/PANI and TPU/MWCNTs/PANI mats exhibited conductivities of 0.83 and 1.78 S/cm for aligned mats, and 0.35 and 0.67 S/cm for random mats, respectively. Pure TPU, on the other hand, displayed a conductivity of 1.8 × 10−10 S/cm, indicating a significantly lower conductivity compared with the other mats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Piezoelectric energy harvester (PEH) is being world widely studied by many researchers due to their excellent advantages over batteries. Therefore, how to improve the capability of energy harvesting has become a hot research topic. In this study, based on the theory that the electromechanical coupling coefficient is proportional to the difference of mode shape slopes at the two ends of a piezoelectric sheet made of macro fiber composite, a modified cantilever structure consisting of two segments is proposed. The piezoelectric sheet is affixed on the segment close to the fixed end, while the segment containing the free end is rotated by 90° along its axial direction. The mode shape of the cantilever structure is calculated based on the Euler-Bernoulli beam theory. Prototypes of the conventional and modified PEHs are fabricated and tested. Compared to the conventional one, the experimental result of the modified PEH demonstrates that the electromechanical coupling coefficient is enhanced by 600%, and the output power is increased by more than 300%. The proposed PEH is simple, highly efficient, and easy-realized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the rapid advancement of modern technology, flexible and wearable electronics, particularly electromechanical sensors, have gained considerable attention for motion‐based applications in medical health monitoring and artificial intelligence. Correspondingly, extensive efforts have been dedicated to enhancing their performance and practicality. Electromechanical sensors based on functional composites and structures accurately detect and monitor the body, generating the corresponding output signals. However, there are several limitations in manufacturing composite sensors, such as the selection and combination of functional materials, geometrical structures, constructed conductive pathways, stability of output signals, and operational lifetime. Thus, this review summarizes notable trends in the electromechanical sensors using functional composites and structures. This also provides an overview of different types of electromechanical pressure and strain sensors, exploring their operational mechanisms regarding triboelectricity, piezoelectricity, piezocapacitance, and piezoresistivity. The unique characteristics of functional materials, including conductive polymers, nanostructured metals, and carbon nanomaterials and composites, are analyzed alongside various design concepts for highly flexible and stretchable sensors. Furthermore, potential applications concerning human motion and human–machine interfaces are also recommended. Additionally, several future outlooks are reviewed for insights into future prospects and strategies. Thus, this review can assist readers in understanding current electromechanical devices more accurately. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

At present, a big challenge exists yet in the piezoelectric ceramic material that high piezoelectric performance and low losses (large Q m and low tan δ) are difficult to achieve concurrently due to the effects of domain switching and domain wall motion on electromechanical properties. In this work, by introducing secondary-phase particles (SnO 2 particles) into the hard PZT matrix, we successfully build local stress fields in the ceramic. These local stress fields not only pin the domain and domain wall but also diminish the domain size and increase the domain wall density. The former is in favor of reducing the losses, while the latter is beneficial to promoting the piezoelectric properties. Thus, the optimized piezoelectric properties and losses in the ceramic can be obtained simultaneously. The results show that in the PZT/0.3 wt %SnO 2 composite, the mechanical quality factor reaches 2800 and the dielectric loss is only 0.4 %, which are superior to the hard PZT matrix. Meanwhile, the composite ceramic has a high piezoelectric constant of 390 pC/N. These excellent properties will push the development of next-generation high-power electromechanical devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, the free vibration of a functionally graded Euler–Bernoulli beam with a tip nanoparticle and a nonlinear/linear spring constraint is presented for the first time using strain gradient theory. It is assumed that there is a nonlinear/linear spring and a nanoparticle at one end of the beam while the other is clamped. The influence of different parameters, such as the material length scale parameter, the mass of the nanoparticle, and the nonlinear/linear spring constant on the natural frequencies, is discussed in detail. The presented benchmark tables can be used as an excellent database to verify approximate or analytical solutions in future works. The presented results can be useful for those designing micro/nano electromechanical devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rising number of devices created using pop‐up microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) and related folding‐based assembly techniques highlights the need for robust design and manufacturing workflows to support the wide range of device variations. To push the bounds of miniaturization, design for manufacturing is key in dealing with fabrication challenges. Iterative building of intermediate device prototypes is a promising way to explore an often very large design space and can highlight mechanical limitations that may not be obvious to the designer. Manufacturing of pop‐up MEMS devices is, however, typically a lengthy process with lamination taking a significant percentage of the build time, compared to layer machining and component assembly. To expedite the design process, researchers often prototype multiple iterations at larger scales prior to committing to at‐scale designs. In this study, an at‐scale rapid prototyping workflow for pop‐up MEMS devices is introduced. This study also includes flexure design considerations for castellated hinges, to approach the behavior of an ideal pin joint. The new proposed workflow uses more accessible lower‐cost equipment and materials and reduces lamination time by