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Assistive technology plays an important role in rehabilitation. Body-powered tools rely on manual movement of the artificial limb while externally powered machines use actuators to induce mobility and return function. Alternatively, some devices incorporate both systems. In the case of below-the-wrist amputation, availability of such prosthetics is quite limited according to the literature. Our aim was to establish an alternative design for a partial hand prosthetic with both body and external power. A mixed actuation system was conceived. To generate the grasping force required to impel the transitional partial hand prosthetic, three DC motors were used. As a result, a grasping force of 2.8 kgf was possible to achieve at a 600 mA drawn current at 6 V. Furthermore, a locking system and a pretension system were included to enhance device handling. The resulting device came at a calculated cost of 260 euros. The proposed design provides a solution for patients with below the wrist partial hand amputation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drones, currently employed in various sectors such as the military, agriculture, mapping, and transportation, function as aerial vehicles. This paper highlights contributions related to the construction of a drone with composite structures, utilizing epoxy resin reinforced with carbon fiber. The focus is on designing and practically implementing key structural components, including the main body that supports electronic parts, carbon tube arms, the drone head, and landing bracket. Geometric design is carried out using Inventor 2023 software. Practical aspects encompass the technology employed for crafting drone body elements and details about the materials used. The drone's design undergoes iterative improvements to produce an advanced prototype with superior capabilities compared to existing models. Additive printing is performed using an Anycubic Vyper printer. To ascertain the quality of the new material, tensile and bending tests are conducted to validate the integrity of the composite structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prosthetic devices play an important role in rehabilitation of people with limb reduction. Although their functionality is getting closer to their human counterpart, there are some aspects regarding visual appeal that need more development. Our objective was to study human -- robot interaction and conclude a set of measures to aid in the design of prosthetics. Consequently, the design decisions must include a visual appeal aspect. We employed the method of conducting several surveys to find if there is a dependence between prosthetic device materials and visual appeal. The uncanny valley effect was also studied. We developed a methodology that can be used and further developed for design improvement towards considering the human factors in the process of design of prosthetic limbs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, an analysis of the behavior of the vertebra during the use of KP and SJ was carried out to understand the kinematics of the movement of the fragments of the vertebra during action and the forces generated in the use of the two methods. For this analysis, the results published by various authors were used. Only the principle of the mechanical actuation of the vertebra fragments was analyzed, without addressing other aspects such as the method of cement introduction, the type of cement used, PMMA hardening times, the duration of the operation, the patient's recovery time, etc. In addition to the analysis, the authors propose a device that eliminates the inconveniences observed in the two analyzed devices and promises to significantly improve the restoration of the vertebra's height and, consequently, the patient's symptoms. The observations show that the type of mechanism articulated at one end has both robustness and greater efficiency in this type of actuation. It is further shown that from this category, the mechanism with two arms (Two-Arm Device) proposed by the authors is superior to the existing ones in terms of robustness and efficiency. The perspectives of TAD are represented by the improvement of the vertebral statics and, consequently, the symptoms of the patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the study is the development of a VTOL (Vertical Takeoff and Landing) bicopter, utilizing Autodesk Inventor and Ultimaker Cura software. Design models were inspired by the V22- Osprey and Samson SA-2 from the Avatar movie. Composite materials (carbon fiber and PLA for 3D printing) were chosen due to their high-performance capabilities, as aerospace technology is in an ongoing development and evolution. The construction of the bicopter employed the FAAT method, and for control, the MATEK F411-WSE was utilized to process data from sensors, with specific firmware and the BetaFLIGHT interface for optimizing drone performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the process of modernization, several new buildings are being constructed, necessitating the demolition of old structures to make room for them. However, with the increasing number of demolished buildings, there is a significant amount of waste generated, leading to considerable pollution. Environmental concerns have escalated due to the depletion of natural resources and the rapid deterioration of water, air, and soil quality. Consequently, a Community environmental policy has been established with the objective of preserving, protecting, and improving the quality of the environment while safeguarding human health. The protection of the environment is crucial for both present and future generations. In light of these considerations, this paper addresses the need to identify demolition technologies that meet the European Union's requirements for environmental protection and sustainable development, among the most commonly employed methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the process of modernization, several new buildings are being constructed, necessitating the demolition of old structures to make room for them. However, with the increasing number of demolished buildings, there is a significant amount of waste generated, leading to considerable pollution. Environmental concerns have escalated due to the depletion of natural resources and the rapid deterioration of water, air, and soil quality. Consequently, a Community environmental policy has been established with the objective of preserving, protecting, and improving the quality of the environment while safeguarding human health. The protection of the environment is crucial for both present and future generations. In light of these considerations, this paper addresses the need to identify demolition technologies that meet the European Union's requirements for environmental protection and sustainable development, among the most commonly employed methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines ROVER-type systems, aimed at transporting human crew for research on other planets, and the development of such a prototype using additive manufacturing technologies. A classification of these technologies is presented. The main aim of the paper is to develop a prototype of the ROVER system at scale, to highlight its main features, and to use this type of additive manufacturing technology during its life cycle, thus benefiting from the realization of parts, sub-assemblies and assemblies. Several conclusions distinguish the main points of the paper and future objectives of the study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a study on the design, fabrication, and performance evaluation of a quadcopter with toroidal propellers manufactured using 3D printing technology. The quadcopter's propellers were designed to have a toroidal shape, which is believed to improve the aerodynamic efficiency of the propellers compared to conventional propellers. To evaluate the performance of the quadcopter, finite element analysis (FEA) was used to simulate the propeller's behavior under different load conditions. In addition, thrust analysis was performed using ANSYS Fluent software to evaluate the thrust produced by the toroidal propeller compared to conventional propeller. These results provide insight into the potential benefits of toroidal propellers and 3D printing technology for the design and development of efficient quadcopters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main goal of a lower limb prosthesis is to fulfill the functions of the missing limb such as structure and aesthetics. Among all the lower limb prostheses, the one of hip disarticulation represents a great challenge due to problems of making and accommodating the patient using it. After trying to make a classic hip disarticulation prosthesis, it is noticeable how difficult it is to use. This paper aims to create a new optimized and improved hip disarticulation prosthesis focusing on the socket but also on functionalities and on its design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wind turbines and green energy is of high interest nowadays and the size of the powerplants keeps getting bigger and bigger. The forces that arise as the blades increase in size have the magnitude to deform the profiles. This paper proposes a new design of a support system mean to strengthen the wind turbine blade and make it operable at higher wind speeds and withstand higher force concentrations.

