Name: evaluation of an exclusive spur dike u-turn design with radar-collected data and simulation
Uploaded: 2020-02-01T14:00:00
Description: Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Evaluation of an Exclusive Spur Dike U-Turn Design with Radar-Collected Data and Simulation at JoVE.com

The authors would like to acknowledge the China Scholarship Council for partially funding this work was with the file No. 201506560015.

1. Preparation of the equipment
<ol>
	<li>Prepare two of each of the following devices to collect two-direction traffic flows: radars, laptops, batteries and cables for radars and laptops, cameras, and radar and camera tripods. 
	NOTE: The radar and its corresponding software are used to collect vehicle speed and trajectory, and this is more accurate than a speed gun. The radar is not the only choice if other equipment is available for collecting vehicle speed, trajectory, and volume. As radar signals can be easil...

<ol>
	<li>Tang, J. Q., Heinimann, H. R., Ma, X. L. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+resilience-oriented+approach+for+quantitatively+assessing+recurrent+spatial-temporal+congestion+on+urban+roads.">A resilience-oriented approach for quantitatively assessing recurrent spatial-temporal congestion on urban roads.</a> PLoS ONE. 13 (1), e0190616 (2018).</li><li>Bared, J. G., Kaisar, E. I. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Median+U-turn+design+as+an+alternative+treatment+for+left+turns+at+signalized+intersections.">Median U-turn design as an alternative treatment for left turns at signalized intersections.</a> ITE Journal. 72 (2), 50-54 (2002).</li><li>El Esawey, M., Sayed, T. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Operational+performance+analysis+of+the+unconventional+median+U-turn+intersection+design.">Operational performance analysis of the unconventional median U-turn intersection design.</a> Canadian Journal of Civil Engineering. 38 (11), 1249-1261 (2011).</li><li>Leng, J., Zhang, Y., Sun, M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=VISSIM-based+simulation+approach+to+evaluation+of+design+and+operational+performance+of+U-turn+at+intersection+in+China.">VISSIM-based simulation approach to evaluation of design and operational performance of U-turn at intersection in China.</a> 2008 International Workshop on Modelling, Simulation and Optimization. , (2008).</li><li>Shao, Y., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Evaluating+the+sustainable+traffic+flow+operational+features+of+an+exclusive+spur+dike+U-turn+lane+design.">Evaluating the sustainable traffic flow operational features of an exclusive spur dike U-turn lane design.</a> PLoS ONE. 14 (4), e0214759 (2019).</li><li>Zhao, J., Ma, W. J., Head, K., Yang, X. G. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Optimal+Intersection+Operation+with+Median+U-Turn:+Lane-Based+Approach.">Optimal Intersection Operation with Median U-Turn: Lane-Based Approach.</a> Transportation Research Record. (2439), 71-82 (2014).</li><li>Hummer, J. E., Reid, J. E. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Unconventional+Left+Turn+Alternatives+for+Urban+and+Suburban+Arterials-An+Update.">Unconventional Left Turn Alternatives for Urban and Suburban Arterials-An Update.</a> Urban Street Symposium Conference Proceedings. , (1999).</li><li>Ram, J., Vanasse, H. 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K., Dhiman, I. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Analyses+of+a+continuum+traffic+flow+model+for+a+nonlane-based+system.">Analyses of a continuum traffic flow model for a nonlane-based system.</a> International Journal of Modern Physics C. 25 (10), 1450045 (2014).</li><li>Chen, H., Zhang, N., Qian, Z. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=VISSIM-Based+Simulation+of+the+Left-Turn+Waiting+Zone+at+Signalized+Intersection.">VISSIM-Based Simulation of the Left-Turn Waiting Zone at Signalized Intersection.</a> 2008 International Conference on Intelligent Computation Technology and Automation (ICICTA). , (2008).</li><li>PTV AG. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=.">.</a> PTV VISSIM 10 User Manual. , (2018).</li><li>AutoNavi Traffic Big-data. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=.">.</a> 2017 Traffic Analysis Reports for Major Cities in China. , (2018).</li><li>AutoNavi Traffic Big-data. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=.">.</a> Xi'an realtime traffic congestion delay index. , (2019).</li><li>Xiang, Y., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Evaluating+the+Operational+Features+of+an+Unconventional+Dual-Bay+U-Turn+Design+for+Intersections.">Evaluating the Operational Features of an Unconventional Dual-Bay U-Turn Design for Intersections.</a> PLoS ONE. 11 (7), e0158914 (2016).</li><li>Kuang, Y., Qu, X., Weng, J., Etemad, S. 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In this article, the procedure of solving a traffic problem at an intersection or short segment using simulation was discussed. Several points deserve special attention and are discussed in more detail here.
Field data collection is the first thing deserving attention. Some requirements for data collection location are as follows: 1) Finding a suitable location for data collection. The location should be similar to the road geometric shape in the study, which is the premise of data collection....

