Collapse-free thermal bonding technique for large area microchambers in plastic lab-on-a-chip applications

Bonding is an essential step to form microchannels or microchambers in lab-on-a-chip applications. In this paper, we present a novel plastic thermal bonding technique to seal and form large area microchambers (planar characteristic width and length on the order of 1 mm and characteristic thickness on the order of 10–100 μm) without collapse by introducing a holed pressure equalizing plate (HPEP) that includes holes of the same size and shape as the microchambers. To demonstrate the proposed technique, two types of large area microchambers [(1) 20 × 10 mm and 40 μm thick and (2) 12 × 2.5 mm and 120 μm thick] with microchannels were designed and replicated on plastic substrates by means of hot embossing and injection molding processes with prepared two nickel mold inserts. The replicated large area microchambers as well as the microchannels in the plastic lab-on-a-chip were successfully sealed (i.e., no leakage) and formed without any collapse by the proposed thermal bonding technique with the help of the HPEP.     

Scalable search-based image annotation

With the popularity of digital cameras, more and more people have accumulated considerable digital images on their personal devices. As a result, there are increasing needs to effectively search these personal images. Automatic image annotation may serve the goal, for the annotated keywords could facilitate the search processes. Although many image annotation methods have been proposed in recent years, their effectiveness on arbitrary personal images is constrained by their limited scalability, i.e. limited lexicon of small-scale training set. To be scalable, we propose a search-based image annotation algorithm that is analogous to information retrieval. First, content-based image retrieval technology is used to retrieve a set of visually similar images from a large-scale Web image set. Second, a text-based keyword search technique is used to obtain a ranked list of candidate annotations for each retrieved image. Third, a fusion algorithm is used to combine the ranked lists into a final candidate annotation list. Finally, the candidate annotations are re-ranked using Random Walk with Restarts and only the top ones are reserved as the final annotations. The application of both efficient search techniques and Web-scale image set guarantees the scalability of the proposed algorithm. Moreover, we provide an annotation rejection scheme to point out the images that our annotation system cannot handle well. Experimental results on U. Washington dataset show not only the effectiveness and efficiency of the proposed algorithm but also the advantage of image retrieval using annotation results over that using visual features.     

Perceptual image preview

Image preview is a convenient way to browse large or multiple images on small displays. However, current signal-level image resampling algorithms may remove many features of interest in the preview image. In this paper, we propose perceptual image preview which retains more perceptual features such that users can inspect features of interest by viewing the preview image only and without zooming in. This technology has two components, structure enhancement and perceptual feature visualization. Structure enhancement enhances the image structure while suppressing subtle details using a gradient modulation method, thus making the succedent perceptual features more apparent. For perceptual feature visualization, features of interest detected in the picture is visualized on the structure enhanced preview image. We demonstrate with two examples of most commonly used image quality features, image blur and noise. The effectiveness of the proposed method is validated by experimental results.     

Detection of the boundary-layer separation point based on the flexible sensor arrays

Microelectromechanical systems plays an important role for studying gaseous or liquid fluid flows experimentally due to the dimensions of the device on the μm-scale. For aerodynamic applications, the detection of the location of the separation point of the boundary layer is very important, which is used for active flow control and smart skin adaptive control system. This paper presents the design and integration methods of a flexible polymide substrate micro thermal sensor array, sensor array driver circuit, dynamic data acquisition circuit, and criterion algorithm of the boundary layer separation point. The above algorithms were used to analyze the NACA0012 wind tunnel test data at flow conditions of the velocity 40 m/s and AOA 16°. The result demonstrated the above system can fulfill the dynamic and real-time of the adaptive control system.     