Any undertaking starts from a need, regardless of what that need represents for the one taking the first step on a new, or different path. By bridging existing and emerging technologies we can set throughout adequate monitoring and precise control a current that would allow any type of system to have a better flow of information or materials.

The aim of this paper is to design a passenger train storage system. It concerns with the idea of safe storage in public transportation. The design consists of developing a new type of storage system complying with the standards of the European Union (EU) that can improve the railroad transportation system.

SORGING is a non-profit, non-governmental society, opened to all professionals interested in Engineering Graphics and Design. It aims to promote the research, development and innovation activities, together with the dissemination of best practices and assistance for educational purposes. In this paper the research and educational activities of the Romanian Society for Engineering Graphics will be briefly reviewed.

A vertebral compression fracture is a compression of a vertebra, which occurs in the anterior portion of the vertebral body. In the treatment of compression-induced spinal fractures, there are two main directions of treatment: conservative treatment (bed rest, pharmacological treatment, orthosis) and minimally invasive surgical treatment - vertebroplasty, kyphoplasty, combined technology (uses implant and cement in the treatment method). Recently, coupled with technological advancements, the combined technology has become increasingly attractive to manufacturers of implantable medical devices. This article presents the combined technologies for minimally invasive surgical treatment that are currently available. Some of them have already been used to treat compression-induced spinal fractures for nearly a decade, sometimes being regarded as a reference for new medical devices entering the market. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents some elements and principles commonly used in web design. It’s addressed to anyone with an interest in developing their skills as a visual communicator, anyone who wants to learn the basics of graphical design, so they can develop their artistic skills and make more powerful and effective web sites.

Surface characterization means splitting the surface geometry into basic components based usually on some functional requirement. These components can have different shapes, scales of size, distribution in space and can be constrained by multiple boundaries in height and position. The measurement can influence the importance of a parameter or feature. This paper presents the main features that need to be considered when a surface is analyzed, especially the roughness and the waviness.

This article discusses the relation between the concept of symmetry and its applications in engineering. "Symmetry" is interpreted in a broad sense as repeated, coplanar shape fragments. An analysis of symmetry, which justifies its applications in engineering is given and discussed. After a brief explication of group theory and symmetry types, we show that there are industrial workpieces where symmetry is omnipresent. The analysis of symmetry can also be utilized for future research concerns the combining symmetry information with other functional characteristic of digital 3D design.

This paper presents a model for geometrical specification and verification with respect to the new Geometrical Product Specification ISO concept. The is aimed to expressing the fundamental concepts on which the geometrical specification of workpiece can be based

The importance of being able to describe piece geometry in a clear and unequivocal way has been clearly realized for the designers. This paper presents concepts and procedures relating to Constraint Geometry, the core of CAD software.