Some traffic problems, such as traffic congestion at an intersection or short segment, can be solved or improved by optimizing the road design, change signal timing, traffic management measurements, and other transportation technologies1,2,3,4. These improvements either have a positive or negative effect on traffic flow operations compared to the original situations. The changes in traffic operations can be compared in traffic simulation software rather than in actual reconstruction of the intersection or segment. The traffic simulation method is a quick and cheap option when one or more improvement plans are proposed, especially when comparing different improvement plans or evaluating the effectiveness of improvements. This article introduces the process of solving a traffic problem with simulation by evaluating traffic flow operational features of an exclusive spur dike U-turn lane design5.
U-turn movement is a widespread traffic demand that requires a U-turn median opening on the road, but this has been debated. Designing a U-turn opening can cause traffic congestion, while closing the U-turn opening can cause detours for the U-turn vehicles. Two movements, U-turn vehicles and direct left-turn vehicles, require a U-turn opening and cause traffic delays, stops, or even accidents. Some technologies have been proposed to solve the disadvantages of U-turn movements, such as signalization6,7, exclusive left turn lanes8,9, and autonomous vehicles10,11. Improvement potential still exists on U-turn issues, due to the above solutions having restrictive applications. A new U-turn design may be a better solution under certain conditions and be able to address existing problems.
The most popular U-turn design is the median U-turn intersection (MUTI)12,13,14,15, as shown in Figure 1. A significant limitation of the MUTI is that it cannot distinguish U-turn vehicles from passing vehicles and that traffic conflict still exists16,17. A modified U-turn design called the exclusive spur dike U-turn lane (ESUL; Figure 2) is proposed here and aims to diminish traffic congestion by introducing an exclusive U-turn lane on both sides of a median. The ESUL can significantly reduce travel time, delays, and the number of stops due to its channelization of the two flows.
To prove that the ESUL is more efficient than the normal MUTI, a rigorous protocol is needed. The ESUL cannot be actually constructed before a theoretical model; thus, simulation is needed18. Using traffic flow parameters, some key models have been used in simulation research19, such as driving behavior models20,21, car following models22,23, U-turn models4, and lane change models21. The accuracy of traffic flow simulations is widely accepted16,24. In this study, both the MUTI and ESUL are simulated with collected data to compare improvements made by the ESUL. To guarantee accuracy, a sensitive analysis of the ESUL is also simulated, which can apply to many different traffic situations.
This protocol presents experimental procedures for solving real traffic problems. The methods for traffic data collection, data analysis, and analysis of overall efficiency of traffic improvements are proposed. The procedure can be summarized in five steps: 1) traffic data collection, 2) data analysis, 3) simulation model build, 4) calibration of simulation model, and 5) sensitivity analysis of operational performance. If any one of these requirements in the five steps is not met, the process is incomplete and insufficient to prove effectiveness.

<table border="1" fo:keep-together.within-page="1" fo:keep-with-next.within-page="always">
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>Battery</td>
			<td>Beijing Aozeer Technology Company</td>
			<td>LPB-568S</td>
			<td>Capacity: 3.7v/50000mAh. Two ports, DC 1 out:19v/5A (max), for one laptop. DC 2 out:12v/3A (max), for one radar.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Battery Cable</td>
			<td>Beijing Aozeer Technology Company</td>
			<td>No Catalog Number</td>
			<td>Connect one battery with one laptop.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Camera</td>
			<td>SONY</td>
			<td>a6000/as50r</td>
			<td>The videos shot by the cameras were 1080p, which means the resolution is 1920*1080.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Camera Tripod</td>
			<td>WEI FENG</td>
			<td>3560/3130</td>
			<td>The camera tripod height is 1.4m.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Laptop</td>
			<td>Dell</td>
			<td>C2H2L82</td>
			<td>Operate Windows 7 basic system.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Matlab Software</td>
			<td>MathWorks</td>
			<td>R2016a</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Radar</td>
			<td>Beijing Aozeer Technology Company</td>
			<td>SD/D CADX-0037</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Radar Software</td>
			<td>Beijing Aozeer Technology Company</td>
			<td>Datalogger</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Radar Tripod</td>
			<td>Beijing Aozeer Technology Company</td>
			<td>No Catalog Number</td>
			<td>Corresponding tripods which could connect with radars, the height is 2m at most.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Reflective Vest</td>
			<td>Customized</td>
			<td>No Catalog Number</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>VISSIM Software</td>
			<td>PTV AG group</td>
			<td>PTV vissim 10.00-07 student version</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

