Towards the development of a virtual environment-based training system for mechanical assembly operations

In this paper, we discuss the development of Virtual Training Studio (VTS), a virtual environment-based training system that allows training supervisors to create training instructions and allows trainees to learn assembly operations in a virtual environment. Our system is mainly focused on the cognitive side of training so that trainees can learn to recognize parts, remember assembly sequences, and correctly orient the parts during assembly operations. Our system enables users to train using the following three training modes: (1) Interactive Simulation, (2) 3D Animation, and (3) Video. Implementing these training modes required us to develop several new system features. This paper presents an overview of the VTS system and describes a few main features of the system. We also report user test results that show how people train using our system. The user test results indicate that the system is able to support a wide variety of training preferences and works well to support training for assembly operations.

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Spin valve effect in sputtered FL-MoS2 and ferromagnetic shape memory alloy based magnetic tunnel junction

In the last decade, two-dimensional (2D) transition metal dichalcogenides have been introduced with great significance in the spintronic devices for their extraordinary electrical, optical, and spin-dependent properties. In this work, we have fabricated a few-layer molybdenum disulfide (FL-MoS₂) (~6 nm) as a non-magnetic spacer layer in Ni–Mn–In/FL-MoS₂/Ni–Mn–In magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) using DC magnetron sputtering. FL-MoS₂ thin film sandwiched between two ferromagnetic shape memory alloy based electrodes exhibit semiconducting behavior, confirmed by current-voltage (I–V) characteristics and temperature dependent resistance measurement. The fabricated MTJ shows spin valve effect in the presence of an external magnetic field. The tunneling magnetoresistance (TMR) has been recorded in 10 K–300 K temperature range. The highest TMR ratio of 0.51% was obtained at a low temperature ~10 K, corresponding to the spin polarization of ~5%. This TMR ratio reduces to a value of 0.032% as the temperature of the device increases up to 300 K, displaying a finite TMR at room temperature. A detailed study of thickness and temperature-dependent magnetization versus magnetic field (M ? H) hysteresis loops of Ni–Mn–In thin films has been performed to understand the complex TMR behavior. The present study paves the way for the use of sputtered FL-MoS₂ and ferromagnetic shape memory alloy in ultrafast spintronics for advanced magnetic devices application.     

Visualization of Babble–Speech Interactions Using Andrews Curves

Visualizing multidimensional data such as the mel frequency cepstral coefficients (MFCCs) proves difficult, especially when the number of dimensions is greater than 3. As a result, it becomes extremely difficult to spot trends in high-dimensional signal interactions. Andrews curves seam to aid in the process of performing graphical analysis of high-dimensional data. This study examines the properties of the babble in the feature domain as well as the effect of the babble noise on the MFCCs of clean speech. Experiments have been conducted using two babble models: the overlapping conversation model and the overlapping speaker model. The purpose of this paper was to provide an insight into the effect of the babble noise on the first thirteen MFCCs of clean speech through the use of Andrews curves. The investigations of this paper give a visual comparison of the signals to expose trends, which the conventional visualization methods do not. The use of Andrews curves not only allows the signal to be observed, but also allows for a statistical comparisons between signals. With a better understanding of the difference between the models, it would be possible to develop systems, which are more robust in babble-corrupted environment.     

An enhanced security mechanism through blockchain for E-polling/counting process using IoT devices

Wireless Networks - One of the biggest challenges in political mayhem is visible during the election process where no stone is kept unturned in order to gain the power. Further, due to poll...     

Perturbation-Based Fourier Series Analysis of Transistor Amplifier

A perturbation-based Fourier series model is proposed to approximate the nonlinear distortion in weakly nonlinear circuits. This general model is applicable to any set of multi-variable state equations that completely describe a nonlinear circuit. This model is applied to a common emitter amplifier circuit wherein the transistor is represented by Ebers–Moll nonlinear current equations. Appropriate state variables are defined, then the linear and nonlinear parts of the Ebers–Moll current equations are separated, and a small perturbation parameter is incorporated into the nonlinear part. Now these current equations are incorporated into the set of KCL, KVL equations defined for the circuit and the state variables are perturbatively expanded. Hence, multi-variable state equations are obtained from these equations. The state variables are approximated up to first order through Fourier series expansion, as described in the proposed model. The main advantage of the proposed model is that it is simple and straightforward approach to analyze weakly nonlinear circuits, as it involves matrix computations and the calculations of exponential Fourier coefficients.     