Universities are now in a time of great changes. The environment in which they operate has fundamentally changed. Given the growing request for information, the offerers number increased as well. The university isn’t the only high class knowledge provider any more. Great companies offer their knowledge on the market. Virtual universities can compete on any local market, which until yesterday was under the leadership of only one university in the area. The competition on the knowledge market will get even rougher.

In this paper we discuss the process of geometric modelling of a prosthetic finger using programming techniques. Along the design process OpenSCAD is used to model a prosthetic, one degree of freedom finger. As this is a prosthetic device, the ease of customization is taken into consideration. The type of prosthetic considered is a tendon design with flexible and rigid lines. First, we discuss the medical considerations that are needed to develop the model. Second, we discuss the assembly and function of the generated shape. The result is a downloadable geometric model of the finger assembly and the methodology used to generate the design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Museum showcases are systems that ensure the protection of artifacts, sometimes of inestimable value. When the museum showcase is subject to significant environmental fluctuations, it can have disastrous consequences for works of art. Using simple electronic components, easy-to-use measuring equipment was developed to collect data on relative humidity and temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The golf ball is a very interesting aerodynamic device. As a sphere, the coefficient of drag should be about 0.48. However, because of the surface of the golf ball, the drag coefficient can be much lower, up to 12%. This paper explores the multitude of ways, designs and concepts that create such a lower drag coefficient, through computational fluid dynamics analysis, and using those findings how to use them when designing new parts to increase the efficiency and reliability of the device that uses said parts while increasing the quality of life of the user of the devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays the biomechanical field is getting a significant amplitude and the research directions from all over the world are increasingly focusing on the prostheses personalization. In T.H.R. (Total Hip Replacement) the most important factors that lead to a good osseointegration are the design and implicitly hip prosthesis geometry, the prosthetic components orientation, the couple type and the biomaterials used; bone quality and the patients' medical history, as well as the surgeons' approaching method in orthopedics may influence the outcome of the hip replacement surgery also. From the first hip implants initiated by Temistocles Gluck between 1853 and 1942 and up to nowadays implants that attempts to reproduce femoral geometry and bone structure, this article aims to present the most important evolutionary stages of hip prostheses and the optimization directions that researchers approach ultimately. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to increased pollution and economical challenges of our days, alternative fuels have become one of the most important fields of research. There are many alternative fuels available today, but one with the highest potential is the liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). Already, important steps have been made in developing new technologies and infrastructure for the LPG market. This paper presents the main characteristics and functionalities of LPG, as a more economical, energy efficient and eco-friendly fuel. Also, a comprehensive review of various types of fuel systems have been prepared for better understanding of operating conditions and advantages for a LPG fueled internal combustion engine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the RepRap (Replicating rapid prototyper) project, FDM (Fused Deposition Modeling) 3D printing technology has come a long way. As the machine evolves so does the range of materials we can print with and the applications in which we can use them. 3D printers can create intricate objects with great precision, but most of them are limited to only one material. If a machine is capable of printing with a multitude of materials with different properties this opens new possibilities. There are some manufacturers who developed 3D printers that can print using more than one material, but each printer has advantages and disadvantages. In this paper, we will take a look at a new multi-material extruder concept. We also look at four different approaches of multi-material 3D printing and compare them with our new concept. Finally, we will look at applications for multi-material 3D printing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper presents a description for the air intake system for the thermal engines and the importance of this regarding the engine power, pollution level and acoustic behaviour. The first part of the research shows it at large all the components of the intake system and the rule of each part. The second part of the paper present detailed information about one of the most important part of the air intake system that is the air intake manifold. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aeronautic structures and their design have evolved over the years. The fuselage must be resilient, lightweight and able to connect the whole airplane. Also, the fuselage holds cargo transports, luggage and, most important, passengers. In the following paper we will deal briefly with the topic of fuselage assembly and how its primary structure is being manufactured. This paper gives a short introduction about the materials used in fuselage design and how the manufacturing techniques were modernised. In conclusion, we will focus on exemplifying the assembly process through the creation of a 3D CAD with the CATIA V5 Student Edition software. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study is to improve the productivity of a manufacturing architecture that is facing with flow concentrators problems. Over the years the increasing market request generated the need for productivity improvement. This paper describes a case study for a manufacturing chest freezers company aimed at improving the assembling line productivity. In the assembly line the bottlenecks are often occurred and that cause decreasing line efficiency. The problem is solved using line balancing method. In order to create and simulate manufacturing architecture model we used WITNESS simulation software to accomplish this study. The purpose of this study is to optimize the manufacturing architecture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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