evaluation of an exclusive spur dike u-turn design with radar-collected data and simulation

Traditional U-turn designs can improve operational features obviously, while U-turn diversions and merge segments still cause traffic congestion, conflicts, and delays. An exclusive spur dike U-turn lane design (ESUL) is proposed here to solve the disadvantages of traditional U-turn designs. To evaluate the operation performance of ESUL, a traffic simulation protocol is needed. The whole simulation process includes five steps: data collection, data analysis, simulation model build, simulation calibration, and sensitive analysis. Data collection and simulation model build are two critical steps and are described later in greater detail. Three indexes (travel time, delay, and number of stops) are commonly used in the evaluation, and other parameters can be measured from the simulation according to experimental needs. The results show that the ESUL significantly diminishes the disadvantages of traditional U-turn designs. The simulation can be applied to solve microscopic traffic problems, such as in single or several adjacent intersections or short segments. This method is not suitable for larger scale road networks or evaluations without data collection.

Figure 2 shows the illustration of the ESUL for U-turn median opening. WENS mean four cardinal directions. The main road has six lanes with two directions. Greenbelts divide non-motorized lane on both sides and divide the two directions in the middle. Flow 1 is the east to west through traffic, flow 2 is east to east U-turn flow, flow 3 is west to east through traffic, and flow 4 is west to west U-turn traffic.
<p class="jove_content" fo:keep-together.wit...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Evaluation of an Exclusive Spur Dike U-Turn Design with Radar-Collected Data and Simulation at JoVE.com

Evaluation of an Exclusive Spur Dike U-Turn Design with Radar-Collected Data and Simulation

This protocol describes the process of solving a microscopic traffic problem with simulation. The whole process contains a detailed description of data collection, data analysis, simulation model build, simulation calibration, and sensitive analysis. Modifications and troubleshooting of the method are also discussed.

Traditional U-turn designs can improve operational features obviously, while U-turn diversions and merge segments still cause traffic congestion, ...