Micronutrient mineral and folate content of Australian and imported dried fruit products

A selection of Australian and imported fresh and dried fruit products, including sultanas, Sunmuscats, Carina currants, Zante currants, apricots, and prunes, were analyzed for selected minerals (Ca, Mg, Na, S, B, Al, Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn, Mo, and Se), folate and vitamin C, and the capacity of dried fruits for dietary provision of these micronutrients evaluated. Micro-nutrients were concentrated by a factor of 3-5 in dried fruits compared with their fresh fruit counterparts and were consequently present in nutritionally significant levels, in contrast to fresh fruit. Australian dried sultanas, Carina currant, Zante currant, apricots, and prunes contained Cu, Fe, K, and Mn at levels of >20% of daily Required Dietary Intake (RDI, taken as the average for adult men and women as nominated by the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council) and Sunmuscats contained Cu, Fe, and K at >20% of RDI. All dried fruits studied contained boron in the range of 1.5 to 5.4 mg per 100 g; however, the RDI for boron has not been defined by the NHMRC at the present time. All sultanas and currants studied contained folate at levels of 10-20% of RDI per 100 g. Experimental drying methods significantly affected folate levels with higher folate content in non-ground versus ground-based drying methods. Of the micro-nutrients supplying >20% of RDI, folate represents a particular nutrient for which the mean daily intake of adult Australians is typically inadequate. This study shows that dried fruit consumption, in contrast with fresh fruit, can provide significant proportions of daily requirements of several micronutrients, particularly folate.     

Solution Processing Route to Multifunctional Titania Thin Films: Highly Conductive and Photcatalytically Active Nb:TiO2

This paper reports the synthesis of highly conductive niobium doped titanium dioxide (Nb:TiO₂) films from the decomposition of Ti(OEt)₄ with dopant quantities of Nb(OEt)₅ by aerosol‐assisted chemical vapor deposition (AACVD). Doping Nb into the Ti sites results in n‐type conductivity, as determined by Hall effect measurements. The doped films display significantly improved electrical properties compared to pristine TiO₂ films. For 5 at.% Nb in the films, the charge carrier concentration was 2 × 10²¹ cm^?3 with a mobility of 2 cm² V^–1 s^–1 . The corresponding sheet resistance is as low as 6.5 Ω sq^–1 making the films suitable candidates for transparent conducting oxide (TCO) materials. This is, to the best of our knowledge, the lowest reported sheet resistance for Nb:TiO₂ films synthesized by vapour deposition. The doped films are also blue in colour, with the intensity dependent on the Nb concentration in the films. A combination of synchrotron, laboratory and theoretical techniques confirmed niobium doping into the anatase TiO₂ lattice. Computational methods also confirmed experimental results of both delocalized (Ti⁴⁺) and localized polaronic states (Ti³⁺) states. Additionally, the doped films also functioned as photocatalysts. Thus, Nb:TiO₂ combines four functional properties (photocatalysis, electrical conductivity, optical transparency and blue colouration) within the same layer, making it a promising alternative to conventional TCO materials.     

OVSF Code Sharing and Reducing the Code Wastage Capacity in WCDMA

The non quantized nature of user rate wastes the code capacity in Orthogonal Variable Spreading Factor Codes (OVSF) based Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) systems. The code sharing scheme in multi code CDMA is proposed to minimize the code rate wastage. The scheme combines the unused (wastage) capacity of already occupied codes to reduce the code blocking problem. Simulation results are presented to show the superiority of the proposed code assignment scheme as compared to existing schemes.

Computationally efficient variational Bayesian method for PAPR reduction in multiuser MIMO‐OFDM systems

This paper investigates the use of the inverse‐free sparse Bayesian learning (SBL) approach for peak‐to‐average power ratio (PAPR) reduction in orthogonal frequency‐division multiplexing (OFDM)‐based multiuser massive multiple‐input multiple‐output (MIMO) systems. The Bayesian inference method employs a truncated Gaussian mixture prior for the sought‐after low‐PAPR signal. To learn the prior signal, associated hyperparameters and underlying statistical parameters, we use the variational expectation‐maximization (EM) iterative algorithm. The matrix inversion involved in the expectation step (E‐step) is averted by invoking a relaxed evidence lower bound (relaxed‐ELBO). The resulting inverse‐free SBL algorithm has a much lower complexity than the standard SBL algorithm. Numerical experiments confirm the substantial improvement over existing methods in terms of PAPR reduction for different MIMO configurations.