Fault diagnosis of internal combustion engines using visual dot patterns of acoustic and vibration signals

An investigation of the fault diagnosis technique in internal combustion engines based on the visual dot pattern of acoustic and vibration signals is presented in this paper. Acoustic emissions and vibration signals are well known as being able to be used for monitoring the conditions of rotating machineries. Most of the conventional methods for fault diagnosis using acoustic and vibration signals are primarily based on observing the amplitude differences in the time or frequency domain. Unfortunately, the signals caused by damaged elements, such as those buried in broadband background noise or from smearing problems arising in practical applications, particularly at low revolution, are not always available. In the present study, a visual dot pattern technique is proposed to identify the acoustic emission and vibration signals for fault diagnosis in an internal combustion engine and drive axle shaft. Experiments are carried out to evaluate the proposed system for fault diagnosis under various fault conditions. The experimental results indicate that the proposed technique is effective in the fault diagnosis of an internal combustion engine and drive axle shaft.     

VQ indexes compression and information hiding using hybrid lossless index coding

For the compression of memoryless vector quantization (VQ), most of the lossless index coding algorithms are not suitable for various test images. As a result, we present a hybrid dynamic tree-coding scheme (DTCS) and modified search order coding scheme (MSOC) to re-encode the output index map efficiently without causing any extra coding distortion. The main idea behind this scheme is that the adjacent left and upper around the current processed block usually provide more useful information than its adjacent left-upper and right-upper block, thus we employ two different coding methods according to their corresponding left or upper spatial relations. In addition, we applied the HLIC method to the information hiding. The proposed method does not modify the contents of the secret data and the compressed image. Experimental results show that the newly proposed algorithm achieves significant reduction of bit rate compared to the other lossless index coding schemes for various test images and different codebook sizes. The proposed information hiding scheme can hide a huge amount of information in the index map of an image and allows complete reconstruction of the indexes of the image.     

MEMS-based gas flow sensors

Micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) devices integrate various mechanical elements, sensors, actuators, and electronics on a single silicon substrate in order to accomplish a multitude of different tasks in a diverse range of fields. The potential for device miniaturization made possible by MEMS micro-fabrication techniques has facilitated the development of many new applications, such as highly compact, non-invasive pressure sensors, accelerometers, gas sensors, etc. Besides their small physical footprint, such devices possess many other advantages compared to their macro-scale counterparts, including greater precision, lower power consumption, more rapid response, and the potential for low-cost batch production. One area in which MEMS technology has attracted particular attention is that of flow measurement. Broadly speaking, existing micro-flow sensors can be categorized as either thermal or non-thermal, depending upon their mode of operation. This paper commences by providing a high level overview of the MEMS field and then describes some of the fundamental thermal and non-thermal micro-flow sensors presented in the literature over the past 30 years or so.     

Analysis of Critical Factors in Manufacturing by Adopting a Cloud Computing Service

The advantages of a cloud computing service are cost advantages, availability, scalability, flexibility, reduced time to market, and dynamic access to computing resources. Enterprises can improve the successful adoption rate of cloud computing services if they understand the critical factors. To find critical factors, this study first reviewed the literature and established a three-layer hierarchical factor table for adopting a cloud computing service based on the Technology-Organization-Environment framework. Then, a hybrid method that combines two multi-criteria decision-making tools—called the Fuzzy Analytic Network Process method and the concept of VlseKriterijumska Optimizacija I Kompromisno Resenje acceptable advantage—was used to objectively identify critical factors for the adoption of a cloud computing service, replacing the subjective decision of the authors. The results of this study determined five critical factors, namely data access security, information transmission security, senior management support, fallback cloud management, and employee acceptance. Finally, the paper presents the findings and implications of the study.     

Design and implementation of look-ahead linear jerk filter for a computerized numerical controlled machine

In this study, an open programmable logic controller (PLC) from Fuji electric prescribed in the Structured Text program was applied to develop a look-ahead linear jerk filter (LALJF) for a computerized numerically controlled (CNC) machine. To ensure the smooth and accurate motion of a tool with a linear change in jerk during real-time machining, the proposed filter was formed by combining a look-ahead algorithm with three modified moving average filters (3MMAF). The look-ahead algorithm performed a single look-ahead step-change in the speed of the speed curve. Based on a step-changing speed profile, given maximal acceleration/deceleration and maximum jerk, the speed curve was modified before it was passed through a linear jerk filter to reduce machining time. The speed commands filtered by the proposed filter stabilize machine table at the beginning and end of its motion, and at any point at which its speed exhibits a step-change. The theoretical and computational aspects of the LALJF are presented together with experimental results of its implementation on an X–Y table. The multiple-step-changing speed curve of a CNC machine and the speed curve of a high-speed measurement system were constructed in order to verify the feasibility and precision of the proposed method.     