This video is aiming to show the process of collecting traffic data by radars and evaluation by simulation model. Every time we're passing a U-turn median opening, I have found a way for cars to slow down and even stop. So we want to design a special U-turn lane to make the through and the U-turn vehicles apart, and to reduce the traffic problem caused by the U-turn vehicles.We use radars to collect real traffic data, and use WaSiM simulation software to evaluate the improvement of these close area U-turn lane. Two radars should be used at the same time for both directions of vehicles. Traffic operating situation of morning peak.Meanwhile an evening peak our data should all be collected. Traffic data collection needs two direction data at least. The all necessary equipment needed are as follows:Two radars, laptops, batteries, cables, cameras and corresponding tripods for radars and cameras, a reflective vest is also needed for everyone for safety.Wear the reflective vests for everyone in the beginning. Prepare the radar tripods, extend the tripods as tall as possible. Install the radar on the top of the tripod and lock it.Set a radar next to the roadside, about half a meter. Adjust the radar vertically, and facing the vehicle direction or the opposite direction. Turn on the power battery.Connect laptop to the power battery. Plug in the radar power cable, and plug the radar data USB with the laptop. Then all cables are connected well.Turn on laptop. Set camera next to radar to shot the vehicle flow. Now all equipment installation is done.Open radar software. Click Communication check"Select the radar ID number, and it will show Radar detected"with ID number. Click Investigation set up"Click Read RLU time"and set RLU time successively.Then click Start investigation"and close dialogue box. Click Realtime view"to check the radar status. When the vehicle is passing the radar location, the data will be captured by the radar.That means all parts work well. Close the realtime check window and click Investigation setup"Select End investigation"and confirm it, then close the dialogue box. Select Data download"Browse desktop to save the data and input a name for the file.Click Start download"button. Click Confirm"to finish data collection. Click Investigation setup"and then click Erase data record"and confirm it in the next dialogue box to clear the internal memory of radar.The location must similar to the intersection type in the research. A U-turn median opening on the freeway is needed, long enough line of sight and clearance is required which is necessary for radar and safety for investigators. The location must have enough and safe place for equipment and investigators.Adjust the radar direction. Set the camera next to the radar, where it could capture all lanes. Repeat the process of installing all equipment on the pedestrian bridge.Keep checking all equipment work well during data collection. Extract trajectories and speed from radar data file, and get the traffic volume from videos. Select the highest traffic volume group as a representative data.Open simulation software. Click Internal map"button and zoom in the map to find the data location. Click Links"on left, then move cursor to the start location of the link and right click.Select a new link. Input link name, number of lanes, and then click Ok"Drag the cursor to draw the link on the map. Right click the link, and select Add point"Add points and direct points to make the link smoother with real route alignments in the map.Repeat this step three times to build four segments except the U-turn median opening. Put right button on mouse, and control button on keyboard. Drag the end point of one link to the adjacent link to connect the links.Repeat this step to connect all links and U-turn routes. Select Base data"from top bar. Select Distributions"and click Desired speed"Click ring cross end button at the bottom to add a new desired speed and name it.Input max speed collected from representative data, as high as our speed, and every speed calculated as the minimum desired speed. Delete default data in this desired speed. Select Lists"button from top bar.Click Private transport"then click Vehicle compositions"Click ring cross add button to add a new vehicle composition. Then select Desired speed belt"in last step for cars, and click Add"button to add another vehicle type truck. Input volume of cars and trucks and real flow from representative data.Select Vehicle route"from left menu bar. Move the cursor to upstream the one link as start point. Right click and select Add new static vehicle routing decision"Drag the blue cursor to draw all vehicle routes on the map as real routes.Select Reduced speed areas"from left menu bar. Right click an off route of U-turn opening, then select a new reduced speed area. The length of the area depends on the representative data.Speed change length and build this area for both directions. Select Conflict areas"from left menu bar. Four yellow conflict areas will show at the median opening section.Right click at the yellow area and select Set status"to undetermined as real situation. Select Vehicle travel times"from left. Right click at the beginning of one link, and select Add new vehicle travel time measurement"Drag the cursor to the end of link to build the one vehicle travel time measurement.Repeat this step for all vehicle routes. Select Vehicle inputs"from left, then click start point of one link and right click Add new vehicle input"Then move the mouse to left bottom and input volume from representative data. Repeat this step for all links.Building another ESUL simulation model as comparison. Only the U-turn opening parts need to be modified. Click the blue play button at the top of interface and the simulation will start.Drag the scale at the left of the play button to adjust simulation speed. And the instrument button quick mode can make the simulation speed to the max. When simulation ends, all results will be shown at the bottom of interface.The results will be analyzed in the next step. Input collected data into simulation model. Run the simulation and get the simulation result.Simulation volumes can be generated from the result, then compare with collected volume. The difference between the collected volume and simulated volume is called the mean absolute percent error. The simulation accuracy is acceptable when the MAPE is small.Representative data concludes three groups data:U-turn ratio, volume, and other parameters. Divide U-turn ratio into five categories, divide volume into nine categories, and keep other parameters stable in following situations. So, 45 simulations which covered all situations.All these simulation results verify the effectiveness and improvement of ESUL. Four direction traffic flows are shown in the result with three indexes:Travel time, delay, and the number of stops. The result show the significant improvement of ESUL under all traffic situations.Travel time, delay and the number of stops are three indexes needed in the WaSiM simulation. With the collected data and the simulation result, the improvement of the exclusive U-turn design is all else. We want to solve a realistic problem with an easy method that could be applied into engineering.This method could be used in a single intersection or short segment. The key step in this measure is real traffic data collection and the simulation model built.

