Communication Interface with Eye-Gaze and Head Gesture Using Successive DP Matching and Fuzzy Inference

This paper proposes a communication interface with eye-gaze and head gesture. Visual sensorimotor integration with eye-head cooperation is considered, especially head gesture accompanied with vestibulo-ocular reflex is used for selecting object in the screen. Eye-mark recorder and motion tracking system were used to tracking eye movement and head movement, respectively. Nonverbal response animation with eye contact was introduced in the interaction system. In identifying the head gesture, we adopted a modified dynamic programming matching method and fuzzy inference.     

Evaluation of Desulphurization Flux in CaO‐Al2O3‐BaO‐CeO2‐MgO System

The flux of the CaO‐Al₂0₃‐BaO‐CeO₂‐MgO system as a desulphurization flux containing no fluorine for the secondary metallurgy process was evaluated in this study. The flux composition was designed using the eutectic compositions of the binary systems. The melting and desulphurization abilities of the fluxes were evaluated by measuring their liquidus temperatures and the distribution ratios of sulphur between the fluxes and the carbon‐saturated iron or stainless steel. The lowest liquidus temperature of 1325°C was obtained by adding 5.7 mass% MgO to the 80mass%A‐20mass%B flux. (A: 12CaO‐7Al₂O₃, B: BaCeO₃+12mass%Al₂O₃). The distribution ratios of sulphur and sulphide capacities of the fluxes in this study were higher than those of the commercial product of calcium aluminate flux. This means that the CaO‐Al₂O₃‐BaO‐CeO₂‐MgO fluxes developed in this study have higher desulphurization and melting abilities compared with the commercial product of calcium aluminate flux.     

The Atmospheric Scanning Electron Microscope with open sample space observes dynamic phenomena in liquid or gas

Although conventional electron microscopy (EM) requires samples to be in vacuum, most chemical and physical reactions occur in liquid or gas. The Atmospheric Scanning Electron Microscope (ASEM) can observe dynamic phenomena in liquid or gas under atmospheric pressure in real time. An electron-permeable window made of pressure-resistant 100 nm-thick silicon nitride (SiN) film, set into the bottom of the open ASEM sample dish, allows an electron beam to be projected from underneath the sample. A detector positioned below captures backscattered electrons. Using the ASEM, we observed the radiation-induced self-organization process of particles, as well as phenomena accompanying volume change, including evaporation-induced crystallization. Using the electrochemical ASEM dish, we observed tree-like electrochemical depositions on the cathode. In silver nitrate solution, we observed silver depositions near the cathode forming incidental internal voids. The heated ASEM dish allowed observation of patterns of contrast in melting and solidifying solder. Finally, to demonstrate its applicability for monitoring and control of industrial processes, silver paste and solder paste were examined at high throughput. High resolution, imaging speed, flexibility, adaptability, and ease of use facilitate the observation of previously difficult-to-image phenomena, and make the ASEM applicable to various fields.     

Route guidance by a car navigation system based on augmented reality

Car navigation systems play a prominent role in road traffic safety and traffic regulation. However, it is necessary to improve the route guidance of car navigation systems so that they accurately and quickly recognize small differences in location. Thus, to increase the ease of understanding and safety of car navigation systems, navigation systems based on augmented reality have been proposed for providing guidance at road intersections. We are currently developing a car navigation system based on augmented reality, called AR‐Navi. We investigated designs for the display of road intersection guidance that can be easily understood even when limited information is available and proposed a “best shot” display method that does not use moving images. In addition, we implemented a prototype system that includes these methods and conducted driving experiments on public roads to evaluate the ease of understanding and safety of AR‐Navi. Using the evaluation results, we confirmed that the ease of understanding and safety is similar in the case of AR‐Navi and CG‐Navi. We also clarified the characteristics of AR‐Navi. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 180(2): 43–54, 2012; Published online in Wiley Online Library (wileyonlinelibrary.com). DOI 10.1002/eej.22278     

Effect of friction stir processing on microstructure of laser clad cobalt-based alloy

(The microstructural refinement of cobalt-based alloy (Stellite No. 6) by laser cladding and friction stir processing (FSP) was studied. A nanometer-sized microstructure consisting of fine carbide (particle size: 100–200 nm) and a grain (grain size: 150–250 nm) was successfully fabricated by the FSP on the laser clad cobalt-based alloy. The nanostructured cobalt-based alloy (Stellite No. 6) had an extremely high hardness of about 750 HV.     

Measurement of High-Temperature Elastic Properties of Ceramics Using a Laser Ultrasonic Method

Young's modulus and Poisson's ratio of SiC ceramics at temperatures >1400°C were obtained using a laser ultrasonics method that included a Fabry-Pérot interferometer (LUFP). At temperatures <1000°C, Young's modulus and Poisson's ratio measured using the LUFP method agreed well with those measured using standard contact methods, such as the resonance method and the ultrasonic pulse method. These results showed that the LUFP method is a powerful tool for measuring high-temperature elastic properties of advanced ceramics in a noncontact manner.     

Measurement of liquid water content in cathode gas diffusion electrode of polymer electrolyte fuel cell

Water management in cathode gas diffusion electrode (GDE) of polymer electrolyte fuel cell (PEFC) is essential for high performance operation, because liquid water condensed in porous gas diffusion layer (GDL) and catalyst layer (CL) blocks oxygen transport to active reaction sites. In this study, the average liquid water content inside the cathode GDE of a low-temperature PEFC is experimentally and quantitatively estimated by the weight measurement, and the relationship between the water accumulation rate in the cathode GDE and the cell voltage is investigated. The liquid water behavior at the cathode is also visualized using an optical diagnostic, and the effects of operating conditions and GDL structures on the water transport in the cathode GDE are discussed. It is found that the liquid water content in the cathode GDE increases remarkably after starting the fuel cell operation due to the water production at the CL. At a high current density, the cell voltage drops suddenly after starting the operation in spite of a low water content in the cathode GDE. When the GDL thickness is increased, much water accumulates near the cathode CL and the fuel cell shuts down immediately after the operation. In the final section of this paper, the structure of cathode GDL that has several grooves for water removal is proposed to prevent water flooding and improve fuel cell performance. This groove structure is effective to promote the removal of the liquid water accumulated near the active catalyst sites.     

Effect of steric hindrance on hydrogen‐bonding interaction between polyesters and natural polyphenol catechin

The phase behaviors for the blends of poly(3‐hydroxypropionate) (PHP), poly(L ‐lactide) (PLLA), poly(D ‐lactide) (PDLA), and poly(D,L ‐lactide) (PDLLA) with catechin were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry. In PLLA/catechin, PDLA/catechin, and PDLLA/catechin blends, two glass transitions were detected when the catechin content was ≥40 wt %, whereas in PHP/catechin blends only one glass transition was observed over the whole range of blend compositions. The former and the latter results should reflect the inhomogeneous and the homogeneous nature of the blends, respectively, in the amorphous phase. These different phase behaviors should arise from the differences in the chemical structures between PHP and PLLA/PDLA/PDLLA, which dominates the strength and the number of intermolecular hydrogen‐bonding interactions between the ester carbonyl groups of polyesters and the phenol groups of catechin. As detected by FTIR spectroscopy, in comparison with PHP, the steric hindrance of side‐chain methyl groups of PLLA, PDLA, and PDLLA might restrain the formation of hydrogen bonds between their ester carbonyl groups and the phenol hydroxyl groups of catechin, even weakening the strength of such hydrogen bonds. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 91: 3565–3573, 2004