Characteristics of behavior of robots with emotion model

A cooperative multirobot system has much dominance over a single‐robot system. It is able to adapt to various circumstances and has flexibility for variation of tasks. However, it still has problems of controlling each robot, although methods for control of a multirobot system have been studied. Recently, emotion and sensitivity of the robots have been widely studied. In this study, a human emotion model based on psychological interaction was adapted to a multirobot system to achieve methods for organization of multiple robots. The characteristics of behavior of multirobot systems achieved through computer simulation were analyzed. As a result, very complex and interesting behavior emerged even though it is of rather simple configuration. And it has flexibility in various circumstances. Additional experiments with actual robots will be conducted based on the emotion model. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 153(4): 32–38, 2005; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/eej.20167     

A novel field‐sequential blue‐phase‐mode AMLCD

Abstract— Through the realization of a blue‐phase‐mode (hereinafter, the operational mode of liquid crystal having a blue phase is referred to as a blue‐phase mode), a display using an improved field‐sequential method was confirmed to be capable of display at a frame rate of 180 fps (field frequency of 540 Hz) or higher. Under this condition, an image without annoyance caused by color breakup was obtained. Moreover, a novel field‐sequential AMLCD integrated with a scan driver by combining the liquid‐crystal‐display (LCD) technology using blue phase and oxide‐semiconductor technology has been developed.     

Influence of carbide formation on the strength of carbon fibres on which silicon and titanium have been deposited

Silicon or titanium was deposited on the filaments of carbon fibres by chemical vapour depositions and the reactions between the deposited silicon or titanium and the carbon fibres were investigated below 1300° C. Between the silicon and the carbon fibres, -SiC layers formed at rates of 1.5 to 3 nm in 3 h at 1300° C. These rates were 10^–4 times that of the TiC formation by the reaction of titanium with carbon fibre. Furthermore, the effect of the reaction on fibre strength was investigated. By reaction with silicon, the carbon fibre at a carbonized stage decreased in strength at the beginning of the reaction, but afterwards it recovered to the original level. The carbon fibre at a graphitized stage maintained its original strength after heat treatment for several hours at 1300° C. With the TiC-coated carbon fibres, the carbon fibres decreased in strength following the relation _m d ^–1/2, where d is the thickness of the TiC layer.     

An electrostatic induction motor utilizing electrical resonance for torque enhancement

An electrostatic induction motor utilizing electrical resonance to enhance its torque is introduced in this paper. The motor has patterned electrodes embedded on both of its stator and rotor, and driven by three-phase excitation voltage applied to its stator electrodes. The rotor electrodes are connected to external inductances and resistances through slip rings. The torque of the motor is maximized at resonant condition, where the slip frequency is equal to the resonance frequency of the system. A working prototype of the motor was constructed with 18-layered film electrodes. The maximum torque of the motor was 20 mNm at 10 rpm with an excitation by three-phase voltage of 0.9 kV/8.25 kHz. The motor could start itself and rotate in balance with frictions at a speed of 75 rpm with 0.9 kV/8.35 kHz excitation.     

Semantic Web based innovative design knowledge modeling for collaborative design

This paper describes a study about how to use the Semantic Web technologies for innovative design knowledge modeling in a multi-agent distributed design environment. Semantic Web based knowledge modeling for innovative design is proposed as prelude to the meaningful agent communication and knowledge reuse for collaborative work among multidisciplinary organizations. A model for innovative design is proposed at first, based on which a knowledge schema is brought forward. For sharing the design knowledge among an internet-based or distributed work team, even globally, A RDF-based knowledge model is presented to realize its representation on Semantic Web. A Semantic Web based repository for innovative design and its API for topper Semantic Web applications have been also constructed. The proposed knowledge modeling extends traditional product modeling with capabilities of innovative design, knowledge sharing and distributed problem solving, and is employed as a content language within the messages in the proposed multi-agent system architecture. The proposed approach is viewed as a promising knowledge management method that facilitates the implementation of computer supported cooperative work in innovative design of Semantic Web applications.     

Micromirror arrays to assess luminescent nano-objects

We propose an array of submicrometer mirrors to assess luminescent nano-objects. Micromirror arrays (MMAs) are fabricated on Si (001) wafers via selectively doping Ga using the focused ion beam technique to form p-type etch stop regions, subsequent anisotropic chemical etching, and Al deposition. MMAs provide two benefits: reflection of luminescence from nano-objects within MMAs toward the Si (001) surface normal and nano-object labeling. The former increases the probability of optics collecting luminescence and is demonstrated by simulations based on the ray-tracing and finite-difference time-domain methods as well as by experiments. The latter enables different measurements to be repeatedly performed on a single nano-object located at a certain micromirror. For example, a single InGaN∕GaN nanocolumn is assessed by scanning electron microscopy and microphotoluminescence spectroscopy.     

Interactive Visualization of News Distribution in Blog Space

This paper proposes a visualization method of news distribution in Blog space. Recently, Blog is becoming one of the important information resources on the Web, from which trend information can be obtained. On the other hand, online news site is another information resource, which reports latest events in the world. This paper focuses on the combination of both resources, and proposes a method for visualizing news distribution in Blog space, which indicates various access patterns to news articles in Blog space. The types of objects that are to be visualized as well as their relationships are defined, based on which interactive information visualization system is proposed. Experiments with test subjects are performed to investigate the viewpoints they employ for examining news distribution in Blog space. The results show that test subjects can examine news distribution in Blog space from various viewpoints, which affects their estimation of the impacts of news articles.

Afferent mechanism of cortical myoclonus studied by proprioception-related SEPs

This questionnaire study examined perceived sources of stress and satisfaction at work among 121 mental health staff members. Five factors were derived from principal component analysis of sources of work stress items (stress from: role, poor support, clients, future, and overload), and accounted for 70% of the total variance. Four factors were derived from the items related to sources of job satisfaction (satisfaction from: career, working with people, management, and money), accounting for 68% of the variance. The associations of these factors with sociodemographic and job characteristics were examined, and they were entered as explanatory variables into regression models predicting mental health, burnout, and job satisfaction. Stress from "overload" was associated with being based outside an in-patient ward, and with emotional exhaustion and worse mental health. Stress related to the "future" was associated with not being white. Stress from "clients" was associated with the "depersonalization" component of burnout. Higher job satisfaction was associated with "management" and "working with people" as sources of satisfaction, whereas emotional exhaustion and poorer mental health were associated with less "career" satisfaction.     

Synthesis and electrochemistry of acetylacetonatolanthanide(III)- phthalocyaninates

The synthesis and electrochemistry of acetylacetonatolanthanide(III)phthalocyaninates are reported. Two new kinds of lanthanide complexes Li[Pc]Ln(acac)₂] and (Pc)Ln(acac) were obtained where Ln is the trivalent ions of Eu, Gd, Dy, Tb, Ho, Er, Tm, Lu, and Pc is the dianion of phthalocyanine and acac is the acetylacetonate anion. These complexes were characterized by infrared and electronic absorption spectroscopy. An overall oxidation reduction mechanism at a platinum electrode in dimethyl sulfoxide is presented.