evaluation-an-exclusive-spur-dike-u-turn-design-with-radar-collected

Research

JoVE Journal

Engineering

Simulation, Fabrication and Characterization of THz Metamaterial Absorbers

Metamaterials (MM), artificial materials engineered to have properties that may not be found in nature, have been widely explored since the first theoretical1 and experimental demonstration2 of their unique properties. MMs can provide a highly controllable electromagnetic response, and to date have been demonstrated in every technologically relevant spectral range including the optical3, near IR4, mid IR5 , THz6 , mm-wave7 , microwave8 and radio9 bands. Applications include perfect lenses10, sensors11, telecommunications12, invisibility cloaks13 and filters14,15. We have recently developed single band16, dual band17 and broadband18 THz metamaterial absorber devices capable of greater than 80% absorption at the resonance peak. The concept of a MM absorber is especially important at THz frequencies where it is difficult to find strong frequency selective THz absorbers19. In our MM absorber the THz radiation is absorbed in a thickness of ~ &lambda;/20, overcoming the thickness limitation of traditional quarter wavelength absorbers. MM absorbers naturally lend themselves to THz detection applications, such as thermal sensors, and if integrated with suitable THz sources (e.g. QCLs), could lead to compact, highly sensitive, low cost, real time THz imaging systems.

This protocol outlines the simulation, fabrication and characterization of THz metamaterial absorbers. Such absorbers, when coupled with an appropriate sensor, have applications in THz imaging and spectroscopy.

Metamaterials (MM),  artificial materials engineered to have properties that may not be found in  nature, have been widely explored since the first ...

Study of Siphon Breaker Experiment and Simulation for a Research Reactor

Under the design conditions of a research reactor, the siphon phenomenon induced by pipe rupture can cause continuous outward flow of water. To prevent this outflow, a control device is required. A siphon breaker is a type of safety device that can be utilized to control the loss of coolant water effectively.
To analyze the characteristics of siphon breaking, a real-scale experiment was conducted. From the results of the experiment, it was found that there are several design factors that affect the siphon breaking phenomenon. Therefore, there is a need to develop a theoretical model capable of predicting and analyzing the siphon breaking phenomenon under various design conditions. Using the experimental data, it was possible to formulate a theoretical model that accurately predicts the progress and the result of the siphon breaking phenomenon. The established theoretical model is based on fluid mechanics and incorporates the Chisholm model to analyze two-phase flow. From Bernoulli&#39;s equation, the velocity, quantity, undershooting height, water level, pressure, friction coefficient, and factors related to the two-phase flow could be obtained or calculated. Moreover, to utilize the model established in this study, a siphon breaker analysis and design program was developed. The simulation program operates on the theoretical model basis and returns the result as a graph. The user can confirm the possibility of the siphon breaking by checking the shape of the graph. Furthermore, saving the entire simulation result is possible and it can be used as a resource for analyzing the real siphon breaking system.
In conclusion, the user can confirm the status of the siphon breaking and design the siphon breaker system using the program developed in this study.

The siphon breaking phenomenon was investigated experimentally and a theoretical model was proposed. A simulation program based on the theoretical model was developed and the results of the simulation program were compared with experimental results. It was concluded that the results of the simulation program matched the experimental results well.

Under the design conditions of a research reactor, the siphon phenomenon induced by pipe rupture can cause continuous outward flow of water. To prevent ...

The Modular Design and Production of an Intelligent Robot Based on a Closed-Loop Control Strategy

Intelligent robots are part of a new generation of robots that are able to sense the surrounding environment, plan their own actions and eventually reach their targets. In recent years, reliance upon robots in both daily life and industry has increased. The protocol proposed in this paper describes the design and production of a handling robot with an intelligent search algorithm and an autonomous identification function.
First, the various working modules are mechanically assembled to complete the construction of the work platform and the installation of the robotic manipulator. Then, we design a closed-loop control system and a four-quadrant motor control strategy, with the aid of debugging software, as well as set steering gear identity (ID), baud rate and other working parameters to ensure that the robot achieves the desired dynamic performance and low energy consumption. Next, we debug the sensor to achieve multi-sensor fusion to accurately acquire environmental information. Finally, we implement the relevant algorithm, which can recognize the success of the robot&#39;s function for a given application.
The advantage of this approach is its reliability and flexibility, as the users can develop a variety of hardware construction programs and utilize the comprehensive debugger to implement an intelligent control strategy. This allows users to set personalized requirements based on their needs with high efficiency and robustness.