Prediction-based methods for teleoperation across delayed networks

The remote nature of telepresence scenarios can be seen as a strongpoint and also as a weakness. Although it enables the remote control of robots in dangerous or inaccessible environments, it necessarily involves some kind of communication mechanism for the transmission of control signals. This communication mechanism necessarily involves adverse network effects such as delay. Three mechanisms aimed at improving the effects of network delay are presented in this paper: (1) Motion prediction to partially compensate for network delays, (2) force prediction to learn a local force model, thereby reducing dependency on delayed force signals, and (3) haptic data compression to reduce the required bandwidth of high frequency data. The utilized motion prediction scheme was shown to improve operator performance, but had no influence on operator immersion. The force prediction provided haptic feedback through synchronous forces from the local model, thereby stabilizing the control loop. The developed haptic data compression scheme reduced the number of packets sent across the network by 90%, while improving the quality of the haptic feedback.     

Squeeze film effects on dynamic performance of MEMS μ-mirrors-consideration of gas rarefaction and surface roughness

The squeeze film behavior of MEMS torsion mirrors is modeled, analyzed and discussed. Effects of gas rarefaction (first-order slip-flow model with non-symmetric accommodation coefficients, ACs) and surface roughness are considered simultaneously by using the average Reynolds type equation (ARTE). Based on the operating conditions with small variations in film thickness and pressure, the ARTE is linearized. A coordinate transformation, by stretching or contracting the axes by referring to the roughness flow factors, is proposed to transform the linearized ARTE into a diffusion type modal equation. The dynamic coefficients (stiffness and damping coefficients) are then derived and expressed in analytical form. The results show that the tilting frequency (or Γ₀ squeeze number), roughness parameters (γ Peklenik numbers, σ standard deviation of composite roughness) and gas rarefaction parameters (D inverse Knudsen number, ACs) are all important parameters on analyzing the dynamic performance of MEMS torsion mirrors.     

Advanced product planning: a comprehensive process for systemic definition of new product requirements

This paper reports results of research into the definition of requirements for new consumer products––specifically, electro-mechanical products. The research dealt with the derivation of design requirements that are demonstrably aligned with stakeholder needs. The paper describes a comprehensive process that can enable product development teams to deal with statements of product requirements, as originally collected through market research activities, in a systematic and traceable manner from the early, fuzzy front end, stages of the design process. The process described has been based on principles of systems engineering. A case study from its application and evaluation drawn from the power sector is described in this paper. The case study demonstrates how the process can significantly improve product quality planning practices through revision of captured product requirements, analysis of stakeholder requirements and derivation of design requirements. The paper discusses benefits and issues from the use of the process by product development teams, and identifies areas for further research. Finally, the conclusions drawn from the reported research are presented.

A case study validation of a knowledge-based approach for the selection of requirements engineering techniques

Requirements engineering (RE) is a critical phase in the software engineering process and plays a vital role in ensuring the overall quality of a software product. Recent research has shown that industry increasingly recognizes the importance of good RE practices and the use of appropriate RE techniques. However, due to the large number of RE techniques, requirements engineers find it challenging to select suitable techniques for a particular project. Unfortunately, technique selection based on personal experience has limitations with regards to the scope, effectiveness and suitability of the RE techniques for the project at hand. In this paper, a Knowledge-based Approach for the Selection of Requirements Engineering Techniques (KASRET) is proposed that helps during RE techniques selection. This approach has three major features. First, a library of requirements techniques was developed which includes detailed knowledge about RE techniques. Second, KASRET integrates advantages of different knowledge representation schemata and reasoning mechanisms. Thus, KASRET provides mechanisms for the management of knowledge about requirements techniques and support for RE process development. Third, as a major decision support mechanism, an objective function evaluates the overall ability and cost of RE techniques, which is helpful for the selection of RE techniques. This paper makes not only a contribution to RE but also to research and application of knowledge management and decision support in process development. A case study using an industrial project shows the support of KASRET for RE techniques selection.

Socio-ethics of interaction with intelligent interactive technologies

Socio-ethics covers the relation of the individual with the group and with society, as the individual acquires the skills for social life with others and the conduct of ‘normal responsible behaviour’ (Leal in AI Soc 9:29–32, 1995) that guides moral action. For a consideration of what it means to be socially skilled in everyday human interaction and the ethical issues arising from the new conditions of interaction that come with the integration of intelligent interactive artefacts, we will provide an analysis at multiple levels of these phenomena and draw on a variety of application domains, for example, healthcare and interactive media.