over 95% (10 min lamination vs a 3.5 h lamination) compared to the previous heated press process, which is validated through a series of prototypes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microacoustic wave devices are essential components in the radio frequency (RF) electronics and microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) industry with increasing impact in various sensing and actuation applications. Reliable and smart operation of acoustic wave devices at low costs will cause a crucial advancement. Herein, this study presents the enablement of temperature and mechanical sensing capabilities in a Rayleigh‐mode standing surface acoustic wave (sSAW) chip device by harnessing an acoustic shear‐thickness dominant wave (SD) using the same set of electrodes. Most importantly, this mode is excited by switching the polarity of the sSAW transducer electrodes by simple electronics, allowing for direct and inexpensive compatibility with an existing setup. The method in the emergent topic of surface de‐icing is validated by continuously monitoring temperature and liquid–solid water phase changes using the SD mode, and on‐demand Rayleigh‐wave deicing with a negligible energy cost. The flexibility for adapting the system to different scenarios, and loads and the potential for scalability opens the path to impact in lab‐on‐a‐chip, internet of things (IoT) technology, and sectors requiring autonomous acoustic wave actuators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The exoskeleton robot is a wearable electromechanical device inspired by animal exoskeletons. It combines technologies such as sensing, control, information, and mobile computing, enhancing human physical abilities and assisting in rehabilitation training. In recent years, with the development of visual sensors and deep learning, the environmental perception of exoskeletons has drawn widespread attention in the industry. Environmental perception can provide exoskeletons with a certain level of autonomous perception and decision-making ability, enhance their stability and safety in complex environments, and improve the human–machine–environment interaction loop. This paper provides a review of environmental perception and its related technologies of lower-limb exoskeleton robots. First, we briefly introduce the visual sensors and control system. Second, we analyze and summarize the key technologies of environmental perception, including related datasets, detection of critical terrains, and environment-oriented adaptive gait planning. Finally, we analyze the current factors limiting the development of exoskeleton environmental perception and propose future directions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Electrical epilation of unwanted hair is a widely used hair removal method, but it is largely unknown how this affects the biology of human hair follicles (HF) and perifollicular skin. Here, we have begun to explore how mechanical epilation changes selected key biological read‐out parameters ex vivo within and around the pilosebaceous unit. Methods: Human full‐thickness scalp skin samples were epilated ex vivo using an electro‐mechanical device, organ‐cultured for up to 6 days in serum‐free, supplemented medium, and assessed at different time points by quantitative (immuno‐)histomorphometry for selected relevant read‐out parameters in epilated and sham‐epilated control samples. Results: Epilation removed most of the hair shafts, often together with fragments of the outer and inner root sheath and hair matrix. This was associated with persistent focal thinning of the HF basal membrane, decreased melanin content of the residual HF epithelium, and increased HF keratinocyte apoptosis, including in the bulge, yet without affecting the number of cytokeratin 15+ HF epithelial stem cells. Sebocyte apoptosis in the peripheral zone was increased, albeit without visibly altering sebum production. Epilation transiently perturbed HF immune privilege, and increased the expression of ICAM‐1 in the bulge and bulb mesenchyme, and the number of perifollicular MHC class II+ cells as well as mast cells around the distal epithelium and promoted mast cell degranulation around the suprabulbar and bulbar area. Moreover, compared to controls, several key players of neurogenic skin inflammation, itch, and/or thermosensation (TRPV1, TRPA1, NGF, and NKR1) were differentially expressed in post‐epilation skin. Conclusion: These data generated in denervated, organ‐cultured human scalp skin demonstrate that epilation‐induced mechanical HF trauma elicits surprisingly complex biological responses. These may contribute to the delayed re‐growth of thinner and lighter hair shafts post‐epilation and temporary post‐epilation discomfort. Our findings also provide pointers regarding the development of topically applicable agents that minimize undesirable sequelae of epilation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates a new external fixator system for treating finger contractures. This innovative system is electric and user-friendly, providing precise readings of the angles of diseased finger joints. Accurate measurements of the angles of the diseased finger joints can assist therapists and patients during rehabilitation procedures. The fixator consists of ten parts assembled using polyether-ether-ketone (PEEK) for the plastic components and stainless steel for the metal components. The design model was engineered, drawn, and analyzed using SolidWorks Computer-Aided Design software. The verification process utilizes finite element analysis to demonstrate that the maximum stress was lower than the yield strength of the chosen materials. As a result, the new device design is robust and stable enough to withstand the anticipated loading conditions of human fingers. Subsequently, a prototype was fabricated using advanced additive manufacturing technology, specifically fused deposition modeling (FDM). The proposed fixator is simple to control, reliable, easy to use, and reproducible. It enables device users to exercise their finger joints throughout the day without requiring the assistance of specialists. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Przegląd Elektrotechniczny is the property of Przeglad Elektrotechniczny 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.)

Copyright of Przegląd Elektrotechniczny is the property of Przeglad Elektrotechniczny 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.)