We present a protocol on modular design and production of intelligent robots to help scientific and technical workers design intelligent robots with special production tasks based on personal needs and individualized design.

Intelligent robots are part of a new generation of robots that are able to sense the surrounding environment, plan their own actions and eventually reach ...

Production and Characterization of Vacuum Deposited Organic Light Emitting Diodes

A method for producing simple and efficient thermally-activated delayed fluorescence organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) based on guest-host or exciplex donor-acceptor emitters is presented. With a step-by-step procedure, readers will be able to repeat and produce OLED devices based on simple organic emitters. A patterning procedure allowing the creation of personalized indium tin oxide (ITO) shape is shown. This is followed by the evaporation of all layers, encapsulation and characterization of each individual device. The end goal is to present a procedure that will give the opportunity to repeat the information presented in cited publication but also using different compounds and structures in order to prepare efficient OLEDs.

A protocol for the production of simple structured organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) is presented.

A method for producing simple and efficient thermally-activated delayed fluorescence organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) based on guest-host or exciplex ...

Design and Evaluation of Smart Glasses for Food Intake and Physical Activity Classification

This study presents a series of protocols of designing and manufacturing a glasses-type wearable device that detects the patterns of temporalis muscle activities during food intake and other physical activities. We fabricated a 3D-printed frame of the glasses and a load cell-integrated printed circuit board (PCB) module inserted in both hinges of the frame. The module was used to acquire the force signals, and transmit them wirelessly. These procedures provide the system with higher mobility, which can be evaluated in practical wearing conditions such as walking and waggling. A performance of the classification is also evaluated by distinguishing the patterns of food intake from those physical activities. A series of algorithms were used to preprocess the signals, generate feature vectors, and recognize the patterns of several featured activities (chewing and winking), and other physical activities (sedentary rest, talking, and walking). The results showed that the average F1 score of the classification among the featured activities was 91.4%. We believe this approach can be potentially useful for automatic and objective monitoring of ingestive behaviors with higher accuracy as practical means to treat ingestive problems.

This study presents a protocol of designing and manufacturing a glasses-type wearable device that detects the patterns of food intake and other featured physical activities using load cells inserted in both hinges of the glasses.

This study presents a series of protocols of designing and manufacturing a glasses-type wearable device that detects the patterns of temporalis muscle ...

Design and Fabrication of an Optical Fiber Made of Water

In this report, an optical fiber of which the core is made solely of water, while the cladding is air, is designed and manufactured. In contrast with solid-cladding devices, capillary oscillations are not restricted, allowing the fiber walls to move and vibrate. The fiber is constructed by a high direct current (DC) voltage of several thousand volts (kV) between two water reservoirs that creates a floating water thread, known as a water bridge. Through the choice of micropipettes, it is possible to control the maximal diameter and length of the fiber. Optical fiber couplers, at both sides of the bridge, activate it as an optical waveguide, allowing researchers to monitor the water fiber capillary body waves through transmission modulation and, therefore, deducing changes in surface tension.
Co-confining two important wave types, capillary and electromagnetic, opens a new path of research in the interactions between light and liquid-wall devices. Water-walled microdevices are a million times softer than their solid counterparts, accordingly improving the response to minute forces.

This protocol describes the design and manufacture of a water bridge and its activation as a water fiber. The experiment demonstrates that capillary resonances of the water fiber modulate its optical transmission.

In this report, an optical fiber of which the core is made solely of water, while the cladding is air, is designed and manufactured. In contrast with ...

A 100 KW Class Applied-field Magnetoplasmadynamic Thruster

Applied-field magnetoplasmadynamic thrusters (AF-MPD thrusters) are hybrid accelerators in which electromagnetic and gas dynamic processes accelerate plasma to high speed; they have considerable potential for future space applications with the significant advantages of high specific impulse and thrust density. In this paper, we present a series of protocols for designing and manufacturing a 100 kW class of AF-MPD thruster with water-cooling structures, a 130 V maximum discharge voltage, a 800 A maximum discharge current, and a 0.25 T maximum strength of magnetic field. A hollow tantalum tungsten cathode acts as the only propellant inlet to inhibit the radial discharge, and it is positioned axially at the rear of the anode in order to relieve anode starvation. A cylindrical divergent copper anode is employed to decrease anode power deposition, where the length has been reduced to decrease the wall-plasma connecting area. Experiments utilized a vacuum system that can achieve a working vacuum of 0.01 Pa for a total propellant mass flow rate lower than 40 mg/s and a target thrust stand. The thruster tests were carried out to measure the effects of the working parameters such as propellant flow rates, the discharge current, and the strength of applied magnetic field on the performance and to allow appropriate analysis. The thruster could be operated continuously for significant periods of time with little erosion on the hollow cathode surface. The maximum power of the thruster is 100 kW, and the performance of this water-cooled configuration is comparable with that of thrusters reported in the literature.