Design and fabrication of novel micro electromagnetic actuator

This study designs, fabricates, and characterizes a novel micro electromagnetic actuator comprising a PDMS diaphragm, a polyimide-coated copper micro coil, and a permanent magnet. When an electrical current is passed through the micro coil, a magnetic force is induced between the coil and the magnet which causes the diaphragm to deflect, thereby creating an actuation effect. The experimental results demonstrate that the diaphragm deflection can be accurately controlled by regulating the current passed through the micro coil. It is shown that the maximum diaphragm deflection within elastic limits is 150 μm; obtained by passing a current of 0.6 A through a micro coil with a line width of 100 μm. The micro actuator proposed in this study is easily fabricated and is readily integrated with existing bio-medical chips due to its planar structure.     

A two-stage approach in solving the state probabilities of the multi-queue M/G/1 model

The M/G/1 model is the fundamental basis of the queueing system in many network systems. Usually, the study of the M/G/1 is limited by the assumption of single queue and infinite capacity. In practice, however, these postulations may not be valid, particularly when dealing with many real-world problems. In this paper, a two-stage state-space approach is devoted to solving the state probabilities for the multi-queue finite-capacity M/G/1 model, i.e. q-M/G/1/K_i with K_i buffers in the ith queue. The state probabilities at departure instants are determined by solving a set of state transition equations. Afterward, an embedded Markov chain analysis is applied to derive the state probabilities with another set of state balance equations at arbitrary time instants. The closed forms of the state probabilities are also presented with theorems for reference. Applications of Little's theorem further present the corresponding results for queue lengths and average waiting times. Simulation experiments have demonstrated the correctness of the proposed approaches.     

Use of a Modified UTAUT Model to Investigate the Perspectives of Internet Access Device Users

This study integrates perceived enjoyment and cyberloafing with the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT) and uses a modified UTAUT model to investigate the behavioral intention and user behavior of access internet device users. The research results show that perceived enjoyment can be used as the antecedence variable of performance expectancy (PE) and effort expectancy (EE). In addition, PE, EE, and social influence will all lead to the occurrence of cyberloafing behavior and increased internet browsing time; however, the hypothesis of the moderator is not fully supported. The results can be provided as reference for subsequent researchers to re-modify the model.     

Simultaneous recrystallization, phosphorous diffusion and antireflection coating of silicon films using laser treatment

Laser technique application to polycrystalline silicon thin-film solar cell fabrication on glass substrates has received appreciable attention. In this paper, a laser-doping technique is developed for plasma-deposited amorphous silicon film. A process involving recrystallization, phosphorous diffusion and antireflection coating can be achieved simultaneously using the laser annealing process. The doping precursor, a phosphorous-doped titanium dioxide (TiO₂) solution, is synthesized using a sol-gel method and spin-coated onto the sample. After laser irradiation, the polycrystalline silicon grain size was about 0.5∼1.0 μm with a carrier concentration of 2 × 10¹⁹ cm^− 3 and electron mobility of 92.6 cm²/V s. The average polycrystalline silicon reflectance can be reduced to a value of 4.65% at wavelengths between 400 and 700 nm, indicating the upper TiO₂ film of antireflection coating.     

Calculating the elastic moduli of steel-fiber reinforced concrete using a dedicated empirical formula

The equivalent inclusion method (EIM) is adopted to study the characteristics of the equivalent material properties of steel-fiber reinforced concrete as a function of the volume fraction and the length to diameter ratio of the fibers. It is found that the equivalent material moduli of concrete reinforce with randomly orientated and distributed fibers are insensitive to the length to diameter ratio of the steel fibers. A set of empirical formulae is then proposed for the purposes of engineering applications. The proposed empirical model can simplify the calculation of the equivalent material moduli. Verifications of the proposed empirical formulae with the EIM model and with experimental data are performed with two examples. The first is a compression test. The second is 4 point bending test. The empirical formulae, based on the equivalent inclusion method proposed in this study, represent an alternative means of quickly calculating the effective elastic modulus of steel-fiber reinforced concrete materials.