The goal of this protocol is to introduce the design of a 100 kW class applied-field magnetoplasmadynamic thruster and relevant experimental methods.

Applied-field magnetoplasmadynamic thrusters (AF-MPD thrusters) are hybrid accelerators in which electromagnetic and gas dynamic processes accelerate ...

Structural Design and Manufacturing of a Cruiser Class Solar Vehicle

Cruisers are multi-occupant solar vehicles that are conceived to compete in long-range (over 3,000 km) solar races based on the best compromise between the energy consumption and the payload. They must comply to the race&#39;s rules regarding the overall dimensions, the solar panel size, functionality, and safety and structural requirements, while the shape, the materials, the powertrain, and the mechanics are considered at the discretion of the designer. In this work, the most relevant aspects of the structural design process of a full-carbon fiber-reinforced plastic solar vehicle are detailed. In particular, the protocols used for the design of the lamination sequence of the chassis, the leaf springs structural analysis, and the crash test numerical simulation of the vehicle, including the safety cage, are described. The complexity of the design methodology of fiber-reinforced composite structures is compensated by the possibility of tailoring their mechanical characteristics and optimizing the overall weight of the car.

In this work, several aspects related to the structural design process of a full-carbon fiber-reinforced plastic solar vehicle are detailed, focusing on the monocoque chassis, the leaf springs, and the vehicle as a whole during a crash test.

Cruisers are multi-occupant solar vehicles that are conceived to compete in long-range (over 3,000 km) solar races based on the best compromise between ...

Crack Monitoring in Resonance Fatigue Testing of Welded Specimens Using Digital Image Correlation

A procedure using digital image correlation (DIC) to detect cracks on welded specimens during fatigue tests on resonance testing machines is presented. It is intended as a practical and reproducible procedure to identify macroscopic cracks at an early stage and monitor crack propagation during fatigue tests. It consists of strain field measurements at the weld using DIC. Images are taken at fixed load cycle intervals. Cracks become visible in the computed strain field as elevated strains. This way, the whole width of a small-scale specimen can be monitored to detect where and when a crack initiates. Subsequently, it is possible to monitor the development of the crack length. Because the resulting images are saved, the results are verifiable and comparable. The procedure is limited to cracks initiating at the surface and is intended for fatigue tests under laboratory conditions. By visualizing the crack, the presented procedure allows direct observation of macrocracks from their formation until rupture of the specimen.

Digital image correlation is used in fatigue tests on a resonance testing machine to detect macroscopic cracks and monitor crack propagation in welded specimens. Cracks on the specimen surface become visible as increased strains.

A procedure using digital image correlation (DIC) to detect cracks on welded specimens during fatigue tests on resonance testing machines is presented. It ...

Manufacturing, Control, and Performance Evaluation of a Gecko-Inspired Soft Robot

This protocol presents a method for manufacturing, control, and evaluation of the performance of a soft robot that can climb inclined flat surfaces with slopes of up to 84&#176;. The manufacturing method is valid for the fast pneunet bending actuators in general and might, therefore, be interesting for newcomers to the field of actuator manufacturing. The control of the robot is achieved by means of a pneumatic control box that can provide arbitrary pressures and can be built by only using purchased components, a laser cutter, and a soldering iron. For the walking performance of the robot, the pressure-angle calibration plays a crucial role. Therefore, a semi-automated method for the pressure-angle calibration is presented. At high inclines (&#62; 70&#176;), the robot can no longer reliably fix itself to the walking plane. Therefore, the gait pattern is modified to ensure that the feet can be fixed on the walking plane.

This protocol provides a detailed list of steps to be performed for the manufacturing, control and evaluation of the climbing performance of a gecko-inspired soft robot.

This protocol presents a method for manufacturing, control, and evaluation of the performance of a soft robot that can climb inclined flat surfaces with ...